In the first battle of the Hongshui River Valley, the 330,000 South Vietnamese army was almost wiped out, and Zhao Tuo only took 6,000 pro-troops to lose their armor all the way and fled back to Panyu in a hurry. After returning to Panyu, Zhao Tuo hurriedly transferred the army withdrawn from Minyue back to defense, and at the same time ordered the four passes to be locked up, giving up a large territory in the western part of Lingnan, and cutting off contact with the Qin army.

On the other hand, the Qin army suffered less than 4,000 casualties, but the results were jaw-dropping - 270,000 South Vietnamese troops were captured, most of whom came to defect to the Qin army with their own weapons, and a few of them were captured by the Qin army after the war.

This battle completely shattered Zhao Tuo's self-confidence, and also shattered his idea of a quick victory. He began to be very frightened of the Qin army, so he gave a strict order to the front line to prohibit the South Vietnamese army from attacking the Qin army, and could only defend to the death, to the death, or to the death.

Fortunately for him, the Qin army did not continue to penetrate into South Vietnam, but was only satisfied with occupying a corner of the northwest. Although he achieved an unprecedented victory, Han Xin was not as hot-headed as Yingbu, and shouted that he would fight Panyu to capture Zhao Tuo alive.

In fact, the main reason why the Qin army was able to achieve such astonishing results was still that the opponent had problems, not how strong they were, and how powerful they were to the point of being invincible. In Han Xin's words, it is to drive away 300,000 ducks with no fighting spirit, and if this can't be won, then it really can't be said.

Zhao Tuo made a big mistake, if he just closed his door at the beginning, he decisively gave up the territory occupied by the Qin army in the northwest. Even if Han Xin has the ability to reach the sky, he can only return with a feather. You must know that Lingnan is so big that the 500,000 Qin troops could not completely occupy it back then, let alone rely on his more than 20,000 horses. The Qin army led by Zhao Tuo has taken root in Lingnan for more than ten years, and it has long been no different from the local Yue people, and they are very familiar with the terrain. If the Qin army wants to attack the village all the way, it will be as difficult as climbing to the sky.

Therefore, Han Xin sensibly chose to give up the attack, the reason why he invaded Lingnan was not that he had any interest in this barren land, all he needed was the population, the population that was extremely valuable to the Qin State, especially the qualified soldiers.

In Lingnan, there is no shortage of soldiers, when the pride of the original emperor once left nearly half of the soldiers of the empire here.

Han Xin captured Bushan County, established Guilin County here, and at the same time sent troops to the west to recruit South Vietnamese soldiers and civilians who were cut off from Panyu. The resetting of Guilin County symbolized the return of Qin's power to Lingnan and its resistance to Zhao Tuo's Nanyue State in Lingnan.

Hearing that the Qin State had gone south, Lingnan immigrants rushed to Guilin, including not only the Qin people, but also many people from the Six Kingdoms. The hardships of Lingnan have already made these lonely ghosts who have left their hometowns suffer, and they miss returning to their hometowns day and night, so they can't return to their hometowns, so it's good to be able to return to the Central Plains and leave this ghost place.

In this period of more than a month, a total of 300,000 Central Plains people defected to the Qin army, and counting the 300,000 soldiers captured before, Han Xin had already completed his original goal.

Lingnan is not a place to stay for a long time, Han Xin took Gan Xiao as the main general of the southern army, led Guilin Taishou, and joined the Qin army reinforced from Bashu, a total of 50,000 troops to defend Guilin, and at the same time transferred 100,000 Shu people into Guilin Tunbian to support themselves. The surrendered Lingnan scholars were divided into several groups and returned north along the new road, passing through Bashu and then returning to Guanzhong.

On June 13, General Han Xin, who had been on the expedition for more than three months, finally returned to Xianyang, and was greeted by the earth-shattering cheers of the Qin people. This southern expedition, which lasted three months, opened up three counties for the Qin army, and more than doubled the size of the country. More importantly, it brought back valuable people for the Qin State, as well as nearly 300,000 experienced veterans.

Han Xin, the old head of the 300,000 Southern Expeditionary Army, did not recruit all of them into the army, but solicited personal opinions, restored some of them who were unwilling to continue to serve in the army, and let them replace military service with farming and paying grain. For those soldiers from the Six Kingdoms, Han Xin did not have any discrimination, they were all treated fairly, and those who were willing to continue to serve in the army were given military positions according to their military merits, and there was no difference between them and the Qin people.

