Loyalty and betrayal.

Just in one thought.

Zhou Bo and Liu Bang were die-hard brothers with deep feelings. This time when the Qin army besieged the city, Zhou Bo fell ill and defended the city, determined to die with the city.

But it was obviously not enough to defend the city by one person, so Zhou Bo promoted Chen Xi and hoped that Chen Xi could conscientiously carry out his orders, guard the two most important gates of Wancheng, and restrain the disorganized Han soldiers in the city.

Zhou Bo, who was confused, thought about it. His relationship with Chen Xi was just like Liu Bang's relationship with himself. A scholar dies for a confidant, but his loyalty remains unchanged throughout his life.

However, would Chen Xi think so?

Of course it's impossible.

If Zhou Bo had been promoted earlier, he might have been able to win Chen Xi's loyalty, but now, Fireline's promotion is not reliable at all.

To put it in a popular saying, Zhou Bo asked me to work hard, so what did I do so early in the morning?

Of course, Zhou Bo could also say, "Chen Xi, your official position was not decided by me before, but by Liu Bang, the King of Han Dynasty. So, will Liu Bang reuse Chen Xi?"

the answer is negative.

To Liu Bang, Chen Xi was just the leader of a small force who had recently pledged his allegiance to him. He rose up and roared in the countryside, and then led a group of brothers to defect to the more powerful princes.

Isn't this kind of thing what Liu Bang did before? Therefore, it is natural that Chen Xi, who followed in Liu Bang's footsteps, cannot be reused.

With this layer of separation, Chen Xi's status in the Han Dynasty was neither high nor low. He could neither be reused nor be left in the corner without being given a chance at all.

——.

As dusk fell, outside the city, the whimpering horns of the Qin army came, bringing with it the unique desolation and solemnity of the Guanzhong land. Chen Xi stood on the towering tower for a long time, looking out at the Qin army's barracks beyond the city.

My heart was filled with panic and confusion.

Squeak!

The sound of a series of wooden stairs made Chen Xi turn around and saw his close guest Zhang Chunzheng running over with a worried look. Seeing that there was no one around, he stepped forward and whispered.

"What are you talking about? Chen Chu surrendered to the Qin people and went into the city to hide in your residence?" Chen Xi's expression changed and his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Chen Chu was his third brother and served as the county lieutenant of Ye County, Nanyang County. Not long ago, Ye County was captured by the Qin army. Chen Chu was trapped in the city and did not escape. Chen Xi thought that this boy had lost his life long ago, but he did not expect it.

He can still come back alive.

"Zhang Chun, you lead the way and come with me to meet Chen Chu. Also, be careful not to leak the news." Chen Xi thought for a while and finally couldn't help but miss him and ordered.

Chen Chu actually entered Wancheng three days ago among a group of defeated soldiers. He originally wanted to find Chen Xi directly, but found that Chen Xi was already too busy to see him. With no other choice, Chen Chu found him.

Zhang Chun's residence was hidden.

Zhang Chun and Chen Xi had known each other for many years. The relationship was very unusual, so Chen Chu did not have to worry that Zhang Chun would betray him. After some thought, Chen Chu revealed his identity as a lobbyist for the Qin State.

Zhang Chun's residence.

Chen Xi finally met his brother Chen Chu, who had been missing for many days and suddenly appeared. Different from what he imagined, Chen Chu was in good spirits. Apart from being a little pale after not seeing the sun for many days, there was almost no sign of helplessness or loss on his face.

His expression, on the contrary, showed a faint excitement.

"Brother, people of the Ming Dynasty don't tell secrets. I went to the city this time on the orders of General Han of the Qin State to lobby my brother to dedicate the city. If my brother feels that what I said is harsh, just kidnap me and go see Zhou Bo." Chen

As soon as Chu saw Chen Xi, he was so excited that he immediately became excited and explained his purpose of coming.

If it had been anyone else, Chen Chu probably wouldn't be so tough. However, Chen Xi was his eldest brother, and with this level of blood relationship, Chen Chu didn't have to worry too much about Chen Xi handing him over to Zhou Bo.

"Brother Chu, my brother, what are you talking about? Sit down and tell me your experience after being captured in Ye County." Chen Xi asked calmly.

"Brother, I was not captured, but I volunteered to offer the city before the war. Otherwise, why would General Han send me into the city this time instead of sending others?" Chen Chu boasted proudly.

Chen Chu has always been suppressed by his elder brother. This time he finally got a chance to stand up. He boasted, but no one said anything.

"Haha, it turns out that Brother Chu took the initiative to offer the city, but Brother Yu made a mistake." Chen Xi said with a smile, a tolerant smile on his face.

"Hey, brother and Zhang Chun, you haven't really seen the generals of the Qin army. They are really proud and powerful generals. The cavalry horses, armors and weapons, as well as those Yuezhi people, Hu people,

It is simply not something that the weak soldiers in our hands can resist." Chen Chu blushed embarrassedly, and then recounted his experience in Ye County with lingering fear.

Chen Chu followed Han Xin's army from Ye County to Wancheng. He was only talking about the situation of the Qin army on the southern front. On the northern front, the sharp cavalry of the frontier army, known as the elite of the Qin State, had not been included. In the past, Liu Bang

, Zhou Bo always encouraged his generals by saying that the Han army had 200,000 people and the Qin army only had 100,000 people. Looking back now, the number of the Qin army was really small, but compared with a group of sheep, it was nothing.

