Chapter 13 Bloodless Blade

After crossing the river from the quarry to the north, the Huangchao rebel army surrounded Tianchang and Liuhe, with great momentum and quickly rolled up in the Central Plains. The Tang army of all parties in the Central Plains passively avoided fighting and dared not fight with the rebels.

Bi Shiduo rushed to Yangzhou from Gaoyou to meet Gao Yu. As soon as the two met, Bi Shiduo said, "Gao Dutong, I heard that you and Huang Chao have signed an armistice. Is there any such thing?"

Gao Wei replied, "It's true that this matter, General Bi, do you think it's good to do this?"

Bi Shiduo was originally a general of Daqi. After surrendering to Gao Yu, he was afraid that Huang Chao would settle accounts with him. He was very nervous when he heard that Gao Yu and Huang Chao had made peace. He was afraid that Gao Qian would dedicate him to Huang Chao, so he would die, so Bi Shiduo tried his mind to persuade Gao Qian to be enemies with Huang Chao.

Bi Shiduo said, "Gao Dutong, I have been under Huang Chao and know who he is. The goal of Huang Chao and the senior generals of the Daqi camp is not one city and one place, but the whole China. Now that you have made peace with Huang Chao, he can free his hands to destroy the Tang army in other towns. When Daqi's wings are full, Huang Chao will lead troops to fight you. At that time, it will be too late for you to regret it!"

Gao Qian heard it and felt that what Bi Shiduo said was a little reasonable, so he asked, "General Bi, what do you think?"

Bi Shiduo said what he had thought about for a long time: "Gaodu is unified, and the Tang Empire is safe. You are the commander-in-chief of Fangzhen, which the emperor relies most. Now Huang Chao has hundreds of thousands of troops. With such a huge force, he takes advantage of the momentum of victory and drives north as if he were in no one's land. If our army can't guard the danger and attack head-on, once the Qi army passes the Changhuai Pass, no town Tang army can stop it, and the Qi army can occupy the whole Central Plains. At that time, it will be too late for us to organize troops to fight against Huang Chao!"

Gao Yu sighed, "How can I not know this?! But now the soldiers and horses of each town have retreated to their own defense areas, and the elite soldiers and horses of Zhang Yu and Liang Yu are all over. I can only defend the city with this little strength now. If you attack, you will definitely not be Huang Chao's opponent!"

Bi Shiduo said, "Then report to the court and let the emperor step up the defense in Luoyang area to prevent the Qi army from occupying Luoyang. After Huang Chao's attack on Luoyang failed, his military strength will inevitably decline. At that time, you can contact all the soldiers and horses to attack the Daqi army, and you will win!"

Gao Yu nodded: "That's all! General Bi, your idea is good!"

Gao Qian really made a memorial to Li Yan, asking Li Yan to send troops to protect Luoyang, saying that the Qi army is now only 50 or 60 miles away from Yangzhou, so he can't draw troops to Luoyang King Qin now and ask Li Yong to find another way.

Previously, Wang Duo valued Gao Yu the most. The relationship between the two was good, but Wang Duo had been demoted as a prince guest. In this way, no one in the Li Tang court could persuade Gao Yu to send troops to reinforce Luoyang.

Tian Lingzi said to Li Yan, "I have said before that although Gao Li has literary and martial arts, if he gives all the military power to him, once Gao Li violates the order, it will be troublesome. Now it is true!"

Li Yan heard this and deeply hated Gao Yu and scolded: "Gao Yu, you bastard, I trust you so much. I sent the best soldiers of the Tang Dynasty to your barracks and let you command the soldiers and horses in the Central Plains and the south of the Yangtze River. You are good enough to avoid fighting! I'm pissed off too!"

At this time, Li Tang's soldiers and civilians in Luoyang and Chang'an were afraid that Huang Chao would lead a large army to attack, and they were shocked three times a day. The reason why many citizens are afraid of Daqi is that Li Tang has been promoting that the Daqi army is unreasonable and killing without blinking an eye, so he has a concept of fearing Daqi in the hearts of the citizens.

