After discovering that Chao Zhi, the chief general of the Qin army, should be very promising, he carefully pondered and calculated for half a night, and the next day was just after dawn, Xiang Kang immediately found his two right-hand men in internal affairs, Zhou Zeng and Sun Gong, and asked Xu Shu to tell Zhou and Sun the details of his envoy to the enemy camp and consult their opinions.

Like Xiang Kang, Zhou Zeng and Sun Gong also noticed the details of whether there were others around when Chao directly met Xu Shu, and after getting a negative answer, Zhou Zeng also immediately applauded the case, and said happily: "Okay!" Chao Zhi's heart is moved! Although he didn't directly agree, his arrangements and response words obviously left a way back, obviously leaving a way out for himself just in case. ”

"The subordinates think so too." Sun Gong chimed in: "If Chao Zhi is really loyal to the tyrannical Qin court, then he should prove his determination by beheading our surrender envoy to show the public, or sending him into a prisoner's car to take care of him." But not only did he not do this, but on the contrary, he also received our envoy alone behind his subordinates' back, which is enough to prove that his heart was already shaking, and he was afraid that the tyrannical Qin court would investigate his guilt, so he deliberately did not do the thing, leaving a way out for himself. ”

Zhou Zeng and Sun Gong's analysis was exactly what Xiang Kang was thinking, after listening to their words, Xiang Kang nodded his head loudly, and first let Xu Shu go down to rest, and then said with a smile: "Uncle Ya, Sun Xiancheng, then in your opinion, what should we do next?" ”

"Send someone to surrender again." Zhou Zeng couldn't wait to say: "Since Chao Zhi has been shaken, we should strike while the iron is hot, and then send someone to persuade him to surrender, and also add some rewards promised to him, so as to make him make up his mind quickly." ”

"I'm afraid it won't work." Xiang Kang, who has always been very assertive, shook his head and said: "At most, this can only make Chao Zhi more shaken, there is no way to make him completely make up his mind, and it is useless to reward him more, on the contrary, it may make his appetite bigger and bigger, to the point that we can't be satisfied." ”

"So what should I do?" Zhou Zeng was indeed inferior to Xiang Kang in terms of conspiracy and trickery, so he could only ask rhetorically: "Young Marshal, is there any way you can make Chao Zhi make up his mind as soon as possible and make up his mind?" ”

"It's definitely not enough to make a fuss about Chao Zhi alone." Xiang Kang smiled and said: "If we want Chao Zhi to make up this mind and make up this mind, in addition to continuing to contact Chao Zhi to persuade him to surrender, we have to make a fuss in two other aspects." ”

"Those two?" Zhou Zeng hurriedly asked.

"The first is, of course, the battlefield." Xiang Kang said confidently: "We must continue to exert pressure on Chao Zhi on the battlefield, strive to take advantage of our current local strength advantage, and fight one or two more decent victories, so that Chao Zhi will have no way to explain when he goes back, so that it will be easier to recruit him." In addition, when Chao Zhi led them to surrender to us, they were more easily acceptable. ”

"Young marshal, what about the second?" This time it was Sun Gong who asked.

"The second is consideration." Xiang Kang said lightly: "As long as we let the concerned Guansi know that Chao Zhi has given birth to a different heart and is ready to surrender to us with the army, the concerned Guansi will definitely take action against Chao Zhi, or order Chao Zhi to withdraw immediately, or change the general in battle, remove Chao Zhi and replace him with another main general, but no matter which choice the Guansi makes, it is equivalent to directly pronouncing Chao Zhi's death sentence." Chao Zhi knew that he would definitely not end well when he went back, so he could only choose to surrender to us. ”

"It's a good idea, but how do you do it?" Zhou Zeng frowned and said, "What kind of means should be used to let the county temple know that Chao Zhi has become suspicious?" We don't have any contact with the counterpart, so we can't send the news over? ”

"Uncle Ya doesn't have to worry, I've already thought about how to do it." Xiang Kang smiled again, first asked his bookstore to bring a few books, and then said to Zhou Zeng: "Uncle Ya, these documents are found by me in the official documents you left before, and they all have Chao Zhi's autograph on them, Uncle Ya, can you imitate Chao Zhi's handwriting and forge a letter from him?" ”

