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Chapter 182 Battle Situation
The snow that fell on Tokyo at the end of the second year of the Xiande era came without warning.

It is said that a timely snowfall promises a bumper harvest... but for the war on the Huainan front, it may not be a good omen.

When news of Zheng Renhui's death reached Huainan, Emperor Shizong Chai Rong had already returned to the front lines from Yingzhou, and the emperor's camp was temporarily stationed east of Zhengyang.

Upon learning the tragic news, Chai Rong was deeply grieved and wept several times in public, wishing that Zheng Renhui would be enshrined alongside Emperor Taizu in the ancestral temple.

However, he was dissuaded by Prime Minister Fan Zhi with the words, "The timing is not right this year, so it is not advisable to launch a large-scale operation. We should wait for a later time."

Ultimately, the emperor adopted Fan Zhi's suggestion, posthumously granting Zheng Renhui the title of Grand Chancellor, the title of Duke of Han, and the posthumous name of Zhongzheng.

He also ordered Hanlin Academician Tao Gu to write the epitaph for the spirit path, and all funeral expenses were to be borne by the government as a sign of special favor.

It was already late October.

At the beginning of the month, the emperor's several armies began to send back battle reports one after another.

First, Shi Yanchao, the commander of the Imperial Guards, reported that he had led his elite vanguard south along the Pi River and defeated the Southern Tang garrison in the prosperous Tang Dynasty.

They captured Gao Bi, the Tang army's military commander and governor of Jizhou, along with more than 3,000 generals, officers, and soldiers. The military town of Shengtang had fallen into the hands of the Zhou army.

Chai Rong was overjoyed and ordered Shi Yanchao to be commended and temporarily lead his troops to garrison Sheng Tang in order to guard against the Southern Tang's forces heading north to rescue Shouzhou.

Immediately following, news of victory arrived from Wang Kui, the Southern Commander-in-Chief and Military Governor of Wuping.

He claimed that he had captured Changshan Village in Ezhou, the stronghold of the Southern Tang army, and captured the garrison commander Chen Ze and others. He also said that he was preparing to send the prisoners of war to the emperor to show his respect for the emperor.

Speaking of which, Wang Kui was originally a general of the Chu state (Ma Chu). He served as the commander of the Jingjiang Army under Ma Xige and helped Ma Xige seize the throne of Chu.

However, due to Ma Xige's lack of popular support, Wang Kui turned to rebellion, established himself in Langzhou, and supported Liu Yan as the regional commander, thus becoming a de facto independent separatist force, which later generations called the Wuping regime.

When the State of Chu was destroyed by the Southern Tang, Wang Kui took the opportunity to lead his troops to seize Tanzhou, and then drove out the Southern Tang garrison, basically recovering the Hunan region, and thus became a vassal of the Later Zhou.

Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou, Guo Wei, elevated Langzhou to the position of Grand General's Office, replacing the original Wu'an Army with the Wuping Army in the Chu region, and acknowledging the Wuping regime's rule over Hunan.

Liu Yan, holding the positions of Grand General of Langzhou and Military Governor of Wuping, controlled the armies of Wu'an and Jingjiang, ruling over the entire Hunan province.

Wang Kui was appointed as Grand Commandant and Military Governor of Wu'an Army.

Later, Wang Kui and Liu Yan gradually developed conflicts, and in the third year of Guangshun, Wang Kui led his army to attack and kill Liu Yan, taking the opportunity to control the entire Hunan province.

Although Wang Kui later reported to the Later Zhou court that Liu Yan was dismissed by the military officials because he wanted to defect to the Southern Tang.

But the Later Zhou court could naturally guess what really happened. However, due to its limited reach, it could only acknowledge the fait accompli and order Wang Kui to "deal with it as he sees fit."

Wang Kui then declared himself military governor of Wuping and Wu'an, and Emperor Taizu of Later Zhou, Guo Wei, bestowed upon him the titles of Special Envoy and concurrently Attendant-in-Ordinary.

After Emperor Shizong Chai Rong ascended the throne, he was granted the additional honor of concurrently serving as the Grand Chancellor.

This time, Chai Rong personally led an expedition to Jiangnan, and ordered Wu Yue King Qian Hongchu, Nanping King Gao Baorong, and Wuping Jiedushi Wang Kui to send troops to assist in the attack on the Southern Tang.

Among them, Wang Kui was the most proactive. After receiving Chai Rong's edict, he immediately gathered his troops and stood by at any time.

