GBP Chapter 79 The Great Battle of Qin and Yan
Chapter 79 The Great Battle of Qin and Yan
When Prince Dan of Yan, who was far away in the State of Chu, learned that the King of Qin had sent Wang Jian to garrison troops in the former territory of the State of Zhongshan in preparation for attacking the State of Yan, he was extremely anxious and went to the palace again to request an audience with King Fuchu of Chu.
When the King of Chu met Prince Dan of Yan, he shook his head helplessly and said, “Prince Dan of Yan, it’s not that I am unwilling to help you, but I am powerless to do so! I just received news that your prime minister went to Qi to request an alliance against Qin, but Qi did not agree.”
Upon hearing this, Prince Dan of Yan was greatly surprised and hurriedly asked, "King of Chu, is this true?" The King of Chu showed displeasure on his face and coldly replied, "Why would I need to deceive you? In my opinion, Prince Dan of Yan should hurry back to his country to prepare for the great war."
Crown Prince Dan of Yan was filled with worry and unease, knowing full well that Yan was facing a great crisis. However, he still hoped to obtain some help and support from Chu. Therefore, he continued to plead with the King of Chu for assistance, expressing his willingness to pay any price for Chu's aid.
Looking at the young man before him, the King of Chu felt a surge of pity. However, Chu itself was in a difficult situation and could not easily be drawn into the war. In the end, the King of Chu could only politely decline Prince Dan of Yan's request, indicating that he could not offer any substantial assistance.
Prince Dan of Yan left the palace in disappointment, his heart heavy. Facing the impending invasion of the Qin army, he felt unprecedented pressure and helplessness. Upon returning to Yan, he knew he had to devote all his efforts to organizing defenses to protect the country and its people from Qin's aggression.
When Prince Dan of Yan returned to Ji City, he immediately went to the palace to pay his respects to King Xi of Yan. Upon seeing his son return, King Xi eagerly asked, "Has the State of Chu agreed to send troops?" His eyes gleamed with hope.
However, Prince Dan of Yan shook his head slightly and replied in a heavy tone, "The State of Chu is unwilling to send troops."
Upon hearing this news, the smile on Prince Yan's face vanished instantly, replaced by utter dejection and disappointment. He sighed deeply and muttered to himself, "What am I going to do now?" His heart was filled with helplessness and anxiety.
Seeing his father's dejection, Crown Prince Dan of Yan quickly stepped forward and comforted him, "Father, don't worry. I'll go to the State of Dai right away and request King Jia of Dai to send troops." His voice was firm and powerful, trying to bring a glimmer of hope to King Xi of Yan. Although the State of Chu rejected them, Crown Prince Dan of Yan did not give up but decided to continue seeking support from other countries. He believed that as long as there was a glimmer of hope, they could not easily give up.
Prince Dan of Yan rushed to the State of Dai and finally met King Jia of Dai. He went straight to the point, saying, "The Qin army has already assembled at the former site of the State of Zhongshan. Once they cross the Yi River, they can wipe out both the States of Yan and Dai in one fell swoop. Faced with such a dire situation, does the King of Dai still remain indifferent and have no intention of sending troops to meet the enemy?"
King Jia of Dai remained silent, his gaze slowly sweeping over the civil and military officials below the throne, but no one dared to step forward and respond. Finally, King Jia nodded heavily, indicating his agreement to send troops. Upon hearing King Jia's decision, Crown Prince Dan of Yan was overjoyed, a relieved smile spreading across his face. He quickly cupped his hands and said, "King Jia of Dai is truly righteous. In that case, I will return to Yan first and await the arrival of the Dai soldiers." With that, Crown Prince Dan of Yan hurriedly departed.
Wang Jian sat upright in his military tent, his gaze intently fixed on the map of the Yan state hanging in the center of the tent. He frowned slightly, seemingly deep in thought. After a moment, he turned his gaze to his son, Wang Ben, who stood beside him.
"Ben'er, why don't you give the generals a briefing on the current situation of the Yan Kingdom?" Wang Jian said calmly.
Wang Ben respectfully responded, then strode to the map. Pointing to it, he explained in detail: "The capital of Yan is located in Ji. Yan borders Zhao in the Renqiu area south of the Yi River, and its western border extends to the foothills of the Yin Mountains. Furthermore, Yan's northern border begins at Shanggu and extends east to Liaodong, bordering Qizi Joseon. The western part of Yan is higher in elevation, while the eastern part is relatively flat. If we want to invade Yan, we must cross the Yi River."
Everyone nodded in agreement, indicating their agreement with Wang Ben's analysis.
Wang Jian waved for Wang Ben to step down, then stood up, walked to the map, and after a moment of contemplation, said, “Currently, the Yan army is concentrating its forces on the Yi River, focusing on frontal defense. However, the lower reaches of the Yi River are swift and deep, making it difficult for our Qin army to cross. Therefore, I have decided to send the main force to outflank the Yan-Dai allied forces defending the lower reaches of the river from the rear. What are your thoughts on this, fellow generals?”
A brief silence fell over the tent, after which several generals offered their opinions. One of them said, "General, if we surround the Yan army, I'm afraid our forces will be insufficient!"
Wang Jian nodded slightly and said in a deep voice, "I have already written to the King requesting reinforcements. The reinforcements should arrive soon." The generals all nodded in agreement with Wang Jian's strategy. They believed this decision would avoid the difficulties of the Qin army crossing the river head-on and allow them to launch a surprise attack on the rear of the Yan-Dai allied forces, delivering a fatal blow to the enemy.
Wang Jian nodded in satisfaction; he already had a clear strategic plan in mind. Next, he would discuss the specific operational details with his generals and formulate a comprehensive offensive plan.
Time passed slowly, and several more days went by. On this day, the sun shone brightly, and a gentle breeze caressed their faces. Xing Sheng led the reinforcements and finally arrived at the former territory of the Zhongshan Kingdom, successfully joining forces with Wang Jian. After meeting, the two immediately began to discuss their next strategic deployment.
Wang Jian explained his battle plan in detail to Xing Sheng, stating that he intended to lead the main force to outflank the upper reaches of the Yi River before launching an attack on the Yan army. Xing Sheng listened, pondered for a moment, and ultimately nodded in agreement, deeming the plan feasible. He then added, "I can lead the remaining Qin army to engage the Yan army head-on, drawing their attention and creating more opportunities for you."
After some discussion, the two finalized a specific action plan, and then each went to arrange their troops in preparation for the upcoming battle.
The next morning, at the crack of dawn, the Qin army was fully prepared. Wang Jian led the main force quietly out, flanking the upper reaches of the Yi River along the predetermined route. Meanwhile, Xing Sheng led the remaining Qin troops, standing ready and awaiting the arrival of the Yan army.
Soon after, the vanguard of the Yan army came into view, charging menacingly towards the Qin army. Seeing this, Xing Sheng decisively ordered the Qin army to meet them. In an instant, the battlefield erupted in a deafening roar of battle cries as soldiers from both sides engaged in fierce combat. The Qin army, with its superior fighting strength, quickly gained the upper hand, forcing the Yan army back. However, the Yan army did not give up easily; they continuously redeployed their forces, attempting to turn the tide.
Just then, Wang Jian's main force suddenly surged out from the upper reaches of the Yi River, like a raging torrent, rushing towards the Yan army. Caught off guard by this sudden attack, the Yan army was thrown into chaos. Taking advantage of the situation, Wang Jian launched a fierce attack, and the Yan army suffered a series of defeats, unable to withstand the Qin army's advance.