My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 140: That's a stroke of genius! I'll kill you for rebelling against Sun Quan. Are you satisfied?
It was not until Gan Ning came down from the city wall that Ling Tong finally reacted and became furious.

"Jinfan thief, the evidence is overwhelming and you still dare to quibble. I will kill you—"

Ling Tong drew his sword and was ready to chase after Gan Ning and fight him to the death.

Upon seeing this, the soldiers on both sides picked up their weapons and prepared to surround and kill Gan Ning.

"Calm down, Gongji!"

Lü Meng, however, grabbed him and asked:

"You're not unaware of how strong this man's martial arts skills are. If you attack right now, are you sure you can stop him?"

Ling Tong stopped abruptly.

"Did you see that? He also brought dozens of Jinfan soldiers with him. Each of them is an elite soldier who can fight ten to one. If you attack them, these soldiers will swear to defend their master to the death."

Lu Meng glanced at the Jinfan soldiers under the city and said in a serious tone:
"If we can't capture him in a short time, his followers at the South Gate will get wind of the news and rise up in rebellion, and Chaisang City will be in chaos."

"When that happens, that big-eared thief outside the city will take advantage of the situation and lead his army to attack. Chaisang City will surely fall, and you and I will both die without a burial place!"

Ling Tong was filled with rage, but Lu Meng poured a bucket of cold water over him in an instant, and he had to put down his raised sword.

"Your worries are not without reason. Although that Jinfan thief is hateful, his martial arts skills are not weak."

Ling Tong nodded slightly, but gritted his teeth and said:

"Then what should we do? Are we supposed to just let him go and wait for him to flirt with the big-eared thief and sell out Chaisang City and us?"

Lu Meng remained silent, his eyes darting around as he thought of a strategy.

After a while, a strange look flashed in his eyes.

"Even if he is secretly communicating with Liu Bei and wants to betray us, he must have communicated with each other several times and made arrangements before taking action. We still have time."

Lu Meng's eyes were filled with murderous intent, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly:

"Tomorrow I will send someone to his camp and tell them that I have come to my senses and that I have wronged him. I will host an apology banquet and invite him to come and reconcile."

"I deployed a large number of troops at the banquet, got him drunk, and then attacked him suddenly, so that I could capture him in one go."

"As for his subordinates, I will reward them with fine wine. When they are drunk and lose their guard, you can lead your troops to surround and kill them all."

"Only in this way can we capture the Jinfan bandit and his followers in one fell swoop without causing chaos in Chaisang!"

Lu Meng stroked his short beard, a sneer of confidence appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he spoke of his plan in a confident manner.

Ling Tong pondered for a long time and felt that this was the safest way to proceed. He sighed and said:
"Well, in that case, let's do as you say, Commander Lu."

...

South Gate, Gan Camp.

"Ling Tong, you bastard, you've gone too far! Too far!"

"And you, Lü Meng, I originally thought you were very knowledgeable and intelligent, but I didn't expect you to be such a fool with no vision. No wonder you were repeatedly defeated by Xiao Bowen's strategies!"

As soon as he entered the tent, Gan Ning smashed his helmet on the table, and was furious.

After cursing for a while, he asked his guards to bring a jar of wine, and drank it in one gulp.

As the wine entered my heart, all the grievances and resentments flooded into my mind again in an instant.

Thinking back to the time since I defected to Sun Quan, I've been targeted time and again by Ling Tong, and ostracized by those Jiangdong people, both openly and covertly...

Recalling the moment Sun Quan learned that Su Fei had surrendered to Liu Bei, he flashed a look of resentment...

Recalling the day when Lü Meng was defeated on the north bank, I knew that retreating to Chaisang was a dead end, but I still followed him into Chaisang without hesitation...

I have done so much, but I still can't gain their trust!
It would have been fine if it was Ling Tong, but Lu Meng actually believed that he was secretly communicating with Liu Bei just because of a letter.

He was even blamed for the previous plan being exposed and the disastrous defeat at the hands of Liu Bei!

The more Gan Ning thought about it, the angrier he became. He grabbed the wine jar and smashed it to the ground.

"Crack!"

The broken jar was thrown to pieces and shattered all over the floor.

Gan Ning, who was originally filled with resentment, suddenly felt his body shaken after being thrown down, and a thought flashed through his mind:
Since you, a bunch of Jiangdong villains, have framed and insulted me, why should I continue to stand in the same boat with you?
Since you are convinced that I secretly surrendered to Liu Bei, why don't we fulfill your wish?

"brush!"

Gan Ning stood up suddenly, the anger and resentment on his face disappeared, and his eyes seemed to be suddenly enlightened.

After pondering for a long time, Gan Ning suddenly slammed his fist on the table, his eyes as determined as iron.

"I, Gan Ning, a great man, how can I allow myself to be bullied by a bunch of scoundrels like you!"

"Lü Meng, Ling Tong, if you are unkind, don't blame me for being unjust!"

"Didn't you say I surrendered to Liu? Well, I'll surrender to you and show you!"

Gan Ning put on his helmet again, knife in hand, and said sternly:

"Tell my brothers, I, Gan Ning, will not tolerate the bullying of these Jiangdong rats. I will lead them to join Liu Xuande!"

"Immediately raise the Liu flag at the South Gate, and send someone to take it to Liu's camp to inform Liu Xuande of my intention to surrender!"

...

Liuying, the central military camp.

Liu Bei had seen his flag suddenly raised above the south gate of Chaisang.

Immediately afterwards, a messenger came from the city, bringing a message that Gan Ning had surrendered and asked him to send troops into the city as soon as possible to meet him.

Everyone in Liu Ying was immediately in an uproar.

"Gan Xingba actually...actually surrendered?"

