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

The rubble from the collapsed cliff, carrying dust, rolled down, completely burying the cave entrance below, leaving only a pile of rubble.

"Someone, go and investigate immediately."

Gan Ning said in a deep voice, his gaze sweeping over the scouts beside him.

This opening is crucial to the outcome of the battle; it is essential to confirm that it is completely sealed off to eliminate any potential risks.

Several scouts received the order and rushed towards the collapsed area.

Upon reaching the edge of the cliff, they bent down and carefully climbed down, stepping on the loose rocks, and steadily made their way to the cave entrance by using the crevices in the rocks.

A moment later, the scouts completed their confirmation and immediately returned along the same route, soon reporting back to Gan Ning.

"Reporting to the general, the cave entrance has been completely blocked by rubble, with no gaps for passage."

The scouts spoke with certainty.

Gan Ning nodded and immediately made arrangements:
“Leave a few men here to keep watch and keep a close eye on any movement. Report any unusual activity immediately. The rest of you will come back to camp with me. We will rest and recuperate today.”

"At daybreak tomorrow, the entire army will set off to support Deng Shizai."

After setting up the scouts, Gan Ning mounted his horse and led the main force at breakneck speed toward the camp.

By the time everyone arrived, dusk had already fallen, and smoke was beginning to rise from the camp.

After entering the tent, Gan Ning dismissed his attendants and quickly wrote a short letter detailing the sealing of the cave entrance and the rendezvous plan. He then summoned his trusted confidant and ordered him to deliver it to Deng Ai's army overnight.

...

The next morning, the east began to lighten with the first light of dawn.

Deng Ai had just finished washing up and was reaching for the armor on the rack when an urgent report came from outside the tent.

"What's the matter?"

Deng Ai did not stop.

"Reporting to the general, General Gan Xingba has sent a scout with a letter to the camp."

The guards outside the tent responded.

"Bring it in."

The guards withdrew in response, and a moment later led Gan Ning's scouts into the tent.

The scout stepped forward, holding the letter in both hands:

"General Deng, this is a letter written by my general himself."

Deng Ai took the letter, opened the envelope and read it, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

Then he looked up at the newcomer and said gently:
"You must be tired from your journey. Go and rest first, and we'll talk later."

After the guards led the scouts away, Deng Ai immediately issued an order to summon all the generals in the army for a meeting.

Before long, all the generals gathered in the tent and stood in order.

Holding the letter, Deng Ai announced to the public:
"General Gan's plan has succeeded. The water source at Huyang has been sealed off, cutting off the enemy's water supply."

Upon hearing this, all the generals in the tent showed joy on their faces and began to whisper among themselves.

Deng Ai raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet, and continued:

"General Gan will lead his troops to join us today. He will issue the order to immediately reorganize the troops and launch another fierce attack on Huyang City to blunt their morale."

"Here!"

All the generals responded in unison.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, on the training ground of the Han army camp, the soldiers, clad in armor and wielding weapons, stood in neat formation, their morale soaring.

Deng Ai rode his horse to the high platform, his gaze sweeping over the entire army, and loudly encouraged them:
"General Gan's plan has succeeded. He will join our army today. In this battle, we have the advantage of timing, terrain, and popular support. We will surely capture Huyang in three days at most!"

As soon as he finished speaking, thunderous shouts erupted in the training ground.

Deng Ai drew his sword, pointed it forward, and said loudly:

"All troops prepare for battle! Attack Huyang City!"

Having said that, he spurred his horse and rode out of the camp first.

The army followed closely behind, banners fluttering, the sound of horses' hooves shaking the earth, advancing at full speed towards Huyang City…

Inside Huyang City, Liao army sentries saw the Han army approaching from afar and immediately shouted a warning, and the sound of urgent gongs rang out from the city walls.

Upon hearing the commotion, the garrison rushed up the city wall, and the archers drew their bows and took their positions.

Every few feet, a giant crossbow was set up, with arrows nocked and the dark muzzles pointing directly at the Han army outside the city, indicating a heavily fortified defense.

The Han army stopped a hundred paces from the city gate, forming a standoff with the Liao army.

Deng Ai reined in his horse and turned to instruct his adjutant beside him:
"Go to the city gates again and persuade them to surrender, explaining the advantages and disadvantages."

