Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Jia Xu turned and slowly walked back to the captive, a kind smile on his face, as if the tension had never been there. He casually inquired about the captive's troop strength, subtly eliciting information. The captive, already bewildered by the series of events, had no idea what Jia Xu was up to. Unwittingly, he extracted crucial information: they had assembled a full 14 troops, bringing with them nearly every able-bodied member of the tribe who could participate.

Upon hearing this figure, Jia Xu's mind settled on a resolution. He narrowed his eyes slightly, his mind rapidly calculating various countermeasures. 14 troops—no small number. Murong Xuepo had deployed all his forces, his ambitions clear. Jia Xu knew the situation would become even more complex and thorny. He needed to devise a foolproof strategy, both to guard against Murong Xuepo's schemes and to assist his lord in successfully capturing Ordo City and annihilating the Xiongnu royal court.

"Ling Ming," Jia Xu looked at Pang De, his eyes full of deep thought, and said slowly, "The only 20,000 troops we have now are simply a drop in the bucket when deployed in the Battle of the Royal Court. It will not contribute to the overall situation. However, the key lies not in the final outcome of the Battle of the Royal Court, but in how we deal with the variable Murong Xuepo after the war."

Pang De nodded solemnly, sat down to the side, and cast his gaze upon the spread-out map. He said, "Sir, you are absolutely right. Murong Xuepo is ambitious and now commands a large army. If we don't plan ahead, he will become a serious threat after the war. But he is now attacking the city with us, seemingly cooperating. How should we proceed?"

Jia Xu tapped his fingers lightly on his palm, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "Since Murong Xuepo has come out in full force, he's clearly determined to capture Ordo City. Given his motives and intentions, he won't let us off easily after the battle. After all, he started out as a rebel and attacked the previous king. To establish his own prestige, he'll undoubtedly launch a campaign against our lord. If we can eliminate our powerful generals, it will not only enhance his prestige among his people but also demonstrate his legitimacy. This will be enough to conceal his usurpation of the throne and win the hearts of the Xiongnu and the various tribes of the steppe."

Upon hearing this, Pang De's expression grew increasingly serious. He anxiously said, "Then we must hurry to help the king. Otherwise, with the army you have now, how can you deal with a treacherous villain like Murong Xuepo?"

Jia Xu waved his hand and said calmly, "Otherwise, our 20,000 troops have remained out of their sight the entire time. This is our greatest advantage. In a direct confrontation with Murong Xuepo, we don't have the advantage in numbers. We might as well take them by surprise and catch them off guard."

At this time, Marshal Yueji beside him also became interested. He looked at Jia Xu with his beautiful eyes and said, "Mr. Jia Xu, please tell us your ideas. I am all ears."

Jia Xu turned to look at Marshal Yue Ji and said with a smile, "Marshal Yue Ji, let me tell you a story called 'Besieging Wei to Save Zhao'. During the Warring States Period, Wei attacked Zhao, and Zhao appealed to Qi for help. Qi's strategist Sun Bin didn't send troops directly to Zhao to engage the Wei army head-on. Instead, he led his troops directly to attack the Wei capital, Daliang. Upon learning of this, the Wei army hurried back to rescue Zhao, and the siege was thus lifted. This is the miraculous effect of avoiding the strong and attacking the weak, attacking the enemy until you can rescue them."

Marshal Yue Ji nodded slightly, his eyes gleaming with thought, and said, "Sir, what you mean is that we have no advantage in confronting Murong Xuepo head-on on this battlefield, so we plan to find another way?"

Jia Xu glanced at him approvingly and continued, "That's right. If we deploy these 20,000 troops directly into the current battlefield, it will indeed be difficult to change the situation. But what if we do the opposite? With these 20,000 troops, we penetrate Murong Xuepo's territory and wreak havoc in his lair? What will happen?"

Pang De's eyes flashed with sudden enlightenment when he heard this. He continued, "Sir, you're saying that Murong Xuepo has come out in full force, leaving his territory vulnerable. If we attack, he'll be wary and might even send troops back to reinforce us. This way, we can alleviate the pressure on our lord in Ordo City."

Jia Xu stroked his beard and nodded, saying, "Indeed. Murong Xuepo is single-mindedly determined to capture Ordo City and establish his prestige, and nearly all of his elite troops are stationed here. His territory is now a mere shell. While our 20,000 troops may not be numerous, they are more than enough to create chaos in his territory and undermine his foundation. Once he learns of his territory's crisis, he will undoubtedly be unable to engage in a peaceful battle with his lord. This will achieve our goal of besieging Wei to save Zhao."

Marshal Yueji frowned, and after a moment's contemplation, he said, "This plan is excellent, but we must also consider the risks of advancing deep into enemy territory. For example, will Murong Xuepo leave some troops behind for defense? And how will we ensure logistical supplies while we fight in enemy territory?"

Jia Xu smiled confidently and said, "Marshal Yueji's concerns are well-founded. However, according to the captive, Murong Xuepo has brought out almost all the young and strong men, and most of those left in the territory are the elderly, the weak, women and children. Even if there are a small number of defensive troops, there is nothing to be feared. As for logistics, we can plunder enemy food and grass along the way, and at the same time, make quick decisions to avoid a protracted battle."

Pang De clenched his fists and said with a firm look in his eyes, "Okay, if that's the case, then we will follow your plan. As long as we can help our lord escape, no matter how great the risk, it's worth a try!"

