Feeling that the atmosphere was a bit awkward, Liu Bei added: "Have you not heard what Emperor Gaozu said about his counselor Zhang Liang, who was strategizing and winning a battle thousands of miles away? The two brothers must obey the orders."
Zhang Fei was naturally unconvinced, sneered and left.
Guan Yu said: "Let's see if his plan comes true first. If it doesn't work, it won't be too late to raise an army to hold him accountable."
After the two left, the other generals were not familiar with Kong Ming and did not know what kind of abilities Kong Ming had. Although they obeyed the orders, they were very doubtful.
Kong Ming said to Liu Bei: "My lord, you can take your troops and camp at the foot of Bowang Mountain today. The enemy will arrive at dusk on the next day. At that time, your lord must abandon your camp and leave. As soon as you see the fire, you will return to the army immediately." To cover up the killing, Mi Zhu, Mi Fang, I and five hundred soldiers will guard Xinye."
After everyone left, Kong Ming ordered Sun Qian and others to start preparing for the celebration banquet, and arranged everyone's contribution to wait for distribution. After all these were completed, Liu Bei himself was actually very doubtful.
Xiahou Dun and Yu Jin's soldiers and horses soon arrived at Bowangpo. Half of the elite troops were assigned to the front, and the rest escorted the baggage and food at the back.
It was autumn, and the weather was a little cool. As the people and horses were marching, they suddenly saw dust in the sky in front of them.
Xiahou Dun pushed his troops aside and asked the guiding official, "Where is this place?"
He replied: "This is Bowang City, and behind it is Luochuankou."
Xiahou Dun ordered Yu Jin and Li Dian to guard the corner of the formation and went forward personally. He saw the army horses coming from a distance, and Xiahou Dun suddenly burst into laughter.
Everyone asked: "Why did the general laugh suddenly?"
He replied: "I laughed at Xu Shu in front of the Prime Minister and praised Zhuge Liang as a man of heaven. Now I see him using troops and using such troops as the vanguard to fight against us is like a flock of sheep entering a tiger's mouth! I praised him in front of the Prime Minister. We are going to Haikou to capture Liu Bei and Zhuge Liang alive, and it will be done soon." After saying that, he led his troops and horses forward, and soon saw Zhao Yun, and cursed: "You people follow Liu Bei, just like ghosts following ghosts. !”
Zhao Yun heard the opponent insulting him, so he drew his gun and fought. After fighting for less than a few rounds, Zhao Yun pretended that he was not strong enough and was defeated and ran away.
Xiahou Dun chased him from behind. Zhao Yun fled for more than thirty miles, then turned back to fight Xiahou Dun, beat him once, and then fled to the front again.
Seeing this situation, Han Hao quickly stepped forward to stop Xiahou Dun and reminded: "Zhao Yun is trying to lure the enemy deeper. I'm afraid there is an ambush."
Xiahou Dun said: "With such an unbearable enemy, even if they are ambushed from all sides, what do I have to fear?" He did not listen to Han Hao's advice and rushed to Bowang Slope quickly.
Suddenly there was a sound of cannon, and Liu Bei rushed out with his troops and began to respond to the battle.
Xiahou Dun laughed at Han Hao and said, "Look there, are the so-called ambush troops and horses! If I don't reach Xinye tonight, I swear I won't withdraw my troops!" Then he led the troops and horses and continued to move forward. Liu Bei and Zhao Yun stepped back and left. At that time, the sky began to darken, there were thick clouds, and there was no moonlight. A strong wind arose at night and became stronger and stronger. Xiahou Dun felt very relaxed and did not notice these details at all, just urging the troops to move forward.
Everyone came to a very narrow place with reeds on both sides. Li Dian said to the ban: "Those who bully the enemy will definitely fail. The south road is very narrow, with mountains and rivers intersecting and trees. If the opponent uses fire to attack, it will be a disaster." What should I do?”
Yu Jin nodded and said, "You are right. I want to rush to the front and tell the governor that you can stop the soldiers and horses behind and stop advancing."
Li Dian stopped and shouted: "The troops behind should not advance!" However, the large troops were moving forward, and the road was narrow, so they could stop wherever they wanted.
Yu Jin rode his horse to Xiahou Dun and shouted: "Stop, Commander-in-Chief of the former army!"
Xiahou Dun was rushing forward when he saw Yu Jin running from behind and asked why. Yu Jin said: "The south road is narrow, with dangerous mountains and rivers and dense trees. We must prevent others from attacking with fire."
Xiahou Dun finally came to his senses and immediately ordered him to push back. Before he could finish speaking, he heard loud shouts from behind and saw some fire coming, which ignited all the surrounding reeds. There were fires in all directions for a while, and the wind was very strong. Big, the fire is fierce.
Cao's army trampled on countless people, Zhao Yun immediately returned to cover them up, and Xiahou Dun fled in the thick of smoke and fire.
Li Dian, who was behind, saw that something was wrong and hurriedly fled to Bowang City. Suddenly, enemy troops appeared in the fire, led by Guan Yu. After a melee, Li Dian found a small road to escape.
Yu Jin saw that the food, grass, and baggage had been burned by the fire, so he had no choice but to escape along the path.
Xiahoulan and Han Hao both came to rescue Liangcao, and happened to meet Zhang Fei. After fighting for less than a few rounds, Zhang Fei assassinated Xiahoulan on his horse with one shot.
Han Hao struggled to escape and fought until the next day before withdrawing his troops. The roads were full of corpses and rivers of blood flowed.
Xiahou Dun had no choice but to pack up the remaining troops and return to Xuchang.
After Kong Ming withdrew his troops, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei reached a consensus and sighed: "Kong Ming is really a talented man!"
After walking less than a few miles, they saw Mi Zhu, Mi Fang and their soldiers pushing a small cart. There was a person sitting in the cart, it was Kong Ming.
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei came forward and bowed, their faces full of shame.
Soon after, Liu Bei, Zhao Yun and others returned one after another, gathered everyone, distributed all the intercepted grain and grass to the sergeants, and returned to Xinye.
The people of Xinye bowed in the direction of the dust and said, "We are safe only because of Liu Shijun's virtuous power!"
Kong Ming returned to the county and said to Liu Bei: "Although Xiahou Dun failed and left, Cao Cao will definitely lead an army to attack Xinye."
Liu Bei said: "If this is the case, what should we do?"
Kong Ming said: "I have an idea that can solve this problem."
Liu Bei immediately asked what the solution was, and Kong Ming replied: "Xinye is a small county and cannot be lived in for a long time. Recently I heard that Liu Biao has been seriously ill. We can take this opportunity to seize Jingzhou as a place to settle down. Then We have the capital to confront Cao Cao."
Liu Bei sighed: "Your idea is very good, but I have received favor from Liu Biao, how can I plot against him?"
Kong Ming said: "If we don't take Jingzhou back now, we will definitely regret it!"
Liu Bei was very angry and said, "I would rather die than do such an ungrateful thing."
Kong Ming shook his head and said: "Then we can only think of other ways!"
After leaving, Kong Ming thought of Yu Yi's letter. He persuaded Liu Bei at least twice that plotting Jingzhou was the basis of hegemony, but the other party just couldn't listen.
