Chapter 272 The Fall of the Wild King
Just as envoys from various countries were running around, Zhao Kuo made another move.
On the second day after the war, Zhao Kuo ordered Zhao Zhuang to lead 50,000 elite light cavalry, go east out of Fukouxing, enter Hanoi, and then turn southwest to attack the Yewang Fortress.
Since Zhao Jun rode and shot in Hufu, he had become a Hufeng early. Everyone brought mare's milk and dried meat with them, so that they could fight lightly for ten days. To be on the safe side, Di Chen and other lords even volunteered to donate a full 400,000 grains of ration pills, all of which were handed over to Zhao Zhuang's army. In this way, Zhao Zhuang led an army of 50,000 people and went eastward without any signs of food and grass mobilization.
The Yewang Fortress is the general logistics base of the Qin Army and the only fortress leading to the Shangdang in South Korea.
Three years ago, Bai Qi ordered Wang Ling to conquer the Yewang Fortress. When the army was stationed, they immediately built large warehouses to store grain for a long time, and at the same time widened the official roads for Ye Wang to go north to Shangdang and south to Dahe, so as to prepare for the steady flow of grain and grass. In the next year, the roads and boats kept running, and all the military rations in the country's warehouses were delivered to the king of the wild.
After three years of confrontation, the supply of grain and grass for the Qin army has never stopped, and Zaye Wang has hoarded it into several large warehouses.
After Bai Qi joined the army and replaced Wang Yan as the general of the Qin Army, the strategic center of the Qin Army has moved northward to Duanshi Town, west of Laomaling.
The Royal Tomb, which was stationed at the Yewang Fortress before, also led troops into the Changping theater under the order of Bai Qi.
As the battle progressed, in order to be safe, Bai Qi transferred the rear army to Changping several times until the Zhao army was besieged, and the Yewang Fortress was already full of major generals.
Zhao Zhuang led 50,000 light cavalry, traveled day and night, and traveled all the way, and arrived at the Yewang Fortress in ten days.
The defenseless Yewang Fortress faced the sudden arrival of the elite Zhao army. Although the defenders of the fortress rose up to resist and tried to defend the city, they were really outnumbered.
Coupled with the accompanying war wolf and others, they used storage bags to bring a lot of siege equipment. After a fierce battle, the Qin army was finally defeated. All died in battle, and no one survived.
After capturing the fortress, Zhao Zhuang immediately ordered that the warehouses in the fortress be set ablaze.
The raging fire was so red that half the sky was red. Because there was too much food in the warehouse, the fire burned for three days and three nights, but it was still not extinguished, and a scorched smell spread all over the field.
By the time the Qin army in Hanoi got the news and came to reinforce them, Zhao Zhuang's army had already withdrawn. Seeing the Yewang Fortress that was burned into ruins, the faces of the soldiers of the Qin Army turned pale.
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If it is said that the escape of the Zhao army and the death of Wang Ling in battle are not enough for the Shandong countries to make up their minds, then the fall of the Yewang Fortress is to let the princes of the world see the hope of defeating the Qin army.
Among the countries, Wei and Chu were the most active.
Lord Xinling of the State of Wei and Lord Chunshen of the State of Chu tried their best to lobby their respective kings and asked to send troops to attack Qin together. Even South Korea is unwilling to be lonely, and the former Shangdang County Magistrate Feng Ting is re-used. The profound meaning is self-evident.
The three Jins joined forces again and were close at hand. All of a sudden, the world was covered with dark clouds.
In the Battle of Changping, more than 90% of the troops of Qin and Zhao were brought together.
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Handan, King Zhao's Palace.
King Zhao Xiaocheng's mood that had been gloomy for a month suddenly improved, and he said happily: "Ma Fuzi really did not disappoint this king, he is indeed a famous general in the world!"
All the ministers naturally echoed, but Lin Xiangru who was at the side had mixed feelings in his heart.
