Chapter 307: Counting down the ten great battles of ancient times—the Battle of Chengpu

The next day, early morning.

The light of the sky screen lit up again.

It was no longer the blood-red sky of the Battle of Changping, but rather a sense of the primitive and solemn atmosphere unique to the Spring and Autumn period.

Amidst the flowing golden light, a line of vigorous and powerful large characters appeared.

Accompanied by the ancient melodies of chime bells and stone chimes, it slowly emerged above the firmament of the myriad worlds.

【Counting down the ten great battles of ancient times·The Battle of Chengpu】

This time, the scene had no mountains of corpses or seas of blood, but it possessed something sharper than swords—strategy.

【Time: 632 BC】

【Location: Chengpu (southwest of modern-day Juancheng, Shandong)】

【Combatants: Duke Wen of Jin, Ji Chong'er vs. King Cheng of Chu, Xiong Yun】

【Core tags: Retreating three she (ninety li), war is based on deception, strategy replaces brute force, the battle that established Duke Wen of Jin's hegemony】

Eastern Han, inside the Nanguo Hall.

"Chengpu?"

Liu Xiu muttered to himself; although he was a restorer of the dynasty, his knowledge of that distant history of the Spring and Autumn period was quite limited.

"Duke Wen of Jin... Ji Chong'er?"

Liu Bang smacked his lips; he was a rogue with little education and didn't know much about these ancient sage kings.

But he had heard the term "retreating three she"; "What is this about?"

Ying Zheng remained expressionless, but a flash of imperceptible brilliance flickered in his eyes.

The Battle of Changping was a massacre, while the Battle of Chengpu was strategy.

As an emperor through the ages, he naturally appreciated the latter more.

Liu Che was full of excitement: "Interesting! Finally, it's not just relying on numbers to bully the few! Retreating three she? There must be something tricky in this!"

【Pre-battle background: Jin and Chu competing for hegemony, vying for the Central Plains】

The sky screen scene shifted, turning into that complex map of the states during the Spring and Autumn period.

【Rise of the Jin State: After nineteen years of exile in various states, the battle-hardened Duke Wen of Jin, Ji Chong'er, worked hard to govern upon returning to his country.

He rectified the administration, developed agriculture and commerce, and trained the three armies.

In just a few years, the national strength of Jin surged, aiming directly at the position of hegemon of the Central Plains.】

In the scene, a middle-aged man with white hair and beard but a spirited appearance was pointing out the landscape in the Jin court.

That was Duke Wen of Jin, Chong'er, who had just returned from nineteen years of exile.

He was no longer the down-and-out prince who had endured humiliation in Chu and acted subserviently in Qin, but a hegemon with eyes like torches and a heart for the world.

【Chu State's dominance: At this time, under the management of King Cheng of Chu, the Chu State had vast territory and strong troops.

Small states in the Central Plains such as Lu, Wei, Cao, Chen, and Cai all attached themselves to it.

King Cheng of Chu aimed for the world, and the Chu State was the undisputed southern giant of the time.】

The scene shifted to Yingdu, the capital of Chu, where King Cheng of Chu, Xiong Yun, sat high on a platform, majestic and imposing.

Under his command, there were not only the elites of Chu but also vassal armies from states like Chen and Cai, creating a massive momentum.

【Trigger: The Song State rebelled against Chu and defected to Jin; King Cheng of Chu besieged Song.

Duke Wen of Jin decided to send troops; a decisive battle determining the fate of the Central Plains was inevitable.】

"What a Chong'er!"

Liu Bang couldn't help but slap his thigh.

"This old boy was in exile for nineteen years, and he could still govern the country so well after returning? Truly a talent!"

"Much stronger than that Zhao Kuo who only knew armchair strategy!"

"This King Cheng of Chu is also not simple, stirring up the Central Plains."

Liu Che stroked his chin, "However, since Chong'er dares to accept the challenge, he must have a backup plan."

【Pre-battle game: Besieging Wei to save Zhao and the estrangement between monarch and minister】

The sky screen continued to play, pushing the plot to a climax.

【The Jin State did not directly rescue the Song State, but adopted the strategy of "besieging Wei to save Zhao," sending troops to attack the vassal states of Chu, Cao and Wei.】

In the scene, the Jin army's offensive was like a tide, quickly breaking through the states of Cao and Wei, forcing the Chu army to divide its forces to return for rescue.

【Internal hidden dangers of the Chu army: King Cheng of Chu knew that Duke Wen of Jin was deep and calculating, and did not want to fight a decisive battle with the main force of the Jin army, repeatedly ordering the commander Ziyu to withdraw.】

On the sky screen,

King Cheng of Chu paced anxiously in the tent, saying to the Lingyin (Prime Minister) Ziyu beside him: "Ziyu, the Duke of Jin is extraordinary; he has been in exile for a long time, and has tasted all the hardships and dangers;"

"He knows the true and false feelings of the people. Heaven has given him years, and removed his harm. Who can prosper what Heaven has abandoned? It is better to cultivate virtue and wait for the time."

Liu Bang scratched his head and said to Ying Zheng: "Brother Zheng, look at this King of Chu, clearly holding heavy troops, why is he afraid of someone who just returned to the country?"

Ying Zheng glanced at him coldly: "War is a major matter of the state."

"King Cheng of Chu knowing when to retreat is the way of a monarch."

