Chapter 80 So what if Cao's number one general! Zhang Fei: You still have to jump into the fire pit that my military advisor has dug!
After listening to Liu Pi's words, Zhang Fei lowered his head and carefully considered this strategy again.

Gradually, his thick eyebrows slightly frowned, and he murmured:

"According to what you said, the military advisor's strategy is really risky. If it goes wrong, I will lose both my life and my wealth..."

Hesitation is only a moment.

Zhang Fei's frown immediately relaxed, and he raised his hand and said:
"No matter whether he takes risks or not, I only know that Military Advisor Jinglue has never made a mistake. It is absolutely right to listen to him!"

"Let's not waste our brains worrying about this and that, just follow the military advisor's plan!"

Having said that, Liu Pi dared not question it anymore and immediately passed down Zhang Fei's order.

Zhang Fei put away the brocade bag, looked towards the east of the city, and snorted coldly:
"I want to see which unlucky guy in the Cao family will jump into the fire pit that the military advisor has dug for him this time!"

...

At dusk, in the woods east of Ye County.

Five thousand Cao soldiers, with their mouths sealed and their horses' hooves wrapped, had already reached the edge of the woods like ghosts.

Cao Ren pushed aside the branches and looked at the city ahead from afar.

There was complete silence on the city wall, and no signs of a battle-ready situation were seen.

The city gate was still open and the drawbridge was not retracted. All signs indicated that the defenders seemed to be completely unprepared.

"This Guo Fengxiao is really amazing. Liu Pi was caught off guard."

"Liu Bei, Liu Bei, you would never have thought that Sikong would intervene in the Nanyang war when you were at your most proud and attack Niye County with a surprise attack..."

Cao Ren raised the corner of his mouth slightly, and then turned around and ordered all troops to stop resting and prepare to attack the city.

The five thousand Cao army soldiers immediately perked up their spirits, and the fighting spirit on their faces overshadowed the fatigue from days of rapid marching.

"General Zixiao, our army has just arrived in Ye County. We have not yet deployed our troops, nor have we sent out scouts to find out the strength of the enemy forces near Ye County."

"We are so eager to attack the city now, isn't that against the rules of war? It would be better to send more scouts to conduct reconnaissance first."

Deputy General Niu Jin calmly reminded at this time.

Cao Ren was silent.

As the number one military general of the Cao family, with his ability to command troops, he naturally knew that Niu Jin's reminder was correct.

Whenever attacking a city, one must first find out the enemy's strengths and weaknesses. Knowing both oneself and the enemy is in line with the principles of military strategy.

What if the enemy knew you were coming and set up an ambush outside the city in advance?

After pondering for a moment, Cao Ren said:

"The area around Ye County is flat and the only place to set up an ambush is the forest where we are. There is no need for further reconnaissance."

"Besides, speed is of the essence in war. If we send out scouts everywhere, and if we alert Liu Pi, won't we lose the chance to attack him unexpectedly?"

"Zijian, the art of war requires you to be flexible and adaptable, and not just stick to the art of war."

Cao Ren expressed his own judgment with confidence and taught the deputy general a lesson.

Niu Jin suddenly realized, with an expression of admiration on his face, and he cupped his hands in admiration and exclaimed:
"General Zixiao is indeed a man of thorough thinking. His ability to command troops is truly unrivaled in our Cao camp. I am grateful for your advice."

Receiving the compliment from his subordinates, Cao Ren just smiled faintly and then got on his horse.

With a knife in hand, he pointed toward the east gate of Ye County:
"All troops, listen to my orders. Follow me and charge into Ye County!"

"The first person to enter the city will be rewarded handsomely!"

Cao Ren roared, kicked his horse hard, and rode out with his sword in hand.

Niu Jin jumped onto his horse and called on his soldiers to follow Cao Ren.

The five thousand Cao troops were filled with enthusiasm and rushed out of the woods like a tide, rushing towards the east gate of Ye County.

The soldiers surged forward and soon approached the east gate.

While running, Cao Ren had already made preparations for both scenarios in his mind.

If the enemy is slow to react and does not have time to close the city gates and raise the drawbridge, it would be best for the army to charge directly into the city.

If the defenders were alarmed and closed the city gates, they would immediately use flying hooks to climb the city walls.

There were no more than one or two hundred guards on the city wall. With his more than twenty times greater troop strength and the suppression of archers, he was able to capture the city wall before Liu Pi could send reinforcements.

As long as the city gate is taken, Liu Pi and the 3,000 defenders will be nothing but chickens and dogs and will be vulnerable to a single blow.

Cao Ren was outlining the tactics in his mind, the corners of his mouth gradually rose, and a look of determination to win flashed in his eyes.

"General Zixiao, there's something wrong with the enemy!"

Niu Jin caught up with him from behind and suddenly pointed forward and shouted.

Cao Ren withdrew his thoughts and looked at the city gate again, his eyes widening.

Neither of the two situations he imagined in the direction of the city gate occurred.

In front of the city gate, there were only seven or eight old soldiers, who were watering and sweeping the ground as if no one was around, and they ignored his five thousand troops.

And when I looked closer on the top of the city wall, I couldn't see a single soldier.

What the hell?

