Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

Li Jinglong smiled faintly:

"Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. So what? Do I have to act like a coward, like a dog that has lost its home?"

Xing Daorong was puzzled. Wasn't that right? If you're going to pretend, at least put on an act, right?

"Look at your ignorant and poor appearance."

Li Jinglong felt he needed to teach this little brother a lesson; he didn't know anything.

Have you read any history books?

"Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, fought against Xiang Yu for the empire, but suffered repeated defeats."

"In the Battle of Pengcheng, the father was captured, and the son was almost abandoned. During the siege of Xingyang, Ji Xin died in his place. In the rout at Chenggao, he barely escaped with his life. However, in the Battle of Gaixia, the Chu army sang songs of victory from all sides, Xiang Yu was beheaded, and thus the world was unified!"

"Liu Bei, the first ruler of Shu, rose from humble beginnings and suffered many defeats in battle."

"He was attacked by Lü Bu, lost Xuzhou, was defeated by Cao Cao, abandoned Xinye, fled to Dangyang, but after the fire at Chibi, he joined forces with Sun Quan and defeated Cao Cao, finally forming a tripartite balance of power."

Xing Daorong understood these things.

I think Li Jinglong is exaggerating his abilities way too much.

What kind of person is he to dare use these two gentlemen as examples to compare himself to?

"He suffered repeated defeats but never gave up, and finally changed his fate with a single victory. Hence the saying: 'Those who are good at losing do not perish,' and I, Li Jinglong, am such a person."

"That's quite obvious..." Xing Daorong nodded emphatically.

"Old Xing, let me teach you another principle: the more defeats you suffer, the more experience you gain; the more experience you gain, the fewer mistakes you make; the fewer mistakes you make, the more you win."

"Therefore, the more you lose, the more you win."

Xing Daorong scratched his head: "General Li, following you, I feel like I've truly found my place in this life..."

Study hard.

"Does the general have a plan to defeat the enemy?"

"Nonsense, I was confident all along. Now that Wang Yuanji thinks he has won so easily, he will definitely look down on you and me."

Xing Daorong shook his head: "General, you are the commander-in-chief, so they probably just look down on you."

Li Jinglong gave him a big competition.

"It's all the same. In short, he will underestimate his enemy, and an arrogant army is bound to be defeated. That's what military strategy says. Do you agree?"

"..."

Xing Daorong was impressed. Li Jinglong had such a silver tongue; he could make even black seem white. It was a waste of his talent that he didn't become a eunuch in the palace.

"Old Xing, do you know what His Majesty relied on to win so many battles?"

Since his debut, Chen Shao has first defeated the Northern Barbarians, then conquered Weibo, launched a night raid on Lulong, and decisively defeated the Yellow Turbans. Many versions of his deeds have been passed down, and he is known to almost everyone in the world.

Xing Daorong was from Hedong, and I had heard of him to some extent.

What reached his ears, however, was...

He blurted out without hesitation:

"They rely on bragging and charlatanry."

Li Jinglong was taken aback, then burst into laughter:

"Your vision is too narrow!"

"Old Xing, you're either a lowly soldier or His Majesty is the emperor. Your perspective is far too narrow. Open your eyes!"

"What does 'playing tricks' mean? If you use it well and win, then it's called destiny!"

"Can ordinary people learn skills like summoning wind and rain, drawing lightning, and having the protection of the Six Ding and Six Jia?"

"If you dare to spout nonsense again, even if His Majesty doesn't behead you, this general will."

Xing Daorong covered the back of his head, muttering with a wronged expression:

"What does this have to do with the plan you mentioned?"

Li Jinglong's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Listen.

"Wang Yuanji's army will pursue us into this valley tomorrow, so we should ambush them in advance."

"And you and me..."

Li Jinglong smiled enigmatically:

"Of course, we have to sing the Empty City Stratagem."

