Chapter 538 Troops march into Huainan

Author: Gongsun Wujiu

Chapter 538 Troops march into Huainan

Liu Yi was also a decisive man and showed no mercy after occupying Linhuai City.

Soon, with the cooperation of Qian Niuwei, Linhuai City was cleaned.

The eight largest powerful families in the entire Huaisi region were uprooted by him in one fell swoop.

Later, Liu Yi integrated the troops of Linhuai County and recruited 10,000 troops from the local area.

In order to stabilize the morale of the army, Liu Yi directly gave all the confiscated land of the eight powerful families to Linhuai County soldiers and temporarily recruited soldiers.

The morale of the soldiers who obtained the land suddenly rose.

Originally, these soldiers were worried that the powerful forces would counterattack after Liu Yi left, so their morale was low and they were just getting by.

Now, for the sake of the newly acquired land, one by one quickly became a staunch supporter of suppressing the powerful forces.

Some low-level officers even took the initiative to report to Liu Yi the relationship between local powerful men and the rebels.

With the support of these local troops, Liu Yi launched a new round of purges of the powerful forces in the Huaisi area.

Due to Liu Yi's two purges of powerful forces, the rebels quickly encountered problems with their food, grass, and logistical supplies.

After Qianniuwei informed Liu Yi of this information, Liu Yi immediately launched a surprise attack on the rebels.

"Your Majesty, Liu Yi has already led his troops across the Huai River. Please make plans in advance!"

At the Guangling Prince's Mansion, Prime Minister Guangling anxiously told the current situation to Prince Guangling Liu Xu.

"What, doesn't Liu Yi only have three thousand soldiers and horses? How dare he cross the Huai River?"

Liu Xu asked in disbelief.

Prime Minister Guangling smiled bitterly and said: "After Liu Yi captured Linhuai County, he immediately seized the powerful fields and distributed them to the people and county soldiers..."

"Now not only have all the Linhuai County soldiers fallen into Liu Yi's hands, but Liu Yi has also recruited an army of 10,000..."

Liu Xu said: "So Liu Yi has at least 20,000 troops in his hands!"

Prime Minister Guangling said: "Just a little more!"

Liu Xu fell into deep thought after hearing this.

"Your Majesty, please make plans in advance!"

Liu Xu finally spoke at this time: "How do you think a widower should behave?"

Prime Minister Guangling said: "I thought that the king would lead his troops to Jiujiang as soon as possible... There are still 100,000 troops in Jiujiang... If we can control the Jiujiang army, as long as we defeat Liu Yi... the king will be able to rely on the Huai River to stand on his own feet!"

Liu Xu looked at Prime Minister Guangling with a solemn expression: "Does the public want the few to stand on their own?"

Prime Minister Guangling said: "What doubts does the king have? With the support of the heroes from Jiangdong, the king is enough to be the master of one party!"

Liu Xu fell into silence again after hearing this.

Just as Prime Minister Guangling was about to speak again, Liu Xu suddenly ordered: "Get him for me!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding guards immediately grabbed Prime Minister Guangling.

The guards brought by Prime Minister Guangling tried to resist, but were quickly killed by Liu Xu's guards.

"What are you doing, Your Majesty?"

The tied up Prime Minister Guang Ling looked at Liu Xu in disbelief.

He had no idea that Liu Xu, who had always been mediocre and cowardly, would have such a decisive side.

Liu Xu heard this and sneered: "Do you really think that I am a fool? I really don't know who is behind you... I am also a descendant of Emperor Gao, and my father is Emperor Xiaowu..."

Prime Minister Guangling looked at Liu Xu with a complex expression at this time: "Does your Majesty still want to surrender at this time... Your Majesty, don't forget, you are raising troops to rebel!"

Liu Xu said: "You don't need to worry about this. General Zhang Yue can even spare Huo Guang... I am the son of Emperor Xiaowu... How could Zhang Yue kill someone!"

Prime Minister Guangling showed a look of surprise at this time: "So it seems that the king has been in contact with Zhang Yue for a long time?"

