Zhao Guo, Handan.

The Korean army has been besieging the city for 50 days, and the Korean army's attacks again and again have been stubbornly repelled by the Zhao army. A full 40,000 South Korean soldiers were buried under the city of Handan, but they still couldn't change South Korea's determination. Every day, Handan struggles in blood and tears, water and fire.

For many people in Handan City, there is only today, and there is no tomorrow. The Zhao army defending the city had long been accustomed to a big battle, and the robes around him were changed. For Zhao Guo, this is a war with no way back, further is a bright future, and a step back is an abyss.

It's not that Zhao Guo didn't think about negotiating peace, but Zhao Guo knew better that before the South Korean army hit a wall, suing for peace with South Korea meant that Zhao gave up a lot, such as dignity and pride. Only by letting South Korea know that the strong will of Zhao cannot be conquered by South Korea, and the bloody nature of Zhao cannot be wiped out by South Korea, can Zhao make South Korea retreat at the lowest cost.

In the fifty-day siege of the city, Zhao suffered 15,000 casualties. The four gates of Handan had already been shattered under the blow of the Han crossbow, and Zhao Guo blocked the four gates with earth and stones, turning Handan into a dead place. The Zhao army could not get out of the city, and the Korean army could not enter the city, so the competition for the city naturally became more and more fierce.

Although Handan was a fortified city, and the Zhao army also took advantage of the time and place, the Korean army greatly reduced casualties with the help of trebuchets with a very long range. However, even according to the current casualty ratio, even if the Korean army outside Handan City is completely annihilated, it will not be able to annihilate the 150,000 Zhao troops inside Handan City.

Therefore, what Zhao Guo feared the most happened, and the strategy of the Han army changed. The South Korean army no longer blindly attacked, but changed the strong attack to a siege. Of course, in order to maintain pressure on Zhao Jun, the Han Army made feins from time to time. When the Zhao army was waiting for the city, the Han army used trebuchets to kill and wound the Zhao army.

Although the grain and grass in Handan City are sufficient, there are also many people in the city. If the siege cannot be lifted and the grain and grass cannot be replenished, in two years, Handan's grain and grass will be exhausted.

What's even more terrifying is that Handan City has completely lost contact with the outside world, and no one knows. What is the situation outside? The longer the siege became, the lower the confidence of the defenders became.

Most of the Handan defenders and ordinary people didn't know that Zhao Guojun and his ministers had actually guessed the situation outside. When the head of Rong Worm and the county seals of the sand dunes and Bairenyi were presented in front of King Zhao, even the most dull-minded people knew that it was impossible for Handan to have any more reinforcements. If the Yan army had not been defeated, it should have appeared under Handan City as early as a month ago, and the main general Rong Yan would not have died. If Korea had not divided the Zhao State into two, the county seals of the sand dunes and Bairenyi would not have been obtained by the Han army.

However, in order to stabilize the morale of the army. King Zhao didn't let the news out. In the same way, Lin Xiangru, the secretary of Zhao, swallowed his last breath ten days ago, and King Zhao also ordered that there should be no mourning, in order to keep the soldiers and civilians of Handan alive with the courage to continue to persevere.

Although he was calm on the surface, Zhao Guojun didn't know that the longer the time dragged on, the more unfavorable it would be to himself. No one knows whether South Korea has an additional army to pass through Julu County and Dai County; No one knows. Did the Qin army attack Yanmen and Yunzhong? If the consequence of persistence is that Qin and Han divide the Zhao state, if the price of keeping Handan is to lose the remaining thousands of miles. That's really more than worth the cost.

It was under these circumstances that the call for peace gradually increased. Everyone knows that the lands south of Zhangshui, which have been captured by South Korea, are not bargaining chips that Zhao can come up with, and if South Korea wants to withdraw its troops, Zhao must at least sacrifice Julu County or Handan County.

Without the giant deer, Handan County is an enclave; Lost Handan County. The foundation of the Zhao State was broken. No matter which one it is, it is a price that Zhao Guo cannot afford. But Zhao Guo could not afford to survive in name only. South Korea has too many troops, and it is completely possible to besiege Handan while sending a large army to attack the city.

If he could, Zhao would rather give up Handan County. Keep Julu County. It's a pity that a month ago, South Korea had already taken a quarter of Julu County, and Handan and Wu'an were besieged by the South Korean army. According to the strength of South Korea, perhaps, only by sacrificing the two counties of Julu and Handan at the same time can South Korea's greed be satisfied.

