Liu Laosan's psychological quality is strong, and he is definitely the top existence in this era, compared to him, not to mention that Xiang Yu, the overlord of Western Chu, is beyond his reach, even Xiang Kang, the traverser, may have to sigh to himself.

Relying on the cover of night, abandoning the Wang Qi and the defeated army, wearing the clothes of ordinary soldiers, he luckily escaped the pursuit of the Han cavalry, and fled into Yangcheng City in embarrassment, Liu Laosan, who had just lost the main army, not only was not as depressed and desperate as other princes, sad and remorseful, but also did not cry and cry, and was in pain, on the contrary, he laughed in front of everyone, and said proudly: "Xiang Kang little traitor, I didn't expect it, you dispatched so many soldiers and horses, chased and killed so tightly, or let Nai Weng escape to Yangcheng?" Wait, as long as Naiong still has a breath, this great revenge will definitely be doubled back to you! ”

This is not counting, in the afternoon and evening of the second day after the fiasco, seeing that the Han army's pursuers were forced to retreat because they were too tired, Fan Xu, Zhou Bo and Han Xin and others fled back to Yangcheng one after another, Liu Laosan also hugged these henchmen and cronies every time and laughed, and said in a loud voice: "It's good to come back, it's good to come back, Nai Weng is really afraid that your life will be short, and you will be killed by Han thieves on the battlefield." It's good to come back, and when Cao Shen and Lu Xuan's army arrives, let's find the Han thief to take revenge! ”

In the end, when the news of Zhou Cao's death was confirmed, the smile that had been hanging on Liu Laosan's face disappeared temporarily, and he poured a glass of wine with his own hands, slowly poured it in the direction of Zhou Cao's sacrifice, and muttered in his mouth: "Brother Zhou, walk a few steps slowly on Huangquan Road, this king will definitely send your enemy and let him be your companion on the road." ”

Of course, Liu Laosan was forcing a smile and forcibly cheering up the Nanyang Army's civil and military forces and himself, more than 30,000 Nanyang Army officers and soldiers on the battlefield in Ye County, except for more than 2,500 people stationed in Xue Ou's department stationed in Ye County, and in the end there were less than 8,000 people who escaped to Yangcheng. made the Nanyang army even more powerless in the face of the powerful Han army, and completely shattered the hope of the Nanyang army in vain trying to hold on to the city and buy time to wait for Xiang Yu.

But Liu Laosan really didn't despair because of this, nor did he waver because of this, after trying his best to gather the remnants of the defeated army, Liu Laosan quickly made up his mind, "Withdraw the army, take advantage of the fact that the main force of the Han thieves has not yet reached Yangcheng City, first retreat to Wancheng to rest in peace, and then discuss how to find Xiang Kang, the little traitor, to settle accounts." ”

This is not counting, in order to try to maximize the time and slow down the southward speed of the Han army, in the case of a serious shortage of troops, Liu Laosan still adopted Han Xin's suggestion, and decided to let the general Fang Gong lead 2,000 troops to stay in Yangcheng, defend the city to block the Han army from going south, and only bring more than 5,000 remnants of the defeated army to retreat to Wancheng first, at the same time, Liu Laosan clearly told Fang Gong that he wanted Fang Gong to defend to the death after the Han army arrived in Yangcheng, and until the last moment when the Han army entered Yangcheng in a big way, it was absolutely not allowed to abandon the city and break through!

From the beginning of the army to follow Liu Laosan of the prince did not hesitate to accept the task, so far the only successful pit to Liu Laosan Li Ji is also cheeky, offered to go south with the Nanyang army, Fan Xu and Zhou Bo and others although they are red eyes to object, Liu Laosan laughed, not only raised his hands to welcome, but also clearly told Li Ji that after the Western Chu army withdrew to Wancheng, he would immediately provide the Western Chu army with the necessary camp tents and baggage, and the grain and grass military supplies were absolutely indispensable to the Western Chu army.

Of course, Liu Laosan is pretending to be free and easy by doing this, in fact, he has long been eager to swallow Liji alive, but there is no way, the Nanyang Army is now in danger, and he can no longer offend the only Western Chu Army that can be counted on no matter what, so Liu Laosan can only knock out his teeth and swallow blood, pretending to not mind the shameless move of Liji to retreat first, and do his best to continue to retain the Southern Front Corps of the Western Chu Army, and also leave the last hope of the Nanyang Army.

