Chapter 28: The cunning fox plays with the tiger

The rare continuous spring rain that had been dripping like a dripping month finally stopped. The clouds cleared and the rain dissipated, revealing the clear blue sky, which looked particularly refreshing!

But the situation on the ground is unfavorable: on the Guangbao land east of the Huai River, the water accumulated to one or two feet deep, the roads were muddy and rotten everywhere, and vehicles, mules and horses were difficult to walk, and it was hard to move around; the water volume of many originally dry riverbeds soared and endless, especially the water of the Huai River was surging, and the waves were surging.

Although the situation in Huaihang area seems bad, fortunately, the world is in chaos and the water conservancy facilities in various places are not seriously damaged, so there is no serious flood. However, a large amount of wheat and crops are soaked in knee-deep mud and water for a long time, and they die of illness and most of them. This year, a large-scale grain production reduction in Huaihang area may be inevitable. Of course, in recent years, the continuous wars in Huaihang area have further aggravated the trend of food shortage!

Faced with this bad prospect, it naturally reminds people of the old saying, "Death, the people suffer, the people suffer, the people suffer"!

...

Qin army was in the north of Guangling.

In the vast camp, the idle Qin soldiers either leaned against the curtains and dozed off, or sat together and chatted. Some brave even gathered together to make a gamble. At this special time, the officers turned a blind eye to this kind of thing. Indeed, with the current bad situation in the Huaihang area, the Qin soldiers could only rust in the camps, and even normal training could not be carried out, let alone marching and fighting!

Faced with such a dilemma, all the generals of the Qin camp were helpless, and even Han Xin, who had always been resourceful, could only stay in the camp all day to study military tactics and chat to live. For a while, the Qin army lived a comfortable life, but very bored!

On this day, Han Xin was studying in the camp, and suddenly a personal soldier reported urgently: "General, Your Majesty's personal envoy has arrived at the camp gate with the imperial edict. Please welcome the general quickly!" "Oh, hurry up, come, change clothes! Also, beat the drum and gather the generals immediately and go out of the camp together!" Han Xin did not dare to be negligent, so he quickly put down the book. "Hey!" The personal soldier responded and went down quickly.

Soon, the rumbling drums of the central army circled among the vast camps and stirred up. The Qin generals who had been idle for most of the month were either drinking and chatting or reading books. When they suddenly heard the sound of drums gathered together, they couldn't help but excitedly: Finally, they had some serious work!

In the blink of an eye, the generals gathered at the commander's tent, and Han Xin led a team out to welcome him, and the imperial envoy was transferred to the commander's tent.

"In accordance with the will of heaven, the emperor ordered: "This is the Marquis of Huaiyin and General Han Xin has repeatedly made outstanding achievements. I am very pleased. Now I have bravely killed the enemy chief Xiang Liang, and I have made great contributions. I specially granted 10,000 yuan to give me a reward. I hope I will not be arrogant or impatient, and continue to make contributions to the country and pacify the land of Chu. Qin is this-!" The voice of the Qin envoy dragged it long and pulled the posture full.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, Long's kindness!" Han Xin received the imperial edict and worshipped it on the general's case. Then he smiled and said, "I have worked hard for you to come from afar. Wait for the general to prepare a small amount of wine to wash away the dust. If you come, take the Qin envoy to rest first!" "If you have any work, you have no work!" The Qin envoy dared not show off in front of Han Xin, and seemed very humble!

As soon as the imperial envoy left, the generals immediately congratulated Han Xin in a tide.

Cao Shen smiled and said, "Congratulations to the General. Now, in addition to the King Ben of Jingyang who attacked the fief of the veteran General Wang Jian, our Great Qin also has the most obvious titles!"

Wu Rui said a little dissatisfied: "Zhang Han just recruited Your Majesty to treat him well because he was a surrendered general. His merits cannot be compared with the general. General Wang Ben has this qualification, but in recent years he has been ill and has basically ignored military affairs. As for the two generals, Meng Tian and Li Xin, I think the ability to use troops may not be as good as General Han, so our army should be respected!"

