The Zhao army, who was stationed in various cities, practiced on time every day, and was familiar with drums, trumpets, banners, formation changes, and the methods of fighting. Sometimes, two adjacent cities would practice offensive and defensive tactics against each other. Those people in the cities and towns who were stationed by soldiers from other towns, in addition to farm work, also watched the training of Zhao Jun, and some even practiced a few times in their free time under the leadership of the lieutenant commander.

The atmosphere of war finally overflowed Wu'an and flowed towards Handan.

Handan did not close the city gates, nor did it close the market, and merchants and travelers from all over the country still entered and exited, but the guards at the city gate significantly strengthened their inspections, and the speed of entering the city was much slower.

Zichu's entourage was no longer allowed to go out to pick up wood, and Zichu protested to the pedestrians, but was ignored. After Zhu Zhao Gongzi was conscripted into the army, there was a lot less business in Handan City, and the business of the Lu family business house also declined. Lü Buwei maneuvered between the various commercial houses, trying his best to maintain business operations, but he finally came to a very helpless conclusion: with the current level of business in Handan City, it was no longer possible to maintain the operation of a huge commercial group, and he had to divert part of the business.

At the same time, he also advised Zichu to immediately withdraw from Handan and go to Wu'an. But Zichu refused: now is not the time to despair, there is no need to work hard. If he is gone, the rest of the people will definitely fall into a situation from which they will never recover. He wants to buy time to get those who can be evacuated.

Lü Buwei and Wu Xiang discussed the retreating personnel every day, leaving the lurking personnel, and the remaining personnel, and each gave appropriate arrangements.

The first batch of soldiers were secretly arranged to leave the city and transferred to Wu'an to join Wang Yi. He reported the situation of Zichu in Handan City to Wang Di and asked Wang Di to arrange a rescue strategy. Wang Yi believed that the only way to rescue himself was to send troops to the city of Handan, which would prompt the Zhao people to make up their minds to immediately detain and kill Zi Chu. We must think of a way to ensure Zichu's safety first, and then find a way to rescue Zichu.

After thinking hard about what to do, Bing Cao and Wang Yi inspected the siege deployment of Wu'an City. Bing Cao listened to Wang Di's introduction of the situation in Wu'an City and the strategy he would adopt, Bing Cao naturally had no opinion, but just asked, "What is the situation in Wu'an City?" ”

Wang said: "Since the siege of the city, no soldiers have left the city. Only defend the city and change the defense according to the routine, and the four gates are closed. ”

Bing Cao said: "Who is its guardian?" ”

Wang Yi said: "Wu An ordered Li Chong." His father, Li Tan, was the Marquis of Bairen; His younger brother Li Ji is Zhao Sikou! ”

Bing Cao asked in surprise, "What about Li Ji's brother?" ”

Wang Yi said: "Yes! What else does it matter? ”

Bing Cao said: "If King Zhao asks something, he will visit him with Li Ji." And the month before last, Gongzi also had a meeting with Li Ji, which was quite powerful! ”

Wang Yi said: "Does it have anything to do with Qin? ”

Bing Cao said: "Qin and Zhao are not conducive to the two countries, and their momentum is obvious, but there are wise people who know everything." However, travelers and lobbyists, if they want to move the Lord to seek their own benefits, they will want Qin and Zhao to fight and be injured, and the princes of the world will also benefit. And the ignorant also use their insights to make branches. It's hard to solve it with soldiers! ”

Wang Yi also said with a heavy heart: "When Xianyang came out of the past, Ying Hou said: 'Qin is out of Handan, Zhao will be peaceful, and he will return in spring.'" 'It's late spring, and the war is still endless, or it will be a long time! ”

Bing Cao said: "Hearing that above Zhao Ting, there are also discussions, or peace, or war, but they can't decide. Qin and Zhao fought in the suburbs of Handan, and when Zhao wanted to not miss the farming, he would make peace. There is no other way to talk about it. And those who fight with Qin, Handan will not have a year-old gain, and hunger will arise! However, Zhao doesn't know the trade-offs, doesn't know the general situation, and will want to fight. This Qin and Zhao will be injured twice, and the princes will benefit! ”

Wang Yi said: "Zhao and Qin fought in Handan, and its disadvantage is so, and King Zhao still does not stop. Even if King Zhao is young, would he rather have no ministers to advise? ”

Bing Cao said: "Wen Pingyuan Jun and Pingyang Jun are both with King Zhao, swear to fight to the death!" ”

Wang Di said: "What? ”

Bing Cao said: "How generous the Zhao people are, they will not want to sacrifice the city." If there is no proposal to dedicate the city, Zhao is willing to join Qin; If the city must be sacrificed, then all will be warn! ”

Wang Yi said: "There are only six cities, and there is no way to be honest. Which is the biggest yes with Handan's gains and losses? ”

Bing Cao said: "Therefore, the general will plunder the wilderness of Handan to move the hearts of the Zhao people!" ”

Wang Yi said: "I want to do what I want." Ran Wu'an is inside, and the edge is on the back; And the Zhao army camp is spread outside the water. If you hit it one by one, I am afraid that half of the soldiers will be injured, and you will have to Handan! ”

Bing Cao pointed to Wu'an City not far away, and said: "The Li clan is quite powerful in Zhao, if you have its strength, you will definitely succeed!" ”

Wang Yi said: "How can you say it? ”

Bing Cao said: "Knowles can help." ”

Wang Yu said: "Where is Knowles? ”

Bing Cao said: "I have entered Wu'an!" The minister's entry into Wu'an also depends on the power of this person! ”

Wang Yi said: "Why don't you attract a meeting?" ”

Bing Cao said: "He is from the Zhao people, and Zhao Ling discussed, what does he have to do with Qin, and he will also meet with Qin people?" ”

Wang Di said: "Honestly! But what will you do with your husband? ”

Bing Cao said: "He will come out, he will pass through the Qin camp, and I will lead it out!" ”

Wang Di said: "Huh! ”

Two days later, Bing Cao went to a town under the city of Wu'an and quietly entered a mansion. The owner of the house is the chief here. The two seemed to know each other, and the lieutenant led Bing Cao to a side room, where a person dressed as a businessman sat in it, who was Zhao Ji's father, Lou Zhongxi, the owner of Hanyuefang.

