Northern Prefecture Rivers and Mountains

Chapter 87 Anticipating the Enemy
The soldiers returned one after another.

All the scouts were sent out to investigate the surrounding situation.
Liu Daogui of Qingguang Village was not worried. This place was easy to defend but difficult to attack. It was located on the mountain range. If any bandits came, he would die one by one. If they came in pairs, he would die two by two.

Zhang Fonu should know best how difficult it is to attack Qingguang Village.

It is better to be safe than sorry. Liu Daogui ordered his soldiers to cut down all the nearby trees and bushes, and set up stone forts on several small roads to clear the view and block the bandits' desperate routes.

They also set up secret outposts on the surrounding hilltops.

Not to mention thieves, even a fly approaching would be noticed.

After doing all this, Liu Daogui was still worried, so he inspected the surrounding hills and even blocked the rabbit holes on the mountains. He only stopped after making sure that everything was safe.

"If the enemy comes, we will fight them; if the water comes, we will block it with earth. No matter how many bandits come, we have Qingguang Village in our hands, so we are not afraid of them." Liu Zun kept chattering behind him.

Liu Zhong said: "I'm not afraid, but we'll lose all the food we worked so hard to grow."

People can hide in Qingguang Village, but the food in the fields cannot hide in.

Without food, Liu Daogui’s work this year was in vain.

"If Zhang Fonuo wasn't stupid, he would never attack from here!" Liu Zhong has been busy these days and has lost weight, but he has become more capable.

Liu Daogui turned around and asked, "Where do you think the attack will come from?"

The terrain is the aid of the army. To estimate the enemy and win the battle, and to calculate the distance and proximity of dangerous and narrow passes, is the way of a good general.

Sun Tzu's Art of War also advocates predicting the enemy's strategy to win.

It takes three stakes to make a fence, and it takes three men to make a hero. A person's ability is always limited, and it is impossible to be all-encompassing.

Liu Zhong said, "If we attack from here, we will cross Langya County. This is a long-distance attack, but we are not close at hand. The Jianwu General's Office will not sit idly by. I think the most likely direction of attack is from the east, from the western foot of Mount Niqiu to Xue County, from Yashan to the city, and then directly to Lushui Pond, attacking our heart!"

The entire Lanling County is half embraced by the remnants of Mount Tai, and is connected to the surrounding mountains.

The thieves have been operating here for decades and they certainly don't know the terrain very well.

"Are you saying that the Cao family will stab me in the back?" Liu Daogui stared at the city of Prophecy on the map. This old guy Cao Tengyun was really worrying.

The relationship between the two families was never very close.

During the previous attack on Qingguang Village, half of the "elite troops sent by the Cao family" dispersed before they even arrived at the destination. They kept making all kinds of small moves and were really unreliable.

"Hey, do you even need to ask? Old Cao is not a good person! He is so hesitant to borrow some livestock from him." Liu Zun cursed.

"I will immediately take people to Cao's house to discuss how to defend against the thieves." Liu Daogui patted the dust off his body.

The key to stopping the enemy army lies in the city of Qi.

Even if the Cao family does not stab him in the back, as long as they stand idly by, the enemy's cavalry will be able to come and go freely, and Lushuibi will be greatly disturbed.

Given Cao Tengyun's personality, this is not impossible.

There are actually many conflicts of interest between the two sides. If the Eight Buildings grows stronger, the interests of the Cao family will inevitably be squeezed.

If there was no Liu Daogui in Lanling County, the Cao family would be the only dominant family and their life would be extremely comfortable.

But at this moment, several riders came galloping down the mountain from the west, and several Cao family members shouted from the bottom of the camp: "Where is General Liu?"

The village gate opened, everyone dismounted and trotted up the mountain.

"What's the matter?" As soon as I thought of the Cao family, they sent someone over.

"The bandits in Mount Tai have united and want to plunder Lanling. The head of the family invites you to join the army in the city of Qi to discuss the matter." The leader was Cao Tengyun's nephew Cao Ting. Liu Daogui had no impression of the people following behind him.

"Everyone go back first, I'll go right away." Cao Ji is closer to him, so logically he should be the one to go.

Cao Ting bowed and said, "The bandits have gathered at Xigong Mountain, north of Xue County. Please join the army and come quickly."

"So fast?"

Xue County is just over seventy miles northwest of the city, and the bandits are already so close.

The situation was basically the same as Liu Zhong had speculated, the bandits came from the west.

However, the Cao family was a little too hasty, which was quite rude and did not suit his status.

The military situation was urgent, so Liu Daogui didn't think much about it and said, "I'll set off now." Cao Ting turned and left, but at this moment, someone behind him turned around with a big movement and touched Liu Daogui's hand, and a small piece of something slipped into his hand silently.

