"Report!"
An urgent voice interrupted Zhao Kuo, who was meditating on the map.
"Come in." Turning around, Zhao Kuo said to the outside of the tent.
"General, Handan forwards urgent report to Yanyucheng!" The messenger handed over a silk letter with both hands.
Zhao Kuo took the silk book and slowly unfolded it. As usual, his brows instantly furrowed - what was supposed to come has finally come!
"Order Chen Xun, Sun Gu, Zhou Qi, and Zhao Wei to come to the Central Army to discuss matters." Zhao Kuo took a deep breath and immediately ordered.
"Yes." The messenger on the side immediately agreed.
That's right, Zhao Kuo is in Dai City now, and Zhao Wei has also rushed to Dai City with more than 20,000 elites. All this is of course not a coincidence, but a good show directed by Zhao Kuo.
Holding the silk book, Zhao Kuo slowly walked to the main seat, then sat down and spread the silk book on the table.
Zhao Kuo knew very well that a historic moment had arrived again.
If the Changping Battle changed the fate of Zhao State and the pattern of the Warring States Period, then the next battle was the battle that would change the fate of Zhao Kuo himself and the whole of China.
Although Li Mu has finished the first half of the song and sang it to great success, if he doesn't sing well in the second half, he will still fall short.
To make this play a success, it is inseparable from the efforts of all Zhao people present and absent. Zhao Kuo couldn't help but treat it with such caution - a person who travels a hundred miles is only half a mile.
Soon, the four people were hurriedly summoned by the messenger. 33
Zhao Kuozheng warned himself repeatedly: Whenever encountering a major event, you must remain calm. Although there was a storm in his heart, on the surface, Zhao Kuo remained calm.
After some greetings and sitting down, Zhao Kuo began to speak.
"I just received the letter from Handan Lin Shangqing and Pingyuan Jun. Flying pigeons pass the letter." Zhao Kuo's tone was obviously a little heavy, and then he handed the cloth on the table to General Chen Xun, who was closest to him, and motioned for them to circulate it.
"As the letter says, my king led his army to pursue the remnants of the Yan army, and was ambushed by the Yan army. The army was defeated." Zhao Kuo slowly told this unbelievable news.
"How can it be?!"
"My king has more than 40,000 troops, all of whom are elites from hundreds of battles!"
...
Everyone present looked at Zhao Kuo in disbelief. Although they knew in their hearts that the general would not joke about such a thing, this was too unbelievable.
You know, just a few days ago, it was reported that our army had surrounded the Yan army in Anping City and was unable to move?
Why did the situation suddenly reverse today? Even if there are more than 30,000 pigs, Yan Jun will not be able to catch them all in a few days! Even if the king doesn't understand the military, there is still Li Mu, the general's favorite general, among the army? How could such a thing happen.
Zhao Kuo did not explain, and the few people immediately ignored the etiquette and hurriedly gathered around General Chen Xun to examine the inconspicuous cloth.
"What? Li Mu was sent out of the camp?"
"Pingyang Lord and Lou Chang rule the army together?"
"How ridiculous is this yellow bell destroying the earthenware cauldron and thundering!"
Except for Zhao Wei, everyone present had seen how cowardly Lord Pingyang was. It would be strange if he could manage an army like that! Immediately, everyone frowned and complained.
Zhao Kuo still didn't speak, because the real climax was yet to come!
Sure enough, within a moment, everyone's pupils dilated, and then they all looked at Zhao Kuo.
Zhao Kuo then nodded and said: "There is no doubt that it was written by Shang Qing and Lord Pingyuan in their own hand."
After a long sigh, Zhao Kuo said slowly: "My king was injured by a stray arrow when the army was defeated. He died after being sent back to Handan."
Several people who heard this were silent. I feel a bit sad, a bit hateful, a bit confused and even a bit...happy? Only they themselves know.
The reason why there are so many complicated emotions is that everyone's position is too special.
Three of the four, except Chen Xun, can be said to be die-hard supporters of General Zhao Kuo, and even Chen Xun has gradually moved towards Zhao Kuo's camp. As for King Zhao's persecution of the general, several people saw it with their eyes.
Naturally, several people were emotionally repelled by King Zhao. Although it may not have reached the point where "I will die on this day and when will I die, and you will both die", it is definitely not a good thing.
But on the other hand, King Zhao was the supreme ruler of the State of Zhao after all, and such a figure was killed by the Yan army. As General Zhao, he really should show some sadness and hatred.
"How could it be?" Chen Xun obviously still didn't want to believe the result.
Of course, Chen Xun's suspicion is not unreasonable. You must know that although the battlefield is dangerous, the chance of the general dying in a battle is actually very low, especially if the general does not go to the battlefield to fight in person.
First, the general is in the center of the army. If he wants to take the enemy general's head in the midst of thousands of troops, he has to cross countless defenses. It's just a story at all;
Secondly, the general is surrounded by his own soldiers to protect him. You must know that military law says: if the general dies, all his soldiers will be killed! Therefore, whether it is out of loyalty or for the lives of themselves and their families, once the general encounters danger, the soldiers around him will risk their lives to protect the general.
