It is said that by borrowing Wang Yangming's Ten Cards, Zhao Chen obtained a large amount of bandit information, including the main strongholds of Zang Ba, Sun Guan, Yin Li, Wu Dun and others, and also mastered the roads leading to each stronghold.
On this day, Zhao Chen organized his troops and horses, leaving Cheng Yu and five hundred soldiers behind to prepare for the attack.
Before leaving, Zhao Chen told Cheng Yu: "If we are not back by sunset today, Zhongde will lead five hundred brothers back to Xiapi quickly. Don't delay your stay."
Cheng Yu understood what Zhao Chen meant. The sunset had not returned, which most likely meant that the army failed to win, and that Zang Ba and other bandits would take advantage of the situation to attack and retake Kaiyang City.
Zhao Chen gave such instructions in order to protect himself and his five hundred brothers.
Cheng Yu accepted Zhao Chen's concern, nodded, and assured Zhao Chen: "Don't worry, I will take these five hundred soldiers back when the time comes."
Zhao Chen thanked Cheng Yu and prepared to set off.
Cheng Yu stopped him and expressed his doubts: "Hude, I have not surrendered to Liu Xuande. If you put five hundred soldiers under my command, are you not afraid that I will lead the army in rebellion and return to my lord?"
Zhao Chen smiled and said: "Although Zhongde is still Cao Cao's counselor in name, Chen knows that Zhongde is a resolute man, so he understands the word loyalty. I specifically asked the lord to invite Zhongde to accompany me on this trip, and I never thought about Zhongde. Dehui will abandon me and leave. Today I will hand over five hundred brothers to you, hand over Kaiyang City to you, and hand over the back of the army to you. I am relieved."
The words left Zhao Chen's mouth and entered Cheng Yu's ears.
Cheng Yu was slightly surprised. He didn't expect that a person who had no friendship with him could trust him so much and dare to entrust him with such an important matter.
Although the lord Cao Mengde has no doubts about employing people, he will not take risks easily in such a situation.
Zhao Chen actually saw him correctly and entrusted him boldly.
Cheng Yu began to admire Zhao Chen from the bottom of his heart, and admire this young man who was only 23 years old.
He clenched his fists tightly, his doubtful eyes gradually became clear, and he looked at Zhao Chen with burning eyes.
"Don't worry, Yu is in the city and five hundred soldiers are here!"
Zhao Chen smiled with satisfaction, turned around and led the four thousand troops towards the woods where Zang Ba was hiding.
Cheng Yu watched them leave with admiration in his eyes.
As the county captain said before, Zang Ba's stronghold is in a woods to the west from Kaiyang to Linyi.
This forest is backed by mountains to the west and Yishui River to the east. It is indeed a good place for bandits to nest.
Although Zang Ba is a bandit, he is more famous as the commander-in-chief of the Taishan Group, with many elite soldiers and generals under his command.
During the initial crusade against the Yellow Turban Army, it was this group of brothers who went into battle, so each of them was a veteran who had been on the battlefield for a long time and had strong strength.
According to clues provided by the people of Kaiyang, Zang Ba had at least 6,000 troops in his hands.
Fighting hard is not the answer.
The previous time, Zhao Chen not only missed the target but was also ambushed because his schedule was exposed.
Now Zhao Chen is acting vigorously and resolutely, and no one knows that the natural conditions of the woods and mountains behind him make it most suitable to use fire attacks.
As soon as we entered the woods, the sentry sent out to explore the road ahead called.
"Military advisor, bandits were found two miles ahead."
Zhao Chen estimated the distance and immediately ordered Zhang Fei to lead a thousand troops, detour up from the west, cut down the rolling logs on the spot, and get fire starters. When he saw a fire starting at the bottom of the mountain to the east, he set off rockets, lowered the rolling logs, and waited for Zang Ba's army. After being burned by fire for a while, he led his army to cover up the attack and drove Zang Ba's army eastward.
He also ordered Chen Dao to lead a thousand troops, detour behind Zang Ba and ambush to the east of the woods. He saw Zang Ba's army chasing our army. When Zang Ba's army became slender, he led his army to charge in and break up Zang Ba's army.
He led two thousand troops and divided them into two groups. One group was lying in ambush in the woods, waiting for Zhao Chen to come. When he saw Zang Ba's vanguard, he fired rockets.
Under his leadership, a group went to Zang Ba's camp to challenge and lure Zang Ba into an ambush.
