A family of loyal martyrs, starting with nine wives to continue the family line.

Han Dashan led his troops into Black Wind Ridge.

"military adviser."

Han Dashan reined in his horse, looked at the narrow mountain path ahead, and asked in a gruff voice:

"Can Wei Zhao really be trapped here?"

Liu Suan sat beside him, his folding fan closed, his fingers pressing on the fan ribs.

"able."

He answered very quickly.

The speed of it made Han Dashan feel a little better.

Liu Suan raised his hand and pointed to the cliffs on both sides.

"The northern entrance to Black Wind Ridge is narrow, while the southern entrance is wide, and the middle section is like a bag. If Wei Zhao returns from Huainan, he will surely take the western route into the ridge. Once the 500,000 Xinwu troops enter, they will be unable to spread out in front or behind. The cliffs on both sides will be filled with rolling rocks, crossbow bolts, and oil, making it impossible for cavalry to charge and for infantry to advance."

He paused, his tone steady.

"No matter how skilled Wei Zhao is in battle, he can't let 500,000 people just fly out of thin air."

Han Dashan grinned as he listened.

……

Three days later.

In the middle section of Black Wind Ridge, the million-strong allied army completely entered the valley.

The vanguard Red Blade Army had already advanced to the vicinity of the North Pass, the Tieling Army was arrayed at the foot of the mountain on the east side, and the Black Mountain Army's central force was dragging its baggage and squeezing in.

Several mixed armies followed behind, their banners a chaotic mess.

Han Dashan sat on his horse, his brows slowly furrowing.

"Why is there still no movement?"

Liu Suan didn't say anything either.

wrong.

It's too quiet.

The scouts should have reported Wei Zhao's marching position long ago, but since last night, fewer and fewer scouts sent out to the west have returned.

He originally thought it was the Xinwu Youqi Qinglu Road.

This is normal.

When Wei Zhao returned to his capital, it was impossible for him not to dispatch his cavalry.

But now, there is no dust, no drumbeats, and no white-robed emperor's flag on the western road.

No.

There was nothing there.

Liu Suan gripped the folding fan tightly with his fingers.

broken.

Just as he was about to speak, beacon fires suddenly lit up on the cliffs on both sides.

Not in one place.

More than a dozen fires broke out simultaneously.

The red light stretched along the mountain ridge, as if someone had lit up both sides of Black Wind Ridge with torches.

The valley was quiet for a moment.

Immediately afterwards, screams of alarm came from the front lines.

"There's an enemy at the north gate!"

"The Guardians of the Family Army!"

"The flag bearing the character 'Liu'! It's Liu Jingshuang!"

Han Dashan suddenly stood up, causing the saddle to wobble.

"What Liu Jingshuang? Isn't she with Wei Zhao in Huainan?!"

No one answered.

Because the sound of cavalry stamping their feet could already be heard from the direction of the north entrance.

Liu Jingshuang, clad in plain armor, stood with her sword drawn, her 50,000 elite cavalrymen forming a crescent shape behind her, blocking the northern entrance to Black Wind Ridge.

She didn't flush.

They just blocked it like that.

But the Red Blade Army's vanguard felt more distressed seeing her than seeing an army of 100,000.

The veterans of the Wei family army knew Liu Jingshuang.

The anti-Wang soldiers also knew him.

This woman didn't like to talk on the battlefield, but wherever she stood, it was like a stake driven into the ground.

Old Zhou's expression changed immediately.

"Why is Liu Jingshuang at the North Exit?"

Liu Suan did not look at him.

He stared to the south.

Dust started to rise from the south as well.

A banner with the character "Huo" rose from outside the mountain path behind, followed by the spear formation, shield formation, and crossbow formation of the Xinwu Army, pressing towards the valley entrance layer by layer.

Huo Qingluan.

Isn't she guarding the city of gold?

When did she get around to the back?

The military map in Liu Suan's mind shattered instantly.

It’s over.

Wei Zhao did not return with his troops at all.

No.

He replied.

But he didn't return the way Liu had chosen for him.

After conquering Huainan, he left 500,000 newly recruited troops in the city to rest and recuperate, stabilize the salt route, take control of the water fortresses, and settle the surrendered soldiers.

He then divided his troops, sending Liu Jingshuang's 50,000 elite cavalry to circle around to the north entrance of Black Wind Ridge, while Huo Qingluan led the troops left behind in Golden City to encircle them from the rear.

As for Wei Zhao himself...

Liu Suan suddenly turned his head to look west.

A cloud of dust rose from the west.

