Chapter 1072: Too Hasty to Fight

In the big tent, several Qi army generals who had gone out of the city to surrender bowed their heads and knelt before Li Tai, repeatedly stating that they had long wanted to surrender, but were stopped by the main general Han Zunian in the city. Finally, they tied Han Zunian up and surrendered today.

Li Tai listened to the stories of these people, smiled and comforted them, and then asked someone to bring the enemy general Han Zunian into the big tent.

Han Zunian was carried into the tent, his hands and feet were tied up tightly, and at first glance he looked like a zongzi. Li Tai couldn't help but laugh after seeing this scene. Just seeing this man tied up like this, it can be seen that the attacker had more or less a little personal grudge in his heart, and it was not simply to restrict his actions.

Han Zunian was startled by Zhang Baoluo just now, and then he realized that he had become a prisoner. However, he was not used to this change in his identity and fate for a while. Then he was carried into the big tent again. Because his body was still tightly tied, he could only move his neck with great effort to raise his head. When he saw a graceful and heroic man in military uniform sitting in the tent, he said hesitantly: "Your feet, your feet are the great prime minister Li of Wei?"

After hearing this, Li Tai smiled and nodded, and then signaled the soldiers to come forward to untie Han Zunian, and at the same time said in a deep voice: "I heard from several righteous men who came to surrender in the city that many soldiers and civilians in the city have the heart to pursue justice and seek attachment, but Han is still stubborn and evil and refuses to surrender. Now that you are in my tent, what do you have to say?"

After Han Zunian was untied, his hands and feet were still numb and painful. Hearing this, After that, he glanced at the generals, and immediately bowed his head in the tent, saying: "Although I am not talented, I have made great military achievements in my country. Now I am defending the strong city, which I have something to rely on, but I still can't avoid being restricted everywhere. It turns out that the one I fought with before was Prime Minister Li!

The Prime Minister's reputation has spread throughout the world and everyone has long admired him. Many famous kings and generals of our country have died in front of Prime Minister Li's horse. I was captured by the Prime Minister, and I am still honored even though I was defeated. I was ordered by the king to guard the border, so I should fight bravely for the country and not fear the strong enemy. This is my duty. But the Prime Minister was sent by heaven to punish the stubborn and foolish, but he couldn't even greet him. He is indeed guilty. I beg the Prime Minister to pity this ignorant and foolish person and give him life out of kindness and righteousness!"

Li Tai thought that according to Han Zunian's previous attitude and behavior, he would be more or less tough, but he didn't expect to slide down and kneel again when he opened his mouth, which was a little surprising.

But this attitude undoubtedly satisfied him, so he smiled and said: "General Han has such insight, so he can't be called stubborn. But it is regrettable that he has resisted until now and killed many people in the city."

"I am ashamed, please punish me, Prime Minister! I only beg you to spare my life and serve me to atone for my crime!"

Han Zunian saw that Li Tai's attitude had changed, and he bowed deeply again, begging for life and mercy more earnestly. Then he looked back at the generals who tied him up and asked for surrender and said: "Although I am not talented, I am not completely without the idea of ​​morality. I want to go out but I still remember the old favor, so it is difficult to make a painful decision. Therefore, although these soldiers showed signs of surrendering early, I still did not think it was a crime, and I pitied them and did not kill them. Although I warned them, I actually let them go, which allowed them to act."

After hearing this, the faces of the surrendered generals became quite ugly, but they couldn't directly refute it, saying that it was not the case at all, so they could only agree silently.

Li Tai was even more delighted after hearing this, so he did not continue to make things difficult for the other party. He raised his hand to signal him to stand up and take the seat to answer, and then asked about the military secrets that the man held.

Seeing that his life seemed to be saved, Han Zunian naturally breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. Naturally, he did not dare to hide Li Tai's questions, and hurriedly told him everything he knew.

There was nothing to say about Yining County. Almost all the troops were gathered in Yining City. With the surrender of the defenders of Yining City, there was no resistance worth taking seriously in the territory.

However, from Yining City to the north, through Guyuan City to the east, you can reach Wusu. Wusu is the ancient Yanyu, where Zhao She, a famous general of the State of Zhao, once defeated the Qin army. Wusu is connected to the Zhangshui River, which flows through the Taihang Mountains and forms the Fukou Xing, so Wusu is also an important channel connecting Hebei.

At the same time, Wusu can follow the Zhuozhang River, Liaoshui River and other valleys to the north through the western foot of Taihang Mountain to connect with Jinyang. This passage was also a route for Jinyang troops to bypass Tongjunchuan and reach Jinzhou after Queshu Valley and Qianlijing were blocked. However, the route was winding and difficult to walk. Unless it was absolutely necessary, this route was rarely used.

From Yining City to the south, you can cross the gap of Fajiu Mountain, the remnant of Taiyue Mountain, and go east to Tunliu in Shangdang area. Tunliu is the heart of Changzhi Basin, and it is also an important supply place for large groups of troops from east to west before entering the long mountain road.

As the defender of Yining City, Han Zunian naturally explained more than just these basic geographical information. He also knew a lot about the deployment of Qi troops in various places. The six townspeople settled in Wusu Town were more than those in Yining, so Wusu also stationed a large number of troops.

