General Qin

Chapter 329: Soul Breaking

More than ten miles north of Zhuyi, there is an open area beside a road.

Dozens of war horses were tied to trees, and there were nearly a thousand soldiers of the Chu army in red armor lying on the ground around them.

"We lost."

Xiang Qu stroked the saber in his hand and muttered to himself.

Yes, he lost.

Since Xiang Qu set up troops in Suishui more than a month ago and confronted Qin General Zhao Tuo, the two sides have come and gone and confronted several times.

Either pretending to be sick to deceive, or swearing at the water, or he broke the boat, and Zhao Tuo hung the sheep and beat the drum...

The two are fighting each other, and they are full of wit and tricks.

Although Xiang Qu basically didn't take advantage of it, he didn't lose much either.

On the contrary, he also forced Zhao Tuo back, and formed a situation where the Qi soldiers from Chu in the east attacked Pengcheng, and he concentrated his superior forces to pursue the Qin army.

Everything seems to be going in a good direction. As long as Xiang Qu can defeat Zhao Tuo's Qin army on the road and recover Pengcheng in one fell swoop, he will be able to open up the grain transportation channel connecting Ludi and Qi, and provide food for Chen Ying, who is in danger of food shortage. The battlefield took a sigh of relief, delaying the time for Chu to perish.

However, Xiang Qu did not expect Zhao Tuo to be so powerful. Qin Jun not only did not retreat to Pengcheng, but set up barriers on the way to find narrow roads.

Seven camps in a row exhausted the Chu army.

At the beginning of the official decisive battle, Zhao Tuo first charged into the formation with fire bulls, defeated the Chu army's vanguard, and blocked more than 20,000 Chu troops in the narrow road. Courage led to the collapse of the Chu people's entire army.

Immediately afterwards, the elite Qin army who had been prepared for a long time followed and chased them all the way to death and north, killing countless people.

There were more than 20,000 people under Xiang Qu's command. After a defeat, they ran around and were killed by the Qin army all the way. I don't know how many people died.

Because the Qin army was in such a hurry to kill, he didn't even have time to stop and gather the remnants.

As long as you stay in one place for a while, the cavalry of the Qin army will catch up. Once you are entangled by the cavalry, it will not be long before the Qin army's brigade will arrive.

Therefore, Xiang Qu and Jing Tong could only bring more than a thousand short soldiers, and they kept going south and retreating. They could only eat dry food and gallop all the way down. Everyone was already exhausted.

"General, eat some dry food."

Jing Tong came over and comforted him in a low voice: "Our army is only more than ten miles away from Zhuyi, and we can arrive in half a day at most. There are still soldiers in charge of logistics in Zhuyi city, and there are boats for the general to cross Sui River. As long as We will be safe when we cross Sui Shui."

Xiang Qu didn't respond, he raised his tired face and stared at Jing Tong with red eyes.

"Zhao Tuo's military skills are so powerful."

"Since I have been in a stalemate with him, I have been led by the nose everywhere. Not only did I not lure him to cross the river, but I hurt myself. Even if I sent a surprise army to attack Pengcheng and lure Zhao Tuo to divide his troops back to help, in the end he turned me into a It became an opportunity to smash our army."

"This son of Zhao Tuo used Pengcheng as a bait and retreated as a disguise, all the way to lure our army to pursue, and finally counterattacked and defeated me. This is really the saying of the art of war. "Those who are good at mobilizing the enemy, form them, and the enemy must follow them; give them , the enemy will take it. Move it with advantage, treat it with pawns.'”

"Not only did he refer to the terrain of the art of war, he chose the narrow land as the battlefield, and occupied it first to gain an advantage. He also built barriers in the face of a large number of our army, defending first and then attacking, using a strong wall to consume our army before Look for the opportunity of total victory. This is exactly what is said in the art of war. Those who are invincible must defend; Above, so you can protect yourself and win all..."

Xiang Qu muttered to himself, the more he spoke, the more depressed he looked on his face.

"The way Zhao Tuo uses his troops is indeed unpredictable."

Jing Tong was touched by Xiang Qu's words, and couldn't help but nodded in agreement.

The defeat of the Chu army this time reminded him of what he had experienced last year.

After a lapse of a year, the old things repeated themselves.

The same road leading to Pengcheng, the same pursuit of the Qin general named Zhao Tuo, the same Chu army occupying the upper hand in strength, the same Jing Tong came to serve as the deputy general, and then also suffered a big defeat.

The only difference is probably that the main general is different.

"My hunch was indeed accurate. Before I left Zhuyi, I knew there would be this result."

Jing Tong thought to himself that he had already been mentally prepared for this defeat, and he was not as disheartened as Xiang Qu.

