In April of the second year of Yongjia, Liu Yu led his army from Pingshou.
A few days later, they captured Liting, Guanting, and several cities in Tuyi, and captured Gou Xi's general Gao Tangchao and others. Among them, Gao Tangchao refused to surrender and was beheaded. All ten of his subordinates who were unwilling to surrender were also captured. Being executed.
While repairing Li Pavilion, Liu Jian saw an envoy sent by Guo Chen, the magistrate of Yidu County, Le'an County, saying that he was willing to surrender.
According to what the messenger said, when Liu Yu and his army arrived, Guo Chen would kill Gou Xi's men in Yidu's army, then open the door and surrender.
After ordering the guards to take the envoy down to rest, Liu Yu looked around and asked several generals from Qi's powerful background who Guo Chen was and whether his surrender was credible.
Several people, headed by Xue Qi from the State of Qi, said that this Guo Chen was originally from Yidu, Le'an County, and was also a prominent local family. Among them, Xue Qi had an old acquaintance with him.
Xue Qi said that this Guo Chen was timid and cautious. He was probably true as he said. The defense of Yidu City was weak and was not strong enough to withstand Liu Yu's attack. He was probably sincerely surrendering.
Of course, to be on the safe side, Xue Qi was willing to go to Yidu in person to check whether he sincerely surrendered or was plotting to surrender.
If it was true that he would surrender, then Xue Qi would meet with Guo Chen to decide on the matter of surrender.
After Liu Yu heard this, he agreed to Xue Qi's suggestion after some thought.
Anyway, many of Xue Qi's descendants were in Liu Yu's army. Liu Yu didn't think that he dared to join forces with Guo Chen to defraud him, regardless of the lives of these clan disciples.
This surrender of Guo Chen's city was the first of its kind. If it was done properly, there might be a chain reaction in Qi State, Le'an and other places, and Gou Xi's forces could be driven out of Qingzhou without a single blow.
Liu Yu immediately told Xue Qi that as long as the surrender of Guo Chen, the magistrate of Yidu County, was true, he would be willing to use his position as the prefect of Le'an County to recommend Guo Chen to the court.
After putting on a disguise, Xue Qi rushed to Yidu City.
The next morning, Xue Qi galloped through the night and came back.
Xue Qi came back and reported to Liu Yu that the surrender of Yidu County Magistrate Guo Chen was undoubtedly true, because Xue Qi secretly inspected the city defense of Yidu yesterday. If there were no reinforcements, it would be difficult to resist Liu Yu's tens of thousands of troops. siege.
Moreover, in order to show his sincerity, Xue Qi also persuaded Guo Chen to let his son Guo Rong be sent as a hostage.
Liu Yu looked behind Xue Qi. The young man dressed as a servant should be Guo Rong, the eldest son sent by Guo Chen as a hostage.
After encouraging Xue Qi and comforting Guo Rong, Liu Yu became more confident in attacking the Gou brothers in Qidi.
If Guo Chen, the magistrate of Yidu County, surrenders this time successfully, Gou Chun, who is staying in Qingzhou, will become more suspicious of his local officials. The already fragile relationship will probably become even more tense, and there will definitely be a fight between evil guests and evil hosts. Liu Yu is cheap for nothing.
Unfortunately, within two days, just when Liu was anticipating another fierce fight between the Gou brothers and Qi's powerful men, a piece of bad news came.
An envoy from Guo Chen of Yidu rushed to Liu Yu's army overnight. He told Liu Yu that shortly after Xue Qi left Yidu City, Qingzhou Governor Gou Chun sent an army of 5,000 men to enter Yidu. Support the defense of the city.
After learning that Gou Chun was about to send reinforcements, one of Guo Chen's petty officials, intimidated by the reputation of "Big Gou" and "Xiao Gou", secretly reported to the city guard that the county magistrate Guo Chen was preparing to surrender.
Fortunately, the magistrate of Yidu, Guo Chen, had many eyes and ears. Before Gou Xi's general could attack, he took the initiative and united with the strong men in the city to send troops, besieged the military camp, and killed the guarding general and others.
However, several people still escaped. Guo Chen sent people to pursue him but failed, so he had to stay in Yidu City behind closed doors. At the same time, he sent an envoy to Liu Yu, hoping that Liu Yu would go to Yidu quickly, otherwise he would wait until Gou Chun's reinforcements arrived first. , while besieging Yidu, they will definitely cut off the ferry channel on the Juyang River and prevent Liu Yu's army from crossing the river for rescue.
"My master said that he would also like to ask the general to send troops to Yidu as soon as possible because of his sincerity in taking the eldest son as a pledge." The messenger said anxiously.
Liu Yu pondered for a moment and asked.
"When will the reinforcements sent by Gouchun arrive in Yidu?"
The envoy said in embarrassment, "I don't know about this villain, but two days ago, I got an order from Gou Chun, saying that reinforcements from Gucheng are coming, and asked Yidu to collect supplies and food."
Two days ago?
Liu Yu estimated that in terms of time, Gou Chun's Gucheng reinforcements would probably reach Yidu City today or tomorrow. If Liu Yu's army advances tomorrow, it would probably take a day at the fastest to reach Yidu, which is nearly a hundred miles away. many.
Because he cannot march in a hurry just for the sake of speed. Most of his soldiers are not well drilled, and they must reserve appropriate physical reserves to deal with possible emergencies.
Xue Qi, who was familiar with Qingzhou's terrain and road conditions, roughly calculated the time difference at this time.
"General, in my opinion, the troops in Yidu City are too weak. If Gouchun's reinforcements cut off the Juyang River ferry, it may only take three or four days to break through Yidu," Xue Qi said.
"Then just get there before them. That'll be great."
If the ferry and pontoon of the Juyang River are cut off, Liu Yu's army will not be unable to cross the river. After all, the Juyang River is far from comparable to the Yellow River and the Yangtze River. As long as it takes more time, it can always be prepared for a forced crossing.
But by that time, Guo Chen and others in Yidu City would probably be dead.
And this will definitely increase the power of Gouchen's military power, so that those who are willing to surrender and resist will no longer dare to take risks.
