Chapter 1067 Since the Han Emperor is my paternal grandfather, I will surrender
Under the protection of his personal soldiers, Yelu Deguang fled all the way back to Shangjing.

The first thing Yelu Deguang did after returning to Shangjing was to order people to seal all the gates of Linhuang City with bricks and wood.

The 30,000 defeated soldiers who fled back with Yelu Deguang were therefore stopped outside the city gate.

Han Kuangtu, the general of the Zhangwu Army who was in charge of the garrison, saw this and hurriedly begged for the fleeing soldiers outside the city:

"Khan, these are the people of Changshengtian. We can't abandon them outside and let the Han people slaughter them!"

Seeing this, other generals also tried to persuade him.

After all, the defeated soldiers outside the city may very well be their tomorrow.

Yelu Deguang was obviously frightened by the Han people. No matter how his ministers persuaded him, he did not dare to order the gates to be opened and let people into the city.

After all, when the Khitans attacked a city, they liked to drive the enemy's civilians and defeated soldiers ahead. As long as the defending soldiers stopped shooting, the Khitan warriors would follow immediately.

What if the Han people also use the same trick?

The ministers watched the defeated soldiers begging for mercy outside the city, and the morale of the defenders on the city walls was also affected.

Han Zhigu, the first Han minister of Khitan and the father of Han Kuangtu, walked up to the city wall at this time.

Han Zhigu was originally a married slave of Empress Dowager Shulü Ping. Later, he showed outstanding insight and was valued by Yelü Abaoji. He was gradually promoted to the position of Shangshu Ling of Khitan, that is, Prime Minister of Khitan.

As the Khitan Prime Minister, Han Zhigu naturally could not stand by and watch the defeated soldiers die:
"Khan, there are only 15,000 Zhangwu troops in the city now, and they are simply unable to defend Shangjing City. It would be better to put these defeated soldiers into the Wengcheng, identify them one by one, and keep them for use. What do you think, Your Majesty?"

"What the Prime Minister said is very true. I almost made a big mistake!"

Yelu Deguang could choose not to listen to other people's advice, but since Han Zhigu was the prime minister of Khitan, he had to listen carefully.

Wait for him to react.

The entire Shangjing City is small in number of soldiers and generals. If we don't gather these defeated soldiers, it will be difficult to even defend the city.

After understanding this truth, Yelu Deguang quickly said:

"Someone, open the city wall!"

The defeated soldiers outside the city were quickly guided to the gate of the city wall and entered the city.

Then the city gate was blocked again.

At this point, it’s not over yet.

After all, in the entire Shangjing Linhuang Prefecture, the defeated soldiers and the Zhangwu Army did not total more than 50,000 people.

The total number of Han troops exceeded 100,000.

Can this city really be defended?

Yelu Deguang was very suspicious, so he called all his confidants to ask for countermeasures.

Several ministers looked at each other, and Han Zhigu, as the Shangshu Ling (Prime Minister), stood up and bowed, saying:

"Khan, I have three strategies for you to choose from!"

"Prime Minister, please speak!"

Yelu Deguang did not expect that at this time, Prime Minister Han could still provide three strategies, and he could not help but be overjoyed.

"The best strategy is to form alliances to protect ourselves!"

Han Zhigu stretched out his hand and pointed at the territory map, saying:

"First, we mobilize the people in the city and hold out. This should be able to stop the Han army for some time. Then, the Khan will send envoys to ask for help from the Shiwei, Tuyuhun, Wuhuan, Dongdan, Jurchen, Mohe and other tribes, promising them benefits. If we can get their help and reinforcements, the Han army can retreat!"

Yelu Deguang was not a fool. When he heard Han Zhigu's best plan, he immediately shook his head in disappointment:
"Prime Minister Han, the leaders of the eight Khitan tribes have all been captured by the Han people. How can they come to help us? Not to mention the Dongdan, Jurchen, and Mohe, they all have grudges against me. They will definitely not come to help us."

"Khan, the world is bustling with people, all for profit. The world is bustling with people, all for profit. As long as we promise them great benefits, we are not afraid that they will not come!"

Han Zhigu also wanted to appeal to their emotions and reason with them, and explain the feasibility of his best strategy.

Yelu Deguang waved his hand and said:

"Prime Minister, please tell me the middle strategy!"

Seeing this, Han Zhigu had no choice but to continue talking about his middle strategy:

"The middle strategy is more risky, which is to attack the enemy camp at night and rescue the captured soldiers."

"The Han army was able to win today mainly because the Han emperor captured the queen mother alive, causing the three armies to lose their fighting spirit."

"If we attack the enemy camp at night and rescue the 100,000 captured soldiers, it will surely boost the morale of the army. At that time, we will have 150,000 soldiers defending the city, while the enemy will only have 120,000. The advantage is ours..."

