Xuzhou, Huchile has actually been prepared for it for a long time.
Since Xuzhou was a key city in the defense of the Southern Tang Dynasty, the Wuning Army Jiedushi who guarded Xuzhou had always been a major town in the Central Plains.
Wuning's army originally had five thousand soldiers, but after Jiedu took office in the past dynasties, he also liked to bring some of his own tooth soldiers.
By the time Huchile took over as the military governor of the Wuning Army, the Wuning Army already had more than 6,000 people, and there were tens of thousands of families living around Xuzhou City, and two or three thousand more people could be drawn out at any time.
Most of the 3,000 men he sent to Liu Yanzhen were used to maintain the supply line from Songzhou to Xuzhou, mainly the smooth flow of the Bian River, which enabled them to escape the fate of destruction.
It can also be seen from this point that Liu Yanzhen really had no experience. If he really wanted an experienced Southern Tang general, he would definitely have to hold Hu Cile and Wuning's army hostage.
If we don't put them on the front line as cannon fodder, we should at least let the Wuning army be stained with the blood of the Zhou army and receive certificates of surrender, so that they can be used with a little peace of mind.
However, Liu Yanzhen did not understand this, so Wuning's army was still capable of defending Xuzhou City without losing its strength.
Moreover, at this time, Xuzhou, as the key to the North and the gateway to the South, had geographical advantages that were not comparable to those of Xuzhou in later generations.
Because at this time, the Yellow River had not yet taken over the Huai River and flowed into the sea. The area around Xuzhou was still the fertile Yellow River impact plain, not the Yellow Flood Area of later generations.
There was no large amount of sediment accumulation in the Yellow River, and the altitude of Xuzhou at this time was generally more than ten meters lower than in later generations.
This makes the large hill behind Xuzhou look much taller than in later generations. Although it is not high, it is not that easy to pass.
The Bian River and Sishui River coming from the northwest and due north are very stable. Xuzhou City was built at the intersection of the two rivers, allowing them to perfectly surround Xuzhou. It is a natural and basically impossible to cut off the moat.
More importantly, cut off by mountains and tall hills on the left and right, Xuzhou has become a hub for the Central Plains forces to enter and leave Huainan, and the Jiangnan separatist forces to enter and exit the Central Plains. It cannot be bypassed at all.
Therefore, the city is blocked by mountains on three sides and faces the river on one side. It leads to Pisu in the south, Yanji in the north, and Biansi in the west. It has the potential to spread thousands of miles.
In addition, the nearby hills prevent the enemy's large corps from deploying here. It is easy to defend but difficult to attack and can advance and retreat freely. It is truly an unparalleled fortress in the Jianghuai area.
That is to say, Zhang Zhao bullied Li Jing into being a bastard. After more than ten years of peace in the Southern Tang Dynasty, the people were not used to war, so he dared to fish leisurely.
If the leader of the southern separatist regime was Emperor Wu of the Song Dynasty, Liu Jinu, no! He would be on the level of Emperor Chen Wu, Chen Baxian, and Chen Wen Emperor, Chen Qian.
Zhang Zhao had already mobilized all the troops from across the country to attack Xuzhou. Even if he could not help but talk kindly, he was appointed an official and made a wish to persuade Hu Ci Le to surrender.
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At the end of March, after Zhang Zhao defeated Du Chongwei, he immediately led his army eastward along the Bian River.
This time, nearly 30,000 people from the Southern Tang Army were captured, who could be used as civilians. They also captured more than 100 ships, large and small, and 50,000 shi of food and grass. Without the logistical pressure, I felt particularly comfortable.
Prior to this, Zhang Zhao ordered Bai Congxin and Gao Xingzhou to command 3,000 troops each as the vanguard to attack Xuzhou. He himself boarded a boat and led 30,000 main troops down the river.
Zhang Shengren was in such a good mood that he even invited Hu Guang to his side and discussed the problem of Hu Ci Le with him calmly.
Zhang Zhao actually thought that Hu Chule would break away from his control, but he didn't expect that Hu Chule would break away so completely, so he asked Hu Guang what he thought.
Hu Guang looked at Zhang Zhao's expression and saw that he was in a good mood, so he was cruel and said what was in his heart. He cupped his hands and looked at Zhang Zhao.
"The saint wants to know the reason. It's actually very simple. According to my observation, my father thinks that he is not the first group of people to follow the saint.
In terms of closeness, he is not as good as Fan Quan, Fan Shu, Barbarian Xiong Dunzhu, etc., and in terms of ability, he is not as good as Yan Jin, Bai Congxin, Ma Yaozi and others. In addition, he is older than others, so his status has never been high."
