Outside the western city of Xiangguo, ten cavalry of the Zhao army carried out the final competition here, and horsemanship, riding archery, and hand-to-hand combat on horseback were the three major items of competition.

The top ten are the most elite among the cavalry, the level is relatively close, and the competition is very "fierce".

The generals of the Zhao army were observing, and whenever there was a wonderful performance, they would cheer and applaud.

Zhao Xie was also looking at the soldiers on the field, these ten people were skilled in bowing and horses, and in the period when there were no stirrups, it was difficult to train to such an extent.

After fierce competition, the final winner was decided, and the first place was surrounded by the soldiers, cheering for him and congratulating him.

In front of the stage, the top ten soldiers of the three major projects, a total of thirty people, were neatly arranged here, everyone was excited, they were the best of the non-commissioned officers, and they were about to be promoted.

On the stage, Zhao Xie, Li Zuoche and related personnel are here.

The military selection and cleaning officer division of the military department opened the cloth in his hand and read out the list of personnel.

"In this big competition, the top ten pawns are: Qiu Wuliang ......"

"The top 10 crossbowmen are: Jia ......"

"The top ten cavalry are: Qian Fan, Liu Zang, Fan Lian ......"

After the list is read out, the corresponding promotion decision will be read out.

"Qian Fan is the military Sima, Liu Zang, Fan Lian, Jia Yuan, and Qiu Wuliang are the military ......"

When the soldiers heard their names and positions, they were excited.

As the strongest branch of the army, the cavalry can be promoted to a higher position, the first place is appointed as the military commander, the 2nd-5th is the military candidate, and the 6th-10th is the Dubo. The first foot soldier and crossbow bearer is the military candidate, the second to fifth is Dub, and the sixth to the tenth is the chief.

The people of the Ministry of War have taken the relevant items to the scene, and the letter of appointment was written on the spot, and then signed by Li Zuoche and the Wuxuan Qing Officials Division, and then stamped with the seal of the Ministry of War.

Qian Fan was the first in riding, riding archery, and hand-to-hand combat on horseback, and on his appointment letter, there was also Zhao Xie's signature and Zhao Wang's seal seal.

According to the military system formulated by Zhao Xie, the position of military attache above the rank of military commander must be signed and sealed by the king of Zhao to be effective, and Zhao Xie wanted to prevent the imperial lieutenant from having too much power and appointing military generals privately.

Thirty people went up to the platform, and Zhao Xie personally issued them letters of appointment.

Qian Fan is not tall, but he is extremely strong, he is full of energy, he knelt down on one knee to take the appointment letter, every movement gives people a sense of strength.

After all 30 people received the letters of appointment, they went down to the Jiangtai and returned to their original positions.

"Soldiers, as long as you practice your skills well and make meritorious contributions on the battlefield, you will have the opportunity to become a general. Those who didn't get good results this time will soon have the opportunity to make meritorious contributions! ”

Meritorious service? The soldiers wondered.

Immediately, Li Zuoche told Xiang Yu about the attack led by the army, and the emotions of the generals were suddenly ignited, and many people showed angry expressions on their faces.

Zhao Xie said loudly again: "Soldiers, what should we do when the Chu army is coming?" ”

As soon as the words fell, Zhuo Zhongkai first said loudly: "Defeat the Chu army and shake my mountains and rivers!" ”

"Defeat the Chu army and shake my mountains and rivers!"

"Defeat the Chu army and shake my mountains and rivers!"

"Defeat the Chu army and shake my mountains and rivers!"

………

The soldiers shouted slogans, and the loud voices resounded in the sky, and the morale of the soldiers was like a rainbow, and their fighting spirit was high, and they swore to defend the country to the death.

Immediately afterwards, Zhao Xie appointed Li Zuoche as the commander of the army and set out tomorrow. Li Zuoche was dismissed from his position as a lieutenant, and Zhao Xie was temporarily directly in charge of the military department.

