Chapter 723 As Fast as the Wind

Xingyang.

The situation in Zhao Land suddenly rose, and the sudden change of situation made all the staff in the government even busier.

On the topographic map, the changes in power between the two sides have had a profound impact on the surrounding situation.

"Your Majesty, in the battle of Jipusai, the defense line on the south bank of Zhangshui was broken."

Zhang Liang raised his head as he spoke, only to find that Zhao Shuang was looking at the scenery outside, not paying attention to the military map at all.

"How did the acanthus plug be broken?"

"The thief chief Xiang Shaoyu led 5,000 horsemen across the plain. When the generals of the defenders of Jipusai were well prepared, they killed the defenders in front of the formation and captured Jipusai."

"There should be 20,000 defenders in that area. Didn't they recapture it afterwards?"

As soon as Li Shiqi returned to Xingyang, he rushed to the shogunate and was very surprised to hear about this.

"The thieves guarded Yingbu for three days. On the evening of the third day, the 20,000 troops near Zhangshui attacked the last layer of the barrier. However, they were attacked by a small group of Wei troops from behind and their success fell short. Not long after, Xiang Shao Yu and Zhang Er arrived with their armies and entered Jipusai."

"It's not easy for Yingbu to be able to defend for three days against a force several times his own." Li Shiqi murmured, but at the same time he felt strange, "Where did this Wei army come from?"

"The scouts at the front were vague and did not know the intelligence of this Wei army."

"It's strange. Our army's scouts have always been rigorous. Why didn't this Wei army be discovered in the early battlefield reconnaissance? Is it because the soldiers are slacking off, or is the general of this Wei army not a mortal?"

Li Shiqi didn't get an answer to his question, and he didn't expect to get an answer.

At this moment, Chen Ping got the results of the calculations by his staff.

"Your Majesty, after the battle at Jipusai, Zhangshui's defense line was completely lost. We can no longer trap Zhao Jun."

Everyone was waiting for Zhao Shuang's order.

"Order the 60,000 defenders in Fanyang Fortress, Dangyin Fortress and Huangcheng Fortress to withdraw to Anyang."

Zhao Shuang didn't hesitate at all, and immediately conveyed the order with this sound.

The withdrawal of the troops and horses from these three fortresses almost meant that the imperial army gave up the line of the river and took the initiative to allow the three armies of Wei, Chu and Zhao to join forces.

Everyone present knew what Zhao Shuang's intention was, because immediately after, Zhao Shuang issued another order.

"Order Chai Wu to lead 30,000 Yulin to garrison Aocang, and Jin Xi to lead an army to garrison Chenggao."

"promise!"

Today's Zhangshui defense line is not the copper and iron wall it used to be when the Zhao Kingdom was not destroyed.

After the empire unified the world, it demolished the Great Walls and barriers built by the six countries on their respective borders, leaving only the Northern Great Wall used by Yan and Zhao to deal with the barbarians on the border. Based on this, the Great Wall was expanded into the Great Wall.

Of course, this made transportation between counties in the empire more convenient, but it also turned into a double-edged sword during wartime.

"Will Zhao Jun attack Handan next?"

"probably not!"

Zhang Liang shook his head. At that time, the military officials went north and took over more than fifty cities in the Zhao Kingdom. Except for the first dozen or so where military conflicts occurred, the remaining cities were almost all secured through lobbying.

Not long ago, Liusha launched a coup in Zhao State and captured Handan almost without bloodshed.

This also means that this giant city in the world did not suffer much damage.

If the Zhao army wants to attack Handan, it will encounter the same situation as the imperial army if it wants to attack Julu, that is, there are not enough troops.

To besiege the city, at least nearly 200,000 troops would be needed, as well as a steady supply of food and grass.

"Now Yedi, Handan and Zhongshan are all in the hands of our army. If Zhao Jun wants to attack Handan, the risk is too great."

"But Zhao Jun's soldiers and horses scattered in various places will be gathered one after another. Now that the road has been opened, Handan will not be attacked, but the offensive and defensive momentum has changed."

Then, a big war will break out.

The ultimate goal of all countries is to enter Guanzhong, but the routes of march are different.

