One hundred and seventy-sixth chapter old age, Qin army hundreds of thousands
In mid-February, the weather was extremely cold.
Snow falls on the Zhao land, and Pang Nuan, the famous Zhao general, bids farewell to his old age.
The memorial of resignation was involved in the palace, and Zhao Yan quickly approved it.
The news was immediately sent back to Pang Nuan's house.
Pang Nuan smiled miserably and said: "In my whole life, I have submitted hundreds of letters and memorials, but the fastest time I got your approval was when I resigned."
He looked at Li Mu beside him and pondered what he wanted to say:
"Since the five kingdoms united, the Wei people retreated first, and our army was closely pursued by the Qin people, suffering heavy losses. I knew that the Qin lords of this generation were already making plans to annex the world. I, Zhao, was the biggest obstacle to the Qin people's eastward march. , they are deliberately weakening our power.
Zhao Ben is not weaker than Qin, but it is a pity that he failed to live up to his expectations, and he made consecutive attacks...continuous attacks..."
He wanted to tell the story of the foolish king, but in the end he didn't say it.
He sighed and said: "The people of Qin have been working hard to govern for generations, and they are determined to go eastward. It just so happens that this generation of Qin rulers is amazing, he is also a saint, and he sees everything clearly. No one can deceive such a monarch, and the people of Qin can work together, Then the momentum became stronger and stronger."
He looked at Li Mu: "After I leave, Zhao will rely on you to support me. I hope you can do your best."
Li Mu frowned and said, "Old General, are you leaving?"
"Yes, I am old, and I should leave. Besides, I can't stay in Handan any longer, otherwise I will be killed by a treacherous person or I will be angry to death."
Pang Nuan said: "I plan to retire first and return to my hometown of Ling County to live."
Then he lowered his voice and said: "This is my plan to escape. I'm going back to Ling County on the surface, but secretly I'm going to Chu. General Lian Po was angry with the king and went to Wei to avoid disaster and was not reused. Later he went to To Shouchun, the land of Chu.
I want to lobby General Lian Po, who has always had great prestige in our country, Zhao. If he is willing to return to Zhao, the morale of our Zhao army will be greatly boosted, and we may still be able to fight against Qin."
Lian Po was also a famous general of the Zhao people. He was as famous as Li Mu. Together with Wang Jian and Bai Qi, they were collectively known as the four famous generals in the late Warring States period.
Lian Po was skilled in military tactics, but he had a strong character. After Zhao Yan ascended the throne, he wanted to seize his military power and replace him with Le Cheng.
When Lian Po found out, he was furious and led his troops to attack Lecheng, defeating him and running away.
But Lian Po didn't really want to rebel. Afterwards, his anger dissipated, and he realized that he had made a big mistake. He was ashamed and ashamed, so he gave up his job. He went to the Wei people for several years and was not welcomed.
Then he did not dare to return to Zhao and ran to Shouchun in Chu.
This is also true in the inherent history. Lian Po finally died in Shouchun. His later life was miserable and he never had the chance to return to Zhao.
Pang Nuan said to Li Mu: "I think the king was quite upset about General Lian Po leaving Zhao a few days ago. If the king feels a little regretful after I leave, wouldn't it be a good time to wait for General Lian Po to come back?" vacancies.
Then, Li Mu, you won't be able to survive alone and be taken advantage of by the Qin people."
Li Mu was in awe.
Pang Nuan was obviously desperate for King Zhao Yan, so he resigned.
But even so, he was still willing to actively work for Zhao, and wanted to invite Lian Po back to calm the hearts of the Zhao soldiers, because he was afraid that the Zhao people would perish.
Lian Po became famous very early. Although he is now over seventy, he is still able to conquer and fight as a soldier. If Lian Po returns, it will be a great help to Zhao.
Li Mu bowed three times to thank Pang Nuan and said solemnly: "Old General, you may be physically able to support me. How about I send someone to escort you?"
Pang Nuan shook his head and said: "I was just anxious and anxious before. Strangely enough, in the past few days, I have given up my heart and let go of many things. My body has recovered and I am no longer in serious trouble.
I will leave in the afternoon. You don't need to come to see me off. I will see General Lian Po as soon as possible and persuade him to return so that he can familiarize himself with military affairs as soon as possible.
Spring is just around the corner, and the Qin people will attack us this year, so Li Mu, you must make plans early."
Li Mu hummed: "Old general, be careful on the road."
That afternoon, a total of six carriages and horses left the city.
Pang Nuan left Handan with his relatives and headed north to Ling County.
