Chu Xiang moved. If he didn't move, he would be done. If he moved, he would become a blockbuster.
Since the battle two years ago, both the Chu Xiang army and the imperial court had suffered heavy losses, with more than half of them dead or injured. In the past two years, both sides actively prepared for war. Zhao Yizhi also considered people's livelihood and did not recruit troops on a large scale. Chu Xiang ignored it and sent hundreds of thousands of troops to the front line. Now both sides have expanded their troops to 200,000. .
The Chu Xiang army was divided into three groups, with 50,000 troops on the north route, led by General Xiang Liangyu of Chu Xiang. They went to Qian City, passed Huaicheng, detoured from the north, and approached Wancheng. Xiang Liangyu was also born into a family of military officers in Chu Xiang. He was a calm man and had slightly lower military qualifications than Xu Tong. Ge Cifeng once praised him as his "right arm".
The southern route was led by Xu Tong, with 50,000 soldiers and horses, and approached Wancheng by water. Ge Cifeng was not concerned about the troops and horses on the water route, but this time he was determined to capture Wancheng. The middle road and the north road could not accommodate too many troops, so the water route still needed troops.
There is a deeper reason. Ge Cifeng has now completely escaped the control of King Chu Xiang. Xu Tong has a high prestige in the army, but he is a faction loyal to King Chu Xiang. How could Ge Cifeng entrust him with such an important task? Since it was his suggestion to take the water route, it was reasonable for him to go play on the water.
The middle road was led by Ge Cifeng himself, who led an army of 100,000 to Wangcheng and approached the west of Wancheng. The three-pronged armies rose up in a mighty manner, quite like a mountain bearing down on them.
As for the two trump cards of Beggar Clan and Qilin Gong, no one knows where Ge Cifeng arranged them. They just left the military camp earlier and their whereabouts are unknown.
Wancheng, Daqijun military camp.
After the sentinel came to report, the generals in the camp looked at each other, waiting for Zhou Ziru to make up his mind. Zhou Ziru's face was as dark as water. He had just received the news that King Chu Xiang had transferred his personal guard Qilin Bow to Wancheng.
"Generals, do you have any good plans?" Zhou Ziru looked around at the generals. Although he had a plan in mind, he still asked the generals present for their opinions as a routine.
"If not..."
"Prime Minister Zhou, there is going to be a dangerous plan at the end!" A young man stood up from the end of the team and said with his hands raised.
Zhou Ziru squinted his eyes, but he didn't see clearly what this person looked like, so he waved his hand and said, "Come on, come forward and talk."
The young general walked to the front of the army and said, oh, what a majestic young general. He looks about twenty years old. He has a heroic spirit, a strong back but not bloated. He has slender eyebrows and peach blossom eyes. He has a female appearance, just like Zhou Ziru. Comparison, no distinction between superior and inferior.
"Who are you? Do you have any dangerous plans? Let me tell you." Zhou Ziru asked, not caring about the young general's age and appearance.
The young general raised his hands in salute and said: "General Xiao Kuan, the captain of the Zuo Army in the camp. The general thought that Prime Minister Zhou had cut off the enemy's return route twice before, and this time he could teach the Chu Xiang rebels to fall into this trap again!"
Zhou Ziru had no expression on his face and said, "You finish speaking first."
"The only patients in our army's hospital are Beggar Gang and Qilin Gong'er. Ge Cifeng fell into the trap twice, so he must be well protected this time. The north, south, middle three routes, and the navy in the south route do not need to be considered, and it is difficult to decide the victory or defeat. The north route and the middle route, There will definitely be beggar gangs and unicorn bows coming with the army. Our army can send a large army to block the middle road, and then send another army to the north to meet them."
Zhou Ziru looked at Xiao Kuan and still said nothing.
