Zhaoli showed a frightened face, hurriedly bowed three times, and responded: "The king, the father and son will never dare to live up to the king's expectations. It's just that the current situation, Hanzhong is related to the defense of Danxi, once Hanzhong is lost, the Qin army will inevitably go down the river, go straight to the rear of the Danxi defense line, and then flank the Chu army located in Danxi.

Therefore, my father thought that in this war, Hanzhong would inevitably be attacked by the Qin State..."

When Xiong Huai heard this, he immediately said angrily: "Knowing this, why does General Zhaorat still want to resign? Now that there is no one available in the hands of the widow, General Zhaorat does not guard Hanzhong, does he want the widow to go to guard Hanzhong in person? ”

"Death penalty!" Zhao Li listened to the reproach of the king of Chu, and immediately bowed again, and cried anxiously: "King, my father's resignation is just for the Danxi defense line!"

My father is old, and as early as two years ago, I already felt that my body was not as good as before, and my energy was low. It's just that at that time, the king was preparing to cut Yue, and Qin and Chu were on good terms, and Hanzhong and Nanzheng had been peaceful, so my father never asked to resign.

However, this time the Qin State would inevitably send troops to attack Hanzhong, and the father of the family was afraid that there would be a gap in the defense line carefully arranged by the king because of himself, so he did not dare not resign. ”

As he spoke, Zhao Li took out two silk books from his body, then lowered his head, presented the silk books with both hands, and said: "King, this is a letter from my father to his ministers in the past two years, which has repeatedly mentioned that the body is old and weak, and I am afraid that it will not be long enough!"

Therefore, although my father intended to die on the battlefield in order to repay the king's kindness. However, it should be death on the way to attack other countries, and if it dies on the battlefield to be defended, it is not what my father wants.

Therefore, the minister is filial piety for his father, and the other is loyal to the king, intending to risk the infamy of disloyalty and unfilial piety, and specially ask the king to allow his father to return to the field, and choose another merit to guard Hanzhong. ”

Xiong Huai was stunned, then took the letter from Zhao Li from Li Qiu's hand, and opened the letter suspiciously.

Sure enough, the content of the two letters was that Zhao Rat missed Yingdu, missed his family, and was old and weak.

Then, Xiong Huai looked at the ink on the silk book again, there was no fresh color, it was obviously a family letter from a long time ago, not made today.

Especially the letter to the family with a slightly fresh ink, Zhao Rat was already asking Zhao Li if his cemetery and funeral goods had been prepared, as if he was arranging the future.

Seeing this, Xiong Huai was stunned for a moment, and then sighed: "General Zhao Rat has never mentioned his illness to the widow, but he wants the widow to prepare for the destruction of Yue, Zhao Rat loves the widow!"

The widow failed to notice this, which is a dereliction of duty on the part of the widow! ”

When Zhao Li heard that the king of Chu was relieved, he immediately cried with joy: "Does the king want to allow his father to tell the old man?" ”

Xiong Huai glanced at the expectant Zhaoli, then shook his head and said, "No!" ”

Zhao Li stiffened and said hurriedly: "King, why is this?" ”

Xiong Huai sighed: "It's not a widow with a hard heart, but there is really no one in the court." If the Qin State decided to attack Hanzhong, it would inevitably send famous generals and elite soldiers. Therefore, if the widow wants to defend against the Qin army, he must have a famous general. However, at this time, there was no one available at all. ”

Speaking of this, Xiong Huai said helplessly: "The Danxi defense line, the widow even invited the young Ye Gong out of the mountain, and between the Danshui and the Xishui, there is not a single general in the court, and they all rely on the defense of the feudal lords from all over the country. At this time, where is there a famous general who can replace General Zhaoling! ”

After speaking, Xiong Huai hesitated, worried that Zhao Rat would have to resign for the third time, so he ordered Jing Li: "Ling Yin, pass on the widow's edict to General Zhao Rat, and the widow still does not allow General Zhao Rat to resign."

In addition, the widow decided to inspect Hanshui in three days, and asked the generals to be ready to greet him! ”

As soon as the words fell, Jing Li and Zhaoli suddenly showed a look of horror.

