Guan Yu looked at the spot Zhuge Jin pointed to and couldn't help but chuckle. "Master Ziyu, you must be joking. Our army's aim is in Liaodong. How did you conclude that the lord's intention is right here in You Beiping?"
The location Zhuge Jin pointed to was a place called Wuzhong, a county in the You Beiping region governed by Gongsun Zan.
Presumably, Gongsun Zan was currently embroiled in a fierce battle with Liu Yu. If what Zhuge Jin said was true, and Qin Longyang was indeed determined to strike at You Beiping, wouldn't that be taking advantage of someone in distress?
"General Guan, please do not rush. Let me explain," Zhuge Jin said with a confident smile.
"Not long ago, Liu Yu sent a large army into Yuyang territory, determined to take Gongsun Zan down. Considering Liu Yu's forces alone, victory wouldn't come easily. Liu Yu daring such an action must have external assistance."
"You mean..."
"Precisely, the Xiongnu from the northern desert!" Zhuge Jin explained.
"Liu Yu likely intends to provoke Gongsun Zan, causing his forces to feign retreat and lure Gongsun Zan into attacking Jicheng. This way, they can join forces with the Xiongnu reinforcements to annihilate Gongsun Zan's army at the city gates!"
"Even so, how does this relate to the lord's interest in You Beiping?"
Zhuge Jin laughed and said, "This is the brilliance of the lord's strategy! Wuzhong County in You Beiping is where Gongsun Zan's army stores their provisions. If our forces show signs of moving towards Wuzhong, what would you do in General Guan's position?"
"Naturally, I would send troops to reinforce..." Guan Yu followed the logic and suddenly realized, "I see! The lord's move is to lure Gongsun Zan to withdraw his troops, thus foiling Liu Yu's plan!"
"That is just one part of it. Upon hearing the news, the troops stationed in Liaoxi would surely rush back to You Beiping to provide support, creating an opportunity for our army to attack Liaodong."
"The lord's strategy is truly remarkable!" Guan Yu was thoroughly impressed by Zhuge Jin's insights, admiring Qin Longyang's tactical genius profoundly.
Little did they know, Qin Longyang himself was bewildered, scratching his head awkwardly. He hadn't anticipated this move; it was entirely Zhuge Jin's analysis and newly devised plan!
"Well... haha, young Ziyu, you have uncovered a plan that the strategist and I have been mulling over for years. Truly, your talent is remarkable, deserving of admiration!"
"The lord overpraises me. This enlightenment comes solely from your guidance. Your great wisdom is something I can never hope to match in my lifetime. I am in awe!"
Zhuge Jin's eyes were filled with respect, believing that his intelligence was merely a small part of his lord's grand scheme, hardly worth mentioning.
At that moment, a figure walked in with head held high. Qin Longyang saw this and smiled.
"General Taishi Ci reporting! The construction of the warships is complete. Over a hundred ships are docked at Donglai Port, ready for battle at any time!" Taishi Ci kneeled before Qin Longyang and reported in a booming voice.
"Good, good, good! Truly a timely gift from the heavens!" Qin Longyang smiled heartily, "Relay my orders, gather the troops!"
"Yes, sir!"
In Anping County, Yuyang Prefecture of Beiping, the two generals, Xianyu Fu and Xianyu Yin, stationed their twenty-thousand-strong army, training the soldiers outside the city daily, undoubtedly putting pressure on the county magistrate, Gongsun Ji. Finally, Gongsun Zan decided to take the offensive.
One day, Shan Jing and Tian Yu, alongside Gongsun Ji, led a twenty-thousand-strong army from You Beiping, heading straight for Anping County. Upon hearing the news, Xianyu Fu quickly sought Xianyu Yin to devise a counter-strategy.
"Brother, the enemy forces are strong. Why don't we fortify our position and wait for them to attack? After a few days of wearing down their morale, we can launch a counter-attack and surely defeat them!" Xianyu Yin suggested.
Xianyu Fu, however, shook his head, presenting an entirely different view. "Fortifying will harm both the enemy and ourselves. Now that our army's morale is high, we should face the enemy head-on. In my opinion, we should set up a battle formation here and decide the outcome in one battle!"
Xianyu Fu pointed to a valley on the map. "It's the rainy season now. Brother, you can take two thousand soldiers upstream to set up a dam to accumulate water power."
" I will lead the main army to set up formations on the opposite bank. When the enemy arrives, you release the water to disrupt their formation, and I will attack, ensuring their defeat!"
"Brother's plan is excellent!" Xianyu Yin readily agreed, and the two promptly began their preparations.
In less than two days, Tian Yu's army advanced rapidly towards Anping, crushing Liu Yu's forces along the way. The army pursued and soon approached the unnamed river.
"Whoa!" Tian Yu, leading the vanguard, rode ahead and saw a broad river spanning tens of meters before them.
Tian Yu reined in his horse, and the army stopped, watching the scattered remnants of Liu Yu's forces hastily crossing the river to the other side.
