Phi-Fic Chapter 548 Conquest of Chu 4
Chapter 548 Conquest of Chu 4
Xiang Yan led the main force of 200,000 Chu troops northward. When they reached Chencheng, they received another urgent report: Wang Ben had captured three cities outside Xiangcheng, completely severing the connection between Xiangcheng and Yingdu, and the Chu army's eastern supply lines were completely cut off.
"That scoundrel is hateful!" Xiang Yan was furious and ordered his army to march day and night, reaching Xiangcheng within three days. He knew that Wang Ben's intention was not only to cut off their supplies, but also to use Xiangcheng as a base to tie down his main force and buy time for Wang Jian's central army to advance.
During the march, Xiang Yan couldn't help but recall his trip to Xianyang last year. He remembered his conversation with Zhou Xun.
"General Xiang, the feudal lords have been fighting for hundreds of years, leaving the land of China scarred and the people displaced and suffering unspeakably." Zhou Xun once said, "Qin is strong and Chu is weak, and the unification of the world is an inevitable trend."
Xiang Yan scoffed at the time: "Qin is a country of tigers and wolves. After unifying the world, it will surely implement tyranny. How can the people live in peace?"
Zhou Xun did not refute, but simply smiled and said, "General, do you know that although Qin's laws are strict, they can regulate officialdom and allow the people to live in peace? On the other hand, in Chu, nobles annex land, oppress the common people, and hoard goods during famine years, causing widespread resentment among the people. General, you possess extraordinary talent, why not seek another way out for the sake of the people?"
At that time, Xiang Yan scoffed at the Qin people's psychological warfare tactics. But now, with Chu in such a state of decay, Fu Chu incompetent, nobles vying for power, and soldiers weary of war, his resolve was wavering. "Who would have thought that Zhou Xun's words would come true?" he wondered to himself.
"Grandfather!" The voice, though young, was full of energy, interrupting his thoughts. A tall, robust boy with thick eyebrows and large eyes rode up on horseback; it was none other than his ten-year-old grandson, Xiang Yu. Despite his young age, Xiang Yu possessed superhuman strength and extraordinary bravery, already showing his talent early on. He wielded a specially made halberd, his eyes filled with arrogant fighting spirit.
"Yu'er, what brings you here?" Xiang Yan asked, composed himself.
"Grandfather! I have heard that the arrogant Wang Ben has captured several of my cities. I am willing to be the vanguard and lead the army to meet him. I will surely kill him under my halberd!" Xiang Yu's voice was like a bell, his eyes burning with fighting spirit. He did not take the meritorious Wang Ben seriously at all.
Seeing his grandson's spirited face, Xiang Yan felt both relieved and worried. Xiang Yu's bravery was unparalleled in the Chu army, but on the battlefield, mere courage was not enough. Wang Ben was a veteran of countless battles, with exceptional strategy, and was not someone to be underestimated. "Yu'er, Wang Ben is no ordinary general; we must not underestimate him."
Xiang Yan said in a deep voice, "In this battle, you must obey military orders and not act without authorization."
"Grandson understands!" Xiang Yu replied, but his eyes still gleamed with eagerness to achieve great things.
Three days later, Xiang Yan led an army of 100,000 to the outskirts of Xiangcheng, where they confronted Wang Ben's left flank army. Looking down from a high vantage point at the Qin army camp, he saw imposing fortifications, orderly banners, and disciplined soldiers on patrol. "Wang Ben's military discipline is indeed like his father's," he thought.
Xiang Yan secretly praised the order, and then gave the order: "The main army shall set up camp opposite the Qin army's main camp, construct defensive fortifications, and confront the Qin army. At the same time, send out light cavalry to harass the Qin army's supply lines and investigate their strengths and weaknesses."
The Chu army began to set up camp, and the Qin army did not send troops to interfere. Wang Ben stood on a high point in the camp, watching the Chu army's movements, and said to his deputy general, "Xiang Yan intends to wage a protracted war against our army. Pass down the order to strengthen the camp's defenses, and have the crossbowmen stand ready to guard against a night attack by the Chu army. In addition, send out scouts to closely monitor the Chu army's movements, and report immediately if they discover any of their supply lines."
Thus, the two sides formed a standoff on the outskirts of Xiangcheng.
During this period, the Chu army repeatedly sent light cavalry to harass the Qin army's supply lines, but all of them were repelled by the well-prepared Qin army. Xiang Yan became anxious. The army's food supplies were running out, and the soldiers' discontent was growing. If the stalemate could not be broken soon, the army would surely collapse without a fight.
