Chapter 696 Li Mu's Wrong Decision! Licheng Song and Dance Troupe Is Officially Established!

No rest at all.

As soon as he received the order, Sima Shang personally led 80,000 troops along the narrow Fukou Pass, marching westward in a forced march!

February 28th, Yuzhong (9:00).

After crossing more than a hundred miles of mountain roads, a city that had experienced the ups and downs of the Shang and Zhou dynasties but remained new finally appeared in front of the Zhao army.

An inhumane "Xi Bo's Conquest of Li" almost massacred the ancient Li Kingdom, which had shocked the world in the Shang Dynasty, by King Wu of Zhou, and Licheng, the capital of the ancient Li Kingdom, was even more slaughtered!

The bleak experience of three destructions and three restorations made the new Li Kingdom, which was enfeoffed by King Wu of Zhou, suffer from war and destruction.

When Jin Jinggong went back on his word and sent troops again more than 300 years ago, this place completely became an important battlefield for Jin, Zhao, Qin and other powerful countries to fight for Fukou Pass.

The city wall became thicker and thicker.

The city defense closely followed the development of the times.

Over a thousand years of blood and flesh have made the land around the city dark.

Sima Shang looked at the city and listened quietly to the report of the scouts:

"Report to the commander, the current Licheng city wall is about five zhang (11.55 meters) high, the wall base is twelve zhang (27.72 meters) wide, and the top of the wall is one and a half zhang (3.465 meters) wide."

"The city has only two gates, east and west, and both gates have urn cities. The north and south walls are connected to the mountain and are difficult to cross."

"Every twenty zhang on the wall, there is a horse face protruding from the wall to deal with the cloud ladder. There are also a large number of water tanks and sandboxes to deal with fire attacks, there are ground urns to deal with cave attacks, and there are..."

"There are about 40,000 people in the city, with complete smelting, forging, pottery, and leather tanning. The workshop can produce and repair armor, weapons and shields by itself."

"The Licheng Arsenal is located at..."

Listening to the report of the scouts, even though he already knew the general information of Licheng, Sima Shang couldn't help but sigh softly: "It is indeed a fortress that exists for war."

"If our army had not captured this city before the main force of the Qin army arrived, how much would our army have to pay to break through this city? !"

"But where is the main force of the Qin army!"

"Why didn't I see the main force of the Qin army!"

The scouts said a lot of news that Sima Shang had already known, but they just updated it further.

But the news that Sima Shang wanted to know the most, the scouts never brought back.

Where is the main force of the Qin army!

The scout general said solemnly: "We have not found any trace of the main force of the Qin army!"

"Yesterday, Licheng opened the gate as usual, and I sneaked into the city in person and confirmed that there were only 5,000 county soldiers in the city."

"With the layout of Licheng, Licheng can only hide more than 10,000 soldiers and horses quietly at most, and it is absolutely impossible to hide the main force of the Qin army."

"If the main force of the Qin army arrives, it is absolutely impossible to leave no trace at all with the number of the main force of the Qin army!"

The main force of the Qin army is hundreds of thousands of people!

Even the Qin army has 100,000 people.

If the scout general can't even detect the trace of 100,000 people, then his eyes are useless!

Sima Shang's hand holding the reins tightened slightly, and he couldn't help but feel a little excited and worried: "Could it be... the commander's guess is wrong?!"

Sima Shang found it hard to believe that Li Mu made a wrong judgment.

But the reality told Sima Shang that Li Mu made a wrong judgment, and there was no Qin army stationed in Licheng!

Sima Shang was inevitably worried about Li Mu's wrong battlefield reading, but it was also hard not to be happy that he had such an opportunity.

If Sima Shang could lead his troops to capture Licheng, what a great achievement it would be!

However, Sima Shang's trust in Li Mu made him speak cautiously: "Send a message to the commander quickly."

