Chapter 17: The Three Kingdoms' Response
When Zhao, Wei and Han declared their alliance, the three states had expected that Qin would not give up so easily. Therefore, they strengthened the collection of information from Xianyang.
Sure, here is the translation:
As expected, the enraged Qin state indeed dispatched a large army to conquer the three states. For the three states, the only good news was that the God of War Bai Qi did not take command of this expedition.
There was no way out. At this time, Bai Qi broke the Chu and his prestige greatly shook. For the six nations, Bai Qi plus Qin Guo was basically an unbeatable combination.
Although the commander-in-chief became a little-known Hu Yang, the deputy general was also an unknown Wang Tong, but the huge pressure brought by the 100,000-strong Qin army still made the atmosphere of Zhao, Han and Wei somewhat stifling.
What is the goal of the Qin State's large army? Where will their attack be directed?
No one would naively think that Qin sent out an army of a million just for a day trip in the Central Plains.
The intelligence departments of the three kingdoms began to turn rapidly, and the only thing that can be confirmed is that the Qin army is pointing its sword at Korea this time. As for whether the target is Sangdang or Xinzeng, more detailed intelligence is limited by the strict system of Qin State, and the three kingdoms are also at a loss.
Korea is the first target of Qin State, as a party concerned, it is a national emergency mobilization. Under the command of high-level officials, all scouts in the army were dispatched to the west, striving to grasp the movement of the Qin army at the first time.
As allies, Zhao and Wei could not stand idly by. After an emergency meeting, Zhao hastily dispatched General Lian Po to lead 100,000 troops from Handan to the border of Han overnight. Wei was somewhat embarrassed because its main force had just left the prisoner-of-war camp and was preparing to return home when it received a notification from the country to stay put. Wei sent Jin Bi, a representative of the younger generation in the military, to take over as the commander-in-chief of the Wei army.
With Zhao and Wei as backup, Han had a clear advantage. However, no matter how strong the backing is, if one does not strive hard oneself, victory cannot be won.
After Crown Prince Ye's argument, combined with the great example set by the Battle of Huayang, this time Korea took Paekgang as the main general and Crown Prince Ye as the deputy general, sending an army of 100,000 to guard the Chenggao and Yewang line.
The greatest advantage of this is that whether it is Sangdang or Xinzheng, the main force of the Han army can be reinforced at the first time. According to Taizi Ran's judgment, the probability of Qin army taking Ye Wang directly is relatively large.
The reason is simple, if the wild king loses, Korea will be divided into two. In the original history, Qin Guo adopted this strategy - cutting off Korea's waist, then attacking Sangdang, triggering the Changping War, and laying the last foundation for Qin Guo to unify the world with one battle.
Of course, history has changed, and now it's uncertain whether Qin will continue to follow this path. After all, directly taking Xing Zheng and destroying Han in one battle is not impossible. Although this would come at a relatively high cost for Qin, from Qin's perspective, the cost is completely worth it.
The crown prince had considered the possibility that the Qin army would launch a surprise attack and directly capture Xing Zheng. However, first, Xing Zheng still had 50,000 emergency reinforcements, so even if the Qin army dared to directly attack Xing Zheng, they would have to divide their attention from the 100,000-strong army behind them; second, his own 100,000-strong army could only be fully utilized outside of Xing Zheng.
The two armies of Zhao and Han are, after all, guest armies. If they show any signs of fear or hesitation, the only force Korea can rely on is its own army of 100,000 soldiers. Their performance will largely determine the outcome of this battle.
Eight days later, warm weather.
"General, the Wei army has been attacking the city for two days and nights. Just today, I led a team to drive them off the city wall three times, but our brothers suffered heavy casualties, and now there are less than 800 men who can still fight. If we continue to defend, all of us will die here! Let's break through, General!" The deputy general, disregarding the inconvenience of wearing armor, firmly knelt down in front of Wang Xin.
Wang Xin smiled wryly and said, "Break through the siege? Where can we break through to? There are fully 80,000 Wei troops under the city. Although defending the city is a slim hope, it's still a glimmer of hope. If we really leave the city, not even one of us will be able to escape."
