Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 443 Surround

"Mao Dezhu killed Helian Bobo in battle?" Liu Daogui initially found it hard to believe, but later he also felt it was only natural.

From the very beginning, he fell into the trap that Mao Dezhu had carefully set for him.

In this weather, the defending side has an absolute advantage. Although the Northern Army only has more than 3,000 men, they are all elite soldiers and generals who are good at defense, while the Hu Xia army is mainly composed of cavalry and is not good at attacking cities.

Mao Dezhu lured him into the inner city step by step, and then used armored cavalry to capture the king first.

Tactically, it was simply impeccable; even Liu Daogui couldn't achieve this level.

The Northern Army's strategy of defeating a superior force with a smaller one was already routine. In Liu Laozhi's Battle of Luojian and Xie Xuan's Battle of Feishui, several thousand infantry and cavalry took the initiative to cross the river and directly overwhelm the enemy.

Meng Ganzhi excitedly said, "In this battle, we not only killed Helian Bobo, Wang Maide, Helian Youdidai and other Hu Xia rulers and ministers, but also killed more than 6,000 people, captured 4,000, and seized 30,000 warhorses, cattle and sheep."

"So, the Hu Xia kingdom has been destroyed!" Liu Daogui was overjoyed. He had thought he would be entangled with Helian Bobo for a long time, but he didn't expect that Mao Dezhu would solve the problem directly.

"His sons Helian Gui, Helian Chang, and Helian Lun are still at large, and General Fu Hongzhi is leading a thousand cavalry in pursuit."

The rise of any ethnic group is inseparable from its own heroes.

When the Later Yan dynasty was at its most powerful, Murong Chui died, and the royal family immediately fell into internal strife. The Murong clan was scattered and eventually disappeared into the annals of history.

The same applies to Shi Hu of the Jie Zhao state and Fu Jian of the Former Qin dynasty.

The major threat to Guanzhong has vanished.

"With the destruction of Hu Xia and the fall of the Western Qin and Liang states, I hereby order Shen Tianzi and Shen Qingzhi to lead 20,000 infantry and cavalry as the vanguard, and Liu Yixing, Zhu Lingshi, and Zhu Chaoshi to lead 50,000 Han and Qiang troops as the central army to attack Northern Liang! After Mao Dezhu and Fu Hongzhi have rested, they will join Xiao Chengzhi's 7,000 infantry and cavalry and advance into Henan. We must not let a single remnant of Hu Xia escape!"

Liu Daogui was filled with excitement.

Mao Dezhu's decisive victory over Helian Bobo saved the Han state a great deal of trouble.

The preparations made for the destruction of the Xia dynasty can now be used against the Northern Liang.

A general is the pillar of a nation. If the general is loyal and capable, the nation will be strong; if he is weak and incompetent, the nation will be weak.

A renowned general can sometimes directly influence the fate and fortune of a nation.

After integrating the Northern and Western armies, Liu Daogui had few other subordinates, but a plethora of famous generals.

After the news of Helian Bobo's slaying spread, every household in Chang'an decorated their homes with lanterns and colorful streamers, and even pasted portraits of Mao Dezhu and Fu Hongzhi on their doors for worship.

The imperial court also spoke highly of Mao Dezhu.

Liu Daogui simply conferred the title of Duke of Yangwu County upon Mao Dezhu and appointed him as General of the Left Guard, and conferred the title of Duke of Niyang County upon Fu Hongzhi and appointed him as General of the Right Guard.

In fact, both of them deserve to be granted the title of Duke, but Liu Daogui is only a king now, so their titles should not be too high. Otherwise, when they conquer the Northern Wei, sweep away the Rouran, and pacify the Western Regions, there will be no more titles to bestow.

The title of Duke of Kaiguo County is the highest nobility in the Han Kingdom, and currently there are only two of them.

The other generals still held the titles of the Jin dynasty.

The downfall of Helian Bobo shook the entire Hehuang, Longyou, and Hexi regions.

Half a month later, Qifu Chipan of Western Qin surrendered the entire country, and Tuoba Nütan of Southern Liang also surrendered without a fight. Even Li Gao of Western Liang, thousands of miles away, announced his submission to the Han state after being persuaded by several powerful families, including Suo, Zhang, Yin and Cao.

Just as the western expeditionary army crossed the Yellow River, Juqu Mengxun sent a letter of surrender, expressing his willingness to become a vassal and protect the western border for the Han state.

Feng Kai said, "Juqu Mengxun is unwilling to even send a hostage, which shows that he is not sincere. Hexi is a strategic location with fertile land and abundant water and grass. It must not be occupied by foreign tribes!"

Liu Muzhi also said: "Those who are not of our kind will surely have different hearts. Juqu Mengxun is good at forbearance. In order to achieve his goal, he did not hesitate to betray his own brother. He is not as cruel as Helian Bobo, but he is more cunning. We must not be deceived by him."

Juqu Mengxun was also a figure of his own. He first served as a general under Lü Guang of the Later Liang Dynasty. He killed Ma Sui, the Protector of Zhongtian Army of the Later Liang Dynasty, and Jing Xiang, the magistrate of Linsong, and rebelled. He then supported Duan Ye, the governor of Jiankang of the Later Liang Dynasty, to establish the Northern Liang Dynasty.

