General Qin

In late October in Lingnan, the heat began to recede, and cool winds drifted through the mountains and forests.

A large number of black troops arrived in a wide area, and various Qin soldiers began to cut down trees and set up camp.

Zhao Tuo stood in front of the handsome tent and looked at the surrounding scene.

"The environment in Guangxi is indeed very different from that in Guangdong."

As the commander of the first army, Zhao Tuo would naturally pay attention to the geographical environment along the way.

This is a necessary quality for being a military general.

Compared with the large and concentrated plain areas in the Pearl River Delta area of ​​Guangdong. Guangxi also has plains, but they are fragmented by hills and mountains. At a glance, one can see continuous mountains and overlapping peaks.

The area that the Qin army just entered was fine. If they went further west and entered the area known as the "One Hundred Thousand Mountains" in later generations, it would be easy to get in but not get out, and that would be real trouble.

Zhao Tuo somewhat understood why Tu Sui gave up on encircling and suppressing the Ou people who were fleeing in the mountains and forests after capturing Xi'ou, and chose to go east to attack South Vietnam.

It wasn't that Tu Sui really didn't know the dangers of those Ou people in the mountains and forests, but because the mountains in this place were endless and it was impossible to search them manually.

As long as the Ou people are determined to hide in the mountains and not come out, it will be very difficult for the Qin army to catch them.

The geographical environment of Xiou is much more complicated than that of South Vietnam.

There were footsteps in the distance, and Xia Houying, who was promoted to the master of two or five hundred short soldiers, came to report that Han Xin, the fifth doctor, wanted to see him.

Zhao Tuo smiled and said: "This kid comes quickly, let him come in."

The outpost built by Cao Shen's troops is still one day away, and the main force of the Qin army led by Zhao Tuo will not arrive until tomorrow. Therefore, after Cao Shen knew that the army was about to arrive, he defended the camp and let Han Xin come to greet him first.

Outside the bustling military camp, Han Xin wore a heguan and armor, looking majestic.

Next to him is Xiang Ji, who is a close soldier, holding a halberd with an expressionless face at the moment.

Xiang Ji, who has been promoted to the title of official officer, should be able to serve as a general in the army under normal circumstances.

Xiang Ji was gearing up at that time, preparing for a big fight and another great achievement to complete his plan to assassinate Tuo.

But he didn't expect that before the title of Elephant Killer was issued, he was transferred to Han Xin by Cao Shen and became the opponent's close confidant.

Xiang Ji was speechless and angry.

Especially when he saw Han Xin, a boy who was not even older than him, wearing a crown with the rank of fifth doctor on his head every day, it was so dazzling that Xiang Ji almost broke his teeth with envy.

Related households!

If it weren't for Zhao Tuo's protection, how would you, a fledgling brat, have the chance to lead the Mei clan and the Yue people to fight? Not to mention capturing Argus and accomplishing a great feat.

He worked hard, beheaded people and killed elephants, and then he was barely promoted to an official.

But Han Xin, the second generation, relied on Zhao Tuo's relationship to make contributions as soon as he came out, and was awarded the title of fifth doctor. This made Xiang Ji feel unbalanced.

In addition to envy and jealousy, the relationship between Han Xin and Zhao Tuo made Xiang Ji feel angry.

Every time he saw Han Xin, he wanted to thrust the halberd into his chest.

Xiang Ji held back.

"A small impatience will mess up a big plan. I, Xiang Ji, joined the Qin army to kill Zhao Tuo, but I can't let this boy Han Xin ruin my important affairs. He is not worthy of my life in exchange."

After Xiang Ji suppressed his murderous intention, he thought of something else.

"Han Xin is Zhao Tuo's close disciple. If I can gain Han Xin's trust, I will have a better chance of success than if I am at the bottom of the army. If I perform well, he might be able to recommend me to Zhao Tuo. Once I meet Zhao Tuo, My plan has come true!"

Thinking of this, Xiang Ji was overjoyed and even said to himself: "God help me."

After his mentality changed, Xiang Ji began to think of ways to gain Han Xin's trust. When faced with Han Xin's inquiries, he responded appropriately.

Xiang Ji felt that he had a talent for acting. Even after staying in the Qin army for nearly three years, no one could discover his true identity.

From being a wanted remnant of the Chu State to becoming an official of the Qin State, his experience is inspiring.

When Xiang Ji was proud, he saw that Han Xin was interested in cultivating his own team of confidants, so he boldly recommended someone.

Liu Bang!

Xiang Ji praised the man's intelligence and ability and tried his best to recommend him.

Han Xin was really interested when he saw that it was Xiang Ji who recommended him.

He asked someone to summon Liu Bang. After a conversation, he felt that this middle-aged man with a short beard was really a talent, so he asked for it from Cao Shen.

Now Xiang Ji, Liu Bang, and Peng Yue are all under Han Xin as confidants.

The other two people stood behind Xiang Ji.

This made Xiang Ji secretly wonder.

The reason why he recommended Liu Bang was precisely because this man was his brother-in-law and would probably be able to help him when doing big things in the future.

As for Peng Yue, when he ran out of the mountains and forests, he happened to encounter the Qin army led by Xiang Ji. There was a brief conversation between the two, which was considered a slight friendship.

At this moment, someone came out of the military camp.

"Han Changshi, the general lets you in."

Xia Houying walked to the camp gate and nodded to Han Xin.

Han Xin smiled and said: "Thank you, Mr. Xiahou."