Pingyuanjun believes that South Korea is powerful, and it will be difficult for Zhao to compete with it in a short period of time. The so-called loss of land and loss of people and land are lost; If people lose land, people and land will survive. Even if the two counties of Handan and Julu are lost, as long as the more than 200,000 elite troops of Handan and Wu'an are kept, Zhao will have a chance to make a comeback and recover the lost territory.

Pingyangjun held the opposite opinion, believing that the South Korean army besieging Handan had difficulty in supplying food and grass, and although South Korea's national strength was strong, it could not help but be consumed like this all year round. In less than a year, the South Korean army will inevitably retreat. Even in this year, Zhao Jun had the opportunity to turn defeat into victory when the Han army was slack. As for the threat of the Qin State, it is nothing more than a disease of ringworm and scabies.

It was under such circumstances that the Korean envoy Tang Ju entered Handan City, and this was the only person who entered Handan City unharmed in the past two months.

The news of Tang Ju's arrival was very tightly blocked, and except for a few people such as King Zhao, Pingyuan Jun, Pingyang Jun, and Lian Po, many ministers did not know that Korea had sent envoys.

The reason why King Zhao did this was because he was afraid that Tang Ju would say something and do something that would make Zhao Guo unable to step down. Whether to fight or negotiate peace, the controversy in the court is big enough, if Tang Ju knows about this matter, and then take the opportunity to provoke, maybe there will be trouble, even if Zhao State does not have civil strife, there will be discord. It is better to find out Tang Ju's intentions, and then convene the ministers to discuss countermeasures. Of course, if Pingyuanjun, Pingyangjun, and Lian Po can reach an agreement, there will be no opposition among the ministers.

Zhao Guo tried his best to make a gesture that was neither humble nor arrogant, but whether it was Lian Po's angry gaze or Pingyuan Jun's calm demeanor and calmness, Tang Ju's slight smile could not be affected at all, and he disagreed.

Tang Ju took the lead and said: "Fifty days ago, Yan Guo was treacherous and wanted to attack Julu, for General Bai Qi to see through, our army fought hard for four hours, and it was broken. The 150,000 Yan army did not survive and retreated to Fuliu, and the Dune County Order led the army to surrender. Ten days ago, Yan Guo offered the head of the Rong Worm, please cut the land south of Yishui, King Han was merciful and had agreed. We in South Korea are willing to marry Qin and Jin with Yan Guoyong, Yan will not live up to me, I will not live up to Yan. ”

This news directly made King Zhao, Pingyuan Jun, Pingyang Jun, and Lian Po dumbfounded, Zhao Guojun and his ministers did not think that the Yan army would be defeated, but the loss of more than 100,000 troops at once still exceeded Zhao Guojun's imagination. In order to protect himself, Yan did not hesitate to sacrifice the head of the defeated general Rong Worm and cede the land of three hundred miles south of Yishui. Such compromises are enough to prove the weakness of Yan Guo. Oh, yes! After losing 100,000 elites on the south bank of Jishui, and losing more than 100,000 troops under Julu City, the elites of Yan Kingdom will not exceed 100,000. There is still Donghu in the north, and Yan really doesn't have the courage to persevere.

But Rong Gui is the Yaqing of Yan State, Gui is a feudal monarch, and his status is like that of Zhao State, so he was sent out as a scapegoat, which is no different from a huge blow to the people's hearts and morale! Yan Guo is too compromised to do this. As for the cession of three hundred miles south of Yishui, it is understandable. Most of these three hundred miles of land are taken from the Qi country, which can be regarded as the generosity of others. Losing these lands, Yan still has the land of five counties, and it can still regain its vitality!

However, Zhao Guojunchen did not think that Tang Ju was just stating a useless fact. Tang Ju said that the situation of Yan Guo must be threatening Zhao Guo to set an example.

Could it be that South Korea is hinting to itself that Zhao Guo wants to be preserved, and he must make such a sacrifice?! After Tang Ju finished saying this, this thought came to King Zhao's heart.

Seeing that the monarchs and ministers of Zhao were silent, Tang Ju continued: "The Yue State has been destroyed by the Chu State, and as a punishment, we in Korea have captured the cities of the Chu State west of Xiangshui, including Yingdu. The state of Chu suffered too many casualties in this war, and now it is stationed in Jiangdong. ”

Zhao Guojun and his ministers looked at each other, all speechless. Tang Ju's meaning is very clear, first, South Korea has the ability to fight on both sides; Second, the state of Chu wants to digest the fruits of the destruction of the Yue country, and is unable to go north to compete with Korea. If you want to count on the Chu State to rescue the Zhao State, forget it! (To be continued......)

PS: First update! I got up at six o'clock in the morning on a business trip, and it is estimated that I will go back very late in the evening, and the second will be late.