Xiang Qu obviously didn't know what Jing Tong was thinking, he sighed deeply: "I met Zhao Tuo in the Qin Palace in the past, and I even shook hands with him to compare. At that time, Zhao Tuo was held tightly by me, Since his complexion didn't change, I knew this kid was not an ordinary person."

"Qin cavalry is here!"

While Xiang Qu was sighing, a Chu soldier standing guard shouted in the distance, saying that nearly a hundred cavalrymen of the Qin Army had chased him up.

When the soldiers of Chu who were resting on the ground heard this, they all jumped up in fright and were about to get up and flee towards Zhuyi.

It's only ten miles to Zhuyi. As long as they run fast enough, they will be safe in a short time.

"General, please mount your horse."

Jing Tong was startled, and hurriedly asked Xiang Qu to get on his horse, and everyone ran together.

Xiang Qu sneered, and he stood up unhurriedly.

"I have escaped for more than a hundred miles, haven't I escaped enough? There are still more than a thousand Chu troops here, and they were chased by the Qin army's hundred cavalry. How shameful it is?"

Xiang Qu's eyes were red, he was already impatient, and he ran away all the way, feeling deeply ashamed.

Especially the closer he was to Suishui Zhuyi, the deeper the sense of shame in his heart.

In the past, he led 30,000 troops from Zhuyi to the north, determined to capture and kill Zhao Tuo in order to relieve the crisis in Chu, but now he returns with a defeated army. How could he, who has always been proud, accept such an ending.

"Among the thousands of people here, is there anyone who dares to fight? Turn with me and kill the Qin people together!"

Xiang Qu roared and got on his horse. Not only did he not flee, but he turned to the direction where the Qin cavalry came with his weapon in his hand.

"General Xiang!"

Jing Tong was shocked.

At the same time, among the thousand people, dozens of passionate voices sounded.

"I am willing to follow the general!"

Most of these dozens of people are Xiang Qu's short soldiers, so they are naturally loyal.

The rest were also hot-blooded warriors, and they all got up immediately. The knight got on his horse, and the infantry raised their spears, halberds and weapons, and followed closely behind Xiang Qu.

Nearly a hundred black-armored knights galloped from the north, wanting to intimidate these routs to continue running as they have done countless times before, so that they can chase after and kill.

But this time, these defeated soldiers of the Chu army did not run away, but the generals of Chu rode their horses to meet them.

"The Xiang family's son is here, the people of Qin dare to be arrogant!"

Xiang Qu roared with glaring eyes and scolded sharply.

Its power and influence frightened the cavalry of the Qin army in the lead, their expressions were horrified, and they reined in their horses and stopped, not daring to step forward.

Xiang Qu took the opportunity to gallop on his horse and charged into the cavalry of the Qin army, brandishing a weapon in his hand, he was about to knock one of the cavalry off the horse, and dozens of Chu cavalry behind him also came shouting.

After a fight, nearly a hundred cavalrymen of the Qin Army were beheaded and dozens of them were killed, and the rest retreated quickly.

"Happy!"

Seeing the Qin people retreating, Xiang Qu didn't chase after him, but laughed out loud.

The Chu soldiers around who were fighting bloody battles also laughed: "The general is mighty!"

Only then did Xiang Qu rein in his horse and turn around, smiling at Jing Tong who was stunned on the ground: "Let's go, General Jing."

Only then did Jing Tong come to his senses, and hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "I've heard that the members of the Xiang family are all powerful generals in the world, with the courage of a hundred enemies. When Jing Tong saw him today, the rumors are indeed true."

Xiang Qu smiled faintly, but his eyes were full of loneliness.

A hundred enemies.

On the battlefield, what is the use of mere bravery in the face of military tactics?

After repelling the cavalry of the Qin army as the vanguard, Xiang Qu led the remaining soldiers on the road southward without delay.

More than ten miles away, half a day's journey.

In front of this Chu army, they finally saw a city by the Sui River.

Zhuyi.

It's just that the city in front of him didn't open the city gate as imagined, and there was a general from Chu guarding the gate to welcome him.

On the contrary, from a long distance away, you can hear the sound of shouting and killing coming from inside.

"Could it be that the Qin people took a detour to capture Zhuyi?"

Jing Tong was terrified, and the thousands of Chu soldiers also looked terrified.

But when they arrived at the city of Zhuyi, they found that this was not the case.

There were indeed people fighting in the city, but it was not the Qin army who took a detour to seize the city, but the Chu people in Zhuyi City joined together after hearing that the Chu army was defeated at the front line, and attacked the Chu army soldiers guarding the city.

