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

Even with Xiao He's intelligence, he was still frightened by the rattan armor army and forced to retreat across the board.

Such unusual behavior must have something fishy going on behind it.

What if this is Xiao He's scheme to lure the enemy?

Lü Kai was well aware of the advantages and disadvantages of Wei Yan and Xiao He.

In his view, this must be Xiao He's scheme!
The deliberate show of weakness and retreat was intended to make Meng Quan believe that the Han army feared the rattan armor troops, thus inducing him to become arrogant and overconfident, and to pursue them.

Then Wei Yan will set up a trap halfway there and wipe out the rattan armor army!
"Kings!"

Lu Kai could no longer contain himself and cupped his hands in greeting, saying:

"Xiao He is cunning and treacherous. I fear that his order for Wei Yan to retreat is a ploy to lure the enemy. We must not pursue rashly and must consider this carefully!"

This statement came out.

The tent fell silent immediately.

Meng Quanzheng paused, his hand holding the wine bowl still, and the smile on his face vanished instantly.

Then, he slammed the heavy wine bowl down on the table.

In Meng Quan's eyes, the rattan armor army was an invincible force.

Just when it seemed they could press their advantage and completely conquer Shu, Lü Kai jumped out to pour cold water on their plans.

This not only questions the fighting strength of the rattan armor army, but also his decisions as the king of the southern barbarians.

"Lu Kai, what do you mean by that?"

Before Meng Quan could speak, one of the generals countered with a question:

"Xiao He is cunning, but so what?"

"Tell me, what kind of scheme does he have to break through the invulnerability of my rattan armor army?"

Lu Kai opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word for a long time.

Yes, the rattan armor soldiers are impervious to swords and spears; ordinary ambush tactics seem to be truly useless against them.

But Lü Kai knew in his heart that just because he couldn't figure it out didn't mean Xiao He couldn't either.

"Hmph, I think you're just scared!"

Meng Quan finally spoke, saying sarcastically:
"The rattan armor army is invincible; any scheme is futile in their presence!"

Lu Kai's face turned pale and then red, and he wanted to persuade him again.

Seeing this, Wu Rong slammed his hand on the table and said sternly:
"Lu Kai, our army's morale is high right now, and it's the perfect time to press our advantage. Yet you're saying things that boost the enemy's morale and diminish our own. If you shake the morale of the army, I will not let you off!"

Given Wu Rong's stature, her rebuke caused Lü Kai's expression to change.

He swallowed back the words of advice that were on the tip of his tongue.

Lu Kai understood that further persuasion at this point would not only be useless, but would also earn him the charge of disrupting morale.

Left with no other choice, he could only lower his head, bow, and step aside in silence.

Having subdued Lü Kai, Meng Quan's displeasure gradually faded, and the corners of his mouth turned up again.

Now that no one was stopping him, Meng Quan immediately slammed his fist on the table and made a plan:

"By my order, the entire army shall set off immediately, with Wu Ge leading the rattan armor troops as the vanguard. I will personally lead the main force behind them. We must catch up with Wei Yan and annihilate the Han army!"

Upon receiving the order, the generals obeyed.

then.

The Southern Barbarian army immediately broke camp and set up camp, then marched north in a grand procession to pursue the enemy.

...

north.

Following Xiao He's plan, Wei Yan led his army in an orderly retreat northward, leaving Ma Dai behind with a light cavalry force to cover the rear and occasionally harass the pursuing troops.

To make the play more realistic, Wei Yan went to great lengths, abandoning several cities along the route and even evacuating the people in advance, leaving behind empty cities.

The Nanman army pursued them relentlessly, capturing several cities in quick succession, and their morale soared.

Finally, the Han army retreated to the walls of Jiangyang.

Once Jiangyang falls, the heartland of Yizhou will be directly exposed to the advance of the Nanman army.

The generals could no longer hold back.

Inside the big tent.