In fact, halfway through, the carriage carrying Pang Nuan among the six carriages separated alone and quietly headed to the border of Zhao State, preparing to pass through the border of Wei and Qin, and then detour into Chu to find Lian Po.
The carriage traveled again for several days, and in late February it crossed the junction of Qin and Wei.
It snowed heavily along the way, and there was a thick layer of snow on the ground.
Pang Nuan looked out from the frame, but saw snowflakes flying and her vision was blurry.
He was driving around in the car these past few days, letting go of his worries, and his health was getting better day by day.
Seeing the pleasant snow scene, Pang Nuan smiled rarely in many days and asked the attendants who were protecting him beside the car:
"I'm suing Lao Li Zhao. I'm afraid I'm going to have to work hard for you and many others from now on, and you'll have to suffer along with me."
The person driving the car was also an old man and said with a smile:
"The general is still running for our Zhao people, so why should we cherish our own lives? We have to follow the general. We don't care whether it's hard or not."
"good."
There were six people following the carriage on horseback. The leader was over fifty. He was wearing a tawny cotton shirt. There was a look of reminiscence on his thin face and he said slowly:
"When I first joined the army, the general was already the commander in chief. Before I went to the battlefield for the first time, I was so frightened that I could not sleep peacefully all night. I still remember that the general came out to patrol the camp late at night and found me awake. He once said, Since you join the army, you can protect our great Zhao Anning.
Only if you have no fear of war can you win more battles.
I have remembered this sentence for thirty years and dare not forget it for a moment.
The general is old, and we are no longer young. Without the general, I don’t know how to fight, so naturally I will always follow the general."
Others also said in unison: "That's how it should be."
Pang Yuan smiled even more and said happily: "I will be a general all my life. I am very lucky to have you by my side when I grow old..."
The snow is gradually getting lighter.
The wheels grinded into the snow, making a squeaking sound.
In the afternoon, amid the heavy snow, the roads were empty and there was no one near or far.
After chatting with his entourage, Pang Nuan, who was sitting back in the car, was caressing the sword that had been with him for decades when he suddenly heard an unusual noise.
He twitched his ears, and the abnormal noise suddenly became obvious.
Pang Nuan, who had been in battle for a long time, reacted quickly and shouted: "It's a crossbow attack, set up defenses..."
Before his voice fell, a dark shadow flashed in the snow. The leader of the guard who was following his carriage suddenly let out a scream. Amidst the crisp sound of cracking bones, a giant crossbow arrow penetrated the leader's chest and abdomen, and his body was torn apart. He was carried several meters away and was already dead when he landed.
Pang Nuan suddenly opened the car curtain, furious.
He looked at the follower who was talking to him a moment ago, and felt awe-struck in his heart, as the arrow pierced the air so fast.
This rate of fire and power is like a bed crossbow!
No wonder the followers couldn't dodge even if they wanted to. Just because the speed of the crossbow was too fast, even if the Holy Land was slightly negligent, they would be shot to death.
Pang Nuan shouted sharply: "I am Pang Nuan from Zhao. Who dares to plot against me?"
Buzz~buzz!
The bed crossbow trembled, and the arrow shot through the air.
Pang Nuan shouted: "Deviate, ban!"
In addition to being a master of martial arts, he is also proficient in vertical and horizontal arts.
As soon as the words came out, there was power acting in the void, and the speed of several bed crossbows was suddenly affected. The attendants took the opportunity to escape and were safe.
"Where did this shameless person come from to conduct a sneak attack? Come out here?" Pang Nuan stood on the shaft of the car and said angrily.
Following the sound, wheels rolled behind a snow-covered low hill ahead, and two bed crossbows were pushed out.
On both sides of the bed, there were more than ten people standing, all dressed in black armor. Their appearance was unfamiliar, but their auras were powerful.
Pang Nuan said angrily: "Are you from Qin?"
Several people on the opposite side showed sneers at the same time, and one person shouted softly: "Let go!"
The bow strings trembled, and the crossbows fired volleys.
Pang Nuan stretched out his hand and pointed, and next to him, the sword he had carried with him, which he had killed countless enemies on the battlefield for many years, flew through the air.
Pang Nuan shouted, and a war figure appeared behind him. Thousands of troops and horses gathered their strength to bless him.
The sword left the box and turned into a ray of blood, as unstoppable as an evil dragon. The crossbow pushed out by the opponent was instantly smashed into pieces by the sword light.
There were two attackers next to the crossbow on the bed. Their throats were cut by the sword and they fell to the ground dead.
Pang Nuan said in a deep voice: "Although I, Pang Nuan, am old, I won't be embarrassed to kill you and others when I'm young."
