Chapter 577: The first sign of victory or defeat

On May 16, Yang Yanzhao led his army to defeat the Zhao army Kou Fei and Zhang Jie's troops at Zushui. He wiped out tens of thousands of Zhao army, killed Zhao army generals Kou Fei, Zhang Jie, Ye Lun, Shi Shideng and others, and won a great victory. At this point, all the main forces of the Zhao army on the eastern front of the Central Plains were wiped out by the Deng army.

After winning, Yang Yanzhao quickly marched into Liangcheng and captured Liangcheng in one fell swoop. Siwu and took over most of Xiapi County, and divided his troops to capture Pengcheng County and Donghai County, intending to capture the entire former Chu area in one fell swoop.

On May 21, in the 28th year of Qianyuan, in Chenliu County, Shizuocheng, Deng’s camp, and the central army tent, Yue Fei and others were happy for the great victory on the Eastern Front. After all, this battle basically laid the foundation for the entire Central Plains. The Zhao army lost tens of thousands of troops on the Eastern Front. In addition, the troops lost in the Battle of Pei County, the Zhao army lost more than 200,000 troops in just half a year. Even the Zhao State, which has a great family and a great country, could not bear this loss. The Zhao army went south this time, with a total of 550,000 elite troops. In addition, the tens of thousands of elite troops dispatched from the country later to raid Liang County, there were a total of 600,000 elite troops, and the losses are now more than one-third.

More importantly, although the Zhao army now has more than 300,000 troops, most of the important land in the Central Plains have been lost. Facing the Deng army with the advantage of military strength, there are only 300,000 troops, but they can do anything. Now there are only three ways to go before Li Rubing. First, continue to fight with Deng army in the Central Plains. However, Li Rubing has certainly not enough troops and forces. If you want to continue to fight, you have to increase troops. However, the problem is that the number of troops in Zhao State can be sent no more than 200,000 troops in Zhao State. In addition to guarding the country, these troops are more important to be in charge of the northern border and resisting the Hu people outside the border. Zhao State has stationed about 200,000 troops in the northern border all year round, and these troops will not be easily mobilized.

Second, relying on the troops in his hands, they gathered together to fight the Deng army to fight together. However, the Zhao army has suffered several major defeats, and its morale is very low, and its military strength is no longer advantageous, so its chances of victory are very low.

The third is to admit defeat, the entire army withdrew from the Central Plains, handed over the entire Central Plains to Deng's army, retreated to Hebei, and preserved their strength.

However, no matter how Li Rubing chooses, Yue Fei is not afraid. On the first path, Li Rubing will not choose, nor does he have the courage to choose. Not only does Li Rubing have no courage, but even the king and ministers of Zhao in Jinyang City do not have the courage to transfer the troops from the northern border to the Central Plains. I am afraid that there will be no result between him and the Deng army, and the Hu people in the northern border will attack Jinyang City.

The second road was also what Yue Fei was happy to see. If he could defeat the current 300,000 Zhao troops in the Central Plains in one fell swoop, it would take less than two years to Yue Fei would have the confidence to attack Jinyang City and destroy Zhao State in one fell swoop. As for the third road, it was the most ideal result. Deng State, which occupied the Central Plains, had already crushed Qin and Zhao Zhihe in terms of strength. As long as he fought steadily, it would only be a matter of time before the world could be unified.

"General, now the Eastern Front is a great victory. The last general thought that our army should take advantage of the victory and pursue it. Let the General of the Cavalry lead his army westward to Liang County, join forces with Longwu Guards and Longxiang Guards to wipe out the 100,000 Zhao troops in Liang County, and finally encircle Li Rubing's main army to end the battle in one fell swoop." When everyone was happy, Ma Chao took the opportunity to propose that Yang Yanzhao's army go westward to Liang County, first eliminate the Tu Gao army in Liang County, and finally encircle Li Rubing's army with the main army.

Ma Chao's proposal was recognized by many generals. Now the entire Zhao army on the Eastern Front was wiped out, and only 100,000 Zhao troops in Liang County were left east of Chenliu. As long as these troops were wiped out, only Li Rubing from Dong County would remain in the entire Central Plains. If all the Zhao army that went south to the Central Plains could be wiped out this time, Zhao would never have a chance to turn around.

