Zhao Tuo ordered the entire army to stop, no longer pursue the bait ahead, and set up camp in the open area.
After a while, Meng Tian's tribe from the rear came rushing to report the surprise attack that the Qin army encountered half a day ago.
In this battle, Meng Tian's tribe trapped the Chu army and killed more than a thousand people on the spot. During the chase, they captured more than 2,000 prisoners.
"This Jingtong has many tricks. Not only did he send out feigned troops to lure us, but he also had people set up obstacles on the way to intercept them and killed two batches of Meng Tian's messengers. In the end, Zhongli Mei led a large army to advance after the war. Those who blocked the road The people from Chu fled away. Otherwise, we would not have received the news."
Zhao Tuo laughed at the people around him. This time the Qin army suffered heavy casualties, but there were also many Chu people killed and captured. According to the accounts of the prisoners, the total number of the Chu army was about ten thousand. Now it lost three to four thousand in the first battle, which was a heavy loss.
"Although Xuanyu escaped, most of the scales and flesh on his body were cut off by our army. In the future, he will no longer be able to disturb my supply of food. You can send someone to speed up our army's real food team."
Zhao Tuo's headquarters originally had more than 20,000 people, but Wang Jian added 10,000 soldiers and 10,000 auxiliary soldiers to support him, which added up to 40,000 people.
This time the Qin army bypassed Dongyang to advance towards Huaiyin, which was necessary to attack the enemy.
Zhao Tuo knew that if the main force of the Chu army was restrained by Wang Jian, he would definitely send partial troops to attack his grain road, so he took precautions.
Just in case, and fearing that the Chu army would succeed in a sneak attack and cut off the Qin army's food and grass, Zhao Tuo divided the entire army's food and grass into two parts.
Among the 40,000 people, Zhao Tuo separated 10,000 people and fell at the rear, escorting a large amount of food and baggage. He asked Bai Meng to send thousands of soldiers to escort them and marched slowly.
This real grain team was very slow, keeping a distance from the Qin army in front, and sent out a large number of sentinels, trying its best not to be discovered by the Chu army. It was not until the Qin army counterattacked the attacking Chu army that the real grain team could catch up.
Therefore, the number of Qin troops observed by the Chu army was only 30,000.
The convoy led by Meng Tian did carry some food and grass, which could provide food for the Qin army for half a month, but it was also a bait used to seduce the Chu army. The five thousand civilians were all elite soldiers pretending to be, waiting for the Chu people to take the bait.
As for the main force of the Qin army led by Zhao Tuo, each of them also carried several days' worth of food with him, in case the Chu army did not attack, they would still have something to eat.
With such a complete calculation, Chu General Jingtong took the bait. Of course, what made Zhao Tuo laugh and cry the most was that Jing Tong actually used the tactic of carving wood and insulting him. This was really a big deal in front of Guan Gong.
"Fortunately, I am flying the flag of Qiang Yu this time. If I show my own flag, Jing Tong will definitely not be fooled, let alone use my strategy of the past to deal with me. Hehe, this name is Qiang Yu, but in fact it is Zhao Tuo’s tricks are really good for using against people. No wonder in the battle of Changping, the King of Qin wanted to secretly replace Bai Qi with Wang Gong, so that the enemy could not defend himself!"
Zhao Tuo and the generals laughed for a while, while sending out sentries to detect the traces of the Chu army, while waiting for the follow-up grain and fodder to follow.
When Meng Tian cleared up the results of the battle and caught up with the food and grass escort, Zhao Tuo ordered the entire army to break camp and set off.
"According to the accounts of the prisoners of the Chu army, the puppet king Xiong Qi was stationed in Huaiyin City, and the number of Chu troops left behind was about 30,000."
"With General Feng Wuze's troops crossing the Huaihe River to contain Xiong Qi, my partial force can attack Huaiyin directly. Maybe we can capture him in one battle and complete the mission entrusted to me by the king!"
Zhao Tuo's eyes were filled with excitement.
He could clearly remember that just a year ago, Qin Wangzheng called him into the Qin Palace and said to him personally: "Xiong Qi rebelled against Qin and is an enemy of the people. I want him to die!"
The king of Qin hated Xiong Qi far more than the king of Chu who hated Chu.
As long as Zhao Tuo can capture and kill Xiong Qi, the king's enemy, he will not only be promoted to the rank of junior high, but also be in the emperor's heart, and his future will be bright.
"The whole army attacks, target Huaiyin!"
…
"I lost."
In a forest, Jing Tong's face was desolate.
Jing Tong was full of confidence in his attack, thinking that Qiang Yu was not worth mentioning. Little did he know that this barbarian general from the west was as cunning as Zhao Tuo. He used Jing Tong's trick to lure the enemy to confuse the Chu army, and finally defeated the Chu army. Jingtong suffered a huge defeat.
