After repelling Zhao Jun's attack today, Meng Ao had doubts: Why did Zhao Jun launch hand-to-hand combat in vain for three days? Li Bing reasoned a little and said, Zhao Jun does not seek results, but only seeks war!
Meng Ao was a little confused and said: "If you don't seek victory, what's the point of seeking war?"
Li Bing said: "As you wish, the Qin army in Changping is inferior to the Zhao army. The Zhao army has four to five hundred thousand men, while the Qin army has several hundred thousand, and many of them are injured! They have four enemies to one, and they are advancing day by day. Qin is afraid that No support!"
Meng Ao felt that there was some truth, but after thinking about it carefully, it was not entirely true. He asked: "In three days, I used one battalion as ten battalions, so one against ten. Although they fought in turns, there was nothing I could do. One against four, what's the point? That’s right!”
Li Bing said: "Three days of fighting, we have sent out all the best, and many have been injured. Now we have thirty-four battalions, and more than twenty battalions have fought and been damaged. If the battle resumes for one or two days, we will fight with the remaining troops, just like this What can I do?"
Meng Ao said: "The damage he suffered is twice as much as mine. If I use the incomplete formation, he will also be damaged. Why worry about it?"
Li Bing said: "The number of those who fought with me was only 30,000, while the number of his troops was 400,000. His losses can't be repaid, but how can I make up for them? In three days of fighting, we have lost a few battalions." .—Now I have thirty-three battalions!”
Meng Ao said: "There is no food and grass inside, no reinforcements outside, and the territory is only a few dozen miles away. The bandits who are trapped can be defeated overnight. Even if I lose one camp a day, I will definitely defeat it!"
Li Bing scolded: "Crazy man! You have lost a battalion in a day. Who will defeat it after a month?"
Meng Ao said: "I look at the Zhao army's strength and it will only take a few days to defeat it."
Li Bing asked: "What's the plan going to be?"
Meng Ao said: "Now I have 20,000 swordsmen who have not been moved. Lord Wu'an will definitely use them in key areas. If we take the head directly, he will be destroyed!"
Li Bing said: "The Zhao army is in charge of the tent. The walls are strong and the troops are wide. However, there are few soldiers in Shangjun, so it is difficult to deal with it."
Meng Ao said: "If you respond with a swordsman, you will have nothing to worry about."
Seeing Meng Ao mention swordsmen, Li Bing said: "Swordsmen are the essence of Qin and the heart of the king. The most important weapon of the country cannot be used by the ministers!"
Meng Ao asked: "If this is true, then why does the king send swordsmen?"
Li Bing said: "It's called assisting the battle, but it's actually supervising the battle."
Anyi, the long-abandoned old capital of Wei, is 600 miles away from Changping in the east and 600 miles away from Xianyang in the west. After King Qin arrived secretly, he had already lived in the military camp for more than a month. For more than a month, the report from Xianyang was sealed every night by Zhang Lu and the prince. The special envoy took a fast boat directly to Puban, and then sent it to Anyi by fast horse, usually arriving in the afternoon of the next day. Changping's battle report was written by Bai Qi, Wang Hao, and Sima Jin respectively. The respective military envoys were sent out early every morning and usually arrived at night. The King of Qin's reply was also sent out in this rhythm, starting at night in Xianyang and in the early morning in Changping.
Entering September, the golden wind gradually cooled, and the residential courtyard where King Qin lived in the military camp began to get cold at night. Since both Zhe Road and Duanshi Road were controlled by the Qin army and no commercial travelers were allowed to pass through, the passage from Fenshang to Taiyuan became the only way to contact the outside world. In recent days, there has been a clear mixture of fish and dragons, with many unidentified and mysterious business travelers appearing from time to time. . Fenshang is only a hundred miles away from Anyi, so security is inconvenient and it is very unsafe to live in a military camp. Pi Wanzhuo invited the King of Qin to live in Anyi.
