"General Meng has already captured Ayi? Very good!"
At the Qin army camp outside Zhencheng, Zhao Tuo received a message from the east and was immediately refreshed.
The tent was now full of generals, who were discussing the next attack on Zhencheng. When General Zhao read out the news about Meng Tian's capture of Ayi, everyone immediately beamed with joy.
"After General Meng lived up to his reputation as a famous general, he successfully raided the plains and went all the way south to attack Ayi. This completely cut off the Qi army's retreat in Zhen City. When the news reaches Zhen City, it will surely arouse fear among the soldiers in the city and make the Qi people The morale of the military is in great disarray.”
Li Shiqi chuckled: "Under this fear, the general bombarded the city with huge cannons, intimidating the Qi people in the city, and at the same time sent people to recruit and surrender. At this time, the 10,000 Qi soldiers who were sent back were in the city to promote the general's benevolence. The incident can further reduce the resistance of the people of Qi and help our army to induce surrender. This is the combination of fear, intimidation and inducement to surrender. With these three moves, we can attack Zhen City. How can this city not be destroyed?"
"That's what sir said."
Zhao Tuo smiled slightly and said: "According to the scouts of our army lying in the east, people from the direction of Ayi have entered Zhen City. I think they have brought the news into the city. However, in order to stabilize the morale of the army, Da Sima is very The news may be suppressed, so we have to help him spread the word."
"You select some of the prisoners who are smart and willing to cooperate, and let them go around the city with loudspeakers to publicize the fact that Ayi has been captured by our army, and at the same time declare the policy of not killing those who surrender."
"In addition, I sent an order to General Meng to send people to drive some of Ayi's soldiers and people to Zhencheng to confirm this matter."
Having said this, Zhao Tuo looked at Xiqigu again and asked, "How many days are there left for our army's cannon?"
Xiqigu cupped his hands and said: "The baggage has arrived, and all the craftsmen are in place. Our army's cannon can be assembled in two days at most."
Zhao Tuo nodded. The core metal components of the cannon had been built a long time ago. Now they are transported here with the train. They only need to use the wood cut nearby to assemble them. It does not take long.
"In that case, we will bombard the city with huge cannons in two days to give everyone in the city a big shock and help them make a choice!"
…
"I have long heard that the Qin army has an instrument that can amplify sound. When I saw it today, it is indeed well-deserved. I think it was done by the Xiangli clan Mohist who was attached to the Qin people. If you use this object to argue with others..."
On the wall of Zhen City, Xiang Fuji looked at the Qi people holding strange objects and making noises outside the city, his eyes flashing.
In his mind, he imagined the scene where he would use this thing to debate with people in Jixia Academy. It would be so powerful that even the most eloquent disciples of famous scholars would be suppressed and unable to fight back.
The husband stood aside, but Tian Chong and Tian Dan had gloomy expressions.
"Da Sima, the Qin people are vicious. They not only spread the news that Ayi was captured, but also said that those who surrender will not be killed. They intend to disturb the morale of our army. If this continues, many people in the city will definitely believe what the Qin people say. When the Qin army attacks the city, At that time, the soldiers will no longer have the will to fight."
Tian Dan said worriedly.
After receiving the news of the fall of Ayi, they immediately took control of the Qi people who sent the message.
They tried their best to block the news, fearing that it would affect the fighting spirit of the Qi people in the city if it spread, but they didn't know that they were still exposed by the Qin people.
Tian Chong pursed his lips and said: "It's all nonsense from the Qin people to tell the soldiers, and they are deliberately demoralizing our army. As long as no one confirms the news that Ayi has been captured, the soldiers will only be suspicious. As for the Qin people's recruitment..."
Tian Chong suddenly felt his head hurt when he thought of the 10,000 soldiers he had put into the city.
When the Qin army tried to persuade them to surrender, not only did the Qin people lure them outside, but there were also Qi people in the city who helped them publicize it. This matter cannot be suppressed no matter what.
Before Da Sima could figure out a way to solve the problem, another guard from the east of the city came to report.
It was said that there were fleeing Qi soldiers and villagers in the direction of Ayi who came to Zhencheng. Now they have arrived at the gate of Zhencheng, crying to heaven and earth, complaining that Ayi was occupied by the Qin people.
Tian Chong's face suddenly turned pale.
He looked at the Qin army camp in the distance and said in a trembling voice: "Zhao Tuo, your methods are really vicious!"
…
As the news that Ayi fell into the hands of the Qin army was confirmed, the situation in the entire Zhen city became worse and worse.
Excluding the 10,000 Qi soldiers who were released by the Qin army, there were still 30,000 soldiers in the city, 20,000 of whom were defeated soldiers in that battle. They had long been frightened by the Qin army on the battlefield.
Before, it was only because Tian Dan said that the Qin army loved killing and beheading that these Qi people could muster the courage to fight to the death.
Now that these people heard that outside the city, prisoners of the Qi army were constantly promoting the Qin people's policy of not killing those who surrendered, and there were even 10,000 Qi people in the city quietly boasting about the benevolence of Qin general Zhao Tuo, their minds suddenly surged.
