Chapter 709: Troops Arrive at Guancheng
Chapter 709: Troops Arrive at Guancheng
Xu Shiji was a little overwhelmed. He now understood why his lord had to go north. Once the King of Jin's army marched north, they would have nowhere to stand. What Li Mi said before he left temporarily had now become a reality.
The King of Jin had already laid a tight net, and even the Yellow River was patrolled by the navy from the south, so it was impossible to build a pontoon bridge. Even if Li Mi's army went south to rescue him, it would be impossible.
Xu Shiji found himself with nowhere to go.
That afternoon, Xu Shiji received news that the three armies of King Jin were approaching Guancheng County, and there were about 100,000 troops surrounding Guancheng from three directions.
General Zhang Tongru found Xu Shiji and said, "Third General, the three armies of King Jin are now about thirty miles away from us. I found a gap in the southeast direction. We can break out from the southeast direction!"
Xu Shiji smiled bitterly and said, "Do you think the King of Jin will leave us an opening? Even if you break out, where can you go?"
Zhang Tongru bowed and said, "I am from Runan County, which has many mountainous areas. If we retreat to Runan County, I am sure I can gain a foothold!"
The biggest feature of the Wagang Army is the military system. Every general has his own army. Even if Li Mi came to power, he did not dare to touch this bottom line, otherwise everyone would oppose him.
Zhang Tongru also had his own army. Since he proposed this, he actually wanted to disband and did not want to tie himself to the Wagang Army.
Xu Shiji nodded, "If you want to leave, I won't stop you!"
Zhang Tongru bowed and saluted, "I beg the Third General to give me some food. I will be grateful!"
Xu Shiji immediately ordered the allocation of 10,000 shi of grain to Zhang Tongru.
That night, Zhang Tongru led 10,000 troops and 500 carts out of the South Gate and headed southeast.
Xu Shiji stood on the top of the city wall, watching Zhang Tongru leave, sneering in his heart. The Prince of Jin surrounded the city on three sides and left a gap on purpose, but Zhang Tongru couldn't see it. If he wanted to commit suicide, it was up to him.
As soon as Zhang Tongru's army went out, they were immediately discovered by scouts of the Jin Wang army, who quickly reported the situation to Jin Wang Xiao Xia. Xiao Xia left a loophole to disintegrate the Wagang Army, so he immediately called the Xue brothers and Su Dingfang.
Xiao Xia pointed at the sand table with a wooden pole and said, "We just received news from our scouts that a 10,000-strong Wagang Army has left the South City Gate and is heading south along the Southeast Official Road. The three of you will each lead 5,000 cavalry to follow them. When they get close to Putian County, we will attack them. Those who surrender will be spared, but those who resist will be killed without mercy!"
"Follow the order!"
The three of them bowed and left.
After Zhang Tongru walked away, there was no ambush. Many Wagang Army generals were tempted and asked to lead their troops away.
Xu Shiji did not stop them and let these generals leave. At one time, more than a dozen generals took away another 20,000 people.
Xu Shiji's army of 80,000 was reduced to 50,000. The next afternoon, more than a hundred soldiers escaped and brought news that shocked the entire army.
Zhang Tongru's army was surrounded by the cavalry of Prince of Jin's army in Putian County. The entire army was defeated and surrendered, and Zhang Tongru died in the chaos.
The other dozen or so fleeing troops were surrounded by the Jin Prince's army and all surrendered.
These news caused an uproar in the city, but the Sui army remained on hold. Fang Yanzhao became a little impatient and hurried to Xu Shiji to discuss the matter.
Fang Yanzhao was Li Mi's right-hand man. He came back to urge for grain. Unexpectedly, he was attacked by the Sui army as soon as he arrived in Baima County. He ran fast and fled to Guancheng County with his men. Now he can't leave even if he wants to.
Fang Yanzhao was Fang Xuanling's uncle. Initially, Fang Xuanling wrote to him, asking him to surrender to Prince of Jin. He was grateful for Li Mi's kindness to him, so he did not agree. Now that the southern Wagang Army was on the verge of destruction, Fang Yanzhao felt a little regretful.
