Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3681 Adding fuel to the fire at the bottom of the ravine to burn the tiger's lair; A false report from Jiangnan tests the waters.

Behind a rock partially obscured by vines, on the middle section of the cliff face on the left side of Tiger Falling Ravine.

Wang Ping lay prone on the cold stone surface, his body taut like a bow, his gaze fixed on the scout team slowly advancing at the bottom of the valley.

Wang Ping was a veteran of many years. In his early years, he followed Zhang Lu. After Zhang Lu was defeated, he fled to Shangyong and joined the Shen brothers. Later, he followed the Shen brothers to join Cao Cao's army and became a military officer under Cao Ren.

The "Sichuan soldiers" who attacked Wancheng were actually Wang Ping and his men in disguise.

Now, he plans to ambush Li Dian and Liao Hua here...

Or perhaps Pang Shanmin?
No matter who comes, they'll at least skin you alive!

Beside him were Cao Cao's soldiers, holding their breath in concentration.

"Captain, shall we move? Take out this scout squad?"

"A deputy asked in a low voice."

Wang Ping pondered, his eyes fixed on the twenty-odd riders who had already entered the ravine.

Their formation was loose, and their pace was neither too fast nor too slow; they truly resembled a standard reconnaissance outpost.

The leader was dressed in simple, plain armor, his helmet pulled low so his face was obscured, but his movements were quite agile and powerful.

"Wait a moment……"

Wang Ping's voice was deep and resolute, carrying an unquestionable authority: "Just a few scouts, what's the use of killing them? They'll only alert the bigger fish behind! Their main force is still outside the ravine! Let them pass! Our target is the main force behind! Pass down the order: no one is to move without my command!"

He believed that if the scouts were let go, the main rescue force would be caught off guard and plunge headlong into the death trap.

Liao Hua's palms were slightly sweaty as he gripped the reins, but he controlled the speed and posture of his warhorse, maintaining the vigilance and caution expected of a scout. His eyes scanned the ground and both sides, as if he were really looking for signs of an ambush or Huang Zhong being ambushed.

He could clearly hear the powerful beating of his heart in his chest, and the equally suppressed breathing of his bodyguards behind him.

Every step forward felt like dancing on a knife's edge.

Kick, stomp...

The sound of horses' hooves pounding on the gravel at the bottom of the ravine was amplified in the silent valley.

Above them, those cold, murderous gazes were like thorns in their backs, yet there was never the sound of arrows piercing the air.

Finally, light appeared ahead, and the narrow valley was about to come to an end!
Liao Hua remained tense and did not relax in the slightest.

He knew that the most dangerous hurdle had been temporarily overcome, but the real crisis was not yet over.

As the last man stepped out of the ravine and into the slightly blinding sunlight of the open area, everyone secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but their tense nerves dared not relax for a moment. Cao Jun was letting them pass, waiting for his "main force" behind him, so Liao Hua had to cross this death zone as quickly as possible and find an opportunity to counterattack before the enemy could react!

"Over there! Quickly!"

Liao Hua looked around and found a good hiding place, so he lowered his voice and spoke very quickly.

The twenty-odd men quickly reached the area out of Cao Cao's sight, then nimbly dismounted and led their horses into the nearby woods to hide.

Liao Hua's eyes flashed like lightning as he quickly scanned the terrain on both sides of the ravine.

To the left is a steep, slippery cliff face that is difficult to climb, while to the right is a relatively gentle, vegetation-covered hillside.

"Zhang Wu, Li Qi!"

Liao Hua selected two of his most alert and agile guards: "You two stay here and keep an eye on the horses! Remember, make it look like scouts are resting and reconnoitering here! Every now and then, ride around the ravine a couple of times and make some noise! ​​If a large contingent of Cao Cao's troops comes out, immediately mount up and run west into the woods to lure them away! Old Horseman, you're in charge of watching our warhorses!"

The rest of you, follow me!

Without further hesitation, Liao Hua waved his hand and led the remaining dozen or so elite soldiers, disappearing silently into the dense forest on the right hillside like cats.

They abandoned their conspicuous warhorses and transformed into mountain soldiers, relying on tree roots and rocks for cover, climbing up the hillside using both hands and feet.

Wuguan is a great place...

