While they were talking, a Soldier walked in from outside the door, took out a letter, and handed it to Zhang Chen, saying, "Lord, a secret letter from General Gao Lan."
Zhang Chen quickly took the letter, opened it, and was immediately overjoyed: "Good! Good!"
Ju Shou, who was standing nearby, quickly asked, "Lord? What makes you so happy?"
Just as Zhang Chen was about to say something, he saw Guo Jia next to him smile, and couldn't help but ask, "Sir, why are you laughing?"
Guo Jia said, "The Lord's worries have been resolved. I am happy for the Lord, and happy for the people of Wei Commandery."
"Oh? Sir, why do you say that?"
Guo Jia looked at Zhang Chen, smiled slightly, and said, "The Lord ordered General Gao to station troops at Liangqi to guard the pass. It seems you had already taken precautions against Zhao Commandery. Now that General Gao has sent a message, and the Lord is so happy, it must be that the matter in Zhao Commandery is settled. Zhao Commandery has thirty thousand troops, while Liangqi only has three thousand. Even if the terrain is strategic and General Gao is good at defense, it would be difficult to hold out for long unless reinforcements arrive. However, all the troops in Wei Commandery are here, so these reinforcements must have come from another commandery."
Guo Jia's words greatly surprised both Zhang Chen and Ju Shou.
Zhang Chen already knew his ability, so it was fine, but Ju Shou's face showed astonishment, and he stood frozen on the spot.
These were clearly things he and Zhang Chen had secretly planned. How could Guo Jia say them as if he had personally experienced them?
Guo Jia smiled and continued, "Where could the troops from another commandery be? Haha, Yingtao County! The Lord lifted the siege of Yingtao County last time, and in the past month, Yingtao County has recruited twenty thousand new Soldiers. County Magistrate Dong Zhao and County Commandant Jiang Qi are both skilled in warfare. Dealing with a few pests and pampered military officials is naturally not a problem."
"Sir is truly a divine person!" Zhang Chen couldn't help but feel sincere admiration after hearing this.
Before, he had only read about it in books: the ghost talent Guo Jia, whose calculations were flawless, whose wisdom bordered on the demonic, and who even had the saying, "If Fengxiao does not die, the Crouching Dragon will not emerge." He never expected that upon meeting him, the person would be even more remarkable than the legends!
The surrounding Generals looked at each other, not knowing what had happened.
Zhang Chen said to the Generals, "Everyone, Guan Hai has secretly bribed Situ Ming, the Commandant of Zhao Commandery, and intends to use the troops of Zhao Commandery to attack Liangqi and invade my Ye City!"
As soon as Zhang Chen finished speaking, everyone's expressions changed.
"Everyone, don't panic. The crisis has been resolved. Dong Zhao led troops to cut off their retreat and attacked them from front and back with Gao Lan. That Situ Ming was defeated and killed, and the remaining twenty thousand troops have now surrendered!"
Upon hearing this, everyone finally felt relieved.
Zhang Chen then said to everyone, "Everyone, the opportunity for battle has arrived! Now is the time to sweep away the Yellow Turban! In today's battle, we suffered considerable losses. This time, we should let the Yellow Turban bandits see how formidable we are!"
After Zhang Chen finished speaking, Qu Yi stepped forward and said, "Lord, please give the order! I will definitely take Guan Hai's head to mourn our fallen brothers!"
Zhang Chen nodded and immediately ordered, "South of Quliang, there is a forest called 'Qing Forest'. This place is dense with trees and suitable for an ambush. Gao Shun!"
"Zhang He is here!"
"You are to lead the Trapped Camp, carrying incendiary materials, and lie in ambush on both sides of the Qing Forest. When the enemy troops have all entered the forest, set it on fire to cut off their retreat!"
"Zhang He receives the order!"
"Qu Yi!"
"Zhang He is here!"
"South of the Qing Forest is the official road. To the west is Ye City, and ten li to the east is a valley. There is a mountain on one side of the official road. After the enemy encounters the fire attack and their retreat is cut off, they will surely flee south to the official road. Order you to lead the First to Ascend Camp and lie in ambush on the mountainside. If you encounter the enemy's routed troops, unleash a volley of arrows! Block the western passage and drive them towards the eastern valley."
"Zhang He receives the order!"
"Zhang He!"
"Zhang He is here!"
"You are to lead two thousand troops and station yourselves at the mouth of the valley. When engaging the enemy, you are allowed to be defeated, but not to win, so as to lure them into the valley."
