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

"Your Majesty, although the Second Prince is unparalleled in bravery and can be considered a fierce general, but..."

Li Xu frowned slightly, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

He wanted to remind Gongsun Kang that Gongsun Huang was brave but lacked wisdom, and that Xiao He was good at using ingenious schemes, so he could not be dealt with by brute force alone.

But when he saw that Gongsun Kang was already delighted, and fearing that speaking frankly would anger the monarch and discourage him from delaying the war, he had no choice but to swallow the rest of his words.

Gongsun Kang, completely oblivious to Li Xu's concerns, readily made the decision:
"Huang'er, what ambition! I will give you another 7,000 elite soldiers, and replenish your food and weapons. You must immediately muster your troops and head to Dongguan City to set up defenses. You must hold this pass and buy time for our Great Liao to prepare for war!"

...

A few days later.

Gongsun Huang, clad in silver armor, strode confidently through the East Gate, his brows revealing an innate air of nobility.

Inside the city gate.

The brothers Xianyu Cheng and Xianyu Xun had been waiting with bows, and upon seeing him arrive, they immediately knelt on one knee.
"Your humble servants pay their respects to Young Master Huang."

Gongsun Huang's gaze swept over the two of them, and he raised his hand to lightly brush them aside:

"Be flat."

The two generals rose at the sound of their voices, stood at attention on either side, and dared not look away even slightly.

Gongsun Huang said no more, and went straight up the steps to the city tower. He stood by the railing, gazing at the vast sky in the distance.
Where is the Han army now?

Xianyu Cheng stepped forward, bowed, and reported:

"Reporting to the Second Young Master, according to an urgent report from our spies, the main force of the Han army has arrived more than 30 li away and is advancing towards this location."

"More than thirty miles away..."

Gongsun Huang twirled his fingertips, his gaze fixed on the direction from which the Han army was approaching, lost in thought.

On the city tower, the wind grew stronger, causing his clothes to flutter, and the atmosphere became quiet for a moment.

A moment later, Xianyu Cheng cupped his hands in greeting again:
"Upon learning of the fall of Pyeongchang, I immediately mobilized men to reinforce the city's defenses, repair the walls, and add barricades, doing everything in my power to prepare for war."

"However... the gunpowder of the Han army is incredibly powerful, and I dare not guarantee that Dongguan City can withstand the bombardment of gunpowder."

Xianyu Xun, who was standing to the side, also looked worried and stepped forward to echo his sentiments:
“Yes, Second Young Master, the walls of Pingchang are no less sturdy than this one, yet they were breached by gunpowder. If the Han army were to use gunpowder to bombard the city, I fear Dongguan City would be difficult to defend.”

Gongsun Huang shook his head slightly, his tone somewhat dismissive:

"You need not worry, Xiao He will never use gunpowder again."

"Ok?"

Both generals were taken aback, exchanged a glance, and their eyes were full of confusion.

Xianyu Xun stepped forward first, cupped his hands, and asked:

"Your subordinate is foolish and does not understand your meaning, sir. Please enlighten me."

Gongsun Huang turned around, his gaze sweeping over the two of them, and asked in return:
"Since gunpowder is so powerful, if Xiao He had enough reserves, he could just blast his way through. Why bother using common methods like ladders and battering rams when attacking a city?"

Xianyu Xun frowned, shook his head blankly, and was speechless for a moment.

Xianyu Cheng also looked puzzled and bowed, saying:

"Forgive my ignorance, I have not been able to grasp the intricacies of this matter. I humbly request your guidance, sir."

"This shows that although gunpowder is very powerful, it is extremely difficult to produce and consumes a lot of materials."

Gongsun Huang spoke with certainty, slowly stating his conclusion:

"Therefore, Xiao He must have limited gunpowder. I am certain that he has used it all on the walls of Pingchang, and he has no more left to bombard my Dongguan City."

Upon hearing this, the Xianyu brothers, Xianyu Cheng and Xianyu Xun, suddenly realized their mistake, and the worry on their faces vanished.