Therefore, Chai Rong appointed him as the commander-in-chief of the southern expeditionary force, ordering him to lead troops to attack Ezhou of the Southern Tang.

In contrast, Wu Yue and Jingnan were not as proactive. Qian Hongchu at least showed signs of mobilizing troops, but Gao Baorong dragged his feet and made no move.

However, Chai Rong did not expect them to fight to the death; he only hoped they could restrain the Southern Tang on the flank.

A few days later, news also came from Chuzhou that, under the threat of the Later Zhou army advancing in four directions, the reinforcements under Huangfu Hui, the military governor of Fenghua of the Southern Tang, retreated to Qingliu Pass in Chuzhou and defended the strategic pass.

Wang Yanchao, the military governor of Zhongwu Army and deputy commander of Huainan Expeditionary Force, took the opportunity to lead his troops to occupy Dingyuan, a garrison town south of Chuzhou.

……

The candlelight in the imperial tent illuminated the map clearly, and Chai Rong's fingertip traced an arc across Ezhou.

He knew that Wang Kui's efforts were less about loyalty to the emperor and serving the country, and more about a helpless act.

Wang Kui was a fickle man. He first betrayed King Ma Xige of Chu, and then betrayed the vassal general Liu Yan, before finally seizing the former territory of Chu.

However, he only occupied the Chu region for a few years, and his foundation was not very deep. He could only rely on attaching himself to the powerful states in the Central Plains to consolidate his prestige and status.

When the late emperor first ascended the throne, there were internal rebellions led by Murong Yanchao and others, and external threats from the Northern Han and the Khitan. In addition, the Chu region had been divided for a long time, so the late emperor could only appease them for the time being and had no energy to meddle in such matters.

In any case, Wang Kui took the initiative to submit a memorial to the emperor, nominally acknowledging the emperor of the Great Zhou as his master, and frequently sent envoys to the court to offer tribute. On the surface, he was indeed very docile.

However, times have changed... Chai Rong had just defeated Later Shu and recovered the four prefectures of Qin and Feng in one fell swoop, and now he has freed up his hands to teach Southern Tang a lesson.

The strength of the Later Zhou dynasty is beyond doubt, and the advance of its army has made the surrounding regional warlords uneasy.

Wang Kui naturally had to do his best to show loyalty, lest he give the Zhou army an excuse to attack him... and perhaps even take the opportunity to expand his territory and get a share of the spoils.

But in chaotic times, such mutual exploitation is the norm. As long as Wang Kui can capture Ezhou and help the Zhou army deplete the Southern Tang's resources, everything else is secondary.

Of course, Chai Rong wouldn't give Wang Kui the chance to take advantage of him for nothing...

The drumbeats outside the tent gradually subsided, and candlelight cast flickering shadows through the curtains.

Chai Rong slowly turned around, his gaze sweeping over several important ministers: "I wish to send a capable general to lead troops to support Wang Kui in capturing Ezhou. Do any of you ministers have recommendations?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the ministers in the tent looked at each other, unable to figure out what the emperor was thinking.

Chancellor Wang Pu stepped forward and said, "Please allow us to discuss this first, and then we will report to Your Majesty later."

Upon hearing this, Chai Rong nodded slightly. He then sat down, and the officials immediately gathered together to discuss the matter in hushed tones.

After a long time, a general plan was finally developed.

Wang Pu stepped forward, bowed, and said, "In our opinion, if we want to support Wang Kui in capturing Ezhou, we must first guard against the Tang army in Guang, Huang, Qi, and Shu prefectures. These four prefectures are still in the hands of the Tang state, and Guang and Shu are important towns north of the Yangtze River. They will be taken sooner or later."

"We suggest that He Chao, the pacification inspector of Guang Prefecture, Shu Prefecture and Huang Prefecture, be appointed as the prefect of Guang Prefecture, and that he lead the soldiers and laborers of An Prefecture, Sui Prefecture, Shen Prefecture and Cai Prefecture to attack Guang Prefecture."

"Then Pan Mei, the patrol inspector of Shouzhou, was appointed acting prefect of Shuzhou, and ordered to lead a part of the imperial guards south along the Fei River to attack Shuzhou."

"Once we capture these two prefectures, Huangzhou and Qizhou will naturally be no threat, and Wang Kui will be able to besiege Ezhou without any worries. Even if we cannot capture Guangzhou and Shuzhou for the time being, we can still hold back the Tang army from going to their aid."

