At night, Xiahou Yuan was stationed in the camp. A group of generals led by Xiahou Yuan was having a secret discussion. Xiahou Yuan, who was sitting at the top, stroked his beard and said in a deep voice,"This morning, we tested Ji Ling. As Zixiu said, Ji Ling is not only anxious and easily angered, but also suspicious. This is the time for us to break through and take down Shouchun!”
Li Dian nodded and said," General, you are right. It is just that the time is not right yet. In Li Dian's opinion, we should take advantage of Ji Ling's uneasiness and attack his main camp. We should first break Ji Ling's army and then attack Shouchun with all our might. The second was to restrain Ji Ling while dividing his forces to attack Shouchun. The two strategies had their own advantages and disadvantages. The first one was too slow. He was afraid that Yuan Shu would prepare in advance and burn the grain. Then everything we've come here for is an illusion. Although the second method could quickly take Shouchun and make it difficult for Yuan Shu to guard against it, the method of splitting troops was ultimately inappropriate. It was not as safe and appropriate as the first method.”
Xiahou Yuan slowly lowered his head and thought for a moment before saying,""Mancheng's words are indeed wise. As for these two strategies, although Ji Ling's mind is currently in a mess, he is still a famous general of Huainan. If he wants to attack, it won't be done in a short period of time. This time, our priority is to quickly attack Shouchun.”
"Uncle, we can't fight like this!”Cao Ang stood up and suggested,"Although most of Shouchun's soldiers have been transferred out, I heard from Mister Fengxiao that this city is high and deep, and it's not easy to take down. We only have twenty thousand elite soldiers. If we split up and attack, what if we can't take Shouchun? Or should he first defeat Ji Ling and then take Shouchun?”
Xiahou Yuan sighed softly and said,""Zixiu, I didn't want to take such a risk, but if we delay for too long, I'm afraid Yuan Shu will be prepared.”
Cao Ang stroked his chin and said softly,""Cao Ang also has some ideas about General Li's good plan. Uncle, do you know of a plan called 'Blossoming on the Tree'?"
Seeing Xiahou Yuan and Li Dian in a daze, Cao Ang immediately lowered his head and revealed his thoughts with a smile. The two of them pondered for a long time. After a while, Xiahou Yuan smiled and said in a deep voice,"Good! What a good 'Blossoming on the Tree!'"
——————
At the second watch, Ji Ling's camp was located at the easternmost part of the Chaoshan Mountains in Huainan. It was located between two mountains. The camp was built along the mountain, and there were three walls that formed a horse-shaped defensive barrier that blocked Shouchun Pass.
Ji Lingyin looked at the battle report in her hands and couldn't help but feel anxious. Lu Bu and Sun Ce were in high spirits in the southeast. Liu Bei from Yuzhou and Zhang Xiu from Wancheng had also received good news. The battle in Nanyang was still at a stalemate. Ji Ling sighed and stood up to pace back and forth in the tent, her rough face full of worry.
"General! General!" Ji Ling raised her head and saw that it was her subordinate, Le Jiu, who had rushed into the tent with an anxious look on his face."General! The scouts sent out during the day have urgent military intelligence!”
Hearing this, Ji Ling quivered and hurriedly shouted,"Let me see!" Then, without any explanation, she snatched the military report from Le Jiu's hands and hurriedly read through it. In just a moment, Ji Ling's head was covered in layers of sweat.
"Why, why are there enemies entering the southeast! What were Zhang Xun and Chen Ji doing!”Ji Ling fiercely threw the battle report onto the ground, his beard standing on end and his face filled with terror. He hurriedly picked up the battle report and advised,"General, you can't blame the Great General for this. The enemy has surrounded us from five directions and has many soldiers. Since Cao Cao was able to sneak into our territory, it's normal for Sun Ce and Lu Bu to sneak attack us.”
"Sigh!" Ji Ling couldn't help but cover her head and sit down. She gritted her teeth and said,"Now that Xiahou Yuan is eyeing us covetously, how can I, Ji Ling, defend against him?”
Just as Ji Ling was at her wit's end, Li Feng rushed into the tent anxiously and said,"General, something bad has happened. The scouts have reported that an army has secretly entered the southeast. It might be Lu Bu and Sun Ce from Lingbi and Xiacai. What should we do!"
"Don't make a fuss!" Ji Ling angrily stood up and shouted at Li Feng, causing him to swallow his words. After a while, Ji Ling suddenly stood up and gritted her teeth."In that case, forget it! Tomorrow, he would challenge Xiahou Yuan's camp! After we defeat this bastard, we will quickly turn southeast!”
