Volume 3 Chapter 54: Base Transfer

  Qin Jia is indeed only a clown, when danger and responsibility come, he chooses to escape without hesitation. He abandoned his original oath to defend Pengcheng, abandoned his puppet king Chu Jingju, and abandoned the remaining tens of thousands of defenders in Pengcheng. He led his 4,000 loyal followers to break through the siege and fled west to Huling, likely heading towards the Wei state's Wei Jiao and Zhou Shi.

  The news was reported to Xiang Liang's central army headquarters in the first place, and Liu Bang, the Marquis of Pei, was extremely nervous about this, because the lost defense line was his Pei County military's. He originally wanted to take responsibility for it at the first time, of course, he also took an opportunity, thinking of sending Zhou Bo or Cao Shen to pursue the attack.

  However, as the commander-in-chief, Xiang Liang did not blame him and did not give him this opportunity. Before Liu Bang could speak, he hastily dispatched Yin Huan to pursue Qin Jia. At the same time, he sent Yu Zi Qi and Ying Bu to attack Pengcheng. Qin Jia's escape had already made the Pengcheng army completely lose its will to fight, and there were also many loopholes in the defense. In this situation, it is believed that Pengcheng would fall within half a day, and this expedition would end with Xiang Liang's complete victory.

  Now all that's needed is to wait for Yin Xu's results on the other side, as long as he can annihilate Qin Jia, this battle will be a complete victory.

  Liu Bang sat in his seat with a smile on his face, and when the good news came, he frequently spoke to congratulate him. In his heart, there was indeed another kind of aftertaste. Xiang Liang's move was clearly guarding against himself, giving all the credit for this battle to the generals under his command, which in fact meant putting it into his own pocket. As for himself, hum! Liu Bang understood that in Xiang Liang's eyes, he was just a minor role who didn't enter the mainstream.

  It was on this day that Liu Bang felt a deep sense of shame, and his inner desire for status and power began to swell. Perhaps it was from this day on that he bore an unresolvable grudge against the House of Xiang, and many things that happened in later years were not unrelated to today.

  The winner becomes the king, the loser a thief. Thirty years on the east of the river, thirty years on the west of the river. No one could have foreseen such things, and Xiang Liang was even less likely to have thought of them. After the battle of Pengcheng, his reputation undoubtedly rose sharply, although Tongshan and Pengcheng were actually taken by Yin Jiao and Ying Bu, but the credit for the victory naturally went to the commander Xiang Liang. As a result of this campaign, Xiang Liang's prestige among the lords of the world was unprecedentedly enhanced, which also made this descendant of the famous general of Chu somewhat complacent, thus sealing his future defeat. One slip becomes an eternal regret...

  As soon as he returned to his camp, Liu Bang's face immediately fell, and Fan Kuai scolded loudly: "What the hell? Don't look down on us, could we have taken over Tongshan and Pengcheng so quickly without our help? To forget kindness and abandon righteousness, to take all the credit for oneself, what do they think of us?" Although Fan Kuai was blunt, having stayed in Xiang Liang's main camp for a long time, he also saw through the trickery. It was clear that his lord had been taken advantage of. This guy was unhappy in his heart, but he endured and did not erupt on the spot, which was really not easy.

  Liu Bang's face sank and he didn't speak, after all they just annexed Yong Chi, as for Tongshan it was Yin Xu and Ying Bu who took it first. Fan Kuai said this, indeed somewhat exaggerating their own role.

  Xiao He sighed: "That Yin Xu has always been very respectful to Lord Pei, and also very enthusiastic towards us. It's just that we didn't expect General Xiang Liang to have such an attitude..."

  Zhou Bo had already learned the previous conversation from Fàn Jiāo's mouth, and said in a low voice: "Xiàng Liáng has made it clear that he doesn't want to see us, and he basically looks down on us."

  "No wonder, he is the son of General Xiang Yan, a pillar of the state! What are we? Can we compare with him?" Fan Kuai's words were filled with bitterness and resentment, as clear as could be.

  Liu Bang said in a low and cold tone: "Forget it, when under someone's roof, one has to bow their head." Few people can be as flexible as Liu Bang.

