The Prodigal Son

Around 3 PM, Zong Bi of Wangzhou Prefecture received a message brought back by his scout.

"Feeding horses?"

Upon learning of the enemy forces' advance towards Wangzhou Prefecture, Zong Bi was momentarily stunned.

"right!"

The scout reported, "The enemy troops look very disorganized. They're just leading their horses to graze about twenty miles away. That large area has been ravaged by the warhorses, leaving it looking bald."

After a moment's thought, Shan Hong asked with a smile, "General, is the enemy preparing to retreat? Before they retreat, should they feed their horses until they're well-fed?"

"I guess so!"

Another general nodded in agreement, "General's strategy of burning their supplies has prevented their troops from resupplying. They've been running all day and can only find some wild grass to feed their warhorses."

Although Zongbi's move was vicious, it was indeed very effective!

There must still be some unharvested grain outside each city.

However, if the enemy stops to harvest food, their advance will be slowed down.

"Foolish!"

Zong Bi glared at the two men with a dark expression. "If the enemy wants to find wild grass to feed their horses, why do they have to do it right under our noses?"

"Does the General mean that the enemy is putting on a show for us?"

He Cong, as expected of a staff officer, immediately realized what was happening.

"Most likely!"

Zong Bi nodded slightly. "The enemy is probably trying to lull us into a false sense of security by launching a full-scale attack on Wangzhou Prefecture after dark! Once we capture Wangzhou Prefecture, they will have everything they need!"

A smile appeared on He Cong's face. "Then the general's arrangements will come in handy!"

They're really not afraid of the enemy attacking now!

I'm afraid the enemy won't attack!

As long as we destroy the vanguard of the Ning army, we can severely damage their morale!

The key point is that this is a large force of cavalry!

If they could capture a large number of warhorses, it would be very beneficial to their subsequent counter-offensive plan!

Zong Bi pondered for a moment, then quickly stood up and ordered: "Order the ambush troops outside the city to let the enemy charge if they attempt to attack!"

Once more than half of the enemy troops have charged in, immediately set fire!

"Order Tong Lu to hold those gaps at all costs and force the enemy into our trap!"

"He Cong, I hereby order you to lead three thousand elite cavalry to guard the south gate. If any enemy troops cross the fire wall, immediately send them out of the city to attack!"

"Shan Hong, I hereby order you to lead three thousand elite cavalry to guard the north gate..."

Zong Bi quickly issued the order, a hint of anticipation in his heart.

Back then, with the help of his mentor and 10,000 men, he held the city of Tushi for seven days against the enemy's overwhelming force!

He wanted to see how these mere 20,000 cavalrymen could possibly breach his Wangzhou Prefecture!

The Ning people really don't know how to learn from their mistakes!

Emperor Xiaowu of that time was so reckless that he was given an opportunity!

Even now, the people of Ning are still acting recklessly!

Moreover, their troops were far fewer than those of Emperor Xiaowu!

As long as we can defeat this enemy force and hold the Rock Fortress, things will be much easier once their reinforcements arrive!

However, we still cannot let our guard down.

He is not worried about the cavalry that is facing him, which has no supplies.

His biggest concern was Wang Sengyuan's troops.

It's already late afternoon, and there's still no news from over there.

This gave him a vague sense of unease.

Thinking of this, Zong Bi called Zong Yuan over again, "Send a few skilled men from the Imperial Guard to take a back road towards Changping and gather intelligence on Wang Sengyuan's troops along the way!"

"yes!"

Zong Yuan immediately accepted the order and left.

Outside the city, Qin Yu had already met up with Yuan Dingguo and the others.

Qin Yu summoned Yuan Dingguo, Xiong Quhu, and others together. "I've figured out the route. We'll go through Wudaoliangzi! When we launch the surprise attack, I'll lead my personal guards ahead!"

"Everyone, just follow my flag and charge forward!"