Han Xin shook his head and smiled, "The generals are too good. General Meng Tian and General Li Xin have much more qualifications than Han. They fought south and north and made outstanding achievements. How dare Han Xin compare with them!" The implication is that he is quite polite to Meng Tian and Li Xin, and obviously he does not take the sick husband Wang Ben and surrendered general Zhang Han seriously.

Indeed, with Han Xin's arrogant personality and peerless talent, he was not a person who was willing to be a subordinate. His personality was not suitable for being an emperor, and he never thought of competing for the throne with Fusu, but in the military field, Han Xin was still quite conceited. Perhaps looking at the world, only Fusu's military use can convince Han Xin. As for other people, in Han Xin's eyes, they are just ordinary or general!

The generals have followed Han Xin for a long time, and they have already figured out Han Xin's temper clearly. They naturally understand the implication in their hearts, but they don't think there is anything wrong. After all, Han Xin's military achievements are there: within more than a month, they defeated Guangling and Long Jie, and even killed Xiang Liang, who was the leader of the princes in the world. This peerless talent is somewhat difficult to compare with even Meng Tian and Li Xin.

While the crowd were congratulating, suddenly the sound of horse hooves outside the tent was heard, and a messenger ran in with dust and mud and water. "General, the general, the rebuke urgently reported that the Chu army near Pengcheng was gathering quickly. It seems that it is intended to go south to conquer. Please decide!"

"Oh!?" Han Xin was a little surprised: the heavy rain had just stopped, and he was anxious to send troops. It seemed that the Chu people were in a hurry to avenge Xiang Liang! He asked, "Have you ever found out who led the troops?" The messenger shook his head and said, "I haven't found out yet!"

"Well—" Han Xin pondered for a moment and said, "The road is muddy now, and the Chu people have to wait for ten or eight days if they go south! You continue to inquire, and you will immediately repay the news!" "Here!" The messenger nodded and went down.

"General, now Zhao Gong, Long Ji, and Xiang Liang have been killed one after another. Who will Chu send to command the army this time?" Cao Shen asked.

Han Xin pondered for a moment and said, "As soon as Xiang Liang died, Xiang Yu depended on him since he was a child, and he must have decided to fight south to avenge his uncle, so Xiang Yu will definitely come this time. However, Song Yi and Huan Chu will not let Xiang family take over the power easily, so even if the Chu people send troops this time, the commander would not be Xiang Yu, but one of Song Yi and Huan Chu, and the other stayed to guard Pengcheng! However, the most likely one is Song Yi, after all, this veteran is cautious and wise, while Huan Chu is a little superficial and anxious. Han is at least 80% sure about this!"

When the generals heard the reason, Wu Rui said a little worriedly: "General, if Song Yi commanded the troops, it would be a little trouble. Song Yi is a famous veteran. In the past, he was ranked as the three generals of Chu State with Xiang Yan and Jing Qi. He has rich experience on the battlefield and is also cautious. In addition, with the wings of Xiang Yu, the powerful general, is probably much more difficult to deal with than Xiang Liang, who is arrogant and unwilling to accept loyal advice. The general must prepare early!"

Han Xin suddenly laughed: "Hahaha..." The generals were a little confused, and Wu Rui said in confusion: "Why is the general laughing? But what did the last general say wrong? "Han Xin shook his head, returned to his calmness, and said indifferently: "Song Yi, Xiang Yu, a timid and old man, what are you afraid of? The generals return to the camp, let's see how Han plays them with applause in the future!" As he said that, he laughed and left. The generals were stunned: General Han is so confident. It seems that Song Yi and Xiang Yu are in danger this time!

The rain near Pengcheng has been stopped for a few days. The accumulated water covered with the fields has just receded, and the mud has gradually dried up. The trees and grass next to the road finally began to sway with the wind in the gentle spring breeze, bringing people a fascinating greenery.

The straight road from Jicheng to Pengcheng and the Binhai Road, which stretches south to Kuaiji, has relied on its advanced design and excellent drainage system, and has restored its proper transportation function compared to other roads, bringing a little comfort to the people of Huai Shang Chu who have suffered from the rain.

For a time, commercial activities that had been intermittent for a long time were quickly revived: countless urgently needed food, medicinal materials, daily necessities, etc. in various places quickly penetrated into Huaishan through straight channels. The Chu people, who had been short of taking medicine for a long time, finally got rid of the difficult predicament!

