Chapter 225: How many troops and how long are needed to destroy Han? Answer: One person, three days!
A few days later, the envoy Han Emperor sent to Zhao to discuss the marriage alliance came back.
The news he brought back gave Han a heavy sigh of relief.
Emperor Zhao agreed to the marriage alliance.
And agreed that after the marriage, General Li Mo would personally lead 200,000 troops to aid Han against Qin.
The 200,000 troops weren’t the main point, it was Li Mo personally leading them.
This was a famous general who could stand on par with Qin’s Wang Jian!
The whole of Han was jubilant.
Han Emperor was overjoyed as well.
In this immense joy, any guilt he felt towards Hongliang quickly vanished.
As Li Wu said.
A princess’s fate is sealed from the moment she is born.
The marriage alliance between Han and Zhao couldn’t be hidden from Qin.
In fact, Li Mo knew about it even before Zhao did.
Li Wu’s actions were efficient.
The day Han Emperor made the decision for the marriage alliance, the news was sent back.
He went to the palace that very day to inform Ying Zheng of the matter.
Soon, the Three Officers and Nine Ministers gathered in Ying Zheng’s study.
Since Han chose the marriage alliance, they were preparing to confront Qin.
Qin wasn’t foolish enough to wait until the marriage was consummated, for Zhao to send troops to reinforce Hangu Pass, and for the opponents to be ready before fighting them.
Qin’s troops had long been in a state of readiness, ready to launch an attack at any time.
But it had to be swift.
Swift enough that Han couldn’t react, Zhao couldn’t react.
And even the world couldn’t react.
Ying Zheng looked around at the generals present, but his gaze finally landed on the old General Wang Jian.
He asked solemnly, “General Wang, if you were to lead an attack on Han, how many troops and how long would you need?”
Wang Jian had thought about this question long ago.
Without hesitation, he said, “200,000 troops, six months to conquer Han.”
“With 400,000 troops, two months is enough.”
Ying Zheng frowned slightly.
Clearly, he was not satisfied with this answer.
The 200,000 troops Wang Jian mentioned referred to the 200,000 at Hangu Pass.
Four hundred thousand troops, that is, including the two hundred thousand from Nanyang.
But the two hundred thousand in Nanyang cannot be moved unless absolutely necessary.
Those troops are meant to guard against other countries taking advantage of Qin’s attack on Han.
Moreover, the time suggested by Wang Jian is too long.
Even if we estimate it to be two months, it would be enough time for Zhao to send reinforcements to Han.
Ying Zheng slightly shook his head, “Too long.”
Wang Jian opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, but ultimately chose to remain silent.
Ying Zheng’s deep gaze once again scanned the few men in front of him.
Seeing someone, he immediately stopped.
“General Li, do you have something to say?”
Li Xin, upon hearing Wang Jian’s words earlier, had wanted to refute, but did not have the courage to speak up.
Wang Jian’s prestige in the military was far beyond his.
Now, hearing Ying Zheng call his name, he immediately felt invigorated.
He straightened his back and said, “Your Majesty, I believe that twenty thousand troops are enough to conquer Han within a month!”
A light flashed in Ying Zheng’s eyes.
This strength and time were halved compared to Wang Jian’s initial statement!
Wang Jian turned his head abruptly to look at Li Xin.
His flashing gaze seemed to say: What nonsense are you spouting?
Wang Jian had fought battles all his life, and neither his combat experience nor his ability to lead troops could be compared to the young Li Xin.
He had simulated several battle scenarios to come up with that number.
Yet Li Xin, with just one sentence, halved it, and spoke with such confidence.
Li Xin said confidently, “Your Majesty, I am willing to lead this campaign against Han with twenty thousand troops, and capture Han within a month!”
Ying Zheng, however, remained silent.
For he felt that the time was still too long.
A month’s time would be enough for Zhao to send reinforcements.
If it could not be captured in one fell swoop, both sides would be caught in a stalemate.
Even if they did capture Han, Qin would suffer heavy losses by then.
It would not be easy to attack Zhao afterward.
After pondering for a while, Ying Zheng shook his head and rejected, “Still too long, I need it faster.”
He ignored Wang Jian and Li Xin, and turned to ask Li Mo beside him.
“National Advisor, do you have any good strategies to shorten the time further?”
