Just when Yunzhou City was captured by Zhe Congyuan, Liu Zhiyuan was also ready to break out.
The Hedong Army could still muster about a thousand war horses. The generals collected them and gathered about 600 tooth soldiers and tooth generals who were deeply bound to them.
Food is the most important thing for the people, and the Chinese people have always been very particular and enthusiastic about the issue of food.
Although the Hedong Army suffered such a tragic defeat in a row, the large pieces of stewed pork and large skewers of roasted mutton, combined with enough soup cakes and a small amount of muddy wine, immediately boosted morale a lot.
In the early morning, at the end of Yinshi, the Hedong army once again dispatched more than 6,000 people after having a meal at Hu Eat Sea. Led by the warrior Wang Yin personally, with a large amount of supplies, they tried to rush to Dazhai Fort in front of Jize County. go.
However, as soon as they left the city gate, they were discovered by Zhou Jun's sentries. Although Zhang Yan only had less than 20,000 people and could not surround the entire Jize County, he never relaxed his surveillance of the city.
As soon as there was a noise in the city, Zhou Jun immediately lit up the west and north of Jize County according to the previous battle plan, illuminating the west and north sides of Jize County like daylight.
Liu Zhiyuan secretly cried out that he was unlucky, but he had to leave. More than 600 cavalrymen from the Hedong Army, almost one person and two horses, rushed out of the city in the bright light of fire.
Zhang Hao woke up from his sleep and was about to give the order when Zhang Cheng's voice came from outside, saying that Bai Congxin and Li Cunhui were chasing after him with a thousand cavalry each.
Of course, Zhang Yan would prevent Liu Zhiyuan from breaking out of the city. He could think with his toes that Liu Zhiyuan's best choice at this time was to run back to Hedong. Of course he would intercept him on the way. Li Cunhui almost never returned to the camp.
It's just that Li Cunhui is not an iron man. He hasn't had a good rest for several days, and he was a little dazed. He was immediately drilled out by Liu Zhiyuan.
Li Cunhui was extremely angry after receiving the news, and personally led more than a thousand cavalry to pursue him. Among the newly recruited tooth soldiers Liu Zhiyuan included were natives of Xingzhou, so they were familiar with the roads.
However, Li Cunhui and others had the advantage of the speed of their horses, and the two sides immediately started chasing each other in the wilderness of Xingzhou.
Xingzhou, also known as Xingtai City in later generations, is located in the northwest of Jize County.
But Liu Zhiyuan didn't need to run to Xingzhou City. He only needed to run to the Shah River, and then follow the Shah River to Junji Pass.
Of course, Xingzhou's hundreds of Hedong troops and a large amount of supplies could only be abandoned.
One side ran and the other chased. At first, Liu Zhiyuan was able to leave Li Cunhui and Bai Congxin behind with the help of a guide who was familiar with the local geography and the cover of darkness.
But as the sky gradually grew brighter, the superiority of the Zhou army's horses became apparent. The pursuers behind Liu Zhiyuan were getting closer and closer, and he made a gesture to Bai Zairong.
Bai Zairong understood immediately, and he immediately arranged for ten Hedong Jingqi and dozens of war horses to wait behind him.
In the distance, the Zhou army's elite cavalry galloped like thunder, but these ten Hedong elite cavalry were not timid.
It was getting closer and closer, and just when Yang Guizhong was beating the drum in his heart, thinking that these Hedong people were all capable of fighting with one horse as strong as a hundred, the Hedong cavalry moved.
They unanimously loosened the ropes trapped on the horses' backs. In an instant, there were pieces of shining brocade, clattering white silver collars, and priceless fine nutmeg, bay leaves and pepper. Just threw it on the ground.
The faces of the Hedong cavalry became both heartbroken and arrogant. They just took something here that ordinary people couldn't get in exchange for a year of hard work. Now they just threw it on the dirt. They didn't believe that the Zhou army on the opposite side was unmoved.
