Chapter 42: Planning half a month in advance? The military advisor is very far-sighted! Are you praising me or scolding me?

Everyone's eyes were once again focused on Xiao Fang.

They remembered.

During the previous military meeting, Xiao Fang did say that he had made his own decision to arrange the next hidden move that could help Liu Bei quickly capture Wancheng.

However, it was interrupted by the episode of persuading Zhang Xiu to surrender.

Liu Bei's spirits immediately brightened when the old story was brought up again, and he hurriedly asked:
"What brilliant plan has the military advisor laid? I would like to hear the details."

Xiao Fang picked up the tea, took a sip slowly, and then said:

"Before the battle of Biyang, I had selected a general and led more than 200 elite soldiers, disguised as civilians, and ambushed north near Wancheng."

"Zhang Xiu was defeated, and the lord led his army north. The people in the countryside near Wancheng were afraid of being killed by the war, so they would flee to Wancheng."

"I deployed these two hundred troops and mixed them in with the refugees and the fleeing soldiers. They quietly entered the city and hid themselves there."

"These two hundred men are the hidden chess pieces I have planted in Wancheng."

Xiao Fang sipped the tea and revealed the secret.

Everyone suddenly realized what had happened, and there was an immediate buzz of discussion in the tent.

"Before the Battle of Biyang, wouldn't that be half a month ago?"

"At that time, Zhang Xiu had not yet been defeated, but Jinglue, you had already made such a plan to capture Wancheng?"

"Such foresight, really, really..."

Liu Bei's eyes opened wide, and for a moment he couldn't find the right words to express his admiration and amazement.

There was another round of discussion in the tent, and everyone looked at Xiao Fang with a little more admiration in their eyes.

"Military Advisor Jinglue, we hadn't even dealt with Zhang Xiu yet, but you were already plotting against Wancheng?"

"To be honest, you are really cunning. I am convinced."

Zhang Fei gave him a thumbs up and praised him highly.

It's just that this complimenting word sounds a bit like an insult...

Xiao Fang coughed a few times, looking a little embarrassed.

"Yide, is there anyone who praises others like you?"

Liu Bei glared at Zhang Fei and said unhappily:

"How can Jinglue be called cunning? This is a far-sighted plan!"

Zhang Fei was stunned for a moment, then he came to his senses and quickly slapped his mouth lightly.

"I said the wrong thing again. I am a rough man and don't understand so many flowery words. Military advisor, please don't mind if I am not praising you correctly~~"

Zhang Fei scratched the back of his head and apologized to Xiao Fang with an embarrassed smile.

Xiao Fang knew that Zhang Fei was a man of his word, so he naturally wouldn't argue with him and just smiled.

Zhang Fei stopped smiling and changed the subject, asking:

"Military Advisor, I have another question. How do you plan to help my brother capture Wancheng with these two hundred troops who have sneaked into the city?"

The hall fell silent, and everyone's eyes fell on Xiao Fang again.

Xiao Fang's gaze turned to his brother-in-law who was busy carving bamboo slips and taking notes.

"Aliang, in your opinion, how can the lord use these two hundred troops to capture Wancheng?"

Xiao Fang wanted to test and train Zhuge Liang again, and give Zhuge Liang another chance to demonstrate his wisdom in front of Liu Bei and his colleagues.

After all, if he is trained earlier, Zhuge Liang will be able to reach the "Wolong" level earlier, take on important responsibilities sooner, and he himself will have more time to relax.

Pressure is not a beauty. You don’t need to get it. You should know how to share it…

Zhuge Liang put away his pen and knife, and after a moment's hesitation, he said:

"Zhang Ji has less than 4,000 soldiers in Wancheng. If they are divided equally, each gate will have less than 1,000 soldiers. For Zhang Ji, the biggest weakness at the moment is the lack of troops."

"Liang thought that the lord could use a small number of troops to pretend to attack the west gate, forcing Zhang Ji to withdraw troops from other gates to the west gate, and then the defenses of the other gates would be weak."

