My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

They launched an attack without fully understanding their opponent's strength, resulting in such a crushing defeat.

"Since we've already lost, Your Highness, please don't say anything more."

Seeing that Liu Xun was still talking about the defeat, Lü Kai was afraid of displeasing Meng Quan, so he coughed softly to remind Liu Xun.

Although the cough was slight, it sounded like an alarm bell in Liu Xun's ears.

Liu Xun was startled and instantly came to his senses.

He immediately understood Lü Kai's intention; Lü Kai was reminding him not to forget his current situation.

They now have to rely on Meng Quan's Southern Barbarian army to recover lost territory. If they offend Meng Quan because of a slip of the tongue, it would be a great loss.

Liu Xun immediately shut his mouth and stopped talking, but a trace of worry was revealed in his eyes.

But Liu Xun knew very well that Meng Quan was no match for Wei Yan.

Although Meng Quan was brave, he lacked strategy and composure.

Blindly marching north and engaging Wei Yan in direct combat would undoubtedly only lead to self-destruction.

But if we don't persuade Meng Quan, are we supposed to let him lead the entire army to his death with Meng Quan?

Liu Xun couldn't do it.

He was very conflicted and didn't know what to do.

"Your Majesty, of course we must fight Wei Yan. Wei Yan has gone too far, and we must not swallow this insult."

After thinking for a moment, Liu Xun decided to express his opinion tactfully.

"But I believe that Xiao He has always been cunning and treacherous. He will definitely come up with all sorts of ways to deal with us. If we want to defeat him, we will have to use some strategies and not act rashly."

Seeing Liu Xun's hesitation, Lü Kai worried that he might not be able to explain himself clearly, so he subtly reminded Meng Quan:

“Your Majesty, what Prince Liu Xun said is absolutely right. Wei Yan’s victory in this battle must have made him arrogant and complacent. He thinks that our Southern Barbarian army is no match for us and will surely lower his guard. We can take advantage of his arrogance and send troops to feign surrender, luring him to pursue us relentlessly.”

"Once he enters our ambush, we'll set up an ambush and kill him. What do you think?"

Lu Kai offered a plan, his eyes revealing a sense of confidence.

After listening to Lü Kai's words, Meng Quan pondered for a moment.

He felt that although the plan was somewhat risky, it was still a feasible method.

So he nodded and said:
"Very well, we'll do as you say. I want Wei Yan and Xiao He to know that our Southern Barbarian Legion is not to be trifled with!"

...

The candlelight flickered, casting dim, yellowish light that danced on the walls.

Meng Quan sat upright in the main seat, his posture dignified. His gaze slowly swept over everyone, finally settling on the acting cave master.

This Lord Daiyuan Cave is considered the core strategist of the Southern Barbarians.

Meng Quan would consult him on almost every military campaign.

At this moment, the Cave Master of Daiyuan Cave sat there quietly, his eyes moving slightly in their sockets as he quickly weighed the pros and cons of the situation before him.

His brows furrowed at times and relaxed at others.

After a long while, as if he had given it much thought, the abbot of Daiyuan Cave finally nodded slowly.

He slightly raised his head and looked directly at Meng Quan:

"Your Majesty, I believe this plan is feasible. The Han army is currently very powerful. If we launch a direct attack, we may not be able to win. However, if this plan can be successfully implemented, it will surely trap the Han army in our trap and turn the tide of the war."

Upon hearing this, Wu Rong's eyes flashed with excitement.

He was a brave and warlike man with an indomitable spirit towards the Han army.

Upon hearing the words of the Cave Master Daiyuan, he seized the opportunity and shouted loudly as well:
"That's right, the Han people are known for their cunning and often use schemes and tricks to outmaneuver us. This time, we'll play a trick on them too! Let them taste the might of us southern barbarians and let them know that we are not to be trifled with!"

As soon as Wu Rong finished speaking, the other generals in the hall nodded in agreement.

Seeing everyone's unanimous attitude, Meng Quan couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.

He slammed his hand on the table, stood up, and declared boldly:

"Alright, since everyone agrees, let's use a trap to ambush Wei Yan and wipe away our shame! This time, we must ensure he doesn't return alive!"

The barbarian generals were greatly encouraged by Meng Quan's words.

They couldn't wait to rush to the battlefield and fight the Han army.

However, although the plan had been decided, a crucial problem lay before everyone:

So who will act as bait?
The hall fell silent instantly, everyone lowered their heads, avoiding eye contact with others.

Wei Yan's reputation was legendary in the southern barbarian lands.

Even the brave and skilled Wu Rong was once defeated by Wei Yan, let alone other generals.