Tempted! Soon, Zhou Jun Xiaoqi's eyes cast greedy glances, but they were immediately replaced by other more fanatical things.
According to the Zhou army's practice, if Liu Zhiyuan can be caught, at least ten rank officials may be able to touch the Lord's side.
The former is a lifelong ladder of advancement, and the latter is an iron rice bowl for future generations. Compared with this, a mere few hundred dollars is nothing.
And according to wartime regulations, if you take this money, you will be beaten as a son of a bitch!
Therefore, Yang Guizhong only paused for a short moment, then rushed over with his brothers roaring, and directly pushed the ten-horse and somewhat arrogant Hedong Jingqi to the ground.
The gorgeous brocade and white silver collar were also trampled into the mud by the horses' hooves.
"I don't know how to show appreciation!" Bai Zairong, who was in the distance, looked at the more than 20 cavalry chasing after him and snorted, "Here comes a hundred cavalry, let's teach these ungrateful Hexi thieves a lesson!"
Well.!
A quarter of an hour later, Bai Zairong was lying on the horse with a broken arrow stuck in his butt. More than ten cavalry soldiers were guarding him, and they ran desperately towards Xingzhou. Bai Zairong was so frightened that even Liu Zhiyuan was scared. Don't dare to follow.
Just now he led his men to charge forward, and a volley of crossbows and arrows were fired from the opposite side. They rushed forty steps, and the opposite side fired three crossbows, two of which were strange and terrifyingly fast-firing crossbows.
Another time it was a saltpetre crossbow. This kind of crossbow was a smaller concealed crossbow, mounted on the side of the horse. During combat, the knight only had to push lightly, and the saltpeter crossbow would fire. It was used to shoot and injure the enemy's war horse.
This kind of crossbow is a type of hidden weapon and is not suitable for large-scale decisive battles, but it is perfect for this kind of small-scale attack.
After three crossbows, Bai Zairong's hundred cavalry suffered heavy losses. Yang Guizhong took the opportunity to shoot out another pear blossom gun, and the already frightened Hedong cavalry collapsed.
Yang Guizhong shot two arrows in a row, but Bai Zairong was very lucky and was only shot in the butt.
However, Bai Zairong's butt injury was not completely ineffective. Liu Zhiyuan took advantage of this opportunity and quickly moved away from Zhou Jun's cavalry.
What's more important is that Yang Guizhong also lost five of his twenty cavalry, and he didn't dare to pursue anymore. Liu Zhiyuan still had five hundred cavalry in his hand, and he couldn't bear the sudden turn back to him.
So Yang Guizhong could only divide into two groups, front and rear, keeping Liu Zhiyuan hanging. Hedong Jingqi sent out a large force to intercept and bypass it, and when the small group came, they went up to break it up.
Nanhe is an important city by the Shah River. Liu Zhiyuan only needs to cross the Shah River from here, and then go up the Shah River to return to Hedong through Junji Pass.
Moreover, in Nanhe County, Liu Zhiyuan stationed 500 people and hoarded a certain amount of food and grass.
Liu Zhiyuan was greatly reassured when he saw that the Zhou army's pursuers were only a dozen people so far.
As long as he crosses the river, he can demolish the floating bridge on the Shahe River outside Nanhe County, making it impossible for Zhou's pursuers to catch up with him.
However, just when Liu Zhiyuan was having a sweet dream, the sound of horse hoofbeats from behind was heard loudly. Li Cunhui led Wang Quanbin, Wen Chongle, Yue Saonu and others to pursue him lightly.
Liu Zhiyuan was so frightened that he lost his mind. Liu Yun who followed him wanted to cut off the pontoon bridge, but Li Cunhui had already arrived on horseback. The green figure under his crotch jumped directly into the river and rushed towards the Hedong Army.
Li Cunhui was still on the horse and shot three arrows in succession. Liu Yun, who was only wearing leather armor, was immediately covered in blood. He screamed and fled to the south and the county seat in a hurry, ignoring the pontoon. Dozens of Hedong cavalry also followed him around. And scattered.
