As soon as King Zhao was reminded, he immediately realized and said: "Good! The art of war consists of five principles to attack, and five principles to defend. Lian Qing should be good at planning offensive and defensive methods to attack the Qin army."
Le Yi said: "If we must attack it, we can't fight in Changping. Changping is narrow and difficult to use force. We should retreat to the open area of Shangdang and prepare a strong formation. With five enemies to one, we will definitely defeat Qin!"
King Zhao said: "How can Yue Qing go?"
Le Yi said: "I have my own reputation. I am not as brave as Lianpo, not as wise as Xiangru, not as benevolent as Anping. I am a villain and do not keep my word. How dare you lead the army?"
King Zhao said: "Of all the generals in the court, who can be the incorruptible deputy?"
Le Yi said: "I heard that among the young boys in the palace, the only thing Qin feared was the horse that obeyed the king. Now he has passed away. His son Kuo is quite like his father. Is the king going to give it a try?"
When King Zhao heard Zhao Kuo's name, he looked at Lord Pingyuan and Lord Pingyang with some doubts. The two men lowered their heads silently. King Zhao knew that they had other intentions and could not say it in front of Le Yi, so he said a few words of gratitude to Le Yi, and Le Yi resigned.
Lord Pingyuan sent Le Yi out on behalf of King Zhao. When he came back, King Zhao and Lord Pingyang were already discussing Zhao Kuo. Mr. Pingyuan bowed and took a seat at his table. Listen quietly to the discussion between the two.
Lord Pingyang continued what he had just said: "Kuo, a little boy, has never had any prestige. How can he lead hundreds of thousands of people and defend the powerful Qin without fighting?"
King Zhao said: "Kuo is incompetent, who can do it? Uncle, how can I go?"
Lord Pingyang said: "If I haven't fought in battle, I'm still inferior to Kuo!"
King Zhao turned to Lord Pingyuan again and said, "Father Zhong, where are you going?"
Pingyuan Jun said: "I think I am not as good as Lian Po. If Lian Po fails, how can I do it?"
King Zhao said: "Father Zhong, can you get millions of stones of food every month?"
Prince Pingyuan said: "I am not capable of this!"
King Zhao said: "It will be difficult for Lian Qing to resist the powerful Qin for a long time. What can I do?" Both of them fell into silence.
When King Zhao saw that the two of them were silent, he said again: "You are thinking about it, I and Kuo are the best, who can do it? My two fathers are with Kuo, who can do it? Lin Qing, who can do it with Kuo? Yu Qing, who can do it with Kuo? With Kuo Ye, which one can do it?"
Mr. Pingyuan thought for a while, took a long breath and said, "Nothing is better than this! If Mr. Anping and Leqing are better, they may be better. It's a pity that they are both old!"
King Zhao said: "The current plan will determine the outcome in July."
Pingyang Jun said: "Victory is good, if defeated, we will fight in Handan!"
Lord Pingyuan said: "What if we withdraw our troops and return to Handan?"
Pingyang Jun said: "No! The grain is not ripe now. It will be February or March when the grain is ripe and returned to the warehouse, then we can return to the army. Otherwise, Handan will not be able to defend!"
Lord Pingyuan said: "Is it okay to make peace with Qin again now?"
King Zhao said: "When Zheng Zhu returned from Qin, he said that Qin must join the party and then follow. Qin will definitely not have sex."
Mr. Pingyuan thought about it. Zheng Zhu had just returned from Xianyang. He would have made peace long ago. Why wait until now?
King Zhao said: "I would like to summon Kuo and ask him about his plan. If the plan doesn't work, then don't worry about it; if the plan works, then there is no harm in doing anything!"
Zhao Kuo was Zhao She's only son. After Zhao She passed away two years ago, Zhao Kuo stayed in mourning in front of his tomb, and his retainers brought his young son to deliver meals every day. Father and son get together for a meal and then part ways.
The weather in June is scorching, but there is still a cool breeze in the thatched cottages under the mountains and forests. Zhao Kuo read an article, put the slip back into the thatched cottage, sat on a big stone, and let the breeze blow on his face.
