Later, when we recalled what the Chanyu had said at the beginning, we realized that it was indeed Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King, manifesting his power and slaughtering all the Xiongnu!
"Then they all fainted. When they woke up, all the Xiongnu soldiers outside were dead. They dared not go anywhere until I led my army here." Luan Bu's expression after hearing the maids' words was much more shocked than Ji Bu and Ji Xin's.
If the sinking of those warships in the Yangtze River cannot be considered evidence of Xiang Yu's divine intervention, then what happened here, along with the testimonies of several maids, confirms that it was all done by Xiang Yu.
Before this, there were stories of ghosts and gods in the world, but no one had ever seen them. This time, however, he saw it with his own eyes. The waves on the river were not big, but thousands of warships mysteriously sank together.
Furthermore, with tens of thousands of Xiongnu soldiers dying unnatural deaths and almost no survivors, it was definitely beyond human capability!
"I see..." Ji Bu instantly realized, "This matter isn't over yet. The Overlord must have gone to Zhongxing to negotiate with Junchen! Let's go! Let's go find Junchen too! Maybe we can even see the Overlord! Let's muster the army!"
“Brother! If the Overlord wanted to see us, he would have shown himself long ago. Besides, even if we went, wouldn’t we still see the same thing? The Overlord has the ability to live forever and fly through the air. How could the two of us possibly catch up?” Ji Xin also wanted to see Xiang Yu, but why deceive herself?
Ji Bu suddenly realized, "Yes, they have already risked their lives to get here. Even if they go to Qi, they will never be able to catch up with the Overlord."
"You're right. If the Overlord wanted to see us, he would have shown himself long ago..." Ji Bu was in tears, as if all his strength had been drained away.
Ji Xin's face was also full of sadness. It was probably that they would never see the Overlord again in this life. But thinking about it carefully, wasn't it already destined when the Overlord committed suicide by the river?
The Overlord's return this time is clearly to protect Jiangdong and save the world, not just to see them.
However, the Overlord should have already seen them burning incense and making offerings beforehand, right?
He and Ji Bu rushed to the rescue with all their might, and the Overlord must have seen it, right?
That's enough; they didn't disgrace the Overlord!
Thump, thump!
Ji Bu and Ji Xin knelt on the ground almost simultaneously, looked up at the sky, raised their arms, and cried out:
"Overlord! King Xiang! Come out and see us brothers! We have missed you for thirty long years! Waaah..."
...
Chapter 353 Feint to the East, Attack in the West
The "Chronological Tables" section of the Records of the Grand Historian states that the four major passes of Guanzhong are: Hangu Pass in the east, Xiaowu Pass in the south, Sanguan Pass in the west, and Xiaoguan Pass in the north.
Leaving aside the San Pass, which guards the Chencang Road, the other three passes could all become targets for the Xiongnu's southward attack, since the Xiongnu had three armies.
However, there was another route the Xiongnu could take to enter the pass: the famous Qin Straight Road.
Originally, this avenue was built to consolidate Jiuyuan County or even to attack the Xiongnu, but now it has been used by the Xiongnu instead.
Zhonghang Shuo's army took this route straight to Xianyang, nearly scaring Liu Heng to death.
However, Meng Tian had already taken this situation into consideration when he built the Qin Straight Road, so he set up passes in dangerous places along the Qin Straight Road, and the closer to Guanzhong, the more densely they were set up.
The most famous of these is Guimen Pass, located on the top of Ziwu Ridge in the northwest of Huangling County, Shaanxi Province. It is also known as Juyuan Pass because the Ju River originates here. In the late Qing Dynasty, it was renamed Xinglong Pass. The ancients described it as "towering and vast, with a terrain as natural as a chasm".
Upon learning that a large army had entered the Qin Straight Road, Liu Heng immediately dispatched a large force to reinforce Juyuan Pass, as the Qin Straight Road could not be lost.
Otherwise, Liu Heng would have no choice but to flee to Shu. It would be safe, but it would be incredibly difficult to launch another attack later.
Liu Heng's defensive strategy was to protect Guanzhong and prepare for a protracted war with the Xiongnu.
The three armies of the Xiongnu came with great force, especially after the Han army was defeated at Yanmen and Yunzhong. Liu Heng knew that he was no longer able to keep the Xiongnu out of the country.
