Fourth Master pondered, his eyes scanning the map repeatedly: "Hmm... Time is of the essence. If we can't surround them, some will surely escape..."
Just as the two were racking their brains, Li Wei exclaimed in surprise, "Your Majesty, I have an idea! Isn't there still an army in Changping, Beijing, prepared to defend against any unexpected events in the capital? We can mobilize that army to support the Thirteenth Prince..."
Fourth Master nodded: "Yes, and the Changping army too!" After saying that, he analyzed and gestured to the map route one by one: "Immediately and secretly dispatch the Changping army to set off from the north, bypassing Thirteen's army and detouring behind them."
Thirteen, beaming with delight, pointed to the map and said, "In this way, we can create a pincer movement, putting Fourteen's men in a dilemma. It's like catching a turtle in a jar..."
Thirteen got more and more excited as he spoke, so much so that he couldn't wait to set off immediately.
Fourth Prince was still worried. After thinking for a while, he instructed Li Wei: "Alright, let Ortai lead another army to assist Thirteenth Prince. Make sure to protect Thirteenth Prince's safety..."
Thirteenth Prince wanted to speak up to stop him, but Fourth Prince glared at him and he had no choice but to shut his mouth.
While Fourteenth was still hesitating, Thirteenth and Ortai each led an army of ten thousand men and secretly set off overnight, arriving near Fourteenth's garrison in less than two days.
Thirteen ordered Ortai to stay put and wait, while he himself set off from the side path, circled around to the rear of Fourteen, intercepted Fourteen's retreat, and set a trap.
Once everything was ready, Ortai launched the first attack, catching the Fourteenth Prince off guard.
The 14th Army, which had been in a state of rest and reorganization, was thrown into disarray by the enemy's sudden attack and lost a thousand men in less than a round.
Fourteenth Prince never expected that heavenly soldiers would descend from the sky, or perhaps he never expected that Fourth Prince's troops would arrive so quickly.
Fourteen was so anxious that he kept stamping his feet in his tent. News kept coming from the front lines of the battle between the two armies, and it was all bad news for Fourteen!
Wanyan was so frightened that she hid in the fourteenth prince's tent, where she heard people constantly coming to report on the battle at the front.
"Report! The enemy has launched a surprise attack and burned our supplies. Our army has already lost a thousand men..." The guard, his face covered in blood, knelt on the ground and reported loudly.
Fourteen's eyes burned with rage, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword trembled uncontrollably, and he roared, "Damn it!" He then turned to the kneeling guard and asked, "How many men do we have left? Can we still resist?"
The guard looked at the Fourteenth Prince with a troubled expression and said, "General, our army still has eight thousand men, but our grain supplies have been burned. Even if we can resist the enemy, we will not be able to withstand hunger."
Fourth Master gritted his teeth, struggling internally with the decision of whether or not to retreat.
One of his men stepped forward and urgently advised, "General, it seems we have had a bad start. The enemy is planning a sneak attack and seems to have designs on killing you. Why don't we retreat first and then reconsider our strategy?"
Wanyan, who had been behind the barrier, heard someone urging the Fourteenth Prince to retreat. She rushed out like a madwoman, roaring, "You bastard! At a time like this, you dare to be so cowardly as to advise the Prince to retreat!" She then threw herself at the Fourteenth Prince, grabbing his sleeve, her eyes bloodshot, and said, "Your Highness, please don't listen to them! Since the war has already begun, we might as well fight to the death. Maybe we can still win! Let's escape back to Duolunku first, and then we'll figure things out! Surrendering like this will only lead to eternal imprisonment!"
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