Zhao Guo's ruling and opposition parties have already determined that the Zhao army will win this battle.
The food and grass of the Qin army were cut off, so they could only be forced to retreat, and Shangdang returned to Zhao, and the time was not far away.
Pingyuan Lord Zhao Sheng was still a little worried, and said carefully: "Your Majesty, Ma Fuzi is young and vigorous. This big victory, I am afraid that he will regenerate his arrogance. The Yewang Fortress fell, and our army only needs to guard it. The Qin army retreated naturally. I am afraid that Ma Fuzi will rush in again lightly and want to fight the Qin army, which is very bad."
Mr. Pingyuan's words were like a gust of cold wind blowing through the hall, making the court hall extremely cold.
Thinking of Zhao Jun being besieged again, all the ministers shuddered. Bai Qi's prestige is too strong, even in such a situation, no one can say that Zhao Jun is sure of victory.
Once Bai Qi seizes the opportunity, the comeback is instant.
King Zhao Xiaocheng, like Mr. Pingyuan, still has lingering fears about Zhao Kuo's previous aggressive advances that underestimated the enemy. When he learned that Zhao Jun was besieged, he couldn't sleep all night.
Hearing Mr. Pingyuan's words, King Zhao Xiaocheng's heart tightened, and he said: "Uncle Wang is right. This king immediately draws up an edict, and Uncle Wang will bring it to the barracks in person to restrain Ma Fuzi, so that he can't easily leave the pass to face the battle. .”
"No!" Mr. Pingyuan finally felt relieved.
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Handan, the residence of Lian Po.
After being dismissed from the position of general by King Zhao Xiaocheng, Lian Po did not follow the arrangement of his friend Lin Xiangru to serve in Chu State, but returned to the Handan mansion and closed the door to see no visitors.
Hearing the news that Zhao Jun had captured the Yewang Fortress, Lao Lianpo had a complicated expression and muttered to himself: "Is this old man really wrong? Is it really not as good as Ma Fuzi? I wish Zhao Jun a big victory, and I will have no regrets in this life."
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Qin State, Xianyang Palace.
King Qin Zhao frowned, looked at Fan Ju opposite, and said, "Yinghou, how is the situation in each country?"
The fall of the Wild King Fortress caught the monarch and his ministers by surprise. Fan Ju seemed to have a few more white hairs, and said bitterly: "Your Majesty, the situation has reversed, and no matter how much you fight, it will not help. The key lies in Mr. Wu'an, look How does he reverse the unfavorable situation of our army.”
King Qin Zhao was previously in the logistics of the governor of Hanoi, and he had a special meeting with Bai Qi before returning to Xianyang. Outsiders naturally have no way of knowing the conversation between the monarch and his ministers. The only change was that after the secret talk, King Qin Zhao's expression became much more relaxed, and he was no longer as dignified as when he first got the news of the fall of the wild king.
Bai Qi's words before leaving echoed in King Qin Zhao's ears again: The loss of a city or a place is not enough to determine the outcome of a war. What really determines the success or failure of a war lies in the frontal battlefield.
"The prime minister will continue to sit in Xianyang, govern the country, and try his best to requisition grain and grass and transport it to Duanshi Town. This king will go to Hanoi again, mobilize men over 15 years old to form a reinforcement army, and rush to help Changping." Qin Zhaowang said decisively.
"Promise!" Fan Ju replied solemnly, the difficulties at home and abroad in Qin Dynasty are just the time for the monarch and his ministers to work together. With this situation, Fan Ju couldn't help saying: "Join old Qin, let's go to the national crisis together."
"Yes, this is the most difficult period for us old Qin people. I believe that we will be able to withstand the difficulties and overcome this difficulty." King Qin Zhao was enthusiastic.
Compared with Zhao State, Qin State's monarchs, ministers and people are even more tenacious in the face of adversity.
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The outside world is changing, but the Changping battlefield is completely silent.
