Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 425
In the past ten years, Zhao Guo has always adopted the policy of recuperating with the people. Except for being invaded by Han Xin's army three years ago, he has never suffered any military disasters. It did not take too much damage to Zhao Guo, so the situation of Zhao Guo has always been good.

However, Zhao Guo's goodness is limited to the economy and people's livelihood, but the military is not very good.

Zhao State has a population of about 200 million, and the total number of soldiers, army soldiers, and more soldiers is 50 million. However, Zhao State simply cannot muster so many troops, because Zhao State does not have enough military equipment, weapons, Kaijia, etc. Horses are in short supply, the second general Bai Xuan strongly demands to strengthen the military equipment, but is repeatedly suppressed by the inferior prime minister Zhang Jing and the general Zhao Wu.

Prime Minister Zhang Jing is in charge of the national treasury. If he wants to increase his military equipment, he will have less oil and water in his hands. Of course he does not agree. As for General Zhao Wu, he opposes the expansion of military equipment because he does not want Bai Xuan to threaten his status. The matter was dragged down again and again, and it didn't change after Handan was relieved.

About half an hour later, Guan Gao, Zhao Wu and Bai Xuan entered the palace one after another.

After listening to Zhang Jing's introduction, all the faces of Guan Gao and others changed drastically, and they were speechless for a long time, nothing else, this news is really shocking!
Seeing that no one spoke, Zhang Ao was a little hesitant, and asked Guan Gao: "Old Prime Minister, what do you say?"

Guan Gao recovered from the endless shock and sighed: "It's really surprising that the military strategists of King Qi's generation were defeated by Bi Shu. It seems that the second general is right to worry. You shouldn't have formed an alliance with Chu in the first place, but now there is still time to correct the mistakes, Your Majesty, hurry up and expand your armaments!"

"Of course the military equipment must be expanded!" Guan Gao's voice fell, and the general Zhao Wu continued, "But the most urgent thing is to send troops to attack Qi State immediately. Right now, Qi's army is newly defeated and Han Xin is dead. Qi State is in panic and the whole country is in turmoil. At that time, my king should punish the general and lead the army to attack it with thunderous momentum, and it will not be difficult to destroy it!"

Zhang Jing also echoed: "What the general said is very true, now is the time for Qi to use his troops."

Zhang Ao hesitated, and asked Bai Xuan, "Second General, what's your opinion?" Zhang Ao was cowardly, and he didn't have the guts to disobey the opinions of the old Prime Minister, Prime Minister, and the General, but he always kept in mind He wrote the will of the late king before his death, so he also relied heavily on Bai Xuan's opinion.

Bai Xuan had some regrets in his heart. If Zhao Guo really wanted to use troops against Qi and get a share of the battle to destroy Qi, then he should have sent troops as early as the beginning of the confrontation between Bi Shu and Han Xin. How could it be possible for Chu to send troops at this time? country opportunity?If there is no accident, Bi Shu might have already opened the trap, and he is waiting for Zhao Guo to get in.

Besides, although the Qi army was newly defeated, and Han Xin was dead, are the mourning soldiers really easy to bully?I'm afraid not necessarily!
However, Bai Xuan was equally clear that since Zhao Wu and Zhang Jing both agreed to send troops, and Guan Gao was an old fool, under such circumstances, given Zhang Ao's cowardice and incompetence, he would not dare to disobey no matter what.

Therefore, the only thing Bai Xuan can do now is to reduce the risk of using troops in Qi State as much as possible. At that moment, Bai Xuan said: "Your Majesty, it is not impossible to use troops in Qi State, but you have to join forces with Yan State."

"Why?" Zhao Wu yelled, "Qi State is such a big piece of fat, it's fine to share it with Chu State, why should it be divided with that rebellious guy like Zang Tu?" After saying this, Zhao Wu knelt down again Sitting up, he bowed to Zhang Ao and begged for battle, "My king, please lead an army of [-] troops and set off against the sun. If you can't wipe out the state of Qi, you will never return to Handan!"

Zhang Jing then knelt and sat up, and said loudly: "My lord, I am willing to allocate food and grass, and fully cooperate with the general!"

Zhang Ao turned his head to look at Guan Gao, although Guan Gao was upright and useless, he lacked in strategy and knowledge, he couldn't make up his mind, so he just lowered his old eyes and said nothing.

But Bai Xuan sighed: "If the army of the Yan State came to attack Handan, what should I do?"

Guan Gao's narrowed old eyes suddenly opened, but Zhao Wu waved his hand in disdain and said: "This is impossible, Yan is an ally of Zhao, how could he stab Zhao in the back?"

Bai Xuan retorted: "Liu Bang is still the king of Han who was entrusted by Xiang Yu. Why did he rebel?"

Zhao Wu stared wide-eyed and was about to reprimand Bai Xuan for a few words, Zhang Jing hurriedly jumped out to smooth things over and said, "Your Majesty, I also think that the Second General's worries are not unreasonable, but right now is indeed a heaven-sent opportunity to attack Qi. Therefore, it may be advisable for the general to lead the army, and the general to stay in Handan, if Zang Tuo comes from the general to resist!"

Bai Xuan sighed inwardly, and said nothing more at the moment.

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Almost at the same time that Zhao Wu led [-] Zhao troops to set out, King Yan Zangtu also summoned [-] troops to prepare to go south. Obviously, Zang Tu had the same thoughts as Zhang Ao, and they all thought that it was time to beat up the Qi State. When the Reservoir Dog is in good times, even if the biggest benefit will be taken by Chu State in the end, as an ally, Yan State should get one or two counties.

