Xun Hao knew that waiting like this was not an option. The result would be to watch the Qin army become stronger and stronger, while the Xiongnu had to withdraw their troops to the grassland again and again due to lack of water and grass.
Under the circumstances of the ebb and flow, it won't be long before the Xiongnu's military strength in Gushi will be surpassed by the Qin army.
Therefore, there are only two paths before Xunxun:
Either attack when there are more troops than the Qin army, or give up the army.
Xunxu wanted to choose the former, because at this time, the Xiongnu still had 50,000 troops in Gushi, and the Qin army, even with the newly arrived reinforcements from Loulan, only had more than 10,000 troops... Shen Bing's troops only had more than 8,000 troops, and Wang He's reinforcements It was said that there were ten thousand, but in the fierce battle with the Xiongnu, only seven thousand were actually left.
So the Qin army actually only had more than 15,000 people.
It is obvious that the Huns still have an absolute advantage in terms of military strength.
Even Xun Hao formulated an attack plan. He said to Ge Yu:
"The Qin army at Jiaohe was the weakest, with only more than 3,000 men and no firearms."
"We can capture Jiaohe first and then besiege Sal."
"In this way, it will not only solve our army's water and grass crisis, but also defeat the Qin army's vigor!"
Ge Yu objected:
"My subordinates were once stationed in Jiaohe."
"This is the intersection of the two rivers, and the Qin army's walled city was built at the intersection."
"Not to mention that there are traps all around the walled city, which makes it difficult for cavalry to enter and exit, but the few winding and crisscrossing rivers make it easy for our army to be surrounded."
"How will our army attack Jiaohe then?"
"Dismount and attack the Qin army's stronghold on foot?"
Xun Hao was stunned by this question.
Attacking the stronghold was a big problem for the Xiongnu, especially the stronghold where the Qin army was stationed... This was not a simple comparison of forces, but a question of when the Qin army would finish shooting their crossbows.
Moreover, the Qin army's walled city at Jiaohe was indeed built at the intersection of the two rivers, as Ge Yu said.
In this way, two rivers were actually used as moats by the Qin army... The Qin army was very good at selecting sites to build strongholds.
If the Xiongnu didn't want to cross the river to attack the stronghold, they would have to attack the city from one direction. What if they had an absolute advantage in strength with thousands of troops? They would not be able to deploy their troops at all.
After thinking about it, Xun Hao let out a long sigh and said:
"Jiaohe is like this, I'm afraid Sal is about the same."
"Is it possible that we have no choice but to withdraw our troops?"
Xun Hao was right, the situation in the attack on Thrall was not much better.
In fact, it might be easier to attack Jiaohe, because Jiaohe is a river, the intersection of three rivers, and the Qin army cannot control the river, so the Xiongnu cavalry did not have to worry about water sources when fighting in Jiaohe.
But Sar is a lake, and the walled city built by the Qin army surrounded the water source.
This means that if the Huns were to attack Saar, they would not only have to bring equipment and arrows, but also drinking water and fodder for their horses.
In this way, the Huns were afraid that they would be defeated by supplies if they attacked for only a few days.
Ge Yu thought for a while and said:
"From the perspective of my subordinates, our army may not have the only option of withdrawing!"
As he spoke, Ge Yu whispered something in Xunxun's ear. Xunxu nodded repeatedly and then a look of joy appeared on his face.
On this day, Shen Bing and Dao Minjun were drinking and chatting in the tent.
This Minjun is the younger brother of King Gushi. He can be said to be the least powerful among all the forces... The reason is that he has always been tabooed by King Gushi. Although he is a relative of the emperor, he is only used as a messenger. He was so shabby that he only had five personal guards and one carriage.
This is normal. The identity of the King's brother is rather special. Because it may threaten the status of the King's aunt, all countries will be hidden or even find an opportunity to eradicate him.
For example, when Hu Hai came to power, he killed all his brothers and sisters.
However, because Dao Minjun often traveled to various countries as envoys, he had some skills in politics and eloquence, so he naturally became the representative of Gu Shi's nobles in negotiating with Shen Bing.
Shen Bing even heard that this Taoist ruler was already learning the language, writing and etiquette of the Central Plains from Yan in private...
This is quite rare and valuable.
But this seems to be normal. As for envoys who go on missions to various countries, if they do not understand the languages and writing of each country, it will be impossible to carry out the mission.
Lord Dao Min raised his glass and paid tribute to Shen Bing from afar, saying:
"For the Qin army to expel the Xiongnu and restore the country to my uncle, I would like to toast the general!"
But it is an authentic etiquette from the Central Plains.
As Shen Bing returned the gift, he secretly said that this guy is not a quick learner, so he seems to be a smart person.
Then Dao Minjun asked:
"It is said that the general accepted the request of five parties like us to restore the country. I wonder if this is the case?"
Shen Bing pretended to be confused:
"Do you and others have five parties? Shen Bing just found out. I also said that you and others are all the remnants of my uncle!"
Dao Minjun smiled and replied:
"I know in my heart that the general is a sensible person, and I also know that my uncle is not qualified to negotiate terms with the general."
"I just want to know, if I want to give up the competition and fully assist Xiang Shanjun, can I get the approval of the general?"
Xiang Shanjun is the third son of his aunt Wang. Although he is only sixteen years old, he has been fond of hunting since he was a child and has developed skills in riding and archery.
As soon as Shen Bing heard Dao Minjun's words, he understood Dao Minjun's plan.
He obviously saw through Shen Bing's thoughts, and he didn't want his uncle to be torn apart. At the same time, he also knew that the life and death of all of them actually depended on Shen Bing's thoughts, so he simply put this question on the table and asked it secretly. of doing.
Because doing it secretly would not only have no chance of success, but in Shen Bing's anger they might not even be able to save their lives, let alone restore the country.
But if it is put on the table and Shen Bing's opinion is directly asked... Shen Bing will do it if he is willing to do it. If he doesn't want to split, he will split, and his life will not be harmed.
From this we can also know that this civilian ruler does have some tricks.
Shen Bing just pondered for a moment before replying:
"Have Lord Daomin heard of Da Qin before?"
Dao Minjun raised his hand and replied:
"I heard this several times when I was on mission to the Yuezhi!"
Shen Bing said "Oh" and said:
"Shen Bing would like to know, what does Dao Minjun know about the Qin State?"
Dao Minjun raised his hand and replied:
"I don't know much. I only know that most of the people in Qin make a living by farming, and the national power is similar to that of the Yuezhi."
"I also know that there are seven other countries in the Central Plains similar to Qin..."
Shen Bing smiled.
It's normal for Daomin-kun to say this.
Because the Qin State that the Yuezhi knew was not the current Qin State... the Qin State in the Yuezhi impression was still the Qin State that was relatively safe among the Seven Heroes of the Warring States Period.
What's more, Yuezhi and Gu Shi were still separated by a thousand miles of desert, and the information was seriously lagging behind. How could Dao Minjun know that Qin had unified the Central Plains and became the only big country in the Central Plains.
Lord Daomin saw the expression on Shen Bing's face was different and asked:
"I wonder if what I said is true or not?"
Shen Bing did not need to answer this, as the translator Yan explained:
"What you don't know, Dao Minjun, is that the Qin State has defeated and merged the other six countries, and has unified the Central Plains!"