More than 10,000 troops were stationed in Tunliu. The troops stationed in Yining City before were sent from Tunliu. Duan Shao, the King of Pingyuan of Northern Qi, is currently stationing his troops in Shangdang. The reason why he has not yet led his troops westward is that the army has not yet prepared enough food and fodder.

After telling the military situation he knew, Han Zunian still felt unsatisfied. After a moment of hesitation, he took the initiative to offer advice: "Although Wusu and Tunliu are both important places, if we talk about which one is more important, Wusu is the best. First, Wusu is connected to Jinyang in the north, and second, there are two or three smooth roads in the area, and the old food and grain were mostly transported here.

Many counties and prefectures here are located between gullies. Although troops are stationed here for the convenience of conscription, the terrain limits farming and weaving, and the county treasury is not well stocked. Most marches are through the corridors, and troops must rely on the corridors for assistance. Duan Shao and other bandit generals are all afraid of the reputation of the prime minister. If they do not gather heavy troops, they dare not advance lightly to win. Once the army advances, food and grass will be a worry. If the Wusu food road can be cut off, the army will starve and it will not be difficult to defeat it!"

Li Tai also agreed with Han Zunian's plan. After hearing this, he nodded slightly. Then he looked at Han Zunian who was gradually becoming more positive and said with a smile: "Then according to General Han, what strategy should be used to easily capture Wusu?"

"The great prime minister is unparalleled in strategy and uses troops like a god. Whatever he wants to capture, how can he not capture it? I only rely on the natives of this village and am familiar with the situation. Since you have asked me, I will dare to make a few suggestions. My plan is not good, and I will leave it to the great prime minister to decide!"

Han Zunian first expressed his attitude modestly, and then continued: "The great prime minister used the captives outside the city to persuade the public to surrender. This is a very good plan. There are many residents of the old six towns in Yining, Wusu and other places. These soldiers especially respect the righteousness of the village and like to gather together to form a party. It is particularly difficult to control them under the criminal law and military law. The righteousness of the village and the family affection can be particularly inspiring..."

Hearing Han Zunian's evaluation of the soldiers of the six towns, Li Tai couldn't help but feel that this guy was indeed something. He summarized the habits of the soldiers very cleverly. To be honest, these soldiers did not have any sense of justice, but they were particularly keen on sticking together.

This was not only reflected in the political structure of the Eastern Wei and Western Wei, but also in the Battle of Fukou, where Erzhu Rong and Ge Rong led the Six Garrison Rebellion to a decisive battle. Gao Huan persuaded several chieftains to surrender and incorporated them in front of the battle. After that, the surrendered people from the Six Garrison became a hot potato for the Erzhu family. They could neither control them nor kill them all. In the end, Erzhu Zhao simply threw them to Gao Huan as a hot potato.

Han Zunian continued, "When I was still disobeying orders and defending the city, I was forced to obey orders. Now that I have joined the Prime Minister, I dare not hide anything. If you want to take Wusu, you should also reorganize the soldiers and civilians of Yining into an army, and leave their parents and relatives in the rear. The front divisions will not dare to rebel.

The Wusu defenders also have many relatives and friends of the soldiers on this side. When they see their old friends coming to attack, they will not fight hard. At that time, they may ambush elite soldiers among the army and kill the enemy, or they may persuade the soldiers here to surrender..."

"Prime Minister, this is absolutely not allowed!"

Before Han Zunian finished speaking, several other surrendered generals knelt on the ground and loudly dissuaded him.

Seeing this scene, Li Tai couldn't help but sigh that people's hearts are really complicated. Han Zunian had previously held his ground in the city and refused to surrender, but after being tied up and surrendered by his subordinates, his attitude changed faster than anyone else. Now he took the opportunity to offer this plan to wipe out the whole family, and he must have the idea of ​​retaliating against these rebellious soldiers.

After a moment of hesitation, he smiled and said, "The soldiers and civilians in this city surrendered to me, just to be grateful for their lives. If I can't save them for the sake of justice, how can I be different from the thief leader Gao? Now that the group of people are tired of fighting and have abandoned their weapons, I will not force them to go to the battlefield again. As for the future, if they want to make progress through martial arts, that's another matter."

Han Zunian's strategy may make sense, but it is not entirely true that it can really produce much effect. Even the main reason why Yining City was able to persuade the surrender was that the garrison's strength had been greatly weakened, and the rear route Guyuan City was also taken away. Persuading surrender is only an auxiliary means, but not a decisive factor.

After hearing this, several surrendered generals breathed a sigh of relief, and then they bowed again and again, saying, "The Prime Minister is really kind and noble. We, the elders, are grateful to the Prime Minister for saving our lives!"

Han Zunian was stunned at first, and then he bowed deeply, saying, "The Prime Minister has a broad mind and a kind heart. He is really admirable!"

Although these surrendered soldiers were not arranged to participate in the attack on Wusu City, Li Tai did not let them sit idle. After these surrendered generals cooperated to take over the city, he immediately ordered people to send Han Zunian and several other important generals to Jinzhou City. Wusu City did not need these people to persuade them to surrender, but it was also a good thing to use these people to shake the morale of the army in Jinzhou City.

After entering Yining City, Li Tai sent orders to the rear, asking Hedong Prefect Pei Xia to go to Zhengping Town to guard Fenqu, and summoned Han Guo to go north. He then led another 10,000 troops from the foot of Jinzhou City to advance to Yining through eastern Sichuan, and let him serve as the main general in the next step of attacking Wusu City.