At the end of July, Ji Kang's uncle Zhao Wangdan and Xiangguo Zhao Sheng stood outside the Longtai Hall, the tallest building in Handan, holding on to the carved railing and looking west. As early as the previous day, Zhao Dan received a letter from Zhao Kuo, the commander of the Shangdang front, knowing that Zhao Kuo was going to lead the Zhao army to attack the Qin army west of the Danshui River.

After half a ring, the young king turned around and said to Zhao Sheng with a solemn face: "Pingyuan Jun, you, can General Zhao Kuo lead my Zhao army this time and defeat the Qin army?" ”

Pingyuan Jun Zhao Sheng looked at King Zhao's face and knew that King Zhao was not sure, after all, this time Zhao Guo's court changed generals, and caused a lot of movement in Handan. Many ministers such as Lin Xiangru, Yu Qing, Wangchu Jun Leyi, and even Zhao Kuo's mother expressed their opposition.

Wang Chu Jun Leyi, because of the change of generals, even said to the attendants sent by King Zhao to consult his opinion: "When King Yan Hui led the army to attack Qi, he changed generals in battle, resulting in a great defeat of the Yan army. This time, I, Zhao Guo, asked Zhao Kuo to replace the veteran Lian Po, and I am afraid that Yan Guo will attack Qi. ”

When the attendant returned to the palace and reported Le Yi's words to King Zhao, King Zhao's face was blue and very unsightly.

Zhao Sheng smiled and said to King Zhao: "King, the strength of my Zhao army lies in offense and field warfare, and its weakness is defense. This time, our army gave full play to the strengths of our army and fought in the field with the Qin army. In addition, it is a surprise attack, and it will be victorious, so the king does not need to worry too much. ”

Zhao Wangdan nodded and said to Zhao Sheng: "What Pingyuan Jun said is extremely true, it is a widow who is too worried. I hope that General Zhao Kuo can defeat the Qin army this time. In this way, he can live up to the expectations of the widow. ”

As soon as Zhao Sheng heard this, he knew that there was a lot of pressure in King Zhao's heart. No matter how much he persuaded him, King Zhao was still very uneasy.

At the same moment, Qin Wang Yingji, who had already come to Hanoi County, was also asking Qin Xiang Fan Sui the same question: "Xiangguo, can you Wu Anjun defeat Zhao Jun when you go to the party this time?" ”

Fan Sui said to King Qin without hesitation: "King, every move of the Zhao army this time is in the hands of my Qin army, just like the king had done, if my Qin army can't defeat the Zhao army this time, this is really unreasonable!" ”

After listening to Fan Sui's words, Yingji nodded, closed her eyes, and muttered to herself: "You must defeat Zhao Jun!" ”

Since the reign of King Wuling of Zhao, the cavalry of the Zhao army, like the cavalry of the Xiongnu and Donghu, was extremely powerful in this era, and it was proud.

Of course, what the Central Plains countries of Zhao, including Qin, did not know was that in the distant Liaodi, under the command of Ji Kang, the king of Liaocheng, the cavalry troops established at this time were more powerful and fierce.

The Zhao army, which first crossed the Danshui River, was a cavalry force of 30,000. The Danshui River flowed slowly, and when the Zhao army's war horses and the cavalry on them passed by, they whimpered and splashed with waves.

The clear water of the river gradually became muddy as more and more Zhao troops passed by. Subsequently, 70,000 Zhao infantry followed the cavalry troops across the Lishui River Valley.

Bai Qi returned to the big tent of the Chinese army inside the Qin army's fortress, and looked at a place called Changping on the west bank of Danshui on the map of the wall, and did not move it for a long time.

A scout lieutenant came in to report: "General Qiyu, our army has fought hand-to-hand with the vanguard of the Zhao army. ”

Bai Qi looked at the map on the wall, turned his head and nodded to the deputy general Wang Di beside him. Wang Di, who had followed Bai Qi for many years, naturally knew what Bai Qi meant, and stepped forward to this scout lieutenant and ordered: "Pass the order, order our army to fight with all its might, and not to retreat." ”

The scout lieutenant hurriedly replied, "No." ”

At this moment, Zhao Kuo, the commander of the Zhao army, sat on the top of Hanwang Mountain, looking westward, and the battle between the 100,000 Zhao army and the Qin army that had crossed the west bank of the Danshui River. Looking at the fierce fighting of Zhao Qin's soldiers, Zhao Kuo stood up, looked at it, and found that it was past noon, and said to himself: "Shang, bless me Zhao Jun!" ”

Then he said to the adjutant general beside him: "Pass my general's order, order the 200,000 troops on the left and right flanks to send out to reinforce our army in front." Today, we must break through the barriers of the Qin army and the west bank of the Danshui River, and there must be no delay. ”

The deputy general hurriedly bowed to Zhao Kuo and said, "No." ”

The commander of the Qin army, Bai Qi, and the deputy general Wang Yi also walked out of the big tent at this time, stood on the top of the mountain, and looked at the battlefield to the east.

