My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 176: You're teasing me like a dog from a thousand miles away? Xiao He: Heat the oil in a wok, let's burn Bowangpo!

"Same here! The two military advisors' strategies... they're on the same page!"

Deng Ai behind him pointed at the two silk books and shouted in surprise.

Zhuge Liang and Xiao He looked at each other and laughed.

"Bowen, you and I are indeed wise men who think alike."

Zhuge Liang picked up his wine glass again and said with a smile:

"In that case, Liang will continue to stay in Xiangyang and watch you, Bo Wen, put on a good show for Cao Ren."

Xiao He understood what he meant and drank it all in one gulp.

The plan was thus finalized.

After a night's rest, Xiao He set out north to Xinye, commanding Wei Yan, Huo Jun, Fu Tong and other generals of the Jingbei garrison.

Zhuge Liang pretended to mobilize troops and generals, and loudly threatened to quell the rebellion of the Wuling Wuxi barbarians.

Seven days later, Ma Chao united more than 10,000 Xiliang infantry and cavalry, entered Nanyang County from Wugu Pass, changed his route to the east, and attacked Wancheng, northeast of Xi'e, Bowang and other counties.

The news that the Xiliang army had entered Nanyang quickly reached Wancheng, shocking the entire city's citizens.

...

Wancheng, the provincial capital.

"The traitor Ma Chao led 10,000 infantry and cavalry through Wuguan and stormed into Nanyang. The day before yesterday, he suddenly attacked our Xi'e County."

"The Xi'e County Magistrate was caught off guard and was defeated by Ma Chao. All the food in the city was seized by the Xiliang army."

"According to my scouts, Ma Chao left over a thousand soldiers to guard West E, and is now leading his main force straight towards Bowang County!"

Zhu Ling looked solemn as he read out the emergency document that had just been delivered.

Cao Ren tapped the table with his fingertips, saying nothing, his face as gloomy as iron.

"General Zixiao, most of Wancheng's food and fodder comes from Xudu, and Xi'e and Bowang are the only routes we can take."

"Now that West E has been lost, if Bowang is also lost, Ma Chao will cut off the supply route, and the army will be in chaos without a fight!"

Deputy General Du Xi reminded with a serious expression.

Cao Ren slammed his fist on the table and snorted coldly:
"Ma Chao is truly arrogant. He's trying to take advantage of the Prime Minister's main force in Huainan to single-handedly attack Nanyang and endanger Xudu."

"This thief is truly arrogant. Does he think that I, Cao Ren, and the more than 20,000 soldiers under my command are made of paper?"

After saying this, Cao Ren stood up, waved his hand and shouted:

"Hurry and send a message to the commander of Bowang, ordering him to hold the city firmly. If the city is captured within five days, he will be spared. If the city is lost within five days, bring your head to us!"

"Pass on my command. Gather the troops in the city immediately. I will personally lead the army north and attack the Bowang defenders from both inside and outside to defeat the traitor Ma Chao!"

The generals accepted the order with great enthusiasm.

At this time.

Du Xi's eyes turned a few times, and he bowed and reminded:
"General Zixiao, our 20,000 troops were originally sent to monitor Liu Jun's army in Jingzhou and defend the southern part of Xudu."

"The general is now leading the main force north to deal with Ma Chao. Should Jingzhou take precautions?"

After this reminder, Cao Ren sat down again.

After a moment's hesitation, he asked:

"You are reminding me that although the main force of the Big Ear Bandits is in Jiangdong, we must also be on guard against Jingzhou."

"Have the enemy troops in Xiangfan recently made any unusual moves?"

Du Xi dug out some information and said:

"According to reports from my spies in Jingzhou, the Wuxi barbarians have recently rebelled in Wuling County. Zhuge Liang has already withdrawn approximately 40% of the troops stationed in Xinye and Fancheng to quell the rebellion."

"Our spies in these cities have witnessed Liu's army marching south. Our spies along the Han River have also repeatedly reported seeing a large number of warships heading south."

The vigilance in Cao Ren's eyes gradually disappeared, and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth:
"The barbarians in Jingzhou are causing chaos at this critical moment. This is God's blessing on the Prime Minister, and God is helping me as well."

"Since that villager Zhuge has already dispatched his troops south to quell the rebellion, I have nothing to fear. I can confidently march north to deal with that traitor Ma Chao!"

Cao Ren no longer had any worries, so he left Du Xi with 4,000 soldiers to guard Wancheng, and he himself led more than 16,000 Cao troops north to rescue Bowang.

Xinye was only a hundred miles away from Wancheng. As soon as Cao Ren's army moved, spies immediately sent the news to Xinye.

At this time, Xiao He had secretly arrived in Xinye for seven days.

