Xun You saw Xiahou Yuan returning to the camp with a sad face, and asked hurriedly: "Could it be that Liu Qi is unwilling to release him?"
Xiahou Yuan smiled bitterly and said, "This guy loves money like his life, so why wouldn't he let him go? But he didn't act as the military advisor expected, so I'm afraid the plan will fail."
Xun You asked: "What exactly are Liu Qi's conditions?"
Xiahou Yuan repeated Liu Qi's words, and for a moment he was worried and anxious, not knowing whether to be happy or disappointed.
After hearing this, Xun You stroked his beard and smiled, "General, don't worry. Although Liu Qi did not follow my plan, he actually had the same idea. This is what we call great minds think alike!"
Xiahou Yuan was surprised and said, "He only wants 2.5 million coins and he didn't threaten me to withdraw my troops. How can it be the same?"
Xun You said, "Since the last grain shipment in December, the remaining money and grain in the army has totaled about three million. Liu Qi just happened to bring this up, and his original intention was to ask us to withdraw."
"Oh?" Xiahou Yuan suddenly perked up and clasped his fists, saying, "I'd like to hear more about it."
Xun You said: "Liu Qi is offering money and food in exchange for people. It seems like he wants money, but in fact he is forcing the general to withdraw. He only has one day to deliver the money and food. If the general wants to deliver the money on time, he can only send all the money and food. Without food and grass, how can we station troops in Jigu? Leaving 500,000 grain and grass is just enough for our army to withdraw. It allows the general to redeem the people without forcing him too much. It is just right."
"So that's how it is!" Xiahou Yuan turned his worry into joy and suddenly frowned and asked, "How did Liu Qi know the exact amount of our army's food and grass?"
Xun You sighed, "The enemy army has many spies. When my nephew went to the Taibai Road to ambush, Liu Qi knew the news. I guess he had already set up this plan at that time. It is really hard to guard against."
"Investigate. We must conduct a thorough investigation of the entire army. We cannot let this ruin important military matters."
Xiahou Yuan was extremely shocked and angry. He ordered the entire army to check again and asked Xun You to prepare money and food and transport them to the foot of the mountain to exchange hostages with Liu Qi.
Xun You left the tent, but sighed in his heart. Liu Qi knew the exact amount of money and grain, but he was afraid that it would be leaked from Xiahou Wei. Xiahou Wei was inexperienced, and with Liu Qi's cunningness, he could easily get the military intelligence from him by using indirect methods.
However, this was exactly what Liu Qi wanted, as it made Liu Qi think he had come up with a plan, and he could then turn the tables and reverse the situation.
After loading the money and grain onto the trucks, Xun You dispatched 50,000 logistics troops to withdraw from Jigu, making a show of withdrawing troops.
The next day, Xiahou Yuan transported money and food up the mountain and met Liu Qi in the valley. After checking the amount of food and grass and calculating the money, he took Xiahou Wei back.
Xiahou Wei was filled with shame. He knelt in the central military tent and asked for punishment. He was even willing to die to prove his integrity.
Xun You advised: "Victory and defeat are common in the military. This incident is all my fault for not being well prepared and leaking the news. It has nothing to do with the young general."
Xiahou Wei said, "But all the money and food have been taken away by Liu Qi. The army has no food, and it is too late to transport it. Father, you can't let me ruin the national affairs."
"My son is a real man!" Xiahou Yuan was very satisfied with his son's integrity and said with emotion: "As the saying goes, it is never too late for a gentleman to take revenge. Let's not talk about this matter. Withdraw the troops first. I have my own countermeasures to help you avenge your previous shame."
The food and fodder had already been delivered in full, and there was no point in saying more. Xiahou Wei sighed, retreated from the tent in shame, and hid in the rear camp, seeing no one.
On that day, Xiahou Yuan ordered the troops to move camp and retreat to the main camp in Jigu. Another group of troops retreated, and the next day the entire army moved camp and retreated from Jigu one after another, leaving only 5,000 elite soldiers to guard the Chiya Pavilion Road to prevent Liu Qi from chasing them.
As Xun You had expected, as soon as Cao's army retreated, Liu Qi couldn't wait to go down the mountain and set up camp in Jigu. On the one hand, he sent troops to take Xiagu and Chiya, and on the other hand, he marched towards Taibai Road to prepare to contact Zhao Yun.