From his retainers, Zhao Kuo was able to learn about the progress of the war in Changping, that Zheng Zhufeng had left Handan in great glory for Xianyang to negotiate peace, and that in addition to transporting grain once at the beginning of the year, there was another shipment at the end of spring and early summer this year. Although the retainer's words were unclear, Zhao Kuo still saw from these things that the Changping War was in difficulty and he was worried.
The retainer and son arrived with dinner. A big basket filled with porridge, vegetables and salted plums. There are more than ten miles from home to the cemetery, and retainers drive cars to deliver meals. Even so, if winter comes, the porridge will be cold even if it is wrapped in cotton wool. It's summer now, and the porridge is still warm when it's delivered here. Zhao Kuo added salt and plum to the porridge, stirred it evenly, gave his son a few sips, asked about today's homework, gave his son some fruits and vegetables, and asked him to play aside. He sat on the stone and drank porridge. The retainer stood beside him and said, "I heard that Qin has sent more troops to Shangdang!"
Zhao Kuo didn't pay attention and said, "When will we increase our troops?"
The retainer said: "I heard that Dr. Zheng and Zhu have returned and are unable to interrogate. Qin immediately sent 20,000 troops from Guanzhong, as well as grain and soldiers from Beidi and Shangjun, to the east of the river. The men and horses continued day and night, meeting each other on the road, and the dust blocked the sun. .Probably no less than 100,000 people."
Zhao Kuo said: "Qin can do nothing. Lian Qing defends the party and controls the key areas, but Qin cannot advance, so he increases his troops in order to succeed. Qin is far away from the party, and it is difficult to transport troops and food. The more troops there are, the faster the defeat will be."
The retainer said: "The state captain will also send more troops to Shangdang, or it may be called Gengye. The former will recruit porters in the countryside again. It is harvest time, and it is difficult to find a man. Those who are conscripted may have difficulty harvesting the grain."
Zhao Kuo said: "The military is a major event of the country, the place of life and death, and the way of survival and death. We must observe it! Therefore, the classics are divided into five, and the calculations are based on calculations, and their emotions are investigated."
The retainer said: "Young master studied in the house and saw people. When will the battle finally begin?"
Zhao Kuo said: "In the war between Fu and Qin, we usually set off in October in the middle of the Yuan Dynasty, plunder the fields in winter, and return in spring. It does not miss the farming season. But it is not the case now. It comes from spring, and it is long summer, but it still does not retreat. We must defeat Zhao. If the battle is over, if Zhao does not defeat Qin, then Qin will defeat Zhao!"
The retainer said: "I heard that Qing Lian defended his position without fighting. How could he defeat Qin? All he had to do was wait for Qin to break his ears!"
Zhao Kuo said: "Who said this?"
The retainer said: "It is widely said that Qing Lian is afraid of Qin and only relies on his persistence. But if Handan's food and grass cannot be sustained and there is no support, it will be defeated."
Zhao Kuo said: "Lian Qing is so brave that he is afraid of Qin, but he relies on his calculations. The Shangdang is close to Zhao and far away from Qin. Zhao spends one while Qin spends ten. If the stalemate lasts for a long time, Qin will have difficulty in sustaining it. If you take advantage of its weakness and attack, you can Complete victory."
At this moment, another car came from a distance. Zhao Kuo stood up hesitantly, looked from a distance, and asked his retainer, "Does he have a guest?"
The retainer said: "I haven't heard of it."
Zhao Kuo stopped talking, quickly poured the porridge into his stomach, asked his retainers to clean it up, and then asked his retainers to lead his son away. By this time, the bus had arrived. The visitor got off the car a hundred steps away. Zhao Kuo recognized that it was Yu Qing and hurriedly stepped forward to greet Yu Qing.
Yu Qing got straight to the point and said: "The king wants to discuss the war with the young master. I hope the young master will rise immediately!"
Zhao Kuo said: "Why does the king summon ministers?"
Yu Qing said: "It's actually a matter of Shangdang."
Zhao Kuo said: "I don't know anything about Shangdang's affairs, so how can I dare to take action!"
Yu Qing said: "Everything that the young master wishes to know can be explained."
Zhao Kuo said: "I am dead, how can I see the king?"
Yu Qing said: "Filial piety comes first among all good deeds. The young master is mourning for his father. Although ghosts and gods still see him, what's more, he is the king! The king must be happy!"
