On the other side, after Zhao Ju led an army of 30,000 to leave Yingdu, he traveled all the way, and it took half a month to rush to Wudang County in the east of Xunguan.

That night, the Chu army camp outside Wudang County.

"Zhu Guo, Sima Zhengdang, in Xiaxiang Chengjun, have been waiting here for a long time!"

"Xiangchengjun Sima?" Zhao Ju glanced at the seal letter in his hand, and then said with an expressionless face: "I will remember that when the Qin State attacked Fang County that day, Peng Jun fled without a fight, so that Fang County was easily lost.

Xiang Chengjun's fief is also in Fang County, although Xiang Chengjun was left in Yingdu by the king, but Xiang Chengjun's Ling Yin and Sima all have the responsibility of defending the land. After the loss of Fang County, Your Excellency has no news, I thought that you had already served the country with your body, but I didn't want to, but now I actually saw you outside this Wudang County. Saying that, Zhao Ju's eyes suddenly showed a little hesitation, and he hesitated: "Since Your Excellency is not dead, why don't you return to Yingdu to return to the king?" ”

"Also, I wonder where your Excellency has been in the past few months?"

When Zheng Dang heard that Zhao Ju suspected that he had surrendered to the Qin State, his face changed, and he hurriedly bowed: "Zhu Guo, the general died suddenly that day, resulting in the rout of the front line. When Xia and Xiang Chengjun Ling Yin learned of the defeat of the front, the Qin army had already killed not far from Fang County, and Xiang Chengjun was in Yingdu at that time, and I didn't know what to do, so I had to lead the army to Fang County to defend the city.

No, before the guards led by Xia arrived in Fang County, they learned that the news that Peng Jun had fled without a fight came from Fang County, and then the people of Fang County fled one after another. When the Qin army arrived, there were less than 1,000 soldiers in Fang County, and they were lost in a short time, and they fled with the defeated army.

Later, the Qin army took the Shangyong Pass lightly, blocking our retreat, so in desperation, I had to go up the mountain to hide in order to avoid the capture of the Qin army, and hoped that when the Chu army returned to attack Shangyong Hanzhong, they could do their best to wash away the guilt on their bodies. ”

Zhao Ju looked at Zheng Dang in front of him scrutinically, and did not believe his words. After months of no news, who knows if he has really become a thief, or if he has already taken refuge in the Qin State.

Thinking in his heart, but Zhao Ju showed a look of sudden realization on his face: "I see, the general is loyal to the king, and when the general returns to the capital, he will definitely show it to the king." ”

"Xie Zhuguo!"

After a pause, Zhao Ju asked again: "Sima Zheng, I don't know how many soldiers there are under the command of the general at this moment. ”

Zheng Dangying said: "Back to the Zhu Kingdom, at this moment, there are more than 600 elite soldiers in the mountains of the last generals, all of whom are the routs of the Hanzhong Shangyong, and they are collected by the last generals one after another." ”

Saying that, Zheng Dang hesitated for a moment and continued: "It's just that because the Qin State is extremely strict in the upper modest, all the inferior people are short of food and clothing. Fortunately, with the support of some aristocratic merchants, he was able to barely survive in the mountains. ”

Zhao Ju's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked: "There are noble businessmen who are funded, so there are still many people who are loyal to the king and serve the country in Shangyong." ”

Zheng Dang nodded: "Zhuguo, that's exactly the case." The last time the Qin army was defeated and retreated, we wanted to respond to the rhino general, but the rhino head stopped in Wudang County, and then led the troops east without attacking Xunguan to rescue Chen Cheng. I had no choice but to lurk again.

And when the news of the rebellion in Shu Land of Qin came this time, all the officials of Qin State in Shangyong were in a big voice and strengthened their control over various places. However, when I learned about this, we all thought that this was the best time for my Chu State to recover Shangyong Hanzhong, and the king and the princes of the court would definitely not give up this opportunity.

Therefore, he bypassed the pass and came here to wait for the arrival of the Chu army. ”

Saying that, a burning gaze appeared in Zheng Dang's eyes, and he looked at Zhao Ju excitedly and said: "Sure enough, after waiting in Wudang County for five days, Zhu Guo led the army to kill.

