Chapter 695 Confrontation between the 3 armies
Chapter 695: Three Armies Confronted
Zhou Faming captured Wushan County and the fleet arrived. The soldiers took tents from the ship and began to build a barracks. Some soldiers took rice and bacon, lit the honeycomb coal cakes and began to cook. Slices of bacon were put into the pot and cooked together. When the rice was cooked, it became bacon rice, which was served with meat sauce and pickled plums. Each person could have a large bowl of it.
In the big tent, Zhou Faming was talking to Zhang Yan in detail. Zhou Faming smiled and said, "General Zhang, please tell your father that His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin has been governing Jiangnan for many years. He is not suppressing the powerful and employing the noble families as you worry about. He suppressed the powerful Shanyue people because they rebelled collectively. Later, the powerful people in Jiangnan West Road and Jingxiang Road had good relations. As long as you support the Prince of Jin and do not betray him, His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin will respect your interests. His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin wants to revive the Sui Dynasty. He needs the support of powerful families from all over the country. How could he destroy his own foundation?"
Zhang Yan had always been worried that the King of Jin would suppress the powerful and recruit the noble families. Zhou Faming's words finally relieved his worries. He nodded and said, "I will go tell my father and let him rest assured!"
Zhang Yan rushed to Renfu County overnight to inform his father that in order to show his sincerity, he did not take his 3,000 troops with him but left them in Wushan County.
The next morning, Zhou Faming led an army of 30,000 and continued westward. In the afternoon, they arrived at Renfu County, the county seat. The governor Zhang Jingshan came out to welcome the army.
Zhang Jingshan's surrender was a natural thing and not surprising at all. What was surprising was that Zhang Jingshan told them an important news.
"I got a message that Li Xiaogong's 100,000-man army has captured Chengdu, and Yu Wenzhi led tens of thousands of troops to flee southwards in defeat. I don't know where they are retreating to now."
Zhou Faming was shocked. If Yu Wenzhi's army retreated to Ba County, there would be big trouble.
He asked hurriedly, "Excuse me, Lord Zhang, what is the situation in Ba County?"
"Ba County has about 10,000 troops, led by veteran General Qiu He, who is also the governor of Ba County."
Zhou Faming nodded. He of course knew that the veteran general Qiu He was guarding Ba County. Because of his brother Zhou Fashang, he and Qiu He had a very good relationship.
Zhou Faming asked again: "Did Qiu He surrender to Yu Wenzhi?"
"Qiu He was originally loyal to the Western Sui Dynasty. When Yu Wenzhi destroyed the Western Sui Dynasty and established Qin Wang Yang Hao as the emperor, Qiu He reluctantly submitted a letter of loyalty to Yang Hao. But when Yu Wenzhi deposed Yang Hao and established himself as the emperor, Qiu He remained silent. Like us, he did not submit a letter of loyalty to Yu Wenzhi. Yu Wenzhi may not be able to take care of us. I am not sure about Qiu He's attitude."
Zhou Faming asked again: "Are Envoy Zhang and Qiu He familiar with each other?"
Zhang Jingshan nodded. "Without the support of local tyrants like us, Qiu He will not be able to hold on to his post as governor. If the general wants me to persuade Qiu He to surrender, I can help."
Zhou Faming was overjoyed and bowed, "Thank you, Envoy Zhang, for your help!"
Zhang Jingshan smiled and said, "The situation is critical. I will leave today!"
Zhou Faming immediately took out the letter written by Jin Wang Xiao Xia to Qiu He and asked Zhang Jingshan to give it to Qiu He. Zhang Jingshan set out for Ba County that night. The next morning, Zhou Faming also set out with his army and fleet.
There have been constant coups in Bashu over the past year, and all local officials were confused. Qiu He was no exception. He was originally appointed as the governor of Jiaozhou by Emperor Yang Guang. He stayed in Jiaozhi County for five years and managed Jiaozhi County in an orderly manner, ensuring the safety of the people.
Qiu He was already over sixty years old, and he originally thought that he would spend the rest of his life in Jiaozhi County.
Unexpectedly, in the sixth year of Daye, he was transferred back to the court. However, because he offended Yuwen Shu, he was soon driven back to Bashu and appointed as the governor of Ba County. Later, he also served as the governor of Ba County and stayed in Bashu. After the establishment of Western Sui Dynasty, Qiu He was appointed as the governor of Shannan Road. This was the most glorious moment of his life. He was extremely grateful to the Western Sui Dynasty and was the first to express his loyalty to it.
