The three tigers that Zhang Liang offered to compete for food is indeed not so easy to resolve.

Even though Xiang Zhuang had guessed Liu Bang's intentions, he had no choice but to do anything in his urgent situation, because the Chu State and Huainan and Liang State were still in a state of hostility. Although Ying Bu condemned Liu Bang's edict and threatened to form an alliance with Chu State, Xiang Zhuang still had to consider how sincere Ying Bu was? Who knows whether the edict was true or false?

Similarly, even if Xiang Zhuang condemns him to Dingtao, he may not be able to win the trust of Peng Yue.

In addition, due to the backward transportation and communication methods at that time, Xiang Zhuang was unable to communicate with Yingbu and Peng Yue in person and timely reveal their respective strategic red lines. As a result, the situation in Jiujiang County quickly lost control.

But even Xiangzhuang did not expect that the Liang Kingdom was the first to send troops to Jiujiang County.

Because the edict issued by Liu Bang to Yingbu was public, although the edict did not mention the three counties of Xue County, Sishui and Donghai occupied by Yingbu, Jiujiang County was truly allocated to Huainan Kingdom. As the fief of King Yingbu of Huainan, Jin Xu and Li Zuoche were anxious when they heard the news and immediately condemned Peng Yue for help.

Peng Yue was very proud of his face. Since he had accepted Jin Xu, Li Zuoche's surrender would naturally not sit idly by.

Although Prime Minister Zhang said that the military advisor Zhao Yan was firmly opposed, Peng Yue still took General Liu Kou as a general and led 30,000 elite Liang troops to the south from Dang County, and a few days later, he entered Quyang County north of Jiujiang County.

Zhou Yin, who was guarding Jiujiang, felt a lot of pressure and was also condemned to ask Xiangzhuang for help.

Jiujiang County is the northern branch of Jiangdong. Once Jiujiang is lost, the strategic environment of Chu will deteriorate greatly. Xiangzhuang also raised 20,000 troops to cross the river and headed north to Hefei.

Xiang Zhuang has considered the consequences of increasing troops from Jiujiang. Once the Chu army increases troops from Jiujiang, it is easy to have friction with the Liang army and then a melee will break out. Once the Chu army officially starts war with the Liang army, the final result is likely to be both sides. In this way, Ying Bu will definitely benefit from it, and this is unquestionable.

Although Ying Bu sent secret envoys to Wuzhong and threatened to form an alliance with Chu, when the news of the Liang army's large-scale advance in Quyang spread, the secret envoys sent by Ying Bu immediately became "seriously ill". Xiang Zhuang sent several groups of imperial physicians to treat and even invited Doctor Ji, but the secret envoys' "seriously ill" still did not recover. The matter of signing the alliance was delayed.

Regardless of whether the secret envoy's serious illness was caused by Ying Bu or not, this at least shows that Huainan Country is not reliable.

Xiang Zhuang was very clear about the consequences of increasing troops from Jiujiang, but he had no choice, because Jiujiang County was related to the core interests of the Great Chu. This was not a simple option for fighting or not fighting. Xiang Zhuang would never do anything that would lose his "national character". Otherwise, what is his power as the King of Chu? Also, what is the power of the Great Chu? What is the power of the Chu army?

After Xiang Zhuang marched into Hefei, the situation in Jiujiang suddenly became tense. At the same time, Ying Bu also began to gather troops near Xuyi. Although his actions were very concealed, how could the gathering of tens of thousands of people be truly unknown? Before Ying Bu gathered all the troops, Xiang Zhuang and Liu Kou had already received the news.

The situation in Jiujiang County is developing in the direction that Zhang Liang expected. Although Zhang Liang had errors in his judgment of the situation in Jiujiang, the three tigers he set up to compete for food still worked. The Liang army and the Chu army had already formed a confrontation, and the Huainan army might also be involved at any time. At this time, as long as any side takes action, a big melee will immediately trigger!

Late at night, Li Zuoche, dressed in light clothes, floated into Jin Xu's headquarters.

Since Liu Kou's army entered Quyang, Jin Xu moved his general to yīnling. Fortunately, Liu Kou did not deprive Jin Xu and others of military power. However, the supply of 30,000 Liang troops fell on Jin Xu, and Li Zuo's body. The pressure in the counties in the northeast of Jiujiang County suddenly increased greatly.

At this moment, Jin Xi was worried about the Liang army's military rations.

Jiujiang County has experienced wars and its population has dropped sharply. In the past, the counties in the northeast were all large counties with abundant resources. However, now, the total population is less than 100,000 people, and less than 100,000 people. Now it has to support more than 60,000 troops. The pressure is too great. Even if Jin Xu and Li Zuoche have accumulated some food in the military camp, they still cannot support it.

While Jin Xi was sighing, heavy footsteps suddenly came from behind. When he looked back, Li Zuo's car was wearing a gray light clothes and had already walked in. At that moment, Jin Xi was slightly stunned and said, "General Li? The Chu army is approaching. If you are not in Dongcheng, why are you running to the yīnling? "

Li Zuoche did not answer, but took out a silk book from his sleeve and handed it to Jin Xu.

Jin Xu reached out to take the silk book, and after reading it hurriedly, he couldn't help but change his face, and said in a cold voice: "Is this secret letter true?"

Li Zuoche said unhappily: "General Jin, I am the grasshopper on the same rope now. If you can't escape, you can't leave me. Are you saying this news true or false?"