Zhang Zhao nodded, and that was indeed the case. On Zhang Zhao's side, Hu Ci Le was still a figure when there was a lack of cavalry at first, but after the team expanded several times, his value dropped.
In addition, because he was older, he was already over 40 when he followed Zhang Zhao, so he was indeed not his key training target. What Zhang Zhao focused on training was Hu Guang in front of him.
Here Hu Guang continued: "Danchen's father has always thought highly of himself. Before following the saint, he also served in the palace guard, but the relationship with his colleagues was not handled well.
His colleagues thought he was domineering, and he also felt that all his colleagues were mediocre.
I often tell my minister that the biggest disappointment in this life is not being able to enjoy the success and wealth.
When he joined the Saint, he was indeed able to show off his skills, but he was not very outstanding among the heroes under the Saint's command.
In the past, the saint used my father to replace the Duke of Qinghai, and my father was very dissatisfied. Now that I think about it, the resentment in his heart probably started from that time."
After Hu Guang finished speaking, Zhang Zhao was also stunned. He had never considered Hu Cile's character before.
Because he sent Huchile to the Central Plains at that time, firstly because Huguang was in the Central Plains, and secondly because Huchile was a man in his army who was fairly capable, but he would not feel too sad if he was gone.
So if what Hu Guang said is correct, Hu Jile's subsequent series of actions can be explained clearly.
It's just that he is getting older and feels that there is no hope of getting ahead in Zhang Zhao's side. It is better to live in a small town in the Central Plains, make more money, and enjoy the glory and wealth.
As for why he wanted to defect to the Southern Tang Dynasty, it may be that firstly, Li Jing did give him a lot, and secondly, Huchile had left Liangzhou for six or seven years after all, and he did not have a clear understanding of Zhang Zhao's aspirations and the development of his power.
He felt that Zhang Zhao might not enter the Central Plains, or that he would not enter the Central Plains so smoothly, and he did not want to surrender to the Khitans, so he simply defected to the Southern Tang Dynasty, and first enjoyed the high officials, generous salaries, fine wine and beautiful women.
This is a normal choice for a normal person, and of course it also proves from the side that Hu Tile is indeed an ordinary person.
If Murong Nobunaga or Bai Congxin and others believed that Zhang Zhao would definitely enter the Central Plains, and then guard Xuzhou to support Zhang Zhao, what kind of wealth would he have by then?
It's a pity that Hu Zaile doesn't have this vision.
But Zhang Zhao still blamed himself and sighed, "I am also at fault for this matter! You and your son should not have been allowed to stay in Tokyo for so long.
If your father had been recalled to Liangzhou and another person replaced, things would not have happened now!"
After hearing this, Hu Guang burst into tears. Although he despised Hu Cile's choice, he was his father after all!
Moreover, although Zhang Zhao promised to save Hu Ci Le's life, under the fierce battle and danger, Hu Ci Le had to survive until he was captured.
Thinking of this, Hu Guang raised his hand and said to Zhang Zhao: "I would like to enter Xuzhou again before the army attacks the city. If I can persuade my father to open the city and surrender, I can atone for some of his sins."
Zhang Zhao hesitated for a moment and said slowly: "But you have to think carefully. Although you want to be filial, your father may not necessarily think that you are filial. What if something unexpected happens..."
Hu Guang shook his head and said categorically: "As a son of man, life is given by your parents. How can you cherish your life and watch your parents in desperate situations and ignore it?"
It was not easy to say this, and it was even more difficult to do it. Zhang Zhao looked at Hu Guang with some emotion, and his evaluation of him in his heart also improved to a higher level.
"Hu Ci Le has a son like you. I will have no regrets in my life! Go ahead. I can give Hu Ci Le five or three days to think about it, starting from the time when I arrive at the gate of Xuzhou City."
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In the city of Xuzhou, Huchile also made arrangements for defense. He shrunk the defense of Xuzhou into a model of one city and three forts. These four cities are surrounded by Surabaya and have the advantage of being backed by mountains.
In addition, a large number of local Xuzhou fishermen and boatmen were recruited to supply and transport troops on the Si River at night. Hu Cile felt that even if the Southern Tang court did not send anyone, he would have no problem staying on guard for several months.
Thinking that the defense system had been built, Hu Zaile felt a little happy.
When he returned to the mansion, he saw that his old wife had already cooked meals, which were all his favorite Khotanese dishes, such as cheese lamb chops, honey-glazed lamb legs, salted cheese baked rice, etc., as well as purple wine that was extremely difficult to buy in Xuzhou.
However, there were no maids around, only my old wife.
Hu Zaile didn't know why his old wife was like this, but he didn't think much about the food first, and ate meat and drank wine.
The old wife also served him dishes and poured wine, just as she did before he took in a bunch of beautiful concubines, showing her warmth.
