Qin Official

"As expected, Wang Ben is dead."

In late March, Dengyi (northwest of Xiangcheng District, Xiangfan City) was under the control of the Northern Expeditionary Army. After noticing any changes in the Northern Army, Heifu had moved the command post north here.

After Chen Hui, the envoy of Nanyang County Governor, resigned, Heifu looked at the several staff members in the room, stroking his beard and smiling, as if he had guessed it.

But in his heart, Heifu muttered silently: "Tongwuhou, Tongwuhou, if I went with you before, I didn't say that, under Jiuquan, it's better for you, General Wang, to go by yourself. I will succeed the First Emperor." It’s impossible to carry out the task of picking up this broken old river and mountains from the beginning..."

He had thought too complicatedly before. It turned out that the Northern Army's withdrawal was not due to changes in Guanzhong, but simply because Wang Ben died of illness.

However, Ji Ying still had some doubts: "Ting Pavilion Chief, the secret agent sent to the Central Plains recently reported that Wang Ben had sent troops from Sanchuan and Yingchuan to deliberately withdraw their troops, so that the Chu bandits would advance westward, and he also used Aocang as bait to make Chu They advanced rashly and laid an ambush in Xingyang. They defeated the Chu bandits and killed Xiang Ji's younger brother Xiang Sheng."

"Soldier Wang Ben, seeing that I haven't been fighting for a long time, will he try his old tricks again, so he can use this trick to fake his death and trick me? If he pursues me rashly now, he might fall into his trap."

Wang Bencai had used this method to lure the enemy back. As for feigning death and surrender, it was Hei Fu's old wisdom, which impressed Ji Ying deeply...

"Not bad, you can use your brain."

Hei Fu praised the old man. Ji Ying was indeed not good at governing the people and leading troops, but he was pretty good at collecting intelligence. After all, Ji Ying had been a postman many years ago and was a good hand at opening letters. He also inquired about information and changed the situation. Hei Fu went to Xianyang to take over his family...

"Wang Ben cheated his death to lure me in. It's not impossible, but the price is too high..."

According to Chen Hui from Nanawuan, Wang Ben's army is still blocking the news and not announcing his death. This is because everyone knows that Wang Ben was the backbone of Nanyang's army of more than 100,000 people. Once the soldiers learn that he is dead, the morale of the army will be in chaos and their morale will drop. to freezing point.

"Furthermore, even if Wang Ben sends people to pretend to surrender, he should not approach Lu Ye. This man once served as the guard of Linzi and has a history with me. If he came to surrender on a normal day, I would be suspicious, but now..."

Heifu pointed to the letter from Lu Jue presented by Chen Hui, as well as the retreat plan and defense map of the Northern Army in Nanyang County's possession.

These don't look like fakes. They are real and fake. You will know if you send a forward to test them.

"But it's right to be careful. I will gather the three armies and head north, and you will send more sentries to the north to find out the news!"

After Ji Ying was ordered to leave, Hei Fu thought about the "good news" again, but he only had mixed feelings, not knowing whether to be happy or sad.

He lamented: "Although we have never defeated Wang Ben in terms of military strength, he was blocked in Nanyang for half a year. This means that the people of the world have to sweat and sweat for half a year. This is a pity. But I’m not ashamed!”

"Just because my opponent is Wang Ben and Marquis Tongwu!"

Wang Ben raised his troops and led the troops, making it difficult for Heifu to make further progress. He defeated Han Xin and made Xiang Ji suffer a heavy loss. However, General Wang could not defeat time after all.

Lian Po is old after all, pathetic and deplorable.

Respect, respect, but now that Wang Ben's death has been confirmed, if Heifu doesn't take advantage of the fire to rob him...

His surname is not Hei!

…

"Wang Ben's army has more than 200,000. Excluding those in Hanzhong, Sanchuan, and Yingchuan, there are 150,000 in Nanyang. Previously, 100,000 were in Rang, Xinye, and Wancheng to defend our army, and 50,000 were in Danyang and Xixian to guard Chi. road."

Without further ado, Heifu immediately held a military meeting that day and asked Ji Ying to call General Gong Wei, Chen Ying, Yuan Bai and other captains Sima to discuss the pursuit.

Ji Ying was ordered to state the information he had received: "But according to Nanyang Shou, most of Wancheng's 50,000 soldiers have begun to evacuate, leaving only a few left behind and many empty camps. The rest left Nanyang with food for the armored soldiers. Along the Chi Road, we headed towards Danyang, where Sima Yang was there to meet us..."

"In addition, 30,000 troops were left to guard Rang County (Deng County, Henan Province) and 20,000 troops were left to guard Xinye (Xinye, Henan Province) to prevent our army from pursuing it northward after discovering it."

Gong Wei, Gong Ao's son who made great achievements in guarding Xiangyang, pointed at the map and said: "In this way, if you want to take over Wancheng, you should go to Xinye, where there are flat fields and wide fields, and there is an internal response that Nanyang Guard has promised. And if you want to take over Wancheng, you should go to Xinye. If you want to pursue quickly, you have to go to Rang County, where the enemy army is 30,000, and the danger is close to Denglin!"