Liu Xu said: "Yes, the general has said that as long as I cooperate, I will still be the king of the Han Dynasty..."

Prime Minister Guangling sighed: "The king is not afraid of Zhang Yue's deception... The Han Dynasty may not be able to tolerate a rebellious prince king!"

Liu Xu nodded and said: "Yes, the Han Dynasty can't tolerate it in the country, but the general promises that the few will be transferred to the body poison!"

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Guangling was shocked and said: "You are poisonous, what do you want from Zhang Yue's son!"

…

After Liu Yi led his troops across the Huaihe River, he did not stop but went straight to Guangling City.

On the fourth day of October in the first year of Yuanping, King Liu Xu of Guangling ordered the gates of Guangling City to be opened to welcome the Han army into the city.

The surrender of King Guangling boosted the morale of the Han army and also dealt a major blow to the rebels.

Without the brand name of King Guangling, the true face of the rebels was directly exposed to the eyes of the world.

The main messenger behind the rebels still did not give up under such circumstances.

The rebels elected Cai Yan from Kuaiji as their leader and continued to fight against the Han army.

On the ninth day of the tenth month of the first year of Yuanping, after Liu Yi integrated the troops of King Guangling, he left 5,000 men to garrison Guangling City, and then personally led an army of 36,000 to approach Jiujiang.

With the support of local powerful forces and the strength of his troops, Cai Yan did not hold on to Jiujiang City, but led his troops out of the city to fight Liu Yi decisively.

Cai Yan's choice made Liu Yi overjoyed.

"Hahaha, Cai Yan is really looking for death!"

When Liu Yi learned that Linzi's troops had left the city, he was stunned at first, and then overjoyed.

Liu Xu did not expect that Cai Yan would choose to go out of the city to fight the Han army. He held up his palms and laughed and said to Liu Yi, "Heaven helps the general..."

At the time of the imperial eclipse that day, Cai Yan led 80,000 men to fight against Liu Yi's troops in the east of Jiujiang City.

Liu Yi first ordered the Guangling soldiers to attack the enemy's left wing.

When the two sides were fighting fiercely, the military lord Li Mao led 600 elite armored cavalry and suddenly attacked Cai Yan's army.

Upon seeing this, Cai Yan immediately ordered the army cavalry to intercept.

How can the southern cavalry compete with the elite armored cavalry of the north, regardless of equipment or training?

Although the rebel cavalry had a numerical advantage, they were defeated by Li Mao's fine cavalry.

Then Li Mao immediately ordered his soldiers to change their horses and continue to attack the rebel infantry line.

The rebels, who had never fought against armored cavalry before, were shaken by the impact of Li Mao's cavalry.

Liu Yi immediately ordered Linhuai and Guangling County soldiers to follow up.

The two sides soon entered into brutal hand-to-hand combat.

The two sides fought for nearly an hour, and the rebels gradually became exhausted.

Cai Yan ordered the entire army to retreat, hoping to temporarily avoid the attack of the Han army.

Unfortunately, Cai Yan's move shook the rebels' morale.

Liu Yi decisively invested the two thousand cavalry he had reserved in his hands.

At this time, the Han army spies who were originally hiding among the rebels took the opportunity to shout, "The army is defeated... Cai Yan is dead..."

Some low-level officers who were still loyal to the Han Dynasty also took the opportunity to defect during the battle.

The rebels were crushed and trampled on each other, killing countless people...

Liu Yi personally led the troops to pursue and kill him all the way to the gates of Jiujiang City.

After Cai Yan finally escaped back to Jiujiang City, she found that there were less than 20,000 soldiers who had followed her back to Jiujiang City.

A few of the remaining soldiers fled, but most of them surrendered to the Han army.

Liu Yi repeated his old trick and announced that all powerful lands in Jiujiang and its surrounding areas would be given to the surrendering rebel soldiers.

Soon these surrendered rebels turned their guns and joined the Han army, and Liu Yi's troops increased to 80,000.

On the eighth day of October in the first year of Yuanping, the Han army formally surrounded Jiujiang City.
Chapter completed!