"Last ti you commanded the troops to annihilate Han, and now you want to lead the attack on Zhao as well?" Seeing Wang Jian also volunteer, ng Wu said with displeasure.
"Exactly," Huan Yi imdiately agreed, then addressed Ying Zheng. "Your Majesty, this ti the choice should naturally fall to the Northern Frontier and Hangu Pass."
"So the two of you are ganging up on ," Wang Jian glared. "Zhao is the strongest of all the states. Without my Lantian Camp, do you really think you can annihilate them? And you, ng Wu, your duty in the Northern Frontier is to defend against those damnable foreign tribes! If you move your troops, aren’t you afraid they’ll cross The Great Wall and slaughter the people of our Great Qin?"
"Although we must be vigilant against the Xiongnu, the Northern Frontier has two hundred thousand Sharp Warriors, more than enough to divert one hundred thousand to annihilate Zhao," ng Wu stated proudly. "The Sharp Warriors of the Northern Frontier are in no way inferior to Lantian’s."
"Hangu Pass also has two hundred thousand Sharp Warriors, ready to move out in full force to annihilate Zhao for His Majesty," Huan Yi imdiately added.
"Lantian Camp’s three hundred thousand Sharp Warriors are ready to fight for His Majesty at any ti," Wang Jian naturally would not yield.
The rit for annihilating Zhao would be an even greater achievent than annihilating Han. Whichever camp secured this mission would have the opportunity to earn imnse military honors.
"If all three of Qin’s great camps were to deploy, the state treasury could not withstand such an expenditure," Ying Zheng said with a faint smile.
Hearing this, the three generals ceased their squabbling. "We await Your Majesty’s decree."
"For this battle, Lantian and the Northern Frontier will mobilize. Hangu Pass will stand ready for orders," Ying Zheng’s expression turned serious as he spoke in a solemn voice.
"May I ask Your Majesty, which camp will lead the main attack?" Wang Jian imdiately inquired.
"Lantian will lead the main attack. The Northern Frontier will be responsible for pinning down Li Mu’s two hundred thousand-strong Zhao Border Army." Ying Zheng looked gravely at ng Wu. "Minister ng, can you accomplish this, pinning down two hundred thousand soldiers with only one hundred thousand?"
"Your servant swears on his life to complete the mission entrusted by Your Majesty," ng Wu imdiately bowed.
At this, Ying Zheng rose from his throne and walked slowly toward the rear hall. Wang Jian and the other two imdiately followed.
「In the rear hall.」
The banners of the Six States were planted in the center of the hall, along with a massive sand table map that covered a wide area, depicting mountains, rivers, and clear national borders. Wang Jian and the other two showed no surprise at the map or the banners, as they had clearly been in this hall before.
"Do you rember when this hall was first arranged like this?" Ying Zheng turned to face his three Senior Generals.
"It was after Your Majesty quelled the rebellion of Lao Ai, after your coronation and when you took personal control of the state," Wang Jian replied respectfully. "At that ti, we personally witnessed His Majesty arrange this map of the world and plant the banners of the Six States. We even heard the solemn oath His Majesty made before this map: to unify all under heaven and forge Huaxia into one."
Recalling that scene, Wang Jian was still deeply awestruck. Back then, His Majesty had only just taken the reins of power, yet his domineering presence and kingly deanor had profoundly affected Wang Jian. It was from that mont on that he devoted himself wholeheartedly to serving Qin, striving for the unification of the realm.
"The Senior General rembers it well," Ying Zheng said with a laugh. He then turned back to stand before the enormous map, his gaze sweeping over the various states before settling on the forr territory of Han, which had now beco Yingchuan County. "Of all the states under heaven, Han has already been swallowed by our Great Qin. But in the end, it was only the weakest state that I destroyed. Five states still remain: Zhao, Chu, Yan, Qi, and Wei."
"Among these five, Zhao possesses the greatest national power, commanding an army of six hundred thousand soldiers and dominating its region. To annihilate Zhao, we must mobilize the full strength of our Great Qin."
