A lowly soldier becomes king, I slaughter my way through the late Tang Dynasty!

Ji Cong was so excited that he spat out his saliva!

However, Li Rui said...

"Yes, I admit it."

Ji Cong immediately shouted.

"You admit it! You finally admit it! Hahaha, I've always been right!"

But just as he started to laugh, Ji Cong's excited voice abruptly stopped.

His lips twitched for a moment, then he hung his head dejectedly and said weakly.

"What's the use of admitting it now? Sigh... Princess Eldest is in cahoots with you, isn't she?"

"In that case, if she's willing, you can take her away."

A moment later, Shi Lingshu's carriage left the city gate.

The little girl's face lit up with a smile as soon as she saw Li Rui.

Seeing this, Ji Cong felt a pang of bitterness in his heart.

Poor me and Jie Shuai, we were completely fooled by Li Rui!

After exchanging a glance with Shi Lingshu, Li Rui said to Ji Cong.

"Because of your kindness to the Princess, if anything happens in the future, you can seek refuge in Boling County, and I will save your life."

Ji Cong looked up, slightly surprised.

He then shook his head.

"I appreciate your kindness, but I am entrusted by the General to guard Anxi. As long as the city stands, I will stand with you."

Besides, the nation is fully engaged in the northern expedition, and the Khitan are busy fighting off the enemy. There are no enemies in Anxi County, so what misfortune could I possibly encounter?

However, the words had barely left his mouth.

Ji Cong noticed a faint smile on Li Rui's lips.

Almost in the blink of an eye!

Ji Cong shuddered!

He suddenly remembered that the person in front of him was not some boastful, pale-faced scholar.

This is Li Rui and Li Yulong, who are famous in Hebei and can be called a famous general of our time!

In military matters, he is the absolute authority!

Since they said there might be unforeseen circumstances, it means there really might be a problem!

Ji Cong suddenly realized what was happening and was about to clasp his hands in thanks to Li Rui for reminding him.

But by the time he came to his senses, Li Rui had already driven away in Shi Lingshu's carriage.

……

After Li Rui settled Shi Lingshu in the county town and repeatedly confirmed that there were no problems with the defense system, he did so.

He left the county town with only Chen Xiaoniu and a hundred personal guards, and drove away.

Wang Shuyu stood on the city wall, gazing into the distance. Even after Li Rui's figure was no longer visible, she was still unwilling to leave.

Upon seeing this, Zeng Feng stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Madam, the general has gone far away. Please come down from the city wall to avoid the wind."

Wang Shuyu was filled with worry and couldn't help but ask.

Did he tell you where he was going?

Zeng Feng hesitated for a moment, unsure whether he should reveal the military intelligence to Wang Shuyu.

Military intelligence is of paramount importance, and even the mistress of the house has no right to know about it.

Just as he hesitated, Wang Shuyu spoke again.

"Alright, I won't make things difficult for you. Just take good care of the defense. Now that your husband is gone, the lives of tens of thousands of people in this city are all in your hands."

Zeng Feng's expression instantly turned serious, and he knelt down on one knee with a whoosh.

"Please rest assured, Madam, I will live and die with the city!"

……

Time flies, and it's already mid-October.

After leaving Boling County, Li Rui completely disappeared without a trace, and no one knew where he went.

Meanwhile.

Niu Ben's side has already followed the northern expeditionary army and marched to Yingzhou.

Then, a bizarre scene unfolded.

The administrative center of Yingzhou, Hejian City, had its gates wide open!

The entire city was deserted; looking through the city gates, there wasn't a single person in sight!

Such a bizarre scene left the Jin army generals bewildered and uncertain.

Du Chongwei summoned his generals to discuss the matter.

"With the city gates of Hejian wide open, could there be an ambush inside?"

Li Shouzhen immediately replied.

"A small team can be sent into the city to scout."

"good."

Not long after, news came back.

The garrison in Hejian had already abandoned the city and fled!

Moreover, we learned from the people in the city that they fled overnight yesterday!