Zhou Zeng, who is good at calligraphy, hurriedly took a closer look, but after looking at it for a while, Zhou Zeng said in embarrassment: "Young marshal, I'm afraid this can't be done, it's all just his autograph, there is no other text, if you want to forge it, you can only forge his signature at most." ”

"It's okay, just imitate his signature." Xiang Kang waved his hand magnanimously, turned to Sun Gong and said, "Sun Xiancheng, I am worried that you will personally pick up the pen and write a letter to his wife in a straight tone, saying that he has decided to surrender to us and join forces with us to overthrow the tyrannical Qin." Besides, the person who sent the letter was the one he asked us to send to pick up his wife, so that when his wife saw the letter, she would immediately take Xi Rou and her family with the messenger, and come to the next minister to enjoy happiness with him. ”

After that, Xiang Kang pointed out again: "Remember, when mentioning Chao Zhi's family, the tone should be as vague as possible, and it is best to mention it directly. Because we don't know how many children and daughters Chao Zhi's family has, we can't show any flaws in this. ”

Sun Gong agreed, hurriedly picked up the pen and brewed, racked his brains in a straight tone, and wrote a letter to the yellow-faced woman of Chao Zhi's family with some vague sentences but not revealing flaws. Xiang Kang saw that the content was exactly the same as his requirements, and he was busy asking Zhou Zeng, who was good at calligraphy, to pick up the pen, and imitated the handwriting and signed Chao Zhi's name at the end of the letter. And after Zhou County's order was written, he refused to rest assured, and said: "Young marshal, isn't it better to forge a straight seal and stamp it out, so that it looks even more flawless?" ”

Xiang Kang smiled and said, "The seal is already being carved, if nothing happens, it will be delivered in a while." ”

Zhou Zeng laughed when he heard it, and quickly gave Xiang Kang a thumbs up, but Sun Gong next to him was very puzzled and asked, "Young marshal, can you take the liberty of asking?" Do you want your subordinates to forge this letter with Zhou Saijiu, are you going to send it there? ”

"Of course, it will be sent to the city of Zhizhi and handed over to Chao Zhi's wife." Xiang Kang replied casually.

"But what's the point?" Sun Gong was puzzled and said, "What if Chao Zhi's wife believes it and really brings the child with the people we sent?" ”

"Wouldn't that be better?" Xiang Kang laughed when he heard this, and said with a smile: "Chao Zhi's wife suddenly ran away with her children, and the people who were worried about it couldn't stop and catch it, what will the people of the Guansi Temple think and think?" Chao Zhi's wife and children were caught by people who were worried about it on the road, and they asked for confessions and found letters, what would the people who were worried about the official temple think and think? ”

"Also, it doesn't matter if this letter is not delivered to Chao Zhi's wife, and it doesn't even matter if the person we sent to pick up Chao Zhi's wife is caught by the official mission." Xiang Kang's smile became treacherous again, and he said with a treacherous smile: "As long as this letter falls into the hands of the Imperial Authority, it will definitely be reported to the county order immediately-Sun Xiancheng, if you are the county order, what would you think and what would you do if you saw this letter?" ”

Sun Gong suddenly realized, and hurriedly threw his hand to Xiang Kang, admiring Xiang Kang's ruthlessness and despicability to the ground. And Zhou Zeng, who was next to him, was once again amazed in admiration, and hurriedly asked: "Young marshal, who will send this letter over?" ”

"This time, we have to make a fake show, send a person who doesn't know the inside story, and bring two prisoners of thought who surrendered to us after being captured to deliver a letter." Xiang Kang said: "Uncle Ya, Sun Xiancheng, you recommend me a little official again, don't want him to have much ability, as long as he is serious and gives him the messenger, he will do his best to do it." Of course, I will not treat him badly, and if he does not come back, I will not only treat his family well, but also try my best to save him. ”

Zhou Zeng and Sun Xian Ling agreed, and after discussing in a low voice for a while, they quickly recommended a small official who met the requirements to Xiang Kang, Xiang Kang did not hesitate, and was busy sending someone to summon the little official to meet, reassuring him with kind words, and promising him a heavy reward, so that he could carry out this dangerous task, while sending Xiang It to select two prisoners of war who voluntarily surrendered to meet them, and ordered them to follow this little official back to take care and secretly welcome Chao Zhi's family back to the next minister. During this period, the forged wooden seal carved by Xiang Kang was indeed delivered to him, and Xiang Kang personally stamped the forged seal of Chao Zhi on the fake letter.

