My father, King Chu, was besieged at Gaixia

Chapter 146 Day and Night
Han Xin sighed lightly, and it was obvious that he had thought about this question before. He ordered his attendant to hang up the map and pointed out, "Xiang Chang led 30,000 cavalry back to Gaixia, but the Overlord Xiang Yu was nowhere to be seen. As for where he went, he might have been sitting in Hengshan Kingdom to collect military supplies, going to Jiujiang Kingdom to threaten Ying Bu, rushing to Jiangdong to recruit soldiers, or even marching straight to Hanzhong!"

After these words were spoken, Cao Shen and other generals suddenly realized that they were too concerned about their own interests and completely forgot about the biggest threat, the Overlord.

When they thought of this, the generals couldn't help but feel a burning sensation on their faces.

"Immediately send a message to Li Shang to abandon Jiangdong and go to Yuzhang County to join Chen Xi to contain Ying Bu." Liu Bang gave the order without hesitation.

According to Chen Ping's plan, Liu Bang sent Li Shang to lead an army to Jiangdong, attempting to capture it and cut off Xiang Yu's roots. But now Chen Xi was in a critical situation, so he could not take care of him and had to withdraw first.

"Young man Xiang Chang has returned to Gaixia. The commander needs to inquire more about his next move inside the city." Liu Bang turned to Chen Ping and said.

Chen Ping nodded and said, "The method of making the golden juice has been handed out in the city. I have sent people to make it successfully and tested it on the captured Chu soldiers. It is indeed the same."

Liu Bang nodded happily and said with some regret: "It's a pity that this thing can only be used to defend the city, and it is not very useful in a battle between two armies. Could it be that Xiang Chang is really a genius in war? Stirrups, poison-clearing medicine, gold juice, they are endless. The commander should ask more, do you have any sharp weapons like 'stirrups' that can be directly used in war? Didn't Xiang Chang set up a 'craftsman camp'? We must find out whether he has made any new sharp weapons."

Chen Ping agreed.

As the Han army retreated and retreated back to their camp, they once again built deep walls and high fortifications, acting like turtles. The new round of war between Han and Chu over Gaixia ended in a whimper.

Xiang Chang led 30,000 Chu cavalry to camp outside the city. As soon as the Han army retreated, General Zhongli Mei led Xiang Zhuang, Ji Bu, Huan Chu, Zhou Yin and other generals and officials to come out of the city to pay a visit.

He single-handedly turned a doomed situation around, and all the generals of the Great Chu now respect Xiang Chang like a god.

In particular, the food and military uniforms shipped from the Linjiang Kingdom resolved the crisis of the Chu army in Gaixia City at one stroke, giving them the capital to continue fighting the Han camp.

Xiang Chang was delighted to see that all the generals, including Zhongli Mei, treated him with great respect, which was no less respectful than when they treated his father, King Xiang Yu.

After paying respectful tribute to Xiang Chang, the generals gathered around him and began a military meeting.

The Great Chu Army now has 30,000 cavalry joining it. Even though it suffered some losses in this battle, its strength still reaches 80,000, and the cavalry accounts for more than half of them.

In contrast, the Han camp had only 140,000 troops remaining, and only about 12,000 cavalry. It can be said that the gap in military strength between the two camps has further narrowed.

Next, with sufficient cavalry and logistical supplies, the Chu army will abandon the fortified city and start to switch from defense to offense, while the Han army can only respond passively. It can be said that the offensive and defensive momentum of the two major camps has begun to change.

Xiang Chang immediately ordered Zhou Yin to send out spies to find out the supply lines of the Han army, and then ordered Ji Bu, Huan Chu, and Hei Shi to lead a cavalry to carry out harassment in turns, and make sure to force the Han camp out of its tortoise shell. In addition, he ordered Tian Jian and Meng Xia to lead a cavalry to beat gongs and drums day and night to test and attack the Han camp, not seeking to hurt the enemy, but to "not let the deer eat grass if they can't kill the deer"!
Xiang Chang knew very well that Xiao He in Guanzhong must have received the message from Liu Bang at this time and should transport the trained soldiers, collected food and fodder, and prepared military equipment as quickly as possible.

If the Han army cannot be completely defeated before its reinforcements arrive, the battle of Gaixia will continue to drag on, and no one can predict when it will end.

After arranging the next military strategy, Xiang Chang asked the military commander to count the meritorious soldiers and casualties in this battle, and to reward and provide pensions as soon as possible, while also distributing meat to celebrate the victory of this battle.

All matters were settled, and after all the generals had left, Xiang Chang, accompanied by Xiang Zhuang, summoned the old man from the craftsman camp and asked him about the production of the "Chu Chang Crossbow".

Upon learning that more than 10,000 "Chu Chang Crossbows" had been produced and equipped to a part of the infantry, Xiang Chang could not help but be overjoyed. He patted him on the shoulder, praised him a few words, and promoted him to a deputy general on the spot.

