I walk sideways in the game world

"Report - General, something terrible has happened. Marshal Sima is leading the army to attack the Black Wind Valley!" The soldier spoke in a hurried tone, and it was obvious that he had tried his best to come and report.

"What?!" Ren Xiaoyao stood up suddenly, his face livid. Black Wind Valley was a crucial point in their defense against the enemy, easy to defend but difficult to attack. Marshal Sima had chosen to attack at this very moment, clearly well prepared.

"General, the enemy outnumbers us, and we're outnumbered. I'm afraid the Black Wind Valley..." Before Deputy General Qian could finish, he was interrupted by Ren Xiaoyao, "Pass the order, the entire army will attack, and defend the Black Wind Valley to the death!"

"Yes!" Deputy General Qian took the order and left. The atmosphere in the conference room became extremely solemn.

"Brother Xiaoyao..." Xia Lin looked at Ren Xiaoyao worriedly. She knew that this battle would be an extremely brutal one.

Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. "Lin'er, go notify all the scouts to keep a close eye on the enemy's movements. Report any developments immediately!"

"Yes!" Xia Lin knew that now was not the time to be sentimental, so she turned around and left resolutely.

Ren Xiaoyao and Wu Moushi stood in front of the map, looking at the mark representing the Black Wind Valley, and fell into deep thought.

"General, Marshal Sima chose to attack Black Wind Valley at this time. I'm afraid he has already known about the 'traitor' and wants to take over Black Wind Valley in one fell swoop while our army's morale is unstable." Advisor Wu analyzed in a deep voice.

Ren Xiaoyao nodded in agreement. "Marshal Sima is very cunning. This incident must have been premeditated. But how did he know about the 'traitor'?"

"I'm afraid we'll have to investigate this matter from within the military." Advisor Wu pointed to several markers near Black Wind Valley on the map. "General, please look! These are possible enemy attack routes. The intelligence we received previously indicated that the enemy's forces are dispersed and they won't be able to assemble so quickly, unless..."

"Unless someone secretly passes on information, and they cooperate with each other!" Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with a cold light, "Advisor Wu, please continue."

Advisor Wu pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket. It was covered with names written all over it. "General, this is the list of all the generals involved in the Black Wind Valley defense line during this period, as well as their movements during this period."

Ren Xiaoyao took the list, looked at it carefully, and his brows furrowed more and more.

"General, look at this guy." Advisor Wu pointed to a name on the list. "General Li, responsible for Black Wind Valley's logistics. He's been leaving the barracks several times under the pretext of patrols, and his departure times always coincide with enemy movements..."

Ren Xiaoyao suddenly raised his head, a cold light flashing in his eyes, "You mean, General Li is..."

"We can't be sure yet, but he's the most suspicious." Advisor Wu said solemnly, "General, we must get to the bottom of this as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous!"

At this moment, a soldier covered in blood stumbled in, "Report - Report - Lieutenant General Qian... encountered an ambush... in imminent danger..."

"What?!" Ren Xiaoyao dropped the list in his hand, his face suddenly changing. Deputy General Qian was a cautious person, so how could he be easily ambushed?

"General, Lieutenant General Qian led his men on a routine patrol, but they were ambushed by the enemy at Broken Soul Slope near the Black Wind Valley. The enemy had a large number of people, and Lieutenant General Qian was outnumbered and seriously injured..." The soldier's voice became weaker and weaker, and it was obvious that he was holding on to his last breath to report the news.

"Damn it!" Ren Xiaoyao was furious and grabbed the sword on the table. "Advisor Wu, you stay in the tent, I'll be back soon!" After that, he jumped onto his horse and galloped towards the Broken Soul Slope regardless of everyone's obstruction.

The steep terrain of Broken Soul Slope, easy to defend but difficult to attack, made it a natural ambush site near Black Wind Valley. At that moment, the cries of battle shook the heavens, and blood flowed like a river. When Ren Xiaoyao arrived, he saw a scene resembling hell on earth. Lieutenant General Qian, stabbed several times, was surrounded by a group of enemy soldiers and seemed on the verge of death.

"Old Qian!" Ren Xiaoyao roared, charging into the enemy lines like a tiger descending from a mountain. His sword flashed with a cold gleam, and wherever he passed, the enemy soldiers fell to the ground. With his martial arts prowess and murderous intent, he forged a bloody path through the enemy lines and rescued Lieutenant General Qian.

