Because the gate of Hangu Pass was destroyed, Zhang Han stepped up the construction, recruited troops and horses from all over, and stayed there for a while. At this time, the imperial court issued an order to go out to fight, so Zhang Han left his deputy general Peng Shen to guard Hangu Pass, and then led his troops to Caoyang.
Zhou Wen was stationed in Caoyang. He gradually gathered the fleeing people and asked Wen Chu to transport some grain and grass to Shaanxi County in the east. On this day, Zhou Wen was inspecting the wounded. Suddenly he heard that Zhang Han had come out of seclusion, so he gathered the crowd and said: "The enemy is now very energetic and cannot go out to fight for the time being." However, Zhang Han insulted and challenged him outside the city for a long time. Zhou Wen said to everyone: "If we avoid fighting like this, our morale will become lower and lower. Now I have a way, which may be able to save the defeat." Everyone asked what the way was. Zhou Wendao: "We were defeated by the Lishan prisoners led by Zhang Han. I heard that those prisoners were poor people and slaves from Shandong. They were used by the Qin State because they didn't know the truth. I want to tell you when we go to battle tomorrow. Those prisoners explained the situation of the uprising in Shandong, and then encouraged them to fight back and kill Zhang Han. If this plan is successful, it is possible to break into the pass again!" After hearing this method, everyone felt that they could give it a try.
The next day, Zhang Han came to challenge again. Suddenly, the west gate slowly opened, and generals such as Zhou Wen and Han Qi led their troops to fight out. The two armies faced each other. Zhou Wen shouted loudly to the Qin army: "Brothers of the Qin State! You are all poor children who were captured by the Qin State and sent to Lishan to work. Now the king of Zhang Chu, Chen Sheng, has taken the lead in the uprising and established the Zhang Chu regime. Several armies were sent to attack the Qin State at the same time. I was ordered by the King of Chu to enter the pass to rescue you. Seeing that the Chu army was about to attack Xianyang, the Qin State asked Zhang Han to lead you to attack My water-playing camp launched a surprise attack, which resulted in Zhang Chu’s army being defeated miserably. The world has been suffering from the Qin State for too long now, and this is known to everyone. You should think carefully about whether you will continue to be harmed by the Qin State. Use it or decisively defect to the uprising. If you can kill Zhang Han, you will be free and your wish to go home will be realized. Everyone must think clearly and don't miss this opportunity?" The craftsmen listened. These words immediately caused an uproar. At this moment, Zhou Wen commanded the sergeant to rush towards Zhang Han. Zhang Han was horrified and hurriedly raised his weapons and said: "Fighters of the Qin State! Please don't listen to the thieves' nonsense. If you kill the rebels, I can let you go home!" In order to prevent accidents, Zhang Han hurriedly He ordered Yang Xiong to fight out from the left, and Sima Yi to fight out from the right. He was in the middle and blocked the Lishan craftsmen's forward position, preventing them from getting closer to Zhou Wen. But some of the craftsmen were already in a commotion. Zhang Han was worried about a mutiny, so he decisively ordered a retreat. Zhou Wen followed behind and chased for a while, until Zhang Han entered Hangu Pass, and they returned with a great victory.
Zhang Han was defeated and returned to Guan Guan. He was scared when he thought about the consequences. That night he came to inspect the camp again and heard some people still talking, saying: "Zhang Han only said that we should go down the mountain to kill the thieves, but who knew that the thieves were the rebels in Shandong! The Qin State has been trapping us for a long time. It’s time, why do you have to pay for Qin’s life now? If we surrender Zhou Wen, everyone can go home immediately?” Others said: “Wait a minute, if Zhang Han’s words don’t count, we will kill him Take him to see Zhou Wen." When Zhang Han heard this, beads of sweat broke out on his back, so he returned to the gate and told everyone this. The soldiers were shocked when they heard this. Zhang Han added: "The situation is urgent and we should report it to the court immediately. Otherwise, if the craftsmen rebel, the consequences will be disastrous!"
Two days later, Zhang Han suddenly heard that a troop of troops was coming from the direction of Xianyang, and he hurriedly came to Xiguan to check. A group of Qin soldiers and horses came to the pass, and a horse galloped to the pass and said: "General Zhang, Shi Sima, the chief dispatched by the imperial court. Xin and Captain Dong Yi led 50,000 troops to come for reinforcements!" Zhang Han was overjoyed when he heard this and hurried out of the customs to greet him.