"Yuan Dingguo, you will lead two thousand elite troops to cover the rear!"

"After breaking through the breach, Xiong Quhu immediately led his troops into the right flank of the main army..."

Upon hearing Qin Yu's words, Yuan Dingguo instinctively tried to stop him.

How could we let him, the commander-in-chief, lead the charge?

However, he swallowed the words back down.

These low hills, though not high, can block cavalry charges, but there are enemy troops lying in ambush!

Only Qin Yu knew the route of the advance!

Only by leading his troops into battle can casualties be minimized.

"yes!"

Everyone accepted the order.

After giving the order, Qin Yu looked at everyone sternly again: "Let me emphasize one last point: everyone proceed in an orderly manner! Don't you dare block your own path! Anyone who dares to block the passage, even if they don't die at the hands of the enemy, I will personally behead them!"

"Don't worry, Commander Qin!"

Han Chong confidently assured them, "Although our soldiers haven't trained according to Commander Qin's methods for very long, they can still advance and retreat in an orderly manner!"

"good!"

Qin Yu nodded slightly. "Tell the brothers, we have no way out now! As long as we take Shangxing, I'll let them eat their fill!"

"yes!"

Everyone nodded emphatically.

Fifteen minutes later, the army regrouped.

Qin Yu did not conduct any pre-battle mobilization.

He has already had someone convey what needed to be said.

Right now, it's all about charging forward!

"Big Hammer, hold up the banner properly!"

Qin Yu turned to look at Qi Dachui.

"Um!"

Qi Dachui nodded emphatically, his gaze unwavering.

Qin Yu had no doubt that as long as Qi Dachui didn't fall, his command flag wouldn't fall.

After giving Nan Que'er a reassuring look, Qin Yu suddenly turned his head and roared menacingly, "All troops, listen to my command! Charge!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Qin Yu spurred his horse and charged out.

"kill!"

More than 20,000 men charged forward with deafening battle cries, closely following Qin Yu's command flag.

"Rumble..."

The thunderous sound of horses' hooves was like a continuous rumble of thunder.

The horses' hooves kicked up dust that blotted out the sky.

Qin Yu automatically drew a pre-planned route into his mind and led his army to charge towards a mountain pass to the north.

This passage is not in front of Wangzhou Prefecture. Ning Huang and his group have already scouted it out, and there is no oil here.

The only thing we need to deal with is the two or three thousand enemy troops lying in ambush at the mountain pass to the north.

Once you get past that point, the land ahead is basically flat and open.

As the army charged, the flags fluttered in the wind.

Hearing the approaching sound of hooves, the Yan army general lying in ambush at the mountain pass gripped his sword tighter, his face contorted with malice as he growled, "Send the order down! Close this pass! Force the enemy to the right!"

"yes!"

The messenger quickly obeyed and left.

On the hills on both sides of the valley, the Yan army's ambush troops had already drawn their bows and nocked their arrows.

Everyone held their breath and stared intently ahead, waiting for Ning's army to charge in.

close!

Getting closer!

Just as Qin Yu and his troops appeared in their sight, a cold light suddenly flashed before the eyes of several Yan archers.

Before they could even react, their heads had already flown off.

brush!

Another flash of cold light, and several more archers fell dead.

On the other side of the hillside, Ning Huang unleashed a domineering burst of true energy.

As the true energy swept across, a large number of Yan army ambushers were killed or wounded.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

The sudden slaughter threw the Yan army's ambush troops into chaos.

However, the killing did not stop.

Their arrows had almost no effect on Ning Huang.

Gui San and Gui Si moved with unusually strange movements, constantly weaving among the ambushers and reaping the lives of these ordinary soldiers.

In the chaos, the archers simply raised their bows and fired.

Whoosh!

Two arrows pierced the air and struck Gui San.

However, Gui San simply shifted his body slightly and dodged the two arrows.

An arrow whizzed past Gui San and struck a Yan soldier behind him...