General Qin

"Rogue!"

"The villain!"

"This is my family's ration of life! I beg you, for the sake of fellow Chu people, don't take it all away."

"Qin army will give us money if we want food, why is our army from Chu State coming to grab it empty-handed?"

"Money? How dare you take money from the people of Qin and hand it over with the money, or else you're a lackey of the people of Qin, and Nai Gong chopped off your heads!"

"WooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooOooooooooooooooooooooooooOooooOoffood"

...

In Zhuyi City, wailing was everywhere, and the city was full of crying and howling.

After the Qin people withdrew and the Chu army recovered the place, the Chu people in Zhuyi did not usher in a free and happy life.

On the contrary, the tens of thousands of Chu troops gathered outside the city even sent people into the city to plunder food from them.

It stands to reason that only two or three months have passed since the autumn harvest, so there should be a lot of food in the city.

But it is a pity that as soon as the autumn harvest was over, the Chu army confiscated most of the grain and transported it to the front line to supply Xiang Yan's army.

After the Qin army arrived, Xiang Qu moved more than half of the Zhuyi's government stockpile in advance, and burned the rest to the Qin army, intending to let the Qin army plunder the Chu people here, which aroused Public complaints, when the Chu army counterattacks, these people can raise their flags to greet them.

As a result, the Qin army did confiscate the food of the Chu people in the city, but these Chu people did not have much resentment. First, the Qin army still left the minimum living food for these Chu people, and the family can still survive if they save a province. After the beginning of spring, pick up some wild vegetables, fruits and vegetables, and have more money.

If you can survive, no one is willing to fight with your life.

Secondly, the people of Qin gave money. Buying forcibly with money and grabbing empty-handed are two different concepts. Therefore, although the people of Chu here don't say anything, they don't hate the people of Qin much in their hearts.

Especially compared to the Chu army who has now regained this place, these so-called compatriots from one country have started to rob the last bit of living food from the local Chu people's homes.

A brave man rose up to resist and guarded the food stored in his home, but was beheaded on the spot by the soldiers of the Chu army.

There were also people who opened their mouths to yell and cursed, but were pressed to the ground and had their tongues cut off, they could only whine, their mouths were covered with blood.

There are also the wailing and crying of various women, children, old and weak, which can be heard endlessly.

"General, our army has requisitioned military rations from the city, which can be used for seven or eight days for our army, and all necessary utensils such as kettles have been replenished."

"Well, the food is enough to reach Pengcheng. Send scouts to the north quickly to find out the position of the Qin army. At the same time, let the soldiers rest here for one night, and they will set off tomorrow."

Xiang Qu's face was indifferent, and he naturally heard the wailing and wailing of those Chu people in Zhuyi.

But he doesn't care.

It's nothing to be short of food, and now the whole Chu country is short of food.

If he could not defeat Zhao Tuo quickly, regain Pengcheng, and open up the grain transportation channel in the northeast, it would not be long before the hundreds of thousands of Chu troops on the Huaibei battlefield would all be hungry and slaughtered by the Qin people.

Compared with this, what is the sacrifice of a Chu people in a small Zhuyi?

Only by providing enough food and fodder for his army, so that Xiang Qu can defeat Zhao Tuo's Qin army, can Chu be saved from the danger of overthrowing. This is for the sake of the real overall situation.

Under the overall situation, people's livelihood does not need to be considered.

"General, do you really want to send troops to pursue Zhao Tuo?"

Jing Tong's face was full of worry.

Although Xiang Qu ordered the boats to be burned twice, the Chu army now occupies both sides of the Sui River. As long as it takes a little time, a large number of ships can be built in two or three days to receive food supplies from the west bank of the Sui River. Zhuyi folk food.

But Xiang Qu couldn't wait. After knowing that Zhao Tuo had led his army to flee north, he was ready to pursue him.

In addition to leaving 5,000 man-made boats to transfer the follow-up food, fodder and supplies from the other side of Sui River, Xiang Qu will lead the remaining 30,000 people to take the rations looted from Zhuyi and quickly go northward to take Pengcheng.

At this moment, facing Jing Tong's inquiry, Xiang Qu sighed softly.

"Zitong, do you think we still have a choice?"

Jing Tong bit his lip, this young talent from the Jing family knew it in his heart.

They have no choice.

Zhao Tuo led the Qin army to escape, allowing them to successfully recover Zhuyi, but what's the use of it?