The scout reported the news, and Xun You said, "Zhao Yun has already breached Sanguan and is besieging Chencang. Liu Qi has no more worries now and will surely attack the Chiya Plank Road. We can use a trick tomorrow and catch him off guard."
Xiahou Yuan's face was filled with excitement, and he clenched his fist and said, "Little Liu Qi, you have always boasted of your wisdom and strategy, and how you can play tricks on your opponents. Who would have thought that this time you have become the one in my game, the one on the plate?"
After suppressing his emotions for a long time, Xun You could no longer hold back his excitement and said, "Liu Qi has stored food and grass on Baxiantai. We only need to burn down the camp and retake the mountain to replenish food and grass. The enemy will retreat to Hanzhong without food. General, you can advance with all your strength. This is the key to turning the tide of the war. If the Prime Minister hears this, he will be overjoyed."
Xiahou Yuan clasped his fists and said, "It's all thanks to the military advisor's brilliant plan."
Xun You sighed, "I was too cautious before. If the general hadn't insisted on sending troops to attack the foot of the mountain and injured Huang Zhong, how could we have the situation today?"
Xiahou Yuan immediately passed down the order, asking the troops in various camps temporarily staying in Xiegu to prepare and wait for the fire to start in Xiegu. Then they would move forward one by one, turn back to Jigu, bravely move forward and launch an all-out counterattack.
Xiahou Wei was eating in the camp. When he heard the order, he was shocked. The generals in the camp were also puzzled. They thought the order was wrong and hurried to find Xiahou Yuan to question him.
Xiahou Yuan laughed loudly and said, "How could my son know what his father's plan is? It's ridiculous that Liu Qi is so self-righteous. I will definitely make him lose his reputation this time and let you avenge your previous shame. If you can capture and kill this boy, when the Prime Minister returns from the northern expedition, it will be just a matter of time before the whole country is unified."
The camp was re-erected in Jigu, and the valley was filled with tents with Han army flags flying. Soldiers and horses came in and out every day in an endless stream.
On the high mountains in the distance, several pairs of eyes were staring at the movements in the valley. Feng Kai was ordered to ambush in the remote mountains on both sides, preparing to attack the camp.
Xiahou Yuan kept the captain Guo Huai to help in the battle. Although he was still young, he was quite knowledgeable in military affairs. Xiahou Yuan valued him very much. Many generals were killed this time, so keeping him to make achievements was a preparation for his future promotion to lead troops.
Feng Kai saw Liu Qi sending another army into Taibai Road and said worriedly, "Liu Qi has been sending troops to Chencang these past two days. It is very likely that Zhao Yun is already attacking the city. If Hao Zhao cannot hold on, all our efforts will be wasted!"
Guo Huai smiled and said, "General, you are worrying too much. Hao Zhao is good at defense. Chencang has 30,000 defenders, which is enough to defeat a 100,000-man army. The enemy's defense has been lax these past two days. As long as you and I attack the city, kill Liu Qi, and go straight to Hanzhong, Zhao Yun will have to retreat."
"Bo Ji is right!" Feng Kai nodded, patted Guo Huai on the shoulder and laughed, "Hao Zhao is from the same hometown as you, and you recommended him to General Xiahou. He has made great contributions in both the attack and defense this time. The young man has a bright future."
Guo Huai clasped his fists and said, "It is all thanks to General Xiahou's trust in me, and General Feng's support as well."
Feng Kai was very satisfied with this young man who was neither arrogant nor impatient. The two of them went down the mountain and spread the news to various places. They ordered the ambush troops to rest early, cook at three o'clock in the morning, and meet at Jigu at four o'clock.
After three o'clock in the night, the moonlight was dim and the night wind was still cold. Cao's army had already been ready to go. They followed Feng Kai and Guo Huai quietly down the mountain and divided into five teams to approach the vicinity of Jigu.
After Cao's army retreated, as long as they guarded the two mountain passes, no enemy troops would invade again. The Han army relaxed their vigilance and only one team of soldiers patrolled at night, mainly to prevent fires.
Feng Kai knew that this battle was important, so he did not dare to be careless. He sneaked outside the camp to investigate. As expected, the Han army had already gone to bed and was completely unprepared. He could not help but exclaimed in delight, "Prime Minister Hongfu, God is really helping me!"
He then ordered his men to send out a fire signal towards the eastern canyon, and after waiting for a response from the other side, he immediately dispatched his troops and headed straight for the Han army camp to attack.