Vol 2 Chapter 2620: Nanzheng Attack and Defense Battle (Part 2): Lee and Han team up

Chapter 2620 Nanzheng Attack and Defense Battle (Part 2): Li Han joins forces

Chapter 2616: Nanzheng Attack and Defense Battle (Part 2): Li Han joins forces

Li Jing asked Wang Jian and Han Xin to stay in Xicheng because he wanted to use himself as bait to lure the Shu army out of Nanzheng City. After all, when Han Xin's troops arrived, the Shu Han defenders would be even less likely to leave.

 The result was exactly the opposite of what Li Jing expected. Although the enemy troops were drawn out, they were all cannon fodder.

The bait tactic failed. Wang Jian and Han Xin naturally did not need to stay in Xicheng. After receiving Li Jing's order, they immediately rushed to the front line. However, there were still some troubles to deal with, which was to change camps in Wubao scattered throughout Hanzhong. .

Previously, Li Jing thought that he could conquer Nanzheng in a short period of time. By then, the counties in Hanzhong, as well as these forts and camps, would naturally not continue to resist stubbornly. However, he did not expect that the Shu Han would come up with such an insidious and vicious strategy.

If you continue to keep these Uburgs, it will inevitably leave some hidden dangers, and it is naturally best to eliminate them as soon as possible.

With less than 40,000 troops, Li Jing's army faced 80,000 to 90,000 Shu troops and more than 100,000 new soldiers. Naturally, he did not have the energy to divide his troops into battles, so this task could only be left to Han Xin and Wang Jian.

After Wang Jian and Han Xin joined forces, their total strength was nearly 50,000. Han Xin led 30,000 troops, and Wang Jian and Wenpin each led 10,000. The troops were divided into three groups and marched westward at the same time, clearing the Wubao and other fortifications along the way.

 Han Xin's army in the middle encountered the most Uburgs on the way, but most of them surrendered voluntarily. After all, there were too many invading Qin troops, and stubborn resistance was a dead end.

As for those Wubao on the north and south who resisted stubbornly and refused to surrender, they could only let Wang Jian and Wenpin attack them one by one. Anyway, these fortifications would not cause much harm to the Qin army, but it would be more delayed to clear them one by one. It’s just time.

Han Xin easily cleared most of the Wu Fort in the middle road, and naturally handed the rest to Wang Jian and Wenpin. When he arrived at the Nanzheng front line, he saw that there were still many people on the front line.

Some of these people were overjoyed, crying and laughing while holding their loved ones in their arms, as if they were reborn after a disaster.

 But some of them looked sad and cried hysterically, as if their biological father and son had died.

What's more, they even insulted the Qin army and attacked Qin army soldiers.

There was a Qin soldier who was captured by the old woman. Although he was extremely angry and aggrieved, he still endured and did not fight back until several soldiers rushed up and dragged the old woman away and locked him up.

Han Xin saw that the white-haired old woman was being dragged away by Qin soldiers on both sides while still scolding the Qin army hysterically. He couldn't help but frown and asked: "What's going on?"

"Why."

Li Jing, who came to greet him in person, sighed and said, "Her son was forcibly recruited by the Shu army, and then died in a battle with our army, and she blamed our army for her son's death. She thinks it was our army that killed her son.”

 “Huh, that’s ridiculous.”

Han Xin snorted coldly and said calmly: "Her son was recruited by the Shu army and was used as cannon fodder by the Shu army before he died. We can't let our soldiers resist, right?

Moreover, the people in the four counties of Xicheng, Anyang, now rely on our army to provide food. Our army has saved the lives of the people in these four counties. Even if you are not grateful, you should not resent our army. "

Li Jing laughed bitterly when he heard this: "That's true, but how can ordinary people have such awareness? They only know that their husbands and sons died at the hands of our army, which is enough to make them hate me. I don’t care about anything else.”

Hearing what Li Jing said, Han Xin was speechless. The people at the bottom were really easy to fool.

Li Jing looked at the people who hugged each other and cried bitterly after being reunited with their families, and couldn't help but feel a flash of relief in his heart. At least these people's hearts were towards the Qin army.

Eighteen thousand young men from the four counties of Xicheng in Anyang died in battle, but 16,000 were also captured. After releasing these people, it would be equivalent to saving 16,000 families.

Those families whose relatives have died will hate the Qin army, but those families who were captured and released by the Qin army will also be grateful to the Qin army, and will be even more grateful to the Qin army.