Xianyu Cheng cupped his hands in praise, his tone full of admiration:
"Your Highness is so insightful; we have never even considered this possibility. We are truly ashamed."

Xianyu Xun also breathed a sigh of relief and smiled:
"Since that's the case, there's nothing more to worry about. With the strong defenses of Dongguan City, plus the 10,000 elite troops under my command, we'll definitely be able to keep the Han army out of the city."

The two brothers looked at each other, both breathed a sigh of relief, and burst into laughter.

Gongsun Huang suddenly snorted coldly, his gaze sweeping sharply over the two of them, his tone tinged with impatience:
"Look at your pathetic ambitions! My mission is not only to defend Dongguan City, but also to defeat Xiao He and severely damage the Han army!"

The smiles on the two generals' faces froze instantly, filled with shock.

They only thought about defending the city and never considered taking the initiative to defeat the Han army. They never expected that the second prince would have such a big appetite.

Little did they know that Gongsun Huang harbored boundless ambitions.

Although he was the second son, he was not legally qualified to inherit Gongsun Kang's legacy. However, Gongsun Huang was confident in his talent and ambition and always felt that his abilities far surpassed those of his elder brother, Gongsun Yuan.

His initiative to volunteer to Gongsun Kang to defend Dongguan City was the first step in his plan.

He wanted to use this battle to defend the city, defeat Xiao He, and spread his fame far and wide with his outstanding military achievements, completely overshadowing Gongsun Yuan.

At that time, Gongsun Kang will definitely look at him differently and may change his mind and make him the heir apparent of Liao.

These deep-seated schemes cannot be shared with others.

Gongsun Huang concealed the ambition in his eyes, and instead revealed a stern expression, saying:

"Xiao He killed General Gongsun Ze. This is an irreconcilable feud, and I will naturally avenge him!"

He found a plausible excuse to disguise his ambition under the guise of revenge.

Generals Xianyu Cheng and Xianyu Xun, without suspecting anything amiss, immediately bowed and echoed their agreement.

Although Xianyu Xun admired Gongsun Huang's determination, he still had reservations:
"I admire your desire to avenge General Gongsun, but Xiao He is a brilliant strategist, and his Han army is also elite and skilled in battle. How can we, with only a little over ten thousand men, defeat the Han army?"

Seeing this, Xianyu Cheng quickly added his own explanation:

"Yes, Second Young Master, I believe that holding the city is the best course of action right now, and launching a rash attack may be risky."

"You two don't believe in my strength?"

Gongsun Huang's face suddenly darkened, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes as he glared at the two men.

Gongsun Huang's angry glare was like a cold blade piercing through them. Xianyu Cheng and Xianyu Xun trembled in their hearts and hurriedly bowed, repeatedly denying their accusations.
"This humble general would not dare, this humble general would never have such an intention!"

The two men were filled with fear, and their earlier doubts were dispelled.

Seeing this, Gongsun Huang's expression softened slightly, and he let out a cold snort:
"Don't worry, I already have a plan to defeat Xiao He."

Upon hearing this, the two men's eyes lit up instantly, all their previous unease vanished, leaving only eagerness and curiosity.

Xianyu Xun stepped forward and asked:

"What brilliant plan has the Second Young Master come up with? Please enlighten me!"

Xianyu Cheng held his breath, his gaze fixed on Gongsun Huang, waiting for what would happen next.

Gongsun Huang pointed to the distance outside the city and said in a deep voice:
"See that open space? Immediately dispatch men to secretly dig a tunnel from the city to that place."

Xianyu Cheng and Xianyu Xun exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with confusion and bewilderment, completely unable to fathom Gongsun Huang's intentions.

Xianyu Cheng bowed and asked, "Young master, I am foolish and ignorant, and I really do not know what the purpose of digging this tunnel is. Please enlighten me."

Gongsun Huang, however, was unwilling to say more. A cold smile curled at the corner of his lips, and his tone carried an undeniable air of authority:
"You need not ask any more questions, just do as I instruct."

The two generals were increasingly confused, but seeing Gongsun Huang's resolute attitude, they dared not ask any more questions and could only bow and accept the order.