"General... cough cough... be careful, there's a trap..." Deputy General Qian said weakly, with blood constantly flowing from the corners of his mouth.

Ren Xiaoyao hugged Deputy General Qian and found that he was seriously injured. He couldn't help but feel depressed. "Old Qian, hold on. I will take you back to heal your wounds!"

"No... cough cough... it's too late... General... the traitor... is right here..." Before Lieutenant General Qian could finish his words, his eyes rolled back and he fainted.

"Old Qian! Old Qian!" Ren Xiaoyao was heartbroken. He knew that Deputy General Qian was having a last gasp. He held Deputy General Qian's hand tightly, his heart filled with anger and grief.

"General, let's retreat, it's too dangerous here!" Several personal soldiers fought desperately to protect Ren Xiaoyao and the unconscious Lieutenant General Qian, and broke out of the siege.

Back at the camp, Ren Xiaoyao immediately ordered the military doctor to do his utmost to treat Lieutenant General Qian. However, it was too late. Lieutenant General Qian was seriously injured and eventually died.

Ren Xiaoyao suppressed his grief and personally arranged the remains of Lieutenant General Qian. He secretly swore in his heart that he must find the traitor and avenge Lieutenant General Qian!

At the same time, Xia Lin also learned a shocking piece of news through her own secret channels: the enemy was planning a larger-scale attack, targeting Black Wind Valley! Moreover, the plan for this attack actually came from within their own ranks!

Xia Lin was extremely anxious and immediately rushed back to the tent to tell Ren Xiaoyao the news.

"Brother Xiaoyao, the situation is urgent. We must come up with a solution as soon as possible!" Xia Lin said anxiously.

Ren Xiaoyao's face was solemn. He looked at the location of Black Wind Valley on the map and fell into deep thought. He knew that the current situation was extremely dangerous. Black Wind Valley was no longer safe. If he continued to defend it, he would only sacrifice the lives of his soldiers in vain.

"Pass the order down, all troops..." Ren Xiaoyao paused, his gaze fixed on Xia Lin. "Lin'er, are you sure the source of this information is reliable?" His gaze fixed on the map, his brow furrowed. Xia Lin's words echoed in his mind. He knew Xia Lin's information was always accurate, but the news she brought this time was so shocking that he had to be cautious.

"Lin'er, are you sure the source of the information is reliable?" Ren Xiaoyao's voice was low, with a barely perceptible tremor.

Xia Lin understood his concerns and nodded solemnly. "Brother Xiaoyao, I guarantee with my life that the information is absolutely reliable! Moreover, I also heard that this operation is codenamed 'Falcon' and the general attack is scheduled to be launched at midnight in three days!"

"Falcon Plan..." Ren Xiaoyao muttered to himself, a cold glint in his eyes. "What a thief Sima is! He actually wants to take over the Black Wind Valley in one fell swoop. What a good plan!"

He knew that Black Wind Valley was a strategically important location, and if it were lost, the consequences would be disastrous. The sacrifice of Deputy General Qian made him realize that there were spies within. At this moment, Black Wind Valley had become a dangerous trap, and staying there would be tantamount to waiting for death.

After a moment's deliberation, Ren Xiaoyao decisively issued an order: "Pass the order down. The entire army will evacuate Black Wind Valley tonight and retreat to Eagle's Beak Cliff, thirty miles south!"

"What? Retreat?" Advisor Wu was horrified. "General, why should we retreat? Are we just going to hand over Black Wind Valley to the enemy?"

The other generals were also puzzled and discussed the matter. Ren Xiaoyao glanced at them and said in a deep voice, "A general is not bound by his sovereign's orders. The enemy is strong and we are weak, and there are spies within. Black Wind Valley is no longer safe. Retreat is the best option at this moment."

He paused, then continued, "Although we have evacuated Black Wind Valley, we have not given up resistance. Eagle's Beak Cliff is strategically located, easy to defend but difficult to attack. We can use the terrain to our advantage, engage the enemy, and wait for the opportunity to launch a counterattack."

Seeing that Ren Xiaoyao had made up his mind, everyone stopped talking and went down to prepare for retreat.

However, Ren Xiaoyao did not reveal all his plans. He knew that in order to catch the spy hiding in the dark, he had to play the long game.