Therefore, unless someone like Zhao Kuo is at the forefront of the battle personally wielding the sword, the general of the army is relatively safe.
Especially for King Zhao, a living King Zhao is obviously much more useful than a dead King Zhao.
Even if the Yan army had a choice, they would rather let King Zhao go than kill him.
Defeating Zhao Jun or even encircling and annihilating Zhao Jun's tens of thousands of troops is not a big deal. There is no one who will not die in a war. You will die more today, and I will die more tomorrow. I can accept it.
But if you fight, you fight. If you kill our king in a hurry, it is no longer a slap in the face, but a slap in the eye!
There's nothing to say, let's decide between superior and inferior, let's decide between life and death!
The reason why Qin and Chu became the most mortal enemy among mortal enemies cannot be solved no matter how hard it is, and the root of it has to be explained by King Huai of Chu.
Why did the Qi State recover from the ashes with two cities after the five kingdoms' conquests? Tian Dan's role is naturally decisive, but you have to admit that the death of King Qi Min also attracted a lot of sympathy votes.
No matter how confused a king is, he cannot be allowed to be manipulated by other countries. This is the tacit bottom line of all countries!
Even if Zhao State captures King Yan this time, unless King Zhao wants to directly destroy Yan State, he will send King Yan back as a gift after handing over the peace letter and handing over the city. This is also one of the few rituals left over from the Spring and Autumn Period.
Therefore, "injured by Liu Ya, the injury was serious and fatal" can be said to be the only possible, or reasonable, way for King Yan to die. Although this statement is still somewhat unbelievable.
Of course Zhao Kuo knew that Li Mu's handwriting was probably indispensable.
But obviously, Zhao Kuo didn't want to dwell on this. He just needed to know, and let everyone know: King Zhao was dead, and it was enough that he died in the hands of the Yan army.
King Zhao has died. Before the new King Zhao is registered, he, Zhao Kuo, the general of Zhao State, will be the biggest talker in Zhao State now!
King Zhao died in the hands of the Yan army. As a new person, it is reasonable to avenge the old person.
"That's the fact. It's useless to think too much." Zhao Kuo's faint voice immediately sounded, quietly lifting everyone's doubts: "What we have to do is to avenge the king."
Everyone nodded after hearing this. Having experienced hundreds of battles, they knew very well that anything could happen on the battlefield, especially when breaking out of a siege. Problems may arise if you are not careful.
There is no point in worrying about how the king was injured by Liu Ya. What is more important is to take advantage of the opportunity before the Yan army has gone far to launch revenge and not hesitate to wait for revenge.
"I am willing to obey the command of the general." The four people looked at each other and then handed over their hands to Zhao Kuo and accepted the order. Obviously the four of them also knew that if they did not avenge such a big hatred, I am afraid that even if Zhao Guo could survive for a while, he would have to withdraw from the struggle for hegemony. The stage.
"Okay." Zhao Kuo nodded, and then led a few people to the map. This time he continued: "After the war, Li Mu gathered the remaining soldiers and had nearly 20,000 soldiers. Currently, these 30,000 people are blocking the road. The Yan army fled eastward on the route back to the country, and there were still 20,000 infantry in Handan City. They were insufficient to attack, but more than enough to defend.
Therefore, in fact, the Yan Army's 70,000 to 80,000 troops have been besieged by our army in this vast area from Handan City to Anping City.
Our army currently has 30,000 troops at its disposal, including 20,000 cavalry and 10,000 infantry. Including Li Mu's troops, the number is roughly around 60,000. Although it is still less than the 80,000 Yan army, it is not impossible. beat. "
Zhao Kuo was gesturing on the map as he spoke.
"Will the Yan army forcefully go south or north, and then eastward to return to the country?" Zhou Qi on the side immediately asked: "In this case, if our army wants to fight in the Yan country, it may not be easy."
Obviously, Zhou Qi, who has experienced these battles, has a higher level of grasp of the terrain near Anping City than others, so he also has some expectations of the possible methods Yan Jun will take.
When Zhao Kuo heard this, he shook his head without hesitation.
To the south, we still have Hanoi County and the alliance of the Wei army. If the Yan army does not want to be dragged down by our army in Zhao, it will be impossible to pass by here.
It's not impossible to go north, it's just because the farther north you get, the closer you are to the grassland, and the terrain becomes flatter. And in this battle, it is obvious that the Yan army brought mostly infantry in order to attack the city. In such a situation Not to mention being faster than horses on the plains, it is very likely that they will directly become the rations of the Zhao army's cavalry.
Then Zhao Kuo responded: "It's unlikely. The south is blocked by our city, so it's not advisable to take a long way back; and the north is mostly plains, which is more convenient for our army to fight, so it's also difficult. Moreover, I believe General Li Mu." "
What to believe?
I believe Li Mu will hold back the Yan army no matter what...
Once you have this judgment, the rest of the things will be much easier to handle.
Some people died, but not completely...
