At the same time as the rebellion of the Chu army in Pengcheng, the Zhao army was also under the order of Li Huaiyuan, and the three routes went out together. Among them, the west road of Huaiyin Mansion in the west of Xuzhou is the fastest.

Mainly because Li Fangzong's two younger brothers, in the name of Zuo Cheng of the Chu army and their own influence, directly let part of the defenders surrender. As a result, the Zhao army did not forcibly attack the city and entered the territory of the Chu army. Immediately afterwards, Li Fanglin and Li Fangyu took advantage of the fact that the Chu army already had the intention of surrendering to Zhao, and broke through several cities in a row, allowing the Zhao army to drive straight in.

In Pengcheng, as Xu Gongyi said, Li Fangzong expected, after confirming that Li Chi, the king of Chu, was dead and the garrison surrendered, the nearly 10,000 guards around Pengcheng did not continue to move, and also obeyed Li Zhe's military orders. Of course, if Li Zhe rebelled like this on weekdays, even if he killed Li Chi, even if he forced down the central officials of the Chu army, he didn't want them to obey. After all, without the restraint of King Chu, they still don't look at whose strength is strong?

But now, the Zhao army is coming to the city, and Li Zhe also fights for the tens of thousands of soldiers of the Chu army and the intention of surrendering Zhao for the people of Xuzhou, these leading generals have no intention of competing with Li Zhe for the power of Xuzhou. After all, as soon as the Zhao army came, it would be useless for them to be the lord of the Chu army.

Of course, the arrival of the Zhao army in the city does not mean that they are unwilling to climb to a higher position among the Chu army, after all, with a higher position to descend to Zhao, they can obtain greater benefits among the Zhao army. But what made these leading generals have to withdraw their hands is that the people of Zhao State have come to the door and asked them not to attack Li Zhe, because Li Zhe has now surrendered to Zhao State.

In this case, where do these leading generals dare to fight again? Only obedience. Therefore, under the internal and external oppression, the garrison troops around Pengcheng did not crusade against Pengcheng, so that the changes in the upper echelons of the Chu army did not cause a huge shock. At the very least, for the people of Pengcheng, Pengcheng is still the same as always, and they can still live peacefully as always, so that their hearts are put back again.

The nearly 10,000 troops around Pengcheng did not move, which made the nervous Li Zhe and Li Fangzong both breathe a sigh of relief. Of course, at this moment, they also understood that it must have been Zhao Guo's people who intervened. Both of them understand that the deterrent power of the people of Zhao State in Xuzhou is now extraordinary.

Subsequently, Xu Gongyi sent an order to Li Zhe and Li Fangzong, asking them to immediately arrange to convey the situation in Pengcheng to the outside world, so that the Zhao army could enter smoothly and accept the jurisdiction of the Zhao army.

And at this moment, the Zhao army did not pay attention to the reaction of the Chu army in Xuzhou, and the army rushed straight in, with the three routes of the army, the west route was the fastest, but the other two roads were not slow. The Chuzhou Mansion in the north, the Suiling Mansion in the west, and the Jiangdu Mansion in the south were all attacked by the Zhao army.

The reason why these places were so easily invaded by the Zhao army was also related to the internal situation of the Chu army. Before January, rumors began to circulate among the Chu army that the Chu army wanted to surrender to Zhao, and Li Chi, the king of Chu, did not clarify this rumor. Later, although Li Chi and others had the intention of sitting on the mountain to watch the tiger fight and taking advantage of the situation to make a comeback, in order to avoid Zhao Jun from noticing, Li Chi still did not clarify this rumor.

And this time the Zhao army is approaching, the upper echelons of the Chu army naturally understand what is going on, but for the people below, the junior colonels below, the people below, and even the ordinary captains and lieutenants, they all think that this is the Zhao army coming to surrender and take over the place. And the Zhao army's army was approaching the city, and the king of Chu did not order the Chu army to actively let go and prepare for a big battle with the Zhao army, which made these soldiers so suspicious, and even some generals began to change to this idea.

After all, if the above is not clarified, how can the following figure out what is going on? Even if some people know about the problem, they don't dare to say it lightly at the moment. If the truth is told, Yan Li Chi and other upper echelons of the Chu army want to take advantage of the Zhao army and the princes' alliance to revive but fail, but they are recognized by the Zhao army, and the army is in the city. Maybe it failed to arouse the perseverance of the Chu soldiers, but it would directly collapse the Chu soldiers.

