Chapter 104

Ying Zheng was speaking.

Wang Ben, Meng Tian, and Meng Wu all bowed down:

"Understood!"

"Then set out this very day!"

"For this battle, Meng Wu shall be the main general, while Wang Ben and Meng Tian shall both serve as deputy generals!"

"Understood!"

The group bowed down once more!

In the blink of an eye, everyone had departed.

Ying Zheng watched them leave, his mind calculating other matters!

Once this battle was finished, he would be able to return to the imperial throne!

Inside the General-in-Chief's mansion!

At this very moment, Wang Ben was reporting everything that had happened today!

After listening, Wang Wang Jian spoke up:

"Just as I expected, once this battle is over, the First Emperor will overthrow Ying Su and return to the throne!"

Wang Ben nodded: "There should be no suspense about that!"

Wang Wang Jian pondered: "Do you think this battle can be won?"

Wang Ben was stunned for a moment: "This... there shouldn't be any suspense, right!"

"The Sixth Imperial Prince has at most one hundred thousand men, plus the five thousand in Xianyanggong!"

"And we have a total of four hundred and fifty thousand. Even if Li Li Yuanba is capable and Han Xin is brilliant, it would be hard to win against such an absolute numerical disadvantage!"

Wang Wang Jian frowned: "That is not necessarily true!"

"Back then, Xiang Yan held his ground against me for three years with only one hundred thousand troops!"

Wang Ben said: "Xiang Yan is Xiang Yan after all, Han Xin..."

Wang Ben shook his head!

He did not believe Han Xin was stronger than Xiang Yan!

Wang Wang Jian said angrily: "How can one be careless in matters of war?"

"The Art of War by Sunzi says, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will win every battle!"

"How much do you know about Han Xin?"

"Not to mention Han Xin, how much do you even know about Xiang Yu?"

"What are this man's military achievements? What books does he read year-round?"

"Confucianism, Mohism, Daoism, Legalism, Yang Zhu—what schools of thought do they advocate?"

"Sun Wu, Sun Bin, Pang Juan, Wu Qi, the military treatises of the Young Master of Wei—what military strategies do they study?"

"What do you know of any of this?"

"I..."

Wang Ben's scalp tingled!

Wang Wang Jian said: "Military affairs are of great importance; one must never be careless!"

"These are the materials I have collected recently regarding Han Xin and Xiang Yu; you must study them well!"

"Not only you, but you must also show them to Meng Wu!"

"He is the main general for the battle against Xiang Yu, after all!"

"If this battle is lost, he will bear the primary responsibility!"

After speaking, he handed a piece of linen paper to Wang Ben.

Wang Ben took it while bowing to Wang Wang Jian: "Thank you, Father!"

Wang Wang Jian waved his hand without saying anything, then began to discuss another matter with Wang Ben:

"You say... this girl Wang Lan is with the New Emperor every day; won't something go wrong?"

Wang Ben said: "I also feel there will be a major problem, especially since the First Emperor intends to deal with the New Emperor after defeating Xiang Yu!"

"Once the New Emperor is dealt with, then..."

Wang Ben looked distressed!

A moment later, he suggested to Wang Wang Jian: "Why not close the mansion gates starting tomorrow and forbid the New Emperor from entering?"

Wang Wang Jian's eyes widened instantly: "You dare!"

Wang Ben was startled!

Wang Wang Jian said angrily: "The New Emperor is the New Emperor after all; even without the title of Emperor, he is still the Sixth Imperial Prince of Great Qin!"

"Neither identity is someone to be trifled with; you dare to turn him away?"

Wang Ben scratched his head: "Then what should we do? If not, should we lock Wang Lan up and trick him by saying she is out and not at home?"

Wang Wang Jian pondered and shook his head: "That won't work either!"

Wang Ben grew anxious: "Then what should be done?"

Wang Wang Jian pondered for a long time before saying to Wang Ben: "Confess and seek leniency!"

"Take advantage of the fact that the First Emperor needs you now to go and plead guilty, and tell him of our Wang family's helplessness!"

Wang Ben's eyes lit up: "Father is wise!"

"I will go now!"

Wang Wang Jian said angrily: "Go now for what?"

"Wait until the day you lead the troops to war, arrive late on purpose, and when the First Emperor asks you, just mention it to him in passing!"

"You must never specifically go to plead guilty for this!"

"Ah?"

"Why is that?"

Wang Ben was bewildered!

Wang Wang Jian said angrily: "Foolish!"

"Is this the first time Ying Su has come to see Wang Lan?"

"If the First Emperor asks why you didn't report it sooner, how will you answer?"

"Could it be... you want to tell the First Emperor that our Wang family was hesitating about which side to take?"

"How do you think the First Emperor would react to that?"

"Just say it lightly and arrive late on purpose; let the First Emperor know that dealing with the New Emperor is not easy for us—that will be enough!"

Wang Ben's eyes brightened, and he bowed to Wang Wang Jian again: "Father is wise!"

Wang Wang Jian waved his hand: "Go and arrange the military affairs!"

"Tell Meng Wu that when facing Xiang Yu, it is best not to engage in a head-on battle; attacking his flanks is best!"

"In every engagement, do not seek great victories, but ensure constant small gains; new generals are arrogant and often cannot withstand such small losses!"

"Attacking cities is the lowest form of warfare, attacking the heart is the highest; you must apply this flexibly!"

"Father!"

Wang Ben bowed again; although he already admired Wang Wang Jian immensely, he admired him even more now.

"Go!"

Wang Wang Jian sighed, waving his hand once more!

Watching Wang Ben's departing back, he sighed again and again.

It was just that he was old now.

If he were ten years younger, he would have had to fight this battle against Xiang Yu himself!

Indeed!

Since the First Emperor unified the world, he had not participated in any wars for ten years.

Every day at home, even if he wanted to fight, he would just look at military books or play with sand table games to pass the time!

And speaking of sand table games, Wang Wang Jian could not help but recall the duel he had with Han Xin that day.

This man Han Xin was truly godlike in his use of troops.

He could not help but wonder time and again, if he had encountered Han Xin when he was destroying the six states, could he have defeated him?

On this point, he did not know!

He truly did not know!