After leaving Jiuhuai Mountain, it was time for Chen Yu to make a decision. Tonight, they were setting up camp at the pass of Jiuhuai Mountain.

Chen Yu invited Yan Sikong and Shen Hexuan to discuss the matter.

The three of them gathered around the map, analyzing where to ambush Yuan Nanyu's reinforcements.

Chen Yu pointed to a point on the map and said, "Scouts have discovered that sixty miles from the main camp, there is a shallow ditch between two mountains, called Dazi Slope. It is the closest road to Fengxiang. It is already frozen over, with high and undulating slopes and a narrow field of vision. It is a good place to set up an ambush."

Shen Hexuan pondered and said, "Your Highness wants to go to Fengxiang?"

"That's what I mean." Chen Yu glanced at Yan Sikong.

Yan Sikong looked at the map calmly for a while, then said, "Alright, although Fengxiang is a little farther than Pingliang, the terrain is easier to set up an ambush. If we rush through Dazipo tomorrow and leave 10,000 elite soldiers there to ambush, Quewang will get the news and will definitely take a shortcut in order to come to our aid as soon as possible, which will fall into our trap."

"Sir, do you think so too?" Chen Yu said with a smile, "I have been thinking about it over and over again these days. Pingliang is easy to get. If I go to Pingliang, I am afraid it will be exactly what they want."

Shen Hexuan narrowed his eyes: "Your Highness, have you really thought it through?"

Chen Yu nodded: "Mr. Shen thinks it's inappropriate."

"There is nothing wrong with that." Shen Hexuan said, "If Your Highness decides to take Fengxiang, you should send a troop to pacify Liang Xuhuang's army, and the main army should rush to Fengxiang, not giving them a chance to breathe."

Yan Sikong hesitated and said, "I'm afraid the soldiers will find it hard to bear such a long journey. Feng Xiang will be at ease when they are tired, which will be disadvantageous to our army."

"Yes, the soldiers are exhausted these days. I think it would be better to rest here for a day and recuperate before going on the expedition."

The three of them discussed for a long time before dispersing. After Shen Hexuan left, Chen Yi kept Yan Sikong.

"Sir, do you think our plan is sound?"

"There is no such thing as a truly safe and secure plan in this world, especially when marching and fighting. With so many people risking their lives, anything could happen." Yan Sikong glanced at Chen Yu and smiled, "Your Highness, are you afraid?"

Chen Yu was startled, his brows slightly wrinkled, and he was obviously a little unhappy: "Sir, do you think I'm afraid of Feng Ye?"

"Your Highness, don't worry. Feng Ye is the descendant of a famous general. He also became famous at a young age. Under his leadership, the Feng family army conquered cities and strongholds and was invincible. They were rarely defeated. Looking at the world, it can be said that no one can match him. Being afraid of the enemy is also a warning to yourself."

The anger in Chen Yu's eyes flashed, but Yan Sikong still caught it. He pursed his lips and said, "Mr. Shen is right. Feng Ye is indeed good at leading troops to fight, but there has never been a man who is undefeated. I don't believe that no one can match him. He was defeated by Mr. Shen before."

"Yes, but Taiyuan eventually fell into his hands."

"That's because he has the master, and now the master is by my side." Chen Yu snorted, "The master thinks too highly of Feng Ye."

Yan Sikong sneered: "Yes, he is jealous of me, so he wants to exchange Pingliang for me." He suddenly clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, "If I fall into his hands, he might... really kill me."

"Don't be afraid, sir." Chen Yu's eyes were cold. "Don't ever think of touching a hair of yours again in your life. Not to mention Ping Liang, I wouldn't trade him even if he was sent to the capital."

Yan Sikong looked at Chen Yu with gratitude: "Your Highness, you know, when I escaped from Taiyuan, I felt that the world was so big that there was no place for me to stay, so I was disheartened and wanted to hide from the world. However, Your Highness was not afraid of what others said and treated me with such courtesy. In fact, I..."

Chen Yi grabbed Yan Sikong's hand and said affectionately: "I don't care how the world judges and slanders me. In my heart, you are always the one who saved me from trouble and helped me out of poverty. I will not let anyone, especially Feng Ye, hurt you again."

Yan Sikong forced a smile and said, "Thank you, Your Highness."

——

After returning to his tent, Yan Sikong sharpened his brush and wrote a few words on the paper: If you want to capture Pingliang, set up an ambush at Dazipo.

He believed that Chen Yu did intend to take down Feng Xiang first, but this man was a scheming man and would never reveal military secrets before setting off. It was true that he had set up an ambush at Dazipo, but it was not necessarily true about Feng Xiang. In fact, Chen Yu did not really trust anyone, neither him nor Shen Hexuan.

Just now he deliberately praised Feng Ye to anger Chen Yi. Chen Yi used to be controlled by Feng Ye, but now he is in power and wants to save face in front of him. With his deliberate and repeated reminders, Pingliang has become a hidden disease of Chen Yi. He is sure that Chen Yi will still go to Pingliang.

However, Chen Yi would definitely find ways to spread the news, making Yuan Nanyu think that his target is Feng Xiang, and lead Yuan Nanyu into the ambush at Dazipo, while he himself would lead a large army to attack Pingliang, thus killing two birds with one stone.

Yan Sikong rolled up the note, then carefully wrapped it in several layers of oil paper, threw it into the toilet, and asked his personal bodyguard to take it out.

Whenever a camp is set up, a pit toilet must be dug inside the camp. Even if it is just a campsite during a march, it cannot be careless. The waste generated by 100,000 troops in a day cannot be underestimated. If not handled properly, it will pollute the water source and attract flies and mosquitoes, which will not only harm military discipline but may also breed epidemics.