Immediately, Xianyu Xun mobilized his best soldiers, avoiding the view of those outside the city, and began digging a tunnel overnight from a secluded residence within the city, ensuring that not a single word was leaked…

A few days passed in the blink of an eye. Dust was flying outside Dongguan City, and Xiao He had already led his army to the city gates.

The Han army's banners blotted out the sun, and their armor and weapons formed a forest. They set up camp outside the city in an orderly fashion, with tents stretching for several miles, completely surrounding Dongguan City. Inside the central command tent, the lights were bright. Xiao He sat in the main seat, and the generals stood in order, all holding their breath and discussing strategies to break through the city.

Xiao He raised his hand and stroked the military tally on the table, his gaze sweeping over the generals, and asked:

"Gentlemen, what do you think of Gongsun Huang? You may share your opinions."

Zhang Liao stepped forward first, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and replied in a deep voice:

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, Gongsun Huang is the second son of Gongsun Kang. He is known for his strategic thinking and steady demeanor. He is a wise general and should not be underestimated."

Xiao He nodded slightly and asked again:
"How does Gongsun Huang compare to Gongsun Ze?"

Zhang Liao frowned slightly and slowly shook his head:
"It is not advisable to make hasty judgments. Gongsun has been on the battlefield for a long time and has a well-established reputation. His combat strength and strategy are well-established. Gongsun Huang, on the other hand, has no outstanding achievements before. I dare not make a hasty judgment on his true abilities."

The other generals also nodded in agreement, none of them daring to make any rash judgments, since they did not know the enemy's true strength and that making hasty assessments could easily lead to mistakes in the battle.

After a moment, Zhang Liao, unable to contain his fighting spirit, declared:

"Grand Marshal, even if he has some skill, he is still just a child. What is there to fear?"

"Our army is strong and our soldiers are elite. We can simply use our superior numbers to launch a direct assault and flatten Dongguan City!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the generals in the tent echoed his sentiments, each rubbing their hands together, eager to fight and take Dongguan City quickly.

Xiao He slowly raised his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet:

"You must not be careless. Have you forgotten the wounds our army suffered when Gongsun Ze ambushed us upstream on the Yangshui River?"

One sentence was like a bucket of cold water poured over their heads. The generals suddenly realized what was happening, and they all shivered. The fighting spirit in the tent instantly cooled down by more than half.

When they attacked Pingchang City, everyone underestimated Gongsun Ze and did not take him seriously. As a result, they fell into an ambush when crossing the river, suffering heavy losses, including the death of their general Guan Ping. The painful lesson was still fresh in their minds.

If we underestimate the enemy and advance rashly, falling into Gongsun Huang's trap, we will likely repeat the same mistakes.

"Let the soldiers rest and prepare for battle, and conserve their energy."

Xiao He flicked his sleeves and said in a deep voice:
"There's no need to rush the attack on the city. We should wait until we understand the enemy's strengths and weaknesses before making any plans."

"The last general takes command!"

The generals responded in unison, bowed, and withdrew.

Subsequently, the Han army proceeded methodically, fortifying their camps and patrolling around Dongguan City. Although they surrounded the city without attacking, they maintained a constant pressure.

Night was falling.

Inside the courtyard where the tunnel was dug, on the north side of Dongguan City, Gongsun Huang stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the Han camp outside the city, his expression calm.

Xianyu Cheng and Xianyu Xun stood on either side, their faces still bearing a hint of lingering suspicion, unable to fathom the purpose of the earthenware.

"The time has come; reveal the tunnel."

Gongsun Huang raised his hand and flicked his sleeve, shouting in a deep voice.

Xianyu Xun dared not delay and immediately ordered the soldiers beside him to lift the thick cloth covering the entrance to the tunnel.

A dark tunnel entrance suddenly appeared, the passage was well-organized, and shadows could be vaguely seen extending into it.

"My lord, I still don't understand, what is the purpose of digging this tunnel?"

Xianyu Xun could not contain himself any longer and asked again.