The next day, Ji Ling's army headed towards Xiahou Yuan's camp. Ji Ling rode on a black horse and held a three-pointed double-edged saber in her hand. She rushed to Xiahou Yuan's main tent in an aggressive manner and shouted angrily,"Xiahou Yuan, come out and die!”
Seeing that the Cao camp was silent for a long time, Ji Ling felt strange. She then cursed again, but it still had no effect. She couldn't help but feel a little stunned. Just as she was hesitating, she saw the main gate of the camp slowly open. Ji Ling hurriedly raised her saber and stood on her horse, glaring at the incoming enemy. However, she saw two cavalrymen rush out of the camp like they were flying. They used their spears to hang a wooden sign high above the camp. On it were three words-Free from Battle.
Ji Ling couldn't help but be stunned. Before she could even react, she saw the two soldiers flying back to the camp. After a while, Ji Ling's eyes turned red and her face turned black. She then shouted,"Scold!"
In an instant, Yuan Jun's curses spread throughout the wild valley. Under the sky, curses broke through the earth and sand. Xiahou Yuan, who was in Cao Cao's camp, only gently sipped his saliva and leisurely turned to look at the deputy generals behind him. The corners of his mouth could not help but rise into a smile.
This went on for five days. Xiahou Yuan hung up the 'no battle' sign every day and defended himself without fighting. Meanwhile, Ji Ling's news was that the two groups of hidden troops were secretive. Ji Ling ate like chewing wax and slept like a needle. She felt very uncomfortable.
After enduring this pain for the sixth day, Ji Ling, with a bloodshot eye, slammed the table and gritted her teeth."Xiahou Yuan! Rats! There's no need to call for battle today. We'll go straight into Cao Cao's camp and capture this thief alive!”
"General, you can't!" Le Jiu hurriedly left his post and said," Xiahou Yuan is well versed in the art of war. He will take advantage of the situation to set up a camp. It is difficult to attack by force. If we are not careful and attack the camp immediately, I am afraid that in the end, we will be the ones who fail."”
"This won't do! That won't do! What do you think we should do?" Looking at the furious Ji Ling, Le said softly,"General, why don't you..."
"Why don't you do what?" Ji Ling suddenly raised her head." Since Xiahou Yuan is avoiding the battle, why don't we leave an army behind to challenge him every day? We'll put on a show of strength so that Xiahou Yuan won't suspect us." We will lead the army to the south and defeat those two unknown enemies first before turning to Xiahou Yuan. What do you think, General?”
Ji Ling's spirits instantly lifted when he heard this. His bull eyes stared blankly for a long while before he said,"That's good too! If we delay here for too long and allow Lu Bu to disrupt the emperor's carriage, it will be our dereliction of duty! Li Feng, I will lead the army to the southeast with Le Jiu to defeat the two enemy forces first. You will use my name to bluff and provoke Xiahou every day! After we return, we will then attack the enemy.”
Li Feng hurriedly accepted the order and said,"General, leave early and return early!"
————
After arranging everything, Ji Ling used Li Feng's bluff every day to challenge Xiahou Yuan, while he and Le Jiu split up their forces to the southeast to block the two enemy armies. A few days later, Ji Ling's scouts finally found out where the local soldiers were.
Under the morning sun, a large army was hurrying on their way. This army was brimming with killing intent, and every single one of them was well-built. They were the troops led by Ji Ling to defeat the enemy.
"General! Look!" Hearing this, Ji Ling hurriedly raised her head and saw a cloud of dust in front of her. The army had arrived in front of Ji Ling's army in an instant. The person in the lead had a straight nose, a wide forehead, and high cheekbones. His smile was like the wind, and the spear in his hand was like a meteor that streaked across the sky, leaving behind a trail of light.
Ji Ling rode her horse forward and scrutinized the young general for a long time. For some reason, he looked somewhat familiar, but she couldn't remember where she had seen him before. She then faintly said,"Who are you? How dare you invade my territory? Are you Zhou Yu?”The general shook his head slightly and said softly,""No, no. General Ji Ling, do you really not remember who I am?”
Ji Ling raised her head and carefully sized up the cavalry behind the general. Clearly, he had deliberately decorated his clothes and flags, making it difficult to tell who this person was. Ji Ling looked at him for a long time and couldn't help but feel angry. Who cares who he is? Just kill him!
At the thought of this, Ji Ling suddenly waved the tri-point knife in her hand and shouted angrily,"Attack! Leave no one alive!" The Yuan soldiers swarmed forward like a tide. The young general did not accept the challenge when he saw the Yuan army coming. He turned his horse around and shouted,"Retreat!" However, he prayed in his heart," Uncle, I've done what I should do. I hope that you can quickly take down the enemy camp and help me. Your reputation as the vanguard is small, but my life is big!"”
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