In a blink of an eye, more than a month has passed.

The battle against Han has also entered the most critical moment.

The 50,000 army of Prince Xiang Zheng of Chu had advanced to Puyang on the east bank of the river half a month ago. However, the 30,000 army of the veteran Han Dynasty, Li Zuoche, had already made strict defenses in Xiayang on the west bank of the river to the Linjin line, building a beacon tower every two hundred steps, building a pier every five miles, 500 troops, and a pier fort every twenty miles, with two thousand troops garrisons.

In addition, Li Zuoche personally led 10,000 elite troops to station in Yangxia, Heyangyi between Jin, and wherever the Chu army launched the battle to cross the river, the Han army could arrive in the shortest time to respond.

Looking at the Han army defense map provided by the Xuanyi Guard, Xiang Zheng frowned unconsciously.

Deputy General Gao Lang usually claims to be wise and resourceful, and he is also helpless for a while.

After pondering at the map for a long time, Xiang Zheng said, "This Li Zuoche is really cautious."

"It's true." Gao Lang nodded slightly and said, "I heard from my father that he had mentioned this person. It is said that this person suggested to King Xie of Zhao at that time to divide his troops to intercept the food routes of the Han army. Unfortunately, King Xie of Zhao was stupid and incompetent and did not adopt his suggestion. Otherwise, there would be no subsequent Battle of Jingxing, and the situation of the Chu-Han battle would be very different."

Xiang Zheng said: "My father also told me about this person. It was when our army was newly defeated in the Battle of Gaixia, the previous king was newly destroyed, and the situation in Chu was the most critical. Fortunately, in the Battle of Shouchun, his father defeated Li Zuoche, which led to the subsequent Meishan Battle. Then the situation in Chu was able to turn danger into peace. The father once said that he was defeated by victory in the Battle of Shouchun."

Gao Lang said: "Although Li Zuoche is not well-known, he can be valued by the King and King Han Xin of Qi, so he shows that he is not a false reputation. Zihe, it seems that you have met a real opponent this time."

Xiang Zheng smiled and said, "As long as it is not the Han Jin Bai Mo, no matter how difficult it is, you must try it."

"Haha, if the Han prime minister Bai Mo is really leading the troops on the other side, we don't need to attack anymore. We will directly have a deep groove barrier." Gao Lang smiled, "Although this Li Zuoche is also difficult to deal with. However, it is always a lot worse than Bai Mo. Let's make a good decision and we can always find a way to defeat him."

Xiang Zheng nodded slightly and said, "Can the remaining armies make new progress?"

Gao Lang replied: "It's still the same. The General is still confronting the Han prime minister Bai Mo. The 20,000 Shu soldiers of the general of light chariot were blocked on the Jinniu Road and could not advance in a short time. The navy of the general of the Lou Ship, Zhonglimei, was still clearing the iron chains blocking the river at Fenglingdu, and the 50,000 Northern Diao Iron Cavalry, who was conquered by the General of the Cavalry, was still confronting the Huns in Jiuyuan."

Xiang Zheng said again: "Where are the Yan and Zhao coalition forces and the Korean army?"

Gao Lang replied: "It's the same as before, still in the clouds, Li Shi and the Han army are in the snake committee."

Xiang Zheng shook his head and said, "Where is the Qiang soldiers of the Qiang Captain Pang Zheng? Is there no news yet?"

Gao Lang shook his head and said nothing. He knew that the reason why the prince was concerned about the Qiang soldiers of the Qiang lieutenant Pang Zheng was entirely because the prince Xiang Zhi was also in Pang Zheng's army. The prince was not worried about the general, the cavalry general or the general light chariot advanced to the pass, but was worried that the prince Xiang Zhi would enter Xianyang before him, because at this stage, Xiang Zhi was the one who could threaten his position as a prince.

As the prince's hard-core friend, Gao Lang knew very well that the prince had never relaxed his guard against his younger brother.

