The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 251 Zilong Slays a General and Achieves First Merit; Xingba Raids Wei Camp with a Hundred Cavalry

Meanwhile, Li Yi made some strategic deployments during his southern tour in Xuzhou.

He also brought the potential threat, his brother-in-law Mi Fang, back to the north to Guan Yu.

They replaced him with Zhao Yun, who was more prudent in handling affairs, to act as the Chancellor of Pengcheng.

At the same time, he wrote another letter, asking Chen Yuanlong to cooperate in sending troops to cut off Cao Cao's supply lines by water.

At the same time, Cao Ren led his army to garrison Zhi County in Pei County.

They built a fortified city there, making it an important strategic location for the Wei army in the east.

Upon hearing this, Guan Yu immediately ordered an attack on Cao Ren.

The advisors on either side said:
"Before the Prime Minister left, he instructed the general to defend and await the attack."

"Now that the Prime Minister has left, why should General Guan disobey the Prime Minister's military orders?"

Guan Yu stroked his magnificent beard and explained:
"...What you gentlemen say is not true."

"Military tactics are unpredictable; the Prime Minister's strategy is solid, but the course of war is ever-changing."

"Cao Ren has built a city in Pei. If we do not attack quickly and destroy his fortifications..."

“Once the city is fortified, we will surely be at the mercy of others.”

"Moreover, as the Protector-General, I, Guan, have the authority to command and coordinate all campaigns."

"If we do not strike them first today, we will regret it in the future."

Therefore, Guan Yu overruled the objections of others and ordered Zhao Yun, who had already arrived in Pengcheng, to launch a preemptive attack on Cao Ren.

Just then, Chen Deng's naval forces had already headed north.

The navy numbered 10,000, with Zhou Tai as the commander-in-chief and Gan Ning as his deputy.

Guan Yu then ordered Zhou Tai to accompany Zhao Yun on the expedition.

Two days after the order was issued.

Zhao Yun then led Gongsun Xu and his 5,000 Youzhou cavalry on their official departure.

In addition to 5,000 elite cavalry, there were 15,000 infantrymen.

Including Zhou Tai and Gan Ning's naval forces, there were 30,000 men.

Thirty thousand men as the vanguard of the attack is already a considerable number.

However, as the attacking side, unless they have a complete numerical advantage, they will definitely be at a disadvantage.

That night, Zhao Yun ordered his men to slaughter cattle and sheep and feast the soldiers.

He then gathered his generals to discuss the battle plan.

"Cao Ren built a city in Pei. Although our army had a numerical advantage, it was not twice as many as the enemy army."

"Moreover, Cao Ren is a renowned general of our time. If he insists on holding firm, it will be difficult to defeat him."

"We lack the talent and strategy of Prime Minister Li. If we launch a direct attack, we may not be able to take the city."

Zhao Yun analyzed the situation for everyone in a methodical manner.

Even when Li Yi attacked Cao Ren, he took advantage of a time difference.

Before they could establish a scorched-earth policy to capture Cao Ren, they used counterweight catapults to force open the city walls, achieving a clever victory.

"Therefore, in my opinion, the main strategy should be to lure the enemy."

"If Cao Ren's main force goes out to fight, we will be able to join forces with General Guan's main army."

"Annihilate them in one fell swoop!"

After saying this, Zhao Yun asked the generals if they had any opinions.

The generals all agreed, and the battle plan was thus finalized.

Zhao Yun's army immediately rushed to Zhi County.

Zhixian County is located at the junction of Runan and Peiguo.

Cao Ren's decision to build a city and hold out here was indeed brilliant.

They can threaten Xuzhou if they advance, and Runan can provide backup if they retreat.

Li Tong, the governor of Runan, was both brave and resourceful, and Cao Ren trusted him greatly.

He entrusted him with all military affairs in Runan and instructed him not to betray Duke Wei.

Li Tong pledged his life as collateral, making repeated promises.

