Just when Lu Yuan began to worry about the lack of troops in his hands.
Thousands of miles away in Yuzhou, the kings and ministers of Zheng State also began to worry about their country and country.
Compared with the three kingdoms of Zhao, Weiliang and Chu, which were in fierce confrontation with Chu, Zheng, who was arranged by the two camps of Chu in Yuzhou, was also fighting fiercely.
It's just that Zheng's national power is far behind compared to the other major hegemons in the Nine Provinces.
In other hegemonic countries, there are many countries with a population that does not exceed 20 million, or even 30 to 40 million.
For example, the Liang Kingdom had a population of 70 million and had been the world's number one overlord for a long time.
But when it comes to Zheng State, since the reunification of Zheng State after experiencing the civil war after separation, its national power has declined greatly, and it has never regained its former glory as the leader of a state.
At that time, the country's population was only about 20 million.
After the State of Zheng ceded Yangxia County and its millions of people to the State of Chu in order to divert disaster eastward, the total population dropped below 20 million, and it became a low-ranking hegemonic country like the Jin State.
It has completely become a small country among the hegemons.
But it was such a small overlord that had declined, but during the Chu State's northern expedition, it rebelled against the enemy, broke away from the Chu State's camp, and joined the Liang State.
This undoubtedly annoyed Lu Yuan and the Chu State.
So last year, Lu Yuan asked the Yangxia camp, which was originally targeting Liang State and preparing to attack Liang State from the east, to change its target.
Directly changing from the original attack on Jiaodong County to the attack on Gaomi County of Zheng State.
Gaomi County is located to the east of Yangxia County. Further east from this county is Changguang County, the imperial capital of Zheng State on the seaside, where Xinzheng City is located.
Therefore, after Yangxia County was cut off, Gaomi County became the most important vassal land west of Xinzheng.
For such an important place, Zheng Guo naturally strictly defended it and did not dare to slack off at all.
After the initial rebellion, Zheng Guo gathered 800,000 troops, of which 600,000 were placed in Gaomi County.
There are still 200,000 left, which is placed in Gaoyang County of Zheng State, north of Yangxia County.
The two counties, one in the north and one in the east, became the pliers of Zheng State, clamping down on Yangxia County of Chu State.
But in the eyes of Zheng Guoren, this is a strong iron clamp.
But in Chu's eyes, these were just two separate chopsticks, vulnerable to a single blow.
After the Chu army in the Yangxia camp withdrew, Huang Xuan only made slight repairs, and then left 300,000 people to defend here to guard against the Zheng army in the north and the Liang people in the west.
Later, he led the main force of 800,000 Chu troops and 200,000 civilians from Yangxia County, and stormed into Gaomi County.
Facing this tiger and wolf carefully selected by the Chu State, the Zheng State army in Gaomi County was no match at all. In the early stages of the battle, they lost several battles in a row on the frontal battlefield, losing more than 100,000 troops.
Afterwards, facing the provocation of the Chu army, Zheng Jun, who was afraid of being beaten, did not dare to go to the battlefield again. He only knew how to defend the city blindly and carry out passive defense.
This is a solution.
After all, with the current popularity of the Chu army, not to mention the people of Zheng, other countries, and even the Liang Kingdom, were all on the battlefield and were beaten and retreated.
It was not only Zheng who was afraid of a head-on confrontation with the Chu army, but also other countries.
Zheng Guo followed suit and had nothing to be ashamed of.
And this actually works.
After various countries adopted defensive strategies, relying on the advantage of solid city defenses, they indeed curbed the overwhelming momentum of the Chu army at the beginning.
Now, every battlefield is in a stalemate.
But in Gaomi County, Zheng Guoneng held a stalemate with the Chu army's Yangxia camp, preventing them from continuing to advance eastward.
But the problem is that the Chu army came this time with more than one Yangxia camp.
Because he was angry at Zheng Guo's betrayal, Lu Yuan, in addition to the Yangxia camp, also sent a water route camp directly across the sea to attack Zheng Guo from the sea.
Take a boat in Donghai County and go to Zheng State. The journey is not far.
It takes more than ten days to arrive, which is very convenient.
Therefore, when all of Zheng Guo's attention was attracted by Yang Xia's camp in Gaomi County, the sudden arrival of this water warrior gave Zheng Guo people a surprise when it appeared on the stage.
