Chapter 41 40 Zhao Kuo on paper

In 262 BC, King Zhaoxiang of Qin sent General Bai Qi to attack South Korea and occupied Yewang (now Qinyang, Henan).The connection between Shangdang County (where the government is located in Changzhi, Shanxi Province) and Handu was cut off, and the situation in Shangdang was critical.The general of the Han army in Shangdang was unwilling to surrender to Qin, so he sent an envoy with a map to dedicate Shangdang to Zhao. King Zhao Xiaocheng (son of King Zhao Huiwen) sent troops to take over Shangdang.Two years later, the state of Qin sent Wang Yan (sound he) to surround Shangdang. When King Zhao Xiaocheng heard the news, he quickly sent Lian Po to lead an army of more than 200,000 troops to rescue Shangdang.When they arrived at Changping (now northwest of Gaoping County, Shanxi), Shangdang had already been captured by the Qin army.

Wang Lu also wanted to attack Changping.Lian Po hurriedly defended his position and asked the soldiers to build fortresses and dig deep trenches to confront the Qin army coming from afar, preparing for a long-term resistance plan. Wang Yan challenged Zhao Jun several times, but Lian Po said nothing and refused to fight them.Wang Lu couldn't think of any way, so he had to send someone to report to King Qin Zhaoxiang, saying: "Lian Po is an experienced veteran, and he doesn't come out to fight easily. Our army has come here from a long distance. If it goes on for a long time, I am afraid that the food and grass will not be enough. How about it?" Woolen cloth?"

King Qin Zhaoxiang asked Fan Ju for advice.Fan Ju said: "To defeat Zhao Guo, you must first ask Zhao Guo to transfer Lian Po back." King Qin Zhaoxiang said, "How can this be done?" Fan Ju said, "Let me figure out a way." After a few days, King Zhao Xiaocheng heard the discussion from left and right, saying: "Qin is afraid of letting the young and powerful Zhao Kuo lead the army; Lian Po is useless, and he is about to surrender!" The Zhao Kuo they are talking about is the son of Zhao She, the famous general of Zhao State.Zhao Kuo loved to learn the art of war when he was young. When he talked about the principles of using troops, he was very logical. He thought he was invincible, and even his father was not in his eyes.

King Zhao listened to the arguments of the left and right, and immediately called Zhao Kuo and asked him if he could beat back the Qin army.Zhao Kuo said: "If Qin sent Bai to rise, I have to think about dealing with it. Now it's Wang Lu who is just Lian Po's opponent. If it were me, it would be easy to defeat him." Zhao Wang was very happy to hear this, so he made Zhao Kuo a general to succeed Lian Po. Lin Xiangru said to Zhao Wang: "Zhao Kuo only knows how to read his father's military books, and he can't adapt to the battle. We can't send him to be a general." But Zhao Wang didn't listen to Lin Xiangru's advice.

Zhao Kuo's mother also sent a memorial to Zhao Wang, asking Zhao Wang not to send his son.Zhao Wang summoned her and asked her why.Zhao's mother said: "When his father was dying, he told me again and again, 'Zhao Kuo, this child, regards fighting with soldiers as a child's play. If he is a general, I am afraid that Zhao Jun will die in his hands.' So I beg the king not to let him be a general." Zhao Wang said: "I have already made up my mind, so leave it alone." In 260 B.C., Zhao Kuo led 200,000 troops to Changping, and asked Lian Po to check his military talisman.Lian Po handled the handover and went back to Handan.

Zhao Kuo commanded 400,000 carts, and the momentum was very large.He abolished all the systems set by Lian Po, and issued an order: "The Qin State will challenge you again, and you must fight back head-on. If the enemy is defeated, you must chase them down. If you kill them all, you will never end." Over there, Fan Ju got the news that Zhao Kuo had replaced Lian Po, and knowing that his countermeasure had succeeded, he secretly appointed Bai Qi as the general to command the Qin army.As soon as Bai Qi arrived in Changping, he set up an ambush and deliberately fought several defeats.Zhao Kuo didn't know what it was, so he tried his best to catch up.

Bai Qi led the Zhao army to the area where the ambush was prepared in advance, and sent 25,000 elite soldiers to cut off the Zhao army's retreat; another 5,000 cavalry rushed directly to the Zhao army's camp, cutting the 400,000 Zhao army in two.Only then did Zhao Kuo realize how powerful the Qin army was, so he had to build a camp and stand firm, waiting for reinforcements.Qin State sent troops again to cut off the road for Zhao State to rescue troops and transport grain. Zhao Kuo's army had no food and grass inside, and no reinforcements outside. After guarding for more than forty days, the soldiers were all complaining, and they had no intention of fighting.Zhao Kuo led his troops to break out of the siege, but the Qin army fired all arrows and shot Zhao Kuo to death.When Zhao Jun heard that the main general had been killed, he threw down his weapons and surrendered.The 400,000 Zhao troops were all wiped out in the hands of the coach Zhao Kuo who was talking on paper.