activa-t Chapter 546 Conquest of Chu 2
Chapter 546 Conquest of Chu 2
King Ying Zheng of Qin slammed his fist on the imperial desk, the sound echoing throughout the palace:
"King Fuchu of Chu is a foolish and tyrannical ruler! He has unleashed his troops to commit atrocities, invade our borders, and harm our people! I have repeatedly yielded out of consideration for our alliance, but the Chu people have become even more ruthless, taking our benevolence for granted! If we do not punish them now, how can we console the dead and suffering Shang people? How can we face the people of the world? How can we uphold the justice of Heaven?!"
He abruptly stood up, his dark robe sleeves billowing like clouds from the sky:
"Issue my decree!"
"General Wang Jian and General Meng Wu, leading 600,000 elite Qin soldiers, are to immediately launch a southern expedition to punish the wicked, destroy the tyrannical Chu, and save the people from suffering!"
"The Bureau of Guests shall immediately issue a proclamation throughout the land detailing the crimes of the Chu army, along with these paintings and illustrations! I want the world to see just how corrupt the Chu court is!"
"A decree is issued to all directions: Our Great Qin is a righteous and benevolent army. Wherever we go, we will not commit the slightest offense! All people of Chu who welcome our royal army will be exempt from taxes for three years! Those who aid and abet the tyrant will be punished the same as the Chu court!"
In the autumn of 223 BC, the drill ground for 100,000 soldiers of the Qin army, clad in black armor, was filled with the Wei River outside Xianyang.
The black iron armor reflected the cold autumn light, the long halberds and spears pointed straight to the sky, and the wind was filled with the chill of metal and the blood of the soldiers.
King Ying Zheng of Qin, dressed in a black royal robe and with the Tai'a sword at his waist, slowly ascended the high platform. All the civil and military officials stood respectfully with their heads bowed, holding their breath in concentration.
"The King of Chu is wicked, treacherous, and cruel to the people!" Ying Zheng's voice was not loud, but it carried like a hammer blow throughout the army. "In the past, King Huai of Chu deceived my late lord, and now Fu Chu has repeated his evil deeds! I hereby bestow upon General Wang Jian the Tiger Tally, and lead 600,000 elite soldiers south to punish the wicked and tyrannical Chu. I will surely bring Chu back to Qin, and the people will live in peace! May Qin last ten thousand years!"
After speaking, Ying Zheng personally presented the gilded tiger tally to Wang Jian. The two halves of the tally were joined together and inscribed with the words "Tally for military use, the right half is with the King, the left half is with the General."
Wang Jian knelt down to receive the tally, the clanging of his armor making a crisp sound. He was nearly sixty years old, his temples were already streaked with white, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes were filled with the dust of years of battlefield experience. Only his eyes shone like stars in a cold night, and when he swept over the soldiers below the platform, they were full of the composure of someone who had been through many battles.
"Your subject, Wang Jian, will certainly not fail Your Majesty's command!" When he stood up, his voice, though not as impassioned as Ying Zheng's, carried an undeniable certainty.
Six hundred thousand soldiers below the stage shouted in unison, "Wind! Wind! Wind! Great wind!" The shouts shook the Wei River, causing its waves to surge, and even the distant city walls of Xianyang seemed to tremble slightly.
After the oath-taking ceremony, Wang Jian did not immediately order the march. He returned to the central command tent, spread out a map of Chu, and slowly moved his finger along the Ying and Ru rivers, his brows slightly furrowed.
Outside the tent, sunlight bathed the earth in a golden glow. Wang Ben, commander of the left flank army, clad in silver armor, strode steadily into the tent. His figure appeared exceptionally tall in the sunlight, the silver armor reflecting the light, as if he exuded an aura of authority and confidence.
Wang Ben was no longer the greenhorn he once was. He had been tempered by hundreds of battles, large and small, and had fought alongside his father for many years, accumulating rich combat experience. Time had etched its marks on his face, but it had also added an unyielding heroic spirit to his brows.
Wang Ben entered the tent, his eyes falling on the general. His voice was deep and steady: "General, our army's morale is soaring, we should march south and strike directly at Yingdu!" His voice was deep and decisive, showing a sense of urgency but not losing his composure.
Wang Jian raised his eyes, shook his head and said, "The land of Chu is five thousand miles wide and has millions of people. Although it has suffered defeats year after year, it is still a centipede. Xiang Yan has been a general of Chu for generations. He has a deep foundation and is well-versed in military strategy. If our army advances rashly, we will surely fall into his trap. When marching, we must know that 'stability' is the key to victory."
