The Cavalry Corps, established by King Wuling of Zhao, had long been the backbone of Zhao's military. On par with Wei's elite soldiers, this unit was instrumental in resisting Qin forces and repelling invasions from nomadic tribes beyond the borders.
However, no matter how formidable a military force may be, if its rulers are incompetent, its combat effectiveness will inevitably decline. This was the case with Wei's once-proud army and now with Zhao's Cavalry Corps. Although the cavalry was still somewhat effective due to its role in defending against foreign tribes, it faced a similar fate, just in a less pronounced manner.
In this era, military units often carried significant personal or familial imprints. The names of the troops reflected this: the Meng family's Golden Flame Cavalry, the Wang family's Hundred-Battle Armored Infantry, the Xiang family's Tenglong Legion, and other units like the Thunder Leopard Corps or the Shadow Tiger Corps. These were hallmarks of the times, and such characteristics would not change quickly.
Under these circumstances, the authority of military commanders became paramount. If Zhao's king had executed General Li Mu during peacetime, it would have caused chaos in the army but no immediate disasters. However, during Qin's large-scale invasion, the consequences were catastrophic.
The lands of Yan and Zhao were home to many heroes and loyal men, and the same could be said of their armies. While outright rebellion was unlikely, even a slight delay in response during such critical times could prove devastating.
"Has Lord Changping defected? Did he sense the danger?"
With the fall of Wei and Zhao, the Meng family army turned its sights on Yan. Thanks to abundant supplies, the army required little rest before advancing. Initially, Ying Zheng (King of Qin) intended for the Meng and Wang families' forces to combine and swiftly conquer Yan. However, an unexpected development forced a change in plans: Lord Changping's defection.
Despite a prior warning from Daniel Davis, Ying Zheng had no hard evidence against Lord Changping, who was not only Qin's right chancellor but also a native of Chu with deep-rooted influence in Qin. Moving against him without cause would have sparked widespread dissent. The Chu faction was powerful within Qin due to long-standing marital alliances between the two states, with several queens originating from Chu. The close relationship between Prince Fusu and Lord Changping further complicated matters.
Ying Zheng opted to marginalize Lord Changping gradually. However, the lord was no fool and soon realized he was being sidelined. Remaining in Qin would mean the end of his ambitions. Despite Ying Zheng's reluctance to act directly against him, Changping's grand vision was unattainable within Qin.
Lord Changping's shrewdness became evident when he refrained from intervening during Qin's conquests of Han, Wei, Zhao, and Yan, choosing only to act when Qin attacked Chu. His ambitions rivaled Ying Zheng's—he also sought to unify the land under his control. He envisioned using Qin to destroy other states and then leveraging a weakened Qin to allow Chu to rise as the dominant power. From a superficial comparison, Chu's resources and military strength were not inferior to Qin's. Its only shortfall was a lack of a visionary leader akin to Ying Zheng.
Chu, the largest of the Warring States in terms of territory and resources, inspired sayings like "Though Chu be reduced to three households, it will still destroy Qin." No similar expressions existed for other states, highlighting Chu's prominence. Militarily, Chu boasted elite units such as the Tenglong, Thunder Leopard, and Shadow Tiger Corps. To Lord Changping, such a Chu under his leadership could challenge Ying Zheng. At worst, the land could be divided, with a boundary like the later Chu-Han River.
Yet, war is never decided solely by numbers. Despite comparable overall troop strength and elite units, Chu's army had two critical weaknesses. First, it lacked a true military genius. While Xiang Yan of the Xiang family was skilled, he fell short compared to generals like Wang Jian. Second, Chu's troops suffered from low morale.
Qin's success in continuous warfare was due largely to its soldiers' high morale. In contrast, soldiers in the other six states had limited opportunities for advancement. Without connections, the highest rank they could achieve was a hundred-man or thousand-man commander. Generals and noble titles were out of reach.
Qin's meritocratic military system stood in stark contrast. The 20-rank military merit system provided a clear pathway for advancement, albeit difficult to achieve for most due to educational and experiential limitations. Nevertheless, it was enough to inspire loyalty. The system also came with significant benefits, such as exemption from corvée labor and taxes, and pensions for fallen soldiers. Under Daniel Davis's guidance, Qin had begun evolving this system further.
In the six states, similar benefits existed in theory but rarely reached ordinary soldiers. Compensation for fallen soldiers was almost nonexistent due to corruption.
These differences made a stark impact. In the original history, Chu already struggled against Qin. With Qin suffering fewer losses in this timeline and benefiting from Daniel Davis's reforms, its dominance was even more pronounced.