Back then, Wei Yan, Huang Zhong, and even Taishi Ci all spent some time there. Liao Hua was humble and eager to learn, and he learned a lot from these people. In addition, Wuguan Pass was a mountain pass, and without some means of traversing mountains and forests, how could he guard the pass well?
Liao Hua moved swiftly and cautiously, trying his best to avoid knocking over stones or breaking branches. His soldiers were no less capable; they had to race against time to get behind Cao Cao's ambush before Wang Ping became suspicious!

Tiger Falls into the Ravine, and time slips away little by little.

Outside the ravine, Zhang Wu and Li Qi, following Liao Hua's instructions, would sometimes ride their horses around the ravine, sometimes dismount and pretend to investigate the ground tracks, and even deliberately talk loudly to create the illusion that the scout team was expanding its search area.

But Wang Ping, perched on the cliff face inside the ravine, felt his unease grow ever stronger, like ink dripping into water.

Where are their main players?

Logically speaking, saving lives is as urgent as putting out a fire. So why is the scout ahead not giving a signal for the main force to pass through?
Is it...

Something's not right...

Wang Ping frowned, his gaze fixed on the two scouts still active outside the ravine, a strong sense of foreboding gripping him.

Just then, he seemed to hear some strange, rustling sounds.

He raised his head and looked up at the sky above the ravine...

Suddenly, more birds appeared in the sky, flying around in a slightly flustered manner.

Wang Ping subconsciously turned his neck to look around. Just as his gaze swept over the edge of the dense forest at the top of the hill behind him, he seemed to catch a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye...

Leaping flames?
Not just a little!
It's a line, and it's getting bigger and bigger!
"Fire! There's fire up there!"

Before Wang Ping could give any orders, a terrified scream rang out from the Cao army soldiers in other directions!
Directly above their ambush position, several plumes of smoke-filled flames were rising into the air from the dense forest!

Kerosene!

Only kerosene could create such a large fire in such a short time!
This was arson!

Fueled by the wind, the fire, like several ferocious fire snakes, was spreading at an astonishing speed toward the cliff platform where they were lying in ambush!

"You bastard!"

Wang Ping's eyes widened in horror as he instantly realized that the scout team was bait!
It's an even more deadly dagger!

They weren't scouting at all; they were flanking them and planning to burn them alive!
"We've fallen for their trap! Retreat! Retreat towards Jiankou!"

Faced with the relentless fire, Wang Ping had no confidence that he could hold out. Even if he could, the Cao army soldiers he brought with him would not stand still.

We can only retreat!

Moreover, they must retreat before the fire spreads and blocks their path!

It should be noted that they had also specially stockpiled some kindling, such as dry firewood and straw, on the top of the cliff!
Now this dry firewood and straw have become their death warrant; who knows how many people will die once it's set on fire!
"Retreat!" Wang Ping roared hoarsely, his voice distorted with extreme shock and rage.

Thick smoke billowed out, and a wave of heat hit us!

Driven by the raging fire, Cao Cao's ambush troops were thrown into chaos. Their hiding places were already extremely narrow and crowded for concealment, but now the fire was spreading rapidly, the thick smoke made it impossible for them to open their eyes, and the scorching air burned their skin.

The instinct for survival overwhelmed military discipline. The soldiers pushed and shoved each other in terror, scrambling to escape the fire and trying to run wildly along the narrow cliff passage toward the mouth of the ravine.

Screams, coughs, and the crackling of flames instantly filled the mountain ravine and cliff face… Swept along by the chaotic flow of people, Wang Ping used his arm guards to protect his head and face from the heat and falling sparks, while desperately trying to maintain order: "Don't panic! Hold on! Shield bearers in front! Retreat in an orderly fashion…"

Yes, an orderly retreat can maintain combat effectiveness, but Wang Ping's command was soon interrupted by a sharp whistling sound!
It's not just a rumor!

It was the sharp whistling of an arrow piercing the air!

*Whoosh, whoosh whoosh—!*

Arrows fell diagonally above their heads!
It cascaded down from a point higher than where the fire had started, onto a rock formation untouched by the flames!

The target was not the Cao army soldiers running in disarray, but Cao army officers and sergeants like Wang Ping who were trying to restore order and direct the fleeing soldiers!
*Pfft!*

"Ahhhhh..."

"My leg! Someone help me!"