From Rang County to Li County (Nanzhao County, Henan Province), there is a distance of 600 miles. Although there are no infrastructures in the north and south, they are connected by mountains. And because Rang County used to be the ruins of Deng State, it is called Denglin Danger. It controls Shang and Luo in the west, and Jing and Chu in the south. The mountains are high and the water is deep, and boats and cars come and go. It is not an exaggeration to call it the barrier of Xianghan and the throat of Qin and Chu.

The 30,000 people who were arranged to cut off the rear were based in Rang County and backed by Deng Lin. Without an absolute superiority in strength, the outcome would not be decided in three to five days...

The number of troops in Heifu's hands has increased compared with last year, but 50,000 troops are in Hanzhong, commanded by Han Xin, 20,000 are at Dongmen Leopard, and there are only 80,000 in Xiangfan at the moment...

After thinking about it, Heifu said: "I will bring 50,000 troops to Rang County. Gong Wei, Chen Ying, and Ji Ying. You three will take 30,000 people to Xinye. After capturing the place, Chen Ying will continue to go north to take over Wancheng. Gong Wei Then go west and attack Deng Lin. If you do this, you can capture 30,000 people in Rang County!"

Chen Ying, a native of Dongyang County, Donghai County, asked: "What about the 100,000 enemy soldiers who retreated to Wuguan?"

Heifu had his own idea: "I will ask the cavalryman Sima Laowu to take three thousand chariots and ride north along the Han River to the intersection of Danshui and Junshui to meet up with Dongmen Leopard."

"Dongmen Leopard is in Danyin with 20,000 people. I have sent people to inform him that as long as he and Lao Wu are here, the enemy army will never be able to evacuate smoothly to Wuguan."

The captain was a little regretful: "Although uncle Dongmen is brave, he still has few soldiers. By the time we capture Rang County and rush to Danyang, the enemy may have already entered the pass..."

Heifu taught him a lesson: "Boy, you want to bite off more than you can chew. Eat what's in the bowl first, and then look at what's in the cauldron!"

Why doesn't Heifu want to finish his work in one battle? It's a pity that the Southern Army is good at everything, but its maneuverability is worrying. It is far inferior to the Northern Army with a large number of cavalry. This is a natural disadvantage.

The generals were ordered to leave, but Chen Ying, who had been promoted to captain, came to ask again:

"Commander, if Nanyang Shou repented, there should have been no attack in Xinye. Although the subordinates and Gong Ao were confident of defeating Xinye, they were unable to capture Wancheng..."

"This is why I appointed you as the chief general and Lieutenant Gong as the deputy. Chen Ying, you are very thoughtful."

Heifu nodded: "When using troops, you should not rely on others to win or lose. This is why I would rather fight steadily than take risks with a large army and cross Rangxian and Xinye to pursue the enemy. I am worried about whether Nanyang Shou will There are variables!”

"If there is a change, you will lead the army to Yuyang to stop the enemy from the south. The generals will still act according to the plan. Regardless of whether Nanyang Shou's surrender is true or not, our army will eat up the remaining 50,000 enemy soldiers!"

Fifty thousand is a guarantee. Whether we can hold back more depends on God's will...

This providence does not refer to luck, but to climate.

March is coming to an end now. According to the climate in Nanyang in previous years, there are often heavy showers at the turn of spring and summer. The roads west of Denglin are not very good. Once there is heavy rain, it will be muddy and it is common to travel twenty or thirty miles a day. The Northern Army has chosen this month to withdraw its troops. If they want to leave completely, it really depends on whether God will give them face!

Chen Ying nodded: "If nothing changes and Wancheng surrenders as promised, Commander, what are your subordinates going to do with Lu Ye?"

Hei Fu smiled: "Accept his military power, so that he can be relieved and treat him with courtesy."

Lu Ye was a horse bone delivered to the door. Hei Fu wanted to wrap him in silk and satin, decorate him with gold and jade, hold him high, and shake him to show the world, especially Li Si, to make him feel at ease!

"Look, old hamster."

"I treat this guy Lu Ye so favorably, let alone you, old man?"

…

On March 25th, Chen Hui finally returned to Wancheng after a long journey. He found that the military camp outside Wancheng was even more empty. In the past, there were only three or two birds falling, but now they are in groups. The team is so lively!

"I don't know if the Confederate army can catch up with the retreating Northern army, and how many can they stop?"

He entered the city in the evening, entered the county mansion overnight, and met Lu Ye...

"Zifu is back!"

Lv Ye was furious and took his hand and said, "All the iron smelting craftsmen of the Kong family have been moved away. Today Gantang personally came to urge me to burn food. Zifu, I'm afraid this matter can't be delayed any longer!"

"No need to delay any longer!"

Chen Hui said: "Now the Northern Army has almost withdrawn. The county soldiers composed of Nanyang locals are willing to obey the commander's orders and can respond to the south at any time! Congratulations to the commander. Marquis Wuzhong is overjoyed when he heard that the commander abandoned the secret and turned to the bright side!"

Lu Ye was a little nervous, rubbed his hands and said, "Hei Fu... Well, what did Marquis Wu Zhong say?"

Chen Hui smiled and said: "Wu Zhonghou said this, 'If you really want to change sides and surrender, you will surrender with courtesy. After the Northern Expedition is successful, you will still retain your title of feudal lord. Wouldn't it be wonderful if the country is safe and the people are happy?'"

…

ps: Chapter 2 is at night.