"You lead a hundred men to hold the line. You have your brothers take off their shirts, turn their backs to the army from the east of the river, bend over and lower their heads, and present their buttocks to the enemy."

"???" Xing Daorong was completely dumbfounded. What was this?

Looking for a leak?

"I knew you wouldn't understand. In Taoist magic, this is called the Yin Gate Formation, which uses filth to defeat the enemy."

"And I followed His Majesty's example and performed the ritual."

"When the enemy moves, I will scatter beans to create soldiers, and then summon the Six Ding and Six Jia."

"You know the Hedong army best. Most of them are illiterate and believe in this stuff. From a distance, they'll see the stitches are all messed up. Then we can launch a surprise attack, and our great cause will be accomplished!"

"Did you understand?"

Xing Daorong was completely confused.

All I could see in Li Jinglong was four words: a second-hand charlatan!

"Does General Li also know those things His Majesty knows?"

Li Jinglong chuckled and patted Xing Daorong on the shoulder:

"Of course I don't know, but they don't know that."

"Everyone in the capital knows that His Majesty is able to command the wind and rain and is invulnerable to swords and spears. As His Majesty's most trusted confidant, they naturally think that I have inherited his true skills."

"Whether it works or not is not important, as long as it looks convincing."

......

Wang Yuanji's army advanced all the way, banners obscuring the sky and horses raising dust.

He rode on horseback, walking side by side with Chen Jing.

Wang Yuanji pointed ahead with his riding whip and laughed:

"After crossing this ridge, it will be half a day's walk to Liaocheng."

"That brat Chen Shao is probably holed up on the city wall right now, setting up defenses. Sending a clown like Li Jinglong to obstruct us is utterly ridiculous."

Chen Jing straightened his back on horseback and nodded in a serious manner.

Now, he is much more restrained than before, and his mind is already repeatedly recalling the imperial techniques he once saw.

Be patient and avoid haste; think things through carefully; and don't let your emotions show.

"General Jie's military strategy is divine; Chen Shao was unlucky to encounter you."

The two looked at each other and burst into laughter.

Just then, a fast horse came galloping from the front.

The scout dismounted, knelt on one knee, and presented a letter:

"General, Li Jinglong has sent another messenger to challenge us to a decisive battle at Suihan Valley."

Wang Yuanji didn't even bother to answer the letter, waving his hand to dismiss the scout.

Chen Jing's eyes darted around, and he said in a deliberately deep voice:

"General, do not underestimate the enemy. Chen Shao has always been cunning. Li Jinglong dared to challenge us repeatedly, so he may have set up an ambush in the valley."

Wang Yuanji laughed heartily, his voice echoing across the surrounding area.

"Your Highness, I have fought in wars all my life and I understand one thing best."

"In the face of absolute strength, any conspiracy or trickery is a joke."

"If Li Jinglong really has an ambush, it saves us the trouble of going to Liaocheng to find him."

Chen Jing deliberately made himself appear wiser, and seeing his certainty, he nodded slightly.

"It's good that the commander-in-chief knows what's going on."

But then he thought of something else.

"General, will they use fire? I heard that when Chen Shao destroyed Lulong, he led his army into the valley and attacked it with fire."

"Your Highness, rest assured. I know the terrain and landscape of the Suihangu area like the back of my hand. There are sheer cliffs on both sides and no vegetation in the valley. Where would a fire attack come from?"

The army continued its march and entered Suihangu in the afternoon.

The valley path wasn't too narrow, enough for a dozen or so riders to pass side by side. The mountain walls on both sides were bare, without a single decent tree in sight.

Ahead, a group of people were blocking the way.

In the front row was Xing Daorong, leading about a hundred people lined up in a row.

Everyone had white ash smeared on their faces, their upper bodies were bare, and crooked runes were drawn on their chests with cinnabar.

Not far behind them.

Li Jinglong was wearing a Taoist robe and standing on a makeshift altar.

Standing with a sword in hand!