(There are additions to the previous chapter, please read back first.) Jingqu City is the largest city in the northwest of Zhao State. It has convenient water and land transportation and is surrounded by fertile lands. It can be called a land of plenty. There are nearly 100,000 households in the city and merchants.
It is a prosperous and prosperous place, so it is not far from the Emperor's dynasty, so humanistic education advocates ancient methods. Because Zhao Min's father had a plan to move the capital here when he was King of Zhao, so it has been expanding and operating over the years.
Although its scale is not as large as Dingyang, it is not far behind. Leaving such a strong city to defend it shows that Zhao Min is really at the end of his rope.
There was a panic scene in the city. Zhao Min escaped secretly and took only some of his close associates with him. The people who stayed behind never expected that Yi Jun would come so quickly. Some people wanted to escape from the city in a hurry, and some people
Taking advantage of the chaos to fish in troubled waters and commit robbery, some people with grudges finally waited for the moment of change and jointly launched an attack on the house of the evil official and cruel official. The Yi army who entered the city was trying their best to maintain order and strictly control everyone.
The city gates cut off traffic in an attempt to trap corrupt officials and bullies in the city. The heads of these people are a magic weapon to appease the people, and they cannot be allowed to escape casually.
Looking at the billowing smoke rising in the direction of the city, He Ran frowned. It looked like the fire was quite big.
At this time, Dongfang Ao, who heard the news, came to greet him. He Ran pointed at the thick smoke and asked: "Where is the fire?"
Dongfang Ao replied: "It's the palace, and people have been arranged to put out the fire. As soon as we entered the city, it started burning there. The general went to check, and there were many fires. It was obvious that someone set the fire deliberately, and the arsonist has not been caught yet.
According to the final test, it should have been arranged by Zhao Min in advance."[
He Ran hurriedly sent an order to bring in a thousand soldiers from outside the city to put out the fire, and another 5,000 soldiers were brought into the city to maintain order. In such a large city, the number of people in the vanguard camp was already insufficient.
After entering a large mansion, Dongfang Ao reported back: "We haven't found out Zhao Min's whereabouts yet. The general has sent people out of the city to find out."
He Ran sighed and said: "It's hard to chase after I've already escaped. It's important to keep the people safe, so go ahead and do your work."
After Dongfang Ao left, He Ran said to Xu Tong: "Send more people to the north to monitor the movements of the Zhao army over there. According to what Xun Gu said, there are still thirty or forty thousand people and horses, and the ones farther away are two or three hundred
The closest ones are less than a hundred miles away, so we need to be careful to prevent them from counterattacking."
"Do you want to kill them from here? Join the Kang army to kill them in a pincer attack from the north and the south."
He Ran shook his hand slowly and said: "I think it's better to send a group of troops and Su Ming to attack Baiyankou first. As long as the Zhao army in the north doesn't come to trouble us, we can leave him alone for the time being."
Xu Tong said with some reluctance: "After the news of Jingqu City's capture reaches Baiyankou in a few days, the place will be destroyed without attack. Take this opportunity not to destroy the Zhao army in the north. We will look for them again after they escape."
There will never be such a good opportunity again.”
He Ran waved his hand again insistently and said: "You can only kill the enemy when you are safe. Zhao Jun has nothing to worry about. It is no big deal to let them flee."
"There are tens of thousands of people. Soon they will get the news of the fall of Jingqu. At that time, the morale of the army will be chaotic. We can..."
He Ran interrupted him and said: "Don't think too much about good things. As I guessed correctly, Zhao Min will definitely send someone to deliver a message to these Zhao soldiers when he escapes. Firstly, it can show that he is not abandoning them and secondly, he can let them go."
They made preparations and retreated in an orderly manner. Now if we go to attack, we might be ambushed by others. Do you think this is the truth? Zhao Min is not a capable person. Don't think that he will not care about anything just to escape.
.”
