Chapter 170 The situation is not good
The border between Han and Yan.

Looking at the 30,000 Korean troops on the opposite side with their flags flying, lined up in strict formation, and in high spirits, with officers and soldiers all wearing warm uniforms, bright armor, and quite imposing, the main and deputy generals of the Great Yan State, Li Yi, Wang Zhou, and Ji Bi, who were sitting on their horses, all had solemn expressions.

“This old thief is worthy of being the king of a place. In such a short time, he has actually gathered an army, and it is so well-organized. I have underestimated him in the past.” Ji Bi stroked the beard on his lips and said with some surprise.

The three generals were all veterans, and they knew the clues of military strategy at a glance. The 30,000 elite troops of Han were destroyed in front of Jixian City by Xiang Chang in one fell swoop. Han Wangxin thought that this army, which he hastily assembled, was just a mob that would be easily defeated in one blow, but he didn’t expect that the army was so strong now.

During this period, the three generals were busy digesting the Yan territory and had no time to take care of the Han territory. During the cleanup process, they used the practice established by Xiang Chang. After the city that resisted was captured, the powerful officials and tyrants were all executed, their families were demoted to slaves, all their wealth was confiscated, and all the land was distributed to the meritorious soldiers and the people.

Under this cruel and bloody method, most of the powerful and wealthy in the cities were frightened and surrendered. Only Zang Tu’s relatives and the cities where his strongholds were stationed knew that they would suffer no good consequences even if they surrendered, so they were determined to resist to the end.

Only these cities took too much time and had to be cleared one by one.

The three generals had just conquered all the cities and pacified the entire Yan area, and then sent in their troops to take charge. Without waiting for a moment to catch their breath, they heard that King Han Xin had plundered Zhao and Han again, and had gathered an army of 30,000 and was heading straight for Yan.

As they had the responsibility to defend the territory, the three furious generals immediately led 10,000 infantry and 8,000 elite cavalry to the border to resist the enemy.

Li Yi had followed the Overlord for a long time and was also good at using cavalry. He first sent cavalry to launch a surprise attack, trying to catch Han Wangxin off guard. Unexpectedly, Han Wangxin used the old army formation and was well prepared, so he did not find any opportunity.

Li Yi then tried a retreat tactic, luring the enemy deeper into the territory in an attempt to draw the Korean army’s attention.

But Han Wangxin was experienced and rigorous, and he took steady and cautious steps without any impatience. He advanced cautiously towards the territory of Yan State step by step, and still did not give him any chance to take advantage of.

As a last resort, Li Yi led a large army to stop Han Wangxin here and engage in a head-on confrontation with him.

“It is said that this old villain has been draining the pond of fish in Han and Zhao, letting his soldiers plunder and killing the powerful families in the two countries. He looted everything and used the money to support and bribe this army, so he has such a powerful military. We must be alert when we face him later.” Li Yi said in a serious tone.

Upon hearing Li Yi’s words, Wang Zhou and Ji Bi both looked slightly stern.

If soldiers are allowed to plunder and kill at will without any military discipline, the army will be transformed into a beastly army in the shortest time.

Han Wangxin’s actions would undoubtedly have serious consequences, but the current situation was clearly uncertain, so what else could he not dare to do? It must be said that by doing this, the entire army would become bloodthirsty, violent and crazy, and the improvement in combat effectiveness would indeed be immediate.

What Han Wangxin did was somewhat similar to the momentum of the Overlord who “burned his boats and abandoned everything” to forge ahead, but the Overlord burned his own cauldron, while he burned the cauldron of the kingdom’s nobles!

“We must not allow such a beastly army to wreak havoc in Yan. After defeating them, we must make sure they are completely annihilated and killed without leaving a single one alive.” Li Yi said solemnly.

Although Han Wangxin used external force to increase the combat effectiveness of 30,000 troops and also had the advantage in numbers, Li Yi did not care.

He has a thorough understanding of the combat effectiveness of his troops and is very confident in it.

Next, Li Yi ordered Wang Zhou to lead 10,000 infantry to advance slowly, and the 8,000 cavalry was handed over to Ji Bi to lead, and to keep the troops in place for the time being.

Obviously, he intended to use infantry attacks to shake Han Wangxin’s army, and then send out cavalry in full force to settle the matter once and for all.

Faced with the mighty force of 10,000 infantrymen of the Great Chu, whose roars shook the heavens and which were sweeping forward like a torrent swallowing up the wilderness, King Xin of Han responded immediately, ordering 20,000 infantrymen to move forward to resist, and also keeping 10,000 cavalrymen for maneuver.

