"Report... The Chu army has arrived thirty miles away from Xia Cai. Looking at the Chu army's flag, it must be Xiang Yan!"
On the second day, as Li Xin's cavalrymen who had been away for thirty miles returned one after another to report, the whole city of Xiacai was filled with a sense of depression that a storm was coming.
"General Li, the number of our troops is inferior to that of the Chu people. Moreover, we attacked Cai Cai yesterday and suffered a lot of casualties. If we fight in the field, it may be disadvantageous. It is better to hold on to the city and defend Cai Cai's city wall, and then deal with the Chu army."
In the big tent, after confirming that Xiang Yan was approaching with his army, all the generals looked frightened. During the military meeting, a lieutenant proposed the strategy of relying on the Cai City Wall to defend.
Yesterday, Li Xin led his army to attack the city, relying solely on soldiers carrying ladders to attack. The Qin army did not cause damage to the city wall. They could use this solid city defense facility to kill a large number of Chu troops and seek a chance to win.
Hearing this, several captains in the tent couldn't help but nod.
The name of a person is like the shadow of a tree. Xiang Yan is the most famous general in the Chu State today, comparable to Wang Jian of the Qin State. Now Li Xin's army is alone and has just gone through a siege battle. No one wants to fight with him.
Enemies of Xiang Yan's level go head-to-head.
Li Xin's eyes were cold and he didn't speak.
"We cannot defend Xia Cai, otherwise we will be dead."
General Pi Xin Wu objected and explained: "Our army is isolated and helpless when it goes deep into the Chu region. If we defend here, there will be no reinforcements to rescue us. On the contrary, the Chu army has a favorable geographical location and can continuously attack from nearby cities."
Replenish the military strength and baggage. If we hold the city and defend it, although it seems that we can take advantage of the city wall, we will actually be surrounded by the Chu people here. If Xiang Yan besieges us and does not attack, we will be defeated without a fight when the food in the city is exhausted.
"
"And there are tens of thousands of Chu people from Xia Cai in the city. They will definitely respond to the Chu army outside the city. When the Chu army attacks the city, the Chu people in the city will fight together, and our army will be attacked from both inside and outside. An Neng will deliberately defend against the enemy.
!」
Saying that, Xin Wu sighed again: "If we defend Xia Cai, once the city is defeated, the whole army will be wiped out. If it is a field battle, most of our soldiers are chariots and cavalry. We have an advantage in the wilderness. Even if we lose, we can still turn into a circle.
It’s better than defending the city.”
Although everyone nodded at Xin Wu's words, there was actually a sense of pessimism in them. This veteran with considerable battlefield experience was not optimistic about this battle.
By the time Xin Wu finished speaking, no one mentioned the matter of sticking to Cai Cai again.
Li Xin then spoke calmly: "The Chu army has arrived thirty miles away. Judging from Xiang Yan's way of ambushing me in Juyang, this man is a seasoned man and will not forcefully march here. He will definitely delay it until tomorrow."
He will arrive nearby to preserve the physical strength of his soldiers so that he can fight with our army. Therefore, we still have one day."
Li Xin's eyes flashed with light.
"Chu has many soldiers, but we have few. Moreover, our army is mainly composed of chariots and cavalry. If we have a decisive battle on the battlefield, we will definitely lose. On the contrary, using the speed of our chariots and cavalry to gallop across the wilderness will have a miraculous effect!"
"Let the soldiers have a good night's rest today to replenish their energy, and we will set off north early tomorrow morning."
"I will use my chariots and cavalry to attack the Chu army's marching array and defeat the enemy in one fell swoop!"
Li Xin's decisive voice sounded in the tent, full of indomitable momentum.
….
What about defending the city, what about positional warfare?
None of it is his Li Xin style.
Only attack is the best defense.
With the speed of chariots and cavalry, they attacked the Chu army!
This is Li Xin’s tactics, and this is what Li Xin should look like!
…
Early the next morning.
Li You stood on the wall of Xiacai City and watched the Qin army outside the city begin to break camp and set off. The wheels rolled, the horses' hooves flew, and the long black snakes began to meander toward the north.
