If the army's spirit is unstable, how can it resist the enemy?

Just as the chestnut belly guessed, when the Gu Yi defenders learned about Daiyi, they immediately felt like a slap in the face.

In shock, they cursed and cried desperately.

They felt confused, and they didn't know if Gu Yi, who had fought bloodily and died countless robes for the battle, could still hold on.

They also don't know whether Zhongshan, the important land of Zhao State, will change hands because of the fall of Gu Yi.

Faced with such a situation, Zhao Jia did not hesitate at all and gave the order to retreat.

The camp tent of the commander of the Yan army.

"What, Zhao Jia abandoned the city and left, and Gu Yi has become an empty city?"

When Li Belly learned the news, he was immediately overjoyed, and then shouted: "Quickly occupy Gu Yi and send someone to report to the king!" ”

Today's chestnut belly just wants to obtain military merits and keep his position as the commander of the 400,000 army.

If it continues to delay, after King Yan invites him back to the music room and issues an edict, the chestnut belly will be unable to return to the sky.

"Xiangguo, Zhao Renjun's heart is unstable and he fled in a hurry."

"Why don't we take this opportunity to lead troops to chase and kill and expand the results of the battle?"

Some radical generals of the Yan Kingdom, after learning the news, were immediately ambitious and wanted to drive straight into the whole territory of Zhongshan.

When the chestnut belly heard this, he was also a little moved.

It's just that thinking of Zhao Jia's cunning, chestnut belly hesitated a little.

Seeing this, he hurriedly persuaded: "Since Gu Yi is broken, there is no danger to defend in the whole territory of Zhongshan, and it is expected that where the army passes, it will inevitably be destroyed!" ”

"Moreover, didn't Xiangguo find out that most of the Gu Yi defenders were old and weak?"

"Such a heavy city is guarded by the old and weak, so it can be seen that there is no one in Zhao State, what are we afraid of!"

"Qing Qin commanded 200,000 troops to attack the north, and the battle achievements were impressive, on the other hand, we had 400,000 troops, but few results."

"If we can't take advantage of the situation to quickly occupy the entire Zhongshan, the king will definitely think that we are incompetent, and I hope that the country will make a decision quickly!"

Hearing this, Chestnut's face kept changing, and finally gritted his teeth and agreed.

So, at the same time that the Yan army took Guyi, the chestnut soldiers attacked various cities in Zhongshan in separate ways.

Chestnut belly himself, but he personally led the elite of Yan State, and drove straight south to pursue Zhao Jia.

On the official road, Zhao Jia led the remnants of Gu Yi to retreat.

As he rode on his horse, he felt the pain in his shoulder, and his face turned a little pale.

In this era, the level of medical care is not very good.

In addition, Zhao Jia fought one after another, and escaped from the Yan army without sleep in the past few days, so that the wound collapsed and some infections occurred.

It's not just Zhao Jia.

During the retreat of the Guyi defenders, many wounded soldiers were infected by their wounds and stayed on the road forever, which became a battle exploit for the Yan army to show off.

Of the more than 10,000 Guyi defenders who had escaped, there were less than 8,000 left at this time.

Their faces were full of panic and numbness, and they no longer had the fierce and fearless demeanor of the past.

"Knock knock!"

The faint sound of war drums made Zhao Jia's somewhat dizzy head wake up again.

"Let the brothers hold on, there is Hutuo Water in front, as long as we cross Hutuo Shui, we can rest in Xiyang City!"

Zhao Jia's throat was a little dry, his lips were chapped due to lack of water, and his face was full of dust, without the slightest trace of the demeanor of the son of the past.

I have to say that Zhao Jia's words still have some effect.

The soldiers, who were already numb and exhausted, finally became a little more agile when they heard this.

Even the heavy pace became brisk at this time.

"Childe, the Yan Army's vanguard iron cavalry is closely behind, and the Hutuo water bridge is extremely narrow, if you don't send someone to break the queen, the Yan Army's iron cavalry will suddenly kill us when we cross the river, and the consequences are unimaginable!"

Sima Shang urged the horse forward and whispered.

Although he was angry about Zhao Jia giving up Gu Yi, but now, he still has nothing to say after all.

He also knew that Ruo Lian Po could not lead the main force in a short period of time to come to the rescue of Gu Yi, and the defenders of Gu Yi could not continue to block the Yan army's attack no matter what.

On the contrary, the defenders of Guyi may be wiped out.

He couldn't understand why Lian Po, a general who had always used soldiers like a god and was as fast as the wind, repeatedly delayed this time and did not lead troops to Guyi for half a month.

Sima Shang couldn't figure it out, but he could only keep his doubts in his heart for the time being.

Today's Sima Shang only thinks about how to lead this remnant army to cross the Hutuo River safely.

When Zhao Jia heard this, he immediately frowned slightly.

