Speaking of Zhou Zan, Kong Sheng remembered Ling Huchao, who was assassinated by Mu Changfeng in the chaotic army. There are not many historical records about Ling Huchao, mainly as the opponent of Zhang Xun, a historical celebrity.

Linghu Chao was originally the commander of Yongqiu County, and after surrendering to the rebels of An Lushan, he was canonized as a general. All along, it was he who led the rebels to fight Zhang Xun to the death, fighting for Yongqiu, and there were countless battles large and small.

Later, Zhang Xun took the initiative to abandon Yongqiu, so that the fox tide occupied Yongqiu and operated it into his own base and base camp.

Speaking of which, these generals actually don't have much sense of belonging to An Lushan's Dayan regime, and surrender is just a choice of interests in desperation. Once there is the right opportunity, it is not impossible to turn back again.

This was an important factor in Kong Sheng's attempt to win the chestnut in the Henan Provincial Fire.

Zhou Zan is the captain of Yongqiu, and he has been an old subordinate of Ling Huchao from beginning to end.

Ling Hu Chao died tragically outside Yongqiu City, Zhou Zan was caught off guard, and the other was guilty. If he went out of the city to rescue, maybe the fox tide would not have died in Huangquan.

But on the other hand, if he opens the city to take risks to rescue, I am afraid that it will not only be a Linghu Chao who will die, but the entire Yongqiu military horses will be buried for him.

Kong Sheng decided to coerce Zhou Zan to surrender the city, surrender without a fight, and take Yongqiu City at the lowest price, in the shortest possible time.

In Kong Sheng's opinion, Zhou Zan and the others in the city have been cornered, if he hadn't misjudged, the city would have been a mess because of Ling Fox Chao's death, and this is also the case.

Some people want to abandon the city and flee, and some people propose to surrender to the court. There are also people chattering and suggesting to go to Jiyin County to ask Gao Chengyi for rescue.

For Zhou Zan. It was a very difficult decision.

No one knows it better than him. Whether it is Gao Chengyi of Jiyin County, or the rebel generals in the direction of Guanluo, and the leaders of the Yan army forces who occupy the capital and county of Henan Province, it is impossible for anyone to take the initiative to send troops to rescue Yongqiu.

There is such an army outside the city that can't tell how many men and horses are besieging the city, and over time, not to mention defending the city, the morale of the army is gradually dissipating, as long as the other party drags on for a while. I'm afraid they'll be in chaos within.

But as a rebel general, if he throws himself into the official army again, he is not sure whether the court will settle accounts after the autumn, which is what he is most worried about.

Early the next morning. Under the city of Yongqiu.

In fact, this is the morning of the seventh day of the Lunar New Year of the second year of Zhide, Kong Sheng led the army on the first day of the Lunar New Year, left Suiyang, and after six days of marching and fighting, he won two great victories and the first battle. beheaded Yang Chaozong and incorporated his remnants; In the second battle, outside Yongqiu City, under the nose of the Yongqiu army, he risked attacking with a large number of enemies. He killed more than a dozen Yongqiu generals such as Ling Huchao, killed hundreds of enemies, and took nearly 500 prisoners of war.

The temperature in the early morning was still very low, but the cold wind that had been howling all night had subsided, and it didn't feel so cold anymore.

Kong Sheng was wrapped in a black coat and sat upright on his horse. He held the signature Fang Tian Painting Halberd in his hand, and his expression was cold.

In front of him, the five hundred Yongqiu soldiers stood in a line unarmed with a sad expression, surrounded by Li Biao, Li Hu's Modao Army, and the Suiyang cavalry led by the three brothers of Lei Tingjin, staring at each other and heavily guarded. If there is any disturbance in these soldiers, the fierce Mo Dao Army will not show mercy and launch a merciless slaughter.

For prisoners of war, in fact, there are no more ways to deal with them, such as killing, dismissal, and incorporation. Kong Sheng will definitely not do the matter of pit killing, and there is no need to dismiss, the most direct thing is to replenish the soldiers with prisoners of war to enhance his strength.

Most of these soldiers had experienced Kong Sheng's divine might and bravery on the battlefield yesterday, and when they saw his Fang Tian painting halberd today, they couldn't help but feel chills.

Kong Sheng stared at everyone and said loudly: "Everyone, you were originally an official soldier, but later you were forced to surrender to the rebels. Now, the imperial court is in sight to recover Henan, An Lushan traitors have been ambushed, and the day to quell the rebellion is not far away! ”

"This official is a protégé of the Son of Heaven, Zhao Ming Henan Suiyang County Songcheng County Ling Kong Sheng, this official was ordered to go out to crusade against Yongqiu, along the way, the momentum is like a bamboo, annihilating the remnants of Yang Chaozong and Ling Hu Chao, killing Ling Hu Chao, Yang Chaozong, Yang Ning and other more than ten rebel generals."

"If you surrender to the official army, the official is not guilty of the past, and is willing to write to the court, asking for forgiveness for your previous sins, as long as you follow the official to conquer the rebels and make meritorious contributions, the official guarantees that the court will reward you according to your merits."

