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

This place is dangerous. Once their whereabouts are exposed, the Han army only needs to throw smoke signals or torches into the tunnel, and they will be trapped and die in this narrow passage without any power to resist.

A moment later, with a soft "plop," the last piece of soil was dug off, and moonlight poured down from the opening, illuminating an area inside the tunnel.

Xianyu Cheng's heart pounded wildly, his nerves were on edge. He slowly peeked out and scanned his surroundings by the moonlight.

The surroundings were quiet, except for the soft rustling of the grass in the wind. There was no sign of the Han army, and it seemed that the patrolling soldiers had not yet reached this place.

Xianyu Cheng breathed a slight sigh of relief, suppressed the agitation in his heart, picked up the ring-pommel sword at his waist, and gestured for the soldiers beside him to bow down.

He stepped on his subordinates' shoulders, leaped out of the cave, and landed lightly and silently.

Upon closer inspection under the bright moonlight, Xianyu Cheng was instantly overjoyed.

The tunnel entrance happened to be located right in the Han army's pasture!
Bundles of hay and provisions were piled up in the pasture, which was a relatively weak point in the Han army's defenses. At this moment, only a few Han soldiers were guarding the entrance, drowsy and completely unguarded.

"Quickly, all of you get up here, and be quiet!"

Xianyu Cheng lowered his voice and waved towards the tunnel.

One by one, Liao soldiers filed out, their movements swift and agile. They all crouched behind piles of hay, nervously scanning their surroundings, gripping their weapons and ready for battle.

After the seven hundred soldiers gathered, a group of lurking dark figures instantly appeared at the edge of the hay storage area.

"Set it on fire! Burn all this hay, the bigger the better!"

Xianyu Cheng let out a low shout, his tone fierce.

The soldiers immediately took out their tinderboxes and lit the dry grass.

In a short while, the fire spread rapidly with the help of the wind, crackling and shooting into the sky, turning the entire hayfield red.

"Liao soldiers, follow me and kill!"

Xianyu Cheng drew his sword and shouted loudly.

"kill!"

"kill!"

Seven hundred Liao soldiers raised their arms and shouted wildly, their morale soaring, and charged out of the hayfield like wild beasts, heading towards the heart of the Han camp.

Xianyu Cheng took the lead, leaping over the burning haystack, and happened to encounter several Han soldiers who had noticed the fire and were about to fetch water to put it out.

The Han soldiers were shocked at the sight. Before they could react, Xianyu Cheng wielded his sword and cut them down one after another.

Then, the Liao soldiers followed closely behind, charging deep into the Han camp. Swords flashed and cries of agony rose and fell.

The tranquil Han camp was instantly shattered by the deafening shouts of battle, the urgent sounding of gongs, drums, and alarms. The soldiers inside the camp panicked and fled in all directions, creating utter chaos.

Xianyu Xun led the elite Liao army, taking advantage of the thick darkness to sneak into the Han camp like a ghost.

The Han army, confident in its superior strength, had always underestimated the Liao army's fighting power. They hadn't even set up scouts on the outer perimeter, leaving only a few camp gates for guard duty, making their defenses virtually nonexistent.

This slackness gave the Liao army an opportunity to take advantage of the situation. Xianyu Xun and his party easily reached a few feet outside the Han camp's gate, where they concealed their presence and waited for a signal.

Suddenly, a muffled thud exploded from the depths of the Han camp, followed by a sudden burst of flames that pierced the night and dyed half the sky crimson.

Before the Liao army could react, shouts of battle erupted like thunder within the camp, clearly indicating that the planned tunnel raid had succeeded.

The Han camp was thrown into chaos in an instant. Soldiers scattered and fled in the flames, with no one in command and no will to fight.

"Second Young Master's calculations are brilliant! The tunnel plan is a success!"

Hearing the ecstatic shouts of his personal guards, Xianyu Xun's eyes flashed with a fierce light, his joy instantly turning into a murderous aura.

