Han Dang is stronger

Chapter 420 Unable to Reference

Liu Laosan's psychological strength is definitely the top existence in this era. Compared with him, not to mention Xiang Yu, the overlord of Western Chu, is far behind, and Xiang Kang, the time traveler, may be ashamed.

Relying on the cover of night, he abandoned the king's flag and the defeated brigade, dressed in the clothes of ordinary soldiers, escaped the pursuit of the cavalry of the Han army by chance, and fled into Yangcheng in embarrassment. Like other princes, he was as depressed and desperate, sad and remorseful, and he didn't cry loudly. Instead, he laughed in front of everyone and said triumphantly: "Little traitor Xiang Kang, I didn't expect that you sent so many soldiers and horses to chase and kill you!" It was so tight, did Nai Weng escape to Yangcheng? Just wait, as long as Nai Weng is alive, this time's vengeance will be doubled and returned to you!"

Not to mention, on the afternoon and evening of the second day after the disastrous defeat, seeing the Han army's pursuers forced to retreat because they were too exhausted, and after Fan Kuai, Zhou Bo, Han Xin and others fled back to Yangcheng successively, Liu Laosan returned every time. They all hugged these confidantes and laughed, and said repeatedly: "It's good to come back, it's good to come back, Nai Weng is really afraid that your life will be short, and you will be killed by the Han thieves on the battlefield. It's good to come back, wait for Cao Shen and Lu Wan Their army has arrived, let's seek revenge against the traitors!"

In the end, when the news of Zhou Ke's death was confirmed, the smile that had been hanging on Liu Laosan's face disappeared temporarily. He also filled a glass of wine with his own hands, slowly poured it in the direction of Zhou Ke's sacrifice, and murmured: "Brother Zhou, take a few steps slowly on the road to Huangquan, this king will definitely send your enemy there, and ask him to accompany you on the road."

Of course, Liu Laosan was forcing a smile on his face, forcibly cheering up the civil and military forces of the Nanyang Army and himself. The more than 3 soldiers of the Nanyang Army on the battlefield in Ye County, except for the more than 8000 soldiers of Xue Ou's troops stationed in Ye County, finally Only less than 2 people escaped to Yangcheng by chance. In one night, [-] soldiers of the Nanyang Army who had been fighting for a long time were either buried in the battlefield, died tragically under the butcher knife of the Han Army, or unfortunately became prisoners of the Han Army. The main force of the Nanyang Army on the northern front also severely damaged the overall vitality of the Nanyang Army, making the Nanyang Army even more powerless to fight back against the powerful Han Army, and completely shattered the Nanyang Army's attempt to defend from city to city and buy time to wait for Xiang Yu.

But Liu Laosan really did not despair because of this, nor was he shaken by it. After gathering the remnants and defeated generals as much as possible, Liu Laosan quickly made up his mind, "Withdraw the army, take advantage of the fact that the main force of the Han thieves has not yet been killed." Go to the city of Yangcheng, retreat to Wancheng to rest in peace, and then discuss how to settle accounts with that little traitor Xiang Kang."

Not to mention, in order to gain time as much as possible and slow down the speed of the Han army going south, Liu Laosan still adopted Han Xin's suggestion and decided to let the general Conggong lead 5000 troops to stay behind. Yangcheng defended the city to prevent the Han army from going south, and only took more than [-] remnants of the defeated generals to retreat to Wancheng first. At the last moment of entering Yangcheng, you must not abandon the city to break through!

Gong Cong, who followed Liu Laosan since the beginning of the army, accepted the mission without hesitation. So far, Li Ji, the only one who successfully tricked Liu Laosan, also had a cheeky face and offered to go south with the Nanyang Army. Fan Kuai, Zhou Bo and others Although they all objected with red eyes, Liu Laosan laughed. Not only did he raise his hands high to express his welcome, but he also told Liji clearly that after the Western Chu Army withdrew to Wancheng, he would immediately provide the Western Chu Army with what they needed to set up camp. The camp tents, supplies, food, grass and military supplies are absolutely indispensable to the Western Chu Army.

Of course, Liu Laosan was pretending to be free and easy by doing this. In fact, he longed to eat Liji alive, but there was no way. The Western Chu Army, so Liu Laosan can only knock down his teeth and swallow his blood, pretending not to mind Liji's shameless move to retreat first, and try his best to continue to retain the Southern Front Corps of the Western Chu Army, and also leave the Nanyang Army as the last hope.

