A small rural town between Huyi and Ningqiu.
The winter sun had just risen from the distant surface, and Li Xin leaned slumped under the pillar of a house in the city.
His armor was covered with stains and dirt, and was stained with frost and dew that had condensed in the morning. The crest on Li Xin's head was scratched by a branch on the roadside when he was escaping last night. The bright and bright eagle feathers on both sides of the crest, which were originally raised high, are now only left on one side, and it is black. Broken again.
In this case, Li Xin could not be as high-spirited as he used to be in the main hall of Xianyang City, shouting in front of the ministers of Qin that Chu would be destroyed.
Not only is the general of the 200,000 Qin army in a state of disarray, but the streets of the countryside here are full of tired-looking Qin soldiers. They are either huddled in a group, leaning against each other, or It was Jiju sitting on the ground, his head lowered.
There are also a large number of war horses tied in the open space in the distance, densely packed, making harsh neighing sounds from time to time. Under the command of the generals, some soldiers endured the fatigue from their bodies and fed the horses with fodder collected from the city. , so that they can escape on horseback in times of crisis.
"Li Yue, how many people are there in our army?"
Li Xin spoke in a low voice and asked the leader of the short soldiers following him.
Li Yue replied: "General, there are still two thousand soldiers following us in the countryside, all of them are chariots and cavalry. Even if the Chu army catches up again, we can still escape the pursuit and go to Xiqiu. After arriving at Xiqiu, our army can Go north along the road to Xiangcheng, where with the support of General Mengwu, you no longer need to fear the pursuit of the Chu army."
"Two thousand people."
Li Xin smiled miserably.
Even if the Chu army comes again, they can still escape pursuit.
Escape from one city today and two cities tomorrow. Then you have to sleep well overnight and look for the way back. The Chu soldiers have arrived again.
Is this the result of Li Xin's attack on Chu?
He personally led an army of 35,000 to attack Shouchun from the flank of Chu State, but was intercepted by Xiang Yan on the way. Li Xin tried to attack Shouchun in a sudden attack, but was defeated and returned.
In addition to the 5,000 people Zhao Tuo took away, Li Xin's 30,000 people now only have 2,000 left.
One out of ten is so tragic and ridiculous.
"Instead of going to Xiangcheng, go west to Pingyu." Li Xin said softly.
Li Yue was startled and said hurriedly: "General, no! Now the Chu army is constantly chasing behind us. If we go north to Xiangcheng and General Mengwu meets us, we still have hope of returning safely. If we go west, Xiang If Yan wants to capture the general, he must pursue him closely. No matter whether we escape to Pingyu or go from Pingyu to Shangcai, if the Chu army pursues all the way, there will be no guarantee that there will be no danger. Please don't do it, general. because……"
When Li Yue said this, he lowered his head and did not dare to say any more. .
But Li Xin understood what he meant and smiled miserably: "Because of what? Is it because I'm afraid of seeing Meng Wu? Because I didn't listen to his advice and insisted on leading the army deep into the Chu territory, only to be defeated miserably. So I'm afraid of being beaten by him." Why don't you want to go to Xiangcheng because you are laughing at me? That's what you want to say."
Li Yue bit his lip, naturally this was what he was afraid of.
"I'm not afraid of seeing Meng Wu, what I'm really afraid of is meeting another person..."
Li Xin said, closing his eyes in pain.
That night, the boy's words still rang in his ears.
He begged and begged the Prime Minister to remonstrate, all because of Li Xin's pride and stubbornness, he missed the last chance.
How could Li Xin go to see Zhao Tuo?
But Li Xin still wanted to see Zhao Tuo again, even if he allowed him to ridicule and laugh at him.
He should be waiting for me in Pingyu, right?
Maybe he had expected all this and would be there to meet me.
This is the expectation hidden in Li Xin's heart. He believes that Zhao Tuo will not abandon him.
However, Li Xin decided not to go to Xiangcheng but to Pingyu, not just because of Zhao Tuo.
Li Xin said softly: "Now Mengwu is attacking Xiangcheng. If we go to the direction of Xiangcheng, Xiang Yan leads the Chu army to pursue there, plus the tens of thousands of Chu troops in Xiangcheng, Mengwu will be attacked from a flank. I’m afraid that not only will they not be able to support us, but they will also be in danger of being defeated.”
"So I am going west to use myself as bait to lure Xiang Yan to the west so that he will not support Xiang Cheng! In this way, the Mengwu Division can retreat calmly after receiving our message, so as not to end the war with Our army suffered the same defeat."
Li Yue suddenly understood, but he was still worried about what they would do if they were caught up by the Chu army. But seeing Li Xin's current appearance, he couldn't speak anymore.
Li Xin looked sideways to the north and said to himself: "That letter should be delivered to Meng Wu soon. Jun... I hope Meng Wu will be careful about the matter of Jun Changping. As long as he can withdraw into Huaiyang in time, control If we live in this central city, the 70,000 soldiers will still have a way out."