He jumped out of the car and led several of his followers toward the opponent with murderous intent.
In mid-air, his sword glowed with light, as if it was spiritual.
"The king had expected that you would not be restrained, and that is indeed the case."
One of the attackers had a sneer on his face: "Fortunately, the king has already made arrangements." After saying this, he raised one hand, and a small box appeared in his hand.
The box opened, and a burst of black air came out, as black as ink.
A piece of armor floats and sinks in the black air, surrounded by thousands of resentful spirits, and its shape is ferocious.
Pang Nuan's expression changed slightly. The aura of this armor was so strong that it no longer seemed like an ordinary thing. It was comparable to the pressure brought by the saint realm.
In the air, Pang Nuan's sword was instantly suppressed by the black energy.
The armor was like a living thing. Although no one was wearing it, one could reach out and grab it. The five fingers were derived from the black energy. Pang Nuan's sword was immediately dragged into the darkness of the armor, as if it had been corroded by strong acid, and melted cleanly in the blink of an eye.
When the expressions of several people around Pang Nuan changed in shock, the armor had already pressed over them.
The overwhelming black air left no room to escape.
Pang Nuan and others were attacked by armor, and they all felt overwhelmed. Several attendants rushed up to block Pang Nuan, and were covered and swallowed by the black energy one after another, leaving them almost unable to resist.
The black air spread out, pressing down from all directions, and Pang Nuan was also dragged into it.
The virtual image of the battlefield appeared behind him, with thousands of soldiers and horses working together to compete with the mysterious power of the armor.
"kill!"
Pang Nuan shouted loudly and punched out. The energy and blood in his body steamed, trying to break through the black energy.
But at this moment, a voice sounded: "Pang Nuan, you forced the king to abdicate, do you still know your crime?"
Pang Nuan tried his best to open his eyes in the dark air and saw a figure appearing on the snow hill beside him. It was a Zhao minister named Ji Xiang.
This person has always been close to Guo Kai and is quite favored and trusted by Zhao Yan.
His face was sharp and thin, his eyes were menacing, and with the pride of successfully blocking Pang Nuan on his face, he walked down the snow hill with a calm pace:
"When you left Zhao, the king knew that you must have some evil plans and evil intentions.
It’s true, you said you were returning home in name, but in fact you secretly took a detour to the border between Qin and Wei. What’s your intention?”
Anger, regret, disappointment and other emotions surged into his heart at the same time... Pang Nuan didn't expect that it was Zhao Yan who asked someone to kill him.
I forced him to abdicate, but he felt that I was humiliating him and being disobedient... I complained and he still had people come to intercept and kill me. He waited until I entered the Wei-Qin border before taking action. He was worried about Li Mu and other generals and our Zhao soldiers, and was afraid of them. Know.
He killed me on the border of Qin and Wei, and he wanted to... put the blame on the Qin people and pluck himself clean... In an instant, Pang Nuan realized everything, and his eyes widened: "Hunjun..."
"Insult the king, the crime will be increased."
Ji Xiang said: "When Lian Po escaped, you and Li Mu were secretly supporting him. Do you think the king didn't know about it?
Now you want to leave Zhao and join the enemy, don't even think about it."
Pang Nuan has been completely covered by black air.
At the last moment, his mind flashed like a revolving door of scenes of him joining the army as a young man, fighting all his life, and assisting three generations of Zhao monarchs...the carefree scenes of his youth, his first wife who died young, the children at home, and all the last scenes. Fixed on Zhao Yan's face...Hunjun.
Zhao, who he had been loyal to throughout his life, was about to die!
A drop of tears welled up on Pang Nuan's face, and he died!
The Zhao minister Ji Xiang came down from the short hill: "The king said that Pang Nuan is at the pinnacle of the holy realm, and his soul after death can be used to sacrifice the soul armor. This can be regarded as his final contribution to our great Zhao."
Inside Pang Nuan's dead body, a black shadow was quickly dragged out by the armor and then absorbed by the armor.
Pang Nuan's body was spit out again by the armor and fell into the snow.
"Deploy this place, leave some broken crossbow fragments, and put the Qin army's mark on the hidden places. Don't ruin the king's plan..."
Ji Xiang curled up his lips and said, "General Pang Nuan has retired, but the Qin people still won't let him go. I, the Zhao soldiers, will fight to the death to seek justice for General Pang."
Then he said: "Leave immediately when you have finished your work. This is the border between Qin and Wei. Don't let the patrolling Qin army find our traces."
Half a quarter of an hour later, these Zhao teams quickly withdrew.
