Three Kingdoms: Rebirth of Liu Bei, the Zhaolie

Immediately afterwards, Liu Bei decided to send scouts on horseback to the Langshan camp, 150 li away, and have Tuoba Qiudun lead 1,000 light cavalry to advance into the area east of Langshan, sneaking along the way and ambushing key locations. If the scouts discovered that the main force of the Zhijian tribe was fleeing to the east and north of Langshan, they would suddenly attack and launch a fierce assault.

—Although there are only a thousand men, if they can create a good impression and launch a surprise attack on the retreating main force of the Zhijian tribe, they can still achieve a certain effect.

Moreover, at that time, Liu Bei's army will also pursue and kill the main force of Zhijian's troops, and together with Tuoba Qiudun, they will launch a pincer attack from the north and south, which will surely make Zhijian like a frightened bird, seeing enemies everywhere.

Meanwhile, Tuoba Sihai, who was stationed at the Wolf Mountain stronghold, could lead eight hundred heavily armored cavalrymen to launch a rapid attack and lend a helping hand to Tuoba Qiudun.

He carefully explained this strategy to a scout he trusted (one of Xu Wushan's twenty-eight elite cavalrymen), and instructed that scout to personally lead a dozen scouts to the Wolf Mountain headquarters.

The magistrate accepted the order and left.

After arranging the troop deployment in the area east of Langshan, Liu Bei believed that after the Zhijian tribe was attacked and defeated, the most likely direction for them to escape was the area north and west of Langshan.

After all, the Zhijian tribe's headquarters was located in an oasis in the desert—on the shores of Juyan Lake. The Zhijian people had lived in this area for many years and were therefore quite familiar with its geography.

Moreover, if Zhijian were to be defeated, it would be relatively easy for him to flee to the area north and west of Langshan Mountain, without having to bypass Langshan Mountain. Furthermore, he could return to his stronghold at any time to resupply and rejoin the remaining troops, thereby organizing a new offensive.

Therefore, the army sent to the northwest of Langshan must be led by a general who is both wise and brave.

After some thought.

Liu Bei decided to send Guan Yu's vanguard of 300 elite cavalry, along with Tuoba Yizhan and Tuoba Chekun's 3,400 light cavalry, for a total of 3,700 cavalry, to circle around to the northwest of Langshan and ambush them. When Zhijian's main army was fleeing in disarray, they would suddenly attack and block Zhijian's retreat.

Liu Bei, as the commander-in-chief, appointed Guan Yu as the chief general of the ambush troops in the northwest, with Tuoba Yizhan and Tuoba Chekun as his deputies, and Qian Zhao as the chief strategist.

Zuo Zi, Yang Feng, Wu Lu Da Wang, Zhang Ba, and other former vanguard commanders led three hundred elite cavalrymen at a critical moment, obeying the orders of their commander-in-chief Guan Yu, charging into battle, slaying enemy generals and capturing flags.

After arranging this team.

Liu Bei asked Guan Yu:

"Yun Chang, are you confident you can intercept the sword?"

This was the first time Guan Yu had been appointed as a general leading troops independently, and he was very excited.

He knew that while he was brave, he lacked wisdom and strategy.

Just then, Liu Bei appointed Qian Zhao as his chief strategist.

This made Guan Yu feel as if he had been given wings.

Overjoyed:

"Commander, with Zijing by my side as my strategist, and the assistance of veteran generals Tuoba Yizhan and Tuoba Chekun, I will lay in wait in the northwest of Langshan, and we will surely hunt down Zhijian!"

"Hmm."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was quite pleased and nodded in satisfaction. He then said, "When encountering problems, consult Zijing more often and discuss matters with the two veteran generals. If Zhijian escapes from our hands, then it's up to you next. I predict that Zhijian will most likely flee to the northwest."

Guan Yu then assured him:

"If Okiku dares to come, I will capture him alive."

Liu Bei hurriedly said:

"Just do your best. It's not that we necessarily have to capture him alive. After defeating and recruiting Okiken's main force, Okiken alone will be powerless. He won't be able to cause any trouble."

Guan Yu nodded and said:

"Alright, let's pretend to continue advancing forward, and then sneak out under cover of night."

Liu Bei then reminded him:

"Find a few more guides who know the way."

Guan Yu, Qian Zhao, Tuoba Yizhan, and Tuoba Chekun immediately accepted the order and left.

After setting up ambushes on the east and west sides of Langshan, Liu Bei divided the remaining army into three parts.

The Left Army—commanded by Gao Shun, with Song Xian, Wei Xu, Hou Cheng, Cheng Lian, and Wei Yue as his deputies—led 300 elite cavalry as the vanguard. An additional 2,000 light cavalry were assigned to Gao Shun's command.

The central army—still commanded by Liu Bei—was led by Lü Bu, who commanded a hundred Bingzhou knights-errant and two hundred elite cavalry as the vanguard. When charging into the enemy lines, these three hundred vanguard soldiers, all clad in iron armor, transformed into heavily armored cavalry and fiercely attacked the Zhijian army.

In addition, seven hundred heavily armored cavalrymen under Tuoba Daxi were transferred to Lü Bu's command, bringing the total to one thousand heavily armored cavalrymen.

Liu Bei led a hundred guards and five hundred light cavalry, commanding from the center behind Lü Bu's vanguard.