Going to act as bait is undoubtedly like venturing into a tiger's den, with the odds of survival hanging in the balance. Everyone is still wary and dares not take the risk lightly.

Seeing that no one was volunteering, Meng Quan frowned and a hint of disdain flashed across his face.

He was secretly annoyed, thinking that these generals usually thought themselves brave, but when it came to the crucial moment, they all cowered and hesitated, which really disappointed him.

Just then, the cave master's eyes darted around again, as if he had come up with another idea.

He turned his head slightly, his gaze shifting to Liu Xun sitting beside him, a faint, almost imperceptible smile appearing on his lips.

Then, he slowly said:

"Your Majesty, this plan was proposed by Lü Kai. Now that we are going to implement it, why not send Liu Xun? General Liu Xun also has an army under his command. Let him go as bait; he might be able to handle the task."

As soon as the cave master finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to Liu Xun.

Liu Xun's heart tightened immediately; he felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him.

Meng Quan understood Daiyuan Cave Master's meaning. Of course, they couldn't send their own soldiers to their deaths in such a difficult situation. Sending Liu Xun as bait was undoubtedly the best choice.

Meng Quan immediately understood the intention of the Cave Master of Daiyuan. He looked at Liu Xun and said firmly:

"Liu Xun, how about I entrust the task of luring Wei Yan to you? You have quite a few soldiers under your command, and I believe you can accomplish this mission."

Liu Xun inwardly groaned, knowing full well that Meng Quan intended to use him as cannon fodder.

The Shu army under his command numbered no more than seven thousand men, and most of these soldiers were old, weak, or disabled veterans who were far less capable than the elite troops of the Southern Barbarians.

He naturally didn't want to be the bait or take the risk.

So he quickly declined, a troubled look on his face:

"Your Majesty, how can the Shu army compare to your Yue army? I believe that your army is the one to take on this task! Our Shu army is limited in strength and may not be able to complete this arduous mission. If it delays Your Majesty's grand plan, then we will be committing a grave offense."

Liu Xun wanted to get rid of this thorny task by making such an excuse.

Meng Quan's face darkened, and displeasure was evident in his eyes.

He thought to himself that he had already handed over the task to Liu Xun, but Liu Xun was making all sorts of excuses, which clearly showed that he did not respect him as the king.

Seeing this, the abbot of Daiyuan Cave seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire. He suddenly stood up and pointed at Liu Xun, saying:
"Liu Xun, what do you mean? Do you want us to fight to the death with the Han army so you can take advantage of the situation and reap the benefits?"

"We, the Southern Barbarians, should be united with your Shu army to fight against the Han army, but you are here making your own selfish plans. It is truly disheartening!" The chief of Daiyuan Cave did not give Liu Xun any face. His words were like sharp blades, piercing Liu Xun's heart.

Meng Quan glared angrily at Liu Xun, his face showing suspicion.

He began to doubt Liu Xun's loyalty, feeling that Liu Xun might really have ulterior motives.

Liu Xun smiled bitterly to himself; he hadn't expected things to develop to this point.

He could no longer refuse. If he continued to decline, he would not only anger Meng Quan, but also arouse the dissatisfaction of other generals, which would put him in even greater danger.

So, Liu Xun braced himself and, forcing himself to remain calm, replied:

“Lord Daiyuan, you are mistaken. The king and I are brothers, how could we have any ulterior motives? I am only worried that our army is too weak to undertake this arduous task.”

“I know the importance of this mission and I understand the king’s trust in me. Since the king trusts me, I will act as bait. I will do my best to complete this mission and live up to the king’s expectations.”

Upon hearing Liu Xun's words, Meng Quan burst into laughter.

He stepped forward, patted Liu Xun on the shoulder, and said:
"Alright, Liu Xun, I didn't misjudge you. The time has come to prove you. Go! I believe you will be able to successfully lure Wei Yan."

Liu Xun felt helpless and could only swallow his anger.

He knew he was in grave danger this time, but in order to save his own life and avoid arousing further suspicion from Meng Quan, he could only silently accept the mission.

Inside the tent, a suffocating and oppressive atmosphere permeated the air.

As soon as the tent was set up, Liu Xun's face was full of anger, and he angrily slammed his helmet onto the table.

A loud bang rang out in the quiet tent, startling the servants nearby.

Liu Xun's eyes widened as he glared at Lü Kai and roared:

"It's all your doing! If you hadn't suggested this plan, how could Meng Quan have forced me to become cannon fodder! Do you know how dangerous this plan to lure the enemy is? My seven thousand Shu soldiers are probably not going back!"

Liu Xun's roar was deafening, and Lü Kai's face instantly turned extremely awkward. His lips trembled slightly, as if he wanted to say something but did not know how to respond.

