Chapter 369 A critical moment
Gan Ning's battle was unsuccessful and he returned disappointed. Cao's army could not hold on and thought of countermeasures along the way.
Returning to the camp, he discussed with Guan Yu: "Such a stalemate is not a long-term solution. Why not divide the troops into two groups: one will go to the front to rob the camp. If Cao's army is on guard, the rear group will come to meet him. After the troops retreat, General Guan will go again.
You will definitely be able to catch him off guard. Go to rob the camp first and make Cao Jun think "
Chen Dao was overjoyed and said: "This is a great plan. Even if the old thief Jia Xu is cunning, he will be unable to guard against it."
Zhuge Liang looked at Guan Yu with slightly stern eyes: "What do Yun Chang think of this plan?"
Guan Yu stroked his beard and said, "I think we might give it a try! Now the two armies are facing each other. If we are suspicious of each other and dare not send troops, I don't know when we will be able to enter the Central Plains."
Zhuge Liang smiled and said: "Since all the generals think this plan is feasible, they will act according to it. General Liao Hua will deliver the grain today and it will be enough for him to guard the camp with me!"
It was after the third watch of the night, with the moonlight dimming, the cold wind howling, and the dead silence of the midwinter night. Gan Ning led his troops to the river bank first to fight.
Approaching Cao Jun's camp, he went to investigate in person and saw that there were very few enemy patrols and the defenders were lax. They were all hiding in the archery tower for shelter from the wind.
Gan Ning snorted coldly when he saw this and said: "I have heard for a long time that Zhang Liao is good at commanding troops, and Jia Xu, an old fox, is so lax in guarding. It is indeed a scam!"
Su Fei said: "When Xingba goes ahead, be careful."
"I will lead the Jinfan army to break into the camp, and my virtuous brother will guard the camp gate!" Gan Ning ordered and led his men straight to the camp to kill.
When they arrived at the camp, they set fire to the archery tower with fire arrows. Several people stepped forward and pushed open the camp door. When Cao Jun screamed and beat drums to warn, Gan Ning had already taken the lead and rushed into the camp.
Su Fei led his troops to occupy the gate and sent people to set fire around it. In the dry winter, the night wind blew, and the entire south gate was lit up with flames, lighting up the sky.
Cao's army shouted everywhere, and the camp was in chaos. Gan Ning overturned several tents one after another, drove away the fleeing enemy troops, and went straight to the Chinese army's tent.
While chasing a group of fleeing Cao Jun, a general in front suddenly blocked the way and shouted: "Gan Xingba, you have fallen into my trap!"
"Zhang Liao, I've been waiting for you for a long time!" Gan Ning did not flinch and galloped forward on his horse.
Zhang Liao used his sword to parry, and the two men fought in the camp. At this time, drums sounded loudly from the direction of the river bank, and all the ambush troops came out to outflank the camp.
After twenty rounds of fighting between Gan and Ning, when Zhang Liao was defeated, Cao's army surrounded him again and forced Zhang Liao back. He fired a short halberd and led his troops to retreat.
Zhang Liao laughed behind him and chased him out of the camp gate. Su Fei helped the troops retreat, leaving only Cao Jun shouting to put out the fire.
Gan Ning retreated halfway, only to see Guan Yu waiting on the road. His troops and horses stood at attention, ready to fight. Here, he could vaguely see the flashing red light in the distance.
Guan Yu asked: "How is the situation in Cao's camp?"
Gan Ning sneered and said: "Sure enough, there is an ambush, but I have already led it out and burned the south gate. Later, the prince can rush to kill from the west gate, and someone can go to the east gate and break it in one fell swoop."
Guan Yu caressed his long beard, nodded and said: "Leave Zhang Wenyuan to me!"
Half an hour later, the fireworks in Cao Camp were extinguished and tranquility returned. It was now close to the fifth watch. In the early morning of winter, it became darker and darker, and only the sky was full of stars.
Guan Yu led his troops out again, divided into two groups with Gan and Ning's troops, took revenge from the left and right, and charged into Cao's camp again.
This time, Cao's army was indeed heavily guarded. The east and west camp gates were tightly closed, and wooden stakes as thick as waist length blocked the camp gates. The soldiers rushed forward despite the rain of arrows, and then opened the camp gates.
Cao Jun resisted vigorously, firing random arrows in the dark, but still could not stop the two generals from charging at the same time. They retreated steadily, and the camp fell again.