He couldn't help but become worried.
Li Xin's battle plan was very simple. Just like Xiang Yan's surprise attack on Li You's troops, he used his chariots and cavalry to surprise Xiang Yan.
The Qin army can tear through the Chu army's array with a single charge.
Then the infantry of the Qin army followed closely, taking the opportunity to expand the victory and at the same time kill towards the rear of the Chu army. After being attacked
In the event of a surprise attack, the Chu army's vanguard would definitely collapse in panic, and its rout soldiers would be driven by the Qin army to counterattack the Chu army's rear formation.
As long as this happens, it is very likely that the Chu army will be completely defeated on the battlefield. By then, let alone 30,000 people, even if it is 50,000 people, Xiang Yan will definitely be defeated.
"But that's Xiang Yan."
Li You could not forget the day when he was attacked by the Chu army and saw the terrifying sight of endless red soldiers rushing towards him. Li Xin was considered to be the best among the younger generation of Qin generals, but could he be Xiang Yan's opponent?
However, Li You was not qualified to give advice at this time. After suffering a disastrous defeat and abandoning his army and fleeing back, Li Xin was tolerant in not punishing him severely, and it could even be said to be beyond Li You's expectations.
Of course, Li You can't blame him for that. Under the circumstances at that time, five thousand Qin troops were raided by more than 30,000 Chu troops. Even if Wang Jian came, it would be impossible to reverse the situation of the battle. Li You's outcome was nothing more than a war
It was just a matter of death or escape. A young general like Li You, who was born as a high-ranking official and had a bright future, naturally would not choose a meaningless death. It was natural to escape. At worst, he would be demoted and punished after the war.
Therefore, Li Xin did not criticize Li You too much, but instead gave him a task.
Queen!
He led the more than a thousand defeated soldiers gathered yesterday, plus the lightly wounded soldiers in the Qin army, a total of about 2,000 people. They did not participate in Li Xin's surprise battle. Instead, they were in the rear of the Qin army, intimidating Cai Cheng.
The Chu people in the city could avoid the possibility that someone in the city would lead Cai's Chu people to attack the Qin army from the rear, causing Li Xin to be attacked from both sides.
"Marquis, all the ships on the Huai River have been scuttled, and there is no ship near Xiacai."
A master of two to five hundred people came over and reported.
Li You nodded, then said: "Load all the food and baggage into the car, and wait half an hour after the army leaves, we will set off."
…
The spoked wheel rotates, carrying the carriage forward.
Li Xin stood on the chariot and couldn't help but look back and looked towards the south.
He looked at Xiacai City in the distance, still in the dim light of the morning sun, and at the river behind the city that he could no longer see.
Huai River.
Li Xin sighed softly, his voice full of regret and unwillingness.
He has already conquered Xia Cai and drank from the Huai River. He is only one step away from crossing the river, taking Shouchun, the capital of Chu, and capturing the King of Chu alive!
….
The great achievement is right in front of you!
Unexpectedly, Xiang Yan's sudden appearance disrupted all his plans.
He was not sure of winning this battle.
The Chu army had 30,000 men. Even if Li Xin could win, he probably wouldn't have the strength to cross the Huai River and capture Shouchun.
If it fails, let alone that.
Moreover, Li Xin’s enemy is not just Xiang Yan.
Li Xin turned his head and looked northwest again, with both anger and worry in his eyes.
Lord Changping!
This man leaked his clever plan to the Chu army, presumably because he had a treasonous intention.
Lord Changping was based in the important area of Huaiyang and was in charge of the transportation of food and fodder for the 70,000-strong Mengwu army. Once he rebelled, he would be like a knife stabbed into Mengwu's back from behind, with disastrous consequences.
Meng Wu may be in danger.
…
It was noon, more than ten miles away from Xiacaicheng.
A long red dragon is slowly moving forward on this wide and flat wilderness.
In front of the red army, there is a small hill. It is not high, but it is enough to block the sight of normal people. There is also a forest on the west side, where many birds fly up and flutter in the air.