He leaped onto his horse, slammed it against its belly, pointed his long sword at the Han camp, and shouted sharply:
"Brothers of Liao, follow me into the camp, raze the Han camp to the ground, and slaughter all the Han dogs!"

Once the order was given, the Liao soldiers leaped up like tigers released from their cages, brandishing their swords and spears, and, under the cover of fire and darkness, swept towards the Han camp.

At this moment, Zhuge Dan was on duty at the gate of the Han camp as usual.

He was already worried about the army's laxity, but when he suddenly heard a deafening battle cry from the camp behind him, his heart sank and he hurriedly turned around to look.

The camp was filled with smoke and fire, with streaks of flame intertwined to form a net, and the sounds of fighting rose and fell, clearly indicating that this was no ordinary disturbance.

"How could a fire have broken out in the camp for no reason? And where did the sounds of fighting come from?"

Zhuge Dan frowned, a deep suspicion flashing in his eyes, and a sense of vigilance arose suddenly.

Before the doubts could dissipate, a deafening battle cry suddenly rang out from outside the camp, echoing from within and forming an encirclement.

Almost simultaneously, thousands of arrows pierced the air, the sounds of them piercing flesh filling the air. The Han soldiers guarding the camp gate were caught off guard and were instantly felled in droves.

Zhuge Dan reacted extremely quickly, wielding his long sword swiftly, deflecting the arrows aimed at him with a flash of light.

With eyes piercing through the night, they saw countless dark figures of Liao soldiers swarming in, taking advantage of the fire.

"Liao army launches night attack!"

Zhuge Dan's expression changed drastically, his heart filled with shock and anger, and he shouted sharply:

"Quickly, report to the central command that the Liao army has launched a night attack on the camp, and order all units to come and defend against the enemy immediately!"

Before the words were even finished, a dark figure rushed to the gate like a whirlwind.

It was Xianyu Xun!
He brandished his long sword wildly, using the momentum of his warhorse's charge to cleave it down with all his might. With a loud "crack," the sturdy wooden palisade gate was smashed to pieces.

Xianyu Xun reined in his horse and raised his long sword again:

"Liao soldiers, charge in! Leave no one alive!"

The Liao army surged in from behind, and with their long swords flashing, Han soldiers fell to the ground one after another.

The soldiers on duty were already stunned by the surprise attack, and now, facing the fierce charge of the Liao army, they were completely routed and could only flee in disarray.

"No retreat! Anyone who dares to retreat even a step will be executed on the spot!"

Zhuge Dan roared and slashed at a deserter with his long sword, trying to regain his footing.

But the collapse was already inevitable, and morale was low; his shouts and killings were of no use.

The Han soldiers were like startled birds, scattering and fleeing in all directions, and order within the camp completely collapsed.

Zhuge Dan personally beheaded several deserters, his body splattered with blood, yet he still couldn't suppress the spreading chaos. His eyes blazed with anger, but he was helpless.

In the chaos, Xianyu Xun immediately spotted Zhuge Dan, who was desperately trying to hold him back. His eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he spurred his horse forward, shouting sharply:
"You scoundrel, Xianyu Xun is here! Prepare to die!"

Before he finished speaking, he had already charged forward with his sword, the blade slicing through the air with a whistling wind, aiming straight for Zhuge Dan's vitals.

Upon hearing the sound, Zhuge Dan's body trembled. He looked up and saw that the Liao general was already close at hand, his sword flashing like lightning.

He suppressed his fear and roared:
"You madman from Liaoning, how dare you underestimate me! Prepare to die!"

Having said that, he discarded his sword and raised his spear to meet Xianyu Xun's long sword.

The two riders galloped towards each other, roaring as they collided with a deafening crash.

"throat!"

A deafening roar, like the sky collapsing and the earth splitting apart, erupted as the long sword and spear clashed, sending sparks flying into the sky.

