20demayo Chapter 550 Conquest of Chu 6
Chapter 550 Conquest of Chu 6
Standing atop the city wall, Xiang Yan gazed at the battlefield gradually swallowed by darkness outside the city, tears streaming down his face. He knew that his grandson, Xiang Yu, was likely in grave danger. The last remaining elite troops of Chu, though they had escaped back to Chen City, had suffered heavy losses and were severely weakened.
Wang Jian's army was already at the city gates. How long could Chencheng hold out? The fate of the Chu state seemed to have reached its end. In this battle, Xiang Yu, with his astonishing bravery, earned himself the prototype of a "warrior capable of defeating ten thousand men," and also bought Xiang Yan and the remnants of his army a chance to breathe, but the price he paid was extremely heavy!
The wind swept through the withered grass on the outskirts of the city, across the rolling black fortifications, and made the "King" character on the Qin army's banners flutter loudly. The 600,000-strong army, like a lurking beast, was entrenched around Chen City, with camps stretching for dozens of miles, and smoke rising and mingling, obscuring half the sky in a gray haze.
On the high slope, Wang Jian, clad in heavy black armor, with a simple and heavy sword at his waist, rode a black warhorse with only its hooves treading on snow. He squinted, gazing at the majestic secondary capital of Chu in the distance. The city walls, built of dark blue-black boulders, were over three zhang high, with banners densely packed between the battlements, and the vigilant figures of Chu soldiers could be vaguely seen.
"General!" A loud shout came from behind. A fierce general spurred his horse forward. The frost on his armor had not yet melted, and his face showed the weariness of battle, but his eyes could not hide the sharpness in them. "Our army has just defeated the main force of the Chu army and captured Xiang Yu, the grandson of Xiang Yan. Our morale is high. Why not take advantage of this momentum and order a strong attack on Chen City? This humble general is willing to lead his troops as the vanguard. We will surely break through this city!"
Several generals around him echoed his sentiments, their eyes gleaming with fighting spirit. With an army of 600,000 pressing in, the Qin army had been advancing with unstoppable momentum since the start of their campaign, and was already accustomed to conquering cities and capturing strongholds. Now, facing an isolated city, they naturally did not want to wait any longer.
Wang Jian slowly shook his head, his gaze sweeping over his generals, his expression as calm as a deep pool, without a ripple: "Xiang Yan is a renowned general of our time, well-versed in military strategy, and Chen City is well-supplied with provisions and well-defended. If our army were to forcibly attack the city, even if we could capture it, we would suffer heavy casualties and demoralize our entire army. With 600,000 troops at our disposal, and the strength of the Qin state being formidable, why take such a risky move?"
He pointed to Chencheng, his tone resolute: "Xiang Yan is currently trapped in the city, seemingly secure, but in reality isolated and without support. The Chu state is already weaker than our Qin, and this battle has further weakened it. We only need to proceed steadily, cut off its external support, and deplete its supplies. Within a few months, Chencheng will collapse without a fight."
As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Jian immediately ordered: "Send orders to the three armies! First, order the main force of the infantry to dig deep trenches, three zhang wide and two zhang deep. Build high fortifications outside the trenches and set up crossbow positions on the fortifications to completely surround Chencheng and not let a single person or horse escape."
Second, he ordered the light cavalry to split into four routes to sweep through the counties surrounding Chencheng, seize grain and fodder, defeat local armed forces, and completely cut off all contact between Chencheng and the outside world.
Third, each battalion must strictly adhere to military discipline and refrain from launching unauthorized attacks. They must intensify daily training, conserve their strength, and wait for the opportune moment to breach the city!
"Your subordinate obeys!" The generals all accepted the order in unison, turned around and rode away, and the military orders quickly spread throughout the Qin army camp.
In an instant, the outskirts of Chen City became bustling with activity. Qin soldiers performed their duties, some digging, some building fortifications, and others transporting supplies in an endless stream.
The trenches grew longer and longer, the fortifications higher and higher, and an iron-clad encirclement took shape around Chencheng at a visible speed. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the banners, illuminating the dark faces of the Qin soldiers. Their eyes were resolute, their movements swift and precise; every detail showcased the strength and efficiency of the Qin army.
Wang Jian's strategy, seemingly conservative, was in fact the most fatal. The Qin-Chu war was no longer a simple military confrontation, but a contest of national strength.
After several generations of reforms, the Qin state was strong and had ample food supplies, ensuring a steady supply for its 600,000-strong army. In contrast, the Chu state was beset by internal and external troubles, its court was corrupt, and its food reserves were already limited. Now, with Chencheng besieged and external aid cut off, the longer the situation lasted, the more disadvantageous it would be for the Chu army.
This siege strategy used the power of the Qin state as a sharp weapon to gradually wear down the will of the Chu army until it completely collapsed.
On the high slope, Wang Jian remained standing, his gaze fixed on Chen City. He knew that this siege was destined to be long, but he had enough patience.
He waited, waiting for the food supplies in Chencheng to run out, waiting for the morale of the Chu army to collapse, waiting for Xiang Yan, the last backbone of the Chu state, to be completely crushed.
At the Qin army camp outside Chencheng in the State of Chu, Xiang Yu, who had been captured, was being escorted to Wang Jian's central command tent, bound by fine iron chains.
Despite being imprisoned, the young man still stood tall. His face was still covered in blood and dust, but the flames burning in his double pupils did not diminish in the slightest. He stared intently at Wang Jian, who sat upright above him, his eyes filled with resentment and hatred.
Wang Jian carefully examined the young man who had caused his army to pay a heavy price, secretly marveling at his abilities. Instead of reprimanding him as he would an ordinary prisoner, he spoke calmly:
"Young man, your name is Xiang Yu? The grandson of Xiang Yan? Hmm, indeed a fine man, exceptionally brave. It's a pity you've followed the wrong person and protected the wrong master. Can't you see what Chu is like now? The king is incompetent, and the nobles only care about their own pleasure. Is such a country worth dying for for a young talent like you? If you are willing to submit to my Great Qin, with your abilities, it's not impossible for you to be ennobled and appointed as a general, bringing glory to your ancestors."
"Bah! You old scoundrel, stop trying to incite unrest here!" Xiang Yu spat out, his voice booming so loud it made the tent buzz. "My Xiang family has been loyal for generations. We were born Chu people, and we will die Chu ghosts! You want me to surrender to you wolves and tigers of Qin? Dream on! Kill me or torture me, give me a quick death! If I weren't exhausted today, I would have taken your head!"
The Qin generals inside the tent were enraged upon hearing this. They all drew their swords and stepped forward, wishing they could immediately chop this arrogant brat into mincemeat. Wang Jian, however, waved his hand, stopping them.
Far from being angry, he revealed a subtle hint of admiration on his face. He had seen far too many surrendered generals who groveled before death; a young man with such unyielding backbone was truly a rare breed.
"Kill you?" Wang Jian chuckled lightly, with an air of complete control. "It would be as easy as crushing an ant. But what good would killing you do, other than making the Chu people hate us even more? I only showed you this path because I valued your martial skills and courage. Since you don't appreciate it, so be it."
He turned to his left and right and ordered, "Take him away and keep him under strict guard, but do not mistreat him. Also, embellish his story of charging into battle alone and being captured, and spread it throughout the army. Let our soldiers know that there are brave warriors in the Chu army, but our Qin army is even stronger! At the same time, let the people of Chu hear that our Qin army also treats prisoners with dignity."