As soon as Wei Yan took his place in the command tent, Zhuge Dan angrily volunteered for command:

"General Wei, Jiangyang City is the shield of Yizhou, we must not retreat any further!"

"This humble general is willing to lead his troops out of the city to meet the enemy, even at the cost of our lives, to dampen the spirits of the Southern Barbarian army!"

Zhuge Dan's words instantly ignited the atmosphere in the tent, and the other generals stepped forward to volunteer for battle.

The mighty Celestial Master of the Han Dynasty was chased for hundreds of miles by a group of southern barbarians, abandoning several cities in the process.

If this were to get back, how could they possibly face Emperor Liu Bei? The generals' fighting spirit was completely ignited at this moment.

Even knowing that the rattan armor soldiers were impervious to swords and spears, they would rather die on the battlefield than retreat even a step.

Wei Yan sat in the main seat, calmly observing the indignant generals, without immediately speaking.

Then, his gaze swept past everyone and landed on Xiao He.

The entire strategy for retreating north was devised by Xiao He.

Now that the generals have launched an attack, it is only right that this Grand Marshal should resolve the situation.

"Generals, please calm down."

Xiao He spoke slowly and deliberately:
"I have a few words to say about retreat and war."

All the generals' eyes turned to Xiao He.

"Gentlemen, Jiangyang City is the gateway to Yizhou, and we must not abandon it."

Xiao He spoke each word with force and conviction, his voice sharp and stern:

"Let us form ranks here and fight the barbarian army to the death, and defend Jiangyang to the last man!"

The generals were immediately filled with ecstatic excitement.

They had finally received the order for the decisive battle!

The atmosphere inside the tent instantly became excited.

"Jiangyang must be defended, but the rattan armor soldiers are impervious to swords and spears. Grand Marshal, how should we break through them?"

Ma Su suddenly spoke up to remind him.

Wei Yan immediately turned his gaze to Xiao He.

Xiao He smiled and asked:
"Who says we can't break through the rattan armor army?"

These words startled all the generals.

If there is a strategy to defeat the enemy, why did you retreat in the first place?

Everyone looked confused.

Only Wei Yan's eyes flashed with a hint of joy.

Xiao He's tone suggests he already has a brilliant plan in mind!
"What brilliant plan does the Grand Marshal have? Please tell us quickly!"

Wei Yan immediately asked.

Xiao He leaned down and whispered the plan in Wei Yan's ear.

In a moment, Wei Yan's face lit up with wild joy, and he slammed his hand on the table:

"This plan is brilliant! Grand Marshal is truly a military genius reborn!"

The generals, however, were increasingly bewildered, exchanging bewildered glances.

...

A few days later.

On a hill a few miles south of Jiangyang City.

Wei Yan and Xiao He stood side by side.

The two looked down at the winding valley below.

The generals behind him stood solemnly with their guns in hand, their expressions grave, yet their eyes held the same doubts.

Yesterday, when Xiao He presented the plan, Wei Yan ordered the entire army to ambush in this valley.

The generals initially thought that the so-called brilliant plan was actually an ambush.

But this strategy is too common; anyone with a strategist would use it.

It might be feasible against ordinary barbarian troops, but against rattan armor troops!

Even if you're ambushed, what can they do if they just stand there and let you kill them?

The generals looked at each other, wondering what their Grand Marshal was up to.
"Da da da!"

The sound of galloping hooves approached, and a scout dismounted.
"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, General Ziyue's troops have led the enemy through the mountain path, and the entire rattan armor army has entered the valley!"

Wei Yan's body stiffened, and he looked sharply at Xiao He.

Xiao He nodded slowly, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"Order all units to prepare for attack!"

Wei Yan waved his hand and gave a stern order.

A command flag suddenly rose.

In the dense forests on both sides of the valley, the generals, already impatient, gripped their weapons tightly upon seeing the command flag raised, awaiting only the final order to charge into the valley. (End of Chapter)