However, the commander of the Qiang-protecting Captain Pang Zheng led the Qiang troops out of the Jinchuan Valley and crossed the Gongga Mountain to attack Longxi was originally a dangerous move. In the middle, not only had to cross several snow-covered mountains, but also had to cross endless sieges, and even passed through dozens of savage tribes' territory. The degree of danger was almost as dangerous as the king's lonely battle back then.

It is said that after learning the news, the Empress Dowager (Yu Ji) even fainted from anxiety.

Gao Lang immediately advised: "Crown Prince, going out of the Jinchuan Valley to cross Gongga Mountain to attack Longxi is really dangerous all the way. If you are not careful, you will be worried about the destruction of the entire army. Not to mention whether the Qiang soldiers who protect the Qiang School can enter Longxi, even if they succeed by luck, exhaustion, and loss of troops and generals, it is difficult to do anything."

Xiang Zheng shook his head and said disapprovingly: "But Ziliang, have you ever thought about it? Bai Mo, the Han prime minister, may not have expected that there would be the Qiang soldiers in the Qiang Guardian Pang Zheng. Now that the Han army is in full swing, confronting our army in various counties, Xianyang must be empty in the garrison. If the Qiang soldiers suddenly emerge in Longxi at this time..."

Gao Lang was silent. He had to admit that the prince's analysis was still very reasonable.

The reason why the prince Xiang Zhi disobeyed the king's order and wanted to follow the Qiang-protecting commander Pang Zheng to conquer Longxi was probably because he had seen through this point. Thinking of this, Gao Lang couldn't help but feel amazement. He really didn't realize that the prince Xiang Zhi was careless and seemed to have no scheming, but he had such a plan in secret?

Xiang Zheng seemed to guess what Gao Lang was thinking, and shook his head and said, "I know best what kind of personality my second brother is. He would never have imagined that there would be such a distance. Someone must be giving him advice behind this matter, and this is what I am most worried about." What Xiang Zheng is most worried about is the huge force behind Xiang Zhi.

In fact, Xiang Zheng thought more deeply and farther than his elder brother Xiang Zhuang in this matter.

For the need for political stability, Xiang Zhuang appointed the prince early, but he had not seriously considered the arrangements for the funeral. After all, he was only in his early forties and was still early to die. However, the prince Xiang Zheng had already made plans in secret for the sake of preparations.

Xiang Zheng's understanding of his father was beyond the imagination of ordinary people. He knew very well that when the Han Dynasty was destroyed, his father Xiang Zhuang would inevitably ascend the throne and become emperor. After he became emperor, his father would inevitably reward his ministers again. He was not sure whether he would be granted the king of another surname, but it was very likely that he would be appointed as the king of a few sons.

If Xiang Zhi made great contributions in the battle against Han Dynasty, he would not be able to replace him as the crown prince, and he would probably not be able to be appointed as the prince. In addition, Xiang Zhi was the stepson of the previous king Xiang Yu. In addition to the vigorous activities of the previous king's party members and the influence of the queen mother, Xiang Zhi might be granted the title of King of Jiangdong, which is not a good thing for Xiang Zheng.

If Xiang Zhizhen was granted the title of King of Jiangdong, his kingdom would likely be in a state of great power. Even if Xiang Zheng succeeded to the throne as Emperor II of Chu, he would also be very likely to be taken away by his younger brother. It is said that Taoists have no long-term plans and will have immediate worries. For the sake of their own crown prince and future throne, Xiang Zheng must be prepared.

After pondering for a long time, Xiang Zheng said in an unquestionable tone: "No matter what, we must attack Guanzhong before the Qiang Captain Guardian. The first contribution to destroying Han Dynasty must not fall on the second brother!"

"But, Zihe, it is not easy to defeat Li Zuoche. If you act too rush, it will be easy for him to take advantage of it." Gao Lang could understand Xiang Zheng's mood, but Li Zuoche was not a fuel-efficient lamp after all, let alone the Han army is shy of defense and the Chu army does not have the assistance of the navy, so it is not easy to cross the river and attack.