After all this was arranged, the time was close to noon, and Xiang Kang also remembered to ask Xiang Yang, who was in charge of the self-army sentry work, "Xiang Yang, how is the situation outside?" On the side of the Tyrannical Qin army, have there been any moves? ”

"Returning to the young marshal, there is no action." Xiang Yang replied truthfully: "Except for sending a convoy to the Surabaya River in the morning to draw water, and then there is no brigade of soldiers and horses out of the camp, but the Tyrannical Qin army has not been idle, and has been taking turns digging deep trenches and building camp walls, and I don't know what I want to do?" ”

"Learn a little, this is preparing for a long time." Xiang Kang pointed out: "Chao Zhi's violent Qin army is already at a disadvantage in terms of strength, and there is no way to launch a siege, and it does not dare to retreat, so it can only strengthen the fortifications and prepare for a long-term confrontation with us." ”

"Young marshal, what is the purpose and purpose of their doing this?" Xiang Yang asked curiously.

"The long-term confrontation between the armies has a lot of effects, and I will tell you slowly later." Xiang Kang didn't have time to explain the way of using troops to his clan brothers one by one, so he just smiled and said: "But he Chao Zhi now chooses to confront us for a long time, with only one purpose, that is, to hope that the county army of Surabaya County will come over to reinforce him and help him conquer Xiangcheng." ”

"Chao Zhipifu is waiting for reinforcements?" Xiang Yang asked suspiciously.

"Of course, this is also the only way for him to live except to surrender." Xiang Kang smiled and said: "Only when the reinforcements arrive, he will have the opportunity to follow the reinforcements to break the Xia Xiangcheng meritorious service and atone for his crimes, otherwise, if he retreats at this time, it will be a dead end." Therefore, he can neither attack the city with a weak attack or take the initiative to retreat to his own death, only by setting up camp and holding on is his only way to survive! ”

Xiang Yang suddenly realized, just wanted to praise the clan brother for his outstanding insight, but he expected the enemy to be like a god, but he never thought that Zhou Zeng next to him said in a lost voice: "Isn't that bad?!" Young marshal, you just said before that you must continue to put pressure on Chao Zhi on the battlefield, strive to win one or two more battles, and let him go back and have no way to explain. Now Chao Zhi is determined to set up a camp and defend it for a long time, even if we send troops to challenge, it is impossible for him to send troops to meet the battle, and he will only rely on the camp to defend it? So how do we try to win one or two more battles? ”

"Uncle Ya, don't worry, I've already thought about this, and I've already prepared a way to deal with it." Xiang Kang smiled more confidently, and said with a smile: "Uncle Ya, have you paid attention?" When Xiang Yang reported to me on the enemy situation just now, he once said that Chao Zhi sent a convoy to the Surabaya River to draw water in the morning? ”

Xiang Kang reminded him that Zhou Zeng remembered that when Xiang Yang reported the enemy situation before, he did say that Chao Zhi had sent a convoy to draw water by the Surabaya River, and he immediately came to his senses and said: "Young marshal, is there no water source in the place where Chao Zhi Pifu is camped?" ”

"Nope." Xiang Kang smiled and said: "Maybe he was afraid that I would attack with water, so he chose the camp on a high ground, which is still far away from the river, so he can only send a convoy to the Surabaya River every morning and evening to pull the water in his camp." ”

"Young Marshal, do you want to surround Chao Zhi's camp, cut off his water road, and force him to fight?!"

Zhou Zeng came to his senses, but unfortunately, Xiang Kang shook his head and said: "Bing Shuyun: Attack it twice, surround it with five, and annihilate it with ten." Our current strength is only a few hundred more than Chao Zhi's, not even double, and it is impossible to surround his camp. ”

"What are you going to do, young marshal?" Zhou Zeng changed his tone and asked.

"Fuel war." Xiang Kang replied very generally, and said: "Light the fire first, and then add fuel and firewood little by little, and expand the fire to the point where it can't be controlled, and at that time, Chao Zhi can't even fight us if he doesn't want to!" ”

…………

Another night passed, and in the early morning of the next day, as a few days ago, after breakfast, a hundred-man team of the Qin army drove forty wagons full of empty barrels out of the camp gate, and rushed to the west of the Surabaya River to draw water, and as a few days ago, only one or two scouts of the young marshal's army wandered a few miles away in the north, watching them go out of the camp to get water, and did not dare to come up to stop them, while the hundred-man team of the Qin army calmly drove the carriage to the river, and there were talking and laughing to draw water and load the carts, Calm as always.