Upon hearing this, Li Mo slowly nodded.
“Yes.”
Ying Zheng’s eyes immediately lit up.
I knew the National Advisor would have a way!
Wang Jian and Li Xin also looked at him in astonishment.
Leading troops in battle was no child’s play.
They admitted that the National Advisor was capable, but being capable did not mean one knew how to fight a war.
Zhao’s general Zhao Kuo, for instance, lost forty thousand troops to Bai Xianwu because he only knew paper strategies.
Ying Zheng hurriedly asked, “What plan does the National Advisor have? How many days will it take to capture Han, and how many troops are needed?”
Li Mo pondered for a moment.
He seemed to be making some calculations.
Wang Jian and Li Xin watched him closely.
Twenty thousand troops and a month already seemed like a tall order.
If it was any less, even Li Xin wouldn’t dare boast.
They also wanted to see how much Li Mo could reduce the troops and time.
Finally, Li Mo was done with his calculations.
Under everyone’s gaze, he calmly said, “Three days to capture Han.”
The study room fell into a deathly silence.
Li Xin scratched his ear, thinking he had misheard.
No way, buddy, I said a month was already absurd, but three days is just ridiculous!
Ying Zheng was also stunned for a long moment.
Three days would be too quick for Zhao to react, and he himself had a hard time keeping up.
After regaining his composure, he asked, “How many troops would be needed? The most Qin can mobilize now is fifty thousand.”
Ying Zheng’s implication was clear.
He thought Li Mo planned to gather all available troops to focus on Han.
Wang Jian thought so too.
But even with fifty thousand troops, capturing Han in three days was impossible.
Just traveling from Hangu Pass to Xinzheng would take three days.
Even with the speed of cavalry, it was impossible!
Li Xin did some quick calculations in his head.
If given fifty thousand troops, how long it would take him to capture Han.
After careful calculation, he reckoned that it would take at least twenty days.
He truly couldn’t understand how Li Mo had calculated it to be just three days.
Five hundred thousand troops are not five hundred thousand cavalry.
Most of them are regular soldiers.
The march to Xinzheng alone would take more than three days!
Li Mo chuckled lightly and said, “It’s not five hundred thousand troops.”
Ying Zheng pursued, “Then how many are needed?”
Li Mo raised one finger.
Ying Zheng and everyone else were momentarily stunned.
One?
A million was absolutely impossible.
Even if he broke open the state of Qin, he wouldn’t be able to gather a million!
“A hundred thousand?”
Ying Zheng asked in disbelief.
Li Mo shook his head.
Ying Zheng was astonished, “It couldn’t be ten thousand, right?”
At this, the color drained from the faces of Wang Jian and the others.
With ten thousand troops, they wouldn’t be able to conquer Han, they wouldn’t even be able to pass Hangu Pass.
Even if he dispatched troops from Nanyang, ten thousand soldiers wouldn’t achieve such miraculous results.
Li Mo still shook his head.
Under their shocked gazes, he said something even more astonishing.
“One person.”
The room became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop, an eerie silence filled the air.
Li Xin’s jaw seemed to dislocate and drop.
Even Wang Jian, usually composed, almost jumped out of his seat exclaiming it was impossible!
This time, Ying Zheng was truly shocked.
Several times he wanted to ask Li Mo to confirm if he had misspoken, but he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
This number wasn’t just shocking, it was unthinkable for anyone else.
One person attacking a country.
Even if one person spit, they could drown you!
Li Mo knew they wouldn’t believe him.
He said to Ying Zheng, “I alone can conquer Han in three days.”
“If the Emperor believes, I can set off tomorrow.”
They finally came to their senses.
Li Xin lifted his jaw, quietly muttering, “The national advisor’s boasting is a bit outrageous, he dares to say
and the Emperor dares to believe.”
“I believe you!”
Ying Zheng’s firm words suddenly rang out.
Li Xin’s jaw dropped again!
As they left the study, the group didn’t disperse but stood outside, discussing quietly.
Holding his dislocated jaw, Li Xin walked up to Wang Jian and asked, “General Wang, what do you think the national advisor and the Emperor are up to?”
He didn’t have the energy to complain anymore.
One dared to speak, the other dared to believe.
They didn’t consider anyone else’s feelings.
