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

"Your Majesty flatters me. I merely used a few tricks and cleverness."

“If Your Majesty had not acted in the way of a king, upheld benevolence and righteousness, and been willing to accept the people of this city, my petty cleverness would have had no place to be used.”

Xiao He naturally responded with humility, and then proceeded to shower Lao Liu with praise.

Everyone loves to hear nice things, even a wise ruler like Lao Liu.

Liu Bei smiled, his gaze fixed on the direction of Ye City, a cold, murderous intent igniting in his eyes.

"Since Cao Chong is so clever and wants to scheme against me, then I will let him lift a rock only to drop it on his own foot!"

"Bowen, let's proceed according to the plan!"

Xiao He immediately accepted the order and made arrangements to find all eight hundred Wei soldiers who had infiltrated the Chu camp.

After an overnight interrogation, Cao Chong's entire plan came to light.

This is basically consistent with Xiao He's calculations.

The messenger who had previously slipped out of the city had headed north to Liang Qi to seek help from Cao Cao.

Cao Cao and his son agreed that Cao Cao would send a fleet disguised as merchant ships southward from Nanpi three days later to unexpectedly approach the east of Ye City.

At that time, Cao Chong would use the signal of setting fires to create chaos, and then send a large army out of the city for a night raid, breaking through the Chu army's eastern encirclement and creating a breach.

Cao Cao's grain convoy took the opportunity to land and escort 100,000 bushels of grain through the breach into Ye City.

Xiao He then reported the results of the interrogation to Liu Bei in detail.

After some discussion, the two, the ruler and his minister, devised a plan to turn the tables on the enemy.

...

Three days later, night had fallen.

East Gate of Ye City.

Cao Chong, Xin Pi, and Chen Tai gathered on the city wall, their eyes fixed on the brightly lit eastern flank of the Chu army.

Footsteps sounded, and Xu Yi, clad in armor and holding a sword, ascended the city wall.

"Reporting to Young Master Cang Shu, my 17,000 elite troops have been assembled. Please give the order."

Xu Yi clasped his hands and earnestly volunteered.

Cao Chong remained silent, his gaze fixed on the Chu camp, but a hint of hesitation flickered in his eyes as the matter came to a head.

The Chu army has at least 60,000 to 70,000 troops surrounding the eastern border.

With 17,000 troops, launching a night raid on the Chu camp, even with 800 elite soldiers acting as inside agents, the risks were self-evident.

From a military strategy perspective, he should have committed all 40,000 troops to have a better chance of winning this battle.

Cao Chong, however, lacked that courage.

The Chu army was far too large; besides the eastern encirclement, there were nearly 200,000 troops in the other four encirclement camps.

What if Liu Bei, seeing that the eastern gate has been attacked, orders the other three gates to besiege the camp and immediately launch a strong attack on Ye City?
With all his troops dispatched to launch a surprise attack on the eastern outskirts, how could he possibly withstand the siege of over 200,000 Chu soldiers?

Therefore, he had to keep enough troops to ensure that he could withstand the attack from the Chu army.

Seventeen thousand soldiers were all the troops he could muster.

“Young Master Cangshu, Xuanbo’s plan is merely to create an opening to allow the King’s grain convoy to enter; it is not intended to conquer the eastern siege of the Chu army.”

"If we just need to create a small opening, 17,000 troops will suffice."

Xin Pi noticed Cao Chong's worry and comforted him from the side.

Cao Chong sighed softly and pointed towards the Chu camp, saying:
“What you said, George, is only one of my concerns. What truly worries me is Xiao He.”

"Over the years, he has seen through so many of our ingenious plans and schemes. Cheng Yu, Liu Ye, Xun You... so many of the strategists of my Cao family have died because of his schemes."

"What I'm most worried about is whether Xuanbo's plan tonight will truly be an exception."

Xin Pi remained silent and turned to look at Chen Tai.

This plan was proposed by Chen Tai, so Chen Tai is naturally the most qualified to speak on the odds of winning this battle.

Chen Tai stared at Chu Ying, remaining silent.

After a long silence, he slammed his fist against the battlement and said proudly:
"I believe that the fate of our Great Wei is not yet over, and I firmly believe that Xiao is a creature of flesh and blood, not some immortal reincarnation."

