Chapter 373: All the heroes (53)

After the Great Destruction of Western Shu, the barrier of Southern Han was lost. Faced with the pressure of the Great Zhou army, its defense line was in danger.

In July of the second year of Hanxing, Guo Jiong led 10,000 Black Eagle Army and 5,000 Yangtze River Navy to Jinghu. At the same time, he mobilized more than 30,000 troops in ten prefectures including Xiangzhou, Fuzhou, Jinghu, etc., and nearly 50,000 troops in the entire army were ready to attack the Southern Han. Guo Jiong once led his army to destroy Jinghu. More than ten prefectures in Xiangzhou were quite prestigious. Once the order was issued, the states did not dare to hide their own personalities. They all sent the tax troops to Langzhou and obeyed Guo Jiong's command.

What is rich in comedy is that when the Zhou army was sharpening its swords, the Southern Han army overestimated its ability and continued to harass the Great Zhou, and successively sent troops to attack Jianghua, Tanzhou and other places. In order to win the preparation time and to make the excuses for war more sufficient, Hou Dayong wrote two letters to the Southern Han Han to persuade him to surrender. Liu Chang, the ruler of the Southern Han Dynasty, not only did not listen, but instead changed his original calendar. In August of the second year of Hanxing, he sent troops to attack Dazhou City of Dazhou.

Details of the attack of the Southern Han army were widely publicized in Daliang City. For a moment, the crowd was infuriated and the calls for destroying the Southern Han were gradually rising.

The Southern Han Dynasty has become the fat meat at the mouth of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and it only depends on when it will be put.

In September of the second year of Hanxing, the Great Zhou army was fully prepared and launched a war against the Southern Han. The territory of the Southern Han was like a winter melon in the ground, long from east to west and short from north to south. Guo Jiong chose to break in from the central part of Southern Han, lure and annihilate the enemy, stabilize the flanks, and avoid dangerous roads such as Yuechengling, Dupangling, Mengzhuling, Qitianling, and Dayuling, and approached Hezhou.

After capturing Feng Cheng, in mid-September, the Great Zhou army crossed Baixia City and arrived in Fanglin in northern Hezhou on September 12th.

When the news reached the Southern Han court, the eunuchs of all the dynasties were stunned. The king Liu Chang had a strange temper. However, he was also a little bloody and did not want to surrender easily. He sent eunuch Gong Chengshu to Hezhou to comfort the soldiers of Hezhou on behalf of Liu Chang. Hezhou is an important town on the border of the northern southern Han Dynasty. The Hezhou army has been in a difficult life all year round. This time, the Zhou army invaded a large number of times. The court finally sent people to comfort him. The soldiers of Hezhou thought they would definitely receive rewards. Unexpectedly, the eunuch Gong Chengshu only brought one imperial edict and two mouths, without any reward. The Hezhou army was both disappointed and angry. When the notice of the Zhou Dynasty exemption from rent for three years was posted, the morale of the Hezhou army was mostly lost.

After the vanguard of the Great Zhou army appeared in Fanglin in northern Hezhou, the eunuch Gong Chengshu was extremely frightened and fled back to Guangzhou in a small boat. The Great Zhou army arrived at the city of Hezhou without a fight.

Liu Chang killed the eunuch Gong Chengshu and sent general Wu Yanrou to lead the boat troops to the Yu River. Heshui went west to the north to aid. The Yangtze River Navy and the Black Diao Army set up a three-fold ambush in Nanxiang. Opening a large net to wait for the reinforcements of the Southern Han army. On September 20, Wu Yanrou led his army to prepare for the night mooring of Nanxiang. Wu Yanrou was very funny in fighting. As a general, he sat on Hu's bed while marching, holding a slingshot to command people to advance towards Hezhou. Unexpectedly, just after passing a high reed grassland, the Zhou army ambushed up and the strong crossbows were fired at once. The ambushed was the main force of the Black Diao Army. The Southern Han army was shot down and the formation was in chaos. When he wanted to escape, the figures of the Zhou army were everywhere, and Wu Yanrou was captured alive on the spot.