However, as the weather cleared and the traffic situation improved, the clouds of war became dense again: the Qin and Chu armies began to dispatch troops and prepare for their troops. The strong smell of gunpowder suddenly filled the Huai area, adding another touch of sorrow to the foreheads of the Chu people who had just breathed a sigh of relief!

...

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The flags were flying, and the yellow armor was like clouds. Tens of thousands of Chu soldiers were fully equipped through the southern city gate with the sound of passionate drums and whistling onto an unpredictable journey without hesitation. Although many of them may not have the chance to return to their hometown, these Chu soldiers were very excited and proud at this moment, because there were tens of thousands of people near the city gate seeing them off. Faced with the eager expectations of the elders of their hometown, how could these heroic soldiers not feel excited!

At this time, Xiang Yu's mood was far different from that of ordinary Chu soldiers and was much more complicated: not only was there grief and grief and anger at Xiang Liang's death, but also had resentment and grimness towards Song Yi and Huan Chu deprived him of his right to command the army, and also felt reluctance and tenderness towards his wife Yu Ji. For a moment, Xiang Yu's bronze face, who was riding on the Wumao, seemed a little as gray, and his strange pupils were as if they were covered with a layer of black fog, which made people dare not look at each other! However, behind the black fog, there seemed to be a hint of expectation and self-satisfaction. Why is this? Of course, it is unknown now!

Suddenly, a cavalry ran out of the city cave to Xiang Yu and said respectfully: "Major General, it's getting late, hurry up and go on the road!" Xiang Yu looked at it, but it was Xiang Zhuang, the Xiang family's confidant son, and the clan brothers of the same generation as Xiang Yu, nodded and said: "Well, I know, have the central army also set out?"

Xiang Zhuang nodded and whispered: "Song Yi had just drunk the farewell wine of the King of Chu and was coming from the schoolyard!" "Hmph, old man, see how long you can be proud!" Xiang Yu snorted coldly from his nose, the colors in his eyes were very complicated!

Xiang Zhuang was startled when he heard this and hurriedly whispered: "Major General, whisper softly. If Song Yi heard it, it would be unfavorable to the Major General!" Xiang Yu did not say anything, but sneered disdainfully, and a murderous aura emerged from his pupils!

At this moment, a fiery red suddenly appeared at the city gate. The red-flame-like eyes were particularly eye-catching and stimulated the Chu people's eyes. So, in an instant, a warm cheer broke out at the city gate: "Chu Xiang! Chu Xiang! Chu Xiang!..." The cheer from the heart undoubtedly showed the Chu people's love and support for Chu Xiang Xiong's soldiers.

At this time, Xiang Yu, who had always had a gloomy face, rarely showed a hint of relief. He was happy that his athletes were so supported by the Chu people. For a moment, the unhappiness in his heart seemed to disappear.

Xiang Yu pulled his horse's head and sniffed, and was about to take a step. At this time, Xiang Yu couldn't help looking back, hoping to find the beautiful figure that made him worried! Unfortunately, in the eyes, besides the fiery infrared, there was the flags rolling yellow clouds. It was so majestic, but there was no trace of the delicate and delicate figure that made the hero bow.

Xiang Yu sighed in his heart and couldn't help but laugh at himself: "My sister is pregnant. I have told him to stay at home to rest and not come to see me. Why do you still think that you can see her see me before leaving? I am a nine-foot man, how could I become such a mother-in-law and mother! Let's go, how can I care about my children's love without avenging my father? When I dealt with Han Xin's little thief who killed my uncle, come back to see Ji sister!" After thinking about it, Xiang Yu gently patted Ma Zhi's buttocks. The black male responded, and moved his majestic limbs and moved forward.

Suddenly, a cry that made Xiang Yu overjoyed came: "Xiang Lang, take care of him!" Xiang Yu's heart trembled, and suddenly turned around, but saw a person wearing a white silk skirt on the top of the city, as beautiful as a fairy who was not Yu Ji, who wasn't!