“Li Yi really thinks he is the Overlord and Xiang Chang’s kid. He wants to defeat my 20,000 troops with only 10,000 infantry? That’s too naive!” The tall and burly Han Wangxin, sitting on a fiery red horse, with flags fluttering above his head, said arrogantly.

The fierce north wind mixed with a few scattered snow beads, scattering them randomly. The dim blue sun was obscured by thin winter clouds, making the wasteland even more filled with endless desolation.

The two armies of Chu and Han were full of fighting spirit. Amidst the roars that rose into the sky and the pale waves of air, they collided with each other like hungry tigers and wolves, and fought in a ball.

The Chu army attacked fiercely, and the Han army had sufficient manpower. The two armies were like two evenly matched warriors, wrestling and entangled with each other. For a time, a situation of equal strength was formed, and the battle entered a stalemate.

In the Chu army camp behind the formation, Ji Bi’s heart tightened, his throat moved, and he turned to look at Li Yi: “General, the situation is not good!”

Ji Bi was surprised that the newly formed Han army could actually defend against the charge of the elite Chu army. He couldn’t help but worry about the current situation. This battle not only affected the victory or defeat of the two armies, but also directly affected the fate of Yan and Han, and might even affect the direction of the final battle between the Han and Chu camps!
Compared to Ji Bi’s worries, Li Yi was as calm as ever, and said in a calm tone: “You overestimate them! Our troops are all veterans who have been through many battles, with rich combat experience and a strong will to fight. Han Wangxin’s 20,000 troops, although large in number, are essentially newly trained soldiers. It is difficult to sustain morale by forcibly raising morale through massacres and looting!”

Sure enough, just as Li Yi had judged, as time went on, the 20,000 Korean infantry gradually showed signs of lack of strength.

Seeing the Chu army’s offensive wave after wave getting stronger and stronger, the 20,000 Han army’s front line was shaken by the impact and even showed signs of collapse. Fortunately, the supervision team in the rear took ruthless actions and killed those who dared to flee at the first opportunity, which barely avoided a large-scale rout. However, anyone with a discerning eye could see that they could not hold out for much longer.

Han Wangxin, who was watching the battle nervously, had an angry look on his face. He swung his whip in the air with a “bang bang” sound and cursed endlessly. He turned to General Manqiuchen and said viciously: “In this situation, we can’t delay any longer! You lead 10,000 cavalry to charge the battle. We must not let the Chu army defeat our camp!”

The situation was serious and Han Wangxin was forced to send his cavalry into the battlefield ahead of time.

In the passionate and generous era of the Chu-Han contention at the end of the Qin Dynasty, unlike those influential figures who stirred up the world and influenced the direction of history, Manqiuchen and Wang Huang did not have a good background. They were not from aristocratic families with deep roots, but big merchants. Therefore, they were always despised by aristocratic generals.

Later, the two of them invested in Han Wangxin and became his generals. As Han Wangxin took control of the country, they gradually became successful.

The King of Han trusted them as generals and Ling Yi, and he also realized that he really had no one useful under his command.

Seeing that the Han cavalry, which had been sitting still in the rear, began to move out and charged towards the flank of the Chu army, the particularly fluttering flag showed that they were led by Manqiuchen. They were all very clear about the details of Han Wangxin’s generals. Li Yi sneered and immediately sent Ji Bi to lead 8,000 cavalry to carry out a sniper attack!

Ji Bi responded proudly and issued military orders, leading 8,000 cavalry troops like a galloping dragon, and intercepted Manchuchen’s 10,000 cavalry troops before they could charge into the fiercely fighting infantry formation.

As the battle progressed to this point, even Ji Bi had a rough assessment of the combat effectiveness of the army that Han Wangxin had assembled in a short period of time.

Twenty thousand infantrymen were no match for ten thousand infantrymen of the Great Chu. How could the ten thousand cavalrymen be a match for the eight thousand cavalrymen of the Great Chu who were so powerful that they were feared by the world?
Therefore, Ji Bi made up his mind to defeat the Han cavalry before the infantry!

He brandished a big spear and led hundreds of escort cavalry to charge, like a wedge, driving hard into the ranks of the Han cavalry.

As he expected, the Han cavalry seemed strong but in fact it was just a facade. They were unable to resist the charge of hundreds of elite guard cavalry under his command. They were easily killed and stabbed deeply and smoothly.