Seeing that Li Cunhui was so brave that he could even cross the river with his war horse, Liu Zhiyuan could only give up the idea of destroying the pontoon bridge, took the more than 300 horses who were following him, and ran forward quickly.
But after running a few steps, more than ten cavalrymen in front came back covered with injuries. Murong Yanchao, who had gone to clear the way for a hundred cavalry, suddenly encountered hundreds of Zhou army cavalry and was immediately scattered. Murong Yanchao was completely Lost track.
With interceptions in front and pursuers behind, Liu Zhiyuan could only draw his horse and head northeast, first to Nanhe County for temporary refuge.
This is an important stronghold of the Hedong Army, and there are hundreds of soldiers, but it can only be said to be better than headless flies running around.
As soon as Liu Zhiyuan entered Nanhe County, Li Cunhui and Bai Congxin chased him. Two thousand cavalry came one after another to blockade Nanhe County.
Li Cunhui, who almost let Liu Zhiyuan escape, was extremely angry and ordered the soldiers not to let Liu Zhiyuan escape again, even if they were sleepless.
Not long after, the men and horses who intercepted Liu Zhiyuan from the front also arrived. It turned out to be Zhao Kuangyin who was sent by Zhang Gao to pursue the Tuyuhun Rangers.
As soon as Zhao Kuangyin saw Li Cunhui's presence, he hurried over to report.
Of course, Li Cunhui also knew the little brother Murong Nobunaga brought to Liangzhou from Kaifeng Mansion in Tokyo. He also knew that this little brother dreamed of becoming the emperor's adopted son.
For this reason, Zhao Kuangyin not only often came to curry favor with Li Cunhui, he even licked Li Congyi, who Li Cunhui considered to be a complete waste.
"My lord! I was ordered to pursue the Tuyuhun people. They were defeated in Renxian County, Xingzhou. Two thousand horsemen named Helian and Li were willing to surrender. The chieftain Bai Zongyi led hundreds of horsemen to flee.
Later, the servant sent a letter to Guo Zongfang, the governor of Xingzhou. The governor was generally willing to surrender. He also personally led the Jian'er of Xingzhou, together with the servant, to defeat the first part of the Hedong Army. "
With that said, Zhao Kuangyin introduced a powerful general behind him to Li Cunhui, and he was still saying good things.
"Liu Zhiyuan will definitely go to Nanhe County when he returns to Hedong. It is determined by Guo Ci's historical data. He and his servants have been in ambush here for a long time."
Guo Zongfang was so praised by Zhao Kuangyin that he beamed with joy. He also gave Li Cunhui a big gift and then said with a smile.
"This servant doesn't know his master and was deceived by Liu Zhiyuan. Now General Zhao has prompted him to repent. He is willing to lead 100,000 people in Xingzhou to surrender to the Emperor of Zhou Dynasty. I also ask the Duke to say a few kind words on his behalf."
When Li Cunhui heard this, he took a serious look at Zhao Kuangyin. Only then did he really feel that this little brother was anything but simple!
In this series of actions, every opportunity was grasped very firmly. Even if he made a slight mistake, he would not be able to achieve such great achievements.
Of course, Li Cunhui was also very happy after blocking Liu Zhiyuan, so he said to Zhao Kuangyin and Guo Zongfang: "The emperor has clear rewards and punishments. Guo, the governor, has made great achievements, and he will definitely be the governor of the Great Zhou Dynasty in the future."
In fact, Zhao Kuangyin was conservative. His journey was extremely thrilling.
Zhang Gao only gave him 500 knights drawn by Youyu Linwei and Youjinwuwei to pursue the remnants of Tuyuhun. Zhao Kuangyin ran wildly for half a day and immediately caught up with these Tuyuhun people.
