Three Kingdoms: Wolong's brother-in-law, tricking Liu Bei into seizing Jingzhou

"Enough, enough. If you could see through Xiao Fang's scheme, you wouldn't have been driven out of the East."

"I'll let you off this time, but if there's a next time, I won't let you off easily!"

Empress Vinu waved her hand helplessly, abandoning the matter.

Her voice was filled with exhaustion and helplessness.

Cao Rui hurriedly kowtowed to express his gratitude, his forehead hitting the ground heavily with a "thump-thump" sound.

His heart was filled with gratitude for Empress Vinu's mercy in sparing his life.

He knew he had escaped unscathed this time, but next time he had to be more careful and not make the same mistake again.

"So tell me, what should we do now?"

Empress Vinu frowned, her eyes filled with anxiety, and asked.

She crossed her arms over her chest and leaned slightly forward, as if waiting for Cao Rui and Sima Yi to provide a perfect solution.

Cao Rui lowered his head and remained silent, seemingly pondering a solution, but unable to come up with one for the time being.

His brows were furrowed, his forehead was covered with wrinkles, and his heart was filled with confusion and helplessness, not knowing how to face the predicament before him.

Sima Yi sighed, slowly stood up, and paced back and forth in the tent.

After a long while, Sima Yi slowly cupped his hands and said in a low voice:

"Your Majesty, the Divine Chariot has been burned down and cannot be rebuilt in a short time."

The Shenxingche (a type of transport vehicle) is crucial for our army's transport of supplies; without it, transporting supplies would become extremely difficult.

If food supplies cannot be supplied, the stalemate strategy will fail and all previous efforts will be in vain!

Our stalemate with the Han army has always relied on a sufficient supply of provisions. Now that our provisions have been destroyed, how can we continue the battle?

Then, Sima Yi cupped his hands again and said in a heavy tone:

"Your Majesty, the only option now is to abandon Yumen Pass and retreat westward."

Where there is life, there is hope.

We will retreat to the Western Regions for now, conserve our strength, and wait for the opportune moment to launch a counterattack.

A resolute look appeared in his eyes, as if telling Empress Vinu that this was the only way out at present.

Abandon Yumen Pass and retreat westward!

Despite the strong opposition from the Yuezhi ministers, she insisted on launching an eastern expedition, aiming to make up for the Yuezhi lands that had been conquered by the Parthian Empire.

With lofty ambitions, she led her massive army eastward, determined to establish immortal achievements on this land.

But now, the army has lost more than half its strength, and the land of the Western Regions is about to be handed over to the Han state.

How would the people of the Yuezhi Kingdom view her as an empress?

Where will her supreme imperial majesty be placed then?
Vinu hesitated slightly, his expression full of hesitation and indecision, unable to make a decision.

"Never give up!"

Usaas took a step forward, his voice clear yet resolute, like a thunderclap in the air.

"This land of the Western Regions was won by countless soldiers of the Yuezhi Kingdom with their boiling blood and indomitable lives! How can we give it up so easily!"

Her eyes shone with a fiery light.

"We must not give up!"

Usaas emphasized again in a loud voice, with a sense of tragic grandeur.

Pinu slowly raised his head, looking at Sima Yi with a hint of dissatisfaction and doubt in his eyes.

Just then, Sima Yi's lips curled up slightly, revealing a sinister smile that sent chills down everyone's spine.

"The Empress has probably misunderstood."

Sima Yi spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice low and sinister.

"My proposal is actually a strategy of retreating to advance, intended to carefully design a trap for Xiao Fang."

"If this plan succeeds, the Han army will be defeated without a fight, and they will be plunged into an abyss of no return without losing a single soldier!" Sima Yi's eyes gleamed with cunning.

As he spoke, Sima Yi's lips curled up slightly, revealing a cold smile.

Pinu's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly asked:
"Sima Yi, what brilliant plan do you have now?"
Tell me about it!

She grasped at a straw as if it were her only hope.

Sima Yi calmly and methodically explained his plan.

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui's eyes lit up instantly, and his face lit up with ecstatic joy. He exclaimed in praise:

"Wonderful!
If this plan succeeds, Xiao the traitor will undoubtedly fail!

This plan allows Your Majesty to break through the Han army's defenses without losing a single soldier; it is truly a brilliant strategy!

Cao Rui became more and more excited as he spoke.

"This plan is indeed a brilliant one! Lord Sima Yi is truly a man of exceptional wisdom!"

The ministers, including Sridhara, echoed each other, their voices rising and falling, filled with admiration and praise for Sima Yi.

Vinu's tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and his doubts seemed to dissipate considerably as the others echoed his sentiments.

Just then, Usas stepped forward, her eyes revealing her displeasure:
"Sima Yi, your plan is too ruthless and vicious. How could my aunt, the Empress of the Yuezhi Kingdom, use such an unscrupulous plan?"
This goes against the principles of benevolence and righteousness of my Yuezhi Kingdom!

Vinu's expression changed instantly; his brows, which had just relaxed, furrowed tightly again, and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

Sima Yi snorted coldly, his eyes filled with disdain and mockery:

"Xiao Fang is an even more cruel and inhumane man; the things he has done are too numerous to recount."

My plan is to fight fire with fire, to use his own methods against him, and to let him taste the bitter fruit of his own actions!

Cao Rui nodded quickly and echoed:

"That's right. No matter how ruthless the scheme, it's not too much to use it against a villain like Xiao Fang!"

Any means necessary to defeat him is worthwhile!

Sridhara and his ministers nodded in agreement.

Usa looked around but found no one echoing her views, and a sense of helplessness welled up inside her.

"Snapped!"

Pinu slammed his hand on the table, the sound crisp and loud, like a thunderclap exploding in everyone's ears.

"Let's use Sima Yi's plan!"

By imperial decree, abandon Yumen Pass immediately and retreat into the heart of the Western Regions!

Vinnu's voice was firm and resolute, leaving no room for doubt.

The order was given like a landslide, and the Yuezhi army immediately sprang into action, abandoning Yumen Pass and retreating like a tide into the heart of the Western Regions.

Meanwhile, outside Yumen Pass, inside the Han camp.

Inside the imperial tent, the flickering candlelight cast a long shadow of Xiao Fang.

Xiao Fang was sitting at his desk, engrossed in reviewing official documents, his pen scratching across the paper.

Suddenly, Xu Chu rushed in, his face beaming with excitement and joy:
"Reporting to Prime Minister Xiao, good news has arrived! Our army has successfully destroyed the Yuezhi's supply lines!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Fang immediately put down his pen, looked up, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes:
"Send it over quickly!"

Xu Chu hurriedly presented the victory report with both hands, and Xiao Fang took the report and read it carefully.

As expected, the victory report detailed how Zhuge Dan led Han cavalry across the vast desert and launched a surprise attack on the Yuezhi army, who were completely unprepared, successfully intercepting them while they were protecting the grain supplies.

The Yuezhi marshal Narayan was killed in the fierce battle, and although Qin general Zhang Ji fought bravely, he unfortunately died on the battlefield.

The Yuezhi grain transport army was completely annihilated, and their divine chariots were also burned to ashes.

"Okay!"

Xiao Fang slammed his hand on the table, a satisfied smile spreading across his face, and exclaimed in praise:
"Zhuge Dan has rendered a great service and deserves a rich reward!" (End of Chapter)