Zhuguo, Shoucheng.

General Xiang leaned wearily on the lookout in the inner city, his armor was tattered, stained with blood and dust, sweat and dirt tangled together, and the stench was stinking, like a wild man.

And his body, and even his face, are covered with hideous scars.

"General, the inner wall of the West City has been broken, and there is no material to repair it!"

"Demolish people's houses!"

"The surrounding houses have been demolished! Jiangmi (glutinous rice) is not enough! ”

The slurry made from Jiang rice, mixed with lime, and if you add a little sugar water, it is a good binder.

Only by rebuilding the city walls with large, thick stones and this adhesive can they resist the endless stream of arrows from the Zhao army.

Before General Xiang could speak, he heard a cold voice sound: "In the past half month, how many people want to escape from the city?" ”

"The eldest son!"

Chu Qi strode over, and his appearance may not be much better than General Xiang: "Those who dare to go out of the city will be killed, and the whole family will be enslaved." All the family property was confiscated, the wealth, pearls, and beauties were rewarded to the soldiers, and the grain was put into storage! ”

"No!"

The people got the order and carried it out.

General Xiang stood still.

Seeing this, Chu Qi also walked to the lookout.

"Eldest son, look into the distance." Xiang pointed out to the general outside the city.

The woods have all been cut down, and not far away is the continuous military camp, fluttering the flag of the Zhao Kingdom, densely packed, at a glance, there is no end in sight.

In the distance, a track looms.

"Zhaoguo's food and ordnance are being sent here in a steady stream, and we!" General Xiang suddenly roared, "We have worked hard and sacrificed 70,000 soldiers to hold the only grain route. Zhu Guo's cities, but after a month of transporting grain, they never sent us any more grain. ”

This matter was only known to Chu Qi and several generals.

If the people of the city knew that they had been without food for more than three months, and that the storehouse was full of sand except for the grain on the surface, the morale of the army would immediately collapse.

In order to cover up this fact, Chu Qi had to secretly send someone to transport the sand over, and also send someone to pick it up to boost morale.

However, the army of Zhao Guo naturally would not allow grain and grass to respond, and led the crowd to attack every time.

How ridiculous!

It's obviously a fake show, but it still has to be real.

Thinking of their soldiers, who were constantly sacrificing themselves in order to receive and seize the so-called "grain and grass", it was difficult for General Xiang to hide his indignation.

"In the last two times, we have feinted to transport grain, but Wang Qian only sent a small force to test it, and did not send a large army to attack." General Xiang couldn't hide the sadness in his heart, "He has already guessed it." ”

Chu Qi didn't speak.

"And in the city, some people have guessed it!"

"They know we're running out of food, we're going to starve to death, and the next step is to eat people! So they want to run! Whether it is to take refuge in Zhaoguo, or to other cities in Zhuguo, it is always a way to live! ”

Chu Qi said calmly: "So what? ”

"Why won't the rest of the cities carry grain?" General Xiang's face was distorted, "The reason they gave was that the king was also short of food, and they wanted King Qin!" ”

He doesn't understand, he really doesn't understand!

Why did the eldest prince send King Zhu away!

Chu Qi still looked indifferent: "What is he doing?" ”

Xiang General was speechless.

Chu Qi is right, even if King Zhu is in Shoucheng, he will not be able to play any positive role.

Because King Zhu didn't dare to go up the city wall at all.

As the king of a country, the country is in danger and cannot stand up. Not only did they not dare to lead the troops in person, but they couldn't even go to the front line to motivate the soldiers, and the soldiers were not stupid, how could they be willing to continue to serve and die?

The reason why Shoucheng was able to hold out for so long under the siege of Zhaoguo's million-strong army was because the eldest prince who performed the duty of supervising the country was fighting on the front line all the time and inspiring everyone?

What's more, General Xiang and Chu Qi both knew very well that wishing Wang was just a cover.

The reason why the rest of the cities in Zhuguo no longer send grain is actually very simple.

The city lords of all cities felt that Zhu Guotie was bound to die, and instead of going bankrupt and fighting a battle that would not be won, it was better to preserve their strength, and when Wang Qian's army came to the city, they would immediately open the door and dedicate the city.

The surrender of the city is a merit for Zhaoguo.

If you have merit, you can be rewarded.

If you fight to the death, you will only perish.

Chu Qi didn't blame these city lords.

Zhuguo's surname is Chu, but as the king of a country, Chu Wan is ready to surrender and save his life, not to mention others?

"Once Shoucheng is broken, Zhuguo will already die."

Chu Qi knows this fact better than anyone else, which is why he has always stayed in Shoucheng and will not retreat.

But he knew in his heart that Shoucheng would not last long.

Zhaoguo's armament is much more advanced than theirs, and the number of troops is far several times that of Shoucheng, and the people in the city are panicking, and the number of smugglers is increasing day by day. Many wealthy merchants and nobles bribed the soldiers defending the city with heavy money and wanted to leave.

Although he used iron-fisted means to kill Liwei, this was just drinking to quench his thirst.

If this continues, sooner or later, he will be swarmed by angry nobles, cut off his head, and then open the city gate and ask Wang Gan for credit.

"When the Zhao State invaded the Wei Kingdom and the Liang State, he only did it to the ministers, families, and wealthy merchants, and did not commit any crimes against the people, even if the clothes were torn, they spent money to buy them from the people." Chu Qi said slowly, "Do you know why? ”

Xiang shook his head at the general: "Minister, I don't know." ”

Chu Qi was silent for a moment and said: "Because Yin Changying knows that no matter how strict they are with the ministers and wealthy businessmen, they are reluctant to die; And if you are a little nicer to the people, you will be able to subdue these people. ”

"But what's the use?" General Xiang was puzzled, "The people are dull and ignorant, like cattle, horses, and livestock, driven by people's whips. Yin Chang's victory over the ministers of the six countries will only bring him boundless infamy. ”

The common people don't know books, can't read, and the real right to speak are not all pinched in the pens of the families, nobles, scholars, these literati and nobles?

Yin Changying was scolded so badly, and he didn't see the people stand up and speak for him!

Chu Qi did not answer.

In his heart, he extremely agreed with Yin Changying's approach.

The family, the minister, and the scholar will never be fed.

You gave him a city, and he wanted a county; If you adopt his ideas, he wants the court to be full of people from his own school; You gave him the position of Xiangbang, and he will only think that for generations, this phase should be owned by my family.

In contrast, how easy it is to tame the people who can be satisfied by giving a star and a half!

Those who followed him to defend the city were the people of the royal capital, except for the loyal ministers; Those who did not send food to Shoucheng, and even tried to betray him, were all ministers of Zhuguo.

"General Xiang." Chu Qi said calmly, "If Shou City is broken, you take your own soldiers and your family to mix in the crowd and leave!" ”

Xiang Xiang showed a bitter look to the general, and his face was covered with scars, but it made him look extremely hideous: "My home is here, where can I go?" ”

"The western wall has collapsed!"

"No, it's too late to tinker!"

"Newspaper - enemy army...... It's coming! ”