Chapter 596 Threats and Counter-Threats! We All Chose the Wrong People Back Then!

The next day.

Xiapi City.

"What? Are you asking us to retreat to the south of the Huaihe River?"

After hearing Xiong Zhao's order, Qu Huan became anxious before Xiang Yan could say anything: "How could your Majesty give such a random order!"

"As long as our army is given enough time, our army will win this battle!"

"But if we miss such a great opportunity, how can I, the Great Chu, win in the future!"

"We, the great Chu, don't even have the national strength to raise such a large army anymore!"

Zhao Yuan, Jing Huan and other generals also looked at Xiong Zhao dissatisfied.

The money, soldiers, and food for this battle were mainly raised by the major clans.

It is no exaggeration to say that all the major clans have spent their money on this battle.

If this battle fails to produce results, wouldn't their sacrifices be in vain?

Moreover, the soldiers of the Qin-Qi coalition blocked the city gate and scolded them every day for a full month!

The reason why they can endure the humiliation is so that they can avenge the shame after enduring it.

But now, King Qi of Chu actually asked them to retreat to the Huaihe River?

So how can they avenge themselves?

Doesn't this mean that the Qin-Qi coalition forces were right to criticize them, they are just a bunch of cowards!

Xiong Zhao looked directly at Qu Huan without giving up: "This is the king's order, and all the ministers in the court have seconded it."

"Qu Zuoyin actually said that this fate was a random fate?"

"Does Qu Zuoyin think that the king and all the officials in the court are drunk, but Qu Zuoyin is the only one who is awake?"

Qu Huan became more and more stunned.

Zhaocen and the others agreed?

How could Zhaocen and the others agree!

Xiong Zhao's voice became gentler: "I also know that all the generals are dissatisfied."

"Of course, the war is not just about one place, but the whole situation!"

"It seems like there's a confrontation on the front line, and our army has some chance of winning."

"But the 20,000 Qin-Qi coalition troops are attacking us from the left and right behind the Chu army, provoking people's anger."

"The king even handed over the guards of Helu City to General Zhaoyun, but he still couldn't complete the encirclement and suppression of this enemy army. Instead, he was beaten back to Wucheng City by the enemy!"

"Besides ordering the army to return, what other good ideas can you generals have?"

The generals were speechless.

After reading the battle description of the Qin-Qi coalition guerrilla forces, even Qu Huan was unable to complete the encirclement and suppression of this slippery enemy with 40,000 troops.

But just because there were only 20,000 enemy troops, this battle that still had a chance of winning was ruined, and more than 200,000 soldiers were forced to retreat to the south of the Huaihe River. All the Chu generals were really unwilling!

If those 20,000 soldiers and horses were placed on the frontal battlefield, they would be nothing more than a weak brigade.

Who can decide the direction of this war!

Xiong Zhao's voice became gentler: "So the king must be..."

Xiang Yan, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly said: "If you can't catch me, then I'll wrap it up!"

"If you can't cover it, you'll be sleepy!"

Xiang Yan turned around and pointed at Xiang Kun's map with the wooden stick in his hand: "This enemy army seems to be acting wantonly, but judging from their marching route, they never stray far away from Helu City."

Qu Huan abandoned Xiong Zhao and turned to look at Kun Yutu: "Shangzhu Kingdom thinks that this enemy army will eventually kill Benhelu City?"

Xiang Yan's mouth showed a bit of sarcasm: "No."

"This enemy army just wants to use this as the king and to put pressure on the ministers."

"After all, if hundreds of thousands of our soldiers died, it would not be as shocking as if one person died in front of the king."

"But it is precisely because of this that the enemy has become traceable!"

Xiang Yan pointed the wooden stick in his hand at several cities one after another: "Report to the king."

"Order the generals in the rear to send scouts along the line from Nanwu City to Helu City, Wuyuan City, Yu'er City, and Wucheng City, and order the defenders to station themselves in teams of a hundred people along the way."

