Huaian County is the most inconspicuous small county among the eight counties and one capital of Wang Shichong. It is located between Runan County and Nanyang County, which is today the area of ​​Hesheqi County, Qinyang County, Henan Province. To the south is the famous Tongbai Mountain, and the Huai River originates from Tongbai Mountain in Huai'an County.

Although Huaian County was small in size, it had a large population, mainly because it did not suffer from the great chaos at the end of the Sui Dynasty. In addition, when Zhu Jie was in trouble with Xiangyang and Nanyang, a large number of people from Nanyang County fled to Huaian County for refuge, which caused the population of Huaian County to soar. Although many people from Nanyang moved back one after another after Zhu Jie's defeat, many people remained in various counties of Huaian County.

Huai'an County is the territory of Zhang Zhenzhou, the Sui army. Before Wang Shichong was preparing to usurp the throne, he transferred Zhang Zhenzhou and Yuwen Chengdu out of Luoyang. Zhang Zhenzhou led his army to station in Huai'an County. Although Zhang Zhenzhou had been killed by Wang Shichong, his army did not leave Huai'an County. This was also a compromise that Wang Shichong had reached with them for fear of rebellion. He allowed the Huai'an Army to station in Huai'an County and appointed Guo Shiheng, the general under Zhang Zhenzhou, to command the army. As the other side of the compromise, Guo Shiheng promised to be loyal to Wang Shichong.

However, as the Tang army began to attack Wang Shichong from two routes, while the Northern Sui army swept across Jingzhou, Guo Shiheng realized that Wang Shichong would not last long, so Wang Shichong issued three orders to support Nanyang County, but Guo Shiheng used various excuses to remain silent, and even sent people to assassinate the officials of the imperial edict on the road for the third time, saying that he had not received any orders.

The reason why Guo Shiheng was still in control was because he needed to continue to observe whether the Tang army destroyed Wang Shichong or the Northern Sui annexed the Central Plains was related to his future and destiny.

Guo Shiheng is about 35 or 36 years old this year, from Luoyang. He is tall and burly and has a big beard. Although he is rude, he is a meticulous person and has a lot of scheming in his work. For example, after Wang Shichong killed Zhang Zhenzhou, he retreated as an advance and was the first to hand over military power. He went to Luoyang to work without any responsibilities. When Yang Gongqing could not control the Huai'an army, Wang Shichong immediately thought of him and thought that he was the least interested in military power and should be more reliable. He appointed him again and led his army to take charge of Huai'an County.

That morning, Guo Shiheng was sitting in the big tent reading a book. At this time, a personal soldier reported at the door: "Report to General, General Tian is asking for a visit!"

Guo Shiheng was stunned. Didn’t Tian Zan shoot Wang Renze and surrender to the Sui army? Why did he come to find him? He thought about it and came over clearly. It must be Tian Zan’s order. He immediately ordered: “Come General Tian to come to see me in the big tent!”

Soon, Tian Zan quickly walked into the tent, and Guo Shiheng walked up to him and said angrily: "You killed Wang Renze, will you still dare to come to see me?"

Tian Zan smiled slightly, "Can you be the brother ambushing the knife and axe driver in the tent?"

Guo Shiheng laughed loudly. If he really wanted to arrest Tian Zan, how could he be sure to bring a sword into his tent? Tian Zan saw through it at first sight. The two of them hugged him tightly with a smile. Guo Shiheng asked him to sit down, and his personal soldiers put wine and dishes in the tent. They sat down opposite them. Guo Shiheng poured him a glass of wine and said, "I heard that my brother surrendered to the Sui army?"

Tian Zan nodded, "I am a party member of Jingzhou Township, but Wang Renze slaughtered the villagers in front of me. I couldn't stand it, so I led my troops to break up with him. Since I shot Wang Renze, I naturally had no way out and could only surrender to the Sui army."

"I can understand this!"

Guo Shiheng asked again, "I wonder what official has my virtuous brother been named?"

"Zhang Xuan personally met me and appointed me as the general of Huya. If I come to Huaian County this time and can persuade my brother to surrender, I can be promoted to the general of Hubei."

Guo Shiheng smiled bitterly, "My brother is frank!"

"Brother thought I was here to do what?"

Guo Shiheng lowered his head and pondered for a moment: "I'm not hiding my good brother. Yesterday, King Qin Li Shimin sent his aide Dou Shilun to see me, and he also advised me to surrender to the Tang army, and promised to grant me the title of the governor of Nanyang, the general of the Left Wu Guard, and grant me the title of Duke of Huaian County, and allow me to continue leading the Huaian army."

