Li Ru had been a little busy recently.
Ever since Dong Zhuo entered the capital, he had been indulging in wine and women, and had been partying every night.
This was no longer the master of the past who had great talent and bold vision.
As Dong Zhuo's son-in-law and military advisor, he had to clean up all kinds of messes for Dong Zhuo.
Therefore, the things that gave him a headache continued.
It took a lot of effort to make Dong Zhuo understand that if they didn't move the capital, they would be trapped and starved to death in Luoyang.
Retreating to Chang 'an was the only choice.
As long as Tongguan was defended, within two years, the eastern vassals would definitely leave and fall into internal strife.
However, there were a total of one million people in Luoyang, and it would not be a matter of a day for all of them to move to Chang 'an.
It was impossible to completely abandon the people.
Chang 'an was vast and sparsely populated. If they wanted to maintain a long-term peace in Chang' an, they would not be able to sustain the Western Liang army for long without people to farm to replenish their supplies.
Then there was the loss of the successive battles with Sun Jian at Mushui Pass.
I can't lose again!
If they were defeated a few more times, the vassals of the east of the country would be able to tell that their Western Liang army was already at the end of its rope!
Therefore, he came to Mushui Pass to buy time for Dong Zhuo to move the capital.
They had to win a great battle. They could not let the vassals realize that the Western Liang army was so weak that they wanted to move the capital.
He had to use a great victory to intimidate the eastern dukes so that they would not dare to act rashly.
At the same time, he had to use a great victory to intimidate the officials in Luoyang who had sensed the weakness of the Xi Liang army and opposed the move of the capital.
Otherwise, they could only continue to kill.
However, if he continued to kill the officials, Dong Zhuo would lose all hope.
All in all, Li Ru had a big headache.
The scouts sent to monitor the movements of Sun Jian's army at Mushui Pass reported that Sun Jian's army had been reducing their rations for several days.
Based on this, he could easily deduce that Sun Jian's army was facing a growing shortage of food.
At this moment, Sun Jian was at his weakest.
The time had come. It was time to attack.
However, just as he was about to attack, someone from Sun Jian's army suddenly came to Mushui Pass to offer his surrender and report the news.
This immediately made Li Ru doubt Sun Jianjun's weak analysis.
Moreover, there seemed to be a little more people who came to inform him.
In the torture chamber, the thick smell of blood, burnt meat, and urine mixed together, making one feel nauseous.
Li Ru did not care about the smell.
He stroked his beard with one hand and held two walnuts in his other hand.
His eyes were fixed on the wall of the prison cell.
The wails from behind him would disappear from time to time, and they would be repeated from time to time under Hwa Xiong's whip and burning charcoal.
When the wailing behind him calmed down again, Li Ru's worries increased and he subconsciously clenched his fist.
One of the two walnuts in his hand slipped out and bounced on the ground. After rolling a few times, it stopped at Hwa Xiong's feet.
The remaining one exploded.
In an instant, the black and red liquid exploded between his fingers and stained the floor, the wall, and his clothes.
The fishy smell of pig liver became stronger and stronger, and it overshadowed the other smells for a moment.
Hwa Xiong walked over from afar and frowned in disgust. He kicked the big eyeball away and said,
"I still haven't changed my mind."
"That's it." Li Ru said as he wiped the thick liquid off his face.
"No need to ask anymore.
"This person must be a death warrior sent by Sun Jian to pretend to surrender.”
"How do you know?" Hwa Xiong's eyes widened.
Li Ru's headache was getting worse because of Hwa Xiong's anger. He rolled his eyes at Hwa Xiong.
He wiped his hands on his clothes and asked,"If you are Sun Jian's man, why did you defect?”
"Bullsh * t!
"Who wants to defect!"
When Hwa Xiong heard Li Ru scold him for defecting, he was instantly enraged and began to greet Li Ru's mother.
Li Ru sat on the stool and raised his head slightly, rolling his eyes at Hwa Xiong again.
After sighing for Hwa Xiong's intelligence, he looked at Xu Rong.
"Those who defect are mostly for glory and wealth, and they also want to live." Xu Rong immediately said respectfully.”
Li Ru's brows relaxed slightly. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. After exhaling, he opened his eyes again.
Finally, someone with a normal IQ.
"This is it.
"If this person really defected here to survive, then he would have changed his mind long ago. Why did he have to become like this and not change his mind?”
Xu Rong thought for a moment, then lowered his head to look at the big eyeball on the ground. He immediately nodded in agreement.
"Advisor Jun is right.
"In that case, the other few people who changed their words are sincere in surrendering?