When Zhao Kuo refused to accept his three words, he had to call out his retainers and sons and told them that King Zhao had summoned them and ordered them to go back first. He and Yu Qing met with the king, replied, and came back. The two took a car and headed to Handan together.
The person who drove Yu Qing was an official from King Zhao's palace. His driving skills were certainly not comparable to those of his retainers. He quickly sped away. The retainers could keep up at first, but then they were pulled further and further away, so they had to sigh and slow down. And go. Returning to the mansion, he reported to the old lady that King Zhao suddenly summoned the young master, and the old lady immediately became nervous.
The car carried Yu Qing and Zhao Kuo straight into the palace gate and stopped in front of a palace gate. Several ministers came over to lead the horses. Yu Qing and Zhao Kuo entered the palace under the leadership of a minister. King Zhao, Lord Pingyang and Lord Pingyuan were waiting in the east side room. In front of the table, there was a huge painting of the mountains and rivers of Shangdang. picture! Zhao Kuo immediately understood why King Zhao wanted him to come...
They bowed respectfully to King Zhao and the two kings, and the three of them returned the bow respectfully, comforting Zhao She's spirit in heaven and commending Zhao Kuo's filial piety in mourning. King Zhao said: "Young Master is in mourning, so I shouldn't bother you. However, the country is in trouble, so I ask my loyal ministers, I hope the Young Master will temporarily take away his love!"
Zhao Kuo bowed down and said, "This is a bad omen, I hope the king will not give up. I dare not be sincere!"
So Pingyuanjun gave a complete introduction to the confrontation between Zhao and Qin based on the topographic map of Shangdang's mountains and rivers. Due to preparations made in advance, Lord Pingyuan's introduction was focused on key points and detailed, and he accurately reproduced the situation, military strength, and supplies of Zhao and Qin in Changping. Zhao Kuo only asked a few less important details and then fell into deep thought.
King Zhao emphatically stated the key points of the entire issue: "Handan's food will only be given to the seventh month, but the Shangdang's troops will have to hold on to it for ten months before they can be given again."
Zhao Kuo stretched his neck with difficulty and asked, "What do you think, gentlemen?"
Pingyuan Jun replied: "The king consulted Yue Qing, and Yue Qing said that the art of war is to attack the enemy five times. Now Zhao Wu and Qin Yi should be defeated by field battles. The king asked who can be the general? Yue Qing said, horse uniforms. My son is okay!"
Zhao Kuo suppressed the shock in his heart and bowed down: "How dare I come to the army with such an ominous body!"
Pingyang Jun said: "Then the king consults the young master, what strategy should he use to defeat the Qin Dynasty?"
Zhao Kuo said: "I have been away from the battle for a long time and have not experienced it. I would like to think about it. It is right!"
King Zhao then stood up and shouted to the back: "He's out!" Five Zhao girls floated up.
King Zhao said to Zhao Kuo: "Now, I would like to see you in mourning!" Lord Pingyang and Lord Pingyuan also smiled and bowed before resigning. When Zhao Kuo saw that there were only himself and five Zhao girls in the palace, he immediately understood what King Zhao meant. He sat blankly for a moment, looking at the mourning clothes on his body, and he was debating in his mind whether to take them off or not! The five Zhao girls sat quietly behind him and watched his actions quietly without saying a word.
Finally, Zhao Kuo asked: "If you want to get rid of mourning, what kind of clothes should you wear?"
Zhao Nu behind him bowed and went out silently. Soon everyone came in holding a piece of clothing. It's a full set of doctor's uniform.
Zhao Kuo bowed to the place where King Zhao had been sitting just now and said, "I will teach you how to get rid of mourning!" Then he untied the belt around his waist, and only the front and back pieces of the mourning clothes immediately came loose. Ms. Zhao immediately bowed and dispersed. After returning soon, Zhao Kuo was led to the back courtyard, where two large urns had been prepared, each containing hot and cold water, decorated with pine branches, flower petals, and herbs. Between the two urns, there is a large plate and a bowl. Zhao Kuo took off his mourning clothes, revealing his strong body, came to the plate, and spread his hair. One of the Zhao girls was doing the irrigation, while the other Zhao girls were assisting.