Li Yan issued an edict and sent a messenger to Gao Yu, scolding Gao Yu for not neglecting his duties, fearing Huang Chao, and ordering Gao Yu to immediately go to war to prevent Huang Chao from entering Luoyang.

Gao Yu retorted: I am proposing to let all the soldiers and horses return to their own defense zone, but this suggestion was approved by your majesty, and it was not my arbitrary. Now I guard Huainan, which is also my contribution to the Tang Dynasty. Why do you accuse me? After writing this chapter, Gao Qian attached another statement, saying that he had suffered from paralysis and could not work normally. In a word, Gao Yu doesn't want to contact Li Yan anymore.

Li Yan had no choice but to order the other towns in the Central Plains to quickly dispatch troops and go to Luoyang to defend Luoyang. Li Yan strictly ordered Qi Ke to be responsible for the defense of Luoyang's outer city, and Liu Jingren was responsible for the defense of Luoyang's inner city.

Soon, Qi Ke asked to report to the court that the Huangchao thieves have entered the vicinity of Dongdu. I am now collecting scattered soldiers and retreating to Tongguan to continue to resist, stationing outside Tongguan and setting up camps. After many battles, the soldiers and soldiers of the Tang Dynasty have lacked combat readiness materials for a long time. Kanto Prefecture and counties are dilapidated and almost disappeared. There is no Tang official in the east, west, north and south. The officers and soldiers are hungry and cold, and the weapons are dull and inferior. The soldiers miss their hometown. I'm afraid it's easy to disperse. They begged the court to deliver food and reinforcements as soon as possible.

After reading Qi Kerang's performance, Li Yong was so anxious that he almost cried. He immediately ordered Li Tang's important civil and military ministers to gather in Yanying Hall to discuss the reinforcement of Tongguan.

After a long time, some important ministers of Li Tang Wenwu came to Yanying Hall, but it was less than usual.

Li Xun said, "Love, now the Huangchao thief is preparing to attack Tongguan. The Tang Dynasty is in a critical autumn of survival. Come and think of a way for me!"

Look at me in the literature and martial arts in the hall. I don't think any of you can speak, because no one is sure to repel Huang Chao's army.

Yu cong broke the silence and said, "Your Majesty, now we need to have second-hand preparations to restore the Tang Dynasty to peace!"

"Second-hand preparation? How to prepare? Come on, my Yu Aiqing!" Li Yan urged.

Yucong talked about his response: "Your Majesty, I measure the current situation of Tang Qi's war and think that it is difficult to stop the Huang Chao army. Sooner or later, Tongguan will be broken by Huang Chao. Because there was no time for reinforcements from all over the country to arrive, Fangzhen near Tongguan was unwilling to send troops to fight against Huangchao thieves. Once Tongguan is broken by Huang Chao, the capital will definitely abandon the defense. This preparation is to resist the Huang Chao army in Luoyang and Tongguan, delay as much as possible, and provide time guarantee for His Majesty's withdrawal from Chang'an. The other preparation is to choose another companion. I think it is more appropriate to choose Fengxiang, because the Tang Dynasty has good fortifications there. More importantly, the Fengxiang area is close to Chang'an, which is conducive to the Tang Dynasty's call for soldiers and horses from all over the world to come to King Qin. Zheng Wei, the former prime minister, served as Fengxiang's governor, restrained all kinds of Tang troops and fought against the Huangchao thieves to the end! If Your Majesty wants to drive his own army and inspire the three armies, then the Tang Dynasty will definitely win!"

Li Xun listened and nodded frequently: "I am very gratified that I am loyal to the country. I will now strictly order Zhang Chengfan, Wang Shihui and Zhao Ke to lead 50,000 people to Tongguan to assist Qi Ke to guard the customs!"

Huang Chao's army swept the Central Plains with the momentum of destruction and quickly hit the vicinity of Luoyang. This time, the Rebels used troops in the Central Plains and gave up the method of division and joint attack. Instead, they formed a regiment. The main forces of each village and the Chinese army gathered together, leaving only a small number of troops to garrison in the area they had occupied. The purpose was to quickly occupy the two capital, and then spread the four directions to unify China.