The two sides fought a battle outside Ren County. Zhao Kuangyin defeated 500 and 4000. He personally rushed to the front and killed three Tuyuhun generals in formation. He forced the Tuyuhun people to land with a small number of troops.
Then he took the Tuyuhun people who had just been forced to surrender and rushed directly to the gate of Xingzhou City, rushing into Xingzhou City before the gate closed.
He also used tiger skin to pull up the banner, half coaxing and half intimidating Guo Zongfang, the Xingzhou governor appointed by Liu Zhiyuan, to rebel. Guo Zongfang joined forces with him and killed more than 400 Xingzhou Hedong troops.
Zhao Kuangyin then detained Guo Zongfang and once again forced Guo Zongfang to leave the city and ambush Liu Zhiyuan with him.
Xue Guizhong was left with 500 Tuyuhun cavalry and 100 Zuojinwu Guards elite cavalry to control Xingzhou City.
In just three and a half days, he directly captured two major forces and blocked Liu Zhiyuan's retreat. The skill, will and foresight he displayed were beyond the comparison of ordinary people.
At least Zhang Yan couldn't help but sigh when he received the report from Li Cunhui's Pegasus.
Putting aside the idea of wearing a yellow robe, whether it was Zhao Da in the later Zhou Dynasty in history or Zhang Zhou today, there is nothing to say about his ability or emotional intelligence.
No one in the younger generation can compare with him, not even Yang Guizhong and Xue Guizhong, the descendants of the Anxi Army who were carefully cultivated by Zhang Yan himself.
Zhao Yanjin, Zhao Kuangzan, Feng Jiye, etc. who were recruited could only help Zhao Kuangyin.
Only Gao Huaide's ability is close to that of Zhao Kuangyin.
When Wang Yisi and other generals around him heard about it, they cheered to congratulate Zhang Yan and Zhang Zhou for another general. No wonder they thought so, Zhao Kuangyin did a really good job.
In Nanhe County, Liu Zhiyuan suddenly felt that his whole body was extremely hot, but his bones were bone-chilling. The symptoms of wind evil invasion that had gone away for some time immediately returned to his body.
He heard the cheers outside, and it seemed like a familiar voice was calling his name, so he couldn't help but have someone help him to the top of the city to take a look.
Outside Nanhe City, a man wearing a black robe was escorted to the gate of Nanhe City. When Liu Zhiyuan took a closer look, he seemed to be an old servant of his inner house.
The old servant was kicked to the ground. When he saw Liu Zhiyuan, he cried loudly.
Liu Zhiyuan was so frightened by his crying. Could it be that something happened in Taiyuan and his family was captured by the rebels?
"What happened? Why are you here?" Liu Zhiyuan asked loudly, retaining his last trace of fantasy.
The old servant knocked his head to the ground and cried loudly, "Your Majesty, the Dalang Lord has gone on the 26th of last month!"
Liu Zhiyuan suddenly felt dizzy. His eldest son, Liu Chengxun, had been his heart and soul since he was a child. He was his favorite son, no one.
Liu Chengxun was the eldest son born to him by Li Sanniang. He witnessed the take-off of Liu Zhiyuan's career step by step and was painstakingly cultivated by him as his successor for twenty years. When he left, Liu Chengxun was too ill to get out of bed. Unexpectedly, we were separated from each other.
Under the city, Zhao Kuangyin saw Liu Zhiyuan lost his mind and immediately bent his bow to shoot, but Liu Zhiyuan seemed to be demented and motionless.
He turned around and looked at the tooth soldiers around him. These tooth soldiers had followed him so far and were hit repeatedly. The loyalty and admiration in his eyes were long gone. There was only confusion, fear and even ill intentions, because he, Liu Zhiyuan, had completely failed. What? None.
In an instant, the great ancestor of the Later Han Dynasty in history felt pain all over his body, like thousands of arrows piercing his heart. The liver, spleen, stomach and kidneys in the center of his abdomen seemed to be violently twitching. He felt that his throat was a little fishy and sweet, and he couldn't help but open his mouth, wow The only thing that happened was a mouthful of blood spurted out.