"Everyone has moments when they make a mistake, no matter how careful they are!"

"I believe my plan will succeed!"

Seeing Chen Tai's confidence, Xin Pi's eyes gained a bit more confidence, and he then looked at Cao Chong.

Cao Chong seemed to be infected by Chen Tai's confidence, his tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he slammed his fist heavily against the battlement.

"Report my command: Light the fire."

Upon receiving the order, the men and women quickly lit the beacon fire.

A pillar of fire shot into the night sky.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, held their breath, and clenched their fists, staring intently at Chu Ying.

Not long after.

Xin Pi's eyes narrowed, and he pointed at the Chu camp, shouting with joy:

"Young Master Cang Shu, fire! The enemy camp is on fire! Our inside man has made his move!"

Everyone's spirits were lifted.

Sure enough, fire suddenly broke out within the eastern encirclement of the Chu army.

First two, then four or five, the flames spread rapidly, and in the blink of an eye, dozens of fires had broken out.

Inside the Chu camp, the faint sound of gongs and shouts of battle could still be heard from afar.

Clearly, the Chu camp is in chaos!
"Xuanbo, our inside man has succeeded! Your plan has worked!"

Xin Pi looked at Chen Tai with delight.

Chen Tai's lips curled slightly upward, his eyes brimming with confidence, and he bowed to Cao Chong.

"Young Master Cang Shu, there's no time to lose, let's get started."

Cao Chong's face also lit up with confidence. He took a deep breath and shouted:
"Xu Yi, listen to my command!"

Xu Yi, who had been waiting in the wings, stepped forward.

Cao Chong pointed at the Chu camp and said sternly:
"I command you to act according to the plan, lead my 17,000 elite troops into battle immediately, tear open a gap in the eastern encirclement of the Chu army, and bring my father's supply convoy into Ye City!"

Xu Yi patted his chest and said boldly:
"Young Master Cang Shu, please rest assured, I will return safely with the provisions within two hours!"

After saying this, Xu Yi headed straight for the city walls.

Before the city gate, more than 17,000 Wei soldiers had been standing in a dense, imposing mass for some time, each one sharpening their swords.

Xu Yi mounted his horse, surveyed the soldiers, and called out loudly:
"Brothers, the King's supply convoy is outside. Today's battle is a matter of life and death for us. Do you dare to fight alongside me to the death and bring back our supplies!"

Upon hearing that a grain convoy was entering the city, the Wei army immediately became as if injected with chicken blood, brandishing their weapons and roaring in response.

Seeing that the army's morale was ignited, Xu Yi drew his sword, swung it, and shouted:
"Open the city gates, lower the drawbridge, and follow me as we charge out of the city!"

The tightly closed city gates suddenly swung open, and the drawbridge slowly descended. Passing through the gate, the Chu camp, ablaze with flames, came into clear view.

This display of force greatly boosted the morale of the Wei army.

Xu Yi took the lead and was the first to rush out of the city gate.

Nearly 20,000 Wei troops surged out of Ye City like a tidal wave and rushed towards the eastern perimeter of the Chu camp.

In an instant, the Wei army had rushed to the foot of the earthen wall.

According to Chen Tai's calculations, the main force of the Chu army in the eastern siege had already been transferred to the city to put out the fire and deal with the eight hundred Wei army insiders.

At this moment, the troops along the earthen wall line are sparsely deployed, making it an opportune time to break through.

Xu Yi rushed to the earthen wall, looked up, and sure enough, there were very few patrolmen left on the wall.

Upon seeing the Wei army's massive attack, the Chu army was thrown into chaos, and gongs were sounded in alarm.

Xu Yi was ecstatic and shouted:

"Slaughter all the Chu soldiers and tear down the earthen wall!"

The order was passed down.

The Wei archers drew their bows and unleashed a hail of arrows, swarming towards the Chu soldiers on the earthen wall.

Countless Wei soldiers, as if injected with chicken blood, rushed to grab at the wall.

The Chu army was outnumbered and unable to resist; they were quickly routed.

Xu Yi then shouted at his soldiers, who swung hammers, shovels, and other tools, and smashed them against the earthen wall like madmen.

"Boom~~"

With a series of loud noises, the earthen wall collapsed, tearing open a gap that stretched for more than ten feet.

