Chu and Han contend for the throne

Chapter 72
On the edge of the river (Yellow River), Gao Chu with a dark face was training the five hundred longbowmen of the Nufeng Battalion overnight.

The interception at the crossing was missed that day, although it was because Man Qiuchen, one of Chen Xi's disciples, was too vigilant that the opponent rushed to attack without entering the ambush circle, but the performance of the dozen or so longbowmen in the Nufeng camp still made Gao Chu feel ashamed , He shot and killed nine of Chen Xi's retainers by himself, but none of the dozen or so longbowmen made any achievements!

Although there are also objective reasons, because the longbowmen used only crude single-piece longbows, which could not compare with Gaochu's iron tire bows in terms of accuracy or strength, but each of the dozen or so longbowmen shot at least three arrows, but they did not None of the arrows hit the target, how could this embarrass Gao Chu, the captain Nufeng?

Needless to say, Gao Chu could only train five hundred archers to death!
Being tall and strong doesn't mean you can become an excellent archer. A good archer is never born, but through countless times of extremely boring training such as drawing the bow, releasing the arrow, drawing the bow again, and releasing the arrow again... And practiced out!For example, in the junior high school, in order to practice archery well, six of the bronze fingertips alone were worn out!

Amidst the instigated sound of breaking through the air, twenty archers lined up, drawing their bows and firing arrows under the moonlight. Their target was a row of scarecrows a hundred paces ahead. For these people, they had only been enlisted in the army for a few months. For the new recruits, this kind of training level is indeed a bit cruel, but the high school doesn't care about it.

Soon, twenty archers shot all ten feathered arrows.

Immediately, an archer ran forward holding a torch, and reported the targets one by one: "No one hits the number one target!"

Gao Chu couldn't help but say that according to the archer in the row, he would give two lashes hard, and then said: "How's the taste?"

The archer in front reported again: "No. [-] target, hit an arrow!" Gao Chu untied the sheepskin bag from his waist and handed it over.

The archer standing in the second place quickly took the sheepskin sac, raised his neck and took a big gulp, wiped his mouth with his sleeve and praised: "Good wine, next time the villain will make trouble." Two bites!"

Gao Chu snorted and said, "As long as you can hit five out of ten arrows, I will reward you with a whole bag!"

The archer became dumb, and he had to rely on luck to hit two arrows, and it was a joke to hit five out of ten arrows.

The shouts of the archers in front were still intermittent: "None hit target No. [-]; none hit target No. [-]..."

Immediately, there was a continuous crackling sound under the night sky. This is the rule of the high school. If you hit a shot, you have to drink, but if you miss it, then wait to eat the whip!

Gao Chu was having a good time, when suddenly there was the sound of horseshoes behind him.

When he looked back anxiously, it was Gongsun Sui who was rushing towards this side holding a torch. Before he arrived, the voice came first: "General Gao, please return to Ao Cang quickly, there is an urgent military matter!"

"Understood!" Gao Chu agreed, then turned around and shouted, "Close the team and return to the camp!"

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In Aocang City, the hall of the Government Office.

More than a dozen pine torches illuminated the entire hall like daylight. Xiang Zhuang was standing in front of the screen hanging the map without saying a word, with his hands behind his back. Behind Xiang Zhuang stood Wei Liao, Wu She, and the trembling Chen Xi, Chen Xi's mood at this time is really like walking on thin ice, because he really can't figure out the deepest thoughts of this General Chu.

Chen Xi was really confused, saying that Xiang Zhuang trusted him, but no one would believe it, let alone him!
But Xiang Zhuang didn't trust him, so why did he hand over [-] Wei troops to his command?He wasn't even assigned a deputy general from the Chu army to elbow him, which is even more unreasonable!As far as he knew, Xiang Ying wanted to be the chief general of the Wei army, but Xiang Zhuang refused without hesitation!

After staring at the map for half a moment, Xiang Zhuang finally turned around and said, "General Chen Xi."

Chen Xi hurriedly raised his hands in a bow, and said respectfully: "The end is here!"

Xiang Zhuang nodded, and said again: "The allied forces of Chu and Wei and the rebels from various counties and counties captured the city one after another, and the momentum is getting stronger and stronger. It is impossible for Liu Bang and Peng Yue in Huainan to know. If there is no accident, Liu Bang and Peng Yue must have already returned to the division. We are on our way! Therefore, this general has decided to personally lead the army to the east and join forces with the rebel army in Dang County to attack Liu Bang and Peng Yue together!"

After saying this, Xiang Zhuang stepped forward and put his arms around Chen Xi's shoulders again, and said earnestly: "As for the defense of Aocang and Xingyang, Guangwu, Chenggao, Jingyi, and Suoyi, I leave it to you, General, your task Not only that, we must beware of Lu Ze in Sanchuan County, as well as Zhao Jun, Yan Jun, and Han Jun from Hebei when they cross the south of the river."

"It's really difficult for the last general to take on such an important task." Chen Xi hurriedly said, "I hope the general will take back his order."

Xiang Zhuang smiled slightly and said, "Is the general still worried about our army's surprise attack on Ao Cang?"

Chen Xi hurriedly said that he didn't dare, Xiang Zhuang said again: "Actually, the reason why our army succeeded in attacking Aocang last time was because of many coincidences. If the general hadn't been too cautious and wanted to go to Chenggao to inspect it in person, maybe Ao Cang is still in the general's hands now!"