But his good days ended after the Western Sui Dynasty entered Bashu. Yang Qing took away his military power and reappointed him as the governor of Ba County. He went full circle and returned to the starting point, which made him extremely disappointed and resentful.
So Yu Wenhuaji led his army into Shu, destroyed the Western Sui Dynasty, and established the New Sui Dynasty, making Qin Wang Yang Hao the emperor. In consideration of the fact that Yu Wenhuaji killed Yang Qing, Qiu He reluctantly recognized the New Sui Dynasty.
But as Yu Wenzhi usurped the throne, Qiu He also fell silent. He was a minister of Sui Dynasty and there was no way he could acknowledge Yu Wenzhi as a traitor.
In Qiu He's hands were the troops that his son Qiu Xinggong had brought back to Ba County when he retreated south when the Western Sui Dynasty fell. With these 10,000 troops, Qiu He felt a little more confident.
At this time, Qiu He had received news that Li Xiaogong, a general sent by Tang Wang Li Yuan, had already captured Chengdu, and Yu Wenzhi was retreating southwards, and might soon retreat to Ba County, which made Qiu He very nervous. He began to have his sons recruit civilians for training in Ba County, which is today's Chongqing, located at the confluence of the West Han River and the Yangtze River. It is a large county with tall and strong city walls.
If he had 20,000 or 30,000 troops, he would be able to defend himself even if Yu Wenzhi's army came.
At noon, Qiu He was patrolling the city walls when his son Qiu Xinggong suddenly ran over and whispered, "Father, Zhang Jingshan is here and has something urgent to tell you."
Qiu He frowned. Why did Zhang Jingshan come? Was he also afraid of Yu Wenzhi's army and came to him for protection? How could he take care of the defense of two counties?
Qiu He immediately returned to the official residence and saw Zhang Jingshan sitting in the lobby waiting.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting for so long, Brother Zhang!"
Zhang Jingshan stood up and saluted, saying, "I have something urgent to discuss with General Qiu."
"But what about Yu Wenzhi?"
Zhang Jingshan nodded, "I just got the news that Yu Wenzhi's army has about 80,000 people and has already arrived in Ziyang County. It will arrive in Ba County in five or six days at most!"
"What? Eighty thousand people!"
Qiu He was shocked. He thought Yu Wenzhi had at most 20,000 or 30,000 people, but he didn't expect that he actually had 80,000!
"Why are there so many people?"
"He didn't put up any resistance at all and led his army directly south. He probably wanted to break out of Bashu and go to Jingxiang."
Zhang Jingshan is a local tyrant and he is more sensitive to news than himself. Qiu He is really nervous. With an army of 80,000, how can he defend Ba County?
Zhang Jingshan said slowly, "I have another piece of news to tell Brother Qiu. The army of the King of Jin has also entered Shu. I am now the governor of Badong County appointed by His Royal Highness the King of Jin."
Qiu He's eyes widened, unable to utter a word for a long while. Zhang Jingshan smiled and said, "It is indeed very sudden, but it is true. It is estimated that the Jin King's army will arrive in Ba County tomorrow. Brother Qiu needs to make a decision."
After Zhang Jingshan finished speaking, he handed the letter from the Prince of Jin to Qiu He. Qiu He took the letter and asked, "Who is the commander sent by His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin?"
"Zhou Faming, does Brother Qiu know him?"
"Ah! It's Zhou Faming."
Of course Qiu He was very familiar with them. He had stayed in Jiaozhi County for five years, Zhou Fashang had stayed in Lingnan West Road for ten years, and Zhou Faming was also in Lingnan West Road at that time and had come to Jiaozhi County many times. It can be said that they were all from the same circle, and Qiu He and the Zhou brothers had a deep friendship.
In fact, Xiao Xia sent Zhou Faming as the main general largely because Zhou Faming and Qiu He had a close relationship, and Xiao Xia hoped that Zhou Faming would win Qiu He over.
Hearing that it was Zhou Faming who led his troops into Shu, Qiu He felt relieved and opened the letter from the King of Jin.
Qiu He and Xiao Xia also had some connections. When he served as the General of the Left Wuhou Guard, Xiao Xia was his nominal subordinate.
At this time, the eldest son Qiu Shi hurried over and reported in the hall: "Father, Li Xiaogong sent an envoy to see you!"
(End of this chapter)