He summoned his generals for another meeting, and Xiang Liang advised, "General, although Wang Ben's forces are fewer than ours, they occupy a strategic location and are well-defended. If we launch a forced attack, our losses will be heavy. It would be better to send someone to Yingdu to request reinforcements, so that His Majesty can send more supplies and reinforcements."
Xiang Yan sighed: "I have requested reinforcements from Yingdu many times, but the king listens to slander and thinks that I am at a disadvantage in a prolonged battle. Not only does he not send reinforcements, but he also urges me to fight a quick battle."
He paused, a resolute glint in his eyes, "It seems we have no choice but to risk a battle. Wang Ben is steady, but also young and impetuous. If our army feigns weakness and lures him into attacking, we might find an opportunity to defeat him."
Upon hearing this, the generals all hesitated. Wang Ben was a cautious strategist; how could he be so easily fooled? Xiang Yan, however, already had a plan: "Tomorrow, our army will send a small force to feign an attack on the Qin army's main camp, deliberately showing weakness and defeat to lure Wang Ben into pursuit. Then, our main force will ambush them and annihilate them in one fell swoop!"
The plan was set, yet Xiang Yan sat listlessly in his tent until late into the night. The flickering candlelight cast his shadow on the map, its brightness mirroring his wavering state of mind.
He reached out and stroked the outline of the character "Chu" on the map, his fingertips tracing the patterns of the Ying and Ru rivers. Those rivers that once witnessed the prosperity of the Chu Kingdom had now become shackles that trapped the army.
"Grandfather." The tent flap was gently lifted, and Xiang Yu walked in carrying a folded suit of armor. The boy's footsteps broke the silence inside the tent. "We will be going into battle tomorrow, so you should get some rest."
Xiang Yan looked up at his grandson. Moonlight filtered through the curtains, illuminating Xiang Yu's young face. That indomitable spirit was so much like his own when he was young. He suddenly asked, "Yu'er, tell me, if one day the Kingdom of Chu were to fall, what would you do?"
Xiang Yu was stunned, then his brows furrowed, and his tone became firm: "What are you saying, Grandfather! With you here, with me here, with the Chu army here, how could the Chu state not exist? Tomorrow I will surely behead Wang Ben, repel the Qin army, and protect my Chu state!"
Seeing the unwavering determination in his grandson's eyes, Xiang Yan's inner struggle intensified. He recalled Zhou Xun's words and the suffering of the people he had witnessed along the way—farms lying fallow, refugees begging, while the nobles continued their decadent lifestyle in Yingdu.
But this was the homeland his family had protected for generations, the land he had sworn to defend since his youth. How could he stand by and watch it perish? "Enough." Xiang Yan waved his hand, suppressing those chaotic thoughts. "In tomorrow's battle, you will stay by my side. Remember not to act rashly."
The next day, just as dawn broke, the bugles of the Chu army resounded across the plains. Five thousand Chu infantrymen pushed makeshift siege ladders and slowly advanced toward the southeast corner of the Qin army camp. Their steps were scattered and their morale was low; from a distance, they looked like a hastily assembled motley crew.
"General, what's going on with the Chu army..." The Qin army's deputy general pointed to the scene outside the city, his tone full of doubt. The Chu army, which was on high alert yesterday, was sending such a weak force to attack today, which was really abnormal.
Wang Ben stood atop the camp, observing through binoculars. He watched the Chu soldiers' hesitant advance, and noticed the occasional weapon falling from the ranks; a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "Something's not right."
He said in a deep voice, "Xiang Yan is a seasoned warrior. Even if supplies are scarce, he would never send such troops to their deaths. Pass on my order: crossbowmen, take your positions and guard the camp gates strictly. No one is allowed to go out to fight without authorization!"
The Chu army advanced to within a hundred paces of their camp. The leading general shouted "Attack the city!" but hesitated to give the order to charge. Just then, a hail of arrows suddenly rained down from the Qin army camp. The Chu soldiers were thrown into chaos, abandoning their armor and weapons and fleeing in disarray, even leaving their siege ladders behind.
"General! The Chu army has been routed!" his subordinate shouted excitedly. "If we pursue them now, we will surely achieve a great victory!"
Wang Ben remained unmoved, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Chu army's retreat. He noticed that although the Chu soldiers were fleeing, they maintained a certain formation, and their route of retreat pointed precisely to a dense forest not far away—a low-lying area with lush trees, an ideal place for an ambush.