When Zhang Han arrived at Guanxia, the court officials had also arrived. Everyone dismounted to meet each other. This Sima Xin is about fifty years old, with a medium build, a plump head, white temples with two short beards, slit eyes, thin lips, very rich appearance, and a gentle speech. Dong Yi was younger than him, but tall and skinny, but as strong as a rock. He has a yellow face, a long beard, triangular eyes, a high nose, and a very funny appearance. Zhang Han saw the two of them, so he ordered his soldiers and horses to be stationed at the foot of the pass, and then they entered the pass together. Everyone came to the Duwei Mansion and sat down. Zhang Han asked where the troops and horses were mobilized from and what was going on with the court. Sima Xin and Dong Yi hesitated and stopped talking.
Zhang Han asked very strangely: "General, what's the matter?" Sima Xin said: "These sergeants were forcibly recruited from all over Guanzhong. If they don't come, they will be beheaded. Everyone is afraid of the 'supervision and blame technique'" 'Ah!' Zhang Han asked what the 'technique of supervising and blaming' was. Sima Xin said: "It means to make the country's laws extremely strict and use severe punishments to supervise and punish courtiers and all officials. The officials will then supervise and demand the officials and people at the lower level. The affairs of the court All decisions are made by the emperor alone. Ministers cannot advise the emperor, and people cannot disobey officials. Even if acquaintances meet on the road, they can only say hello with a wink and firmly not speak. Otherwise, it will be an unreasonable discussion of the government, and those who violate the prohibition will be arrested and punished. The court also The method of rewarding officials is as follows: whoever taxes the people the most is a capable official; whoever kills the most people according to Qin law is a loyal minister. Alas, the original intention of the court may be to use killing methods to intimidate the people and prevent further rebellions. "
Zhang Han was very shocked after hearing this, and asked: "This is indeed a method of subjugating the country. I wonder whose idea it was?" Sima Xin said: "It was presented by Prime Minister Li." Zhang Han asked strangely: "Prime Minister Li has always advocated easing taxes and asking the court to be considerate to the people. He has also repeatedly persuaded the emperor to stop civil engineering and release a group of disciples. Why is he now advising the emperor to implement the art of supervision and accountability?" Sima Xin said: "Everyone. I can't understand it. Maybe it was Zhao Gao who forced me to do this?" Zhang Han asked doubtfully: "How can you say this?" Sima Xin said angrily: "Zhao Gao has repeatedly slandered Prime Minister Li in front of the emperor and said that Li You was private. People from Tongchu. Some time ago, Li You's family was forced to take risks to go to Xingyang for inspection. As a result, Li You served the country loyally, and he pinned hundreds of thousands of Wu Guang's rebels under the walls of Xingyang City." Zhang Han sighed: " Li You is really a general!"
Sima Xin said: "But I heard that Zhao Gao often framed Prime Minister Li in front of the emperor. Recently, he advised the emperor not to meet ministers in the court, trying to control the emperor. The emperor is young, and he has already listened to Zhao Gao's words. So Zhao Gao Prime Minister Li is powerless to use his authority! As for why Prime Minister Li proposed the art of supervision, I really don't know why?" After hearing Sima Xin's words, Zhang Han sighed: "Since ancient times, the powerful and traitors have been in power, how can the soldiers make meritorious deeds? We can only prove that General Li You is innocent by working together to attack the rebels and seize the land!" Zhang Han said to Sima Xin: "Now the morale of the army is unstable, and the craftsmen are indeed rebellious. I am very worried about this. What's the matter?" Sima Xin took out the secret order from the court and showed it to Zhang Han. Zhang Han opened it and almost jumped up in fright. It turned out that the court wanted him to kill the craftsmen secretly and decisively. Zhang Han was so shocked that he lost his mind and didn't know what to do.
That night, Zhang Han came to Xiguan Tower and looked at the Qin army camp, feeling full of contradictions in his heart. He was extremely nervous when he wanted to kill so many people. Although he was afraid of the rebellion of the craftsmen, without them, Qin would have been finished long ago. How could he kill them now? Suddenly someone said: "General, don't be afraid, this is for the sake of the country. Now all parts of Shandong are rebelling. If we put them back, it will be equivalent to adding tens of thousands of troops to the rebels. Therefore, the court's decision is correct. You Just execute the order!" Zhang Han looked back and saw that it was Sima Xin who was speaking, and said: "We can't take action now, let's wait until Zhou Wen is caught?"
At this time, suddenly a large group of craftsmen came to Guanxia. When they saw Zhang Han, they shouted loudly: "We are going back to Shandong, please let us go back, general?" Zhang Han said: "There is going to be a war now, as long as we are captured alive Zhou Wen, I will definitely let you go back." The craftsmen said: "The general just asked us to drive the thieves out of the prison, and now he said that we should catch Zhou Wen. Your words are not counted, so we will go against it!" Zhang Han heard this! Hearing the word "rebel" made him panic in his heart, so he had to pretend to be calm and said: "Yes, after this battle, I will definitely let you go home. I will never break my promise! I will never break my promise!" The craftsmen dispersed in twos and threes. . Zhang Han came to the Duwei Mansion. Yang Xiong and Sima Yi said: "General, if you don't follow the edict, it will be really dangerous!" Zhang Han thought deeply: "Now I still want to use them to fight, let me think about it again?" That night, Zhang Han Han completely lost sleep.