  He said so, but his generals were unwilling and spoke out in dispute, shouting in unison.

  Xiahou Yuan said: "Fortunately, Marquis of Pei was far-sighted beforehand. We are only cooperating with the Wu army, not surrendering. Otherwise, I'm afraid our days would be even harder."

  Cao Shen shook his head: "No, if they really surrendered, Xiang Liang would be even more polite and courteous. Yin Xu and Ying Bu are the best evidence of this. The reason he gave us a cold shoulder is because our strength is weak and we are alone. He probably thinks that all the righteous armies should surrender to him, General Xiang."

  "This time in Pengcheng, Xiang Liang's military achievements and prestige have reached an unprecedented height, and his arrogance is not a little. With the identity of a famous general's descendant and the pillar country, he does not match the chest that should be had, such a person is not worth following." Xiahou Ying refuted at the same time, her eyes fell on Liu Bang's face, she knew that even if Xiang Liang was a wise lord, Liu Bang would not easily follow. As one of the earliest followers of Liu Bang from Pei County, Xiahou Ying understood Liu Bang very well, and he was clearer than anyone about Liu San Ge's ambitions and ideals.

  Liu Bang smiled faintly and looked up to ask: "What do you think? How should we proceed?"

  Fan Qiao's anger had not dissipated, and he hastily said: "Yin Xu may not necessarily catch up to Qin Jia this time. I'll take some men and go now. If we manage to capture the person first, then the credit will still be ours."

  "No way!" Zhou Bo shook his head and said reasonably, "Although Xiang Liang's surprise attack was quite obvious this time, no matter how dissatisfied we are, we must save face. If we directly send troops to pursue Qin Jia, isn't it clear that we are competing with Yin Xu for merit?"

  Xiao He added, "That's right. Firstly, we offended Yin Jiao, who is young but has great potential and is rare to be so polite to us. Offending him was not a wise choice. Secondly, Xiang Liang will definitely be very angry, which will make things even harder for us."

  Xiahou Yuan said, "There is another possibility. Even if you capture Qin Jia or kill him, the credit may not go to you. If you assist Yin Xu in pursuing Qin Jia, the merit will be transferred, and it's better not to do something that won't bring you benefits."

  Liu Bang did not express his opinion, but instead turned his gaze to Zhang Liang, who had not spoken up until then, and asked for his views. The small ambush by the Kuaiji River was planned by Zhang Liang himself, and had been widely acclaimed by everyone, plus Yin Xu's high praise, so everyone's respect and admiration for Zhang Liang were growing day by day. At this time when they encountered a difficult problem, it was natural to think of him.

  Zhang Liang smiled lightly: "Actually General Fan is right, this merit is very important and can't be lost completely."

  "Huh? Everyone didn't understand what Zhang Liang meant, but they knew he must have a follow-up, and they were all filled with anticipation."

  Zhang Liang said, "The credit for pursuing Qin Jia and capturing Pengcheng will inevitably go to several generals under General Xiang's command. There is no need to compete with them, it's all futile. As for helping Yin Xu, it can be done, but I heard that Qin Jia has gone to Huling."

  Zhang Liang paused slightly, his eyes scanning the faces of the crowd before continuing: "Huling belongs to the periphery of Pengcheng's forces, but it is adjacent to Wei territory. The people of Wei have always been watching with keen interest. If Qin Jia arrives at Huling and the people of Wei intervene, Yin Xu's pursuit will not be smooth. If we can capture Huling at this time and provide convenience for Yin Xu, isn't that also a meritorious deed?"

  "This achievement is too small, isn't it? To exert so much effort and feel like making clothes for others to wear." Fan Kuai was visibly angry.

  Xiao He and Zhou Bo and others apparently saw some doorway, Liu Bang said: "Continue to say!"

  "Xiang Liang's move to Pengcheng is now inevitable, he was originally from Xiaxiang, and the transfer of the Wuqi army to Jiangbei has become a must. Pei County is too close to Pengcheng, Huling is relatively far away, with merit and a place to settle down, it is beneficial for us." Zhang Liang finished speaking, looked at everyone and smiled without saying a word.

  Everyone suddenly realized that it was all because of the transfer of land!