An officer covered in mud walked out. It was Wu Jiaqiang, deputy general of the Forward Battalion. Wu Yanrou was stubborn and was still cursing after being tied up. He annoyed Wu Jiaqiang. He waved his sword and cut off a big head. He and Zhou Qing were friends for many years. Zhou Qing was quick-thinking and delicate, while Wu Jiaqiang was extroverted. He had long become a tough character in the army for many years.

"Put this fat head with a bamboo pole and take it to Hezhou City."

Wu Yanrou was sent to Hezhou City with a big head, and then shot the documents to surrender without renting the documents to the city tower. She also found a few soldiers from Langzhou who shouted in Langzhou and said in Langzhou that the surrendered Zhou army had farming and the benefits of eating.

The Hezhou army was originally dissatisfied with Liu Chang. At this time, they were besieged by the Zhou army and the reinforcements were defeated again. They had long lost their courage. They did not believe the Zhou army's persuasion to surrender, but they had some trust in the former enemy Langzhou soldiers. While hesitating, the Zhou army tested several giant catapults outside the city, and stones larger than millstones hit the city wall, making a deafening sound, which aroused dust in the sky.

So the Hezhou army made up their minds to open the city and surrender.

The gate to the city of Hezhou was opened after occupying Hezhou and attacking Guangzhou was opened. However, there were Fuzhou, Zhaozhou, Guizhou, and Lianzhou, Shaozhou, Yingzhou, and Xiongzhou to the east of Hezhou. These prefectures were all guarded by the Southern Han army. If they rashly head south and their rear routes were cut off, there would be a danger of the entire army being wiped out at any time.

In order to mobilize the enemy, Guo Jiong asked the Yangtze River Navy to build a camp in Heshui, threatening everywhere that he would go south along the Heshui River and take straight to Guangzhou.

Hezhou was lost and reinforcements were defeated. Liu Chang also knew that the Zhou army had indeed suffered. In desperation, he activated Pan Chongche, a veteran who had been dismissed for many years, and appointed him as the Inner Taishi and the commander of the Cavalry and Infantry Army. He ordered him to lead 50,000 troops to station in Hejiangkou to block the Zhou army.

Yang Lehe, the general of the Yangtze River Navy, had been hearing about Pan Chongche's reputation for a long time. He was quite worried when he heard about it. Five thousand Yangtze River Navy fought against more than 20,000 Southern Han Navy. The other commander was another famous veteran. After thinking about it, he always felt that his chances of winning were very little, so he tried to prevent the Zhou army from going south. Qian Xiangnan, the commander of the military intelligence battalion, also followed the army south. The military intelligence battalion operated the Southern Han for many years and knew the internal situation of the Southern Han. When he heard that Pan Chongche was in charge, he urgently ordered the soldiers to pay attention to the movements of Pan's troops.

Guo Jiong, Yang Lehe, and Qian Xiangnan are the highest minds of the conquest army. Yang Lehe looks down on the mustache hiding in the dark and Qian Xiangnan with his small eyes. Regarding strategic issues, he has clashed with Qian Xiangnan many times.

On October 6, Qian Xiangnan got accurate information. In the evening, the three of them had their last discussion. When Guo Jiong explained the basic situation, Qian Xiangnan's eyes dripped around several times and said slowly: "Pan Chongche and Liu Chang have long had a quarrel. He was stationed at Hejiangkou. Our army can attack west with all their might, and there is no need to worry about his army coming up."

Guo Jiong naturally understood the position of the military intelligence camp in Hou Dayong's mind. Therefore, although he was the Grand Marshal, he treated Qian Xiangnan very well and did not treat him as a subordinate. This made Deputy General Yang Lehe a little puzzled. In his mind, Qian Xiangnan's identity was almost the same as joining the army, so why did he get the Grand Marshal's courtesy?

After hearing Qian Xiangnan's words, Guo Jiong's eyes flashed and said, "Reason?"

"Pan Chongche is a veteran general of the Southern Han Army, and his troops are also the most combat-effective unit in the Southern Han Army. However, he did not want to be an eunuch, and was envied by Chief Liu because of his high prestige. He sought an opportunity to remove his military power. Pan Chongche was very dissatisfied with Chief Liu."