In fact, this strategy cannot be said to be unspeakable. By concentrating superior forces and conquering Li Tang's two most important cities, it can seriously hit Li Tang's leaders psychologically. This strategy is actually also good to spread the world and calm the world. However, the commander-in-chief of Daqi overestimated its own strength and underestimated the stubbornness of the commanders of Li Tang. As long as these Fangzhen commanders have soldiers in their hands, even if they temporarily surrender to Daqi, once the situation is not conducive to Daqi, they will immediately turn around and join hands to attack the Daqi uprising army, which Huang Chao, Sun Mei, Chai Cun and other commanders did not fully estimate.

However, in the Daqi camp, there are talents, especially Fei Chuangu. He realized that Daqi's troops should be scattered and unified, and the speed of attacking Erjing should be slower, but should first consolidate the Central Plains, Jiangnan and Lingnan bases and eliminate the square towns with many soldiers, so that Daqi can be invincible.

Unfortunately, at this time, the commanders Huang Chao, Sun Mei, Chai Cun and other generals were intoxicated by a series of victories and did not pay attention to the correct advice of Fei Chuangu, which became a eternal regret. The development of the situation in the future is indeed as predicted by Fei Chuangu. If Daqi consolidates the conquered place and pulls out the square town of Li Tang's soldiers and horses, Daqi will definitely be able to unify China and write a new chapter of the Chinese nation. China is likely to become the most powerful country in the world, but history has no hypothesis.

Qi Kerang's soldiers and horses were defeated by the Huang Chao army outside Luoyang. Liu Yunzhang, who was left in Luoyang, was very nervous after hearing the news. Liu Yunzhang said to his cronies, "I once wrote to the emperor that the country has nine broken and the people have eight sufferings, but your majesty did not pay attention to it!" Now Huang Chao is going to hit Luoyang. Qi Kerang fled to Tongguan. Liu Jingren is busy transferring his family property, alas! What can I do now? I can only tell you that my country has nine broken and the people have eight hardships!"

The cronies asked, "Lord Liu, just say it, we all listen to you now!"

Liu Yunzhang began to recall the memorial he wrote. His memory was amazing. He was Li Tang's Hanlin bachelor. He was indeed very knowledgeable. Liu Yunzhang said word by word, "Your Majesty knows about the nine broken state? Gather troops all year round, and it will be broken. The barbarians are blazing and broken. Power and luxury, three broken. The general will not be courted, and the four will be broken. Wide-made Buddhist temples, five broken. The bribery of the public bank is six broken. The elders are cruel and broken. The service is not good, and it is eight broken. Today, there are eight hardships in the world. Does your majesty know? Officials are harsh and bitter. Private debt collection, two hardships. There are many taxes and three hardships. So begging and suffering. Five hardships for the fugitive. Grievance is unreasonable, grievances can't be redressed, and six hardships. Freeze, no clothes, no food, seven hardships. If you are sick, you can't be treated, if you die, you can't be buried.

After Liu Yunzhang finished speaking, he took a breath, burst into tears, and shouted, "Your Majesty, why do you delay in playing like this and forget your ancestral foundation?! The nearly 300-year-old Tang Dynasty will soon be over!"

After listening to Liu Yunzhang's words, their cronies looked solemn and speechless.

After a long time, a cronin said, "Lord Liu, what should we do for today's plan?"

Liu Yunzhang smiled bitterly: "I studied hard in my early years, passed the entrance examination, and was tired to the Hanlin bachelor's order and the servant of the Ministry of Ceremonies. In the ninth year of Xiantong, Zhigongju was elected as the inspector of Ezhou and the minister of the Ministry of Inspection and Industry of the school, and then moved to the eastern capital to stay. You know, I'm just a scholar and have never been in contact with swordsmen. Although there are tens of thousands of soldiers and horses in Luoyang, in fact, many people's hearts have been united, which makes the people's hearts unconvertible! As a Chinese people, I can only be loyal to the Chinese nation. I, Liu Yunzhang, will follow whoever's behavior is beneficial to the Chinese people and the people of the world. Now Li Tang has left the mountains and rivers, and the world has collapsed for a long time. The imperial edict of Li Tang court, many Fangzhen didn't take it seriously at all!"

