Zhao State gathered its forces in the southwest, but Zhao Kuo's offensive route was to attack Zhao State's hinterland from the north. Therefore, most of what Zhao Kuo encountered were empty cities, and there were no soldiers to resist. Even so, Zhao Kuo
However, Zhao Kuo's advance was the slowest among the three armies. After Zhao Kuo captured Gaoliu, he pardoned the local officials and even the original soldiers were released. Zhao Kuo let them go home.
Yanmen and Yunzhong were the pastoral areas of Zhao nobles. They had a lot of cattle, sheep, and cultivated land here. Zhao Kuo was completely rude. He confiscated these properties and then asked local officials to distribute them to the people... Zhao Kuo
In my heart, I was very conflicted. On the one hand, everyone in Zhao State knew about Ma Fujun's reputation. There was no Zhao person who did not regard Ma Fujun as their idol and pride.
But now Ma Fujun is standing on the opposite side of Zhao State, and even led the Qin people to capture the city of Zhao State. This makes the people of Zhao State feel that they have been betrayed, but they know why Ma Fujun left Zhao State in the first place.
.This made the Zhao people very entangled. When the Qin army began to distribute food and livestock, the Zhao people became even more entangled. If they didn't want it, their families would still be hungry. If they accepted it, it would mean surrender.
Things became a bit chaotic, but in the face of hunger, many things became unimportant... After Zhao Kuo captured Gaoliu, he only left some soldiers to help local officials maintain local security, and then left. When
When Zhao Kuo left with his army, nothing seemed to have changed. The officials were still the same officials and the people were still the same people. There was no difference. The only difference was that they no longer had to starve.
In recent years, due to the war, the currency system of Zhao State has completely collapsed, and the people of Zhao State have even lived a life of barter. However, Guo Kai's few levies have completely forced the people of Zhao State into poverty.
Zhao Kuo came to attack them, or perhaps to save them. Zhao Kuo strictly prohibited the army from harassing the people of Zhao. During the few days he was in Gaoliu, he did not allow any soldiers to follow him and went to the homes of those people alone.
.
Zhao Kuo asked them about their situation and took a pen and paper to record it. Everything was just like twenty years ago, when young people who had just ended the war asked about the situation of the people in various parts of the Zhao Kingdom. Several old people who had met Zhao Kuo were now
They couldn't help but shed tears. They couldn't explain why. They had been looking forward to Zhao Kuo returning to the Kingdom of Zhao, but they didn't expect that he would return home as a conqueror.
Whether these people are crying and calling Ma Fujun, or they are asking themselves why they betrayed Zhao.
Zhao Kuo didn't care. He just wrote down what he saw. The people of Gaoliu lacked iron tools, but the local cattle were plentiful, but there was a shortage of young men. There were more widows and old people... Zhao Kuo left Gaoliu and rushed to Ping.
Yin. In Pingyin, Zhao Kuo really encountered resistance. The officials here were very irritable. The county magistrate stood at the gate of the city, pointed in the direction of the military chariot, and shouted loudly: "Give me my horse and clothes!"
The soldiers drew their strong bows but did not surrender the city. Zhao Kuo gave an order and the soldiers launched an attack.
There were less than a thousand guards in the city. A rain of arrows from the Qin State left the city of Pingyin empty. The soldiers of the Qin State forced their way into the city. By the time they climbed onto the city wall, the county magistrate had already committed suicide.
The people in the city were very frightened and hid in their homes and refused to go out. Zhao Kuo was walking on the empty streets. His back, which was originally straight, could not help but become a little stooped. From time to time, people peeked out from the cracks in the door.
After Zhao Kuo occupied the city, he immediately arranged for people in the army who could speak Zhao language to be temporarily responsible for the security here, and then opened warehouses and distributed grain as before. The Qin army did not commit any atrocities after attacking the city, which made Zhao Kuo
The people of Zhao State were a little surprised. On the day when the granaries were opened to release grain, as a few bold people came first to receive grain and livestock, the rest of the people also came out one after another.
Zhao Kuo stood not far away, looking at these frightened Zhao people.
I don't know when, an old man appeared here, leaning on a cane, and cursed: "I would rather starve to death like the Zhao people! than live under the Qin people! All four of my sons died under the Qin people.
In your hands! How can you eat this food with peace of mind?!" Zhao Kuo looked at him calmly, and the old man obviously noticed him. He looked at Zhao Kuo angrily and shouted: "Ma Fujun is originally a very noble title! You
Let this ban be brought to shame!!”