Only then did Cao Ren feel at ease and proceed to Pei to build a city.

Reports indicate that Zhao Yun led his troops in a proactive attack.

Cao Ren sighed:

"How quick was Qi's reaction?"

Wei spies had informed Cao Ren that the Qi army planned to adopt a defensive strategy.

Cao Ren believed it to be true and, clinging to a sliver of hope, hoped that the Qi army would not actually attack.

Once he has built a fortified city in Pei, the Wei army will be able to gain a huge advantage on the eastern front.

Unfortunately, Guan Yu was also an excellent military commander.

His keen military sense led him to immediately dispatch Zhao Yun to launch an attack.

Therefore, Cao Ren asked his generals:
"Who dares to confront the Qi army?"

An old general stepped out from the crowd and called out:
"The general will go where he wishes!"

Upon closer inspection, everyone recognized him as General Cai Yang.

Cai Yang first served under Cao Ren in the north to defend the city. After Cao Ren was transferred to the south, Cai Yang went with him.

The generals advised:

"Although the old general is highly skilled in martial arts, he is old after all."

"Zhao Zilong is young and strong, I fear he may be in danger, General."

Cai Yang was furious and shouted:

"Lian Po was eighty years old and still ate a peck of rice and ten catties of meat."

"I followed Duke Wei in battles in the south and north, and we were invincible wherever we went."

"How could he not be a match for Zhao Yun, that mere commoner?"

In the novel, Cai Yang serves as a backdrop to Guan Yu's meeting in the ancient city.

However, in real history, he actually died on the way to quell the rebellion in Runan.

He was killed by Bei Bei.

Although the stories of overcoming five obstacles and defeating six generals, and meeting brothers in the ancient city to resolve doubts, are fictional and artistic embellishments in literary works, they are not fictional.

However, in real history, Guan Yu's direct return to Liu Bei's side actually shows the sincerity of their brotherhood.

Since we're all adults, there's no need for too much explanation.

It's good that he's back; brothers understand each other.

Cai Yang himself is also quite capable.

He possessed extraordinary strength and was highly skilled in swordsmanship.

He was a veteran general in Cao Cao's army, with many battle experience and high prestige.

Although the generals said that Cai Yang was old, no one dared to fight him after he volunteered for battle.

"...so majestic!"

Cao Ren was overjoyed and immediately ordered Cai Yang to go into battle to test Zhao Yun's strength.

When the army reached Qixian, they encountered Zhao Yun.

The two armies each set up their respective battle formations.

Cai Yang deployed his troops to the west, while Zhao Yun set up defenses to the east.

The two armies faced each other, their banners obscuring the sky.

Cai Yang was brave and relied on his martial prowess, and was eager to impress Cao Ren.

He then spurred his horse out into battle, raised his sword, and shouted sharply:

"I am Cai Yang, a general under the command of Duke Wei!"

"You cowards, how dare you block my heavenly army?"

"You should surrender quickly to avoid death."

Zhao Yun, spear in hand, stood ready on his horse and responded loudly:
"I am Zhao Zilong of Changshan, a general of the State of Qi."

"You have dared to invade my Qi territory without cause; today I will show you the power of my spear!"

Enraged, Cai Yang brandished his sword and charged straight at Zhao Yun.

The two riders clashed, swords and spears drawn.

They fought for about ten rounds, but neither side could gain the upper hand.

Cai Yang's army sounded drums and horns, advancing on foot and cavalry.

Zhao Yun led the archers to hold the line, and then led three hundred White Horse Cavalrymen to charge into the enemy ranks.

They charged left and right, as if they were in an empty field.

In the heat of battle, he drew his sword and slashed wildly.

The clothes and armor were flat, and blood gushed out like a fountain.

He killed more than ten of his subordinate generals in succession.

Seeing the urgency of the situation, Cai Yang personally led his troops to surround and block the enemy.