Drums were beating loudly in Cao's camp, and soldiers kept flying to report the military situation. Jia Xu was sitting in the tent, only lighting a large oil lamp, and could not see clearly the changes in his expression.
It wasn't until the defenders reported that Guan Yu and Gan Ning broke through the second line of defense at the same time that Jia Xu raised his head and slowly ordered: "Light the fire!"
A circle of fire was formed around the tent of the central army in Cao's camp, with a radius of more than a hundred steps. The flames were more than ten feet high, illuminating the entire camp as bright as day.
Gan Ning was about to charge into the camp, and he couldn't help but be frightened when he saw it. Zhang Liao used a wall of fire to guard the camp, but he ignored the surrounding soldiers?
At this time, Cao's army outside was also blocked from entering and fled in all directions. Gan Ning rushed towards the east gate and saw Guan Yu coming to join him.
Guan Yu looked solemn, raised his sword and looked at the flames, and said solemnly: "Zhang Liao is by no means a man who has cut off his own retreat. He may have some tricks up his sleeve."
"No, go back to the camp!" Gan Ning reacted suddenly and told Guan Yu to retreat.
Guan Yu's eyes flashed with cold light, he was plotted by Zhang Liao again, his face became more and more gloomy, and the two men led the troops back to the camp in a hurry.
When the two of them were walking halfway, the sky was dark and suddenly an ambush army appeared on the roadside. Gan Ning roared and opened the way in front, while Guan Yu divided the rear to resist Cao's army.
Cao's army attacked with overwhelming force. Zhu Ling laughed on the hillside and said: "Guan Yunchang, you have fallen into the trap again. This time Zhuge Liang cannot escape!"
Guan Yu snorted lightly, turned his horse and wielded his sword to kill Zhu Ling. Along the way, Cao Jun fell like straw and rushed up the slope. Suddenly, his horse stumbled and was knocked forward.
Zhu Ling saw that Jia Xu's plan was indeed successful, and Guan Yu relied on his own force and wanted to kill the general on horseback. He shouted excitedly: "Set the arrow, shoot the arrow-"
Guan Yu was shocked. He raised his sword to support the ground and barely stood firm. All the ambush troops on the slope came out and shot down random arrows, flying towards Guan Yu like locusts.
"Father!"
"Junhou!"
Guan Ping and Zhou Cang were shocked and rushed towards the slope with their troops. Gan Ning saw this from a distance and fought hard to repel Cao's army and came to support.
But Guan Yu was riding a red rabbit horse, which was extremely fast. He had already thrown the army away, and the arrows were right in front of him. It was too late to rescue him.
Guan Yu tried his best to block the random arrows with his sword, but such a dense rain of arrows was impossible to avoid. Just when he thought he was about to lose his life, the red rabbit horse leaped up and neighed to stop him in front of him.
Puff, pfft——
A series of sounds piercing the bones and flesh were heard, and the red rabbit raised his head and neighed, his whole body twitching, but he refused to give an inch, blocking a hail of arrows.
At this time, Guan Ping led his troops and rushed over with no regard for their own safety. The Han army fired their crossbows and counterattacked Cao's army. There were also screams on the slopes.
Zhu Ling saw Guan Yu approaching but could not kill him. He thought it was a pity and had to lead his troops to retreat.
Guan Ping and Zhou Cang protected Guan Yu and checked his injuries. The red rabbit horse neighed for the last time and slowly fell to the ground. There were countless arrows on half of its body like weeds.
"Don't leave, thief!" Gan Ning rushed over and urged his horse to chase Zhu Ling.
"General Gan, stay!" Guan Yu held the Green Dragon Sword tightly, Danfeng's eyes widened, his long beard flew up, and he said slowly: "Don't chase the poor enemy!"
Gan Ning said angrily: "In my life, I hate the person who plotted a sneak attack the most. If I don't kill this thief, it will be difficult to eliminate this hatred!"
Guan Yu's hand holding the knife trembled slightly, but he still tried his best to suppress his anger. He took a deep breath and said: "It's important to rescue the camp!"
Gan Ning suddenly woke up and saw that Cao's army had retreated. He beat his horse and walked away: "I'll take one step first. Lord, please wait!"
Guan Yu closed his eyes to stabilize his mind and ordered: "Bring the horse!"
"Father!?" Guan Ping became worried when he saw that Guan Yu showed no sign of anger.
Chapter completed!