After the fiasco, he set off from Yangcheng at noon on the second day, and it only took a day and a half to travel all the way, and the remnants of the Nanyang Army completed the one hundred and twenty miles from Yangcheng to Wancheng, and then they still saw Xiao Shi, who led the Wancheng officials out of the city to greet him, and Liu Laosan, who was worried, broke out in a gaffe, and yelled at Xiao He: "When is it, what are you doing with these false courtesies?" Is the meal ready? Naion's stomach is already hungry! ”

"Don't worry, the meal has been prepared a long time ago." Xiao He replied humbly and arrogantly, and asked with a strange expression: "But the king's words, His Majesty thinks it is very strange, what is it called making a fuss?" Your Majesty, we went out of the city to greet Yu Li, because of our courtiers' love for you, the king, do you want us to ignore the king, or even abandon you one after another, so that you are happy, the king? ”

Liu Laosan glared at Xiao He angrily, Xiao He looked back at Liu Laosan, his expression was not the slightest fear, and then after a long time, Liu Laosan hugged Xiao He, buried his head on Xiao He's shoulder, and said with a choked voice: "Xiao He, this king lost so badly this time, so miserable." ”

"King, don't take it to heart, victory or defeat is a common thing in soldiers." Xiao He patted Liu Laosan on the shoulder and comforted: "Wancheng is still there, most of the Nanyang land and cities are still there, and Cao Shen's 20,000 army is still there, we still have hope, we can rest for two days, and then we will discuss how to make a comeback." ”

Liu Laosan choked up and agreed, and finally after three days, he cried tears for his Ye County fiasco, and cried so much that he couldn't cry, and Fan Xu, Zhou Bo, Xiahou Ying and others next to him also cried, but Han Xin's face was expressionless, but between his hands clenched into his fists, his nails had already sunk deep into the flesh until he bleed......

Liu Laosan's psychological quality is really good, although he can't help but cry emotionally in front of Xiao He, a little friend of Peixian County, who is in love with his brother, but he just rested in Wancheng for one night, and when it was daytime the next day, Liu Laosan appeared in front of the Nanyang Army with a smile on his face, taking care of all kinds of affairs as usual, and in the evening, he still held a banquet in the palace rebuilt from the Nanyang County Guard, and celebrated the smooth withdrawal of Wancheng with his accomplice lackeys.

During the banquet, taking advantage of the presence of all the decision-makers of the Nanyang Army, Xiao He took the initiative to bring up the topic and wanted to discuss the next action plan with Liu Laosan, but Liu Laosan waved his hand again and again, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, the Han thief is still in Ye County, we still have enough time, don't rush to discuss what to do next, we only drink tonight, we don't discuss military affairs." Come, Xiao Xiangguo, you have worked hard to stay in Wancheng, this king will give you a drink. ”

Liu Laosan may not be so optimistic, when Xiao He had no choice but to raise his glass, a guard suddenly walked up to the main hall quickly, and saluted Liu Laosan: "King Qiyu, Yangcheng is in an emergency, Ye County has been broken by Han thieves the day before yesterday, and General Xue Ou was unfortunately killed." ”

With a bang, the wine glass in Xiao He's hand fell to the ground, and the wine was suddenly spilled all over his body, but Liu Laosan was silent, just turned his gaze to Han Xin, Han Xin understood, and replied: "King, you should send the Yangcheng messenger and ask carefully about the details of Ye County's attack by the Han thieves, what happened in the end, why did the Han thieves take Ye County so quickly?" ”

Liu Laosan nodded immediately, and then soon, the messenger of the Nanyang Army who had just arrived from Yangcheng was reported to the main hall, Liu Laosan personally spoke, and asked, "Tell me quickly, what's going on?" Why was our Ye County attacked by Han thieves so quickly? ”

"Back to the king, the thief is too cunning and shameless." The Yangcheng messenger replied with a sad face: "I heard from our people who fled from Ye County to Yangcheng that the Han thief found a head who looked very similar to you, and sent someone to Ye County, saying that you have been killed by them, and persuaded our Ye County defenders to surrender." Although General Xue refused, because he had cut off contact with our Yangcheng and didn't know the true situation of the king, he thought that the king had really been killed, so he held a funeral ...... for you in Yexian County. ”

"No wonder! The army's heart is scattered, and it is strange that Ye County can still hold it. ”