The two armies fought fiercely from the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) to the hour of Wei (1-3 PM).

So they each withdrew their troops and rested briefly.

Cai Yang returned to the main camp, removed his armor, and sighed wearily:
"...People say that youth has the advantage in boxing, and Zhao Zilong is indeed quite strong."

Today's battle ended in a draw, albeit with some difficulty.

However, Cai Yang could clearly feel that he was not up to the task and that his body could no longer adapt to high-intensity combat.

The lieutenant reminded him from the side:

"Zhao Yun has fought a fierce battle during the day, and I'm afraid he'll have to come again tonight."

Cai Yang was startled. Only after being reminded by his deputy did he realize that Zhao Yun might actually be planning a night attack.

He was exhausted after a day of fighting.

If Zhao Yun comes in the evening, this old man is in for a lot of trouble.

Just then, a soldier came to report that the Qi army was coming to raid the camp under cover of night.

Upon hearing this, Cai Yang had no choice but to don his armor and lead his troops into battle.

Both sides lit torches and fought through the night.

They fought from dusk until dawn.

They slaughtered until corpses piled up like pillows and blood flowed like rivers.

Seeing that the soldiers were exhausted by the morning sun, Zhao Yun ordered them to form ranks and retreat slowly.

Cai Yang, having suffered heavy casualties and bearing over a dozen wounds from knives and spears, dared not advance rashly.

He also ordered his troops to return to camp.

In this battle, Cai Yang's army suffered more than 3,000 casualties and lost dozens of baggage trains and wagons.

Although Zhao Yun won a minor victory, his army also suffered losses.

Both armies then defended their respective camps and temporarily ceased hostilities.

That night, Zhao Yun discussed matters with Gongsun Xu again:

“Cai Yang is indeed quite brave and strong, and his troops are also the elite of Cao’s army.”

"We fought all day yesterday, and although we won one battle, we also lost six of our officers."

"If this continues, even if we win, our troops will suffer heavy casualties and will be unable to fight again."

"What brilliant ideas does Shaoxian have to help me defeat the enemy?"

Before Gongsun Xu could reply, someone reported that Military Advisor Zhuge had sent someone to comfort the troops.

Zhao Yun immediately led his troops out to greet them.

Zhuge Liang truly deserves to be called the number one wet nurse of the Three Kingdoms, as the war was just beginning.

He immediately prepared 3,000 jars of fine wine, 100 sheep, and 50 cattle for Zhao Yun's army at the front.

Zhao Yun was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly.

On the one hand, he sent people to reward the envoy handsomely, and on the other hand, he ordered people to slaughter cattle and sheep to reward the soldiers.

The messenger then spoke privately to Zhao Yun, saying:
"Besides being ordered to provide supplies to the troops, I have come here with a newly made weapon to help the general defeat the enemy."

After speaking, he led Zhao Yun to observe it.

This newly made weapon was the repeating crossbow that Li Yi had previously commissioned Zhuge Liang to invent.

The crossbow body is made of sturdy wood, and the mechanism is made of refined iron.

The bowstring is drawn as taut as a full moon, and the quiver can hold ten arrows.

The box is inscribed with the words "loss and gain," which is taken from the Book of Changes, which says, "Loss and gain, fullness and emptiness, follow the times."

The envoy patiently explained to Zhao Yun:

"Mr. Kongming was ordered by the Prime Minister to supervise the production of this crossbow."

"It took a month to complete."

"This crossbow is light and agile enough to be carried by a horse, and its speed surpasses that of a bow and arrow."

"A total of three hundred sets, to help the general defeat the enemy."

Although the production was limited, Zhuge Liang was eager to experiment with it as war broke out.

He couldn't wait to send it to Zhao Yun at the front lines to see just how powerful it was on the battlefield.

Zhao Yun then ordered his troops to test the shooting, and ten arrows were fired from each crossbow.

