Chapter 114

Ying Zheng spoke.

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

"Yes!"

"Then depart immediately!"

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

"Yes!"

The crowd bowed down once more!

In the blink of an eye, everyone had departed.

Ying Zheng watched the departing crowd, his mind calculating other matters!

Once this battle is concluded, I can return to the imperial throne!

Inside the Grand General's residence!

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

After listening, Wang Jian opened his mouth:

"If my prediction is correct, once this battle ends, the First Emperor will overthrow Ying Su and return to the imperial throne!"

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

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

Wang Ben paused: "This... there should be absolutely no suspense, right!"

"The Sixth Young Master has at most, at most, one hundred thousand men, plus five thousand inside Xianyanggong!"

"Whereas we have a total of four hundred and fifty thousand; even if Li Yuanba is incredibly fierce and Han Xin is extremely formidable, facing such an absolute numerical disparity, it would be very difficult for them to win, wouldn't it!"

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

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

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

Wang Ben shook his head!

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

Wang Jian shouted angrily: "How can one be careless regarding military affairs?"

"The Art of War by Sun Tzu says that only by knowing yourself and knowing your enemy can you fight a hundred battles and win a hundred times!"

"How much do you know about Han Xin?"

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

"What military achievements does this person have? What books does he read regularly?"

"Among the various major schools of thought—Confucianism, Mohism, Daoism, Legalism, Yang Zhu—which school do they advocate?"

"As for Sun Wu, Sun Bin, Pang Juan, Wu Qi, and the military texts of the Lord of Wei, what military strategies do they frequently study?"

"What understanding do you have of any of these?"

"I..."

Wang Ben felt his scalp go numb!

Wang Jian said: "In great military matters, one must never be careless!"

"These are the materials I have gathered recently regarding Han Xin and Xiang Yu; study them carefully!"

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

"In the battle against Xiang Yu, he is, after all, the main general!"

"Should this battle be lost, he will bear the primary responsibility!"

Having said this, he handed a sheet of linen paper to Wang Ben.

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

Wang Jian waved his hand without speaking further, instead beginning to discuss another matter with Wang Ben:

"You say... that 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 after the First Emperor finishes attacking Xiang Yu, he will deal with the New Emperor!"

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

Wang Ben looked deeply worried!

A moment later, he proposed to Wang Jian: "Why not, starting tomorrow, close the residence gates and forbid the New Emperor from entering!"

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

Wang Ben was stunned!

Wang Jian shouted angrily: "The New Emperor is, after all, the New Emperor; even without the identity of Emperor, he is still the Sixth Young Master of Great Qin!"

"Neither identity is one to be trifled with; do you dare refuse him entry at the gate?"

Wang Ben scratched his head: "Then what should be done? If not that, shall we lock Wang Lan up, then deceive him by saying Wang Lan has gone out and is not at home?"

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

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

Wang Jian thought for a long time, then said to Wang Ben: "Let us confess and seek leniency!"

"While the First Emperor still needs you, go beg his forgiveness, and tell the First Emperor of our Wang family's helplessness!"

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

"I will go right now!"

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

"On the day you lead the troops into battle, deliberately arrive late; when the First Emperor asks you about it, just casually mention it to Emperor Ying Zheng then!"

"Under no circumstances should you go specifically to apologize!"

"Ah?"

"Why is that?"

Wang Ben was stunned!

Wang Jian angrily said, "Foolish!"

"Did Facing Ying Su come to see Wang Lan for the first time?"

"If the Emperor asks why you did not report earlier, how will you answer?"

"Do you mean... you will tell the Emperor that our Wang family was hesitating on which side to take?"

"How do you think the Emperor will interpret that?"

"Simply say it lightly, then deliberately arrive late; letting the Emperor know that dealing with the new ruler is difficult for us is enough!"

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

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

"Tell Meng Wu that, facing Seeing Xiang Yu, it is best not to engage in frontal combat; attacking Seeing Xiang Yu's flanks is optimal!"

"In every battle, do not seek great merit, but ensure small merits are continuous; new generals are arrogant and often cannot endure such small losses!"

"Attacking the city is inferior; attacking the heart is superior; one must apply this flexibly!"

"Father!"

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

"Let's go!"

Wang Jian sighed, and at this moment, waved his hand once more!

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

It is just that I am old now.

If I were ten years younger, in this battle against Seeing Xiang Yu, I would have to fight it myself!

Indeed!

Since the Emperor unified the world, he has not participated in warfare for ten years.

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

And speaking of sand table games, Wang Jian could not help but recall in his mind that duel with Han Xin from that day.

Han Xin is truly a master of strategy, using troops like a god.

He could not help but think again and again: if he had encountered Han Xin when he annihilated the six states in the past, could he have defeated him?

On this point, he does not know!

Truly, he does not know!