Chapter 271 Persuading Surrender
Since the moat was connected to the Yingshui River, Zhu Yuanzhang's first step in the siege was to capture the water fort outside Xiangcheng and control the source of the water entering the moat. He then began to mobilize auxiliary troops and laborers to carry soil to fill the moat and began to build siege equipment.

In addition to Chang Yanheng's cavalry being responsible for guarding the periphery to prevent the cavalry led by Pu Gusu from launching a surprise attack on the siege team, a part of them must also be assigned to patrol along the Yingshui River to prevent Dongyan from attacking the grain route.

Xiang County City is actually not very big. There are only a few tens of thousands of people in the city, including the civilians. Xue Qi, who is guarding the city, has less than 5,000 men under his command.

The most terrible thing is that there is not much food in the city, only enough to feed the soldiers and civilians for two months.

Under normal circumstances, it is actually enough, because reinforcements are on the way.

Transferring the elite central army that was guarding Guanzhong from Hongnong County was the last response that Dong Yan could make.

Because now we must stop Li Yuanhui from going north, otherwise there will be no strategic location to defend after Runan to Yingchuan and all the way to Luoyang.

So while Zhu Yuanhui was leading his troops to attack the city, Li Yuanhui was already discussing the direction of the war with the military advisor Li Qinglian.

Before the war, the plan that Li Yuanhui discussed with his staff was to go north along the Yingshui River, and probably return to Xianyang and Ruyin from Eastern Yan to block the Western Yan army.

However, what the Jianghuai side did not expect was that the military strength of Eastern Yan in Yuzhou had become extremely weak, to the point where it was unable to fight back and could only hold on.

One of the reasons for this was the disastrous defeat last year, which not only resulted in the loss of a large number of troops, but also the loss of a large number of war horses, supplies, and even armor and weapons.

Even if the troops are partially replenished, morale and training levels are big problems.

Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang, as the vanguard, quickly captured Ruyin and Xianyang. It was precisely this kind of enemy performance that made Zhu Yuanzhang dare to issue a military order to break the city within 15 days.

This is very different from previous strategic plans and goals.

The previous strategic plan was to attract the strategic attention of the Eastern Yan Army and share the pressure on Guanzhong. This was also Li Yuan's request.

But now it seems that what Li Yuanhui has in front of him may just be a layer of window paper, which may break if poked.

If we can capture Xiang County within 15 days, Chen County and Yingchuan will be easy to conquer.

The Jianghuai army can take advantage of the convenience of water transportation, advance both by land and water, launch a powerful offensive, and even get a glimpse of Luoyang.

If the central army is not transferred to provide assistance, the area south of Luoyang will not belong to Eastern Yan.

But doing so would draw all the firepower here, and they would have to face a full-scale counterattack from Luoyang.

The terrain is laid out here, and everyone can understand it. Zheng Guo, Lou Jushi, Duan Yihong, and even Murong Yang and Gao Shizhe also knew that Yingchuan could not be lost, as it was the southern gate of Luoyang.

The loss of Yingchuan means that the Eastern Yan regime will have to enter a battle to defend the capital.

So Li Yuanhui was also very worried.

Now on the Western Yan side, the Jianghuai Corps and the Jingzhou Corps are suppressing the Yuzhou Corps of Eastern Yan in all directions.

After Duan Yihong led his troops to provide support, the strategic situation between the two sides was definitely reversed.

"We must eliminate Murong Deyu, capture Xiangcheng, and gain control of the Yingshui and Caihe waterways before the elite central army of Dongyan arrives. Otherwise, our army will have to fight a field battle with the last elite central army of Dongyan in the plains without a city to defend. The advantage is not in our hands."

Looking at the top of Xiang County's city wall, Li Yuanhui said with a serious expression.

Li Qinglian said: "It depends on whether General Zhu can capture Xiang County as scheduled. However, Murong Deyu's army of more than 10,000 people is on the east bank of Yingshui River, so we also need to be on guard. I wonder if the Minister of Works has thought about persuading Murong Deyu to surrender?"