In an instant, the pupils, which were originally full of murderous aura and sorrow, suddenly became clear, full of tenderness like water. "Yu Ji! You are still here!" Xiang Yu was silently happy in his heart, looking at the beloved woman from afar. Yu Ji also looked at Xiang Yu under the city silently, facing his majestic back, his firm face showed his attachment and reluctance. Tears in his charming eyes were faintly covered with a layer of hazy mist.

The two of them looked at each other in the air and were entangled. Although they didn't say anything, all their feelings and concerns were silent. "Yu Ji, take good care of yourself and our children, and wait for me to come back!" Xiang Yu felt tender in his heart, and gently stretched out his big hand, pointed to his heart and lower abdomen with his index finger, and expressed his hopes. Yu Ji understood it and pointed to his heart and lower abdomen and nodded solemnly to Xiang Yu.

Xiang Yu gritted his teeth and turned around suddenly. When his nose was sore, he suddenly slapped his palm on the buttocks of the black horse. With a strong neighing sound, the Chu army's horses were pale, and a black figure swept over quickly with a strong wind. Behind him, the beautiful Yu Ji could no longer hold back the tears of sadness. Two lines of crystal tears slowly flowed down her cheeks and gently dripped on the ancient city!

On the Binhai Road, 100,000 Chu troops stepped forward and marched south to face Han Xin.

...

At this time, Qinying—

"The general is indeed as expected. This time, the Chu army sent 100,000 troops, with Song Yi as the main general and Xiang Yu as the deputy, and rushed over!" Cao Shen looked admiring: Since General Han led the troops, there seems to be nothing that is not under his plan, and he is a true god!

Han Xin smiled and said, "General Cao is too good. This time, besides Song Yi and Xiang Yu, who are other famous figures in the Chu army?" Cao Shen hurriedly said, "I just found out that only the military commander Fan Zeng was with him. In addition, since Xiang Yu's wife was pregnant, in order to protect the only seedling of the Xiang family, Xiang Bo did not travel with him and was responsible for staying in Pengcheng. Are the other people, all unknown people, not worth mentioning!" Han Xin laughed when he heard this: "God helped me succeed! This time, Song Yi, Xiang Yu left Pengcheng, don't think about going back alive!"

The generals were overjoyed when they heard this. Wu Rui asked, "Is it possible that the general has a plan to defeat the enemy? I hope to hear it carefully!" Han Xin waved his hand and said with a smile: "You should know it in the future, but you can't say it now!" Then he said, "Spread the tent" and left, leaving only the generals who were still confused.

Fortunately, the generals had long been accustomed to Han Xin's behavior and shrugged, so they had to disperse themselves helplessly!

On the same day, after being supplemented by Kuaiji camp, about 100,000 Qin troops who had been resting also stepped out of their camp and headed north to fight against the Chu army!

For a moment, the war drums on the Huai River were faintly hidden, the war smoke was swaying, and the atmosphere was filled with tension and uneasiness everywhere!

On this day, when 100,000 Qin troops arrived at Baima Lake, it was too late, so Han Xin ordered the army to set up a camp.

In the evening, when he was free, Han Xin and his generals took advantage of the sunset to come to the lakeshore to enjoy the beautiful scenery: the waves are sparkling, red glows are everywhere, sand gulls are gathering, and the misty waves are floating. At night, Baima Lake is as beautiful as a fairyland on earth, which makes Han Xin and everyone feel relaxed and happy.

While traveling again in the old place, Han Xin couldn't help feeling a little different when he looked at the Baima Lake embankment that had been repaired by Xiang Liang!

At this moment, a cavalry suddenly rebuked the horse and reported: "General, emergency military information: Song Yi, Dingyu led 100,000 Chu troops to Huai'an, and was preparing to fight!"

"Oh, I understand! Go back and check again!" Han Xin nodded and said lightly. "Here!" He rebuked the horse and left.

"General, since that's the case, how can we deal with it?" Wu Rui asked.

Han Xin smiled and said, "How to deal with it!? Haha, don't worry, less than two hundred miles away, just walk slowly! Old man Song Yi must be waiting for us obediently in Huai'an City!"

