The news of the Han army's northward retreat spread across the river to Jinling as soon as possible. When Li Jing, the leader of the Tang Dynasty, heard the news, he sat up from his bed in shock, but this time it was a surprise. After confirming the report to the messenger several times, Li Jing was completely relieved when he learned that the Han Emperor had led the Imperial Guards in Tokyo and escorted the war gains and tributes northward along the canal.
An edict was issued immediately, asking the Southern Tang court to ship the last batch of tea and grain to the north of the Yangtze River. Then, Li Jing found that his symptoms seemed to have improved, and he did not mention moving the capital or abdicating the throne.
Later, Han Xizai's ban was lifted and he was promoted to Bachelor of Arts and Sciences, Minister of Household Affairs, and Tongping Zhangshi. Chen Jue, the defeated general, was also taken out alone, criticized and questioned, and beheaded at the palace gate. He also reprimanded Li Zhenggu, the deputy envoy to the privy council, and Wei Cen, the admonishing official. The most important thing was that Song Qiqiu, the Duke of Chu, was dismissed from all his posts and was taken to Jiuhua Mountain to "recuperate."
The Northern Han Dynasty conquered the South, but the Southern Tang Dynasty was defeated and lost half of its country. They humiliated themselves and sued for peace. This result deeply touched Li Jing. Li Jing's move was a decision made after painstaking experience. He did not want to cause the conflict between the north and the south to cause chaos in the court and lead to the defeat of the country.
Chen Jue was executed, Li Zhenggu and Wei Cen were demoted, and Song Qiqiu immigrated. It can be said that the "Song Party" that was most prosperous in the Southern Tang Dynasty completely collapsed. Li Jing also deliberately wanted to reuse Jiangbei scholars and promote good ministers and generals. In addition to Han Xizai, Liu Renfan, Lin Renzhao and a few other generals were also rewarded.
However, Feng Yansi, once a backbone of the Song Party and even a unique figure, survived this political turmoil. There were no reductions in official positions, but increases in rank and salary, and his younger brother Feng Yanlu was promoted to the governor of Jinling by Li Jing.
As a monarch, balancing is a basic skill. It can be seen from Li Jing's adjustment movements that he truly repented and wanted to restore national power. But, is it too late now?
More importantly, although the scourge of party strife has been temporarily eliminated, the battle for reserve positions has broken out again. The Yan King Li Hongji's ambitions were completely inflated during this national upheaval.
...
At the same time that great changes occurred among the imperial courts of the Southern Tang Dynasty, Liu Chengyou and Luan Jia had already crossed north to Huaihe and turned to the west. The only people accompanying him were the Iron Cavalry, Longqi, and Xiaodi armies.
Along the way, we were also inspecting the situation in prefectures and counties. Not long after the war ended, although it was not devastated, the towns and villages were also desolate. On the canal, in addition to public ships and military boats, there are also boats.
However, what can be clearly felt is that although people's hearts are unstable, order is slowly restoring. Although the rulers have changed, during this spring plowing season, the common people in the countryside are already planting rice seedlings. No matter whether the sky falls or not, they will still have food to eat.
Sizhou, Xuyi.
The entire Huainan was dedicated to the Northern Han Dynasty by the Tang court, but Xuyi City still held firm, and the Tang flag was still erected high above the city head. Outside the city, the Han army only set up a stronghold to guard the city that was "stolen" by Guo Tingwei.
Guo Tingwei had his own generals, but when Guo Rong returned, he mobilized troops and horses. With more troops, more elite soldiers, and more resources, he was also firmly sealed in the city.
Originally, the Sizhou Navy was a big card in Guo Tingwei's hands, but it soon lost its effectiveness after Xiang Xun was ordered to lead the main force of the Jingjiang Army eastward for support. Attacked by water and land, Xuyi Water Village was successfully defeated.
Guo Tingwei was also a very courageous and decisive man. Sensing the danger, he directly withdrew all the water soldiers into the city and burned the water stronghold and warships to stop the Han army.
After that, they strengthened the city's defenses and took on the posture of besieging the isolated city and defending Xuyi to the death. Moreover, Guo Tingwei promptly plundered all the food and supplies for the more than 20,000 people in the city, leaving them strong and strong, and then drove all the remaining people out of the city, completely turning Xuyi into a military fortress.
Regarding Guo Tingwei's approach, even Guo Rong couldn't help but sigh and appreciate it a lot more. He ordered that the Xuyi scholars and people who had been driven out of the city be sent to Linhuai in the north for temporary resettlement.