Xu Shiji asked Fang Yanzao to sit down and said with a smile, "General Fang, do you also want to leave Guancheng County?"
Fang Yanzao shook his head. "The King of Jin has set up a dragnet outside the city. Where can I escape? I just remembered some things my nephew mentioned in the letter he wrote to me." "Please give me some advice, sir!"
"My nephew said that voluntary surrender and being a prisoner of war are not the same thing. Those who surrender can be released and go home directly. If they are incorporated into the Sui army, they can also get military merit and land. But prisoners of war have to serve three years of hard labor before they can be released and go home."
Xu Shiji narrowed his eyes and asked, "Mr. Fang, are you trying to persuade me to surrender?"
Fang Yanzao sighed and said, "The King of Jin is thirty miles away from the outer city of Guancheng County. Doesn't this mean that the general is asking him to surrender?"
Xu Shiji shook his head. "The King of Jin left the southeastern opening unsealed, which was to provoke my army to split. In the end, our army's morale collapsed, forcing us to surrender without a fight."
Fang Yanzao whispered, "If the army's morale really collapses, I'm afraid some generals will want to kill you for glory, or directly open the city to surrender. At that time, you will be a prisoner of war! Think about Du Fuwei's fate. Do you also want to be exiled to Lingnan to spend the rest of your life?"
Xu Shiji said after a while: "To be honest, sir, I am actually waiting for the arrival of the envoy of King Jin. I want to surrender in a dignified manner!"
"The King of Jin is of noble status. He has the upper hand at this time and will not easily lower his status. The general should judge the situation and take the initiative to lower his posture. If the general is willing, I can go to the Sui army camp on your behalf to meet the King of Jin."
Xu Shiji thought about it and it made sense. What kind of person is the King of Jin? Why would he take the initiative to compromise with him? It was he who should bow his head at this time.
"Okay! Please, sir, go there for me."
Xu Shiji immediately wrote a letter and gave it to Fang Yanzhao, who went out of the city to the Sui army camp thirty miles away.
Soon, Fang Yanzao gradually approached the Sui army camp. When he was still two miles away from the camp, he was surrounded by a dozen patrol cavalrymen. Fang Yanzao quickly clasped his fists and said, "I am the assistant general of the household department of the Wagang Army. My name is Fang Yanzao. I am here on behalf of the commander Xu Shiji to ask for an audience with His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin!"
The patrol cavalry searched his weapons and said, "Come with us!"
A dozen cavalrymen brought Fang Yanzao to the camp and explained the situation. Someone immediately went to report. Fang Yanzao waited for a while inside the camp gate, and then a soldier of the King of Jin came over and asked, "Who is Mr. Fang Yanzao?"
"It's me!" Fang Yanzao quickly raised his hand.
"His Highness has ordered that Mr. Fang come in. Please follow us!"
Fang Yanzao came to the tent of the King of Jin, and his personal soldiers went in to report. After a moment, he came out and waved his hand, saying, "Sir, please come in!"
Fang Yanzhao took a deep breath and walked into the big tent, only to see Prince Jin sitting at the desk, looking at him sternly.
Fang Yanzao was nervous and stepped forward quickly, saying, "I am Fang Yanzao, and I am here to see His Royal Highness the Prince of Jin!"
Xiao Xia glanced at him and asked calmly, "General Fang should be in Hebei, why is he in Guancheng County?"
"I came back to collect the grain, but Baima County fell, so I had no choice but to retreat to Guancheng County."
Xiao Xia nodded, "If you want to go back to Hebei, I can send someone to take you across the Yellow River!"
Fang Yanzao said after a while: "I don't want to go back to Hebei!"
Xiao Xia looked at him and said slowly, "Explain one thing to me. If you can explain it, I will allow you to surrender. When your nephew wrote to you, it was actually me who asked him to write it. You didn't reply. Why didn't you receive your nephew's letter?"
(End of this chapter)