Three Kingdoms, I'm really not a general!

Chapter 538: Opportunity for a Battle
Although Cao Pi was somewhat dissatisfied with Xu Huang's performance, he knew very well that Xu Huang was loyal to him.

So he said kindly, "General Xu, Xing Daorong is indeed powerful, but as long as we make proper arrangements, we don't have to be too afraid."

"I am personally leading the army today to win!"

"Don't hesitate, fight hard to defeat the enemy, and have the belief that you will win!"

If Xing Daorong heard this, he would still applaud Cao Pi!

Just as he borrowed the words of his teacher back then, we must despise our opponents strategically!
However, when Cao Pi said this, he was not holding the belief that he would win. Instead, he was a little anxious and wanted to kill Ma Chao to boost morale.

Xu Huang could see the difference between the two, but said, "Your Majesty! Xing Daorong has experienced too many life-and-death battles, and has fought in hundreds of battles, big and small, in the army."

"Even if they are chasing us, they must have other plans. We must not underestimate them!"

Although he knew that Xu Huang was loyal to him, Cao Pi still felt a little annoyed when he kept talking about it over and over again.

But he said: "It seems to me that it is not that we should not underestimate the enemy, but that we are too cautious!"

"Being too cautious will lead to missing opportunities. Isn't the lesson General Xu taught me enough?"

When Xu Huang heard Cao Pi point out that he had let Ma Chao go before, he naturally knew that the Majesty was unhappy!

After thinking about it, I didn't say anything more.

I thought I'd take a look at how it's arranged first, and then take any action.

Seeing that Xu Huang didn't say anything, Cao Pi decided not to embarrass his loyal general anymore.

But he said: "Everyone, just follow Shengping's strategy, feign an attack and pretend to be defeated, lure Ma Chao out, I will kill him myself!"

Everyone listened and responded in unison!

The morale, which had seemed a little low due to the previous period of busy work, was finally raised.

On the other hand, while Cao Pi was arranging how to feign an attack and pretend to be defeated and then set up an ambush, Xing Daorong could not just sit and wait for Cao Pi to make a move, so he was also busy.

The army trains its horses day and night, preparing for the decisive battle tomorrow.

After all, it is not certain whether the decapitation plan can succeed.

Even the chance of success depends entirely on fate... In the end, it is very likely that Cao's army will have to be defeated head-on.

Of course, the training of these soldiers is essential.

However, Xing Daorong's calm attitude made Ma Chao a little anxious.

He felt a little better that day, so he came to ask Xing Daorong if there was any news from Cao Pi and whether Cao Pi was in a confused state.

However, Xing Daorong's answer was somewhat ambiguous.

"As for news... there is some, but we have to wait and see whether he has lost his mind..."

"News came from Yongning County that Cao Pi had finished offering sacrifices to his ancestors and was mobilizing his troops day and night. It looked like he was about to send troops to attack our camp."

Ma Chao listened and said, "This is good news!"

"According to what my brother-in-law said, this is to urge him to think, right?"

Xing Daorong shook his head and said, "Cao Pi has 50,000 troops and horses, so we must attack. Otherwise, if we wait too long, we will face internal and external troubles and end up destroying ourselves."

"But...if you come here to fight to the death, then I will fight you seriously. If you want to fight and retreat, then that's another matter."

Ma Chao asked anxiously: "What do you mean? Is it that Cao Pi cheated?"

Xing Daorong said: "That's right!"

"Cao Pi will lead the army in person, so he must be cautious. If he is defeated in one battle, it must be unusual and he must have done it on purpose." Ma Chao was immediately excited when he heard it, "If that's the case, Cao Pi must be trying to lure us with his body. We can use his trick to capture him directly!"

Ma Chao is a man who...sometimes he speaks and acts without thinking much.

Now, even though he knew Cao Pi would lure the enemy, he did not think about how to take his life. He just looked excited, as if he could take someone's life directly.

It's fine to expect him to lead troops in battle and charge into battle, but it would be a big problem if you ask him to command the three armies.

But with Xing Daorong around, nothing serious will happen.

He shook his head and said, "No, even if Cao Pi is faking his defeat, we won't care about him and just watch him use his tricks in vain."

Ma Chao listened and said anxiously: "Cao Pi took the initiative to attack, but this opportunity, how can we miss it!"

Xing Daorong sighed, "That's what Cao Pi wants. If you attack knowing it's a trap, won't you be walking into a trap?"

"If you don't care, then his efforts will be in vain."

"If Cao Pi doesn't have many soldiers, I will keep my troops in place and let him fight without anyone to fight."

"If they attack my camp, I will fight with all my might and fight Cao Pi to the death!"

It was already agreed that if Ma Chao wanted to kill Cao Pi, he had to obey Xing Daorong completely.

Hearing that Xing Daorong had already made up his mind, he said without saying anything more, but nodded and said, "Well, even if it's not the time for this battle."

Xing Daorong saw that Ma Chao was quite sensible at the critical moment, so he nodded in relief and said, "Killing Cao Pi depends on one battle. If we succeed, then we will succeed. If we fail, then we will have no chance again!"

What Xing Daorong said was certainly not an excuse to fool Ma Chao. In most cases of assassinating emperors in history, there was only one chance.

Even if it fails, it may change the emperor's destiny and often create another legend.

Although Xing Daorong did not think that Cao Pi could change his fate, this was indeed the only chance to kill Cao Pi.

There is absolutely no such thing as trying again next time if you fail this time.

Ma Chao also knew the reason, so he said: "Okay! Let's see if Cao Pi is really going to attack us, or if he wants to lure us with his body again!"

...

In fact, Xing Daorong had led the army for such a long time that he knew exactly whether the enemy was going to really attack or just put on a show. He could guess most of the situation just by looking at the movements.

If Cao Pi really wanted to attack the camp, he would certainly have to make careful arrangements, look for a specific time, and launch a semi-surprise attack in the hope of winning in one battle.

There was absolutely no fanfare or attention paid to the scouts and eyes, and they just acted as if they were going to attack the camp.

Behaving this way clearly shows that they are well prepared!

Not to mention that this move was not in line with the art of war, if Cao's army was so afraid of me, why would they attack like this?

Therefore, before Cao Pi arrived, Xing Daorong was certain that he was making a feint attack. He could no longer stay in Yongning County, so he used himself as bait to lure Ma Chao into the trap.

However, although he was 100% sure in his heart, Xing Daorong still cautiously left two possibilities when he spoke.

But Xing Daorong soon realized that his caution was unnecessary...

Seven days later, Cao Pi led his troops out of Yongning County and headed straight for Xing Daorong's camp.

When they got outside the camp, they started shouting and cursing, demanding that Xing Daorong come out of the camp and kill him.

However, in response to his challenge, Cao Pi found that the gates of the Han army camp were closed and there was no reaction at all!

It seemed as if the ones outside were not a mighty enemy army, but just a bunch of barking wild dogs!

(End of this chapter)