Linzi, as the capital of Qi State, is also the most prosperous city in Qi State. There is an endless stream of merchants coming and going, and the city entrance tax alone can make Qi State a lot of money.
However, at this time, Linzi City had long lost its former charm. The city gates were closed tightly and there was no pedestrian on the street.
Zhao troops were everywhere outside the city. Outside the four walls, two rows of tall catapults were arranged neatly. With a strong swing of their arms, huge stones crossed the moat and hit the wall like meteorites. The soldiers dodged.
Unlucky, he was hit by a huge boulder and was instantly smashed into pulp. He was deeply embedded in the city wall and merged with the city wall forever.
The surrounding Qi troops were so frightened that they trembled and hid behind fearfully, fearing that they would be hit by stones.
After Zhao Kuo led the Zhao army southward, he did not choose to join up with Lian Po. Instead, he took advantage of the fact that the Qi army was on the front line and the rear was empty, and led the Zhao army along the seaside to Linzi, the capital of Qi.
He told Handan that he had brought thirty days of provisions and grass, but in fact in order to increase the marching speed, he only brought ten days of provisions and was eaten by the enemy along the way.
Zhao Feiqi led the way and killed all those who wanted to pass on information. No one could outrun Zhao Feiqi. In just ten days, Zhao Jun reached the outside of Linzi City.
"Keep hitting me and don't stop at night!" Zhao Kuo waved.
It is unrealistic to completely rely on catapults to bring down the city wall, unless it continues for many years without giving the defenders any chance to repair it.
But Zhao Jun did not have this time.
Within fifteen days, Zhao must end this war.
And this also includes the time to rush to Yecheng, which means that the time left for Zhao Kuo is only ten days at most.
Originally, before the spring plowing, the Zhao army had enough time to defeat the four kingdoms of Yan, Qi, Han and Wei, but the flooding of the Li belly delayed the Zhao army for less than half a month, resulting in insufficient time now.
Fortunately, Zhao Kuo's purpose was not to capture Linzi and destroy the Qi State. It was to take the initiative in the subsequent peace talks with the Qi State and obtain sufficient benefits from the Qi State.
Now Zhao Kuo wanted to show off his momentum and show that he would not give up until Qi was destroyed, so that Qi could take the initiative to send envoys to sue for peace.
"Your Majesty, there is news from the rear that General Lian Po killed the Qi army's general Tian Sheng, deputy generals Tian Fen and Tian Yang, captured 200,000 Qi soldiers, and beheaded 50,000." Liu Ping reported.
"Okay. You are indeed the white jade pillar of our Zhao Kingdom!" Zhao Kuo said excitedly. He originally planned to let Lian Po block the Qi army, but he didn't expect that Lian Po actually captured all the Qi army in one battle. "
Send an order for Lian Po to come immediately with his troops and surround Linzi."
"Your Majesty, there is one more thing..." Liu Ping looked around. Everyone originally wanted to come forward to congratulate him, but seeing Liu Ping like this, they consciously stepped back.
Of course, this distance is of little use to these strong men. As long as they want to eavesdrop, they can always hear it, but no one will do such a thing that is of no benefit to them and can easily offend Zhao Kuo.
"Say it." Zhao Kuo said.
"General Lian Po killed Lord Chang'an..." Liu Ping told the story. Part of it was said by Lian Po in a letter, and part of it was secretly passed on to Liu Ping by intelligence personnel.
"Just kill him, no big deal." Zhao Kuo waved his hand and said nonchalantly.
He was just a Lord of Chang'an, what did he think he was doing!
"Where is Lord Pingyuan and Lord Pingyang..." Liu Ping said with some worry.
"They will understand." Zhao Kuo said in a deep voice.
If Lord Chang'an had been honest, even if he returned to Zhao State in the future and Zhao Sheng and Zhao Bao would protect him, Zhao Kuo would have no reason to kill him.
But now that Chang'an Lord has come to his door, even if Lian Po doesn't kill him, Zhao Kuo will execute him. Now Lian Po just chooses to help Zhao Kuo take the blame.
Even if Zhao Sheng and Zhao Bao were unhappy, they couldn't say anything.
To be honest, Zhao Kuo really didn't expect that Lian Po would kill Lord Chang'an directly. According to Lian Po's previous practice, it would be more likely to give Lord Chang'an to Zhao Kuo and let Zhao Kuo handle it, or secretly let Lord Chang'an run away.
Now that Lian Po has chosen to trust him, he will not let down Lian Po's trust.
…
In Linzi City, among the luxurious and extravagant palaces, there was a sound of things being thrown.
"They are all rubbish, a bunch of rubbish, rubbish... Others only found out after they got to the city walls that my money was used to support this bunch of rubbish? Send an order to behead all the county magistrates and city chiefs along the way..."
Qi Wangjian roared angrily, with veins popping up on his forehead, his chest rising and falling, and his eyes filled with anger.
In ten days, it only took Zhao Jun ten days to fight from the border to Qi State!
What is even more unbelievable is that during these ten days, he did not receive any news of Zhao Jun's attack, and no one passed on the information to him.
What's the use of raising this bunch of trash?
The servants were kneeling beside them tremblingly. The ground was full of broken cups and a mess. One maid had blood dripping from her forehead and did not dare to move. She was afraid that she would offend the king of Qi and not only herself would be killed.
Execution will also affect the family members.
After venting his anger, Qi Wangjian slumped on the ground, staring ahead blankly.
The Zhao army was approaching the city, and all Qi's troops were on the front line. He didn't know what to do to stop the Zhao army.
"Okay, all of you, please step aside." At this time, a soft voice came from outside the hall, and then, a woman in luxurious clothes stepped up the steps and walked in slowly.
The woman was extremely beautiful, and the years seemed not to have left many traces on her body. Her delicate appearance revealed the majesty of a superior.
Upon hearing this, the servants retreated from the hall one after another as if they had been granted amnesty.
"Queen Mother." When King Qi Wangjian saw the person coming, he rushed over and cried bitterly, "Queen Mother, Zhao Guo has defeated the city. What should we do now? I said that Zhao Guo should not have been provoked in the first place..."
"Isn't it just that the Zhao army is approaching the city? Why panic? In the troubled times, no country has been besieged several times? What's the big deal? Just fight back. What's the point of crying? As the monarch of our Qi country,
Can't you look like a monarch?" Empress Dowager Qi scolded angrily.
After hearing this, Wang Jian of Qi silently wiped away his tears, got up from the ground, walked to the seat and knelt down, looking at his mother in fear.
There are so many people in Qi State, but he is not afraid of anyone, only his mother.
"Let me ask you, when I invited Zhou Zi to assist you, why did you drive him away?" Empress Dowager Qi said in a deep voice.
"I didn't drive him away, he left on his own." Qi Wangjian said in a low voice. Then he saw the sharp gaze of Queen Mother Qi and quickly lowered his head, not daring to speak.
The Empress Dowager of Qi sighed. When the late king passed away, she had been in power for a while, and she returned the power to him when King Qi Jiancheng was old.
King Jian of Qi was weak by nature, but he was also quite smart. There was nothing wrong with him being a conservative king, so the Queen Mother of Qi was relieved.
Who would have thought that after the King of Qi came to power, he suddenly changed his temper and became arrogant and extravagant all day long without caring about government affairs. In just two years, the country of Qi was reduced to what it is now.