Chapter 38 Two peripheral battles in the third quarter

Zhang stopped using troops.The prime minister, Pei Du, insisted on continuing to pacify Huaixi, and asked to go to the front to supervise the battle in person.Tang Xianzong agreed to Pei Du's request, and appointed Pei Du as the prime minister to concurrently serve as the envoy of Huaixi Xuanwei recruiting and disposal. In fact, he exercised the power of marshal and unified the military command of Huaixi.Since the main force of the Huaixi army was the North Road, Pei Du's headquarters was located in Yancheng (now Yancheng County, Henan Province). When Li Yan learned of Pei Du's appointment, he estimated that his plan to attack Caizhou would get Pei Du's support, so he became more confident in using troops.In September, Li Yan chose an unsuitable "Unfavorable Day for the Underworld" (an old superstition saying that an auspicious day is called "Auspicious Day for the Zodiac"), and captured the outer city of Wufang (now Suiping County, Henan Province) by surprise. , Killed more than 1,000 Huaixi soldiers.The rest of the remnants retreated to the inner city, not daring to go out to fight.Li Yan deliberately ordered the army to retreat to lure the enemy out of the city.The enemy general Sun Xianzhong led 500 cavalry to chase him from behind.The officers and soldiers panicked and wanted to flee.Li Yan immediately jumped off his horse and gave an order: "Those who dare to retreat will be killed!" Li Zhen led the officers and soldiers to fight against the enemy, and killed the enemy general Sun Xianzhong, and the enemy retreated back to the city.The generals suggested taking advantage of the victory to capture the inner city of Wufang.Li Yan said: "This is not our purpose." He didn't agree, so he led his troops back to the camp.

About three months before attacking Wufang, Li Yan sent an army to attack Langshan.The Huaixi Army fought back, and the officers and soldiers suffered a disadvantage.The officers and soldiers believed that this battle should not have suffered a loss, so they were very unconvinced.Li Yan was very happy, and said to everyone: "This battle is not for you to win, but for you to suffer!" The soldiers felt very strange.Li Yan said: "This is a trick!" In October of this year, Li Yan's attack on Caizhou's outskirts was completed as planned, and the conditions for a surprise attack on Caizhou were ripe.The surrendered general Li You proposed a specific combat plan to take advantage of the situation and go straight to Caizhou City. Li Yan thought it was feasible and sent people to Yancheng to report to Pei Du.Pei Du also believed that fighting with troops could not be won without a trick, so he approved Li Yan's battle plan.