Chapter 9: Striving to Delay

It was rather careless. Taking the brocade handed over by Guo Yuan, Yuan Shang wiped the sweat from his forehead and thought for a moment before saying: "Send a message to the brothers on both sides of the mountain, to pretend to shout and chase after Zhang Liao. But be sure not to overdo it, as we don't want to inadvertently draw Zhang Liao back, which would be quite troublesome."

No!

If we truly engage in a confrontation, our side is certain to be doomed

Yuan Shang took a deep breath and, gathering all his strength, shouted loudly to the Cao army below: "Cao army down the mountain, listen! Your troops have already been surrounded by me. Those who are sensible should obediently lay down their weapons and dismount to surrender"

Zhang Liao, upon hearing this, merely lowered his head in contemplation, bowing silently without speaking

On both sides of the road, where the mountains had just been quiet and solemn, suddenly tall flags were raised. In the darkness, dust rose, gongs and drums resounded, and the sounds of shouting and killing echoed, rising and falling, shaking the very soul.

Upon hearing this, Xu Chu became anxious and hurriedly said: "If that is the case, what are you and I waiting for? Let us quickly withdraw our troops to rescue our lord!"

Zhang Liao was taken aback upon hearing this, his eyes narrowed, and a chilling light shot from his gaze directly at Yuan Shang, the coldness emanating from him made one tremble at the sight

Zhang Liao and Xu Chu were immediately taken aback and hurriedly ordered the troops to form ranks for defense against the external enemy

Is the strategy for your night raid on Wuchao proposed by Xu You? Heh, calling you fools is quite accurate; you really aren't very clever. My lord could send anyone with a few words, and you would believe them. Truly foolish to the extreme

Upon witnessing this situation, Zhang Liao suddenly felt a surge of tension in his heart, and a thought abruptly emerged in his mind, one that he could not shake off.

Guo Yuan nodded upon hearing this, and then said: "Third Young Master, are you implying that the Cao army might come back to attack again?"

Moreover, Cao's troops possess exceptionally strong combat capabilities, and when facing Yuan's forces, they can easily match ten opponents.

Today, I have fallen for Xu You's scheme of feigned surrender

Upon hearing this, both Zhang Liao and Xu Chu's expressions immediately changed.

Zhang Liao shook his head and said, "Do not panic, let us first observe the changes."

He let out a long sigh, and a wwwhetushucom.com buttock sat on the stone behind him. Yuan Shang turned to ask Guo Yuan, who had been guarding him: "How did I perform just now? Was it quite similar?"

They will definitely come back to fight, but what worries me the most is who will lead the troops over. If it is still Zhang Liao and his men, we might still think of some ways. However, if their leader from the Cao family comes along as well, I fear we will truly be left with no choice but to flee with our tails between our legs

Yuan Shang waved his hand dismissively and said, "Whether you believe it or not has nothing to do with me. In any case, today, using this false granary to exchange for Cao Cao's life, our army will not suffer any loss! Unfortunately, Cao Cao's life was taken by the ambush troops sent by my lord to cover our retreat, so it has nothing to do with me. I can only take your two heads as consolation"

Zhang Liao smiled slightly, showing no fear that one would expect in such a situation, and pointed at Yuan Shang, saying: "Are you Chunyu Qiong?"

Zhong Kang, do not fall for the opponent's provocation! There must be an ambush on the mountain

This is the true battlefield, this is the real battlefield

The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry truly deserves its reputation as an elite force among the troops. In an instant, they divided into two parts, east and west, each preparing to confront the enemy. Zhang Liao and Xu Chu rode at the center, turning their heads towards the direction from which the sound of the horn came.

Xu Chu's face turned crimson, barely being stopped by Zhang Liao. However, Zhang Liao turned his horse and gazed directly at Yuan Shang on the mountain, raising his voice to say: "Enemies on the mountain, listen! I am Zhang Liao, the Lieutenant General under Cao Sikong. Who among you is Chunyu Qiong? Step forward and speak with me!"

Who was that fat person just now who was arguing with himself

Guo Yuan, upon hearing this, quickly said: "Young Master, rest assured, General Chunyu and his men are currently directing the soldiers to transport the grain and fodder from Wuchao to the mountains and forests behind the camp. However, due to the urgency of the situation, they are unable to move much in such a short time"

Yuan Shang felt a slight jolt in his heart upon hearing this. Is this guy Zhang Liao? The very Zhang Liao, the foremost of the Five Outstanding Generals of Cao Wei?

