Eight hundred and sixtieth chapters completely ravaged
"I am the great commander of the Chu Kingdom, so I should obey the king's orders!"
Hearing this, Xiang Yan knelt down half-kneeling and cupped her fists in salute.
"I understand the great general's heart, please get up quickly!"
"Previously, I wanted to issue a favor order, but... now that I am weak, I am afraid that if I issue it, I will encounter considerable resistance."
"So, I want to ask Da Sima, how can I follow my strategy?"
The King of Chu took a step forward and helped Xiang Yan up. His face was slightly moved. The temple was full of power and interests, and as the King of Chu, he could only do this.
The order of favor was a strategy proposed by Xiong Hansi Cangchu earlier. After reading it myself, I thought it was very good. At least it was very useful in weakening the power of the old aristocrats of Chu State.
However, although this strategy is good, you must have strong power in your hands, or the old people in the country are much weaker now, in order to be able to make this strategy. Otherwise, it will arouse the dissatisfaction of the old people, which is not what you want to see.
"Your Majesty, this veteran has spent most of his life in the military and has not been involved in court affairs. The veteran knows that the order of grace is indeed the best policy. If you want to implement it, you must have enough strength to support this policy."
"Otherwise, the state of Chu will be in even greater chaos."
Xiang Yan nodded lightly and looked at the king. Although he had guessed the king's intention,... he couldn't say that thing by himself.
In the current state of Chu, the Xiang family wants to take a further step forward, but those who are blocking them are the old nobles. The king is also worried about those old nobles, so he is happy to weaken the power of the old nobles.
"It's exactly what the old general said."
"Is there any good strategy?"
A smile flashed on his face, and he looked deeply at Xiang Yan.
When he ascended the throne, Xiang Yan was like a slippery fish, difficult to control. Now... it's still the same, but... now the two of them have something in common.
"The old minister is stupid."
Xiang Yan shook her head.
"Since the old general is unwilling to say more, I will speak out for the old general. Since the old general is still sitting in the river to resolve the Xiong Han incident, I have ordered Yin Jianyan. But... next, I hope that the old general will be defeated and return."
"The first king moved the capital here. The important thing is to avoid being surrounded by those people's fiefdoms. In the Jiangbei area, I hope that Xiong Han will wreak havoc in it. If it can completely disrupt the entire Jiangshui area, I hope to see it even more."
Fu Chu did not continue talking nonsense with Xiang Yan.
He directly stated what he meant. Since it was difficult for him to deal with the old clan with his own hands, he would resort to the help of others. Although it was a bit inappropriate for Xiang Yan, Xiang Yan...should agree to it.
"This...here!"
Upon hearing this, Xiang Yan's expression changed slightly, but after counting her breath, she still accepted the offer.
I have clearly understood the king’s strategy.
"I need time."
He stood with one hand on his side and looked at Xiang Yan again.
This matter is not difficult for Xiang Yan, but what he needs is to complete it as soon as possible.
"Within two months, Xiang Yan was defeated and returned, fleeing all the way north. At the same time, he led troops to ask for help from the major clans."
Xiang Yan cupped his fists and saluted.
"Please, old general."
Negi Chu took a deep breath. Although this strategy was a bit unsightly and it would be detrimental to his face if it spread out, but as long as he could use Xiong Han's hand to weaken the power of the old family, everything would be worth it.
Two months are just enough for him to issue the order of grace next year. The strength of the old family is compromised, so how can he fight against him. In the meantime, he can reorganize the government and he still has time to cooperate with the power of Chu.
******
One month later!
The Qin and Wei allied forces of 200,000 gathered in the land of Xinyang. The Qin State sent 100,000 troops, with Nanyang Guard Ye Teng as the general; the Wei State sent 100,000 troops, with the general Xiao Wei Mou as the general. For this battle, the Wei State sent from Zhangzhou
Water mobilizes 80,000 soldiers!
Two hundred thousand troops gathered and clamored for Wei Mou Jian's proposal to use troops quickly. Nanyang Shou Teng had no objection and went south to attack Chu. At Yingshui, he was blocked by Chu general Qu Liang and there was a stalemate.
Ten days later, Xiaowei's general Mou Jiji fell, and Chu's general Qu Liang led his army to fight. He was flanked by Nanyang Shouting and returned with a heavy defeat, losing 50,000 to 60,000 troops.
Qu Liang fled south all the way!
The combined forces of Qin and Wei captured the city, expanded the territory for hundreds of miles, and incorporated more than ten cities!
The capital of Shouchun, which was seven hundred miles away, was frightened. His Majesty Yin ordered that he immediately summon Xiang Yan on the other side of the river to return to Shouchun to take charge of the military affairs and fight against the invading enemy.
At that time, another news came from the river.
General Xiang Yan's camp on the bank of the river was attacked by Xiong Han. The 200,000-strong army fled. Xiong Han's gale force army was dispatched to pursue him. When the document arrived in Shouchun, he was probably fleeing north.
In an instant, there was an uproar inside and outside the entire court.
How could this happen?