"Then, are you sure they believe that Sun Jian is setting up an ambush?”
Xu Rong looked at the other three people who had been tortured to the brink of death in the distance.
Li Ru shook his head and pointed at the man with the bloody eye sockets.
"I don't know.
"The one who refused to change his words and said that Sun Jian didn't set up an ambush and that the morale of the army was in chaos must be Sun Jian's men of sacrifice.
"The other three first said that Sun Jian's army was in chaos, but they didn't set up an ambush.
"However, after the interrogation, they changed their minds and said that Sun Jian sent them.
"The actions of these three people indeed look like the actions of deserters.
"But it's also very likely Sun Jian's trick.”
Xu Rong was instantly stunned by Li Ru and said,
"Advisor Jun, are you saying that these three people might also be men of sacrifice sent by Sun Jian?”
Li Ru nodded.
Xu Rong was puzzled." If that's the case, why did Sun Jian send two groups of men of sacrifice with different theories to pretend to surrender?”
Li Ru didn't answer Xu Rong's question. Instead, he sneered.
"Sun Jian thinks he's smart.
"Why do I need to confirm whether the other three are really surrendering or faking it?
"As long as I can analyze that these people were sent by Sun Jian on purpose, that will be enough.
"As long as it's intentional, it means that there's a purpose.
"What's his purpose?
"There are only two.
"Firstly, he wants us to be wary of him and not dare to attack him.
"But this is impossible.
"Because if he doesn't want to fight with us, he can just retreat.
"There's no need to be like now, lacking food to the point that the morale of the army is lax, and still staying at Mount Jiluo.
"So he only has one goal.
"He wants us to underestimate him and fall into his trap.
"Since we know he has a trap, we can beat him at his own game and defeat his ambush.”
Li Ru ordered someone to bring the map over.
After analyzing the terrain around Mount Jiluo, he figured out the possible ambush area of Sun Jianjun.
"You should know that we need a big victory now.
"Therefore, we have to fight Sun Jian.”
Li Ru sighed.
To be honest, he was not willing to take the risk of setting up a counter ambush. The best way was to defend the pass.
But in the past few months, the Western Liang army had suffered too many losses.
If they continued to guard the pass, the suanzao dukes would only see through them.
Once 200,000 troops arrive, the Lishui Pass will not be able to hold on.
If the Lishui Pass fell, the plan to move the capital to Chang 'an would fail.
If they failed to move the capital, the Western Liang Army would be doomed.
There was nothing he could do.
Therefore, the arrow was already on the bow and had no choice but to be fired.
Sun Jian had to fight and win.
He would not be short of food forever.
Now was the time when he was at his weakest.
Once Sun Jian's rations were replenished and the morale of the army stabilized, there would be no chance for him to come out of seclusion.
If they were defeated again, the people in Mushui Pass would definitely panic.
There was no need for the 200,000 troops of the other dukes to arrive.
As long as Sun Jian's army was there, it would be enough to take down Mushui Pass.
Xu Rong nodded.
Deep down, he knew that the current situation was not optimistic for the Western Liang Army.
However, Hwa Xiong shouted," Advisor Jun, why are you sighing? Do we have to be afraid of Sun Jian?!"
"Don't bother about the traps. I will lead the army straight into Sun Jian's camp and take his head to present to my lord!”
Xu Rong glanced at Hwa Xiong and said,"
"Hu Zhen thinks so too.
"His head is still hanging at the entrance of Sun Jian's stronghold.”
Hwa Xiong immediately scowled and scolded,
"You bastard from Liaodong, how dare that trash Hu Zhen compare with me?!”
"The two of you, stop arguing!" Li Ru's tone seemed to be a little impatient.
"Immediately prepare the army. Let the soldiers rest after eating. We will send out troops in the second half of the night.”
"So fast?" Xu Rong was a little surprised that they were about to send troops.
"We can't delay any longer. If we delay any longer, Sun Jian will run away.
"Today is the 16th.
"If we want to attack at night, we can only do it during these few days when the moon is just right.”
Li Ru snorted coldly as he said this, and then suddenly laughed sinisterly.
"Sun Jian knew that I was going to attack at night, and I also knew that Sun Jian knew that I was going to attack at night.
"The moon has been shining brightly for several days, but he can't predict when I will attack.
"He must have been on guard every night, and now he has become a tired teacher.
"It's a pity that the heavens aren't happy. The sky will turn cloudy tomorrow and the day after tomorrow. Otherwise, Sun Jian would be tired for another day or two.
"Forget it.
"Next, let's see who's better.”
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