The Great Wei Empire in the Warring States Period

Ten days later, Wei Shen and his men finally arrived in Hexi. Outside Shaoliang City, Xihe County, Long Jia had already led the troops of Xihe County and Hedong County, a total of 70,000 people, waiting outside the city.

As soon as Pang Juan got off the chariot, he asked Long Jia who came forward: "How is the battle situation in Guanzhong County?"

"Reporting to the general, although General Meng Wu was defeated by the Qin army, he still successfully gathered all the soldiers of Guanzhong County in Liyang City. There is enough food and grass in the city, and it is not a problem to defend for two months." Long Jia responded.

Pang Juan nodded and said: "Gather all the generals to wait in the county government!"

"Yes!"

Inside the government

Pang Juan was the chief general and should have sat in the first seat, but because Wei Shen also came, the first seat was given to Wei Shen. Pang Juan sat in the second seat himself.

Pang Juan said respectfully: "Your Highness, please take the first seat."

Wei Shen refused and said: "General, this first seat should be taken by you. I am just a small military Sima, an officer responsible for transporting food and grass. How can I be the first seat? Please take the first seat, General."

Wei Shen sat aside after he finished speaking. Pang Juan couldn't push him away, so he took the first seat.

Issued an order: "Long Jia leads 10,000 Wu Ben troops and 10,000 county soldiers as the front army, Zhai Kai leads 20,000 as the left army, and Zhai Liang leads 20,000 as the right army. Prince Wei Shen leads 10,000 as the rear army. The remaining 20,000 Wu Ben troops and the remaining 10,000 county soldiers are the central army."

"Yes, sir!" The generals bowed.

Pang Juan pointed at the map and said, "According to the news reported, the Guanzhong defense line has been lost, Guanzhong has lost ten cities, and Jingyang has also been breached by the Qin army. At present, Meng Wu has gathered 20,000 people to retreat to Liyang. The east of Liyang has not been affected, and the Qin army has not crossed the Ju River from other places. It seems that the Qin army is aiming at the territory west of the Ju River and the old capital Liyang."

Long Jia stepped out and said, "General, now that Liyang has not been lost, we can defeat the Qin army in Liyang, so that we can recover Guanzhong County in one fell swoop!"

"I am afraid that the Qin army will not fight with us. From the various signs of the Qin army, they want to divide the land with us. I guess they have kept a trick. If Liyang is not taken back, they will use the Ju River as the boundary. In this way, 200 miles of land will return to the hands of the Qin people." Pang Juan said sharply.

Zhai Kai directly asked: "General, please give me 20,000 people. I am willing to be the vanguard and defeat the Qin army!"

Pang Juan did not agree, but pointed to a city on the map and said: "Everyone, in fact, we don't have to follow others. We want the enemy to follow our direction. Therefore, we can go through Hangu Pass, Shangluo, and Zhiyang to capture Gaoling. Gaoling is between Jingyang and Liyang, like a shoulder pole. Jingyang is in the west and Liyang is in the east. Gaoling is occupied. The place occupied by the Qin people is like chicken ribs. The Qin people have only two options. One is to retreat and not get a city or a place. The other is to go to Gaoling and fight a decisive battle with our army."

"General is wise!"

…………

In the Qin army camp, Shang Yang sat in the main seat with a frown on his face.According to Shang Yang's previous plan, Wei suffered a disastrous defeat in the Battle of Guiling, and also fought a battle of Xiangling with Qi and Song. In order to guard against Qi in the east and Chu in the south, Wei would most likely be patient as long as Qin stopped. Even if Wei sent troops to Guanzhong County, it would be just a show at most. In the end, Qin and Wei negotiated peace, Qin defeated Wei and regained half of the lost territory. The morale of the whole country would be greatly boosted, the new law reform would be successful, the old clans would never have a chance to rise in Qin, and Shang Yang would also reach the peak of his life - being made a marquis and a prime minister, and leaving a name for eternity.

But now, although Wei's strength has been damaged, under the insistence of the prince of Wei, Wei actually tried its best to drive Qin out of Guanzhong County. According to Shang Yang's previous experience in Wei for many years, he believed that he was confident about the psychology of Wei's upper and lower levels. Now Wei has more civil officials and fewer military generals, and there are almost no good generals. Only Wei Shen has appeared as a variable. Once Qin was driven out of Guanzhong County, the results of more than ten years of reform would be completely negated, which Shang Yang could not accept.