Departing from Yangcheng at noon on the second day after the fiasco, the remnants of the Nanyang Army completed the 120-mile journey from Yangcheng to Wancheng in only one and a half days of rushing all the way. When was Xiao, the preoccupied Liu Laosan lost his composure and yelled at Xiao He: "What time is it, why are you making such a fuss? Is the meal ready? Nai Weng is so hungry that his belly is on his back!"

"Your Majesty, don't worry, the food has already been prepared." Xiao He replied neither humble nor overbearing, and then asked with a strange expression: "However, I feel very strange about what your Majesty said. We courtiers love you, Your Majesty, do you want us to ignore you, and even abandon you one after another, so that you, Your Majesty, are happy?"

Liu Laosan glared at Xiao He, Xiao He looked back at Liu Laosan, without any fear in his eyes, and after a long time, Liu Laosan hugged Xiao He, buried his head on Xiao He's shoulder, and said with a sob: "Xiao He, this king lost very miserably this time, very miserably."

"Your Majesty, don't worry about it. Victory or defeat is a common matter in military affairs." Xiao He patted Liu Laosan on the shoulder and comforted him: "Wancheng is still there, most of the land and cities in Nanyang are still there, and Cao Shen's [-] army is still there." Still, we still have hope, so we can rest for two days, and then we can discuss how to make a comeback."

Liu Laosan choked with sobs and agreed, and finally after three days, he cried tears for his Ye County's disastrous defeat. He was crying so hard that his face was full of tears, and Fan Kui, Zhou Bo, Xia Houying and others beside him were also all down. Tears, only Han Xin was expressionless, but his hands were clenched into fists, but his nails had already sunk into his flesh until he bled...

Liu Laosan's psychological quality is indeed very good. Although he couldn't help but cry in front of Xiao He, his brother-in-law from Pei County, he just rested in Wancheng for a night. Sanjiu appeared in front of the civil and military officers of the Nanyang Army with a smile on his face again, and took care of various affairs as usual. In the evening, he still had a big banquet in the palace rebuilt from the Nanyang County Guard's Mansion, celebrating the success with his accomplices and lackeys Withdraw Wancheng.

During the banquet, taking advantage of the presence of all the decision-makers of the Nanyang Army, Xiao He took the initiative to bring up the topic, wanting to quickly discuss the next action plan with Liu Laosan, but Liu Laosan waved his hands repeatedly and said with a smile: "Don't worry, The traitors are still in Ye County, we still have plenty of time, so we don’t need to rush to discuss what to do next. Tonight we will only drink and not discuss military affairs. Come on, Xiao Xiangguo, you have worked hard staying in Wancheng. I respect you A glass."

Perhaps Liu Laosan shouldn't be so optimistic. When Xiao He had no choice but to raise his glass, a guard suddenly walked up to the main hall quickly, saluted Liu Laosan and said: "Report to Your Majesty, Yangcheng urgently reports that Ye County has been arrested the day before yesterday. The Han bandits broke through, and General Xue Ou unfortunately died in battle."

With a bang, the wine glass in Xiao He's hand fell to the ground, and the wine immediately spilled all over his body, but Liu Laosan remained calm, but turned his gaze to Han Xin, Han Xin understood, and replied: "Your Majesty, you should send the messenger from Yangcheng, ask carefully When I asked about the detailed process of Ye County being breached by the Han bandits, what exactly happened, and why did the Han bandits take Ye County so quickly?"

Liu Laosan nodded immediately, and soon, the Nanyang Army messenger who had just arrived from Yangcheng was passed on to the main hall. Liu Laosan opened his mouth and asked, "Quickly, what's going on? Why did we Will Ye County be overrun by Han thieves so quickly?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the traitors are too cunning and shameless." The Yangcheng courier replied with a sad face: "I heard from people who fled from Ye County to Yangcheng that the traitors found a leader who looks very similar to you, Your Majesty." , sent people into Ye County, saying that you have been killed by them, the king, and persuaded our Ye County defenders to surrender. General Xue refused, but because he lost contact with our Yangcheng, he didn't know you, the king. According to the real situation, I thought you were really killed, my lord, so I held a funeral for you in Ye County..."

"No wonder! The morale of the army is broken, it's no wonder that Ye County can still hold on."

Han Xin closed his eyes in pain, and immediately guessed what was going to happen next, and then, as Han Xin expected, the Yangcheng messenger continued: "...The day before yesterday, the Han bandits sent troops to attack the city. The county defenders thought you were really gone, the king, and they didn't have the heart to continue fighting. The trebuchets of the Han bandits smashed down the north gate tower of Ye County, and some rebels opened the west gate of Ye County to offer the city to the Han bandits. The Han bandits invaded Ye County, General Xue couldn’t hold back the enemy, and was killed by the Han bandits in street fighting, of the more than 2000 Ye County defenders, only a dozen or so fled south to Yangcheng to report to us.”