Its sound was like thunder, and its arrow flew like lightning.

In an instant, the target was pierced through and filled with bullets.

All the soldiers were shocked and exclaimed, "Li Lianlian's crossbow!"

This is equivalent to an ancient shotgun.

Ten shots at a time can completely make up for the lack of troops.

Therefore, Zhao Yun selected elite soldiers and equipped them with three hundred repeating crossbows.

Gongsun Xu then said:
"With this divine crossbow, we should feign defeat and use an ambush to defeat the enemy in the future."

"Once Cai Yang is in our trap, we will use repeating crossbows to shoot him down, and the enemy will be easily defeated."

Zhao Yun pondered for a long time before saying:

"After a day of fighting, our army has gained the upper hand."

"If we fight again in the future, won't Cai Yang become suspicious when he sees my defeat?"

"Moreover, he is a veteran general in the army, and must know military strategy."

"If they see that the terrain is sheltered, they may not be willing to pursue."

Gongsun Xu then asked, "What brilliant plan does Zilong have?"

Zhao Yun thought to himself that he had followed Li Yi in battle for many years, and Li Yi had taught him by example.

At this moment, if it were Prime Minister Li, what would he do?

Zhao Yun paced back and forth, and when he saw the grain transport soldiers pushing the wooden flowing horses invented by Li Yi, he immediately had an idea.

"I have seen the Wei army repeatedly cut off our supply lines. Now, we will use this tactic to lure them in and then execute Cai Yang!"

An army marches on its stomach, and the battles of wits and courage between the two sides over food supplies are always the most frequent.

So the two discussed that Gongsun Xu would lead a grain transport team to lure the enemy out.

Gongsun Xu led his troops away.

Zhao Yun then ordered his soldiers to scatter ginseng stones and caltrops along the road and to line up deer antlers outside the camp as a sign of a long-term plan.

The next day, Cai Yang led his troops to challenge Zhao Yun to battle, but Zhao Yun did not come out.

I also saw that there were many iron caltrops and deer antlers outside the Qi army camp, and I thought to myself:
“Pei is not far from Xiapi, and its food supply is timely. If the Qi army intends to wage a protracted war.”

"This is by no means beneficial to our army."

He then dispatched scouts to investigate the Qi army's supply lines.

The scouts reported:

"In Qixian County, we saw a Qi army grain transport team, which was using wooden rafts and horses to transport grain and fodder."

Cai Yang then said:

"Li Yi of the State of Qi invented a wooden flowing horse, which the people of Qi used to transport grain and fodder, making the task twice as efficient."

"I have been ordered by Cao Zhengnan to kill Zhao Yun."

"If we are trapped here by Zhao Yun, we will have no face to go back."

So he selected three thousand elite soldiers and planned to cut off the Qi army's supply lines under cover of night.

At the first watch of the night, he led his troops toward Qi County.

Sure enough, they saw about three hundred Qi people there, using wooden rafts and horses to carry provisions.

Cai Yang then shouted:
"Kill the thief!"

At a shout, Wei soldiers charged forward.

Cai Yang took the lead and blocked their path.

When the Qi army saw the Wei army arrive, they did not linger in battle and abandoned their supply wagons to flee.

Under normal circumstances, when looting grain, the grain and fodder are usually burned directly.

If I can't have it, neither can the enemy.

If we directly seize it, the enemy will likely react and send a large army to take it back.

However, Cai Yang saw that the Qi army was small and that he was traveling in the middle of the night.

He took a chance, thinking that the people of Qi would not come to take it.

So he didn't pursue the Qi soldiers, but only ordered his soldiers to escort the grain carts back.

The army's marching speed slowed down because of the grain carts.

Before they had gone ten miles, they suddenly saw fires on both sides.

The Qi troops attacked from both the left and right flanks.

Cai Yang hurriedly reined in his horse and turned back. Behind him, in a secluded and narrow mountain pass, there were also carts blocking the road, with flames shooting up.

