Under the city of Shangdang, a scene has been created where a large number of soldiers are looming over the city. Thousands of soldiers and horses from the east of the river are approaching menacingly, setting up strongholds from the north and east to intimidate. As for Shangdang City, the four gates were closed tightly, and the entire city was filled with an atmosphere of "panic". Even the flags raised by the wind on the top of the city looked extremely weak.
Of course, there is a tacit understanding both inside and outside the city.
In order to prevent some unspeakable accidents from happening, the sergeants guarding the city were replaced by soldiers from the Longqi Third Army.
The Luzhou army that was originally stationed was transferred outside the city and divided into two battalions to be stationed together with the Longqi army. It was euphemistically called "training" to facilitate cooperation in combat. With all the morale in the military gone, no one thought there was anything wrong with this arrangement, or they knew it in their hearts but didn't say anything about it.
"Stopped?" In the handsome tent, Liu Chengyou was a little surprised to hear Tanqi coming to report.
Upon hearing this, the bowed soldier repeated it again: "After the Khitan army and horses entered the territory of Luzhou, they stopped marching and stopped going north. They stopped for more than an hour!"
"Where's Han Tong?"
"Han Dutou is still leading his men to fight with the Khitan Houqi and monitor the enemy!"
"Geng Chongmei stopped moving forward, why?" Liu Chengyou asked subconsciously.
Previously, Liu Chengyou deliberately used some tricks to trick Gaoping's Liao army into heading north, so that he could attack them while waiting for work. After several confusing actions, Geng Chongmei indeed mobilized his troops and broke camp to go north. Liu Chengyou also made enough noise and cooperation in the Shangdang.
To be honest, if nothing unexpected happens, everything should develop according to Liu Chengyou's plan. But now, something unexpected seems to have happened.
The little soldier couldn't answer Liu Chengyou's question. He blinked and was stunned.
"Maybe it's a normal rest." Seeing Liu Chengyou looking at him, Xiang Xun gave a guess.
"After receiving the request for help, Shangdang is in danger, so he should rush in to help." Liu Chengyou said.
Xiang Xun shook his head and explained: "His Royal Highness has also said before that Gaoping and Shangdang are hundreds of miles apart, with mountains in between. When our army is at the gate of the city, it rushes hundreds of miles to come for reinforcements. This It is very dangerous, and the Khitan army will not ignore this."
"That makes sense!" Liu Chengyou nodded.
Xiang Xun paused and continued: "Besides, if Shangdang did not fall into my hands and was still in the hands of Zhao Xingqian, even if the Khitan army only garrisoned troops dozens of miles away, it would still be enough to act as a deterrent. How could our army dare to attack? Maybe Geng Chongmei also took this into consideration when he attacked the city with an enemy behind him..."
After listening to Xiang Xun's analysis, Liu Chengyou was stunned for a moment. It wasn't that he thought what he said was unreasonable, but he was a little aware that he seemed to think about things too simply. Even if I repeatedly remind myself secretly that fighting is not a child's play, when it comes to actually doing it, I still can't help but take it for granted and consider things too one-sided.
Quickly calming his mind, Liu Chengyou ordered the soldiers who came to report: "Send orders to Han Tong to investigate again, and keep a close eye on the movements of the Khitan army!"
"yes!"
When the soldiers retreated, Liu Chengyou looked indifferent and walked several steps in the tent with his hands behind his back. He raised his head and looked at Xiang Xun for a long time: "I have a vague hunch that this strategy of luring the enemy by waiting for work will be difficult to succeed..." ..."
Hearing this, Xiang Xun glanced at Liu Chengyou in surprise, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly: "Your Highness, let's wait and see how the enemy's situation develops."
"That's all." Liu Chengyou took a deep breath: "Li Chongju hasn't come back yet?"
Li Chongju was the personal guard Liu Chengyou sent to the Liao camp to "ask for help". He was a native of Shangdang. He was a loyal and disciplined young man who was similar to Liu Chengyou in being taciturn.