Chai Rong pondered for a moment, then said, "He Chao was a close advisor during the late emperor's reign, and his actions are steady and reliable, making him a suitable candidate. As for Pan Mei... is he capable of shouldering this important responsibility?"

When he was the Prefect of Kaifeng, Pan Mei served by his side. Over the years, he has been quite diligent, but he has never made any outstanding achievements. Will he be able to take charge on his own this time?
Wang Pu, observing the emperor's expression, discerned his thoughts and immediately bowed, saying, "General Pan rendered considerable service during the western expedition to Qin and Feng this year, and Commander Li of the Palace Cavalry also praised him highly. It was Commander Li who recommended him to the Privy Council this time..."

The implication was clear: since Li Yi recommended Pan Mei to accompany him on the expedition, he must have thought that Pan Mei would be useful.

Li Yi's military prowess is evident to all, and its value is self-evident. Anyone personally recommended by him must possess exceptional abilities.

As expected, upon hearing Wang Pu mention Li Yi, Chai Rong smiled and nodded, saying, "In Qin and Feng, Minister Li fought quite well, capturing enemy generals and strongholds along the way, leaving the Shu army unable to resist. I suppose Pan Mei has received a lot of guidance from Minister Li, but I wonder how much of Minister Li's skills he has learned... Then let him give it a try this time."

One of Emperor Shizong Chai Rong's strengths was his boldness in appointing people. As the saying goes, "If you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them." As a result, a large number of young and strong men in the Imperial Guards were promoted.

Of course, the more important reason was Pan Mei, recommended by Li Yi. Chai Rong had no doubt about his brother-in-law's ability to fight, and he figured the person the other party had chosen was no ordinary person.

However, if Li Yi, who is currently far away in Tokyo, knew that Wang Pu had used him as a pretext, he would probably be tempted to stab him in the back.

His recommendation of Pan Mei was based solely on historical records. It also served as a way to do Pan Mei a favor, which might come in handy later.

But how to use Pan Mei is a matter for the emperor and the prime minister. He should be given a suitable job based on the abilities he has demonstrated.

Just like the job of the Shouzhou Inspector, Pan Mei is doing a very good job so far, at least there haven't been any problems.

But if Pan Mei is sent to lead troops to attack an important town and he suffers a setback, even if the emperor doesn't say it, wouldn't he blame Li Yi for recommending such a useless person?
It's true that he recommended the person, but if he entrusted Pan Mei with an important task because of his influence, these are two completely different things.

……

With the decision to support Wang Kui finalized, Chai Rong then brought up another matter.

He turned to look at the map, his brows furrowing slightly, and asked, "Are Han Lingkun and Li Jixun still trapped in Tushan?"

Of the four armies dispatched, the other three have made progress and achieved considerable results. Only the Imperial Guards Commander Han Lingkun and Infantry Commander Li Jixun, leading their 3,000 elite troops, have not yet arrived in Haozhou City.

But this is not their fault, because at the foot of Tushan Mountain, west of Haozhou, there were more than 10,000 soldiers of the Southern Tang army stationed.

If we don't take down this tough nut first, even if we reach Haozhou City, we will face a pincer attack from the Southern Tang army.

Fan Zhi stepped forward and said, "The Tang army stationed at Tushan has more than 10,000 men. They are holding firm and not coming out due to the advantageous terrain. Their camp is located on a key route in Jiangzuo. If we do not wipe them out first, they may threaten our army's transport of grain and supplies."

"In my opinion, it will not be easy to take Tushan military camp in a short time. If we want to take Haozhou directly, we will probably have to send a force to cross the river at Wokou to contain the movements of the Tang army in Tushan."

Chai Rong said, "Wokou is too far away. All our troops and supplies have crossed the river at Zhengyang. If we send more troops eastward to provide reinforcements, I'm afraid we won't be able to supply enough food and equipment... The weather is getting colder and colder. If we can't guarantee the supplies, there will be huge hidden dangers."

Fan Zhi cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty is far-sighted. However, I have a suggestion. Shouzhou City has been under siege for a long time and our army’s pontoon bridge at Zhengyang is no longer suitable. Xia Cai in the northeast is adjacent to the Fei River, and the Wo River is dozens of miles to the east. Why not move the pontoon bridge to Xia Cai and use the two rivers to connect the Huai River line?”

