Chapter 678: The four counties in Liaodong are in surrender

On August 20, in the tenth year of Tiantong, Xue Rengui led a large army to outside Jinyang City, and Li Siye, Deng Zhong and others personally met the city gate.

"Welcome to the General!" Seeing Xue Rengui's arrival, a group of civil and military officials, led by Li Siye, bowed to Xue Rengui in unison.

Xue Rengui walked up to everyone with a smile and said, "Thank you all, generals, let's go into the city to talk."

After everyone entered the city, they came to Deng's army's Jinshi garrison in Jinyang City. Since the king and ministers of Zhao surrendered voluntarily, Deng's army was completely unscrupulous of the officials and people in Jinyang City, so Deng's temporary garrison was placed in the Jinyang Order Office.

Xue Rengui sat in the main seat and said to Deng Zhong: "General Deng Zhong has made great contributions to being able to end the war so smoothly this time. His Majesty also praised General Deng Zhong in Luoyang."

"The General is too rewarded!" Deng Zhong replied humbly: "If the General and others did not restrain the main force of the Zhao army in Wei County and Shangdang County, how could the last general and Wudangwei march forward and the troops to Jinyang? The last general dare not take credit!"

"General Deng Zhong doesn't need to be too arrogant. You are you!" Xue Rengui waved his hand and said, "When I was in Wei County, I heard that the Empress Dowager Zhao had sent people to Yuyang County and Liaodong County to summon the king-supporting troops. Now the Zhao army of Shangdang County and Wei County have asked our army to surrender one after another. The entire Zhao State is only Yuyang County and Liaodong County and Zhao army troops. I wonder where these troops are now?"

"Just about to talk to the general!" Li Siye said: "About this time, after the last general arrived in Jinyang City, he also learned that when Wudangwei entered Jinyang City, the Yuyang County Governor Gu Tu led 30,000 troops and horses to Yanmen County, and the Liaodong garrison Gongsun Lang also arrived in Guangyang County. Later, when General Deng Zhong sent someone to deliver the imperial edict of the Empress Dowager Zhao to the two, Gu Tu followed the imperial edict of the Empress Dowager Zhao and asked our army to surrender. Now, the general Chang Mao of Wudangwei led his army to take care of him in Yangqu, but Gongsun Lang resolutely led his army back to Liaodong, without knowing what he meant."

Upon hearing this, Xue Rengui frowned and said, "Gongsun Lang did not ask our army to surrender immediately. Instead, he led his army back to Liaodong. I'm afraid he has other plans to find out Gongsun Lang's intentions?"

Li Siye shook his head and said, "I don't know."

At this time, Xue Rengui saw Zhong Xing, the former Prime Minister of Zhao who was sitting in the last seat. When he entered the city, Li Siye introduced to Xue Rengui. As the Prime Minister of Zhao, Zhong Xing might have some understanding of Gongsun Lang’s ideas, so he asked: "Mr. Zhong Xing, what do you think Gongsun Lang wants to retreat to Liaodong?"

Originally, as a surrendered minister of Zhao State, Zhong Xing should have gone to Luoyang with the young emperor Zhang Yuan and Empress Dowager Meng, as well as a group of civil and military ministers. However, since Deng Zhong first entered Jinyang City, he needed a prestigious person to help him stabilize the hearts of the people, so he kept Zhong Xing.

Zhong Xing has always been very low-key. Suddenly, when Zhong Xing, who was a little transparent and transparent, heard Xue Rengui ask him, he was stunned for a moment. After all, as a surrendered minister, he basically made up the numbers when participating in such a discussion. Unexpectedly, Xue Rengui would ask him about his opinion.

Before Zhao State surrendered, Zhong Xing was always a pro-war faction, but now the demise of Zhao State has become a fait accompli. Even if Zhong Xing is unwilling to accept it, it will be useless. Moreover, Zhong Xing is not old and has an ambitious heart. He knows that this is an opportunity.

So he bowed and replied, "Go back to the general, I think Gongsun Lang's move is waiting for a price."

"Waiting for the price? I hope Mr. Zhong will give me advice!" Xue Rengui asked in confusion.

Zhong Xing replied: "General, since Li Rubing led his army to attack and destroy the remnant Yan and captured the four counties of Liaodong, the four counties of Liaodong were far away from Jinyang and hung alone. At that time, Emperor Wei appointed the veteran general Gongsun Jue to guard the four counties of Liaodong at the suggestion of General Zhao Xin. Later, after Gongsun Jue's death, due to the understanding of the power struggle in the court, he had no time to take care of it. Therefore, the power of the four counties of Liaodong fell into the hands of Gongsun Xin, the son of Gongsun Jue. Since then, the Gongsun family has become the local emperor of the four counties of Liaodong. After Gongsun Xin's death, his position was inherited by Gongsun Lang. Twenty years have passed, and the people of the four counties of Liaodong only know the Gongsun family, but not the court."

"According to Mr. Zhong, Gongsun Lang is planning to gain troops and control Liaodong, or even want to become king?" Xue Rengui asked with a bad face.