Yang Lehe said, "Don't be satisfied, it doesn't mean anything at this time." Qian Xiangnan paused for a moment, touched his beard, and said, "Pan Chongche is the only remaining general in the Southern Han Dynasty who can fight, so it is naturally the focus of our attention. We all know his every move. This time, Pan Chongche did not say a word, laughed three times and sneered three times. After taking over the old subordinates, he continued to strengthen the military camp, prepared food and grass, and took all his relatives to Hejiangkou. Based on this, it can be judged that Pan Chongche wanted to support his troops and watch the development of the war."

Guo Jiong nodded and said, "Since that's the case, I can rest assured. Only one thousand men were left in Heshui Junzhai, and the army attacked the western Zhao and Guizhou with all their might." Yang Lehe was shocked and said, "One person's words alone can make such a major decision."

Seeing that Guo Jiong trusted Qian Xiangnan very much. He couldn't guess what Qian Xiangnan came from, so he resisted the doubts.

The army went west, and Yang Lehe, the largest ship and the most loyal and brave soldier, stayed in Hejiang's military camp. In addition, he also increased the 1,000 troops left to 2,000. After arranging these things, he followed the army west with doubts.

The road to advance west was surprisingly smooth. When the garrison of Guizhou in the southern Han Dynasty learned that the Zhou army was attacking, he abandoned the city and fled without hesitation. The Zhou army had only one march and obtained two important cities. On October 20, Fuzhou was captured. On November 7, Guo Jiong's army turned east and captured Lianzhou.

At this point, Guo Jiongjun eliminated his worries.

Qian Xiangnan ordered the military intelligence camp to spread rumors in Guangzhou, saying that the Zhou army intends to be in the 14 prefectures in Hunan. After occupying the 14 prefectures, they will withdraw their troops. This rumor is not worth pondering at all, and Qian Xiangnan does not have much hope for it. However, history often makes people laugh. Liu Chang's ministers in the court may have been completely cleansed, and his mind is different from ordinary people. He actually believes this lie that can only be regarded as a rumor. So Liu Chang continued to eat, drink, and play with women, and the defense on the northern line was extremely empty.

Guo Jiong's army only rested for three days before heading to Shaozhou. Shaozhou is located at the confluence of Beishui and Wushui. According to Daruling in the five ridges, it is the northern gate of Guangzhou. Shaozhou was lost and Guangzhou opened its doors wide. He urgently ordered the commander Li Chengwo to lead more than 100,000 troops to defend Shaozhou and station troops at the Lotus Peak five miles outside Shaozhou City.

Yunzhou Security Station is launched.

This is another war that can be recorded in history, not because of the tragic tragedy, but because it is a typical case of shooting oneself in the foot.

There are secret weapons in the Southern Han army, which are heavy weapons in the local area of ​​the cavalry and infantry army - elephants. In several large-scale battles, the Southern Han army placed elephants in front of the formation. Each elephant carried several soldiers, holding longbows, and charged into the formation, which made him frightened. Li Chengwo at the foot of the Lotus Mountain had an absolute advantage in military strength and had elephants helping him. Therefore, he was not afraid of the Zhou army, but fought field battles with him, trying to annihilate the invading Zhou army.

The elephant formation is not a secret for Guo Jiong. The military intelligence camp has long listed the advantages and disadvantages of the elephant position in detail. How to break the formation has been arranged properly, and we are just waiting for the Southern Han army to fall into the trap.

At the beginning of the war, the Zhou army had a flying crossbow, and there were a large number of rockets. The elephants were startled and jumped around the Southern Han army, chasing the Southern Han army. A cavalry of the Black Eagle Army suddenly rushed out from the flank, rushing the Southern Han army into pieces and falling down. The escaped South Han army trampled on each other. More than 100,000 troops were defeated. They were chased by 30,000 Zhou army for dozens of miles, and only more than a thousand people fled back to Guangzhou.

Li Chengwo was caught up by the Wu family, and his personal guard refused to surrender. The Wu family ordered the crossbow of the Five Tiger General to shoot it into a porcupine.

