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

Chapter 389 Leaving the Frontier, Leaving the Frontier! Xiao He: Trying to escape? I'll chase you to the ends of the earth!
As night fell, Tadun's blood-stained head was already hanging at the foot of the Yanshan Mountains.

Xiao He then ordered his soldiers to set up camp on the spot, and to feast on wine and meat to reward the troops. After a night's rest, the army set off north again.

Inside the Chinese military tent.

A map of the border region was already hanging in the tent.

While drinking celebratory wine, Xiao He and his generals examined the map and discussed strategies to eradicate the remaining Wuhuan forces.

The generals' plans mainly revolved around how to deploy troops and how to attack cities and fortresses after the army arrived in Guangping.

After pondering for a long time, Ma Su pointed to the map and said:
"In today's battle, the main force of the Wuhuan was completely wiped out. The remaining Wuhuan troops who fled back to Guangping number at most ten thousand cavalry."

"Even if they temporarily conscript able-bodied men, at most they can only cobble together a mere rabble of about ten thousand men who are no match for them."

"Su wondered, under these circumstances, would Su Puyan, Wuyan, and the other Wuhuan princes really dare to defend Guangping to the death?"

The generals' expressions shifted, and their gazes all turned to Ma Su.

Xiao He sensed a deeper meaning in his words and gestured for Ma Su to continue.

Ma Su then stepped forward and pointed to the map, saying:
"The Wuhuan Chanyu court was originally located in Liucheng in the northern part of Liaoxi Commandery. Later, taking advantage of the fact that Cao Cao was fighting a deadly battle with the King and had no time to look north, he gradually moved south to nibble away at the border of Youzhou and moved the Chanyu court to Guangping City, which is close to the Great Wall."

"Although the Wuhuan have migrated south in large numbers, more than 100,000 tribes and several thousand cavalrymen remain in the old territory of Liucheng."

"I wonder if these remnants of the Wuhuan tribe, upon learning that the Grand Commandant is leading a large army to attack, will abandon Guangping and flee eastward to Liucheng to avoid our army?"

Xiao He's gaze fell on Liu Cheng's location, and he nodded slightly:

“You Chang’s words make sense. For the Wuhuan people, abandoning Kuangping and retreating to Liucheng is indeed the wisest choice.”

The generals began to discuss the matter again.

"Grand Commandant, Liucheng is far away in western Liaoning, at least seven or eight hundred li away from here."

"If our army goes beyond the Great Wall to pursue, it will have to follow the grasslands on the northern foothills of the Yanshan Mountains, and the supply and transportation of food and fodder may not be able to keep up."

"After all, our previous strategy was to annihilate the Wuhuan people at Guangping, and we did not make any preparations to block the way for seven or eight hundred miles."

Lu Xun also pointed to the map and pointed out the drawbacks of this battle.

Xiao He nodded slightly, acknowledging Lu Xun's analysis.

When waging war beyond the Great Wall, cavalry is the first choice.

Why? The grasslands are vast, and the nomadic people ride horses, moving like the wind. How can you catch up with them without cavalry?
Furthermore, with the same rations, cavalry can travel 700 li, while infantry might run out of food after only 100 li.

Currently, among Xiao He's 30,000 troops, infantry still constitute the main force, with only about 4,000 cavalry.

With this troop configuration, defeating the enemy in a head-on confrontation is no problem, but they would be at a disadvantage if they had to travel a long distance to the grasslands beyond the Great Wall to pursue the Wuhuan people.

"Wild plains, grasslands, willow-lined city..."

Xiao He scanned the map, pondering a foolproof plan.

Suddenly, his gaze fell on the three characters "Lulong Pass".

That was a pass located in the northern part of Youbeiping.

If I remember correctly, when Cao Cao launched his expedition against the Wuhuan, he marched north of the Great Wall from Lulong, his army heading straight for Liucheng, catching the Wuhuan people completely off guard...

Xiao He's slightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and a strategy was already brewing in his mind.

"Boyan, how many cavalry does the King still have?"

Xiao He kept his eyes glued to the map, but suddenly asked this question.

Lu Xun was taken aback, then calculated with his fingers:
"This time we split our forces with the King. The King gave us more than four thousand cavalry, and the King's side should still have nearly five thousand cavalry."

Hearing the number "five thousand cavalry," Xiao He felt even more confident.

After weighing his options for a long time, Xiao He suddenly turned around, his expression confident, and said:

"Quickly draft a memorial and send it to the King in Shanggu overnight, requesting that the King order Zhang Wenyuan to lead all cavalry back to Youbeiping, and from the north of Lulong Pass out of Yanshan, intercept the remnants of the Wuhuan forces retreating eastward in the Bailang Mountain area!"