"We will send half of the warships south to station in Zhenze, and Yu Zhenze will fill the gap in the upper defense line."

"And not far to the east of Helu City is the sea, and the enemy has nowhere to escape."

"Once the enemy hits this line of defense, the surrounding soldiers will be ordered to immediately reinforce it."

"In this way, we can catch the enemy's tail and chase them down!"

Under Xiang Yan's guidance, Nanwu City, Wuyuan City and Zhenze formed a westward semicircular defense line with Helu City as the center.

To the north of Helu City, the coastline naturally provides an eastward semicircular defense line for Helu City.

The two lines of defense merged into one, loosely surrounding Helu City in the center!

Xiong Zhao was shocked: "In this way, can we defeat the enemy?"

The ministers in the court thought about this enemy army for several days, but they couldn't think of any way.

As a result, Xiang Yan came up with a strategy to defeat the enemy just by looking at it? !

Xiang Yan threw the wooden stick on the table and said calmly: "This will make the enemy afraid and reduce their activities."

"As long as the capital of the country persists until our army wins, I, the great Chu, will naturally destroy this army with a wave of my hand!"

Xiang Yan also has no good method for guerrilla warfare.

But Xiang Yan is not prepared to completely eliminate this guerrilla force.

As long as there are methods of restriction, Da Chu will have a chance to persist longer than the Qin and Qi coalition forces and win this battle!

This guerrilla force can wait until after this battle is victorious before dealing with it.

Xiong Zhao came back to his senses and his voice became stronger: "If we follow the Shangzhu Kingdom's arrangement, the defenders of Helu City will inevitably disperse to the surrounding cities."

"Can Shangzhu State be sure that this army will not take the opportunity to raid Helu City and threaten the king?"

Xiang Yan frowned: "War is inherently dangerous."

"If you don't even have the guts to take risks, why start a war?"

"I believe that since your Majesty dares to initiate the Alignment War, he has already made up his mind to bear the price."

Xiong Zhao:......

Easier said than done.

It's not you who died, so you're not panicking at all, are you?

Xiong Zhao said in a solemn voice: "It is better for Shangzhu Kingdom to report this policy to the king on its own."

"Now, please Shangzhu Kingdom obey the king's order and withdraw your troops immediately."

Xiang Yan looked at Xiong Zhao intently, but Xiong Zhao didn't give in at all.

Xiang Yan finally understood.

It was a lie that King Qi of Chu ordered Xiang Yan to withdraw his troops due to an attack by guerrilla troops.

It is true that King Qi of Chu used the excuse of guerrilla troops to order Xiang Yan to withdraw his troops!

After Xiang Yan was silent for a long time, he finally slowly handed over his hand: "General, take your orders!"

Xiong Zhao put his sweaty hands behind his back, and finally a smile appeared on his face.

However, Qu Huan and other generals shouted anxiously: "Shangzhu Kingdom, think twice!"

"The last general will write a letter here, and then ask the clan soldiers to rush out and pass the letter back to the clan, and ask the clan to remonstrate with the king!"

"How could we miss such a good opportunity just because of the king's order?"

Xiang Yan sighed softly: "What the generals said is what I think."

"Of course, Wang Ling..."

After a breath of silence, Xiang Yan suddenly looked at Xiong Zhao firmly: "Please report back to the king and give me five days."

"Within five days, I will definitely withdraw our troops!"

Xiong Zhao was wary: "What does Shangzhuguo mean?"

"It's just a withdrawal. Why does it take five days?"

Xiang Yan explained seriously: "Now the morale of the Qi army has changed, and our army has a chance of victory."

"And the news that the king ordered me to withdraw my troops may have been discovered by the Qin army."

"Therefore, I intend to take advantage of the moment when Lord Qin Chang'an thinks that this battle has been won, to launch a surprise attack on the Qin-Qi coalition forces!"

"Our army may be victorious!"

Xiang Yan faced the direction of Helu City and bowed his hands: "In this way, I can live up to your Majesty's trust!"

I have to say that Xiong Zhao was moved.

