The news of the Han army's retreat to the north drifted across the river at the first time and spread to Jinling. The messenger who reported confirmed it several times, and when he learned that Emperor Luan of the Han Dynasty had taken the forbidden army from Tokyo, escorted the war capture and tribute, and went north along the canal, Li Jing was completely relieved.

Immediately issued an edict and asked the Southern Tang Dynasty court to load the last batch of tea and grain on ships and transport them to Jiangbei. Then, Li Jing found that his illness seemed to have eased, and he did not mention moving the capital or abdicating.

Later, Han Xizai's ban was lifted, and he was promoted to a scholar of the Academy of Arts and Sciences, a scholar of the household department, and a member of Tongping Zhangshi. He also took out Chen Jue, the general of the defeated army, alone, criticized and questioned the guilt, and beheaded him at the palace gate. He also degraded Li Zhenggu, the deputy envoy of the privy council, and Wei Cen, the counselor, together, and most importantly, Song Qiqiu, the Duke of Chu, was dismissed from all posts and sent to Jiuhua Mountain for "recuperation"

The Northern Han Dynasty and the Southern Expedition, as a result, the Southern Tang Dynasty was defeated and lost, losing half of the country, and seeking peace in humiliation, such a result still greatly touched Li Jing. Li Jing's action was a decision made after learning from the pain, and he did not want to make the north and the south fight again, and make the imperial court into a miasma, so that the country would be defeated.

Chen Jue was executed, Li Zhenggu and Wei Cen were demoted, and Song Qiqiu moved, and it can be said that the "Song Party" that was once flourishing in the Southern Tang Dynasty completely collapsed. And Li Jing also deliberately wanted to reuse Jiangbei scholars and promote good ministers and virtuous generals, in addition to Han Xizai, Liu Renzhen, Lin Renzhao and a few other generals were also rewarded.

However, Feng Yansi, who was once the backbone of the Song Party and could even stand out in his own right, was preserved in this political turmoil. The official position was not reduced, Juelu increased, and his younger brother Feng Yanlu was promoted to the Yin of Jinling Mansion by Li Jing.

As a monarch, balancing is an essential skill. It can be seen from Li Jing's adjustment actions that he really repented and wanted to revive his national strength. But, is it too late?

More importantly, although the scourge of partisanship has been temporarily eliminated, the dispute over the storage position has broken out again. Li Hongji, the king of Yan, in this national change, his ambition can be completely inflated.

......

Between the Tang Dynasty in the Southern and Tang Dynasty, at the same time as the great changes, Liu Chengyou Luan had already crossed north into Huai and turned to the west. With them, there are only the three armies of Iron Cavalry, Longqi, and Xiaodi.

Along the way, I was also inspecting the situation in the prefecture and county. Soon after the end of the war, although it was not devastated, there was also a depression between towns and villages. On the canal, in addition to public ships and military boats, there are also upward boats.

However, what can be clearly felt is that although the people's hearts are unstable, order is slowly being restored. Although the ruler has changed, in this spring ploughing season, the villagers are already planting seedlings, no matter whether the sky falls or not, the rice must be eaten.

Sizhou, Xuyi.

The entire Huainan was dedicated to the Northern Han Dynasty by the Tang Dynasty, but Xuyi City still held on, and above the city, the Tang flag was still erected high. Outside the city, the Han army only set up a village to guard the city that was "stolen" by Guo Tingwei.

Guo Tingwei has his generals, but after Guo Rong recovered, mobilized soldiers and horses, with more military strength, more elite soldiers, and more resources, he was also firmly blocked in the city.

Originally, the Sizhou Naval Division was a big card in Guo Tingwei's hands, but after Xiang Xun was ordered to lead the main force of the Jingjiang Army to the east to support, it soon lost its effectiveness. The land and water attack successfully broke through the Xuyi Water Village.

Guo Tingwei was also a very courageous and decisive person, sensing the danger, he directly withdrew all the sailors into the city, and burned the water village and warships to stop the Han army.

After that, he strengthened the city defenses and made a posture of being trapped in a lonely city and defending Xuyi. Moreover, Guo Tingwei in time scavenged the rations and materials of more than 20,000 people in the city, leaving them strong, and then drove all the remaining people out of the city, completely building Xuyi into a military fortress.

Regarding Guo Tingwei's approach, even Guo Rong couldn't help but sigh and appreciate him a lot. He ordered that the Xuyi scholars who had been driven out of the city be sent to Linhuai in the north for temporary resettlement.

