Upon hearing this, Zhang Chen couldn't help but cup his fists and say, "General Pan is unparalleled in loyalty and righteousness, a true hero! How fortunate the Han Family is to have him!"
Zhang Chen's words were not flattery. Although Pan Feng's martial skill was not particularly outstanding, his deep understanding of righteousness and his loyalty to his Lord were his most valuable qualities.
Immediately, Zhang Chen readily agreed. Seeing that he had traveled a long and tiring journey, he ordered someone to take him down to rest first.
After Pan Feng left, Ju Shou said with a solemn expression, "Lord, as General Pan said, we must be on guard against this matter. Your subordinate will send someone to investigate the origin of this army."
"No need," Zhang Chen sighed and said, "It's the Black Mountain Army!"
"What! The Black Mountain Army!" Ju Shou's face immediately changed drastically upon hearing this.
Although the Black Mountain Army had only recently appeared, it had the momentum of a prairie fire, and was becoming increasingly rampant in the Ji Province and Eastern Commandery areas!
Seeing Ju Shou's reaction, Gao Shun couldn't help but snort coldly, "What is there to fear from a rabble? Once I take Yu Du's head and display it to the three armies, the enemy will surely be intimidated!"
Ju Shou shook his head and said, "General Gao is indeed brave, but the Black Mountain Army must not be underestimated. Lord, the most urgent task is to write a letter to the Prefect, explain the situation, and ask the Prefect to send reinforcements early."
"Yes," Zhang Chen pondered for a moment, nodded, and said, "Gongyu is right, the enemy is powerful, and we only have seven hundred men, a single tree cannot support the sky. I will write the letter immediately and send someone on a fast horse to Ye City!"
After saying this, Zhang Chen immediately wrote a letter, ordered a messenger to deliver it quickly to Prefect Li Wen, and ask him to dispatch troops for reinforcement.
The messenger accepted the order and left. Zhang Chen then ordered someone to bring a map and examine it carefully.
Before Pan Feng arrived, Yu Du's large army had already reached Cheng'an. Cheng'an is less than a hundred li away from here, and Zhang Chen estimated that the bandit army would arrive within three days!
And it is over one hundred and fifty li to Ye City. Although a fast horse can reach it in one day, factoring in the movement of a large army, it would take at least three or four days for reinforcements to arrive.
It seems we cannot wait for the county troops to arrive.
Ju Shou looked at the map, his brows slightly furrowed, stroking his beard, and said, "Lord, the county troops will take at least five days to arrive. We must hold out for at least three days!"
Seven hundred against ten thousand, how can we hold out for three days? How should this battle be fought?
Zhang Chen couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Guangping County had finally achieved its current state, and it was the time for him to display his skills. There must be no mistakes at this critical juncture!
This Yu Du, although also a person who left his name in history, was at best a third-rate military general. When it came to single combat, he was definitely not a match for Gao Shun or Pan Feng.
But the Black Mountain Army has many former Yellow Turban remnants, who have been on the battlefield and seen blood, they are definitely not comparable to the bandits of the four strongholds. Furthermore, given the vast disparity in numbers between the enemy and us, if the enemy attacks strongly, it might be difficult to resist with just seven hundred Trapped Camp soldiers.
It seems we cannot sit and wait for death, only by taking the initiative to attack can we succeed!
As Zhang Chen pondered, he carefully observed the map.
After a long time, he saw a place on the map and his eyes lit up.
"Gongyu, what is this place?"
Ju Shou looked at the place Zhang Chen pointed to and couldn't help but smile knowingly, "Lord, this place is called 'Black Cloud Valley', located on a branch of the northern foothills of the Black Mountain. Both sides are high mountains, and only the valley in the middle can be passed through, making it an excellent place for an ambush!"
"Excellent!" Zhang Chen slapped the table and said, "Yu Du is advancing in secret and would never expect us to know the news in advance, so he will definitely be unprepared. We will set up an ambush here and catch him off guard!"
After saying this, Zhang Chen urgently ordered, "Gao Shun, select five hundred Halberdiers, prepare more rolling logs and rocks, and ambush on the slopes on both sides of 'Black Cloud Valley'. When Yu Du's large army has advanced halfway, attack them with rolling logs and rocks to disrupt their formation and cut them in half!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Gao Shun received the military order and was about to leave to prepare, but was stopped by Ju Shou.
Ju Shou frowned and said, "Lord, although this plan is good, we only have seven hundred soldiers. If we divide five hundred soldiers for the ambush, then who will guard the county town?"
"Heh heh, who said we only have seven hundred people?" Zhang Chen smiled slightly, "Don't we... still have another army?"
Another army?
Gao Shun and Ju Shou exchanged glances, both showing puzzled expressions.
After a moment, Gao Shun seemed to understand and said, "Is Lord talking about Qu Yi?"
Zhang Chen smiled and nodded, "Exactly, it is Qu Yi. He has received a lot of grain from me, shouldn't he contribute? With the Trapped Camp and eight hundred First to Ascend assisting, why would we fear that the enemy army will not be destroyed!"
"But what if Qu Yi does not follow the order?" Gao Shun raised his question.
In his opinion, Qu Yi had not yet fully submitted, and if he were to issue orders to him rashly, the other party might not accept them.
Zhang Chen, however, smiled and said, "Don't worry, it's impossible. Qu Yi values righteousness. I have been kind to him. If I write a letter inviting him, he will definitely not refuse, otherwise he would be ungrateful. Moreover, he is eager for me to ask for his help so that he can repay my kindness of giving him grain."
"Since Lord knows this, why do you still ask for Qu Yi's help?" Gao Shun asked, puzzled, "Didn't you give him grain in the first place because you wanted to win him over, deliberately showing him kindness? Now this favor is used up so easily?"
As soon as Gao Shun finished speaking, Zhang Chen and Ju Shou exchanged glances and smiled at each other.
Zhang Chen patted Gao Shun's shoulder and said, "Xiaofu, you are not good at using people. Is simply giving the way to win people's hearts? Over time, it will only make the other party think it is their right. This is like the day I gave alms to those beggars, and when I didn't give alms one day, they attacked me with sticks!"
Upon hearing this, Gao Shun was deeply convinced.
Zhang Chen then continued, "Conversely, giving and taking, mutual benefit, this is the long-term plan. Imagine, if I ask him to send troops to help, and then reward him generously. He will have repaid my kindness, and can accept the reward with a clearer conscience."
Ju Shou also smiled and said, "In this way, over time, the bond will naturally deepen. This favor, of course, will also be established."
As Ju Shou spoke, he couldn't help but secretly marvel at Zhang Chen's skill in managing people's hearts.
"Sigh, these twists and turns are quite troublesome!" Gao Shun shook his head and said, "Lord, just tell me what to do?"
Zhang Chen smiled, immediately dipped his brush, and wrote a letter.
Zhang Chen sealed the letter, handed it to Gao Shun, and said, "Immediately take this letter on a fast horse to Qu Family Village, and present it to Qu Yi. Ask him to lead his troops here to fight against the Black Mountain Bandits with me and save the people of the entire city from suffering!"
"Yes."
Gao Shun responded and was about to withdraw, but Zhang Chen suddenly stopped him and spoke.
"Oh, and one more thing, tell the brothers who are keeping watch outside the inn to all return to the camp, no need to watch anymore. Also, send a few people to arrest Han Xuan and his subordinates, and throw them into the prison!"
Hmph! Han Xuan, I wanted to let you off, but you sought your own death, so you can't blame me!