Xiang Yan was a top-notch general in the Chu Kingdom decades ago and had never lost a battle. How could he be defeated by Xiong Huan from the south of the Yangtze River, who was far less powerful than himself? Sure enough, both the north and the south failed in the war.
No way!
"Da Sima Wenshu was defeated due to the river water. At this moment, Da Sima is asking me to give orders to all the clans in their fiefdoms to mobilize troops to help them fight against Xiong Han's rampage. What do you think?"
In the main hall of the palace, he sat at the top with his cud in his hands, looking at the civil and military ministers below. He read the Xiang Yan document in his hand, and the waiter handed it to Ling Yin who was not far away. He spoke loudly, hoping that the civil and military officials would provide suggestions.
"This..., Your Majesty, Xiang Yan has already gone to Dongting Lake?"
Ling Yin was not in a hurry. He took the document from the king and looked at it carefully. Then his expression suddenly changed. It was clearly written on the document that Xiang Yan would lose a lot of soldiers now.
I hope to go to Dongting Lake in person to help!
The many fiefdoms of the old family are located in the Nuo Da area to the north of the river and east of the Dongting Lake. It is also the ancestral land of the Chu State, and the fiefdoms of Qu Zhaojing and other families are also included.
Sure enough, if Xiang Yan goes there, Xiong Han from Jiangnan will also lead his troops to suppress him!
Looking at the time when the document was delivered, Ling Yin's face was filled with anxiety and dissatisfaction.
"Yes, the paperwork is very detailed."
He bowed his head in response.
"What, Xiang Yan led his troops to Dongting Lake!"
"How can Xiang Yan be like this!"
"How not to go to the land of Koto!"
"..."
As Ling Yin's words fell, in the entire civil and military main hall, everyone who came from aristocratic families in the Jiangbei area glanced at each other unconsciously. Xiang Yan lost the battle and returned directly.
Why go to other places and bring trouble to them.
"Xiang Yan's move is really inappropriate."
"However, at this time, we should put down Xiong Han's rebellion as soon as possible, and then repel the Qin and Wei coalition forces. We should deal with this immediately and discuss it later."
The King of Chu stood up from his seat, looked down at the ministers, and criticized Xiang Yan.
However, the conversation changed and fell elsewhere.
"Your Majesty, Xiang Yan failed to defeat even Xiong Han, and lost his troops and generals, which brought shame to the Chu State. I am afraid that he will not be able to serve as the Great Sima. I think that he should choose someone else to take the position and try to save the war."
A general who defeats an army will naturally be punished like this.
"oh?"
"Who is the general?"
He smiled and looked at that person.
"This... should be recommended by Ling Yin and others, and we will discuss it later."
The speaker hesitated slightly, glanced left and right, but said nothing.
"Your Majesty, I think that we should immediately summon Xiang Yan to go north to fight against the Qin and Wei coalition forces. If he is successful, the punishment can be light. If he is defeated again, he should be punished with a serious crime."
Ling Yin went out and took a look at the documents sent by Xiang Yan. He just thought about it, maybe Xiang Yan didn't want to impress Xiong Han's power in Jiangdong, so he introduced Xiong Han and others into their fiefdom.
But... things have become like this. If Xiang Yan is allowed to act recklessly, the foundation of the family will be shaken. Xiang Yan should be recalled as soon as possible for his use.
"I second the proposal!"
Zuo Yin beside him came out to recognize him.
Xiang Yan is no longer suitable to stay in the Jiangshui area with his reckless behavior.
"I second the proposal!"
"..."
Later, many important ministers seconded the proposal.
Seeing this, the King of Chu's expression did not change. He just smiled slightly and looked at the movement of the ministers. After taking a few breaths, he nodded.
It seems that... no matter what, Xiang Yan must be delayed as long as possible before returning to Huai River.
As for the Qin and Wei coalition front in the north, at this time... Qin and Wei can only capture some cities, and they will never be able to advance deeply. Otherwise, it will be an open war with Chu.
Qin needs more than 400,000 to attack Zhao. If Chu is offended, Qin's current national strength will not be enough.
Therefore, even though Qu Liang was defeated, he did not have to worry about his defeat. Compared with the Qin and Wei coalition forces, Xiong Han and the Lao family were the hidden dangers.
To the north of the river and to the east of Dongting, Xiang Yan led his troops to flee, leaving Xiong Han's soldiers to follow. Along the way, he passed through many family fiefdoms and suffered countless casualties. Without the above intention, the fiefdom's private army would not be dispatched.
After a little plan, one group of soldiers spread out and gradually ravaged the entire old clan fiefdom. There were a large number of soldiers intertwined. For a while, the private army in the fiefdom did not dare to move.
For more than a month, Xiang Yan marched thousands of miles before slowly moving from the Jiangshui area to the Huaishui area.
As for the forces of Xiong Han and others, they have been attacked by the private soldiers of the old clan fiefdoms who have gradually spontaneously integrated together, making it difficult for them to move northward.
This time, the power of the old clans in the Jiangshui area was weakened by at least three levels. Many of the old clans near the river were directly slaughtered. Although the foundation of the Chu Kingdom was also involved,... Fu Chu didn't take it seriously.