Moreover, they really made their sneak attack successful and occupied the city.

When Xiang Qu and Jing Tong led a group of disabled soldiers to the city, the battle in the city came to an end.

"Qin people have always been called cruel, but they still have to pay for food, and they will leave us the last bite of food. During the period of stationing in Zhuyi, there has never been any bullying or wanton killing. They Although they are not Chu soldiers, they treat us better than you Chu soldiers!"

"You are both from Chu, but you robbed us of our last food, and let us fend for ourselves in this cold winter. You even deceived women, robbed people of their property, and even took away our cauldron. What an abominable act!"

"We would rather vote for the Qin people. I don't want to be slaughtered and abused by you Chu soldiers!"

From the top of the city, the words of Chu Yan Chu Yu full of resentment came.

"The untouchables are hateful!"

Jing Tong was furious and was about to lead his troops to seize the city.

In his opinion, the city is just a group of small people rebelling. Although they are remnants of the army, they still have armor in hand, enough to take down the city.

Xiang Qu sighed slightly.

"Let's go, cross the river near Fulisai. If we delay here, the Qin army will catch up."

Jing Tong gritted his teeth and nodded.

Xiang Qu was right. Although the vanguard cavalry of the Qin army were repelled, the main force of the Qin army chasing behind was not far away, and it would not be long before they caught up.

He could only look at Zhuyi City with resentment, and followed Xiang Qu to lead the troops to continue walking along the Sui River.

At sunset and dusk, when the sky is slanting westward.

They finally arrived at the opposite side of Fu Lisai, which was originally the camp where the five thousand Qin army was stationed.

Sure enough, there are still a thousand Chu people waiting here, and even built a boat to cross the river.

On the other side of Sui River is Fulisai.

"General, the Qin army may arrive at any time, so please ask the general to cross the river first."

Jing Tong hurriedly invited Xiang Qu to board the boat.

But Xiang Qu stood still, his feet seemed to have taken root.

"General... General."

Jing Tong's voice trembled, and a bad premonition rose in his heart.

Xiang Qu glanced at him and smiled.

"Zitong, do you still remember what happened to Zuo Sima last year?"

Jing Tong understands.

He was shocked and said: "General Xiang, you must not do this! Now our country of Chu is in danger, and we need a famous general like General to lead the army to save the country!"

"To save the country? Is Chu still saved?"

Xiang Qu laughed, but that smile was full of misery.

Jing Tong opened his mouth, but couldn't speak again.

Is Chu still saved?

Xiang Qu was defeated, and Chu State no longer had the opportunity to transport food from Lu and Qi. Now the food in the Chen Ying battlefield may only be left for about a month.

A month later, the Chu army ran out of food.

Even the most powerful general in the world is useless.

How can we fight without food?

How did Xiang Yan beat Qin Jun who outnumbered him!

With Jing Tong's insight, he naturally saw that Chu State might be about to perish this time.

Xiang Qu ignored him, but whispered to himself.

"Father ordered me to come here to fight against Zhao Tuo, and told me not to attack, so as not to suffer defeat. But I still sent troops. I don't regret this. If I don't send troops to fight for a fight, then I will really sit and wait for death, in vain. Waiting to perish. I would rather fight to the death than sit here and watch the Chu Kingdom fall."

"As for my defeat at the hands of Zhao Tuo, it is also because I am inferior to others. I have no complaints in my heart."

Xiang Qu's voice became lower and lower.

"A general of Jingchu, on the day of his departure, he will have the honor of dying, but not the humiliation of living."

"Last year Zuo Sima was defeated, and he killed himself in apology. Now I am defeated by Zhao Tuo. More soldiers died than in the battle of Surabaya. With such a defeat, I can safely cross Sui River with face and meet my father and king! "

At this point, Xiang Qu sighed with great emotion: "What's more, even if I cross the Sui River, what can I do? Do you want me to watch my father lose to Wang Jian again, and watch the eight hundred years of Chu's death?" Can the country be destroyed?"

"I don't want to!"

Xiang Qu turned his head sideways, looking in the direction of Pengcheng.

This time he and Zhao Tuo had a stalemate for two months, but he had never seen the appearance of this young general.

In his mind, what came to mind was the young Lang Guan he saw in the Qin Palace two years ago.

That handshake contest.

It was not until this time that the winner was decided.

"I'm not as good as Zhao Tuo."

"But my Xiang family is not without successors."

Xiang Qu's gaze turned to the east again, in the direction of the portrait.

There, there is still hope.

Xiang Qu drew out his sword, and murmured the last two sentences of Chu Ge Guoshang.

"Sincere is both brave and martial, and finally strong and invincible."