However, if there are those who agree, there are those who oppose it. Murong Chui said: "Otherwise, the Zhao army on the eastern front is destroyed, and the troops of Li Rubing and Tu Gao are all restrained by our army and cannot move. We should let the General of the Cavalry go to sweep the old land of Qi and Chu, and force Li Rubing to retreat to Hebei. After all, Li Rubing still has 200,000 elite troops in his hands, and Li Rubing is also a famous general in the world. Once he is defeated, even if he can win, the casualties of our army will be immeasurable."

Both sides said one thing and one word, and no one could convince anyone. At this time, Yue Fei asked the military advisor of the Shenwu Guard, Lu Meng, "Military Lu, I wonder what you think?"

Lu Meng thought for a while and said, "General, my subordinates thought that our army should not be thinking about how to advance now, but rather considering that Qin State in the west may intervene in the Central Plains at any time, and even our army may have to deal with Qin and Zhao's joint efforts."

"Qin State? Are the military advisors a little worried? Since the war between our army and the Zhao army, the Qin army has been holding its troops and there is no sign of heavy troops on the border. I think Qin State is thinking of sitting in the mountains to watch the tiger fight. Moreover, since the Battle of Changpingting of Qin and Zhao, the elite Qin State suffered heavy losses and could not be relieved in several years. How could he send troops to the Central Plains at this time?" Seeing that Lu Meng suddenly talked about Qin State in the west and believed that Qin State could intervene in the Battle of Central Plains at any time, Murong Chui asked in confusion.

Not only Murong Chui believed that the statement of Lu Meng was untenable, but even Ma Chao and others found it incredible. Even if Qin State was willing to intervene, it would have to have this strength. The three defeats in Jianshan, Hanzhong and Changpingting made all the elites in Qin State lose. To put it bluntly, it is still a question whether Qin State can pull up a 100,000 army. How can it have the strength to intervene in the Battle of the Central Plains?

Lu Meng explained: "How is it impossible? Although Qin State was defeated in Jianshan, Hanzhong, Changpingting, and lost hundreds of thousands of elite troops, don't forget that Qin State still has nearly tens of thousands of tiger and wolf troops in Xiliang. In recent years, the Qiang people in Xiliang have basically been suppressed by the Qin army. Qin State can transfer these tens of thousands of elite troops to the Central Plains at any time. These soldiers and horses are stronger than the Qin army in Guanzhong. In addition, Qin State has a famous general Bai Qi. Although Bai Qi is idle now, if Qin State wants to march into the Central Plains, Qin Emperor will definitely re-activate Bai Qi. With Bai Qi and 100,000 elite troops, how can't we enter the Central Plains?"

"Besides, if our army is still hard to distinguish between the Zhao army and the Zhao army, perhaps Qin will continue to hold its troops. However, now the defeat of the Zhao army is determined. Once the Zhao army completely fails, then I, Deng, can take the Central Plains all. As long as I work hard for several years to govern, my strength is stronger than that of the Qin and Zhao army. Qin will definitely not want to see this result. Therefore, the possibility of Qin intervening in the Battle of the Central Plains is very high." Lu Meng continued.

No one present was foolish. He was just blinded by temporary victory. Now, after Lu Meng said this, he suddenly realized that Zhao State can no longer stop Deng State. It is only a matter of time before Qin State enters, and it is very likely that Zhao State will take the initiative to invite Qin State to join the game and combine the two countries to compete with Deng State.

Yue Fei carefully analyzed Lu Meng's words and found it very reasonable. Then what he had to face next was not just Li Rubing, but also Bai Qi. These two were famous generals recognized by the world as second only to him. If the two joined forces, they might even have to capsize in the ditch. Besides, once the Qin army entered the game, the matter would not be controlled by him. Therefore, Yue Fei felt it was necessary to send someone to Wancheng to ask Deng Sheng for instructions.

Yue Fei thought for a while and said, "The command of Yang Yanzhao to continue to lead his army to sweep the old land of Qi and Chu, and take as many places as possible. The rest of the troops remained unmoved. He also quickly sent people back to Wancheng to meet Your Majesty, inform Your Majesty of the possibility of Qin army entering the game, and ask Your Majesty to decide."

