northernbook Chapter 80 The Great Defeat of the Yan State
Chapter 80 The Great Defeat of the Yan State
In just one day, the Yan army was utterly routed by the Qin army. In this fierce battle, Crown Prince Dan of Yan led his remaining troops in a humiliating retreat back to the Yan capital, Ji. The Dai army, already terrified, reclaimed their territory. However, the Qin army gave Crown Prince Dan and his forces no chance to regroup, continuing their relentless pursuit with unstoppable momentum.
Before long, the Qin army arrived at the walls of Ji City. Wang Jian ordered his soldiers to set up camp outside the city and rest briefly. He then sent engineers to cut down trees in preparation for building siege engines such as catapults and siege ladders. As night fell, the Qin army ceased its operations and began to rest and regroup.
Meanwhile, chaos reigned within the royal palace of Ji. King Xi of Yan and Crown Prince Dan were frantic, like ants on a hot plate. They hadn't expected the Qin army to be so fierce and to have reached Ji so quickly. Crown Prince Dan anxiously said to his father, "Father, I think it's only a matter of time before the Qin army breaches Ji. We should escape now! As long as we can get out, Yan will not perish; there is still hope!"
Upon hearing this, King Xi of Yan's eyes lit up instantly. He said excitedly, "My son is absolutely right! As long as we can escape this land of tigers and wolves, there is still hope for our Yan Kingdom, and we will not perish! But... where should we flee to?"
After a moment of contemplation, Prince Dan of Yan slowly said, "Father, I think we can flee to the Liaodong region. It is a remote place, far from Qin. Qin is probably too preoccupied to attend to it right now, giving us a chance to catch our breath. If we are given a few more years, we can train a new batch of excellent generals and soldiers. When Qin attacks again, we will have the strength to fight them."
The King of Yan nodded in satisfaction, a joyful smile spreading across his face. He said, “My son is truly wise! What you say is very true! In that time, we can not only unite with the states of Chu, Qi, and Wei, but also win the support of other vassal states. As long as the four states work together, we will surely be able to defeat Qin. When the time is right, we can return to Ji City and restore the glory of Yan.”
Prince Dan of Yan's eyes gleamed with determination as he echoed, "Father is absolutely right. Now, we should act swiftly and prepare to leave the city. Pack our belongings as soon as possible, taking all the supplies and wealth we can carry with us, and leave this city."
The King of Yan nodded and said firmly, "That's right. Take everything you can, and leave nothing for the Qin army. Burn everything you can't take. We absolutely cannot let these resources fall into the enemy's hands." His eyes revealed determination and resolve, as if he had already made up his mind.
With the Prince of Yan's order issued, all the civil and military officials in Ji City were thrown into a tense and busy atmosphere. They began packing their belongings, preparing to leave the city. Inside the Yan Palace, palace maids hurriedly packed precious jewels and valuables into chests; soldiers were busy preparing weapons and equipment to ensure sufficient combat effectiveness.
Meanwhile, King Yan and Crown Prince Dan were not idle either. They personally packed their personal belongings, and once everything was packed, King Yan and Crown Prince Dan secretly left Ji City with their men.
At dawn the next day, Wang Jian ordered an attack on the city. They used siege ladders and catapults to fiercely attack the walls of Ji City. Although the few remaining Yan soldiers inside the city fought valiantly, they were ultimately unable to withstand the powerful offensive of the Qin army.
After a fierce battle, the Qin army finally breached the city gates of Ji and quickly stormed into the city. Wang Jian did not order the massacre of the city's inhabitants; instead, he led his troops directly into the palace. Upon entering, they found it deserted. Faced with this situation, Wang Jian remained calm. He immediately ordered his soldiers to search the palace for valuables. He himself climbed the city wall and gazed into the distance.
Just then, Crown Prince Dan of Yan and King Xi of Yan had already reached the banks of the Yan River. Seeing that there were no pursuers behind them, the people of Yan breathed a sigh of relief. They had been traveling for half the night and were exhausted. So, they decided to stop and rest for a while on the banks of the Yan River.
However, just as the people of Yan began to rest, a troop of Qin soldiers suddenly appeared in the distance. They rode in on horseback, raising a cloud of dust. Crown Prince Dan of Yan immediately realized the approaching danger. Without hesitation, he mounted his horse and shouted, "The Qin army is attacking! Prepare to fight!" At Crown Prince Dan's command, the Yan soldiers rose to their feet and sprang into action. They took up their weapons, ready to engage the Qin army in a life-or-death struggle.
On the banks of the Yan River, the Qin army led by Li Xin faced off against the army of Prince Dan of Yan. On the battlefield, banners fluttered, war drums thundered, and soldiers on both sides stood ready, the atmosphere tense to the extreme.
Li Xin, clad in armor and wielding a long sword, stood before the Qin army, his gaze fixed firmly ahead. Behind him stood a well-trained and highly motivated Qin army, each soldier displaying heroic bearing, ready to fight for their country and honor.
Crown Prince Dan of Yan appeared on horseback at the front of the Yan army. He was clad in magnificent armor, wielding a long spear, and exuded heroic spirit. His eyes revealed a resolute and determined look; he knew this was a battle concerning the life and death of the Yan state.
At a single command, both armies charged simultaneously. The battlefield erupted in a deafening roar of battle cries, the glint of swords flashing. Li Xin led the charge, spearheading the Qin army in a valiant fight. His swordsmanship was fierce; wherever he went, Yan soldiers fell in droves.
Prince Dan of Yan was not to be outdone. He brandished his spear and engaged Li Xin in a fierce battle. The two exchanged blows, neither giving an inch, and for a time it was difficult to determine a victor.
In the fierce fighting between the two sides, the battlefield was littered with corpses and rivers of blood. However, the Qin army, with its superior combat strength and Li Xin's excellent command, gradually gained the upper hand.
Ultimately, Prince Dan of Yan's army was routed, and Prince Dan himself was severely wounded in the fierce battle, rendering him unable to fight further. Seeing this, Li Xin did not hesitate to lead the Qin army in pursuit of the remaining forces of King Xi of Yan. Despite the Qin army's valiant pursuit, King Xi and his men had already escaped and could not be caught. Left with no other option, Li Xin had to sound the retreat, ending this thrilling battle.
However, King Xi of Yan, who had fled to Liaodong, lived in constant fear and anxiety. He was always worried that the Qin army would pursue him, and he lived in constant anxiety. Just then, King Jia of Dai came to visit him and gave King Xi of Yan a suggestion.
Dai Wang Jia said in a heavy tone, "The reason why Qin is so fiercely targeting Yan is entirely because of the incident caused by Crown Prince Dan. When Crown Prince Dan sent Jing Ke to assassinate the King of Qin, the King of Qin was already furious. Later, Crown Prince Dan conspired with Qi and Chu to jointly attack Qin because of the papermaking technology, which further enraged the King of Qin, leading him to decide to attack Yan."
After listening, King Xi of Yan nodded thoughtfully, indicating his agreement with King Jia of Dai's viewpoint. Then, he eagerly asked, "So, according to King Jia of Dai, how should I respond?"
Dai Wang Jia leaned close to Yan Wang Xi and whispered mysteriously, "Yan Wang, you might consider killing Crown Prince Dan and then presenting his head to the King of Qin. In this way, the King of Qin will surely be satisfied and may no longer pursue the responsibility of Yan."
The Prince of Yan nodded in agreement and immediately ordered his men to kill Crown Prince Dan.