"Zhang He receives the order!"
After Zhang Chen finished speaking, he turned to Guo Jia and said, "Sir Fengxiao, on the mountainside on one side of that valley, the terrain is flat and wide, and it overlooks the entire valley. It is perfect for building an altar. What do you think, Sir?"
Guo Jia smiled slightly and nodded, saying, "That would be excellent."
"Good. Fang Ping, quickly select five hundred Soldiers, all under the command of Sir Fengxiao, and build the altar on the mountainside."
"Zhang He receives the order."
"As for the other Generals, each is to lead their own troops. Tonight, break camp and follow me to the valley to set up camp. Remember, when breaking camp, scatter the pots, bowls, stoves, and other items at will, and discard some grain and supplies. You must make it look like a hasty retreat."
Fang Ping asked in confusion, "Lord, why is that?"
"Naturally, it is a ploy to lure the enemy," Zhang Chen said. "Gongyu, send someone to spread the news that Liangqi has fallen, and the Zhao Commandery army has colluded with the Yellow Turban and has now advanced deep into Wei Commandery, heading directly towards Ye City."
"Lord's brilliant plan!" Ju Shou said. "When Guan Hai receives this news, he will surely lead his troops to attack Quliang. Seeing our hasty retreat, he will definitely believe the news is true and will certainly lead his army in pursuit, advancing deep into Wei Commandery. Thus, he will fall right into the trap!"
Guo Jia, who was nearby, smiled and said, "I have long heard that the Lord is well-versed in the art of war. Seeing it today, it is indeed true. I wish the Lord a swift victory here."
"This still relies on Sir's strange arts to help me break Guan Hai's sorcery!"
"Lord, rest assured, I will do my best."
That night, the Generals acted according to orders. Just after the second watch, the three armies broke camp, leaving behind only empty tents and scattered pots and stoves on the ground.
At the same time, in the Yellow Turban Army's main camp, Guan Hai was discussing matters with his Generals in his tent.
In today's battle, although they had won against Zhang Chen by relying on puppet Soldiers and sorcery, their own side had also suffered considerable losses, not only losing three Generals but also over twenty thousand troops.
He wondered how things were going in Zhao Commandery. A day had passed, and there should be news from Liangqi.
Just then, a Soldier suddenly came to report from outside the tent, saying that a Soldier was asking to see him, claiming to have been sent by General Zhang Baiqi.
Guan Hai was startled and quickly invited him in.
The Soldier entered the tent and bowed, saying, "Reporting to the Protector, General Zhang sent this subordinate to deliver a message. Liangqi has been captured, and Generals Zhang and Li, along with Commandant Situ, have led troops deep into Wei Commandery. They will reach Ye City tomorrow!"
"Oh?!" Guan Hai was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Good! Liangqi has fallen, and Ye City is defenseless. Zhang Chen, let's see how you can fight me now!"
After Guan Hai finished speaking, he was about to give orders, but suddenly his heart trembled, and a feeling of unease surfaced.
He looked closely at the messenger; he seemed unfamiliar.
"You... are you under Zhang Baiqi?"
"Reporting to the Protector, yes."
"Why do you look so unfamiliar to me?"
The Soldier said, "Reporting to the Protector, this humble one is a personal guard under General Zhang. On normal days, I only had the honor of seeing the Protector and the Generals from afar, which is why the Protector does not recognize this humble one."
Guan Hai pointed to someone beside him and said, "Do you recognize this person?"
The Soldier looked up, walked to the General's side, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, General Yang."
Yang Feng and Guan Hai exchanged glances and nodded slightly.
"Report!"
Outside the tent, a Soldier suddenly entered and reported, "Protector, the Quliang army has retreated."
"What?!" Guan Hai was startled upon hearing this and quickly asked, "When did this happen?"
"Half an hour ago, the army broke camp. Many pots and stoves were scattered in the camp, as well as grain and supplies. It looked very hasty."
Hasty retreat? They must have received news of Liangqi's fall!
Guan Hai felt relieved, ordered the Soldier to withdraw, and then said to everyone, "Everyone, Liangqi has been broken, and Zhang Chen can't even take care of himself. His hasty retreat at this moment must be to reinforce Ye City. Order all Generals to break camp immediately and follow me directly to Quliang to enter Wei Commandery!"
"Yes!" The Generals all responded in unison and then went to make their preparations.
