Chapter 382 What kind of magical formation is this? It can defeat cavalry? Not only do you want to cut off my flesh, but you also want me to be your son?
The grand strategy of taking advantage of the situation and annihilating the Wuhuan along the Yishui River was thus decided.

Zhang Fei and other generals, who were eager to fight, were temporarily suppressed.

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister's plan can solve the problem once and for all and eliminate the border threat in Youzhou, but I think there is a new problem."

Tian Feng suddenly pointed to the Yishui River in front of him and said:

"Although the rolling Yishui River is not as dangerous as the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers, it is still a natural barrier after all."

"If the Wuhuan hadn't come to help, Yuan Shang would have been unable to stop our army from crossing the river with only 40,000 infantrymen."

"After all, the Yishui River stretches for hundreds of miles, and there are countless places to cross. We can easily cross the river from upstream to downstream, and then follow the river to the city of Yijing."

"But things are different now that Yuan Shang has the Wuhuan cavalry."

Tian Feng changed the subject, his tone gradually becoming serious:

"Once our army crosses the Yishui River from other crossings, Yuan Shang can immediately send out the Wuhuan cavalry to stop them."

"Given the speed of their cavalry, the Wuhuan will have enough time to arrive and attack our army halfway across the river."

"With this calculation, it will be difficult for our army to cross the Yishui River."

"If we can't cross the river successfully, how can we annihilate Yuan Shang and the Wuhuan army?"

Tian Feng is worthy of being the number one strategist in Hebei. He was thoughtful and saw the loophole in Xiao Fang's plan before anyone else.

The generals immediately started discussing again.

"Prime Minister, what Tian Yuanhao said makes sense. The enemy has cavalry, so they can haunt us and prevent us from crossing the Yishui River."

"If we can't cross the Yishui River, then having an army of more than 200,000 will be useless."

"Then how do we deal with the remnant of Yuan Shang, and how do we deal with the Wuhuan people as well?"

Zhang Fei slapped his thigh and then saw the flaw in Xiao Fang's plan.

Liu Bei nodded slightly and his gaze fell on Xiao Fang. However, there was no doubt in his eyes, only expectation.

Even Zhang Fei could see this flaw, so with Xiao Fang's amazing foresight, how could he not see it?

Liu Bei believed that since Xiao Fang dared to offer this strategy, he must have thought of all possibilities and must have countermeasures.

Xiao Fang smiled faintly and said comfortingly:
"Your Majesty, do not worry. I have previously researched and created a set of formations specifically for our army to cross the river. I believe it will be able to restrain the Wuhuan cavalry."

There was a gleam in Liu Bei's eyes.

As he expected, Xiao Fang did have a plan to deal with it and a way to plug this loophole.

But this response strategy surprised him.

"Prime Minister, the Chanyu Tadun of Wuhuan has nearly 30,000 or 40,000 cavalry, which is more than the total cavalry of the Yuan family back then."

"What kind of magical formation did you create that can actually restrain so many Wuhuan cavalrymen from attacking them halfway across the river?"

Zhang Fei's eyes widened into bells and he shouted in surprise.

This question also aroused Liu Bei's curiosity.

"The use of this formation also has prerequisites. It is not applicable everywhere, but is specifically used for crossing the river."

"As for how this formation is arranged, it is difficult to explain in detail right now."

Xiao Fang couldn't explain it clearly for a moment, so he just bowed to Liu Bei:

"This formation of mine requires the cooperation of infantry and cavalry, and it also requires the construction of several hundred chariots. It will also take some time for the soldiers to practice the deployment."

"In my opinion, only Generals Zhang Wenyuan and Gao Boping can take on this important task."

"I ask the king to issue an edict, and have these two generals select 8,000 elite infantry and cavalry, and transfer them to the rear in the name of escorting grain, and use the Zhang River to conduct drills..."

Xiao Fang then calmly explained his overall plan.

As for the details of this formation, there is no way to explain it on the spot, so I have to skip it first.

Although Liu Bei still had doubts in his heart, he had complete faith in Xiao Fang.

He waved his hand and said without thinking:
"Jinglue, you have planned everything out. Since you said this formation can defeat the Wuhuan cavalry, then I have nothing to worry about."

"Just as you said, quickly order Wenyuan and Boping to practice your formation and prepare for the battle of crossing the river!"

...

Yijing Barrier.

On the north city tower, Yuan Shang was putting up a awning with his hands, looking north eagerly, with a look of anticipation on his face.

At dusk, on the official road leading to the northern part of Youzhou, a sandstorm covering the sky swept in and came into view.

There was a faint rumbling sound of thunder, accompanied by rolling dust and fog, approaching, and even the city wall under the feet seemed to be shaking slightly.

Yuan Shang's pupils dilated and he immediately became excited.

Finally, a black wolf-head flag, symbolizing the totem of the Wuhuan people, broke through the dust and fog and caught Yuan Shang's eyes.

Following closely behind the wolf flag were densely packed cavalrymen that were as densely packed as a tide.

"Tadun is here!"

"Sir, Tadun's Wuhuan cavalry has arrived!"

Shen Pei, who was beside him, pointed at the galloping cavalry and shouted excitedly.

"It's finally here, our Great Wei is saved!"

Yuan Shang nodded heavily, smiling from ear to ear.

The master and his minister were so excited that their voices were choked and there were even tears in their eyes.

Just two days ago, Chen Lin, who had just returned from a diplomatic mission to Youbei, went back to Yijing first and brought back the news that the Wuhuan people were already heading south.

Wuhuan Chanyu Tadun accepted Yuan Shang's request and led 40,000 cavalrymen from the south of Liaoxi, including Louban, Su Puyan and other Wuhuan kings, to head straight for Yijing. From that moment on, Yuan Shang was so excited that he could not sleep or eat, and he stood here every day looking forward to it.