Wang Pu continued, “Fan Gong’s words are very appropriate. Xia Cai is located on the north bank of the Huai River. The terrain is open and the water flow is gentle, so it is not difficult to build a pontoon bridge there. Moreover, it is located on the Huai River, which is a key channel north of Shouzhou City. If our army focuses its efforts there, it can cut off the Tang army’s reinforcements advancing westward along the river at any time.”

Chai Rong remained silent for a moment before nodding and saying, "As you two ministers have suggested, move the pontoon bridge from Zhengyang to Xiachai."

As he spoke, his fingertips lightly tapped the edge of the table, and he couldn't help but fall into deep thought—

In the past, every winter, the Huai River would drop in water level or even dry up. The Tang army would send heavy troops to guard it, which was called "guarding the shallows".

When the decision to send troops was first made, some people said that they should take advantage of the shallow water to cross the river. But others said that the Tang state routinely "brought the river to its shallows" every year, and that they would have to station a large number of troops on the Huai River in winter, which would make it difficult to launch an attack.

If we send troops out in the summer, we can take them by surprise and quickly break through the Huai River line.

However, the western expedition against Shu went very smoothly, and within a few months, the four prefectures of Qin and Feng were captured, thus eliminating this worry for Shu.

Chai Rong did not want to wait until next summer, which is why he overruled objections and launched the Southern Expedition.

However, Li Gu's unauthorized withdrawal of troops delayed the war for nearly a month, allowing the Tang army to prepare. Moreover, the Tang state had a tradition of "routinely preparing for the garrisoning of the Huai River" in the second half of the year, and would prepare to send troops to garrison the Huai River line.

This is why the Tang army was able to respond so quickly, with a large number of reinforcements gathering north of the Yangtze River, making it much more difficult for the Zhou army to achieve a swift victory.

The more than 10,000 Tang troops stationed at Tushan took advantage of the gap in the Zhou army's troop movements to quickly sail north along the Huai River and occupy the key passage east of the Huai River.

Of course, the Jiangnan region was already skilled in naval warfare, possessing a large number of warships, and was able to quickly deploy its troops by taking advantage of the well-developed water system around the Huai River.

After much thought, Chai Rong realized that these things were not really important, because there was a gap in combat effectiveness between the two armies. If it came down to a head-on confrontation, the Great Zhou Imperial Guard would definitely have the advantage.

The biggest problem right now is ensuring that the soldiers have enough to eat and wear. If they are not well-fed and warm, even the strongest fighting force cannot be brought into play.

After a long silence, Chai Rong sighed softly and looked up at the people in the tent: "The most urgent task is to take Shouzhou City as soon as possible. If this wedge is not removed, the actions of our army will be constrained."

Wang Pu and Fan Zhi exchanged a glance and agreed in unison.

Chai Rong added, "Don't delay the attack on Guang Prefecture and Shu Prefecture. Have Pan Mei lead two thousand men to set off tomorrow. Also, get the transfer of the pontoon bridge to Xia Cai done as soon as possible."

He paused, then his voice turned serious, "Send another imperial edict to Li Chongjin, ordering him to intensify the siege... I will depart for Shouzhou tomorrow to personally oversee the battle."

Early the next morning.

Pan Mei received the emperor's edict and learned that he would be leading troops into battle. He was somewhat puzzled—why would the emperor suddenly assign him such an important task?

But after learning the details, Pan Mei suddenly realized that she had benefited from Li Dushi's influence.

Pan Mei felt even more grateful to Li Yi. During the Qin-Feng War, he followed behind the enemy and gained merits. He was also recommended by Li Yi to accompany the emperor on the expedition. Now, he had obtained an important post because of Li Yi.

No wonder people often say that it's better to follow the right person than to do a good job... If you can follow the right person and do a good job, it's naturally easier to get ahead.

However, at the same time, Pan Mei was also under a lot of pressure. Having served the emperor for several years, he had never actually led troops into battle on his own.

But pressure is one thing, motivation is another. Pan Mei is already thirty years old, which is not considered young in this era. The opportunity to make a name for himself is right in front of him, and he doesn't want to miss it, much less fail.

He dared not aspire to be a hero like Li Yi, nor did he consider himself inferior to him, but he was determined to at least make something of himself.

With lofty ambitions, Pan Mei led two thousand elite imperial guards and marched tirelessly toward Shuzhou.

……

at the same time.