Upon closer inspection, it was none other than Gongsun Xu, a general of Yan. "You old fool, don't run! You've fallen for General Zhao's trap!"

Cai Yang was horrified and was about to fight.

Suddenly a bugle call was heard, and troops from both the left and right wings charged in.

The Wei troops could not withstand the attack and scattered in all directions.

Cai Yang fought bravely and carved a bloody path through the enemy lines.

Another night of fierce fighting left everyone exhausted.

As they were fleeing, they suddenly heard thunderous hoofbeats behind them.

It was Zhao Yun who led his troops in pursuit, shouting loudly:
"Cai Yang, you old scoundrel, dismount and surrender at once!"

Cai Yang was shocked and at a loss, and drew his sword to kill Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun easily dodged the attack with a quick movement.

He turned and shot Cai Yang to death.

Cai Yang fell off his horse and was hacked to pieces by the soldiers.

At this time, Gongsun Xu had also recovered the previously lost grain and fodder.

They caught up and asked Zhao Yun if he was going back.

Zhao Yun hurriedly said:

"Although Cai Yang is dead, his camp still has many men."

"The soldiers are in high spirits now, so we can press our advantage and scatter the remaining defenders of Cai Yang's camp."

So, before dawn, they stripped the armor from the dead Wei soldiers and made the Qi soldiers put it on.

They changed their banners, now bearing the flags of the Wei army, and headed towards the Wei camp via a side path.

At the fourth watch of the night, Zhao Yun's army arrived.

The guards shouted questions at the gate of the stockade:

"Has General Cai returned?"

Zhao Yun had the surrendered Wei soldiers shout out:

“We are General Cai’s men, and we have already seized the Qi army’s provisions.”

"General Cai, fearing that the Qi army would pursue, ordered us to escort the grain and fodder back first, while he led the main army to cover the rear."

"Open the gates immediately!"

The guards then lit a torch to illuminate the area and saw that the armor and clothing were no different from what they had seen, and there were also a large number of wooden chariots and horses.

Without much suspicion, he opened the gate and let him in.

Upon entering the camp, Zhao Yun suddenly shouted:
"Zhao Zilong of Changshan is here!"

He brandished his spear and charged straight at the central army.

Upon hearing this, the Wei army panicked and trampled each other.

The Yun troops attacked from both inside and outside, setting fires in all directions.

They kill anyone they see, and chop down anyone alive.

The Wei camp was thrown into chaos, and countless soldiers surrendered.

By daybreak, Zhao Yun's army had burned down the camp and seized mountains of grain, weapons, and supplies.

They beheaded two thousand soldiers and took in over a thousand who surrendered.

The rest of the group dispersed and their whereabouts became unknown.

Zhao Yun beheaded Cai Yang and accepted the surrender of his troops.

The military might of the State of Qi was greatly enhanced.

Upon hearing of the loss of Caiyang, Cao Ren regretted it, saying:
"...In the first place, we shouldn't have used such people."

Military advisor Man Chong remonstrated, saying:

"Zhao Yun's army won a battle, but our army lost Caiyang."

"It is advisable to avoid their sharp edge and not to fight again."

Cao Ren said repeatedly:
“What you say is very good; that is exactly what I was thinking.”

Although Cai Yang was lost, his death was not in vain.

He successfully bought Cao Ren time, and Cao Ren basically completed the construction of the city in Zhi County.

Cao Ren then discussed the matter with Man Chong:

"Now that my new city is fortified, I intend to build another city in Zhuyi in the north, so that it can form a defensive triangle with my Zhicheng."

"Having examined all the generals, I believe that none but Bo Ning is capable of this task."

"I will assist you in building the city of Zhuyi while you remain here."

"If Zhao Yun comes, I will surely take his life."

Man Chong accepted the order and led his army to Zhuyi.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yun realized that the Wei army intended to establish a foothold in Pei and threaten Xuzhou.

