Chapter 231: A plan within a plan? Split into three groups?

"Don't want to capture Runan City?"

Liu Bei said solemnly: "What is his purpose?"

Sun Qian smiled bitterly and said, "The elite cavalry under Ye Feng's command is invincible in the world. As long as we destroy two of the armies coming to support us, Qingzhou, Yanzhou, and Xuzhou can be obtained without a fight."

"Isn't this faster than a direct attack?"

Liu Bei's face changed drastically. He paced back and forth on the city wall for a long time, then sighed, "Our request for help actually helped Ye Feng invisibly."

"How should we respond?"

Xu You, who had just arrived, was silent for a while: "When Ye Feng takes action, launch a counterattack."

"Take the initiative to fight a decisive battle outside the city."

"Taking the initiative to fight?"

Liu Bei smiled bitterly and said, "Do we have a chance of winning?"

"Outside Hulao Pass, Yuan Shao has the best of both worlds. Hundreds of thousands of people surrounded Ye Feng, but he still failed to completely destroy him. Now there are 100,000 troops outside the city. Even if Ye Feng takes away half of them, there will still be 50,000 people. Can we be their opponent?"

Xu You said calmly: "Even if we can't win, we have to fight. This is our only chance."

"Ten days later, Liu Yao's 30,000 troops and Liu Biao's 30,000 troops should arrive outside the city. That will be the time for the decisive battle."

“We can’t avoid it.”

Liu Bei's face was uncertain. He pondered for a while and nodded slowly.
The night was dark.

Ye Feng’s camp outside the city was bustling with activity.

Today, they climbed the city wall in one attack and almost captured Runan, which boosted the morale of the entire army. In addition, Ye Feng rewarded the three armies with a lot of good things, so ordinary soldiers could even have a piece of meat, and the atmosphere naturally became even more lively.

In the handsome tent.

The generals were in high spirits as they drank Thousand Days of Drunk.

"If the lord hadn't wanted to lower the banner, we would have been able to take Runan today."

"Liu Bei's defeated soldiers are numerous, but they are just a mob. How can they resist the fierce and powerful army under our command?"

"Yes, it was the other princes who provided Liu Bei with a wall. Otherwise, the day the city fell would be the day his head would be chopped off."

While he was bragging, someone said, "Meet the lord."

All the generals' attention was drawn to him. When they saw Ye Feng entering the tent, they all stood up and saluted.

Ye Feng walked to the commander's seat and waved his hand: "Everyone, stand up. Today's battle was well fought. The pressure on Liu Bei was not small. The loss was lower than I expected."

"Continue to attack Runan at this pace. Apply enough pressure, but don't break the city."

"Tonight I will lead 20,000 elite soldiers and quietly leave. After I leave, all major military affairs will be decided by military advisor Guo Jia."

"You all need to listen to his control."

"Here!!"

All the generals agreed in unison. Guo Jia also stood up and said a few humble words, and they drank a cup together.

Before he put down his wine glass, Guan Yu couldn't wait to speak: "My Lord, who are you going to lead to the ambush this time? Who are you going to kill?"

"I am willing to fight and follow you, my lord, through fire and water, at all costs."

Zhang Liao glared at Guan Yu and said, "Yun Chang, you are moving too fast, aren't you?"

"You rely on the favor of the lord and don't even give us a chance?"

"I am willing to fight and follow you, my lord, and listen to your teachings day and night."

As soon as Zhang Liao finished speaking, Ji Ling and Zhao Yun also asked for a fight.

The four of them all knew that there was not much meat to eat in Runan. If they wanted to eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks, they had to follow Ye Feng.

Ye Feng waved his hands around and dismissed all his personal soldiers.

He lowered his voice and asked, "Who do you think is the best person to attack?"

"Whoever guesses correctly can follow me to ambush."

All the generals' heads turned rapidly. Suddenly, Guan Yu's eyes lit up and he said softly, "Yanzhou is occupied by Cao Cao, and Qingzhou is in the northeast corner. If he wants to provide support, he can only go all the way south."

"Jiuli Mountain and Mangdang Mountain are the places he must pass through."

"If you want to eat meat, you should pick the big pieces. He and Tao Qian's troops will join forces, about 80,000 troops. We just need to devour this coalition army."

"Yanzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou, the three states almost don't need to fight big battles anymore."

"This move can be described as maximizing benefits."

"As for Liu Biao of Jingxiang, Liu Yao of Yangzhou, and Sun Jian of Jiangdong, they are all in the south. Even if we destroy their main forces, we cannot take over their territory from thousands of miles away."

"When we get there, there will be tens of thousands of troops, so the benefits won't be the greatest."

Ye Feng nodded slightly, and raised the corner of his mouth: "What do you mean?"

Zhang Liao looked at Guan Yu with resentment. He thought the same in his heart, but Guan Yu had already said it, so what could he say?
Wouldn't it be repeating what others have said if I keep saying this?

The two nodded and had no other objections.

But Zhao Yun, who had not spoken for a long time, stepped forward and said, "General Guan's suggestion is correct. If we ambush Cao Cao, Tao Qian will gain the most."

"But since Cao Cao led his troops southward and entered Xuzhou, he did not act rashly, which proves that he was already on guard."

"If we ambush now, I'm afraid we won't be able to wait for Cao Cao and Tao Qian's main forces to arrive."

Ye Feng's eyes lit up, and he said with interest: "Zilong, continue."

Zhao Yun took a long breath, his eyes flashing with determination: "Cao Cao is a great hero of the time. If we want to ambush him successfully, the key is to make him believe that we have no intention of attacking him."

"And this requires a feint to the east and an attack to the west, with two ambushes."

"Ambush all the way ahead. No matter if we win or lose, we must make a noise. We must keep our troops in place and wait for Cao Cao to fall into the trap."

Ye Feng and Guo Jia looked at Zhao Yun with approval.

The other generals were also thoughtful.

"Who are you ambushing?"

Ye Feng asked.

Zhao Yun pointed to the southeast sky and said, "Liu Yao's main force came out of Shouchun. Although they are the closest, they are the slowest in marching. They must be worried about becoming victims."

"It would be better to operate on him."

Ye Feng clapped his hands and praised: "It seems that you have grown a lot in the six months of leading the troops alone."

"You have considered the problem comprehensively. Before, you were at most a general, but now you can be a commander."

"Well said."

"Zhao Yun, listen to my orders."

"You lead 20,000 soldiers to ambush Liu Yao tonight. You must report your movements within ten days, and you must win decisively."

Zhao Yun's eyes sparkled, and he clasped his fists and said excitedly, "I obey your orders!"

Guan Yu looked at Zhao Yun, who was full of vigor and vitality, and his russet face was full of bitterness.

"Guan Yu, listen to my orders."

"You and Ji Ling continue to practice attack and defense outside the city, and wait until Liu Bei can't help but attack you."

"Zhang Liao muster 20,000 elite soldiers and leave with me tonight."

After making all the arrangements, Ye Feng raised the wine glass in his hand and said, "We have divided our troops into three groups. Each group is under great pressure, especially General Guan and General Ji Ling. You two are facing not only Liu Bei's troops in the city, but also Liu Biao's elite troops coming to support you."

"Whether we can pave the way for the southward march to Jingxiang depends on your thoughts."

Guan Yu's slight discomfort instantly disappeared. He clasped his fists and bowed, saying solemnly: "If Liu Bei dares to come out, I will take his head and present it to you, my lord."

"it is good!"

"I am waiting!"

"Come, let's drink this cup to the full!"

(End of this chapter)