Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 386 The Battle of Huainan
"Oh? Meng Jie smashed the mountains, and Huyan smashed the Wuxi barbarians?!" Xiang Zhuang was excited when he heard the words, and said anxiously, "Okay, then Jiangdong and Jingxiang will have no more worries!" After saying this, Xiang Zhuang said again, "Old Qu, send a message to Linxiang and Shanyin Flying Pigeon immediately, and let Huyan and Meng Zui come to Nanyang to help in the battle!"

"Here!" Qu Bucai bowed to Xiang Zhuang, and took his orders to go.

Only then did Bai Lixian sit up on his knees, and said to Xiang Zhuang with a smile: "Your Majesty, you can rest assured now."

Xiang Zhuang nodded, then shook his head and said: "The two hidden dangers of Shanyue and Wuxi Man have been solved, and there will probably be no problems in Nanyue Kingdom. There are Pang Yu in Qiang, Di, and Ranlong in the west of Shu. It doesn't matter if you forgive me, but the people in Huainan are still a little worried, Han Xin and Ying Bu work together, learning swords may not be a sure chance of victory."

After a pause, Xiang Zhuang said again: "How about transferring the Xiao cavalry army to Huainan?"

The feather fan in Bai Lixian's hand paused slightly, and he frowned and said: "But our troops are also very tense. According to the information provided by Wumuya, this time Liu Bang conscripted a full 50 cavalry troops. One hundred thousand Hu cavalry, if there are no more than [-] fine cavalry from the Xiao cavalry army, how can we resist Liu Bang's cavalry?"

Xiang Zhuang was silent, and after a while he said: "The widow go out for a walk."

As a veteran, Xiang Zhuang knows that he can't be negligent at any time, especially during the day when Zhou Guanfu beheaded eight generals from the Chu Kingdom. Come to steal the camp, but if the Han army really dares to come overnight to steal the camp, I promise to give them a big surprise.

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As expected by Xiang Zhuang, someone in the Han army really wanted to steal the camp overnight.

This person is Zhou Guanfu. Zhou Guanfu boldly walked into Liu Bang's king's tent, bowed his hands and said, "Your Majesty, the Chu army lost eight generals in a row during the day and has already lost their spirit. Why don't you take the opportunity to steal the camp tonight?" With a murderous look, he said, "I don't need too many troops, only eight thousand elite cavalry from the headquarters is enough."

Zhou Bo, who was drinking with Liu Bang, hurriedly scolded: "My son is not allowed to act foolishly, Xiang Zhuang Shi is a hero, although the Chu army loses their spirit during the day, how can they be defenseless at night?"

But Liu Bang pondered and said: "Steal the camp at night? Maybe you can try."

"Your Majesty, don't!" Chen Ping sat up on his knees anxiously, shaking his hands and said, "Since the introduction of the new law in Chu State, domestic industry and commerce have flourished, and various new types of equipment have emerged one after another. The benefits of the equipment are far beyond what our army can match. , Therefore, our army, with a small number of elite soldiers, went to steal the camp at night, and they could only die in vain."

Zhou Guanfu said: "Why does Zuo Junshi build up the ambition of others and destroy his own prestige?"

Chen Ping said: "Champion Hou speaks seriously, I'm just discussing the facts."

Seeing Chen Ping's resolute objection, Liu Bang hesitated, and asked Zhang Liang again, "Zifang, what do you think?"

Zhang Liang stroked his increasingly sparse goatee, and said slowly: "My lord, even if the Chu army has no weapons, stealing the camp at night is the best strategy." Having said this, Zhang Liang said to Zhou Guanfu again , "Champion Hou is eager to kill the enemy, which is understandable, but let's wait until the next day to kill the enemy and make meritorious deeds."

Seeing that Zhang Liang said the same thing, Zhou Guanfu fell silent.

Liu Bang also said at the moment: "Forget it, then tomorrow we will have a decisive battle with the Chu army."

Zhou Bo frowned, and persuaded: "Your Majesty, our army has enough food and grass, so there is no need to rush to a decisive battle with the enemy."

Chen Ping also echoed: "What the Taiwei said is very true. Although our army is superior in strength, the Chu army is well-equipped and well-trained. In the decisive battle, the Chu army is united and their weapons are strong, and our army's chances of winning are really slim, so it is better to stick to it and wait for changes."

Zhang Liang smiled slightly, and said, "Your Majesty, the Chu army is now fighting on multiple fronts."

"That's right, how did I forget this?" Liu Bang patted his forehead and said, "When the Shanyue, Wuxi, Qiang, Di and other barbarians invade Jiangdong, Jingxiang, and the hinterland of Bashu, the Chu army will only If we can be forced to retreat, then the Chu army will surely be defeated, and our army will surely win, haha.”

Zhang Liang shook his head and said, "The key is Huainan."

Chen Ping's eyes lit up. Hearing what Zhang Liang said, the Chu army would definitely lose in the battle of Huainan?

"Huainan?" Liu Bang would be wrong, and said, "Huainan is really troublesome. Han Xin doesn't know what to do. Since three years ago, he seems to have changed himself. He hides in the Linzi palace all day long. He doesn’t go out very much, this time the Chu army invaded Huainan, and he just let the prince Han He lead the army, isn’t this a joke?”

Zhang Liang waved his hand and said, "Your Majesty, do you really think Han Xin would be so reckless?"

"Zifang, what do you mean?" Liu Bang asked in amazement, "Could it be that Han Xin secretly..."