In this way, for a full month, the offensive and defensive game between Guo Rong and Guo Tingwei, two people named Guo, unfolded around Xuyi City. Even a strong attack was considered a full-scale attack, but they were all firmly defended by Guo Tingwei.
However, the general trend was irreversible, and Guo Tingwei's persistence was meaningless after the two countries negotiated peace and the news of Tang Ting's surrender spread northward. The people in Xuyi City were scattered and the morale of the army was turbulent. It could be regarded as an abandoned army. If it weren't for Guo Tingwei's prestige, it would have collapsed long ago.
At the top of Xuyi City, Guo Tingwei had an expressionless face, patrolling for defense as usual. He could clearly feel the weakening of morale. Looking outside the city, the Han army's barracks were still so strict.
"Your Majesty!"
"Your Majesty!"
Everyone he met at the military academy saluted Guo Tingwei. Finally, an officer asked Guo Tingwei: "Your Majesty, the imperial court has sued for peace and a truce with the Han army. Why should we hold on so hard? If the Han army is angered and the city is destroyed, the soldiers will also be buried with them!" "
If earlier, any of his subordinates had spoken to Guo Tingwei like this, he would have shaken the morale of the army and executed him. But now, it is no longer necessary.
The Han army outside the city had not moved for a long time. Guo Tingwei simply called to the nearby sergeants, sat in a circle around him, and said, "You all have this kind of idea?"
Another commander said directly: "Your Majesty, since the Northern Han Dynasty marched to the south, we have resisted with all our strength and fought hard. Hao and Sirlang have suffered many casualties. Hold on to the city and would rather die than surrender. We have done our best to the imperial court." Loyal. Now that both countries have reached a peace agreement, why bother to support it anymore? The current plan has no way out except surrender!"
Seeing this, Guo Tingwei smiled bitterly and said, "How could I not know what you are saying? It's just..."
There was a flash of hesitation on his face, and Guo Tingwei said: "Well, now that things have come to this, how can I lead my soldiers to death? The Han army outside the city has not attacked the city for a long time, do you know why? Guo Rong is also waiting for us to leave. Jia has surrendered!"
"What about the envoy?" His subordinate asked urgently.
"Do you think it would be better to surrender to the Northern Han Dynasty and implement the Huaidong Economic Strategy, or to surrender directly to the Emperor of the Northern Han Dynasty?" Guo Tingwei said simply.
If you say this, you will gain something.
In the Han camp outside the city, the generals of the Han army were also puzzled. Like martial arts, he always wanted to make meritorious deeds, but in the end he only stayed in the Xuyi Han camp for a month. Hurrying to the commander's tent, he found Guo Rong, only to see him leisurely enjoying tea and playing chess with Xiang Xun.
"Guo Shijun and Xiang will both be happy!" Wu Xingde said.
"Master Wu, please sit down!" Guo Rong said, "Come here, serve tea!"
"Your Majesty!" Wu Xingde was obviously not that interested, and directly stated his purpose: "Now all the states in Huainan have become Han territory, and only this city is occupied by these remnants of the Tang army. If word spreads, it will damage the reputation of our army.
The people in Xuyi City are already scattered. As long as they attack him again, they will surely break the city. The dragon boat has entered Huaihe River and His Majesty is about to arrive. How will I explain to His Majesty then? "
"Don't be anxious, Duke Wu!" Guo Rong said with a calm attitude: "When Your Majesty arrives, Xuyi will be defeated. The overall situation is like this. It is best to be able to attack the whole city and capture the city lightly. Why waste the lives of our soldiers? In that battle of spirits, one general will make all the bones dry up!"
Wu Xingde was a little dazed and looked at Guo Rong: "Why is Guo Shijun so sure?"
Guo Rong did not explain. He looked at Xiang Xun and smiled, then said to Wu Xingde, "If Lord Wu is really impatient, you can go and prepare for the arrival!"
Seeing this, Wu Xingde didn't hesitate much and immediately agreed. What the Duke wants now is to try his best to leave a good impression on the emperor so as to erase the mistakes of his previous defeats. As everyone knows, Liu Chengyou has no intention of criticizing him harshly.
As for Guo Rong, he was so calm because he received a letter from Guo Tingwei last time. The letter said that it was not that he was unwilling to surrender, but that his family was in the south of the Yangtze River, and he was afraid that if he surrendered to the north of the Yangtze River, his family would suffer in the south of the Yangtze River.
They had similar considerations to those of Tang general Xu Xiang and others. In response to this, Guo Rongbao and Liu Chengyou had only one sentence in reply: They have been informed and will be resolved soon.
As for Xuyi, there seems to be a tacit understanding between the two Guo.