Zhang Liao and Xu Chu's hearts immediately rose to their throats

Although there are some tricks involved at https://www.hetushu.com, from the outside, it appears as if the Wucao is truly engulfed in flames, with fierce fire blazing, heat rising, and smoke billowing into the sky, instilling a sense of fear and dread in onlookers

As Zhang Liao and Xu Chu led their troops in retreat, gradually disappearing from sight, Yuan Shang's previously calm and disdainful expression slowly faded, replaced by a look of great relief.

On the summit of Mount Li, although our banners are fluttering, dust is swirling, and the sounds of battle are deafening, all of this is merely a ruse of deceptive troops that we have arranged to intimidate the enemy. If we speak of military strength, excluding the garrison forces currently ambushed in Wuchao by Chunyu Qiong, the deceptive troops we have deployed are actually not much different in number from the Cao army at the foot of the mountain

Seeing that Zhang Liao and Xu Chu remained silent, Yuan Shang opened his mouth and added another dose of strong medicine

Zhang Liao's expression darkened upon hearing this, while Xu Chu gritted his teeth in anger and said to Zhang Liao in a low voice: "I told you that Xu You is not a good person, yet the Lord refused to believe it! And now, what has happened? Today, you and I have fallen into the hands of this bird-like man! When we return, I must cut him down with a single blow!"

Yuan Shang nodded: "It's fine, just transport it out! If it really doesn't work, we can bag the grain and throw it into the valley. At worst, we can think of a way to retrieve it later. In any case, we must leave ourselves some backup options"

As they gazed at the blazing fire of the black nest, the ambush troops flanking the mountain, and Yuan Shang's face adorned with a leisurely smile, both Zhang Liao and Xu Chu suddenly had the same thought arise in their minds

Guo Yuan hurriedly presented a piece of white silk for Yuan Shang to wipe his sweat, respectfully saying: "Young Master San faces a situation of impending collapse, yet remains calm and composed, showing no change in expression. Truly a hero."

General Zhang has mistaken someone for another. General Chunyu is busy with official duties, responsible for guarding our army's actual granary. How could he have the time to accompany General Zhang in sharpening his teeth?

The Tiger and Leopard Cavalry truly deserves its reputation as a well-trained and exceptional cavalry unit. Indeed, their military discipline is strict, and they exhibit remarkable speed both in their charge and in retreat. In no time, they withdrew like a tide, vanishing in the blink of an eye along the vast, winding paths.

Could it be that it is not just the two of them who have encountered an ambush? Could it be that the rear army led by the lord has also encountered an ambush?

Zhang Liao has always been composed, with a meticulous mind that cannot be compared to Xu Chu. Although he felt somewhat flustered upon hearing Yuan Shang's words, he showed no fear on his face. With a quick glance, he let out a cold laugh and shouted: "Although I do not know who you are, your scheme of sowing discord is truly clumsy. To think that a mere couple of words could drive a wedge between Mr. Xu You and me, how laughable is that?"

Thus, on the surface, one may appear to have set an ambush, but at most it can only be considered a feigned attack

"The true granary?" He looked grimly at the distant, fiery sky over the Wuchao: "Could it be that this Wuchao is fake?"

Yuan Shang sighed deeply, and after a long pause, he said softly: "Since you have already guessed it, why ask more questions"

Taking a deep breath, Yuan Shang lowered his head to look at the Cao army, which was poised and ready below. He couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions; this was the Cao army, the renowned warriors under the command of the illustrious and formidable Cao Cao in history.

While wielding his long knife to deflect the rain of arrows, Xu Chu said in a clumsy manner: "General Zhang, given the current situation, should we fight or retreat"

When Zhang Liao and Xu Chu led their troops to the vicinity of the Wuchao camp, the flames of Wuchao had already illuminated half the sky. The raging fire was astonishing to behold.

Zhang Liao, upon hearing this, did not respond, but instead wore an expression of deep contemplation, quietly observing from a distance.

After a while, Zhang Liao gently shook his head and said: "No, this is not a rebellion or a natural disaster; it is clearly a deliberate act by someone"

Blood and flesh fly in all directions, and life can vanish without a trace in the blink of an eye. There is no tenderness or warmth, only the howling of iron and blood and the tears of the setting sun. The most brutal scenes in human history, from this moment on, will forever accompany my life

Wuwuwu——

Yuan Shang, upon hearing this, scoffed and turned his face away, saying: "You want me to go down, so I will? Wouldn't that be quite embarrassing in front of the soldiers? If you have the guts, come up here and see if I don't kick you three times."

Is it possible that this situation is a trap?