Jin Xi nodded and said with a grim voice: "It just so happens that the general's military ration is about to be unable to provide support, so let's take this opportunity to borrow some military ration from Huainan Kingdom, hehe."

Li Zuo Drive: "Early tomorrow morning, you and I will lead two thousand elite soldiers to set out from yīnling and Dongcheng at the same time, but you must pay attention to hiding whereabouts along the way to avoid being discovered by the Huainan Army too early."

Jin Xu nodded and said, "Don't worry, General Li, I know it's amazing."

"So, I'm saying goodbye." Li Zuoche bowed and turned around.

Watching Li Zuoche's figure go away, Jin Xu suddenly turned his head and shouted, "Come here!"

A personal soldier had already entered the hall, bowed and said, "What are the instructions of the general?"

Jin Xu waved his hand and said sternly: "Tell me the order, and the personal military camp... gather immediately!"

Xuyi, Huainan Army Camp.

Ying Bu was talking to Kuai Che, and Ma Ye, a subordinate of the school, suddenly came to the tent to report: "The 8,000 stones of military rations escorted by General Feizhu have arrived in Xu County and will soon arrive in Xuyi."

Ying Bu frowned and said, "Why is it only eight thousand stones?"

As the saying goes, before the army moves, food and grass will come first. For an army, the supply of military food is always the primary event. Even the arrogant Liu Bang was trapped in Guanzhong because of the lack of military food? There is also Xiangzhuang. With the national strength of Chu, it is no problem to recruit 100,000 strong men, but Xiangzhuang only brought 20,000 people north, wasn’t it because of the lack of food and grass?

Life in Yingbu was not easy. Although Xue County, Si Shui, and Donghai were once rich counties, the three counties were destroyed by war in the five years of Chu and Han dynasties. Six out of ten people were deserted and the fields were deserted. Even wealthy families and powerful families had little surplus food at home. It was not easy for the Huainan army to raise military rations.

Just say that this time, Ying Bu wanted 20,000 shi of military rations, but Feizhu only raised 8,000 shi, which was less than half.

Kuai Che sighed and said, "King, Huainan has experienced wars for a long time, and the people have no food to collect. I am afraid that the 8,000 stone of military rations will be collected by General Feizhu to collect the wealthy families and powerful people in Sishui County. If this continues, I am afraid that the wealthy families and powerful people in Sishui County will complain."

Yingbu couldn't help but change slightly when he heard this. To this day, the Chu tribes of Xue County, Donghai and Si Shui County have great hostility towards Yingbu. The reason why Yingbu was able to control the situation of the three counties was entirely because he received strong support from the vast number of wealthy families and powerful families. Once these wealthy families and powerful families no longer support Yingbu, Yingbu would be in trouble.

Kuai Che said again: "King, King Han Xin of Qi is committed to reform and striving to strengthen his strength. He saw that the national strength is becoming stronger day by day and his national strength is also thriving. King Liu Bang of Han is also raising his energy in Guanzhong to prepare for war. However, our Huainan Kingdom mobilized many troops for a mere Jiujiang County, consuming money and food. What the wise do not do."

Ying Buluo said a little impatiently: "Didn't I agree to the reform? The ten reform strategies of the Asian Prime Minister Zhu Jian have been tried to implement in the counties of Xue County?"

Kuai Che still wanted to do something big in Huainan Kingdom. He first persuaded Xiang Tuo to give up Lu County with his perfect tongue and helped Ying Bu soldiers to take down Xue County without bloodshed. Then he carefully designed to help Ying Bu attack the East China Sea and Si Shui County. Then he tried his best to encourage Ying Bu to form an alliance with Xiang Zhuang in order to seek a stable external environment and then reform and strengthen.

However, Ying Bu did not fully adopt Kuai Che's suggestion, which made Kuai Che very helpless.

Kuai Che said: "King, reform is not a trivial matter. It requires the whole country to do its best, and it also requires a stable external environment. I think it is not appropriate to be involved in the disputes in Jiujiang County at this time. Compared with the future of the entire Huainan Kingdom, the gains and losses of a mere Jiujiang County are really not worth mentioning, the king."

"Okay, okay, don't say it, the prime minister, let's talk about it, my ears are calloused." Ying Bu waved his hand and said, "I have told you a long time ago that you will discuss the reform with the Prime Minister. As long as you think it is feasible, I will do everything as I can. But I have to make a reservation in Jiujiang County. If I don't pick up the cheap ones, wouldn't I be a fool?"

Kuai Che advised, "Master, you will suffer a great loss if you are greedy for small gains!"

In Kuai Che's opinion, a mere Jiujiang County only has more than 70,000 to 80,000 households and more than 200,000, so what is the benefit of gaining? What is the loss? But if Huainan Kingdom misses this excellent opportunity for reform at present, once the King of Qi's efforts come to an end, Huainan Kingdom will no longer have the opportunity to reform and strengthen it. Isn't this just taking a small advantage but suffering a big loss?

Ying Bu was so angry that he couldn't help but scold Kuai Che, his personal captain Li Ji suddenly strode into the tent and bowed, "Master, please pay attention to the horse. A Han army of about 2,000 people set off from yīnling and headed straight for Xu County. It seems that the Han army mostly got news and was preparing to intercept the military rations escorted by General Feizhu."
Chapter completed!