Liu Daogui was stunned, but did not say anything. He watched them leave the village and go down the mountain.

It was not until they walked away that he opened his palm, and found a piece of paper with a faint honeysuckle pattern printed on it.

Honeysuckle Honeysuckle means a tough temperament that does not wither in winter. In Buddhism, it is compared to the immortality of the human soul and eternal life in reincarnation.

There seemed to be a faint fragrance lingering on the paper. Needless to say, it was sent by the young lady from the Cao family. Liu Daogui opened it and saw seven small words. He was shocked by the words written on it before he could even appreciate them.

"Do not enter the city, please."

Cao Tengyun asked him to hurry to the city to discuss matters, but his daughter told him not to go...

"You are quite popular with women." Liu Zun's pair of big eyes came closer again.

Liu Daogui was too lazy to pay attention to him. Cao Tengyun was planning to hold a Hongmen Banquet!

But what is puzzling is why he would join forces with the bandits to deal with him?

Liu Zhong suggested: "Cao Tengyun has ulterior motives. The young general is in Pei County. Why not ask him for help?"

Liu Jingxuan followed Liu Laozhi northward. As long as they moved their toes, they could crush all the bandits in Mount Tai to death.

Liu Daogui pondered for a moment, "Distant water cannot quench a nearby fire. They have to contain Zhai Wei and support Luoyang. I'm afraid they don't have time to meddle in our affairs. Besides, the time it takes to go back and forth is too long, and the news might leak out."

As soon as the Northern Army in Pei County moved, the bandits turned around and fled into the mountains, and Liu Daogui missed the opportunity to wipe them out completely.

Liu Guangzhi said, "Why not defend Qingguang Village to the death? Even if the Cao family joins forces with the bandits, they won't be able to take even a single step beyond this city!"

Defending Qingguang Village would certainly ensure safety, but the crops in Lushui Pond would be lost.

After all, things are back to square one.

"Why do we have to defend Qingguang Village? My brothers followed me north to eat meat and make a fortune. We might as well turn the tables, occupy the city of Qi and control the Cao family!" Liu Daogui slapped the location of Qicheng on the map. Defending to the death was not his style.

As long as you act quickly enough, it is not certain who this Hongmen Banquet is for.

Cao Tengyun was unkind, so Liu Daogui could only be unjust.

Liu Zun laughed loudly: "I have said long ago that Cao Tengyun is not a good guy, and it turns out to be true!"

Liu Daogui glanced at the crowd, his eyes brimming with murderous intent. "I will lead two hundred elite soldiers into the city to control the gates. Ah Zhong will lead the troops to control the city walls. Zhao Yuan will stay in Qingguang Village. Remember, after the mission is accomplished, I will distribute the money and silk in the city to you all. If anyone commits arson, murder, or looting, don't blame me for my ruthless military law."

Not everyone in the Cao family deserves to die. When Liu Daogui first arrived, it was thanks to the Cao family's strong support that he was able to gain a foothold in Lushuibi.

If Cao Tengyun's daughter had not reminded him, Liu Daogui would never have thought that Cao Tengyun was so courageous.

Furthermore, such a large field near the city needed people to cultivate it. The Cao family had more than 800 households and more than 4,000 people, plus the households under their protection, nearly 8,000 people in total. It was definitely impossible to kill them all.

This battle is not to massacre the city, but to control the Cao family.

Otherwise, if the more than 4,000 members of the Cao family rebelled, it would take a long time for Liu Daogui's 1,000 men to suppress them.

Even if it was a massacre, it did not mean rushing into the city and killing everyone they saw.

All the men, women and children in the Cao family are capable of fighting in the battlefield. If a stalemate occurs, the bandits in Xue County will get wind of it and move, and things will be troublesome.

Therefore, this battle must be fought quickly and without any delay.

"Don't worry, sergeant. The soldiers of the Eighth Battalion will never violate military law!" Mao Dezuo bowed.

Several village chiefs and village heads also bowed.

"As long as you have money and silk, we won't kill you. We will listen to the soldiers." Several soldiers nodded in agreement.

Their main purpose in this trip was to make money, and they had little interest in killing people.

"Send out the troops in an hour." Liu Daogui looked at the sky. The mountain wind was whistling, and the green mountains were swaying. The scorching sun was high in the sky. It should have been a peaceful afternoon, but there was a bit of solemnity.

With an hour's preparation and a night's march, they could reach the city of Qi before dawn tomorrow, kill Cao Tengyun by surprise, and eliminate the hidden danger of the city of Qi.

(End of this chapter)