readytorunbook Chapter 753 I Predicted Your Predictions
Chapter 753 I Predicted Your Predictions
Xiling City has high walls and thick walls, and the garrison inside has plenty of food and supplies. Such a fortified city cannot be captured in a short time, let alone be dealt with by Yang Tai's mere three thousand men. It is simply unrealistic to rely on such a small number of people to retake Xiling City.
Therefore, You Ding suggested that Sun Lang should be attacked first before Xiling was captured. Defeating Sun Lang would at least dampen the morale of the Han army in the city. On the contrary, if Sun Lang were allowed to enter Xiling smoothly, the Han army in the city would have more troops and be able to defend it more effectively.
Yang Tai pondered, "Prefect You is right. Immediately send someone to inform Prefect Tian Yu and ask him to rush south to block Sun Lang's retreat. The rest of you should rest quickly and follow me to attack Sun Lang when it gets dark."
It was noon, and they had been traveling all night without sleep since leaving Zhu County. They needed to sleep to recover their strength so that they could unleash their peak combat power when attacking Sun Lang.
After everyone bowed and took their leave, Yang Tai went out of the tent to arrange for sentries to keep watch and prevent enemy attacks. Only after this warning was given did he order the soldiers to eat and rest.
at the same time……
Guan Yan, Hu Kun, and others in the city also received news of Yang Tai's return and rushed to the city tower to discuss the matter.
Guan Yan spoke first: "Yang Tai is back. What do you all think he will do?"
Hu Kun replied, "He definitely won't attack the city. His small force can't break through Xiling City, and Yang Tai didn't send anyone to build siege equipment, which means he has no intention of attacking the city."
"But Yang Tai couldn't possibly have done nothing, could he? He must have gone through all that trouble to come back from Zhu County; surely he wouldn't just sit outside Xiling City and sleep all day?"
Hu Lun continued, "Then the result is obvious. Before reinforcements arrive, Yang Tai can only do very little. He can only attack the city or block General Sun Lang and prevent him from entering the city to join us."
Guan Yan pondered, "That makes sense. All the potential threats within the city who could collude with Yang Tai to retake the city have been politely sent out. Without his inside help, Yang Tai can only launch a direct attack, but he doesn't have the strength for one. Besides us and General Sun Lang, there are no other enemy forces within Jiangxia that would require his attention. So he can only deal with General Sun Lang. If we join forces with Tian Yu to launch a pincer attack, we might really teach General Sun Lang a lesson."
"Since that's the case, let's turn the tables on him. Immediately send someone to inform General Sun Lang to take precautions in advance. Hu Kun, you select another thousand elite troops to prepare in advance. After Yang Tai sets off, keep a distance behind him and don't let him be discovered. After he starts fighting General Sun Lang, we'll seize the opportunity to strike and give Yang Tai a hard time."
Hu Kun clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Understood, I'll go prepare right away."
Both sides, inside and outside the city, had their own plans and preparations, and as they waited, the sun set and darkness fell.
Around 9 PM, Yang Tai took the lead, setting up many scarecrows in the camp to confuse the Han army, and then led the army to quietly leave the camp and head north.
However, his actions did not escape the notice of the Han scouts, who were loitering near the Wei camp. The movement of three thousand men could not be done silently, and the huge shadows they formed could not be hidden from the eyes of the Han scouts who were on guard in advance.
Upon seeing countless dark figures leave the camp, the Han army scouts rushed back to the city to report to Guan Yan.
Guan Yan waited patiently until they had been gone for more than half an hour before ordering Hu Kun to lead a thousand elite soldiers out of the city to follow Yang Tai.
at the same time……
Sun Lang had already arrived sixty miles north of Xiling City and received a message from Guan Yan on horseback.
Therefore, he deliberately chose a suitable terrain for the enemy to attack tonight, and set up a camp with a loose exterior but a tight interior, intentionally creating the illusion of lax defense to lure Yang Tai into a trap. Not only that, he also specially left 3,000 troops to defend to the north, in order to prevent Tian Yu from suddenly attacking his rear during the battle with Yang Tai.
After making the arrangements, they waited anxiously. Finally, around dawn, Yang Tai arrived near Sun Lang's camp. After observing from a distance, he sneered, "It seems that the successive victories have made Sun Lang arrogant. He thinks that he can rest easy after taking Xiling. Brothers, follow me and charge! We'll wipe out Sun Lang first and then take Xiling."
