Chapter 365: Ascend the throne (III)

In late November, the Chu army captured Boyang, indicating that Xiang Yu had regained control of Jibei County.

At the same time, another Chu army led by Ying Bu, headed by Licheng (now Jinan, Shandong). Hu Yan, a general of Qi State, did not resist at all. On the day the Chu army arrived, he opened the city and offered surrender, thus opening the road from the Chu army to Linzi County, and the three Qis were shocked.

Tian Heng, the general of Qi State, originally retreated to Ying County and was preparing to fight the Chu army to the death.

But unexpectedly, the loss of Licheng made the Linzi gate open. King Tian Rong of Qi panic and issued a foolish order.

He sent people to Ying County and ordered Tian Heng to turn back to Ling immediately to rescue Linzi.

Tian Heng disagreed because in his opinion, even if Licheng is lost, as long as Ying County can be defended, the Chu army will be defeated within three months.

The reason was no different. The Chu army had mobilized troops in Mianchi before and was exhausted.

Xiang Yu achieved his current victory with his sharp spirit. In fact, the Chu army had already shortened food and supplies. Relying on the danger of Mount Tai, after Ying County blocked the Chu army, the Chu army would not take long before long to seek peace from Qi.

After all, Jibei County was once the former home of the Three Qis, and the people still think about the royal family of Qi.

As for Tingbu, it is just a last resort and it is not worth worrying. Although he got Licheng, as long as Tian Rong sent troops to defend Ling to the death, he could block Tingbu's pace. At the same time, he sent someone to cross the river and asked Peng Yue, Julu County, to send troops, it would be difficult for Tingbu to gain a foothold.

Tian Heng's plan was extremely exquisite.

If Tian Rong really followed his plan, the situation of these three ties might have become another way.

But now Tian Rong is no longer Tian Rong who assisted Tian Dan two years ago. After being in a high position, he became more suspicious and refused to believe anyone. In addition, Tian Heng has outstanding military achievements and is not low in Sanqi, and has even surpassed Tian Rong vaguely, which made Tian Rong more worried. Seeing that Tian Heng refused to obey the orders and returned to the army to rescue, Tian Rong was even more dissatisfied with Tian Heng.

Tian Heng refused to listen to orders?

It doesn't matter!

Tian Rong's eldest son Tian Guang was in Ying County and he was quite prestigious.

So Tian Rong secretly ordered Tian Guang to lead his troops to help Yu Ling... As the prince of Qi, Tian Guang did not respect Tian Heng, the clan uncle, but was quite jealous. After receiving the secret order, Tian Guang immediately summoned all the generals without saying a word, and immediately summoned Tian Heng's military post. Xingye led his troops back to Yu Ling. No matter how Tian Heng dissuaded, Tian Guang refused to obey and could only watch the defense line he built collapsed... Tian Heng burst into tears at the top of the city, and then swears to stay in Ying County to not return to Linzi.

It doesn’t matter whether Tian Heng returns to Linzi or not.

What is important is that the army of Qi went to Yuling.

Tian Heng had only four or five thousand men left in his hand. After blocking the Chu army in Ying County for three days, he finally trapped on a hill on the banks of the Wenshui River and committed suicide. All the remaining 500 remaining ministers under his command committed suicide, which made those who were as arrogant as Xiang Yu had to deeply feel that Tian Heng was loyal and wise.

After Ying County was captured, Jibei County was completely controlled by the Chu army.

Xiang Yu ordered General Pu to send troops to Langya County, and he led a large army and rushed towards Yuling.

Tian Guang led the Qi army back to Yuling... but before he arrived at Yuling, he was ambushed by Yingbu and the entire army was defeated.

This is also Fan Zeng's plan. It is fake to attack Yu Ling, and it is real to ambush the reinforcements of Qi.

Tian Guang was killed in the chaos!

The defeat of the Qi army made Yu Ling's defenders panic and no longer had any fighting spirit.

Therefore, when Xiang Yu's army and the Yingbu army met at Yuling City, Yuling's guard gave up his resistance and opened the city to surrender to the Chu army.

At this point, the last barrier in Linzi County was gone. The Chu army marched straight into the sky, and the Qi King Tian Rong burned the Qi Palace and committed suicide.

Tian Rong's youngest son Tian Mao led the remnants of defeated generals to retreat to Jiaodong, and then sent an envoy to Julu, begging Peng Yue to send troops.

Xiang Yu's series of victories in the Three Cities eliminated the decline in Mianchi earlier, and his reputation was greatly shocked.

Xiang Yu was even more confident and determined to capture Jiaodong in one fell swoop before the first month of the year, and then regroup and seize the lost territory in Hebei again.

But at this moment, an amazing news came.

Wei Bao took advantage of the stalemate between the Chu army and the Qi army and suddenly sent troops to capture Pengcheng.

Pengcheng was the capital after the reinstatement of Chu State. King Mi Xin of Chu was left there. Before, the Chu army was powerful, and although Wei Bao and others were ambitious, they did not dare to act rashly. But now, the situation is different... The beacons everywhere in Guandong were burning, and Xiang Yu was busy putting out the fire and was in a mess.

The ambition followed and was ready to move.

Especially after Lu Jia, the censor of the Tang Dynasty, secretly sent a mission to Wei State, Wei Bao could no longer hold back.

Lu Jia said: "Wei and Tang have always been friends.

In the past, when the Tang King had not yet made his fortune, he had very good cooperation with Wei. Although the Tang Kingdom has seized Guanzhong, it actually has no intention of influencing the area south of the Guandong River. Therefore, the Tang King was willing to cooperate with Wei again to support Wei to establish a country south of the river.

If the King of Wei agrees, the King of Tang promises to divide and govern it with the Kingdom of Wei.

