Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 15
There is a valley in the north of Shouchun City, named Baizhang Yougu. In the valley there are green and lush bamboos, and there are more than a dozen thatched huts and bamboo houses in the middle. He said to Xiang Zhuang: "General, that is the bamboo house where the hermit lives."

Xiang Zhuang got off his horse immediately, crossed the wooden bridge over the stream and came to the bamboo house.

In the courtyard, two old hens were pecking at food, and a yellow dog was barking at Xiang Zhuang and others through the fence. Soon, a middle-aged man came out from the main room. Clothes, handsome appearance, can not tell the age, maybe fifty years old, maybe six or seventy years old, at least can not tell from the appearance.

Seeing the uninvited guests from Xiang Zhuang, and even Jing Qian and senior soldiers in armor and holding swords, the man did not show much surprise, let alone a trace of panic, he just bowed lightly through the fence: "I don't know. There is a distinguished guest coming from far away, but the old man has never greeted him from far away, I am rude, I am rude, hehe..."

Xiang Zhuang bowed deeply, and said, "Mr. Wei Liao, I have long admired you!"

"I'm afraid the general has identified the wrong person." The man waved his hand and said with a natural expression, "I am not Wei Liao."

After all, the man had already opened the chaimen, Xiang Zhuang strode in, and said again: "So, dare to ask Mr. Gao's name?"

The man smiled slightly, and said calmly: "The old man is nothing more than a villager in the mountains. It doesn't matter if you don't mention your name. If the general is polite, you can call him sir. If you are not polite, you can call him whatever you want."

Xiang Zhuang couldn't help but secretly rejoiced when he heard the words, but this calm and calm conversation was enough to tell that this man was not an ordinary person. If he was really a villager, he would have seen Jing Qian, Gao Chu and others just now. The dozens of soldiers who accompanied him had already turned pale with shock, so how could they talk like they are now?

At that moment, the men let Xiang Zhuang, Wu She, Jing Qian, and Gao Chu into the main room of Zhushe. As for the accompanying dozens of soldiers, they naturally stayed outside.

After the guests and hosts were seated, Xiang Zhuang said bluntly: "Sir, to be honest, I am the General Xiang Zhuang of the Western Chu Kingdom. A few days ago, my hundreds of thousands of Chu troops were defeated in the next battle of Gai. The life and death of my king is also uncertain. The state of Chu is already facing a catastrophe, and I am here to ask the master for a plan to save Chu."

"The general is serious." The man shook his head, and said calmly, "I'm just a villager, how can I know the important affairs of the military and the country? If the general doesn't want to delay the rescue of Chu Daye, it's better to leave early and find another good talent. After saying this, the man said again, "However, this old man has 32 chapters of "Wei Liaozi" which has not been written yet, the general wants to take it."

After finishing speaking, the man clapped his hands lightly. Two boys had already entered the main room carrying a basket of bamboo slips. Xiang Zhuang picked up a scroll and unfolded it.At that moment Xiang Zhuang concealed the scroll and said: "Mr. also said that he is not Wei Liao. You need to know that there are only 32 chapters of "Wei Liaozi" handed down to the world, but there are 31 chapters here, sir. How can you explain this?"

The man stroked his beard and smiled, "This old man is indeed not Wei Liao, but he has an old relationship with Wei Liao. The 32 chapters of "Wei Liaozi" were given to him by Wei Liao several years ago, especially the last 32nd chapter. It has never been handed down to the world, but today I am generous to others and gave it to the general."

Xiang Zhuang immediately frowned, he was sure that this old guy was Wei Liao, but he didn't admit it.

As the old saying goes, a scholar can know the affairs of the world without going out. Although this old guy lives in seclusion, he must be very concerned about the general situation of the world. He also knows most of the difficulties faced by Chu State. Wei Liao, I'm afraid it's because Chu has no hope of revival?
After a moment of silence, Xiang Zhuang said again: "Do you think that there is no hope for Chu State?"

The man said indifferently: "The general is serious. I am just a farmer, so how dare I speak nonsense about important military affairs?"

Wu She, who was sitting at the bottom, couldn't bear it any longer, and couldn't help but retort: ​​"A few years ago, I discussed military strategy with you several times, and many of your insights are quite unique, and I admire them very much. Why did the general come to the door today? Come to ask for a virtuous person, but the master insists on making excuses, why is that?"

The man said indifferently: "Sir, I don't know. Those tactics and strategies are based on my old friend's writings, not my own opinions. If you really feel that those opinions are unique, you might as well learn from this "Wei Liao" There are 32 articles in "Zi", I think I can also gain something."

Xiang Zhuang was slightly angry, and when he was about to explode, a soldier came in with a heavy expression, and whispered a few words to Gao Chu, Gao Chu's expression changed drastically, and he immediately stepped forward to Xiang Zhuang's ear He whispered: "General, report back from the scouts, the Han general Fan Kui has led the army across Quyang County, and it is less than fifty miles away from Shouchun!"

"Fan Kuai!?" Xiang Zhuang's heart trembled, and he asked again, "How many troops are there?"

"At least three thousand, maybe more!" Gao Chu said in a deep voice, "Moreover, they are all elite soldiers in armor!"

Xiang Zhuang nodded, then slowly turned his head to stare at the man, and said coldly: "Sir, have you made up your mind not to admit that you are Wei Liao?"