Next, they would pour in through the breach and break through the Chu army's encirclement.

"Brothers, follow me, and we will crush the Chu camp!"

Xu Yi took the lead and galloped across the collapsed gap.

Behind them, Wei soldiers surged past, jostling to squeeze through the gap.

However, when they had rushed out several dozen steps and were about to reach the foot of the Chu camp wall, they suddenly stopped.

Xu Yi suddenly reined in his warhorse, his fierce and ferocious expression instantly replaced by horror.

The Wei soldiers surging behind them stopped in their tracks, their expressions astonished as if they had seen a ghost.

In the firelight, an impregnable wall blocked their path.

No, it wasn't an impregnable fortress, but the Chu army!

Tens of thousands of Chu soldiers stood in imposing formation, blocking the way before the camp walls.

Thousands of arrows were already on the bowstring, aimed at them like the eyes of death.

"This, this, this..."

Xu Yi looked at the densely packed Chu army and was instantly thrown into chaos, not knowing what to do.

A Chu general, riding a white horse and wielding a silver spear, slowly stepped forward, pointed his spear at the Chu army, and shouted:
“Listen up, Wei bandits! My lord, Grand Commandant Xiao, saw through Cao Chong’s scheme long ago. I have been waiting for you here for a long time on the orders of the King of Chu.”

"Those who wish to live, quickly prostrate yourselves and surrender!"

Zhao Yun's roar, like thunder, exploded in the night sky, shaking the Wei army to the point of shattering their souls.

Xu Yi was horrified.

Until this moment, he finally woke up with a start.

Chen Tai's plan had already been seen through by Xiao He!

Liu Bei had anticipated his night attack on the eastern outpost and had already ordered Zhao Yun to lead a large force to lie in wait and await his arrival!
It is estimated that the flames that rose up in the eastern perimeter were not set off by those inside agents, but rather were bait deliberately set by the Chu army.

"How could Xiao, that scoundrel, see through Chen Tai's brilliant plan? Just what kind of monster is he?"

Xu Yi gritted his teeth and cursed inwardly, then turned his horse around and shouted:

"All troops, listen to my command! Retreat back into the city immediately and withdraw!"

Although Xu Yi felt hatred in his heart, how could he dare to force him any further? He neighed and turned his horse to flee.

The morale of the 17,000 Wei soldiers plummeted instantly, and they hurriedly turned and fled towards the collapsed gap.

It's too late.

Zhao Yun's eagle eyes narrowed, and his Dragon Gallant Spear slid down lightly.

The archers immediately released their arrows.

"Woooooo~~"

A dense volley of arrows, like locusts, whistled out in an instant, forming a wall of blades that swept towards the fleeing Wei soldiers.

next moment.

Wailing cries, screams, and tearing sounds echoed through the night sky.

Countless Wei soldiers, like autumn leaves swept away by the wind, were pinned to the ground by the Chu army's arrow rain.

The Wei soldiers disregarded the deaths and injuries of their comrades and rushed towards the breach.

Without the slightest hesitation, Zhao Yun raised his silver spear again and shouted sharply:
"Great Chu soldiers, heed my command! Follow me and slaughter all the Wei invaders!"

As the war drums sounded, tens of thousands of Chu soldiers broke formation and pounced on the fleeing Wei army like tigers and wolves.

The killing begins.

The Chu army, like tigers chasing sheep, pursued and trampled the fleeing Wei soldiers, reaping lives with madness.

The air was filled with the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves, and blood mist flew everywhere...

After suffering nearly five thousand casualties, Xu Yi led his less than ten thousand Wei troops and finally broke through the gap in the earthen wall.

Ye City has come back into view.

"Fortunately, I withdrew in time. Although we lost more than 5,000 men, at least 10,000 were saved..."

Xu Yi breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as he was secretly rejoicing.

Sudden.

From the north, inside the earthen wall, a cloud of dust, accompanied by an earth-shaking force, swept diagonally towards them.

cavalry!

Thousands of Chu cavalrymen swept in like thunderbolts.

The first general, riding his horse and wielding his sword, was as mighty as a war god.

"Zhang...Zhang Liao?"

Xu Yi gasped in surprise, her face paling once again. (End of Chapter)