The words "the sun is setting in the west" instantly appeared in Lu Buwei's mind.
Although I generally understand Zhao Kuo's intention, the question is, when will this setting sun sink? Lu Buwei obviously didn't know what Li Mu was planning.
Of course, Zhao Kuo would not say that - there are some things that can only be said but not done, but there are also some things that can only be done but not said.
For example, what Li Mu was planning, even to Zhao Kuo, Li Mu only expressed his meaning in implicit ways, and the words of regicide were absolutely forbidden. Zhao Kuo couldn't even touch it. As Zhao Kuo's future general, Li Mu naturally had to remain absolutely clean.
This was how it was originally. Li Mu never did anything intentionally. Everything was just as Lin Shangqing said: just let nature take its course.
Similarly, Zhao Kuo can provide clues for Lu Buwei to guess the future possibilities, but he cannot tell directly. Of course, everything will suddenly become clearer after the dust settles on Li Mu's side.
Here Lu Buwei was still trying to figure out the meaning of Zhao Kuo's words, but Zhao Kuo had already led everyone to the gate of Yanyu City. Then amidst a burst of lively gongs and drums, Zhao Kuo greeted the army with a smile on his face. "Triumph".
Because of Zhao Kuo's arrival, almost all the people in the city crowded outside the city gate.
Looking at the delighted faces, Zhao Kuo knew that he had taken a solid step towards unifying the Zhao Kingdom.
As for the other step, we have to look at Li Mu who is far away in Handan County.
After several days of pursuit, the number of troops around King Yan had been reduced to less than 35,000 men and horses, and the losses were as high as more than 15,000 people.
Of course, the number of people who were actually defeated by Zhao Jun was probably less than 10,000. As for the remaining thousands of people, needless to say, they naturally fell behind or even ran away during the march.
In any case, after losing more than 15,000 troops, King Yan's army finally returned to "the place where the dream began" - Anping City at the junction of Yan and Zhao.
The good news is that we are only one step away from Yandi;
The bad news is that Zhao's 40,000-strong army has almost completed the siege of Anping City on three sides.
Oh, there is another good news: because of the meager results along the way, King Zhao really couldn't bear it. Li Mu, who was the deputy general of the army, was not only deprived of his post as deputy general. After completing the three-sided siege of Anping City, King Zhao also decisively Taking back the military power into his own hands.
Of course, everyone knew that Li Mu had tried his best. It could even be said that the ability to block King Yan in Anping City was thanks to Li Mu's bold use of troops.
However, everyone also knows better that King Zhao needs a personal victory! And in this great victory, Li Mu especially cannot be involved. Who knows that Li Mu has already engraved Zhao Kuo's brand on him.
Li Mu naturally knew this very well.
Even so, Li Mu still tried his best to prepare for King Zhao, and his hard-working and uncomplaining manner was something that no one could find fault with.
However, what Li Mu did was certainly not to achieve success for King Zhao and his direct lineage. Li Mu knew very well the principle of "if you want to get something eventually, you must give it first" - counting the time, the Yan army that had withdrawn from Yanyu City should have almost arrived!
Yes, Li Mu's arrangements were in place, but they were only in place on the side facing Anping City. There was only one missing from the three surrounding areas, and on the missing side, tens of thousands of troops were arranged to ambush, as if they were going to overthrow the Yan army. All the postures left behind.
But the seemingly reasonable layout revealed huge loopholes on the sides of the formation.
An army of 40,000, leaving behind an army of 10,000 in ambush, meant that the number of troops besieging Anping City was only 30,000, which was even less than the Yan army in the city. Not to mention, there were at least 40,000 Yan troops heading south. Fifty thousand people.
With such an arrangement, even if King Zhao had a person who was half knowledgeable about military matters, he would not make such a superficial mistake.
Of course, such a formation arrangement does not mean that it is completely impossible to fight. Even from a military point of view, there is no problem. Otherwise, wouldn't Li Mu have trapped himself in a place of injustice?
The key to this battle is to create a time difference. That is, before the Yan army from the south of the city arrived, he launched a fierce attack on Anping City, forcing the panicked Yan army to continue on the road to escape.
In this way, the ambush army can deal a devastating blow to the fleeing Yan army.
After destroying King Yan's troops, the army turned its spearhead and destroyed the enemies who fled south. Only in this way can we achieve complete victory.
And the most taboo thing about such a layout is waiting!
Although during the waiting process, the Yan army in the city continued to have people fleeing or even surrendering, the Yan army in the city also became weaker and weaker as they waited, but the number of Yan army in Yan Yu City was too great!
Therefore, the longer he waits, the more dangerous it is for Zhao Jun.
However, no one would inform King Zhao of this calculation. In other words, even if someone informed King Zhao, King Zhao would not believe it at all - how dare the frightened Yan Jun to fight back?
This is no wonder King Zhao. I can only say that the scene watching the battle on the tower really gave King Zhao too much confidence. 33
Of course, from a probability perspective, it is very likely that the Yan army heading south from Yanhe City would not be able to follow the same path as King Yan, and would not be able to follow the enemy.
Here I have to mention Li Mu’s methods. In fact, the route that King Yan took to escape eastward was far beyond Anping City, but he was harassed by Li Mu and had to enter Anping City.
What’s even more coincidental is that the shortest route back to Yan State from Yanyucheng is to pass through Anping and go east...
It can be said that Anping City was the meeting place carefully arranged by Li Mu for the Yan army.
Fortunately, in the face of a possible counterattack by the Yan army, King Zhao finally ordered the deployment of troops and horses from Handan to assist in the battle under Li Mu's strong request.
However, there are only more than 20,000 soldiers and horses left in Handan City today. The most that can be sent out is more than 10,000 people, which are still a ragtag group of healthy servants, not to mention the transmission of orders, the assembly and march of the team. It all takes time.
And with the strength of the Yan army, King Zhao obviously couldn't wait for the reinforcements he wanted!
It can be said that Li Mu's belated "strong suggestion", apart from showing his sincere side, did not help the war effort at all.
It's just that unless someone is well versed in military affairs, there is no way to know these plans. Even an ordinary general, after checking the military reports, would only come to the conclusion that it was King Zhao's stubbornness that delayed the opportunity to mobilize troops.
Because all he could see was Li Mu's repeated persuasion and Zhao Wang's repeated refutations. In the end, Li Mu was even deposed from military power because of this.
In this way, a killing game against King Zhao has been quietly arranged in the joy of victory.
All that's left is to have a perfect alibi!
Some people died, but not completely...
