But in a mountain valley five miles outside the city, there are five thousand pairs of sharp eyes.
Xiao Cheyun lay prone in the withered grass, his body covered in snow.
He had a dry blade of grass clenched in his mouth, his eyes fixed on the official road to the south.
Xiao Dayong, standing beside him, impatiently rubbed the blades of the double axes, making a soft rustling sound.
"General Xiao, do you really think that scoundrel Li Hu will make it to Wancheng?" Xiao Dayong asked in a low voice.
“The General’s plans are flawless. If he says he will, he will.” Xiao Cheyun spat out some dry grass. “The shortest route from Longmen Pass to Dengzhou is through Wancheng. Li Hu is in a hurry to encircle and annihilate us, so he will definitely choose this route.”
Xiao Dayong grinned: "That's perfect, let's give him a big gift."
He glanced back at the valley behind him.
There were a thousand thunderbolts and five hundred cans of fire oil piled up there, as well as hundreds of carts loaded with firewood, sulfur, and saltpeter.
These are the firearms supplies that Yinji sent Zhong Meng from Xijing.
"The General is truly generous," Xiao Dayong exclaimed. "These treasures are enough to level Wancheng three times over."
"Therefore, only success is allowed, failure is not an option," Xiao Cheyun said in a deep voice. "Pass down the order to have the brothers check the fuses and torches again. Li Hu's vanguard will arrive no later than tomorrow morning. We only have one chance."
The order was passed on silently.
In the valley, the five thousand soldiers were divided into three teams: one team was responsible for throwing thunderbolts, the second team was responsible for splashing flaming oil, and the third team was a crossbowman team that specialized in shooting fire arrows.
Each team rehearsed the procedures repeatedly to ensure everything went perfectly.
Xiao Cheyun looked up at the sky.
The clouds hung low, and the stars and moon were obscured; it was perfect weather for a night raid.
"What a pity for Wancheng," he murmured.
This ancient city has a history of over a thousand years, with sturdy city walls and continuous rows of residences.
However, in order to annihilate Li Hu's vanguard army, Zhao Muyun ordered all the people in the city to be evacuated, turning Wancheng into a huge trap.
"You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub." Xiao Dayong was quite philosophical about it. "Once we take the capital, we'll build a new city for the people of Wancheng!"
Xiao Cheyun shook his head with a wry smile.
Although this rough man speaks crudely, his reasoning is sound.
Just after midnight, the scouts arrived quietly.
"General, Li Hu's vanguard of 10,000 troops has reached a distance of 20 li, and the follow-up 30,000 troops are 50 li away."
"They're here." A cold glint flashed in Xiao Cheyun's eyes. "Proceed according to plan. Remember, let the vanguard go, and wait for the central army to enter the city before making your move."
"yes!"
Five thousand soldiers held their breath, waiting for their prey to arrive.
......
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