Time passes and the weather is finally getting through the coldest part of the year.
The snow began to melt gradually and the weather slowly began to warm up.
After the banquet at the palace, Great Qin finally regained its true peace.
After all, that day had come to that point, and Zhao Lang didn’t even launch a seizure of the throne, so it was foreseeable that there shouldn’t be any gap between the First Emperor and the Crown Prince.
Well, in that case, that day’s banquet was indeed overthinking on their part.
Otherwise, if it was anyone else, that day would have been a bloody banquet!
In the courtroom, the ministers were also much more honest.
As long as the Crown Prince didn’t get some operations that they couldn’t understand, then everyone could still get along.
Right now, everyone was just honestly carrying out Zhao Lang’s orders and preparing to deal with the Huns.
Of course not all the ministers were happy.
After the court proceedings were completed this day, Zhao Lang called Chen Ping, Xiao He to return to the palace with him.
In some more time, the snow on the road would melt away, and although it was still winter, it was time to start moving.
It was just the right time for the two to start arranging affairs, and also to see how well they had learnt under Li Si in the past few months.
Only Lis pulled him back with a blear-eyed look.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, this… This my daughter…”
Without waiting for Li Si to finish his sentence, Zhao Lang couldn’t help but let out a bitter smile and said.
“Uncle Zhao, the relationship between you and I doesn’t necessarily require a marriage.”
Ever since knowing that Li Ling’er was approaching him with an agenda, the
Even if the other party was also blinded by Li Si.
This heart will be more or less separated.
And after coming back and being busy preparing to deal with the Huns, he basically didn’t have too much of a mind to put on these things.
Eating Xiao Jiu, that was also years of affection.
Otherwise, how could a clean person like him do such a thing?
It’s not his style.
Hearing Zhao Lang’s words, Li Si directly sighed and said.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, it’s not that the old minister must climb this marriage ah, after Ling’er came to the door to propose marriage, nowadays everyone knows that the original Zhao family’s son outside the city is you, and with your reputation, who in the ministerial nobility dares to get close to Ling’er?”
This said Zhao Lang directly tensed up, what do you mean by his reputation?
Frowning slightly, Zhao Lang quickly said.
“Well, Uncle Zhao, after the Huns are pacified, I will definitely give Ling’er a statement.”
Li Si then nodded in satisfaction, he still believed in his own daughter’s strength.
What happened before was mainly because he didn’t anticipate that series of actions by his own Majesty and Zhao Lang.
When he led his troops to directly sneak into Xianyang, was that a human thing to do?
If only one of these two fathers and sons were a bit more normal, Li Ling’er and Zhao Lang would have been married a long time ago!
After finishing the government, Zhao Lang also went back to the palace.
However, what Li Si said just now still kept circling around in his mind.
What do you mean by his reputation, what happened to his what reputation?
Zhao Lang said to the big dog at the side at this time.
“Big Dog, is there anything wrong with what you heard about my reputation?”
Big Dog froze slightly, then said.
“Family master, your reputation has always been excellent ah.”
“Not to mention the manor, the people farmers around us, who doesn’t know your goodness now?”
“Without you, they would have starved to death long ago.”
Zhao Lang nodded, this reputation is good.
After thinking about it, he asked to Nu again.
“Nu, did you receive any news?”
Nu said, with a solemn look on his face, that
“Master, your reputation that is more noble than even the sages of old, now the slave maids of your palace have all been restored to freedom by you.”
“Also gave wages to settle down, the old also have someone to take care of, how can anyone say you are not?”
Zhao Lang nodded his head once again, there is nothing wrong with this reputation ah, it can even be said to have an excellent reputation ah.
But how could Uncle Li say that?
Zhao Lang suddenly had a change of heart, thought of something, looked to the side of Xiao He, Chen Ping, and said.
“Tell me, how is my reputation among the nobles?”
Hearing this, the big dog and Nu both coincidentally looked down at the road, Chen Ping and Xiao He also changed their faces slightly, in the end it was Chen Ping who was more old-fashioned and said.
“Well, chief, I have been accounting for grain and grass in recent days, but I have not socialised with the nobles.”
Zhao Lang immediately looked at Xiao He.
Xiao He cursed the other party’s treachery in his heart, but at this time, he could only smile hard and say.
“This, chief, I didn’t hear it either…”
Zhao Lang said blandly.
“I could have had people look into it, and when they did, if you guys don’t say anything, you’ll be punished for less!”
Xiao He’s face was bitter at this time, and he said back that
“This one did hear some, but it is also mostly praising you, such as this one saying that your character is the same as that of a tiger and a wolf.”
Zhao Lang clicked his lips, this like a tiger, and wolf is not bad ah, then asked.
