Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 358 Asking Chu for Help

In the camp of the Ziling Forbidden Army, teams of cavalry were rushing out from the gate.

Xiang Zhuang was dressed in light fur, and surrounded by generals Bailixian, Huyan, Jinxiang, Bailimao, and Youyuan, rode his horse up to the small hill on the right side of the imperial camp, stood on the hill and looked down, The cavalry of the Chu army, heavily armored and full of swords and guns, was rushing northward along the galloping road like a torrent of steel.

"Hululu..." The black horse under the crotch snorted heavily to show its existence.

Wuzima has been with Xiang Zhuang for more than ten years, plus the years of following Xiang Yu before, it can be regarded as a veteran horse with many battles. The service life of war horses rarely exceeds 15 years. Ma Shenjun was unusual, he didn't look old at all, but Xiang Zhuang knew that this might be the last expedition of Wu Xiaoma.

Not only Wu Zhima, this time is likely to be his last personal expedition to Xiangzhuang.

From Xiang Zhuang's point of view, it is foolish for a monarch to take the lead and take risks with his own body. If he had the choice, Xiang Zhuang would never lead the cavalry to expedition to Qi, but there is no way, because this time it was a long-distance attack, and the infantry moved very slowly. It is easy to be dumped by the Qi army, so they can only send cavalry, so Xiangzhuang can only conscript himself.

Chu State is not without generals, but there are not many pure cavalry commanders.

Meng Jie is undoubtedly an excellent cavalry commander. As the fake son of the famous general Meng Tian, ​​Meng Jie has witnessed the glory and decline of the Great Qin Iron Cavalry in Jiuyuan, and has fought against the barbarians in the grassland for many years. He led the army to go out, but unfortunately, Meng Ji was training the cavalry in Jiangling, so he really couldn't spare himself.

Apart from Meng Xun, Sirius General Huyan is also undoubtedly an excellent cavalry commander, but Huyan is a Hun after all, Xiang Zhuang can't give Chu's most elite cavalry to a Hun to lead alone, don't look Hu Yan is now loyal to Xiang Zhuang, but once he leads the army alone, how can he know that he will not have a different heart?

People's hearts will change with changes in the environment and encounters. There are many examples in history.

Meng Xing couldn't separate himself, and Hu Yan was worried, so Xiang Zhuang could only conquer by himself. What's more, looking at the long-distance raid tactics of elite infantry or cavalry, Xiang Zhuang really doesn't think second-handed. Powerful, but in the cavalry's long-distance raid tactics, it may not be stronger than Xiangzhuang.

The only thing that worries Xiang Zhuang is that although the strength of the Xiaoqi Army has doubled compared with the original Xiaoqi Battalion, the overall combat effectiveness seems to have dropped instead. Small cavalry, although these cavalry participated in the Battle of Huainan, there is still a big gap compared with the original veterans of the Xiaoqi Battalion.

However, it is precisely because of this that it is even more necessary to go on an expedition to Qi. This expedition is used to conduct actual combat training. The soldiers who have grown up in the bloody war are the real veterans and the real elite. Relying on training alone, It is never possible to train a real elite teacher.

In the dusty sky, Xiang Zhuang looked away from the rolling iron stream of the Chu army, and asked Baili Xian, "Zi Liang, are the boats for crossing the river ready?"

Bai Lixian put down the feather fan on his forehead, and replied: "Report to Your Majesty, the navy fleet has arrived at Dantu, and the cavalry army can cross the river anytime."

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Zhao State, Handan.

At this moment, the palace has become a mess.

Hearing that the Qi army was going to gather in Pingyuan County, King Zhao Zhang Ao was terrified, and hurriedly called Guoxiang Guangao, Yaxiang Zhang Jing, General Zhao Wu, and Second General Bai Xuan to discuss countermeasures. Several civil and military officials quarreled .

"Old Guangao, I blame you. You caused all the disasters!" Zhang Jing pointed to Guangao's nose and said, "If the king had listened to my advice and lent Qi State 50 shi of grain, Han Xin How can you use troops against me, Da Zhao? It’s all right now, and now it’s all over, but let Han Xin find an excuse to send troops.”

"It's unreasonable!" Guan Gao was so angry that his beard and hair were stretched out, and he glared at Zhang Jing and retorted, "The old man said a long time ago that Han Xin's wolfish ambition will not benefit the country of Zhao sooner or later. If you insist on giving 30 shi of grain to the country of Qi, it's okay now." Yes, the food that was given just now, he turned around and used the food as army rations to gather a large army to attack our country, what is this called?"

"Old Guangao, don't talk nonsense, the 30 shi of grain was not given by me, Zhang Jing."

"If you hadn't spoken greedily in front of the king, how could the king have made such a bad plan? How could he have given food to Qi?"

"Old Guangao, old man, as a minister, it is my duty to advise the monarch and make suggestions. How can I become a slanderer again?"

"All right, all right, stop arguing, you two mistresses." Zhang Ao jumped up anxiously, shaking his hands again and again, "Minister Guo, you are already quite old, so don't get too angry. Don't talk about it, Yaxiang, don't talk about it, the food has been given to the left and right, now you should think about how to withdraw the troops is the proper way."

Guan Gao and Zhang Jing sighed at the same time and stopped talking.

Zhang Ao asked the general Zhao Wu again, "Does the general have a good plan?"

Zhao Wudao: "Your Majesty, the Qi army is powerful, and our country of Zhao is no match for it. Why don't you ask the queen to write a letter, and then hurry up and ask the Han king for help. If the Han army comes to help, the Qi army will retreat without a fight."

