Chapter 617: Going to fight elsewhere?

In the fourth year of Tiantong, late at night on May 14, Ying Huai, the chief general of the Qin army of Hulao Pass, led 30,000 main elite troops to evacuate Hulao Pass and retreated to Hangu Pass, leaving behind the general Chen Guang and 5,000 elite troops to cut off the rear. On the 16th, the Deng army saw through the Qin army's tricks and launched a general attack on Hulao Pass. After a hard fight, he took down Hulao Pass, an important central city in the Central Plains. The chief general of the Qin army, Chen Guang, died in a fierce battle.

After entering Hulao Pass, Deng's general Xue Rengui ordered the commander of the Shenwu Guard, Murong Chui, to lead his troops to capture Luoyang City.

In the fourth year of Tiantong, on May 18, the Deng army captured Luoyang City. On May 22, Xue Rengui led the main force of the Deng army to Luoyang City.

The news of Deng's army conquering Luoyang City spread throughout the country and south of the river. The civil and military officials of Zhao, who were in Jinyang City, were shocked when they heard the news and hurried into the palace to meet the empress dowagers of the two palaces.

"The Empress Dowager, the Deng army has already broken through Luoyang City, the Qin army retreated to Hulao Pass, and our southern border of Zhao has already bordered the Deng State. If the Deng army is blocked from attacking Hangu Pass, it is inevitable that we will not lead our troops north to cross the Yellow River and attack our great Zhao territory. Now most of our southern border of Zhao is gathered in the East County, the plain area, and the western front is empty. Once the Deng army goes north, there are almost no troops in Shangdang County, Hanoi County, and Shangdang County can stop the Deng State from going north. Please let the Empress Dowager make it clear!" In the side hall of Chengqian Hall, Zhao Prime Minister Zhuang Ping bowed and said to the Empress Dowager Song.

In the past, Zhao State fought alone in Deng and Qin as a powerful country, so more than half of the elite troops in the country were concentrated in the southern counties. Since the Central Plains was defeated and forced to choose to form an alliance with Qin State. In order to show sincerity, Zhao State took the initiative to retreat from the troops in Hanoi County and Shangdang County to the north, and some went to the northern border to guard against the Hu people outside the border, and some went to the East County, Pingyuan County, and Hanoi County and Shangdang County to have very few troops. In addition, before Deng and Qin started the war, in order to reinforce Qin State at any time, Zhao State ordered General Li Rubing to assemble 100,000 elite troops on the eastern front of Hanoi County. Most of these 100,000 elite troops came from Hanoi County, Shangdang County, and some from Wei County. Therefore, the western front of Hanoi County is almost useless. If Deng's army really went north, it would be really like entering a no-man's land.

"I don't know what you think, Da Zhao, should I deal with it?" Although Song's power in Zhao State was only a woman after all, she had never experienced such a thing before. When it came to face it suddenly, she was inevitably a little panicked. Now she had to rescue the ministers present.

"The Empress Dowager needs to panic!" At this time, Situ Lin Qingfeng, who was used to the big scene, stepped out and said: "Now the three-way army of Deng's army has attacked Guanzhong and captured Henan County. Under such a good situation, Deng will never give up attacking Qin, so the chance of Deng's congress going north to attack our Da Zhao is very low."

When everyone heard this, they nodded repeatedly. Deng's attack on Qin, after several major wars, almost suppressing Qin. It can be said that the situation is very good. No matter from any aspect, Deng's country is unlikely to give up such a good situation and instead attack Zhao.

"Of course!" Lin Qingfeng continued: "Deng's army has millions of elite soldiers. Even if we go north to attack my Da Zhao, we still have this ability, so we cannot be unprepared!"

"Then what should Lin Situ thinks the Ai family do?" Song asked.

Lin Qingfeng said: "The Empress Dowager, now Henan County has fallen into the hands of Deng's army. It is meaningless for the general to continue to attack Xingyang City. Therefore, I suggest that the general be sent to the general and order him to lead the army westward to Wen County to guard against the main force of Deng's army in Luoyang City. In addition, tens of thousands of elite troops were drawn from Taiyuan County, Xihe County and other places to head south to Tianjing Pass to prevent Deng's army from going north, and from Hebei counties to the Yellow River to deploy defenses."