"Unfortunately, he has a fool under his command who doesn't know life from death."

As if to verify Ying Zheng's words, on the sky screen, the Chu commander and Lingyin Ziyu stood before King Cheng of Chu with disdain, patting his chest to guarantee: "Your Majesty, rest assured! Your subject requests to fight! I will definitely break the Jin army and capture Chong'er!"

"This Ziyu is a hothead."

Liu Che sighed, "A general in the field may not obey the monarch's orders; with such a proud soldier, how can he not be defeated?"

【Famous origin: The agreement of retreating three she】

The scene shifted back to many years ago when Chong'er was in exile in the Chu State.

【Duke Wen of Jin was in exile in the Chu State, and King Cheng of Chu treated him with the courtesy of a feudal lord.

The King of Chu asked Chong'er: "If you return to Jin to hold power one day, how will you repay me?"

Chong'er promised: "If the Jin and Chu armies fight, the Jin army will definitely retreat three she (ninety li) to repay your kindness; if you do not stop after the retreat, then we will fight the Chu army."】

On the sky screen, the young Chong'er faced King Cheng of Chu and made this promise neither humbly nor arrogantly.

At that time, he was just a down-and-out prince living under someone else's roof; who could have imagined that this promise would become a key link in determining the world's pattern later on.

"What a (retreating three she)!"

Liu Xiu couldn't help but praise, "This is both repaying kindness and strategy."

"Retreating ninety li not only fulfills faith and righteousness but also lures the enemy deep."

"This Chong'er is a character."

Liu Bang also put away his usual playfulness and said seriously,

"Able to endure what others cannot endure, able to do what others cannot do."

【Battle process: The peak showdown of strategy】

The light of the sky screen flourished, and the prelude to the Battle of Chengpu officially began.

【Phase 1: Jin army retreats, lures the enemy deep】

【In 632 BC, Ziyu led the coalition forces of Chu, Chen, and Cai northward.

Duke Wen of Jin fulfilled his promise and ordered the entire army to retreat ninety li, stationed at Chengpu.】

【This move, firstly, fulfills the promise and occupies the moral high ground;

Secondly, it lengthens the Chu army's supply line and paralyzes Ziyu;

Thirdly, it allows the Jin army to retreat to favorable terrain, waiting for the exhausted enemy.】

【Ziyu indeed fell for the trap, thinking the Jin army was afraid of fighting, and led the army to pursue at full speed, deep into the Jin State's pre-set battlefield.】

In the scene, the Jin army retreated in an orderly manner, flags neat, the military appearance solemn.

And behind them, Ziyu rode a warhorse, waving the command flag, leading the vast Chu army and the miscellaneous vassal troops, pursuing aggressively.

"This Ziyu is indeed proud and underestimates the enemy!"

Liu Che sneered, "The Art of War says, those who rush for profit for a hundred li will lose their leading generals."

"Retreating ninety li, the Jin army is waiting for the exhausted enemy; Ziyu is jumping into the fire pit himself!"

【Phase 2: Array confrontation, clear distinction between reality and falsehood】

【Jin army's three armies arrayed: Central Army (Commander Xian Zhen), Upper Army (Commander Hu Mao), Lower Army (Commander Luan Zhi).】

【Chu army's three armies: Central Army elites, Left Army, Right Army (composed of miscellaneous troops from Chen, Cai, etc., the weakest combat power).】

The sky screen analyzed the troop deployment of both sides clearly.

The Chu army looked massive, but in fact, the Right Army was a vassal army with extremely poor combat effectiveness; this was the Chu army's greatest fatal weakness.

【Phase 3: Three-stage surprise attack, breaking them one by one】

【First break the Right Army: The Jin army's Lower Army raided the Chen and Cai coalition forces; the miscellaneous troops collapsed at the first touch, and the Chu army's Right Army collapsed instantly.】

The Jin army elites were like tigers descending the mountain, charging toward the Chen and Cai coalition lines.

Those temporarily assembled vassal troops had never seen such a formation, and immediately scattered like birds and beasts, collapsing into chaos.

【Feigned retreat to break the Left Army: The Jin army's Upper Army set up a feigned defeat trap, raising dust to disguise a retreat.

Ziyu misjudged and ordered the Left Army to pursue.

The Jin army's Central Army elites suddenly killed out, attacking from front and back; the Chu army's Left Army was completely wiped out.】

On the sky screen, the Jin army's Upper Army commander Hu Mao deliberately made the flags messy, and the soldiers threw away their helmets and armor, fleeing in a panic.

Ziyu saw this scene from afar and was overjoyed, thinking the Jin army had collapsed, and immediately ordered the Left Army to pursue with all its might.

However, just as the Chu army's Left Army formation was in chaos, the Jin army's Central Army appeared like divine soldiers, killing out from the flank.

Forming a perfect encirclement with the Upper Army that turned back to counterattack, completely strangling the Chu army's Left Army.

【Consolidating the position: After the Jin army's left and right armies won, they quickly integrated, the three armies arrayed, and the blade pointed directly at the Chu army's Central Army.

Ziyu had only the Central Army elites left, the situation was gone, and he dared not fight again.】

At the end of the scene, Ziyu looked at his two flanks being lost.

The Jin army's three armies pressed toward him like a steel torrent.

His originally arrogant face now had only endless fear and despair left. ===== CHAPTER 308 =====