A large white flag emerged from the edge of the wilderness.

The character 卫.

Xinwu.

The Emperor in White.

Wei Zhao is leading an army of 500,000 men, pressing in from the plains west of Black Wind Ridge.

It's not about entering the valley.

It is pressed grain.

He had no intention of falling into Liu Suan's trap.

He was waiting for the Eight Princes' Alliance to fall into his trap.

The color drained from Han Dashan's face little by little.

In the valley, a million-strong coalition army was crammed together.

The Red Blade Army was blocked by Liu Jingshuang in front, Huo Qingluan pressed up from behind, Wei Zhao's army was arrayed to the west, and the mountain wall to the east was steep, making it impossible for the troops to spread out.

What was supposed to be an ambush site quickly turned into a death trap.

The anti-king coalition originally intended to take advantage of Wei Zhao from their superior position.

But the beacon fires on the cliffs on both sides now are from the new military stronghold.

Their own rolling stones, kerosene, and ballistae all became a joke.

"We've fallen for their trap!"

Liu Suan finally shouted it out, his voice was a little hoarse.

"He deliberately let us leave the city of gold, luring us into a decisive battle in the wilderness!"

Zhou Laodao roared at the front, "Red Blade Army, turn around! Charge north at the pass and cut down Liu Jingshuang first!"

Liu Jingshuang raised her long sword.

The 50,000 cavalrymen did not move.

She looked at the approaching Red Blade Army with a chilling gaze.

We can't let them break out.

His Majesty entrusted Beikou to her not so that she could make merit here, but so that she could strangle these rebel kings.

As long as the northern pass remains intact, the Eight Kings and a million men will be nothing but a chaotic mess.

She doesn't need to kill them all.

She just needs to let them crowd here and wait for Wei Zhao's 500,000-strong army to press on.

It's cold.

But the battlefield is inherently cold.

Liu Jingshuang's long sword fell.

"crossbow."

Behind the cavalry, the crossbowmen, who had already dismounted, raised their arms in unison.

The crossbow bolts flew along the narrow passage to the north, and the front ranks of the Red Blade Army fell instantly.

Old Zhou's eyes turned red.

"Shields! Raise your shields! Keep charging!"

south.

Huo Qingluan looked at the chaos in the valley and pressed her finger on the array diagram.

"The rear guard should not advance hastily."

The garrison commander was taken aback.

"Madam, the enemy is in disarray; it's time to push forward."

Huo Qingluan glanced at him.

"If we press too hard, they'll desperately head north."

She pointed to the mouth of the valley with her fingertip.

"Press slowly. Let them think they still have a way out, but they can't get out."

The defending general felt a chill run down his spine.

This is the real Huo Qingluan.

She doesn't like to say harsh words.

But her words were even harsher than her harsh words.

west.

Dressed in white, Wei Zhao rode on his horse, looking at the Eight Princes' Allied Army crammed together in Black Wind Ridge, with little smile on his face.

Zhao Qiniang watched with her eyes shining.

"Your Majesty, they actually got in!"

Wei Zhao gave a soft "hmm".

He certainly wouldn't fall into the trap Liu Suan had set for him.

Liu Suan understood people's hearts, knew how to withdraw troops, and knew how to use defeat to establish alliances.

He's a troublesome person.

But he was not a general after all.

He only considered whether Wei Zhao would return with his troops, but he didn't consider whether Wei Zhao was willing to use himself as bait.

Wei Zhao never considered the Golden City to be a weakness.

A weakness is something you can hide; it remains a weakness.

You make it look like you can take advantage of the enemy, then chop off their hand when they reach out.

That's what's useful.

"Pass on the order."

Wei Zhao raised his hand.

The guards immediately knelt down.

"The Western Army advances three hundred paces, with the crossbows firing first; no hasty charge is permitted."

"Tell the new soldiers that those who kill the enemy today will have their achievements recorded in the military merit register."

"Black Mountain Army, Red Blade Army, Iron Ridge Army, all those who resist shall be beheaded."

He paused for a moment, his gaze falling on the royal banners in the valley.

"Capture Han Dashan and Zhou Laodao alive."

Han Dashan suddenly turned around, drew his sword, and pointed the tip directly at Liu Suan's face.

"You—didn't you say it was foolproof?!"

Liu remained silent for a long time.

Then, he suddenly turned his horse around and rode away.

It wasn't behind Han Dashan.

It wasn't heading into the Red Blade Army's formation.

He clung to the edge of the chaotic army, slipped into the ranks of a group of rebel soldiers from Hedong, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.