Wei and Han seem to be in harmony, but in fact they are not. This is true even if they come from the same clan, let alone Yan and Chu.
After discussing with the generals for a while, Zhao Yong took advantage of the opportunity to rest and get out of the handsome tent.
Zhao Yong made no comment on whether to go to war first. But compared to Han Yue's immediate war attitude, he was still more inclined to Gongsun Yan's plan.
Although Yan and Chu have already sent troops, the main army has not yet arrived. If something goes wrong between the two countries, the coalition's battle plan must be changed accordingly.
Moreover, in his memory, Hangu Pass seemed to have never been breached from the front.
King Qin Yingsi was afraid that the coalition forces would be strong, and Zhao Yong was afraid that the coalition forces would be disorganized. This is actually not difficult to see from the camps where the coalition forces are stationed... The camps of the five countries are actually distributed in a pentagonal shape, which makes Zhao Yong secretly speechless.
Although such a camp can guard each other's flanks, if the Qin army sends out a few death squads, it does not cost much to break through the weak parts of the coalition forces, separate the five-nation coalition forces from each other, and then encircle and annihilate them.
Zhao Yong didn't know whether the Qin army had the courage. But even a young man like him can see such obvious flaws. Doesn't he believe that veterans like Gongsun Yan and Han Yue can't see it?
It can be seen that although the five countries formed an alliance to attack Qin, they were still deeply wary of each other. This is the rule of this era.
However, while criticizing the generals of various countries for their own evil intentions, Zhao Yong had to secretly admit that he was actually one of those with different intentions.
Zhao Yong thought that if he could win, he could implement his long-term plan. Use the remaining power to advance troops, either to coerce or occupy, and to go to the county to speed up the expansion of Zhao's influence on the western front. He has his own plans and plans, and his thoughts and concerns are not selfish desires.
It is also helpless, because this war is not a war between one family, and the overall situation of the war and the armies of various countries cannot be controlled by him alone. Even if Zhao wants to be selfless, he will only be asking for trouble in the end.
Returning to Zhao Jun's camp, the soldiers of Zhao State have circled the camp layout and are busy setting up blocking facilities such as caltrops, antler trees, horse traps, and horse guns outside the camp. The king's tent and sleeping tent are already in the camp. The center is set up. Zhao Yong summoned Su Qin and Pang Nuan.
The three major battalions from Handan have not yet arrived at Hangu. Although Feiyi leads his army one step ahead, the infantry is much slower than the cavalry.
Yesterday, news came from Tanma that the Yan army had left Zhao and entered Wei. Logically speaking, Chu State should be faster than Yan State.
Time is running out, and the two armies will definitely go to war in a few months at most.
Zhao Yong ordered more than ten personal guards and headed out of the camp with Pang Nuan and Su Qin.
On the way, we found a few strong men who were familiar with the Qinling Mountains and the nearby mountains and rivers. The group went around the mountains and rivers around Hangu Pass and began to record. Mainly to explore water sources, rivers and terrain conditions.
Of course Zhao Yong can also let the people below him do it, but the ideas of people in this era are fundamentally different from his. And since we have personally conquered this time, isn't it because we have to do everything in detail?
Things on the battlefield are always slightly different. For uncertain matters, he always tried his best to do it himself.
Hangu Road, the traffic chokepoint from Luoyi to Xianyang, if you just look at the map, there are many places that can be bypassed. But when people actually come there, they understand what it means to be insurmountable.
In half a month, more than a hundred pieces of silk were used to draw the map. Fortunately, Zhao Yong was prepared and brought a lot of cut silk paper from Handan. Don't know how much it weighs yet.
Although the loss is not small, the effect is satisfactory, at least not a little bit clearer than the Jiandu in the military camp.
It is not difficult to see from the newly drawn maps put together one after another that the north side of the Weihan Ancient Road is the Zhongtiao Mountain, the remaining chain of the Taihang Mountains, and the south side is the Qinling Mountains, and what flows in the middle of them is the eternal road. The restful Taotao Yellow River.
However, when the ancient Xiaohan Road approached the hometown of Guo State (today's Sanmenxia), a highland suddenly emerged, connecting the Yellow River to the north and the remaining veins of the Qinling Mountains to the south, dividing the ancient road to two parts. This area is called "Chumulberry Plain".
Cousang was originally a loess landform. Under the erosion of long-term rains, a crack that was more than ten miles long but only more than ten feet wide was washed out in the middle of the highland. This passage is the "Hangu Road" where Hangu Pass is located. The easternmost point of this fissure.
Of course, the Loess Highlands alone cannot actually block the attack of the Kwantung army.
But the reason why Choosangyuan is called Yuan is because it is densely covered with pines and cypresses and mulberry forests. This natural protective forest extends westward from Hangu Pass for more than a hundred miles to Guanzhong. The lushness of the forest prevented the conquest army from Kanto.
However, if the Kanto countries artificially cut down the trees on the Chomulus Plains, it should be possible to create a passage that can bypass Hangu Pass.