Jia Xu looked at Pang De and Marshal Yue Ji with a determined gaze, and said, "Since that's the case, there's no need to worry about how to reunite with our lord. We should bypass the Xiongnu royal court and march towards Murong Xuepo's territory to destroy him. But before that, we must inform our lord of our arrival and our subsequent plans in detail, so that he can make the necessary arrangements."

He paused briefly, then continued, "Pass the order down. The army should rest well, have a good meal, and recharge their batteries. Once the soldiers have recovered, we will march towards Murong Xuepo's territory."

As the sun rose to the sky, the rays of sunlight bathed the army, ready to march. Jia Xu summoned Hu Chi'er again. Hu Chi'er trotted over to Jia Xu, bowed, and asked, "Sir, what do you want to call me for?"

Jia Xu's expression was solemn. He said, "Chi'er, I have an extremely important mission for you. Set out immediately and rush as quickly as possible to our Xiliang camp southwest of Langjuxu Mountain. Report our subsequent arrangements in detail to the king."

Jia Xu then gave careful instructions, "Tell the king that we don't have to use all our strength in the battle for Ordo City. Murong Xuepo is more eager to capture the city than we are. He is ambitious and has ulterior motives. Tell the king to conserve his manpower and be on guard against Murong Xuepo at all times. Once Kobineng is defeated, be wary of a possible counterattack from Murong Xuepo."

Hu Chier listened attentively, nodded continuously, and said, "Don't worry, sir, I will definitely convey your message and ensure that the task is completed!"

Jia Xu patted Hu Chi'er on the shoulder and said, "The journey ahead is difficult and dangerous. You will be riding alone. You must be careful and cautious and do not reveal your whereabouts. If you can successfully complete the mission, you will have accomplished a great feat."

Hu Chier grinned, revealing a row of big white teeth, and said, "Sir, you still don't know my abilities? I will definitely not fail my mission!" After that, he turned around and jumped on his horse, galloping towards Ma Chao's camp like a black lightning.

Jia Xu watched Hu Chi'er's retreating figure, silently praying that he could deliver the message safely. Then, turning to face the army, he shouted, "Men! This operation carries a heavy responsibility. Deep within enemy territory, the difficulties are numerous, but for our lord and for our common cause, we must bravely move forward! Let's go!"

At Jia Xu's command, the army marched forward in a mighty procession, heading towards Murong Xuepo's territory. The clatter of horses' hooves and footsteps mixed together, raising clouds of dust.

In the Xiliang camp, the atmosphere was solemn and tense. Soldiers bustled about methodically. Some polished their weapons, making a rustling sound, the friction of metal against coarse cloth as they prepared for battle. Others fed their warhorses, their occasional neighing a signal that the battle was about to begin.

At this moment, Agula, acting as Murong Xuepo's emissary, once again entered Ma Chao's tent. He was dressed in ornate, exotic attire, and wore an exquisite felt hat, its jewels gleaming in the candlelight within the tent. Agula's steps were steady yet tinged with eagerness. Upon meeting Ma Chao, he knelt respectfully on one knee and bowed deeply. Raising his head, his eyes filled with respect, he spoke, "General Shenwei Tian, ​​I have come to see you by the order of King Murong Xuepo. My king's army has arrived near Ordos City, and he is sincere and eager to agree with you to attack Ordos from both sides. This way, we will surely capture the city and crush the enemy."

Ma Chao frowned slightly, his gaze fixed on Agula, a question swirling in his mind. Murong Xuepo's move might appear to be a concerted effort to defeat the enemy, but was there a hidden agenda? Ma Chao knew Murong Xuepo was ambitious and wouldn't be content to be outdone. Was this initiative, this two-pronged attack, a genuine act of cooperation, or perhaps a hidden agenda?

After a moment's silence, Ma Chao slowly spoke, "Agula, go back and tell Murong Xuepo that I'm aware of this matter. I'll reconsider the matter of cooperation. However, the battlefield situation is ever-changing. If we want to cooperate, both parties must be honest with each other and not harbor any selfish motives."

Upon hearing this, Agula hurriedly bowed again and said, "General Shenweitian, my king has also promised that once Ordo City is captured, all the spoils within will belong to you, not our army. He only wishes to work with you to contribute to the stability of the grasslands and achieve great things together. I hope you will make a decision as soon as possible to avoid wasting the opportunity."

Ma Chao's heart trembled. Murong Xuepo's generosity made him even more wary. But on the surface, he remained calm. He waved his hand and said, "You go back first. I will make the decision myself."

Agula saluted again and slowly left the tent. Ma Chao looked at Agula's departing back, his expression unchanged, but he fell into a brief moment of contemplation.

At this time, Xu Shu beside him said, "My lord, Murong Xuepo is so anxious, I'm afraid he has big plans. We should be careful."

Ma Chao nodded slightly, his eyes firm as he spoke, "Regardless of his intentions, our current goal is the same: defeat Kebi Neng first. Since Murong Xuepo is eager to cooperate, he must understand that it will be difficult for him to capture Ordo City on his own. We must seize this opportunity to completely eliminate Kebi Neng's forces."

After a brief pause, Ma Chao raised his voice and ordered, "Since that's the case, tell the soldiers to prepare for another siege! Everyone must remain vigilant and not let their guard down. While attacking with all their might, they must also be prepared for any unexpected events. Pass on my order: commanders of all battalions, quickly marshal your troops and launch the attack in half an hour."