"Captain Lieutenant, our army's casualties have reached nearly 5,000. Some of the auxiliary soldiers have already begun to flee. If this continues, our army will be defeated until tomorrow at most."
Bai Rong walked over and said with red eyes.
Shejian's face was expressionless. He stood on the earth platform in the camp and looked at the fighting camp not far away.
The Qin army had 20,000 soldiers, 10,000 soldiers and 10,000 auxiliary soldiers, defending the camp, which was enough to block General Cai Niao in Huaiyin City. But when Xiang Yan arrived with his army and launched day and night attacks, the Qin army could not support it.
The Qin army fought hard and probably killed or wounded as many as seven or eight thousand Chu soldiers, but its own losses were also considerable. And because the Chu army used wheel tactics, the Qin army's soldiers were too exhausted and had no time to rest, and the number of casualties continued to increase.
"Let the military magistrates lead people to guard each camp, and the fugitives will be killed immediately. At the same time, let people use the trumpet to announce that the general has defeated the Chu army and is about to lead the army to support us. As long as we persist, victory is at hand. . If they escape at this time, not only will these deserters die after our army is victorious, but they will also bring disaster to their families."
Shejian ordered that this method should allow the soldiers to support themselves a little longer.
Bai Rong accepted the order and went down worriedly.
Shejian turned his head and looked at the front line where the bloody battle was taking place.
"If the camp here is destroyed, Xiang Yan will definitely let the Chu army follow the defeated troops and rush straight to the general's rear. At that time, the whole army will be defeated. I don't know how many people will die. The general will also suffer the shame of defeat. If so, it is all my fault. Sin of the world.”
"I will fight to the death to stop the Chu army. If I are defeated..."
Shejian had a strong character and wanted to fight to the death.
Suddenly, he remembered what Zhao Tuo said in his ear when they parted.
"In the meantime, if things don't work out, you should protect yourself and seek revenge. Don't fight to the death and lose your life. In my heart, only the presence of people is the most important."
A warm current flowed through his heart, and the death wish in Shejian's heart disappeared. He could not make the general sad.
Shejian said to his left and right: "Prepare firewood and other materials in the camp. If the camp cannot be defended, set fire to the camp to stop the enemy!"
At this time, a fast horse from the Huai River battlefield also galloped into the camp from behind, bringing the latest news.
…
It's almost dusk.
On the wall of Huaiyin City.
Xiang Yan looked at the battlefield in the distance.
At dusk, the red army had occupied most of the Qin camp, and all the Qin camp fortresses were breached by the Chu army. From Xiang Yan's perspective, he could even see a large number of people fleeing behind the Qin army.
"The Qin camp has been destroyed. Tell Jing Tong to lead my 10,000 well-rested soldiers and set off immediately to chase the Qin army's defeated troops, rush straight to Zhao Tuo's rear, and defeat him in one fell swoop!"
Xiang Yan's voice was sonorous and powerful.
He left ten thousand people behind and did not send them to the battlefield. He was waiting for this moment to chase the Qin army to defeat and repeat the great victory at Chen Ying City in the past.
At that time, Xiang Yan defeated the Mengwu army at Chen Ying City and rescued the young master Qi.
Today we must defeat Zhao Tuo on the banks of the Huai River and save the king from danger.
Jing Ju beside him was very excited. He was about to go down to the city to deliver the order, but he suddenly stayed on the spot, pointed outside the city and said: "Your Majesty, fire!"
Xiang Yan turned her head, her eyes illuminated by fire.
The flames ignited from Qin's camp and burned bigger and bigger, cutting off the road and ending Xiang Yan's plan to retreat and attack Zhao Tuo from behind.
"The guard general of Qin camp is quite capable."
Xiang Yan's face was expressionless.
At this moment, he felt a sense of sadness in his heart.
Zhao Tuo was a subordinate general of the Qin army. He still had generals who were good at fighting. He could stand alone and hold back the Chu army for several days.
And what about Xiang Yan?
Yin, the dignified commander of the Chu Kingdom, is now on the verge of subjugation. Apart from Jing Tong, he has no other generals available.