Upon learning that Cao Ren's army had moved, Xiao He did not hesitate at all. He immediately mobilized 10,000 elite troops and marched day and night along the Yu River, both by land and water, and attacked Wancheng directly.

At dawn the next day, the army arrived at Wancheng and quickly set up camps on all sides, surrounding the city so that no one could get in or out.

Du Xi, who stayed behind, was shocked by the situation and hurriedly sent a messenger north to ask for help from Cao Ren before Liu's army besieged the city.

...

Ten miles south of Bowang City.

More than 16,000 Cao troops were marching northward, heading straight for Bowang City.

Cao Ren, who was riding his horse at full speed, was already thinking about how to defeat Ma Chao from both inside and outside after the army arrived at Bowang.

"Among the ten generals in Guanzhong, only Ma Chao, this troublemaker, is the most determined to rebel against the Cao family."

"It's good that he came to me this time. If I can annihilate him in Bowang, it will eliminate a major hidden danger for Meng De."

"Wouldn't it be that when Meng De attacks Guanzhong again in the future, he will have one less major stumbling block?"

Cao Ren was drawing a blueprint in his mind, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised.

"General Zixiao, urgent news from Wancheng!"

A loud shout was heard behind him. Zhu Ling looked solemn and galloped on his horse to catch up.

"General Zixiao, Du Xi has sent an urgent report from eight hundred miles away, saying that over ten thousand Liu troops suddenly marched north from Xinye and arrived at the city before dawn yesterday, besieging Wancheng!"

"The situation in Wancheng is urgent. Du Xi requests General Zixiao to return for assistance immediately!"

Zhu Ling shouted and handed over an urgent message on silk.

"what?"

Cao Ren's face changed drastically. He reined in his horse and snatched the urgent report.

After just a few glances, Cao Ren's eyes were filled with surprise, and he looked up in the direction of Wancheng in shock and confusion.

Didn’t the intelligence a few days ago say that the Wuxi barbarians in southern Jing were in rebellion? Didn’t Zhuge Liang already withdraw troops from Xinye to the south to quell the rebellion?
How come suddenly, more than 10,000 soldiers rushed out from Xinye City and surrounded Wancheng in the blink of an eye?
Moreover, he had just led the army north when Liu's army surrounded Wancheng. The connection between the two was extremely smooth?
"Could it be that…"

Cao Ren shuddered suddenly and slapped his thigh fiercely:
"Oh no! We've fallen into the trap set by the big-eared thief!"

Zhu Ling looked confused and said:

"General Zixiao, Liu Bei is far away in Jiangdong, currently facing the Prime Minister at Ruxukou. How could we have fallen for his treacherous scheme?"

Cao Ren gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice:

"I was wondering why that little Ma Chao dared to march so deep into our Nanyang County with only 10,000 soldiers. It turns out he was bewitched by the big-eared thief and secretly joined forces with him to attack our Wancheng!" "That Ma Chao attacked our Xi'e Bowang, pretending to cut off our food supply, but it was just a trick to lure the snake out of its hole, only to lure our main force out of Wancheng."

"Wancheng is currently under siege, so Liu's army on the Xinye front can take advantage of this opportunity to march north and lay siege to Wancheng."

"If my predictions are correct, the Wuxi barbarians' rebellion and the Xinye troops' transfer southward are all just a trick by the Big Eared Bandits to lure me off to lower my guard and allow me to lead my main force north to rescue Bowang City."

"The Big Eared Bandit has gone to such great lengths to seize Wancheng, forcing the Prime Minister to withdraw his troops from Ruxukou and return to Xudu!"

Cao Ren was not a man of courage but no strategy. By this time, he had naturally figured out most of the situation.

Zhu Ling took a breath of cold air and exclaimed:
"Liu Bei's plan is to besiege Wei to save Zhao. This plan is truly ingenious and unpredictable. He has played us right into his hands!"

"I wonder who is behind this plan. Could it be that Xiao He?"

Cao Ren took a few deep breaths and calmed himself down. After rolling his eyes a few times, he regained some composure.

"Xiao He is indeed a cunning fellow, but he is far away in Jiangdong. He would not be able to plot against us to such an extent from a thousand miles away."

"This plan should have come from that Zhuge Village Man."

Hearing that it was not Xiao He's plan, Zhu Ling breathed a sigh of relief and asked hurriedly:
"But Xiao He's work is good. According to General Zixiao, what should we do now?"

After a moment of hesitation, Cao Ren's face lit up with pride:

"That village boy Zhuge is staying in Xiangyang and can't possibly be leading the army on the front lines. Those who are besieging Xiangyang are nothing more than Wei Yan and other brave but foolish men. They are nothing to worry about."