In fact, the Qin State has always been a broad-minded country, since the Qin Xiaogong reform, the Qin army has become famous generals, and most of them are people from the Six Kingdoms. Among them, the generals of the war are the counties of Bai Qi of Chu and Mengshi father and son of Qi State, and there are countless famous ministers, Shang Ying, Zhang Yi, Fan Ju, Lü Buwei, and Li Si are all famous ministers.

The tolerance of Qin's "heroes regardless of their origins" also made talents from the Six Nations flock to it, and what Han Xin is doing today is nothing more than following the old system, but it also makes these old people of the Six Kingdoms who were originally nervous grateful.

At the beginning, these people went south with the Southern Expeditionary Army to Baiyue, and they were born and died for more than ten years, and there was no news of their hometown, but now the world is in chaos, and it is a question of whether there are relatives still alive in their hometown. In the past ten years, they have been accustomed to being a professional soldier, and they have long been unfamiliar with farm work and farming, if they are discharged from the army, they don't know what to do, it is better to stay in the Qin army, anyway, they have become accustomed to the system of the Qin army.

After screening, some of the old and weak were removed, and the Qin army received a total of 200,000 qualified soldiers, which suddenly made the Qin State, which was short of troops, greatly "rich". Coupled with the previous Qin army, the Qin army already had a standing army of nearly 500,000, excluding the garrisons stationed in Guilin, Bashu, Jiuyuan and other places, and the Qin army that could be used for the expedition was no less than 300,000. Although there is still a certain gap between the Qin State and the Qin State during the period of the First Emperor of the year, which was "with a million armor" and "the war of annihilation", it has enough qualifications to compete in the Central Plains and win the world.

However, Han Xin was not in a hurry to go out of the customs to participate in the war of the princes at this time, from the beginning of the year to this time, the Qin State has been in a tight bowstring for half a year, and has always been in a state of war. What is the most expensive thing to fight a war is nothing more than money and food, this half a year's war has emptied all the continuous accumulation of the Qin State for a year, but behind the successive victories is the extremely empty granary of the Qin State treasury, relying on the supplement of the new occupation of Bashu to barely maintain the continuation of the southward Lingnan, but it can no longer support a medium-sized war.

Prime Minister Gongsun Hong unceremoniously interrupted the generals' chatter in the council hall, telling them that the granary of the Qin State could no longer afford to fight any battle, and if it was a war, then wait for the soldiers to starve to death on the front line.

Gongsun Hong's words undoubtedly poured cold water on the heads of the generals who were full of interest and prepared to go out of the battle, Wang Qi, these veterans who are old and serious, are better, Zhao Wuji and Meng Shi directly blew their beards and glared at Gongsun Hong and slapped the table together, noisy and shouting like a vegetable market.

Although Gongsun Hong is eloquent, but the opponent is a rough person like Zhao Wuji Mengshi, there is a way that "Xiucai meets soldiers, and it is unreasonable to say", he was dignified at that time, and he was a romantic person in vain, and he was forced by these two rough people to blush and have a thick neck, although the ministers next to him were willing to help, but they were afraid that Zhao Wuji and the two were Han Xin's henchmen. He tacitly shut up Mingzhe to protect himself, leaving only Gongsun Hong panting there. I was stunned for a long time and couldn't speak.

Han Xin watched coldly from the seat, and suddenly opened his mouth and said; "Have you had enough of the noise?"

Zhao Wuji had completely gained the upper hand at this time, and was proudly pursuing the victory. Suddenly, I heard Han Xin's words, and heard the unkindness in his tone, and suddenly felt a thrill, and hurriedly turned around and knelt down on one knee and said in fear; "Subordinate convicted." Meng Shi was stunned for a moment, and had to kneel down together.

Han Xin just swept him lightly, but he was faintly not angry and arrogant, "What is the crime?" ”

Zhao Wuji opened his mouth and replied honestly; "I don't know."

Han Xin looked at Meng Shi again, his eyes widened, and he blinked and said, "Don't look at me, I don't know." ”

Han Xin was angry and funny for a while, and said with a sinking face: "Roaring the court, there is no prime minister, is this crime enough?" ”

"Come on, drag them down to the court for ten battles, and fine them for half a year."

