In the view of Zhang Chun, Zhang Ju and others, the general sent by the court to oversee the troops in You and Bing to quell the rebellion must be with Liu Yu, directing operations from the center.

No one could have imagined that Liu Wei would place the General of the North's command post right under the nose of the rebel army's camp, just ten miles away.

After a while, one spy after another dispersed from the manor like ghosts, relaying Liu Wei's decision for the evening to the troops in various locations.

Tomorrow morning, they will launch an attack from all directions simultaneously on the 200,000-strong rebel coalition forces outside Jixian City.

Operation Cold War in Jicheng has entered its final countdown!

Warfare is based on deception!

Liu Wei definitely wouldn't give Zhang Chun the kind of scene where both sides lined up in formation and fought each other!

However, Zhang Ju and Zhang Chun should have noticed Liu Wei's unusual behavior.

However, all they can do now is shrink their army and stick together.

If they split up, they will only be defeated by Liu Wei individually.

Soon, only Liu Wei, Tian Yu, Murong Ping, the Seventeen Riders of Yanyun, and two Imperial Guards remained in the manor.

"The darkness before the great battle must have been quite agonizing for many people."

Liu Wei sipped his tea, looking relaxed. "Everyone, don't be so tense. Relax a bit."

"This balance of tension and relaxation is the way of both civil and military affairs."

After hearing this, everyone relaxed.

However, Yan Da and the others dared not let their guard down, after all, this place was too close to the rebel camp, and if they were discovered, it would be a nightmare.

"The world can do without the Eighteen Riders of Yanyun, but it cannot do without our lord!"

Yenching University silently thought to itself.

Liu Wei looked at the various expressions on the faces of the crowd, and finally his gaze fell on Tian Yu:

"Guorang, what's your opinion on this battle?"

From planning to execution, and up to the final blow in the decisive battle of Youzhou, everything proceeded according to plan, except for a slight disruption caused by a sudden heavy snowfall.

In fifteen days, Zhao Yun and Wang Fangyi's forces penetrated deep behind enemy lines, stormed Shanggu and Daijun, captured Juyong Pass, and closed the northwest gate of Ji County.

According to reports from the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the battles in Shanggu and Daijun were not without their twists and turns, and even more surprising events!

Zhao Yun had a misunderstanding with Liu Du and Li Su, who came from the Hetao region, and they almost accidentally hurt each other.

Yuwen Lie, who came with Liu Du and Li Su's army, made a great contribution by persuading Yuwen Yong, who was stationed in Dai County, to surrender with his troops and quickly pacify Dai County.

Li Su then appointed Han Chinese officials and recruited soldiers to guard the area.

He then led Yuwen Lie and Yuwen Yong's troops, totaling 5,000 men, and advanced towards Juyong Pass.

Shanggu County was first harassed by Wang Fangyi, and the Xianbei people guarding the area were like frightened horses. Then Zhao Yun passed by and attacked them again.

Before they could catch their breath, Liu Du led three thousand cavalrymen from the Doyan Three Guards and swept past again.

After three rounds, the Xianbei people from various parts of Shanggu County abandoned the city and fled, while others were driven away by the riots of the city's inhabitants.

When Liu Du resisted at Juyong Pass and joined forces with Zhao Yun and Wang Fangyi, the entire Shanggu Commandery was subdued.

Li Su's army advanced unimpeded and quickly made its way to Juyong Pass.

At this moment, Zhao Yun and Wang Fangyi were at a loss facing the city wall, but Liu Du's arrival made their eyes light up.

With Wang Fangyi, Liu Wei's personal bodyguard commander, mediating, Zhao Yun apologized and admitted his mistake, sincerely apologizing to Liu Du.

Having gained face, Liu Du naturally went along with it.

Then Liu Du led a thousand men disguised as defeated soldiers from Dai County, tricked them into opening the city gates, and drove away the defending troops.

The entire army entered Juyong Pass.

Soon, Murong Muyan's 10,000 troops arrived to seize the pass.

The two sides engaged in fierce fighting.

This was because the troops of Wang Fangyi, Zhao Yun, and Liu Du were all cavalry, and their advantage in attacking and defending the passes was not obvious.

Fortunately, Li Su, Yuwen Lie, and Yuwen Yong arrived in time, and five thousand archers immediately took over the defense of the pass.

Its powerful long-range strike capability was immediately apparent.

The devastating rain of arrows, the shooting range of three to four hundred paces, and the advantage of continuous firing quickly decimated Murong Muyan's forces, forcing him to retreat in fear.

Wang Fangyi, Zhao Yun, and Liu Du, three cavalrymen, seized the opportunity to pursue and kill, capturing countless enemies.

Of Murong Muyan's 10,000 men, plus the 3,000 reinforcements that followed, only a little over 2,000 managed to escape back to the Jixian camp, suffering extremely heavy losses.

Because Liu Du and Li Su held the highest official positions and had the most troops, Liu Du was appointed as the commander and Li Su as the deputy commander, leading this mixed army of 13,600 men to pursue and kill Murong Muyan, approaching Jundu (present-day Changping), and the city of Jixian was within sight.

When Liu Wei learned of this situation through the Embroidered Uniform Guard, he was somewhat surprised.

The offensive progress and its effectiveness exceeded his expectations.

Not only did they subdue Dai and Shanggu counties, but they also annihilated approximately 20,000 of the Murong Xianbei's forces, achieving remarkable military exploits.

What's commendable is that both Zhao Yun and Liu Du prioritized the overall situation and promptly cleared up the misunderstanding.

It's worth noting that Liu Wei was quite surprised when he heard that Zhao Yun had single-handedly charged into Liu Du's army and captured Liu Du alive.

If Zhao Yun had impulsively stabbed Liu Du to death, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

The Three Guards of Duoyan and the Iron Cavalry of Guanning will fight to the death.

In the end, it is one's own strength that is damaged.

"My lord, the advantage is now in our hands!"

"With a strategist as commander and the army fighting bravely, we can pacify Youzhou in this battle."

"but..."

Tian Yu hesitated, as if he had something to worry about.

"Guoran, feel free to speak your mind!" Liu Wei smiled faintly; what storms hadn't he weathered?

"My lord, you played a leading role in the war to subdue Youzhou and made great contributions."

Tian Yu slowly asked, "After the war, how should we deal with Governor Liu?"

"Should we return to the Hetao region with our lord, or stay in Youzhou?"

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