"Pass on my orders. Leave two thousand soldiers and continue to march north under my banner, pretending to rescue Bowang."

"I will now lead the main force and return to Wancheng as quickly as possible. First, we will defeat Wei Yan and other bandits, lift the siege of Wancheng, and then head north to deal with Ma Chao!"

Cao Ren made the decision and immediately led 14,000 main forces back south to Wancheng.

The other two thousand Cao troops continued to march north to Bowang under his banner, showing off their strength.

The army marched quickly along the way.

The next day, at dusk.

An army of 14,000 marched forward at a rapid pace.

A scout came galloping back, shouting:

"General Zixiao, there are thousands of enemy troops ahead, arrayed north of Bowang Slope, blocking our path."

Cao Ren's expression changed slightly.

Liu Jun is blocking the way?

Could it be that Wei Yan calculated that he would return to rescue Wancheng, so he sent troops to block him at Bowangpo?
Cao Ren rolled his eyes a few times, then ordered the entire army to stop marching, form a battle formation on the spot, and advance steadily to the south.

As the order was given, more than 14,000 Cao troops immediately formed into large and small battle formations, and advanced southward like a solid wall of steel.

After walking a few miles, we saw a troop of more than 3,000 soldiers blocking the northern line of Bowangpo on the road ahead.

A flag with the word "Deng" on it caught the eye in the setting sun.

"Deng character flag?"

Cao Ren's thoughts raced, and he searched his brain for a long time, but he couldn't think of any general with the surname Deng under Liu Bei's command.

"General Zixiao, the enemy has only about 3,000 men, yet they dare to stop us in the wilderness. Furthermore, there is no known figure named Deng among the enemy."

"Could it be that the enemy is scheming?"

Zhu Ling rode his horse forward and reminded him.

Cao Ren became somewhat alert and did not dare to be careless. He immediately ordered the army to stop advancing.

The two armies were more than a hundred steps apart, facing each other.

Liu Jun’s formation is ahead.

A young general, no more than sixteen years old, rode out on his horse, pointed his silver spear, and said proudly:
"I am Deng Ai, a lieutenant under the command of the Left General. I have come by my lord's order to take Cao Ren's head!"

"Where is Cao Ren? Hurry and face death!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Cao's army was in an uproar.

Cao Ren instantly became furious.

Deng Ai was a nobody, no one had ever heard of him.

His official position was only that of a colonel.

Still a stutterer!
Liu Bei actually sent a young and stuttering captain to stop him. How much did he look down on him?
The key point is that this young boy is still talking nonsense, saying that he wants to chop off his head!

This is a blatant contempt and humiliation to him, the Cao family's number one general!
"How dare you be so arrogant, you little brat!"

Cao Ren was furious, drew his sword, and shouted:
"All troops, listen to my order. Charge forward and kill all of Liu's troops!"

"Whoever obtains Deng Ai's head will be rewarded with a hundred gold coins!"

The order was given and the horn sounded.

Under the heavy reward, the 14,000 Cao troops were all excited and ferocious, and attacked like a tide.

Cao Ren rode his horse, dragging his sword, and rushed out.

A hundred steps ahead
Looking at the rushing Cao army, Deng Ai raised his lips and sighed in his heart:
"No wonder Military Advisor Bo Wen ordered me to lead the army as bait. Cao Ren, with his status and position, would be furious to be looked down upon by a 'child' like me."

Deng Ai sighed, turned his horse, and struck with his spear:
"All troops, listen to the order, retreat to Bowangpo immediately—"

More than 3,000 soldiers of Liu's army immediately abandoned their positions and turned to retreat towards Bowangpo.

now.

On a small hill east of Bowangpo.

Xiao He was sitting leisurely under the parasol, sipping tea leisurely.

Zhao Yun was holding a telescope, staring intently at the situation on the slope.

"coming!"

"Military Advisor Bo Wen, Shi Zai has led his troops back, and Cao Ren has indeed led his army into Bowangpo!"

"Military Advisor, your plan worked!"

Zhao Yun showed a look of joy on his face and turned around to look at Xiao He happily.

Xiao He squinted his eyes and looked into the distance. Sure enough, dust and fog were rolling up inside Bowang Slope, and the figures of tens of thousands of Cao's troops were vaguely visible.

There is no need to guess too much, it must be Deng Ai who successfully lured Cao Ren's main force into Bowangpo.

"Shi Zai has performed meritorious service and indeed lured Cao Ren in. Now that the battle is over, it seems I must ask the Lord to give this boy a promotion..."

Xiao He nodded in satisfaction, raised his tea bowl and pointed down the slope, sneering:
"The fish is in the net, Zilong, get the oil ready in the pan."

"Let's burn Bowangpo!"

(End of this chapter)