The Han army could not possibly win in terms of troop strength, and their weapons and equipment were roughly the same. In terms of food and supplies, the Xiongnu would not lack supplies as they were able to sustain themselves through war. Moreover, the Xiongnu had a large number of cannon fodder available. Therefore, the key to victory for the Han army lay in the command ability of its generals.
However, even Wei Shang, the governor of Yunzhong County, who was quite skilled in battle, died in battle. So who else could resist the Xiongnu?
Therefore, Liu Heng ordered the main force of the Han army to retreat to Guanzhong. After the Xiongnu had plundered and eaten their fill, they would naturally retreat. This was a good opportunity to weaken the strength of the various vassal states, turning a bad thing into a good thing.
However, the behavior of the various vassal states was somewhat unexpected by Liu Heng. They surrendered to the Xiongnu with virtually no resistance, and the situation suddenly became extremely critical.
"All the kings have surrendered? And they even want to help the Xiongnu attack me?" Liu Heng trembled with rage. "What should we do..."
Zhou Bo cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, do not be anxious. Guanzhong is easy to defend and difficult to attack. With the reinforcements of the three kings, it is difficult for the Xiongnu and the rebels to conquer it, no matter how capable they are."
On the way here, I heard that Ji Bu and Luan Bu have been leading their troops to resist the Xiongnu, and have already seized Jiangdong from the King of Wu. The Lu region will not surrender easily either, so they should be able to delay the other two Xiongnu armies for a while.
Furthermore, it is not an exaggeration of this old minister, but my son Zhou Yafu is well-versed in military strategy and possesses the courage of ten thousand men. With him guarding Wuguan Pass, there will be no risk of loss, and we can also wait for the opportunity to reclaim the lost territory.”
"Oh? Then Wuguan Pass will be guarded by General Zhou and General Zhou Yafu!" Liu Heng's eyes lit up, but he quickly became worried again, "What about Hangu Pass?"
"Your Majesty, the Marquis of Dongyang was also a famous general during the reign of Emperor Taizu. He followed Emperor Taizu in battle for several years. Together with General Feng Tang, the two of them should be able to protect Hangu Pass." Prime Minister Zhang Cang said with his hands clasped.
Liu Heng nodded repeatedly, finally relieved. "In this way, Hangu Pass is safe, and with General Dong Chi leading the elite troops of Guanzhong to guard Juyuan Pass, Guanzhong is safe..."
Just then, another person stepped forward. It was the scholar Chao Cuo, who was highly regarded by Crown Prince Liu Qi.
"Your Majesty, in addition to Hangu Pass, Wu Pass, and Juyuan Pass, Xiao Pass must also be guarded against!"
"Xiaoguan? You mean the Xiongnu have been besieging Juyuan Pass for a long time without success, and will change their route to attack Xiaoguan? Or..." Liu Heng's expression changed drastically.
"Your Majesty, I am worried that the Xiongnu's attack on Juyuan Pass is a pretense, and their real intention is to attack Xiao Pass," Chao Cuo said with concern.
Zhou Bo frowned. "Xiaoguan is also a vital pass in Guanzhong, so we really can't let our guard down. However, the Xiongnu are currently attacking Juyuan Pass and haven't received any news of an attack on Xiaoguan. Moreover, there are quite a few troops stationed at Xiaoguan, so it's not too late to send reinforcements now."
"Then who should we send as reinforcements?" Liu Heng felt somewhat relieved after hearing Zhou Bo's words. He hadn't expected that in the time of crisis for the Han Dynasty, this old minister, whom he had almost killed for treason, would still step forward.
"In my opinion, Grand Censor Shentu Jia is a suitable candidate for important responsibilities," Zhang Cang advised.
"Oh, I almost forgot, Shen Tu Jia is also a military general, so he can ensure everything is safe. With that, I feel much more at ease. Minister Shen, quickly lead your troops to reinforce Xiao Guan." Liu Heng felt somewhat relieved.
“Yes!” Shentu Jialang replied loudly.
Just then, an urgent military report came from outside the palace.
"Your Majesty! Urgent report from Xiao Guan!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Heng and the others felt their heads buzz. It was exactly what they feared! The Xiongnu actually knew how to use military tactics, feinting to the east while attacking in the west?