After the defeat, the Chu army scattered and fled. Even though Jing Tong and Jing Ju, who arrived later, struggled to gather them, only about 3,000 people were gathered in the end.
Many Chu soldiers did not fall into the hands of the Qin army, but took advantage of the chaotic scene to escape, unwilling to sacrifice their lives for this so-called "Chu State". After all, hot-blooded dead soldiers are only a minority. In the eyes of most ordinary people, only There is the word "survive".
"General Zuo Sima and General Xiang once said that the generals of Jingchu and Chu will have the honor of death but no shame of life on the day when the army comes out."
"That's why he committed suicide to express his gratitude to your Majesty after his defeat. Today I am defeated and I have no shame to see you again. I should apologize for this."
Jing Tong sighed and drew his sword.
"Brother!"
Jing Ju was shocked and turned pale. He immediately rushed forward and hugged Jing Tong's arm tightly, shouting: "Brother An can do such a stupid thing. Our Chu country is at the time of its collapse, and we need someone with battlefield experience like my brother." The generals lead the troops to fight. If my brother commits suicide here, who else will be available under Ling Yin's command? Don't you see that after the death of Generals Zuo Sima and Xiang, our Chu army will have no more generals!"
"Brother, please keep him until he can be useful, and then seek revenge on the Qin army!"
Jing Ju burst into tears and begged.
When the soldiers around him saw this, they all knelt down and kowtowed, praying: "Please, General Jing, remain useful and protect our country of Chu."
Jing Tong was stunned on the spot.
Jing Ju's words touched him.
Yes, if Zhaoping and Xiang Qu had not committed suicide after their defeat, Xiang Yan would have been much more relaxed when facing Wang Jian's army.
"If Zuo Sima and General Xiang were leading the troops this time, how could they be plotted by Qiang Xie? They would definitely be able to defeat the Qin army."
Jing Tong murmured, his hand loosened and the sword fell to the ground.
"Let's go, let's go see Ling Yin."
…
Shandao is in the Chu camp.
The gray-haired Xiang Yan sat with a blank expression.
"Your Majesty, the last general wanted to attack the Qin army's grain and grass. However, he missed a move and was trapped and killed by the Qin general Qiang Yu. He suffered a huge defeat. This battle is all due to the incompetence of the last general. Please punish him."
The Jing brothers knelt on the ground, kowtowed and apologized.
Xiang Yan glanced at Jing Tong, whose face was filled with sorrow, and sighed quietly: "Get up. On the battlefield, victory or defeat is uncertain. If you lose, you will be defeated. That Qiang Yu followed Wang Jian to fight in Yanzhao before, and he never fought with my Chu people. In a confrontation, it is normal for you not to know his abilities."
Seeing that Xiang Yan didn't blame him, the Jing brothers breathed a sigh of relief.
Jing Tong gritted his teeth and said: "Your Majesty, our army has been defeated this time. Qiang You's partial army has no worries. It will definitely take Huaiyin directly. This is to dig out my heart. What should we do now?"
Faced with Jing Tong's question, Xiang Yan did not answer, but instead motioned to Qu Mao next to him to speak.
Qu Mao said expressionlessly: "A few days ago, the Qin navy fleet marched to the east of the Huai River and destroyed all our ships on the Huai River. Its ships loaded with soldiers and pretended to be ashore along the Huai River to lure us The army is tired of running."
"In the end, Feng Wuze, the Qin general in the north of Huaihe, took advantage of our army's unpreparedness and sneaked across Huaihe east of Huaiyin. He had already landed in Huainan, and the king was leading his troops to stop it. If the Qiang Dynasty attacked Huaiyin at this time, the king would definitely You will be attacked from both sides."
"hiss……"
When the Jing brothers heard this, they took a deep breath.
Qiang Yu's march north is already a great danger to the Chu State today. Unexpectedly, the Qin army led by Feng Wuze sneaked across the Huai River. With such a flanking attack between the two armies, how could King Qi of Chu in Huaiyin confront the Qin army?
When Qu Mao finished speaking, Xiang Yan sighed again.
"I originally wanted to use this swampy land to compete with Wang Jian and stop the Qin army here. But the old thief was extremely cunning. He used his soldiers to cut reeds every day, making a sign of marching on the good road, so he asked me to send troops here We are facing him in the middle of the swamp. But he takes advantage of his superior strength to divide his troops and attack in all directions, attacking my rear, making it difficult for me to resist."
