A few days later, word spread in Handan City that Zhao Kuo's mother broke into the palace and declared that "Once Zhao Kuo becomes a general and faces eastward, no military officer dares to look up to him. The gold and silk given by the king will be kept at home." , and the land and houses are convenient for those who want to buy them." This is not an expedition, it is clearly a joke!
In order to raise food and grass to support Changping, Lin Xiangru, the prime minister, exhausted all his efforts and was sick in bed, unable to do political affairs. Hearing that King Zhao wanted to appoint Zhao Kuo as a general, he hurriedly wrote a letter to stop him: "The king uses his name to entrust Kuo, like a glue pillar and a drum. Kuo's disciples can read his father's biography, but they don't know about the coup."
King Zhao ignored all these objections, but agreed to Zhao Kuo's mother's request: If Zhao Kuo loses the army, he will not join the family.
Zhao Kuo behaved like a playboy. He asked his retainers to buy properties around Mafu Mountain, his father's fiefdom, and moved the whole family to Mafu Mountain. This vigorous move actually concealed Zhao Kuo's true movements: he lived in the palace every day and discussed Changping with King Zhao. The only people involved in this matter were Lord Pingyuan and Lord Pingyang. The person making things outside is actually just his tomb boss.
As the unfavorable battle reports of Lian Po's war came one by one, Zhao Kuo had a clearer understanding of the war. The combat effectiveness of the Qin army cannot be underestimated, but the fighting spirit of the Zhao army is gradually fading. This is also reflected in the DPRK: now it is rare to hear impassioned expressions of resistance to Qin; there are more and more calm and rational people.
King Zhao was still very worried. He said to Zhao Kuo worriedly: "You can use this million grain to hold the stalemate until October, and I will personally lead the army to fight Qin."
Zhao Kuo was very calm and said: "I am going to Changping to replace Lian Qing. I hope that the king will take care of him and Handan will be as solid as gold!"
King Zhao said: "Accurate!"
Zhao Kuo said: "With millions of shi of food, we can eat for three months. The month is only 300,000 shi, and the day is less than 10,000 shi. This is enough for 100,000 people. 400,000 people have not been able to eat half of it. We must take extraordinary measures!" "
King Zhao said: "Accurate!"
Zhao Kuo said: "The matter is urgent, I should do the opposite and do the opposite!"
King Zhao said: "Accurate!"
Zhao Kuo said: "I think Lian Qing will not take risks. I am willing to lead the troops immediately."
King Zhao said: "I will wait until your family is safe and then start the business."
The mother seemed to be very angry with Zhao Kuo. She forcibly dismissed all the servants, retainers and retainers. Even those who were willing to go with Zhao Kuo were determined not to stay, and she only let Zhao Kuo take them away. He took his whole family, his wife and grandchildren, and moved to Mafu Mountain, the fiefdom of Zhao She.
Mafu Mountain is located in the northwest of Handan and is the "backer" of Handan. Many Zhao kings are buried here. Zhao She was also buried here after his death, but in a lower position. The location of Zhao Kuo's hut is at the foot of the mountain closest to Zhao She's tomb.
After Zhao She was granted the title of Lord of Mafu, he built a small residence in the fiefdom. Since he was mainly responsible for managing taxation and also taking care of Wu'an's frontline defense, his residence was unstable. No one usually lived in this residence, and he only came here occasionally to relax and study. Zhao Kuo bought some more land around the fiefdom and farmed it with tenants. Zhao Kuo's mother moved her family here, and only Zhong Zai followed.
On the fifth day of July, the day after his mother moved to Mafu Mountain, Zhao Kuo set out with nearly a thousand young brothers. These people are all descendants of the Zhao clan. They usually have some reputation for bravery and hold some mid-level and low-level positions in the royal city. Xu Li originally prepared 100,000 more soldiers, but due to Lian Po's emergency a month ago, he first sent 50,000 soldiers. Now there are only 50,000 soldiers left. He followed Zhao Kuo to Changping and was Zhao Kuo's only new force. One million shi of grain has been transported once, and there are still 500,000 shi left. These 50,000 people will temporarily act as transporters to transport it to Changping. The clan members of the Zhao family who accompanied the expedition served as officers of all levels for these 50,000 people, including 50,000 generals and 10 assistant generals, all the way up to 100 generals. It took five days to organize the army.
Transporting food and marching routes are different. At that time, the most economical and effective means of transportation was shipping, which was much more economical than horse-drawn carriage. Therefore, most transportation did not take the most direct mountain roads, but detoured through waterways. Since these 50,000 people temporarily acted as a transport team, they first transported the 500,000 stone grains to Fushui Ferry on the edge of Handan City, detouring around Zhangshui River and heading upstream. Zhangshui meanders in the Taihang Mountains, walking among thousands of mountains and valleys. Most of the time it needs to be pulled by artificial fibers. Zhao Kuo asked the large army to move with the ship, and five retainers coordinated the actions of the armies. He only took five thousand elite troops with him and headed straight from Fukou to Changping.
It took Zhao Kuo eight days to arrive in Changping. Zhao Kuo first left his troops in Shangdang and sent military envoys to report to Lian Po. He took a short rest, and after arranging the camp affairs, he led one ten thousand generals, one assistant general, five thousand generals, ten five hundred men and fifty hundred men into Changping.
When Zhao Kuo arrived at Baili Shicheng, the military envoys sent by Lian Po also arrived there to greet him and led a group of people to Lian Po's tent. Zhao Kuo took out the festival talisman and explained to Lian Po that he had been ordered to take over the command of Changping's military. Integrity meets the requirements and is correct after inspection, so he is called "Jing Nai". Then Lian Po asked Zhao Kuo: "I have been defeated repeatedly, and the king has sinned against me!"