The 8,000 cavalrymen behind him also started fighting with the Han cavalrymen. It was just like a huge wave crashing down, and the first three rows of Han cavalrymen were swallowed up out of thin air.

Subsequently, the Han cavalry, faced with such a brutal offensive, were unable to gain a foothold and were unable to resist, suffering heavy casualties.

Ji Bi’s eyes were wide open with a fierce look in them, staring intently at the fluttering flag in the Han cavalry that represented the location of Manqiuchen. He led the escort cavalry to charge straight forward, to achieve the most dazzling achievement on the battlefield, “killing the general”!
Manchuchen also saw him, and to Ji Bi’s surprise, he didn’t know if he was scared silly or what, but he just stood there on his horse, neither running away, retreating, fighting nor avoiding, like a stupid roe deer.

Ji Bi was delighted and led his cavalry guards to charge even faster.

At this moment, the thousands of cavalrymen around Manchuchen suddenly increased their speed, from slow to fast, and headed straight towards him.

Ji Bi didn’t take it seriously at first, but when he engaged in battle with these thousands of cavalry, he immediately sensed something was wrong. He swept his spear across the air and chopped vertically with great force, killing all the way. The Han cavalrymen who blocked his way were easily knocked off their horses, but now he was unexpectedly blocked by a Han cavalryman.

The Han cavalryman’s body shook violently and his arms trembled. He was obviously feeling uncomfortable, but he did not fall off his horse.

Ji Bi raised his hand and thrust out another spear, stabbing it down, but he couldn’t help but feel stunned in his heart.

As he continued to charge, every one of these thousands of cavalrymen was so strong and powerful, and his forward momentum was inevitably slowed down.

The hundreds of escort cavalrymen who followed him in charging were all in the same situation. Their extremely smooth forward momentum was forcibly blocked, as if they had hit a stone wall, and they were caught in a bitter battle.

Watching the surrounding guard cavalry being rapidly consumed and falling under the siege of thousands of Han cavalry, Ji Bi was filled with doubt and uncertainty.
Where did Han Wangxin get such a strong cavalry? Their combat power was even slightly better than that of his own guard cavalry. Even the guard cavalry of Liu Bang in the Han camp was not as good as them. This was undoubtedly unreasonable!
At this time, he pierced a Han cavalryman through the chest with his spear again, and he fell off his horse. Although the Han cavalryman was dressed in the same clothes as other Han cavalrymen, seeing his helmet fall off, his bloodstained dying face, wide face, small eyes, flat nose, thick beard, dark skin, and a faint unpleasant fishy smell, Ji Bi’s mind flashed with lightning, and he shouted loudly: “Hun soldiers?!”

Manqiuchen, who was not far away and had been keeping an eye on him, laughed loudly when he heard the words: “Hahaha, Ji Bi, you are really slow to realize it! It’s too late to guess it now!”

Han Wangxin, who was at the rear of the battle formation, slowly showed a cruel smile on his face. He looked at the rear of the Chu army and said leisurely, “Li Yi, you are too naive. I dare not lead the army to attack you without full confidence? I don’t know how you will respond to this axe!”

It turned out that King Xin of Han not only traded 10,000 war horses with the Huns, but also used his own Kingdom as a bargaining chip in exchange for thousands of Hun cavalry!
Under the fierce and unparalleled charge of thousands of Xiongnu cavalry, Ji Bi’s guard cavalry were outnumbered and all died on the spot, including the general himself, who was besieged and killed.

Before he died, Ji Bi, who was covered in blood and wounds, threw the spear in his hand and nailed another Hun soldier to death with one blow. With his last breath, he yelled at Ji Bi: “You are a traitor and you let a wolf into the house. You deserve to die, Ji Bi!” Then he fell down and died!

The Hun soldiers were actually not that tall. They were born in the extremely cold land of Mobei, where the living conditions were harsh and cruel, and only one in ten could survive to adulthood.

With such a horrific elimination rate, all those who can grow up are fierce and strong, with strong muscles and enormous strength.

In particular, they can ride sheep at the age of five, horses at the age of eight, and archery at the age of twelve. Once they reach adulthood, they will naturally become excellent warriors.

In the past, the Yanhuang ethnic group was able to defeat them entirely because of their advanced productivity and ability to manufacture sophisticated armor and weapons.

After all, no matter how good your kung fu is, you are still afraid of a kitchen knife.