After all, the Chu army originally thought that the king of Chu had agreed to surrender Zhao, and surrendering Zhao was also the most acceptable idea for the soldiers of the Chu army now. For ordinary generals and soldiers, they were reluctant to fight against the powerful Zhao State. Those who are reluctant to have the power in their hands and also hold the power of the Chu army will not be these ordinary soldiers, but the upper-level officials of the Chu army. Therefore, the officials who knew the actual situation were worried that once the truth was leaked, let these ordinary soldiers know that it was the upper echelons of the Chu army who were not right-minded and angered the Zhao army, so that they would have to fight with the Zhao army.

The ordinary soldiers of the Chu army were all natives of Xuzhou, and in the years of war, the soldiers and their families were already unwilling to continue to fight because of the war disaster, especially with a powerful vassal state like Zhao. And the new policy and peace and quiet life of Zhao Guozhi have already made the people of Xuzhou envious and looking forward to it. Therefore, the people of Xuzhou and the families of ordinary soldiers of the Chu army all hope to be governed by Zhao State as soon as possible, be governed by King Zhao, and be a small people under the rule of Zhao State.

For ordinary people, they naturally hope for a stable life, and ordinary soldiers are also from ordinary people's families. Especially in recent years, the Chu army and the Qi army fought with Yangzhou and Xuzhou, not only the people of Xuzhou did not want to fight again, but even the soldiers of the Chu army did not want to fight again, let alone fight against the powerful Zhao army.

Therefore, when the Zhao army went out in three directions and began to attack the territory under the jurisdiction of the Chu army, the local defenders were caught off guard. Even those leading generals don't know what to do, although they are loyal to Li Chi, but Li Chi is now also thinking of surrendering Zhao, and these local generals also know that the envoy of Zhao is in Pengcheng.

What caught these generals off guard was that the Zhao army came, but the king of Chu did not have a clear instruction and did not give them a clear combat order. Whether it was a battle or a surrender, Li Chi did not give them the clearest order. Therefore, local officials in Chuzhou Prefecture and other places have different ideas, including wars and surrenders, and civil and military officials.

But no matter what, most of these civil and military officials in various places have a more or less relationship with the Li family, and among these officials, in addition to those who are from the Li family, many of them are from the Li family who have a clan relationship and a relationship of interests. Therefore, while garrisoning the city, they sent people to negotiate with Zhao Jun, and on the other hand, they urgently sent orders to Peng Cheng to ask how to deal with it.

At this moment, Pengcheng, Li Zhe and Li Fangzong and several other generals have completely controlled this place of Chu military governance. In addition, the leading generals of the cities around Pengcheng, also because of the temptation of the Shadow Division of Zhao State, came to Pengcheng to fight Li Zhe and others to jointly support the center of the Chu army.

Seeing that he failed to control the nearly 10,000 soldiers around Pengcheng, Li Zhe was a little unwilling. The leading generals of these nearly 10,000 soldiers are all people who have this relationship with Li Chi, which makes Li Zhe feel a little uneasy because he failed to take advantage of this rebellion to get rid of them and take over nearly 10,000 troops. However, seeing that they were listening to orders and the people of Zhao State, Li Zhe was a little relieved.

When Li Fangzong saw that the generals of the garrison around Pengcheng had come to Pengcheng to discuss with him and others, he knew in his heart that Zhao Guo was still guarding against them. In other words, Zhao Guo was guarding against Li Zhe. Now Li Zhe and several other generals have more than 12,000 troops in their hands, and nearly 10,000 have become garrison guards, but the leading generals of the two sides are somewhat disagreeable with each other. retained the existence of the garrison outside the city, not only made Li Zhe threatened, but also had to rely on Zhao State, but also the soldiers and horses in Li Zhe's hands would not expand too quickly.

Although Li Zhe's rebellion was induced by the Zhao State, it was impossible not to guard against such a person, who turned his back on the king of Chu and killed his own lord. Although Zhao Jun would not be afraid of them, Zhao Jun did not want Li Zhe to cause any more chaos in Xuzhou.

After Zhao Jun took half of the three prefectures such as Chuzhou Mansion, Suiling Mansion, and Jiangdu Mansion, after a lapse of five days, the news from Pengcheng finally made officials in Xuzhou dumbfounded. Li Chi, the king of Chu, died, Li Hao, the son of the king, died, and more than ten generals such as Li Zhe and Li Ying, who were close to Li Chi's descendants, were unwilling to fight again, and for the sake of the people's livelihood, they killed Li Chi, the lord of mediocrity, and surrendered to Zhao.