Liu Laosan was completely silent, but Han Xin asked: "What is the specific situation of the Han thief's trebuchet? Apart from smashing our towers, how about the damage to our city walls?"

"Forgive me, General." The Yangcheng messenger replied helplessly: "The villain also heard from our escaped people, and the specific situation is not very clear."

"There is no reference value." Han Xin said helplessly to himself, but he refused to give up, and hurriedly said to Liu Laosan: "Your Majesty, you should let Cong Gong send back our defeated soldiers from Ye County. I want to ask them face to face. Ask about the situation."

Liu Laosan understood Han Xin's meaning, and immediately nodded in agreement, and immediately sent someone to go north overnight to order Cong Gong to send those defeated soldiers from Ye County to Wancheng quickly, so that he and Han Xin could ask them about the situation of the Han army's siege , in order to judge whether the self-army can continue to stick to the capital of Wancheng.At the same time, it is necessary, Liu Laosan and Han Xin naturally have to let the Nanyang Army officers and soldiers immediately start preparing to defend Wancheng, do their best to strengthen the city defense and hoard all kinds of necessary materials for defending the city.

More than a day later, an urgent report came from Deng County, saying that more than [-] people from the Nanyang Army Cao Shen and Lu Wan, who were ordered to go north to join the war, had returned to the border of Nanyang County and began to cross the Han River northward. Liu Laosan finally couldn't hold his breath, and hurriedly called Han Xin to the front. He first told Han Xin the situation of Cao Shen's troops, and then hurriedly asked: "What should I do? I asked Cao Shen and the others to continue to go north and concentrate their forces to stick to Wanwan. City? Or tell them to garrison Deng County on the spot and prepare to retreat to the front line of the Han River?"

"Reporting to Your Majesty, I am not sure what to do now." Han Xin replied helplessly: "According to common sense, it should be our best choice to concentrate our troops to defend our capital of Wancheng, but I am extremely worried about the new style of Han thieves. The trebuchet is too powerful, even the city walls can't resist it, so I don't dare to make a rash decision now."

"This king is also worried about this issue." Liu Laosan cursed with a mournful face: "Damn Han bandits, it would be great if they took Ye County by force, at least let us know the details of how they attacked the city with trebuchets However, the Han thieves just won Ye County by opportunism, so it is difficult for us to know their truth."

"Your Majesty, don't be in a hurry." Han Xinqiang consoled himself, "In terms of time, our defeated soldiers from Ye County will be able to arrive at Wancheng within tomorrow at the latest. We just need to ask the Han bandits about the situation of the catapult attacking the city face to face. There should be a reference, and it will be too late for us to make a decision.”

Unwilling from the bottom of his heart to just give up his old nest in Wancheng, Liu Laosan reluctantly nodded his head, patiently waiting for the defeated soldiers from Ye County to come to Wancheng to introduce the battle situation in Ye County, instead of rushing to order him to be the last One of the main forces of China stopped going north.However, what surprised Liu Laosan and Han Xin was that they waited all day the next day, but they didn't even wait for the defeated soldiers from Ye County who were supposed to be able to reach Wancheng. Liu Laosan was puzzled and anxious, I can only send messengers to the north to urge them, and to understand the reason by the way.

Fortunately, on the evening of the third day, more than 120 defeated soldiers of the Nanyang Army who escaped from Ye County by chance finally rushed to Wancheng to return to the army. When they met, they yelled at these defeated soldiers, shouting: "Why are you here now? What are you doing for food? It's [-] miles away, why did you walk for so long?"

"Reporting to the king, there is nothing you can do about it." The defeated soldiers of the Nanyang Army quickly replied: "It was your messenger who delayed the time first, and was delayed outside Yangcheng for more than half the day, and did not enter until it was completely dark. The city sent an order, and then we did not venture out of the city until the next night, so there was a delay."

"The army of the traitors surrounded Yangcheng, and the blockade was so tight that we didn't dare to leave the city during the day."

"Your Majesty, I am wronged. We have traveled fast enough. We set off from Yangcheng last night and covered 120 miles in less than a day."

"My lord, we are more risky than your messengers. On the day he arrived in Yangcheng, the main force of the Han bandits had just arrived, and the blockade was not too strict. When we left the city, the Han bandits had already separated their troops and stationed in the south of the city. We It is already lucky to be able to bypass the camp of the traitors and come here."

