Wannian City, the Grand Commander's Headquarters.
Zhao Muyun was discussing military matters with Tang Yanhai, Liu Yi, Lin Feng, Shi Yong, Xu Yunlong, He Yunsheng, and others.
Two urgent intelligence reports were delivered to Zhao Muyun by the Night Watchman as quickly as possible.
A night watchman, pale-faced and weary from his nightly journey, stood guard.
"General! Commander Fan has sent a secret report from the capital! Li Jingang has ordered General Gao Min of the Left Guard to lead 10,000 elite troops through the Wuguan Pass to reinforce Zhang Tao. They are expected to arrive within five days!"
"At the same time, the forces of Cui Mian and Li Sheng in Youzhou, Li Biao in Xiangzhou, and Li Bao in Weizhou all show signs of moving towards Hedong!"
Zhao Muyun frowned slightly.
Li Jingang's reaction was within his expectations, but the rapid and multi-directional pressure still revealed the other party's impatience and ruthlessness.
The pressure on Hedong will indeed increase suddenly.
Just then, Shen Qian practically rushed into the hall, wounded and breathing heavily.
"General! Urgent report from Xijing! Also... scouts on the northern front have reported unusual activity at Yang Chao's camp!"
"My subordinates personally investigated and found that their elite troops seem to have decreased. On the northern mountain path, a large number of fresh hoofprints and footprints were found, heading... west!"
"Westward?!" Zhao Muyun turned around abruptly, his gaze sharp as lightning. "When exactly? What will the scale be?"
"The footprints are very fresh; it must have been after midnight last night! The scale... at least ten thousand people! There are clear signs of light travel and hasty movement!"
Shen Qian said urgently, "Lord Pei of Xijing has also sent an urgent report that a few suspicious cavalrymen have been spotted in the west of the city recently, and we have increased our vigilance!"
Two pieces of information exploded in Zhao Muyun's mind in an instant, connecting into a clear and chilling clue!
Gao Min's reinforcements are approaching—Li Jingang intensifies pressure on Hedong—Yang Chao's elite troops mysteriously move westward—suspicious cavalry appear in Xijing…
"How could Yang Chao have seen through my disguise? Could it be that Yang Yan didn't return to the capital but instead came to Yang Chao's place?"
Zhao Muyun's voice lowered, carrying a rare hint of solemnity, as he looked at the Night Watchman from the capital, "Does Commander Fan have any other intelligence regarding the capital, especially about Yang Yan?"
“This…” Siwei pondered for a long time, then suddenly slapped his forehead, “That’s it, Yang Yan’s residence has been suddenly sealed off.”
What?
Zhao Muyun looked surprised, then said seriously, "Why wasn't such important information given in advance? What is Fan Bingbing doing?"
"Grand Commander, please calm down..." the Commandant hurriedly apologized.
“Yang Yan was stripped of his military power in Youzhou and returned to the capital. His residence was suddenly seized. He must have had a conflict with Li Jingang,” Tang Yanhai said.
“But he’s Li Jingang’s brother-in-law. Even if he has made great contributions, he shouldn’t be investigated and punished!” Lin Feng shook his head.
“It was Yang Chao!” Liu Yi said. “We mediated and forced Yang Chao to rebel, which led Li Jingang to take action against Yang Yan. In his view, Yang Chao’s rebellion must have been secretly instigated by Yang Yan.”
“That’s right. When Yang Yan and we were fighting the Tartars in Yanyun Road, Yang Chao took it upon himself to launch a surprise attack on Xijing.” Lin Feng clapped his hands. “Li Jingang was naturally unhappy and wanted to completely crush the Yang family.”
"But Yang Chao has already agreed to cooperate with us to defeat Zhang Tao and enter Henan!" Shi Yong said, puzzled.
"The only explanation is that Yang Yan didn't go to Xijing, but secretly came to Yang Chao's side." After carefully analyzing the situation with his subordinates, the truth gradually became clear.
“Yes! Only an old fox like Yang Yan could pull off such a technique!” Tang Yanhai’s face contorted with the scars.