As soon as they heard that they were going to be defeated, Zhao Wuji and Meng Shi suddenly shouted and begged for mercy, but Han Xin didn't care about it, waved his hand and ordered the guards to pull the two out.

There was a sound of thunderclaps outside the door, and there were several muffled snorts, and soon, the two were helped in by the guards, both grinning, and Yingbu and the others all looked at them and laughed maliciously.

Both of them were strong and healthy military generals, and these ten rods had no effect on them at all. It just made them feel very faceless, but they didn't dare to contradict Han Xin. If these details were in the eyes of Gongsun Hong, who was watching coldly from the sidelines, he couldn't help but sigh secretly, thinking that these high-flying generals, only Han Xin could suppress them, if he changed himself as the prime minister, no one would listen to him.

Han Xin glanced at them, "Is there a long lesson?" ”

Although they were very reluctant, the two of them were afraid that Han Xin would be another meal, so they had to bow their heads and respond.

Han Xin was satisfied, and stretched out his hand to signal Gongsun Hongdao; "Prime Minister, please continue."

Gongsun Hongqiang suppressed the thoughts in his heart, nodded with a flat face, and then said the plan for a three-month recuperation designated by the Prime Minister's Mansion. Han Xin didn't speak, and with the precedent of Zhao Wuji and Meng Shi in front of him, the other generals naturally didn't dare to refute, so they had to listen patiently to some redundancy.

When the meeting dispersed, Han Xin called out to Gongsun Hong, "Prime Minister, please stay, I still have some important things to ask for your opinion." ”

Although Han Xin is a Qin minister, he is a transcendent existence in the Qin State, coupled with Ying Ke's noble status, he himself is an informal person, so he also regards this side hall of Xianyang Palace as his home with Ying Ke. This practice is naturally against the laws of Qin, and it can even be said to be a rebellion unceremoniously, but no one would talk about it so uninterestingly.

Only Han Xin and Gongsun Hong were left in the huge hall, which seemed very deserted, and Han Xin was a little unhappy when he saw that it was too empty, so he invited him to the inner room to talk.

Han Xin leaned on the soft chair and stretched out his hand to motion, "Prime Minister, please sit casually." ”

Gongsun Hong didn't reply, just found a chair and sat down, and his butt was only a small half standing on the seat, so that he looked a little restrained.

"I wonder if the general is looking for me?" As soon as Gongsun Hong sat down, he couldn't wait to ask, his tone a little stiff.

Like his master Meng Jian, he adhered to his own conduct and ethics, and rarely walked around privately with courtiers outside of official business, let alone forming a party and centralizing power. Gongsun Hong, the prime minister, is honestly a good one, he is one of the least powerful prime ministers in the 600-year history of the Qin State, and he has almost become a big steward in managing logistics, and finding a way to get grain and grass is his main job.

However, Gongsun Hong did not complain, and still completed his work with due diligence. In fact, the reason why his persuasion was seriously weakened was that the royal power was too heavy, and almost all the power was concentrated in the hands of the monarch.

Of course, this so-called royal power naturally does not refer to that ignorant little doll, and the Qin State has a real nameless monarch Han Xin. Gongsun Hong knows his position well, although he and Han Xin are colleagues, they are actually monarchs and ministers, and the big and small affairs of the Qin State are all decided by Han Xin alone.

So Gongsun Hong didn't have any complaints in his heart, and naturally he couldn't talk about resentment.

Han Xin pondered for a while, "Prime Minister, I want to ask if it's really as bad as you just said?" ”

"I don't know what you're referring to."

"Grain and Grass Treasury."

Gongsun Hong nodded solemnly, "Since I said so, naturally I won't deceive you, the reality may be worse than you know." ”

"I want to hear about it."

Gongsun Hong paused and said; "In fact, we have almost run out of grain and grass after the war against the Xiongnu. Later, you said that you were going to persuade Bashu to surrender, but there was no large-scale army, so I had no objections. ”

"After occupying Bashu, we have increased our warehouses a lot, but then you have to go south to Lingnan, and it will be empty and happy. Now I really can't help it, and the reserves of grain and grass are only enough to eat for three months in my spare time. ”

Gongsun Hong spread his hands, and his face did not look like a puppet army.