"My son! My son! Kill me!"
Liu Zhiyuan screamed three times, tilted his head, and fell suddenly from the wall of Nanhe County.
On the seventh day of June in the second year of Zhangzhou Shaoming, Liu Zhiyuan led his remnant troops to break out of Jize County and fled to Nanhe County. After hearing the news of the death of his eldest son Liu Chengxun, and his own desperate situation, and suffering from cold and cold, Liu Zhiyuan vomited blood in two mouthfuls. Nanhe County fell on his head and died on the spot.
After Zhang Gao arrived, he ordered his men to collect Liu Zhiyuan's body and sent additional elite cavalry to continue chasing the Hedong soldiers scattered in the countryside. They must not be allowed to wander around and become bandits.
Then Wang Yin, who was stationed in Jize County, was repulsed in his attempt to withdraw from the city. He stayed there for two more hours before opening the city and leading more than 9,000 Hedong troops in Jize County to surrender.
After the main forces in Jize County surrendered, in Dazhai Fort, which suffered heavy casualties from trebuchets, Liu Ci, Li Tao and other Hedong Army generals also led more than 2,000 people out of the city to surrender.
From then on, this battle involving the entire north of the Yellow River ended with Zhang Zhou's victory.
Zhang Gao first attacked the Khitan people with 23,000 elite cavalry, and killed the Khitan generals Yelu Wuzhi, Xiao Han and others. The Khitan emperor Yelu Ruan committed suicide, and less than 10,000 of the 40,000 Khitan soldiers and horses escaped.
Then Zhang Gao returned to the army and caught up with Liu Zhiyuan, who had been delaying at the gate of Beizhou City, at the Zhang River. He successfully crossed the river in the first battle and defeated the entire Hedong Army in the second battle.
On the Hedong side, Shi Hongzhao, known as the most powerful general in Hedong, died in battle, and the brave general Wang Jingchong also died in the battle. There were more than 4,000 dead and wounded soldiers. The Tuyuhun people fled first, and then Wang Yin led the remaining troops to surrender.
The entire Hedong Army sent a total of 44,000 troops, but almost no one could return to Hedong. The entire army was basically wiped out, and Liu Zhiyuan also died.
At this point, the routine of setting out from Hedong to dominate the Central Plains in the past twenty years has completely ended.
On the eighth day of June, Bai Zairong, who had an arrow in his buttocks, was discovered by Xingzhou United Soldiers. During the resistance, more than ten of his fellow soldiers were killed.
On June 11, Li Rong, who was appointed the military envoy of Zhaoyi Army by Zhang Zhi, led an army of three thousand to Luzhou (Changzhi, Shanxi).
Civil strife broke out in Luzhou Zhaoyi's army that night. After the Ya soldiers killed Li Wanchao, the Jiedushi appointed by Liu Zhiyuan, they left the city and surrendered.
On June 18, Zhang Zhang sent Li Cunhui south and arrived at Fuyang, which was heavily besieged.
Li Cunhui rode into Fuyang alone. Guo Rong, the actual commander of the Hedong Army in Fuyang City, hid his face when he saw Li Cunhui and retreated to the government office to hide.
Li Cunhui immediately found the deputy commander Guo Jin. When Guo Jin heard the news of Liu Zhiyuan's death and saw Li Cunhui holding his leather belt, he burst into tears and said to Li Cunhui.
"The king's landslide cannot be without someone loyal to him. Please allow him to mourn for Liu Zhiyuan for three days."
Li Cunhui was stunned when he heard this. He initially thought that Guo Jin was going to commit suicide, so he was about to pull out a knife and hand it to Guo Jin. However, it turned out that Guo Jin just wanted to mourn and immediately agreed.
Guo Jin then wrapped two feet of white linen around his arm, cried a few times with the generals, and then took orders to go to the office to see Guo Rong.
