Everyone in the tent had retreated, Yingji held his forehead with one hand, and the dim candlelight reflected the sad look on his face.
Regarding the generals' opinions just now, in fact, everyone was not wrong in terms of strategy. Qin's meritorious service system determines the attitude of Qin's officers and men toward war. Generals are never timid about war, but only desire military merit.
This is also the most important reason why Qin's army is strong.
Yingji also expressed deep agreement with this.
Fight, he also wants to fight. But as the commander-in-chief, he had to take the overall situation into consideration.
Looking at it now, although there are only about 100,000 coalition forces from Wei and South Korea gathered outside the pass, the momentum of the coalition is at its peak and there is no flaw to speak of. Coupled with Gongsun Yan, who is familiar with the Qin army's tactics, if At this time, the Qin army turned on and off to meet the enemy, and it was really unclear whether they would win or lose.
Once the enemy and we are in a state of anxiety, and the three countries of Zhao, Yan, and Chu take advantage of the situation, the Qin army will surely perish.
Especially Zhao Guo. Every time I think back to that day, the torrent of steel under the rainy night in Jinyang, Yingji's severed arm feels a twinge of pain. He is not afraid of death, nor is he afraid of defeat. But at this time, the Qin State only had this little wealth. If it was fought with blood, this battle would be considered a victory. What would happen after the victory?
The result is that Qin will no longer be able to fight back against the Kwantung countries.
In fact, Yingji had long thought of defeat, but defeat was not terrible. As long as the coalition forces do not enter the pass and as long as the main force of the Qin army can remain, Qin will not be destroyed!
This was also Yingji’s final stubbornness.
...Xianyang, Qin Palace.
Zhang Yi hurriedly followed the eunuch, looking at him in a panic and with a look of eagerness on his face. However, the moment he stepped into the hall, the anxiety on his face suddenly disappeared.
Zhang Yi turned around and bowed to his superior with a solemn expression: "My lord, I would like to pay my respects to the king."
King Ying Si of Qin was lowering his head and reviewing memorials. Hearing the movement of someone coming, he raised his head and glanced at the other person, then lowered his head and said, "Why is the Prime Minister here in a hurry?"
"The envoy stationed in Qin and Qi just came to say goodbye." Zhang Yi replied truthfully.
"Huh?" Ying Si asked lightly. He put down the brush in his hand, raised his head and looked at Zhang Yi solemnly, and asked: "Is the Qi State going away from the Qin State on its back?"
Zhang Yi nodded helplessly and said: "Qi State's army stationed at the border of the Three Jin Dynasties has all retreated. I am afraid that seeing that the five countries have joined forces, they want to watch the battle and reap the benefits."
"If this is the case, what should the Prime Minister's strategy be?" Ying Si asked with slightly focused eyes.
Zhang Yi secretly gritted his teeth and said: "Now, my plan to use Qi to cause chaos and unite the five countries has been broken."
Ying Si suddenly froze on the spot.
"Report!" The guards outside the palace gate hurried into the palace and shouted: "Your Majesty, General Wei Zhang has returned to Xianyang and is seeking an audience outside the palace."
Ying Si exhaled and calmed down: "Xuan."
"Here."
Within a moment, a strong man in armor rushed out of the hall.
It is Wei Zhang, a Qin general from Wei.
Wei Zhang entered the palace and bowed to Ying Si on one knee: "Meet the King."
Ying Si walked down from the king's couch with a smile on his face, and personally raised Wei Zhang from the ground: "General, you have worked hard all the way."
Wei Zhang bowed respectfully to Yingsi and said: "I have honored the king's order and have driven Yiqu to the north of Jingshui River and west of Beibin (Qingyang), and captured the ten cities in Beibin."
"Okay! In the battle of Longxi, you should take the lead." Ying Si patted Wei Zhang's shoulder heavily. "In this way, the affairs of the counties and territories in the West can be settled."
This is the first piece of good news Ying Si has heard this year.
"I don't dare to take credit. However, as soon as I entered Xianyang, I heard the invasion of the Five Nations Allied Forces. I am afraid that the people in Yiqu will smell the smell of blood and rebel against our border. The newly established counties and counties may be destroyed by Yiqu again. ." Wei Zhang bowed.
After Yiqu rebelled last year, Yingsi sent Yingji and Wei Zhang to the army to quell the rebellion. When the situation in the west stabilized slightly, Yingji returned to Xianyang and assumed the command of the war against Zhao, leaving Wei Zhang alone in the army.
"The Qin State is now unable to divide its troops into two groups to resist the enemy." Ying Si sighed.
"Your Majesty, maybe you can send some beautiful women, gold and silver as a strategy to slow down the war and be gentle." Wei Zhang replied.
"No." Zhang Yi said at this time: "If this is the case, it will undoubtedly tell Yiqu that our Qin country is in trouble, and Yiqu will definitely send troops to rebel against Qin again."