The lieutenant accepted the order, rode alone to the city gate, and shouted:
"Listen up, Liao soldiers in the city! Your reinforcements are hopeless. Surrender now and we will spare your lives. If you insist on resisting, you will only face death!"

Upon hearing this, General Meng Quan on the city wall angrily retorted:

"Stop with your sweet talk! Our reinforcements will arrive in no time, and then you will be attacked from both sides and never return!"

"Stubborn fools, you've only brought this upon yourselves. Don't blame my general for being ruthless!"

The Han army's deputy general said coldly, then turned his horse around and returned to the Han army's formation.

"General, the Liao army refuses to surrender and is arrogant."

The lieutenant reported the facts.

A cold glint flashed in Deng Ai's eyes, and he said in a deep voice:
"Since they won't listen to reason, let's go for the punishment!"

He raised his longsword high and gave a stern order:

"All troops attack!"

With a command given, the Han soldiers charged forward bravely, and the siege began once again.

The Liao army on the walls of Huyang City today is completely different from yesterday.

Perhaps knowing that their lives depended on the city, the soldiers were all red-eyed, fighting with all their might to resist the Han army's offensive. Their clashes revealed a fierce and ruthless spirit.

The Han army's morale was also high, and their offensive became increasingly rapid. The soldiers were all filled with confidence.

Within three to five days, Huyang City will surely fall, and then it will be time for a celebration of rewarding those who have contributed.

Faced with the Han army's relentless attacks, the Liao army dared not slacken in the slightest, focusing all their efforts on a desperate counterattack. The sounds of fighting and clashing weapons echoed from the city walls for a long time.

In the past, when the Han army attacked a city, they would first use siege ladders and battering rams, and once a breach was made, they would send soldiers to scale the walls and seize the gate. However, although the Han army's offensive was fierce, they remained at the foot of the city walls and showed no intention of scaling them.

"Something's not right. The Han army's fighting style is very unusual."

The defending general, Meng Quan, stood atop the city wall, his brow furrowed as he gazed at the charging Han army below, his mind filled with doubts.

He stared at the Han army's movements, scrutinizing them repeatedly, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what was strange about them; a sense of unease began to creep in.

The fierce battle lasted for an hour. As the sun rose higher, the city walls of Huyang City were already riddled with holes, with bricks and stones falling off, arrow slits everywhere, and cracks appearing in many places, making them look even more dilapidated.

Deng Ai looked up at the sky and saw that it was almost noon, so he immediately ordered the retreat.

When the Liao army on the city wall saw the Han army slowly retreating, they were overjoyed, and their cheers briefly drowned out the remaining force of the battle.

But when his gaze swept over the corpses of his fallen comrades beside him, and touched the scars covering the walls and the mess under his feet, that joy vanished in an instant.

Meng Quan suppressed his emotions and loudly gave the order:

"Everyone is to be divided into two groups. One group will immediately repair the city wall and make sure to plug the gaps and reinforce the wall."

"The other group goes to eat first, and comes back to relieve you after the meal!"

"Remember, the city walls are our last line of defense. Once they fall, Huyang will be lost, and we will all die without a burial place!"

After the order was given, the Liao soldiers began to perform their duties and get busy.

Meng Quan stood alone on the city wall, looking in the direction of the Han army's retreat, and sighed heavily, his eyes filled with helplessness.

The Han army's unusual behavior today kept him on his toes...

On the other side, Deng Ai led his troops back to the camp. As soon as he entered the central command tent, he saw Gan Ning sitting upright inside, playing with the sword at his waist.

"Brother Xingba!"

Deng Ai's tone was full of enthusiasm.

“Shi Zai”.

Gan Ning raised his eyes, stood up, and responded with a cupped-hand salute.

After Deng Ai sat down, he immediately asked:

"Brother Xingba, is the Grand Marshal's plan sound? Is there any movement from the Dark River?"

Gan Ning spoke with certainty, and said with a smile: "The underground river upstream of Huyang has been completely blocked by our army, and the river channel has been filled in tightly. The city's water supply is only supported by stored grain and water. Within three days, there will be a water shortage."

"Hahaha! That's great!"

Deng Ai clapped his hands and laughed, his eyes gleaming with shrewdness:
"In this way, our army can avoid a siege and take Huyang with minimal casualties. Men, pass on my order: slaughter pigs and sheep tonight to reward the entire army!"