Although Zhao State lost hundreds of thousands of elite troops in the Battle of the Central Plains, there were still 500,000 or 600,000 troops in China. In addition to the 200,000 elite troops stationed in the northern border, the number of troops that could be mobilized was more than 300,000. Li Rubing took away 100,000 people, 100,000 elite troops stationed in Pingyuan County, and 100,000 elite troops stationed in the East County. Now there are still 70,000 to 80,000 troops that can be mobilized in China. Zhao Kuo took 30,000 to Chang'an. If Zhao State wants to stabilize the defense line in the southern border, it must send all the remaining troops to the border.

"Lin Situ, in this case, wouldn't it be necessary to send all the troops in the country south? Even the capital Jinyang City is almost empty. If something happens in the country, you may be caught off guard?" Zhuang Ping frowned and said, "If according to what Lin Qingfeng said, Zhao State had almost no troops in the middle except for the surrounding borders, and once something happens in the hinterland, Zhao State would not have any troops to suppress it.

"Zhuang Xiang is too worried!" Lin Qingfeng shook his head and said, "My Great Zhao has been managing Hebei for many years. Although I dare not say that the world is in the heart of the world, it is also solid. Now, my Great Zhao only has external troubles and no internal troubles. Even if there is no soldier or soldier in the hinterland, I can still deal with it by relying on the county soldiers from all over the country. Besides, there are more than 10,000 imperial guards in Jinyang City. With these troops, it is enough!"

Song was still very hesitant. Although Lin Qingfeng said it very well, she still dared not take risks.

At this time, Sikong Zuosheng, as an ally of Lin Qingfeng, hurriedly stepped out and said, "Empress Dowager, although there are no soldiers in the country, my Great Zhao still has 200,000 elite troops in the northern border. These are the elite troops of my Great Zhao. The Hu people outside the Great Zhao were severely injured by General Zhao Xin and were seriously injured. Although they have recovered some strength after so many years, they still cannot truly threaten the border of my Great Zhao. If necessary, my Great Zhao can still draw 100,000 troops from the northern border to move south. With these 100,000 elite troops in the country, the country should be safe and sound!"

"What do you think?" Song asked everyone for their opinions.

After repeated weighing the pros and cons, all felt that Lin Qingfeng and Zuo Sheng were very reasonable. The biggest threat to Zhao State was Deng State. There was only the Hu people outside the Great Wall. Not to mention how much their strength had recovered over the years. But there is one thing that is certain that even if there are only 100,000 troops left in the northern border and guarding the city gate, the Hu people could not cross the border south. In this way, it would not be feasible to send domestic troops to the south.

So everyone made an appointment!

Seeing that everyone had no objection, the Song family made a decision and ordered the troops of the Hanoi counties to go south quickly. They drew 20,000 elite troops from Taiyuan County and Xihe County to go south to Tianjing Pass for defense, with 20,000 elite troops. Even if all the main troops of Deng's army in Luoyang City went north, they could withstand some days until reinforcements went south. In addition, the Song family was still very worried. After soliciting the opinions of their ministers, they decided to draw 50,000 elite troops from the northern border to go south.

At the same time, the news of Xue Rengui's army entering Luoyang City also reached Deng Sheng in Wancheng. After receiving the news, Deng Sheng was overjoyed. He did not expect that the war would go so smoothly. According to the original plan, although Deng Sheng was very confident that he could destroy Qin in one fell swoop, the natural danger in Guanzhong has always been the biggest obstacle to Deng's army's advance. Deng Sheng felt that no matter how smooth it was, it would take more than a year to attack Guanzhong. However, he did not expect that it had only been two months since the Deng army's western army attacked Guanzhong, approaching the Qin capital Chang'an, and the eastern army captured Hulao Pass and captured Henan County.

After receiving the news, Deng Sheng immediately ordered the Secretary of the Central Committee Cui Hao and Zhang Bin to be summoned to Ganyang Palace. Among the three princes of Deng State, Deng Sheng trusted the most were Cui Hao and Zhang Bin. Although the new Secretary of the Shangshu Ling Hu Weiyong was also very loyal and capable, somehow, Deng Sheng didn't like Hu Weiyong very much. Perhaps it was because Hu Weiyong's reputation in history was not very good. Although these evaluations may be watery, since Hu Weiyong became Shangshu Ling, he was suspected of being nepotist and abusing power. However, for now, Hu Weiyong did not do too much, so Deng Sheng had to turn a blind eye. However, Deng Sheng only asked Hu Weiyong to handle government affairs, but did not let Hu Weiyong intervene at all.

"Your Majesty, although the war is going very smoothly now, I think it's better not to be so optimistic!" Although Deng's army was so powerful that Cui Hao was very happy, but if he wanted to successfully destroy Qin, Cui Hao was not so optimistic.