"What should we do? If Yiqu is left alone, the western border of Qin will be in danger." Wei Zhang said.
Ying Si also looked at Zhang Yi at this time.
"The Qin State is now tired, and the Yiqu canal must be attacked. It is better to punish an army and raise suspicion. If this fails, temporarily abandon the city on the north bank of the Jingshui River and defend the south bank along the Jingshui River. This way, the western border can also be protected. Yu. After our Qin State has passed the crisis, we will raise more troops to attack it." Zhang Yi said in a loud voice.
Ying Si stared at him, thought carefully for a moment, and then slowly replied: "Now I'm afraid that's all I can do. The five countries outside Hangu Pass are so powerful that Qin can't hold the sky with only one hand, so it has to make a choice..."
"Your Majesty, there is no need to worry. Hangu Pass only needs to step up preparations for war. Regarding the diplomatic relations between countries, it is up to me to think of countermeasures." Zhang Yi said with relief.
"What good advice can Xiangbang have?" Ying Si asked.
"The unity of the five countries is like loose sand in a container. As long as one country is cut off first, the container will be like a hole, and the quicksand will suddenly flow away like running water." Zhang Yi explained.
"Which country does Xiangbang think he will conquer first?" Ying Si asked again.
"It must be the State of Yan." Zhang Yi said immediately.
"I'm afraid it won't be easy. The Yan State has gathered its troops and its intention to attack Qin has been determined. How can we force a retreat now?" Ying Si said.
"Now the King of Yan is seriously ill, and the country of Yan is in turmoil. Although Yan is afraid of the power of Zhao and has no choice but to send troops, I still have a way to make him return to his country before he reaches Han Valley."
Ying Si sighed softly: "Okay, then I will wait for the good news from Xiangbang..."
...On the way back to the palace, Ying Si kept thinking wildly. If he had agreed to cede territory at that time, would the five countries not have attacked Qin? Did he really make a wrong decision? He even doubted whether he was right to adopt Zhang Yi's opinion. He killed countless old nobles to retain the Shang Lord's method, and whether it was beneficial or harmful to Qin.
Under heavy pressure, Ying Si's faith was shaken and she was full of doubts about all her previous decisions. If this battle is defeated, where will Qin go?
"Your Majesty..." A soft voice suddenly sounded in his ears.
The sound pulled Ying Si's thoughts from the black and white nothingness back to the colorful reality.
Ying Sishun turned around and saw a beautiful woman with bright eyes standing in front of her.
The beauty stepped forward and took his arm, and said softly: "I see that the king's face is not good. Is there anything that is bothering me? Can you talk to me about it? I can share your worries with the king."
Ying Si looked at her and forced a smile. "Nothing." He uttered two words after a long time.
The beauty stopped asking questions and whispered in his ear: "Your Majesty, national affairs are important, and your body is even more important."
Ying Si held the beauty's waist, nodded and said with a smile: "You have such a heart, but I have little heart."
Looking at the lively woman in front of him, most of the sadness in his heart disappeared instantly.
Just when Ying Si was about to act, the beauty suddenly dodged dexterously and hid from his arms.
I saw a little baby walking out from behind the curtain of the dormitory. The baby looked to be only three or four years old. It was impossible to tell the difference between male and female just by looking at the face. The little face was full of fat, like a ripe apple. It was very cute. Xiaowa was smiling silly at Ying Si with half-closed eyes, holding a small wooden stick in his hand.
Mi Bazi took a step forward and smiled at Ying Si: "Ji'er has not seen the king for many days. Just now she was clamoring to see the king."
"Ji'er, why don't you come and pay homage to your father soon?"
When the little boy heard what his mother said, he immediately put down the wooden stick in his hand, bowed to Ying Si in a decent manner and said, "My son, I pay homage to my father." His voice was full of childishness.
Ying Si looked at the youngest son in front of her and started to laugh: "Ji'er, have you listened to your teacher in school these days?"
"Ji'er is so good. Yesterday he donated all the things the king gave him to military expenses." Mi Bazi looked at Ying Ji and said with a smile.
"Oh? Really?" Ying Si pretended to be surprised.
"My son is weak, but he must be like his father and drive away all the countries that bully Qin." Ying Ji waved the wooden stick in front of him with a fierce look on his face.
"Hahahahaha, good! You are worthy of being the son of a humble man." Ying Si laughed happily.
Staring at the young son in front of him, Ying Si couldn't help but think of what Zhang Yi said to him just now, 'Maybe he needs a proton'.
…
…
Zhaodu, Handan.
In recent days, Zhao Yong has been having an uneasy feeling in his heart.