"General!" The deputy general shouted loudly.
"Let's surrender! Continuing to defend is also a dead end, it's better to surrender for now and wait until they relax their vigilance, then we can counterattack."
The vice general's suggestion is not bad at this time, as prisoners of war are an important source of soldiers.
"You're confused!" Wang Xin let out a long sigh.
"If we die in battle, it will only bring calamity upon ourselves. But if we surrender, that would be a great sin for the three clans of Yi. Do you want to bring calamity upon your family?"
"But General..." The deputy general wanted to make some excuses.
"It's settled then. We've made up our minds to fight to the death until the last man standing. As people of Great Qin, we'd rather die on our feet than live on our knees." King Xin commanded firmly.
"Yes!" The deputy general could only respond.
Under the city of Wen, General Jin Fang stood with his hands behind him, gazing at the not-so-distant Wen, with a dense crowd of generals behind him. Everyone was silent, looking at their commander with fear in their hearts.
Since the 4th day before Jin Ping arrived in Xinzheng, the Wei army's life similar to that of a devil began.
They first marched to Wendi, 130 miles away from Xinzheng in two days. Along the way, Jin Bi beheaded two colonels (in charge of one division of 10,000 people) and three military marquises (in charge of one detachment of 5,000 people) who had many complaints about him. On the road, he set an example by greatly increasing the rations for his soldiers, establishing his absolute authority.
Upon arrival at Wendi, after a brief rest, Jin Bing ordered the army to attack Wendi.
Jin Bi divided his entire army into four echelons, each with 20,000 men, and launched a fierce attack on Wendi day and night. Those who did not advance when the drums were beaten would be beheaded, and those who retreated after the gold was sounded would also be beheaded.
According to Sima Yi's words, only victory can wash away the shame of Wei's defeat. If in three days they still cannot take down the small city of Wenzidi, he will personally lead the central army to attack.
This deeply stimulated every Wei general and soldier, as the city of Wendi was small and had limited troops to commit to battle at any one time, with no more than 6,000 soldiers available for each attack, which greatly favored defense.
The desperate resistance of the 3,000-strong Qin army inflicted heavy casualties on the Wei army, but this only stimulated the ferocity of the Wei army. The generous treatment brought by the commander-in-chief made every Wei soldier fearless and launch wave after wave of charges. However, within two days, the Wei army successfully climbed the city wall three times, which showed the efforts of the Wei army.
Taking advantage of the night, the Wei army launched a new round of charge.
Jin Meng watched numbly as his soldiers fell one by one, as if their lives and deaths were of no importance.
To master the Way, one must first govern the heart. When Mount Tai collapses in front of him, his countenance does not change; when a deer is startled on his left, his eyes do not blink. Only then can he control fortune and misfortune, only then can he await the enemy. If the heart retains the compassion of a woman, the sole consequence will be that one incompetent general will cause the death of a thousand soldiers.
When Jin Bi arrived in Xinzheng, he saw a dejected and dispirited army.
At that moment, Jin Bi asked himself, is this still the main force of Wei State?
In Jin Bi's view, the only thing that can awaken the Wei army is what can be obtained on the battlefield. Since they fell on the battlefield, they can only get up from the battlefield. So there are continuous forced marches and inhumane orders. Everything is for finding back the military soul of the Wei army.
Watching the soldiers under his command attack the city, their movements changed from awkward to skilled, and there was also coordination between them. Jin Bi nodded secretly, it seems that the morale can be used. The counterattack of the Qin army on the city wall became more and more sparse, and breaking through Wendi is imminent!
"Come in!"
"The end will be there."
"Order the third battalion to replace the second battalion and continue the attack. Tomorrow, I will reward the three armies in Wendi City!"
"Promise!"
The next day, the sun rose, and sunlight pierced through the thick smoke and shone on the walls of Wen Di City.
The black great banner of the Qin army on the city wall was in a state of disarray, and the two-zhang-wide city head was piled with corpses of soldiers, some from the Qin army, but more from the Wei army.