After many years of renovation, Anyi has not restored its old appearance as the capital of Wei, but it still has a high city and a deep pool, and its internal institutions are complete. But the King of Qin disagreed. The superficial reason was that his whereabouts had not been announced and sudden movements might cause shock. In fact, he still believed more in the five thousand swordsmen in the military camp. During this month, King Qin and his entourage, as well as the guarding swordsmen, maintained good relations with the surrounding residents. Whenever a stranger approached, they would be discovered immediately. King Qin felt that it was safer here. Every day's reports were sent and received in Anyi City, completed by Wang Ji, and then reported by Wang Ji; the daily military orders in the military camp were also carried out by public transport, so outsiders had no reason to think that there were any important figures in the military camp.
A few days ago, Zhang Lu reported that countries have tightened food control. Moreover, the number of envoys from various countries visiting Xianyang has increased significantly recently, and it seems that they discovered that the King of Qin may not be in Xianyang. Pi Wan also discovered that in the past month, the number of grain teams going to Zhiguan to exchange for salt has dropped significantly. In addition, the grain reserves in Hedong have also been exhausted, and the fried millet in September may only be available for twenty days. The King of Qin asked Hedong to purchase surplus grain from surrounding cities to ensure the supply of fried millet in Changping. At the same time, he wrote to Zhang Lu and asked the organization to transport millions of shi of grain from Guanzhong to Hedong.
Then he received a battle report from the generals in Changping, reporting that there was a shortage of arrows, and that shields, spears, halberds, and warlocks were all worn out to varying degrees, and new supplies were needed. The King of Qin asked Pi Wan to organize a batch of weapons to be transported to Changping from the arsenal in Anyi. Pi Wan immediately notified Yuancheng, Zuoyi and other counties to clear out all the weapons in the arsenal, register them, and have Anyi organize the transportation.
Gaodu reported that there were too many wounded and insufficient doctors and medicines. Pi Wan also ordered public funds to be allocated to Luoyang to purchase medicines and recruit doctors.
At noon today, the report from Xianyang arrived. After receiving instructions from the King of Qin to transport millions of grains of grain, Zhang Lu reported that since all the capable knights were transferred to the front line, the grassroots management work in the townships was slow, lazy, and delayed, which had a certain impact on the autumn harvest. If food transportation is organized and a group of jazz leaders are mobilized, the negative impact may be expanded. The prince reported that the king had not been in court for a month, and all the royal family members came to visit him. Although he stopped them, there were signs of instability; and everyone seemed to be quite dissatisfied with Zhang Lu. "If my father has some free time, he can return to Xianyang to calm his mind."
In his letters, the prince has expressed several times the concerns and uneasiness of the royal family members about the disappearance of King Qin. This is completely understandable. King Qin felt that hiding in the dark all the time was not an option. Maybe it would be better to find an opportunity to announce his whereabouts.
He discussed the matter with Pi Wan, and Pi Wan felt that if the king personally conquered the army, it would naturally have an motivating effect on the frontline soldiers. But the security issue is even more important. The current five thousand swordsmen are obviously not enough to cope with it. It is recommended that the King of Qin take safety measures before making a public announcement. But what more safety measures need to be taken? Pi Wan also has no conclusion.
At night, a letter from Changping also arrived. Bai Qi reported that due to the fierce fighting between the Zhao army and ten formations a day, although the Zhao army suffered heavy losses and no results, the Qin army also suffered heavy losses, including arrows and weapons. Much damage. Wang Hao reported that his troops currently only have more than 30,000 troops, and they are facing off against the Zhao army of more than 100,000 troops on the Danshui front line. They still have to mobilize their strength to attack, so the troops are insufficient. Sima Jin reported that although our army surrounded Zhao Jun on all sides and captured Zhao Jun's granary, Zhao Jun counterattacked vigorously.
The King of Qin asked Wang Ji to write a reply to the prince and Zhang Lu: "I will go on a personal expedition, or I will be violent. I hope we can help each other to help!" Wang Ji handed it over to the special envoy from Anyi, and returned to Xianyang at starry night.
