Naturally, the foreigner couldn't say anything about Bingcao's analysis and judgment, he just nodded in agreement.
After leaving Handan, Bing Cao came to have dinner with a pedestrian who was responsible for collecting intelligence on the front line in Handan. After listening to their information, Bingcao took the stranger to another house...
The reason why Bingcao brought Yiren out was not only because he was young and could be easily covered, but there was also another important reason: Yiren knew the addresses of all these people. And of course the fewer people who know the addresses of these people, the better!
After returning home, Zheng Anping and two soldiers were already waiting for them to inquire about the news. Bing Cao informed them of the intelligence they had obtained in the past few days and asked them to report back to Hu Yang. If there was no major change in the enemy's situation, they would stay in Wu'an without taking any action. The two parties made an appointment to meet again in five days.
In this way, Bing Cao visited various places at various places; Hu Yang sent people to contact Bing Cao every five days to listen to Bing Cao's opinions. Handan's military strength gradually became stronger. There were camps and fences all around Handan, and the main camps were located around the outer gates of Handan City - there were no civilian troops stationed around the royal city. About twenty days later, there were about 50,000 to 60,000 civilian troops around Handan, basically occupying all the gates around Handan City that were not adjacent to the royal city.
Hu Yang did not encounter any trouble with the reconnaissance troops sent by Zhao Shejun. Even sometimes he found the reconnaissance personnel and did not take severe expulsion or arrest actions. Zhao She seemed to be sending a tacit signal: As long as you don't attack, we are good friends and I will not take the initiative to attack you! In order to avoid misunderstandings, Hu Yang also ordered that no active action be taken against the Zhao army patrol posts that came to conduct reconnaissance: as long as they did not invade within a stone's throw of the camp, they could see whatever they wanted.
After the two armies had been in friendly relations for more than twenty days, Bing Cao's main task was to inform the lurking Qin people that the mission was over and prepare to evacuate Zhao; and to make comprehensive arrangements for the evacuation. He still took the boy Yiren with him, traveling through the villages and fields of Zhao State, meeting with the Qin travelers lurking in Zhao State one by one, and giving them face-to-face instructions.
Zheng Anping came to Bing Cao's home again, and this time Bing Cao asked Zheng Anping to take a pedestrian back to the camp. When Zheng Anping saw this man, he looked unkempt and had a wretched figure. He didn't look like a pedestrian at all. But Bing Cao said so, and Zheng Anping took him on the road as a handyman for the group.
After entering the city smoothly, Zheng Anping handed the man over to Hu Yang. Hu Yang was also a little surprised, because Hu Yang had been a guest in Qin for a long time and was very familiar with the passers-by. When he called Gongzi Zhen, he didn't know him either. The pedestrian laughed and said, "How can you succeed even if you do this in a small way!" He asked for water to wash his face again, and trimmed his beard and hair. Half an hour later, a serious pedestrian appeared in front of them, and both of them were surprised: This person turned out to be the Xingren Zhonglang who had been serving as the prime minister. After entering the latent state, Gongzi Zhen never saw the Zhonglang again, and he didn't expect him to dress up like this.
After the three met, Hu Yang took him to the back house, where Gongzi Zhen also lived. Screening away the idlers, Hu Yang asked, "When the Master comes in person, he will surely teach you something!"
Zhonglang said: "The soldiers in Handan are already strong, so we should retreat!" He introduced the information he had recently heard and the judgment of the soldiers one by one.
Hu Yang said: "I have lived in Wu'an for more than twenty days. His soldiers are very well trained and their strength is very perfect. If there is nothing else, I should stay here!"
Zhonglang said: "I'm afraid that I won't be as honest as I want!"
Hu Yang said: "It has been more than twenty days now, and the soldiers from far away have not yet arrived, so why are they leaving in such a hurry?"
Zhonglang said: "As Zhong Geng said, there are only 50,000 soldiers in Handan; but with the strength of Wu'an, there will be 80,000. With Lianpo's courage and Xiangru's wisdom, he will not wait for the soldiers to be gathered together. Attack me. If I am attacked by Lian Po, even if I can escape, I will be exhausted. Therefore, you should plan an escape plan in advance."
