Chapter 63: Submission of Land
Wuyuan City, government office.
Helü was in the hall, discussing matters with Wu Zixu, Fu Gai and Fu Chai, three of his close associates.
"Your Majesty, thousands of Qingji's soldiers have already set up camp at Pushui, less than thirty miles away from Wuyuan."
Wu Zixu frowned and said, "I have learned from my inquiries that the general sent by Qingji this time is Sun Wu. I only know that he is the son of Sun Ping and once lived in seclusion in Fujiao Mountain and wrote books. I don't know anything else about him."
"According to news from Wudu, Qingji thinks highly of Sun Wu. He also has an elite force called the 'Entrapment Camp' under his command. They should not be underestimated!"
Hearing this, Helu couldn't help but narrow his eyes and felt very afraid.
"Is there any sign that Sun Wu is going to attack?"
"not at all."
Wu Zixu shook his head and said, "Sun Wu only ordered his soldiers to bury the deer horns deep inside and build fortifications. From what I see, he must be stationed here to prevent our army from going north to attack Wu together with the Yue people!"
Helu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although he was determined to attack Wu, the time had not yet come. How could he rush to the front line and fight to the death with Qingji's army?
"Is there any news from Yue State?"
“Lobbying has not made any progress.”
Wu Zixu bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I heard that Qingji has sent Bo Yun as an envoy to Yue again to lobby Yun Chang. Now Yue is still hesitating between standing idly by and attacking Wu!"
With a "bang", before Helu lost his temper, Prince Fuchai, who was sitting on the side, could not help but glared and said angrily: "The Yue barbarians are really useless!"
"What a bunch of fools! The Chu people have already launched a massive attack on Zhenzi, and the troops are approaching the border, but the Yue barbarians are still hesitating and indecisive?"
"If the Yue barbarians can join us in attacking Wu while Qingji's main army is not in Wudu, wouldn't it be possible to win the battle and completely defeat Qingji?"
Hearing this, Wu Zixu just sighed and said, "Sir, if you were King Yunchang of Yue, you might also have doubts."
"After all, the outcome of the battle between Wu and Chu is still unknown. Does Yue dare to fight?"
"You must know that Wu and Yue have just signed an alliance, and sent Yue Si to marry Qingji. She became the queen of Qingji. With such a good relationship between Wu and Yue, how could Yunchang not have any concerns?"
Wu Zixu paused, and then continued: "Besides, Wu and Chu fought against each other for more than 60 years. Wu won six, tied three and lost one, and defeated the Chu army many times, and each time it won with fewer troops."
"Who can guarantee that Qingji can't defeat the Chu army this time?"
"this……"
Fuchai had no way to retort to Wu Zixu and could only remain silent.
They were all very clear about Yun Chang's concerns!
However, as far as the current situation is concerned, Helu and Yue State have formed a ties of tether.
Helü attacked Wu on his own, but he could not do it alone. When Yue attacked Wu, Yunchang was afraid that the Chu army would be defeated by the Wu army, and Yue would end up losing more than it gained!
Compared with the State of Yue, the State of Wu could be considered a behemoth.
Moreover, the combat effectiveness of Wu army is better than that of Yue army!
In recent years, Yue State has often sent troops to invade Wu State's territory, but has not gained any advantage. The comparison of military strength between the two countries is evident.
"Zi Xu, in your opinion, what should I do now?"
Helu had no choice but to ask Wu Zixu for advice.
The latter just pondered for a moment, and then said: "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being frank, but now the only way we can win over the Kingdom of Yue and make them send troops to attack Wu is only one..."
"What is the method?"
Seeing that Wu Zixu was still keeping the secret, Helu could not help but ask anxiously.
"Your Majesty, this countermeasure I proposed is for reference only. Please do not blame me."
Wu Zixu first gave a dose of vaccination.
"But you can say it!"
Everyone present looked at Wu Zixu in confusion.
"If Yunchang joins us in attacking Wu, Your Majesty will have to pay tribute to Yue and nominally return the cities and lands under his rule to Yue before we can do so!"
"What?"
Upon hearing this, Helu, Fuchai and Fugai all turned pale and were greatly shocked.
"Asshole!"
Immediately, the hot-tempered Fu Chai could not help but stand up, pointed at Wu Zixu's nose and cursed: "Wu Yuan, are you my father's counselor or a minister of the Kingdom of Yue?"
"How dare you instigate my father to submit to the Yue barbarians and offer land to them? What is your intention?"
Seeing this, Wu Zixu simply said, "For now, the only way for the king to stabilize Yunchang's heart is to surrender and offer land."
"Otherwise, if Qingji defeats the Chu army, won't we miss the opportunity? If Qingji takes advantage of the victory and attacks us from the south, or even attacks us from both sides with the Kingdom of Yue, won't we just sit there and wait for death?"
Wu Zixu's words made Helu and the other three people present fall silent and speechless.
After pondering for a while finally gritted his teeth and made a painful decision!
"Zi Xu, you will go to Yue to persuade Yun Chang. I am willing to submit to the Kingdom of Yue and offer my territory as a vassal!"
"Father!"
Fuchai was very angry.
But Helu just covered his forehead and said with great sorrow: "I have made up my mind, no need to say more!"
"Your Majesty is wise."
Wu Zixu also sighed, feeling helpless.
Wouldn't Wu Zixu feel humiliated when he offered tribute and land to the Yue barbarians whom he had always looked down upon?
The same goes for Helu!
But, at this point, they have no choice.
Either wait to be destroyed by Qingji's army, or watch the Chu people destroy Wu. Neither of these two outcomes is what Helu wants to see!
…
The battle in Zhenzi has been going on for ten days and is still in full swing.
However, Qingji, who was far away in Wudu, was still mobilizing soldiers, warships, food and supplies from all over the place!
Qingji never fights a battle without preparation!
This time, the State of Chu secretly dispatched its troops to launch a surprise attack on Zhenzi, but the report was not received until the Chu army's navy appeared on the Yangtze River.
It was Qingji who learned the news that Chu was going to attack Wu from Shi Mimu, an envoy from Jin!
How ridiculous this is!
Could it be that the Wu army was forced to fight in such a hurry?
No, never!
Qingji has the courage to cut off one's own arm.
Even if the city of Zhenzi fell and all the soldiers and civilians defending the city died in battle, Qingji would not hesitate.
This cannot be blamed on Qingji being cold-blooded and ruthless, because war is so cruel, and he cannot bet the fate of Wu on others!
On this day, Qingji was inspecting the camp and comforting the Wu army soldiers who were still in the process of integration.
In this era of frequent wars, almost every adult male in the Wu State had been to the battlefield and received decent military training.
However, just like the three hegemonic states of Jin, Qi and Chu, Wu’s military service system was conscription of farmers!
They can fight in wartime and farm in leisure time without any delay, but this will affect the combat effectiveness of some soldiers.
Especially when large-scale military operations are being carried out, troops that have not gone through a certain period of adjustment would be courting death if they rushed into battle hastily!
"Report——"
Suddenly, a lieutenant came galloping, dismounted in front of Qingji, and handed him a bamboo slip with both hands.
"My lord, Wuyuan battle report!"
Battle report from Wuyuan?
Did something happen to Sun Wu?
Qingji's heart couldn't help but skip a beat, and a bad premonition came to his mind.
