When they were still soldiers of Wei, they had no desire to kill the enemy, but they found that the king of Wei was too stupid to serve the country.
There is no explanation for this feeling. They wish they could kill the enemy on the battlefield, but they always feel angry and hold their breath for one reason or another. All they can do is to beg for mercy, and in the end even the glory and dignity of the warriors are wasted. Almost exhausted.
However, following Shen Bing is another story.
Shen Bing led them to win one victory after another, and each time they defeated the strong with less and more with the weak.
Water battle in Qiancheng, riding and shooting in Ruanqiao Town, ambush at Yelangling, etc.
Even though the battle in front of them seemed to be lost, and the Black Armored Army had suffered heavy casualties and was exhausted, it still resisted the siege of the Chu Army's 70,000 troops with 3,000 troops, and it was still "a glorious defeat".
So what Chen Duan said is right. What they are fighting for is not just fame and fortune, nor is it all because of the merit system of the Twenty Army. They are fighting for this kind of freedom and glory.
Shen Bing just smiled and then stopped talking.
After a moment of silence, Chen Duan continued:
"Besides, we don't think this battle will be lost."
Shen Bing asked back:
"Even in this current situation, does the captain still think that we are invincible?"
Chen Duan replied:
"Wang Ben has not returned to the city at this time. It must be a secret chess set by the deputy general!"
"Although my subordinates don't know what role the five hundred people led by Wang Ben can play, they do know that they may be our hope."
Shen Bing nodded, secretly thinking that Chen Duan was quite thoughtful.
Wang Ben was sent by Shen Bing after he ambushed the Chu army at Yelangling.
In fact, it cannot be said that they were "sent out", but that Wang Ben's 100 personal guards and 400 black armored troops, a total of 500 people, have not returned to Ruyin since the battle at Yelangling. They took dry food and hid in the dense forest.
At that time, many people, including Chen Duan, thought Shen Bing was crazy.
The Black Armored Army only had 3,000 men in total, and these 3,000 men were hardly able to defend the city, but Shen Bing actually sent 500 of them out of the city.
And what can these five hundred people do?
There are tens of thousands of elite Chu troops outside the city. If the city wall were to be lost, wouldn't Wang Ben and his 500 soldiers be wiped out in minutes?
But Shen Bing did not give them a chance to object.
If the Black-armored Army thought so, then of course the Chu Army would also think so, so they did not realize that there was a Black-armored Army outside the city.
Moreover, returning from Yelang Ridge was Shen Bing's only chance to set up an ambush.
After that, the Chu soldiers will besiege Ruyin, and it will be almost impossible to send more troops out.
But what can those five hundred people do?
Sneak supply raid?
The Chu army was outside the city, and the supplies were endless, one after another. Even if the supplies were burned, they could still transport them from Shouchun, so a sneak attack on the supplies would not put much pressure on them.
Attack from inside and outside?
This isn't right either.
Not to mention how effective the five hundred men led by Wang Ben could be. At this time, the more than a thousand black-armored troops in the city had been fighting continuously and were almost exhausted. Many of them were even unable to shoot arrows... their fingers had been fired too frequently. The bow was shot and the flesh and blood were blurred.
They were able to defend Ruyin City and defeat the Chu army's attacks again and again, relying on their condescending location, support and belief.
If they are allowed to leave the city to fight at this time, they will be unable to do anything even if they attack from both sides or even break through.
"You're right, it's time for them to play their role."
Then Shen Bing cast his gaze towards the Chu army's camp under the city and said:
"Don't you want to know where they are?"
"They're right there..."
Chen Duan turned around and followed Shen Bing's gaze and looked down. There was no sign of Wang Ben anywhere, only the Chu troops who were busy burying pots for cooking and tents one after another.
Chen Duan looked at Shen Bing in confusion, and then suddenly understood:
"The lieutenant general means that they have sneaked into the Chu camp?"
Shen Bing nodded and then ordered:
"Let go of smoke."
Chen Duan immediately passed on the order:
"Send smoke!"
On the other side, Zhang Qi was enjoying himself in the military camp.
From the intelligence, he knew that the situation on Xiang Yan's side was good.
Although Xiang Yan's army retreated due to low morale, Xiang Yan finally used sand and water to build a defense line in Taocheng to temporarily block the Qin army.
Calculating the distance, it would take the Qin army at least three days to reach Ruyin.
Judging from the current situation, it only takes a day or two for the Chu army to capture Ruyin at most.
At this time, some personal guards came to report:
"General Zizhu, there is smoke coming from the top of Ruyin City."
Zhang Qi came out of his tent and took a look, and sure enough he saw smoke being set off on Ruyin City, one in each of the four directions.
Zhang Qi couldn't help laughing:
"Is it too late to let out smoke at this time?"
"What's more, you are surrounded by us and others, so what's the use of letting go of smoke?"
"I think Qin Jun is at the end of his rope and knows that he is at the last moment!"
No wonder Zhang Qi thinks so. Setting off smoke is usually a signal to ask for help from afar, but the main force of the Qin army is being harassed by Xiang Yan hundreds of miles away. How can Ru Yin be saved?!
So Zhang Qi didn't take this wolf smoke to heart.
However, Xiang Bo was a little worried and came to discuss with Zhang Qi:
"General Zhu, the Qin army's release of smoke...does it mean they have reinforcements?"
Zhang Qi waved his hand nonchalantly and said:
"It's just a bluff. We'll attack after dinner."
Xiang Bo said worriedly:
"This Shen Bing is an extraordinary person. Even the general has suffered losses under him several times..."
Zhang Qi felt unhappy when he heard Xiang Bo mention "general".
You must know that he is the "General of the Zhu Kingdom" and the "leader of the military generals" of the Chu Kingdom.
But at this critical moment for the Chu State, it was Xiang Yan who led the army to fight against the Qin army, and everyone took Xiang Yan as a benchmark, and they were always willing to take over the general's position.
Facts have proved that Xiang Yan suffered a loss at the hands of Shen Bing, but Zhang Qi wanted to take Shen Bing's head in one battle.
So he immediately interrupted Xiang Bo's words and said in a slightly disdainful tone:
"We are different from the generals in confronting the Qin army. Shen Bing is unable to fly even with his wings under this tight siege."
"I will avenge the general on this trip!"
Xiang Bo was naturally unwilling:
"But General Zhuguo, we are not in a hurry to attack the city."
"If enemy reinforcements suddenly arrive while our army is attacking the city, then..."
Zhang Qi frowned and his tone became stiff:
"Don't talk too much, you just need to attack the city."
"There are spies of our army within dozens of miles, where can we find Qin aid?!"
So Xiang Bo didn't dare to say anything more and had to retreat.
In fact, even if Zhang Qi listened to Xiang Bo's suggestion and investigated carefully, it would not help.
How could they have imagined that this "Qin Yuan" was not outside but mixed with the Chu army.
As for the smoke released by Shen Bing...
On the one hand, it sent a signal to Wang Ben to prepare for battle.
On the other hand, it was a bluff as Zhang Qi guessed, making the Chu army think that the enemy had reinforcements.