He turned to look at Gan Ning and said gently:
"Xingba, you have been leading your troops on a long journey for several days. Go to your tent and rest tonight. We will have a good drink tonight."

"Alright, I'll go and rest first, and then meet with Shizai again in the evening."

Gan Ning bowed and took his leave, then turned and departed.

After Gan Ning left, Deng Ai immediately took out pen and ink, wrote a letter detailing the matter of blocking the underground river and the plan to break through the city, summoned his trusted scouts, and ordered them to deliver it to Grand Marshal Xiao He's army overnight.

After receiving the order, the scout carefully put away the letter and sped off.

After watching the scouts depart, Deng Ai immediately summoned his generals and gave the following order:

"Starting tomorrow, the entire army will switch to fire attacks. Quickly prepare supplies such as oil, firewood, and rockets. Make sure you have enough, and there must be no mistakes!"

"Here!"

The generals accepted the order.

Deng Ai walked to the hanging map, his gaze falling on the location of Huyang City. He lightly tapped the map with his fingertip and muttered to himself:
"I wonder how many more days the water in the city can last..."

As dusk fell, the Han army camp was brightly lit, and the aroma of wine and meat filled the air.

The soldiers sat together, drinking wine from large bowls and eating meat heartily, their laughter and chatter rising and falling.

Inside the central command tent, Deng Ai and Gan Ning sat facing each other, with a table laden with delicacies and two jugs of strong liquor placed between them.

Deng Ai raised his wine cup and rose to toast Gan Ning:
"Brother Xingba, the successful interception of the underground river is all thanks to your personal command and coordination. Huyang will be breached in a few days. This cup is a toast to you!"

Gan Ning quickly stood up to return the greeting, his tone humble:
"Shi Zai, you flatter me. I was merely following the Grand Marshal's plan and it cannot be considered a great achievement. This first cup should be offered to the Grand Marshal to thank him for his strategic planning and decisive victory."

"That's right! We should respect the Grand Marshal!"

Deng Ai agreed wholeheartedly, and together with Gan Ning, they raised their cups in a toast towards the direction of Xiao He's garrison.

Then the two of them tilted their heads back at the same time and drank the wine in one gulp.

Deng Ai poured Gan Ning another full glass of wine and said with a smile:

"Brother Xingba, you mustn't refuse this second cup again. Consider it my way of thanking you for your great help!"

Gan Ning laughed loudly and raised his wine cup:
"Very well, Shi Zai, I cannot refuse your kind invitation, it would be impolite of me to decline!"

After saying that, he drank it all in one gulp.

"Brother, you have a good capacity for alcohol. Come, come, eat some food. Don't drink on an empty stomach."

Deng Ai picked up a piece of tender mutton and put it into Gan Ning's bowl.

"Please, my dear brother."

Gan Ning returned the gesture with a chopstick, and the two exchanged toasts, the atmosphere inside the tent warm and cozy…

The scene inside Huyang City was completely different from the jubilation in the Han army camp; only busyness and anxiety remained.

On the city wall, the Liao soldiers, despite their exhaustion, wielded tools to repair the wall, chiseling stones, moving bricks, and mixing mud. They dared not stop, and every crack and arrow hole had to be filled and reinforced as quickly as possible.

Before long, it was dinnertime. The cooks pushed the meager meal up the city wall, and the soldiers hurriedly picked up their rations, ate a few bites with cold water, and didn't even bother to chew them properly. They put down their bowls and chopsticks and immediately returned to their work stations to continue repairing the fortifications.

As dusk deepened, torches on the city walls were lit one by one.

Meng Quan stood atop the city wall, gazing at the devastated ruins, his brow furrowed, and he sighed heavily.

According to past warfare patterns, when the Han army attacked a city, their goal was always to scale the city walls and break through the defenses, using ladders and battering rams to tear through the defenses and capture the city gate.

But now the Han army's offensive is entirely focused on the surface of the city wall, without scaling the walls or rushing through the gates, they just keep bombarding the wall.

This unusual playing style left Meng Quan completely baffled.

What unsettled him even more was that the Han army seemed to be precisely controlling the situation.