He thought that it might be the reason for the upcoming expedition, but now Zhao's northern border has become more stable. Lin Hu received a heavy beating in the spring, and he no longer dared to invade during the autumn harvest. As for Lou Fan, he honestly followed It was agreed to pay tribute to thousands of good horses. Seeing that the unification of the five kingdoms had been completed, Qi State in the east retracted its outstretched claws. As for Zhongshan State...it should not have the courage for the time being.
"Ji." The words of the high priest echoed in my ears again. Although it is superstitious, Zhao Yong feels that it is somewhat effective.
In the past few days, he could clearly feel the strength of Zhao's army. Last year's victory in the battle against Qin had invisibly given the soldiers more confidence.
Although the national policy was changed in the attack on Qin, if this battle was won, Zhao would be able to obtain the land of Shangjun. If there is Shangjun, Zhao will no longer fear the power of Qin, and will have an overwhelming strategic advantage over Wei and South Korea. The "Linfen Basin" and "Shangdang" will no longer be beyond Zhao's reach.
"Hey..." the groom shouted outside, and the car stopped.
Zhao Yong calmed down and walked slowly down from the carriage. Pang Nuan immediately stepped forward to hold an umbrella for him to cover his head, but he was soaked all over.
I don't know when the sky began to drizzle again. It is said that every autumn rain brings cold weather, and Zhao Yong can clearly feel the drop in temperature in the past few days. But compared to last year, the cold weather this year is still a little late.
Zhao Yong turned around and said: "Please step aside, please. Go back and change into clean clothes to prevent illness."
"Here." Pang Nuan responded, then handed the umbrella to the palace attendant and bowed back.
Zhao Yong has been running between the military camp and the palace these days. Sacrifice and military exercises are always the main theme of war in this era.
Now the size of the New Army's cavalry has exceeded five thousand, which has nearly doubled from last year. The size of the standing battalion also complements three armies.
The increase in combat power has also correspondingly increased military expenditures. You must know that the food intake of one horse alone is equivalent to that of three strong soldiers, especially in battle, plus the combat equipment equipped with it, such as crossbows, long swords, and short swords. This also resulted in the military expenditure required for one cavalry being often equivalent to five infantry, and this was when each cavalry was equipped with only one horse.
At the beginning of Zhao Yong's succession, Zhao's professional army was less than 50,000, and its cavalry was less than a thousand. Half of the soldiers in the three standing camps are also in a state of half fighting and half farming.
Looking now, the permanent troops in Handan County alone exceed 50,000. Including Daidi, Xingxiang, Jinyang, Shangdang, Zhongmou and the newly occupied Henan area, the total strength even exceeded 150,000.
If Zhao State had not made several war windfalls in the past two years, plus the promotion of the new agricultural system, such a military system would be simply whimsical.
A strong army is a strong country. In this era, war is always the best way to solve all problems. Zhao Yong has always adhered to this creed.
Entering the palace gate and passing through several corridors.
The light rain started to fall very quickly, and after a while it began to become sparse. The raindrops hit the roof of the corridor, making a "dongdongdong" sound.
As soon as Zhao Yong walked into the inner palace, he caught a glimpse of a light red figure standing on the white jade steps in the distance, where Ji Yao was looking. She seemed to have seen Zhao Yong, and immediately walked quickly down the steps with her skirt in hand.
When Zhao Yong just walked to the stage, he saw Ji Yao running over with her long skirt in hand, and even the palace maid Xiao He behind her couldn't keep up. The underskirt she was wearing was a bit long, and she would probably stumble if she walked fast, but she seemed to have found a good way to carry it along.
The palace people behind Zhao Yong all lowered their heads.
"Concubine, I'd like to pay my respects to the king." Ji Yao came forward and bowed to Zhao Yong Yingying, seemingly not noticing the rude action just now. "I heard that the king had returned to the palace, so I waited in front of the palace for a long time."
Zhao Yong smiled and held her hand and said: "After going to court today, I went to the military camp again. I just got married and can't stay with Yao'er all the time. I really feel sorry for Yao'er."
The two chatted animatedly, having only been apart for a day, and it was as if they were reunited after a long separation.
In the rain, looking at the beautiful light red skirt under the green umbrella, Zhao Yong recalled the shy bride on her wedding day. The skirt fit perfectly and wrapped Ji Yao's slender and graceful figure. She followed the tall man under the umbrella, walking gracefully, with her hip bones slightly wider than her shoulders, her flexible waist, and her straight back. , very elegant. Zhao Yong was still wearing the soft armor and military uniform he wore during military exercises at this time. With the two reflected, he was like a leaf protecting the bright and elegant woman.
At this time, this scene can't help but add a bit of scenery, tranquility and beautiful scene in the drizzle, which is very warm.
Zhao Yong turned to talk to Ji Yao from time to time. Ji Yao would hide her mouth and laugh, or be gentle and affectionate. The two of them did not look like a cunning royal couple, but more like a folk couple with deep affection.