Zhao Kuo said: "It's not a crime. But it's a labor of love for General Er!"
Lian Po still had a good impression of Zhao Kuo. Seeing that King Zhao ordered Zhao Kuo to replace him, although he was a little worried, he also felt it was a relief. After all, after two years of fighting in the field, everyone will get mentally tired at some point. Sending someone to temporarily replace you is a compliment to yourself. At present, apart from Zhao Kuo, it seems that no one else in the DPRK can be found to go on the expedition. Although Xu Li was a state captain, it was difficult for him to act alone.
There are now 200,000 troops in Changping, including 150,000 from Handan and 50,000 from Taiyuan. There are twenty out of ten thousand generals, either members of the clan or noble relatives. The people of Shangdang were also organized into ranks, but only into one army, managed by one of Lian Po's retainers. Lian Po sent military envoys to summon all the 200,000 generals to the big tent and announce the important decision to everyone.
After all the generals gathered, Lian Po informed King Zhao of his decision and showed everyone the appropriate situation. Zhao Kuo said: "Everyone has been on the war for many years, and they are all in trouble. The king is very tired of you, so I ordered Kuo to take over temporarily!" Everyone worshiped: "But it is the ancestral temple, so I dare not say anything about it!"
A general of ten thousand people asked: "Why are all the generals so young?"
Zhao Kuo said: "In front of the front, the brigade is behind, and there is enough food and crops to come!"
Lian Po said: "The moon is bright, and each general speaks his own way!"
Zhao Kuo said: "I would like to go to the camp to see it in person. Don't spare your efforts." Originally, everyone just wanted to briefly introduce it on the map, but Zhao Kuo actually wanted to go to the front line to inspect it in person. Two hundred thousand people, three hundred miles of defense line, when will this be introduced! Everyone looked at Lian Po, hoping that he would come out and stop him.
Lian Po said: "The young general wants to come and see him in person, but he has not resigned. I would like to be the pioneer, and all the princes will return home. But the most important thing is to prepare for war. When the general arrives, he will be welcomed!"
Zhao Kuo said: "No need. Kuo is young and ignorant, and he is willing to be taught by his father!" Zhao Kuo's humble attitude won him a lot of praise.
After sending the generals away, Lian Po took advantage of the moonlight and walked along the foot of the second mountain to Baili Stone City, which was farthest from the front line. Here, according to the mountain, a stone wall is built. The so-called stone wall is just a breast wall formed by stacking stones together and tamping them with soil to reinforce them. Although the fortification is simple, it is condescending and very threatening.
The hundred-mile stone city was guarded by 50,000 people: 30,000 people took turns to go up to the city, and 20,000 people took turns to rest. In times of war, they served as a reserve force to reinforce critical areas. Lian Po appointed the most senior general to be responsible for everything here.
Climb up the gate tower of Shicheng and have a panoramic view of the entire battlefield under the moonlight. Lian Po asked the five thousand people who followed him to return to their camps. He pointed to the foot of a mountain extending from the opposite mountain ridge and said: "Behind this mountain is the Qin army's camp." Zhao Kuo made a visual inspection and saw from where they stood. It is about twenty miles to the mountain ridge, and the foot of the mountain is also about twenty miles long. The valley mouth formed by it and the foot of another mountain is particularly clear, and is about half as long as the foot of the mountain. There are also barriers built at the foot of the mountain. Due to the obstruction at the foot of the mountain, the Qin army's camp distribution was completely obscured. There was a fire in the valley and dark clouds condensed in the sky.
Lian Po pointed to the west ten miles away and said: "The shortest way to enter Shangdang from Changping is that way. If I close this path, I will cut off the way to Shangdang." He pointed to the east again and said: "There is also a tunnel leading to the party twenty miles away. I am guarding the mountain, but this road is blocked!"
Lian Po's retainers, plus the retainers and young officers brought by Zhao Kuo, a total of about a hundred people, were walking on the stone wall. Now there are ten soldiers standing guard on the wall, and everyone else is resting under the wall. The military camp is located in the valley behind the mountain and on the hillside. Further away, there are bright lights, which should be where people live. Due to the strict management of the camp, there is not much filth in the valley. However, swarms of mosquitoes came overwhelmingly and attacked the soldiers fiercely.
While looking at the terrain, barriers and camps, and listening to Lian Po's introduction, the two parties came to a section of stone wall that was perpendicular to the previous section. Zhao Kuo and others walked up the stone wall and looked down. A road snaked through the foot of the mountain. Needless to say, this is the Danzhuling position that strangles the party's throat.
Lian Po said: "The only thing I am thinking about is this way. If this way is not lost, the party will be safe!" He pointed to the Qin army's position on the opposite mountain and said again: "If they want to attack me, they will come out of the hill. Going down the mountain and climbing up the mountain again will be too much." He then pointed to the stone walls extending to both ends and said: "The city is thirty miles long, and it is difficult for them to bypass my rear and attack it." Zhao Kuo noticed that this road The stone walls not only controlled access to the Upper Dang, but also provided defense for the military camps in the valley. Here, Lian Po deployed 10,000 men, with another 10,000 troops ready to reinforce him.
Following this stone wall down to the foot of the mountain, it was already starting to get light. The foot of this mountain is almost connected to the foot of the mountain that goes up the mountain at night. In the valley formed by the two foot of the mountain, there are still a large number of military camps placed. Beyond the foot of the mountain is a continuous fortress, and beyond the fortress is Danshui.
Lian Po said: "It's already bright. Let's stay here today. From time to time, people will gather to order troops. After dinner, I'm afraid the Qin people are coming!"
Zhao Kuo said: "My camp of five thousand is in Shangdang. I would like to get close to it."
Lian Po said: "Let's welcome him after dinner."
