He had just been reborn when he was imprisoned by his nemesis, the Empress?

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chenji's smile vanished instantly. He snorted coldly, ceasing his mockery, and instead asked in a deep voice...

"So, what are General Liu Hong's plans next?"

Liu Hong raised his hand and touched his round cheek, his brows furrowing tightly as he spoke with a troubled expression.

"What else can we do? Stop the third army from advancing, and then have the two attacked armies join up with the third army."

"If we are too late, and Xu Yi leads his troops to intercept and kill us, this campaign to quell the rebellion will likely suffer another crushing defeat."

As soon as he finished speaking, he hurriedly took out a communication jade pendant from his robes. Just as he was about to give the order, he was stopped by a voice.

"No, I think we should take a gamble. Following the general's line of thinking will only put us on the defensive."

As soon as he finished speaking, the curtain was gently lifted, and an old man stepped out.

Liu Hong frowned, looking at the old man who walked in, his tone carrying a hint of displeasure and doubt.

"Mr. Sima, now that both armies have been attacked and suffered heavy losses, morale is low. If we don't regroup, are we just going to wait for Xu Yi to send troops to attack and die?"

To Liu Hong's utter surprise, Sima Wen slowly nodded at him.

"That's exactly right."

Liu Hong's expression changed drastically. He slammed his fist on the table, stood up abruptly, and pointed at Sima Wen's nose, shouting angrily.

"Sima Wen! Are you committing treason?!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Chenji, who was sitting quietly to the side, also frowned deeply.

Sima Wen gently shook his head, his expression remaining calm, unaffected by Liu Hong's anger. He raised his hand to smooth out the wrinkles on his sleeve.

"General, you are mistaken. I am devoted to the country and have no intention of betraying it."

"Only by taking risks can we find a glimmer of hope in this situation."

Liu Hong's anger subsided slightly, but his face was still full of doubt, his brows furrowed.

How to win in a risky situation?

Sima Wen walked slowly to the sand table, his withered fingertips tracing the surface.

"General, please consider this."

"Our troops were hastily ordered to regroup, and after such a long journey, morale was bound to be low and their spirits to plummet. Although things are already in disarray."

"At that time, Xu Yi will definitely send troops to intercept and kill us halfway. Our army will be defeated without a doubt."

"We do need to meet up, but we can't actually meet up."

Sima Wen raised his eyes and looked at the two of them.

"First, have the two attacked armies deliberately retreat in the opposite direction to the third army, pretending to take a detour to rendezvous with it."

"This is to mislead Xu Yi and make him send men to pursue us."

Sima Wen's gaze fell on Liu Hong and Zhang Chenji, his tone carrying a hint of admonition.

"Meanwhile, the General and His Highness, along with the third army that had not been attacked by the beast tide, also pretended to retreat..."

His voice suddenly rose, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes, as he spoke, word by word.

"Then, lead your elite troops, secretly take a detour, and head straight for Xu Yi's main camp!"

After hearing this, Liu Hong rubbed his face, his doubts gradually dissipating, and a hint of approval appeared in his eyes, but he still had some concerns.

"But if the raid on the main camp fails, we will have no way out."

Upon hearing this, Sima Wen sighed softly, his tone tinged with helplessness.

"There's no turning back now; this beast tide is far too bizarre..."

......

At this moment, inside Xu Yi's main tent.

Xu Yi held the white fox up with both hands and examined it carefully.

He always felt that these three beast tides were related to...this little guy.

Bai Li didn't understand why Xu Yi kept holding her, so she first rubbed her soft little head against his palm.

Then he tilted his head back and licked Xu Yi's chin with a smile.

The fluffy tail brushed lightly against Xu Yi's wrist, carrying a hint of ingratiation.

Xu Yi felt ticklish from its licking and couldn't help but lean back, waving his hand with a smile.

"Stop, stop, stop licking! It's so itchy!"

He pulled Bai Li into his arms, gently scratched its chin with his fingertips, and watched it squint its eyes in comfort, then couldn't help but ask...

"Little Bai Li, are you really just an ordinary fox?"

Bai Li looked at him blankly and shook her head.

"General!"

Before he arrived, his voice preceded his arrival; Lü Chu strode into the tent.

He handed the military report to Xu Yi and said in a deep voice...

"The scouts report that the two attacked armies are retreating in opposite directions."

"It seems they want to take a detour and merge with the third route."

"Should we seize this opportunity?"

Xu Yi took the military report, quickly glanced at its contents, and spoke with a hint of doubt.

"Meeting by taking a detour...could it be a trap?"

"Lü Chu".

After a moment of contemplation, Xu Yi suddenly spoke.

"Have the scouts detected any movements of the third army?"

Lü Chu quickly cupped his hands in reply.

"They've also withdrawn; it seems they're going to join up with those two armies."

Based on memory, this does indeed resemble Liu Hong's conservative tactics: steady and cautious, never taking risks, and only thinking about preserving his own forces.

However, given Liu Hong's fighting style, he probably wouldn't allow the unattacked teams to retreat as well.

He would only instruct the attacked armies to voluntarily merge with the unattacked armies.

Xu Yi looked up at Lü Chu

"Pass down the order: most of the troops shall remain in place and strengthen their defenses. No one is to send troops to pursue them without authorization."

He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes.

"Send only a small number of cavalry to feign pursuit, but remember not to go too far in; just follow from a distance."

Lu Chu was stunned for a moment, his excitement fading slightly, and he spoke with a look of utter confusion.

"General? This is a golden opportunity! It would be a shame to miss it!"

Xu Yi shook his head

"It might not be an opportunity; it could very well be a trap."

We've been having such a smooth run lately; it's precisely in times like these that we need to be cautious and not let our guard down.

Although Lü Chu still felt regretful, he still respectfully clasped his hands and accepted the order.

"Your humble servant obeys."

Just as he turned to leave, Xu Yi suddenly spoke up to stop him: "Wait, never mind."

Lu Chu paused, turned around to look at him, his eyes full of doubt.

Xu Yi's gaze deepened. After a moment of contemplation, he said in a low voice...

"Don't leave the majority of your troops standing still."

"Have the most elite formation masters immediately set up the highest-level concealment formation around the main camp."

"Then have all the elite soldiers hide within the formation, ready to be deployed at any time."

"The rest of you, remain on guard as before."

Lü Chu nodded

"This subordinate will take care of it immediately."

He always felt that the enemy's target was his main camp.

After Lü Chu withdrew, the camp returned to calm.

Xu Yi's gaze returned to Bai Li on his shoulder, and he began to study her again.

He reached out his finger and gently poked Bai Li's little belly.

This caused Bai Li to let out a soft, sweet whimper, and she gently swatted his fingers away with her little paws.

Xu Yi chuckled, scratched its paw with his fingertip again, and asked in a low voice.

"Have you been helping me all along, White Fox?"

Bai Li blinked, as if she didn't understand, and just stuck out her tongue to lick her paw.

Then she snuggled against Xu Yi, making him feel itchy.

Xu Yi shook his head helplessly and hugged it into his arms.

......

Time passed slowly, and the night outside the tent grew deeper and deeper.

About two hours later, just as Xu Yi was leaning against the couch, about to close his eyes, a series of deafening explosions suddenly came from afar:

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The ground shook violently, and even the roof of the main camp tents was covered in falling dust.

"not good!"

Xu Yi suddenly opened his eyes, his heart skipped a beat, and he knew something was wrong.

Without a second thought, he placed Bai Li on the bed and reached out to rub its head.

"Stay here and don't wander off."