Of course, that is for ordinary soldiers. They just need to solve the problem in the tent and there will be people to serve them.

But all these leaks will eventually be sent to Tumen for processing. Tumen is the place farthest from the camp and the place no one wants to go to. It stinks and the lowest-ranking soldiers do the lowest-ranking jobs there.

When Yan Sikong was in Huai'an, he had secretly contacted the generals planted by Yuan Nanyu in Chen Yi's army. The two of them came up with this plan: among the soldiers of Tumen, there was a messenger who would deliver Yan Sikong's intelligence to Yuan Nanyu when transporting the leaked materials out.

Unbeknownst to anyone, the note had already rushed to Qingyang.

——

After a day of rest, 10,000 elite soldiers went to Dazipo to ambush first, and Chen Yi ordered the main army to set off. In front of all the soldiers, he announced that they would rush to Pingliang.

After hearing this, Yan Sikong and Shen Hexuan were both shocked, but Yan Sikong's shock was fake, while Shen Hexuan's was real. Shen Hexuan didn't understand Chen Yi as well as Yan Sikong did, and it was even harder for him to understand the competition between Chen Yi and Feng Ye for one man. People's hearts are unpredictable, and a single expression can lead to a huge difference in understanding. Shen Hexuan could never compare to Yan Sikong in understanding people.

Chen Yu looked at the two people's surprise and confusion, and couldn't help feeling a little complacent: "After thinking it over, I decided to take Pingliang. I have ordered people to spread false information to mislead Quewang, and also sent people to set up an ambush on the road from Fengxiang to Pingliang. When we capture Pingliang, Quewang will fall into the trap!"

"All war is won, Your Highness is wise." Yan Sikong bowed.

Shen Hexuan frowned and said, "Since Your Highness has made up his mind, then go to Pingliang quickly. In fact, it doesn't matter which city we attack, but don't expect Que Wang to fall into our ambush. If he didn't have some skills, he wouldn't be valued by Fengye."

Of course, Chen Yu didn't like what he heard. He said nonchalantly, "Even if he didn't fall into the ambush, he can't save Pingliang. This city..." He narrowed his eyes and gritted his teeth, "I must take it."

Yan Sikong looked at Chen Yi deeply. Pingliang might be hard to save. A small town with only 10,000 soldiers could hardly resist Chen Yi's 100,000-man army, but he would never let Yuan Nanyu get into trouble. If Yuan Nanyu was smart enough, he should abandon Pingliang and concentrate his forces to save Qingyang. Chen Yi would not dare to advance into the Central Plains.

However, Yuan Nanyu must believe him...

——

Chen Yi's army reached Pingliang within two days at a speed of seventy miles a day.

Pingliang was naturally prepared, but facing a siege of 100,000 troops, the most adequate preparation should be for the aftermath. They both knew that if Pingliang could stop Chen Yi's first siege, then the crisis might be resolved when reinforcements arrived. If not, it would be best to surrender as soon as possible.

Yan Sikong was in the central army, watching Chen Yi's army defeat Pingliang with overwhelming force and he estimated that it would not take long for them to surrender.

At this time, a messenger suddenly came on a fast horse, passing through the heavy military formation and rushing to Chen Yu impatiently. Because he was too excited, his face flushed, and he almost fell to the ground when he got off his horse: "Your Highness, the military situation in Dazipo has been reported--"

"Hurry up and tell me!"

Yan Sikong's heart skipped a beat. Looking at the messenger's expression, it looked like - good news?

The messenger shouted, "The rebel general Yuan Shaoxu led his troops through Dazi Slope and fell into our ambush!"

Yan Sikong's figure shook and his expression suddenly turned ugly.

There are two possibilities for Yuan Shaoxu being ambushed by Dazipo. First, Yuan Nanyu did not believe his information. Second, Yuan Shaoxu disobeyed military orders and acted on his own. Either way, it was very disadvantageous to Yuan Nanyu.

Not to mention the loss of soldiers and generals, if Yuan Nanyu took into account the brotherhood and came to rescue Yuan Shaoxu...

Chen Yu was overjoyed: "Good! Good!" He shouted, "Where is Xu Chuan!"

"I am here."

"Xu Chuan, divide 10,000 troops and go to Dazi Slope to join the ambush troops. If reinforcements come to rescue, kill them all. Yuan Shaoxu, leave them alive."

"I have received your order!"

"Wait!" Yan Sikong shouted.

Chen Yu turned around and asked: "What's wrong? Sir, your face looks so pale."

"Your Highness, Pingliang has not been conquered yet, how can we divide our forces now?"

"Pingliang is already at the end of its strength, while our army is at its peak. The city wall will be breached soon. It won't hurt to divide our forces by 10,000."

"Your Highness, do not underestimate the enemy. This is a critical moment. We must attack Pingliang in one fell swoop and then divide our forces."

"They won't be able to hold on for much longer. This Pingliang is worse than I thought." Shen Hexuan said, "Your Highness, it doesn't matter if we separate."

"Yes, sir. The situation is set. Pingliang can't turn the tide. The military situation in Dazipo is more important now." Chen Yu's eyes sparkled. "Sir, don't you want to kill Yuan Shaoxu? I mean what I say. I will capture him and let you deal with him." He threw the military token to Xu Chuan in the air, "Hurry!"

"yes!"

Yan Sikong's heart sank as he watched a group of soldiers heading southwest.

He now only hoped that Yuan Shaoxu would die in the ambush and would not involve Yuan Nanyu in rescuing him. Moreover, if Yuan Shaoxu was really caught in front of him, who knows what selfish actions he would take in order to survive.