The corpses had interlocking teeth, some of the corpses still maintained an expression of anger or surprise or great joy before they died. All manners of death are present here. In fact, because there was no time to pick up a weapon, some people chose to bite their opponents to death.
Nothing is more brutal than war.
The Wei army under the city had already eaten breakfast and was now forming a neat formation, preparing to launch another charge. No one spoke loudly, but the silence brought even greater pressure.
The next moment's charge will have some people die and some people live.
No one knows what choice fate will make. Qin and Wei armies can only bravely face this unknown fate.
The walls of Weinan City no longer saw a single living Qin army figure, but every Wei soldier knew that as soon as they climbed onto the city head, the Qin army would emerge from all corners. They will grit their teeth and rush up, even if the Qin army is broken-armed and legged, they will use their last strength to hold a Wei soldier and fall from the city head.
Such an enemy is really terrible, and the best way to deal with such an opponent is to eliminate them.
However, Wei's army was wrong this time.
The remaining Qin army had less than a hundred men, and the main general Wang Xin knew that no matter what he could not withstand the next charge of the Wei army. Rather than dying in a humble manner, it was better to die gloriously.
Taking advantage of the Wei army's breakfast break, he gathered the last 93 surviving Qin soldiers from the four city gates. Everyone was covered in wounds, including Wang Xin himself.
The foot-long wound on his chest was given by a brave Wei army lieutenant, and of course the lieutenant didn't end up well either, with his head full of surprise not far from the city gate.
"Brothers, today we will die here in battle. Are you afraid?"
"I'm not afraid!" replied Wang Xin in a hoarse but firm voice of the Qin army.
"Good, you're indeed a fine young man of our Great Qin. I haven't misjudged you. Now let those people from Wei see that not one of us old Qin folks is a coward who fears death. I've decided to launch a charge against the Wei army - are you willing to follow me into battle?"
"But General will take charge."
"Good brothers! With you all, Wang Xin's life is worth it. All generals and soldiers listen to orders, target - Wei army commander's tent, set off!"
"Promise!"
Just as the Wei army was about to beat the drums and attack the city, the west gate of Wen City slowly opened.
"With the opening of the city gate, the surrounding area resounded with 'Brave old Qin, together we face national crisis. Blood will not dry up, death will not stop fighting. In the west there is great Qin, like the rising sun. A hundred years of national hatred, difficult to calm the sea. The world is in turmoil, how can there be peace? Qin has brave warriors, who dares to contend for hegemony!"
All of Wei's army looked at the Qin army leaving the city, and was shocked for a moment.
The Qin army supported each other, walking steadily towards the Wei army. Their footsteps were already unstable, but they still took one step at a time, singing "Is it said that we have no clothes? We share the same cloak with you. The king is about to launch an expedition, and I will repair my spear and halberd. Let's share the same enemy! Is it said that we have no clothes? We share the same prosperity with you. The king is about to launch an expedition, and I will repair my halberd and armor. Let's work together! Is it said that we have no clothes? We share the same skirt with you. The king is about to launch an expedition, and I will repair my armor and weapons. Let's march together!"
Jin Ping gazed at the increasingly approaching Qin army, sighed, and finally waved his hand to order the archers to shoot. With the fall of the last Qin soldier, the Battle of Wendi finally came to an end.
In this battle, the Wei army captured Wendi City, which originally belonged to Wei State, after a two-day siege without distinction between day and night. In this campaign, all 3,000 Qin soldiers were killed, while the Wei army suffered 6,000 deaths and 3,000 injuries.
Although the Wei army suffered heavy casualties, this battle dispelled the great pain brought by the Battle of Huayang, and the morale of the Wei army was greatly boosted.
This was one of the few major victories for Wei against Qin in recent years, and King Wei was overjoyed. He sent an envoy to grandly reward the three armies. The Wei army gained a bit more confidence as they faced their upcoming great battle.
The next day, the Qin army, which had marched 900 miles, arrived late. Given that the defenses of Ye City were very strong, Hu Yang ordered the Qin army to retreat 20 miles and set up camp.
The wild king is at war, and it's about to erupt.