But now the Hun soldiers also had kitchen knives, and the situation of the war naturally began to reverse.

After thousands of Xiongnu cavalrymen swallowed up Ji Bi and his hundreds of guard cavalrymen in one fell swoop, they continued to charge at the 8,000 Chu cavalrymen. In addition, there were more than 10,000 Han cavalrymen drumming up support from the side to boost their morale. The 8,000 Chu cavalrymen were defeated in turn, with countless casualties.

Li Yi, who was standing at the back of the formation, looked at this scene with terrifying sharpness in his eyes, murderous aura surging throughout his body, and his teeth chattering.

“General, retreat!” said the guard general beside him anxiously.

They had obviously seen that the 8,000 Chu cavalry could not hold out for much longer.

Once the cavalry was defeated, the infantry would not be spared either. In other words, a major defeat in this battle was inevitable.

“Retreat? Where to retreat? Han Wangxin has brought these beasts in. If we run away, the Yan territory we just recovered will be brutally ravaged by them!” Li Yi said fiercely, “Follow me! Even if I die today, I will beat these Xiongnu soldiers to pieces!”

Li Yi had a thousand guards and reserve cavalry beside him, so he made the decision and continued to fight on the battlefield!
Li Yi took the lead and led the remaining 1,000 cavalrymen to rush towards the battlefield.

Han Wangxin naturally knew what he was thinking, and it was exactly what he wanted: “Haha, I was afraid that you would run away, this is just right! I will kill you in battle today, just to avenge my defeat in Ji County! I heard that Xiang Chang thinks highly of you, I wonder if he will jump in pain after hearing this news?”

In the battle under Jixian City, an army of 30,000 was destroyed in one fell swoop by Xiang Chang. Han Wangxin’s hatred for Xiang Chang was really deep-rooted.

Han Wangxin also had a cavalry guard consisting of 2,000 men, including 1,000 Hun soldiers and 1,000 Han soldiers, by his side. They immediately rushed out to meet Li Yi.

Seeing Han Wangxin’s powerful cavalry rushing towards them, Li Yi and his 1,000 cavalry guards were greatly alarmed.

Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. Li Yi made up his mind, determined to die, gritted his teeth and charged forward without stopping!

The two cavalry armies were very powerful, with the sound of their hooves as heavy as thunder, and they were approaching each other rapidly across the wilderness.

Just as the two cavalry units were getting closer and closer, Li Yi looked up and could even vaguely see Han Wangxin’s ferocious and vicious face. Suddenly, the two thousand cavalry units behind Han Wangxin, including the one thousand brutal and cruel Hun soldiers who were as brutal as beasts, became a commotion.

Han Wangxin, who was in the lead, didn’t even hesitate to get off his warhorse, reined in the horse, and braked suddenly on the spot. With the warhorse’s long neighing, he managed to slow down its forward momentum.

Li Yi looked surprised, not knowing why Han Wangxin would do something tantamount to suicide at this moment?

The answer will be revealed in the next moment.

“Rumble…”

A dull and heavy sound of horse hooves came from behind.

Li Yi looked back and saw a Chu cavalry of 5,000 men with black horses and black armor, like a black dragon, flying towards them.

Two large flags fluttered straight in the sky, and the two big characters “Chu” and “Xiang” were extremely eye-catching.

——Xiang Chang is here with his army!

It turned out that after Xiang Chang captured Chen County, he sent Qu Fu and Tian Jian, each leading an army of 10,000, to attack Puzhou Road and Wugu Pass in two routes with great fanfare, forcing Liu Bang to engage in a decisive battle with the Chu State.

As for himself, he led the remaining 50,000 troops and headed north again to the State of Yan.

The situation in Yan, Han and Zhao was too complicated, and the key was that they were too close to the Xiongnu, so he had to treat them seriously. For example, although the King of Zhao, Zhang Er, was dying and had not much time left, he had not died yet, and was cunning and treacherous.

Although the 20,000 elite troops in the country did not get involved in the battle under the city of Jixian, but were taken away by his son and given to Liu Bang to defend the Chenggao line, the country could still recruit a large army again at any time, so it was necessary to be on guard.

In addition, Han Wangxin was not dead. He was a peaceful person and had been colluding with the Huns.

Xiang Chang naturally found it difficult to let go of such an unstable area full of mines and thorns. He would not feel at ease until he had completely cleared it out.

He marched quickly all the way and finally caught up with the battle at the most critical moment.

(End of this chapter)