Three days later, Zhao Yong inspected the 100,000 troops attacking Zhongshan outside the Congtai Palace.

Two thousand chariots were in the center, fifty thousand foot soldiers were behind, and forty thousand cavalry were distributed on both sides. Jin Ge stands in a forest, and the flag is displayed. The warm sunlight shone on Zhao Guobing's armor, emitting a dazzling light. Zhao Yong was wearing battle armor and was on a high platform. Against the backdrop of the sun, it is like a god, majestic and majestic.

Zhao Yong looked at the 100,000 soldiers of the Northern Expedition, pulled out the long sword in his waist, sent it forward, and swore an oath: "The five expeditions to Zhongshan have officially begun." If you don't break your longevity, you will never return to the south. ”

100,000 soldiers of the Northern Expedition shouted in unison, "If you don't break your spiritual life, you will never return to the south." ”

The sound that resounded through the sky came in waves after waves.

When Zhao Yong heard this, his mood could not be calmed down for a long time, and he raised his arms and shouted: "God bless Zhao Guo, our army will win." ”

"God bless Zhao Guo, our army will win." The thunderous sound of hundreds of thousands of people echoed through the valley and could not be dissipated for a long time.

Zhao Yong looked at his mighty army and said sharply: "Go out." ”

For a time, the war drums thundered and the trumpets sounded. 100,000 soldiers of Zhao Guo's northern expedition to Zhongshan, the army drove out of Handan in an orderly manner.

Many people gathered in the streets of Handan, standing on both sides of the streets, and came to see off the army.

Handan is crowded with people and full of voices.

In 301 BC, Zhao Yong reigned for twenty-five years. Zhao's fifth expedition to Zhongshan officially began.

At this moment, Zhao Yong is surrounded by Gongzicheng, Zhao Yunshu, Zhao Xie, Zhao Gu, Feiyi, Tian Buli, Lou Xuan, Zhao Jue, Sima Wangzu and other civil and military ministers; There are also rising stars such as Le Yi, Zhao Yuan, Zhao Xi, Niu Qian, Xu Jun, Lian Wu, Pang Zhan, Lin Xiangru and so on; There are also diplomatic ministers such as Fu Ding, Li Wei, Qiu Li, and Wang Ben; and the Shi clan and the Ji clan of Zhongshan.

After Zhao implemented Hufu cavalry shooting, the politics were clear, the country was greatly strengthened, and the armed forces were strong. This time, attacking Zhongshan, Zhao Yong is bound to win. Zhao Yong wanted to take advantage of the third war in the Central Plains, and he had no time to take care of Zhao's internal affairs, and in one fell swoop, he broke through the Zhongshan Kingdom and the capital Lingshou.

Zhao Yongqin led 100,000 people, went north to Shancheng, waved his army to Dongyuan, and crossed the Hutuo River in the north.

The Hutuo River defense line established by Zhongshan collapsed in an instant under the strong offensive of the Zhao army. The Zhao army won successive battles and defeated the resisting army of Zhongshan. In less than ten days, Zhao Junbing came to Lingshou, the capital of Zhongshan State. Breaking through this city, Zhongshan no longer had the ability to fight against Zhao. Thinking of the imminent establishment of eternal merit, Zhao Yongzhuang was fierce, and he couldn't calm that rippling heart for a long time.

Zhongshan was one of the five 'Thousand Vehicles of the Warring States', and its strength was second only to the vassal states of the Seven Heroes of the Warring States, but higher than the vassal states of Song, Lu, Wei, and Zhou.

Wei Wenhou took Le Yang as his general, the prince as the supervising army, and Li Ke as his military advisor, attacked for three years and destroyed Zhongshan. In 380 B.C., when the Duke of Zhongshan Henggong took advantage of the bitter war between Wei and Zhao and the chaos in the Central Plains, he relied on the power of Yan and Qi to launch a war to restore the country. Subsequently, Zhongshan Henggong defeated Wei, Zhao, and Yan to gain a firm foothold in the cracks, and strongly advocated moving the capital to Lingshou.

Lingshou has become the capital of Zhongshan, and has been in operation for decades after four generations of monarchs of Zhongshan Henggong, Zhongshan Chenggong, Zhongshan Provocation Wangcuo, and Zhongshan Wangzi Lingshou.

Lingshou is built according to the natural terrain, with the Taihang Mountains in the northwest, the Hutuo River in the south, and the plain in the east, with a superior geographical location. Lingshou Castle is peach-shaped, about 6 kilometers long from north to south, and about 5 kilometers wide from east to west. It is divided into two cities, east and west. The eastern and southern terrain is higher, and the western and northern terrain is flat. There are ditches outside the east and west city walls of Lingshou, which flow into the Hutuo River from north to south, becoming a natural moat.