Ye Cong serves as the commander-in-chief of the Chu army's vanguard. He is currently standing on the chariot, staring closely at the woods.
As a descendant of the Ye family, Ye Cong is a natural aristocrat of this country. He has naturally learned the art of war and tactics. Now seeing the birds flying in the forest, he couldn't help but whisper: "The art of war says, if the trees move, they will come; if the grasses move, they will come."
If there are many obstacles, it is doubtful; if the bird rises, it means it is lying down. Judging from this, the Qin army will ambush here!"
"Form up a defensive formation, there is an ambush here!"
Ye Cong
He shouted, and the soldiers beside the chariot immediately started shouting, and at the same time they waved their flags to convey the general's order to the various departments of the Chu army.
At this moment, the earth shook.
The rumbling sound was like thunder on a sunny day, shaking people's hearts with fear.
The first thing to move was not the dense forest with fluttering birds that Ye Cong saw, but the hill in front.
Horses galloping, pulling chariots out from behind the hills, traveling rapidly across the wilderness.
On both sides of the chariot, there were cavalry galloping behind them.
After the chariots and riders, there were countless black-armored Qin soldiers closely following them, running at full speed. From a distance, it looked like a wave of black-armored soldiers were sweeping towards the long red dragon.
At this moment, even if Ye Cong had seen through the Qin people's ambush plan, and even if the Chu soldiers were on guard, they still could not stop their hands, feet and bodies from shaking involuntarily.
Thousands of horses galloped and hundreds of chariots charged.
This scene is so shocking and scary.
"Array! Array!"
Ye Cong shouted, trying to get his soldiers to form a defensive formation.
However, looking at the scene of the chariots and horses charging and the earth shaking, fear had already covered the faces of these soldiers.
Except for Ye Cong's short-term soldiers, these soldiers recruited from the Ye family's fiefdom in the eastern border of Chu State were not elite soldiers. Even before the war began, they were just plowing the fields with farm tools.
Farmers, many of whom have never even killed anyone, would have no fighting spirit in such a horrific scene.
Before the battle, some Chu people began to flee, one person fled, ten people fled...
The defensive formation could not be formed, and Ye Cong only had time to utter a curse before the Qin army's chariots and cavalry rushed towards him.
….
Fear appeared on Ye Cong's face, and immediately afterwards, the Chu army's vanguard where he was was overwhelmed by the Qin people's chariots.
At this time, it was not only the forwards of the Chu army who encountered the fierce charge of the Qin army's chariots.
In the dense forest where birds were flying, thousands of black-armored Qin troops appeared. First, they held the Qin crossbows that had been loaded and lost their arrows and fired wildly at the Chu army at the edge of the dense forest. Then, the Qin troops behind the crossbows
The soldiers launched a charge and went straight to the middle of the long red dragon, trying to cut off the Chu army in marching formation.
"Xiang Yan defeated Li You with a surprise attack the day before yesterday. I will use the same method to deal with him today."
Li Xin, escorted by short soldiers, walked up the hill and looked into the distance.
The best time for a surprise attack should actually be when the Chu army is further forward, allowing the ambush in the dense forest to directly attack the Chu central army where the commander is. This will definitely cause chaos among the Chu army and have the best effect.
Moreover, the charge of the Qin army's chariots and cavalry can also exert its greatest power.
It is a pity that the Huaibei Plain north of Xiacai is suitable for riding, but it also lacks cover. The hill where Li Xin is located is already the best place to hide the army that can be found nearby, but it is not wide enough and tall enough. Once the Chu army
If you get closer, you will definitely find an ambush, which is not good.
Moreover, Li Xin looked at the flock of birds flying in the dense forest. If this obvious flaw was delayed, the Chu army would discover it sooner or later. It would be better to act when the opportunity arises and catch the Chu army by surprise.
"That's enough! Judging from the reaction of the Chu army's forwards, the Chu army under Xiang Yan's command is not an elite one. They are just a bunch of miscellaneous troops recruited. I raided with elite chariots and cavalry, enough to defeat him with 20,000 men and 30,000 men!"