But before the Yan army could leave, the urgent report from Handan was delivered to his desk.

Yan Crown Prince Zang Yan read the urgent report, and said in a dark voice: "Father, you might as well wait a few more days for the army to start."

Zang Tu suddenly slapped the table and cursed: "Fart, wait a few more days and I won't even be able to drink soup."

Although he was scolded by his father, the crown prince Zang Yan didn't care, and said in a low voice: "Father, if the Zhao army comes out in full force, Handan must be empty. Father might as well take Handan and destroy the Zhao country. Isn’t it a hundred times better than competing with Chu and Zhao for the territory of Qi State? How can a Qi State with poor people’s livelihood compare to a rich Zhao State?”

Zang Tu's heart moved slightly, he twitched the curled beard on his lips, and said, "Will Xiang Zhuang be annoyed and the army of Chu State be recruited?"

This kind of thing is not without precedent. Back then, Xiang Yu entrusted Tiandu as the king of Qi. Tian Rong refused to accept it and drove away Tiandu. In the end, he annoyed Xiang Yu and recruited the army of Chu State. In the end, he was defeated and died. Although Zang Tu coveted Zhao State However, he had to worry about Xiang Zhuang's attitude. It must be known that Yan, Zhao, and Han were all allies of Chu.

Zang Yan sneered and said: "Xiang Zhuang is now confronting Liu Bang in Nanyang, and he is too busy to take care of himself!"

"But what about the future?" Zang Tu was still a little worried, and said, "What if Xiangzhuang defeats Liu Bang and settle accounts with us later? With my little Yan Kingdom, how can I resist Chu's army?"

Zang Yan said disapprovingly: "If Xiang Zhuang really defeats Liu Bang, he will inevitably use troops against Yan, Zhao, and South Korea. Even if your father did not disobey him, he will find excuses to embarrass you. Falsely attack the State of Zhao, and strive to strengthen ourselves as much as possible before the State of Chu attacks and destroys the State of Han."

I have to say that this Prince Yan still has some vision, he is a character.

Zang Tu was obviously convinced, and after a flash of eyes, he gritted his teeth and shouted: "Good, hit Handan!"

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Compared with Yan Wang Zang Tu, Han Wang Han Xin's ambition is obviously greater!

From the very beginning, Han Wang Hanxin never thought of dividing Qi with Chu Yanzhao. Han Xin and Han Xin's goal is Guanzhong. , and then guard Guanzhong and confront Chu in order to seek the opportunity to rule the world!

In order to achieve this goal, Han Wang Han Xin has been forbearing all these years.

What's more, what Xiang Zhuang and Liu Bang didn't know was that Han Wang Han Xin also found a powerful helper - the Huns!
As early as the beginning of the confrontation between Qi Han and Chu in Huainan and Nanyang, the envoys of Han Wang Han Xin had gone deep into the Monan royal court at the northern foot of Yinshan Mountain, and got in touch with the Xiongnu Shanyu Modun. When the time is right, they will send troops to attack the Han country together. Of course, the goal of the Huns is Hetao, and the goal of Han Wang Hanxin is Qinchuan, eight hundred miles away in Guanzhong.

However, although Han Wang Han Xin has the same name and surname as Qi Wang Han Xin, he is really not a military strategist. The so-called "unprecedented plan" he came up with this time was just picking up people's teeth, and what he learned was Qi Wang Han Xin's attack and annihilation. Wei Guo's strategy, even the number of odds and positives, has not changed. It is also to cross Puban brightly and Xiayang secretly.

Of course, King Han Xin of Qi crossed from west to east, and King Han Xin of Han crossed from east to west.

At Puban Ferry, [-] "Korean troops" have already set up battles and are building a pontoon bridge with great fanfare, preparing to cross the river. In fact, these are just some old, weak, sick and disabled recruited temporarily. In the dark, Han Wang Hanxin assembled in Xiayang Fifty thousand elites, including [-] cavalry, are collecting large urns and wooden basins, preparing to cross the river.

Under the cold moonlight, teams of Korean cavalry were crossing to the west bank of the river with the help of a large urn. Han Wang Han Xin stood on an earthen platform on the east bank of the river with a whip in his hand, and asked Zhao Ji, the military adviser behind him, Said: "Military division, do you think Maodun will attack Jiuyuan at the same time as agreed?"

The [-] Han troops in Jiuyuan were like a thorn in the back of King Han Xin.

The Han army's surprise attack on Xianyang will be fine if it can go down in one go. Once the battle goes badly and falls into a stalemate, the Han army stationed in Jiuyuan will definitely return to the division to rescue. The first officer, Li Shang, and Mei Yan were veterans in the battlefield, and Han Wang Han Xin was very afraid of these two.

Therefore, whether the Huns will go south as agreed will determine the success or failure of the entire plan.

The military adviser Zhao Ji comforted Han Wang and Han Dao: "Don't worry, your lord, the Hetao Grassland is the fertile soil that makes the Huns dream about. Maodun is very ambitious, and he is even more worried about the battle of Jiuyuan more than ten years ago. He is always thinking about taking revenge and regaining Hetao, so I expect the Xiongnu to send troops."

"Okay!" Han Wang Han Xin said excitedly, "As long as Mao Dun is willing to send troops according to the agreement, as long as the Huns can restrain the [-] Han troops in Jiuyuan, I will have a hundred thousand chances to take Xianyang, haha!"

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PS: The first update arrived, a bit late, sweat.

(End of this chapter)