As mentioned before, although Zheng Guo is a hegemonic country, it is only a small country among the hegemonic countries.
After Yangxia County was ceded, the country's population was only over 18 million.
With this small population, no matter how powerful it is, it can't actually support many armies.
This is also true.
Before the war with the Chu army, the total number of soldiers in Zheng's country was only about 1.3 million.
Of the 1.3 million people, 800,000 were divided between Gaomi and Gaoyang counties. No matter how reduced the northern border with Tang and Jin was, 300,000 people would still need to be removed.
In the end, only 100,000 people were left in the country.
These 100,000 people were all arranged in the imperial capital Xinzheng to protect the safety of the capital.
In addition, there are 100,000 navy troops also arranged near Xinzheng City, which is close to the sea.
With this analysis, everyone will almost know the details of Zheng Guo.
Yes.
Except for the front lines and borders, including Zheng's imperial capital, its hinterland was extremely empty, and there were not many troops stationed in large areas of the territory.
Therefore, when the 500,000 army and 200,000 naval troops camped on the waterway arrived, they defeated Zheng's only water protection, which was the 100,000 naval division.
The strange troops sent by the Chu State landed directly ashore and surrounded Xinzheng City.
Half a million Chu troops came to the city. This would cost Zheng Guo's life!
The Chu Kingdom arrived suddenly, giving Xinzheng City little time to prepare.
In particular, Chu's naval forces, after wiping out Zheng's water power, followed the Weishui River near Xinzheng City and penetrated directly into the inland of Zheng. Along the rivers, they blocked all the land and water routes of Zheng. .
In just a few days, not only Xinzheng City was cut off from the outside world, but Changguang County and even the counties within Zheng State were also cut off from each other.
Although the counties in the mainland of Zheng are still bordering each other, their connections with each other are actually severed.
Because of this, the state of Zheng was split into several pieces.
Under such circumstances, it became extremely difficult for the monarchs and ministers of Xinzheng City to send ministers and envoys to various places to convey their orders and get local governors to come to serve the king.
In this world where there are innate masters, the warriors are so powerful that they fly over the walls and fly high and high. It is really difficult or even impossible to completely trap them to death with an army.
But the same.
Even if these messengers who can convey the message go out, they will face the current situation that Zheng State has been divided into countless fragments, and the Chu State Navy is wreaking havoc on Zheng State's major water systems.
Even if they can contact the local county governor and get the officials to mobilize King Qin's army, it will only be King Qin's army in an area.
With all traffic cut off, even if King Qin's army from other places was pulled out, it would be extremely difficult to get them together.
And if they can't gather their troops in one place, even if King Qin's army is mobilized, what's the use against the Chu army who has the advantage of waterways and can quickly gather troops?
certainly.
Facing the Zheng State, which occupies half of Yuzhou, it is unrealistic to completely divide it with only 200,000 Chu navy troops.
There are always places that the navy cannot take care of, where Zheng's army can cross the river and gather. Or in some places, there are no rivers at all, allowing them to pass through unimpeded.
But places like this are always rare and remote.
Zheng Jun chose this route to march. After they gathered together, no one knew how much time had passed.
When they came to King Qin, the day lily was already cold.
The Chu Navy's purpose of blocking foreign aid was naturally achieved.
Therefore, after an operation by the Chu army's navy, Zheng Guo fell into a situation where it had soldiers that could not be used, or it was difficult to use them.
But without foreign aid, how could the 100,000 defenders in Xinzheng City be able to withstand the attack of 500,000 Chu troops?
Especially because Xinzheng City is close to the sea, the Chu army broke through its water protection and could land directly under the city without giving the slightest reaction time.
Therefore, after the Chu army besieged the city, even if Xinzheng City wanted to gather some civilians in the surrounding area and ask them to help defend the city, it was impossible.
In Xinzheng City, there are only 400,000 residents in total. No matter how hard we try to recruit soldiers, we can only recruit 80,000 to 90,000 people.
This number of people, including the defenders, is less than 200,000, still far inferior to the Chu army.
In addition, the city lacks an innate master, and the situation in Xinzheng City becomes even more difficult.
After the siege began, the Chu army tried to attack. After fighting for more than a month, the city of Xinzheng was crumbling and on the verge of falling.