Lou Zhongxi came with Bing Cao. Bing Cao was able to pass through the defense line of the Zhao army, relying on the strength of the Lou family. Lou Zhongxi is in Handan and has a lot of contacts with Zhu Zhao Gongzi; This time, Zhu Zhao Gongzi of Handan City also served as a low-level officer of the Zhao army, and Lou Zhongxi took this opportunity to easily pass through the defense area under the control of these Zhao Gongzi. After entering the Qin army's defense area, Bing Cao showed his festival charms, and doctors at all levels were all allowed to go. These two joined forces, and the dense defense line of Qin and Zhao on the front line was like nothing.

After entering the territory of Wu'an, Lou Zhongxi first found a familiar chief outside the city as a foothold, and then relied on this relationship to sneak into Wu'an City and met Li Chong in turn.

Although Lou Zhongxi is the owner of a wine shop and dance shop, as a high-ranking person in Zhao State, Li Chong naturally knows the connection between him and Wu's; And Knowles's influence in political circles cannot be ignored. Now that Knowles has sent someone over, it is obviously not here to contact anything about Fengyue. Li Chong, as if receiving a good friend, welcomed Lou Zhongxi into the mansion and talked for a long time behind closed doors.

After a long night of talking, the next day Li Chong personally arranged for Lou Zhongxi to leave the city and enter the mansion again. Bing Cao also came as promised and met with Lou Zhongxi.

Lou Zhongxi said: "If he doesn't attack the city, the city will not come out." ”

Bing Cao said: "What is the matter with Handan? ”

Lou Zhongxi said: "He is willing to pass on the book to his brother, and secretly maintain it!" ”

Under the cover of night, Bing Cao sent Lou Zhongxi out of the Qin army's defense line, watched him enter the Zhao army's camp, and returned to the Qin camp silently...... Then there was the scene of spring ploughing in full swing in Wu'an, the shouts of old people and women calling for their husbands, and the continuous flight of soldiers in Wu'an City.

Time flies from spring to summer. The siege equipment manufactured by the Qin army outside Wu'an has gradually become apparent, including almost a full set of siege methods: ladders, rushing cars, well rails, oars and shields, reins and wheels, hook cars, and trench cars...... Almost every battalion had at least one type of equipment, and the battalions near the edge of the city had built a mounds in front of the camp to make it easy to observe movements in the city. Wu'an City is the scale of a county town, the city wall is about three zhang high, and those earth mountains, well fences, cars, and shields, etc., are generally five or six zhang high, far exceeding the height of the city wall. Look at the city and tremble.

Li Chong inspected the city defense every day, and also prepared targeted defensive measures against the siege equipment of the Qin army. Although a large number of soldiers in the city fled, nearly half of the soldiers remained, more than 10,000 people; In addition, there are more than 30,000 residents in the city, and there are nearly 50,000 people of all ages. Li Chong reorganized them into three groups: the elderly and children, the women, and the men. Usually, three groups of middle-aged males take turns to go to the city to guard, and the other males rest; The women were in charge of the food, and the old people and children were in charge of transporting the defense supplies to the city.

Just when the Qin army camps had built their equipment and the Zhao army thought that they were about to attack the city, the Qin army took an unexpected move: change the defense. The Qin army, who lived in the houses of various towns during the cold, now came out of the camp one after another, replacing the Qin army that had held out in the cold wind for more than a month. What's even more strange is that when the Qin army in front withdrew, not only the personnel withdrew, but even the equipment they had built was also removed. The newly recruited Qin army began to manufacture siege equipment from scratch.

This operation of the Qin army made the Zhao Gongzi who guarded Wu'an City more and more suspicious. But either way, it's always a good thing to watch the chilling siege equipment fade away!

Five days later, the equipment was moved to the shores of the water. The general of the Zhao army on the shore of the Lishui River noticed this situation, immediately reported it to his superiors, and ordered the whole army to enter a combat state.

But where are the makeshift fortifications the opponent of these carefully prepared siege machines? Although Lian Po transferred reinforcements from the rear in time, with his condescending superiority and comprehensive tactical means, as well as superior troops, the Qin army quickly broke through the Zhao army's defense line on the front line of the river. Most of the defenders and the hurried reinforcements became the head of the Qin army. After killing more than 10,000 heads, the Qin army rushed out of Wu'an strongly!

But the defense of the first line of the water was not worthless, and it bought time for Lian Po to deploy the defense of the neighboring towns. When the Qin army rushed out of the mountain pass of Wu'an, the various towns under the mountain were already in full battle!

The vast land was deserted, and even among the towns, only a few patrolling soldiers were shining. It was as if the whole village was dead, and everyone was gone. The large and small cities scattered over the vast land have become one of the few places in this land that are still inhabited. The curling smoke showed that there were still people moving there.

In the face of the Zhao army's comprehensive contraction of defense, Wang Yi did not rush to attack, he calmly waited for the follow-up troops to arrive, and sent small patrols to the townships.