Zhongli Mei had never been willing to use this army equipped with crossbows. He originally planned to send them out to use the "Chuchang Crossbows" to severely harvest the Han army after the Chu cavalry charged after the Gaixia city was captured. In this way, even if the Han army won the final victory of destroying the Chu army at Gaixia, it would undoubtedly be a pyrrhic victory.

That’s right, Zhongli Mei had already made the worst and most tragic plan at that time.

Xiang Chang said: "Time is running out. You need to continue to recruit and train more craftsmen. Not only the 'Chuchang Crossbow', but also the 'Three-bow Crossbow' drawings have been given to you a long time ago. You can also go all out to manufacture them."

The old man looked excited when he heard this and nodded vigorously.

In this battle, Li Zhong's military medical battalion boiled "golden juice" and performed brilliantly. With outstanding merit, he was promoted again. Three disciples in the military medical battalion were also promoted to lieutenant generals because of their merits. This made the old man in the craftsman battalion feel a deep sense of crisis, and he urgently wanted to show the importance of his craftsman battalion.

It was midnight. The cold front of early winter had frozen the night sky deep and dark, without any light, except for a few cold stars sparsely scattered above.

A small group of Chu cavalry in black robes and armor quietly left the camp west of Gaixia City, and then, under the cover of night, they arrived at a valley under a hill about ten miles southwest in a somewhat anxious manner.

There were already seven or eight cavalrymen waiting patiently in the valley.

As soon as he stepped into the room, the burly cavalryman leading the Chu cavalry squad asked the waiting cavalry commander with inexplicable hope and urgency: "Who is it?"

"Hehe, General Ding, it's your old acquaintance, Yang Tian, ​​the eunuch in the Han camp." The waiting cavalry were all Han cavalry, and the leading cavalry officer said in a friendly tone. It turned out to be Yang Tian, ​​the eunuch in the Liu Bang camp. As for the Chu cavalry, the leading cavalry officer's voice was also very familiar, it was Ding Gu, the maternal uncle of the right general Ji Bu.

"Why is it you again?" Ding Gu was furious when he heard this. He raised his hand and whipped him with a horsewhip, cursing as he whipped him, "You take my words as bullshit, don't you? I've told you so many times that if Liu Bang doesn't show up, let Chen Ping come to see me. Every time I receive intelligence, we say it's fine, but the next time we meet, it's still you. Are you trying to make fun of me? Fuck you!"

As a Zhongjuan, Yang Tian was a waiter who served Liu Bang attentively and obediently, not a military commander. Facing the painful whipping from Ding Gu's horse whip, he could not dodge and cried out. "Today's intelligence is cancelled. When Chen Ping comes to see me, talk to me again. If I hadn't shown mercy to Liu Bang and spared him, the grass on his grave would be big enough to bury him. You keep sending a eunuch like me to see me. What do you think of me? Bah!" Ding Gu became more and more angry as he cursed. He spat on Yang Tian's cheek, waved his sleeves angrily, turned around and left with six guards.

"General Ding, why do you insist on seeing me? For the sake of secrecy, the less you and I meet, the safer it will be. General, you should understand this principle, right?" A familiar voice suddenly came from the hill in the valley, and Chen Ping appeared under the protection of a dozen elite cavalry.

"Get the hell out of here! You bewitched me into being a spy, and I've been living in fear day and night. How can I be safe? It's obviously you who's doing this for your own safety!" Ding Gu didn't even bother to say anything, and started to curse, "Stop talking nonsense. I asked you last time, how does Liu Bang take it after I provided you with so much intelligence? What title did he give me? - Let me be frank, if it's not a marquis, you better shut up. We'll end this once and for all. Don't contact me again, and let's just pretend that what happened before never happened."

Unexpectedly, Ding's attitude was so tough. Chen Ping frowned and said unhappily, "General Ding's words are a bit strange. When you passed on the information, didn't my Han camp give you gold and pearls?"

"Okay, you really haven't asked Liu Bang for a title for me? Chen Ping, fuck your mother, I provided so much priceless intelligence to your Han camp, and you just send me away with such a few gold beads? Do you think I'm a beggar? Fine, fine, shut your stinky mouth, we will go our separate ways from now on." Ding Gu looked so angry that he was fuming. He turned around and was about to leave with six cavalry guards.

Chen Ping's face darkened, and he knew clearly in his heart: This fellow, seeing that the situation of the Han Dynasty was not good and that the Chu Dynasty was about to revive, wanted to cut ties with the Han camp and become a loyal minister and general of the Han Dynasty! Oh, how could this be possible?

"Hey, General Ding, don't be impatient. Yang Tianzhongjuan can testify to your contributions. I have explained every detail to King Han, and the King of Han also praises you highly. As for the title of marquis you mentioned, it is not impossible. However, the title of marquis cannot be granted lightly. You must have the merit of subduing the generals in the Han camp." Chen Ping quickly spoke to hook Ding Gu.

"Bullshit! Are my previous achievements not enough?"

"Don't say that, it's really not enough! Just a 'poison-clearing medicine' and a 'golden juice' made from boiled feces, and you want to get the title of Marquis in the Han camp? Hiss, how can those important generals in the Han camp who are fighting in battle in full armor be convinced?"