The man smiled wryly, "I'm not Wei Liao in the first place, how can I admit it?"

"Hmph, then don't blame me for being rude to you!" Xiang Zhuang snorted, looking back at Jing Qian and said, "Jing Qian, tie this old guy up and take him away!"

"Ah?" Wu She hurriedly stopped, "General, you can't do this!"

Xiang Zhuang was unmoved at all, and Jing Qian even ordered two of his own soldiers to rush forward like tigers and wolves, knocking the man to the ground with two strokes, and tied him tightly again. Surprised, while struggling hard, he shouted in protest: "It's an insult to the gentleman, it's really an insult to the gentleman..."

"Sven? I'm not a scholar! Take it away!"

After saying that, Xiang Zhuang turned around and left. Wei Liao, an old guy, refused to admit it, so he had to kidnap him forcibly.

Although it is impolite to do so, but the Han army has already overwhelmed the country, Xiang Zhuang has no time to imitate Liu Bei and pay attention to the thatched cottage. This is the only opportunity, if you miss it, you will miss it. For a military strategist like Wei Liao, Xiang Zhuang is absolutely not worth it. Wishing to miss it, as for whether Wei Liao is willing to advise him, we will talk about it later.

Anyway, even if Wei Liao refused to work for him, he must not be allowed to be used by Liu Bang. Liu Bang already had Zhang Liang and Chen Ping as his assistants, plus Wei Liao, would he still be allowed to live?

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When Xiang Zhuang returned to Shouchun, Huan Chu, Ji Bu and others were already in a panic. The Han army was overwhelmed, but the general didn't know where to go. What's the matter?

Seeing Xiang Zhuang, Huan Chu breathed a sigh of relief and said, "General, you are back. Just now when the scouts reported back, Fan Kui, the number one general under Liu Bang, has already led thousands of armored soldiers to kill Ben Shouchun! Fan Kui's army must have rushed Come with us, tell me, general, how will this battle be fought? Should we defend the city, or go out of the city to fight the Han army?"

"Defend the city? Field battle?" Xiang Zhuang waved his hands and said, "No, we abandon the city!"

"what?"

"Abandon the city?"

"No way, it was hard to win Shouchun, how can you say that you just give up if you give up?"

"That's right, Shouchun City is high and deep, and Fan Kuai's army is only three to five thousand armored soldiers, so it may not be possible to enter the city!"

Huan Chu, Ji Bu, Xiao Gongjiao and other generals immediately blew up their nests. Although Zhong Limei didn't say anything, he also disapproved of Xiang Zhuang's decision. Shouchun is such a fortified city that it must be abandoned without a fight. What a pity.

"Here's an order to evacuate the whole army from Shouchun and turn to the northwest mountainous area!" Xiang Zhuang was completely unmoved.

Field battle with Fan Kuai's army?That is courting death!Not to mention that the thousands of troops led by Fan Kui were all well-armored and sharp soldiers. Even if they were light soldiers or miscellaneous soldiers, the Chu army had no chance of winning. , No fighting spirit, what to fight with others?
What's even more frightening is that if the two armies confront each other, a human head is suddenly picked up in the Han army, and it is Xiang Yu's head, what will happen then?I'm afraid that the more than 3000 remnants of the Chu army will bomb the camp in an instant!At that time, there is no need for the Han army to fight at all, and the remnants of the Chu army will collapse by themselves.

To stick to Shouchun?That's called sitting and waiting!
Although Shouchun City is high and deep, it is not easy for Fan Kui's army to capture it in a hurry, but in the same way, it will be difficult for the remnants of the Chu army to break through Shouchun. Once blocked, more than 3000 remnants of the Chu army have really become birds in cages and turtles in urns!

At that time, even if Fan Kuai's army could not defeat Shouchun, wouldn't there still be Zhou Yin's [-] rebels?
Even if Zhou Yin's 20 rebels could not enter Shouchun, wouldn't there still be Liu Bang's 20 troops?Could it be that the remnants of the three thousand Chu army could really cook Liu Bang's [-] troops in one pot in Shouchun?
Therefore, it is absolutely impossible to head-to-head with Fan Kuai's army. The only chance for the Chu army is to outwit it!
Although Fan Kui was the number one general under Liu Bang's command and the second most powerful general after Xiang Yu in the entire Chu-Han period, he was basically a brave and foolish man, and it shouldn't be difficult to defeat him with tricks.

Huan Chu and Ji Bu wanted to persuade him again, but Xiang Zhuang said coldly: "Those who disobey the order...beheaded!"

Huan Chu and Ji Bu remained silent, and immediately bowed to Zhong Limo and Xiao Gongjiao, "No!"

Although Huan Chu and others are still dissatisfied, Xiang Zhuang's prestige has been initially established through the Battle of Shouchun, and Xiang Zhuang's ruthlessness was impressive when he killed Xiang Bo before, so as long as it is not about the life and death of the Chu army No one dared to challenge Xiang Zhuang's prestige anymore.

After the order was issued, more than 2000 remnants of the Chu army immediately withdrew from Shouchun City. Long before this, Yu Ziqi had already led more than 500 remnants out of Shouchun. The grain was smuggled out of the city, and it should have been transported into the deep mountains and old forests in the northwest.

(End of this chapter)