 These people can dilute the hatred and resistance of the Hanzhong people towards the Qin army.

Li Jing walked up to the soldier whose face was scratched. Under the excited and puzzled gaze of the other soldier, he patted his shoulder and asked, "Are you feeling aggrieved?"

The soldier immediately stood upright and said loudly: "Don't be aggrieved, Commander Li Yuan, always keep in mind your majesty's teachings and the military regulations of the Qin Dynasty. Our Qin Dynasty is people-oriented and will not take advantage of the people. No matter how the people insult you, as long as you don't first If you take action, you will never be allowed to take action against the people.”

 “Well said, you are worthy of being my soldier, Li Jing.”

 Li Jing showed a pleased smile.

 The common people of Hanzhong not far away, after hearing the conversation between Li Jing and the soldiers, naturally expressed admiration for those whose family members were still alive.

As for the people whose relatives had died, although some of them fell silent, more people still hated the Qin army.

Along the way, after Han Xin learned all the current information from Li Jing, he couldn't help but sigh: "Brother Li, you kicked the steel plate this time. Even if Hanzhong can be defeated, your Yongliang army will probably bleed heavily."

Li Jing's face became even more bitter when he heard this. Who could say otherwise? According to his original idea, although the cost of capturing Hanzhong County was high, it was still within the affordable range.

But the Shu Han dragged all the strong men in Hanzhong into the battlefield. The iron plate in Hanzhong instantly evolved into a steel plate, and the Qin army would also pay a greater price than before.

But who would have thought that Liu Yu would be so ruthless? The lives of hundreds of thousands of people in Hanzhong were directly used as cannon fodder.

“Brother Han, the Shu Han’s poisonous plan is not flawless, and Nanzheng City is the only breakthrough.”

Hearing what Li Jing said, Han Xin nodded in agreement.

Shu Han can give up all the cities, but they cannot give up Nanzheng City. After all, giving up Nanzheng is equivalent to giving up Hanzhong, and if Nanzheng can be conquered, the battle of Hanzhong will naturally be over.

But now there are still 60,000 Shu troops and nearly 100,000 young and strong recruits in Nanzheng City. Outside the city, there is Li Siyuan's 30,000 troops watching eagerly. It is obvious that Li Jing's 50,000 Yongliang troops alone cannot capture Nanzheng. They must Only with Han Xin’s full support.

"Brother Han, please give your full support to Li to attack this city." Li Jing said with a pleading look on his face, with a very low posture, but Han Xin fell into silence after hearing this.

 First of all, Han Xin belongs to the Jingzhou Military Region and is not an interest group with Li Jing.

In fact, for the Jingzhou Military Region, if Li Jing captured Hanzhong, not only would the Jingzhou Military Region not be able to gain any benefits, but it would also have to hand over the jurisdiction of Shangyong and Xicheng counties.

After all, if Shu is destroyed in the future, the Yongliang army will definitely be the main force, and the three counties of Hanzhong are close to Guanxi, so they will definitely be under the jurisdiction of the Yongliang army.

Therefore, it is very interesting that the Jingzhou Army can send troops to help this time. After all, it has nothing to do with them if Li Jing loses, but if they win, the Jingzhou Army will lose the tax land of two counties.

 All the Jingzhou generals, including Han Xin, originally thought that they entered Hanzhong this time just to gain momentum for Li Jingzhuang.

But looking at Li Jing's posture now, it is obvious that he wants the Jingzhou Army to work hard and help the Yongliang Army win this battle regardless of casualties.

From the perspective of the Jingzhou Army, it does seem that Li Jing was a bit too unkind.

As the deputy governor of Jingzhou, Han Xin's status in the Jingzhou Army is second only to the commander Xue Rengui, so he naturally has to consider the interests of the entire Jingzhou Army.

Seeing Han Xin's silence, Li Jing's heart suddenly thumped, thinking that Han Xin didn't want to wade into this muddy water, but he didn't blame Han Xin in his heart.

 After all, this matter had nothing to do with the Jingzhou Army in the first place, but it was indeed a bit unkind to drag the Jingzhou Army in instead.

Before Li Jing was angry that Zhang Yi was plotting against him, but now he is plotting against Han Xin as well. Han Xin was already generous enough not to blame him.

Li Jing somewhat regretted issuing the military order, but he ended up saying it too much, and now he can't even get out of office.

The only one who can help Li Jing tide over the difficulties now is Han Xin. Naturally, Li Jing cannot let go of this last savior.