After hearing this, Xu Tong nodded and said: "What you are worried about is that the battle went so smoothly. I really underestimated the enemy. I didn't expect that Zhao Min would not easily abandon the only remaining men.
It would be a good idea to send a message to these people and put them in the rear."
"Let's do this. Let Zhuanju lead his troops to meet Su Ming. You will stay in the city, and I will lead the rest of the troops to station in the north of the city. We will coordinate with each other to prevent any changes."
Xu Tong smiled and said: "What else can be changed? You are too cautious."
He Ran looked at him meaningfully and said: "We are too far away from home, so it's better to be careful. Besides, the Kang army may come over to join forces soon. Do you understand what I mean?"
"Are you going to defend against Kang's army?" Xu Tong asked in a lowered voice.
"Don't be completely unprepared. Just know it in your mind. Don't mention it to your subordinates, lest it spread to Kang Jun's ears and cause suspicion."
"That's not it, is it?"
A wry smile escaped from the corner of He Ran's mouth and he said: "Because the emperor did not allow Li Ping to establish the country, I sent someone to send a jade lamp to Military Advisor Mo as a test. The person who gave the gift two days ago came back."
"How?" Xu Tong asked with concern.[
"After hearing the envoy's report of his purpose and the situation of the war here, he only asked how the new policy was going. After learning that it had not been taken back, he sent the envoy back without asking any other questions."
"What does he mean?"
He Ran exhaled and said: "When we jointly attacked Xiping that day, he repeatedly asked me to take back the New Deal. I agreed perfunctorily. I think he has been paying attention to the New Deal. This time he blocked Li Ping's founding of the country to put pressure on me.
, I had already guessed that he sent someone to give gifts as a show of goodwill, but he only asked about the New Deal. This clearly told me that if we want the two countries to be a good alliance, we must take back the New Deal."
Xu Tong's expression became serious and he said, "Are you worried that he will..."
He Ran shook his head and said: "I don't think we should fight each other. When the Kang army comes, I will move the camp from the north of the city back to the south to show friendship. But don't be careless. You must secretly move the camp to the south."
Keep it tight in case something unexpected happens."
"Then you should defend the city. I'll go to the camp. Besides, when he comes, you have to invite him into the city for a meeting."
He Ran thought for a while and said: "Okay, I will have to send someone to send a message to Yun Ye who is guarding Qulan Pass later, so that he must cheer up and not slack off."
Xu Tong said disapprovingly: "I don't think so. Not to mention other things, we are more than a thousand miles away from home, Kang's army has been thousands of miles away, Zhao has not yet been destroyed, and Military Advisor Mo will not choose this time even if he wants to fall out with you.
"
He Ran nodded and said: "I know, but I am really afraid of this sworn brother. I have seen his methods before, and he has unpredictable abilities. In contrast, I can only be cautious and cautious."
Xu Tong smiled and said: "You have something in your heart. You didn't do what you promised. You lied to me with empty words and you will invade Xiping. Now that we are about to meet you, you feel guilty."
He Ran chuckled and said: "Let me tell you, this is really the case, but it's not a bad thing to be cautious. You have to be careful of Zhao Min's backlash. An army thousands of miles away cannot tolerate any mistakes."
"That's right, what should Zhao Min do?"
He Ran said with a look of frustration: "Let's forget it for now. Even if we find out his whereabouts, it's not appropriate to pursue him anymore. It's too risky. Let's wait until we meet my sworn brother." At this point, he snorted disdainfully.
He said, "He left hundreds of officials and soldiers to run away. I really despise him more and more. I feel that it is beneath my dignity to be an enemy of such a person."
Xu Tong breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's best if you think this way. I'm really worried that you will pursue me regardless."
"Do you think I am still the same reckless He Ran who rushed thousands of miles to attack Jigong? Go and settle the troops and horses. Later I will order people to collect some wine and meat to reward the soldiers."