Xiang Yan is not yet sixty years old this year. Although his hair is mostly gray due to working on state affairs, his back is still straight, his speech is full of energy, and his eyes always have an intimidating light.
Although the tiger is old, it still has the power to bite people.
Even Zhaoyuan, the most arrogant and arrogant general in the Chu army, would lower his head in front of him and dare not speak loudly.
Today, Xiang Yan is sitting on his knees in his coach's tent. On the wooden eucalyptus in front of him is a silk book filled with bird and insect seal characters.
That was an edict from King Chu of Chu.
"The king ordered me to hand over the military power to Jin Xia and call me back to Shouchun."
Xiang Yandan spoke calmly.
As soon as he finished speaking, the three generals in the tent suddenly shouted in unison: "Your Majesty, no!"
Zhaoyuan stood up and said excitedly: "This is a chaotic fate! That Qin general Wang Jian was so powerful that both Yan and Zhao countries perished in his hands, and now he personally led an army of 600,000 to the south. At this time,
Our state of Chu is in danger of overthrowing, and only Ling Yin can compete with Wang Jian. If Ling Yin leaves, how can the hundreds of thousands of troops here survive?"
"Of course!"
Qu Mao also shouted loudly: "Chen Ying can't live without Ling Yin, Ling Yin can't leave!"
Jing Tong also said: "Jin Xia, the supervisor of the army, does not know anything about military warfare. Putting these hundreds of thousands of troops in his hands is not an act of national subjugation. If Ling Yin really wants to take the order, I am afraid that within three days, our army will be destroyed."
It will be defeated and the Chu Kingdom will perish!"
Xiang Yan had no expression on his face and said indifferently: "You don't want me to leave, are you asking me to resist the king's order?"
"King's order? Bah, is Shouchun's Cudou worthy of being called king?"
Zhaoyuan said angrily: "The person who betrays Chu is a regicide and a usurper of the throne. His position is inherently unfair. I don't know how many people in the country disobey him. It's just that when the Qin people came east, Wang Ben attacked me in Jingchu. For our sake
Only when the domestic situation is stable can he be recognized as the king. Otherwise, this person is cruel and short-sighted, so he can be allowed to sit on the throne of the King of Chu. Today, this person issued a chaotic order to destroy the country of Chu, and Yin did not respect his order.
What’s there to fear?”
"I, the Zhao family, don't know why I have to bear the fate of Cu Chao, but today I am only willing to obey your order Yin!"
Zhao Yuan made this move, and Jing Tong and Qu Mao hesitated for a while before speaking.
"Jing is willing to follow Yin's advance and retreat."
"Mr. Qu is willing to listen to your orders."
Seeing the three generals expressing their stance, Xiang Yan's tense face relaxed a little.
Three generals: Zhaoyuan, Jingtong and Qu Mao.
They represent the three largest and most powerful aristocratic families in Chu State.
Qu, Jing, Zhao.
The soldiers of the three clans are the most elite and most powerful troops in Chu State today. With the support of these three people, Xiang Yan can do whatever he wants.
At this moment, the curtain door of the military tent was lifted up.
Inspector Jin Xia walked in with a proud look on his face.
He raised his chin and shouted to Xiang Yan who was sitting on the main seat: "Since your Majesty has received the imperial edict, do you know when you will return to Shouchun? Your Majesty feels pity for your Majesty and is about to ask your Majesty to return to the capital to comfort you. Please don't
I have to keep the king waiting for a long time."
When the three generals heard this, their faces were full of anger. Zhaoyuan was about to speak, but when he saw Xiang Yan raising his hand to stop him, he could only shut up bitterly.
Xiang Yandan said calmly: "If you don't worry about the supervisor, I will leave tomorrow, and the army will be handed over to the supervisor by then."
"Shan. Your Majesty is really a loyal minister of the country."
Jin Xia chuckled and got the answer he wanted.
He didn't wait long, turned around and walked out of the tent, as if he was afraid that Xiang Yan would regret it.
"Bah, this Jin family really has no good things. In the past, when King Huai was king, if his ancestor Jin Shang had not been generously bribed by Zhang Yi and advised Zhang Yi through King Huai's favorite concubine, I am afraid that Zhang Yi would have been killed by our Chu State. How could it be possible?
It may be tragic to become pregnant with the king in the future."
Zhaoyuan said angrily: "Ling Yin, why did you just agree to hand over the army? With our support, what can he do if he refuses? I will chop off the head of Jin Xia's dog with one sword first."
Come down to relieve the hatred in your heart."
Xiang Yan glanced at the tent and saw the scene. Qu and the two looked at him with the same worry, as if they wanted to persuade him.
Xiang Yan snorted and said: "Kill Jin Xia and break up with Fu Chu? In this way, can the hundreds of thousands of troops here still be supported? Is there any chance for our Chu State to continue?"
The three generals were silent.
Just as Xiang Yan said, if there was no war or invasion by foreign enemies, and they had the support of the three Qu Jingzhao families, Xiang Yan would have rebelled against him and led his army directly to attack Shouchun and establish a new king.