Therefore, he consulted with his generals:
“Man Chong went to Zhuyi to build a city, and there must be plenty of grain and fodder in the city.”

"I intend to go and take Zhuyi again. What do you all think?"

Zhao Yun's fighting style was influenced by Li Yi to some extent.

Li Yi liked to seize and burn grain during battles, and Zhao Yun followed this approach.

Thinking about food supplies is never wrong.

The generals had just killed Cai Yang and were feeling very proud of themselves.

They all bowed and accepted the order, and the army headed straight for Zhuyi.

Man Chong was building a city in Zhuyi when he heard that the Qi army had arrived.

He hastily ordered his fierce generals, Meng Tan and Han Fu, to lead their troops and set up camp ten miles outside the city.

Man Chong's plan was similar to Cao Ren's, both of them sending out an army first.

Whether they can win the battle or not, they must buy time for Qi to build their city.

Winning is of course the best outcome, but losing at least gives you valuable time.

Of course, fighting a war is like doing business; everything requires careful planning.

Losing one's life like Cai Yang would undoubtedly be the biggest loss.

Therefore, before setting off on the expedition, Man Chong instructed the two generals not to be reckless, but simply to hold off Zhao Yun.

The two generals received their orders and went to meet the Qi army.

Zhao Yun stepped forward, brandishing his spear and shouting:

"Cao Cao deceived the emperor and usurped the title of Duke of Wei."

"I have come here today by imperial decree to punish you. You should surrender immediately."

"If you remain foolish and deluded, your entire family will be exterminated!"

Meng Tan answered loudly:

“You are extremely rude, repeatedly offending our country.”

"If you do not leave early, you will not return with a single piece of armor!"

Before he finished speaking, Han Fu had already charged into battle, wielding two swords behind him.

Zhao Yun raised his hand and thrust his spear, striking Han Fu squarely in the face.

He was struck so hard that his eyeballs popped out, and he died instantly on his horse.

Zhao Yun led his troops in a great advance, and Meng Tan could not withstand it. He fled back to his camp and held firm, refusing to fight.

Zhao Yun then ordered his men to bring out the newly made repeating crossbows and fire fire arrows into the camp.

Ten rockets were launched at once, raining down from the sky.

The thatched huts inside the village were all on fire, and the Wei soldiers were thrown into chaos.

Zhao Yun then ordered his men to fetch dry firewood, and sent his soldiers to carry the firewood into the camp.

Taking advantage of the raging fire, they set it ablaze, flames shooting into the sky.

The Wei soldiers wailed and wept bitterly inside the camp, their cries echoing across the surrounding area.

Meng Tan said urgently:

"How did the Qi army acquire so many powerful weapons?"

Normally speaking, it would be difficult to ignite Dazhai with rockets today.

Therefore, Meng Tan did not take strict precautions against this attack.

Unexpectedly, Zhao Yun's repeating crossbow could fire ten arrows at once.

They were lit like fire arrows, and a great fire immediately broke out.

Even so, Meng Tan did not abandon the camp, ordering his men to fight the fire while simultaneously blocking Zhao Yun's army.

"Soldiers, hold your ground! General Man will surely come to our rescue."

Just as the Wei soldiers were struggling to hold on, a loud shout suddenly rang out from outside the camp.

Zhao Yun reined in his horse and looked back, only to see the Wei soldiers drumming and waving flags as they marched in a mighty force.

Zhao Yun then ordered the rear guard to become the front guard, and stood under the gate flag to wait for them.

The general who came to greet them was none other than Man Chong, who carried a steel spear and led his army to rescue Meng Tan.

Zhao Yun ordered Gongsun Xu to continue attacking Meng Tan's stronghold, while he personally went to confront Man Chong.

The two sides clashed and fought fiercely in one place.

Zhao Yun encountered Man Chong amidst the chaos of battle and engaged him in combat.