Well, that's all official. But in fact, officials everywhere know that Li Zhe and others rebelled and killed the king of Chu and Wang Shizi, and now, it is Li Zhe who sits in Pengcheng, and he is under the banner of considering the Chu army and the people of Xuzhou, plus the meaning of descending Zhao, it has won the support of Pengcheng officials, and the support of the generals of the garrison around Pengcheng, which makes local officials shocked and angry.

Subsequently, there were two situations for the Chu army in Xuzhou, one was to directly follow the trend and surrender directly to the Zhao army outside the city or the upcoming Zhao army. First, they began to scold Li Zhe and others for being unkind and unjust, betraying the lord and killing the master, and the soldiers refused to recognize the orders of Li Zhe and others, let alone Li Zhe's current reasonable status. As a result, in some places where the Zhao army had not yet arrived, the various departments of the Chu army had already begun to fight among themselves.

Those who surrendered to Zhao were officials who were willing to obey the military orders of Li Zhe, Li Fangzong and others, and the local garrisons took the lead in fighting with those who did not obey the military orders of Li Zhe, Li Fangzong and others, and even designated Li Zhe and Li Fangzong as rebels. Often, in one city, there are people who support both opinions, so in each city, before Zhao Jun came, they fought first.

Although many officials and generals did not support Li Zhe, Li Fangzong and others, they even directly condemned them as rebels and wanted to raise troops to fight. However, the vast number of people in Xuzhou still have a good impression of them. Why? The reason is that he issued an order to surrender Zhao, so that these people of Xuzhou let go of their worries about fighting with the Zhao army. After all, their sons and husbands are all sergeants in the Chu army, and if they want to fight the Zhao army, they don't know how many people will be killed in the battle.

Therefore, in general, the trend of descending Zhao still has the upper hand, whether it is to follow Li Zhe's orders or not, whether he hates Li Zhe or not, and the person who fights the Zhao army is still at a disadvantage.

Li Huaiyuan personally sat on the West Road, because the West Route Army was the closest to Pengcheng, and if it was inserted horizontally, it would be completely possible to divide the entire Xuzhou land and divide Xuzhou into two parts, north and south, so that they could not echo at the end. At that time, no matter whether you surrender or not, you will not be able to compete with Zhao Jun.

"Li Shuai, my brother replied that they have completely controlled Pengcheng and its surrounding more than 20 cities. Now, they are also making a new move to the west, ready to join us. Of course, the fact that my brother and General Li Zheli were able to control Pengcheng so smoothly was also related to the brothers of the Shadow Division. Li Fanglin reported to Li Huaiyuan in a deep voice.

Now Li Fanglin finally understands why Wang Shizi has tried his best to dissuade Li Chi from surrendering to Zhao after returning from Luoyang, and not to delay any longer, even if it is to sacrifice the lives of Li Zhe and others. It had only been more than ten days since he arrived in the Zhao army, but in these ten days, he had already understood the gap between the Chu army and the Zhao army.

There are many generals, high morale, sufficient food and grass materials, and sharp armor and equipment, how can the Chu army compete with it?

Li Huaiyuan nodded and said, "Very good, by the way, you are now cooperating with my Zhao army to reorganize the Chu army, but there is a problem?" ”

Li Fanglin hesitated a little and said: "There is no big problem, these Chu army soldiers, after seeing my big Zhao soldiers, have already understood the gap between them and us, so naturally they don't dare to make trouble, only obediently cooperate." However, most of these soldiers were reluctant to continue in the army. ”

"Oh? It's true? Li Huaiyuan frowned slightly, he was not dissatisfied because these Chu army soldiers were unwilling to serve the army, but among the Chu army soldiers, most of them continued to stay in the barracks and did not leave. According to Li Fanglin, these soldiers should leave the barracks. Besides, Zhao Guo gave these departing soldiers very well, and everyone could receive the salary for March. Even if they leave the barracks, it will be enough for them to go home smoothly, and they will even have a lot of money left. But how can these soldiers continue to stay in the barracks?