Xiang Zheng thoughtfully said: "When I was a child, my father told me a story called Romance of the Three Kingdoms. There was a passage in which the Prime Minister of the Western Kingdom took the initiative to attack in order to lure the generals of the Northern Kingdom, and sent someone to give the woman's clothes to the generals of the Northern Kingdom to ridicule the generals of the Northern Kingdom for having no eggs and not a man."

"Oh?" Gao Lang asked, "Is that North General angry?"

"No." Xiang Zheng shook his head and said, "The general of the North country happily accepted the women's clothes sent by the Prime Minister of the West and even wore them in front of the army. The Prime Minister of the West eventually returned in vain." After a pause, Xiang Zheng said, "But Li Zuoche may not have the aura of the general of the North country. I want to use this method to try him."

Gao Lang said: "If Li Zuoche really angers, what should I do?"

Xiang Zheng picked up the short beard that had just grown from the corner of his lips, and then leaned against Gao Lang's ear and whispered a few times. Gao Lang's eyes lit up instantly, and he nodded and said, "I understand, don't worry, I know what to do."

#############

Heyangyi, Li Zuo's chariot head.

The next morning, the prince of Chu Xiang Zheng sent an envoy to cross the river, threatening that the Chu army would fight the Han army on the west bank of the river, and asked the Han army to retreat ten miles and give the Chu army space to cross the river.

Deputy General Xiahouzhao suggested that Li Zuoche agree to the Chu army's request and then give the Chu army a half-cross.

However, Li Zuoche did not adopt the suggestion of deputy general Xiahou Zao, because Li Zuoche had several confrontations with the Chu army and knew that the Chu army was brave and good at fighting, and that the Han army could not resist the enemy. If half of the Chu army really crossed the river, I was afraid that the Han army's defense line on the west bank of the river would collapse in an instant, and then everything would be over.

After Li Zuoche refused, Prince Chu ordered someone to send a brocade box the next day.

"Crown Prince Chu gives me a gift?" Li Zuoche sent away the messenger who delivered the brocade box and said to the deputy general Xiahou Zao with a smile, "This matter is new. I will see what gift it is."

Before he finished speaking, Li Zuoche wanted to step forward and open the brocade box.

"Elder General, be careful of hidden weapons in the box!" Xiahou Zao quickly stopped Li Zuoche, and ordered his personal soldiers to go forward and open the brocade box. However, there were no hidden weapons in the box. Only a lotus green silk straight hem deep garment was placed. A letter was placed on the deep garment, with the words "Li Zuoche, the former general of the Han Dynasty, personally opened" on it.

"Oh, a letter to me?" Li Zuoche smiled and opened the envelope, but his face changed drastically when he saw it.

Xiahou Zao saw that Li Zuoche didn't say anything for a long time after reading the letter, but the expression on his face turned blue and white. He asked carefully: "Old General, what did you say in the letter?"

Li Zuoche did not answer, but just picked up the brocade box on the table and the women's deep clothes in the box and slapped it on the ground. Before he could get rid of his anger, he roared angrily: "Xiang Zheng, how dare you do this? How dare you humiliate me like this?"

Xiahou Zao picked up the letter falling to the ground, and when he saw it, he couldn't help but change his face. In the letter, Prince Xiang Zheng actually ridiculed the old general Li Zuoche as a young lady with no eggs and gave the old general a deep garment, hoping that the old general would like it. It was no wonder that General Li was so angry that his hair and beard were wide open.

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ps: This book is about to be completed at the end of the month or at the beginning of next month. It is almost time to finish the book. The high order is still a big gap, but there is still a big gap, so I can only beg everyone to help you subscribe to the first chapter of the VIP chapter and help the swordsman make a high order. Of course, if you have the conditions, I hope you can make up for the subscription of all chapters and help the swordsman make a full subscription. Please. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to (.) vote for recommendations, monthly votes, and your support is my greatest motivation.)
Chapter completed!