The fire lasted for a long time, burning from morning to afternoon before it was completely extinguished.
Everything he could see was scorched earth.
Among the ruins, the deputy general of the Chu Army couldn't help but pick up a pile of black soil, trembling his hands, and said sadly: "Han Shuai... our food and grass... are all gone..."
He was already crying uncontrollably.
"What's the use of crying!" Hanzhou's grief-stricken mood was no better than his, but now that it was over, he could only clenched his fists, gritted his teeth and said, "Go back first!"
In the evening, Xiangyang Mansion.
All the generals on the left and right were silent and worried.
The local official who heard the news also hurried over. As soon as he entered the hall, he asked urgently: "Han Shuai, I heard that the granary was destroyed, what happened?"
"Ask me, I want to ask you again!" Han Zhou stared at him with a gloomy face.
"What?" The official was stunned for a moment, and then said anxiously: "This, this, this, what does this mean?"
Hanzhou said coldly: "The Qin army used a secret passage to transport elite troops and sneak into the city. However, Xiangyang City is so strong that it is impossible to dig through it. This secret passage must have existed for a long time. Moreover, how do they know where our army's grain and grass are stored? Judging from this, there must be someone to take over!”
He was suspicious of the officials.
When the officials heard this, they undoubtedly became more anxious and hurriedly said: "Han Shuai Mingjian! Since our army was stationed in Xiangyang, I have tried my best to assist, and I didn't know about the secret passage at all. It was only now that I heard that the grain and grass camp was destroyed!"
Han Zhou looked at him with a scrutinizing gaze and said quietly: "As the order of Xiangyang, you don't know that there is such a secret passage in the city?"
"Han Shuai!" the official said anxiously again: "Although Xiangyang is in charge of Xiangyang, he only took office last year, and it is impossible to understand every brick and tile in the city, and the construction and renovation of Xiangyang City were not by my hands. The guardian of Xiangyang Mansion is Mr. Cui Ji Cui."
After hearing what he said, Hanzhou's expression finally softened a little, and he frowned and began to think deeply.
At this time, a partial general said: "Han Shuai, Mr. Zou has been guarding Xiangyang with us. He has been working hard all along, and most of them are in the army. It is impossible to have anything to do with the Qin army."
"Yes, Han Shuai, none of us thought about the secret channel. It's just that King Qin is too treacherous..."
Seeing this, Han Zhou glanced at everyone first, and then his thoughts changed.
Regardless of whether the official was collaborating with the enemy or not, he was definitely a little suspicious, but now that the food and grass had been destroyed and the situation was critical, there could be no further trouble.
If there is another falling out with the Xiangyang Mansion, the internal troubles will be even greater, which is also what King Qin wants to see most.
After all, Hanzhou is also the commander-in-chief of an army. He still has a view of the overall situation. Thinking of this, he also followed the trend, stood up and bowed his hands to the officials: "The grain and grass camp was destroyed. I am anxious for the moment. If there is anything inappropriate in my words, , I hope Mr. Zou won’t take it personally.”
When the officials heard this, they couldn't help but secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly returned the courtesy: "Oh, what's wrong with Commander Han? I just hope that we can defend Xiangyang and retreat the Qin army."
"Of course." Hanzhou said taking advantage of the situation: "Today's situation is critical. Only by working together can Xiangyang be safe. In this way, Mr. Zou, please work harder and collect supplies from the people to feed the army."
"Is this a forced conscription?" the official asked subconsciously.
"In the current situation, is there any other choice?" Han Zhou asked, he was not willing, but there was nothing he could do.
"Okay... okay." The official also understood and responded helplessly, "But the people in the city don't have much food rations. Even if they launch a forced conscription, I'm afraid it will be a drop in the bucket. And... as time goes by, the people's resentment will become more serious, and there is fear that there will be turmoil."
Upon hearing this, a general said immediately: "There is no food in the army! How can the soldiers fight when they are hungry! How can we take care of the people!"
"Yes, yes..." The official could only nod.
Forced conquest is not the solution, the only solution is to persist for a while longer.
Xiangyang is very large and has a lot of land under its jurisdiction, but the surrounding counties have long been occupied by the Qin army. Now it has become an isolated city, and the fields are not in the city, but in the suburbs. Even if the residents in the city have food, they may only be able to feed themselves. , how to support an army of hundreds of thousands.
As the saying goes, while marching and fighting, food and grass are the most important. Without strong logistical supplies, every plant and tree here will be eaten up sooner or later.
After issuing the order of forced conquest, the officials left, and Hanzhou said to a general: "Tonight, we will send an elite scouting horse to try to send out the news."
"Understood!" Pian Jiang accepted the order with his fists clasped.
Xiangyang was heavily surrounded. If the Qin army intended to blockade it, it would be impossible to get the news out, but Hanzhou had to do this. He had to let Wang Ting know the situation here and deal with it.
On the other side, the Qin army is also studying the Xiangyang issue.
In the Chinese army's tent, Xiao Yuan took the lead and said: "General Wei Qing went deep behind the enemy lines and destroyed the Chu army's food and grass, which gave our army an opportunity for decisive victory. Of course, this is all due to Mr. Cui Ji's advice."
Hearing this, the latter raised his head slightly again.
Xiao Yuan continued: "Next, Hanzhou has no choice but to take forced conquest. Regarding this, Mr. Jia, please tell me."
"Yes." Jia You bowed first and then said: "According to our previous calculations, the rations of the people in Xiangyang City are simply not enough to support the army. Even if the Chu army launches a forced conquest, it will only last for three to five months at most. "
"That is to say, after March and May, Xiangyang will completely run out of food."
"Yes."
As soon as Jia You finished speaking, Cui Ji hurriedly said: "The strategy of defeating the enemy has been successful. Next, when the army continues to besiege, without spending a single soldier, the enemy will be defeated without fighting."
"Of course, just as Mr. Cui said." Xiao Yuan said with a smile.
After saying that, he also swept towards the generals and issued a military order:
"Obey the order!"
"Su Yi will lead our main army and continue to station on the west gate front as a defensive posture. There is no need to attack again."
"No!" The latter accepted the order with his fists clasped.
"Ning Zhan leads 10,000 troops to guard the east gate front, supplemented by archers and crossbowmen."
"Got the order!"
"Xu Rong defends the north gate front and cannot let the Chu army break through."
"Zhang Dashan defends the south gate front..."
After he adjusted the battle line, the situation became clear. The Qin army changed from approaching the city with troops at the beginning to besieging but not attacking.
If Hanzhou wants to break through, he must rush to the west gate, because the other three gates have large ditches with moats. You have to climb up when you come out. The Qin army is condescending and only needs a small number of troops.
However, judging from the current situation, the Chu army will definitely not dare to break through. Hanzhou will most likely place its hope on the changes in the battlefield in order to hold on for one more day and the changes in the Wu and Ling armies.
At this point in the war, on the entire Southern Expedition battlefield, if you look at the overall situation, it can be said that the Wu army is stationed south of the Yangtze River, and Yan Qi is deploying some naval forces. Looking across the river, behind them, the Chu army is trapped by the main force of the Qin army. Xiangyang.