Cao Shen said in surprise: "Why is the general sure that Song Yi dare not go to fight, but only dare to rely on the city to control me?" Han Xin smiled and said: "Song Yi is cautious, in other words, timid, Zhao Gong, Long Jie, Xiang Liang's defeat is not far away, so he is not afraid, so he has no courage to fight with our army in field. First of all, the elite Chu army corps have basically been destroyed by Long Jie and Xiang Liang's death. Most of the 100,000 Chu troops are new recruits, and their combat power is not strong. He loses too much when fighting with our army in field. Therefore, according to Song Yi's cautious temper, he will naturally choose to use the city to control me to offset the lack of combat power of the Chu army!"

"So that's it, then this battle is a bit difficult to fight: Song Yi is cautious, Xiang Yu is brave, and the two of them lead 100,000 troops to take charge of Huai'an, and our army is only 100,000. What if it does?" Cao Shen was a little worried.

Han Xin laughed: "In my eyes, Song Yi is dead, and Xiang Yu is a reckless man, what's the fear?" Everyone was shocked: "Why did the general say this?" Han Xin laughed, whispered a few words, and then said: "Just like this, you can use Xiang Yu's hand to remove Song Yi. Not only can you cut off the enemy's arm, but you can also cause internal strife. Isn't that happy? This is a plan to 'kill people by using a knife', and it can also be called 'driven tigers and swallowing wolf'!" The generals were surprised to hear this: "General's divine calculation!" Han Xin laughed!

On that day, 100,000 Qin troops rushed to Huai'an in a fierce manner, and they were eager to flatten Huai'an in one fell swoop! The Chu army rebelled and found out, and flew away like a meteor...

"Dang-dang-dang-dang-dang-..." A sudden rapid and distant bell sound came from the head of Huai'an city, breaking through the mist and tranquility of the morning and quickly echoed over the ancient city of Huai'an.

In an instant, Huai'an City, filled with Chu soldiers, suddenly woke up from its deep sleep. Countless Chu soldiers rose up noisily and rushed to Nancheng. Song Yi and Xiang Yu were also awakened, and quickly put on armor and held sharp edges and rushed to Nancheng.

"What's going on? Why do you call the police?" Song Yi came to the city and asked the captain on duty at the city. The captain hurriedly said, "Go back to the general, I just came to report that a Qin army was leaving the camp and rushing forward!" "Oh, the Qin army is sick, so early we came to attack the city. Our army hasn't even eaten breakfast!" Song Yi couldn't help but frown and looked outside the city: the foggy outside the city was so thick that there was no sign of people outside dozens of steps, so no matter how hard Song Yi tried, he could not see the situation in the distance!

"Tell me the general order: Our soldiers took turns to eat in two shifts! The Qin army should be just a test today and will not really attack the city!" Song Yi ordered. "Yes!" The commander troops went down to pass the order. Immediately, the Chu army was divided into two groups, guarding the city and eating. Song Yi and Xiang Yu did not go down to eat, and they all waited at the top of the city to watch the enemy situation.

The sun gradually rose, and the originally thick mist slowly became thinner, but the scenery was still not clear hundreds of steps away. Suddenly, a dull sound of horse hooves and clanging sound of armor rubbing from outside the city, which seemed to be a military horse rushing toward.

"Bow, lead the crossbow, prepare for it-!" A Chu general shouted, and thousands of crossbowmen on the top of the city quickly prepared for the battle and stared at the city with fierce eyes.

Soon, a black-armored Qin army broke out from the mist and stopped when they rushed to Huai'an City about 200 steps. When the Qin army was lined up, a general led the first horse to go out and shouted: "The Qin army general Cao Shen is here, who dares to come out to compete with me!"

"Hmph! Qin army dog ​​thief, defeated general!" Xiang Yu snorted coldly on the top of the city, his eyes seemed to turn red, and the murderous aura in his pupils was as fierce as a volcano eruption. Because he heard that Cao Shen was among the murderers who killed Xiang Liang!

"Come here, order 10,000 troops to follow me out of the city!" Xiang Yu had a blue face, picked up a black halberd, turned around and wanted to go down the city. The so-called "the enemy is jealous when they meet each other." Xiang Yu really wanted to catch Cao Shen immediately and cut it into 8,888 pieces!

