Chapter 338: Battle of Li Ting

On February 23, 21st year of Qianyuan, Li Ting, the Qin army stationed, Ma Sheng and several personal guards were patrolling the defense line. At this time, a scout came quickly and reported to Ma Sheng: "Report to General, a brigade of Zhao army was found ten miles ahead!"

After hearing this, Ma Sheng frowned. Before setting off, Bai Qi told him that Li Ting's terrain was relatively flat, and the Zhao army was likely to use Li Ting as a breakthrough point to tear open the Qin army's defense line. Sure enough, the Zhao army finally came.

"How many troops are Zhao's army? Who is the chief general?" Ma Sheng asked the scout. Since Zhao's army used Li Ting as a breakthrough point, there must be many people, and the general who commanded the army would not be an unknown person.

"Return to General, the number of Zhao soldiers is about 50,000. The main general's surname is Zheng!" The scout replied. The scout was just a small soldier. In addition, the Qin army had never fought with Zhao soldiers before, so the scout did not know who Zhao soldiers were.

Hearing the scout's words, Ma Sheng frowned, his eyes kept turning, and was trying hard to think about who the general surnamed Zhao of Zheng was. After a long time, he said: "There are not many generals of the Zhao State surnamed Zheng. The only one who can come as a commander of the partial division commander of no less than 50,000 people is Zheng Tuo. I think the person who leads the troops this time must be Zheng Tuo. The person who comes here will be sent to the entire army to prepare for war. At the same time, he will send a quick horse to Changzicheng to report to the Taiwei!"

"Here!" With Ma Sheng's order, Li Ting's 20,000 Qin troops instantly entered the state of war. Since he arrived at Li Ting, Ma Sheng has never relaxed, especially when Bai Qi told him that the Zhao army would use Li Ting as a breakthrough point, he dared not slacken. He personally led people to inspect every day, for fear of any mistakes.

On the other hand, Zheng Tuo led 50,000 Zhao troops to slowly drive towards Li Ting, but stopped five miles away from Li Ting and said to his deputy general: "This place is less than five miles away from Li Ting. I'm afraid there will be an ambush when going forward. I will send spies to Li Ting immediately. You must understand the situation of the Qin army, and send the army to rest on the spot and wait for the order!"

"Here!" the deputy general responded, and then went to pass the order. About half an hour later, the spy who went to investigate came back and reported to Zheng Tuo: "Report to General, the Qin army has already set up a defense in Li Ting. The specific force is unknown. The Qin general who commanded the troops is surnamed Ma!"

"The surname is Ma? The general said that there is a general in the Qin army named Ma Sheng, who is a veteran of Qin. I think he is the one who comes to guard Li Ting. Can the Qin army ambush be found in front?" Zheng Tuo thought for a while and knew that the Qin general garrison was Ma Sheng, and then asked the scout if there were any Qin army ambush begs in front.

The scout shook his head and said, "The villain did not find any Qin army ambush along the way. Instead, Li Ting's Qin army was ready to fight, and he was stanced to defend his position to the death."

After hearing the scouts, Zheng Tuo frowned because it was not reasonable. Zhao Xin said that Li Ting's Qin army would definitely not exceed 20,000. Logically speaking, if the troops were far inferior to the Zhao army, if the Qin army wanted to defeat the Zhao army, there was no reason not to set up ambush.

Zheng Tuo thought for a while and said, "Send the order and the army moves forward slowly, and be alert to the surroundings to prevent the Qin army's ambush!" Since they have all come here, they cannot stop because they are afraid of possible ambushes from the Qin army. Therefore, after careful consideration, Zheng Tuo decided to advance slowly, but it still makes people wary of possible Qin army's ambush around.

Under Zheng Tuo's order, the Zhao army slowly advanced forward. At the same time, Ma Sheng had already discovered the Zhao army's spies, but he did not take action, but allowed the Zhao army's spies to leave. After all, at this time, even if you kill the Zhao army's spies, you cannot stop the Zhao army from attacking Li Ting, so why bother to do this?

Ma Sheng also knew that the reason why Zheng Tuo stopped five miles away and sent out spies must be worried that he would set up ambush halfway. This is the caution that a qualified general should have. However, Ma Sheng said that he only had 20,000 people, and it was already very difficult to defend the Zhao army for 50,000. Where could there be any extra troops to set up ambush?