Jing Li immediately persuaded: "King, now that all countries are coming, at this time, the king should be in charge of Yingdu, in charge of the overall situation, and he should not leave Yingdu lightly." ”

At the same time, Zhao Li also said in fear: "King, the minister is guilty of death. But the body of the king of ten thousand gold, how can he go to Hanzhong at this time. The minister passed on the letter to the father, so that the father would dispel the idea of resignation and ask the king to sit in Yingdu! ”

Xiong Huai shook his head and said with a firm face: "The widow's mind has been decided, so General Yin doesn't need to persuade him anymore." ”

Saying that, Xiong Huai ordered: "Spread the edict of the widow, use the crown prince to supervise the country, and Ling Yin Jingli as the auxiliary to handle state affairs."

Sent an order to prepare the assassin and the rhino head, and went to Hanzhong with the widow three days later. ”

······

Three days later.

Xiong Huai took thousands of people from Yingdu, entered the Han River through Yunmeng, and then went upstream.

It took several days of hard work, and when I arrived at the territory of Shangyong, the water suddenly became turbulent.

At this time, Xiong Huai and Gongsun Yan Chen Zhen stood on the boat, looking at the mountains on both sides of the river, like cliffs, the river bank under the mountain is extremely narrow, although the passage of the army is quite smooth, but it is difficult to put up a position.

Even, in some dangerous places, only a few hundred people need to defend it, and tens of thousands of troops from the downstream can be stopped.

When Xiong Huai saw this, he couldn't help but hesitate, if the Chu State lost its mediocrity and the Qin State occupied this place, then how could the Chu State take back this place?

Thinking about it, Xiong Huai couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "It's dangerous." In the past, if it weren't for the Yongguo taking advantage of my famine and raising a large army to attack Chu, so that the country was empty, I am afraid that King Zhuang would not be able to easily destroy the Yongguo! If the Yong State is guarding the Han River, how can the Chu State destroy the Yong State even if it has a million soldiers. ”

Chen Zhen noticed the gloom in the eyes of the King of Chu, and thought that the King of Chu was worried about the next attack of various countries, so he immediately spoke: "Great King, in the past, the Yongguo invaded Chu and won great victories one after another, almost forcing King Zhuang to move the capital. However, the state of Chu was united and set a strategy to lure the enemy into depth, and finally was able to destroy Yong in a battle. This is just like now, although the countries are strong, our Chu army has long been prepared, and the final victory will definitely belong to us! ”

Gongsun Yan continued: "Great King, it is the time when the Yong State is strong, the Chu State has gone through a great turmoil, and the King Zhuang has been on the throne for several years, and there is a famine, so the Yong State can call on all countries to attack Chu. The situation is the same today, all countries take advantage of Chu's predicament, follow the example of Yongguo, go all out, and do their best to defeat Chu. ”

Saying that, Gongsun Yan sighed again: "However, the four seasons are changing, the strength and weakness are changeable, and the mediocre countries and countries have forgotten the truth that the times are constantly changing. In the past, the state of Chu repeatedly failed to fight against Yong, not only because Yongguo was strong, but also because Yongguo occupied a favorable geographical position.

When Yongguo gave up its geographical advantages and entered the hinterland of Chu, it was the beginning of Yongguo's defeat. What's more, Yongguo has won many battles, and he only stares at Chu in front of him, but forgets that danger is often not in front of him, but from behind. Therefore, as soon as Qin and Pakistan sent troops, the Yong State perished. ”

Speaking of this, Gongsun Yan arched his hand and said: "Great King, the current situation is the same, the countries jointly attack Chu, it seems to be powerful, but the enemies of the countries are not only from the Chu State, not only from within the countries, but also from the back of the countries. As long as our Chu army holds out for a year and a half, and when the veterans of various divisions are tired, it will be the time for our Chu army to counterattack.

At that time, all countries were like the former Yong countries, which were captured by our Chu State. ”

Xiong Huai saw that Gongsun Yan never forgot to boost morale, and immediately laughed: "The rhino head is reasonable, sooner or later, all countries will be captured by widows!" ”

Although Xiong Huai laughed, the melancholy in his eyes never disappeared.