Another cronin asked in a trembling voice, "Lord Liu means not to fight with the Qi army and submit to Huangchao?"

"Well, that's the intention! I don't want to let the creatures be ruined. Luoyang is an ancient capital and the pride of the Chinese people. I don't want Luoyang to be destroyed by the war!"

The cronies discussed, some for and some opposed, but in the end of the discussion, at the insistence of Liu Yunzhang, reached an agreement, that is, to obey Daqi.

Liu Yunzhang said he would do it. On the one hand, he sent troops to guard all the critical places of Luoyang. On the other hand, he comforted the people and asked them not to panic. He resolutely suppressed the ruffians who disturbed the public security of Luoyang and never be soft.

In this way, Luoyang's hearts gradually settled down.

Liu Yunzhang wrote a long letter, comprehensively expounding his proposition, willing to take the world as his mind and return the whole city to Daqi. After writing, Liu Yunzhang sent more than a dozen personal soldiers to protect Xu Cheng, a staff, and took advantage of the night to run to Daqi Camp.

"Which one? What do you do? The lights are blind, what are you doing here? Is this Daqi Military Camp?" The Daqi volunteers on duty shouted and asked, and some volunteers picked up their bows and arrows and looked at the group of strangers warily.

"Don't shoot arrows. We are sent by Lord Liu Yunzhang to send Lord Liu's handwritten letter to King Huang!" Tang Bing shouted.

"So that's it. Then choose one of you and let us in! The rest are waiting outside. Do you understand?" Daqi's duty soldier said.

"Thank you, Brother Daqi!" Tang Bing nodded one after another.

Xu Cheng said, "I'm a senior staff member of Lord Liu Yunzhang. I sent a letter to the Yellow King on behalf of Lord Liu. I'll go in with you!"

Several volunteers searched Xu Cheng's clothes and found that Xu Cheng was not armed. The volunteers took Xu Cheng to Huang Chao's army tent.

The volunteers entered the tent and told Huang Chao about this. Huang Chao ordered, "Let Xu Cheng come in!"

"Yes!" The volunteers turned around and withdrew.

Xu Cheng entered the Chinese military tent and saw Huang Chao sitting on a handsome chair, majestic and not angry. Xu Cheng presented a letter and said, "Huang Wang, Lord Liu Yunzhang is a clean official, and his reputation is known to the soldiers and civilians in many places. This time, Lord Liu decided not to fight against your army in Luoyang, and return the whole city to Daqi. Looking forward to Huang Wang Mingjian!"

Huang Chao took the letter and read it. After a while, Huang Chao looked up and asked, "Xu Cheng, I know that Liu Yunzhang is indeed a clean official and a good man. He has the intention to obey Daqi. Will his soldiers be willing?"

Xu Cheng replied, "King Huang, please rest assured that Lord Liu enjoys a high reputation among the military and civilians in Luoyang. Lord Liu has discussed this matter with his cronies among civil and military officials, and his cronies agreed to return to Daqi. Lord Liu then ordered Luoyang's soldiers and horses to leave the city and accept the adaptation of the Yellow King!"

Huang Chao nodded: "It is rare for Liu Yunzhang to have a deep understanding of righteousness and find a bright road for the military and people of Luoyang. Good, Huang Chao, on behalf of Daqi, agreed to accept Liu Yunzhang's sincerity!"

Huang Chao immediately wrote back and asked Xu Cheng to bring it to Liu Yunzhang, arranged a banquet, and entertained Xu Cheng and his party in the Daqi military camp.

After Xu Chengyi walked, Shang Rang said, "Brother Huang, I'm afraid that Liu Yunzhang will fraudulently surrender this time and paralyze our army!"