"Let's go!" Song Yi stopped Xiang Yu: "General Xiang wants to go out of the city to fight?" Xiang Yu turned around and said coldly: "This person is showing off his power and bullying the Chu army, no one is allowed to make him crazy! Also, this person is one of the murderers who killed my uncle. Xiang vows to eat it alive and then hurry up! Why did the general stop me??"

Song Yi, who was fluttering in white hair, was a little dissatisfied with Xiang Yu's tone, but he held back his displeasure and said, "General Xiang should not be reckless. Han Xin is a tricker. He is not an ordinary person. This time he came here in the fog, there must be a deception. Don't go to fight!" Xiang Yu smiled when he heard this, with a look of contempt: "What's the deception for Han Xin? Is the general a little over-the-scenes?"

Song Yi frowned and said, "General Xiang, can't you see it? I heard that the Qin army is fierce and fierce for a long time, but the Qin army with about 10,000 people under the city is obviously an old and weak army. With Han Xin's shrewdness, how could he send this weak army to die? Therefore, I expect there must be ambushing troops behind him. If I go to fight, I will definitely fall into his trap. It is better to defend the city firmly!" Song Yi has rich experience on the battlefield and dare not take risks easily, especially when facing a dangerous opponent like Han Xin!

"General, can you start scolding?" asked a commander behind Cao Shen.

"Well, that's OK, ask the brothers to scold you! Remember, greet Xiang Yu's uncle and mother more! I don't believe how long he can tolerate it! Once he couldn't help it, that old man Song Yi was dead!" Cao Shen laughed sinisterly. "Here!" The commander smiled sinisterly.

Soon, dozens of loud Qin soldiers on the top of the city cursed themselves out of the formation, cleared their throats and began to curse: "Xiang Yu's son, no courage, your father is dead, a headless ghost!" "Xiang Liang, Xiang Liang, are shameless, die more, happy!" "Xiang Yu's son, your mother is like a pig, and her child is like a rat, and after the turtle is retreating from the city, he dares not fight!"...

The Qin army under the city spoke in accent and cursed loudly, and they were all cursing one by one, which was very "exciting". Of course, these were all carefully polished by Han Xin in advance. Otherwise, with the literary cultivation of the Qin army's ignorant of their own words, it would be a bit difficult to make them scold such a skilled "wonderful theory"!

Sure enough, in just a moment, Xiang Yu's face changed from bronze to black, from black to purple, his body trembled slightly, his breathing became more and more rapid, and his eyes seemed to be about to spit out fire, obviously he was so angry! When Fan Zeng saw that it was not good, he quickly comforted him: "Don't calm down, this is the Qin army's agitating generals, don't be fooled!"

"Bump--!" Xiang Yu, with a ferocious face, smashed the battlements hard on the battlements, smashing the wooden battlements into pieces in an instant, and debris flew around!

Seeing this, Fan Zeng couldn't help but sweat on his forehead. He knew that if Xiang Yu was always staying at the city, he would be unable to help it sooner or later. He advised: "Major General, this Qin army under the city is powerless to attack the city. It's useless to go back to the house to rest!"

"Don't go!" Xiang Yu shouted coldly. Seeing Xiang Yu's face blushing, Fan Zeng knew that Xiang Yu was on the verge of going wild, so he didn't dare to persuade him anymore, so he had to stay aside and look at Xiang Yu worriedly.

The sun gradually rose, the thick fog began to slowly dissipate, and the scenery in the distance gradually began to become clear wherever you see.

Cao Shen, who was under the city, saw that the Chu army had not yet gone to fight, felt a little admiration in his heart: "Xiang Yu can really bear it, okay, then I will add another fire to you!" He shouted: "Come on, continue to scold me, and 'give' Xiang Yu's wife and children again!"

The Qin army's reprimand immediately changed again, and they cursed: "The Chu people, the Chu people, are so handsome but not brave, ridiculous!" "Xiang Yu, Xiang Yu, are as timid as a mouse, and die sooner or later, and the wife is in pain!" "Xiang Yu, Xiang Yu, are brave and brave, have such a baby, are timid and have no seeds!"...
To be continued...