"Handan is here, and it is impossible for the Zhao army to march from Shangdang."

"There are 110,000 troops in Hanoi and Ye. There should be no problem in guarding Guangyang Road, but we cannot underestimate them."

…

A group of staff were discussing in a haphazard manner, discussing the details of the imperial army's redeployment.

Zhao Guo joined the princes' army, which meant that the battlefield expanded.

To attack Hangu, there is actually more than one route.

For Zhao Jun, they can march from Shangdang and Hanoi. As long as they can capture Luoyang, there is no point in continuing to hold on to Xingyang.

The transportation route from Guanzhong to Xingyang will be blocked, and the mountains and rivers currently occupied by the imperial army will disappear.

Moreover, marching from Hanoi has a greater advantage, as the terrain is relatively flat along the way. Apart from a big river, there is no danger to defend north of Luoyang.

The important thing is that if Hanoi's 110,000 troops are defeated, the current imperial army does not have enough troops to defend Luoyang in the rear.

A group of staff analyzed the situation between the enemy and ourselves and made a relatively conservative deployment plan.

But at this time, Zhao Shuang still did not turn around, but looked at the scenery outside the house.

The dark clouds were moving, and a heavy rain was about to fall.

"Your Majesty, although our army is at a disadvantage now, the battle line is still stable. Unless something changes, there is no big problem."

Just as Zhang Liang finished speaking, a bolt of lightning fell from the sky and thunder rolled.

"Prime Minister! Prime Minister!"

There was an urgent sound outside the house.

"There was a rebellion in Yongcheng. A group of rebellious ministers took the emperor and headed for Xianyang."

With a bang, all the staff in the mansion seemed to feel thunderous in their hearts. They all looked at each other, but there was no sound.

Whether it was the rebellious ministers who held the emperor hostage, or whether the emperor activated the rebellious ministers, everyone was wondering for a while.

But even if it is the latter, everyone can only say it is the former.

The only certainty was that their rear was on fire.

Everyone saw that Zhao Shuang finally turned around.

"Order the hussar general to lead his troops back to guard the pass to rescue the emperor."

"promise!"

…

"Da Sinong, there are thousands of rebels, most of them are private soldiers and servants of some old ministers. They have robbed armor and weapons from a local arsenal and are heading towards Xianyang."

"Assemble the retainers, private soldiers, and servants of the ministers in the city, and then order the lieutenant army to patrol day and night. From today onwards, the shops and markets will be closed, and a curfew will be implemented. The ministers and nobles in Xianyang City, the disciples of hundreds of families, and traders from other regions are not allowed to move around. .If anyone disobeys the order, he will be killed immediately regardless of the reason."

Xiao He issued the order. Zhao Shuang is not here, he is in charge of Guanzhong affairs, and has the power to kill first and report later.

"promise!"

Just when his subordinates were about to convey the order, Xiao He's expression changed, he drew out his long sword and swung it at the subordinates.

There was a sound.

The subordinate was frightened and collapsed on the ground. He raised his head and saw Xiao He holding a sword above him, blocking another sword that was about to take his life.

"Cover the sun?"

Zhenri couldn't succeed with his attack, so he immediately retreated and kept a certain distance from Xiao He.

"I didn't expect to meet a big shot in this small Da Sinong Mansion." Zhanri smiled, "Sword Master Chunjun? I knew that Zhao Shuang couldn't let a little guy sit in the rear."

"You go and pass on the orders first!"

Xiao He said calmly and let his subordinates leave first. During this process, the covering sun remained motionless. Because Xiao He didn't move.

"Good-tempered!"

Zhanri praised.

He could feel that the person in front of him was no ordinary person, with profound cultivation. But Zhi Ri did not expect that not long after the subordinate left, Xiao He asked a question.

"Where's the Six Sword Slave?"

"What do you mean?"

"With only one top-notch swordsman, Luo Wang dares to stir up trouble in this level?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhan Ri felt two sword intentions coming from the left and right.

Zhan Ri was shocked, how could Zhao Shuang have such a master under his command? He hid in a hurry and vaguely saw the two swords that sneaked up on him.

General Moye?