General Qin

"General Meng has captured Ayi? Very good!"

In the camp of the Qin army outside Zhencheng, Zhao Tuo received a message from the fast horse from the east, and he was immediately refreshed.

The tent was full of generals at this time, they were discussing about the next attack on Zhencheng, when they heard General Zhao read the news that Meng Tian had captured Ayi, everyone immediately beamed with joy.

"After General Meng is worthy of being a famous general, he succeeded in raiding the plains and went all the way south to surprise Ayi. This completely cut off the Qi army's retreat in Zhencheng. The military is in turmoil."

Li Shiqi laughed: "Under this fear, the general bombarded the city with huge cannons to intimidate the Qi people in the city, and at the same time sent people to recruit them to surrender. This will reduce Qi people's desire to resist and help our army to induce surrender. This is a combination of fear, intimidation, and inducement. If we attack Zhencheng with these three methods, how can the city not be broken?"

"Sir said so."

Zhao Tuo smiled slightly, and said again: "According to the scouts of our army lying on the east side, people from the direction of Ayi have already entered Zhencheng, presumably they have brought the news into the city, but in order to stabilize the morale of the army, Da Sima has a lot to do. This news may be suppressed, so we have to help him spread the word."

"Let's pick some smart and cooperative prisoners from among the captives, and let them go around the city with trumpets to publicize the fact that Ayi was captured by our army, and at the same time announce the policy of not killing those who surrender."

"Also, send an order to General Meng to send someone to drive some of Ayi's soldiers and people to Zhencheng to confirm this matter."

Speaking of this, Zhao Tuo looked at Xiqigu again, and asked, "How many days are we short of our army's giant cannon?"

Xi Qigu clasped his hands and said: "The luggage has arrived, and the craftsmen of all departments are in place. Our army's giant cannon can be assembled within two days at most."

Zhao Tuo nodded. The core metal parts of the cannon had been built long ago, and now they are transported here with the transport team, and they only need to be assembled with the wood felled nearby. It will not take long.

"Since that's the case, let's bombard the city with giant cannons two days later, shocking the Qi people in the city, and help them make a choice!"

...

"I have long heard that Qin Jun has an object that can amplify sound. When I saw it today, it really deserves its reputation. I think it was made by the Xiangli Mohist who was attached to the Qin people. If you use this object to argue with others..."

On the city wall of Zhencheng, Xiangfu Ji looked at the Qi people outside the city who were holding strange objects and making noises, his eyes sparkled.

In his mind, he imagined the scene where he used this thing to debate with others in Jixia Academy. That would be like a tiger with wings added. Even the most eloquent disciple of a famous family would be suppressed to the point of being powerless to fight back.

Xiangfu hurried to his side, but Tian Chong and Tian Dan had gloomy expressions.

"Da Sima, the Qin people are vicious. They not only spread the news that Ayi was captured, but also said that those who surrendered would not be killed, intending to disturb the morale of our army. If this continues, many people in the city will definitely believe the words of the Qin people, and wait until the Qin army attacks the city. At that time, the soldiers will no longer have the will to fight."

Tian Dan said worriedly.

After receiving the news of the fall of Ayi, they immediately controlled the Qi people who had sent the message.

They tried their best to block the news, fearing that it would affect the fighting spirit of the Qi people in the city if it spread, but now they were still stabbed by the Qin people.

Tian Chong pursed his lips and said, "Just tell the soldiers that it's all Qin people's nonsense, and intentionally confuse our army. As long as no one confirms the news that Ayi has been captured, the soldiers will only be suspicious. As for the Qin people's surrender..."

Tian Chong thought of the 10,000 soldiers he put into the city, and suddenly felt a headache.

The Qin army's persuasion to surrender was not only due to the Qin people's temptation outside, but also the Qi people in the city to help them promote it. This matter cannot be suppressed no matter what.

Before Da Sima could come up with a solution to this matter, another guard from the east of the city came to report.

It is said that there were Qi soldiers and villagers who fled from the direction of Ayi and came to Zhencheng. Now they have arrived at the city of Zhencheng, crying and crying, and complained that Ayi was occupied by the Qin people.

Tian Chong's face turned pale immediately.

Looking at the Qin army's camp in the distance, he said in a trembling voice, "Zhao Tuo, your methods are really vicious!"

...

As the news that Ayi fell into the hands of the Qin army was confirmed, the situation in the entire Zhencheng became worse.

Excluding the 10,000 Qi soldiers released by the Qin army, there were still 30,000 soldiers in the city, and 20,000 of them were rout soldiers from that battle, who had been frightened out of their wits by the Qin army on the battlefield.

Before, it was only because Tian Dan said that the Qin army loved killing and beheading that these Qi people could muster up their courage and have the heart to fight to the death.

Now these people heard that outside the city, there were prisoners of the Qi army constantly propagandizing the Qin people's policy of not killing those who surrendered, and there were even 10,000 Qi people in the city quietly boasting about the benevolence of Qin general Zhao Tuo, and their thoughts suddenly surged.