"You should all understand the key to this battle. Zhao Yan has dispatched three hundred thousand elite troops to attack Yan, where they will be pinned down. In the Dai Territory, Li Mu commands a garrison of two hundred thousand soldiers. This leaves only one hundred thousand troops within Zhao’s heartland. This is a once-in-a-lifeti opportunity for our Great Qin."
"For the past year, I have laid my plans, luring the Zhao state into a false sense of security, making them underestimate our Great Qin and seek an alliance treaty. All of it was for this very mont."
"This is an opportunity that must not be missed, for it will never co again. Wang Qing, Minister ng, Marquis Huan, do you understand?" Ying Zheng’s eyes burned with a zealous fire as he stared at his three Senior Generals.
"Your servant understands," the three generals replied in unison.
"Regarding the key to this battle," Ying Zheng looked at the three n, "do the three Senior Generals have anything to add?"
"Reporting to Your Majesty," Wang Jian stepped forward to the map, pointing at the state of Wei as he spoke. "I have been planning for the war against the Zhao state ever since my return. Zhao and Wei are allied nations. If Qin attacks Zhao, Wei will not stand idly by; they will surely mobilize their army."
"Which is why the Senior General has already positioned an army on the Wei border," Ying Zheng said with a slight smile.
"Zhao Feng, stationed at Wei City, was your arrangent," ng Wu said in a low voice. "I must say, it was an astute move. If not for your planning, the Tai Hou might have fallen into Zhao’s hands."
"Zhao Feng’s rescue of the Tai Hou was purely a coincidence. I stationed him at Wei City for the sole purpose of guarding against Wei," Wang Jian explained, gesturing at the map to illustrate his strategy.
"The Three Jins were originally one entity before splitting into the three states of Zhao, Wei, and Han. For many years, they clashed with one another, but as Wei’s national power declined, it turned to an alliance with Zhao for support. Wei is not as powerful as Zhao, but it can still field an army of over three hundred thousand.
"Once our Great Qin attacks Zhao, Wei will certainly mobilize its troops, though not its entire force. When Wei makes its move, Wei City in Yingchuan County will be their target. The Han nobility hidden within Yingchuan, those who refuse to submit to our Great Qin, will surely rebel.
"Therefore, my strategy centers on Wei City, with Zhao Feng holding it at all costs. I have also positioned Li Teng to defend Yingchuan. Should any unrest arise in the county, Li Teng will imdiately lead his army to suppress it."
"Although Zhao Feng is valiant, he is only a Deputy General with no more than fifty thousand n under his command. Can he truly withstand an assault from Wei’s army of at least one hundred thousand?" Huan Yi asked skeptically. "If Wei City falls, the entire Yingchuan County will be in peril."
"Wrong," Wang Jian shook his head. "Zhao Feng commands an army of one hundred thousand."
"Where did he get one hundred thousand n?" ng Wu asked, just as surprised.
Wang Jian did not elaborate, instead bowing respectfully to Ying Zheng. "Your servant requests that the remaining twenty thousand-plus surrendered soldiers in Yingchuan be placed under Zhao Feng’s command."
"An army of surrendered soldiers, especially in a ti of crisis? Aren’t you afraid they might turn their coats in battle and cause the fall of Wei City?" Huan Yi frowned, looking at Wang Jian with even greater confusion. This move could be considered a blunder.
Even Ying Zheng hesitated upon hearing Wang Jian’s request. Thirty thousand surrendered soldiers were still manageable under the watch of fifty thousand Sharp Warriors. But if another twenty thousand were added, their numbers would equal those of the elite troops, all while defending a city.
"Your Majesty," Wang Jian said with a solemn expression, "regarding the Penal Battalion, I have received reports from Zhao Feng every ten days. Since their induction, all the troops in the Penal Battalion are combat-ready. This battle may be arduous, but I have faith in Zhao Feng’s abilities. If Wei City falls, I am willing to accept full responsibility for the failure."
At these words, both ng Wu and Huan Yi were stunned by Wang Jian’s declaration.
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