“And?”
Xiao He continued.
“It also says like… Viper, Fox…”
Zhao Lang frowned slightly, this was actually alright, right?
“Is there more?”
Xiao He said, shaking his head.
“Nope.”
Zhao Lang instantly returned and
“It’s nothing.”
Zhao Lang shook his head and no longer dwelled on such trivial matters, and the others then breathed a sigh of relief.
Back inside the palace, Zhao Lang didn’t rest much, he had rested enough these days anyway.
Starting to ask Chen Ping and Xiao He about the details that they had just not quite talked about in the courtroom, the
“Chieftain, the preparations for all aspects of grain and grass have now been completed, and we are just waiting for the roads to be cleared so that we can transport them to the front line.”
“Han Xin has also reported back, most of the soldiers have been trained, nearly 150,000 slave recruits, and 50,000 of the original Southern Expedition army, a total of 200,000 troops to be driven.”
Hearing this, Zhao Lang couldn’t help but suck in a breath of cold air, then rejoiced and said.
“Good good good!”
The Southern Expedition Army was naturally trained during the war with Xiang, and there were more than 100,000 of them in the beginning.
Just pacified the Chu land, part of them died of injuries, and most of them stayed in the Chu land, following Meng Yi and his men to defend the Chu land.
Fifty thousand elites followed them back.
However, this short winter, Han Xin took out 150,000 slaves new army, this is really exaggerated!
Twenty here, plus the 200,000 plus army that Meng Tian brought with him.
This time, there are a few more points of certainty in dealing with the Xiong Nu.
Zhao Lang was happy and was about to order praise, but saw that both of them looked slightly uncomfortable, and immediately said with some seriousness.
“What, the numbers here are wrong? Military and state affairs can’t be taken lightly!!!”
Chen Ping said back at this time.
“Chief, the 150,000 slave recruits in Han Xin’s hands, although they are numerous, I’m afraid that their battle prowess is worrying.”
“My subordinate also went to the military camp to have a look, I’m afraid that those slave recruits in Han Xin’s direct military camp, only five of them can fight one Xiong Nu cavalry.”
“The ones in the other camps are even worse, and their training against the enemy actually consists mostly of standing still, how can this beat the Huns?”
Although Chen Ping was not that good at military, he knew that how could this kind of training engage the Huns?
Therefore, he was still a bit worried.
Zhao Lang instantly understood, he had known about this current situation and had roughly guessed what Han Xin was doing by only training these people to stand still.
So he waved his hand and said.
“No harm done, just listen to Han Xin on the military front.”
Professional things, leave it to the professionals.
Then nodding to the map on the table, he said.
“Do you have any ideas for this war against the Huns?”
Hearing the question, both men hesitated slightly, now Da Qin is not short of military generals, Meng brothers are all there, Wang Jian, Wang Ben is old, but the vision is still there.
They are just two novices in the court now, such a military matter, Zhao Lang actually came to ask them?
Seeing the hesitation of the two, Zhao Lang quickly said.
“But there’s no harm in speaking.”
These two people’s opinions still needed to be heard, it was just that when it really came to the time before the battle, I’m afraid that with their current status, they wouldn’t be able to voice their opinions.
It was only then that he purposely called the two over.
With Zhao Lang’s words, the two only slightly contemplated, and Xiao He said at this time.
“The situation of this battle is actually unfavourable to our army.”
“If our army chooses to defend, although we have the Great Wall to rely on, and our military strength is now considered equal, but our army needs to defend thousands of miles of borders!”
“And the other party’s cavalry, coming and going like the wind, passive defence, our army will only be exhausted.”
“And if we attack, the grasslands are the Huns’ home turf, our army has fewer cavalry and no advantage, and we have to worry about supplies.”
“From the whole picture, this battle, the war opportunities to choose all on the side of the Xiongnu, is really difficult.”
Xiao He finished with a grave expression, Chen Ping also nodded his head in agreement, this was their common view.
Because of the limitation of terrain and troop types, this time, Great Qin was at a disadvantage.
The best result would be to defend this attack, but the countryside of the northern counties would be severely damaged.
After all, there were 300,000 Huns this time!
This was an army the Huns had never seen before!
Zhao Lang’s expression also became serious, if Xiao He and Chen Ping both saw it this way, then it also meant that the situation was not optimistic.
Although the ministers in the court didn’t say so explicitly, I’m afraid that they are also prepared for the counties in the north to be damaged.
Anyway, this has been the case for all the years, and it can’t be helped.
If the other side hadn’t gathered 300,000 troops this time, they wouldn’t have even wanted to give Meng Tian additional troops.