After listening to the explanations given by the defeated soldiers of the Nanyang Army, Liu Laosan and Han Xin understood why they were late. It turned out that after the Han army took Ye County, they sent [-] troops to go south the next day and rushed to Yangzhou. Stationed outside the city, and the roads and traffic around Yangcheng were tightly sealed, so the messenger sent by Liu Laosan could only feel the ropes under the Yangcheng city to enter the city at night, which delayed the time of sending orders, and the defeated soldiers in Ye County could only be sent to the city. It was only last night that I ventured out of the city and came down to Wancheng to return to the team, so I didn't rush to Wancheng until this time.

Asked to understand what happened, of course, Liu Laosan could not blame these soldiers, he could only change his words and praise them a few words, and then quickly asked them about the details of the Han army's catapult attack, but it was a pity, because Ye County The traitors offered the city too quickly, and the Han army's trebuchets did not actually fight for a long time when they attacked Ye County, so these Nanyang soldiers who had personally experienced the battle of Ye County only knew that the Han army would soon throw huge stones at them. The north gate tower of Ye County was destroyed, and some female walls were also destroyed. It is not clear how the Han army's catapults could really play a role in the siege battle.

Unwilling to give up, they asked again and again for a long time, but still could not find any reliable and decent information. Unavoidably, Liu Laosan and Han Xin were greatly disappointed.More than [-] Nanyang soldiers first saluted and thanked them, and then the leader of these Nanyang soldiers took out a letter and said: "My lord, this is brought by General Cong Gong, the younger ones. General Cong, please rest assured, Your Majesty." , He has already beheaded the envoy of the traitors who lied to him to open the city, and sealed the four gates of Yangcheng tightly to prevent anyone from entering or leaving, and he will definitely defend Yangcheng with all his strength to buy time for Wancheng."

"The Han bandit envoy who lied to General Cong to open the city?" Han Xin heard something wrong, and asked quickly, "What do you mean? How did the Han bandit trick General Cong into opening the city?"

"Reporting to the general, it is like this." The soldier with the letter replied: "The envoy of the Han bandit pretended to be benevolent and righteous, and entered the city with a white flag, saying that the autumn harvest had already begun. There is food to eat, as long as people go out of the city without weapons and wearing plain clothes, they will never stop them, and they will let the heads of Guizhou in Yangcheng harvest grain and return to the city. Taking the opportunity to infiltrate into the city or take the opportunity to sneak attack our Yangcheng, he personally beheaded the envoy of the Han bandit..."

Han Xin's expression changed drastically before the soldier with the letter finished speaking, and he hurriedly asked, "Did the Han thief shoot a book into the city and let the residents of Qianshou in Yangcheng city go out of the city to harvest grain at will?"

"General, you are a god? How do you know that?" The letter-carrying soldier was taken aback, and hurriedly said: "I shot it, and I shot hundreds of letters, all of which asked the residents of the city to go out of the city to collect grain, and said that even if it was As long as our soldiers took off their military uniforms and went out of the city with farm tools to harvest grain, they would never stop them. There was a lot of commotion in the city because of this, but fortunately, General Cong was wise and decisive, and immediately ordered the city gates to be sealed. No one is allowed to leave the city, which suppresses those troublemakers."

"Mr. Cong, you idiot!" Liu Laosan wailed loudly, screaming: "The traitor's doing this is obviously to alienate the hearts of the people of Yangcheng, and also hit our army's morale by the way. Let’s talk about it after winning over the hearts of the people?”

"I'm afraid the Han bandits have guessed General Cong's temper and know that he is irritable and reckless, so they use this method to alienate the people of Yangcheng." Han Xin guessed that this must be related to the intelligence system of the Han army, and his expression was painful. He sighed and said: "Yangcheng is finished, it can't be defended anymore! As long as the Han rebels attack the city, those Qianshou and Yangcheng local soldiers who are eager to go out of the city to collect food will definitely rise up to meet the Han rebels attacking the city. Duke Zong's troops are already weak. , and then being pinched from inside and outside, there is no hope of defending Yangcheng."

Sighing, Han Xin said in his heart again: "Originally, it is nothing to lose Yangcheng, but the Han thieves took Yangcheng easily, and we have no way of knowing how much the Han thieves' trebuchets can play when attacking the city." Is it right? Whether to defend Wancheng or not, should we quickly retreat to the front line of Hanshui?"

(End of this chapter)