At this time, Guo Rong was extremely confused. In terms of his heart, when he returned to Hedong from Zhang Zhou's army, he was deceived by his aunt Chai's serious illness, and his heart was not in the Hedong Group at all.
Now his aunt, whom he regarded as his mother, has passed away long ago, and his uncle Guo Wei also has several wives and concubines, and three or four sons, not least of whom is his adopted son.
Coupled with his experience in Zhang Zhou's army, Guo Wei has never been close to Guo Rong in order not to arouse Liu Zhiyuan's suspicion. The closest ones are his nephew Li Chongjin and son-in-law Zhang Yongde.
In Guo Rong's heart, he actually regretted it for a long time. It was just because of his parents' righteousness that he could not vote for Zhang early.
Now that I know that Li Cunhui believed him so much, he rode into Fuyang alone. He was really ashamed and did not dare to see his old friend.
Of course Guo Jin knew Guo Rong's mood, and immediately advised Guo Rong: "When we are at the end of our rope, the emperor is still willing to appease us. The Duke of Shouchang County rides into the city alone. What a trust!
Among the generals in Hedong, no one has this honor, which shows that the sage loves the general. If the general still avoids seeing him, he is ignorant of good and evil.
And after the general takes refuge, he can also provide a step for Taiwei Guo to come down. "
After hearing this, Guo Rong immediately stopped hesitating and went out to see Li Cunhui. He then led the Hedong Army of 4,300 people to Kaicheng and surrendered. The Hedong Army surrendered without a fight in Fuyang, the most important stronghold in Hebei.
On June 25, Captain Zhang Zhou's Prince Consort and Zhao Kuangzan, the Jiedushi Envoy of the Three Towns of Heyang Prefecture, sent the general Zhao Siwan to lead an army of two thousand and arrived in Jinzhou (Linfen, Shanxi Province) together with the court angel Wang Jiu.
Wang Yan, the military envoy of the Jianxiong Army in Jinzhou, Hedong, led 3,000 Jianxiong troops to Kaicheng and surrendered to Wang Jiu, and Jinzhou successfully surrendered to the country.
On June 27, Zhang Gao sent Yan Jin to lead an army of 20,000 to attack Liaozhou, and then approached Taiyuan from the southeast.
Li Rong, the military commander of the Zhaoyi Army in Luzhou, Shangdang Prefecture, also led 3,000 men northward and captured Qi County south of Taiyuan, and then reached the foot of Taiyuan City.
Zhang Zhou of Yunzhou (Datong, Shanxi), Pingzhang of the Ningxia Province, was the commander-in-chief of Fugu Town, and the Marquis of Yunzhong came from far away. He led 10,000 forbidden troops from Fugu and Yangwu towns southward from Yunzhou, and also approached the northern suburbs of Taiyuan.
On June 28, Liu Zhiyuan's wife Li Sanniang took Liu Zhiyuan's second son Liu Chengyou, accompanied by Liu Zhiyuan's half-brother Liu Chong, out of the east gate of Taiyuan and surrendered to Yan Jin.
Yan Jin did not dare to accept it, so he just sent 500 cavalry to escort Zhang Liecheng, the commander of the Jinyi Guards. After Li Fang, the secretary in charge of Wang Yi, entered Taiyuan and sealed up the Taiyuan treasury, he ordered the Taiyuan officials and generals to perform their duties, and sent someone to inform Shang in Xingzhou to appease him. Zhang Gao, who was popular in Hebei Province, came to Taiyuan.
So far, among the Hedong warriors who supported Liu Zhiyuan, only 12,000 people from the Guo Wei, Bai Wenke, and Guo Congyi tribes in Shexian County were left, as well as the nomadic Tuyuhun people in Shizhou, Xizhou, and Lanzhou who had not yet joined.
All the rest were captured by Zhang Zhou, and Zhang Yan's strategy of unifying the north and south of the Yellow River was basically achieved.