Although the city wall was badly damaged, it still had room for repairs, allowing the Liao army to barely manage to rebuild it before dawn the next day.

Such a measured and controlled attack is no ordinary siege tactic.

What secret scheme is the Han army plotting?

Meng Quan muttered to himself, his eyes filled with confusion.

This passive and defensive situation made him uneasy, and he always felt that a bigger conspiracy was brewing.

"General, it's getting late. Let's go back to our tents and rest. Tomorrow will surely be another fierce battle, so we need to be well-rested."

The lieutenant stepped forward and whispered words of advice.

"How can I possibly find peace of mind to rest in this situation?"

Meng Quan waved his hand, his tone full of exhaustion and helplessness, his gaze still fixed on the direction of the Han army camp outside the city.

"General, you are the backbone of the entire army. If you collapse, the soldiers will have no one to rely on, and Huyang City will truly be lost."

The lieutenant's tone was somewhat pleading.

Meng Quan remained silent for a moment, then, knowing that what the deputy general said was true, nodded.

"Alright, I understand. I'll go back to my tent to rest now."

After saying that, he turned and walked down the city wall.

The deputy general remained on the city wall to continue supervising the progress of the fortification repairs, not daring to slacken his efforts in the slightest…

The next morning, as the east began to lighten and the morning light dispelled the chill of the night, the first rays of dawn dispelled the cold of the night.

Meng Quan had already gotten up and climbed the city wall alone, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Han army camp, his expression solemn.

"General, it's windy this morning, please wear more clothes so you don't catch a cold."

The lieutenant approached, holding a cloak.

Meng Quan didn't turn around, but asked in a deep voice:
"Tell me, what method will the Han army use to attack today?"

The lieutenant pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said:

"This humble general is truly unsure. The Han army has been attacking in shifts for days, and our army has been repairing the city walls day and night. The soldiers are already exhausted. If this continues, even if the Han army doesn't launch a fierce attack, we will all eventually give out."

"Yes, we can't afford to wait any longer."

Meng Quan sighed deeply:
"But why is the Han army not in a hurry to break through the city, and instead just dragging things out like this?"

He fell into deep thought again, his brow furrowed with even greater confusion.

After a moment, Meng Quan waved his hand and said to his deputy:

"Go and give the order for the soldiers to go down and rest, leaving only a few people on the city wall to keep watch and closely monitor the movements of the Han army."

"General, isn't this too dangerous? What if the Han army suddenly attacks and our troops don't have time to react?"

The lieutenant immediately looked worried and hurriedly tried to dissuade him.

"It doesn't matter."

Meng Quan's tone was tired but firm:
"The soldiers have been working day and night, repairing walls and defending against the enemy. They are all exhausted. Let them rest for a while and catch their breath."

"Yes, Your subordinate will make the arrangements immediately."

Although the deputy general still had reservations, he dared not disobey the military order and immediately turned around to relay the order.

Before long, the soldiers on the city wall withdrew one after another, leaving only Meng Quan and a few others to guard the city.

Meng Quan looked at the people beside him and asked:
Aren't you going to rest?

Several lieutenants simultaneously puffed out their chests, their tone proud and assertive:
"General, no need. We took turns resting last night and can still hold on. We are willing to stay with you on the city wall."

A warm feeling swept through Meng Quan's heart, but it also grew heavier.

This kind of forced persistence is ultimately not a long-term solution...

In the Han army camp outside Huyang City, a scout broke into the central command tent and reported to Deng Ai and Gan Ning:
"Reporting to the general, my investigation revealed that the Liao army did not rest all night and was repairing the city walls. Just now, there was a change in the movement on the city walls, and a large number of Liao soldiers have withdrawn, leaving less than thirty men to guard and keep watch."

A sinister smile curled at the corner of Deng Ai's lips as he sneered:
"Since they are tired, I will give them some time to rest."

Gan Ning smiled mysteriously and echoed:
"That's right. Our goal this time is not to rush to take the city. The key is to exhaust their strength. Letting them rest for a while is just to let them enjoy this last bit of peace."

A cold glint flashed in Deng Ai's eyes, and he immediately gave the order:

"Pass on my order: the entire army shall rest and recuperate in place, and then launch an attack on the city at 11 PM."

"Here!"

The generals received their orders, and the commands were relayed throughout the army. (End of Chapter)