"Shen Qian, what is the troop deployment on Arahan's side?" Zhao Muyun asked.
Shen Qian immediately replied: "Grand Commander, Arahan's main cavalry force numbers about 10,000. Together with the reinforcements arriving from various tribes in Yanshan, their total strength is close to 30,000. They are gathering in the Motianling area, 30 miles south of Tanzhou, and are poised to block our army from advancing south or returning west."
"In addition, Li Jin's Fengtian cavalry is still patrolling fifty miles behind us, acting suspiciously."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately understood that under the current circumstances, Li Jin's cavalry would most likely obey Yang Yan's orders and launch a surprise attack on Zhao Muyun!
"Grand Commander, we are surrounded by wolves in front and tigers behind!"
"Yes, those Fengtian cavalry might suddenly attack us."
"Strike first, or suffer the consequences! If it weren't for the timely news from Xijing, we might still be foolish enough to think that Yang Yan wouldn't make a move!"
"......"
The generals discussed the matter animatedly, all filled with righteous indignation.
Zhao Muyun listened to everyone's discussion but remained noncommittal.
The anxiety in his eyes had been replaced by an extreme calmness, like the calm before a blizzard.
"Quiet down, everyone!" he said slowly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable force. "Yang Yan wants to use someone else to do his dirty work, and Wuzhu wants to take the opportunity to get revenge. If we retreat, we will be selling our backs to two vicious wolves."
He walked to the map and pointed heavily at the location of Motianling:
"But have you ever wondered why Arahan gathered at Motianling?"
"The terrain there is relatively open, and although there are some hills, it is not an ideal ambush position. He could easily use the strategic passes further south to block us."
The generals were taken aback and looked carefully at the map.
Zhao Muyun's finger slid westward along Motianling, landing on a winding path:
"Look here, on the west side of Motianling, there is an abandoned ancient trade route. Although it is difficult to travel, it can bypass the main position of Motianling and go straight to the flank and rear of Arahan."
“Arahan’s decision to put his main force in the open is more like…attracting our attention and forcing us to fight him head-on, or…forcing us to take this ancient trade route that seems to be the way out.”
Murong Chunhua's eyes narrowed: "Does the Grand Commander mean... there's something fishy about the ancient trade route?"
"There's no trickery involved in the ancient trade route!"
Zhao Muyun sneered, "It's Arahan, or rather, Wuzhu and Yang Yan behind him, who hope we see the ancient trade route as a way out!"
"They calculated that once we learned that Xijing was besieged, we would be extremely anxious and would not dare to engage their main force, so we would choose to take a risky shortcut."
"And along this shortcut, a real trap has probably already been laid!"
He paused, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes: "Didn't Yang Yan want to join forces with Wuzhu to get rid of me? Fine! I'll give them that chance!"
"Grand Commander, what do you mean?" Zhong Meng seemed to have grasped something.
"Let's play along!" Zhao Muyun declared decisively. "They're trying to lure us into a trap, so we'll pretend to fall for it! Murong Chunhua!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"You lead all the light cavalry, with plenty of flags, and make a great show of it, creating the illusion that you are reconnoitering the ancient trade route and preparing for the main force to break out from there! The bigger the commotion, the better, so that Arahan's scouts can see it clearly!"
"Liu Yi, Guo Luo!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"You two will lead the Divine Machine Battalion, the Heavy Cavalry Battalion, and all the main infantry forces, carrying all the Thunderclap Bombs and Flame Oil, and follow me in a secret movement to this dense forest to lie in ambush! Remember, men must be gagged and horses' hooves wrapped, and you must not reveal your whereabouts!"
"Zhong Meng!"
"Your subordinate is here!" Zhong Meng's spirits lifted.
"Old Tang, you will lead the scout battalion, carrying tinder and flammable oil, and sneak into the valley on the north side of Motianling at midnight tomorrow."
"Upon seeing the fire on the ridge, they set fires everywhere and made loud noises, creating the illusion that our main force was engaged in battle with the enemy north of the ridge!"
Upon hearing this, the generals were initially puzzled, but gradually understood and their faces lit up with excitement.
This is a feint, a covert operation to launch a surprise attack on Arahan's main camp north of Motianling!
"The Grand Commander's strategy is brilliant!" Guo Luo praised. "If Arahan believes that our main force has already taken the ancient trade route, his camp will surely be lax. If our army launches a sudden attack, we will surely achieve complete success!"
“But… the ambush on the ancient trade route…” Zhong Meng was still a little worried.
Zhao Muyun smiled coldly: "Murong Chunhua's light cavalry is just bait. They are highly mobile and will flee as soon as they discover the ambush. Arahan cannot stop them."
"Our target is Arahan's main force! Taking him out will not only relieve our current predicament, but also shake Youzhou and thwart Yang Yan's plans!"
"At that time, whether we return to reinforce Xijing or continue to wreak havoc behind enemy lines, the initiative will be in our hands!"
"Understood!" the generals roared in response, each taking their orders and departing.
...
Immediately afterwards, Murong Chunhua led several thousand light cavalry, deliberately taking a detour, and headed in a grand procession towards the ancient trade route.
They also abandoned some damaged supplies along the way, creating the impression that they were frantically searching for their way.
Zhao Muyun personally led the main force, taking advantage of the cover of night and the complex terrain, and like ghosts, silently sneaked into the dense forest on the east side of Motianling.
Meanwhile, at the Di camp north of Motianling.
Arahan received a definitive report from his scouts: "General, the Southern Army's cavalry has turned west towards the ancient trade route, and its main force seems to be following suit. Small groups of Southern Army soldiers have been spotted operating north of the ridge!"
Arakhan was a burly man with a full beard, and upon hearing this, he burst into laughter:
"May the Eternal Heaven protect us, our chance for revenge has arrived!"
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
