Chapter 249: The Qin army besieged Chang'an

On August 18, 17th year of Qianyuan, Zhao army general Sima Song led an army of 100,000 to Boping, Dongjun, and advanced all the way towards the sun.

In the camp of the Wei army in Yangping, Pang Kuo had learned that the Zhao army reinforcements would arrive in Yangping soon, and there was not much time left for him, so Pang Kuo summoned the generals to discuss the matter of retreating south.

In the central army tent, Pang Kuo sighed and said, "Everyone, Sima Song's army has passed Boping and will arrive soon. The number is around 100,000. Our army needs to retreat south of the Yellow River as soon as possible. After going down, we will start to arrange a large army to retreat. Our army temporarily restrains the main force of the Zhao army in Yangping. The troops in Dongwuyang retreat first, and then arrange defenses on the south bank of the Yellow River. At the same time, we send people to inform General Wei Bu in Hanoi to let him retreat too. The Yellow River flood season is approaching. If he cannot retreat through the Yellow River before the flood season comes, once the flood season comes, he will have to stay in Hanoi and besieged by the Zhao army."

"Here!" the generals responded.

On August 19, 19th, the 17th year of Qianyuan, a large number of Wei officials and people in Dunqiu, Yin'an, Wei and other places north of the Yellow River in Dongjun began to retreat south. On August 20th, 19th year of Qianyuan, 30,000 Wei troops stationed in Dongwuyang began to retreat south. On August 22nd, 19th year of Qianyuan, Pang Kuo led the last 40,000 Wei troops from Dongjun to withdraw from Yangping. Li Rubing was afraid of being ambushed by the Wei army and ordered the army not to pursue. On August 25th, 19th year of Qianyuan, all the Wei troops in Dongjun retreated across the Yellow River. In addition to the 70,000 troops retreating south, Pang Kuo also gathered the troops stationed in various parts of the Central Plains, with a total force of 100,000 troops stationed in Puyang, Baima, Zhen Cheng, Dong'a, and Renping. A large number of beacon towers were arranged between the cities along the south bank of the Yellow River.

On August 27, the 17th year of Qianyuan, Wei Bu's troops stationed in Henoi also retreated across the Yellow River and stationed in Henan County. Wei Bu personally led the main force to garrison Luoyang City, and the remaining troops were stationed in Pingyin, Chenggao, and Juan County. At the same time, all the Wei troops in Henan County were gathered, with a force of 120,000.

The Qi army and Wei army retreated southward one after another, emptying the north of the Yellow River, and the Zhao army took the opportunity to occupy it. At the same time, the Zhao army also began to integrate its troops. Zhao Xin was in charge of the plains to coordinate the army, Sima Song commanded 200,000 troops stationed in Xipingchang, Li Rubing led 200,000 troops stationed in Donqiu, and Zhang Chuan led 200,000 troops stationed in Heyang.

On September 17th year of Qianyuan, the Yellow River flood season arrived as scheduled. The battle between Zhao, Qi and Wei, which had been entangled for several months, came to an end. Both sides entered the final stage of resource integration, waiting for the flood season to pass and launch an attack. Both sides stationed their troops in the city instead of the shore, just to prevent the Yellow River from bursting. Although it is not necessarily the case, it is just in case.

Due to the Yellow River flood season, Zhao, Qi and Wei quit, but the battle between Qin and Han dynasties in Guanzhong reached the last moment. On the fifth day of September 17th year of Qianyuan, Bai Qi led the Qin army to defeat the Han army in Huaili. The Han army chief Cao Tian died in battle. The main force of the 120,000 Han army was wiped out. On September 12, Qianyuan, Bai Qi led the main force of the Qin army to surround the Han capital Chang'an.

At this time, Chang'an City was in a panic. There were only 30,000 defenders and 100,000 people in the city, while the Qin army outside the city had 300,000 people. All of this seemed to imply the arrival of the end of the Han Dynasty.

In Chang'an, Han Palace and Weiyang Palace, the new Han King Liu Zhen summoned all the ministers to discuss matters, but all this is probably in vain. The Han Kingdom, which was armed with 400,000 armor, with strong generals, and counselors, is now in decline, and talents are withering. The fall of top commanders such as Fan Yi, Zhou Shen, Cao Tian, ​​and other powerful generals, and the death of powerful generals such as Xiahou Wuji and Xu Jie has made it impossible for the Han Kingdom to find a decent general. It can only rely on the support of Xiahou Jie, an old general in his sixties. However, Xiahou Jie is old and weak, and is not the opponent of Bai Qi who is at its peak.