Today's situation suddenly changed a little, the south gate of the lower prime minister was suddenly opened, and about fifty or so cavalry of the young marshal's army rode out of the city gate, trotting all the way to the south unhurriedly, but judging from the way they were advancing, the cavalry of the young marshal army seemed to be preparing to go to the Qin army camp, so the Qin army hundred-man team that was drawing water was not in a hurry to retreat, but continued to draw water, while carefully observing the movements of the cavalry of the young marshal's army - in the era when there were no stirrups, there were only about fifty cavalry, There was no mortal threat to a full team of hundreds, and the main army was not far away, so the Qin army that drew water only needed to prevent the cavalry of the young marshal's army from suddenly charging, and it was not possible to throw down the waterwheel and the horses pulling the cart and retreat quickly.

The cavalry of the young marshal's army really changed a little in the process, gradually adjusted its direction, trotted to the middle of the road back to the camp of the Qin army of Jishui, and restrained the war horse on the spot. The Qin army in the camp also immediately increased their vigilance, who knew that the cavalry of the young marshal army seemed to see through their thoughts, and they all ripped open their throats and shouted: "It's okay, we are not here to fight today, just turn around, you continue to be busy with yours." ”

Having already learned how good the credit of the young marshal army was, the Qin army, who had drawn water, certainly did not dare to take it lightly, but continued to maintain a tight formation, and at the same time blew the horn brought with him to warn the main force in the camp. The result may be that the distrustful attitude of the Qin army angered the young marshal's army, and the sound of horses' hooves came again, and seventy or eighty young marshal cavalry left the city at some point, and quickly marched south, and directly rushed to the Qin army's hundred-man team formed by the river.

As a result, of course, the Qin army camp did not dare to have any slackness, and in the sound of war drums, the two Qin army hundred-man teams that were specially responsible for receiving the water drawing team strode out of the camp, lined up in a neat queue and hurried over to reinforce them. When Dao intercepted more than fifty young marshal cavalry, he didn't dare to stop it, so he could only quickly slap his horse to meet the friendly troops who had just come out of the city, and shouted while transferring, "Don't get me wrong, we are not here to fight today." ”

Not to mention, the cavalry of the young marshal's army really didn't seem to come to fight, and after the two cavalry that had left the city merged into one unit, they quickly restrained their horses outside the Qin army's water drawing team, and watched the Qin army meet from afar. And the Qin army did not dare to slack off, first joined forces with the water drawing team, and then immediately left in a huddle with the carriage that had not yet had time to fill with water. At the same time, in the lower city gate in the north, hundreds of infantry of the young marshal's army ran out in a mess, striding towards the Qin army out of the camp.

"Why are the thieves sending troops again? Quick, speed up and get back to camp. ”

Vaguely aware that the situation was not good, the commander of the Qin army who came out of the camp quickly ordered the army to speed up and return to the camp without thinking, but at this time, the cavalry of the young marshal's army, who had already restrained the war horse, raised their banners, shouted in groups, slapped their horses and whips together, and rushed straight to the Qin army out of the camp, and drew an arc in the charge, and once again blocked the way back to the camp of the Qin army.

At this point, if the Qin army can make a decision immediately, throw down the carriage and immediately scatter and flee, and stride back to the camp, even if they suffer a little loss, they can let most of the soldiers of the three hundred-man teams return to the camp. But it is a pity that the Qin army who left the camp did not want to escape so humiliatingly, and secondly, some of them discarded the forty war horses that were reluctant to pull the waterwheel, and resolutely chose to continue to march in formation, missing the precious opportunity to return to the camp lightly, and also gave time for the infantry of the young marshal army to march south and approaching them.

It was only when the infantry of the young marshal's army was less than five miles away from the Qin army out of the camp that Chao Zhi, who received the news, climbed to the top of the camp and looked down on the entire battlefield condescendingly. Mingjin! Fast! Mingjin retreats! Call back all the troops outside the camp! You idiots, the thieves sent so many troops out of the city, why did you tell me now?! ”