Chen Dao hesitated and asked, "The military advisor only has a thousand troops. How can he withstand Zang Ba's attack?"
Zhao Chen smiled and said: "Don't worry, my thousand men are not fighting against Zang Ba, they only need to fight with Zang Ba. Besides, I predict that Zang Ba will be simpler when he sees that I only lead a thousand men. It will be no problem to bring three or four thousand people to pursue us."
Chen Dao had no choice but to nod his head and lead his troops away.
At noon, Zhao Chen estimated that Zhang Fei and Chen Dao should have arrived at the designated position, so he led a thousand people to Zang Ba's camp to call for formation.
Zang Ba was taking a nap when he heard someone calling for formation. He was startled and hurriedly got up to check.
When he saw that it was Zhao Chen leading a few soldiers, he smiled.
"You came here after being charged to death by me for a while. Just take these troops and see if I don't take you down!"
After saying that, he led three thousand troops and chased Zhao Chen all the way.
Zhao Chen smiled slightly and commanded the army to retreat while fighting.
Seeing that Zhao Chen couldn't beat him, he ran away. Zang Ba became even more energetic and shouted from the distance: "Cowardly Zhao Chen, why don't you dare to fight to the death with me?"
Zhao Chen ignored it and just went on his way.
The two teams chased each other until they all entered Zhao Chen's preset ambush circle.
With just one order, a thousand men and horses lurking in the woods rushed out and struck Zang Ba in front with a blow to the head.
A large number of rockets fell from the sky and landed among Zang Ba's men. The trees nearby were ignited by the rockets and burst into flames.
Zang Ba was confused at first and was caught off guard. Then he discovered that there were not many people in the attack and there were no leading generals. He was not afraid at all and instead became arrogant.
"That's it, it's not enough for me!"
He waved his spear around, and Zhao Chen's army was gradually forced back by him.
Zhao Chen withstood the pressure and trapped Zang Ba's army on the long and narrow mountain road.
Seeing a fire breaking out at the bottom of the mountain, Zhang Fei immediately ordered the rolling logs to be released first, and then the rockets.
The rolling logs brought earth, grass and rocks with a "rumbling" down and hit Zang Ba's men and horses. In an instant, Zang Ba's great soldier fell on his back and vomited blood.
The rolling log fell to the ground, cutting off Zang Ba's path forward and backward. He had to try to move slowly toward the woods to the east.
The ensuing rockets killed Zang Ba's army for a while. After this attack, Zang Ba's army had suffered heavy damage, and more than half of them fell to the ground.
Zhang Fei laughed loudly: "Let you, a thief, sneak attack my military advisor!"
After saying that, he raised the zhangba snake spear, aimed it at Zang Ba, and was the first to rush down the mountain.
Due to the rapid pursuit of Zang Ba's rear army, which had been stretched into thin strips, Chen Dao, who was not far away, saw this and immediately led a thousand men and horses to rush over.
This charge directly dispersed Zang Ba's rear army, and nearly a thousand people in the rear army were killed by Chen Dao.
Zang Ba was shocked. He looked around and saw no way out, so he shouted to Zhao Chen: "Ignorant boy, do you want to kill them all?"
Zhao Chen suddenly smiled evilly and said: "Put down your weapons and I will spare your life!"
Zang Ba was thinking about another trapped beast fight, but he was startled when he saw Zhang Fei and Chen Dao rushing towards him.
Zhang Fei alone can't defeat Zang Ba, let alone Chen Dao, who is an excellent marksman.
Zhang Fei and Chen took care of Zang Ba's little heart. They aimed their guns at Zang Ba's vital parts and stabbed him.
Zang Ba had to deal with it in a hurry.
Less than three rounds into the fight between the three, Zang Ba was stabbed in the arm by Chen Dao.
Seeing that the situation was over, Zang Ba helplessly shouted: "Stop, we are willing to surrender!"
Then he threw his gun and dismounted, standing in front of Zhao Chen.
Zhang Fei took the spear from Zang Ba's hand, and several soldiers tied up Zang Ba.
Upon seeing this, Chen Dao shouted to the soldiers behind Zang Ba: "The commander has surrendered, any further resisters will be killed!"
When the soldiers behind him heard this, they put down their weapons and surrendered Zhao Chen's army.
After this battle, Zang Ba had more than 6,000 men, nearly a thousand of whom were burned or beheaded, and the rest should be recruited.