Screams came and went.

Several of the Cao army officers who tried to restore order were quickly shot down!
Not many people were hit by arrows, but the number of people who were hit, resulting in pushing, trampling, and falling into the ravine, was more than five times the number of people hit by arrows!
Some of Cao's soldiers, in an attempt to avoid arrows, howled and scrambled about, blocking the narrow passage and further confusing the fleeing soldiers behind them, causing them to trample each other!

Wang Ping reacted extremely quickly, snatching a round shield and raising it above his head the instant he heard the arrow whistle.

He heard a "thud," which felt like he had been hit by a small iron hammer, making his arm go numb.

Through the gaps in the edge of his shield, he looked up at the high place from which the arrows were coming, filled with a mixture of shock and anger.

A dozen or so figures were partially hidden by rocks and bushes, drawing their bows and aiming calmly and efficiently at the chaotic escape route below. The leader, tall and imposing, held a drawn bow, the arrowhead gleaming coldly, locked onto him…

Damn it!

Wang Ping immediately ducked, hiding behind the other Cao army soldiers, no longer daring to show his face to give orders. He simply shouted repeatedly from behind his shield, "Forward! Forward! Don't stop!"

Flames roared closer from behind, thick smoke made it hard to breathe, a deadly rain of arrows hung overhead, and comrades lay dead beneath their feet...

Where is this ambush zone they prepared for the Flying Cavalry?
This is clearly a purgatory meticulously crafted for them by the Flying Cavalry!

Damn it, only a few elite cavalrymen have arrived?!
"Charge! Charge out of here!" Wang Ping roared, his voice weak and feeble amidst the chaos. He knew that he and his Cao army had completely collapsed amidst the flames, thick smoke, and the cries of their comrades. All he could do now was to lead as many Cao soldiers as possible out of this desperate situation.

He braced himself against his shield, forcefully pushing aside the wounded soldiers blocking his path, and, under the desperate cover of his personal guards, rushed towards the mouth of the ravine in a disheveled state.

Each dull thud of an arrow striking the shield seemed to mock the utter failure of his meticulously planned ambush.

He glanced back at the cliff face engulfed in flames, billowing smoke, a scene resembling hell on earth. The cries of wounded soldiers and the roar of flames filled his ears. A thought was etched into his mind with crystal clarity…

"The elite cavalry... truly lives up to their reputation!"

Wang Ping's lament was filled with bitterness and anger, yet also tinged with an indescribable admiration for the ruthlessness and experience of the elite cavalry. His defeat was not unjust, but the price was far too heavy.

……

……

This perilous battle at Tiger Fall Ravine ended with Cao's ambush troops suffering a devastating backlash and Wang Ping's humiliating retreat. Cao Ren's attempt to use a false report to ambush the enemy failed; not only did he lose a fallen soldier, but Liao Hua also exploited a weakness in Wang Ping's ambush, launching a sharp counterattack that nearly wiped out the entire army.

Of course, if it were someone else, such as Li Dian or Pang Shanmin, the outcome might be different.

Although Li Dian was in Hanzhong, his mountain warfare skills were clearly inferior to Liao Hua's. Moreover, even if Li Dian possessed mountain warfare skills, when faced with a choice, he would most likely choose the safer option of retreating rather than taking a risky surprise attack.

Liao Hua was younger than Li Dian, and his testosterone levels were higher, so he would naturally choose a more aggressive approach.

Cao Ren's secretion was already quite low...

When the news reached Cao Ren, his face was so dark it looked like it could drip water.

The carefully planned diversionary tactic not only failed to eliminate Liao Hua's elite force, but also resulted in the loss of one of Wang Ping's troops and dampened the morale of the army.

"That's a brilliant tactic!"

After listening to Wang Ping's report, Cao Ren slammed his fist heavily on the table, causing the map on the table to jump.

Wang Ping lowered his head, a sense of defeat gnawing at his heart like a venomous snake, but a deeper worry followed. Although he had led his troops to burn down the granaries of Wancheng, that achievement was clearly insufficient to offset the defeat at Hulujian.

Cao Ren was also feeling irritated.

Now that Li Dian and Liao Hua have seen through his false report, they will definitely increase their communication and establish new coded standards, intending to continue to sow discord between Li Dian, Liao Hua, and Pang Shanmin...

