"Brilliant!" Liu Qi nodded and smiled: "You will be promoted to General Pi first, select three thousand elite soldiers from the army, survey the surrounding terrain, bypass Cao's camp and enter the mountains, follow my plan and act, and you will be rewarded after the success."
"Yes!" Zhang Yi was overjoyed and took the order and left.
Fazheng nodded and praised: "There are many heroes in Sichuan. I think this man has the talent of a general. I don't know how many talents are hidden under General Yan's command."
Yan Yan caressed his beard and sighed: "If it weren't for Liu Jiyu's inability to employ people, there would be countless young talents like Zhang Ni who are outstanding. Unfortunately, they all fade away like old age and are like haggard trees!"
Huang Zhongzheng came into the tent to say goodbye. Hearing this, he said displeasedly: "What are you talking about, General Yan? At the moment when you and I are making great achievements, we will not give up until Xia Houyuan is captured."
Yan Yan said in shock: "General Huang wanted to kill Xia Houyuan before, why did he change it to capture him?"
Mr. Huang stroked his beard and said: "If only someone takes action, he can only kill this reckless man. If there is a general to support him, it will not be difficult to capture him! After all, Xia Houyuan is the father-in-law of Yide. Since he has paid homage to Xiangyang, it will be difficult to kill him."
Yan Yan smiled and said: "It's a pity that the three generals were unable to join the army. Otherwise, Weng's son-in-law would be facing us and he might be captured in a single battle."
Everyone laughed, and the gloom of the previous unfavorable war was swept away.
The next day, Liu Qi personally led an army of 20,000 people down the mountain and approached Cao Jun's camp. Flags were flying all over the valley, intending to fight Xiahou Yuan decisively.
A scouting horse had already reported to the camp. Xun You said with a smile: "Liu Qi has come to fight in person. I expect that he will secretly divide his troops to attack."
Xia Houyuan laughed and said: "The military advisor really anticipated the enemy's opportunity. Not even a bird can pass through the Xiegu. If he goes to Taibai Road, he will be ambushed."
Xun You nodded and said: "If the general does not go to war, Liu Qi will definitely become suspicious. You can deal with him and let him think he has a plan and wait for news about his nephew."
With the drums beating three times, Xiahou Yuan led Feng Kai and Lu Zhao out of the camp. Xiahou Shang stormed the camp gate and lined up his troops in formation.
Yan Yan stepped forward and said with a smile: "Xia Houyuan, my son-in-law is preparing a banquet in Hanzhong and waiting for me. The family is enjoying themselves happily. There is no need to go to war. How about following my lord to a gathering in Hanzhong?"
Xiahou Yuan became furious when he mentioned his niece. Xiahou Dun was captured earlier and had no choice but to grit his teeth and admit the marriage between the two families. As a result, Xiahou Ba and others who were seeing off the bride were teased by Liu Qi again and became a joke in the Cao camp.
Seeing that Huang Zhong had not come out and was relying on his identity, he shouted: "The old thief speaks freely, who will kill him?"
"The general is willing to go!" Lu Zhao urged his horse to charge out.
Yan Yan cheered up and clapped his horse to meet the enemy. The two fought in front of the formation. Before they reached the end of the battle, he slashed Lu Zhao under the horse with his sword. He stroked his beard and laughed and said: "The generals in Cao camp are no match for the old man, what can they do?" also?"
"Old thief, don't go too far!" Feng Kai was furious, rushed out of the formation with his gun, and stabbed Yan Yan.
Yan Yan was getting stronger and stronger, and he fought Feng Kai again. The outcome was indistinguishable in twenty rounds. Xia Houyuan was afraid that he would lose and there would be no more useful men under his command, so he offered gold to withdraw his troops.
When Feng Kai retreated, he stood up with his sword drawn, pointed at Liu Qi and shouted: "You don't bully the young and old, so you ask Huang Hansheng to come and fight to the death with you?"
Yan Yan laughed and said, "It was just a warm-up. Come on over."
Xia Houyuan was furious and urged his horses to fight. The battle between the famous generals turned out to be more intense. The horses galloped back and forth, and the fight was inextricable. The drums in the valley were loud and the two armies were shouting.
The two fought against each other for more than thirty years, and Liu Qi also called for gold to withdraw his troops. After all, Xia Houyuan was good at martial arts, and without Huang Zhong's restraint, Yan Yan might not be strong enough.
Xia Houyuan also deliberately delayed time, and relied on his status to not want to take advantage of the situation to chase down a veteran general. Both sides made a tacit understanding and retreated.
Liu Qi sent Zhang Yi out again, but Xia Houyuan had no one to use, so he had to order Xia Houshang to fight. The battle between the two armies was more like a show, and each of them retreated until noon.
