Having made up their minds, the two men immediately took action like clockwork.
Suppressing their inner excitement and anxiety, they secretly summoned several of their most core and reliable generals.
When these generals, who were also filled with anger and fear, heard the decision of the two commanders, they expressed their willingness to follow them to the death without any hesitation.
"General, it's time to rebel against him!"
"Tuoba Xiong doesn't treat us as human beings, so why should we work for him?"
"If His Royal Highness Prince Jin can take us in, we will fight to the death!"
People’s hearts are useful!
Cao and Liu felt a little relieved.
They carefully discussed the details of surrender: how to avoid Tuoba Xiong's eyes and ears, how to contact the Jinyang envoy, how to assemble the troops, which route to choose to break out, and how to deal with possible pursuers.
"We must act without delay before Tuoba Xiong makes his move!" Cao Jun's eyes flashed fiercely. "Let's set the time at four o'clock in the morning, when people are most exhausted! Send someone to invite the messenger over!"
However, almost at the same time that Cao and Liu made their decision, a spy in Tuoba Xiong's tent was kneeling and reporting:
"Your Majesty, although the Cao-Liu camp appears calm on the surface, their core generals have been frequently entering and leaving the central military camp since nightfall, and this has lasted far longer than usual."
"Also, the patrols discovered unusual movements of the sentries west of their camp, seemingly trying to avoid our surveillance."
Tuoba Xiong's eyes gleamed coldly, "I can't hold it back any longer! Order the two thousand elite troops in ambush to move secretly to the west of Cao and Liu's camp and block all passages! Send another three thousand troops and be ready to attack from the front at any time!"
"I will personally go and invite Cao Jun and Liu Pan to come over for questioning!"
He was determined to nip the signs of civil unrest in the bud with drastic measures before it broke out.
The crisis is imminent!
In the Cao-Liu camp, the merchant envoy who was not sent away at night was quietly invited back.
Hearing that Cao and Liu had decided to lead their troops to surrender, he showed no surprise, but only asked calmly:
"Since the two generals have made up their minds, I wonder when and how they plan to act? And how will our troops be supplied?"
Cao Jun quickly repeated his plan to break out from the west side of the camp at four o'clock in the morning.
The messenger pondered for a moment and shook his head. "General, the terrain on the west side is flat. While it is convenient for an initial breakout, it also facilitates cavalry pursuit. If Tuoba Xiong notices and sends cavalry to attack, your troops are mostly infantry, and you will probably suffer heavy losses."
"I do have a plan that might be helpful."
Cao Jun was overjoyed: "Please come quickly!"
The messenger took a few steps closer and lowered his voice, "Five miles south of the camp, there is a dry river valley called 'Ranshijian'. The river is winding and can hide the whereabouts of a large army."
"Although it's a longer detour, the valley's exit is closer to Jinyang and less vulnerable to large-scale cavalry pursuit. General, you can send a small group of elite troops, disguised as patrols, to control the valley's entrance first."
"The main force will cease operations and move secretly southward in batches, sneaking into the Rocky Stream. At that time, we can ask General Zhao to send troops to meet us at the other end of the stream."
Cao Jun and Liu Pan looked at each other and saw approval in each other's eyes.
This plan is indeed more reliable than their original plan.
"Alright! I'll do as you say!" Liu Pan immediately decided, "I'll immediately send my trusted aides to control the entrance to the Rocky Stream!"
Time was running out, so everyone immediately started preparing separately.
Inside the camp, a tense yet orderly atmosphere permeated the darkness.
The officers were quietly awakened and whispered instructions, and the soldiers silently checked their weapons and packed their luggage, everything was done as silently as possible.
However, just as the troops began to quietly gather and prepare to move south, there was a sudden commotion and rebuke outside the camp!
"Who is it? Stop!"
"General Tuoba's orders to inspect the camp defenses! Get out of the way!"
It’s Tuoba Xiong’s supervisory team!
They seemed to have received some kind of instructions and began to try to force their way into the core area of the Cao Liu camp.
"Oh no! Tuoba Xiong might have noticed it!" Cao Jun's face changed drastically.
"We can't wait any longer!"
Liu Pan made a prompt decision. "Order the front troops to break out to the south immediately according to the new plan! The rear troops will form a battle formation to cover the rear! Send someone to notify the messenger and request immediate assistance from Jinyang!"
“Woo-woo-woo—”
A low and rapid horn sounded suddenly in the Cao Liu camp. This was not an attack horn, but a signal for an emergency assembly and breakout.
In an instant, the originally silent camp was like an exploded beehive, and torches were lit one after another.
The soldiers who had been prepared for a long time, led by their officers, rushed towards the south like a flood that broke through the dam!
At the same time, a rearguard force of about 3,000 people quickly formed a circle at the edge of the camp.
Bows and crossbows were strung, and spears were like a forest, aimed at the direction where the pursuers might come.
Chaos, shouting, and flames lit up the night sky of Langyu.
The civil war broke out prematurely in such a fierce way inside the Beidi camp!
Tuoba Xiong had just dressed in his armor and was about to lead his personal guards to set off when he heard the sudden sound of the horn and the deafening shouts of killing.
He was stunned at first, then he became furious:
"How dare you! How dare you take the initiative! Send the order! All forces attack! Kill all these traitors for me! Leave no one alive!"
The Langyu camp was completely engulfed in a sea of fire and blood.
On the top of Jinyang City, Zhao Muyun, who had been closely monitoring the enemy's movements, received the message almost at the same time as the horn sounded.
"here we go!"
Zhao Muyun's eyes flashed, and he turned around suddenly. "Li Mao, gather five thousand soldiers and follow me out of the city to provide support! Target: Luanshijian!"
"Xi Sheng, the troops from Yingzui Cliff advance and feint an attack on Tuoba Xiong's camp to tie down his forces!"
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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