Chapter 20: The Great Swamp of Zhao Yang (Please recommend and collect)

  I have to go out and handle some business when it gets light, so I'll update ahead of time. The second update will be sent out tonight.

  ——————————————————

  A small matter... or even not worth mentioning. From start to finish, it was just a conversation between a few people, and even the attendants did not hear what Liu Bang and Liu Quan said to each other. Liu Bang naturally wouldn't say, and Liu Quan didn't tell anyone either.

  But the consequences of this matter are obvious.

  At least from Fan Kuai and Ren Ao's attitude towards Liu Quan, it can be seen that the two men's hostility towards Liu Quan has decreased a lot compared to before.

  Did Liu Bang really participate in this action in history?

  Liu Gong didn't know how he knew. However, he could feel that after this incident, Liu Bang's gaze towards him had become somewhat different.

  On the fourth day of leaving Pei County, the grain team went through a trek and arrived at a place called Zhao Yang Daze.

  The so-called Daze is actually a swamp. After passing through the swamp, it is Hulu Ridge. There is a temporary military post where you can take a short rest and replenish your supplies. After passing Hulu Ridge, you are considered to have entered Xue Prefecture. From this point on, the road will be flat and you can go straight to Pingyang. Liu Kan knew that if the bandits made their move, eight or nine times out of ten it would be at Zhao Yang Daze.

  Logically speaking, before entering the vast expanse of Zhao Yang, one should take a break and rest for a while.

  However, Zhao Tuo did not do so, but instead rode on horseback, urging the grain team to march overnight, preparing to pass through here under the cover of night.

  Zhaotuo's reason was also very sufficient: "We have already delayed a day's journey, and we must speed up our progress. Moreover, there is no place to rest outside the Great Swamp of Zhao Yang, so it's better to cross the Great Swamp of Zhao Yang overnight and rest in Huling after dawn."

  There are houses and campsites, all of which are better than being bitten by mosquitoes in the wilderness.

  "After resting for half a day at Huling, we still have to continue on our journey. The one day's delay must be made up within the next five days."

  After several days of marching, several small factions had formed within the grain team.

  One faction, led by Liu Bang, had the most people; around Liu Jiao and others, a group of people also gathered. In addition to this, there was another group of powerful young men from Pei County in Chu, led by Yong Chi, who formed a small faction, with Liu Bang and Liu Jiao standing together as three legs of a tripod.

  Yong's ancestral home was originally in the capital of Chu State, Ying (ying, three tones), and his ancestors had served under Huang Xie, one of the four great nobles of the Warring States period. They could be considered a prominent family in Yingdu. As for later on, after Spring Shen Jun died at the hands of Li Yuan, the Yong clan fled to avoid Li Yuan's pursuit and escaped to this remote Pei County, becoming a local powerful family.

  In Pei County, people like Yun Ru who have such a background are not few, and they still carry a kind of aristocratic pride in their bones.

  So, these people naturally could not listen to Liu Bang's dispatch, let alone Liu Quan, who had no roots in Pei County. A group of strong sons, naturally formed a small team, wandering outside the two groups of Liu Bang and Liu Quan.

  Zhao Tuo was obviously very clear about this situation.

  It is clearer that among the three teams, Liu Quan's team is undoubtedly at a disadvantage. It is unknown whether it is out of consideration for balancing the power of all parties or other intentions, but Zhao Tuo has been taking care of Liu Quan and others intentionally or unintentionally, and his attitude towards Liu Quan is also more gentle than that towards others. Whether Liu Quan has any foundation or not, this grain team is the grain team of the Qin army, and no one can ignore this point.

  Some people who are used to following the wind have unknowingly attached themselves to Liu Jian and others.

  Although there were not many people, less than a hundred. But with Zhao Tuo secretly supporting from behind, they naturally had the capital to rival Liu Bang and Xiang Yu.

  Zhao Tuo wanted to cross the Zhao Yang marsh overnight, and Liu Gan naturally would not object.

  At the same time, Liu Quan became even more certain that Ren Yao's chosen battlefield was probably within this very Zhāoyáng Great Marsh.

  The terrain of Zhaoyang Daze is complex, with dense hills and muddy roads, and there are also hidden rivers. It must be that Ren Yao wants to lure the enemy into this place and then annihilate them. Although it can be said that the terrain of Zhaoyang Daze will have an impact on the Qin army, the same influence also exists for the enemy. As long as the enemy launches a counterattack, relying on the combat power of the Qin army is enough to wipe out the opponent and gain victory.

  As for the fate of these people, including Zhao Tuo, I'm afraid only God knows...

  What a vicious trick to lure the snake out of its hole!

  "General, traveling at night through the vast marshes requires great caution." Liu Gan suggested to Zhao Tuo: "Why not divide the troops into three units? The vanguard of 100 men advances 300 steps first to scout out the road, the rear guard of 100 men follows slowly 300 steps behind to keep watch, and the central unit escorts the grain and fodder in a tight formation as they march. This would be the best plan."

  To a certain extent, Liu Jian is now one of Zhao Tuo's confidants and can naturally speak up.

  As for Zhao Tuo, on the one hand, it was because of Ren Shou's entrustment, and on the other hand, it was also because he suspected that Liu Jian's ancestors were old Qin people, so he also added a few points of closeness. However, after listening to Liu Jian say this, he couldn't help but use a brand new gaze to measure him up and down.

  Brother Ren values you highly, and indeed you have some skills!