The areas east of the Honggou can be all included in the rule of Wei; the areas west of the Honggou can be used as buffer zones for the two countries. The Tang and Wei countries are not allowed to send troops to station in Heluo, so that everyone can live in peace and be friendly for generations."

Wei Bao was quite moved when he heard this.

"It is indeed a good idea to divide Heluo into a buffer zone and not send troops to both sides.

But now the Heluo area is still in the hands of the Chu people... The Gu Wang heard that the garrison guarding Luoyang was Zhang Han, the former Qin general, but who would send troops to seize Heluo?"

What this means is that Heluo is a hard bone, who will chew it?

Wei Bao was unwilling to send troops. In his opinion, there was no benefit in sending troops to attack Heluo. It was not worthwhile to lose troops and generals, to waste people and money, but he could not get actual benefits. He would eventually withdraw, which was really not cost-effective. Of course, Wei Bao would not be able to say too clearly.

Lu Jia stroked his beard and smiled.

How could he not see Wei Bao’s little thoughts?

"My king has stopped fighting with Chu. Now he needs to rest and recuperate, so he may not be able to send troops.

Why not do this? The king will send troops to attack Heluo... The most food, grass and supplies obtained in the Heluo area will be allocated by the king?"

Wei Bao sneered in his heart: Do you think I am a fool?

Since Zhang Chu, Heluo has been in ruins after five years of war. You and the Chu army are in Mianchi, and Heluo's wealth has been plundered. What food and supplies are there? You don't want to waste money on the people, but you let me attack Heluo? Ha, don't think about it!

Thinking of this, Wei Bao shook his head repeatedly.

"Doctor Lu, it's not that the Lone King would not want to send troops, so he is really powerless!"

He made a helpless expression, shook his head and sighed, "The State of Chu is strong and has all gained a wealthy land. The State of Wei is now trapped in a corner, but he is just a breath of breath... Attacking Pengcheng, the Lone King can only succeed by exerting the power of the country. He is really willing to seize Heluo, but not enough.

In the opinion of the Lone King, it is better for the Tang King to send troops to Heluo.

The King of Tang obtained the Qinchuan 800 miles in Guanzhong, which was a country with a strong national strength. The King of Tang was known for his bravery, and he used his troops like a god, had outstanding strategies, and had hundreds of thousands of powerful soldiers, countless generals, and had many strategists. Although Zhang Han was stationed in Luoyang, he was definitely not the opponent of the King of Tang."

Lu Jia hurriedly refused and expressed his unwillingness to attack Luoyang.

But the more he looked like this, the more Wei Bao asked the Tang Kingdom to send troops.

Both sides talked verbally for a long time, and in the end Lu Jia had to reluctantly agree.

Wei Bao, very proud...

After leaving the Wei Palace, Lu Jia and Fan Kuai met and prepared to leave.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he walked to a secluded place, he saw a man stopping the team head-on and shouted sternly: "Do you come here, do you intend the Wei people to destroy the country?"

Lu Jia was shocked. After seeing the person clearly, he shuddered and screamed.

"Prime Minister Zhou, why are you here?"

The person who came was Zhou Shi, the prime minister of Wei. He came forward and said in a deep voice: "Dr. Lu, are you bullying the Wei State no one?"

Lu Jia did not meet Zhou Shi on this mission.

I heard that Zhou Shi is in poor health and has been recuperating for several months.

But Lu Jia also found out clearly about the actual situation.

As an old minister of Wei, the situation in Zhou City is not good now. Especially after King Ju of Wei died in battle and Wei Bao ascended the throne, he gradually alienated Zhou City. One emperor and another minister are the rule since ancient times. Zhou City, as a confidant of Wei Jiu, had a status above Wei Bao in the past. But when Wei Jiu died, Wei Bao saw that Zhou City was not very comfortable, and it was contrary to Zhou City on many issues.

For example, Zhou City believes that the Wei State is not strong now and is dependent on others.

Wei Bao should have slept on firewood and tasted gall, followed the example of King Goujian of Yue, and secretly accumulated strength; but Wei Bao was a person who liked luxury, and because of Zhou's background, Wei Bao looked down on him even more, and once said to others privately: "The city of Zhou is a land of old people, but they are actually at a high position."

What does it mean: Zhou City is just a rural bully, and he can also become the prime minister of a country?

Over time, Wei Bao became alienated from Zhou City.

Zhou Shi was quite self-aware. Although he was very angry, he never showed it on his face. Later, he simply fell ill and ignored government affairs.

Wei Bao didn't see Zhou Shi, so he was naturally relieved.

Although Zhou Shi was the prime minister, he had actually been undermined. It was just because he was an old minister that he was still allowed to take this position.

Because of this, when Lu Jia visited Wei, there was no road surface in Zhou City from beginning to end.

But unexpectedly, he actually stopped him on the way...

Lu Jia was shocked at first, but immediately understood Zhou Shi’s intention.

"Prime Minister Zhou, Lu Jia came here with justice this time and failed to visit the old prime minister. I would like to forgive me if I am guilty.

Just as he was thinking about the completion of the matter, he went to the mansion to meet him, but he never thought that the old prime minister would come in person... Haha, before leaving, the King of Tang asked Lu Jia to say hello to the old prime minister on his behalf."

Zhou Shi sneered, "The King of Tang still remembers his old friend?"

"Haha, it's not just the King of Tang that there are old prime ministers among Jia's entourage during this trip."

As he spoke, Fan Kuai saw him walk out of his entourage and said with a smile: "Zhou Daming, do you still remember Fan Tuzi of Peixian in the past?"

"ah!"

When Zhou Shi saw Fan Kuai, he was stunned.

"Master, you are not..."
To be continued...