King Qi of Chu ordered Xiang Yan to withdraw his troops only when he believed that the battle was unwinnable.

But if this battle can be won, who likes to lose?

Moreover, the three generations of Chu kings, including Chu King Fu Chu, Chu King Han, and Chu King You, failed to bring a victory to Chu King, but Chu King Qi did it.

Regardless of whether it is a great victory or not, it shows that King Qi of Chu is better than his three brothers and is the most suitable successor!

Xiong Zhao was vigilant and asked with a bit of enthusiasm: "How sure is Shangzhu State?"

Xiang Yan said calmly: "50%."

Xiong Zhao suddenly lost interest: "Only 50%?"

Xiang Yan looked at Xiong Zhao coldly: "Even if this battle fails, it can relieve the frustration in the hearts of our soldiers."

"Otherwise, it is hard for me to say what the soldiers under my command will do!"

Xiong Zhao's eyes narrowed: "Shangzhu Kingdom, what does this mean?"

Xiang Yan said nothing, but Qu Huan and other generals understood.

"Canglanglang~"

The sound of swords being drawn is endless.

The more than forty captains in the main hall all drew their swords and pointed them at the men brought by Xiong Zhao!

Xiong Zhao immediately pressed the hilt of the sword with his right hand and shouted angrily: "Shangzhu Kingdom, do you intend to rebel?"

Xiang Yan showed a smile: "I can't afford this crime."

"Of course, the general is unable to control the rebellion caused by the soldiers. I will apologize to the king for this."

Xiang Yan has made it clear that if Xiong Zhao does not agree, then Xiong Zhao will not be able to leave Xiapi City!

Even if Xiang Yan kills Xiong Zhao, what can King Qi of Chu do?

Can Xiang Yan also be killed and buried with Xiong Zhao?

Xiong Zhao is not worthy!

Xiong Zhao firmly grasped the hilt of the sword with his right hand, but he still did not draw the sword after all. He just squeezed out a smile and said: "The anger in the hearts of the soldiers should indeed be relieved."

Xiang Yan stopped her smile and nodded slightly: "It would be great if Xiong Huanyin could understand."

"The war is dangerous, so Xiong Huanyin lives in the lower Pi Yamen office."

"In five days, I will come again to invite Xiong Huanyin on his way!"

After saying this, Xiang Yan passed by Xiong Zhao and stepped out under Xiong Zhao's gritted eyes.

After leaving the yamen office, Qu Huan spoke in a low voice: "Today's matter, I will immediately send a message to the clan to admonish the king for the national power of Shangzhu!"

Xiang Yan said warmly: "Thank you very much."

"But we will discuss matters after the war after the war."

"All generals are aware of the predicament our great Chu is currently facing."

"This battle may be our army's last chance."

Xiang Yan bowed his hands to all the generals and said, "I beg you, generals, to serve yourselves!"

Qu Huan and other Chu generals suddenly handed over their hands: "How dare you disobey orders?!"

Xiang Yan smiled happily: "Good!"

"You generals will go on your own, Captain Xiong will stay behind for now."

The generals dispersed, leaving only Xiong Liu standing beside Xiang Yan. He chuckled softly: "In the past, Shangzhu Kingdom supported Xiong Qi to ascend the throne."

"Have you ever thought about today's situation?"

Xiang Yan sighed softly: "I am just a general, a general who wants to win the war."

"I thought that your Majesty is familiar with the Qin State and can help our great Chu to make a comeback."

"But I didn't expect that the king would act like this when facing Qin!"

"The king is like this, how can I, the great Chu, win?!"

Xiong Liu stood side by side with Xiang Yan and said in a low voice: "In the past, my cousin King Kaolie ascended the throne and destroyed Lu alone, but it took twenty years."

"The sons of King Kaolie are all so cowardly and weak that they are unable to bear the heavy responsibility!"

"In the past, my uncle really chose the wrong person!"

After Xiang Yan was silent for a long time, she finally spoke slowly:

"You really chose the wrong person!"