Wang Jian’s tiger eyes were also filled with doubt.
If he knew, he wouldn’t be waiting here.
Everyone was waiting here for what?
To ask the national advisor what his method was!
Lord Changping and several cabinet members were also speaking in low voices.
Seeing that Wang Jian was ignoring him, Li Xin approached Lord Changping’s group.
“Do any of you know what the national advisor is planning?”
Lord Changping glanced at him and replied irritably, “If I knew, wouldn’t I be the national advisor?”
Li Xin smacked his lips, “Got it.”
Then he noticed Li Si, who seemed deep in thought.
Walking up, he coughed to get his attention.
Li Si immediately came to his senses and respectfully said, “Greetings, General Li.”
Li Xin nodded in satisfaction.
Wang Jian didn’t want to talk to him, and Lord Changping wouldn’t either.
But he couldn’t provoke those two.
So he turned to Li Si, a lower-ranking official, for some validation.
“Li Si, I’ve heard that you are exceptionally wise and insightful. Whose proposal do you think is more reliable, the national advisor’s or mine?”
Li Si raised his hand and said without hesitation, “Naturally, the national advisor’s words are more reliable.”
Li Xin beamed, “I thought so too. Who’s more reliable, you say?”
At first, he thought Li Si was talking about him.
It took him a moment to realize Li Si meant Li Mo.
Li Si gave him a deep look. “I believe the national advisor’s words are more reliable.”
Li Xin was rendered speechless.
Twenty thousand troops for a month, and you don’t find it reliable.
One person for three days, and you believe him.
Are you being polite?
Li Xin still tried to gain a sense of superiority from this, but Li Si’s words felt like a knife stabbing into his heart.
He was so angry that he started to stutter.
“You… you… you… you don’t know anything! Have you ever fought in a war?”
Li Si responded calmly, “Indeed, I have never fought in a war. If someone else said this, I wouldn’t believe them.”
“But if the National Advisor says this, I believe it completely.”
This little admirer was acting the part quite well.
Li Xin sneered and quietly cursed, “Bootlicker.”
Li Si didn’t get angry; instead, he smiled.
Some people want to be but don’t have the chance.
Seeing his smile, Li Xin felt belittled.
He looked Li Si up and down and suddenly said, “Do you really believe that the National Advisor can conquer Han in three days?”
Li Si nodded, “I believe.”
Li Xin smirked, “I don’t believe it.”
Li Si glanced at him, “If General Li doesn’t believe it, then there’s nothing I can do.”
After saying that, he didn’t want to talk to him anymore.
But Li Xin was persistent, “How about this, let’s make a bet.”
“If the National Advisor can’t do it, you acknowledge me as your big brother. How about that?”
Li Si looked up at him and countered, “And if the National Advisor succeeds?”
Li Xin thought for a moment, his gaze falling on the pillar beside him.
He walked over and patted the pillar, “If he does it, I’ll eat this pillar!”
Li Si looked up at the huge red wooden pillar, which was about as thick as a grown man’s waist.
He smirked, “Then General Li can save a year’s worth of food.”
Just as the bet was made, Li Mo strode out of the study.
He had some questions for Ying Zheng, and Ying Zheng also had things to ask him.
This had caused a delay.
Seeing him come out, a crowd quickly gathered around him.
The fastest one was Li Xin.
“Does the National Advisor really have a plan to conquer Han in three days?”
Wang Jian looked at Li Mo with concern, “National Advisor, this is no joke.”
“If we miss the opportunity, it will be difficult to explain to the soldiers.”
Li Mo smiled, “General Wang, rest assured, I know what I’m doing.”
Wang Jian hesitated to speak.
If you can say such things, is that what you call having a plan?
“National Advisor, what is your method, if I may ask?”
Wang Jian’s words echoed the thoughts of everyone else.
They had been waiting outside for so long just to ask about the plan.
Li Mo cleared his throat and leaned in closer.
Everyone perked up to listen.
Some even took out paper and pen to take notes.
Under their hopeful gazes, Li Mo pointed to the sky.
Immediately, everyone looked up to see what he was pointing at.
But aside from the sun and some clouds, there was nothing remarkable.
Li Xin muttered, “There’s nothing in the sky.”
Li Mo smiled.
“Of course, because heavenly secrets cannot be revealed.”
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