Li Jinggang was about to persuade him, but before he could say anything, Han Xin said: "We are all soldiers of the Qin Dynasty. Han Xin and the entire Jingzhou army will definitely help brother Li with all their strength."

Li Jing couldn't help but be startled. He was really touched by Han Xin's help in times of need, and he said sincerely: "Brother Han is so righteous, Li Jing can't thank you enough."

When the generals in Jingzhou saw that Han Xin had agreed to Li Jing, they were a little anxious. They communicated with their eyes one after another, trying to persuade Han Xin to take back his life.

Seeing that Han Xin ignored him, Zheng Lun stood up and prepared, but as soon as he said the word "commander", he was stopped by Han Xin's eyes.

There are two reasons why Han Xin will do its best to help Li Jing:

　　First, in order to capture Hanzhong, Da Qin had already paid a huge price. Both the court and the emperor were looking forward to capturing Hanzhong as soon as possible. If the Jingzhou Army fell behind at this time, it would definitely arouse the dissatisfaction of His Majesty the Emperor.

 The second reason is because of Li Jing as a whole.

You must know that even the general Bai Qi is only the governor of Jizhou, but Li Jing is the governor of Yongliang and Liangzhou, which shows that your majesty trusts and values ​​​​Li Jing.

 At present, Li Jing has accomplished the feat of destroying the Tang Dynasty. If Hanzhong can be captured in this battle, he will most likely be the leader in destroying Sui and Shu in the future. Therefore, Li Jing in the future can really threaten Bai Qi, the number one person in the military.

Han Xin knew that Li Jing was a gentleman, and with his current status, he would definitely not come to him to ask for help unless he was really pressed for help. And if you help Li Jing in times of need at this time, you will definitely gain Li Jing's gratitude.

Although Han Xin's political skills are not high, his intelligence is very high, and the friendship of the second person in the Qin army is obviously still very important to him.

Although Li Jing had the full support of Han Xin, he still had several problems to solve if he wanted to conquer Nanzheng. The first and most important problem was the food and grass issue.

 Anyang, Xicheng, Chenggu and other five counties, with nearly two hundred surnames, had to rely on the Qin army to provide food before the autumn harvest. It was obviously too much pressure to rely solely on Yongliang Prefecture.

After hearing what Li Jing said, Han Xin decisively stated that Shangyong’s reserves could be used first for emergencies. If not, grain could be transported from Nanyang to reduce the logistical pressure on Yongliang and Liangzhous.

 After solving the food and grass problem, the next thing Li Jing had to consider was to attack Nanzheng with all his strength.

In the Battle of Yangpingguan, the Yongliang Qin army consumed too much siege materials and destroyed too many siege equipment. Even if the craftsmen worked overtime to rush production, they could not make up for it in a short time.

Li Jing can only make up 400 catapults even if he empties the Yongliang warehouse.

Seeing this, Han Xin waved his hand and directly stated that he had brought 300 catapults. In addition, Shangyong also had 300 more available. If not, 500 could be transferred from Jingzhou.

Fifteen hundred catapults, specially used to attack Nanzheng, are naturally enough.

Li Jing saw that Han Xin was so generous, and he couldn't help but sigh that the Jingzhou army was rich and wealthy.

Even though the Jingzhou Army only has half of Jingzhou in the north, because it is the birthplace of the Qin Dynasty, it has been ruled by the Qin Army for more than ten years. Even with constant wars, the development of industry, agriculture and commerce is greater than that of the Yongliang Prefecture combined. Be strong.

Just when Li Jing and Han Xin were preparing to attack Nanzheng, the Shu army sent 20,000 young and strong recruits from Chenggu County to launch a "suicide" attack against the Qin army again, while the Qin army passively counterattacked.

After a great battle, 8,000 cannon fodder from Shu were killed and 12,000 were captured, which exhausted the 20,000 young men in Chenggu County and only caused nearly 700 casualties to the Qin army.

However, if calculated cumulatively, the Qin army also lost nearly 3,000 troops. Moreover, under the continuous high-intensity battles and the crazy attacks of the Shu Han, the Yongliang Qin army also began to feel a little tired, and its combat strength and morale were inevitable. There has been a decline.

Li Jing knew that there was not much time left for him. Whether he could capture Nanzheng depended on this next move. Otherwise, he could only fight a war of attrition to wear down the Shu army bit by bit, but this would only gain the support of the people. The dilapidated Hanzhong that is difficult to return to.

 (End of this chapter)