Han Xin closed his eyes in pain, and immediately guessed the next situation, and then as Han Xin expected, the Yangcheng messenger continued: "...... The day before yesterday, the Han thieves sent troops to attack the city, because our Ye County defenders thought that the king was really gone, and they didn't have the heart to fight again, the Han thief's trebuchet smashed the north gate of Ye County, and there was a rebellion that opened the west gate of Ye County to offer the city to the Han thief, and the Han thief killed into the city of Ye County, General Xue He couldn't resist the enemy, and was beheaded by the Han thief in the street battle, more than 2,000 Ye County defenders, only more than 20 people fled south to Yangcheng to report to us. ”

Liu Laosan was completely silent, but Han Xin asked, "What is the specific situation of the Han thief trebuchet?" In addition to smashing down our towers, what is the damage to our walls? ”

"The Great General forgives the sins." The Yangcheng messenger replied helplessly: "The villain also listened to the people we fled back from, and the specific situation is not very clear. ”

"It's not worth a reference." Han Xin muttered to himself helplessly, but he refused to give up, and hurriedly said to Liu Laosan: "King, you should let the Duke of Fang send our defeated soldiers from Yexian County back, and your subordinates want to ask them about the situation in person." ”

Liu Laosan understood what Han Xin meant, and immediately nodded in agreement, and immediately sent people north overnight to order the Duke of Fang to quickly send those defeated soldiers from Ye County to Wancheng, so that he and Han Xin could ask them about the siege of the Han army in person, so as to judge whether the army could continue to hold the capital of Wancheng. At the same time, Liu Laosan and Han Xin naturally had to let the officers and soldiers of the Nanyang Army immediately start preparing to defend Wancheng, make every effort to strengthen the city defense and hoard all kinds of necessary materials to defend the city.

More than a day later, there was an urgent report from Deng County, saying that more than 20,000 people from Cao Shen and Lu Xuan's department of the Nanyang Army, who had been ordered to go north to participate in the war, had returned to the border of Nanyang County and began to cross the Han River north. Is it to ask Cao Shen and them to continue to go north and concentrate their forces to hold Wancheng? Or should they be stationed in Deng County on the spot and prepare to retreat to the front line of Hanshui? ”

"Back to the king, your subordinates are uncertain now." Han Xin replied helplessly: "According to common sense, it should be our best choice to concentrate our forces to hold our Wancheng national capital, but Your Majesty is extremely worried that the new trebuchet of the Han thieves is too powerful, even the city wall can't resist it, so Your Majesty doesn't dare to make a rash decision now." ”

"This king is also worried about this problem." Liu Laosan scolded with a sad face: "Damn Han thief, it would be good if they took Ye County by force, at least we can let us know the specific situation of their attack on the city with trebuchets, but the Han thieves just relied on opportunism to win Ye County, so it is difficult for us to know their fiction and reality." ”

"The king doesn't need to be in a hurry." Han Xinqiang comforted him: "Count the time, within tomorrow at the latest, our defeated soldiers of Ye County will be able to rush to Wancheng, as long as we ask the siege of the Han thief trebuchet in person, there should be a reference, and it will be too late for us to make a decision then." ”

Unwilling to give up his Wancheng nest from the bottom of his heart, Liu Laosan had no choice but to reluctantly nod, and waited patiently for the defeated troops of Ye County to come to Wancheng to introduce the battle situation in Ye County, and did not rush to order his last main army to stop going north. However, to Liu Laosan and Han Xin's surprise, they waited all day the next day, but they didn't wait for the defeat of Yexian County, which was definitely able to rush to Wancheng, Liu Laosan was puzzled and anxious, so he could only send a messenger north to urge, and also understand the reason by the way.

Fortunately, in the evening of the third day, more than 20 defeated soldiers of the Nanyang Army who escaped from Yexian County finally rushed to Wancheng to return to the team, Liu Laosan and Han Xin hurriedly ordered a summons, Liu Laosan roared at these defeated soldiers as soon as they met, and shouted: "Why are you here now?" What do you eat? One hundred and twenty miles, how did you travel so long? ”

"Back to the king, there is no way to wait for the small ones." The defeated soldiers of the Nanyang army hurriedly replied: "It was the king that your messenger delayed the time first, and delayed outside the city of Yangcheng for most of the day, until it was completely dark before entering the city to give the order, and then we did not venture out of the city until the evening of the next day, so we delayed the time." ”

"The army of the Han thieves surrounded Yangcheng and blocked it so tightly that we didn't dare to go out of the city during the day."

"King, wronged, we have walked fast enough, we set off from Yangcheng last night, and we have covered one hundred and twenty miles in less than a day."