After hearing what Chen Ping said, Ding Gu was silent for a long time. As if he had made up his mind, he said in a muffled voice, "Don't talk nonsense. I might as well tell you clearly that I now have the manufacturing drawings of the 'Continuous Crossbow' and the 'Three-Bow Crossbow' in my hand. They were modified and designed by Xiang Chang. They are extremely powerful. I stole them with great effort. These two items are powerful weapons that can determine the final success or failure of a war. I just want to ask, if I offer them, will it be enough to be awarded the title of Marquis?"

Chen Ping's heart was pounding, but he couldn't help but be suspicious, and said, "Xiang Chang just returned to Gaixia, and you got these two scrolls of powerful weapons. Could it be that Xiang Chang deliberately deceived you?"

As he spoke, Chen Ping gestured to the guards beside him.

The guard immediately pursed his lips and let out a crow's cry. Not long after, crows' cries could be heard from all four directions.

The guard nodded to Chen Ping and whispered, "There are no Chu cavalry attacking nearby."

It turned out that Chen Ping suspected that Ding Gu was being targeted by Xiang Chang, so he deliberately leaked the manufacturing drawings of two powerful weapons to him and let him come to trade with him. However, he secretly sent heavy troops to surround him and capture and kill him.

Ding Gu was like a noble lady who was framed and defiled. He was furious: "Chen Ping, you bastard! You also know the cunning of Xiang Chang, and you repeatedly urged me to steal information. Humph, after I stole these two scrolls, I took away all my belongings. No matter what, I will never go back to the Chu camp. If you in the Han camp agree to give me the title of Marquis, I will offer these two scrolls; if not, get out of here and don't block my way. I want to go back to my hometown and be a rich man."

Only then did Chen Ping barely see clearly that there was a large pile of things tied to the butt of Ding Gu's mount, which was obviously his private property over the years.

Chen Ping no longer had any doubts. He hurried down the hill and came to Ding Gu's side. He stood beside him and said solemnly, "General Ding, what are you talking about? You don't trust me, so you don't trust the King of Han? The King of Han is magnanimous and respectful to the wise. How could he do something that would make a meritorious minister feel disappointed? Don't worry, as long as these two scrolls are really battlefield weapons as you said, I guarantee that your title of Marquis will be a done deal!"

Ding Gu was overjoyed. He took out a roll of cloth from his bosom and handed it to Chen Ping. Halfway through, when Chen Ping was about to take it, he retracted his hand and said solemnly: "Captain Chen, I trust you just this once. Please don't let me down."

Chen Ping immediately spoke to comfort him again and again, patting his chest and expressing his views repeatedly.

Ding Gu was finally persuaded by him and handed the cloth to him again. Just as Chen Ping reached out to take it again, he accidentally sped up and stabbed Chen Ping in the chest.

The distance was so close, and Chen Ping was a counselor, not a general, so how could he avoid it? He was stabbed by the cloth. Under Ding Gu's great force, the cloth split open, revealing a sharp dagger wrapped inside, which then sank deeply into Chen Ping's chest.

Ding Gu succeeded in one move, his face was ferocious, he squeezed the thing again with force, then let go and said loudly: "This thing is left to you! I don't want your title of Marquis of Han Camp anymore, so let's say goodbye now." Then he turned around and rode away with six cavalrymen.

Chen Ping felt the sharp pain in his chest, and felt like he was falling into an icy cave, with endless despair rising. He was so smart that his thoughts were clearer than ever before, and he understood everything in an instant. From the beginning, he was ordered by Liu Bang to lure this guy to surrender, and he was afraid that this guy had been subdued by Xiang Chang, so he began to use the same trick to lure him back.

On the surface, he kept passing on information to the Han camp again and again, but in fact, he was constantly trying to gain my trust, all for the purpose of luring me out on the final night and stabbing me hard!

——Even though he had been pretending just now, it was obvious that he was constantly trying to dispel his own doubts and make me move closer to him so that he could make a move.

This idiot obviously didn't have the scheming and skill to be so smooth and natural that he could even hide it from himself. Everything was undoubtedly done by Xiang Chang.

In order to successfully hunt me down, Xiang Chang actually started planning so long in advance, and asked Ding Gu to offer the methods of steaming the "detoxifying medicine" and "gold juice". It can be said that he was willing to spend the money and really thought highly of me. This undoubtedly also shows how deep his hatred for me is.

Feeling the life in his body rapidly ebbing away, Chen Ping smiled bitterly and fell limply from the horse's back.

The Han cavalry guards who had been on guard nearby discovered something was wrong and blew whistles. Several of them jumped off their horses and ran to Chen Ping to rescue him. The rest of them cursed angrily and surrounded Ding Gu's seven cavalrymen and chased after them.

Ding Gu and six cavalrymen did not hesitate. They pulled out javelins from under the saddles and threw them continuously, killing the cavalrymen who blocked their way. They fought their way out of the encirclement and disappeared into the dark night sky.

(End of this chapter)