After a little rectification in Ruyin, Shen Bing reported the situation to Yang Duanhe using a carrier pigeon.
After receiving the message, Yang Duanhe said "OK" three times in a row:
"I thought it would take several years of continuous attacks to defeat the Chu army in Ru River. I didn't expect that the Shen soldiers captured Ruyin in just one day."
"If you are in the dark, your water defense line will be ineffective."
"How long will it take if we don't attack now?"
So Yang Duanhe immediately announced the news to the entire army and ordered an all-out attack on Chu.
The morale of the Qin army was greatly boosted and they fought more and more courageously. However, the Chu army's follow-up defense line was only a ditch, and the follow-up supplies were burned by the black armor army. Naturally, they could not resist the Qin army's offensive and had to retreat all the way.
The information soon reached Ying Zheng.
This information was sent by Yang Duanhe.
Since Shen Bing had already captured Ruyin, there was no issue of keeping it secret, so Yang Duanhe explained the cause and effect, that is, how Shen Bing took advantage of his plan, how he pretended to withdraw his troops, and how he advanced unexpectedly and took advantage of the situation to occupy Ruyin.
After seeing this, Ying Zheng couldn't help but get angry and praised:
"What a good way to lure a snake out of its hole and take advantage of it."
"Let's see how Xiang Yan guards this Ru River this time!"
Then he laughed again:
"Well, you Shen Bing, I know that no problem can trouble you."
"With Shen Bing here, unification of the Central Plains is just around the corner!"
Zhao Gao, who was standing on one side, had a strange expression.
This was not what Ying Zheng had thought before. If he hadn't been suspicious of Yang Duanhe and Shen Bing, how could he not have allowed Wang Jian to retire and return home?
You must know that Wang Jian has a large number of troops and great achievements. If he is willing to retire and return to his hometown to win the government, he will be happy before it is too late.
However, Zhao Gao only thought about it and of course he did not dare to express it.
Only then did Xiang Yan get the news that Ruyin had fallen.
The reason why Xiang Yan got the news later was because he didn't rush back to report the news until the person sent to deliver the message arrived in Ruyin and noticed something was wrong. The news was sent back and forth on horseback, so it was naturally much slower.
Although Xiang Yan had been mentally prepared for this moment, she was still pale and sweating profusely.
Xiang Bo asked the battle aside:
"General, the black-armored army only has more than 3,000 people. What will happen if they take Ruyin?"
"I'm asking for 20,000 troops to recapture Ruyin first..."
Xiang Yan interrupted Xiang Bo's words with a "hum":
"Do you think your vagina is so easy to snatch?"
"It has Ru River as a barrier, and there are high-walled archery towers everywhere on the west side."
"A hail of arrows from the city wall will cause heavy casualties to our army."
"It's unclear whether we can get back not only 20,000, but even 200,000!"
Ruyin city defense was laid out by Xiang Yan. Xiang Yan didn't know how powerful it was, so he never thought of attacking it head-on.
However……
A frontal force attack may not work, but the east side toward Shouchun is not as impregnable as the west side. If we attack from the east side, there may be hope of success.
After thinking about it, Xiang Yan said to Xiang Bo:
"That's all, you lead 10,000 cavalry troops and rush to Ruyin at night, followed by 20,000 infantry troops for reinforcements."
"As soon as we arrive, we launch an attack. We must capture Ruyin at all costs."
Xiang Bo felt a little strange.
Just now, my father said that Ruyin could not be captured, so why did he immediately let himself go to attack it in the blink of an eye? Not only did he let himself go to attack, he also sent out cavalry, and he also rushed to attack the city at starry night.
However, Xiang Bo didn't dare to ask any more questions, so he answered and went to order the troops.
After Xiang Bo left, Xiang Yan immediately wrote a letter on silk and sent it to Shouchun by flying pigeon, which means that Ruyin is the gateway of Shouchun. Once Ruyin loses Shouchun, you will be in danger. Please send 20,000 cavalry to your Majesty. Xingye rushed to Ruyin to attack the city. He would lead his troops to delay the Qin army along the way and attack Ruyin from a flank.
Xiang Yan is worthy of being a battle-hardened veteran. He remained calm despite the sudden change in the rear area falling into the hands of the enemy and formulated a feasible remedy:
1: He led the main force of the Chu army to "resist" the Qin army in the front.
Although the Chu army had been completely demoralized by the Qin army, the Chu army still had 300,000 troops on the front line, which was 100,000 more powerful than the Qin army.
On the other hand, the black-armored cavalry that the Chu army has always been afraid of is already in Ruyin, so the Chu cavalry and chariots will have a place to use again.
So 300,000 versus 200,000, and it's just delaying and delaying, such as breaking roads, demolishing bridges, setting up ambushes, and occasionally using the walled city to fight a battle... This is much less intense than a decisive battle.
In this way, it may not be difficult to delay the Qin army for more than ten days.
The reason why I use "maybe" is because so many unexpected things happened to Xiang Yan during this period that he did not dare to make any judgments.
But no matter what, even if it only lasts for ten days, it still buys time for the rear.
Xiang Yan hopes that if Ruyin can be recaptured within this period of time, everything will be fine.
Two: Send Xiang Bo to attack Ruyin head-on.
A frontal attack on Ruyin is of course hopeless. The problem is that the Qin army in Ruyin does not have many troops, only 3,000 men.
Xiang Bo's frontal attack was just to distract the Qin army, even just a little.
If Xiang Bo knew that he was sent by his father to attack the city just for this purpose, he would be so angry that he would be so angry that he would seize the land.
However, Xiang Yan certainly couldn't care about this at this time, and the focus of his attack must be on the east side.
Three: That is to say, send troops from the direction of Shouchun to attack Ruyin.
The reason why Xiang Yan named the 20,000 cavalry troops was because they were the capital guards of the King of Chu who were carrying cud to guard Shouchun.
The total strength of this escort army is about 50,000, which is the private army of the King of Chu. Among them are 20,000 cavalry, 10,000 chariot soldiers, and 20,000 infantry.
These troops were led by Zhang Qi, the nephew of the King of Chu, who was appointed as the general of Zhuguo.
The so-called Zhuguo general means the pillar of the country, which means that this army cannot be used until the battle to break the country.
Although Xiang Yan did not specify it clearly in his letter, anyone with a discerning eye would know at a glance that the 20,000 cavalry troops refer to the capital guard.
This immediately aroused a flurry of criticism and discussion among the Shouchun ministers:
"Where does Xiang Yan have the courage to actually instruct the capital guard to attack the city? This is a treasonous act!"
"If we send out the escort troops to attack the city at this time, when the Qin army approaches Shouchun City, who will be there to defend it?"
"It's fine for Xiang Yan to be defeated on his own, but he still has to recruit the escort..."
…
Zhao, Qu, Jing and other nobles spoke to each other, all criticizing Xiang Yan.
Only the King of Chu, with his cud in his hands and a sullen face, said nothing.
King Chu of Chu understood that the good situation Chu had just created had gone to waste with the occupation of Ruyin.
Prior to this, the nobles of Chu State thought that Xiang Yan could win the battle, so they sent troops, food and strength one after another.
But now, the loss of Ru Yin almost meant that Xiang Yan was about to lose, so he began to think about how to protect himself.
From their point of view, of course they don't want the Guards to go into battle.
Because the Qin army's first target is undoubtedly Shouchun.
One day of Shouchun, their danger will be reduced.