"Did your brother agree?" Tian Zan asked heartbrokenly.

Guo Shiheng sighed, "If I promised, I wouldn't see my brother. I just said I would need to think about it for a few days and drag it down."

Tian Zan immediately understood that Guo Shiheng also wanted to hear the Sui Army's offer. He probably wanted to wait for a price. He knew Guo Shiheng very well, was very enthusiastic about fame and fortune, and was extremely smart and scheming. He must have wanted to get the greatest benefits from both the Sui and Tang dynasties.

Tian Zan was not in a hurry to take out Zhang Xuan's letter and smiled and said, "I think if my brother surrendered to the Northern Sui Dynasty, he should be a general."

"How can I see it?"

"I led two thousand troops to surrender to the Northern Sui Dynasty. His Highness the King of Qi also met me personally and promised to be named General Hu Ben. The elder brother held 10,000 elite troops and was in charge of Huaian County. He was higher than me in both military positions and strength. Even I could be named General Hu Ben. The elder brother was sure to be named General, and this was unquestionable."

Guo Shiheng also felt that Tian Zan was right, so he pondered for a while and asked again: "I don't know what title I can get?"

Tian Zan took out Zhang Xuan's handwritten letter and handed it to Guo Shiheng, "This is His Highness the King of Qi's handwritten letter. Brother, please take a look!"

"Why didn't you take it out earlier!"

While complaining, Guo Shiheng hurriedly took the letter. Although Li Shimin also wrote him a handwritten letter, it was obvious that Zhang Xuan's handwritten letter was more important. Guo Shiheng took it and read it carefully. The letter did promise to grant him the general. As for the title that Guo Shiheng expected, he mentioned in the letter that when he wiped out Wang Shichong and rewarded him according to his merits, the general could be the county duke, which means he would be granted the county duke.

However, it was not as good as the county dukes granted by the Tang Dynasty, which was lower than Guo Shiheng's expectations, which made him a little disappointed. Seeing that he bowed his head and said nothing, Tian Zan asked, "Is Your Highness the King of Qi not the title of Brother Xu?"

"The letter mentioned the Duke of Kefeng County."

"What's the regret that brother has? I don't have any title."

Tian Zan was a little puzzled. He saw that Guo Shiheng's eyes were disappointed, but he really couldn't figure it out. If he had all his official positions and titles, what else could he be disappointed?

After thinking about it, Tian Zan suddenly understood, "Brother, don't think of the title too small!"

Guo Shiheng said lightly: "I don't have too high expectations. I want to seek generals, dukes, etc. I just hope that King Qi can give the same conditions as the Tang Dynasty, and I am satisfied."

"What brother means is that he hopes to be named Duke of the County?"

Guo Shiheng nodded, "That's right!"

Tian Zan secretly scolded Guo Shiheng for being greedy, but he had no choice but to say, "I'll send a pigeon letter back to report, and there will be news at the latest afternoon."

Guo Shiheng was overjoyed, "If His Highness of the King of Qi was willing to be appointed as the Duke of the County, I would like to fully cooperate with his strategy and delay the main force of the Tang army."

At dusk, Zhang Xuan's pigeon letter was delivered to Biyang County, Huai'an County. In the letter, Zhang Xuan clearly promised to grant Guo Shiheng the Duke of Huai'an County after destroying Wang Shichong. Guo Shiheng finally let go of his heart. He immediately summoned the three armies and officially announced that the Huai'an army surrendered to the Northern Sui Dynasty, and at the same time appointed Tian Zan as deputy general.

Two days later, Sui general Liu Lancheng led 10,000 cavalrymen from Xiangyang County to secretly enter Fangling County, which had empty troops, and lurked on the back of Xiyang County, waiting for the opportunity.

At the same time, after nearly ten days of fierce battle in the city, Li Shimin led 60,000 Tang troops to finally capture Rang County, the capital of Nanyang County. The 8,000 Zheng troops who were guarding Rang County surrendered to the Tang army, and the counties in Nanyang County also surrendered one after another.

Because it took too much time to attack Nanyang County, Li Shimin was worried that there would be changes in Luoyang. He ordered Li Xiaogong to lead 35,000 troops to garrison Xiwang and Xincheng County to prevent the Sui army from heading north from Xiangyang. He also ordered General Liu Hongji to lead 10,000 troops to garrison Nanyang County, the easternmost to seal the Huai'an army's way westward. He himself led 50,000 troops to storm the troops into Jingyang County and advance towards Luoyang.
Chapter completed!