Seeing that Sun Jian had agreed, Xi Zhicai smiled and then turned to look at Cao Cao.
"Mengde, how about you take charge of harassing Tanshihuai's rear?"
"That suits me perfectly!" Cao Cao smiled and readily agreed to Xi Zhicai's suggestion, then asked, "Brother Zhicai, which team do you plan to send?"
Xi Zhicai thought for a moment, then said, "I'll send five thousand Wuhuan cavalrymen to accompany you!"
"Wuhuan cavalry?"
Cao Cao paused slightly, somewhat puzzled, and said, "Although the Wuhuan cavalry are quite capable in combat, their discipline is far inferior. I think it would be more suitable to lead the Red Ribbon Army!"
"This raid is intended to force the soldiers under Tan Shihuai's command to submit, so some cruel methods are necessary."
The Red Ribbon Army was established to rescue the Xianbei herdsmen. Taking them to harass them will certainly not achieve the effect we want, so…”
In the end, Xi Zhicai stopped talking, knowing that Cao Cao should understand what he meant.
Cao Cao nodded and said, "Brother Zhicai is right. Let's do it your way!"
"good!"
Xi Zhicai smiled, then took a map and spread it on the table.
This is a topographical map of a region 500 li in circumference centered on the Yuwen tribe, with the surrounding mountains, rivers, plains, and hills clearly marked on it.
In the center of the map is a red dot, which is their location.
Xi Zhicai stretched out his finger and pressed it on the red dot, then slowly moved it westward until it stopped in a flat area, where everyone's eyes also stopped.
Xi Zhicai said in a deep voice, “Gentlemen, this place is more than 400 li away from us and more than 1,000 li away from Tan Shihuai’s army. At their speed, they will arrive here in six days, while the Yuwen tribe’s cavalry can reach there in just three days.”
Therefore, we have three days to prepare.
Sun Jian asked, "Brother Zhicai, are you planning to have the Yuwen tribe and the Tanshihuai tribe fight here?"
“Indeed, the terrain here is open, which is most suitable for cavalry battles, and it will be easier for the Yuwen tribe to escape after their defeat.”
Xi Zhicai smiled and continued, "After the Yuwen tribe is defeated, it can be divided into three groups. Tan Shihuai can send troops to pursue them, while the Hongtao Army and the remaining Wuhuan soldiers can ambush them at the three designated locations."
Everyone nodded solemnly, their gazes turning to the three markers behind the plain.
Xi Zhicai first looked at Liu Bei, then pointed to a marker in the southeast of the map, where a river flowed from west to east.
"Xuande, this place is more than 260 li away from that plain. You can lead 10,000 Red Ribbon Army soldiers to ambush behind the hill to the east. When Tan Shihuai's army chases them here, they will be exhausted. When they dismount to drink water, you can lead your army to attack!"
"Alright!!" Liu Bei nodded.
Then Xi Zhicai looked at Liu Qian and pointed to a marker in the northeast of the map.
"This place is a depression, 280 li away from the plain. You can lead 15,000 Wuhuan cavalry to the top of the depression and wait for them to attack!"
"No problem!!" Liu Qian nodded emphatically.
Finally, Xi Zhicai pointed to the marked point in the middle and said in a deep voice:
"Two hundred li to the east of this plain lies a crown-shaped valley with steep cliffs and narrow passages. I will personally arrange the fire attack on the enemy!"
As he spoke, Xi Zhicai looked up at Sun Jian and said with a solemn expression, "Wentai, after the army enters the valley, you must break away from the group as soon as possible, get through the exit first, and leave that valley..."
When Xi Zhicai said this, everyone was stunned for a moment. Cao Cao and Liu Bei seemed to understand something, and their expressions changed, but they quickly returned to normal.
Sun Jian didn't think too much about it and simply nodded in agreement.
Xi Zhicai let out a soft breath: "Alright, time is of the essence, everyone should go and start preparing immediately. I still need to pay a visit to Chief Yuwen!"
"Brother Zhicai, I'll go with you!"
Liu Qian, who was standing nearby, also quickly stood up and looked at Xi Zhicai.
"Alright!"
Xi Zhicai smiled and nodded, then turned and walked out of the tent.
After Xi Zhicai and Liu Qian left, Cao Cao glanced at Liu Bei and said in a deep voice, "I never imagined that this Xi Zhicai, who looks so gentle and refined, with the appearance of a true gentleman, would have such thoughts!"
"Yeah, I thought the person sitting in front of us wasn't Xi Zhicai, but that guy Cheng Yu!"
Liu Bei nodded, and couldn't help but sigh.
What are you talking about?
Sun Jian, standing to the side, looked at Cao Cao and Liu Bei with a blank expression.
Cao Cao smiled and waved his hand: "It's nothing. Wentai just needs to do as Brother Zhicai says. He might even be able to make a great contribution!"
"Alright, let's hurry up and get ready!"
Liu Bei said something, then got up and walked out of the tent, with Cao Cao following closely behind.
Sun Jian remained sitting there, stunned, recalling the previous conversation and Cao Cao's mention of the first merit.
Sun Jian was not the kind of reckless man who only knew how to charge into battle. The reason he didn't like to use his brain was simply because he had Cao Cao and Liu Bei around, so he was too lazy to think.
Now that he thought about it, he quickly connected Cao Cao and Liu Bei's previous conversation with Xi Zhicai's instructions.
"Could it be that Xi Zhicai is planning to take Tan Shihuai and the Yuwen army together..."
Upon thinking of this, Sun Jian's expression changed, and his Adam's apple bobbed.
"Phew, these guys are all tough as nails!"
Sun Jian let out a soft breath, shook his head, and then stood up and walked outside.
Yuwen Department, Central Military Tent.
Yuwen Mohuai, the chief of the Yuwen tribe, sat in the main seat with a somewhat unpleasant expression. The noble leaders of the Yuwen tribe were also lined up on both sides, remaining silent.
News of Tan Shihuai's arrival with a large army had reached this place. Faced with the attack of 70,000 troops, everyone present felt a little breathless.
Although the Han Dynasty sent 20,000 Wuhuan cavalry and 20,000 Hongtao soldiers to help, these two cavalry units did not have the same sophisticated equipment as the Han army.
In particular, the Red Ribbon Army, composed of a group of herdsmen, was observed to be disciplined, but its combat effectiveness was inferior to that of the Yuwen tribe's cavalry.
Moreover, ever since the Red Ribbon Army arrived in Yuwen's territory, they have been busy helping the herders cut grass, graze livestock, and build houses, and have never conducted any training.
The Wuhuan cavalry were the same; they spent their days either drinking and eating meat or seducing the single women of the Yuwen tribe.
In particular, Cao Cao, who was leading the troops, had already taken five young women as concubines during the time he was stationed in Yuwen's territory.
Therefore, in their view, expecting such officers and soldiers to help them defeat Tan Shihuai was simply a joke.
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