He gradually gained military power during the war against Later Liang, killed Duan Ye and seized his country, became a vassal of Yao Qin, and then seized the Wuwei Army of Yao Qin.

Such people are like venomous snakes, always ready to bite back.

After the Yongjia Rebellion, a large number of people migrated to Liangzhou, which, under Zhang Gui's rule, became a paradise. The Zhang family's Former Liang dynasty lasted for 76 years, the longest among the Sixteen Kingdoms, and preserved a large population. "Didn't he want to become a vassal? I grant his request and allow him to come to Chang'an for an audience." Liu Daogui would never allow the former Han territory to be seized by Juqu Mengxun.

It wouldn't matter if he claimed to be a vassal state or even called himself a grandson.

However, everything requires a reputation. Han is a superior country, and at this stage, it must cherish its reputation. Liu Daogui also gave Juqu Mengxun a way out.

As long as he enters Chang'an, the wealth and status of the Juqu clan can be guaranteed.

But someone like Juqu Mengxun would never give up so easily.

Ten days later, Liangzhou sent another envoy. Just as Liu Daogui had predicted, Juqu Mengxun refused to meet with Liu in Chang'an, citing his old age and frailty as reasons for not being able to travel far.

"Then don't blame me. Send the order to the Crown Prince: show no mercy." Liu Daogui was genuinely afraid that he would bring the Juqu clan to surrender, enjoy wealth and honor, and increase the burden on the people.

The military order was sent out, and the scouts arrived almost immediately.

Shen Tianzi has already invaded Liangzhou. Shen Qingzhi, seeking respite in the counties and prefectures of Hexi, called upon the Jin, Qiang, and Di people to rise up in response and return to China.

Zhang Gui of Former Liang, Lü Guang of Later Liang, Duan Ye of Northern Liang, and Li Song of Western Liang were all essentially states of the Central Plains and naturally close to the Chinese.

Juqu Mengxun usurped the Northern Liang, but the core of Liangzhou was still the Jin people.

Once Shen Tianzi's army crossed the Yellow River, not only did the local powerful clans respond, but even the Xianbei and other non-Han ethnic groups rose up in rebellion. The largest of these, the Lushui Hu, raised an army of six thousand, volunteering to serve as vanguard soldiers and guides...

In the blink of an eye, the three cities of Zuli, Xuanwei, and Yuci defected and surrendered to the Han state, voluntarily providing provisions for the western expeditionary army.

Any tribes and cities that refused to surrender were completely wiped out after being conquered by Shen Tianzi.

His elite troops were former subordinates of Liu Yu. They were fierce, arrogant, and ruthless. They were not very disciplined when they were in Jiangzuo. When they arrived in the Northwest, they became even more unscrupulous, burning, killing, looting, and committing all kinds of evil deeds.

However, Liu Daogui turned a blind eye to dealing with foreign tribes.

The Northwest only reveres the strong; the old ways of the king's army don't work here. Back then, Yao Xing was quite benevolent to Juqu Mengxun, yet he turned around and seized Wuwei County from Yao Qin, squeezing Yao Qin's power out of Hexi.

"Report—Northern Liang has surrendered!"

After a siege of just over ten days, Juqu Mengxun surrendered.

Liu Daogui was secretly pleased. It would be best to avoid a fight and preserve Liangzhou's vitality.

However, the scout didn't finish his sentence: "Juqu Mengxun requests that Your Majesty grant him two months' grace so that he may enter Chang'an to apologize to Your Majesty after he has recovered from his illness."

Feng Kai said, "It must be a trick. Juqu Mengxun still has 40,000 to 50,000 infantry and cavalry under his command. Guzang City is high and deep, with ample food and supplies. It is impossible for him to surrender so easily."

"He is stalling for time to wait for a change in the situation, and is sending an order to the crown prince to quickly attack and destroy Northern Liang."

With the juicy meat already within reach, Liu Daogui couldn't wait any longer.

Liangzhou had many Jin people and many Xiongnu people. In the second year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuanshou reign, during the Han-Xiongnu Hexi Campaign, Huo Qubing led 10,000 Han cavalry out of Longxi Commandery, crossed Wuli Mountain, crossed the Yellow River, and forded the Hunu River. In six days, they fought for more than a thousand li, crushing the five kingdoms of the Xiongnu. Afterwards, they crossed Yanzhi Mountain, killed the Xiongnu Zhelan King and Luhou King, annihilated the main force of the Right Wise King's army, and seized the Xiongnu's golden statue used for sacrificial rites.

This prompted the Xiongnu Hunxie King to surrender with his people and be settled in Liangzhou.

Besides the Juqu tribe, there were also the Tu Ge, Dugu, and Zilu tribes.

Most of these Xiongnu people submitted to Juqu Mengxun.

The Juqu surname originated from the Bu clan of the Tuoge tribe of the Xiongnu. Maodun established the Daqiequ official position to govern the tribes within his territory. Over the centuries, the official title became the surname, gradually evolving into the Juqu tribe, which was led by tribal chiefs for generations.

Therefore, Juqu Mengxun held a very high position in the hearts of the Xiongnu people. When Duan Ye raised an army to rebel against Later Liang, he also needed to rely on the power of the Juqu clan.

In this situation, Juqu Mengxun would never surrender unless it was a fight to the death.

Liu Daogui appointed Shen Tianzi as general in order to eliminate any potential threats to his descendants.

(End of this chapter)