In the snow, the bodies of Pang Nuan and others were quickly covered with a thin layer of snow flakes.
According to Zhao Yan's plan, after they left, they would first let the nearby Wei people discover Pang Nuan's body, then let the matter spread and pin the blame on the Qin people.
However, not long after Zhao Ren's team left, another team appeared in the snow.
The leading woman, wearing a scarlet cloak and skirt, is tall and fit. She is Yu Gui.
She landed on the snow, glanced at Pang Nuan, and whispered: "It's still a step too late... Someone is here, collect Zhao General Pang Nuan's body and take it away!"
"promise!"
Behind her were the people from Ye Yufu who accompanied her, and they were quick to clean up the battlefield.
Yu Gui picked up a piece of bed crossbow fragment, lowered her head to look at the Qin Army mark imprinted on it, and said disdainfully: "What a deceptive means."
————
Handan, royal palace.
Zhao Yan woke up from his dormitory after taking a nap.
When Guo Kai came in from the outside, he saw him feeding the birds. He seemed to be in a good mood, so he stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, it's done."
Zhao Yan responded as expected.
Guo Kai continued: "The king's clever plan not only punished Pang Nuan for his crime, but also pinned the matter on the Qin army.
If our Zhao soldiers learn that the Qin army has killed General Pang Nuan, all their anger will be transferred to the Qin people and turn into mourning soldiers. In the battle against Qin, everyone will fight bravely to kill the enemy, and our army's chance of victory will greatly increase.
Moreover, if Pang Nuan is killed by the Qin people, the attention of Li Mu and others will also shift to the Qin army, and no one will come to force the king to give in.
He achieves many things with one move, and the king’s calculations are accurate, and he is a true god and man.”
Zhao Yan smiled, he was quite proud of his calculation, and said: "Go down and secretly spread the word that the Qin people took advantage of Pang Nuan's retirement and secretly attacked and killed General Pang's family, leaving no one alive."
"No!" Guo Kai walked briskly and bowed to leave.
————
When Zhao Huaizhong received the news that Pang Nuan had been killed, he was in the Yeyu Mansion checking out the new weapons jointly built by Lao Sikong, Ye Qi, Yue Qing, and Ji Mo, the Mohist giant who had recently joined Da Qin.
A spy under Ye Yufu came in and reported that Pang Nuan had been killed, and described the specific situation at the scene.
Zhao Huaizhong muttered: "If a foolish king destroys his country and cuts off his own arms, he is a fool."
Half an hour later, he hurriedly summoned Lu Buwei, the imperial censor, Taiwei, Wang Jian and others into the palace, and asked: "If we start a war with the Zhao people at this time, when can we send troops to attack Zhao at the earliest?"
Wang Jian said: "Your Majesty ordered us to prepare for war as early as autumn. Our army has been preparing for several months. It is now the end of February, and the weather will warm up in March, so we can send troops at any time."
Zhao Huaizhong said: "How many soldiers can our Great Qin have?"
The Taiwei, who was looking over the military affairs of the Qin Dynasty, said: "Our army has stationed 150,000 troops on the western front to guard against monsters.
There were nearly 100,000 troops on both the northern and southern fronts.
At this time, the Quanrong army was greatly defeated, and there would be no border danger in the short term. If necessary, 50,000 troops could be mobilized from the northern front.
General Meng Ao is on the eastern front, commanding 130,000 troops. South Korea has recently surrendered and has 50,000 troops stationed there.
The rest of the defense troops scattered across the counties of our Great Qin, as well as our Xianyang Guards and Imperial Guards, total 200,000. The total number of our Great Qin's soldiers is nearly 800,000, and there are nearly 500,000 who can be called elites.
Among them, the number of people who can be deployed to attack Zhao is at most 250,000 to 300,000."
Lu Buwei said: "However, our army has been engaged in many battles in recent years. The water conservancy repairs have just been completed for half a year, and the national treasury balance is limited, which may not be conducive to a long war."
Zhao Huaizhong nodded and thought for a moment: "Then let's fight. If we don't take action first, the Zhao people and the demon clan will not give up, and they will be passive in vain.
Wang Jian, when we attack Zhao, you will be the commander, Yang Ruihe, and Nei Shiteng will be the deputy generals. I will transfer General Meng Ao to guard the western front against monsters.
Attack Zhao with all your strength and let the people of Zhao know how powerful our Qin army is."
"Promise!" Wang Jian stood up solemnly, his armor clanking, and walked away with high spirits.
[The next chapter may be late, I think it will be quite long ~ I will try to write it in one breath]