Gongsun Huang's lips curled into a slightly smug, confident smile.

"You will know once you come with me."

Having said that, he mounted his horse, flicked the reins, and headed straight for the north gate.

Xianyu Cheng and Xianyu Xun were even more suspicious, but they had no choice but to follow closely behind, mounting their horses and catching up.

The group arrived at the city wall in a short while.

Gongsun Huang raised his hand, pointed towards the Han camp outside the city, and said in a deep voice:

“Look closely, where does the tunnel lead to?”

Xianyu Cheng and Xianyu Xun quickly focused their gaze into the distance, following the direction Gongsun Huang pointed. With the help of the lights of the Han camp, they gradually saw the location of the tunnel exit.

The confusion in their eyes gradually faded, replaced by an undisguised surprise, which was then replaced by deep amazement.

The tunnel exit was located directly beneath the central area of ​​the Han camp!

Xianyu Xun was both surprised and delighted, and blurted out:

"Could it be that the Second Young Master had already anticipated that the Han army would set up camp there, and therefore ordered us to dig tunnels in advance, leading directly to the Han camp?"

After a moment's thought, he suddenly understood, and his tone became even more excited:
"Now, as long as we send our elite soldiers to infiltrate through the tunnels, we can sneak into the Han camp undetected. Then, with the help of both inside and outside forces, we can launch a pincer attack and surely defeat the Han army in one fell swoop!"

Gongsun Huang, observing the astonished expressions on their faces, curled his lips into a smug smile, his tone brimming with self-confidence:
"Now you should understand why I don't take Xiao He seriously."

Xianyu Cheng hurriedly stepped forward, his face full of admiration:

"The Second Young Master is incredibly wise and resourceful, with no strategy that can be overlooked. How could someone like Xiao He possibly compare to him!"

Xianyu Xun nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of admiration.

Hearing the praise, Gongsun Huang became even more smug, his brows furrowed with arrogance, as if victory was already in his grasp…

As night deepened, the world was shrouded in heavy darkness.

The Han camp was completely silent. Apart from the soft sounds of the patrolling soldiers, all the other soldiers were fast asleep, with only the occasional even snores coming from inside the tents, showing no sign of being on guard.

Gongsun Huang stared at the lights of the Han camp outside the city, a murderous glint suddenly flashing in his eyes. He then let out a sharp shout:
"The time has come, Xianyu Cheng, obey my command!"

"The general is here!"

Xianyu Cheng stepped forward.

Gongsun Huang said in a deep voice, "I order you to lead seven hundred elite troops to directly infiltrate the Han camp through the tunnels, set fire to the camp, disrupt the enemy's formation, and create chaos!"

"promise!"

Xianyu Cheng bowed and accepted the order, then turned and left the city, heading straight for the entrance to the tunnel.

"Xianyu Xun, obey my command!"

Gongsun Huang shouted again.

"The general is here!"

Xianyu Xun also stepped forward to await orders.

Gongsun Huang pointed to the Han camp outside the city, his tone resolute:

"I hereby order you to lead eight thousand troops to guard the north gate. When the enemy camp is ablaze, immediately lead your army out of the city, strike straight at the central army, and kill Xiao He!"

"The last general takes command!"

Xianyu Xun responded in a deep voice, immediately rose to deploy his troops, and waited for the signal to sound.

At this moment, in the underground tunnels of the Han camp, Xianyu Cheng was leading 700 elite Liao soldiers, groping their way forward by the faint light of the fire.

The tunnel was narrow and low, so the soldiers had to walk quickly while bending over, deliberately keeping their footsteps as quiet as possible.

After traveling for an unknown amount of time, a faint light finally appeared ahead, indicating that the tunnel had come to an end.

Xianyu Cheng raised his hand to signal everyone to stop, then stepped forward himself, gripped the iron shovel, and carefully dug out the soil at the top, his movements gentle, as if afraid of making a sound that would alert the Han army above.

The Liao soldiers behind him held their breath, not daring to utter a sound, gripping their weapons tightly, their hearts pounding. (End of Chapter)