Chai existed and said, "I don't think there will be fraud in this matter. I have read Liu Yunzhang's article. This person is a scholar, but he is upright. Li Tang is now corrupt. It is also reasonable for Liu Yunzhang to obey public opinion and obey the whole city.

Sun Mei, Meng Kai, Cao Min, Yue Lingfei, Gai Hong and others all think that Liu Yunzhang is a real surrender.

Huang Chao finally said, "There must be no intention to harm others, and there must be no intention to prevent others. In order to ensure the entry into Luoyang, Mengkai's department of Daqi's first village is stationed outside the east city of Luoyang, Cao Min's department of the second village is stationed outside the south city of Luoyang, Huang Siye's department of the third village is stationed outside the west city of Luoyang, and Yue Lingfei's department of the fourth village is stationed outside the north city of Luoyang. The Fifth Village Gaihong Department monitored other towns on the periphery of Luoyang. The middle army of Daqi, led by me, Sun Mei and Chai Cun, is responsible for adapting the Luoyang garrison and taking over Luoyang!"

Li Jingren, the general of Li Tang and Luoyang, was in a trance and sighed for days after receiving the news that the Huang Chao Uprising Army had entered Luoyang. He wanted to transfer his family property to Beijing, but Liu Yunzhang disagreed that all large families in Luoyang were not allowed to transfer private property out of the city. Luoyang City is surrounded by patrol generals, and Liu Jingren has nothing to do.

Liu Jingren conspired with his cronies and decided to launch a mutiny. In addition to Liu Yunzhang, one of Liu Jingren's cronies has always respected Liu Yunzhang and was very dissatisfied with Liu Jingren's behavior, so he secretly told Liu Yunzhang about Liu Jingren's mutiny plan.

Liu Yunzhang was furious and mobilized his troops. On a dark night, he suddenly surrounded Liu Jingren's house, killed Liu Jingren, and netted Liu Jingren's cronies, weakening the opposition of Luoyang, who returned to Daqi.

On November 17, 1980, more than 600,000 troops gathered in Luoyang. According to the agreement in the letter, Liu Yunzhang opened the gate and ordered Li Tang to leave the city and accept the adaptation of Daqi.

Li Tangdong's stay-at-behind Liu Yunzhang led a hundred officials out of the city to welcome the Huang Chao army into the city. The Qi army entered Luoyang City in high spirits, but he saw that the armor and horses were flowing, the knives and guns were shining brightly, and the army was neat. General Daqi came out of the list of Anmin, asked Luoyang residents about their warmth, and also gave many poor people food and clothing. Luoyang people live a normal life. Great joy, singing and dancing, welcome this teacher of benevolence and righteousness.

Huang Chao held Liu Yunzhang's hand tightly and praised: "Liu Hanlin's two sleeves are Qingfeng and care about the people. This time, he dedicated Luoyang to Daqi, which is famous for thousands of years."

Liu Yunzhang said calmly, "The king of Huang rose up to benefit the country and the people. In fact, because of the righteous voice of the great Qi, it is expected by the public."

Huang Chao asked, "Liu Hanlin, I would like to keep you and work in the Daqi government. What do you want to do?"

Liu Yunzhang arched his hand and said, "King Huang, old and lack of energy, just want to go back to his hometown Mingzhou to spend the rest of his life. I hope King Huang can fulfill his old wishes."

Huang Chao saw that Liu Yunzhang was resolute and knew that he could not keep him. Looking at Liu Yunzhang's white beard, he said, "Well, I have never been difficult. Liu Hanlin, go back to Mingzhou. Daqi gives you a little pension, and I hope Liu Hanlin will accept it!"

"No, I have been an old official for many years and have never received bribes. This time I will go home for the rest of my life. I will never take away a piece of money and a thing from Luoyang. I hope the Yellow King will become an old man's name!"

Huang Chao listened and said excitedly, "Liu Hanlin is a lofty festival, rare in ancient and modern times. I understand your ambition. Well, then do it according to your wishes!"

"Xie Huangwang, I wish Daqi an early unification of China, and the old man will leave here!" After Liu Yunzhang finished speaking, he staggered away and gradually walked away.