That might be difficult!
Cao Ren's gaze lingered on Wang Ping. He stepped forward, helped Wang Ping up, and patted him on the shoulder. "Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war... Don't take it to heart, don't take it to heart... Lieutenant Wang burned down the granaries in Wancheng, that was a meritorious act..."

At this point, Cao Ren suddenly had a thought. "Oh, right, you mentioned before... that you confiscated some flags and armor from Wancheng, as well as a few military tokens?"

"Yes, that's right!" Wang Ping replied repeatedly.

The assassins sent to Li Dian and Liao Hua's side were disguised as Wancheng soldiers after they obtained these Wancheng "tokens".

Cao Ren pondered for a moment.

Another sinister plan quickly took shape in his mind.

"General..." Wang Ping swallowed hard. "They're on guard now... using these again..."

Cao Ren laughed heartily, "That's right! These bandits in Jingbei are on guard... but what about Jingnan?"

Liao Hua and Li Dian on the northern front are tough to deal with, so let's change our strategy and target the south!
"Someone come here!"

Cao Ren's voice carried a cold, desperate edge: "Select another suicide soldier! The most astute one, with an accent similar to that of the Nanyang area! Dress him in these captured Wancheng military uniforms and armor! Prepare a forged urgent request for reinforcements!"

One fresh trick, eaten all over the world!

Having successfully deceived Wancheng with a false report and nearly lured an ambush, Cao Ren was certain of one thing: despite the fact that Jingzhou was currently besieged from the north and south, these people did not have a unified command system!
This is a huge vulnerability!

Of course, after being messed with by Cao Ren, most of these people would realize the problem and then try to fix it, but Cao Ren only needed one opportunity!
In this fleeting window of opportunity, the lives of several suicide soldiers were sacrificed to gain a crucial fighting chance!
Cao Ren felt it was well worth it!

Raising assassins was originally a traditional act in Shandong and the Central Plains.

During the Three Kingdoms period, and even into the Wei and Jin dynasties, the "death warriors" were not simply outlaws, but rather an armed force born from a specific social structure: the economic system of powerful manors, the legalization of private armies under the political system, and the indoctrination of cultural ethics and the concept of gratitude and reward.

Later generations might think that suicide soldiers were just brave men recruited for a "great reward" or temporarily drawn death row inmates. It is undeniable that these people were also part of the suicide soldiers. However, the "suicide soldiers" sent by Cao Ren can be described as "elite suicide soldiers", far superior to those ordinary suicide soldiers who were recruited or brought with a bounty.

These "elite warriors" were not necessarily skilled in martial arts; on the contrary, many of them were even "scholars." This was because after the Confucian concept of "a scholar will die for one who understands him" took root in the hearts of the people during the Han Dynasty, the protection, recommendation, and rewards that a family head gave to his retainers were regarded as "gratitude and righteousness," which required "repaying a drop of kindness with a spring of gratitude," or even with one's life.

Or rather, these "elite assassins" evolved somewhat from the "retainers" of the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. These assassins usually lived with their masters, sometimes even their entire families were dependent on the master's estate. Their treatment was far better than that of ordinary laborers and tenants, sometimes even better than that of the steward. After all, in case of trouble, the steward didn't necessarily have to die, but elite assassins were often expected to "repay with their lives."

This phenomenon only gradually subsided after the Sui and Tang dynasties implemented the Fubing system (a military system for conscripted soldiers) and cracked down on powerful clans, but its underlying logic continued to reappear in different forms during the power transitions of successive feudal dynasties...

Soon, a carefully selected Cao army soldier, bearing several realistic "battle scars," carrying the "blood letter" from the "Wancheng garrison commander" and items such as a waist tag and fragments of a military flag as "tokens," detoured around Yunmengze under the cover of night, and then headed south towards Jiangling!

The contents of the document, of course, were thrilling...

Cao Cao personally led a large army south and has already besieged Wancheng. Now Wancheng is in imminent danger!
Fancheng's troop line was blocked, and Li Dian and Liao Hua were struggling to fight back!

Therefore, they naturally sent someone to plead with Xu Huang, to remember their friendship as fellow officers of the Flying Cavalry, to quickly send troops north to provide assistance!
Several days later, the weary and disheveled messenger from Wancheng was brought before Xu Huang in Jiangling...