Although Wang Ben had other considerations, he also agreed that it was a safer option: "This subordinate understands. However, the daily expenditure of 600,000 troops is enormous. If this is delayed for too long, there may be unforeseen circumstances."
Wang Jian looked up at him and shook his head: "The land of Chu is vast, spanning five thousand li, with a population of millions. Although it has suffered repeated defeats in recent years, it is still like a centipede that dies but does not fall down."
He pointed heavily to Xiangcheng on the map, saying, "Xiang Yan has been a minister of Chu for generations, with deep roots in Chu and is well-versed in military strategy. If our army advances rashly, we will surely fall into his trap. No matter when we are marching, we must know that 'stability' is the key to victory."
Although Wang Ben had different considerations, he also acknowledged his father's prudence: "This subordinate understands. However, the food and provisions for an army of 600,000 are extremely expensive. If the delay continues, there may be unforeseen circumstances."
"Regarding the matter of provisions, Your Majesty has already ordered people to continuously supply them from Guanzhong and Bashu, which can ensure a year's peace of mind." Wang Jian said firmly, "Our army's campaign against Chu this time should prioritize 'stability'. The first step is to leave Wuguan, follow the Dan River into Nanyang, and first capture Wancheng and Yecheng to secure the supply lines;
The second step was to advance in three directions: the central army would contain Xiang Yan's main force, the left flank would cut off his eastern supply lines, and the right flank would harass his southern reinforcements.
The third step is to wait until the Chu army's supplies are exhausted and their morale is low before launching a decisive attack. You will lead the left flank of 150,000 troops eastward along the Ru River, and you must cut off the Chu army's supply lines from Chencheng and Xiangcheng to Yingdu. This is a difficult task, and you must be extremely cautious.
Wang Ben bowed and accepted the order: "This humble general will obey! I will certainly not fail in my mission!"
Three days later, the Qin army officially set off. The 600,000-strong army was divided into three routes: Wang Jian led the central army of 300,000 men, taking the Nanyang Road and heading straight for the Chu capital, Yingcheng; Wang Ben led the left route of 150,000 men, advancing eastward along the Ru River; and veteran general Yang Duanhe led the right route of 150,000 men, heading south along the north bank of the Yangtze River to contain the Chu army's forces in the south of the Yangtze River.
The Qin army marched at an extremely slow pace, advancing only thirty li (approximately 15 kilometers) per day before setting up camp. When setting up camp, the soldiers not only built high walls and dug deep trenches, but also deployed three layers of palisades outside the camp, and even assigned guards to the water sources. Wang Ben's generals couldn't help but advise, "General, our army is full of elite soldiers, why be so cautious? We should quickly break through Xiangcheng and take Chencheng directly!"
Wang Ben's sharp gaze swept over the generals: "You have all fought alongside me for many years, and you should know that 'pride comes before a fall.' Xiang Yan is skilled at defense and adept at setting ambushes. If our army is impatient for quick success, we will surely fall into his trap. The General's 'stability' is to ensure our army's invincibility. Our mission is to cut off the supply lines, which requires 'speed,' 'accuracy,' and 'ruthlessness,' but the prerequisite is 'stability.' If our own foundation is not stable, how can we defeat the enemy?"
Upon hearing this, all the generals bowed their heads in agreement. Wang Ben immediately ordered: "Send out ten times the number of scouts to investigate the movements of the Chu army along the Ru River, especially the tracks of the supply convoys; the infantry should speed up the construction of fortifications, and the cavalry should be on standby at all times. Once an opportunity is found, attack immediately!" He knew that he was responsible not only for the safety of the left flank army, but also for the entire course of the war against Chu, and could not afford to be careless in the slightest.
The news of the Qin army's "steadiness" quickly reached Yingdu. King Fuchu of Chu summoned his ministers for a meeting, and the hall was filled with panic. The Grand General Jing Qi urgently said, "Your Majesty, the Qin army of 600,000 is pressing in, yet Wang Jian is advancing at a snail's pace. Clearly, they intend to gradually erode our Chu territory! If we do not send troops to meet them in battle as soon as possible, once they establish a foothold, our army will be powerless to retaliate!"
Xiang Yan stood in the hall, his face solemn. He had just returned from the eastern border and knew the Qin army's fighting strength and Wang Jian's strategies well. He was also well aware that Wang Ben, who was now in charge of the Qin army's left flank, was a young general whose swift and precise military tactics in recent years were not to be underestimated.