Han Xin seemed a little unwilling, so he said with an embarrassed face; "It's just Prime Minister, you may not know that now is indeed the best time for my Qin State to send troops to Kanto. The southern part of the Chu State was already in chaos, and the old clan of the Chu State supported Xiong Xin's cousin as the king of Chu and openly erected the banner of rebellion. Liu Bang and Zhao Xie Wei Bao in the north are facing off against the main force of the Chu army in the Central Plains, and if we send troops to suddenly attack the empty center of the Chu State, the Chu State will inevitably be in chaos. ”

Gongsun Hong shook his head slowly and asked rhetorically; "When I want to ask the general, do you want a fragmented state, or a complete Qin state to help you unify the world?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"It's simple." Gongsun Hong lowered his voice, "If you force me to raise grain and grass. I can do it, but the consequences are bound to be dangerous. Then my plans will be completely disrupted, and we will have to survive by defeating and plundering more food. But if it doesn't, it will be a great famine, and the land will be full of hunger.

Gongsun Hong said this, a strange look flashed in his eyes, and he asked rhetorically: "I think General, you will not be far away to take the national fortune of the entire Qin State as a bet." I want to remind you that my Qin State is now thriving in national strength, and all kinds of waste are waiting to be rebuilt, while the Kwantung princes are fighting each other, and in the long run, one will lose the other, and the national strength will naturally not be comparable to our Qin State. ”

Han Xin was silent for a long time before nodding and saying; "What the prime minister said is very right, it is true that I have not considered it properly. Then we will do as you say, and let us take a three-month truce until we have harvested. ”

Gongsun Hong bowed slightly, and Han Xin hurriedly returned the salute.

"General, I would like to ask you what your plans are?"

Han Xin was slightly stunned, "What are you going to do?" ”

Gongsun Hong smiled suddenly, "Why should the general ask more, you naturally know what I mean in my heart." ”

Han Xin guessed what he meant, stood up with a little embarrassed face and said; "Well, isn't this a good thing now?"

"Naturally, not." Gongsun Hong said with a straight face. "If the name is not right, the word will not be good, and if the word is not good, the order will not be reached,"

Han Xin looked Gongsun Hong up and down, and became more and more unable to see through him. Originally, I thought that he was under Meng Jian, and he was from a family of old Qin people in the Qin State, so he would definitely support the Ying Qin State firmly. But his remarks today are "anti-meaning" and poignant.

Gongsun Hong met Han Xin's puzzled gaze, and just smiled indifferently; "You don't have to think it's strange, everything has been renewed, and the six hundred years of the Ying family's foundation should have come to an end after the Second Rebellion."

"What do you mean, Prime Minister?" Han Xin asked tentatively.

"My allegiance is only to the state of Qin, not to the state of Qin. As long as you promise that the country name will not change, and the Ying family will be pampered, I think the resistance from the Qin family will not be very great. ”

"Those who know the times are Junjie, and there are too few people who are willing to be like my master and don't eat Zhou Su." Gongsun Hong glanced at Han Xin deeply, "Actually, I am also a selfish person, I also have ambitions, that is, I want to be a real prime minister, the prime minister of an empire, I know you can give me a chance to do it." ”

Han Xin smiled, stretched out his hand to meet him, and Gongsun Hong understood and stretched out his hand to meet him. The two clasped hands tightly together and laughed in unison.

"Brother Gongsun, you are the head of the courtiers, I want to hear what Brother Gongsun has on the current government politics."

Gongsun Hong groaned; "A lot of things don't make sense. At that time, the laws of our Qin State were too harsh, such as joint sitting and many tortures. Or it was very practical at the time, but it is no longer applicable today. ”

"What do you mean?"

"It has to change." Gongsun Hong said categorically. "We might as well follow the example of Qin Xiaogong and Shang Jun and carry out a new change, how about it?"

Han Xin was stunned, obviously Gongsun Hong's words exceeded his expectations. "How do I change the law?"

Shang Jun admired the Legalist doctrine of magic, advocated harsh government and fooled the people, and used harsh laws to make the Qin people fearful, and did not dare to have any objection to the government's resolution. At that time, most of our Qin people were unenlightened and vulgar, so this simple and efficient Qin law could quickly unite the Qin people. ”

"But now that things have changed, everything has long been different, and the set of Shang Jun back then will be out of place now. I have been prime minister for a long time, and even many of the drawbacks and loopholes have reached the point where they have to be changed. As Shang Jun and Xiao Gong said, 'There is no law in the world, only the fickle survive.' ”