"The smallest price is to besiege without attacking, but it will take a long time. I don't recommend this, because our enemies are not only King Zhao, but also Yan, Qi, Chu, Qin, including South Korea and Wei. It's possible to get involved and we have to do it quickly."
Le Yi said.
"In this battle of Changping, Qin's vitality was severely damaged. On the contrary, Zhao has a tendency to become the overlord. The six countries will not give up this opportunity to weaken Zhao." Pang Nuan said.
"The soldiers of Handan are also soldiers of Zhao. I don't want everyone to kill each other. Moreover, there are many Handan people in the army. Once a force is attacked, casualties will inevitably occur." Zhao Kuo said.
Handan is the royal city of Zhao State. It has tall and thick walls and a moat. If it is attacked by force, the casualties will not be small. Zhao Kuo does not want the soldiers who finally returned from the battlefield to die in the civil war.
"It's not impossible. Since there are many Handan people in our army, they must have acquaintances in Handan. The commander-in-chief can send them to stand outside the city gate to talk to the soldiers on the city to break the soldiers' fighting spirit. Then tell them Among the soldiers in the city, the first to surrender will be rewarded with a hundred gold pieces, the second to surrender will be rewarded with fifty gold pieces, and so on."
"If you are willing to open the city gate, you will be rewarded with thousands of gold and promoted to the third level. Even if the soldiers guarding the city do not believe it, they will be panicked and worried that others will surrender. King Zhao will not be able to sleep well at night. At that time, the commander-in-chief only needs to announce that it has been If someone surrenders, the remaining people will surely follow suit in order to be rewarded.”
"And this method is not only useful for the soldiers guarding the city, but also for the nobles. As long as one noble surrenders, it can lead a group of nobles to surrender. We can also shoot letters of surrender and the wrong things King Zhao has done on the city. , the truth of what happened back then, etc.," Tian Dan said.
"Jun Duping is a great talent." Zhao Kuo said with great admiration.
Since the Battle of Changping, Tian Dan has mastered all kinds of conspiracies and tricks, which is hard to guard against. Moreover, Tian Dan is not just a simple strategist, he is also the best in the world in leading troops in battle.
Such talents were driven away by Qi State.
Zhao Kuo really wanted to open King Qi's little head to see what was inside.
"However, I still suggest that we attack for a day and then persuade them to surrender. This will be more effective. Even if we don't send out an army, we can just use catapults. It is easier for the strong to be kind to the weak and win the respect of the weak." Tian Dan took a sip of tea to moisten his skin. Moisturize your throat and continue.
Zhao Kuo thought for a moment and nodded, "Just do as Lord Du Ping said."
…
In the palace, King Zhao paced back and forth anxiously. Apart from the eunuchs, there were only Lou Chang and Lord Jianxin in the palace.
"It's been so long, why haven't Lin Qing and Uncle Wang come back yet?" King Zhao stretched his head to look outside for many times, but he was disappointed every time.
The hall was empty, except for the gradually falling night and the blowing cold wind.
"Your Majesty, please wait a little longer," Lou Chang said.
"Wait a minute! Wait a minute! It will be dark soon!" King Zhao said angrily.
"Your Majesty, do you think Lord Pingyuan and Duke Lin might surrender to the traitors..." Lord Jianxin said in a low voice.
When King Zhao heard this, he stopped immediately, shook his head and said: "This is impossible, absolutely impossible. Uncle Wang is my biological uncle, and Duke Lin is an old minister left by my father to me. Even if everyone betrays me, they still can't. I won't betray anyone."
"Light the lamp, I will continue to wait for Uncle Wang and Duke Lin to come back." King Zhao ordered.
After a while, oil lamps lit up in the palace, and King Zhao continued to pace.
However, as time went by, Jianxinjun's words took root and sprouted in his heart like a seed, growing bigger and bigger, and he could not get rid of it no matter what.
As night fell, King Zhao sat on the throne dejectedly, "It seems that Uncle Wang and Duke Lin have really betrayed me."
"Your Majesty, you still have us." Lord Jianxin said.
"I didn't expect that it would be the two of you who would accompany me in the end. A true minister in need is a true friend." King Zhao said movedly.
…
"Master, the catapult has been set up." Mo Feng came over and said.
If we want to say who supports Zhao Kuo the most in the entire army now, then it has to be Mo Feng.
Originally, he just wanted to take refuge with a random nobleman of the Zhao Kingdom and continue the lineage of the Mo family. Unexpectedly, he did not expect that now that he took refuge with this nobleman, he would immediately transform into the King of Zhao.
Not only can the Mohist family continue smoothly, it may even flourish.
Is there anything better than this for Mo Feng?
"So quickly, all four walls have been erected?" Zhao Kuo was a little surprised. Not even half an hour had passed since he issued the order, but Mo Feng had already erected the catapult.
"The four city walls, and the twenty-five catapults on each wall have all been set up. The parts have been made before, and they just need to be reassembled. It will be quick." Mo Feng said with clasped fists.
"Then start the attack." Zhao Kuo ordered.
"promise."
Soon, the catapults threw the stones high and hit Handan City from all directions.
The catapults built by the Mohists were different from those of the Wei army. Almost every stone could fall on the city. Even if it could not hit anyone, it would cause a huge shock to the defenders on the city.
Once it hits someone, the shock will be even greater!
"General, let's... let's surrender." A lieutenant general said tremblingly.