In this way, the moat in front of Hangu Pass and the Menshui River (Hongnong River) will completely dispel the idea of detours by the Kanto princes.
As the natural moat of Hangu Pass, Menshui River is not a small stream that often stops flowing in later generations. Today, although this river is not very wide, its turbulence is only inferior to the Yellow River that Zhao Yong has seen, and its water flow closely follows Cousangyuan and flows in front of Hangu Pass.
Hangu Pass was guarded by Chou Sangyuan and Menshui River, and Hangu Pass became an insurmountable barrier for the countries in the Kanto region.
All of the above explain that if the armies of various countries attack Hangu, it is basically impossible to make a detour. The Qin army now refuses to leave the pass, so the coalition forces have no choice but to attack by force. Or when the corpses of the coalition forces fill up the Menshui River, Hangu Pass can be broken.
But Zhao Yong is really unwilling to risk his son's life to fill the river...
The allied forces were stationed in front of the Qin army, and there was a reserved gentle area in the middle. It was presumably a reserved combat area for both the enemy and ourselves.
Yesterday, the army reported that the Yan army had crossed the Yellow River and the Chu army had arrived at Wancheng.
Gongsun Yan still asked his soldiers to call for battle and insult him every day, but the Qin army was unmoved.
Such waiting could not help but make Zhao Yong feel anxious.
…
…
Xianyang, the capital of Qin, and the palace of the King of Qin.
"Your Majesty, the messenger has returned from Hangu Pass." The palace man's voice shook the bodies of the two people talking in the room.
"Hurry up." Ying Si replied immediately.
As soon as the tea was served, a young general with an aloof look on his face rushed out of the hall. "My lord, Wei Ran pays homage to the king."
"No courtesy." Ying Si stepped forward and personally helped him up. He asked anxiously: "How is the war in Hangu going?"
"Your Majesty, King Zhao personally led the Zhao army to Hangu Pass a few days ago. Chief Zuo Shu is staying in seclusion, hoping to wait for an opportunity to counterattack when the coalition forces are exhausted." Wei Ran bowed and replied truthfully.
As the half-brother of Princess Mi Bazi, Wei Ran defected to Qin from Chu after his sister married into Qin. Nowadays, he is regarded as a high-ranking official based on merit, and he is highly favored by Ying Si.
After hearing what Wei Ran said, Ying Si could not help but frown slightly and said in a deep voice: "Have the three Jin coalition forces launched an attack?"
"No. I went to the pass for a few days. The enemy troops provoked troops and insulted me every day, but Zuo Shuchang didn't pay any attention to it." Wei Ran said.
"Okay, okay..." Ying Si turned his head, patted Wei Ran on the shoulder, and said, "You have worked hard all the way, please step back and rest."
Wei Ran carefully glanced back at Ying Si, bowed and said, "Here!"
After Wei Ran withdrew, Ying Si's expression suddenly changed. He turned to Zhang Yi and said, "You also heard that just now, Zhao's army has arrived, but our Qin army is still waiting for it with other countries. Now Qin's army has arrived. The checkpoints on all sides are blocked, and the people in the country are uncertain. Now that the Yan and Chu armies have not arrived, if our Qin army does not take the opportunity to decisively send troops to attack, Qin will be completely locked up."
Zhang Yi ignored King Qin's angry words, shook his head and consoled: "In extraordinary times, the king must think twice. General Gongziji probably knows the reason. However, the Kwantung Allied Forces are in full swing. If our army rashly opens the door to meet the enemy, I'm just afraid that we will suffer heavy losses, and we still need to wait for the opportunity."
"Hey." Ying Si looked up to the sky and sighed.
This is the truth, neither does it matter if we fight, nor does it matter if we don’t fight.
Fighter plane... When will the fighter plane that I have been looking for appear? When Qin went to war with other countries this time, it completely wiped out all the old people. The hundreds of thousands of troops on the front line will consume nearly 10,000 dan of military rations in one day. In terms of wealth, Qin is really no match for the Five Kingdoms Alliance.
"Don't worry, Your Majesty. The people sent out by me have already found out clearly. The Yan army has now arrived in Yiyang, less than three hundred miles away from Hangu Pass." Zhang Yi said.
"Rebirth of the Great Era of Fighting Waves"
Ying Si turned around, not understanding what the other party meant.
Then I heard Zhang Yi continue: "I would like to go out of the pass and intercept the Yan army halfway to prevent them from joining the three Jin Dynasties."
Ying Si stared at him for a moment, and then said without changing his expression: "Now that the coalition forces have gathered in front of the pass, Xiangbang will go there at this time... It may be useless, and he is in danger of death, so I don't think it is appropriate."
Zhang Yi shook his head and said loudly: "Qin and Yan have always been on good terms, and there is no quarrel between them. The Yan State sent troops this time because they were coerced by the three Jins, unwillingly and unwillingly, and the situation in Yan State today is confusing. , I am willing to go and give it a try!”