Hu Yang said: "Zhonglang must be able to teach me!"
Zhonglang said: "I heard about Zhao. There are two reasons for Lian Po's actions: First, he joined forces with Zhao She, strengthened his troops, and fought with Zhong Geng. However, he was afraid that Zhong Geng would go to the south valley and approach the Great Wall because of this. ; Secondly, when leaving the South Valley, Zhong Geng will be flanked by Wu'an on three routes, and he will retreat in fear of Zhong Geng's attack. Therefore, Zhao She's plan must have come when Zhong Geng was unprepared, and he rushed to attack Zhong Geng in order to cut off Zhong Geng's retreat. , drive the enemy further into Handan, and attack them together. "
Hu Yang said with a smile: "Does he underestimate me like this? He wants to destroy me in Handan with fifty thousand people!"
Zhonglang said: "Lian Po relies on his own courage, so he must have this intention."
Hu Yang said: "If they come to attack from three directions, although I can retreat through the road, I will fight with them. It is in line with my intention to abandon the main road and drive me to Handan now!"
Zhonglang said: "He may not be able to decide on his three strategies."
Hu Yang said: "Thanks to the teachings of Zhonglang, I have a plan. I will definitely send Zhao She to Yan to cut off my way and drive me into Handan."
Zhonglang said: "When Zhong Geng entered Wu'an, Zhao State was uneasy and all the people were uneasy. They all thought that Zhao was bullying Qin. This was the retribution. They were very resentful. Zhong Geng's plan was completed. At this time, Dao Lan and It's the right time to retreat."
Hu Yang said: "Both the Bing Cao and the Zhong Lang are willing to let me, Dao Yan, retreat with you?"
Zhonglang said: "Of course! The military commander has ordered all travelers to retreat, and ordered his ministers to join the army to assist the army."
Hu Yang said: "This is God's blessing!" He said to the passerby: "There is one more thing. I would like Zhonglang to accompany me."
Zhonglang said: "But if you have an order, don't dare to disobey it."
Hu Yang said: "I hope Zhonglang will enter the Zhao camp and explore Zhao She's intentions..."
Zhonglang was shocked and his expression changed. Hu Yang secretly warned and taught tips in a low voice...
The next day, Hu Yang summoned Sima Jin and Wang Lu and ordered them to pack up and prepare to break camp. Since the people of Qin and Zhao had been getting along very harmoniously in the past twenty days, Hu Yang specially urged them to do a good job in dealing with the aftermath and leave a good impression on the people of Zhao, starting well and ending well. The two asked where they would retreat to and when they would set off. Hu Yang replied: "If you move, you should move like the wind. Now you can't show any trace of it. It can be said that Dao Yan and Qin Ke are retreating!"
After hearing this, the two of them understood: "It is rumored that Yan Yu" means that Yan Yu will definitely not go away, but will go to Handan to cause trouble. They looked at each other, anticipation and tension rising in their hearts.
The pedestrians got ready, dressed neatly, and came straight to Zhao She's camp with a public car, a public official, and ten soldiers. When they arrived in front of the camp, a passerby held a talisman and said, "The King of Qin sent an envoy to General Lao Zhao!"
The soldiers guarding the stronghold immediately reported in. After reporting step by step, it reached Zhao She's big account. Zhao She was very surprised. Why did King Qin come to reward him when he had nothing to do?
With the idea of seeing what the Qin army had planned, Zhao She sent Zhao Kuo to the front camp in person, invited the Qin envoy to come in, and told him to carefully observe the Qin envoy's actions and pay attention to clues!
Zhao Kuo led a hundred people to the front camp and asked the Qin envoy to come in.
Zhonglang and his party of thirteen people, three with swords and ten with halberds, none of them had bows or crossbows, entered slowly. When Zhonglang saw Zhao Kuo, he folded his hands and saluted: "I, the King of Qin, envoy Wang Lang!"
Zhao Kuo said: "Zhao Kuo, the son of Zhao She from Zhao Tianbu, has been ordered by his father to welcome the envoy of the King of Qin! My father said that She and Zhao are humble and do not dare to listen to the King of Qin's orders, so I should drive to Handan!"
Zhonglang said: "The King of Qin has worked for General Zhao She, not the King of Zhao!"