"Bo Wen, how could a simple letter from Su Ziyi reminiscing about the past have caused Gan Xingba to suddenly decide to surrender?"

Liu Bei turned his gaze towards Xiao He with surprise. Huang Zhong and the other generals were also overjoyed, their gazes focused on him with confusion.

"Su Ziyi's letter was very ordinary, but after a few smudges, it became extraordinary..."

Xiao He smiled slightly, and then frankly told Liu Bei and everyone the deep meaning of his few strokes.

Everyone suddenly understood and was amazed.

"With just a few strokes, Military Advisor Bo Wen captured Ling Tong's hatred for Gan Ning, and the Jiangdong people's distrust of Gan Ning. It's a brilliant strategy of sowing discord, truly a stroke of genius..."

Fa Zheng pointed out the mystery, and then bowed to Xiao He:

"Military Advisor Xiao, I've been taught again today."

Xiao He coughed a few times and smiled faintly:
"Gan Xingba is doomed to be distrusted by the people of Jiangdong because of Su Ziyi's surrender. Sooner or later, he will be driven over to the Lord's side. I just gave him a push."

"But what I didn't expect was that Gan Xingba was so decisive. Just as the letter arrived in the city, he surrendered right after. It seems he's truly suffered a great injustice."

"My lord, there is no time to lose. Let's flatten Chaisang immediately!"

Xiao He raised his hand and pointed at Chaisang City, a fierce murderous intent ignited in his eyes.

Liu Bei sighed, put it away, and stood up.

"Pass on my command. The troops from the three gates of the northwest and east will immediately launch an attack on Chaisang."

"I will personally lead the army into the city through the south gate to support Gan Xingba!"

When the order was passed down, the three armies were in excitement.

The soldiers of Liu's army in each camp immediately rose up and rushed out of the camp that had not yet been built, and rushed towards Chaisang City in an overwhelming manner.

On the north gate tower.

Lu Meng and Ling Tong were still sipping their wine and discussing the specific details of capturing Gan Ning.

"Commander-in-Chief, General Ling, the enemy flag has suddenly been raised at the South Gate!"

Soldiers outside the door cried out in surprise.

Lu Meng and Ling Tong's faces changed, they looked at each other, and then rushed out in a hurry.

Looking up, I saw that the original Jiangdong Army battle flag on the South Gate Tower had been replaced with a flag with the word "Liu" on it.

"Could it be that Gan Ning actually..."

Lu Meng's heart skipped a beat.

Just as they were wondering, several soldiers ran all the way to the north gate along the city wall.

"General Ling, Gan Ning has gathered his troops and announced his intention to surrender to Liu Bei!"

"He has now replaced the flag with the character Liu, opened the city gates, lowered the drawbridge, and is ready to welcome the enemy into the city!"

Lu Meng's body swayed, and his heart felt like it was hit by a heavy hammer, causing him to feel suffocated and painful.

Ling Tong's face changed drastically, and he cried out in shock:
"That guy has only been gone for half an hour, and he's already surrendered the city so quickly without any preparation?"

Ling Tong looked back at Lu Meng in disbelief.

Lu Meng's face was filled with regret, and he gritted his teeth and said:

"I actually forgot that this Jinfan thief has always acted with swiftness and decisiveness. He must have seen his plan exposed, so he immediately took the initiative to raise his troops and cause chaos, so as to catch us off guard!"

Ling Tong suddenly realized his mistake and could not help but stamp his feet and complain:

"Lü Ziming, ah Lü Ziming, you shouldn't have stopped me just now. If I had been allowed to kill that Jinfan thief right then and there, how could I have ended up in this situation?"

Lu Meng's face was filled with shame and regret, and he could only say:
"Now that things have come to this, what's the point of you complaining to me?"

"I predict the Big Ear Bandits will launch a massive attack on the city. I will lead my troops to defend the city, and you will immediately lead your troops to the South Gate. You must kill the Brocade Sail Bandits before the Big Ear Bandits enter the city and recapture the South Gate!"

"If the enemy forces break through, you and I will both die without a burial place!"

Ling Tong shuddered and no longer had time to blame Lu Meng. After a long sigh, he picked up his sword, mounted his horse, and led his troops straight to the south gate.

As soon as he left, the gate of Liu Camp outside the city opened wide, and countless soldiers rushed in like a tide.

Liu Jun's siege began.

Lu Meng looked at the Liu army coming in large numbers outside the city, and then looked at his own soldiers who were in panic on both sides, and he could already smell a hint of death.

Under the South Gate Tower.

Gan Ning and eight hundred brocade sail soldiers were already lined up at the gate, facing the main street.

Soon, a flag with the word "Ling" appeared on the main street, and thousands of soldiers and horses rushed over.

Gan Ning stood on his horse with his sword drawn, proudly standing in front of the city gate.

Ling Tong, who was running wildly, saw Gan Ning for a moment and his eyes immediately burst open with fire.

"Jinfan thief, I knew you must have defected to the Big Ear thief!"

"Today I will kill you, the traitor, for the Marquis of Wu, and avenge my father—"

Ling Tong roared all the way, kicked his horse hard, and rushed towards Gan Ning with a heart full of hatred and anger.

Gan Ning's eyes were as sharp as blades. There was no longer any trace of forbearance in his eyes, only raging anger.

Ling Tong's repeated insults and provocations now flashed before his eyes one by one.

"Ling, I've put up with you for a long time!"

"So what if I killed your father? Today I will kill you too and send you to the underworld to reunite with your father!"

Gan Ning roared angrily, rode out on his horse, and faced the enemy head-on.

With a long sword in his hand, carrying all his accumulated resentment, he swept it towards Ling Tong with great force.

(End of this chapter)