Man Chong thrust his steel spear forward, but Zhao Yun dodged it and caught it with his ribs.

Man Chong was unable to move, so he abandoned his steel gun and ran back to the army.

Zhao Yun sighed repeatedly, "What a pity, what a pity."

At the time, I only thought that Man Chong was a general of the Wei army and wanted to capture him alive.

If I had known he had escaped, I should have stabbed him to death just now.

Man Chong rescued Meng Tan, but instead of fighting Zhao Yun, he rushed back to the newly built city.

Zhao Yun led his troops in a fierce attack, but all were repelled by Man Chong's clever strategy.

Seeing that their supplies were running out, Zhao Yun led his troops back to Qixian County.

We await the arrival of Guan Yu's army before discussing strategies to defeat Cao Ren and Man Chong.

Not to be discussed.

……

Two flowers bloom, one branch each.

Meanwhile, Chen Deng was ordered to coordinate with the navy to assist Guan Yu in dealing with Cao Ren.

Chen Deng led 10,000 naval troops, entering the Huai River from the Fei River, and then crossing the Wo River.

They quickly arrived at Cao Ren's camp.

Chen Deng originally thought that Guan Yu only asked him to cooperate in the attack, and now that his main army had not arrived, why should he rush to attack?

Chen Deng did not want to damage his troops, so he only allowed the fleet to land at Longkangkou.

Then they waited quietly for Guan Yu's army to give orders.

Gan Ning, however, was thinking that he had been serving Liu Bei for several years.

For several years, he remained in Huainan to guard against threats from Jingzhou and Sun Wu.

The generals who followed Li Yi to the north all achieved great merit and were all ennobled.

How can anyone not be envious after seeing this?
Now that we've finally managed to fight in Huainan, wouldn't it be a waste of this great opportunity given by God if we didn't perform well?
So he went to Chen Deng and offered his advice:

"Our army has just arrived, which is just in time to dampen the morale of the Wei army."

"Why does the Prefect remain at the ferry crossing instead of sending troops to attack?"

Chen Deng said:

"Cao Ren is a talented general; he should not be taken lightly."

"Moreover, our army is small and was originally intended to support General Guan, not to be the main force in the attack."

"With General Guan's army behind us, why should we usurp the host's position?"

Gan Ning certainly didn't want to be a support, and repeatedly said:
"...I dare not agree with what you say, Your Excellency."

“Cao Ren is arrogant and reckless, and he built a city in Pei, the territory of my Qi state.”

"If we don't punish them, the people of Wei will look down on us, the people of Qi!"

Chen Deng then asked, "What do you intend to do?"

Gan Ning quickly seized the opportunity, cupped his hands, and said:

"I would rather lead a strong army to raid Cao Ren's camp and dampen his morale!"

Chen Deng shook his head and said:

"Cao Cao's army is powerful; we must not underestimate them."

Gan Ning continued:

"I have many veteran soldiers under my command, each one strong and brave."

"I am willing to lead them to raid the camp, kill a few officers, and pay my respects to the Prefect."

"How many people do you have?" Chen Deng asked.

"One hundred people."

Gan Ning held up one hand and said, "They are all veterans who have followed me for many years. A hundred men are enough to defeat the enemy."

After considering for a long time, Chen Deng said:
"...Alright, Xingba, this is an opportunity you earned yourself."

"You have been stationed with me in Runan all these years, but you have not been promoted."

"It's rare to see someone with such ambition. If I were to stop you, you would say I'm heartless."

Gan Ning was overjoyed and thanked Chen Deng.

Chen Deng bestowed fifty bottles of fine wine and fifty catties of mutton upon Gan Ning.

By evening, Gan Ning had distributed all the money to the soldiers as a reward.

He instructed one hundred people to sit properly, poured wine into silver bowls, drank two bowls himself, and then addressed the crowd:
"Tonight I am ordered to raid the camp. I invite you all to drink a full cup and strive forward."