"Our troops have not found the main force of the Qin army, nor have they found any traces of the main force of the Qin army in Licheng. As of yesterday, there were still only 5,000 county soldiers in Licheng."

"I will send scouts to carefully scout the surroundings."

"If there is no main force of the Qin army around, this is a great opportunity for our army to capture Licheng and advance to Changzhi!"

"The opportunity is fleeting. If I still haven't found the main force of the Qin army tomorrow, I will lead my troops to attack Licheng!"

The messenger bowed loudly: "Yes!"

With a complicated mood, Sima Shang shouted: "Order the rear army to set up camp!"

"All scouts leave the camp and explore the surrounding 40 miles to find the main force of the Qin army!"

Even after two days and two nights of long-distance raids, the scouts under Sima Shang's command still shouted excitedly: "Yes!"

They felt vaguely that military merit was beckoning to them! ——

"That's a motherfucker!"

"Zhao Wu'an has no moral integrity. He has killed his way to Licheng in just half a month!"

Ge Ping paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. Whenever he saw the Zhao army flags floating outside the city, he felt distressed.

Although Licheng is important, there are several cities in front of Licheng, so the number of standing garrisons in Licheng is not large, only 5,000 county soldiers.

Even if we count the young and strong men such as the bandit Cao, the pavilion chiefs and the pavilion soldiers, there are only more than 8,000 soldiers.

But now, there are 80,000 Zhao troops outside the city!

This is a ten-fold difference in military strength!

How can Ge Ping fight?

Ge Ping angrily slammed the table: "I shouldn't have accepted the position of county magistrate."

"I am just a bandit leader. How can I be a county magistrate!"

"If I don't become a county magistrate, how can I face such a dangerous situation!"

After the war to destroy Chu, E Ao was selected as the county magistrate of Yancheng.

Ge Ping was also selected as the magistrate of Licheng County.

However, Da Qin chose E Chen as the county magistrate in order to use E Chen's gangsterism to suppress the tyrants of Yan City.

Da Qin chose Ge Ping as the magistrate of Licheng County, hoping that Ge Ping, a general who performed outstandingly in the battle to destroy Chu, could play his role at the critical moment and defend the strategic location of Licheng for Da Qin!

Ge Ping, who had just returned home at that time, thought highly of himself and accepted the appointment without hesitation.

But when 80,000 Zhao troops arrived outside the city one after another, Ge Ping was isolated and helpless. Only then did Ge Ping finally realize that fighting against bandit officers and soldiers was different from fighting against regular soldiers.

Fighting against Chu's soldiers and horses is different from fighting against Zhao's elite.

There is an even bigger difference between following Ying Chengxuan's command to fight and leading the county soldiers alone to fight against an enemy force ten times larger than one's own!

Just when Ge Ping was anxious and unbearable, Ge Ping's eldest son Ge Ying also walked up to the city wall and asked in a low voice: "Are you worried about the soldiers and horses outside the city?"

Ge Ping sighed softly: "Of course."

"Although the main force of Zhao's army never came to attack our city of Li, there are at least 70,000 to 80,000 soldiers and horses of this Zhao army alone."

"On the other hand, in Licheng, we only have eight thousand soldiers and horses!"

"Even if we conquer all the young men in Li City, we will only get less than 20,000 soldiers and horses."

"How can we compete with this Zhao army!"

Ge Ping knew that his eldest son had been smart since he was a child.

When he went out to take office, Ge Ping left his parents and all other children in Xianyang City to prove his loyalty, except for his first wife and his eldest son.

Ge Ying, who is fifteen years old this year, is already an adult, and Ge Ping does not hesitate to confess all the difficulties he faces.

Sighing softly, Ge Ping patted Ge Ying's arm and said in a complicated voice: "It is impossible to win this battle."

"But Naong won't leave."

"Nai Weng rebelled against Chu on the battlefield in the past. He is already a second minister. If he escapes and rebels again, the world will not be able to tolerate Nai Weng, and it will also implicate Lord Chang'an and many brothers."