The next day, Zhang Han was very sleepy, but he still managed to cheer up. He summoned the generals and said: "There are many rebels at the moment and there are too few Qin soldiers. If the disciples are allowed to come into direct contact with the rebels, Zhou Wen will encourage the disciples to rebel." , so if the rebels are not allowed to come into contact with the disciples, nothing will happen for the time being. Tan Ma came to report and heard that Zhou Wen had transported all the food to Shaanxi County, which shows that Zhou Wen has plans to retreat. If we attack Shaanxi County and destroy Without their food route, Zhou Wen will retreat without a fight. If he attacks again then, he will be able to hit Luoyang City." The generals then split up and acted according to Zhang Han's plan.
Zhou Wen was in Caoyang, and one day he suddenly received a letter from Chu Wen, saying that Sima Yi had come to attack Shaanxi County and the city was in danger. Zhou Wen was shocked and said: "I didn't expect that the Qin army would bypass us and seize Shaanxi County. That is where grain and grass are stored. If we lose it, our army will be completely destroyed!" Someone said: "Caoyang County has a small population and a small city, so we cannot defend it for a long time. It's better to retreat to Shaanxi County." After listening to everyone's words, Zhou Wen thought about it, abandoned Cao Yang and ran towards Shaanxi County. On the way, suddenly a group of people blocked the way. The leader of the general said: "I am Zhang Ping, the younger brother of General Zhang Han of the State of Qin. Now I am ordered by my brother to take your life!" Zhou Wen was furious and brandished his weapons to kill Zhang Ping. Zhang Ping used a long halberd and fought with Zhou Wen. Han Qi, Yang Sheng, He Zhi and others also attacked together. Zhang Ping was defeated and retreated. Zhou Wen did not pursue him, and walked a little further, when another team blocked the way. The leader of the group said aggressively: "General Yang Xiong of the State of Qin is here!" The rebel soldiers protected Zhou Wen together, opened a bloody road, and seized the opportunity. The road goes east.
Zhou Wen came to the gate of Shaanxi County and shouted to open the door. Suddenly the golden drum sounded, and the flags of Qin were hoisted on top of the city. A general stepped out from under the gate, and it was Qin general Sima Yi. Just listen to his angry voice: "I have captured the city for a long time, hahaha! This is the head of the traitor general, take it!" As he said this, he threw down a human head. When Zhou Wen saw that it was General Wen Chu's head, he almost fell off his horse in despair.
Zhou Wen saw that Wen Chu was dead. The more he thought about it, the angrier he became. He felt angina pectoris and covered his chest with both hands. Suddenly Sima Yi slapped his horse and rushed out. Knowing that he could not resist the enemy, Zhou Wenyu led everyone to retreat eastward around the city. Sima Yi shouted: "Capture Zhou Wen alive!" The generals protected Zhou Wen and fled. Zhang Ping, Yang Xiong, and Sima Yi worked together to chase him for another journey.
Zhou Wen led the defeated army to Mianchi. The Chu general guarding the city was Yu Kui. When he heard that Zhou Wen had arrived, he immediately came out to greet him. After Zhou Wen entered the city and saw that few of his hundreds of thousands of soldiers and horses were left, he burst into tears. The general comforted him and said: "Victory and defeat are common matters for military officers. I hope the general will not be pessimistic." Everyone advised to seek help from the false king as soon as possible. Zhou Wen said to Kui, "We are already out of men and horses, so I would like to trouble General Lao to go to Xingyang in person and inform the false king, asking him to lead troops for reinforcements." Yu Kui ran towards Xingyang. After Zhou Wen received normal supplies in the city, his spirits cheered up and he actively prepared for war.
Zhang Han sent Sima Yi to sneak attack Shaanxi County, and asked his younger brothers Zhang Ping and Yang Xiong to intercept and kill Zhou Wen halfway. Zhou Wen was defeated again and again, and Zhang Han was very happy. However, because the Qin army was too small to attack in a large scale, he had to lead the army to Mianchi to surround the city, and quickly recruited troops from all over. During this period, Zhang Han sent Yang Xiong and Sima Yi to attack Luoyang. In this way, the Qin army opened the road to Shandong, conveyed the imperial decrees to all directions, and issued harsh words: the governors and magistrates of each county must go on a killing spree, and all those who caused trouble, whether they were civilians or thieves, must be killed. , all were captured and exiled, those who were distributed were distributed, and those who were useless were killed. If the law was not implemented, after the rebellion was suppressed, the chiefs of various places would be executed.