"When encountering Chu and Xiang soldiers and horses, don't get entangled. Just grab the road and detour behind the enemy's rear. Either cut off the retreat or seize food and grass. Even if the Chu Xiang army comes back for reinforcements, they will not be in a hurry to retreat. They will only head towards the hinterland of Chu Xiang and capture Chu Xiang. The army dragged them back to the territory of Chuxiang vassal. Our army then covered them up and encroached on them step by step..." Xiao Kuan thought he was very proud of his strategy, and he was beaming.
"Then did you know that if you go deep into the hinterland and you are alone, what will happen?" Zhou Ziru looked at him steadily and asked.
Xiao Kuan smiled casually: "I just want to die. I will be the last general to be incompetent, so I am willing to take up this post!"
Zhou Ziru raised his brows lightly, slightly surprised, and slowly stood up and said seriously: "You are so young, you still have a lot to do. If you lose your wealth and life if you go, what will it do to you? Step back."
Xiao Kuan knelt down on one knee: "I will go where I wish, I hope everything will come true! You don't need many soldiers and horses, five thousand is enough!"
"Come on, hold me down!" Zhou Ziru seemed a little impatient.
"Three thousand! Three thousand! Prime Minister Zhou, as long as you give me three thousand soldiers and horses, I will definitely turn Chu Xiang upside down! The general is willing to go!!!" Two guards entered the tent and pushed Xiao Kuan out of the tent. Dragging him away, Xiao Kuan didn't dare to resist, but couldn't help shouting.
When Zhou Ziru heard Xiao Kuan's shouting, he was slightly absent-minded: This scene was very similar to the scene in the capital where he took the initiative to ask for a royal tassel in front of His Majesty... But he was here to revitalize the Zhou family. What was he doing?
"Bring it back." Zhou Ziru shouted.
The two guards brought Xiao Kuan to the door of the handsome tent, released him and stepped aside. Xiao Kuan adjusted his armor and walked in. He was as calm as if he had just stepped out from the end of the army and walked up to Zhou Ziru.
"In the end, I hope everything will come true!" Xiao Kuan knelt down on one knee and repeated this sentence.
Zhou Ziru asked curiously, "Xiao, I don't remember that there is a big family named Xiao in the capital. Where are you from?"
Xiao Kuan chuckled and said, "Hey, I don't know who I am."
Tang Xingchang stood at the head of the generals, raised his foot and kicked Xiao Kuan down. He knelt on one knee and begged Zhou Ziru: "I have not been strict in my rule. Please forgive me, Prime Minister Zhou."
"Your person?" Zhou Ziru didn't care that Tang Xingchang's kick was rude. At this time, he was even more anxious to know the origin of Xiao Kuan.
Tang Xingchang nodded and said: "The last few years ago, I was ordered to go to the Central Plains to suppress bandits. When I encountered Zheng City, it was difficult to capture it. This guy was on top of the city, wearing the clothes of a bandit army, but he chopped off the thieves' heads with one knife. He killed them all the way from the city wall. When we got to the city, we commanded more than a dozen people to open the city gate. Our army was able to attack the city. From then on, I kept him by my side. However, promotions are all based on his military exploits, and no general will dare to show favoritism. "
"There is some courage, but what happened today was not achieved by courage alone. Five thousand lone troops rushed into the territory of the vassal king and forced the army to return for reinforcements. Do you know what this means?" Zhou Ziru asked.
Xiao Kuan nodded and replied: "Returning to the Prime Minister means no reinforcements, no food and grass, and maybe even death. But a real man must do some feats and become famous in the world! It is not a waste of time in this world!"
"Just for this?" Zhou Ziru couldn't believe it.
"Just for this!" Xiao Kuan had a broad smile on his childish face.
Zhou Ziru turned around and turned his back to the generals and said: "The generals will leave and gather in the tent at noon. When the time comes, orders will be issued one by one. Anyone who neglects will be killed without mercy!"
After hearing this, all the generals withdrew from the tent one by one. Xiao Kuan was about to leave when suddenly Zhou Ziru said, "You can stay."