After successfully taking the Yewang Fortress, Zhao Kuo mobilized 50,000 infantry troops from the 150,000 troops outside Guguan City to increase the Huguan Fortress. He must stick to the only fortress between Guguan and Handan to ensure the smooth flow of food. .
So far, Zhao Jun has formed a vertical defense line of hundreds of miles in Mianyang along Huguan Fortress-Guguan Fortress-Wangling Fortress, completely cutting off the possibility of Qin Army besieging Zhao Jun.
Huguan and Guguan echoed each other, and if the Qin army wanted to go north of the Great Wall of Stone, it would have to face the front and rear attacks of the two passes. Unless the main force was dispatched, it would be difficult to make it.
Wolf Mountain, the Shogunate of the Chinese Army.
Sima of the Chinese army finished introducing the deployment of the Zhao army on the opposite side, and then reported the latest military situation: "Wei Guo Xinling Lord led an army of 150,000, set out from Daliang, entered Hanoi County, and the soldiers pointed directly at Changping. Except Wei Guo, other countries are also To mobilize for war, the trend of unification is gradually formed.”
"Damn it, a bunch of idiots!" the grumpy Wang Yan couldn't help cursing.
There is no food and grass inside, and there are powerful enemies outside. It is really an unprecedented dangerous situation for the Qin army. Even so, the generals were not depressed. The reason is that Wu An Jun Bai Qi, who was sitting behind the handsome case, was the god of war in their hearts.
"How much is the food and grass in the army?" Bai Qi asked in a deep voice.
"Except for the Wild King Fortress, Duanshi Town, Laomaling, and Guanglang City have all stored some food and grass, but the amount is not large. Together, it is enough to consume the army for twenty days. In addition, Yinghou has already started from the country. Grain and grass were requisitioned and shipped to Duanshi Town one after another. Also due to the long distance, there is no hope in a short time."
Bai Qi nodded, looked around at the generals, and said calmly: "The Zhao army has four strengths. First, there is sufficient food and grass. Second, reinforcements are coming. Third, the position is shrinking and the defense is strong. Fourth, defeat is turned into victory, and morale is booming.
However, Zhao Jun also has four shortcomings. First, the vertical defense line constructed looks unbreakable, but in fact the front line is stretched too long, the army cannot take care of both the head and the tail, and it lacks horizontal extension. As long as you make up your mind, you can easily cut it in two. Second, after the Zhao army captured the Yewang Fortress, they were unable to take advantage of the victory and pursue it. They did not completely block the passage for our army to transport food, and the tactical implementation was not thorough, which gave us a chance to come back. Thirdly, with successive victories, coupled with the fact that the army of Wei State is about to arrive for reinforcements, the heart of the army to underestimate the enemy gradually arises. Fourth, the army retreated, and the tactical choice was single, changing from active offense to passive defense. "
The cave was so quiet that only the sound of breathing could be heard. The generals knew very well that every time there was a big battle, Mr. Wu An would first clarify the general situation of the two armies, and after clarifying the enemy's situation, it would be a drastic strategy to defeat the enemy. What the generals waited with bated breath was the most heart-pounding moment.
"Our army defeats the enemy with sixteen big characters." Bai Qi paused every word, and the words were like rammed into rocks, "Encircle the point to fight for aid, strengthen the wall to clear the field, beat the snake seven inches, and block the encirclement and suppression!"
Wang Yan cupped his hands: "Mr. Wu An please express!"
"The sixteen-character strategy is based on surrounding points and attacking aid." Bai Qi turned around and stretched out his long sword to circle the big map, "Zhao Jun shrinks the defense line, which is giving our army a chance to take the initiative to attack. Just pretend to attack the old pass to attract Zhao Jun's attention , and then send the main cavalry out of Baijing, cross Lingchuan, enter Hanoi, and intercept and kill the Wei army. Once the Wei army is destroyed, the combined vertical will be broken, and the Zhao army will be besieged by our army again."