The news of the fall of Shaozhou and the annihilation of the entire army came. The whole country of Southern Han was frightened. Although Liu Chang was confused, he was very brave and ordered the renovation of Xingwangfu city. At this time, Liu Chang realized that most of the generals who could be conquered by the Southern Han were killed by him. In the face of danger, no one in the court dared to fight, so he ordered the eunuch Liu Zhen adopted son Guo Chongyue to lead 60,000 troops to Majing and build Muzhai to defend Guangzhou.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Pan Chongche, stationed in Hejiangkou, led his troops to surrender. Pan's troops were the most capable troops of the Southern Han army. His surrender completely disintegrated the morale of the Southern Han army.

At the end of November, Guo Jiong used fire to defeat the Southern Han army. Guo Chongyue died among the Wu family. On December 10, Liu Chang surrendered and the Southern Han army was destroyed.

Hou Dayong fulfilled his promise and took Liu Chang to the white marble stele in Daliang City. Dou Yan read out the ten major crimes of Liu Gong's insulting scholars all over the world, and was then beheaded in front of the white marble stele.

Since the late Tang Dynasty, military men were in power, and literati had already been ruined. This was the farce of all the ministers in the court being castrated. Liu Chang was executed in Daliang, which made the literati in the world feel angry. The news spread to the world. The white marble stele in the mainland of Daliang City became a holy place for scholars. Many years later, no matter how far away the scholars in the world will definitely come to this white marble stele to make a pilgrimage to the white marble, touch the base of the jade stele with their hands, and pray for the success of the imperial examination.

After the demise of the Southern Han Dynasty, the Great Zhou Dynasty occupied the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the lower reaches of the Pearl River, and strategically formed a three-sided surround against the Southern Tang Dynasty.

The Southern Tang lord Li Jing wanted to survive, but he took the initiative to remove the title of Southern Tang and expressed his surrender. He knew that he was not a match for the Zhou army and moved the capital from Jinling to Nanchang. A cold rain, Li Jing was filled with infinite sorrow and a hint of liberation.

At this time, the Zhou army had been fighting for more than two years, and the soldiers were tired and consumed a lot. The Southern Tang Dynasty was obviously stronger than Western Shu, the Southern Han and Jinghu. Although Hou Dayong was eager to destroy the Tang Dynasty, he had to temporarily stop his troops and rest for a while, and then look for a suitable opportunity to destroy the largest separatist force in the south, the Southern Tang Dynasty.

In a blink of an eye, the Spring Festival of the third year of Han Xing had already arrived. After becoming emperor, Jinghu, Western Shu and Southern Tang were successively destroyed. The actual controlled areas and population of the Great Zhou Dynasty increased greatly. In addition, the occupied areas were implemented to exempt rent and tax reduction policies, killing a few stubborn elements, uniting the vast social class, causing the social order and production of the newly occupied areas to be restored rapidly, and greatly increasing the strength of the Great Zhou army and territory.

As the chief leader of the empire, Hou Dayong would naturally be very happy. When the Spring Festival comes, he will easily devote himself to the joy of Daliang City. The palace is like the people, drinking Laba porridge, worshiping the Kitchen God, making new clothes, sweeping the houses, buying New Year's goods, preparing delicious dishes, pasting Spring Festival couplets and other activities. He has experienced them one by one.

Speaking of Spring Festival couplets, we have to attribute it to Meng Chang. He wrote the earliest Spring Festival couplet: "New Year welcomes Yuqing, Jia Festival is Changchun". From then on, Spring Festival couplets gradually became a custom. In another world, Hou Dayong's hometown had the habit of writing Spring Festival couplets. Of course, Hou Dayong did not know that Spring Festival couplets were invented by Meng Chang. He happily asked the Hanlin Academy to write praises of peace, the reunification of the motherland, and also praised beautiful love.

Hou Dayong has been in the palace for a long time. The word love is something that cannot be grasped in the distant sky, and it is also an illusory luxury. What love is also difficult to figure out.

The harem was deserted, so naturally there was no need for so many palace maids. Many of the officers who had made contributions in the Black Eagle Army were extremely young. Due to the battles everywhere, many people had no family. Hou Dayong released a group of palace maids out of the palace to let them get married to these officers. This happy thing also added a lot of joy to Daliang City.

Compared with Daliang, Khitan Shangjing was filled with swords and swords, and the battle between the royal family continued.
Chapter completed!