At this moment, there was a cry in the distance, and the soldiers on guard outside the city drove their horses to report.
"The Chu army is here! It's ten miles away!"
Many soldiers who were lying or leaning suddenly jumped up from the ground, looking frightened, and the scene was slightly chaotic.
Li Yue shouted: "General, leave quickly!"
Li Xin was silent, got on his horse, and fled westward again in embarrassment with a group of soldiers.
…
Not long after, Chu's phoenix-bird red flag was once again planted in the towns that had just been occupied by the Qin army.
Xiang Yan rode a chariot outside the west gate of the township. He looked into the distance and saw smoke and dust billowing in the distance. He couldn't help but smile to his left and right and said: "In the past, Confucius was laughed at as a bereaved dog in Zheng State. Now look at Li Xin. It is also like a hasty dog, how miserable it is.”
Everyone on the left and right laughed and said, "It's true what Shangzhu said. Li Xin was defeated miserably and was chased by us all the way. He was in panic all day long. Now that we are ten miles behind him, we only need to chase all the way. Sooner or later, we can catch this hasty head." I kill the dog and eat its meat, but I don’t know whether the meat is sour or not.”
Everyone laughed, and Xiang Yan also had a happy face.
In the encounter north of Xia Cai, he used preemptive tactics to defeat Li Xin. Then he followed Li Xin in pursuit, constantly defeating Li Xin's remaining infantry, killing thousands, taking thousands of prisoners, and even captured General Pi Xin Wu.
At the order of the King of Chu, Xiang Yan sent Xin Wu and a thousand prisoners of the Qin army to Shouchun in the rear to show off the victory of the Chu army. I think the king would be very happy to see those prisoners.
Now, only two or three thousand Li Xin's men were left fleeing in front. If the other party hadn't been left with chariots and fast horses, Xiang Yan would have captured him long ago.
"Li Xin can't escape."
Xiang Yan was full of confidence. No matter how fast the Qin army's horses ran, they would be exhausted sooner or later. As long as he kept chasing him all the way, he would definitely be able to capture the big fish Li Xin.
By capturing Li Xin before reaching Qiuqiu, he can lead his army northward with the power of victory to support Xiangcheng.
At that time, the Chu army under Xiang Yan and the Xiangcheng garrison in the south are fighting against the Qin army, and Changping Jun is raiding from the rear in the north. In addition, Li Xin's disastrous defeat has shaken the Qin army's heart. Meng Wu's 70,000 men will definitely be defeated.
By then, Xiang Yan will usher in a shocking victory that will shock all the Xia, enough to make Qin dare not look eastward to Jingchu for many years, avoiding the danger of Chu's collapse.
Of course, if he has not captured Li Xin by the time he reaches Qiuqiu, there is no need to worry. He will send 5,000 men to continue chasing Li Xin westward and recover the cities along the way, while Xiang Yan himself will lead the army northward.
Although capturing Li Xin was important, it was still inferior to Meng Wu's 70,000 people.
"Send a group of light cavalry to continue chasing. The rest of the soldiers will rest for a while in the city, drink water and eat, and feed the horses enough. After half an hour, continue the pursuit!"
Xiang Yan ordered the officers beside him.
He held his head high and looked north, as if his eyes could travel hundreds of miles to reach the former Chenying city.
"Master Qi, this time it's up to you."
Just when Xiang Yan was in high spirits, a speeding horse galloped from behind.
Carrying the important edict of the King of Chu, the urgent envoy, who changed horses without changing people along the way, finally caught up with Xiang Yan's troops in this small rural town after traveling day and night.
Soon, the edict from Chu Palace was delivered to Xiang Yan.
"What! Xin Wu and those prisoners were kidnapped by the Qin army?"
"Qu Ming's five thousand men were defeated by a surprise attack?"
"Thirty thousand Qin troops have crossed the Huaihe River from the west and are about to approach the city?"
"The king ordered me to lead my troops back to Baoshouchun. I must return immediately?"
Xiang Yan was stunned when she looked at the silk book filled with Chu-style bird and insect bodies.
The changes in things have exceeded his expectations.
After a long time, Xiang Yan put down the silk book.
Look north again.
He had already agreed on a time for the uprising with Lord Changping.
Regardless of whether Xiang Yan can catch up with Li Xin this time, he will lead his army to Xiangcheng in ten days.
When the time comes, Lord Changping will launch an attack behind Mengwu, and the defenders in Xiangcheng will also take advantage of the situation to make a surprise attack out of the city. If the three parties join forces to attack, then the major event of defeating the Qin Dynasty will be determined.
But now, the King of Chu issued a death order, telling him that he must lead his troops back to aid Shouchun.
What about Chen Ying and Xiangcheng?
A flash of confusion flashed in Xiang Yan's eyes.
"Where did the thirty thousand Qin army come from?"
"impossible……"
Thanks to book friend Xiaox Niu for the reward and all book friends for voting and supporting, thank you!
(End of chapter)