He also knew that Sima Shang's worries were not wrong, but the army was defeated.

When Zhao Jia announced the abandonment of Gu Yi, the morale of this army was already scattered, and it may not be easy to organize people to break off at this time.

As if seeing through Zhao Jia's thoughts, Sima Shang took a deep breath and said, "The last general has entered the camp of the dead soldiers, and it is incumbent on him to lead the troops after he is broken. ”

"However, after several major battles, the dead battalion suffered heavy casualties, and new members must be added to temporarily block the Yan Army's iron cavalry."

"I also hope that Gongzi will select people from the army to help me break the back!"

When Zhao Jia heard this, he immediately stood in awe.

He said with a straight face: "This is a wilderness, not a battle to defend the city, if you encounter the Yan army's iron cavalry, the soldiers and horses may be wiped out after being broken." ”

"Sima Duwei, have you thought about it?"

Sima Shang smiled wistfully and said, "Gu Yi has been lost, I don't want these soldiers who have fought bloody battles to die on the banks of the Hutuo River." ”

"Zhongshan's hometown has been lost, since you can't hold Guyi, maybe dying on the battlefield is also a good choice."

Zhao Jia was silent, and he was extremely guilty in his heart.

How much he wanted to tell Sima Shang that Lian Po did not lead the reinforcements to arrive in time, and the loss of Gu Yi was all luring the enemy deeper.

He wanted to cheer up this brave and warlike general, and wanted Sima Shang to dispel the idea of burning jade.

It's a pity that Zhao Jia couldn't tell Sima Shang.

Moreover, the best candidate after the break is none other than Sima Shang, and the rest may not be able to take on this important responsibility.

"The person who is cut off this time will die nine times for life."

"Except for the original soldiers of the dead soldiers' camp, the rest should sign up voluntarily and cannot be forced."

Zhao Jia felt that he owed too much to these soldiers, and he also felt that he was not qualified to force those innocent lives to die.

When Sima Shang heard this, he was shocked: "If you don't force it, who wants to die?" ”

Facing Sima Shang's questioning, Zhao Jia's mind suddenly appeared that beautiful woman.

She may not be the only one.

In addition to her, there are still many soldiers who come to join the army with the heart of death.

"There will be someone."

Zhao Jia replied, as if he was strengthening Sima Shang's beliefs, and as if he was strengthening his own beliefs.

Sima Shang was full of suspicions and began to select volunteers in the army.

Because of Zhao Jia's explanation, Sima Shang told everyone the importance and danger of this breakoff without reservation.

Seeing that there is Hutuo water in front of him, as long as he crosses this river, he no longer has to worry about the pursuit of the Yan army.

At this time, out of human survival instinct and human selfish nature, there should indeed be few people willing to break off.

To Sima Shang's expectation, after everyone was silent, there was an endless stream of people who came to sign up.

Most of those people are elderly.

They know that they don't have much to live, and it is better to leave the hope of life to the young than to survive.

Only young people are the future of Zhao Guo.

Of course, the young and strong soldiers who survived did not want to watch the old man die for them, and many people came to sign up.

As a result, the number of people who signed up for the end was far more than expected.

After Zhao Jia learned the news, the hand holding the reins couldn't help but tremble, and his heart couldn't calm down for a long time.

"Try to pick the old ones and let the young people live."

Zhao Jia's words made Sima Shang's eyes red.

He roared angrily: "They have shed all their blood for the Zhao country, and many of their family members have died fighting for the country!" ”

"Since we have grown up, why do we still live under the wings of the old man!"

Faced with Sima Shang's questioning, Zhao Jia didn't know how to answer.

Intellectually speaking, Zhao Jiabao's idea of being young and strong is not wrong, but a smart decision.

Unfortunately, humans have feelings.

Among those old people who sacrificed their lives, there was the lame old man Ren Yong who Zhao Jia saw in the recruitment office.

Ren Yong's son died in Changping, and his wife died in the Battle of Handan.

Even he himself was shot in the thigh, leaving him with a disability and walking with a limp.

Such an old man, Zhao Guo already owes him too much.

He should have received a state allowance and spent his old age carefree and peaceful, but at this time, he was still fighting for his country.

Even, when faced with a life-and-death choice, the old man was willing to give up his life and cut off for the army.

Zhao Jia felt guilty in his heart.

It's a pity that he is the commander of the three armies and the future king of Zhao, so he must consider the overall situation.

This is also doomed, Zhao Jia can't be rash.

"This is the military order!"

Zhao Jia didn't know how to answer Sima Shang, so in the end he could only give a military order.

Even though Sima Shang clenched his fists and gritted his teeth rattling, he could only take his orders and leave.

"One will make ten thousand bones wither."

Looking at the back of Sima Shang leaving, Zhao Jia couldn't help but murmur softly, with pain and confusion in his eyes.