Ding-ling-ling
Kou Feng shook the bell, but Song Long had no reaction. Han De in the distance was laughing on his horse.
Liu Qi had no choice but to sound the horn to call back his troops. Han De also rang the bell to call back Song Long, and the two armies stopped fighting.
When Zhao Yun returned to the battlefield, everyone was relieved to see that he was safe and sound. It was a very close call just now. If it were someone else, they would probably have been hit again.
Kou Feng cursed: "I don't know where this bastard learned these dirty tricks. He is working with those gangsters. How despicable and shameless."
Liu Qi said in a cold voice: "Since ancient times, evil has never prevailed over good. These crooked ways will not last long. If they were really that powerful, those outlaws would have conquered their land long ago."
The next day, Liu Qi sent Zhao Yun to lead the troops to fight. The Han army arrived at the city of Angu. Song Long was still recovering from his injuries. How could Han De dare to fight? The Xiliang army refused to come out and had no choice but to retreat.
Zhang Fei's condition did not improve, and the generals became impatient. They requested orders to attack the city, break through An Gu, capture Song Long, and Han Sui would surely be defeated.
Liu Qi said, "I know you are all anxious, but please don't be anxious."
Wang Shuangyan said: "My master can't even lift a knife, how can I not be anxious?"
Liu Qi smiled and said, "Song Long is injured this time and needs to recover. Han Sui is more anxious than us. The more we have to stay calm, the more we must not act rashly."
Kou Feng said: "Ma Chao needs help urgently. Han Sui has been holding out until now. I'm afraid he has other plans. If we delay here, it will be disadvantageous to me."
Liu Qi said: "Ma Chao has Xu Yuanzhi's help, so he can protect himself. Han Sui and I are in a stalemate. He will definitely send out troops in a few days. You all should guard the camp carefully and wait and see what happens."
Two days later, Wang Ping sent someone to report that when their troops arrived at Didao, the city was empty and the defenders surrendered without a fight, so they had successfully captured the city.
Liu Qi laughed loudly upon hearing this and said, "Han Sui's retreat has been cut off, and the attack on Horse-Tibet Bay has been unsuccessful, so he will surely fail."
Immediately send someone to inform Zhang Ren that Didao has been lost. The Xiliang army attacking Mati Bay will surely retreat upon hearing the news, so we can take the opportunity to attack and wipe out the enemy once and for all.
He also instructed Kou Feng: "If Han Sui gets the news, he will come out in full force to attack our camp. You will lead 5,000 soldiers to join Lei Tong. If you see a fire signal on the shore, you will attack the upstream water fort at night and fight your way across the pontoon bridge. You don't need to attack the city, but ambush on the way to rob and kill the Xiliang army."
After Kou Feng left, Liu Qi ordered to make good deployment in the camp and send more scouts to monitor the movements of the Xiliang army. As long as Han Sui dared to send troops, his entire army would be wiped out in one battle.
…
In Angu City, the morale of the Xiliang generals was greatly boosted, and Han De was also full of confidence. He visited Song Long every day, hoping that he would recover soon.
Han Sui frowned and discussed with Cheng Gongying: "Although Song Long is brave, it is not a long-term solution for him to fight Liu Qi alone. Moreover, he is not my confidant after all, so I cannot trust him completely. If I let him establish his authority in the army, wouldn't that make Song Jian famous? I am afraid that if we get rid of Ma Chao, Song Jian will become a big threat again."
Cheng Gongying nodded and said, "General, what you said is very true. Song Jian has always been in control of the river and has no intention of dominating. But this time he sent Song Long to help in the battle. It must be because he saw that his son had grown up and had ambitions. We must be on guard."
Han Sui asked, "What countermeasures do you have for joining the army?"
Cheng Gongying smiled and said, "Song Long is actually nothing to worry about. Every time he uses that strange medicine, he has to rest for three days. This time, he needs to rest for half a month. I think if he uses it continuously, the time will continue to increase and it will also damage his body. You can take this opportunity to provoke him to fight Zhao Yun. Use this medicine more often. If it damages his foundation, he will die sooner or later."
"Hahaha, this is a great plan!" Han Sui laughed and stroked his beard. "When two tigers fight, one of them is bound to be injured. Zhang Fei has already been crippled. If Zhao Yun also falls for the ambush, it will be of great benefit to me."