Needless to say, one is more powerful.

"Are you sure that Qin people are really powerful?" Chen Xi asked with his eyes moving.

"Brother, what I said is not a lie. I have seen and experienced this with my own eyes. We can't win this battle at all. Brother, we still have to make a decision early. If it's too late, others will take the lead.

"Chen Chu said anxiously.

Although he only stayed in the Qin Army for a few days, the vitality within the Qin Army deeply affected the equally young Chen Chu.

This kind of army is a place worth serving.

In contrast, the Han army's practice of ranking based on seniority and promotion based on emotional relationships made juniors like Chen Chu feel extremely disappointed.

Listening to Chen Chu's story, Chen Xi and Zhang Chun were speechless. Just when he was hesitating, Manchuchen, the general in charge of inspecting the city wall, stumbled in, holding an arrow without an arrow in his hand.

"Marquis Chen, the Qin people outside the city shot many sharp arrows, and there was a letter tied to the shafts of the arrows. This letter said that Marquis Chen and the Qin army had been communicating privately and were preparing to surrender the city to Qin. At the end of the day, the general ordered his soldiers

I picked up the fallen arrows at the west gate. I wonder if there are any other directions from the other city gates?" Manqiuchen's words made Chen Xun and Zhang Chun almost cry out in shock.

They had just had a few words with Chen Chu here, but the Qin people outside the city were already impatient. This was a bit too anxious. If Zhou Bo knew about it, he would not doubt that Chen Xi had different aspirations.

"Manqiuchen, go and keep an eye on the Taiwei Mansion in person. If there is any abnormal situation, come back and report immediately. In addition, please tell Wang Huang that the army in our hands must be under control, and we must not allow others to seize the military power.

." Chen Xi groaned for a while and ordered, with a rare stern look in his pair of peach blossom eyes.

The fish dies and the net breaks.

Since the Qin people persuaded them to surrender by shooting arrows into the city, Zhou Bo's people would do the same thing that Manchuchen could do. At this time, Zhou Bo, who was recuperating in the Taiwei's mansion, should also have obtained the broken arrows without arrows.

Now, it depends on what Zhou Bo thinks.

Whether to continue unconditional trust or to become suspicious and change, everything depends on the next actions of the Taiwei Mansion. What Chen Xi can do now is to preserve his own strength first, and then wait and see what happens. As for surrendering the city to Qin, this still needs to be done

If we talk about it in detail, Chen Xi is not a passionate and impulsive Chen Chu. He must make good use of the chips in his hand to win the maximum benefit for himself.

If a person does not serve himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth.

Chen Xi's wavering made the morale of the Han army in Wancheng even lower. Facing the siege of the Qin army, the only thing the Han army was counting on was that reinforcements from Liu Bang, the king of Han, would arrive sooner.

——.

In Wancheng, there is an undercurrent surging.

The Qin army's blatant attempt to persuade them to surrender gradually created a gap between Zhou Bo and Chen Xi. After sowing the seeds of disintegration within the Han army, Li Yuan handed over the besieging troops to the command of Han Xin, and then led the troops mainly composed of cavalry along the route.

Continue southward along the Han River to meet Liu Bang's army coming for reinforcements from Yingdu.

Yingdu.

Bright spring and white snow, Shili Gallery.

This old capital of the Chu State was much more prosperous than Xicheng in Hanzhong County. The beauties in the Chu region had many slim waists, and the fish and rice produced by the favorable weather were also delicious and sweet. For Liu Bang, who was nearly fifty, the humidity and heat of Yingdu was unbearable.

Although I am not used to the climate, it is a good result to have such a place to enjoy in troubled times.

But now, even this little hope is about to be shattered by the Qin army's attack.

After being confused by Feng Xuan's troops for a while, Liu Bang, who was searching for nothing, finally realized that he was following the Qin army's plan to attack the east and attack the west. When the scouts sent by Zhou Bo finally broke out of the encirclement and presented themselves to Wancheng, they were grouped by the Qin army.

During the siege and the critical military performance, Liu Bang's eyes darkened and he almost fainted.

I was tricked by Qin Gou again.

This was not done by Li Yuan himself, but by Han Xin, a thug who had just made his fortune.

Deng County, Fancheng fell, and the door to Nanyang County was opened——.

Ye County and other places fell one after another, the Han army was defeated in many ways, and countless people surrendered——.

Zhou Bo led his army to confront Li Yuan's army on the northern front. After a long battle, he was disadvantaged and had to retreat to Wancheng.

If this is not the worst news, then the next news made Liu Bang even more anxious. Internal strife broke out within the Han army. Liu Fei, Liu Jia, Han Wangxin and others led a Han army to leave the main battlefield and retreat towards Yingchuan.

.

Nanyang County's defeats were reported one after another. The number of Han troops dropped from 70,000 to less than 40,000, and the territory they occupied also changed from the entire county to an isolated city in Wancheng.

If reinforcements had been delayed, Zhou Bo would have followed in Cao Shen's footsteps and died in Wancheng.

The death of Cao Shen had already put Liu Bang's reputation into question. At that time, he could comfort him by saying that Cao Shen was trying to buy time so that the Han army could make a comeback in Nanjun; but this time, if Zhou Bo died in battle again, Liu Bang would really

There are no excuses left.
Chapter completed!