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

These words caused an uproar in the main tent.

Liu Bei suddenly realized what was happening, and a look of surprise flashed across his face.

He knew about this as well.

On that day, he dispatched 20,000 infantry and cavalry to Baibo Valley to lure and ambush Huchuquan's 40,000 Xiongnu cavalry.

This included the 10,000 Han cavalry led by Zhao Yun.

After the mission was accomplished, the ambush troops marched north to join them, but only a little over 10,000 infantrymen returned.

Xiao He had mentioned it briefly at the time. After the Battle of Baibo, he sent Zhao Yun to lead 10,000 cavalry across the Yellow River to the south to attack the Southern Xiongnu royal court. He planned to wipe out the Xiongnu men, women, and children while the main force of the Xiongnu was destroyed, thus eliminating the Xiongnu threat in one fell swoop.

Non-my family, its heart must be different.

As for the Hu people, it was naturally necessary to eliminate them completely.

Liu Bei agreed with both of Xiao He's conclusions.

Therefore, he did not question Xiao He's decision at the time, and only briefly mentioned it.

At this moment, Xiao He suddenly brought it up, and Liu Bei realized that Xiao He's on-the-spot decision had had a remarkable effect.

Zhao Yun wanted to enter Xihe County, which meant he would have to cross the Yellow River to the west.

To cross the Yellow River, the only option is to capture Linxian Ferry.

If Xiahou Dun wanted to abandon Bingzhou and lead 80,000 Wei troops to escape to Guanzhong via Xihe County, he would have to cross the river at Lin County.

That's exactly what happened.

"Bowen, your decision on the spot is truly a case of 'a chance encounter yielding unexpected success'!"

"Very well, very well! Heaven is either trying to destroy Xiahou Dun or helping me!"

Having figured out the hidden meaning, Liu Bei couldn't help but clap his hands and laugh.

The generals were overjoyed and praised Xiao He's decisive and far-sighted decision.

Xiao He smiled faintly, cupped his hands, and said:
"Your Majesty, I believe that Zilong's capture of Linxian Ferry is a piece of cake."

"However, when the Wei army learns that Linxian Ferry has fallen and the only ferry crossing to Guanzhong has been cut off, they will surely do everything in their power to retake it, and their fighting strength will inevitably increase dramatically."

"I am worried that Your Majesty will not be able to handle the long-distance raid with only Zilong's 10,000 troops. Your Majesty should send another army to reinforce them."

Liu Bei agreed wholeheartedly and immediately personally selected Zhang Yan, who was familiar with the terrain of Bingzhou, to lead 7,000 infantry and cavalry to Linxian Ferry to reinforce Zhao Yun.

The order was passed down.

Zhang Yan immediately led 7,000 elite infantry and cavalry westward from Jiexiu Pass, bypassing Linxian Ferry.

As for Guo Huai...

Under Xiao He's presumption of guilt, whether Guo Huai's surrender was genuine or feigned became irrelevant.

Even if you are genuinely surrendering, I will still consider it a feigned surrender.

Therefore, Liu Bei immediately rejected Guo Huai's offer to surrender and continued to command the main force of the Han army, launching a fierce attack on Jiexiu Pass.

An even fiercer attack than before…

The boundary is closed.

Arrows flew like locusts, stones flew like shooting stars.

Tens of thousands of Han soldiers surged forward like a tidal wave, once again attacking Jiexiu Pass.

In the blink of an eye, the city wall, stretching for hundreds of paces, was densely covered with Han soldiers.

One hundred thousand Han troops launched another overwhelming offensive against Jiexiu Pass.

"What does this big-eared scoundrel mean by this? Why is he launching an attack without even responding to Boji's feigned surrender?"

"This momentum is far greater than before!"

Xiahou Dun, holding his sword horizontally, watched the Han army's overwhelming offensive with gritted teeth and utterly bewildered eyes.

The generals standing around him all looked confused.

Guo Huai stared at the dense Han army, his brows furrowed, his gaze growing increasingly grave.

Suddenly, Guo Huai shivered, his face turning deathly pale. "General, I suspect it was Xiao He who saw through my feigned surrender!"