The battle for Shouzhou City continues. This city is like a fortress nailed to the Jianghuai region, difficult to conquer, but not attacking it threatens the Zhou army's logistics.

Catapults started moving again from all directions, sending huge stones hurtling towards the city wall two or three hundred paces away.

The Zhou soldiers below the city wall surged forward, firing arrows from above and below. The siege ladders, like giant wooden "tanks," were pushed closer to the city wall by groups of people.

No matter how spectacular the scene in the wilderness or how large the equipment, its power is still limited.

The catapults could rid the city wall with holes, but after more than a month of attacking, they still couldn't break through the thick brick and earthen wall.

Shouzhou was an important town along the Huai River. Its city walls were high and thick. Since the Yang Wu regime seized control of Jiangdong, Shouzhou had undergone several renovations and was covered with fired blue bricks at great expense, so its defensive strength was self-evident.

Bows, arrows, crossbow bolts, stones, and fireballs were just the prelude; in the end, it all came down to the common siege tactic: mindless wall climbing.

Of course, there is also a more vivid term called "ant swarming".

A siege ladder was pushed to the wall, with a carriage and two rows of wooden wheels underneath. The folded ladder was then unfolded and laid down on the city wall. With a "snap," as soon as the ladder was placed, a frantic shout was heard, and Zhou's soldiers surged forward.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, a wooden barrel on the city wall poured a splash of black oil down, followed by the throwing of several torches. With a "boom," the black oil ignited upon contact with the fire, and a raging fire broke out on the ladders.

The screams of Zhou's soldiers were almost unbearable to hear. People fell from the ladders, some of them not dead but rolling on the ground in agony. Some people tried to extinguish the screams with water, but it was very difficult to do so.

Many people couldn't stand it and jumped into the moat.

Black smoke billowed in the air, carrying a smell of burning asphalt mixed with the acrid smell of burnt hair.

Just standing a few hundred steps away and looking at it makes your scalp tingle; it's no different from sending someone to their death.

Fighting on the battlefield is not terrifying; besieging a city is the real nightmare.

There were also catapults in the city, seemingly behind the city wall, but they couldn't be seen. Only some people could be seen standing on the city wall, seemingly observing the surroundings.

Before long, a burning earthenware pot flew out of the city and landed precisely in a crowd like a fireball. It shattered with a loud crash, and oil and flames flew everywhere. The crowd scattered in panic, and the people on fire rolled around on the ground.

The fire on the ladder ahead was raging and could not be extinguished. People around had already turned and fled, but just as they crossed the moat, a mounted general led a troop of cavalry charging at them, slashing and cursing loudly.

Then the disorderly soldiers rejoined the crowd behind the siege ladder.

Thick smoke billowed from the city walls, and Shouzhou City was soon shrouded in black smoke and fire.

Zhou Jun charged forward wave after wave, exchanging crossbow fire until the siege ladders were once again erected on the city wall. Even more rudimentary ladders were erected from all sides, and people climbed up like ants.

A military officer shouted from behind, "The first person to climb the city wall will be richly rewarded!"

Before they even saw a glimpse of wealth and glory, they were met with a bucket of kerosene being poured over their heads.

Several soldiers fell down engulfed in flames, and the wooden ladder was instantly engulfed in flames... This oil was quite useful to the Southern Tang army, as it could be ignited in an instant; otherwise, it would not have been easy to burn the siege ladder.

Li Chongjin stood on a high place with his hand on his sword, gazing at the situation on the battlefield, a dark, brooding aura about him.

He believed that the failure to capture Shouzhou was mainly due to the failure of Prime Minister Li Gu, who missed the opportunity and gave the Southern Tang army time to prepare.

Li Chongjin was originally determined to prove himself in the war against Southern Tang, wanting to show the emperor who he could rely on.

What a foolish decision it was to give Zhang Yongde, that guy who rose to power through flattery, a chance to keep me in check!

In the battle of Zhengyang, he fought very well and achieved great results, defeating Liu Yanzhen's troops, the commander of the Northern Expeditionary Army of the pseudo-Tang Dynasty.

They also captured dozens of generals and officers, including Liu Yanzhen's deputy general Xian Shilang. The Tang army suffered nearly 10,000 casualties and seized more than 100,000 military supplies and equipment.

But Li Chongjin felt that this was not enough. If he could not achieve such results by fighting Liu Yanzhen, who was a good-for-nothing, then that would be truly shameful.