Chen Xi hurriedly said: "The general is unparalleled in wisdom and bravery, the Chu army is unstoppable, and there are military advisers and Mr. Wu She to assist, even if there are no coincidences, the last general will definitely not be able to defend Ao Cang, so I still look forward to it. The general chooses another general to guard Aocang, and the last general is willing to take the deputy position, and do his best to help defend the city!"

Xiang Zhuang waved his hand and said without doubt: "It's you."

Chen Xi didn't dare to say any more, so he had to bow to him, and he agreed.

Xiang Zhuang said again: "General, let's go back and send troops to take over the defense of the cities!"

"No!" Chen Xi bowed to Xiang Zhuang again, then turned around and walked out of the hall.

Not long after Chen Xi left, Xiang Ying, Huan Chu, Ji Bu, Yu Ziqi, Xiao Kai, Jing Qian, Gao Chu and other generals of the Chu army entered the hall of the government office one after another.

Xiang Ying was also a general of the clan. He originally guarded Dang County together with Xiang Tuo, the head of Dang County and the Shangzhu Kingdom of Great Chu.

After Xiang Tuo was defeated by Peng Yue, he took more than [-] remnants to Lu County, but Xiang Ying was trapped in Quyuyi at the junction of Dang County and Sanchuan County. When hundreds of remnants were about to collapse, Xizuo suddenly Bringing back news that Xiang Yu had captured Aocang City with his army, Xiang Ying was overjoyed and immediately rushed to Aocang overnight with hundreds of remnants.

But after arriving at Aocang, Xiang Ying realized that it was not Xiang Yu, but Xiang Zhuang who came.

Moreover, the Chu army did not have 50, but only 5000. Xiang Ying was inevitably disappointed, but since he had already come, he didn't want to leave anymore. After all, he still had something to eat in Aocang, right?However, for the future of the Chu army, Xiang Ying obviously has no hope. For him, just messing around is a day.

"Listen up." Xiang Zhuang glanced over the faces of the generals with burning eyes, and said in a deep voice, "Now go back to the camp immediately, gather our troops, and set off overnight!"

"Promise!" The generals Huan Chu and Ji Bu suddenly agreed and took the order.

In the hearts of Huan Chu, Ji Bu, Xiao Kai, Yu Ziqi, Jing Qian, Gao Chu and the five thousand elite soldiers, Xiang Zhuang has established absolute authority. As long as Xiang Zhuang gives orders, they will definitely obey them. But Xiang Ying refused to leave for a long time, hesitating for a moment before asking: "Xiang Zhuang, where are we going?"

Xiang Zhuang frowned immediately when he heard the words, these generals of the Xiang clan are really troublesome, it seems that in their eyes, only Xiang Yu is the king, and there is no such general as Xiang Zhuang!Xiang Bo was like this in the past, Xiang Han was like this later, and Xiang Ying is still like this now. Will Xiang Tuo from Lu County be like this?
Wu She on the side couldn't help reminding Xiang Ying, "General Xiang Ying, this is a military order."

"I didn't ask you again!" Xiang Ying said angrily, "I asked Xiang Zhuang?!"

"I don't want to say the same thing twice!" Xiang Zhuang said coldly, "Hurry up and get ready!"

Xiang Ying was also furious, and immediately left with a muffled grunt. Xiang Zhuang treated him like this, and he had already decided to go back to Qu Yu.

Then Xiang Ying left, Wu She was a little worried and said: "General, General Xiang Ying left in anger, I am worried that he will disobey his orders?"

"As he pleases." Xiang Zhuang said coldly, "It's fine if he doesn't want to go, let him fend for himself!"

To be honest, Xiang Zhuang really didn't want to take on the burden of Xiang Ying. He himself was rebellious, and the seven or eight hundred people under his command were even more of a burden. They were the real remnants of the defeated soldiers. They are low, and the quality of the soldiers is also extremely low. To say that they are a mob is flattering!
With such a group of mobs, how do you march and how do you turn to battle?

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Half an hour later, teams of heavily armed "Han Army" slowly drove out of Aocang City.

On the head of Aocang City, Chen Xi was standing with his hands on the battlements facing the wind. Behind Chen Xi, Hou Chang, Zhang Chun, Man Qiuchen and other dozens of heavyweight disciples lined up, all with dignified expressions.

Suddenly, Man Qiuchen said: "General, is the Chu army really leaving?"

Chen Xi nodded, and said in an inexplicable tone: "Yes, the Chu army is really leaving."

"I really didn't expect that the Chu army would actually leave!" Hou Chang also said, "Xiang Zhuang's boy actually returned the Ao Cang to the general. Isn't he afraid that the general will turn against him again and cut off his food supply? Is it out of his way?"

"Sir, be careful!" Man Qiuchen hurriedly stopped, "The general is no longer the Aocang Order of the Great Han, but the Shangzhu Kingdom and Sanchuan County Guard of the Great Wei!"

"That's what I said next." Hou Chang said embarrassingly.

However, Chen Xi sighed in his heart, yes, he is no longer the Ao Cangling of the great Han, but the Shangzhu Kingdom of the Great Wei and the governor of Sanchuan County, so even if he is willing to turn against him again, Han Wang Liu Bang can only I'm afraid he won't accept it. You know, Liu Bang will definitely not spare him just because of the loss of Ao Cang.

Chen Xi was speechless, and after a while he asked, "Has Her Royal Highness left?"

Hou Chang said strangely: "His Royal Highness has already married Xiang Zhuang, so naturally she followed her."

Chen Xi fell into a long silence again, and several of the diners looked at each other in blank dismay. It seemed that since the fall of Ao Cang, Chen Xi had become taciturn as if he had changed himself.

(End of this chapter)