"You guys, the Qin army besieged the city, can there be a good way to retreat the enemy?" Liu Zhen sat on the throne and said with a panic. Liu Zhen was also an unlucky child. During the 30 years of his father Liu Xie's rule, he almost defeated all the family of the Han Kingdom. He was still pressed on the ground by his former follower Deng Kingdom. All the elite soldiers and generals were wiped out. When he took office, his father left him with only one Cao Tian and one Xiahou Jie. Now Cao Tian is dead. In such a large Han Kingdom, only one Xiahou Jie is left.

His highness and ministers looked at each other in silence. To be honest, the Han Dynasty has reached the end of its territory. All the troops have been exhausted and the generals have died. Now, except for one Xiahou Jie, all the rest are second- and third-rate generals and 30,000 so-called elites. With this little capital, how can we fight against the 300,000 Qin army?

"I believe that I can ask for help from other countries." At this time, Cao Qun made a list of words. As the auxiliary minister left to Liu Zhen by the former King of Han, Liu Xie, Cao Qun has always devoted himself to this incomplete Han country. At this point, the only one who can come up with ideas is this old minister.

When Liu Zhen on the throne heard this, he was overjoyed. Yes, our Han Kingdom could not beat him, but we could pull his teammates. But the next second, Liu Zhen's face became gloomy. He had allies in the Han Kingdom, and he was not weak. Wei, a powerful Central Plains country and Zhao, the largest country in the northern border. These two countries are allies of the Han Kingdom, but these two allies have fought hard now, so how can they care about the Han Kingdom?

Liu Zhen sighed and said, "Cao Xiang, it is good to ask for help, but Zhao Wei has already confronted the Yellow River, so how could he divide his troops to save Chang'an?"

"King, now Zhao State is committed to going south to the Central Plains, and Wei State is also trying its best to protect the family business of our ancestors. Of course, there is no spare effort to start a war to rescue Chang'an. I am not talking about the Zhao and Wei countries." Cao Qun replied, "Who knows what Zhao and Wei are now? No one knows, and no one knows. If we ask for help from Zhao Wei at this time, it will undoubtedly make the world laugh, but what Cao Qun said about asking for help is not Zhao Wei.

"Which country is Cao going to ask for help?" Liu Zhen was a little confused. In order to participate in the Battle of Central Plains, the Han State made an alliance with Zhao, Wei and Song, and became an alliance with each other. However, now that the Song State has been destroyed and Zhao and Wei have started a war, there are no allies in the Han State.

Cao Qun said: "Go back to the king, what I mean is that we can ask for help from Deng State." As soon as Cao Qun said this, he immediately shocked everyone in the palace. It's okay, brother, what are the two countries of Deng and Han, and they have become like this? They can be said to have formed an incomprehensible enemy. I'm afraid that Deng State will still want Han State to die, so how could he send troops to rescue Han State? Are you sure that you are not joking?

After hearing this, Liu Zhen looked very ugly and said to Cao Qun: "Cao Cao, Deng State has a deep blood hatred with my great man, how could he send troops to rescue Chang'an? Besides, countless men of my great man died at the hands of Deng State, and even General Fan Yi died because of Deng State. You can't let me shake my tail and beg for mercy with Deng State at this time."

Since the Battle of Wuguan, the Han Kingdom has regarded Deng as its mortal enemy and has always been thinking about how to kill Deng Kingdom. Even if Qin later attacked Guanzhong and became the Han Kingdom's mortal enemy, Deng Kingdom was still ranked second, and the third was the century-old old rival Chu Kingdom.

But Cao Qun didn't think so. He explained: "King, the world is bustling for profit, and the world is bustling for profit. There is no eternal enemy between countries, only eternal interests. Wang Deng is very talented and brilliant, how could he not understand this truth? Besides, since Wuguan fell into the hands of Deng, my Han Dynasty could no longer pose a threat to Deng State, and the continued existence of the Han Dynasty is even more beneficial to Deng State. As long as my Han Dynasty is still there, Deng State will not have to directly face the Qin State like a tiger or wolf, and it will not harm Deng State. I believe that King Deng will send troops. More importantly, today, except Deng State, no country has the ability to save Chang'an. Now there is nothing more important than the survival of the Han Dynasty. I hope the king will think twice!"

Cao Qun thought it was very beautiful. He believed that Deng Sheng was a talented and strategic king with a long-term vision that surpassed ordinary people. The existence of the Han Dynasty was also beneficial to Deng. Deng Sheng should send troops.

Liu Zhen was also convinced by Cao Qun at this time. Cao Qun said something very right. Nothing is more important than the survival of the Han Dynasty. No matter how much hatred it is, it can be abandoned at the critical moment when the country is destroyed and the family is destroyed. So Liu Zhen nodded and agreed to Cao Qun's opinion. Under Xiahou Jie's personal arrangement, a team of soldiers led Cao Qun out of the siege and headed towards Wuguan.
Chapter completed!