Zhang Ao nodded repeatedly and said: "Yes, yes, I will go to the queen now."

Zhang Ao's queen is Liu Yuan, the elder sister of the former prince Liu Ying and Princess Lu Yuan, the eldest daughter of Liu Bang.

Bai Xuan sighed, and said, "Your Majesty, the Han Kingdom is experiencing troubled times, and I'm afraid they won't be able to take care of us."

"Uh, that's right, why did you forget about this?" Zhang Ao suddenly remembered that there had just been a court assassination case in the Han Dynasty. The state of Han is in troubled times, and at such a juncture, Liu Bang, the father-in-law, may not be able to take care of the state of Zhao.

"Then what should I do?" After a pause, Zhang Ao said again, "What should I do?"

Bai Xuandao: "Your Majesty, the Qi army failed in the conquest of Huainan earlier, which cost a lot of money and food. Not long ago, they aggressively invaded Liang, so that the army was short of food and had to borrow food from our country. This shows that Qi has not much food in reserve. The plan is to recruit soldiers from all prefectures and counties to gather in Handan and defend to the death, and when the food is exhausted, the Qi army will naturally retreat."

Zhang Jingdao: "Your Majesty, Han Xin's soldiers are like gods. If he wants to defend Handan, he must seek foreign aid."

Zhang Ao said: "Foreign aid? Who else? Who dares to rescue Zhao? Even if King Han and King Yan have intentions, how dare they become enemies with King Qi?"

Zhang Jingdao: "Naturally, King Han and King Yan would not dare to be enemies with King Qi, but how dare King Chu!"

Zhang Ao said: "King of Chu? Chu is the enemy of Zhao, how could Xiang Zhuang send troops?"

Zhang Jingdao: "The so-called one moment is the same as this moment. In the past, Zhao State and Chu State were enemies, but now we have a common enemy Qi State. Then there is an opportunity to turn the enemy into a friend." , Zhang Jing said again, "Also, whether Xiang Zhuang is willing to send troops to rescue him or not, you can only know by trying."

Guan Gao said: "Bringing the Chu army to rescue, I'm afraid the front door drives away the wolves, and the back door enters the tiger!"

Zhang Jinghuo said: "Old Guan Gao, what do you mean? Are you deliberately against me?"

Guan Gao said coldly: "Isn't what the old man said true? If Han Xin is a wolf, then Xiangzhuang is a tiger. If it really attracted the Chu army and repelled the Qi army, it would be nothing more than escaping from the wolf's claws. Into the tiger's mouth."

Zhang Jing said angrily: "Old Guan Gao, how do you know that Han Xin and Xiang Zhuang won't both suffer?"

Seeing that the two were about to quarrel again, Zhang Ao quickly stopped him, and asked Zhao Wu again, "General, what do you think?"

Zhao Wudao: "Ask Chu for help. The problem is that Handan is thousands of miles away from Ziling. When our envoys arrive at Ziling, then go to the king of Chu to gather troops, mobilize food and grass, and then send troops to Handan. Let's not talk about it." It will take several months, and by that time, the battle of Handan may have already been decided."

Bai Xuandao: "That's not necessarily the case. Handan has high walls, deep ditches, strong defenses, and sufficient food and grass in the warehouses. I thought it would be more than enough to hold on for half a year. Although Han Xinxin's soldiers are powerful, it is delusional to capture Handan within half a year."

"Okay." Zhang Ao said hastily, "Then condemn the envoy, and immediately send the envoy to Ziling to seek help from Chu State."

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Qinghe County, Han Xin Xingyuan.

Han Xin was standing in front of the screen quietly looking at Zhao's mountains, rivers, rivers and Luotu. Behind Han Xin stood Lou Jing, Han He, and generals Cheng Hei, Zhao Xi, Lu Qing, and Xu Zhang. The situation in Liang was getting worse. As things calmed down, Zhao Yan and Shen Tujia were quite capable, and Han Xin was finally free to use his troops against Zhao Guo.

After a long while, Han Xin asked, "Have the envoys sent to Korea and Yan set off yet?"

This time, Han Xin is determined to win the army against Zhao. Looking at the world, Chu is beyond reach, and Han is self-sufficient. Since the defeat of Huainan Wang Yingbu, he has been addicted to wine and sex, and he has no ambitions. And Yan Guo, can also pose a certain threat to the battle to pacify Zhaodi.

Han Wang Han Xin and Yan Wang Zang Tu are not good enemies, and they will not be ignorant of the reason why their lips are dead and their teeth are cold. If Qi State destroys Zhao State, then the next targets to deal with must be South Korea and Yan State. Regardless of other factors, Han Wang Han Xin and Yan Wang Zang Tu would definitely send troops under such circumstances.

However, King Han Xin of Han and King Zang Tu of Yan had always feared Han Xin, so they might not dare to send troops.

Lou Jing clasped his hands, and replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, the envoys sent to South Korea and Yan have already set off. With Your Majesty's reminder, Han Wang Han Xin and Yan Wang Zang Tu will most likely not dare to send troops. "

Han Xin smiled slightly, and a smug look appeared on his face.

Lou Jing thought for a while, then suddenly said: "However, I always feel that Chu State is unlikely to stand by and watch."

"Chu State?" Han Xin shook his head, disapprovingly said, "Chu State is too far away from Hebei, Xiang Zhuang has intentions, but when the Chu army arrives in Hebei, I don't know how many times Zhao State has been destroyed."

(End of this chapter)