"But you have to go."

"Nai Weng has ordered Nai's mother to pack her bags."

"Later, you will leave the city from the west gate of Licheng and rush to Chang'an Township at full speed. After meeting with Mrs. Han frankly about the details of Licheng, you will then enter Xianyang to find my father and younger brothers and sisters."

"For the sake of Nai Weng dying on the battlefield, Mrs. Han may take more care of you."

Even though he thought it was impossible to win this battle, even though he thought that defending the city would lead to death, Ge Ping still decided to stay.

There is no way, Ge Ping has his weaknesses and his pursuits.

However, Ge Ying looked at Ge Ping sincerely and said, "Aweng, the situation is not that bad!"

Ge Ping laughed: "The situation is not that bad?"

"The 80,000 Zhao troops outside the city are not the weak bandit-suppressing army of Chu State in the past!"

Ge Ying said firmly: "But we are no longer the Fuli Guishan Bandits!"

"Chang'an Lord sent a military report yesterday, asking our army to hold on, and said that we are not far from Licheng."

"As long as Aweng can hold on for a few days, not only will Aweng not die in battle, but he will also become a hero of the Qin Dynasty and be valued by Lord Chang'an."

"Aweng, this battle is a crisis, but it is also an opportunity!"

"This is Aweng's opportunity to take off!"

Ge Ying, the son, made a big cake for Ge Ping, the father.

But Ge Ping didn't want to eat a bite.

He just looked at the Zhao army that was starting to form formation outside the city, and sighed softly: "How many days can we hold on?"

"Nai Weng, what can you do to hold on!"

Hearing this question, Ge Ying also fell silent.

yes.

Although if you hold on for a few days, reinforcements will arrive.

But when faced with an enemy that clearly wanted a quick victory and had a strength advantage of more than ten times.

What are they holding on to!

"County magistrate!"

A cry suddenly rang out, and the county magistrate Li Qiong led a group of messengers and galloped over on horseback.

While dismounting, Li Qiong said repeatedly: "Chang'an Lord has an order!"

Ge Pingyuan's already despairing and calm eyes suddenly burst into a bright light, and he suddenly turned to look at the messenger behind him: "I am the magistrate of Licheng County, and I have... five hundred eggs?!"

"How come Five Hundred Master Eggs have never been used by Lord Chang'an?!"

Looking back, Ge Ping unexpectedly spotted a familiar figure.

Eggman!

Originally, Dan Fu, as Ying Chengxuan's messenger who sent letters back to Xianyang City, rarely interacted with the generals in the army.

But a battle in Judu made Dan Fu’s name resound throughout the entire army!

Dan Fu said solemnly: "I'm just following orders."

"Licheng County Magistrate Ge Ping, step forward to receive the order!"

Ge Ping also suppressed his surprise and hurried forward, taking the roll of silk from Dan Fu with both hands. Li Qiong also took a big step and came to Ge Ping's side.

After verifying the seal, Ge Ping quickly unfolded it, and the familiar handwriting caught the eyes of Ge Ping and Li Qiong.

[If a small group of Zhao troops arrive and hold fast behind closed doors, the general will be able to lead the vanguard and rush to Licheng in two days. 】

[If the Zhao army arrives with a large number of troops, open the city gates wide and undefended, withdraw the defenders, and ignore the enemy. 】

[Order four or five old men to sweep outside the city, and then the magistrate of Ge County will play the piano and play the piano on the city wall. 】

[If Lord Zhao Wuan arrives in person or the main force of the Zhao army arrives, withdraw immediately without any hesitation! 】

Ge Ping: (O_o)??

Li Qiong: (o_O)! !

After reading the military order, Ge Ping and Li Qiong looked at each other.

Looking at each other, Ge Ping and Li Qiong asked in unison:

"ah???"