"No, he not only saw through Huai's feigned surrender, but also deduced that the General intended to abandon Bingzhou and retreat westward!"

"That is why Liu Bei sent troops to launch a rapid attack on Jiexiu Pass to prevent our army from retreating westward."

"I suspect Liu Bei will definitely send troops to Linxian Ferry to cut off our army's crossing route!"

"General, the situation is dire!"

Xiahou Dun was terrified by Guo Huai's words and broke out in a cold sweat.

They had originally hoped that Guo Huai's feigned surrender would delay Liu Bei's attack on the city, but unexpectedly, it backfired.

If Liu Bei were to capture Linxian Ferry first, what would happen?
With 80,000 troops, wouldn't they be trapped in Bingzhou by the Han army?

"What should I do? What do you think I should do?"

Xiahou Dun was completely flustered and roared angrily at Guo Huai and the other generals.

Wang Ling's eyes darted around a few times, but he said:
"General, do not be too anxious. Half of our troops have already crossed Jinyang. Yang Fu and Song Xian must have already reached Linxian Ferry, or even crossed the Yellow River."

"Even if the big-eared thief were to send troops diagonally towards Linxian Ferry now, it would certainly be later than our army. I believe Linxian Ferry should not fall."

Upon hearing this, Xiahou Dun's initial panic subsided by a third.

After letting out a slight sigh of relief, Xiahou Dun nodded:
"Yan Yun is right. No matter how fast that big-eared thief is, can he be faster than our army?"

"I will immediately send men to Linxian Ferry to order Song Xian and his men to leave enough troops at the ferry to guard against a surprise attack by the Han army."

"Furthermore, I order all troops to abandon all baggage, and if necessary, even weapons, flags, and drums, so that we can march day and night with light equipment to Linxian Ferry."

"Anyone who delays or misses military opportunities will be subject to military law!"

Xiahou Dun issued several orders in quick succession, his emotions calming down in an instant, and he regained the composure befitting a great general.

The generals accepted the order.

Xiahou Dun, sword in hand, surveyed the Han army before him with arrogance and shouted:
"Soldiers of Great Wei, listen to my command! Defend the border pass to the death! For every day you hold out longer, each of you will be rewarded with an additional ten thousand coins!"

For every day you stay longer, you will receive an extra ten thousand coins.

For every extra day that the nearly 20,000 Wei soldiers held out, they would be rewarded with 200 million coins!
In order to delay the main force of the Han army as much as possible, Xiahou Dun spared no expense and offered an unprecedentedly generous reward.

Encouraged by such a huge reward, the Wei soldiers who were fighting hard were instantly invigorated, as if they had been injected with chicken blood.

"Hold the border to the end!"

"For the sake of Great Wei, we will defend the pass to the death."

"Damn it, I'll fight those Han bastards to the death!"

"Brother, let's fight to the death with the General!"

The Wei soldiers were as excited as beasts, their roars and shouts rising and falling.

Seeing his generals and soldiers in action, Xiahou Dun secretly breathed a sigh of relief, a look of satisfaction appearing on his face.

"You big-eared thief, bring it on!"

"I will bring these 80,000 soldiers back to Guanzhong no matter what. I want to see what makes you think you can stop me!"

Xiahou Dun looked down at the Han army outside the city, his face burning with fierce arrogance…

Hundreds of miles away, south of Linxian Ferry.

An army of cavalry is marching northward along the east bank of the Yellow River.

The Yellow River, which was originally turbulent on the left, gradually became calmer, and its wide surface began to narrow.

Such a change in water level indicates that the Yellow River has entered a fordable basin, and there must be a large ferry crossing ahead.

"We should be nearing Linxian Ferry soon. There shouldn't be many Wei troops there. I should be able to take it without much effort, and then I can enter Xihe Commandery and head straight for the Southern Xiongnu royal court..."

As he marched, Zhao Yun's thoughts raced, and he conceived a strategy for advancing.

Just as I was lost in thought, the scouts who had gone ahead galloped up, shouting:
"Reporting to the General of Chariots and Cavalry, tens of thousands of Wei troops have appeared at Linxian Ferry ahead and are crossing the Yellow River to the west!"

Zhao Yun's expression changed, and he abruptly reined in his horse. (End of Chapter)