Across the river, on the low hills, numerous flags could be seen fluttering, making Tian Yu frown as he surveyed the surroundings.
"General Tian, why do we stop here? I see dust clouds on the opposite side, indicating the main enemy force is encamped there. If we charge now, victory is assured!" Shan Jing asked as he approached.
Tian Yu did not respond directly but squinted at the seemingly calm river, pondering the situation.
"We must not act rashly. The enemy is openly setting up their formation here, which means they are prepared. Moreover, I noticed something odd about this river."
"Odd?" Shan Jing mimicked Tian Yu, scanning the area but finding nothing unusual. "General Tian, what could be odd about this river?"
Tian Yu looked up at the overcast sky and responded calmly, "It's the rainy season, and the water level is at its peak."
"But the river here is flowing so slowly. If I'm not mistaken, the enemy must have built a dam upstream to accumulate the water. They are waiting for us to cross the river so they can release the flood and disrupt our formation."
"This..." Shan Jing was shocked, but Tian Yu smiled lightly and pointed to both sides of the river, "The banks of this river are the lowest points in the terrain. If the water level rises rapidly, our army will be trapped in this valley."
After analyzing the enemy's strategy, Tian Yu took a deep breath and said, "The enemy general who devised such a plan is indeed wise. We must capture him alive in this battle!"
Hearing this, Shan Jing immediately clasped his fists and said, "General Tian, please give your orders. I am willing to be the vanguard!"
"No," Tian Yu waved his hand, "No rush. General Shan, I'll give you three thousand cavalry. Take them around to the upstream side of the river from behind our main force. Once you find the enemy's dam, eliminate all enemy forces but keep the dam intact. At midnight, release the water."
"Understood!" Although Dan Jing did not fully grasp Tian Yu's plan, he accepted the order without hesitation.
Gongsun Ji, who was standing by, also stepped forward and clasped his fists, "General Tian, should we each lead a force to prepare for an attack?"
Tian Yu shook his head, "Pass down the order: set up camp here, light fires, and cook meals. Let the troops rest well and prepare for a night battle!"
"Understood!"
As Tian Yu had anticipated, across the river lay the camp of Xianyu Fu's army.
Xianyu Fu expected the enemy to cross the river as planned, allowing him to unleash the floodwaters to defeat them. However, seeing the enemy set up camp on the opposite bank left him uneasy.
In the main tent, Xianyu Fu summoned a few deputy generals who had fled earlier and barked, "Did any of you leak our plans to the enemy, causing them to see through our strategy?"
"We wouldn't dare! Please investigate thoroughly, General!" The deputies knelt in unison, pleading their innocence. Xianyu Fu, recognizing these trusted men wouldn't betray him, simmered with frustration.
He pondered, "Could it be that I was overly suspicious..."
Thinking this, Xianyu Fu called for someone to step forward. "Is Xianyu Yin's dam completed?"
"Reporting to the general, Xianyu Yin completed the dam as per your instructions early this morning. The water level has accumulated sufficiently throughout the day. At your command, we can flood the enemy."
Xianyu Fu nodded and sighed, "I fear the enemy has seen through our plan. Instruct Xianyu Yin to remain vigilant. If the enemy does not move by tonight, we will take the initiative to lure them out!"
"Understood!"
The messenger delivered Xianyu Fu's orders, riding swiftly upstream to the dam. The temporary dam stretched across the river, clearly a hastily constructed barrier but sufficient to accumulate the water.
After reading Xianyu Fu's orders, Xianyu Yin dismissed them with a smile, "My brother is overly cautious. To avoid detection, I even built the dam ten miles away from the main camp."
"The enemy general must be a coward, hesitating out of fear upon seeing our formation. There's nothing to worry about!"
"General, caution is still advisable. It's best to place sentries around the camp," advised a deputy general.
Xianyu Yin sneered, giving the deputy a disdainful glance, "Who is the commander here? I understand warfare well enough. We only need to guard this dam. There's no mistake!"
As the deputy prepared to argue, a commotion erupted outside. The camp fell into chaos.
"What's going on outside!"
Before Xianyu Yin could finish, a soldier rushed in, "General! The enemy cavalry is attacking us in force. Our camp is in disarray!"
"What!" Xianyu Yin was shocked. Grabbing his weapon, he rushed out with his men.
Outside, the camp was already in turmoil. Thousands of cavalry had divided Xianyu Yin's smaller force into isolated groups. Handing his horse's reins to his deputy, Xianyu Yin shouted, "Break through! The enemy knows our plan. We must inform my brother!"
"Understood!" The deputy didn't hesitate, mounting his horse. The two moved separately; Xianyu Yin fought on foot, killing several cavalrymen and seizing a horse.
Amidst the chaos, Shan Jing, clad in black armor, stood out.
"Don't let a single one escape! They must all be eliminated!" Shan Jing shouted, charging into the fray with his blade.