Yes, the Xiongnu have gained another strategist, none other than Zhonghang Shuo!
Liu Heng felt an intense hatred for Zhongxing Yue whenever he thought of him. When the old Chanyu ascended the throne, the Han Dynasty was supposed to offer a princess as a dowry. So Liu Heng assigned Zhongxing Yue to accompany him, but Zhongxing Yue did not want to go.
Because his elderly and ailing mother was far away, and the journey to the Xiongnu was long, he might never see her again, and his mother also needed someone to take care of her.
But Liu Heng disagreed and insisted that Zhongxing Yue go instead. So Zhongxing Yue swore an oath in the main hall, "I will surely be a scourge to the Han!"
This means that if he is forced to go to the Xiongnu, he will turn around and help the Xiongnu fight against the Han Dynasty, hoping to use this to threaten Liu Heng into changing the order.
But how could Liu Heng be threatened by a mere eunuch? Moreover, all the officials in the court believed that Zhongxing's words were just a momentary outburst, nothing more than a joke.
In the end, Zhongxing Yue followed Liu Heng's wishes and married the princess to the Xiongnu. However, when they were almost there, Zhongxing Yue received news of his mother's death and was unable to see her one last time.
At this point, Zhongxing had no more scruples; revenge was his only motivation to live.
Upon meeting Lao Shang Chanyu, Zhongxing Shuo immediately told him the truth, stating that he wanted to help the Xiongnu attack the Han Dynasty, and was thus given an important position.
To be fair, Zhongxing Shuo was a very talented man. If he hadn't been a eunuch and had been given important responsibilities by Emperor Wen of Han, perhaps the Han Dynasty would have risen to power before Emperor Wu of Han.
But history has no "what ifs." In the end, the Zhongxing Group stood on the opposite side of the Han Dynasty and became the most troublesome enemy of Emperors Wen and Jing, and even Emperor Wu of Han.
However, although Zhongxing Shuo served three Chanyus in history and was highly valued by them, he ultimately failed to achieve his revenge and could not accomplish the revenge he desired.
But in this Wenjing world, Zhongxing Shuo was favored by fate. He became the host and, with only a year of preparation, he overwhelmed the Han Dynasty.
The army led by Zhongxing Shuo crossed the Yellow River from Jiuyuan County, first taking the Qin Straight Road, then secretly changing course halfway to Beidi County to attack Xiaoguan. As for the Right Wise King at Guimen Pass, he was merely a feint to attract the Han army's attention.
However, after Zhongxing Shuo's army arrived at Xiaoguan, they encountered fierce resistance from the Han army and were unable to conquer it for a time. But that was all.
Zhongxing sneered, "Come on, elites from the East and West Factories, charge! We'll take this pass today!"
Chapter 354 Further Discussion of Biden
Some people have asked similar questions: If Liu Ji could defeat Xiang Yu, why couldn't he defeat Maodun?
The answer is actually quite simple. Liu Ji defeated Xiang Yu by relying on a large group of outstanding people, including Zhang Liang, Han Xin, Peng Yue, and even traitors such as Xiang Bo, Ding Gu, Ying Bu, and Zhou Yin, to narrowly defeat Xiang Yu.
When fighting Maodun, Liu Ji only had Xiahou Ying and Chen Ping by his side. Moreover, Chen Ping was not good at fighting, and Xiahou Ying mostly served as the captain of the guard.
Some might ask, why didn't Liu Ji bring along a host of famous generals like Zhang Liang, Han Xin, Peng Yue, Ying Bu, Fan Kuai, Guan Ying, Zhou Bo, and Cao Can?
Because Liu Ji previously believed that the world was settled, he tore off his pretense and began to purge the meritorious officials who had overshadowed him, intending to consolidate his rule by discarding them after they had served their purpose. As a result, the people in the court and the country were in a state of panic, and the generals would hide far away at the mere mention of war.
Defeating them would result in punishment, while winning would bring great merit, but it could also cost them their lives. Zhang Liang wisely chose to stay home due to illness, while Liu Ji dared not use Han Xin, and he was also uneasy about the other generals.
It wasn't that he was afraid of losing the war, but rather that he feared someone else gaining military power and threatening his imperial throne.