"Oh? I wonder what Cui Qing thinks?" Although Deng Sheng was a little displeased with Cui Hao's cold water, Deng Sheng was not a person who couldn't listen. Besides, he also wanted to hear Cui Hao's opinions.

"Your Majesty, now the three armies, General Li Siye of the West has already attacked Guanzhong, but the army of the West is still blocked by Wugong County. Besides, even if General Li Siye can conquer Wugong County, it is still very difficult to conquer Chang'an with the current strength of the West Army, let alone the Zhao army has entered Chang'an City. As for the southern army, it has not been able to advance until now because it was blocked by Bai Qi. Of course, the southern army is not useless. At least General Murong Ke is at least effective. The army successfully restrained 100,000 elite Qin army and the famous Qin general Bai Qi. As for General Xue Rengui on the east route, although he captured Henan County, Hangu Pass was more difficult to fight than Hulao Pass. In fact, if the Qin army had not voluntarily evacuated Hulao Pass, even if General Xue Rengui was given two months, he would not have been able to conquer Hulao Pass, let alone Hangu Pass close to the hinterland of Guanzhong. After all, this time the Qin army would not have retreated voluntarily." Cui Hao analyzed the situation faced by various armies one by one.

Deng Sheng was sweating coldly when he heard this. It was because he was too naive. Deng Sheng was so progressing that Deng Sheng had the illusion that the Qin army was vulnerable. However, he did not know that the situation faced by the Deng army was still relatively bad. Let’s not talk about the East and South armies, just talk about the West armies. The 100,000 troops led by Li Siye are now only 70,000 to 80,000 people left, and they are alone in the deep. It is very difficult in terms of logistics supply. Now the war is going smoothly and there will be no problem. If the Western armies are defeated, it is easy to suffer a major defeat. If you are not careful, it is not impossible for the Western armies to fall in Guanzhong.

"Then Cui Qing thought our army would break the deadlock?" Deng Sheng asked Cui Hao.

Cui Hao thought for a while and said, "Your Majesty, as far as the current situation is concerned, our army can only continue to fight one by one, and there is no good way. However, I have different opinions on the Western Army."

"What do Cui Qing thinks is better?" Deng Sheng asked.

Cui Hao said: "General Li Siye's western army has only 70,000 to 80,000 people left. Even if he reaches the city of Chang'an, the chance of taking Chang'an is very low. Moreover, Chang'an is located in the hinterland of Guanzhong and is far from Hanzhong, so the logistics supply of our army is even more difficult. Therefore, I think that the western army should give up attacking Chang'an and find another place!"

"Looking for another place? Where?" Deng Sheng asked in confusion.

"Your Majesty, in addition to Lantiangu and Hangu Pass, there are tens of thousands of elite troops in Xiliang. Once Chang'an City is besieged by our army, these soldiers will definitely enter the pass to rescue Chang'an. Instead of fighting with it in Chang'an, our army should take the initiative to attack directly, take Xiliang, and eliminate the last elite troops of Qin!" Cui Hao said.

"Xiliang?" Deng Sheng was a little dazed. In the later Chinese history, the counties of Xiliang were under the control of the Central Plains dynasty for most of the time. However, in this era, Xiliang was an unknown land for the people of the Central Plains. Although the powerful Qin unified the six kingdoms, Xiliang did not open up Xiliang. The current Xiliang was opened up by the Qin state.

When the Chu king Xiang Yu slaughtered the Qin royal family, the descendants of Qin fled to the current Xiliang and other places. At that time, Xiliang was still deserted and was developed step by step by step by step by step. They successively established the eight counties of Jiuquan County, Zhangye County, Wuwei County, Tianshui County, Longxi County, Anding County, Jincheng County, and Dunhuang County. The capital of Qin State in Xiliang is Guzang City, which is located in Wuwei County. It can be said that for the Central Plains, Xiliang is a mysterious virgin land.

In Xiliang, in addition to the Qin people who fled in war and chaos, there were also a large number of Qiang people. After the establishment of Xiliang, Qin State, in addition to fighting with the Han countries entrenched in Guanzhong, spent most of its time suppressing the Qiang people. Although more than two hundred years have passed, some Qiang people have also accepted the fact that Qin State ruled, but a large number of Qiang people still acted independently and rebelled sometimes, which made Qin very distressed. Therefore, although Qin later destroyed the Han State and regained Guanzhong, there were still 100,000 elite troops stationed in the counties of Xiliang to suppress the turmoil of the Qiang people.
Chapter completed!