After losing face before the battle today, Xia Houyuan returned to camp with a gloomy face. He thought that when Cao Cao pacified Hebei, he had over a hundred generals, but today his talents were withered, and he felt depressed.
Xia Houshang advised: "Uncle, there is no need to be like this. Let Liu Qi be proud for a while, and it will be too late to make him cry in a few days."
During the discussion, Tan Ma came to report. Liu Qi led his troops back to the mountain stronghold, but Huang Zhong was left to camp at the foot of the mountain, and his movements were unknown.
Xia Houyuan asked in confusion: "What is the profound meaning of Liu Qi's move?"
Xun You said: "No matter how he uses his troops, it is just to prepare for the sudden attack. The general will guard the camp carefully and wait for news."
One day later, when the scouting horse came to report, Huang Zhong broke out of the camp and marched five miles forward. Behind him, there was another army stationed at the foot of the mountain. Every two days, he advanced five miles, approaching the camp step by step.
"Liu Qi is setting up camp step by step and encroaching on the territory. Is he deceiving no one in our army?" Xia Houyuan was furious and wanted to lead his troops to fight.
Xun You advised: "This is a strategy to turn against the enemy. Liu Qi also wants to attract the general's attention, so there is no need to go to war."
Xia Houyuan said angrily: "Although I'm going around to lure the enemy, wouldn't he be laughed at if I let the veteran intimidate me like this? If we're going to fight, why should I be afraid?"
So he ignored Xun You's dissuasion, sent an order to raise his tent, and led five thousand troops to fight, until he screamed and cursed in front of Huang Zhong's stronghold.
Huang Zhong mounts his horse and fights with his sword. The two fight for fifty times and there is no winner. They each shoot at each other with arrows. One of Xia Houyuan's arrows is actually pierced by Huang Zhong. He is shocked and withdraws his troops back to the camp.
Hearing that Huang Zhong had taken advantage of the victory and advanced five miles further, Xia Houyuan was furious and decided to rob the camp overnight to contain the enemy's power.
Xun You further advised: "Huang Zhong must be on guard every step of the way and be careful not to fall into a trap."
Xia Houyuan said angrily: "The old thief is pushing people too hard. He is like a wolf stalking the house. If he doesn't attack him head-on, how can he be at peace?"
Xiahou Shang also said: "Huang Zhong advanced many times, but we didn't pay attention. We must have thought that we didn't dare to fight and we would definitely succeed here."
At the third watch of the night, Xia Houyuan led his two generals out of the camp and broke through the middle camp in person. Xia Houshang and Feng Kai rushed out from the left and right. As expected, the enemy camp was poorly prepared and a fire broke out. Huang Zhong did not dare to fight and led his troops to retreat.
Xia Houyuan led his troops in pursuit and fought straight to the front of the rear camp. Seeing that the enemy troops had already responded, he led his troops back. Many weapons were recovered in this battle. They avenged their previous humiliation. Cao's troops all cheered and their morale was greatly boosted.
At dawn, a banquet was held to celebrate the victory. The generals praised Xia Houyuan for his decisive killing, but Xun You was twirling his beard and thinking solemnly.
Xia Houyuan was high-spirited and laughed: "Although military advisors are very wise, they are also suspicious. You need to know that the opportunity to fight is fleeting. If a general is indecisive in the face of trouble, shouldn't he just sit back and wait for death?"
"I am not worried about the battle last night!" Xun You tugged at his beard and frowned: "Liu Qi is so aggressive in fighting, but no news has been sent to Taibaidao. Could it be that there is another deep meaning?"
Xia Houyuan sneered and said: "Perhaps the military advisor is overly worried. Doesn't Liu Qi know that the small road is difficult to march? He did not divide his troops for a surprise attack. He wanted to use this strategy to encroach on our army and go straight to the Jigu camp."
Xia Houshang nodded and said: "Now that the governor of Liangzhou is trapped in Jicheng, he is afraid that the situation in Xiliang will be critical. Zhao Yun attacks Sanguan. If Liu Qi is not retreated early and his troops attack Chencang, it will be useless for us to confront each other again, and we will be attacked from both sides."
Xia Houyuan's confidence increased greatly at this time, and he nodded and said: "What my nephew said is absolutely true. Nowadays, wars are urgent everywhere, and Liangzhou is in urgent need of rescue. It is not appropriate to get entangled with Liu Qi here. In the battle last night, Huang Zhong was nothing more than this. If He can take advantage of the victory to attack and drive back Liu Qi's army, but no matter how many strange soldiers he has, there is nothing he can do!"
While they were discussing, drums were beating loudly outside the camp, and the defenders came to report. Huang Zhong went outside the camp again to provoke a fight.