"So, in that case, what they want isn't Henan, but Xijing! Yang Chao's elite troops have gone to attack Xijing!"
All the generals in the hall paled.
"General! The garrison in Xijing is less than 10,000 men, and most of them are new recruits! If Yang Chao's 10,000 elite troops launch a surprise attack, we will be in grave danger!" Lin Feng said urgently.
He was stationed in Xijing and served as the commander of the troops within the pass when Zhao Muyun went on a campaign in Hebei, so he knew the situation better than anyone.
"We must go back and provide support immediately!" Shi Yong shouted.
"No!" Zhao Muyun raised his hand to stop the noise. He forced himself to calm down quickly, his eyes scanning the map back and forth, his brain working at lightning speed.
"Zhang Tao's 20,000 troops are within reach, and Gao Min's 10,000 reinforcements will arrive soon. If our army launches a large-scale attack now, Zhang Tao will surely follow and pursue us, and Yang Yan will take the opportunity to attack the city, putting our army in a desperate situation."
"Furthermore, if Wannian is lost, Xijing will have no support points left, and the situation will be even worse."
"But Xijing..."
"Xijing must be saved!"
Zhao Muyun said decisively, pointing to several key locations on the map, "According to the plan, Wu Shangzhi's main force should have already boarded ships on the Fen River and moved down the Yellow River to the Wei River. At this moment... they should be almost at the Wei River ferry!"
He calculated the time and the distance by water, a sharp glint rekindling in his eyes: "Pass on the order!"
"First, send a message to Han Zhong via carrier pigeon: the counterattack in Hedong has been launched ahead of schedule! At all costs, launch a fierce attack on Niu Desheng's troops. Make sure to show your strength, intimidate Cui Mian and Li Sheng's troops, relieve the pressure on Hedong, and also tell Li Jingang that our main force in Hedong has not moved!"
"Second, order the Wannian garrison to immediately cease all activity during the day and increase the number of lights at night, creating the impression of insufficient troops and outward strength but inward weakness, thus arousing Zhang Tao's suspicion and delaying his judgment."
"Third, Tang Yanhai!"
"Your subordinate is here!"
"You lead the scout battalion, in groups of five, and immediately disperse westward to track Yang Chaojun's exact movements and route. Report back every two hours! I need to know when they will reach Xijing!"
"Fourth," Zhao Muyun said solemnly as he looked at the generals, "I will personally lead the Shenji Battalion and the Longyou Army cavalry, a total of three thousand men, to depart immediately. We will not take the main road, but instead take the small path along the southern foothills of the northern mountains, and rush to the aid of Xijing under the cover of night!"
"Lin Feng, you lead the remaining troops to guard Wannian with Shi Yong. Follow the plan and make sure to hold off Zhang Tao for at least three days!"
“Great Commander, three thousand cavalry is too few! And the journey is treacherous…” a general worried.
"It is precisely because they are few that they can move quickly and remain hidden! With Yang Yan leaving a large army here, there must be loopholes in the defense of the North Mountain trail!"
Zhao Muyun had already made up his mind: "Xijing has Wu Shangzhi's reinforcements and city walls to defend. As long as we can arrive in time and attack from both inside and outside, Yang Chao's isolated army will be trapped like turtles in a jar!"
Without another word, he grabbed his sword and strode outside: "Gather the troops immediately, and depart in half an incense stick's time!"
A tense and resolute atmosphere permeated Wannian City.
Zhao Muyun knew he was taking a risk, but the situation had suddenly changed, leaving him no room for complacency.
He had to take a gamble: he had to bet that Xijing could be defended, that Wu Shangzhi could arrive in time, that he could outrun Yang Chao, and that Zhang Tao would be misled by the feint and dare not make any rash moves.
Yang Yan, we fought in Yanyun Road, and I never expected that we would fight again in Xijing.
Your sneak attack on Xijing and your luring of Li Jingang into launching a major offensive against me have indeed increased the pressure on me.
However, you seem to have forgotten that I also have heavy cavalry and the Mo Dao battalion!
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