The strategic purpose of Xiang Qu’s Chu army was to defeat Qin’s army, regain Pengcheng, open up a channel connecting Lu and Qi, transport grain from Lu to the battlefield of Chenying, and even borrow grain from Qi in order to let Chu The country continues to hold on.

All of this requires clear roads.

Although Zhao Tuo has escaped now, his troops still exist, and he can still firmly occupy Pengcheng and cut off the east-west traffic.

As long as the Qin army defends Pengcheng, the situation will be the same as before, enough to consume the Chu army to death here.

"Pengcheng must be won, and the speed must be fast."

"If the time is too late, even if we take Pengcheng, father's army may not be able to hold on until the grain from the east is transported to Chenying. So I must follow behind the Qin army and chase all the way to catch Zhao Tuo. Just beat it!"

"We have no choice in this battle!"

Xiang Qu whispered angrily.

And he still has nothing to say.

After receiving his message, the Prime Minister dispatched 5,000 troops, led by his brother Xiang Yue, to attack Pengcheng. Although it was an attack on the enemy's vital point, it was actually in danger.

If Xiang Qu did not follow up to support Xiang Yue, the 5,000 people in Xiang Yue would be surrounded and wiped out by Zhao Tuo's return army, and the strength of the Xiang clan would be lost in Pengcheng.

Whether it's for the Xiang family or for the survival of Chu.

Xiang Qu had no choice.

He must go north, must capture Pengcheng!

"Jing Tong knows the general's intentions. It's just that Zhao Tuo has always been cunning. I'm afraid the Qin army will ambush our army on the road. When we go to Pengcheng, our army must be careful."

Jing Tong spoke, his face full of worry.

Especially looking at the appearance of Xiang Qu in front of him, he felt that this scene seemed familiar.

That's right, last year, Jing Tong followed Zuo Sima Zhaoping, and after crossing the Sui River, he went north to pursue him, and followed the Qin army led by Zhao Tuo all the way.

Then, they suffered a big defeat in Surabaya.

Zuo Sima was defeated and killed himself.

Thinking of this, Jing Tong couldn't help but shudder.

...

Thirty miles south of Pengcheng.

An earthen wall rose from the ground, separating the entire road from the north to the south. Although the earthen wall was made hastily, but because its length was less than ten meters and the amount of work was limited, it was repaired by Qin Jun in a decent manner. Rammed very firmly.

In front of the wall, there are deep moats and antler wooden fences, and the ground and ditch are full of barbed wire.

Behind the wall, there are steps for soldiers to stand on and hold weapons for defense. More than ten meters behind, there is a higher earth-made high platform, on which soldiers can stand and throw bows and arrows to the outside of the wall.

This type of defensive barriers went all the way to Pengcheng, and there were one every one or two miles, and there were seven consecutive barriers. There were also narrow passages for the soldiers in front to retreat beside the subsequent barriers.

There are soldiers guarding the side of the passage with big axes and long halberds. If any enemy dares to follow in, come and kill one by one.

Behind the seven barriers, there is an open area with a large Qin army camp. At this moment, there are wisps of cooking smoke, and the soldiers of the Qin army are boiling water to cook and have a full meal.

"If you want to go to Pengcheng, you have to break my seventh base."

Zhao Tuo took all the generals under his command to inspect the defense of this section of road and was quite satisfied.

This path is his specially chosen battlefield.

The road is actually relatively wide, seven or eight meters wide.

Just on the east side of this road is a small river. The river is not very big, and the water in winter is not too deep, but the enemy army must not bypass the barrier from the river, because if they dare to bypass the waterway, the Qin army's crossbowmen who are waiting behind the barrier can shoot the enemy in the river into pieces. hedgehog. Moreover, the other side of the river is also a bad road with cliffs, even if the Chu army crossed the river, they would not be able to pass.

On the west side of the road, there is a steep slope. The trees and weeds on the slope have been cleared by the Qin army, revealing a bare area. The ground has been dug by the Qin army and is full of holes. It is difficult to walk, and you will fall if you are not careful. One fall. The top and bottom of the pit are also sprinkled with sharp barbed caltrops, just looking at it makes my feet hurt.

If the enemy wanted to pass through the steep slopes in the west, firstly, the slope full of potholes would be difficult to walk, secondly, he had to be careful to guard against the barbed caltrops on the ground, and thirdly, he had to be shot by the Qin army's archers behind the barrier.