Zhao Kuo said: "My father has no contact with the King of Qin, so I dare not accept his teachings!"
Zhonglang said: "The king has something to say, and if he hears it, it will reach the general. He will not dare to say more."
Zhao Kuo said: "The camp is cramped and I dare not see the king's envoy. I would like to ask you to return. I should pay my respects again and come to the Qin camp to receive him!"
Zhonglang said: "The king has a message for General Zhao. If you decide to go to Handan, I hope the general will go with you!"
Zhao Kuo said: "If the king's envoy does not care about the filthiness of our camp, please go to the camp with us."
Zhonglang saluted, Zhao Kuo bowed his head and led the way, while the remaining 100 people surrounded the thirteen people. Zhonglang Zeng didn't frown, but still talked to Zhao Kuo: "The general led a heavy army and built a strong wall thirty miles away from Handan. How can he be cowardly?"
Zhao Kuo said: "My father killed the nine sons of Lord Pingyuan in a rage. Lord Pingyuan did not dare to be angry, but recommended them to the king. How cowardly can my father be!"
Zhonglang said: "This is not the cowardice of the general, but the cowardice of the King of Zhao! The general led the army to save Yan Yu, and it is known to the whole world. Seeing that the Qin army patrolled and refused to advance, hesitated and refused to retreat, and resisted each other for more than twenty days, There is no way other than fighting.”
Zhao Kuo said impatiently: "The king is sending you a message, why would you rather challenge him? That's not the way to send a message!"
Zhonglang said: "I missed what I said, and you will not be guilty, Major General!" He replied: "As far as Wu'an, our army has done nothing to harm the people, and all the people respect it. Rewards and punishments are in accordance with the law, and the people of Zhao are fair and just. Treat the people of Zhao as straight as Qin. Son!"
Zhao Kuo said: "This is not the case in my opinion. When the Qin people entered Wu'an, they relied on Zhao for food, food and clothing, and relied on the people for their deep ditches and high forts. If they were not killed by the people, it would be a big crime. After your army leaves, we should be exempted from it. A gift of several years is like a beetle in a day."
Zhonglang said: "The young general's eloquence is unparalleled, and he is among the best among men!"
Zhao Kuo said: "I heard that Qin invaded Zhao, and I wanted to retaliate for Taiyuan's deception! Since I deceived Taiyuan, I should retaliate to Taiyuan. Why did I go thousands of miles to Handan? Isn't it better to abandon the near and seek the far?"
Zhonglang said: "My king thought that he must be deceived by his traitorous officials, but he went to Handan to redress his grievances!"
Zhao Kuo said: "Lin and Lishi are both in Zhao's territory. The land is close to Qin, so they were plucked out by Lord Wu'an. King Zhao has no regrets. Now that he has been bullied, he should have raised his troops to plunder them. Why bother with King Zhao?" !”
After hearing Zhao Kuo's sarcastic words, Zhonglang couldn't answer for a moment.
In a blink of an eye, they arrived at Zhao She's tent. Zhao Kuo informed him to go in, and Zhao She called for invitation. Zhao Kuo came out to invite him, and the public servants and officials with swords followed him into the tent, while those holding halberds sat outside the tent.
After the two parties finished the ceremony, Zhao She said: "I, Zhao Tianbushe, would like to follow the teachings of the King of Qin!"
Zhonglang said: "My king has paid tribute to General Zhao and told him extravagantly: Zhao and Qin come from the same origin and are of different origins. They have always been brothers. Today, we are still called the Zhao family. We dare not forget our roots. There are also treacherous and sycophants between Qin and Zhao. As a result, disasters have arisen in Xiaoqiang, brothers are at odds with each other, wars have been in turmoil for many years, and treacherous plots have occurred frequently. It is really painful! Now the general has raised a strong force to go to Hua to fight, and unexpectedly encountered Qin. We are brothers and cannot bear to fight with each other. Wang Shi Congratulations! Please prepare a jade belt and a pair of jade hooks as a congratulation!" After saying that, a public servant took a baggage from his back and opened it layer by layer. There was a jade belt with a pair of jade hooks on it. He held it in both hands. , presented in front of Zhao She’s banquet.