Zhong Xing shook his head and said, "It is certain that you have a strong sense of self-respect, but it is important to establish yourself as a king. Gongsun Lang is a self-aware person. There are only 20,000 to 30,000 soldiers in the four counties of Liaodong. How can he be the opponent of the Da Deng and Million-Major Division? In the following view, Gongsun Lang just wanted the court to promise him to continue to command the four counties of Liaodong!"

"Hmph!" Li Siye, who was standing beside him, sneered: "It's simply a delusional idea. Just 20,000 to 30,000 people want to negotiate terms with the court? A joke!"

Xue Rengui thought for a while and then said, "So far, this matter is only our guess. The most urgent task is to understand Gongsun Lang's intentions as soon as possible."

"The general, I am not talented, and I have met Gongsun Lang once. I am willing to be an envoy to persuade Gongsun Lang to surrender!" At this time, Zhong Xing volunteered to go to Liaodong to persuade Gongsun Lang.

Seeing Zhong Xing volunteering, Xue Rengui was a little undecided. After all, Zhong Xing was a surrendered minister. To be honest, Xue Rengui had very limited trust in him, but after thinking about it, Zhong Xing was the best candidate.

First of all, as the Prime Minister of Zhao, Zhong Xing met Gongsun Lang and had a little incest between them. Secondly, Deng's army and others knew much about the four counties in Liaodong, so after thinking about it, Xue Rengui decided to let Zhong Xing go.

So he said, "Okay, that's all, Mr. Zhong will be troubled. I will temporarily appoint Mr. Zhong as our army to join the army. On behalf of me, I will go and persuade Gongsun Lang and Li Pingzhang to surrender!"

"The last one is here!" Li Pingzhang, who was sitting beside him, stepped out and responded.

"I will order you to lead 500 elite troops to join the army of Zhong to Liaodong, and protect Zhong to join the army along the way." Xue Rengui said.

"Here! The last general will take the order!" Li Pingzhang responded.

After seeing Li Pingzhang responding, Xue Rengui said to Zhong Xing again: "Mr. Zhong, General Li Pingzhang is the son of General Li Cunxiao, the most powerful general of my great Deng. His martial arts skills are also the best in the entire great Deng. With him escorting Mr. Zhong, he will definitely be able to protect Mr. Zhong well."

"Thank you General!" Zhong Xing was not dissatisfied with this. Zhong Xing was also very clear that he was just a surrendered minister. It was already difficult for Xue Rengui to let him go to Liaodong, and it was natural to send someone to monitor him.

"Okay, I will wait for Mr. Zhong's good news in Jinyang City. When Mr. Zhong returns successfully, I will personally ask for me!" Xue Rengui said.

"Thank you General!" Zhong Xing said with gratitude.

On August 24, the tenth year of Tiantong, Zhong Xing and Li Pingzhang were already on the way to Liaodong. After Zhong Xing and Li Pingzhang left, Xue Rengui wrote the incident in Liaodong in a memorial and sent it back to Luoyang.

After receiving Xue Rengui's note, Deng Sheng handed it to Deng Hao and Deng Huan. After Deng Hao and Deng Huan read it, Deng Sheng asked them: "What do you think about the matter in Liaodong?"

Deng Hao said: "When I go back to my father, my son thought that General Xue's guess was impossible. Gongsun Lang has been entrenched in the four counties of Liaodong for 20 years and has a deep foundation. The people of Liaodong only know that Gongsun family is in the four counties of Liaodong, and Gongsun Lang has some reliance on it."

Deng Sheng nodded, then looked at Deng Huan and asked, "Huan'er, the emperor's grandfather, please ask you, if Gongsun Lang is really as Xue Rengui said, intending to separatist Liaodong, what should the court do?"

Deng Huan said: "Beat! The emperor's grandfather, although the four counties of Liaodong are alone, their land was also developed by our ancestors of China through thorns and thorns. Although the world is big, there is no useless place. If Gongsun Lang really doesn't know the times and tries to govern Liaodong, it will be unacceptable even if he nominally surrenders."

Deng Sheng nodded with satisfaction and praised: "Well, Liaodong is small, but it can support millions of people. If you let it go, it will become a major concern for the court in the future. If you lie beside the bed, how can you allow others to sleep soundly? Send someone to pass the imperial edict to Xue Rengui. If Gongsun Lang is obsessed with and unwilling to hand over the four counties of Liaodong, there is no need to ask for instructions and just pacify the four counties of Liaodong."

"Here!" Deng Hao replied.

After receiving Deng Sheng's edict, Xue Rengui personally led the three guards of Shence Guards, Shenwu Guards, and Yingyang Guards to leave Jinyang City and head for the four counties of Liaodong. Once Zhong Xing could not convince Gongsun Lang, he would lead the army of the three guards to attack the four counties of Liaodong.