That night, the King of Qin thought about it again and again, and wrote back to Bai Qi: "You have a hundred thousand people. Surrounding Zhao with a crowd of 400,000 people has never been heard of since ancient times. You just consult with me and attack him. If you don't like the encounter, I will attack him personally." Of."
He wrote back to Wang Lu: "In the past, Qing used 40,000 troops to suppress Zhao's 400,000 troops and was unable to advance even an inch. I am very proud of him. Now Qin has a large number of troops, but Zhao's army does not increase. This is the time when Zheng Qing and others have made meritorious deeds."
Reply to Sima Jin: "Pay C after reading. Your request. Your Majesty is good at raising a few people to become the chief minister, so don't let him know about it!"
Early the next morning, after receiving the reply from Wang Ji, the three military envoys rode back to their respective generals' camps in Changping.
At noon, King Qin's reply was sent to the prince and Zhang Lu respectively. The two met urgently for discussion, with only a few confidants present. That night, Zheng Anping, Gai Nie, Young Master Yi and two special envoys boarded the ship together, and the fast ship headed straight downstream. At the same time, another speedboat carrying Mang Wei also came downstream.
It was already dawn when the boat of Zheng Anping and five people arrived at the mouth of the Weishui River. They quickly changed boats, crossed the Yellow River, and landed at Puban. After arriving at the post station, the special envoy took a horse, and Zheng Anping and three people took a car and rushed to Anyi. .
Mang Wei changed cars at the station at the mouth of the Weishui River and left Hangu Pass.
At noon, Zheng Anping and five others arrived at Anyi. Mangwei arrived at Maojin Ferry, hired a small boat, and headed for Mengjin.
The five people met Wang Ji and the special envoy submitted a letter. Then the five people went to the post house to rest. Wang Ji took the letter and hurried to the military camp to see the King of Qin.
The King of Qin opened the seal, and Zhang Lu wrote in the letter: "I have been taught and reported to the prince urgently. It was agreed that the Yuan City is located in a dangerous location and is easy to defend, so the king will live there. The official Zheng Anping was a former soldier of the Wei Dynasty. He was familiar with battles and battles. Learn to guard duty and serve as pawns; Gai Nie, the concubine of the minister. Although he is young, he is proficient in swords. He is accustomed to Sima's sect. He has first glimpsed his ways and is willing to serve under his sect. Chen Si, Wuming, was formerly in charge of the Yuan Dynasty and is willing to lead him. Occupation. I would like to teach you!”
The prince's letter said: "According to the decree, I urgently consulted with Prime Minister Zhang and came to the conclusion that the Yuan City is located in a dangerous location and is easy to defend. The king will live in it. A strange person is young and talented. I would like to serve the king and teach him!"
The King of Qin asked Wang Jidao: "Where are the three mentioned people now?"
Wang Ji said: "They all entered the post house."
The King of Qin said, "I will order Dr. Zheng and Gai Nie to go to Yuan City, and some strangers will sneak in to meet me." He called the public servant and said, "I may move to the wall. Now there are Dr. Zheng and Gai Nie of the Prime Minister's Mansion. , I will go to Yuancheng to arrange everything, please go with me." The public took the order and left. When they were young, Wang Ji and Gongcheng returned to Anyi together, called Zheng Anping and three others, and said, "Wang Jiao, the official Anping and his concubine Gai Nie went with Gongcheng to Yuancheng to arrange everything. The prince is a foreigner and he is staying here. Attend the king of Anyi."
The public servant prepared a car, and Zheng Anping and Gai Nie got on the car. Zheng Anping said: "The walled city is rugged, so it may be inconvenient to travel by car."
Gongcheng said: "If it is inconvenient to travel by car, there is no need to discuss it! Yuancheng is to the north of Zhi Road, so why should it be inaccessible by car? I would like to go with you." Zheng Anping was so embarrassed that he took Gai Nie to the car and drove himself. Please Public transportation is on the left. Pi Wan selected a hundred soldiers to follow the car and headed for Yuancheng.
After the three people left, Wang Jicai took the stranger out of the city, entered the army, and went to the residence of King Qin. Only then did the stranger know that King Qin did not live in the city.