"You are not afraid of death?" Ying Si's eyes narrowed slightly.
"As long as the Yan army can be persuaded to retreat, the fighter plane will arrive. The five-nation coalition will be able to fall apart in an instant. I have never been afraid of death for the sake of a big plan!" Zhang Yi said with a calm expression.
"Hahahahahaha! Well, as expected of Zhang Yi, I did not misjudge you. Tomorrow morning, I will go to Hangu with you." Ying Si laughed suddenly.
Zhang Yi's expression changed and he said anxiously: "I can go to danger, but your Majesty must not. Now people in Xianyang City are in panic. If your Majesty leaves the capital at this time..."
Ying Si raised his hand to interrupt him and said: "Prime minister, please don't say too much. The battle on the front line is uncertain, and the city of Xianyang is uncertain every day... Visiting Hangu in person can stimulate the fighting spirit of our Qin army officers. I have thought deeply and made a decision!"
…
On the Hangu Pass front line, on the 23rd day after Zhao Jun arrived, the enemy and we were still in peace and harmony.
The soldiers of the three Jin Dynasties seemed to have become accustomed to the tranquility before the war, and there was no fluctuation in military morale. After all, the coalition forces have sufficient rations. On the other hand, the Qin army huddled in Hangu Pass may not feel very comfortable.
In Zhao Jun's military camps, fences, archery towers, latrines, and trenches have long been built, and now a large amount of firewood and charcoal (coal) are stored outside each camp.
After entering November, the winter in Guanzhong is almost the same as that in Handan. The north wind blew and the weather became colder. Fortunately, there was plenty of fuel. The soldiers provided firewood, charcoal, and charcoal to each department, and they burned charcoal in the felt-top tents day and night. No one wanted to go out. Before Zhao Yong went to sleep, he filled the iron cup he used to eat with water and put it outside the tent. When he woke up the next day, he saw that it had been covered with a thick layer of ice overnight.
The sky was overcast, but the snow never fell.
Two days later, Gongsun Yan suddenly made some noise. Early in the morning, guards came to report that the leaders of the Wei and Han armies would ask for an audience outside the tent.
After everyone met Zhao Yong, Gongsun Yan immediately explained his intention.
Now the two armies have been in a stalemate for more than two months. Seeing that the Yan and Chu armies are approaching, and because the weather is getting colder and the river has begun to enter the dry season, Gongsun Yan means to pull out the front teeth of the Qin army on the south bank of the Menshui River first. Then build fortifications and pontoons along the Menshui River.
"No need to tackle the problem?" Zhao Yong said directly.
Gongsun Yan pondered for a moment and replied: "The foreign minister thought that we have to wait for Yan and Chu to solve the problem."
Zhao Yong saw that all the generals of the three Jin Dynasties had no objections. Even Han Yue, who had been asking for battle in the past few days, looked obedient. He said helplessly: "I don't have any objections. Since you don't have any good advice, then just follow Xishou's strategy."
The generals then bowed and said goodbye and returned to camp to gather troops and make preparations.
The Qin army's camp guarding the south bank of the river was small, but it never evacuated. Gongsun Yan first sent several hundred-man troops to form an infantry formation to provoke and test the truth.
However, no matter how provocative and loud the Wei army was, the Qin army refused to fight.
The Qin army was originally fighting a defensive war, so of course it would not pay attention to the other party's provocation.
So Zhao Yong stood on a high ground and watched with interest as the two parties spoke with different accents and yelled at each other. The pronunciation of the language was different, but the vocabulary was simple and easy to understand. They were just talking about their love for other women's books. There was no difference. Large and easy to understand.
Unexpectedly, the Wei army scolded them vigorously. They were too close to the Qin army's camp, and they were hit by a hail of arrows. Too many people were injured, so they had to withdraw their troops.
Zhao Yong was riding on the horse, watching the scene in the distance speechlessly. Fei Yi and Pang Nuan behind him looked at each other and could only shrug helplessly.
Early on the next morning, Gongsun Yan once again mobilized his troops to go into battle. This time, it seemed that there would be at least a thousand people, divided into several neat square formations, with small ladders behind him. This time there was no prelude to yesterday, and the two armies went up and fought hard. By noon, the first camp of the Qin army was almost destroyed.
The Qin army should not have many troops on the south bank. Without the support for the rear offensive, even if they deployed more troops, they would still be providing food to the five-nation coalition.
Three days later, the Qin army's defensive fortifications on the south bank of the Menshui River were all removed by the Wei army. The Qin army that was holding on seemed to have been prepared to die. No one surrendered, and more than a thousand Qin soldiers died in the battle.
The Zhao and Han armies watched the whole battle without sending a single soldier.
The battle began, the soldiers' bloody spirit was once again aroused, and the war could no longer be contained.
In mid-November, news came from the Yan and Chu armies. The main force of the Yan army has passed Mianchi, and the Chu army has also reached Yinque...