Li Yuanhui frowned upon hearing this, but soon relaxed and said, "Persuade him to surrender? He is a member of the Yan royal family, so we can give it a try."

Originally, Li Yuanhui thought that since the other party was a member of the royal family of Dayan, it would be impossible to persuade him to surrender, but he soon realized it.

Now the Jianghuai Army is also the Great Yan Army. Although everyone knows what the Western Yan regime is, it still bears the name of Great Yan after all.

This may make Murong Deyu give up his resistance. It is Dayan that he surrenders to. As for whether it will be the same in the future, that is a matter for the future.

After thinking for a moment, Li Yuanhui agreed to Li Qinglian's suggestion and then personally wrote a letter of persuasion for surrender.

In his mind, he first praised Murong Deyu as a famous general and a great commander of troops, and then said that your current Emperor of Eastern Yan, that is, my elder brother-in-law Murong Yang, came to the throne by poisoning the previous Emperor Guangping. This is not just your Murong family's family affair, but a major event in the world.

As a member of the Murong clan, you should lead an army to fight against the traitor who poisoned Emperor Guangping, that is, Murong Yang.

How can you still serve him?
Now that I have raised an army to fight against the rebellion, and the army is already at the gates of the city, you should repent now, join my army to fight against the rebellion, and go north with me to Luoyang to punish the traitor.
In short, it stands on the moral and ethical high ground.

In addition, Li Yuanhui also made an analysis of the current situation: Luoyang is now at the end of its rope, the Central Plains area is no longer defensible, and the food supply for tens of thousands of you here will definitely not last long.

Finally, he said that our two armies have 300,000 troops, and my second brother led an army of 100,000 out of Qiaohan. Can Luoyang withstand the offensive of our brothers?

It's tantamount to deceiving, fooling and cheating.

He also knew that at this point, Murong Deyu was probably prepared to fight to the end, but he still had a little hope.

What if?
Everyone wants to survive.

After the letter was sent, Murong Deyu read it immediately. After reading it, he said nothing. It seemed that there was no ripple, but he was restless afterwards.

He specially went to the watchtower by the Yingshui River to watch the battle and see the siege measures taken by the Western Yan army against Xiangxian City.

Even across the Yingshui River, it was still clear to see that the overall morale of the Western Yan army was high, and the various arrangements during the siege were extremely appropriate. The troops were lined up neatly under the city, and long-range strike forces such as catapults and crossbowmen were reasonably distributed, constantly suppressing the defenders on the city walls.

Even he, a veteran of many battles, couldn't find any problems.

At this moment, Murong Deyu suddenly felt that it was a bit absurd, because not long ago, when Li Yuan had not yet entered Chang'an, the Jianghuai Army and the Yuzhou Army were still friendly forces and had fought together.

At that time, Murong Deyu really didn't look down on the Jianghuai Army and Li Yuanhui.

In just over a year, the situation changed dramatically.

After Emperor Guangping passed away, the Li family established the former crown prince and King of Shu as emperor, parted ways with the Luoyang side, and the two sides went to war.

From the chaotic fighting in Jingzhou last year to Li Silang leading his troops north this year, the situation changed so quickly that it far exceeded Murong Deyu's expectations.

Before this letter of persuasion for surrender, Murong Deyu did not even realize that the situation in Luoyang had become difficult and even precarious.

Should he fight with the Li family to the end? Or should he surrender early for the sake of his family?

While Murong Deyu was hesitating, the Western Yan army was attacking Xiang County fiercely. After five days of clearing the periphery and filling the trenches, they sent various troops to attack in turns for nine days.

There is only one day left before the military order issued by Lao Zhu is fulfilled.

On the morning of the 15th, the Huainan Right Camp directly under Zhu Deyu was ready to go. As soon as the military order was issued, the attack was quickly launched.

Various siege weapons were deployed in full swing, and the elite soldiers from the right side of the Huai River, holding shields, launched attacks on the city walls one after another.

The defenders in the city finally reached the point of collapse.

(End of this chapter)