When Daliang soldiers and horses were attacking cities and territories in Xixia, the atmosphere at Renzhong Camp outside Huanzhou City was heavy.
The troops were divided into four parts and plundered for a day, leaving no food for the Han people. However, all the soldiers and horses only took back half a day's food and grass for the 200,000 troops. In other words, after stopping for one day, the army's food and grass were still half a day short.
The generals discussed for a while, but could not come up with a result, so they could only disperse.
When everyone left, Renzhong asked someone to recruit his trusted generals.
"The situation is like this now. There are no outsiders here. Can everyone tell us what countermeasures are available?"
A general said: "Since we can't grab the food and grass for the army, we can only reduce the number of the army."
When everyone heard the words, they all started to think about it.
"That's true, especially those Han sons who quarrel with the Young Master. Now the situation in Xixia is very tight. The Crown Prince of Liang has led troops to invade our country. Even if we take them back, we can't guarantee that they won't be dissatisfied."
A general said doubtfully: "Even if Young Master Chuang is abandoned, there will still be 150,000 troops in the army. It won't be much different from the current situation."
The Fan who had previously recruited Xue Sichang gritted his teeth and said: "In my opinion, it is better to select 50,000 elite soldiers and let the rest of the troops find their own way. In this way, the 50,000 elite soldiers will have eight days of food and grass. If the horses are slaughtered, it will be enough." It can last for more than ten days."
"What? That doesn't mean we have to give up 150,000 troops and horses. The king of the country and the King of Jin have already lost their troops. If we abandon another 150,000 troops and horses, even if we retreat, what can we do to stop Liang's troops and horses."
"The situation is like this now. If we don't make a decision, I am afraid that the entire army of 200,000 will collapse. When the soldiers heard that the leader and Chago were defeated, their military morale was unstable. Once they ran out of food, they would inevitably mutiny. Rather than this, it would be better Who has a better way to save tens of thousands of troops?"
When all the generals heard this, they immediately became quiet.
Renzhong saw that this was the only way. He said helplessly: "That's all we have now, but we can leave a hundred thousand soldiers and horses. In this way, the army can have four days of food and grass, and then slaughter some horses, which will be enough to support them back."
A general said: "If the other 100,000 soldiers and horses know that they have been abandoned, I am afraid they will mutiny immediately."
"Just send them away. Send them to rob food tomorrow. When they are far away, we will break camp and go north. When they find out, they will not be able to catch up with us."
Renzhong discussed it with everyone again. Decide which troops to keep and which to abandon, and then disperse.
Early the next morning, Renzhong sent many troops to plunder villages in the east and south.
When the soldiers and horses who were about to abandon him were far away, Renzhong immediately broke out of camp, bypassed Huanzhou, and headed towards Xixia.
Xue Sichang was taking inventory of his family property in the city. He also knew that the prince hated traitors, so he would be lucky not to kill him. I will never give him an official job again.
Xue Sichang looked at a jade sculpture carefully, imagining the life of a rich man in the future. He has been an official for many years. Cai Jing, Gao Qiu and others in the court were corrupt, and he was no exception. I have accumulated a lot of belongings. Even if the Liang court did not reward him, his wealth would be enough to make him wealthy for the rest of his life.
Collect some paintings and calligraphy, buy a few houses and concubines, and don¡¯t have to worry about political affairs. There is no need for intrigues, which is quite pleasant.
Suddenly, a burst of rapid footsteps came from outside the hall.
Xue Sichang put the jade carving in his hand on the table aside. Sit upright.
Di Kun, the training envoy of the Huanzhou Regiment, walked in quickly, cupped his fists and said, "Sir, the Xixia soldiers and horses outside the city suddenly broke out of camp."
Xue Sichang suddenly stood up and said, "What? Didn't you just come to report that Xixia sent many troops to plunder?"
Di Kun nodded and said: "We did send a lot of soldiers and horses out before, but just now all the troops in the camp broke out and went north, along with many baggage vehicles. The soldiers and horses that went out to loot previously did not return. Could it be that Renzhong abandoned them?"
Xue Sichang thought for a while and said: "No, Renzhong probably gave up some of his troops and retained his elite."
Hearing this, Di Kun said, "What should we do?"
Di Kun was Xue Sichang's confidant. Previously, Xue Sichang defected to Xixia, and they also followed Xue Sichang and defected to Xixia. Xue Sichang is a traitor, and they are no better. After Daliang even defeated Cha Ge and Li Qianshun's troops, they were also frightened, fearing that Daliang would settle the score later.
When the generals at Huanqing Road learned that Renzhong had decided to withdraw, they all abandoned their official positions and rushed to Huanzhou, preparing to follow Renzhong's army and flee to Xixia to avoid being liquidated by Daliang.
It¡¯s just that Xue Sichang felt that Xixia had suffered a serious loss after defeating Li Qianshun and Brother Cha, and losing hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses. But Daliang was coming menacingly and was afraid of the Xixia Congress.Offer them up and ask for peace from Daliang. Therefore, he did not want to follow Renzhong to Xixia, so he later negotiated with the Daliang court.
Di Kun also knew the conditions negotiated between Xue Sichang and the Daliang court. Only by blocking Renzhong's army on Huanqing Road and allowing Daliang soldiers and horses to encircle Renzhong's army could they complete their mission. Only the Liang court would pardon the sins of all of them. Not only would Xue Sichang not be re-appointed, but they, the important officials of the various states, would also be dismissed from their posts, but it was better to be dismissed than to lose their lives.