After all the generals left and there were only two people left in the tent, Zhou Ziru said slowly: "I have also thought about this plan. This plan is just a tactic. Five thousand people are not enough for our army." What's the cost? But I don't know who should be sent. Is the person who goes there capable of turning Chu Xiang upside down and forcing back the main force of Chu Xiang's army? Can he guarantee that he will not turn to Chu Xiang when he is desperate? What's more? To deal with the Beggar Gang, the Qilin Bow..."
"Prime Minister Zhou, I will go to the end!" The firm words behind him were still there.
Zhou Ziru laughed when he heard this and said: "I think it is the great enlightenment of heaven that has been given to you by your majesty. Well, since you are willing to go, I will give you five thousand men and horses. Should I choose it myself or allocate it to you?"
"Of course you have to choose this kind of life-threatening thing!" Xiao Kuan and Zhou Ziru were similar in age. Seeing Zhou Ziru finally showing a smile, the two seemed to have no longer separated themselves and both started laughing.
"Okay, I understand, go ahead. Remember to come here at noon, military law is ruthless." Zhou Ziru waved his hand. Xiao Kuan cupped his hands and left with a smile, going to the camp to choose his men.
At noon, not long after the camp had finished eating, the generals gathered in Zhou Ziru's commander's tent.
"On the north road, Xiao Kuan led five thousand soldiers and horses to the north road. When encountering the enemy, don't be reluctant to fight. He will flee at the first touch and rush into the hinterland of Chu and Xiang to create chaos and seek opportunities for our army. I also sent Zhang Yu to lead three soldiers. Thousands of troops will help you break through." As soon as Zhou Ziru finished speaking, a big man from the generals' queue walked out, raised his hands and said, "The last general takes orders!"
"Yang Gong, you lead 20,000 troops to guard the south of Wancheng, whether it is to defend the city or to guard the river bank. I don't care even if you lead people to jump into the river, I only want Wancheng to be preserved." A thin figure , a fair-skinned man came out, and he looked like he was very good at water: "The last general will take orders."
"Of the remaining 150,000 soldiers and horses, Marshal Tang will lead 50,000 to garrison Wancheng to prepare for any unexpected events on the north and south. I will personally lead an army of 100,000 to fight against Ge Cifeng." Zhou Ziru finished his instructions one by one.
Tang Xingchang came out: "Prime Minister Zhou, although the enemy's army is only one hundred thousand, but there are people from all over the world to help us, our army... Our army is one hundred thousand, and it may be difficult to resist. Just divide the troops into the north and south, and order the last general to defend the city... Yes What’s the point…”
Zhou Ziru sighed: "I can't guarantee that this battle will be won. It is a helpless move to divide the troops. If I lose, you still have 50,000 soldiers and horses in hand, and you can still block it for a while. Your Majesty may We can mobilize more troops from Nanhuai and Donglu to fight. If I take out 150,000 troops, I will kill them all. The enemy troops will have an unimpeded path, and the capital will be in danger."
"Then I would like to ask Prime Minister Zhou to sit down and guard Wancheng. The general will be willing to lead his army and fight Chu and Xiang to the death!" The Tang family's loyalty to the Daqi royal family is well known.
Zhou Ziru laughed and said without hesitation: "Then if we win this battle, all the credit will be on your head, Tang Shuai. How many years and months will it take for me to revive the Zhou family?"
All the generals were shocked when they heard Zhou Ziru's words. Taking credit was not a serious matter, but a matter of intrigue and deception. But Zhou Ziru said it so loudly that the generals didn't know what to do.
Tang Xingchang was also stunned, and then he reacted, slowly shaking his head and smiling: "Okay, then I won't compete with Zhou. I hope that Prime Minister Zhou will become famous in one battle! Success is imminent!"
…
In the capital, in the imperial palace.
Zhao Yizhi was still sitting in the study, suddenly opened his eyes and called: "Chen Congwei!"
Qing Tianjiahai and others came out from everywhere and rushed outside Zhao Yizhi's study: "Your Majesty."
"You and ten other people will go to Anhui City quickly. There is only one. We must protect Prime Minister Zhou's safety."
Everyone hesitated: "The capital is undefended."
"go!"