After waiting for so long, the Wuhuan people finally arrived today.

"The Wuhuan cavalry is here, so there's nothing to worry about with the big-eared thieves!"

"Open the gate of the fortress and quickly set up a banquet to welcome Tadun!"

Yuan Shang felt relieved and laughed loudly as he gave the order.

The order was passed down, and the north gate of the main city of Yijing was opened. Yuan Shang personally led his advisers and generals including Shen Pei and Wen Chou out of the city to welcome him.

Soon, tens of thousands of Wuhuan cavalry came galloping towards them.

Yuan Shang welcomed Tadun and the other Wuhuan kings into Yijing and into the palace with grand ceremony.

The lobby was already filled with the smell of alcohol.

In order to show his favor and respect for Tadun, Yuan Shang specially arranged for him to sit at the same table with Tadun to show that both sides were equals and had a relationship of alliance.

The Wuhuan people were uneducated and had no etiquette. When the wine and meat were served to them, they did not show any courtesy but just wolfed them down and drank to their heart's content.

When Yuan Shang heard that Tadun was fond of beautiful women, he specially arranged for dancers to perform to entertain him.

This Wuhuan Chanyu was not polite at all. Since you, Yuan Shang, had arranged it, he would enjoy it with ease.

When he was drunk, he actually pulled a dancer into his arms and started flirting with her in front of his host Yuan Shang.

Seeing this scene, Yuan Shang's brows furrowed secretly, and the enthusiasm on his face suddenly diminished a bit.

Wen Chou and other generals all showed flashes of anger in their eyes when they saw how presumptuous Tadun was.

Our young master is the ruler of Wei after all, and I am being polite to you, but you can't be so arrogant and lack any manners, right?
In front of our monarch, it would be fine if you didn't care about your table manners, but you even dared to openly flirt with our monarch's dancers?

That’s a bit too much!
Only Shen Pei coughed lightly and kept closing his eyes, suggesting to Yuan Shang that he should put the overall situation first and be patient.

Yuan Shang felt helpless and had to put on a smile, pretending not to notice Tadun's rudeness.

Since their own king did not get angry or express his opinion, Wen Chou and other generals naturally did not dare to say anything. They could only swallow their resentment and drink in depression.

"People say there are many beauties in the Han area, and it is indeed true."

"King Wei, I like your dancer very much. Can you give her to me?"

Tadun hugged the dancer and asked Yuan Shang for something with a smile.

In order to get Yuan Xi to send troops to help, Yuan Shang did not announce his succession to the throne of King of Wei. However, in order to show the Wuhuan people his identity as the lord of Wei, Yuan Shang called himself the King of Wei to Tadun.

Hearing Tadun's rude request, Yuan Shang clenched his fists quietly, and a trace of annoyance flashed in his eyes.

It would be fine if you just eat and drink my food, but you are actually openly asking for my dancers?
This damn Hu chieftain really doesn't take me, the King of Wei, seriously.

"Ahem, the Great Chanyu has come all the way to help us in the battle, how can my king be stingy with a mere dancer?"

"Your Majesty, I am right, am I not?"

Shen Pei was afraid that Yuan Shang would be angered and do something that would embarrass Tadun, so he hurriedly reminded him with a smile.

Yuan Shang finally came to his senses, suppressed his anger, and laughed:
"Shen Zhengnan, what you said, do you really think I am reluctant to part with a dancer?"

"I was thinking, one dancer alone is not enough, I might as well give all the dancers to the Great Chanyu."

Taton was overjoyed and praised loudly:

"King of Wei, I didn't expect you to be such a generous and magnanimous ruler. You are even more generous than your father, King Yuan Benchu!"

"Okay, okay, then I won't be polite. I will accept all these dancers."

Yuan Shang laughed and personally filled a glass of wine for Tadun, raising his glass and saying:

"We, the Great Wei, and the Wuhuan are allies, and I, the Great Chanyu, and I, are brothers. Since we are brothers, then what belongs to me is naturally yours, the Great Chanyu. There is no need to be polite!"

"Come, come, let's drink this cup to the full!"

Tadun laughed loudly, raised the cup proudly, and drank it all.

Wen Chou and other generals standing by felt humiliated when they saw that Yuan Shang, in order to please Tadun, was willing to lower himself to address Tadun as a brother.

But Yuan Shang endured this humiliation, so what else could they, as his subjects, do? They could only suppress their anger and remain silent.

"King of Wei, your envoy Chen Lin said that if I help you defend Yijing and repel that Liu Bei, you will give Liaoxi and Youbeiping to me as Wuhuan fiefdoms, and allow us Wuhuan people to live in the two counties from now on."

"Today I want to hear from you personally whether your promise as King Wei is true or not?"

Tadun wiped off the wine stains and his expression became serious.

He wanted to confirm again that Yuan Shang's conditions for ceding land were not just a trick, but that he would keep his word.

Yuan Shang immediately put down his wine glass, pointed to the south, and said solemnly:

"I, Yuan Shang, swear by the Yi River that I will give Youbeiping and Liaoxi counties to my Wuhuan brothers, and they will be the home of the Wuhuan people forever."

"If you break your oath, I, Yuan Shang, will be punished by heaven and earth!"

Tadun smiled with satisfaction.

Yuan Shang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he had fended off Tadun.

At this time.

Tadun rolled his eyes and said with a smile:
"King Wei, your father and I are equals. You should call me uncle."

"Now that you have lost your father and I have no children, how about you consider me your foster father and we become father and son?"

Yuan Shang's body suddenly shook, and the smile on his face froze instantly.

(End of this chapter)