Li Chongjin's greater ambition is to capture Shouzhou City, a victory that would be far more significant than the great victory at Zhengyang.

However, after besieging Shouzhou for so long, there has been no progress whatsoever. The emperor has sent several groups of people to urge them on, and he even said he would come to personally oversee the battle. Although he didn't come due to unforeseen circumstances, it seems certain that he will come this time, as the emperor has already set off from Zhengyang and is on his way.

Li Chongjin couldn't help but think of the young general who shared his surname.

Initially, he only disliked Li Yi because the other party was Zhang Yongde's subordinate, so he extended his dislike to Li Yi as a result.

However, the battle to conquer Shu, in which the enemy captured Qin and Feng in a month, truly made Li Chongjin feel a sense of crisis.

He looked down on Zhang Yongde because the latter had no outstanding achievements and only rose to power because of the promotion and important position of his cousin, the emperor.

But Li Yi was different. The battles of Gaoping, Xinkou, Qin, and Feng made his achievements in three battles remarkable.

Li Chongjin had already come to regard Li Yi as a formidable competitor in his heart.

However, he had been attacking Shouzhou City for so long without any results, which was really frustrating... Li Chongjin knew that Shouzhou City was not easy to attack, and Jiangnan was not as easy to conquer as Shu. In terms of wealth alone, Da Zhou could not compare with Tang.

Even though he knew this, Li Chongjin still couldn't hide his ferocity. A few days ago, when the siege failed, he even beheaded several officers of the commander level.

Just then, a subordinate came to report: "Commander Zhao, who is stationed at Shallow Stone Beach, sent someone to report that... that he said..."

"What did he say?" Li Chongjin asked, immediately displeased.

The subordinate was startled and hurriedly said, "The messenger said that Commander Zhao thought those Tang army prisoners were wasting food, and felt that the weather was getting colder and colder, making it more and more difficult to transport food and supplies. It might snow soon, and if those prisoners were kept, they would have to feed them and provide them with clothes. Moreover, the Tang army prisoners might have disloyal intentions at any time, and keeping them would be a big problem... So he ordered all those prisoners to be killed."

"What?!" Li Chongjin was shocked upon hearing this, his eyes widening in anger. "More than three thousand Tang soldiers were killed?"

"Yes, that's what they said..."

Li Chongjin was furious and shouted angrily, "Damn Zhao Chao, is his brain flooded with piss? We're working so hard to attack the city, and he's killing all the Tang soldiers' prisoners in the back. It's obvious he's not forcing the Tang army in Shouzhou to fight us to the death!"

It's often said that a bad person's brilliant idea is no match for a fool's cleverness, no matter how hard they try. Although Li Chongjin hadn't heard this later saying, he now genuinely thought Zhao Chao was a complete idiot.

Last year, when the emperor personally led an expedition against the Northern Han, this fellow had already made a foolish mistake by saying something he shouldn't have in front of the emperor. He was immediately dismissed from his military post and imprisoned in the Huai Prefecture jail.

Fortunately, the emperor didn't hold it against him and reinstated him to his original position after the campaign against the Northern Han. But this fool didn't learn his lesson at all and has now done something like this again.

Li Chongjin immediately lost interest in overseeing the battle and turned to lead his men to cause trouble for Zhao Chao. He wanted to see what was going on in this guy's head.

By this time, the sun had gradually dipped below the horizon, and Zhou Jun's catapults had ceased firing. Those tall, heavy machines stood silhouetted against the setting sun, forming dark shadows like ferocious, terrifying beasts.

……

Amidst the shouts of the officers, countless people below the city wall retreated like a tide.

Liu Renzhan stood atop the city wall, observing the scene below. He stroked his beard and said, "I heard the Zhou army is planning to move the pontoon bridge from Zhengyang to Xiachai?"

He wondered what Zhou Jun was up to.

Did the Zhou court believe that the cities in the upper reaches of the Huai River had not been captured and that the terrain there was too wide and easy for the Tang army to attack?
According to reports from Xia Cai, the location chosen for Zhou's pontoon bridges was quite deliberate. They were built at a bend in the Huai River's rapids, where a significant curve was formed, and Xia Cai was situated precisely at the gap where the water flow slowed down.

The terrain north of the river is flat and open, allowing for quick formation after crossing, and the good visibility eliminates the risk of being ambushed.