"So, you don't need to worry about being questioned by the court. But there is a premise, you must be wholeheartedly attached to it, and you must die and never rebel again. If there is any dissenting intention in this official army, don't blame this official for turning his face and being ruthless, and there is no forgiveness for killing! “

Kong Sheng raised the Fang Tian Painting Halberd in his hand high, and his voice suddenly rose a few degrees again: "The traitor will be defeated, and the court will win!" I hope that you will follow your own officials and make meritorious contributions, and also seek a way out for yourself. You have to think about it carefully, your family members are still looking forward to your hometown for a reunion, and if you are a thief, even if you die on the battlefield, your family will bear the infamy of the ages, and you will not be able to raise your head for the rest of your life. And if you serve the country, even if you die on the battlefield, you will also be compassionate by the court, and your family will be proud of you! “

"This official swears to the heavens here, those who are willing to stay and serve the country, and those who are willing to follow this official to kill traitors are the brothers of this official, and they will be treated as one, without any second heart, if they break their promises, the heavens and the earth will be destroyed! If you don't want to, please leave on your own, and the official will not stop you. “

The five hundred soldiers were silent for a moment, then suddenly knelt down on the ground together, kowtowed and shouted: "Sinners are willing to wear their sins and make meritorious deeds, and follow Master Kong!" “

Kong Sheng laughed: "Okay, from today on, you will be Kong's brother, a hero in the ranks of the official army!" “

Zhou Zan led the Yongqiu defenders to stand on the tower of Yongqiu City, staring at the scene of surrender directed and performed by Kong Sheng outside the city with a complicated expression, seeing that the five hundred Yongqiu colleagues surrendered to the official army like this, many soldiers below Zhou Zan were in a state of confusion, and they couldn't say what it tasted like.

Everyone understands that this is Kong Sheng's deliberate act, the purpose is to disrupt the military spirit of Yongqiu, and at the same time, it is also a performance for the defenders in Yongqiu, if you go out of the city and surrender, the court will not blame the past, and will be regarded as a brother by this official!

Kong Sheng smiled loudly and looked up at the top of the city, this distance happened to be a position that the defenders' bows and arrows could not reach, and even if it could be reached, Kong Sheng expected that Zhou Zan would not dare to take the initiative to provoke and attack.

Kong Sheng shouted: "The Yongqiu defenders, the fox tide has been ambushed, the imperial army will arrive soon, and if you don't go out of the city to surrender, the small city will be razed to the ground by the army!" “

As he spoke, Kong Sheng glanced at Nan Yong beside him.

Nan Yong exhaled hesitantly, bent his bow and arrows on the horse, swished, the arrows shot out like lightning, and a feathered arrow flew towards the tower of Yongqiu City, tearing a Yan army flag with a click, with a certain weird arc, and landed at the feet of a soldier.

The soldier picked up the letter tied to the feather arrow with a complicated face and handed it to Zhou Zan. Zhou Zan silently opened the letter and looked at it carefully.

This is a handwritten letter written by Kong Sheng to Zhou Zan, there is no big reason, let alone righteousness, just some vernacular and clarification of the stakes.

Kong Sheng said: You and thousands of people occupy the small city of Yongqiu, and there are no reinforcements, not to mention Gao Chengyi of Jiyin County, even the rebel generals behind him, and it is impossible to divide troops to reinforce. Therefore, it is better to surrender in Kaesong, and still find a way to live. If they wait for the Jiangbei army and the Suiyang army to merge and attack, they will be a dead end.

Zhou Zan read the letter and was silent. Staring at the elite cavalry outside the city with the Confucian military flag, he is an old man in the army, and naturally knows that Li Biao and Li Hu are the famous Modao army in Jiangbei, since there are people and horses in Jiangbei, it shows that Kong Sheng's words are not a lie.

But was it so easy to open the city and surrender? He felt unwilling. At the same time, can you really be blameless after surrendering? He was also a little unsteady in his heart.

In fact, he was not afraid of Kong Sheng's army attacking the city, this is a cavalry team, lacking siege equipment, how can he take Yongqiu? As long as they can't hold on, they believe that Kong Sheng will have no way to take him.

But the crux of the matter is that Kong Sheng's army seems to be a vanguard, if he waits for the arrival of Suiyang and Jiangbei's large troops, how can Yongqiu's 1,000 men and horses be able to hold it?

Zhou Zan turned his head to look at the other generals and soldiers around him, in fact, these people were also looking at Zhou Zan, both sides had different thoughts, they were both thinking about surrendering or sticking to help, and seeking to maximize their own personal interests.

Under the city, Kong Sheng knew that it was impossible for Zhou Zan and the others to make a decision in a short period of time, so he ordered the whole army to return to the camp more than ten miles away from Yongqiu City to continue to rest.

At present, for Kong Sheng, the most important thing is not to take Yongqiu, but to integrate and adapt the seven or eight hundred soldiers who have been surrendered twice. If this group were to be organized into an army, he would already have a force of 1,300 men under his command. In this Henan Province, it can be regarded as a large military force.

Kong Sheng handed over the matter of surrender and reorganization to Nan Yong. He believed that with the wisdom of the Nam Yong and the city government, he would be able to do these things properly.

In the early afternoon, Tanma suddenly came to report that the gate of Yongqiu City was opened, and Zhou Zan led the army out of the city.

The other side held a white flag and made a gesture of surrender. But Kong Sheng sat on the horse, but he was a little suspicious in his heart, he judged that Zhou Zan and the others would surrender sooner or later, but the decision to surrender was made so hastily, was there fraud in it?

Li Biao and Li Hu hurriedly said behind him: "My lord, they came too suddenly, and you have to beware of fraud!" “

Kong Sheng nodded, and said solemnly: "Generals, the whole army is arrayed, follow me forward, and prepare for battle!" “

Kong Sheng led more than 1,000 troops and horses to meet him.

Nan Yong has all been dispersed and reorganized into various teams, as long as they don't gather together, even if they have different intentions, Kong Sheng expects them to be difficult to succeed. Because every soldier has his own people around him, he will be supervised and watched, and when there is a disturbance, he will be killed on the spot. (To be continued.) )