Yelu Deguang was somewhat moved after hearing Han Zhigu's words, and immediately looked at his trusted ministers:

"Which general is willing to lead his troops to attack the enemy camp at night?"

"Ahem..." Everyone present, including Han Kuangtu, lowered their heads.

Just kidding.

Even 170,000 people were no match for the Han army. Who could guarantee success if they led troops to launch a night attack in the middle of the night?
Han Zhigu and Yelu Deguang lamented when they saw that no one dared to leave the city.

Morale was low, and it was difficult to even defend the city, let alone launch a night attack.

Yelu Deguang also knew the current situation and could only continue to sigh:
"Prime Minister, please tell me the next best thing."

"The last resort... is to seek peace."

The next day.

Shulü Ping, who was helping the Han emperor wash, met Han Zhigu who came to seek peace.

The former master and servant now feel extremely awkward meeting each other in a different place.

When Shulü Ping heard that Han Zhigu came to ask for peace, she was so angry that she couldn't help but curse:
"What a wimp!"

You know, the current Khitan Kingdom still has an army of more than 300,000. If Yelu Abaoji knew that his son was so incompetent, he would probably be unable to hold his coffin shut.

Su Mingzhe laughed and said:

"Why are you so demanding, my beauty? Even your mother has been conquered by me. What can he use to fight against the Han cavalry?"

Shulü Ping blushed with shame at the man's words and dared not say anything.

Han Zhigu watched his empress dowager and the Han emperor flirting with each other and could only lower his head and pretend not to see it.

After a while, Su Mingzhe smiled at Han Zhigu and said:
"Go back and tell Yelu Deguang that I have taken his mother into the harem as a concubine. If he is willing, just leave the city and surrender. I will confer him the title of Duke of Liao and reward him generously. If he wants to continue to resist the heavenly army, be careful that the city will be destroyed when it is captured!"

When Han Zhigu heard Su Mingzhe's humiliating reply, he thought that after passing it back, it would definitely arouse Yelu Deguang's bloodiness and make him rethink the three strategies he proposed yesterday.

As a result, Yelu Deguang was delighted when he heard Han Zhigu's reply:
"Prime Minister, you said that my mother was taken into the harem by the Han Emperor as a concubine? The Han Emperor is also willing to confer the title of Duke of Liao on me?"

Khan, isn't this your wrong reaction?

Han Zhigu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, secretly expressed his indignation for Yelu Abaoji, but still nodded and told him everything the Han emperor had said.

Yelu Deguang confirmed the conditions and could no longer contain his joy:

"Since the Han Emperor is my great-grandfather, we are family. Prime Minister, please make arrangements quickly. I will go to pay my respects to my father, the Han family!"

Yelu Deguang surrendered too quickly.

The third day of the decisive battle.

Su Mingzhe conferred the title of "Duke of Liao" on Yelu Deguang, and rewarded him with 10,000 acres of fertile land outside the city of Chang'an, 1,000 slaves, and allowed him to continue to have 200 armored soldiers.

Seeing such favorable conditions, Yelu Deguang simply tied his hands, went out of the city and offered a letter of surrender.

Even the Khitan Khan surrendered, and Su Mingzhe also released hundreds of Khitan nobles who had been captured before after they surrendered.

In less than a month, dozens of tribal chiefs in Khitan territory came with tribute to pay tribute.

Mid-August.

The Jurchen and Mohe tribes, Goryeo Wang Jian and Dongdan King Yelu Bei also sent people to Linhuang Prefecture one after another to express their willingness to pay tribute to the Han Dynasty.

end of August.

Su Mingzhe dealt with the chieftains of the grassland tribes and announced the end of the campaign against Khitan.

At the same time, the scouts also contacted the Minister of War, Lu Wen.

The two sides agreed to join forces in early September to besiege the State of Liang.

The disadvantages of Emperor Liang Zhu Wen handing over the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun became apparent at this time.

Su Mingzhe led the army and set out directly from the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun.

All the Liang State cities along the way surrendered.

In less than a month, the army captured fifty prefectures and arrived at the city of Luoyang, the capital of Liang.

Crown Prince Zhu Youfeng, who was appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Army by Zhu Wen, saw that the Han army was unstoppable and chose to open the city and surrender.

Emperor Zhu Wen of Liang was sitting in the palace drinking. When he heard that the crown prince let the Han army into the city, he knew that he had been deserted by his friends and that the situation was hopeless.

He also knew that he had killed too many people over the years, and even if he surrendered, he would not have a good ending.

The old thief came to Jiuzhou Pond and boarded a dragon boat. He ordered his men to pour kerosene on the dragon boat and capture a dozen beauties.

With the lighting of a fire, the sinful life of Emperor Zhu Wen of Liang came to an end.

(End of this chapter)