Xiang Yan said bitterly: "Now Feng Wuze is crossing the Huaihe River, and Qiang Yu is heading north to attack Huaiyin together. It is useless for me to stick to the good road. If Huaiyin is lost, this place will be a dead place. At this moment, the only option is to lead the army to retreat. , withdrew the guarantee to Huaiyin, and the geographical advantage here can only be left to that old thief Wang Jian."
"However, if our army retreats, after Wang Jian leads his army to capture this place, the main force of the Qin army can go straight to Huaiyin along the Huai River. At that time, the real danger of overthrow will be. Ten thousand people must be left to garrison here. With this With the power of the water, Wang Jian's Qin army will be held back for as long as possible! I wonder who is willing to stay here?"
If you stay here to block Wang Jian's main force, you will definitely end up dead or alive.
Jing Tong shouted: "I would like to stay here to atone for my sins."
Before he finished speaking, Qu Mao said quietly: "General Jing has been newly defeated. If he stays here, the soldiers will be frightened and unable to serve, so I'd better stay here."
Jing Tong was stunned, his face flushed to the base of his ears.
A defeated general is not even qualified to lead troops in a deadly battle.
"In that case, General Qu will lead his army to stay here and hold Wang Jian back. I will lead the army to retreat to Huaiyin and help the king defeat the Qin army."
Xiang Yan issued a military order, his face covered with frost.
"We are not going in the direction of Huaiyin along the good road. I will lead the army to insert the road from Dongyang to Huaiyin diagonally, follow behind the Qiang Yu, and kill him from the rear!"
"If Qiang Yu dies, then I join forces with the king, and Feng Wuze, who has crossed the Huaihe River, will become a lone army and will be defeated by me sooner or later!"
…
The Qin army's camp west of Shandao. Today, the Qin army's offensive in the direction of Shandao has come to an end.
Since the partial army detoured to Dongyang and left, Wang Jian sent people to march along the reed path to Shandao every day. Along the way, he asked his soldiers to use farm tools to cut the reeds on the roadside to clear the field of vision on both sides to prevent surprise attacks by the Chu army.
In this way, it is very safe and is not easily attacked by the Chu army, but the price is that the advancement speed is very slow.
In addition, Xiang Yan often sent Chu people to harass and even built earthen walls on the paths as barriers. The Qin army could only use human lives to attack, causing the Qin army to suffer heavy casualties.
But Wang Jian didn't care. His biggest advantage was his large number of troops. No matter how great the losses here were, as long as he could drag Xiang Yan here and allow the Qin army to attack Huaiyin, the whole situation would be completely open.
On this day, the Qin army took a lot of casualties and captured several walls of the Chu army, and even captured some prisoners.
In the large tent of the Qin camp, Wang Jian was summoning the generals to discuss matters.
"Feng Wuze has successfully crossed the Huaihe River and is confronting the puppet king. As long as he can hold on, when Zhao Tuo's troops arrive, we can attack the puppet king with him. We will win this battle. "
"Yes, the success or failure of this time depends on General Zhao. However, the road to Dongyang is quite detoured. There is no news from General Zhao this time. I wonder if he was attacked by the Chu army?"
Qiang Yu squinted his eyes and felt uncomfortable when he heard Zhao Tuo's name. He was about to taunt him when his nose suddenly itched and he sneezed loudly.
The sound was so loud that all the generals were startled. Even Wang Jian, who was sitting in the main seat, was so frightened that the slips he was holding fell on the table.
"My nose is itchy, so I'm sorry."
Qiang Yu smiled awkwardly.
For some reason, he kept sneezing these days, and his ears often turned red for no reason, leaving him confused.
Just when this scene was embarrassing, a general in charge of frontline prisoners walked into the tent and reported: "General, our army has won a great victory!"
"According to the Chu prisoners captured today, Chu General Jing Tong led an army of 10,000 people. He wanted to attack our army, but was deceived by General Qiang Yu with a strange plan. The Chu army was defeated and returned! General Qiang Yu is now marching to Huai..."
Having said this, the general suddenly saw the astonished Qiang Fu in the tent, and his eyes immediately straightened.
He was so excited just now because of the great victory told by the prisoner that he forgot about the fact that Qiang Yu was still in the army, so he followed the Chu prisoner's words to report.
Wang Jian and the generals in the tent were all stunned for a long time. Then everyone reacted and laughed dumbly. They all looked at Qiang Yu with amusement.
"I, Qiang Yu, won the battle?"
Qiang Xu's face was full of confusion.
"How can I win the battle just sitting here?"
"How come I didn't know about this?"
After checking Han Xin's birth year, I found that the official website of Huai'an advertised the year before 231. I don't know how to verify it. Judging from this, Han Xin is only one year younger than Xiang Yu. He should be 8 years old this year in the article. He is really too young.