A scout came galloping on horseback, walked up to the two of them, knelt down on one knee and reported: "General Qiyu, now the Zhao army has 100,000 people on the left and right wings, and has launched a fierce attack on the fortress of our Qin army. ”

Bai Qi looked at the battlefield in the distance, pondered for a moment, and said to the deputy general Wang Di: "Now that the Zhao army has mobilized an army of 300,000, it seems that this general Zhao Kuo has not the slightest temptation at all, and he wants to fight with my Qin army to determine the victory!" ”

Pointing to the cavalry of the Zhao army on the battlefield in the distance, he said to Wang Ji: "Look, now the cavalry of the Zhao army has been used as infantry to fight in close combat with our Qin army." Well, that's good! ”

At present, the cavalry of the Central Plains countries, because they do not use saddles, stirrups, horseshoes and other equipment of the Liao cavalry, cannot shoot at a long distance like the cavalry of the Liao army, and do not need to dismount to fight at close range with the enemy. The way of fighting is still the same as that of the cavalry of the Xiongnu and Donghu, attacking first, and when they can't rush, they dismount and become infantry, and fight the enemy in close combat.

At this point, Bai Qi sneered and said to Wang Yu: "General Wang, since this is the case, you have fulfilled the wish of our young General Zhao Kuo!" Let's follow the strategy we made the day before yesterday! ”

The deputy general Wang Yi also laughed, clasped his fists and bowed to the dialogue: "No." ”

If it is the general of Liaodi, Rong Yan is here, he will definitely be: "These cavalry of your Zhao State are too "vegetable". ”

The two counties of Qin and Zhao were in the west of the Danshui River, and the battle lasted until the afternoon, and the battle was not over.

Zhao Kuo, who was at the top of Hanwang Mountain, was extremely impatient and walked around. At this moment, a lieutenant cavalry came to report: "Report, general, my three armies have defeated the Qin army in front. The Qin army was defeated and withdrew to the rear, and our army was about to attack the Qin army's western barrier on the Danshui River. ”

Vice General Zhao Jun was beside him, clasped his fists and bowed to Zhao Kuo and said, "General, Lian Po has not moved for three years. Now the general ordered my Zhao army, cross the Danshui River to the west, and attack the Qin army, but the Qin army was caught off guard and was defeated by our army! ”

After listening to the report of the scout captain, the stone in Zhao Kuo's heart was finally put down. After hearing the deputy general like this again, Zhao Kuo didn't know what to remember, and said to the deputy general with a smile: "You, if Qin Guowu Anjun is here, what will he do?" ”

The deputy general was stunned for a moment, and said to Zhao Kuo: "General, when I set off from Handan, I heard that Qin State Wu Anjun has been sick for three years, and he is about to die!" The general doesn't have to think about Wu Anjun anymore. ”

Zhao Kuo nodded, looked at the battlefield in the distance, and said to the deputy general: "The strength of the Qin army is comparable to the strength of our Zhao army, and its reinforcements will come soon." ”

At this point, his brows furrowed slightly, and he said to the adjutant general in a loud voice: "Pass the order, order our army to capture all the walls in the west of the Danshui River of the Qin army today, and there must be no business!" ”

The adjutant general hurriedly said: "No." ”

When it was about to be dark, the left, right, and middle armies of the Zhao army finally broke through the first wall built by the Qin army on the west bank of the Danshui River. The Zhao army was the first to fight against the Qin army, and it can be said that it was a complete victory.

The Zhao army, which broke into the Qin army's barrier, found that inside the barrier, the Qin army's granary was empty. The front-line generals of the Zhao army immediately sent scouts to inform the commander Zhao Kuo of the news.

After hearing this, Deputy General Zhao Jun said to Zhao Kuo: "General, it turns out that the Qin army has already run out of food. It turns out that we saw the Qin army camp before, with smoke curling, but we deliberately confused our army! ”

When Zhao Kuo heard this, he asked the captain who came to report, "Where is the Qin army retreating now?" ”

The scout lieutenant replied: "General Qiyu, now the Qin army has retreated to Laomaling, in the direction of the Kongcangling defense line. ”

Zhao Kuo laughed and said to the generals: "Generals, our army is brave and has broken through the barrier west of the Danshui River of the Qin army, and I will personally go to help my Zhao army." This time, as long as our army breaks through the Qin army's Laomaling barrier again, it will be a great success. ”

At this point, Zhao Kuo ordered: "Someone come, pass my order, stay in Daliangshan with 40,000 troops, and take care of our army's grain, grass and military resources." The rest of the 400,000 troops all went out with me and went straight to Laomaling. ”

The generals of the Zhao army under the original leadership of Lian Po dissuaded Zhao Kuo and said: "General, our army and the Qin army have been in confrontation with the party for three years, and the Qin army has never been as vulnerable as it is now. Such a defeat, I'm afraid there is fraud? Our army is still heart-oriented. ”

Zhao Kuo didn't listen, laughed, and said to the generals: "Just Wang Yu, what is there to be afraid of?" Take my helmet, and I will pursue it while I am victorious. ”

Immediately, Zhao Kuo led the Zhao army of 400,000, all of which crossed the defense line of the Danshui River and pursued towards Laomaling, where the Qin army retreated.

Da Yan Gongzi