Those who can successfully pass through the steep slope and bypass the barrier are the lucky ones, and the army cannot pass at all.

Therefore, if the enemy wants the army to pass through this road, they can only attack the Qin army's barriers head-on.

It's just breaking through one layer of barriers, followed by another layer of barriers.

One layer after another, there are as many as seven layers.

The enemy army must break through the seven bases of the Qin army and defeat all the defending Qin army guards before they can reach the real Qin army camp.

In front of the Qin army camp, there is a wide area where the main force of the Qin army can line up to meet the enemy, set up a strong bow and crossbow, and face the enemy who arrived here after breaking through the seven barriers.

"The Xiang Qu not only sent troops to attack Pengcheng, but also asked Xiangyi to attack. Naturally, he wanted to disperse our troops and let him encircle our army in a situation of besieging the few. Therefore, he must smuggle this time. Sui Shui came to fight our army."

"It's just that the Chu people have the upper hand, so why should I fight him by the Sui River?"

"The enemy advances and we retreat. He comes to attack me, and I leave. The initiative is always in the hands of our army."

Zhao Tuo stepped onto an earthen platform, looked at the scene of the front and rear camps, and saw that the Qin soldiers were still strengthening the earthen walls and building defensive measures. He couldn't help but nodded and said: "Sunzi Wu said that the terrain is the terrain, and the soldiers help. Predict the enemy's victory." , Calculating dangers and dangers, far and near, is the way of a general. Those who know this and use warfare will surely win, and those who do not know this and use warfare will surely lose."

"When you fight with soldiers, you must hold the right to choose the battlefield in your hands. The situation in Suishui is not good for our army. Then I will look for a battlefield that is beneficial to our army."

Zhao Tuo glanced at Lu Wan, Zhong Limei and the others who were listening attentively, and then asked, "Ah Wan, I read Wu Sunzi's Art of War with you, do you remember the six terrains that Wu Sunzi said."

Lu Wan thought for a moment, then clasped her hands and replied: "General, Wu Sunzi said that there are six kinds of terrains, those that are accessible, those that have hanging, those that have branches, those that have narrow areas, those that are dangerous, and those that are far away."

Zhao Tuo nodded, turned to Zhong Limei again, and said, "Zhong Li, tell me about the terrain here."

Zhong Limei smiled slightly, and naturally he would not be troubled by this question. He stretched out his fingers to the sides of the road and said, "This road is blocked by rivers in the east, and steep slopes and thorns in the west. The road is narrow and dangerous. The so-called narrow road, if I occupy it first, I will fill it and wait for the enemy; if the enemy occupies it first, I will not follow it if it is full, and follow it if it is not full.”

"Now the general is defending the narrow road first, and the seven camps are waiting. If the Chu army comes, they will not be able to exert their superiority in strength on this narrow road. They can only attack our seven bases head-on with limited troops. Under attack and defense, the Chu people must will suffer a great loss.”

"Even if they can win consecutive victories and break through my seven bases, they will inevitably be demoralized and exhausted. How can they fight against our elite soldiers of the Qin army who are waiting for work. Therefore, although the Chu army is numerous and our army is few, the final victor will definitely be defeated. It's the general!"

When Zhong Limei finished speaking, his expression was slightly excited.

"However, this place is a narrow road. If our army is the first to occupy it, we will have the advantage!"

Zhao Tuo nodded in approval.

Both Lu Wan and Zhong Limei are studying the art of war seriously, and they speak clearly and clearly.

Lu Wan hesitated for a moment, then asked again: "But general, if Chu general Xiang Qu really came after him, would he really attack after seeing our army laying out such a battle? If the Chu army retreated without a fight what to do?"

Zhao Tuo turned his head sideways and looked towards the direction of Suishui in the south.

"He will attack by force. Only by defeating our army and capturing Pengcheng will Chu have a chance of survival. If he retreats, Chu will perish."

"This place is the place where Xiang Qu and I will have a decisive battle!"

At this point, Zhao Tuo's eyes were full of fighting spirit.

"Xiang Qu, I'll be right here waiting for you."

There is a third update tonight.

"Sun Tzu's Art of War: Terrain": Sun Tzu said: "Terrain has a pass, a hang, a branch, a pass, a danger, and a distance." ... If I live in a narrow pass first, I must wait for the enemy when it is full;

Thanks to book friends Guzhu Xiaoye and Dong Piedong for their rewards, and all book friends for their votes!