Someone might ask:
"How many men did the general acquire?"

Gan Ning pointed to himself, then to the person who had spoken.

He spoke slowly, word by word:

"...only me...and you gentlemen."

what?
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other, their faces showing reluctance.

Although they were indeed brave and skilled, a mere hundred men dared to raid Cao Ren's large camp.

That's like lighting a lantern in the toilet—asking for trouble (to shit).
Gan Ning then spoke frankly to everyone:
"Do you gentlemen recall the past? In those days, we abandoned Shu, parted from Huang Zu, and devoted ourselves to serving Lord Xuande."

"Isn't it to gain fame and fortune, and bring honor to one's wife and children?"

"However, for several years, he was trapped in Huainan, spending his days and nights with Chen Yuanlong."

"Despite his best efforts in defending the border, he has not made any progress."

"Those who followed Prime Minister Li on his northern expedition were all granted titles of nobility and appointed generals."

"We, the valiant sons of Jinfan, will never bear our names in the imperial court!"

Having said this, Gan Ning threw his cup to the ground and said in a resounding voice:

"We request to raid the camp, but Lord Chen initially refused."

“I begged him for the tent thrice, crawling on my knees and weeping blood, before I finally got this opportunity.”

"Why don't you gentlemen cherish this opportunity? If we win this battle, wealth and honor are within our grasp."

"What Ning is fighting for is all for you gentlemen!"

Upon hearing this, those around him blushed and turned red with rage.

One soldier drew his sword and slammed it against the table, saying, "We are blind fools who almost misled the general! We are willing to fight to the death!"

He then drank the fine wine heartily, throwing the cup to the ground to bolster his courage.

Gan Ning was overjoyed and said loudly:
“…Excellent! Excellent! As a general, I will not hesitate to risk my life.”

"You should not hesitate to join me in raiding the camp tonight."

"We must be prepared to risk our lives to win this battle!"

The crowd bowed again, expressing their willingness to serve to the death.

Gan Ning then shared wine and meat with a hundred people until the second watch of the night. He then took a hundred white goose feathers and stuck them on his helmet as a signal.

They all donned their armor, mounted their horses, and galloped towards the edge of Caoren Village.

He pulled off the deer antlers, shouted loudly, and charged into the camp, heading straight for the central army to kill Cao Ren.

Cao Ren heard shouts outside the camp and assumed that the Qi army had returned.

Upon inquiring, they discovered that he was actually a subordinate general of Chen Yuanlong.

Upon further inquiry, it was learned that only about a hundred people had come to raid the stronghold.

Cao Ren was both shocked and furious:
"The people of Qi are far too arrogant. I am defending the city myself. Do you think I am a coward?"

So he personally took up a shield and a sword and led his troops to intercept Gan Ning's army.

Gan Ning's hundred cavalrymen were all brave and skilled warriors.

They charged left and right through the Wei army's camp.

The Wei soldiers were panicked, and they didn't know how many men Gan Ning had brought, or if there were more to follow.

Thus they disturbed each other.
Gan Ning's hundred cavalrymen galloped freely within the camp, killing anyone they encountered.

Each battalion raised its banners like stars, and the shouts were deafening.

Seeing that the Wei army had reacted and that more and more soldiers were accumulating in the camp, Gan Ning realized that if he didn't leave now, he might not be able to escape.

So he led his troops out of the east gate, broke through the camp, and none of them dared to stand against him.

Chen Deng ordered Zhou Tai to lead a contingent of troops to meet Gan Ning.

Gan Ning returned to Yuanlong Village and counted the number of people; not a single person or horse was missing.

Chen Deng exclaimed in amazement:
"Formerly, Minister Li sent Xingba to stay in Huainan, saying that he would surely be of great use in the future."

"I had not paid attention before, but today I have come to know Xingba's bravery and strategy!"

(End of this chapter)