In this way, for a full month, the offensive and defensive game between Guo Rong and Guo Tingwei, two people surnamed Guo, revolved around Xuyi City. Even the strong attack can be regarded as a combination of means, but they are all firmly guarded by Guo Tingwei.

However, the general trend is irreversible, and Guo Tingwei's insistence alone is meaningless after the news of the two countries negotiating peace and Tang Ting's surrender spread north. The people in Xuyi City are scattered and the morale of the army is turbulent, it can be regarded as an abandoned army, if it were not for Guo Tingwei's prestige, it would have collapsed long ago.

At the head of Xuyi City, Guo Tingwei was expressionless, patrolling and guarding as usual, and he could clearly feel the weakening of morale.

"Envoy!"

"Envoy!"

When they met the military academy, they all saluted Guo Tingwei. Finally, there was still an officer who asked Guo Tingwei: "Envoy, the imperial court has sued for peace and truce with the Han army, why should we hold on?" If the Han army is angered, the city will fall, and the soldiers will be buried together! ”

If his subordinates had made such a statement to Guo Tingwei earlier, he would have shaken the morale of the army and would have died. But nowadays, there is no longer any need.

The Han army outside the city had not moved for a long time, Guo Tingwei simply beckoned the nearby sergeants, sat in a circle around him, and said, "You all think like this? ”

Another commander said directly: "Envoy, since the Northern Han Dynasty and the Southern Expedition, we have resisted with all our hearts and fought hard, Hao and Sierlang, there have been many casualties. Stick to the city, rather die than surrender, and be loyal to the court. Now that the two countries have made peace, why bother to support it. Now there is no way out except surrender! ”

Seeing this, Guo Tingwei smiled bitterly for a while and said, "How can I not know what you are doing?" Just ......"

A hint of hesitation flashed across his face, and Guo Tingwei said: "That's it, now, how can I lead the soldiers to death." The Han army outside the city has not attacked the city for a long time, do you know why? Then Guo Rong is also waiting for us to unload our armor and surrender to sincerity! ”

"What about the envoy?" The subordinate asked urgently.

"You say, is it better to surrender to the Northern Han Dynasty and Huaidong Jing, or to surrender directly to the Son of Heaven of the Northern Han Dynasty?" Guo Tingwei just said lightly.

This is a fall, if there is a gain.

In the Han camp outside the city, the generals and colonels of the Han army were also puzzled. seems to be martial arts, and has always wanted to make meritorious contributions, but in the end, he only mixed in the Xuyi Han camp for a month. In a hurry, I ran to the handsome tent and found Guo Rong, but I saw him wandering leisurely with Xiang Xun, enjoying tea and chess.

"Guo Envoy Jun and Xiang will be good Yaxing!" Wu Xingde said.

"Wu Gong, please take a seat!" Guo Rong said: "Come on, serve tea!" ”

"Envoy!" Wu Xingde obviously didn't have that interest, and directly showed his intention: "Now the Huainan Prefectures have become Han land, and only this city is occupied by these remnants of the Tang Army, and it will hurt the prestige of our army."

In Xuyi City, the hearts of the people are already scattered, as long as they attack him again, they will definitely be able to break the city. The dragon boat has entered the Huai, Your Majesty is coming, how to explain to Your Majesty at that time? ”

"Wu Gong is not in a hurry!" Guo Rong had a calm attitude and said, "When Your Majesty comes, Xuyi will be broken." The overall situation is like this, it is best to be able to go down the whole city and take the city lightly, so why waste the lives of our soldiers and soldiers to fight for that will. It will be a success, and ten thousand bones will wither! ”

Wu Xingde was a little stunned, and looked at Guo Rong: "Why is Guo Yuanjun so determined?" ”

Guo Rong didn't explain, he smiled at Xiang Xun, and said to Wu Xingde: "If Wu Gong is really unbearable, you can go and prepare for the drive!" ”

Seeing this, Wu Xingde didn't hesitate much, and immediately responded. What this prince thinks about now is to try to leave a good impression on the side of the Son of Heaven to eliminate the mistakes of the previous defeats. As everyone knows, Liu Chengyou didn't mean to criticize him.

As for Guo Rong's side, he was so calm, but he received a letter from Guo Tingwei a few days ago. The letter said that it was not that he did not want to surrender, but that his family was all in Jiangnan, and he was afraid that he would fall in Jiangbei, and his family would suffer in Jiangnan.

It is similar to the previous Tang general Xu Xiang and others. In this regard, Guo Rongbao and Liu Chengyou replied with only one sentence: It has been learned, and it will be solved.

And Xuyi's side, between the two Guo, also seems to maintain a tacit understanding.