Of course, Li Huaiyuan was not worried about what trouble these soldiers would have if they stayed in the barracks, after all, after these Chu troops surrendered, they would all be selected, and those who were qualified, such as the training of the new barracks, would be war soldiers or local county soldiers and government soldiers in the future, and those who were not qualified, if they were unwilling to leave the barracks, or were homeless, they would be like various miscellaneous servants such as local government and county people, errand soldiers, or cell heads. This is also to prevent these soldiers from going anywhere and becoming a local scourge. But no matter what, even if it was incorporated into the new barracks, it was completely dispersed, and some young people who were willing to join the Zhao army were mixed together. What's more, many of them will be integrated into the various recruit camps, which are far apart.

"This is true, the Chu army started in Xuzhou, and has experienced more than ten years, and the people of Xuzhou have suffered from military disasters for many years. Many families are left with only old and weak women and children, and many of them are young and strong and have died in battle. This is also the reason why our army entered Xuzhou and the people of Xuzhou warmly welcomed it. Similarly, this is also the reason why the Chu army is willing to surrender to Zhao in any aspect. Most of these soldiers are the pillars of the family, which is why they surrendered directly to us and had no intention of fighting us. It's not that the leading generals don't want to fight, but the soldiers are unwilling to fight to the death with the Zhao army, which cannot be defeated and does not harm the people of Xuzhou. Li Fanglin said with a solemn face.

Li Huaiyuan's face turned straight and said, "Then why are these soldiers unwilling to return home, not leave the barracks, and leave this place that makes them uncomfortable and tired?" Do they all have no families? Or maybe their families don't need them to worry? Didn't you say that most of them were the breadwinners of the family? ”

Li Fanglin said heavily: "The Chu army relied on the land of Xuzhou alone, first fighting with the imperial court guards, then fighting with the old and new Yanzhou army, and finally fighting with the former Tang army, and finally with the Qi army. These wars have made the land of Xuzhou pay the last strength, and the people have almost no source of livelihood, even fields, and there are no young people to cultivate. Therefore, these soldiers need to feed a family, and they need Zhao Jun's salary that is now far higher than that of Chu Jun. If they leave, they won't be able to live. It's not just them, it's a whole family. ”

Hearing Li Fanglin say this, Li Huaiyuan's face suddenly became solemn, and after a while, he said in a deep voice: "I don't want to fight, the current situation in Xuzhou is so serious." ”

"Li Fanglin, give your younger brother Li Fangyu an order, let him check all the big clans in Xuzhou, and mark those who have a bad reputation. In addition, give orders to the city guards in Xuzhou, telling them that my Da Zhao has taken over Xuzhou, which is already unstoppable, and if anyone dares to stop it, the army will come and wipe out the three clans. ”

"The general then reported the situation here to the king, and asked for the exemption of all the harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes in Xuzhou, the exemption of all field taxes for more than one year, the measurement of the fields, and the distribution of them to everyone, in addition, the general will also ask the king to send a part of the cattle, sheep and livestock for the people to use for the cultivation of the fields. In addition, a group of slaves from the north had to be brought in to build roads and water conservancy projects here as quickly as possible. ”

Hearing what Li Huaiyuan said, Li Fanglin immediately bowed down and said: "In this way, the people of Xuzhou will not only return to their hearts, but will always remember the grace of my king and the kindness of Li Shuai." ”

"However, it's easy to say that tax exemption and land measurement are good, but livestock, it's not easy." Li Fanglin naturally hoped to get a batch of livestock, you know, with ploughing cattle, it is definitely a great thing for the people. In addition, other livestock can also give some people's homes an extra income. You must know that with Zhao Guo's policy, there are definitely great benefits and benefits in raising these livestock.

"Don't worry about that!" Li Huaiyuan said with a smile, "My Great Zhao is not the late Yan period, and now my Great Zhao not only subjugates the Turkic tribes, but also in the north, in the northeast, whether it is Xiazhou, Dingzhou or Liaozhou, we all occupy a large number of grasslands and have a large number of livestock. We don't lack these things. Of course, with some grain and armor and equipment returned by the Chu army, it is completely possible to exchange a large number of livestock for the Turkic tribes. So, you still don't need to worry about that. Now, the most important thing is to take Xuzhou as soon as possible. ”

"By the way, the Chu army used to go south to raid the Qi army, and it seems that it also occupied Hongze Lake and Baima Lake in the east of Huaishui, and recruited a lot of sailors?"

Li Fanglin nodded and said: "That's true, but it still can't be compared with the navy of the Qi army, but many of the Hongze Lake naval forces were surrendered by the Qi army's naval divisions." Therefore, on the front line of the Huai River, we can still hold the place and guard against the Qi army. ”