Looking at the map and contemplating for a while, Zhao Lang quickly said.
“Do you guys have any ploys that can make the Xiongnu’s army gather in one place?”
The only advantage he held in his hands right now was gunpowder.
Crossbows and arrows couldn’t even be counted, as the consumption was simply too great.
And the way to make gunpowder most effective was to get these Huns to gather.
One at a time to send the counter into the sky!
And there aren’t many chances to do that, maybe just one or two.
Because once gunpowder is used on a large scale, the Huns aren’t stupid, and when the time comes, they’ll just all scatter, and they’ll be the ones to lose out.
The two of them also knew the existence of gunpowder, and Chen Ping had also seen Zhao Lang use gunpowder to directly abolish Goguryeo’s 10,000 man team.
But the two men frowned tightly and thought for a while, both shook their heads, Chen Ping said.
“Chief, the advantage of the Huns lies in speed, they will not easily gather on a large scale.”
“Unless…”
Zhao Lang’s eyes lit up as he pursued…
“Unless what?”
Chen Ping returned.
“Unless they feel they have gained an absolute advantage and then gather in one place to besiege our army.”
“Only, this will require a great price to pay.”
“I’m afraid it’s difficult to fool these people by faking a defeat, and even if they succeed in faking a defeat, they still have to have the right terrain, otherwise, our army won’t be able to counterattack.”
Listening to the harsh conditions, Xiao He who was next to him couldn’t help but shake his head repeatedly and said.
“Chieftain, we have thought about it over and over again before, this time against the battle, we still need to focus on defence, and dig more first horse pits within.”
“Then supplement it with bows and crossbows to minimise losses.”
“Then, wait for the development, continue the strength, and after three years, break the Xiongnu royal court with a large army!”
This response, although it was a bit longer, but it was a squarely masculine plan!
Zhao Lang listened, but did not reply immediately, but his mind flipped rapidly.
Waiting for three years, he was actually willing to wait.
It’s just that this time, the Huns are coming on strong, so I’m afraid that they won’t give him this opportunity!
He had to plan for the worst.
Looking closely at the map on the table, suddenly a small mountain near Dai County broke into Zhao Lang’s line of sight.
Zhao Lang pointed at this small mountain and asked
“Where is this?”
The terrain of this hill was quite suitable for defensive counterattacks, and if one prepared for it early, it might work wonders.
Chen Ping took a look and said.
“This is Baideng Mountain, the terrain is quite dangerous.”
“Mount Baideng?”
Zhao Lang was slightly stunned, this name sounded somewhat familiar.
Just after thinking about it for a while, Zhao Lang couldn’t recall it and could only give up.
After deliberating for a while longer, until the evening, Zhao Lang quickly said.
“Well, you guys go back and rethink your countermeasures, keep me informed.”
The two of them immediately led the order to leave.
Zhao Lang also stood up and stretched, Xiao Qi, Xiao Jiu walked over and waited ready to serve him to rest.
During the period there was inevitably some friction, seeing that it was about to go off, Zhao Lang smiled and said.
“Two little foxes, lately Gongzi I have to exercise moderation ah.”
Hearing this, the two couldn’t help but have a small red face, Xiao Qi returned and
“Gongzi, we are not foxes, hehehe, we are human beings!”
Zhao Lang was about to explain the allusion to the fox spirit, when he suddenly thought of what Xiao He had said earlier, and then thought of Li Si’s words.
“Damn, those nobles said I look like a tiger or something, together they are scolding me for not being human!?”
Do these readers always beat around the bush when they scold people?
Zhao Lang clicked his tongue and made a mental note of this.
The next time, Zhao Lang found that there were more news from all over the world.
It meant that the roads had slowly opened up.
On this day, Nu came over and reported.
“Master, the King of Han, the King of Wei, and the Qi Hou several people have sent letters, and also sent some supplies and money, saying that they want to go on the expedition with you.”
Zhao Lang was slightly stunned when he heard this, then smiled and said.
“Hmph, this is their way of reminding me not to forget that their means are not bad.”
These few people were now helping him watch over Han land, Wei land, and Qi land, so how could they leave?
This was a show of loyalty, and by the way, Zhao Lang should not forget about them.
Zhao Lang gladly accepted this kind of goodwill.
“Tell them that holding their place well is the greatest credit, and when I return, I’ll give them credit!”
“Take all that money, it just so happens to be in short supply as well.”
The slave instantly led the order, then prepared to leave.
Zhao Lang called out to him at this time, saying.
“Prepare again, let’s make a trip to the military camp.”
Now that it was nearing the beginning of spring, he was going to take the army north once the roads opened up.
Going to the military camp to see the final effect of the current training.