Cao Ren's eyes suddenly showed suspicion. He reined in his horse, drew his sword, and shouted:
"The enemy is acting strangely. Order the entire army to stop attacking the city!"

The 5,000 Cao troops who were running wildly had to stop suddenly and fell into confusion and suspicion for a moment.

They looked at the empty city wall, and then at the old soldiers who were watering and sweeping the floor in front of the city gate; they were all confused and puzzled.

"General Zixiao, what is the enemy's strategy?"

"Could it be that Liu Pi discovered our whereabouts and he has been prepared?"

Niu Jin looked back at Cao Ren with a suspicious look. Cao Ren stared at the scene in front of him, frowning, his thoughts racing.

"Could it be that Liu Pi has really discovered our army's tracks?"

Cao Ren opened his eyes and suddenly this guess popped up in his mind.

That's not right either.

If Liu Pi discovered that his light army was attacking, he should have closed the city gates tightly, and all the soldiers should have gone up to the city to defend it, ready to defend the city to the death.

What's the point of putting up such an empty city?
Could it be that there is a fraud in the city?

Cao Ren's eyes turned rapidly, his thoughts churning, and suddenly a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

"It's just a trifle, ridiculous, ridiculous~~"

Cao Ren immediately burst into laughter.

That laughter was full of irony.

Niu Jin looked at Cao Ren who was laughing, his face full of confusion.

The laughter stopped abruptly, and Cao Ren pointed his sword at the city gate:
"Pass the order down, the entire army continues to attack, give me a strong momentum, and charge into Ye County!"

Niu Jin was startled and reminded:
"General Zixiao, given the enemy's formation, I'm afraid there's a trick going on in the city. Do we really want to attack the city?"

Cao Ren raised the corner of his mouth and smiled coldly:
"Liu Pi, the guy, set up this empty city formation just to bluff us, so that we would think he has a trick in the city and retreat when we see difficulty."

"You think you can scare me off with such a petty trick? Liu Pi really underestimates me, Cao Ren!"

Niu Jin suddenly realized, but said:

"But according to intelligence, there are indeed 3,000 defenders in the city. What should we do if Liu Pi really sets an ambush in the city?"

Cao Ren's face lit up with pride, and he snorted coldly:

"You also said that there are only 3,000 soldiers in the city, and they are just a mob!"

"Even if Liu Pi cheated, he only hid some soldiers on both wings of the main street."

"With our elite troops, what can a mere 3,000 ambush troops do to us?"

Cao Ren was arrogant and conceited, and had absolute confidence in the elite troops under his command.

Even if you have an ambush, I am not afraid!

Niu Jinze understood it completely, and the concerns on his face turned into deep admiration. He immediately bowed and praised:
"General Zixiao is both wise and brave, and deserves the title of the best general in Cao's camp!"

"Liu Pi, the Yellow Turban bandit, actually dared to cheat in front of General Zixiao. He is really showing off his skills in front of an expert and overestimating his own abilities!"

Cao Ren laughed wildly and was about to urge his army to attack.

Niu Jin took the lead and said:
"I am willing to be the vanguard and rush into Ye County first to cut off Liu Pi's head for General Zixiao!"

After saying this, without waiting for Cao Ren's response, he turned his horse around and rushed out first.

Cao Ren raised the corner of his mouth slightly.

After hearing that he had exposed the defenders' strengths and weaknesses, his old subordinate no longer had any worries and wanted to compete for the credit of beheading the general.

"Niu Zijian, I would love for you to fight and die for my Cao family."

"I will reward you with the first achievement of this broken Ye County!"

Cao Ren smiled with satisfaction. After Niu Jin led the vanguard to charge out, he urged his horses and led the rear troops to charge forward.

The front and rear armies, five thousand Cao troops, rushed towards the east gate of Ye County.

Niu Jin rode his horse as fast as the wind and in a blink of an eye he had rushed to the city gate.

really.

When the old soldiers who were watering and sweeping the floor saw Cao's army attacking, they immediately fled in all directions.

The army rolled out, crossed the suspension bridge, passed through the city gate, and poured into Ye County in an unstoppable manner.

When he rushed out more than twenty steps, Niu Jin's eyes suddenly focused.

On the main street ahead.

A black-faced, thick-bearded general, wearing black armor and holding a snake spear, stood in the middle of the road like an iron tower.

"Who dares to stop my army alone?"

"Could it be that Liu Pi?"

Niu Jin showed a strange look on his face and subconsciously slowed down his horse.

In front.

The black-faced general had a sneer on his face.

"Military Advisor Jinglue really has foresight. This empty city plan really lured Cao's army in."

"What's that saying? It seems to be 'planning and winning from afar'..."

Zhang Fei was amazed.

Then, with a look of sarcasm on his face, he pointed his snake spear and shouted:
"Zhang Fei from Yan is here!"

"Listen, Commander Cao. My military advisor Xiao has long anticipated that Cao would launch a surprise attack on Ye County. My brother has ordered me to wait here for a long time!"

"Who dares to step forward and accept death?"

This roar, like rolling thunder, actually drowned out the clamor of thousands of troops and horses, making Cao's army's ears buzzing and their scalps numbing.

Niu Jin's face suddenly changed.

(End of this chapter)