So he lowered his head, silently blaming himself.

He had intended to offer advice to Liu Xun, but instead he had pushed him into such a dangerous situation.

Liu Xun pointed at Lü Kai, his fingers trembling slightly with anger. He wanted to curse again, but the angry words were churning in his throat like a volcano about to erupt.

But the words stuck in his throat and he swallowed them back down.

He sighed helplessly, knowing in his heart that he had no one left to use.

In this barbarian land, Lü Kai was one of the few people he could listen to advice from.

If Lü Kai is driven to despair and abandoned, he will truly be all alone, and then he will be powerless to resist Meng Quan's coercion and the threat of the Han army.

He could only swallow his resentment.

"Oh dear, what should we do now?"

Liu Xun asked helplessly.

Seeing that Liu Xun's emotions had calmed down a bit, Lü Kai breathed a sigh of relief. He gathered his thoughts and said:
"Your Highness, I have a plan that will surely succeed. Wei Yan is extremely arrogant these days. He thinks he can command a large army and looks down on everyone. If we challenge him, he will surely fall into our trap!"

"He will surely think we are easily defeated, and thus underestimate us and advance rashly. At that time, Wei Yan will fall into Meng Quan's ambush and suffer heavy losses."

"If Wei Yan is severely injured, we can take the opportunity to recover lost territory. At that time, even if we lose some soldiers, it will be worth it, after all, this is a golden opportunity for us to turn the tide."

As Lü Kai spoke, he gestured with his hands on the table, sketching out a beautiful blueprint.

Upon hearing Lü Kai's words, Liu Xun's expression improved slightly, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in his eyes.

He looked up and listened attentively to Lü Kai's plan, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

Seeing that Liu Xun was somewhat moved, Lü Kai breathed a sigh of relief and continued:

"If we defeat Wei Yan in this battle, we will have made a great contribution and will have more confidence in front of Meng Quan in the future."

"And Your Highness no longer needs to be mindful of Meng Quan's feelings. We can use this victory to regain the initiative and break free from Meng Quan's control."

Upon hearing Lü Kai's description of this "big pie," Liu Xun seemed to see a glimmer of hope.

He's had enough of being bullied by Meng Quan these past few days.

The reason was simple: he needed something from Meng Quan.

His Shu army was of limited strength and isolated in the southern barbarian lands, relying solely on Meng Quan's support to survive.

Therefore, Meng Quan often bossed him around, leaving him angry but unable to speak out.

If one can achieve great merit, one can indeed stand tall and no longer suffer the humiliation from Meng Quan.

Liu Xun's expression brightened, and he stood up, pacing back and forth, excitedly saying:

“That makes sense. This is indeed an opportunity. We can no longer sit idly by and wait for our doom. We must take the initiative to change our current predicament.”

...

Several days later, north of Jiangyang City.

On the vast plains, the Han army marched south in a mighty procession.

Banners fluttered in the wind, warhorses neighed incessantly, and the sound of soldiers' footsteps shook the earth slightly.

The Han army was in high spirits and seemed unstoppable.

At this moment, the scout rushed over like a whirlwind, knelt on one knee, and panted as he reported to Wei Yan:

"Report! General, Liu Xun, a remnant of the Shu Kingdom, is currently leading over ten thousand Shu troops northward. It is clear that Liu Xun intends to confront our army head-on."

This news surprised Wei Yan. His eyes widened, and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face.

You should know that he commanded an army of 100,000, and no one could defeat him wherever he went.

Liu Xun dared to lead 10,000 troops to meet the enemy, which was simply like throwing an egg against a rock, courting his own destruction.

"Liu Xun, you treacherous dog!"

Wei Yan's eyes burned fiercely:

"Since you've come to die, I'll just eliminate you completely to prevent future trouble!"

At this moment, Xiao He frowned slightly:

"Wenchang, Liu Xun knows he is no match for us, yet he comes to his death. Isn't he afraid of a trap? We must not underestimate him."

"Grand Marshal, what do you mean by that?"

Wei Yan became alert. He turned his head and looked at Xiao He intently.

Indeed, although Liu Xun was a useless person in Wei Yan's eyes, he was not stupid and would not come to his death willingly.

That's suspicious!
"I suspect this must be a trick by Lü Kai."

After a moment of contemplation, Xiao He said:

“Lu Kai is a cunning man. He wants to use Liu Xun as bait to feign defeat and lure our army into pursuit. I suspect he will set up an ambush on the way. Once our army enters his ambush, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

"Although our army of 100,000 is powerful, we will be put on the defensive in an ambush. Not only will we suffer heavy losses, but it could also affect the entire battle situation." (End of Chapter)