He saw with his own eyes that a soldier holding a large shield was hit by a stone, and then embedded in the city wall together with the large shield. The eunuch who was watching next to him was also killed.
If you are hit by an arrow, you still have a way to live, but if you are hit by a boulder, you will definitely die.
"The other side didn't even persuade us to surrender. It's obvious that they are planning to attack by force. We should defend the city." The general sighed.
…
On the afternoon of the next day, Zhao Jun outside the city stopped attacking.
"General, they don't seem to be fighting anymore." A soldier said in surprise.
Although the catapults under the city only destroyed one night and half of the day, the soldiers on the city felt like their days were like years. As long as they closed their eyes now, they would see the shock of their companions being hit by huge rocks and turning into blood and mud. One scene.
"Soldiers in the city, listen, our commander-in-chief has said that we are all from Zhao and there is no need to kill each other. Now I give you one day to surrender the city. The first soldier to surrender will be rewarded with a hundred gold. Second A reward of fifty gold will be given... If anyone is willing to open the city gate, a reward of one thousand gold will be given, and the official will be promoted to three levels. The same applies to the nobles in the city."
Immediately afterwards, arrows rained from the sky towards the city, but the arrowheads of these arrows had been removed. Bamboo slips were tied to the arrow shafts, which wrote Zhao Jun's promise and why Zhao Kuo wanted to surround Handan. There were also some Zhao Kuo's arrows. The bad things about the king were written down, including the fact that King Zhao did not like women and secretly kept a male favorite.
"Do you think what's written on this is true?"
"What's real or fake?"
"The king has a male favorite."
"Is there such a thing? Hey, mine and yours seem to be different. Come on, let's swap."
…
Soon, another large group of people came over, looking for acquaintances in the city, and began to persuade them to surrender.
"Er Niu, I am your eldest brother..."
"Sanwa, I am your father-in-law..."
…
The eunuch who was watching immediately realized that something was wrong. While reporting to King Zhao, he ordered a ban on conversation.
However, how could just a few dozen eunuchs stop thousands of soldiers?
The soldiers are not afraid of eunuchs, they are just afraid of King Zhao behind the eunuchs. Now that we have a way out, I will surrender at the worst, so why should I listen to you.
"General, let's surrender." A soldier suddenly pulled out the spear from the eunuch's chest, and a stream of blood spurted onto his face, making his expression look ferocious.
"Wait until night and find some more people." The general said calmly.
…
night.
Liu Ping opened the camp tent, nodded to Ben who was guarding him, then walked in and said excitedly: "Commander, someone came out of the city and surrendered."
"How many people are there?" Zhao Kuo asked quickly.
"It's not a few people, it's a large group, at least several hundred people." Liu Ping's voice was trembling.
"So much!" Zhao Kuo suddenly got up from the couch.
"There are more behind, but no one has opened the city gate yet." Liu Ping said.
"There is no rush, as long as some people start to surrender, Handan City will be captured within three days." Zhao Kuo said. "By the way, the reward should not be less."
"The rewards have been distributed. Because there were ten people in the first batch to surrender, the one hundred gold was divided equally among them, and no one had any objections." Liu Ping said.
Zhao Kuo nodded.
…
Early morning on the third day.
"Your Majesty, something bad has happened. The soldiers guarding the city have escaped." Lou Chang rushed into the palace in panic.
"Isn't it just a few soldiers who escaped? What's the fuss?" Zhao Wangdan waved his hand and said nonchalantly: "Don't worry, Lord Lou. I have sent eunuchs to announce that as long as anyone dares to escape, the whole family will sit together."
"Your Majesty, not just one or two, but a full half of the soldiers are missing." Lou Chang lowered his hands and stamped his feet.
"What! A little half is missing. What can we do?" King Zhao panicked instantly.
"I...go and think of a solution." Lou Chang took a deep look at King Zhao, leaned over and said.
"My safety depends entirely on Lou Qing." King Zhao said sincerely, as if grasping a life-saving straw.
…
"My lord, there is news from the rear that all the grain and grass of the Qin State have been transported to Hedong, and General Feng Ting is arranging for the civilians to be sent to Shangdang." Liu Ping reported.
"Well, let Feng Ting release Hu Yang and Sima Jin." Zhao Kuo nodded.
Qin did not play tricks, and he will not play tricks in this regard.
"But... Qin State said that Meng Ao would be returned to them." Liu Ping said.
"Meng Ao? Haha, Qin didn't mention it when we were in Weinan, but now that I think about it, it's too late. Don't worry about them, just send Hu Yang and Sima Jin back." Zhao Kuo waved his hand and said.
Forget about Hu Yang and Sima Jin, how could Meng Ao be returned to the Qin State? This was a famous general for three generations. If it hadn't been for an accident later, he might have been a famous general for the fourth and fifth generations.
Even if the State of Qin gave Zhao Kuo one million grain and grass, it would be impossible for him to exchange it.
"I will notify General Feng Ting now." Liu Ping leaned over and resigned.
"My lord, Lou Chang wants to see you." At this time, Ben's voice came from outside.
Liu Ping's steps suddenly stopped.
"Louchang?" Zhao Kuo frowned. Le Yi had just reminded him yesterday that the person who cooperated with Qin to spread rumors in Handan was probably Lou Chang.
Lin Xiangru and Zhao Sheng also said that Lou Chang is a villain.
"Invite him in." Zhao Kuo decided to meet him.
"Your Majesty, Lou Chang, pays homage to the king." As soon as Lou Chang entered the tent, he bowed and bowed.