The next day, Ren Xiaoyao summoned all the generals to a military meeting and deliberately leaked a piece of false information: he planned to set up an ambush at Eagle's Beak Cliff, wait for the enemy to enter the encirclement, and then attack from both sides to annihilate the enemy in one fell swoop.

After the meeting, Ren Xiaoyao carefully observed each officer, taking in their changing expressions. Most of the officers appeared excited, but there was only one who remained expressionless, his eyes flickering, as if he was hiding something.

This person is Li Zhong, the deputy general beside Ren Xiaoyao.

Ren Xiaoyao sneered in his heart, he knew that he had found the hidden spy.

"Li Zhong," Ren Xiaoyao suddenly said, his tone icy, "Please stay for a moment. I have something to ask you in private."

Li Zhong was shocked, but he remained calm on the surface. "Yes, General."

The other generals gradually left, leaving only Ren Xiaoyao and Li Zhong in the tent. The atmosphere suddenly became tense... The air inside the tent was so heavy it felt like water could drip out. Ren Xiaoyao's piercing gaze, like a hawk's, locked onto Li Zhong, as if he wanted to see through his every secret.

"Deputy General Li, you have been in the army for many years and have always been loyal and brave. I have great trust in you." Ren Xiaoyao's tone was calm, but there was a hidden sharpness in it.

Beads of sweat formed on Li Zhong's forehead, but he remained composed, cupping his fists and saying, "General, you are too kind. I am only doing my duty."

"Devoted to duty? What a devoted duty!" Ren Xiaoyao suddenly stood up, slapping the map in his hand. "Then explain to me why the enemy was able to accurately predict our deployment every time they moved? Why was the vanguard led by Lieutenant General Qian ambushed and annihilated?"

Facing Ren Xiaoyao's questioning, Li Zhong's expression finally changed. He hesitated and was speechless for a long time.

"What? You have nothing to say?" Ren Xiaoyao pressed on, his tone icy cold. "Tell me, who sent you as a spy?"

At this moment, a burst of urgent trumpet sounds suddenly came from outside the tent, and then a soldier stumbled in, his face pale, and shouted in panic: "Report, report... General, something bad has happened, the enemy, the enemy has launched a general attack!"

A cold light flashed in Ren Xiaoyao's eyes. He had long expected that Marshal Sima would not give up, but he did not expect that he would choose to launch a general attack at this time.

"Damn it!" Ren Xiaoyao cursed inwardly. He knew there was no time left to deal with Li Zhong. He suddenly drew the sword from his waist, pointed it at Li Zhong's nose, and shouted, "Li Zhong, for the sake of our past friendship, I'm giving you one last chance. Tell me, who do you belong to?"

Li Zhong's face turned pale, he knew he had been exposed. A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he suddenly attacked, drawing the sword at his waist and slashing at Ren Xiaoyao.

"I've been on guard against you!" Ren Xiaoyao was prepared. He dodged Li Zhong's attack and stabbed him in the chest with a sword.

"You..." Li Zhong looked at the sword on his chest in disbelief, blood flowing from the corner of his mouth. He never thought that all his plans would eventually be exposed.

"Who sent you here?" Ren Xiaoyao looked at him coldly, wanting to get clues about the mastermind from him.

However, Li Zhong just laughed miserably and said with his last bit of strength, "You...will never know..."

After Li Zhong finished speaking, he died of suffocation.

Ren Xiaoyao looked at Li Zhong's body with a frown on his face. He knew that Li Zhong was just a minor figure and the real mastermind was still hiding in the dark.

"General, what should we do now?" Advisor Wu asked anxiously. "The enemy is advancing with such force that our defenses are about to collapse!"

Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. He knew that now was not the time to be sad or angry. He had to come up with a solution as soon as possible, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous.

"Pass the order down, the entire army will defend Eagle's Beak Cliff to the death. Anyone who disobeys the order will be executed!" Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with determination. He knew that this was a battle of life and death, and he had to gamble everything...

"Report! General, the enemy commander, Marshal Sima, is personally leading an elite force and attacking from the east. Our army has suffered heavy casualties. Requesting support!"

Ren Xiaoyao suddenly raised his head, his eyes flashing with brilliance. He grabbed the helmet on the table and shouted, "Pass on my order..."