Therefore, Liu Ji had no choice but to personally take command. Of course, he wasn't stupid; he brought a group of talented people who hadn't made any significant contributions to assist him. Then, he sent out scouts who reported back that the Xiongnu were few in number and their horses were thin, so they had little fighting power.
Liu Ji then asked, "The Xiongnu are so weak. If I personally lead 30,000 troops as the vanguard, can I defeat them in one fell swoop?"
As a result, nineteen out of twenty people said they could fight and would surely win a great victory, comparable to the Battle of Julu.
Only one person said it was a trap set by the Xiongnu, and stopped Liu Ji from risking his life and being reckless in his pursuit of merit.
Liu Ji was furious and immediately imprisoned the minister who had prevented him from displaying his prowess, intending to deal with him properly after his triumphant return.
In Liu Ji's resume, the Battle of Pengcheng has become the biggest stain on his life. His 560,000 troops were defeated by Xiang Yu's 30,000 troops. If he could defeat the Xiongnu and regain his former glory, he would no longer be afraid of those meritorious officials. Who could compare with his merit of defeating the Xiongnu?
However, Liu Ji overlooked his own military abilities and overestimated the nineteen strategists. Without a strategist like Zhang Liang by his side, Liu Ji's ability to listen to opinions and distinguish right from wrong also disappeared.
They rushed over excitedly, only to fall into an ambush and suffer a crushing defeat. Only a few remnants escaped to Baideng Mountain, where they were surrounded by the Xiongnu army.
Liu Ji led tens of thousands of men to launch a surprise attack on the Xiongnu. He certainly wouldn't have brought much food and supplies. Even if he had, it might not have been enough to transport them to Baideng Mountain. With no food or supplies inside and no reinforcements outside, the weather was freezing cold, and the soldiers couldn't even hold their weapons. They might not even have a tent to keep warm.
In this situation, what could Liu Ji do but despair? He could only wait for Zhou Bo to send troops to rescue him, but he also had to hold onto the mountain. Chen Ping and Xiahou Ying were at a loss and had no way to help.
Baideng Mountain is just a mountain, not a fortified city or fortress. Even if only tens of thousands of Xiongnu troops attacked the mountain, let alone hundreds of thousands, they could be easily taken down by starving them for two days, or even by freezing them for one night. Even such a small number of defeated soldiers would lose most of their fighting capacity.
To Liu Ji's surprise, Modu did not launch a full-scale attack, but instead besieged the city without attacking. This gave Liu Ji and Chen Ping hope. However, after waiting for a day, no reinforcements came. After waiting for two days, no reinforcements came. After three days, everyone was almost starving to death, but still no reinforcements came!
You should know that Yanmen is less than 30 miles from Baideng Mountain. If Zhou Bo wanted to come and rescue him, he could arrive in a day, let alone three days!
What does this mean? One possibility is that Zhou Bo has arrived, but he dares not attack the Xiongnu to rescue Liu Ji. He may be afraid of falling into the Xiongnu's trap of besieging the city and attacking the reinforcements, but he also seems somewhat hesitant to rescue Liu Ji.
Everyone knows that during the Chu-Han Contention, Ding Gu saved Liu Ji's life and made a great contribution, but was beheaded by Liu Ji. Now that Liu Ji is clearly purging his meritorious officials, why would he actively try to curry favor with him? What a load of rubbish!
Another possibility is even more terrifying: Zhou Bo deliberately slowed down the march, hoping that the Xiongnu would kill Liu Ji with one blow, or let Liu Ji starve to death on Baideng Mountain, so that he could take his place.
Maodun was a ruthless and resourceful man. He may have initially planned to besiege the city and attack the reinforcements, but after two days he realized that the Han army was not fooled and seemed to care nothing about the Han emperor.
This greatly surprised Maodun, who was now in a dilemma. If he rushed up the mountain and killed Liu Ji, he would gain nothing. If he kidnapped Liu Ji and went to trade with the Han Dynasty, he probably wouldn't get much wealth in return, and he would also lose the lives of several Xiongnu soldiers.
So Maodun could only wait, waiting for Liu Ji to be unable to endure the hunger and cold and to surrender on his own initiative. Capturing the Han emperor without losing a single soldier, even if he only got a little bit of wealth in return, would still be a pure profit.