Zhao Yong stared at the peach-shaped city for a long time, and did not immediately give the order to attack Lingshou.

After a while, Zhao Yong summoned the generals to discuss the strategy of attacking Lingshou.

Not long after, the generals of this operation came to the main army's tent.

Zhao Yong looked around at everyone and took the lead in saying: "Lingshou, this city is built on the mountain, surrounded by the Hutuo River, the terrain is treacherous, easy to defend and difficult to attack. There are mountains in the city, and there are cities in the mountains. Ladies and gentlemen, how should we fight this battle in order to minimize our losses? ”

Fei Yi pondered for a long time and took the lead in replying: "Zhongshan is bound to work together in the face of national difficulties. This battle is not easy to fight. ”

"It's not good to fight, but you have to fight. This battle is the last battle to attack Zhongshan. Even if it's a hard bone, we have to take it down. Tian Buli said with a tough attitude: "Lingshou terrain is steep, easy to defend and difficult to attack. If we attack strongly, we will indeed lose our troops. But this is the last blow to Zhongshan, even if the troops are lost, they must break through Lingshou and level Zhongshan. ”

Sima Wangzu saw that the king's gaze fell on him, and replied: "Lingshou is a steep terrain, and there is the Hutuo River as a backing. There are mountains in the city, and there is a city in the mountains. Relying on the advantages of geographical advantages, the Zhongshan army launched a continuous attack on us, and we will surely suffer heavy losses. The army will gain its land and lose its people, and it will be useless. Ministers, do not approve of a strong attack. ”

"We don't choose to attack, how can we break through Lingshou." Zhao Jue couldn't help but ask: "Your Majesty, Lingshou is right in front of us." Did we miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to break through Lingshou and level Zhongshan? ”

Zhao Xi also said: "We have been waiting for this day for a long time, how can we miss it." ”

Xu Jun also said: "One will succeed and ten thousand bones will wither." War is destined to kill many people. As long as you can establish eternal merit, sacrifice is inevitable. ”

Tian Buli saw that there were many people who supported his view of attacking, and hurriedly said: "Conquering Zhongshan and opening up Hudi is not only the ambition of Jian and Xiang, but also the shame of the ancestors. It is also the most important step for us to solve the problems of the heart and strive for the world. Your Majesty, if we break through this city, everything will be possible. ”

Zhao Yonghe didn't understand what it meant to break through this city. However, as the king of a country, he must not only establish eternal merits, but also minimize losses. Just like the art of war, gain its land, lose its people, destroy its people, and hurt the lives of its soldiers. Even if you gain territory, you will not be able to increase your national strength, but will weaken your country.

The state of Chu attacked and destroyed the Yue State, although it gained its land, but the Yue people were not convinced and fought with it. The Yue clan led its people and went south to open up the territory, and did not belong to the Chu State. The state of Chu got its place, and there was no strong country, but it was still stationed in Yuedi with hundreds of thousands of soldiers.

Qi, Han, and Wei were afraid of the momentum of the Chu State and united to attack the Chu State three times. In recent years, the state of Chu has become the target of the princes' troubles.

Gaining the land and not the people seems to be a great blessing, but in fact it is not a great disaster.

Zhao Yong not only wanted to break through the Zhongshan Kingdom, but also wanted the people of the Zhongshan Kingdom to serve him. Zhao Yong believed that Lin Hu and the Zhongshan generals would be able to work for him. The people of Zhongshan will also submit to themselves. The problem in front of Zhao Yong is how to break through Lingshou, and at the same time subdue the people of Zhongshan and use it for him.

Tian Buli and others advocated a forcible attack, but Zhao Yong disapproved in his heart.

"The right time, the right place, the right people, and the ability of the commander are the key to determining the victory or defeat." Sima Wangzu continued: "Your Majesty, Lingshou is the capital of Zhongshan and the last support of Zhongshan people. In the face of the danger of losing the country, Zhongshan people are bound to work together and share the same hatred. The situation of the battlefield is changing rapidly. The right time, the right place, and the right people are also not good for us. ”

Zhao Yong pondered for a moment, didn't answer, and asked rhetorically: "Le Yi, what plan do you have." ”

"The minister agrees with General Yunzhong's opinion, attack Zhongshan, set foot on Lingshou, and cannot take it by force." Le Yi bowed down and replied: "The soldiers are cloudy, the soldiers are strategic, the second is the enemy, the second is the army, and the city is attacked." The method of siege is a last resort. The minister believes that attacking the heart is the top, and the city is the bottom. ”

Seeing this, Lou slowly took over and said: "The method of using soldiers, ten is to surround it, five is to attack it, and if it is doubled, it will be fought, and the enemy will be able to divide it, and if it is less, it can be escaped, and if it is not, it can be avoided." Therefore, the small enemy is strong, and the big enemy is also captured. There are tens of thousands of people in Zhongshan City, and the city is strong, the moat is wide, and the terrain is steep. We cannot go on the offensive. ”