Several Qin soldiers who understood his words drew out their daggers angrily, but Zhao Kuo shook his head towards them. Zhao Kuo walked up to the old man, looked into his eyes calmly, and said
: "I do this so that other people's sons will not die on the battlefield... Do you have any descendants? You are willing to starve to death like a Zhao person, but what about them? They are willing to be like a Zhao person.
Die in battle?"
"Are you worthy of Zhao Guo? Your father will never forgive you."
"Even if my father is standing in front of me right now, I will not change my mind... If you are angry and want to scold me, then take some food back. This food does not belong to the people of Qin, but to the people of Qin.
Zhao Guochang came out... When you are full, you will have the strength to scold me." Zhao Kuo said, turned and left here, leaving only a dumbfounded old man, looking at his back blankly.
Pingyin took Zhao Kuo a longer time. After Zhao Kuo investigated the situation here and appeased the local people, he sent troops again and rushed to Pingyi and Anyang... Zhao Kuo conquered one city after another.
Yanmen rushed in the direction of Daijun... Zhao Kuo's strategy was correct. When the three armies launched attacks at different times, Zhao Guo only thought about dealing with Wang Jian and Meng Wu, and did not expect that Zhao Kuo would
Backstab.
On the frontal battlefield, Zhao Cong guarded the Zhao Great Wall, while Wang Jian and Meng Wu conquered all the cities. Wang Jian's army was outside Wu'an City, but Meng Wu's army was outside the people. These are two
You can bypass the Great Wall and directly attack the city of Handan. Zhao Cong has no way to resist these two people at the same time. He can only choose to divide his troops and defend Handan from two directions. As the war continues, Zhao Cong's army slowly runs out of food.
, everyone from the generals to the soldiers began to endure hunger.
However, at this time, the Zhao soldiers showed no signs of collapse. They slaughtered the horses and even dug out the bark of wild vegetables for consumption. Behind them was Handan, and they would never bow to the Qin people. Until this point
At this time, Wang Jian and Meng Wu were not in a hurry. They did not need to attack Handan at all, they just needed to continue the confrontation. The soldiers of Zhao State could not hold out for too long.
Handan, inside the palace
The number of ministers in the State of Zhao has decreased by half. These people have temporarily fled Handan and fled to other countries. There are only a dozen ministers who refuse to leave, and Guo Kai is among them. But now when Guo Kai summons his ministers, it is
He wanted to tell them the latest news. Guo Kai sighed and said: "Wuchenghou of the Qin State sent troops from the clouds and has captured the counties of Yanmen. Now he is launching an attack on Dai."
"We have no food, no army, no generals, and no way to resist them..." Guo Kai said desperately. Just as he finished speaking, several ministers present suddenly burst into tears. They understood at this moment that Zhao Guo
There is no way to save the country... The old minister Zhao Li stood up and said tremblingly: "Now is not the time to cry, we have to find a way to save Zhao... Now, Handan is surrounded by enemies on three sides. I feel that we can only
Abandon Handan and go to Zhongshan... Zhongshan is very close to Yan State."
"Yanwang Dan hates the Qin people very much. If we can get their help and the two countries work together, they may be able to fight against the Qin people...other than that, there is no other way." Zhao Li is the original Handan Order.
, that is, Handan Zao's father. He is now very old. If it were not for the war, he would not have appeared in the palace. Guo Kai sighed after hearing his plan, and then said: "You are right.
"
"This is what I thought at the beginning, so I wrote to King Dan of Yan, hoping that he could help Zhao Guo."
"However, this parricide villain not only humiliated the envoy I sent, but even thought of taking the opportunity to attack the State of Zhao... At this moment, the State of Yan has probably sent troops to Zhongshan. The State of Yan does not like the State of Qin, nor does it
I like the State of Zhao." Guo Kai was telling lies. He never sent an envoy at all. Instead, King Yan sent an envoy to tell Guo Kai that the State of Yan could help the State of Zhao. Unfortunately, Guo Kai secretly executed the envoy of the State of Yan.
.
Hearing Guo Kai's words, Zhao Li trembled all over, "How could it be... Zhao Kingdom is about to perish. Can't King Yan see this? Short-sighted, short-sighted!" The wrinkles on his face seemed to become deeper.
"What can we do? What can we do?" Looking at the overwhelmed old minister, Guo Kai squinted his eyes, thought for a moment, and said: "Since there are enemies on three sides...then we can only
We will defend Handan to the death."