According to The Art of War, success requires heaven's favor, geographic advantage, and human harmony. While Chu had heaven and geography on its side, it lacked unity. Even with the Xiang family's loyalty and the elite corps under Lord Changping's command, his ambitions were limited by the fact that he was not the king of Chu. Internal factions loyal to the sitting Chu king further complicated matters.
The current king of Chu had once been a capable ruler but had been weakened by years of decadence. He was oblivious to the fact that his nation's strongest forces had pledged loyalty to another.
"General Wang, until we meet again." As Wang Jian led the Wang family's Hundred-Battle Armored Infantry toward Chu's borders, Daniel Davis set out for Yan. The conflict between Qin and Chu would not be decided quickly. Wang Jian planned only to defend against Chu's assaults until Yan was subdued. Once Yan fell, the Golden Flame Cavalry and Wang's forces would combine for a decisive offensive against Chu.
In the aftermath of Zhao and Wei's fall, Qin had already begun governing these regions. In Wei's capital Daliang, Qin officials issued proclamations to pacify the populace, assuring them that civilians who did not resist would not be harmed. Relief points were set up, providing food to those in need.
Unsurprisingly, Daliang's residents were cold and indifferent toward their new rulers. Open rebellion was unthinkable, but welcoming Qin was out of the question. Such hostility was common in conquered territories and could only be mitigated over time. Nevertheless, Daniel Davis proposed strategies to improve relations, drawing on his knowledge of war propaganda from films and television.
While the world lacked radio and broadcast systems, loudspeakers—crafted by the Gongshu family—sufficed for delivering messages. The literacy rate was too low for written pamphlets to be effective, so verbal announcements became the primary tool.
Despite their disdain for Qin, many Daliang residents turned to the relief points when faced with hunger. While the food provided was meager and far from luxurious, it ensured survival. Those seeking more substantial provisions were encouraged to work on reconstruction projects, such as repairing the city's water-damaged infrastructure. This labor-for-relief system mirrored similar programs in Zhao and Han.
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Upon reaching the Meng family's Golden Flame Cavalry camp, Daniel Davis learned of an unexpected development. A proposal had been made for Jing Ke to present King Ying Zheng with Prince Yan Dan's head and a map of Yan as an offering of surrender. This gesture served dual purposes: it sought to placate Qin and provided an opportunity to attempt an assassination.
The proposal revealed the dire situation Yan faced. Even with the support of the Mohist mechanical beasts, Yan was no match for Qin. The surrender plan highlighted the desperation of Yan's leadership, who placed their hopes on the success of an assassination plot. In response, Daniel Davis ordered psychological warfare against Yan, using leaflets and announcements to expose Prince Yan Dan's past misdeeds. Among these revelations was the assassination of the Mohist leader, Six-Fingered Black Hero, orchestrated by Prince Yan Dan to gain control over the Mohists.
The exposure of these actions not only tarnished Prince Yan Dan's reputation but also undermined the morale of his allies. A similar strategy was employed in Chu, where rumors spread of Lord Changping's ambition to seize the throne, further destabilizing the state.
These psychological tactics proved highly effective. In Chu, Lord Changping was forced to flee the capital of Shouchun after being exposed as a usurper. In Yan, Prince Yan Dan's credibility was shattered. His reliance on his reputation to hold his coalition together now backfired as his allies questioned his integrity.
Qin, without expending significant resources, had sown chaos in both Yan and Chu. Reflecting on these developments, Daniel Davis mused whether Ying Zheng had deliberately allowed Lord Changping to defect, understanding the internal strife it would cause in Chu.
In the Yan capital of Ji, Prince Yan Dan convened with his advisors to discuss Qin's demands. While some ministers warned of potential treachery, the beleaguered Yan king viewed surrender as his last hope, willing even to sacrifice his son if it meant preserving the state. Prince Yan Dan, however, harbored no illusions about Ying Zheng's intentions.
"Still clinging to hopes of Ying Zheng's mercy? What fools," sneered Wei Zhuang. Together with the Mohist leaders, Wei Zhuang was advising Yan Dan. As they deliberated, a messenger burst in, delivering a vivid leaflet depicting Prince Yan Dan assassinating the Six-Fingered Black Hero.
The revelations devastated Prince Yan Dan, whose reputation was his most valuable asset.
The accusations were detailed, citing his use of his wife to eliminate the Mohist leader and then scapegoating her for the crime. The Mohist leaders, long loyal to Yan Dan, fell into uneasy silence. For years, they had believed his narrative. Now, they began to doubt.
Yan Dan's carefully cultivated image was irreparably shattered, leaving him isolated even among his closest allies.
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American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
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