The pillar country came so quickly, it must have been the people who were worried about the mediocrity in the king's heart. And my persistence is not in vain. ”

Sighing with emotion, Zheng Dang asked impatiently: "Dare to ask Zhuguo, how many troops does the king plan to send to recover Shangyong Hanzhong this time, I don't know when the follow-up army will arrive." Previously, when Zhu Liji and Gan Mao left from Shangyong, in order to prevent the Chu army from taking the opportunity to attack Shangyong, they left 20,000 heavy troops in Shangyong. If the number of troops is too small, I am worried that the pass will be dangerous, and I am afraid it will be difficult to overcome.

Moreover, now the Qin army has very strict control over the counties of Shangyong, but as long as the king and the Zhu State give an order, we are willing to die for the king. ”

As he spoke, Zheng Dang immediately made a one-knee salute to Zhao Ju.

Zhao Ju looked at Zheng Dang, who was asking for his life, opened his mouth, but didn't say anything, and was speechless for a moment.

It can't be said that this time the king has no intention of recovering Shangyong Hanzhong at all, and the 30,000 army led by himself is all the Chu army, which is only used to contain the Qin army.

After a deep groan, Zhao Ju said calmly: "General, please get up, this general will lead the army to come this time, naturally to recapture Shangyong for the king." It's just that Xunguan is dangerous, and the army is difficult to deploy, so Ben Jiang can only lead an army of 30,000 to lure the Qin army for the time being, hoping to lure the Qin army out of Xunguan. ”

"I see!" Zheng Dang suddenly realized: "Before I went down, I wondered why the Zhu Kingdom only brought 30,000 Chu troops here. ”

Zhao Ju smiled slightly, revealing the image of Zhizhu in his hand. After a pause, he asked again: "General, Xunguan is dangerous, if you want to conquer it at the lowest cost, you have to cooperate with the outside and the outside." Ben will want to know how many loyal ministers from all over the country are still loyal to my Chu State. ”

"Not a few!" Zheng Dang immediately responded: "Zhu State, when the Qin State attacked Hanzhong Shangyong before, the speed of advance was extremely fast, and many nobles had not had time to resist, and Shangyong was lost. Although it only took a very short time for the Qin army to capture Hanzhong Shangyong of the Chu State. However, it was also because the nobles had no time to resist, so the nobles everywhere were all undamaged.

I heard that among the upper ranks, in addition to the more than 600 people in the lower department, the county lieutenant of Changli also retreated to the mountains, with more than 1,000 people in his hands. In addition, there are also the general's routs, and there are also many scattered in the mountains, more than 100 people, less than 10 people, waiting for the opportunity in the mountains. The warriors in the lower hands gathered more than 600 people after absorbing a few defeated soldiers.

Moreover, at this moment, many nobles are looking forward to the arrival of the Chu army, preparing to cooperate with the outside and recover all parts of Shangyong. ”

Zhao Ju nodded, and after a preliminary understanding of the internal situation of Shangyong, he pondered for a while and said, "Okay, General Zheng, this general ordered you to return to Shangyong immediately, and prepare to contact loyal people from all over the country to wait for the opportunity." ”

After that, Zhao Ju caught a glimpse of Zheng Dang's excitement, and said again: "Also, without the order of the general, don't rush into trouble." When the time is ripe, Ben will send someone to inform you. ”

"No."

After Zheng Dang left, Zhao Ju immediately ordered people to go to Shangyong counties to inquire about the news.

For Zheng Dang's words, Zhao Ju did not believe it.

After finishing the order, Zhao Ju shook his head, and suddenly sighed regretfully: "It's a pity! ”

Then, after a moment of silence, he said with a smile: "In this marching battle, there are many people and many people to fight, and there are few people and few people to fight. ”

As he spoke, he ordered in a loud voice to the outside of the tent: "The general will order that tomorrow the whole army will go to challenge outside the Xun Pass." In addition, he sent an order to Yin of Wudang County and asked him to organize the people to stick to Wudang County. ”

"No."