Zhao Yong thought for a while, looked at everyone and replied: "Those who know whether they can fight or not, those who know the use of the few wins, those who want the same from top to bottom win, those who treat those who are not safe win, and those who can and are not able to win win." These five know the way to win. We must attack Zhongshan and completely relieve the trouble in our country's heart. At the same time, the widow wants to reduce his own losses, and he wants the people of Zhongshan to be used by me. The widow does not need rivers of blood and thousands of dry bones to build a world-shattering career. We have five expeditions to Zhongshan, and many people have died. The widow didn't want to see innocent soldiers and gave their lives in vain. ”

"The benevolence of the king is the way of literature and martial arts." Fei Yi said: "Qi and Zhongshan attacked Yan State. First besieged the city with heavy troops, then deterred by force, supplemented by the method of persuasion to surrender. Chen believes that we might as well follow Qi Poyandu's strategy. ”

Zhao Yong shook his head and replied: "We will besiege but not attack, so as to disturb the hearts of the Zhongshan army." Subsequently, the use of force to persecute the Zhongshan military and civilians was sincerely frightened and disturbed the people's hearts. In the end, he is using the method of persuasion to disintegrate the remaining fighting spirit of Zhongshan monarchs and ministers? ”

Fei Yi replied: "That's exactly what the minister meant. ”

"Although Qi Poyan's plan is good, it is not suitable for us to attack Zhongshan." Zhao Yong breathed a sigh of relief, and said: "The Qi State united with Zhongshan, raised the troops of the five capitals, and attacked Yandu in less than sixty days. This is, the king of Yan is in front of the chaos of the country, and the rebellion of the son is later. The people of Yan are detached from morality. The state of Qi can take the opportunity to enter and break through Jicheng. But we attacked Zhongshan and won by force. Lingshou is the last line of defense in Zhongshan. In order to hold this line of defense and preserve their country and home, the soldiers and civilians of Zhongshan are bound to work together to fight our last battle. ”

Tian Buli answered: "We took advantage of the chaos in the Central Plains, and the princes had no time to take care of the affairs of Zhongshan and sent troops to conquer. We besiege but do not attack, and once the melee of the Central Plains princes is over, they will intervene in our attack on Zhongshan. In particular, the Qi State will not watch the Zhongshan Kingdom be annexed by us and choose to stand idly by. ”

Sima Wangzu also said: "The King of Qi will not want to see a powerful Zhao State appear in the east of the Qi State. Ten years ago, in the name of 'counterinsurgency and expulsion of Qi', we supported the Yan monarchy and intervened in Yan's internal affairs. Qi Wang Tian Pibi hated us to the core. Ten years later, the King of Qi will follow our example and avenge him in the name of 'quelling the rebellion and driving out Zhao'. ”

Lou Xuan also said: "Yes! We must break through Zhongshan before the melee in the Central Plains is over. Otherwise, we will also be besieged by the princes and follow the old path of Qi and Chu. ”

"We are in a race with the princes. Whoever gets ahead of the clock will be the biggest winner. This battle is the last battle between Zhongshan and us, and the process of attacking the city will be extremely tragic. Zhao Yong took a breath and killed decisively, "Since sacrifice can't be avoided, we can only fight with it." ”

Prince Zhang said excitedly: "Father, the child remembers what the Taifu said. Barbarians are most effective with force and fists. The child believes that he should use force and fists to hit the Zhongshan army first and break their fighting spirit to resist. and then influence them with kindness. ”

A heavy siege of the city, supplemented by force and persuasion, is indeed a good strategy. Zhao Yong also understood that the princes of the Central Plains would not give him much time. In order to break Lingshou before the end of the melee in the Central Plains, he had no better choice, "Okay! We will use our fists and force to break through Zhongshan. ”

Tian Buli and the others saw that the king was about to give the order to start a war, and asked Zhan to say: "The ministers are willing to lead the troops and attack Lingshou." ”

Zhao Yong saw that the generals were united, and their morale increased greatly, and he gave an order: "Sima Wang, Zhang'er, Le Yi, you lead 20,000 people to besiege the north gate. ”

"Whoa."

"Lou Zhuan, Zhao Jue, you lead 20,000 people to besiege the south gate."

"Whoa."

"Zhao Xi, Zhao Yuan, Niu Qian, you lead 20,000 people to besiege Ximen."

"Whoa."

"Shilou, Ji Xuan, you are responsible for besieging the east gate."

"Whoa."

Zhao Yong's eyes were bright, and his tone was sonorous and powerful: "Siege." ”