272 Losing Yewang (1/2)
Just as the various ambassadors for each country went around to try and persuade them, Zhao Kuo acted again.
The next day after the war, Zhao Kuo ordered Zhao Zhuang to lead 50 thousand elite light armored infantry east out of Fukou Pass, and then towards the southwest to attack Yewang.
Ever since the Zhao army started using such cavalry, each one of them would bring milk and jerky to be able to last a day in battle. To make sure, Di Chen and the other lords provided 40 thousand military grain pills. With that, Zhao Zhuang led 50 thousand men east without any signs of grain being used.
The Yewang stronghold was the resource base of the Qin, the only stronghold that the Han Country had in the entirety of Shangdou.
Three years ago, Baiqi ordered Wang Ling to attack it. When they took over, they immediately constructed a large granary and opened up a channel so that grain could be transported. A year later, ships kept on sailing and carts kept on traveling, so grain was continuously sent to Yewang.
During the 3 year face off, the grain supply had never stopped. Yewang had now accumulated several granaries full of grain.
Ever since Baiqi took over Wang He as the commander, the Qin army's strategy had changed north towards Duanshi Town west of Laoma Ridge.
Wang Ling, who was defending the Yewang Stronghold under Baiqi's orders, started to enter the Changping battlefield.
As the battle proceeded, to ensure their victory, Baiqi had taken troops from the back and pushed them forwards into Changping to box in the Zhao army, hence Yewang Stronghold had less men.
Zhao Zhuang led the 50 thousand cavalry and rushed. They took a day to reach the Yewang Fortress.
The defenseless fortress couldn't contend against the enemy upon facing such a sudden attack, although they fought hard and tried to defend.
Adding the fact that Zhan Lang and the others had followed and used the siege weapons they brought with their storage bag, after an intense battle, the Qin forces lost, and everyone died.
After attacking the stronghold, Zhao Zhuang gave the order to set alight all the grain.
The large fire blazed and covered half the sky. As there was simply too much grain, the fire lasted for three days and three nights, and still hadn't extinguished, a burning smell spread through the area.
When the Qin army heard the news and rushed to assist, Zhao Zhuang's forces had already left. Seeing the burnt and ruined stronghold, the Qin soldiers' faces were all ashen white.
If the Zhao army escaping and Wang Ling dying wasn't enough to let the various countries decide, this burning of grain let them see the hope of beating the Qin army.
Out of all the countries, the Wei and Chu were the most eager.
They eagerly tried to convince the other countries to send troops and destroy the Qin together. Even the Han activated their Shangdou protector Feng Ting; the meaning in it was very obvious.
The Battle of Changping gathered over 90% of both country's troops. If one side lost, they would be in a detrimental and irrecoverable position.
Handan, Zhao Country Palace.
King Xiaocheng said happily, ”Zhao Kuo really hasn't let me down. He's the general of his time!”
The ministers and officials agreed, and only Lin Xiangru who sat to the side had mixed feelings.
Everyone in the Zhao had felt that they had definitely won this time.
The Qin army had lost their grain supply, and could only retreat so Shangdou definitely belonged to the Zhao.
Pingyuan Lord, Zhao Sheng, was still a little worried. ”My king, Zhao Kuo is young, and I'm afraid this victory would make him arrogant. Since Yewang Stronghold is destroyed, we only need to defend the Gu Pass, and the Qin army would be forced to back off. I'm afraid he would use his troops again to have a fight to a death with the Qin army for no reason.”
His words were like a cold breeze, making the entire court feel cold.
Thinking about the situation where the Zhao army was boxed in, the ministers and officials felt the chills. Baiqi's prestige was too high, and even in such a situation, no one would say that the Zhao army would definitely win.
The moment Baiqi grabbed a chance, he would turn the whole situation around in an instant.
Zhao Xiaocheng was similar to the Pingyuan Lord, and was still scared of Zhao Kuo using his troops to attack. When he found out that the Zhao army was boxed in, he was so afraid that he had many sleepless nights.