Ayi was occupied, which meant that Zhencheng was surrounded by the Qin army and fell into a desperate situation.
In this desperate situation, they saw the hope of survival by surrendering, which was even more touching.
In the next few days, Qin Jun's actions increasingly helped these Qi people make up their minds.
The Qin people did not send anyone to attack the city, only the dozens of cannons set up outside the city kept firing stone bullets.
Huge boulders flew across the sky, shaking the walls of Zhen City.
The vulnerable parts such as the turrets and parapets that happened to be hit by the stone bullets exploded on the spot. The huge roar shook the people in the city, and their faces turned pale.
The iron caltrops and small gravel bombs thrown all over the sky caused terrible physical and psychological trauma to the soldiers defending the city.
"The Qin army's huge artillery is really terrifying. They have such weapons in their hands, how can we withstand them?"
"Yes, the Qin army doesn't even have to attack personally. They can just use those huge cannons to bombard the city wall every day. Sooner or later, they will blow up the city and smash us all into pieces."
"Meat sauce? Hiss... we can't defend this at all. We might as well surrender to them and still survive!"
The soldiers guarding the city were in fear and had already talked about surrender.
Some people even asked the Qi soldiers who were released by the Qin army: "Do the Qin people really not kill prisoners? And they promised to let us go back to our hometown after the war? Can we really believe it?"
After hearing the question, the soldiers who were released suddenly became energetic.
They whispered one by one: "Of course, General Zhao is the most trustworthy. He let us back when he said he would let us back. They don't have much food, and they are willing to give some to the prisoners. They have not even killed a single person. You Is it credible?"
"Yes, General Zhao is trustworthy and benevolent. You see, our Qi army was not recruited well before. General Zhao did not take the opportunity to attack by surprise. Instead, he waited for our army to arrive before setting up a battle formation and fighting an upright battle. Fight. You said there is no such general in the world. If General Zhao cannot be trusted, then who can?"
"That's right, if the Qin army attacks the city, Naigong will be the first to surrender!"
Those Qi soldiers who were released spoke categorically.
They have already surrendered once, once they were alive, and the second time they were familiar with it. Surrendering again is really without any psychological burden.
"In this case, when the time comes, Nai Gong will follow you and surrender."
"After the Qin army surrendered, there was no need to worry in this city all day long."
Several soldiers were whispering, and such voices kept ringing throughout Zhen City.
Tian Dan, who patrols the city defense all day long, is aware of this situation.
With a livid face, he walked into the room where Da Sima was sitting and saw Da Sima kneeling on the couch, looking at the map on the wooden desk in front of him in a daze.
Tian Dan gritted his teeth and said: "Da Sima, the Qin army's attack on the city with their mind-attacking techniques combined with their giant artillery has made the soldiers in our city lose their fighting spirit, and everyone secretly talks about surrender."
"If this continues, when the Qin army actually launches an attack, no one will fight to the death. Instead of doing this, it is better for me to lead troops out of the city to attack the Qin army and fight with them. Da Sima took this opportunity to lead a short army from the east gate. Walk."
"The Qin army is surrounding three palaces, and the road to the east is unobstructed. After Da Sima leaves the city, he will go to Linzi. As long as he returns to the capital. If Da Sima recruits the army again, our Qi country will still have a chance!"
Tian Dan's voice was fierce, and his face was full of the intention of fighting to the death.
Tian Chong was startled.
He looked at Tian Dan and smiled helplessly: "Dan, I am very touched that you are willing to die to protect me. But since Zhao Tuo captured Ayi with a surprise force and took my retreat, he wanted to surround me and kill me here. It means something to me."
"Zhao Tuo wants to get me. Even if you, Tian Dan, can use your life to cover my escape from Zhen City, it will be useless."
"As soon as I leave, Zhao Tuo will definitely send cavalry to pursue me. It's hundreds of miles away from Linzi. The Qin army's cavalry is chasing after me, and there are Qin people patrolling near Ayi. I don't think it will be difficult to go all the way back to Linzi. Also. If I were captured by them on the road, wouldn’t I be humiliated again?”
Tian Chong's voice became deeper and deeper: "And I can see clearly that although I, Tian Chong, am proficient in military skills, I am far from Zhao Tuo's opponent on the battlefield. Even if I can escape back and lead troops to fight him, I will eventually be defeated." It's just shame."
"Da Sima!"
Tian Dan's body was trembling. Looking at Da Sima in front of him, he already had a bad feeling in his heart.
Tian Chong said softly: "Everyone in the city has no intention to fight, so why should I force them to fight to the death? It is just an act of killing and is not what a gentleman would do."
"Zhao Tuo now declares with benevolence and righteousness that he will not kill and surrender his soldiers. I have looked at his past and it is true that he has never killed or surrendered to break his promise."
"To this day, I will use Zhen City to surrender Zhao Tuo and kill all the people in the city."
Tian Chong spoke with a smile, but there was a hint of determination in his eyes.
(End of chapter)
