Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1387: Chapter 1339: Scheming Against Each Other

”Understood!” All the military officers saluted with clenched fists.

”General Huang, remember to capture more prisoners. We also need to understand the situation inside Beixin City,” Fa Zheng said with a smile to Huang Zhong.

The happenings in Fa Zheng’s camp did not escape the notice of the patiently waiting Xuu You. As Huang Zhong led his troops out of the camp and charged northeast, the greatest burden in Xuu You’s heart was lifted.

[I’m guessing Huang Zhong himself is heading to Yishui to lay an ambush. If Gao Fan isn’t foolish, he’ll retreat back to Beixin City, where Fa Zheng will surely ambush him again. This leaves the last three thousand troops,] Xuu You pondered solemnly, gazing into the distance at the now tiny Fa Zheng’s camp.

”Jiangh Qi, make your preparations. Whether we win or lose this battle depends on the upcoming fight,” Xuu You said gravely, turning to look at Jiangh Qi beside him. After the great battle between Yuan and Liu, there weren’t many renowned generals left under the Yuan Family’s command.

”I shall not disappoint the advisor,” Jiangh Qi replied solemnly, bowing before he descended the city walls and headed to the closed-off military camp in the city. That large camp had only eight thousand troops in total, with five thousand taken by Gao Fan. The remaining three thousand would be Jiangh Qi’s crucial force in this battle.

After watching Jiangh Qi leave, Xuu You knew well that Gao Fan might not return this time. At best, only one or two thousand of the five thousand soldiers could retreat. But these details were trivial; the crucial point was that Fa Zheng would most likely enter a stalemate with him.

[The rest depends on Zheng Nan’s situation. From today onwards, Yishui can no longer be used for troop transport. Fa Zheng will undoubtedly be cautious and block it, allowing him to focus on me.] Xuu You contemplated each step carefully, fearing any minor flaw. This time, it was extremely risky.

[It’s tough to deceive someone as clever as Fa Xiaozhi, but he’s very confident in things he’s resolved himself. Hence, once we pass this hurdle, we just need to defend steadily.] Xuu You exhaled slowly, knowing the outcome depended on the next battle.

To the north of Yishui, Huang Zhong arrived first with three thousand cavalry. Fa Zheng had clearly instructed him not to fear exposure. It was an ambush; if no suitable ambush point was found, they should drive the enemy back to Beixin City and annihilate them there.

Youzhou was basically a vast plain, and there weren’t any woods near Yishui. Huang Zhong, leading his cavalry, glanced around and quickly realized this was not fit for an ambush.

Before Gao Fan’s mixed army of infantry and cavalry arrived, they were met by a well-organized cavalry unit across the field, causing Gao Fan’s heart to sink. Luckily, Xuu You had told him this was a possible scenario.

[It seems I can only retreat to Beixin City as Xuu You arranged. Although I wanted to tell Xuu Ziyuan earlier that sending five thousand to rescue the Northern Frontier was a fantasy, I couldn’t say it due to his status. It’s just as well.] Gao Fan scoffed inwardly, always looking down a bit on Xuu You, who he thought was merely greedy and mediocre in achievements.

Of course, despite Xuu You’s explicit instructions, Gao Fan hadn’t arranged a defensive round formation as requested. Now, upon seeing Huang Zhong, it was too late to form any formation. After all, he wasn’t a top-tier renowned general capable of quick formation changes; it was just a thought.

When Huang Zhong spotted Gao Fan, he immediately determined that the opponent had no defensive mindset and naturally assumed they hadn’t anticipated their presence at Yishui.

”Hahaha, enemy general, prepare to die!” Huang Zhong laughed heartily and charged forward without activating his legion talent. His legion talent was entirely unsuitable for this battle.

Huang Zhong moved swiftly, and his cavalry took up their short bows to fire at the enemy. Since the invention of saddles and stirrups, the difficulty of mounted archery had dramatically decreased.

A rain of arrows ensued, and Huang Zhong laughed while manipulating his Cloud Qi, sending a giant ice blade slashing toward the enemy army. Huang Zhong had now fully transformed his Inner Qi into a water system. Although it wasn’t the dual-colored Inner Qi he had imagined, he could perfectly convert between ice and water.

”Boom!” The incredible effect of a Valiant General in chaotic combat was vividly displayed. This single strike sharply decreased Gao Fan’s army’s morale. Gao Fan promptly turned and led his troops fleeing to Beixin City, his decisiveness in flight astonishing Huang Zhong.

However, because of his decisive escape, he didn’t give Huang Zhong a chance to catch up; otherwise, surely he would’ve been shot.

With the commander fleeing, the already weaker Yuan Army fell into complete chaos after a few charges from Huang Zhong.

”Surrender and you will not be killed!” Huang Zhong shouted, and soon the sound of clattering weapons could be heard as a large number of Yuan soldiers, lacking the will to fight, surrendered outright.

Unlike other Feudal Lords, Liu Bei’s Army had the best reputation among all Feudal Lords, never executing prisoners. Upon surrender, they were provided for properly and, after the war, those willing could enlist after passing the assessment, while those unwilling were given money and sent home.

This caused anyone but the elite troops to surrender without hesitation once the situation turned unfavorable when fighting Liu Bei’s Army.

Leaving behind three hundred centurions to guard nearly a thousand prisoners on-site, Huang Zhong led the remaining cavalry in a raid towards Beixin City, as Fa Zheng and Zhang Yan’s ambush forces had already been positioned.

At the break of dawn, the sleepless Xuu You saw the dust rising from the north. Unsurprisingly, Liu Bei’s Army had thoroughly defeated Gao Fan, precisely as he had estimated. Now, everything depended on his performance.

[I wonder if Gao Fan heeded my stern orders. Probably not, the incapable are often unaware of their incompetence. But this works too, no loopholes will exist this way. Gao Fan should die at Fa Zheng’s hands.] Xuu You thought solemnly.

”Jiangh Qi, prepare yourself and ensure nothing goes wrong,” Xuu You said seriously to Jiangh Qi, who was clad in battle attire.

”Nothing will go wrong. I will lead as many soldiers as possible to break out,” Jiangh Qi replied solemnly.

”Fa Zheng will lack the resources to spare in this battle, and if necessary, I will deploy troops to support you,” Xuu You said with a smile, and Jiangh Qi was shocked, looking at Xuu You in disbelief.

Perhaps seeing Jiangh Qi’s incredulous expression, Xuu You chuckled lightly, ”Oh, it’s nothing. Beixin City cannot lack you now, and since Fa Xiaozhi has seen through everything I intended for him to see, what issue is there with me supporting you?”

”Very well.” Jiangh Qi nodded gravely, looking back at the specially arranged military camp in the city. At this moment, what should have been a fully occupied camp was already empty.

”Hahaha, don’t worry, Fa Zheng won’t discover it. With his caution, he’ll surely gather intelligence from those prisoners and block Yishui from today, crushing our plans to head north and rescue the Northern Frontier,” Xuu You said calmly, and this was indeed his aim.