If winter had not entered later and heavy snow had fallen, it would have been difficult to go out. I am afraid that Xinzheng City would have been conquered last year.
But winter will eventually pass.
Relying on a temporary heavy snowfall, Xinzheng City managed to survive for a year.
But in the spring of this year, for most of the year, it was not so easy for him.
In early spring and March, after Lu Yuan launched the second Northern Expedition, Xinzheng City also started its second attack on the city as scheduled.
And this time was different. Not long after the siege, as Lu Yuan's order to use prisoners of war was conveyed, the 200,000 surrendered soldiers captured by Zheng Guo were also sent over.
Then, as usual, these people were driven by the Chu army and sent to a brutal siege battle.
When they attacked Xinzheng City before, because they were all Chu people, the Chu army was still a little concerned about it and couldn't let go.
But now it is Zheng Ren who surrenders his pawn, so there is no need to worry.
Use it to death, use it to your death.
Two hundred thousand surrendered soldiers, together with some of the elite troops of the Chu army, launched a continuous attack on Xinzheng City in just ten days.
Have any Zheng people in the city ever seen such a battle?
In addition, after being besieged for half a year, they suffered heavy losses in troops and horses, and the morale in the city gradually declined.
So after most of the surrendered soldiers were dead, the defenders of Xinzheng City could no longer hold on.
Many Zheng army guards began to collapse.
Without these ordinary soldiers, they serve as barrier wings to consume the Chu army's innate true energy.
Zheng Guoxiantian in the city would no longer be able to fight against the Chu army's Xiantian.
Following the two clones of Lu Yuan, he took the lead and climbed to the top of the city, personally killing the two empresses of Zheng Guoxian in the city.
The Zheng Army's top-level combat power was lacking, and the soldiers at the bottom began to flee. There were flaws everywhere, and Xinzheng City could no longer defend it.
Finally, on May 23rd of the 42nd year of Shenwu, Xinzheng City was captured by the Chu army. Except for a small number of Zheng's monarchs and ministers in the city, they took the opportunity to break out under the cover of the Xiantian Grandmaster.
The other children of Zheng's clan, ministers, nobles, and officials of all sizes who stayed in the city were all reduced to prisoners of Chu.
Most of Zheng's ruling core was taken away at once.
Xinzheng City also became the first hegemonic imperial capital captured by Chu State since its Northern Expedition.
Well, the previous Heyin City of Wei State does not count.
Although this city is nominally the eastern capital of Wei State, in fact, Wei Jun has never been there, and it is just a name and is being run as the capital.
This is very different from a big city like Xinzheng, which has always been regarded as the core of a country or a state.
Xinzheng City fell and Zheng Jun fled. This landmark event became a turning point in Chu's war in Yuzhou.
As the news spread, some Zheng Guofu counties around Xinzheng City that were still holding on were suddenly shaken in military morale and shattered in popularity.
After the Chu army cleaned up the mess in Xinzheng and began to send troops to attack nearby cities, all the towns they passed along the way were defeated.
Some prefectures and counties did not even wait for the Chu army to arrive, so they sent envoys to convey their sincerity and changed the Chu flag in advance.
Without much effort, the remaining counties in Changguang County were controlled by the Chu army.
Then, after leaving some soldiers and horses to guard Changguang County, the water camp continued westward and attacked Gaomi County eastward, preparing to cooperate with the Yangxia camp and the other two camps to join forces.
However, the waterway camp was a bit slow.
The Zheng army in Gaomi County knew that something was wrong after hearing the news of the fall of Xinzheng.
With no way out, staying here is a dead end.
When the Chu army from Xinzheng arrived, facing a two-pronged attack, there was no way for him to survive.
Therefore, before the waterway camp arrived, the remaining more than 300,000 Zheng troops in Gaomi County began to evacuate in advance and retreated north to Pingchang County.
Although the Yangxia camp led by Huang Xuan also engaged in some entanglement and pursuit, Zheng Jun's determination, will, and mobility to retreat were indeed too strong.
After chasing for a while, although hundreds of thousands of people were left behind, Zheng's army of about 200,000 was eventually allowed to escape.
This is somewhat of a pity.
Fortunately, although part of the Zheng army escaped, including the previous gains, there were also the results of the battle in Xinzheng.