Upon hearing this, Guo Yuan's expression tightened, and he spoke in a low voice: "Is the person referred to by the Third Young Master none other than Cao Cao"

Yuan Shang heard this and let out a bitter smile

Xu Chu, however, cracked a wide grin, raised the sixty-pound long-handled tiger-head knife above his head, and pointed at Yuan Shang on the mountain, cursing loudly: "Nonsense! Who are you, kid? You haven't even grown all your hair yet, and you dare to show off here! Don't you even weigh yourself? You still want us to surrender? Come on, if you have the guts, come down here and see if I don't slice you to pieces!"

The phrase "I have long admired your esteemed name" is not merely a formality; for Yuan Shang, it indeed carries a degree of heartfelt sincerity

At this moment, regardless of Zhang Liao's intentions, on the mountain to the left, Yuan Shang, clad in white armor, gazed at the enemy cavalry below not far away, feeling a surge of indescribable anxiety and excitement in his heart

Upon witnessing the fire at Wuchao, even the fearless Xu Chu could not help but click his tongue in dismay: "Good heavens! The flood has caused such devastation; what a grave responsibility this must entail! If I were Yuan Shao, how could I possibly quell this resentment in my heart without dismembering Chunyu Qiong, the commander defending Wuchao, by five horses?"

Yuan Shang looked up and smiled, shaking his head as he said, "General Zhang Liao, it is surprising that you, once the foremost fierce general under Lü Bu, would ask such a shallow question. Have you become foolish after aligning with Cao Cao? If Wu Chao were truly a vital supply depot for our army, would we have nothing better to do than to burn our own provisions? It is clearly a trap to lure you fools! If you cannot even see this, how can you serve as a general in the army?"

"So it is General Zhang Liao, I have long admired your esteemed name." Yuan Shang cupped his hands in salute towards Zhang Liao from a distance and greeted him.

The discussion concluded, the two men reined in their horses and shouted loudly to the surrounding cavalry of tigers and leopards: "Send the order! Withdraw the troops! Quickly retreat and return to meet with the lord!"

Zhang Liao furrowed his brows, dodging the rain of arrows coming towards him, and said in a low voice: "Given the current situation, it is highly likely that we have fallen for Xu You's deceptive surrender scheme. This fellow has used the grain depot at Wuchao as bait to lure us all here, in order to ambush us with Yuan's troops. I observe that the rain of arrows is not dense, and there are not many soldiers in ambush. I fear that Yuan's forces have deployed the majority of their troops to ambush our lord."

Upon hearing this, Xu Chu was instantly filled with rage, his two rows of steel teeth nearly grinding to dust. However, he let out a long howl towards the sky, brandishing his large blade and preparing to charge up the mountain on horseback. Fortunately, Zhang Liao timely seized the reins of his horse.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao slightly furrowed his brows, lowering his head in contemplation and remaining silent

As for other matters, the two of them may choose not to believe, but when it comes to Cao Cao's safety, this is something that cannot be taken lightly under any circumstances

At that moment, a sudden blast of horns erupted from the mountains on either side of the narrow path, echoing through the somewhat chaotic night sky, sending a chilling wave of anxiety through the heart

How are General Chunyu Qiong and his men? Is everything proceeding smoothly?

Just then, I thought of this, and saw Yuan Shang on the hillside showing an impatient expression. He waved his hand and disdainfully said, "Forget it, we are like fish on the chopping block, turtles in a jar. I can't be bothered to say much to you. Come here! Shoot arrows, kill them all, just kill them all!"

Absolutely cannot confront head-on; we must find a way to make the Cao army retreat

With Yuan Shang's command, a sudden rain of arrows descended from both sides of the mountain. Zhang Liao and Xu Chu quickly reined in their horses, leading the group of Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to swiftly wield their weapons in defense.

Xu Chu looked at Zhang Liao in surprise upon hearing this, then laughed heartily and shook his head, saying: "General Zhang, are you perhaps overthinking this a bit? Could it be that the fire at Wu Chao was set by Yuan's army themselves? If that were the case, I would truly like to meet the person who came up with the idea to burn the supplies; this person would surely be worthy of the title of the biggest fool in the world! Hahahaha"

Deliberate

Xu Chu asked Zhang Liao in a low voice: "General Zhang, have we actually been schemed against?"

Of course, with such a large fire, Yuan Jun would not be foolish enough to burn all the supplies; only a small portion of the grain stored in Wuchao was burned, while the majority consisted of useless items such as broken tents, grain bags, dry grass, and dead trees