Before the expedition, Xia Houying worked as a coachman for Zhao Tuo in the Wugonghou Mansion, while Han Xin was a disciple of Zhao Tuo and went in and out of the mansion every day. The two had a certain friendship.

But before entering, Han Xin looked back and said to Xiang Ji: "The military camp is an important place and foreign troops are not allowed to enter lightly. You and I will wait outside the camp."

"only."

Xiang Ji, Liu Bang, Peng Yue and others immediately agreed.

Seeing Xiang Ji loudly accepting his orders, Han Xin's lips curled up slightly, then he turned and walked into the military camp.

Looking at the back of Han Xin entering the military camp.

Xiang Ji licked his lips, with a look of desire in his eyes.

…

In the handsome tent, Zhao Tuo sat in front of the wooden case that had just been placed, looking down at the map on the case.

As a general, you must always check the map. Sometimes when you feel it, you may have different inspirations and think of some clever strategies.

Han Xin walked in from outside the tent. When he saw Zhao Tuo's appearance, he stood in the tent with his hands lowered, not daring to say a word.

After a while, Zhao Tuo finished thinking, raised his head and looked at you: "I haven't seen you in the past six months, and you are getting darker and darker."

Han Xin was startled, then smiled bitterly and said: "What Junhou said is that the summer in Yue is much hotter than that in Huaiyin and Guanzhong, and it is difficult to avoid getting dark. If I go back to Guanzhong like this, Cheer will definitely make fun of me."

Zhao Tuo was startled and laughed.

With his son's naughty character, he might even give Han Xin another nickname.

At this time, Han Xin stepped forward and bowed politely.

Zhao Tuo nodded and said: "You and Cao Shen did a good job. They defeated the Ouyue Allied Forces in one battle and guarded the main road for our army. They made a great contribution in this battle."

Han Xin said: "We have little ability and dare not claim our merits. The last time the Yue people came to fight, it was thanks to the general who knew the enemy's opportunity and passed down the method to restrain the elephant soldiers in advance. If it hadn't been for the volley of cloud-piercing arrows, I would have been shocked. If Luo Yue's elephants follow, it will be difficult for our army to win in that battle."

Han Xin spoke the truth.

The last time the Ouyue coalition troops came to raid them, they were specially prepared.

They first sent the Ou people to feign a frontal attack to attract the Qin army's attention, and then asked A Tu Gu's tiger warriors and the Luo Yue people to attack from the left and right wings respectively, intending to catch the Qin army by surprise.

In particular, the war elephant herds that the Yue people had pinned their hopes on were extremely powerful. As long as they could break through the Qin army's right wing, the Luo army that followed could break into the Qin army's formation.

The right wing of the Qin army was defeated, and coupled with the effect of lowering morale caused by the giant elephants charging into the formation, when the Ouyue allied forces attacked in a large scale, the Qin army was bound to suffer a disastrous defeat.

It was such a comprehensive plan, but it fell short because Zhao Tuo prepared means to deal with the elephants in advance.

Therefore, Han Xin believed that the first victory in that battle was Zhao Tuo's, and they were just the executors of Zhao Tuo's strategy and tactics.

Zhao Tuo smiled, encouraged Han Xin, and began to ask about the situation in Xiou.

After all, the communication through letters before was limited, and it was still necessary to ask him in person in order for him to grasp the real situation in Xiou.

"All the nearby Ou tribes have disappeared. I guess it may be that the King of Xiou saw my army approaching and was preparing to concentrate his troops to avoid being defeated by our army."

Han Xin first talked about a recent news.

Zhao Tuo hummed and asked again: "Based on your information, how many enemies are there in Xiou?"

Han Xin replied: "The captives of the Ou people we captured said that if all the tribes in Xiou united, they would have 20,000 fighting troops. Plus the reinforcements from Luo Yue and the South Vietnamese Tiger Division, their total strength should be Around thirty thousand.”

"Thirty thousand."

Zhao Tuo chewed on this number.

This is only a rough estimate. It refers to the young and strong men of all tribes except the old, weak, sick and disabled.

In fact, when the tribes in Xiou faced the Qin army's massive attack and acted like a mountain to overwhelm them, they were not monolithic. Many tribes have developed a desire to survive and avoid war, so they do not have so many troops to concentrate on.

"But it is better to concentrate our forces and complete the victory in one battle than to hunt down the fleeing Ou people in the mountains and forests."

Zhao Tuo said lightly, with a dark cloud filling his eyebrows.

It would be natural for the Yue people to concentrate their forces and fight the Qin army to the death.

But this possibility is limited!

I'm afraid the Yue people will not be stupid enough to come and confront the Qin people.

The next development of events confirmed Zhao Tuo's uneasiness.

After he led his army to the stronghold built by Cao Shen on the second day, he stopped for a while and then continued to advance towards the city of Xiou King.

The Qin army did not encounter any Yue people along the way.

Whether it was Ou people, Luo people, or people who fled here from South Vietnam, the Qin army did not see any of them.

Because all the wild animals and birds in the mountain forest were frightened away by the Qin army on their way, the mountain forest was silent throughout the winter, which made Zhao Tuo feel more and more uneasy.

Soon, Zhao Tuo received an important message from the front, which was the messenger sent by Ren Xiao.

After the Qin army under Ren Xiao's tribe defeated several Ou tribes at the beginning, they encountered no more resistance from the Yue people. They went south smoothly and captured the royal city of Xi'ou yesterday.

The West Route Army was faster than Zhao Tuo's main force.

But in Ren Xiao's military newspaper, he wrote a piece of news that made Zhao Tuo frown.

The royal city of Xiou is empty.