"Let the soldiers put out the fire. When the fire is gone, I will personally lead the troops to assist the king."
Xiang Yan ordered Jing Ju, who was in a daze beside him, and strode down to the city.
…
The battlefield beside the Huai River is one day away from Huaiyin City.
On the second day, soldiers from the Shejian tribe from the Qin camp in the west, supported by reinforcements led by Zhao Guang, returned to the Qin camp on the bank of the Huai River.
"General, in the end we will lose the camp. We can only block the road with fire. Please punish me, General."
She Jian knelt in the tent and asked Zhao Tuo for forgiveness.
"Lieutenant She stopped Xiang Yan's army and bought time for our army to annihilate the puppet king's army. This is a great achievement. What crime is he guilty of?" Zhao Tuo walked over with a smile and helped him up.
"Yes, if you Shejian hadn't blocked Xiang Yan, the general wouldn't have had time to use his tactic of being surrounded on all sides, causing Xiong Qi's 20,000-strong army to collapse without a fight!" Black Buttocks said with a smile.
The generals also agreed.
"Besieged on all sides? What is the general's plan to defeat Xiong Qi so quickly?"
Shejian was stunned. Although he received an order from Zhao Tuo saying that Xiong Qi had been defeated and asked him to withdraw his troops, the specific situation was not clear.
Hei Butt smiled and said: "Hey, then I will tell you carefully so that you can know how powerful our general is."
While the generals were laughing, Zhao Tuo felt a sense of joy in his heart.
That Xiang Yan was indeed ferocious, with tens of thousands of people attacking day and night, regardless of casualties. Under this style of fighting, the Shejian tribe suffered heavy casualties and the camp was almost breached.
If Zhao Tuo's strategy of being surrounded on all sides had not taken effect, he would have won the battlefield here. If time delays a little longer and Shejian is defeated by Xiang Yan, Zhao Tuo's situation will be in danger.
However, now that Xiong Qijun has been destroyed and Zhao Tuo and Feng Wuze have joined forces, the real difficulty is for Xiang Yan.
"Xiang Yan, what should you choose now?"
…
"The Qin army sang Chu songs at night to lure the king's soldiers into rebellion, causing the 20,000-strong army to collapse overnight?"
Xiang Yan repeated the news she had just received, her hands shaking uncontrollably.
In the tent, Jing Ju said with a fearful expression: "That Zhao Tuo is really very cunning. The king has 20,000 men and is defending the camp. Even if the two armies of Zhao Tuo and Feng Wuze join forces to attack fiercely, it will be difficult to defeat them in a few days. captured. But Zhao Tuo used a trick to defeat the king's 20,000 men. This is really terrible."
At this time, Jingtong did not bother to scold his younger brother for being afraid of enemies, because even he himself felt frightened.
He took a deep breath and said: "Your Majesty, according to the defeated soldiers stranded nearby, the king broke out at night. Because there was a Qin army blocking the way in the west, he led his troops south to the east of the Yangtze River. But Zhao Tuo also sent thousands People, go and give chase. What should we do now?"
"Yes, Ling Yin, what should we do now? What should the king do if he is captured by General Qin?"
Cai Niao and the generals asked in panic.
what to do?
What to do?
Voices sounded in Xiang Yan's head, making his head feel like it was splitting in pain.
"Ling Yin, now Zhao Tuo and Feng Wuze are defending the Huai River camp, relying on the support of the Qin army's navy. We may not be able to defeat them. Now that the situation is over, Ling Yin might as well lead us south and retreat to the east of the Yangtze River to compete with the Qin people."
Jing Ju suggested, his heart was already full of fear and he had the idea of escape.
Xiang Yan opened her eyes, rubbed the acupuncture points on both sides of her head, and whispered: "Going south? Don't look at Zhao Tuo and Feng Wuze hiding in the camp. But believe it or not, as long as we retreat, The two of them will come out, bite us hard, and even swallow us in one bite!"
Xiang Yan's eyes were red.
Now, although he defeated the Shejian tribe and rushed here, it was already too late. The 20,000 people of King Qi of Chu were defeated by the Qin army and fled in all directions. After Zhao Tuo took over the remnants of Shejian's troops, he and Feng Wuze huddled in the camp by the Huai River, relying on the Huai River Boat Master to confront Xiang Yan.