Li Xin couldn't help but smile as he watched the Chu army's forwards completely defeated. The defeated army was driven to the rear by the black-armored Qin soldiers and counterattacked the Chu army's rear formation.
The battle situation in front of him was exactly as he expected.
What about Xiang Yan?
It's just a dead tree.
…
At this time, looking from the direction of Xiang Yan, there were countless panicked soldiers of the Chu army running back in front. Behind them, there were Qin people wearing black armor approaching. It looked like the Chu army was about to be defeated.
appearance.
But Xiang Yan's face was not only not panic-stricken, but also had an indifferent smile.
"Fortunately, Li Xin of Shangzhu Kingdom really chose to conduct a surprise attack while we were marching. Everything
It's all what Shangzhu Kingdom expected." Zhao Ping said with admiration on his face.
Xiang Yan smiled.
"Most of Li Xin's men are chariots and cavalry. If he insists on defending Xia Cai, he will not only be unable to use his advantage, but will also seek death. If he wants to escape westward before our army arrives, he will inevitably be pursued by me. Due to the lack of baggage, the Qin army will sooner or later
So the only choice he, Li Xin, has is to fight me head-on. With his character, he probably won’t choose a positional duel. He can only attack with his cavalry. This is also his usual style.”
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Xiang Yan spoke very calmly. He had already studied Li Xin's character. Except for the time in Juyang that was a bit unexpected, Li Xin's tactics were generally curious and dangerous.
How Li Xin acts is basically under Xiang Yan's control.
….
Zhaoping nodded, looked at the retreating front army, and couldn't help but sigh: "But Shangzhu State deliberately used the soldiers recruited by the Ye family, Sishang, and Lu to consume the Qin army's chariots and cavalry. It would be a pity, even if they could win.
, our army also suffered heavy casualties."
Xiang Yandan said: "What a pity. Li Xin's chariots and cavalry are far more numerous than our army, and they are also more elite than our army. If they are attacked by them on this plain, they will definitely be severely damaged. Instead of letting the elite troops under his command
It is better to use those thousands of mediocre soldiers to exchange for the impact of the Qin army's chariots and cavalry. In this way, I can maintain the elite strength of my men. When the Qin army's chariots and cavalry charge are over, they will be destroyed."
Under Xiang Yan's gaze, at the rear of the Chu army, there were three square formations standing neatly, with three red military flags fluttering in the wind. Even though he saw the people in front of him were defeated and fled under the attack of the Qin army,
These three military formations showed no signs of being affected.
Qu, Jing, Zhao.
The elite soldiers from the three major families of the Chu Kingdom are far beyond the ordinary Chu soldiers who were defeated by the Qin army's chariots and cavalry.
"Anyone who dares to charge into the military formation will be killed!"
At the sound of the order, the soldiers at the front of the three military formations all leveled their spears and halberds. Those Chu soldiers who had fled from the front and fled back from the front, as long as they dared to charge forward, were immediately mercilessly poked to the ground by the robes at the front of the military formation.
.
After killing more than ten people in a row, no matter how frightened the fleeing Chu soldiers were, when they saw the bright spears, halberds, and swords on the road ahead, the ruthless faces, and the corpses on the ground, they knew why they were rushing into the army.
At the end, he quickly ran away to both sides.
In this way, despite the large area of defeated soldiers fleeing, the military formation composed of soldiers from the three major families still stood neatly and was not affected in any way.
Finally, when the soldiers of the Qin army who had been chasing and driving the Chu army's rout to the rear arrived at the rear of the Chu army, they were shocked to find that the expected great rout of the Chu army did not occur.
In front of them, instead, there were three well-organized Chu army formations with numerous spears and halberds and bows and crossbows.
After a round of charge, the Qin army's chariots had begun to tire of their horses; the Qin army's infantry, whose arms and feet had begun to become heavy, ran in pursuit and killed the Chu people.
They faced off against the elite soldiers of the three clans of Chu State who were well-ordered and energetic.
The outcome of this battle is self-evident.
Xiang Yan turned his head and smiled at Zhao Ping beside him: "The Qin army has been defeated."