"Da Liangzao, Gaoling only has 3,000 old and weak soldiers, who cannot stop Pang Juan. Once Gaoling is lost, the entire Guanzhong from Jushui to Jingshui will be pried open, and the results of our months of fighting will be lost. We should immediately return to defend Gaoling." The old general Shu Changguo made a suggestion.

Shang Yang couldn't help but sigh in his heart. Pang Juan's use of troops was indeed better than his. What was originally a favorable situation suddenly became a disadvantageous situation.

Shang Yang knew that Shu Changguo was a veteran general of the Qin army. His words represented the thoughts of each Qin army. This was also where Shang Yang was entangled. Finally, he ordered, "The whole army will return to Yuanli in turn. The elite Wei Wuzu are not here. Now is the era of our Qin soldiers. Attack!"

"Yes!"

One hundred thousand Qin troops were dispatched together. For a while, the earth shook, but they were in order. Meng Wu of Liyang did not dare to have the slightest idea of ​​a sneak attack.

When Shang Yang led the Qin army back to Gaoling, Pang Juan had already captured Gaoling and ordered Zhai Kai to build a defense line on Duping Mountain in the northeast of Gaoling and put more than ten crossbow carts on it.

Pang Juan ordered: "Zhai Kai, you lead 10,000 people to defend Duping Mountain. Remember to defend but not attack! Wait for my order. When I give the order, you go straight down from the heights and attack the Qin army!"

"Yes!"

Finally, the troops of Qin and Wei met here. Shang Yang was not unable to take a detour. Any direction in the Guanzhong Plain could allow the Qin army to return to Qin. But this would be equivalent to handing over the territory just recovered to Wei. Seeing that Pang Juan retreated without a fight, the morale that had been hard to build up was gone. A country and an army, without morale, became lifeless, which meant there was no hope. Shang Yang also believed that his more than ten years of reform had transformed Qin. Facing the Wei army that no longer had Wei Wuzu, Qin still had an advantage in numbers. He believed that Qin could win.

But Shang Yang actually found that there were still soldiers wearing Wei Wuzu armor in the Wei army. Could it be that Wei Wuzu still had the strength to fight? But weren't the Wei Wuzu equipped with shield, sword, halberd and crossbow? Why were some of the Wei Wuzu only equipped with round shield and sword, some only equipped with long halberd, and some only equipped with crossbow?It seems that the weapons of this Wei Wuzu are divided into different parts. Don't the Wei Wuzu need to be proficient in everything?

Shang Yang didn't care so much and ordered: "General Shu Changguo leads 30,000 as the front army, Jing Jian leads 10,000 as the left army, Zi Che Ying leads 10,000 as the right army, Hei Fu leads 20,000 as the rear army, and I lead 30,000 as the center army."

Shu Changguo came over and said: "Da Liangzao, if you want to win this battle, you have to capture Du Pingshan, and take advantage of the situation. Whoever occupies Du Pingshan will win. Du Pingshan is on the side of our army. The Wei army is like a big clamp, half of our army is covered, and if the Wei army Arrange some crossbows on it, shoot from a high position, and our army will almost become a target. ”

Wei Yang agreed: "Heifu, after the war, you lead the rear army to attack Duping Mountain."

"Yes!"

And Pang Juan had already arranged the formation. Long Jia led 10,000 county soldiers and 10,000 Huben troops as the front army, Zhai Liang led 20,000 as the left army, and Zhai Kai was guarding Duping Mountain, so Zhang Xun led 20,000 as the right army, Pang Juan led 30,000 as the central army, and Wei Shen only needed to guard the back with 10,000 people.

On the Guanzhong Plain, the Qin and Wei armies were neatly arranged. Under the bright red flag of Wei, Pang Juan and Wei Shen stood side by side, and the pieces of crimson uniforms were like a sea of ​​blood. The neat team made people feel imposing.

Qin State favors black, and the pieces look like a torrent of steel. Under the big Qin flag, Shang Yang stands on the chariot. It is enviable that a scholar of his generation can lead an army of 100,000 to gallop on the battlefield.

"Beat the drums and march forward." Unexpectedly, it was Shang Yang who started the war first, in front of the famous general Pang Juan. This courage is also an important ability for Shang Yang to get to where he is today. He took the lead and dared to do what others dared not.

…………