The scene in front of him reminded Xiang Yan of the powerlessness he felt when Chen Ying and Wang Jian faced off against the enemy.
The combined troops of Zhao Tuo and Feng Wuze had more than 30,000 combatable troops, while Xiang Yan had 40,000 to 50,000 troops, which was more than the Qin army.
However, except for the 10,000 troops who were recharged and recharged, the rest of the Chu army were exhausted soldiers who had been fighting for days. In this state, it was impossible to break the Qin army's defense.
Since the Qin army camp cannot be broken, it should retreat south as Jing Ju said, but Xiang Yan knew it very well.
As long as he dares to retreat, Zhao Tuo will definitely pursue him all the way.
The Chu army had suffered consecutive defeats, especially with the defeat of Chu King Qi's army. The king was not sure whether he was alive or dead. The morale of the tens of thousands of people under his command was extremely low, and many of them had long wanted to escape.
If they were pursued by the Qin army on the way south, tens of thousands of Chu troops would probably be defeated on the spot. Instead of fighting to the death, the soldiers would scatter and flee for their lives.
That result would be far worse than being defeated head-on.
Therefore, Xiang Yan did not dare to retreat.
You can't attack again and again, and you can't retreat again and again.
Xiang Yan felt like her chest was about to explode.
If Zhao Tuo leads his army out of the camp, and Xiang Yan fights on the battlefield, Xiang Yan will recognize him even if he loses.
But the other party was like a turtle like Wang Jian, just shrinking his head and not coming out to fight. It was really disgusting to Xiang Yan.
"Is it possible to leave some of the troops here to bluff, and I will go south with my own elite to rescue the king and retreat to Jiangdong?"
Xiang Yan whispered in her heart that this was a good choice.
But the risk is too great. Firstly, the morale of the Chu army has dropped to the bottom. It is all up to Xiang Yan to maintain it with his prestige. Once Xiang Yan leaves, the Chu army left here may collapse on its own in a short time. Zhao Tuo will then capture Seizing the opportunity to pursue southward will also lead to destruction.
Moreover, Xiang Yan does not have any generals who can stay here and take charge of their own affairs.
Facing Zhao Tuo, Jing Tong might not be able to control himself.
There are soldiers but no generals!
Finally, Xiang Yan sighed and said: "Zitong, you lead ten thousand people south to rescue the king and retreat to Jiangdong. I will lead the soldiers here to confront Zhao Tuo, look for opportunities to defeat him, and then lead the army south."
Jing Tong was startled, then shook his head and said: "Ling Yin, if I leave, Ling Yin will have no generals available. Let Cai Niao and Jing Ju go. The number of Qin troops chasing south is not large. Although Cai Niao had been He made some mistakes, but he is also a warrior who has been on the battlefield. Jing Ju is familiar with the art of war, so with the cooperation of the two of them, it should be fine."
Xiang Yan was speechless. Thinking of Jing Tong's departure, it seemed that there was really no general who could assist him.
Zhaoping, Xiang Qu, Zhaoyuan, Qu Mao, Ye Sheng...
The backbone of the Chu army was all gone.
Now, people like Cai Niao and Jing Ju can only be sent to lead the army.
Xiang Yan said quietly: "In that case, Cai Niao and Jing Ju led ten thousand people to go south to rescue the queen and retreat to the east of the Yangtze River. My son and I will fight against the Qin army here."
"only!"
As the Chu generals received their orders, Xiang Yan couldn't help but look to the west.
He was more worried about that person than Zhao Tuo.
…
About thirty miles west of Huaiyin.
The black Qin flag covered the sky and the sun, and the endless army was marching.
"Hmph, Xiang Yan is a very fast fish. But with the abilities of Zhao Tuo and Feng Wuze, I think they should be able to hang him up."
"Next, it's time to close the net."
On the chariot, Wang Jian, whose beard and hair were all white, raised his eyes and looked east.
Decades of battlefield experience told him.
The battle between Qin and Chu has come to its final conclusion...
(End of chapter)