On the tenth year of Tiantong, on the tenth day of September, Zhong Xing, Li Pingzhang and his party finally arrived at Linyu, the garrison of Gongsun Lang. After receiving the news of the surrender of Jinyang City, Gongsun Lang planned to lead his army back to Xiangping, the old camp, but was worried that the Deng army would invade, so he stationed troops in Linyu and waited.

When Gongsun Lang learned that Zhong Xing had arrived, he personally welcomed him into his residence.

"Zhong Xiang, Jinyang left in a hurry in the past, and I really wanted to ruin this general!" Gongsun Lang said with a smile.

"General Gongsun, Zhao State has been destroyed, Zhong Xing is no longer prime minister. Don't mention the title of Zhong Xiang." Zhong Xing said.

"Forget it, I wonder what Mr. Zhong is here today?" Gongsun Lang asked.

Zhong Xing said, "Why did you come here? General Gongsun is very clear. I will ask General Gongsun that Empress Dowager Meng has issued an order to order all troops to surrender to Deng's army. Why did General Gongsun not only fail to follow the Queen Mother's imperial edict, but instead lead his army back to Liaodong and garrison Linyu?"

Gongsun Lang said: "Mr. Zhong misunderstood. It was not that I did not follow the imperial edict of the Empress Dowager. However, in order to rush to Jinyang, I brought all the troops from the four counties of Liaodong. When I received the imperial edict of the Empress Dowager, Liaodong sent an urgent report that Sushen invaded the border. For the safety of the four counties of Liaodong, I had no choice but to lead the army back to Liaodong. Not long ago, I defeated Sushen and planned to submit a letter recently, but I did not expect that the gentleman would go one step first."

The Sushen people are a branch of the Donghu people. They have always lived in the Liaodong area and have always been a major concern for the four counties in Liaodong.

Having said that, how could Gongsun Lang be willing to compromise? I think of him, Gongsun Lang, who has been entrenched in Liaodong since his grandfather Gongsun Jue. For twenty years, the Gongsun family has been scattered in Liaodong, and there are members of the Gongsun family in the four counties of Liaodong. At that time, Zhao State also tried his best to appease the Gongsun family. Now, the Deng people say a word, just like Gongsun Lang gave up the family and managed the four counties of Liaodong for twenty years. How could it be possible?

But Zhong Xing was right. No matter how deep the Gongsun family has in the four counties of Liaodong, it only has 20,000 to 30,000 troops. Once the Deng army invades, the troops and horses of the four counties of Liaodong cannot be resisted no matter what. Once the Deng army invades Xiangping City, the Gongsun family will definitely not be much better.

Just when Gongsun Lang was in a daze, his son Gongsun Chang hurried in and said to Gongsun Lang: "Father, spies came to report that a large number of Deng troops appeared on Youbeiping, with about 100,000 people. They are now stationed in Tuyin City, and their intentions are unknown!"

"Did the Deng army arrive in Youbeiping? Do you know who is leading the troops?" Gongsun Lang was shocked. He didn't expect that the Deng army would come so quickly. In less than a day after Zhong Xing arrived in Linyu, more than 100,000 Deng army arrived in Youbeiping. The speed was so fast that it was shocking.

Gongsun Chang replied: "According to the spy's return, Deng Jun was under the banner of Duke Xue of England!"

"British Duke Xue? General Xue Rengui personally led his army!" Zhong Xing sighed. He thought Xue Rengui would wait for his news in Jinyang City, but he didn't expect that he had just arrived in Linyu, and Xue Rengui led his army to Youbeiping.

"Mr. Zhong, are you saying that Xue Rengui personally led his army to Youbeiping?" Gongsun Lang asked.

Zhong Xing nodded and said, "There are not many generals in Deng's surname, and they are capable of commanding more than 100,000 troops and being named British Duke. General Gongsun is now imminent. If General Gongsun still does not make up his mind, I am afraid that General Xue Rengui's army will enter Liaoxi County."

Gongsun Lang sighed: "Oh...forget it, although Liaodong is good, it is no longer something our Gongsun family can own. Since Deng State wants it, let it give it to him. I will write a book of surrender and my son will take it to Xue Rengui, and ask him to lead his army to Linyu to accept surrender!"

"General wise!" Zhong Xing breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Gongsun Lang finally gave up the unrealistic idea in his heart.

In the tenth year of Tiantong, on September 12, Gongsun Lang sent his son Gongsun Chang to Tuyin with a letter of surrender, and presented it to Xue Rengui.

In the tenth year of Tiantong, on September 15, Xue Rengui led his army to Linyu City. Gongsun Lang led a group of civil and military officials out of the city to surrender. Xue Rengui personally accepted Gongsun Lang's request for surrender, and then incorporated all the troops under Gongsun Lang.

In the tenth year of Tiantong, on September 20, Xue Rengui led his army to Xiangping City, and the prefects of the four counties in Liaodong submitted a letter of surrender. At this point, the entire territory of Zhao State fell into the hands of Deng State.

In the tenth year of Tiantong, on September 25, Xue Rengui left Zhang Liao to lead Shencewei to seize the four counties of Liaodong, and led his army back to Jinyang City.
Chapter completed!