Zhuge Dan felt a tremendous force surge into his body through the spear shaft, causing his internal organs to churn and his arm joints to ache. He involuntarily staggered backward, nearly falling off his horse.

With a single move, the difference in strength was immediately apparent.

Xianyu Xun's martial arts skills far exceeded Zhuge Dan's expectations.

Zhuge Dan was greatly shocked, his face filled with disbelief.

He never expected that there would be such a fierce and brave general in the Liao Kingdom, who was unknown and yet possessed such strength.

"You Han dog, you're nothing but this! Today is your death day!"

Seeing this, Xianyu Xun laughed wildly, brandishing his longsword once more, his moves becoming even more ferocious. In an instant, a curtain of blades appeared, layer upon layer, enveloping Zhuge Dan and sealing off all his escape routes. Zhuge Dan gritted his teeth and suppressed his discomfort, wielding his spear with impenetrable force to parry with all his might.

"Clang clang clang!"

The sounds of clashing weapons filled the air, sparks flew between the two men, reflecting the murderous intent in their eyes.

In the blink of an eye, the two had launched more than ten attacks, each one deadly.

More than ten moves passed in the blink of an eye, and Zhuge Dan was completely at a disadvantage.

His arms and wrists were sore and numb, his marksmanship slowed down, and each parry required him to withstand the immense force of Xianyu Xun's blade, gradually revealing his weaknesses.

"go to hell!"

Xianyu Xun seized the opening, roared, and his aura surged. His long sword, accompanied by a whistling wind, slashed down in a sharp arc of light.

The blow was swift and heavy; Zhuge Dan had no time to adjust his spear stance and was unable to counter it.

"puff!"

As the blade swept past, several deep, bone-revealing wounds were successively cut into Zhuge Dan's shoulders and arms, causing blood to gush out and making him groan in pain.

Before he could regain his footing, Xianyu Xun's most powerful strike came crashing down, aiming straight for his neck.

"not good!"

Zhuge Dan was terrified and hurriedly spurred his horse, turning it around to try and escape.

But it was too late; Xianyu Xun's long sword had already struck down like lightning.

"Crack!"

The sound of bones breaking was clearly audible. With a short, muffled groan, Zhuge Dan and his horse were cleaved in two, their bodies and blood crashing down.

A valiant general of the Han Dynasty thus perished on the battlefield.

When the Han soldiers saw their commander killed, their already wavering morale completely collapsed. They had no will to resist anymore, and they abandoned their armor and weapons, retreating in disarray.

Xianyu Xun raised his long sword, pointing it in the direction of the Han army's retreat, and shouted sharply:

"Liao soldiers, press your advantage! Kill them all, don't let a single one escape!"

The Liao soldiers were greatly encouraged and rushed towards the fleeing Han army like a tide, cutting down the enemy all the way and penetrating deep into the Han camp. Wherever they went, the Han army suffered countless casualties, and the chaos within the camp intensified.

At this moment, Xiao He was fast asleep in the central tent of the Han army, completely unaware that the Liao army would launch such a surprise night attack. The guards outside the tent were also negligent and failed to report the attack in time.

The faint sounds of battle coming from outside the tent did not wake him at first. Xiao He thought it was just a dream, turned over, and fell into a deep sleep again.

He was only pulled from his sleep by a sharp shout and the sound of the tent flap being suddenly lifted.

"Grand Marshal, something terrible has happened!"

Chen Dao rushed in, looking flustered.

Startled awake, Xiao He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and scolded impatiently:

"Uncle Zhi, what kind of behavior is this, shouting and yelling like this?"

"Your Excellency, the Grand Marshal, we absolutely must not sleep any longer!"

Chen Dao was so anxious that he stamped his feet and pointed outside the tent:
"Listen! There are sounds of battle everywhere outside! The Liao army has stormed into the camp!"