Since the eastern expedition to Yuzhou, the Chu army has successively killed and captured more than 700,000 Zheng soldiers, captured two counties, and captured the imperial capital. The results can be said to be brilliant.
After this tragic defeat, Zheng Guo's vitality was severely damaged and he was completely unable to recover.
But this is not the end.
After the two camps were reunited, Lu Yuan ordered the reorganization and merged the Yangxia and Shuilu camps into the Yuzhou camp.
After integration, the two camps totaled 1.2 million soldiers, 150,000 naval troops, 100,000 civilians, and 300,000 soldiers, for a total of 1.75 million troops.
After the reorganization, the Yuzhou camp had only one goal, which was to destroy the Zheng State and seize the southern Yuzhou land controlled by the other party.
So after taking a brief rest for more than a month and sorting out the existing control areas, Yuzhou Xingying continued to attack northward.
It was only at this time that Zheng Guo had almost reacted and completed full mobilization under the pain of the fall of the capital.
Zheng Jun, who had previously fled from the capital, reappeared in Pingchang County with the prince, prime minister, general and others, and announced the establishment of a new capital city in Zhuxu City in this county.
After Zheng Jun left the cage, he quickly began to consolidate the remaining territory in the country.
After losing the two counties of Gaomi and Changguang, the only remaining territories of Zheng State were Yidu County, Gaoyang County, Pingchang County in the north, and Haiyang County located in the north and east coast of Changguang County. .
Altogether, there are four counties in total.
The population of these four counties is about ten million.
On the verge of national subjugation, there is nothing left to worry about.
After mobilization at this time, all men were recruited, and the Zheng people brought out an army of 2.5 million.
Among them, there are about seventeen Xiantian Grandmasters left.
Generally speaking, Zheng Guoren is still capable of fighting.
But it happened that at this time, Zheng Guo focused a lot of energy on the south, preparing for a decisive battle with Chu.
The Tang Kingdom in the north, after being targeted by neighboring countries for more than half a year, felt depressed and unbearable.
At this time, when he saw the corner of the surrounding blockade ring, his old enemy Zheng Guo was in trouble, and the blockade against him was broken, his eyes suddenly lit up.
As mentioned before, the monarchs and ministers of the Tang Dynasty did not care about the long term, and they did not care about the death of lips and teeth.
He just wants immediate benefits.
So at this time, seeing that Zheng Guo was in a state of decline, with a large number of troops and horses in the north being lost to the south, and the defense was empty, how could he still endure it.
Needless to say, millions of Tang troops marched southward and directly entered the empty Yidu County of Zheng State.
Otherwise, Tang Guo is good at picking up bargains!
After seizing the opportunity, Yidu County was easily taken by the Tang State without much resistance.
Then the Tang army continued to move south, heading towards Zheng Guo's new capital, Zhuxucheng.
Seeing this situation, how could the Zheng people still sit still?
They didn't care about going south to fight the Chu people or retaking the old capital.
If we don't stop the Tang people, we will perish in a matter of seconds.
But at this time, Huang Xuan, the new general manager of the Yuzhou camp in the south, also saw an opportunity and took advantage of the situation to send troops northward, entangled the main force of Zheng's army in the south and prevented it from going northward for rescue.
With the cooperation of the Tang and Chu armies, Zheng Guo fell into an embarrassing two-sided attack.
Fortunately, at this time, the Jin State in the east was not as short-sighted as the Tang State and had its own overall view.
Seeing that Zheng State was about to be unable to survive, it was about to be destroyed by the Tang and Chu Kingdoms.
At the critical moment, Jin took action.
After communicating with Zheng Guo, it sent 600,000 troops from the east, entered Yidu County, and once again blocked the Tang army's retreat.
With their retreat threatened, the Tang army was naturally unable to continue southward safely and had to turn back to fight the Jin army.
So Zheng Guo, who was almost on the verge of national destruction, finally saved his life and could continue to live on.
However, even if his life was temporarily saved, Zheng Guo could no longer sustain himself in the face of such a dilemma of being attacked from both front and back, and being attacked from both sides.
Coupled with more than a year of war and the blow of the fall of the imperial capital, Zheng Guo could no longer fight.
Finally, after a period of quarreling and deliberation, Zheng Guo finally bowed his head to reality and sent envoys to Chu State again to discuss the matter of peace.
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