But what time has it come? Wang Jian's army is watching eagerly, Zhao Tuo's surprise troops have arrived at Suishui, and they can dig out their retreat at any time. The Chu State is even more lacking in food, and the entire country has reached the time of destruction.
At this time, if you still want to engage in internal fighting, is it because you think the Chu country has not perished quickly enough? Do you want to push it again?
Not to mention that Chen Ying only had enough food for them to eat for more than ten days, and the last batch of military rations had not been delivered to the rear.
As long as Xiang Yan dares to disobey, I am afraid that with the character of the King of Chu, he will dare to withhold food and grain.
By then, let alone a month, it would be over in half a month at most.
"Damn it, why is that short-sighted person? What he did is to destroy our country of Chu. If I had known this, we should have joined forces last year to drive him off the throne!" Zhaoyuan looked sad and spoke unfairly.
Jing Tong gritted his teeth and said: "But even if we don't break with Fu Chu, we will continue to tolerate it for the sake of the survival of Chu State. But once Ling Yin leaves, Wang Jian will definitely not let go of the opportunity. Our army will be defeated in the battle of Chen Ying, and the entire Chu State will be defeated."
Still going to die!"
Seeing that the generals were worried, Xiang Yan burst into laughter.
"Actually, even if I stay here, I can't save the Chu Kingdom from falling. Wang Jian, the old turtle, insists on killing us here. If the confrontation continues, one month later, our army will be exhausted and we will still be defeated.
If Wang Jian defeats the main force of our army, he can march straight in, cross the Huaihe River in one fell swoop, and destroy our Jingchu Sheji."
Speaking of this, a cold light flashed in Xiang Yan's eyes, and he whispered: "I have also thought about various ways to save the Chu State, and I have a plan in mind, but I have not dared to make up my mind. I can't say that I am forced to do so today.
This is the only solution we can take. Even though Chu will be defeated by then, it may still be able to survive."
When they heard that Xiang Yan had a strategy to save the country, the three generals' eyes lit up and they hurriedly said: "Your Majesty Yin has a strategy to save the country. We dare to hear about it."
Facing the three generals' questions, a man's figure suddenly flashed before Xiang Yan's eyes.
Zhu Rong bloodline, born with a noble stomach.
A gentle gentleman with humble words.
More importantly, he has a sincere heart for the Chu State.
If he came to sit on this throne, would he do better than Ning Chu?
Xiang Yan's eyes instantly became firm.
"I want to leave Huaibei and lead my elite troops to the east."
"Support a new king and preserve the Chu Kingdom!"
…
On the second day, the supervisor Jin Xia came excitedly to take over Xiang Yan's troop deployment talisman.
Only then did he realize that Xiang Yan had gathered 50,000 elite soldiers and loaded up a large amount of food, and looked like he was about to lead his troops away.
"Ling Yin! The king ordered you to hand over your military power and go south to Shouchun. Why did you lead your troops to leave? What do you want to do!"
Jin Xia was so frightened that his whole body trembled. He felt scared.
Does this old guy Xiang Yan want to rebel?
Xiang Yan walked towards his military chariot and ignored Jin Xia's words.
After getting on the chariot and standing still, Xiang Yan turned to Zhaoyuan and said: "Original, I'll leave this place to you. You can delay it for as many days as you can. If Wang Jian attacks, just do your best. This time
Huaibei can no longer be defended, so all you have to do here is to delay time for me so that I can have time to lead my elite troops to protect Huainan."
"Don't worry, Ling Yin, Zhaoyuan will still plant Ling Yin's banner here, and it will definitely scare that old turtle Wang Jian from moving."
Zhaoyuan's blood surged and he agreed with enthusiasm.
Xiang Yan nodded slightly. He stood on the military chariot and looked back. He saw that 50,000 elite Chu soldiers had already assembled under the control of Jing Tong and Qu Mao.
These 50,000 elite troops were the strength that Xiang Yan retained for the new Chu State.
Chu's food supply could not support an army of hundreds of thousands.
But what if there are only tens of thousands of soldiers?
Maybe it can last a while longer.
As for Chen Ying and Cai Pingyu's hundreds of thousands of troops.
Even the king of Chu in Shouchun City carried the cud.
They have all been abandoned by Xiang Yan.
They will be used to consume the Qin army's strength.
Even the vast land of Huaibei will be used to disperse the Qin people's forces.
"Set off!"
Xiang Yan roared and gave the order to set off.
Four horses and chariots rolled forward, and fifty thousand Chu troops marched toward the east.
That's the direction of Suishui River.
"Xiang Yan, what on earth are you going to do!"
Jin Xia shouted anxiously when he saw the army starting to set off. He turned to stare at Zhaoyuan and said, "Where is Xiang Yan going with his troops? What on earth are you going to do?"
"do what?"
Zhaoyuan looked at the clamoring courtier in front of him, and a ferocious smile appeared on his lips.
"Come here, take down this traitorous official who only knows how to flatter and harm the country!"