"King, we are more risky than your messenger, the day he arrived in Yangcheng, the main force of the Han thieves had just arrived, and the blockade was not too strict, when we left the city, the Han thieves had already divided their armies and stationed in the south of the city, and we were lucky to be able to bypass the camp of the Han thieves and come here."

Still listened to the explanation of the defeated soldiers of the Nanyang army, Liu Laosan and Han Xin only understood the reason why they were late, it turned out that after the Han army took Yexian, the next day they divided 30,000 troops to go south first, rushed to Yangcheng to camp outside the city, and tightly blocked the road traffic around Yangcheng, resulting in the messenger sent by Liu Laosan could only touch the rope under the city of Yangcheng at night to enter the city, delaying the time of the order, and the defeated soldiers of Yexian County could only venture out of the city until last night, and returned to Wancheng in the south, so they did not arrive in Wancheng until this meeting.

After asking what happened, Liu Laosan of course couldn't blame these soldiers, so he could only change his words and praise them a few words, and then hurriedly asked them about the details of the Han army's trebuchet siege, but it was a pity that because the traitors in Ye County sacrificed the city too quickly, the Han army's trebuchets actually didn't fight for a long time when attacking Ye County, so these Nanyang soldiers who had personally experienced the Battle of Ye County only knew that the Han army quickly smashed the north gate tower of Ye County with boulders, and also destroyed some female walls. It is not clear what the Han trebuchet could really play in siege warfare.

After asking repeatedly for a long time, but still couldn't get any reliable and decent information, Liu Laosan and Han Xin were inevitably disappointed, and they could only give up helplessly, waving their hands to let these dusty Nanyang soldiers go down to rest. More than 20 Nanyang soldiers first saluted and thanked him, and then the leaders of these Nanyang soldiers took out a letter and said: "The king, this is brought by the little ones asked by the general of the fang, the general of the fang, please rest assured, he has killed the messenger of the Han thief who deceived him to open the city, and tightly sealed the four gates of Yangcheng, no one is allowed to enter or leave, and he will definitely defend Yangcheng with all his might, and buy time for Wancheng." ”

"The Han thief envoy who deceived General Fang to open the city?" Han Xin heard that something was wrong, and hurriedly asked, "What do you mean?" How did the Han thief trick General Fang into opening the city? ”

"General Hui, that's right." The messenger replied: "The Han thief envoy pretended to be benevolent and righteous, and entered the city with a white flag, saying that the autumn harvest had begun, so that the residents of Yangcheng City would not delay the harvest of grain, and that they would have food to eat in the coming year. General Fang knew that the Han thief wanted to trick him into opening the city, so that he could take the opportunity to sneak into the city or take the opportunity to attack our Yangcheng, so he personally killed the ...... of the Han thief's envoy with a sword. ”

Before the words of the soldier with the letter were finished, Han Xin's face had already changed greatly, and he hurriedly asked: "Did the Han thief shoot into the city and let the Qianshou residents in Yangcheng City go out of the city to harvest grain at will?" ”

"General, are you an immortal? How do you know? The soldier with the letter was taken aback, and hurriedly said: "I have shot hundreds of letters, all of which have asked the residents of the city to go out of the city to collect grain, and they also said that even if it is our soldier, as long as they take off their military uniforms and only bring farm tools to go out of the city to collect grain, they will not stop them." For this matter, there was a lot of commotion in the city, but fortunately, General Fang was wise and decisive, and immediately ordered the city gate to be blocked, and no one was allowed to leave the city, which suppressed those who made trouble. ”

"What a fool you are!" Liu Laosan wailed out and screamed: "The Han thief is doing this, obviously dividing the hearts of the people of Yangcheng, and also hitting the morale of our army, why didn't he hurry up and agree, and first envelop the people's hearts?" ”

"I'm afraid that the thief calculated the temper of General Fang and knew that he was irritable and reckless, so he used this method to divide the hearts of the people of Yangcheng." Han Xin guessed that this must be related to the intelligence system of the Han army, and sighed with a painful expression: "Yangcheng is over, it can't be defended!" As long as the Han thieves launched an attack on the city, those Qianshou and Yangcheng local soldiers who were in a hurry to go out of the city to collect grain would definitely rise up to meet the Han thieves attacking the city. ”

After sighing, Han Xin said in his heart again: "Originally, it was nothing if Yangcheng was lost, but the Han thief easily took Yangcheng, and we have no way of knowing how much the Han thief's trebuchet can play when attacking the city." In the end, whether to defend Wancheng or not, should you quickly retreat to the front line of Hanshui? ”