The Right Army – led by Tuoba Daxi, commanded the remaining three hundred heavy cavalry and seven hundred light cavalry.

—Considering that Tuoba Daxi was dealing with the Luoluo tribe's army, which had a low fighting spirit, he was only equipped with an army of one thousand men.

At that time, Tuoba Daxi led three hundred heavily armored cavalry in the vanguard, followed by seven hundred light cavalry, which would be enough to deal with the thousands of ambushes from the Luoluo tribe.

Behind the three armies of the left, center, and right were 1,500 light cavalrymen led by Babapeng, Pulu, and Yiloujin, serving as the army's reserve force.

Wherever the fighting was intense, Liu Bei would send this reserve force there.

With such a well-arranged formation, every detail was also properly taken care of.

Once night fell, they quickly turned and charged into the secluded valley where the main force of the Zhijian tribe was hiding in the Langshan area.

Liu Bei ordered his army to rest for an afternoon.

By evening, the soldiers had all eaten their fill, and then Commander Liu Bei ordered a rapid advance towards Langshan in the north.

He ordered the three armies—the left, central, and right wings—to advance in unison to their designated locations before midnight. After a brief rest, they were to launch a surprise attack on the main force of the Zhijian tribe.

The march took place at night, but fortunately the stars and moon shone in the sky.

Moreover, they were traveling through grasslands and deserts, so there were no obstacles.

After traveling more than thirty miles north.

A scout galloped in to report:

"A force of several thousand men has been spotted lying in ambush several miles ahead, launching a fierce attack on the left flank of the main army."

Sure enough, there was an ambush.

Fortunately, Liu Bei had anticipated the enemy's moves and made preparations in advance. Therefore, he immediately ordered Gao Shun, the commander of the left army, to lead three hundred elite cavalry and two thousand light cavalry to meet the enemy.

It was Gao Shun's first time serving as a commander-in-chief, and he was excited, but he was always composed. After receiving orders from Commander-in-Chief Liu Bei, he immediately led his troops to meet the enemy.

Immediately afterwards, another scout reported:

"Several miles to the right of the main force, an ambush force of several thousand men was also discovered, charging toward here."

Liu Bei then ordered Tuoba Daxi to lead 300 heavily armored cavalry and 700 light cavalry to intercept them.

After the left and right armies were sent out to meet the enemy, the central army continued to advance rapidly towards the area west of Langshan.

The distance to the secluded valley where the main force of the Zhijian tribe was located was less than thirty miles.

The simultaneous appearance of ambushes on both the left and right flanks indicates that Zhijian had obtained intelligence from Liu Bei's scouts regarding his return.

While ordering the two ambushes to attack Liu Bei's army, Zhijian, who was hiding in the secluded valley west of Langshan, would also lead his thousands of troops to counterattack Liu Bei's central army.

Liu Bei was clearly aware of this as well. He ordered his vanguard Lü Bu to prepare for battle, and instructed him to lead a thousand heavily armored cavalrymen, both men and horses fully armored, to withstand the onslaught of the Zhijian army.

They traveled another twenty li or so.

In the dark night, under the starlight.

Ahead, they saw a trail of fire, galloping across the wilderness, illuminating the land for miles.

Vanguard Lü Bu knew that the army he was about to encounter, carrying torches high, must be the main force of the Zhijian tribe, which had come from the secluded valley of Langshan Mountain.

The two sides were more than two hundred zhang apart, which is more than four hundred meters.

For a moment, Lü Bu didn't know exactly how many troops were facing him, so he shouted in his powerful and arrogant voice:

"Put on your armor!"

With his command.

The soldiers of his vanguard quickly and skillfully removed their armor from another horse that accompanied them and donned it. They also clad their warhorses in armor for their heads, necks, and bodies.

After donning their armor and weapons, they all mounted their horses and awaited Lü Bu's orders.

The opposing army of soldiers has begun their charge.

The sound of hooves thundered.

The earth shook violently.

Lü Bu then issued an order in an extremely authoritative voice:

"All troops, charge!"

Upon hearing his fearless voice, his heavily armored cavalrymen were instantly filled with courage and killing intent.

At that moment, Lü Bu, holding firmly his twelve-foot-long halberd, led the charge.

A thousand heavily armored cavalrymen followed closely behind.

The sound of horses' hooves was deafening.

Both sides gradually entered each other's archery range!

Lü Bu shouted:

"Release the arrows!"

A thousand heavily armored cavalrymen fired a volley.

Arrows rained down, shooting out in a fierce barrage.

The other side responded with a barrage of arrows from Lü Bu.

The two armies charged closer and closer.

The thousand heavily armored cavalrymen behind Lü Bu all gripped their eighteen-foot-long spears with both hands, straightened the spear shafts, and thrust them straight at the army with quivered horns.

The two armies then clashed fiercely.

As a result, Lü Bu's thousand heavily armored cavalrymen knocked down a large number of Zhijian's elite cavalry!

As the spears rose, they pierced the fallen cavalrymen.

It turned out that the cavalry of the Zhijian tribe were all wearing leather armor, so they were no match for Lu Bu's thousand heavily armored cavalry. Their spears pierced the armor, and instead knocked them backwards.

……

Night battles are fought with fire and drums, while day battles are fought with banners and flags.

—The Art of War by Sun Tzu