"Please rest assured, I will personally arrange the city defense. As long as I am still alive, the Qin people will definitely not be able to attack Handan!" Guo Kai said categorically. Zhao Li looked at him and always felt that something was wrong, but why did he
It was impossible to imagine that the Prime Minister of Zhao State would actually be the enemy's traitor... Under the leadership of Guo Kai, Handan began to build city walls, strengthen defenses, and prepare for final resistance.
Guo Kai took this opportunity to come to the harem and pay homage to the queen.
The news of Qin's attack frightened the queen. Similarly, the young and ignorant King Zhao also became inexplicably afraid under the influence of his mother. Seeing Guo Kai's arrival, the queen rushed over and asked: "How is the war?
?" Guo Kai shook his head helplessly and said: "Wang Jian and Meng Wu have surrounded Handan, and Zhao Kuo is leading his soldiers to attack from the north. Handan has no chance... There is no food, no army, nothing.
"
The queen collapsed on the ground and was about to cry loudly.
Guo Kai said seriously: "Now, if you want to save your own life and the life of the Lord, you have no choice but to surrender..."
"I will never surrender!" King Zhao shouted, rushed up and kicked Guo Kai on the leg. Guo Kai just looked at him coldly and ignored him. He looked at the queen and said: "
If the Qin people conquer Handan, they will definitely kill me, you, and your Majesty. We will suffer the most cruel torture... But if we are willing to surrender, Qin will definitely not kill us, even for the sake of
Let other countries follow suit, and they will definitely treat us well..."
The queen felt a little moved and asked, "Are you telling the truth?"
"Of course, I want to tell you a truth..." Guo Kai told the queen the story of buying horse bones for a thousand gold, and then said: "The Kingdom of Zhao was destroyed by South Korea, and the Kingdom of Wei, their king did not surrender, so he was killed
, Now if Zhao is willing to be the first country to surrender, I am sure that the Qin people will never make things difficult for you." The queen was thoughtful, and the little King Zhao still said angrily: "I said, I will not surrender!
"
"Shut up!", the queen slapped him in the face, and King Zhao suddenly started crying, lowered his head, and did not dare to speak anymore.
The queen looked at Guo Kai, her eyes becoming more determined, "Then surrender."
"But how to do it exactly?"
"You can't be anxious about this matter... There are still many veterans in the country who are unwilling to surrender. If the Lord orders the surrender, I'm afraid they will hold the Lord hostage and fight to the end. What we have to do now is to deal with these people.
, and then surrender to the Qin people in the name of your Majesty!"
"Okay, I'll do as you say!"
"Then let's have a banquet."
.............
Zhao Kuo has now arrived at Dai. The difference from before is that Gongzi Jia lives here. After learning about the Qin attack, the imprisoned Gongzi Jia successfully persuaded the warriors who were guarding him and subdued the local people.
The common people guarded the soldiers and left here with the army. He rushed to other cities and continued to recruit local soldiers, hoping to form a resistance army. Therefore, when Zhao Kuo came to Dai, the city gates were wide open, and not even a Zhao soldier
nothing.
Gongzi Jia fled from Dai to Zhuolu. Together with the soldiers who came to serve him, his strength exceeded 10,000. Gongzi Jia did not stay too long in Zhuolu. He gave up here and fled to Danqiu. His purpose
The land was Zhongshan. He sent envoys in the name of Gongzi Jia, asking officials from all over the country to gather in Zhongshan with troops and supplies. At the same time, he also sent envoys to the State of Yan, asking the State of Yan to send people to help.
His plan was to transport Zhao's supplies to Zhongshan and resist the Qin army here with the aid of Yan.
King Dan of Yan previously sent an envoy to Handan, but then there was no news from the envoy. This made King Dan of Yan very distressed, because the Qin State spread a lot of news about his father's murder, which caused some chaos in the Yan State. However, the rebellion
It was not the common people who were affected, but the nobles. This also gave Dan an excuse to deal with the aristocratic forces. The common people and soldiers were still willing to stand by his side, which was enough.
Probably because the original policies of King Yan were too cruel, but King Dan of Yan abolished these regulations after he ascended the throne, so the people would rather follow a parricide.
Gongzijia's envoy finally came to Yan State.
ps: Brothers, reunification is just the beginning, not the end. This book will take a long time to finish, so don’t worry.