"Here!" everyone responded. Now things are out of control. Deng's last goal of going north this time was to take over the entire Central Plains. If the Qin army really entered the game, it would only increase the variables and even stop there. Therefore, if Qin army did join forces, Wancheng must provide greater support. When necessary, the Tianning Guard stationed in Wuguan and the Tianwu Guard stationed in Hanzhong must be moved. If such a large-scale military mobilization is carried out, Deng Sheng's permission must be allowed.

While Yue Fei and others made arrangements for the Qin army that was about to enter the game, the generals of the Zhao army in Puyang City also quarreled endlessly. The impact of the defeat on the Eastern Front was too great. Originally, by raiding Liang County, severely attacking Deng Guolongwu Guards, the Zhao army slightly recovered a little bit of decline. However, now the defeat on the Eastern Front has put the entire Central Plains situation on the brink of collapse. The next step is to fight or retreat, and we have to come up with an idea.

"General, now the Eastern Front is defeated, Kou Fei and Zhang Jie and other generals died for their country. Yang Yanzhao's army is sweeping the old land of Qi and Chu. With the current strength of our army, it is too difficult to protect the Central Plains. The last general thinks that the strength should be preserved at this time. The entire army should withdraw to Hebei to make plans for the future." said Wei Liang, general of Zhao's army.

Wei Liang's proposal was approved by many generals. Since the war started, the Zhao army has not achieved any praiseworthy results. Even the Battle of Liang County was able to succeed through surprise attacks. When Deng's army reacted, Tu Gao's army could no longer advance a step, and now it can only retreat to Meng County. After a two-year battle, the Zhao army's generals' high fighting spirit before the war had long since retreated, so many people felt that the Battle of the Central Plains could not be fought anymore. In order to avoid greater losses, they should retreat to Hebei as soon as possible and take the future plan.

"No, you can't retreat!" But Li Rubing firmly disagreed with withdrawing the troops.

"But General, now our army is at a disadvantage. If we continue to fight, we will only increase casualties. Please think twice." Zhao Army General Tang Hong persuaded.

"Oh..." Li Rubing sighed and said, "I know what you think. You are also thinking about the Great Zhao, but have you ever thought that if we give up the Central Plains, the entire Central Plains will fall into the hands of Deng, and only the Great Zhao in Hebei will be left. Not to mention continuing to compete with Deng, even restoring strength is a problem. Deng, who has obtained the Central Plains, will definitely increase its strength within a few years. With one increase and the other decrease, how can you let the Great Zhao compete with Deng in the future? Therefore, the Central Plains must not be lost."

"But if we don't retreat, how can we fight against the Deng army? Nowadays, all the troops in China need to suppress the Hu people in the northern border, and it is impossible to transfer to the Central Plains. It is too difficult to compete with the Deng army with our current strength alone." Wei Liang said with a bitter face. They also understood what it means to give up the Central Plains. But if they don't do this, the troops left in the Central Plains will probably be completely lost. Without these 300,000 troops, Zhao really has no hope.

Li Rubing said: "Actually, I have sent someone back to Jinyang to meet His Majesty. I hope His Majesty can send an envoy to Chang'an to meet the Qin Emperor, and ask Qin to send troops to the Central Plains to fight against the Deng army with our army."

"What!" Hearing this, everyone was surprised and persuaded: "General, no. Qin's wolf ambitions, the reason why I, Da Zhao, fell into such a field is unrelated to Qin. If Qin is invited to enter the Central Plains, it may lead the wolf into the house."

If Qin and Deng hadn't joined forces to fight the Northern Expedition back then, how could Zhao's hegemony decline? Now that they want to form an alliance with Qin, these generals really can't accept it.

"How can we not know what Qin is thinking? But now Deng is in a big situation. If we want to turn the situation around, it is certain to ask Qin to join the game. But there is no need to worry too much. Now that Qin's strength is weak, it will not become a threat to Zhao in the short term. On the contrary, facing such a powerful Deng State, Qin will become the biggest support to Zhao." Li Rubing said.
Chapter completed!