  I originally thought he was a roughneck, but unexpectedly, he still uses his brain. If properly cultivated, he will surely be one of my great generals in the future.

  In his heart, Zhao Tuo looked up to Liu Gan a few more points.

  "What do you think, how should it be distributed?"

  Liu Bang said, "The central army guard needs to have a brave warrior in charge, and it is most suitable for the general to lead the army. Liu Bang, from Zhongyangli, has high prestige among the guards and can assist the general in protecting the grain; Fan Kuai, from Pei, is brave and daring, and can serve as the rear guard, responding to the central army."

  Zhao Tuo's eyes lit up again, and he nodded slightly, indicating that Liu Kan should continue speaking.

  The relationship between Liu Bang and Fan Kuai, Zhao Tuo naturally understood. Letting Liu Bang stay in the central army, while letting Fan Kuai serve as the rear guard, the subtlety of this arrangement was profound. If they encountered danger and the central army was attacked, Fan Kuai, as the rear guard, would certainly fight to the death. Because Fan Kuai's elder brother was in the central army, this meant that Fan Kuai would not flee alone, which was a great advantage for the central army.

  Zhao Tuo was a bit certain: this Liu Kan must be a member of the Liu clan from Qin State.

  If he was really just an ordinary wandering swordsman, how could he have made such a distribution? Hmm, there's no mistake, this guy must be an old Qin person!

  "Who can be in charge of the vanguard?"

  Liu Jian stepped forward and said: "I am willing to be the vanguard for the general, to explore the path. If we encounter an enemy ambush, I can also lead my troops back to rescue and attack the enemy from both sides."

  Zhao Tuo narrowed his eyes, "Enemy raid, enemy raid...... Liu Kan, you've mentioned enemy raids several times, could it be that there really will be an enemy attack?"

  Liu Kan smiled but did not answer Zhao Tuo's question.

  Zhaotuo did not ask further and immediately ordered Liu Jian to lead a hundred men as the vanguard, temporarily taking over the duties of the chief officer, to scout ahead.

  Logically, Liu Jian, a man with no military achievements, should not have been appointed as the deputy commander. However, the troops assigned to Liu Jian by Zhao Tuo were all dependent on Liu Jian's more soldiers. Those who had already understood Liu Jian's bravery naturally also knew that Zhao Tuo was bound to promote Liu Jian.

  At this time, who dares to speak out against it?

  "Ah Jian, will there really be an enemy raid?"

  Liu Kan led his troops out, Cao Wu Shang followed closely behind him, unable to help but clench the iron sword in his hand, and asked in a low voice.

  Before Liu Gan could speak, Shen Shi couldn't help but say: "Idiot, can't you see it yet? What escorting grain and grass, all nonsense. This time we're probably going to be used as bait to lure the enemy out, and then finish them off in one net!"

  Liu Quan was startled and turned his head to look at Shen Shi, "You..."

  "Don't look at me, it's Cold Face and Mute who guessed it. But I didn't do nothing either, today during the march, I accidentally poked a hole in the grain bag with my spear... Ah Qiang, you're not being very considerate, such a big thing, and you didn't even tell us about it."

  Liu Jian did not think that there were actually quite a few sensible people in this group.

  She couldn't help but look at Tang Lie and Zhou Chang again, seeing that the two of them just nodded slightly, without revealing any dissatisfaction.

  Cold face is Zhou Chang; dumb pumpkin is Tang Li.

  This is also a nickname given by the food critic to the two of them, and now it seems that it's really fitting.

  "You... aren't blaming me?"

  Shen Shi smiled and said, "At first, I was a bit angry, but then I thought about it again. You did this because you had no other choice. If we had really known at the time, we would have definitely retreated. In that case, we would have implicated our families, which is not what a real man should do. Ah Qian, we believe in you. I can see that Iron Eagle Sharp Soldier treats you well. We believe in you and are sure you can lead us to survive."

  A faint smile also appeared on Zhou Chang's face.

  But perhaps because he rarely smiles, it looks very unnatural.

  "When alive, be a hero among men; when dead, be a champion among ghosts!"

  Zhou Chang said in a low voice: "A great man should be like this."

  This was a sentence of ancient poetry that Liu Quan casually said when talking with Liu Bang at the time, and unexpectedly Zhou Chang and others knew it.

  Seeing Liu Ke's astonished face, Tang Lie also smiled, "It was Ren Hao who said that privately. That guy is now very admiring of you."

  So that's how it was spread out! However, Ren Ao is indeed a big mouth!

  Liu Kan thought of this and couldn't help but smile wryly and shake his head.

  "Ah Qiang, we're all counting on you. Whether or not we can make it back home alive depends on you... I don't want to die here."

  Cao Wu Shang also nodded repeatedly, "A Qian, it's up to you now!"

  "Since that's the case, let Wu Qiang and I lead the way ahead. As for those in the back, leave them to Tang Lie to command. If you encounter danger, don't worry about me, immediately retreat and regroup with the main army. Everyone be careful, if I were the enemy, I would also choose to ambush at the Zhao Yang Great Marsh."

  Shen Shi and others nodded, and Tang Lie carefully passed on the order.

  Although it was a motley crew, they had undergone three days of training and understood discipline. The team underwent subtle changes as they marched on.

  Liu Jian and Cao Wu Shang walked in front of everyone else.

  The two men walked with large shields, one deep and one shallow... The swamp was extremely quiet, so quiet that there was not a single sound.