Originally, Renzhong's army was encamped outside the city. Everyone in the city cheered and cheered. As long as they stayed for a few days, Daliang soldiers and horses would arrive. Perhaps without Daliang soldiers and horses encircling them, Renzhong's army would run out of food and grass and fall apart. Their mission was successfully completed, and it would not be bad for them to return home and become rich men.
They also know that Daliang is harsh on officials, and will kill them if they are greedy, no matter whether they are officials or petty officials. It only took more than two months for Daliang Jianguo to capture Tokyo, but he executed more officials than the Song Dynasty did for decades.
One reason is that the Song Dynasty always treated officials favorably and rarely killed them, and corruption and money-grabbing were basically not punished. Especially after Zhao Ji became the emperor, the ministers in the court did everything they could to make money. Every year on Cai Jing's birthday, millions of birthday cards are enshrined in various places. Zhu Meng used Hua Shi Gang to make money, Gao Qiu used the imperial army to make money, Yang Jian made money by expanding his land, and Liang Shicheng sold his official position and obtained titles. It can be said that the important ministers in the DPRK are all pioneers in amassing money, but Zhao Ji just laughs at these things, so it is common for officials across the country to amass money.
Although various regulations were promulgated after the founding of Daliang, officials who were accustomed to amassing money would inevitably use their power to gain some benefits. Once the spies and supervisory censors all over Daliang found out, they would all be beheaded, without exception.
It can be said that the officials of the Song Dynasty were completely unadapted to the system of Daliang. Even if they were allowed to continue serving as officials, they might make mistakes and lose their heads. It would be better to go back to his hometown and become a rich man's insurance. Therefore, all the officials on Huanqing Road were very satisfied with the matter of surrendering to Daliang and being relieved of their official duties.
Xue Sichang was worried because his fortune and life were at stake. He stood up, walked a few steps, and asked, "How many troops are there heading north?"
Di Kun said: "No less than one hundred thousand, I'm afraid we won't be able to stop them even if we leave the city."
Xue Sichang shook his head and said: "Perhaps this is Renzhong's treacherous plan. If we are ambushed by them outside the city and they attack Huanzhou, they will not be short of food and grass. And we can't stop them."
Di Kun said: "Then how should we explain to the Daliang court?"
Xue Sichang smiled and said: "Aren't there still many Xixia soldiers and horses outside the city? As long as we can't hold on, Renzhong will not get food and grass, so he has to really give up these soldiers and horses. Without food and grass, most of these soldiers and horses will surrender to us. Capturing tens of thousands of Xixia troops was enough to satisfy the Liang court. "
Di Kun said: "There are only more than ten thousand soldiers and horses in the city. If we let them into the city and they rebel, we may lose Huanzhou."
Xue Sichang thought for a while and said: "If we don't let them enter the city, if they are willing to surrender, we will send a small team out of the city to collect their weapons, and then let them camp outside the city. The city will provide them with food and grass. Only one meal of rations will be given to them at a time. , not afraid of them rebelling or escaping.¡±
Di Kun's eyes lit up and he said from the bottom of his heart: "Your Excellency, I will contact the soldiers and horses outside the city."
Xue Sichang hurriedly said: "Just wait for another half day."
Di Kun said: "Why?"
"Let Renzhong's soldiers and horses go far away, lest they chase Renzhong's soldiers and horses. They robbed all the people nearby yesterday. Today they can only go further, but there are not many people left outside the city who have fled long ago. , when they returned hungry, they found that Renzhong had already run away, and they could not catch up, so they had no choice but to surrender to us. "
Di Kun nodded and said: "Then I will wait for them to come back and then recruit them."
Xue Sichang said: "They should have given up on the young master, right?"
Di Kun nodded and said: "At least half of the people who left the camp in the morning were the young master."
Xue Sichang said: "After an hour, you can send someone to contact Young Master. Recruit them first. They are Han people and will not be so sensitive about surrender. You are not afraid of them chasing Renzhong. Even if they catch up with Renzhong, they are Han people. They will eventually be abandoned. With the example of surrender, there will be no burden for other soldiers to surrender."
Di Kun also knew that this was related to his wealth and life, so he listened and remembered with all his concentration.
Xue Sichang paused and then said: "Send someone to report to General Li Ying who came from the Zhenrong Army and General Lin Chong who came from Jingzhao Mansion to prevent them from misunderstanding. There is also Liu Guangshi who came from Yanyan Road in the east. The three of them are going to prepare Encircle Renzhong's army, lest when they come, we have surrendered all the remaining soldiers and let them go in vain, and then they will blame us, which will be troublesome. "
Di Kun nodded and said, "Sir,Unfortunately, I heard that Lin Chong of Jingzhao Mansion is a Liangshan elder and a confidant of the prince. Previously, we only sent people to Zhenrong Army to lobby and did not obtain his consent. If he were to blame, it might not be easy to deal with. "
Xue Sichang smiled and said: "Send a clever person to report to him. If he is dissatisfied, we can try to transfer the military exploits to him. It is useless for us to ask for military exploits. He agreed if the military exploits of capturing tens of thousands of Xixia people can be exchanged. ¡±
Di Kun said sincerely: "Your Excellency, I will do it now." (To be continued, please search Piaotian Literature, the novel will be better and updated faster!