The occupation of Ayi means that Zhencheng was surrounded by the Qin army and fell into a desperate situation.

In this desperate situation, they saw the hope of survival if they surrendered, which was even more touching.

In the next few days, Qin Jun's actions helped these Qi people make up their minds more and more.

The Qin people did not send anyone to attack the city, only the dozens of cannons erected outside the city kept firing stone bombs.

Boulders all over the sky flew across the sky, shaking the walls of Zhencheng.

The fragile parts such as the turret and the parapet that happened to be hit by the stone bomb exploded on the spot, and the huge roar shook the Qi people in the city to fight, their faces turned pale.

The barbed caltrops and small gravel bombs scattered all over the sky caused terrible physical and psychological trauma to the Qi soldiers defending the city.

"The giant artillery of the Qin army is really terrifying. They have such weapons in their hands, how can we hold them?"

"Yeah, Qin Jun doesn't need to personally attack, just use the giant cannon to bombard the city wall every day. Sooner or later, the city will be blasted and we will all be smashed into meat sauce."

"Meat sauce? Hiss... This is impossible to defend at all, why not surrender to them, at least you can survive!"

The Qi soldiers guarding the city had already talked about their surrender in fear.

Someone even asked those Qi soldiers who were released by the Qin army: "The Qin people really don't kill the prisoners? And promise to let us go back to our hometown after the war? Is it credible!"

Hearing the question, those Qi soldiers who were released immediately became refreshed.

They whispered one by one: "Of course, General Zhao is the most trustworthy. He said he would let me back when he came back. They didn't have much food, and they were willing to give some of it to the prisoners. They didn't even kill a single person. You Can you believe it?"

"That's right, General Zhao is trustworthy and benevolent. You see, our Qi army was not properly recruited before, and General Zhao didn't take the opportunity to sneak attack. Instead, he waited for our army to arrive, and then set up a formation to fight an upright battle. Fighting. How can there be such a general in this world? If General Zhao can't be trusted, who can believe it?"

"That's right, if the Qin army attacks the city, Nai Gong will be the first to surrender!"

Those Qi soldiers who were released back made a strong promise.

They have already surrendered once, the first time they were born, and the second time they were cooked, and they surrendered again, it is really no psychological burden.

"Since that's the case, Nai Gong will follow you and surrender at that time."

"If the Qin army is surrendered, you don't have to worry about it all day long in this city."

Several Qi soldiers were whispering, and such voices kept ringing throughout Zhencheng.

Tian Dan, who patrolled the city defense all day long, knew this situation clearly.

With a livid face, he walked into the room where Da Sima was, and saw Da Sima was kneeling on the couch, staring at the map on the wooden table in front of him in a daze.

Tian Dan gritted his teeth and said, "Grand Sima, the Qin army's attack on the city combined with their cannons has already made our soldiers lose their fighting spirit, and they are discussing surrender in private."

"If things go on like this, when the Qin army really launches an attack, no one will fight to the death. Instead of this, why don't I lead my troops out of the city to surprise the Qin army and fight with them. Da Sima took this opportunity to lead short soldiers from the east gate. Walk."

"The Qin Army encircled the Three Ques and one, and the road to the east is unobstructed. After Da Sima leaves the city, he will go to Linzi. As long as he returns to the capital, Da Sima will call up the army again, and we, Qi, will still have a chance!"

Tian Dan's voice was fierce, and his face was full of fighting intent.

Tian Chong was startled.

He looked at Tian Dan with a helpless smile: "Dan, you are willing to protect me with death. I am very touched. But since Zhao Tuo captured Ayi with a surprise army, he took my back route and wanted to surround and kill me here. It makes sense to me."

"Zhao Tuo wants to get me, even if you, Tian Dan, can cover my escape from Zhencheng with your life, it will be useless."

"When I leave, Zhao Tuo will definitely send cavalry to pursue me. It is hundreds of miles away from Linzi, and the cavalry of the Qin army will chase after me. There are even Qin people patrolling around Ayi. I want to go all the way back to Linzi. How difficult is it? Also. If he was captured by him on the road, wouldn’t he be humiliated again?”

Tian Chong's voice became lower and lower: "And I can see clearly that even though I, Tian Chong, have good military skills, I am far from being Zhao Tuo's opponent on the battlefield. It's just a shame."

"Big Sima!"

Tian Dan's body trembled, looking at Da Sima in front of him, he already had a bad premonition in his heart.

Tian Chong said softly: "The Qi people in the city have no intention of fighting, so why should I force them to fight to the death, that is just killing in vain, not what a gentleman would do."

"Zhao Tuo now declares with benevolence and righteousness that he will not kill the soldiers. Looking at his past, there is no such thing as killing and destroying the promise."

"To this day, I should use Zhencheng to bring him down, Zhao Tuo, and use the whole city to save everyone's life."

Tian Chong spoke with a smile, but there was a hint of determination in his eyes.