Liu Chengyou's question was really nonsense. If he came back, there would be no reason not to return to him.
"Is nothing going to happen?" He muttered, and Liu Chengyou's forehead gradually locked up.
Not long after, news of the Liao army came again. Instead of continuing to move north, the enemy troops set up camp along the Sheep's Head Mountain, but they had no intention of advancing at all.
Such news made Liu Chengyou's mind sink even more until Li Chongju returned.
"What's going on with the enemy troops?" Looking at the young guard, Liu Chengyou didn't realize that there was some impatience in his tone.
Li Chongju is only in his twenties, but he looks very calm, honest and kind. He quickly told the enemy camp and the situation of meeting Geng Chongmei.
"After asking to see Geng Chongmei, Beizhi was imprisoned. Until this morning, the enemy troops marched north and stopped at Yangtou Mountain. Afterwards, Geng Chongmei met again and asked Beizhi to repay 'Zhao Xingqian' and let him abandon the party. Going south, he led the Khitan army and horses to meet him in the south..." Li Chongju reported: "Your Highness, Geng Chongmei seems to have doubts!"
After listening to Li Chongju's report, Liu Chengyou's face twitched. He was not a fool to begin with. When he heard the enemy's actions, he couldn't help but sigh: "I don't know, what went wrong?"
"Doubt, there must be suspicion. However, Geng Chongmei sent Li Chongju back to deliver this letter, I'm afraid it was a test!" Xiang Xun said.
Liu Chengyou slowly fell into deep thinking.
"Your Highness, how should you reply to Geng Chongmei? Do you want to take another trip while humble?"
Li Chongju's questioning voice brought Liu Chengyou back to his senses, looked at him, and said directly: "If you go any further, I'm afraid you won't be able to save your life. That's all, you've worked hard too, go down and rest."
"yes."
After calming down, Liu Chengyou's expression returned to its usual calmness, but there was a hint of unwillingness in his eyes.
"I took this plan too much for granted. I was just talking about war on paper, and I thought about the war too simply. No one will fall for any trick to lure the enemy, it's just to make people laugh..." Liu Chengyou was the only one in the account. With Xiang Xun, Liu Chengyou reflected on himself, his tone full of self-deprecation.
Seeing Liu Chengyou's behavior, Xiang Xun comforted him softly and said: "Your Highness, there is no need to be depressed. In today's world, as a general, you often have to use strength to show off your strength. Your Highness wants to be a wise general and defeat others with conspiracy, which is better than many brave ones." husband!"
"To defeat the enemy at the moment of battle, it is a matter of rapid change. We should make decisions according to the situation, adapt to the situation, and never change anything. We all follow the plan. We are not familiar with Geng Chongmei. We neither know his general nor his general. Where can we determine its response?”
Xiang Xun's words naturally made sense, but as Liu Chengyou listened, he noticed something strange and suddenly asked: "You seem to have expected this situation a long time ago?"
Facing Liu Chengyou's gaze, Xiang Xun shook his head calmly: "You can't have such foresight in a humble position. I just discussed it with Inspector Guo. If Geng Chongmei was more cautious, he would definitely not come north rashly..."
"Guo Rong?" Liu Chengyou raised his eyebrows, and his mood seemed to have returned to normal: "Why didn't you remind me?"
"Um." Xiang Xun opened his mouth, thought for a moment, and then replied with a smile: "If Geng Chongmei is a fool and leads the army north without any care, then the strategy devised by His Highness is a brilliant plan... .”
After glancing at Xiang Xun, Liu Chengyou waved his hand in a dazed manner: "I didn't expect that you, Xiang Xun, can talk like this."
At this time, he felt something. The battlefield was not a place for trickery. People's hearts are always the most unpredictable. If you talk about strategies based on wishful thinking, you may end up losing yourself. In war, resourcefulness is of course important, but sometimes hard power is also needed.
After saying that, he stood up and Liu Chengyou began to think seriously: "Since Geng Chongmei doesn't fall into the trap, we have to change our approach!"