"At this time, the two hundred people inside our city can raise fire as a signal and launch a surprise attack on one of the remaining three gates together with our main force outside the city."

"The enemy's forces here are weak. We can easily break through if we attack from both inside and outside!"

"Liang guesses that my brother-in-law wants to use this chess piece in this way. I don't know whether it is right or not." After hearing Zhuge Liang's plan, Xiao Fang nodded slightly to show his approval.

After experiencing several battles from Xuzhou to Nanyang, Zhuge Liang's strategies and tactics improved by leaps and bounds, and he was one step closer to becoming a real Sleeping Dragon.

"General Yide, now you should understand how to use this hidden move to break into Wancheng."

Xiao Fang smiled and looked at Zhang Fei.

Zhang Fei chewed for a long time before he came to his senses and nodded in praise:
"Military Advisor Jinglue, your brother-in-law is so smart at such a young age. He is truly amazing."

"None of the people around you are mediocre. Isn't this what we call birds of a feather flock together?"

Zhang Fei's "praise" made everyone laugh. Even Wei Yan, who was usually serious, almost couldn't hold back his laughter.

"Yide, Yide, listen to my advice. You should praise the military advisor less in the future..."

Liu Bei looked helpless and shook his head with a bitter smile.

"Ah... did I say something wrong again..."

Zhang Fei touched his head and started mumbling to himself.

Liu Bei had put away his bitter smile, and a fighting spirit was burning on his face. He said happily:
"You all have heard it clearly. We will follow the military advisor's advice and make a feint to the east and attack in the west first, then join forces inside and outside to capture Wancheng!"

The generals were excited and accepted the order with great enthusiasm.

So they decided on a plan to break the city, and then they worked out the specific details, and the generals took their orders and left.

...

Two days later, at nightfall.

Inside the South Gate Camp.

After having a hearty meal, nearly 5,000 soldiers of Liu's army were all in high spirits and ready for battle.

Liu Bei put on armor and held a sword, his sharp eyes shot towards the south gate of Wancheng.

With the help of the firelight, one could vaguely see soldiers of the Zhang family army patrolling back and forth on the city wall.

Time passes and the moon reaches its zenith.

"My Lord, the agreed time has come. Please send a signal to Wen Chang first."

Xiao Fang, who was standing beside him, reminded him.

Liu Bei gave the order immediately.

In a moment, a beacon fire rose above the rear camp.

Not long after, the sound of drums and shouts of killing were faintly heard from the direction of the west gate of Wancheng.

That was when Wei Yan, following orders, led a thousand soldiers with drums and gongs beating, pretending to launch a large-scale attack on the west gate.

Then, the next step is to wait for Zhang Ji to transfer all the main forces to the west gate, and then it will be time to take the second step.

The soldiers in the camp were eager to fight and stared at the South Gate with excitement.

Zhang Fei's eyes were blazing with fire, and he wished he could rush out immediately and flatten the South Gate.

"Military Advisor, I forgot to ask one thing. Who is the commander of the two hundred traitors selected by the military advisor?"

It was not until this time that Liu Bei remembered the most important thing.

After all, the ability of the commander is related to the success of this plan. Only a brave and calm general can take on this important task.

"The man Fang chose was named Chen Shuzhi. My lord should remember him."

Xiao Fang mentioned a name.

"Chen Dao, Uncle Chen Zhi..."

Liu Bei's thoughts turned slightly, and he suddenly remembered:

"I remember now that when we were in Runan, in addition to the Yellow Turban leaders such as Gong Du, there were also many local heroes from Runan who defected to us."

"If I remember correctly, this Chen Shuzhi brought 200 troops to surrender. I still remember that these 200 troops all had white bird feathers on their helmets. They seemed to be called...something else..."

Liu Bei pinched his forehead with his fingertips, unable to remember for a moment.

(End of this chapter)