Suddenly, Hu Cile seemed to have returned to the old days in Khotan, and he still felt a little nostalgic. Seeing that his old wife was not eating or drinking, he said with a smile.
"You and I have been an extraordinary couple for thirty years, and now we are not left unattended. Looking for a few people to come, please put down the wine jar and have a glass of wine with me."
When the old wife heard this, she smiled tenderly and had a glass of wine with Hu Cile. However, the wine and the wine glass were not the same as Hu Cile's.
After drinking a glass of wine together, the old wife suddenly looked at Hu Ci Le sadly.
"Thirty years have passed by in a flash, and my children have all achieved success. I have no regrets. I will bid farewell to the general tonight. If the compassionate Dharma King agrees, after reincarnation, I will renew my relationship with the general in the next life."
Hu Zaile's old wife was a very devout believer, and she really regarded Zhang Zhao as a god and Buddha.
After returning from the east, he no longer even chanted the name "Buddha". What he chanted or chanted was always "Zhang Zhao's Supreme Merciful Dharma King".
When Hu CiLe turned his back on Zhang Zhao, my old wife tried her best to dissuade him because of this.
When Hu Cile heard what his old wife said, he was shocked and quickly explained: "Xuzhou may not be able to be defended. This is the imperial court's gateway in Huaibei. It is inevitable to increase troops and food.
Even if we can't hold on, we can still retreat to Jiangnan. Jiangnan is great! It's enough for us to spend our old age peacefully."
The old wife looked at Hu Cile even more sadly, "General, do you really think you can hold it? Now it's you, Hu Cile, who has betrayed the Dharma King Daci. The entire Wuning Army has never betrayed the Dharma King Daci.
They are not traitors, but heroes who do not go toward the Khitan. Why do they defend with the general? What's the benefit?"
This sentence hit the target of the tiger's thorn, and he broke out in a cold sweat.
Hu Zaile had actually thought about this before, but he just didn't want to think about it in detail. Now his old wife pointed it out and found that this was indeed the case. Why did the whole Wuning army stick to him?
Seeing that Hu Cile was stunned, the old wife continued: "The general may also want to say that you can offer the city.
Yes! You can offer the city, but Wei Geer will be dead. If you surrender to the enemy, Emperor Tang will definitely kill him."
Hu Zaile's face became even uglier, but his old wife continued to say, "General, you can still ignore Brother Wei's life or death, but if the Great Merciful Dharma King spares you, Brother Guang must beg desperately.
What a pity! My brother Guang is a hero on horseback, but because of your father, he has to hide his talents and be criticized for the rest of his life."
Speaking of this, Huzaile's old wife suddenly started coughing violently, and as she coughed, a large amount of blood foam spewed out of her mouth.
Hu QiLe took a closer look and saw that the old wife's face was pale, she had fallen to the ground, and started crouching and convulsing.
Is this a symptom of poisoning?
Only then did Hu Zaile realize that his old wife's wine flask and wine glass were not the same as his own. He let out a sad cry and rushed over to report to his old wife.
Scenes from his youth kept flashing before his eyes. The most beautiful woman in the tribe married him, gave birth to three sons and two daughters, sewed his clothes during the expedition, and repaired his armor leaves under the oil lamp.
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Those moments that Hustale had almost forgotten unfolded one after another.
Hu Cile burst into tears, but he could hear his old wife singing and chanting weakly in his arms.
"The Supreme and Merciful Dharma King knows my heart completely. He knows how painful I am, how injured I am, and has mercy on me..."
This was the Compassionate Mantra of the Great Merciful Dharma King. Only then did Hu Cile realize that his betrayal had completely destroyed the old wife's faith. She has been dead since then.
Bang, the door was suddenly pushed open, a cold wind blew in, and the fat Hu Tai appeared at the door with Hu Guang.
It was such a coincidence that Hu Guang was afraid that the tiger's thorns would not be able to open the city gate, so he first found Hu Tai and wanted to go home to give him advice, but he did not expect to see this scene.
In the midst of desperate cries, Huguang knocked away the tiger's thorns with a flying kick, grabbed his mother's body, and started crying.
"Aniang! Aniang! No! No!"
Hu Cile's old wife reluctantly raised her last glimmer, and saw Hu Guang right in front of her, with a smile on her mouth full of blood foam.
Hu Guang was no longer in the mood to pay attention to Hu Ci Le. He picked up his mother and walked out of the house without looking back.
Hutai sat down on the ground in despair and shivered.
Hu Cile didn't come back to his senses for a long time. He didn't know how long it had passed. He looked at the pot of poisonous wine on the table that his old wife had drunk. After hesitating again and again, he suddenly pulled out the stopper of the pot and drank it all in one gulp!
This chapter has been completed!