However, although there were no ambushing troops, it did not mean that the Qin army had no backup. The Zhao army was powerful, so how could Bai Qi feel at ease to let Ma Sheng and 20,000 elite troops defend Li Ting? As early as when Ma Sheng left Changzi City, Bai Qi told Ma Sheng that if the Zhao army attacked Li Ting at all costs, he would let him fight and retreat and lead the Zhao army to Yangtou Mountain. Bai Qi would lay ambush there and wipe out all the Zhao army. However, this is just a backup plan. Whether it can be used depends on Zheng Tuo's courage.

"General, the Zhao army has arrived!" At this time, the deputy general discovered the Zhao army flag in the distance and said to Ma Sheng.

Ma Sheng looked up and saw that countless Zhao army flags became clearer and clearer. From the analysis of the flag, the number of Zhao soldiers was no less than 50,000. Ma Sheng said with a serious face: "Send the order, prepare bows, arrows, rolling woods, huge stones, etc., and be ready to start the war at any time!"

"Here!" the deputy general responded, then turned around and left to make arrangements.

When Zheng Tuo led his troops outside Li Ting, he saw the Qin army waiting for him and said, "It seems that the Qin army really wants to defend Li Ting to the death. Well, let me consider the strength of the Qin army and pass the order. The army rests on the spot for a quarter of an hour, and then launches an attack on Li Ting after a quarter of an hour!"

In this quarter of an hour, Li Ting was covered with clouds, very quiet, so quiet that even if a fly flew by, he could hear it. The Qin and Zhao armies spent the last quarter of an hour under this strange silence.

A quarter of an hour passed quickly. After a quarter of an hour, the Zhao army launched a fierce attack on Li Ting's Qin army's defense line. The Qin army did not show any weakness and fought back with bows and arrows, rolling woods, huge rocks, etc.

Liting is not a city and does not have the protection of the city wall. Although there is a simple earthen wall built by the Qin army, this cannot stop the Zhao army. Soon, the Zhao army soldiers rushed to the earthen wall built by the Qin army and started a hand-to-hand combat with the Qin army.

The Zhao army's offensive was very fierce, but the Qin army resisted very tenaciously. No one of them could gain an advantage when they were both sides.

As the main generals, Zheng Tuo and Ma Sheng were waiting. Zheng Tuo waited for the Qin army to show their defeat and took down Li Ting in one go, while Ma Sheng was waiting for the Zhao army to kill red-eyed and rushed towards Li Ting regardless of everything, so that he could follow Bai Qi's plan and lead the Zhao army to Yangtou Mountain to surround and kill.

But things went against my wishes. Because of the Qin army's desperate struggle, Zheng Tuo could not see any chance to take down Li Ting, so he ordered Mingjin to withdraw his troops and retreat to ten miles to camp.

After the Zhao army retreated, Ma Sheng breathed a sigh of relief, and at the same time he had regrets, that is, Zheng Tuo was so calm that he retreated immediately when he saw that there was no chance, and he did not give him a chance to surround him and kill him.

In fact, Ma Sheng could pretend to be a soldier and lure the Zhao army to Yangtou Mountain, but Bai Qi's order was to wait until he could not hold on before he could retreat, because Li Ting could never lose it. It would be good if he could successfully lead the Zhao army to Yangtou Mountain. But if the Zhao army stagnates after entering Li Ting, then Li Ting will be gone. Once Li Ting loses, the entire defense line from Yanshi City to Li Ting will collapse instantly. Even if the Qin army fights well on other lines, it will be useless, so Ma Sheng can only hold on.

On the other hand, after seeing Zheng Tuo, who was hopeless to take Li Ting, led his troops to retreat ten miles outside Li Ting, he set up a camp here and sent people to Tunliu City to ask Zhao Xin for instructions on the next move. Without getting Zhao Xin's order, he believed that Zheng Tuo would not launch any offensive against Li Ting.

At this time, after receiving Ma Sheng's message, Bai Qi ordered the general Li Chong to lead 20,000 elite troops to Yangtou Mountain. However, as soon as Li Chong led his troops to Yangtou Mountain, he got the Zhao army attacking Li Ting retreated. In other words, Li Chong was useless to come to Yangtou Mountain. However, despite this, Li Chong did not rashly return to Changtou City, but sent someone back to ask Bai Qi for instructions.
Chapter completed!