After returning to the palace, Zhao Xie summoned Yin Yun and He Yan. He first asked the two of them who would be willing to send an envoy to Qi to persuade Tian Heng to send troops to attack the Chu army from the east and set off tomorrow.

Yin Yun stood in place and did not react, he had no intention of sending an envoy to Qi at all.

"The king, if you are willing to go, you must persuade Tian Heng and King Qi!"

He Yan volunteered that he would not miss the opportunity to carry out the mission.

Those who serve as soldiers can go to the battlefield to kill the enemy and make meritorious contributions, and civilian officials have different ways of evaluating their merits.

Zhao Xie looked at Yin Yun and said, "As the secretary of the Ministry of Rites, it is your duty to contact other countries to deal with the enemy together when the country needs it. ”

Yin Yun said: "My king, the minister has to take charge of many official affairs of the Ministry of Rites, since He Xian is willing to go, let him go." ”

For this kind of mediocre and inactive people, Zhao Xie will find an opportunity to remove him, but now there is no suitable person to come up, so he will be temporarily mixed for a while.

Zhao Xie asked Yin Yun to step down, and then instructed He Yi.

He Xian promised King Zhao that he would definitely complete the task.

The next morning, the sky was overcast, the cold wind was still bitter, and the temperature seemed to be lower.

Outside the west gate of Xiangguo, the banner is unfurled, the armor is distinct, the war horse is high, 40,000 Zhao soldiers and soldiers gather here, a total of 33,000 foot soldiers, 7,000 cavalry.

Zhao Xie and Li Zuoche are still on the platform, and the main generals are standing in front of the platform, mainly Zhuo Zhongkai, Ouyang Ling, Meng Tong, Wen Shidi, Qin Tong, Xiao Ping, Yao Long and others.

At the end of the hour, the army set off in a mighty way.

The 10,000 soldiers and horses that were temporarily transferred from Jingcheng would go directly to the south to join the main force after setting off, and accept the command of Li Zuoche.

——————

Handan County, south bank of Zhangshui.

A large number of Chu soldiers arrived here.

The north wind was howling, and the sky was snowing like goose feathers.

The winter was cold, and although the Chu army put on warm clothes before going to battle, even so, many soldiers still felt the chill.

The leader of the person, with a black horse under his crotch, was wearing black gold armor, holding a dragon halberd, and wearing a tiger skin red robe, not afraid of the cold wind.

He looked at the Great Wall in the distance, and could vaguely see the flags fluttering in the wind on the city wall and the soldiers standing guard.

He looked at the Zhangshui River again, and the surface of the river was already partially frozen. If it is in the Yan Kingdom, it is normal for the river to freeze in winter, and it is rare to see this phenomenon on the southern border of the Zhao Kingdom.

Xiang Zhuang behind him patted the snowflakes on his shoulders and complained: "This ghost weather, why is it so cold!" As he spoke, a chill came out of his mouth.

Although it is known to be cold in winter, it has rarely been cold to this extent at this time in the past.

Ji Bu took the opportunity to say: "King Xiang, the soldiers of our army are all southerners, and they are not used to such cold weather, so it is better to withdraw the troops for the time being, and then make plans in the future." ”

As long as he has the opportunity, he will advise Xiang Yu.

Xiang Yu said: "Since you are here, how can you return in vain." It's cold, how can it be difficult for our army. ”

Ji Bu said: "King Xiang, you are an iron body, naturally you are not afraid of the cold, and the last general is not afraid either." But the soldiers can't! ”

Xiang Yu did not respond to his exhortation, turned to the generals and said: "Launching a direct attack on the Great Wall is bound to cause heavy casualties, we will bypass the Great Wall to the east, as long as we cross the Zhangshui River, the victory will be in hand." I must slaughter Zhao Xie with my own hands. ”

There was an angry look in his eyes.

Xiang Yu immediately issued an order, and the army marched eastward.