Just when he was feeling proud, scouts suddenly came with an urgent report that Liu Qi had sent troops to launch a surprise attack on Didao. The city was lost, and the nearby counties surrendered upon hearing that Liu Qi's troops had arrived.
"This... This is impossible!" Han Sui was horrified.
Cheng Gongying suddenly realized, "Liu Qi has always been good at winning by surprise when he used his troops. It turns out that his surprise attack on Ma Ti Wan was just a move to take advantage of the situation and lure the defenders of Di Dao. His real intention was to send troops to capture the city. He is indeed a shrewd man."
"Brother, something terrible is happening!" Before they could discuss countermeasures, Han De rushed into the government office and reported urgently: "Just now, the defenders of Ma Ti Wan suddenly rushed out and drove back the Di Dao troops. We need to send troops to support them immediately."
"Support, bullshit!" Han Sui cursed, "Wang Junshou used his troops improperly and brought about his own defeat. He deserves it!"
Cheng Gongying patted Han De, who looked confused, and sighed, "We were expecting Cao's army to send troops to Qishan and Hanzhong to trap Liu Qi to death in Longxi, but he turned around and trapped us in Taonan first."
Han Sui's face was gloomy. He turned his hands behind his back and said through gritted teeth, "Liu Qi, you little brat, since you want to kill me, I have no choice but to fight him to the death. It is better to attack his camp directly. If we can defeat Liu Qi, the defenders of Matiwan and Didao will not be a concern."
"Don't bet everything on one throw!" Cheng Gongying hurriedly advised: "Liu Qi knew that Song Long was recovering from his injuries, but he didn't come to attack the city. He was waiting for news from Didao. I think he had heard the news a long time ago, but he didn't move his troops. I'm afraid he has already prepared."
Han Sui was surprised: "You mean, Liu Qi has secretly set a trap?"
"That's right!" Cheng Gong said, "Liu Qi knows that my retreat is cut off, so he will make a desperate move. If he sets an ambush in the camp and sneaks around the north bank from the floating bridge to steal the city, the consequences will be disastrous."
"Hiss—" Han Sui took a breath, sat down dejectedly, rubbed his forehead and said: "Taobei has been lost, and there is no way to advance or retreat. I am already in a state of panic. What countermeasures do you have, the generals?"
Han De was stunned and asked, "What happened?"
Cheng Gongying informed Han De of the loss of Didao, and Han De was shocked and said, "Liu Qi is indeed better than others."
Cheng Gongying looked solemn, thought for a moment and said: "Liu Qi thought we would fight to the death, and laid a trap to wait for me to rob the camp. Why not do the opposite?"
Han Sui asked hurriedly, "What's the plan?"
Cheng Gongying first said to Han Deyan: "General Han, when you go to visit Song Long again, tell him that the situation is urgent and he can't afford to recuperate. Can you go to battle as soon as possible?"
Han De left in a hurry. Cheng Gongying said to Han Sui: "Going all out is like a moth flying into a flame. You can use the enemy's trick to ensure a retreat first, and then deal with Liu Qi."
Han Sui frowned and said, "Zhang Ren is holding on to Matiwan, and Didao has been lost. Where is the way out?"
Cheng Gongying said with a smile: "Liu Qi and our army will raid the camp, and the north bank will definitely send troops to attack. We can first intercept the troops on the north bank and take the opportunity to destroy their floating bridge, so that they can't come to the rescue from the north and south. Then send elite troops to recapture Didao and counterattack Mati Bay. At this time, Qishan and Hanzhong must have sent troops to counter-encircle Liu Qi."
"Great plan!" Han Sui's eyes lit up, he slammed the table and stood up, sneering: "There is not much food and grass in Ma Ti Wan, we can't hold it for long without support. Liu Qi sent troops to attack Di Dao, but he must not have many troops. I will lead the troops myself."
Cheng Gongying shook his head and said, "If the general does not go to rob the camp, Liu Qi will be suspicious. We also need the help of General Han De to show our intention to fight a decisive battle and confuse the enemy. It will be enough to send Yang Qiu to Didao."
"Let's follow this plan!" Han Sui immediately ordered someone to call Yang Qiu to arrange for the troops to be dispatched.
Han De also reported back that if the war was urgent, Song Long could go out to fight in three days, but he needed someone to help him deal with Zhao Yun, and the other generals were not a concern.
Cheng Gongying was overjoyed, and immediately ordered his generals to prepare. He also arranged for people to cut wood and build boats, and prepared straw and firewood, ready for a decisive battle.