Zhang Liang clapped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, think about it carefully, from Chencang to Puban, then from Puban to Jingxing, then from Jingxing to Weishui, and finally to the Battle of Gaixia, the classic battles commanded by Han Xin, How could Han Xin be an exception in this Huainan battle?"

Liu Bang gasped and said: "So, Han Xin will also go out secretly?"

"Of course, I expect that Han Xin will conquer it himself." After Zhang Liang said this, he said firmly, "Also, I expect that Han Xin will send surprise soldiers to intercept the Chu army's grain road! If the Chu army's grain road is intercepted, the battle of Huainan will be decided." Defeat is certain! At that time, the army of Qi State will be able to march southward and approach Jiangdong, and Xiangzhuang will not be able to retreat even if he wants to."

"Good!" Liu Bang slapped his thigh and said loudly, "Then stick to the camp and don't fight!"

Since there is no bargain for a decisive battle with the Chu army now, why not wait first?If the Shanyue, Wuxi and other barbarians can invade the hinterland of Chu, if the Qi army can defeat the Chu army in Huainan, then the main force of the Chu army in Xiangzhuang must also retreat. , Bashu can be easily captured!

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The situation on the Huainan battlefield is a little complicated and a little weird.

It has been more than half a month since the Chu army came to the city, but they have never launched a siege battle. If the Chu army does not attack the city, the Huainan army naturally dare not take the initiative to attack. What is even more strange is the Qi army. He had already rushed to Liu County, a hundred miles north of Pengcheng, and then stopped, as if watching the fire from the other side.

Bi Shu was reading in the big tent when Yu Ziqi, Zi Cheshi and Xi Qilie suddenly came together.

Master Ziche bowed to Bi Shu, and said loudly: "General, I'm afraid it's not an option to keep stalemate like this. You need to know that the pressure on the king's side is not small. Old Liu Bang has conscripted more than 60 cavalry troops! Your Majesty didn't say anything, but he must be hoping that we can destroy the Huainan Kingdom earlier, and then divide up our troops to meet it."

Yu Ziqi also said: "Yes, General, there are [-] Qi troops on the sidelines, and it is indeed not appropriate to attack Pengcheng. Therefore, it is better to leave a small number of troops and continue to besiege Pengcheng. Thinking of suspicious soldiers, the army will bypass Pengcheng and break through first." The Qi army in Liuxian County, and then go back to attack Pengcheng, how do you think?"

Bi Shu said calmly: "What if the Qi army retreats without fighting?"

Yu Ziqi was dumbfounded, but Xi Qilie said without thinking: "Then chase."

Bi Shu shook his head, and said again: "It's easy to catch up, but how can we guarantee the food road in the rear?"

Two 10,000+ army, the food and grass needed every day is a huge number, the army has special baggage soldiers, and also has a large number of baggage vehicles and pack horses, but most of the baggage vehicles and pack horses must be used to transport all kinds of goods. There are not many such equipment, as well as consumable ordnance such as arrows and flying spears. There are actually not many baggage carts and pack horses used to transport food.

Therefore, the amount of military rations carried by the army cannot be too much. Once the war lasts for more than half a month, it must be transferred from the rear. If the distance is not far, it can be directly escorted. Or multiple grain storage bases, the so-called grain road refers to these grain storage bases.

For example, now, Fuli County is the food road for Bi Shu's army.

If it is said that the Huainan Kingdom has been destroyed, of course another city can be selected in Huainan as a food storage base, but Pengcheng has not yet been captured, and there are [-] Huainan troops in the city. The grain storage base is easily attacked by the Huainan army, and the grain road is in danger of being cut off.

If there are not many troops, they can still be maintained by robbing food, but an army of 10,000+ will not work. Besides, Qi State was looted by Xiang Zhuang three years ago, and it has not recovered its vitality until now. , and searched the counties and counties along the way thoroughly, it was even more impossible for the Chu army to obtain supplies from Qi.

Xi Qilie was speechless, and after a long while he said sullenly: "Then what should we do?"

"What should I do?" Bi Shu smiled lightly and said, "It's easy, just one word, wait."

Xi Qilie scratched his head and said angrily: "But General, when will we have to wait?"

"You don't have to wait too long." Bi Shu said, suddenly turned his head to look at the night sky outside the big tent, and said softly, "It should be soon. If there are no accidents, it will only be two days..."

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In Liuxian County, the Qi army camp.

Han He was sulking in the big tent. In the past half month, he asked several times to continue going south to Pengcheng to fight the Chu army, but he was repeatedly stopped by the military adviser Zhao Yan. Han Xin told him repeatedly that his father asked him to respect the opinions of the military adviser Zhao Yan in all important military affairs.

But even so, Han He's patience is gradually losing. He has already made a decision to lead his army south tomorrow, no matter how much Zhao Yan stops him, it is impossible to change his determination.

Just at this moment, Zhao Yan entered the big tent in a hurry, bowed his hands and said, "Prince, please give me an edict!"

Han He hurriedly knelt and sat up, took the edict from Zhao Yan with his hands spread out, and after reading it in a hurry, his eyes showed surprise, and he said anxiously: "Military teacher, my father..."

Zhao Yan quickly raised his finger and made a silent gesture.

Han He understood, and immediately got up and shouted: "Come on!"

A long time ago, Su Weilang would enter the room in response, cupped his hands and said, "What is the crown prince's order?"

Han He slammed Jie fiercely, and said in a deep voice: "The order will be passed on, the army will march out overnight, and the troops will be dispatched to Pengcheng!"

(End of this chapter)