A general walked up the stone steps, knelt on one knee, and reported: "Reporting to the commander, the brothers have dug a tunnel in the south of the city and installed earthenware jars on all sides and sent people to guard it. If the enemy digs the tunnel into the city, they can hear the noise when they move the earth."

Liu Renzhan nodded and looked at his generals, saying, "Holding out is not the solution. We cannot sit and wait to die. Now, the imperial army is coming to our aid from all directions, and the Zhou army is already too busy to take care of itself. Moreover, the Zhou army has been unable to break through for a long time and is exhausted. If we can take advantage of this opportunity to catch the Zhou army off guard and win a great victory, the morale of the Zhou army will surely collapse."

The generals hurriedly tried to dissuade them, citing the lack of the emperor's approval. No one wanted to leave the city to attack... Looking across the Huai River, there were still rows of tents, but it was impossible to tell how many troops were still there.

The disparity in troop strength between the two sides was too great, and everyone felt that it was already extremely difficult to defend the city.

At this moment, Liu Yanzhen suddenly spoke up: "The Zhou army is fierce in field battles. Our army can only fight back in naval warfare. It is too risky to launch an attack rashly."

Previously, Liu Yanzhen was appointed as the commander of the northern expeditionary force, leading a large army to support the besieged city of Shouzhou. The Southern Tang ruler Li Jing placed high hopes on him.

However, he underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly, intending to take the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on the Zhou army that was returning to defend. However, he was defeated by Li Chongjin east of Zhengyang and escaped into Shouzhou City with only a few dozen personal guards.

Having witnessed Zhou Jun's fighting prowess, Liu Yanzhen was indeed traumatized to face Zhou Jun again, especially since the enemy's commander-in-chief was none other than Li Chongjin, the very same Li Chongjin who had caused him such a great loss.

Liu Renzhan shook his head and said, "When defending a city, holding out to the death is not the best strategy. These days, the Zhou army has been cutting down a lot of trees and making a lot of siege equipment. They must be preparing to launch a fierce attack on Shouzhou. Sitting and waiting for death is not the way to defend a city."

Liu Renzhan felt a sense of contempt for Liu Yanzhen, even though he had sent someone to dissuade him back then.

But what was the result? He gave away his army, provisions, and warships to Zhou's forces for nothing. He himself, however, shamelessly returned.

Liu Renzhan felt that if it were him, he would have drawn his sword and committed suicide on the spot. How could he have the face to live on?

But though he thought this, he didn't show it. Instead, he pointed to the camp in the northwest: "That must be the elite troops of the Imperial Guard personally led by Li Chongjin. Their momentum is incomparable to the ragtag troops responsible for attacking the city. Although the Zhou army seems to have many soldiers, there are less than 10,000 elite troops, and they are all far away from the camps under the city. These troops attacking the city are not worth worrying about."

Upon hearing this, Liu Yanzhen opened his mouth but said nothing more, because he knew he had no right to interfere with the other party's arrangements.

One of the generals bowed and said, "We are trapped in Shouzhou, but fortunately we have the General in charge. Heaven is protecting us."

Another person chimed in, "The Emperor will not sit idly by and watch Shouzhou be besieged. Besides, with the General here, the Emperor would rather lose Shouzhou than lose the General."

Although the generals were still somewhat uncertain, they all had great faith in Liu Renzhan, who enjoyed immense prestige. His authority was built upon treating his soldiers like family and leading them in countless battles.

Liu Renzhan stood on the city tower and observed for a while. Gradually, he had a better understanding of the situation. He calmly instructed, "When the time comes, our infantry and cavalry will leave the city through Dinghu Gate. After we succeed, we will first burn the weapons along the Fei River, then turn around and advance south to burn the siege weapons on the front. Then we will enter the city through Tongfei Gate."

Just as the lieutenant beside him was about to accept the order, he heard him add: "The cavalry must be as swift as the wind sweeping across the fields, striking and retreating in a single blow. After leaving the city, do not linger in battle. The cavalry should catch them off guard, scatter their camp, and prevent them from regrouping. The infantry should follow the cavalry in the pursuit."

Liu Renzhan made up his mind to go to war, so he selected elite infantry and cavalry from the army and began to make preparations quietly. At the same time, he appointed his eldest son, Liu Chongzan, as the vanguard commander, instructing him to lead elite troops to attack at any time.

However, Liu Renzhan also needs to carefully consider when to open the city gates and launch an attack, and needs to seize what he considers an opportune moment.

(End of this chapter)