Upon hearing this, Du Chongwei's surprise and doubt not only did not lessen, but actually intensified!

Because Liu Yanzuo, the governor of Yingzhou, originally intended to surrender the city.

This was a crucial prerequisite for the Northern Expedition.

Zhao Yanshou and Liu Yanzuo both intended to surrender to the Central Plains.

Shi Chonggui had been in contact with them for several months, and with his confidence soaring, he was unwilling to wait even a year and immediately launched a major battle.

But now.

The city was surrendered, but what about Liu Yanzuo?

Du Chongwei looked at Li Shouzhen and asked for his opinion.

Li Shouzhen couldn't figure out what Liu Yanzuo was up to either, so he could only give a vague answer.

"We can move into Hejian City and then gradually make our plans."

However, Du Chongwei shook his head.

"Zhao Yanshou was also going to surrender. He held Youzhou in his hands, which was much more important than Liu Yanzuo."

"Delay could lead to unforeseen circumstances. What if, when the Khitan army marches south, Zhao Yanshou, fearing their might, refuses to surrender?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shouzhen's expression also turned solemn.

The emperor's instructions to them were very clear.

We must make sure Zhao Yanshou surrenders!

Although in Li Shouzhen's view, how could someone like Zhao Yanshou possibly surrender to the Central Plains?

If he had any affection for the Central Plains, he wouldn't have surrendered to the Khitan in the first place!

This is clearly a trap!

how...

The emperor believed it, and so did the commander-in-chief.

Li Shouzhen had no choice but to offer suggestions.

"Then send a cavalry unit as the vanguard to pursue the garrison in Hejian while also gathering intelligence on the specific situation in Youzhou."

Du Chongwei nodded.

"Order Liang Hanzhang, the commander of the cavalry, to lead two thousand cavalry in pursuit!"

Li Shouzhen was taken aback.

Should Liang Hanzhang personally lead troops deep into enemy territory?

Liang Hanzhang was also a veteran cavalry general.

In the previous victory at Yangcheng, he led his troops in pursuit of the defeated Khitan army and made considerable contributions, which led to his promotion to the position of military governor of Yongqing.

Although Yongqing Army was only a small to medium-sized military region, Liang Hanzhang was still a military governor of a region!

Why send a military governor to personally venture deep into enemy territory when all that's needed is to send a pursuer to scout out the enemy's situation?

In case of an accident, I might die at the hands of the enemy.

Wouldn't that embolden the enemy and diminish our own prestige?

The death of a military governor at the very beginning of the battle is a significant blow to the morale of the army!

Li Shouzhen hurriedly said.

"General, sending a brave cavalry general will suffice; there's no need..."

He hadn't finished speaking.

Du Chongwei then said seriously.

"This is a matter of great importance; how can an ordinary cavalry general be competent? Let Liang Hanzhang go!"

Li Shouzhen's mind raced, and he instantly understood.

Liang Hanzhang must have offended Du Chongwei somewhere, right?

Having thought this through, Li Shouzhen stopped trying to dissuade him.

Anyway, he didn't have much of a relationship with Liang Hanzhang, but he had a very good relationship with Du Chongwei.

They side with their relatives, not with what is right.

Therefore, the order was issued.

Liang Hanzhang had no suspicions and took it as a normal order to advance troops.

So immediately muster your troops and set off!

Meanwhile, the majority of the Jin army rested in Hejian City, awaiting news from Liang Hanzhang.

but……

Just as Li Shouzhen had guessed.

The surrender of Zhao Yanshou and Liu Yanzu was fake.

Liu Yanzuo's abandonment of the city and escape was precisely a ploy to lure the enemy.

As for what to do after luring the enemy in deep, everyone knows.

Two days later.

The remaining soldiers fled back in panic.

The news sent chills down the spines of everyone in the Jin army!

"Disaster has struck! The Khitans have laid an ambush in Nanyangwu. Governor Liang was caught off guard and fell into the enemy's trap. He fought bravely but died!"

His entire force of two thousand cavalrymen was wiped out; only four men managed to escape!