Xiao He frowned, his previous impatience instantly dissipating, and his sleepiness completely vanishing.

He listened intently and heard the clear, piercing sounds of battle cries and the clash of weapons outside the tent, which were already approaching the central army.

"Liao army? They actually have the strength to break through our camp defenses?"

Xiao He looked completely incredulous.

"Not a direct assault!"

Chen Dao quickly explained:

"I don't know how the Liao army infiltrated the camp. They first burned the hay storage area, causing chaos in the camp, and then coordinated with the army outside the city to break in!"

"Infiltrate the camp?"

Xiao He frowned even more deeply, his eyes filled with even more suspicion, and he demanded sharply:
"Although our camp's defenses were lax, it was by no means an easy place to infiltrate. How exactly did the Liao army get in?"

Chen Dao said with a mournful face, "This subordinate didn't know either! The enemy has already advanced into our heartland, and the situation is critical. Grand Marshal, please order a retreat immediately, or it will be too late!"

Xiao He's heart sank. Without asking any more questions, he jumped off the bed and rushed barefoot outside the tent.

Looking up, the scene before him sent a chill down his spine.

Flames soared into the sky along the western camp, thick smoke billowing and illuminating the entire night sky. Fires raged throughout the camp, and amidst the flames, soldiers fled and fought, creating chaos.

"What method did Gongsun Huang use to infiltrate my camp?"

Xiao He stood outside the tent, his brows furrowed with suspicion.

Just as he was deep in thought, Zhang Liao rode up at full speed, shouting:
"Grand Marshal, Liao general Xianyu Xun has breached the western camp, Zhuge Dan has been killed in battle, and the enemy is advancing towards the heart of the central army along the fire!"

These words struck Xiao He like a thunderbolt, sending a shiver down his spine.

With Zhuge Dan killed in battle and the western camp breached, the Liao army pressed forward relentlessly, and the situation became extremely precarious.

How exactly did the Liao army infiltrate?

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

Suddenly, his eyes narrowed, and all his doubts were resolved.

It must have been Gongsun Huang who sent people to dig a tunnel beforehand, one end leading directly to the Liao army's garrison outside the city, and the other end of which was hidden in a secret place within the camp.

In this way, the Liao army could sneak into the camp undetected, set fires at night to disrupt the morale of the troops, and then launch a general offensive in coordination with the army outside the city.

All of this was a deadly trap set by Gongsun Huang.

He had used this trick before.

After understanding the cause and effect, Xiao Fei did not panic; instead, a cold smile curled at the corner of her lips.
"That Gongsun Huang is quite capable; I underestimated him."

Looking at the approaching flames and sounds of battle, Zhang Liao asked urgently:

"Grand Marshal, things have come to this point, what should we do now?"

Xiao He's gaze sharpened as he swept over the chaotic camp, then he flicked his sleeve:

"Order the entire army to abandon their baggage and immediately retreat, regrouping fifteen li away!"

"Da Sima!"

Zhang Liao stepped forward hastily, his voice filled with resentment:

"Our army of 100,000 is being forced to abandon our camp and flee by this traitor Gongsun Huang? This humble general begs for a battle, and we will surely defeat the Liao army!"

Xiao He glanced at him, his expression indifferent:

"Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. The camp is in chaos and our supplies have been burned. Continuing to fight will only increase casualties. Retreat immediately!"

Military orders are absolute. Although Zhang Liao was unwilling, he dared not say anything. He could only grit his teeth, accept the order, turn around, and ride away, loudly relaying orders along the way to urge all units to retreat in an orderly manner.

The 100,000 Han soldiers, having shed their panic, and under the command of their generals, abandoned their armor and baggage and hastily withdrew from the camp under the cover of night.

As dawn broke, the fires in the Han camp gradually died down, and the sounds of fighting subsided.

This sudden night raid ended with the Han army abandoning their camp and fleeing. (End of Chapter)