Prefect You Ding said, "Isn't it too risky for us to rush over here so rashly? Why don't we wait for Prefect Tian Yu to arrive before we take action? At that time, we can attack from both sides with Prefect Tian and we will be able to succeed without any loss."
Yang Tai hesitated and said, "That's true, but Prefect Tian won't arrive until noon tomorrow. By then, we'll be exposed, and we'll lose the element of surprise in our attack."
Yang Tai didn't not want to wait for Tian Yu; he simply couldn't afford to.
You Ding pondered, "The general is right, but our sudden appearance and disappearance at the foot of Xiling City will definitely arouse the suspicion of the Xiling Han army. Perhaps the Xiling Han army has already notified Sun Lang. If that's the case, Sun Lang's arrangement is obviously a trap waiting for us to fall into."
"But we can't afford to lose this opportunity. How about this: send a thousand troops to test the waters first. If it goes well, then charge into the camp and launch a fierce attack. If it doesn't go well, then retreat quickly to save ourselves. This is the safest approach."
Yang Tai nodded and said, "That makes sense. I will lead a thousand men to attack first, and you will lead the remaining troops to provide cover from the side."
Without waiting for a reply, he led a thousand soldiers in a charge, rushing to the front of the camp at a speed of 100 meters per second and engaging in a firefight with the Han army sentries.
The Han army sentries were no match for the enemy and jumped off the arrow tower to escape. Yang Tai successfully stormed into the camp and rushed into the tent, only to find that the tent was empty.
Yang Tai's expression changed slightly, and he immediately shouted, "There's an ambush! Retreat!"
It was too late to retreat now. The well-prepared Han army attacked from all directions, some launching offensives and others flanking them, and soon they were surrounded.
Fortunately, there was You Ding. Seeing that Yang Tai was surrounded, You Ding decisively broke through the encirclement of the Han army and rescued Yang Tai. He then fled to the southwest.
Sun Lang, however, was unwilling to let them leave. He decisively led his troops in pursuit and shouted, "Brothers, follow me! Tonight we must catch up with Yang Tai, cripple this Wei army, and then light the beacon fire to notify Hu Kun that it's their turn to make a move."
If Yang Tai is not crippled, he may be attacked from both sides by Yang Tai and Tian Yu. Therefore, Sun Lang is also determined and leads his 5,000 troops to pursue him relentlessly.
If he can't catch up with Tian Yu's cavalry, can't he catch up with Yang Tai's infantry? They all have two legs, so who's afraid of whom?
Sun Lang led his troops in a full-scale pursuit, while simultaneously ordering his men to light three beacon fires arranged in a triangular pattern in the camp as a signal.
At this moment, Hu Kun, who was only a dozen miles away from Sun Lang's camp, saw the three beacon fires and immediately stood up and shouted, "Yang Tai ran southwest, follow me!"
During their special training in Jiangling, Guan Xing taught them that when facing a battle, they should analyze all possibilities, consider all possible changes, and prepare countermeasures. Therefore, when Guan Yan sent someone to inform Sun Lang in the morning, they had already discussed the communication signals. One beacon fire indicated that Yang Tai had fallen into a trap and was surrounded, two beacon fires indicated that Yang Tai had returned by the same route, three beacon fires indicated that he was fleeing to the southwest, and four beacon fires indicated that he was fleeing to the southeast. In other words, these beacon fires not only indicated the current battle situation but also pointed out the direction of Yang Tai's escape.
Hu Kun no longer concealed himself and led his army to rush towards the direction Yang Tai had fled in at top speed. In just half an hour, they met up with Yang Tai and then began to fight.
Seeing the Han army charging from behind them and hearing the footsteps of Sun Lang in pursuit, Yang Tai and You Ding cried out in unison, "Damn it, the Xiling garrison has actually left the city! We've fallen for Guan Yan and Sun Lang's scheme! What do we do now?"
Yang Tai hesitated for only a moment before decisively saying, "Run northwest! Whatever you do, don't get entangled with the Han army. If you get entangled with them, it's all over. Let's go!"
The army decisively changed direction and fled northwest.