All the generals were taken aback.

Zhang Liao, five thousand iron cavalry, Lulong Pass, White Wolf Mountain…

One after another, the breathtaking words resounded like thunder in their ears, gradually weaving a blueprint into the minds of the generals.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, the tent erupted in jubilation, the generals overjoyed. They understood Xiao He's intentions.

From Guangping, retreating to Liucheng, one must pass through Bailang Mountain.

From Lulong Pass north of Yanshan, less than a hundred li away lies Bailang Mountain.

Xiao He feigned leading 30,000 infantry and cavalry out of Guangping to pursue the remaining Wuhuan forces that had fled eastward, while secretly ordering Zhang Liao to lead 5,000 cavalrymen from the north of Lulong Pass out of Yanshan and ambush the Wuhuan people in the Bailang Mountain area.

When Zhang Liao was a general under Cao Cao, he followed Cao Cao out of Lulong and fought a great battle against Tadun at Bailang Mountain!

Among the generals of Chu, none were more familiar with the terrain from Lulong Pass to Bailang Mountain than Zhang Liao.

Zhang Liao is the most suitable person to carry out this plan.

This is Xiao He's overall plan.

"Grand Commandant Xiao's plan is truly a stroke of genius. Those remnants of the Wuhuan tribe would never have dreamed that you would use the same plan that Cao Cao used back then to kill them again in the same place!"

"The Grand Commandant's use of troops has truly reached the point where he can do whatever he wants, as if it were a piece of cake!"

"We are completely convinced and have truly learned a great deal!"

Having figured it out, Lu Xun looked at Xiao He with complete conviction and bowed.

All the generals were full of admiration.

Xiao He merely smiled and waved his hand, saying:
"It seems you all agree with my plan. Without further ado, Boyan, quickly draft a memorial for me and send it to Shanggu."

Lu Xun immediately accepted the order, picked up his pen and wrote a report of victory, which was sent to Shanggu by fast horse traveling eight hundred li in a day and night.

...

Shanggu Commandery is located east of Juyong Pass.

Two hundred and sixty thousand Chu troops were stationed in a continuous camp for ten miles outside Juyong Pass.

Liu Bei immediately gripped his sword and surveyed the situation at Juyong Pass from afar.

Cao Cao abandoned Ji County and retreated westward for five days. When he reached Juyong Pass, he finally stopped retreating.

Firstly, it was necessary to buy enough time for the families of officials, princes, and nobles to retreat to Dai County ahead of time.

Secondly, Cao Cao wanted to wait here for news from the Wuhuan people.

Once Tian Yu persuades Tadun to send troops and successfully raid Ji County, Liu Bei's hundreds of thousands of troops will surely collapse in morale and fall into chaos without a fight.

That will be the time for him to lead his troops out of Juyong Pass, seize the opportunity to pursue the Chu army, and recover the lost territory.

However, Liu Bei was unaware of Cao Cao's ulterior motives at this time.

"Cao Cao, do you still harbor any hope for Youzhou and intend to hold onto Juyong Pass to the death?"

A hint of sarcasm appeared on Liu Bei's lips, and he pointed his whip:
"By my order, all armies shall march forth and launch a fierce attack on Juyong Pass!"

The war drums sounded.

More than a hundred military formations of all sizes suddenly sprang into action, and countless Chu soldiers swept across the mountains and plains toward Juyong Pass.

Liu Bei, meanwhile, sat in the central army and personally supervised the siege.

Just then, the sound of hooves rang out, and a rider galloped up, dismounting from his saddle.

"Your Majesty, Grand Commandant Xiao has reported a victory over 800 li!"

Liu Bei's eyes lit up, and he quickly took a battle report, eagerly tearing it open to examine it closely.

The ministers, including Pang Tong and Zhang Liao, were all in high spirits and full of anticipation.

Your Majesty, I dealt a heavy blow to the Wuhuan army at the foot of Yanshan Mountain, killing 20,000 enemies. Deng Ai captured the enemy chieftain Tadun alive, and I have already executed him.

Your Majesty wishes to venture beyond the Great Wall to pursue the remnants of the Wuhuan and completely eliminate the border threat to Youzhou. I request Your Majesty to dispatch Zhang Wenyuan with all cavalry to march from Lulong Pass out of Yanshan and intercept the remaining Wuhuan forces fleeing eastward to Liucheng at Bailang Mountain…

The victory report was clearly written in black and white!

From the central command post, Liu Bei's ecstatic laughter rang out.

(End of this chapter)