Chapter 13 Raid
In front of Shen Zhao, Shen Yu had no need to hide anything, as he was one of the people she trusted most in the world.
"It was only after I arrived at the military camp that I learned about the problem with the baggage. I had to find another way. I remember telling you before that I had a dream."
Shen Zhao nodded.
Chen Yu continued: "Whether you believe it or not, I will take it as a warning."
"What did you dream about?" Shen Zhao asked.
Chen Yu said: "You led 10,000 light cavalry to raid the southern camp of Xijue and were trapped. Your father led an army to rescue you but failed. The Great Zhou was defeated in the battle of Yanliang Pass, and the people of Ganzhou were massacred after the city was captured."
Shen Zhao took a deep breath, because he had indeed ordered 10,000 light cavalry today and was waiting to set off at night. If he said it was nonsense, it would be too much of a coincidence.
The kettle on the stove boiled in a moment, and the gurgling sound continued.
Shen Zhao took a breath, still a little bit unbelievable.
"In your dream, Dad and I..."
"Fight until the last moment." Shen Yu said with difficulty, a little choked in her throat.
Shen Zhao said nothing, staring at the noisy kettle in thought, and then heard Shen Yu say, "It's going to snow soon."
Only then did Shen Zhao pick up the kettle, turn over the cup that was upside down on the table, pour a cup of hot water and hand it to Shen Yu.
"The climate is even colder west of Yanliang Pass. In previous years, the Western Jue people would not invade in winter. They would retreat before the snow falls. If we hold out for a few more days, it should be over soon."
Shen Yu shook her head, "They won't retreat."
"Why do you say that?" Shen Zhao asked doubtfully.
Chen Yu held the water and felt her hands getting warmer. She said, "Because of the drought in Xijue this year, they are hoping to enter the interior of the country to snatch food for the winter. Otherwise, they will have to slaughter cattle, sheep and war horses to survive this winter, which is too damaging to their foundation."
Chen Zhao smiled bitterly, "How could they know that even the front lines are running out of food, so where would there be any food for them to grab?"
"But..." Chen Zhao changed the subject, "We discovered a group of Western Jue soldiers retreating the day before yesterday. There were about 20,000 to 30,000 of them, led by Boda."
Chen Yu searched her mind for the only memory she had about that battle.
Boda did not retreat at all, because according to records, he was still there when the city was massacred, so he must have been hiding somewhere and waiting for his chance.
"Where is the map?" she asked suddenly.
Shen Zhao put down the cup and took out a
He spread out the picture and pointed, saying, "The Western Jue camp is here now, and the Boda are retreating from here."
Chen Yu tapped the map with her fingers, "I'm afraid Boda didn't leave at all."
The first round of evening drums sounded in the camp. Shen Zhao listened attentively and suddenly said, "We were originally scheduled to set off at 11 pm."
Chen Yu said: "I have a plan, but it is a risky move and I am not completely sure of it."
Chen Zhao: "You say."
When the second round of evening drums sounded, Chen Zhao emerged from the main tent and set off under the cover of darkness with 10,000 light cavalry.
Instead of going to the Xijue Nanying as originally planned, they went straight north, bypassing the Shima River, which cuts through the Heique Mountain.
“They really have set up camp here,” Shen Zhao said with a sullen face.
The Western Jue people stretched out their battle line very long. By bypassing the Black Sparrow Mountain here, they could reach the north of Yanliang Pass directly. It seemed that Boda wanted to take 20,000 soldiers to raid the flank of Yanliang Pass.
It seems that they are preparing to attack from both sides, so as to launch a surprise attack on the rear while the battle is fierce at the front.
It was still dark, the time when the soldiers were most sleepy, and the camp was very quiet.
The sentry, wrapped in a cotton coat, dozed off on the watchtower. He occasionally opened his eyes and looked around, then closed them again when he saw nothing.
The night wind howled like a wolf, drowning out all the noise of friction on the dry grass.
Chen Yu was lying on the ground, her whole body close to the ground, and Kong Qing was lying next to her, also blending into the night.
Kong Qing was Shen Zhao's deputy general. Before entering the camp, Shen Zhao repeatedly told him that he could live as long as Shen Yu was alive.
Chen Zhao's army of 10,000 stopped five miles away. He was in the rear to hold the line. Chen Yu sneaked into the camp of 10,000 people with only 200 elite soldiers. Even if she could defeat a hundred with one, once she was discovered, there would be no return. But Chen Zhao couldn't stop her, so she followed him all the way here like a dog-skin plaster.
The two looked at each other, and Kong Qing gestured behind him.
The soldier on night patrol was hiding from the wind in the leeward side of the tent. He didn't notice anything when someone covered his mouth and slashed his neck with a knife. He didn't even feel the pain. He just felt a chill on his neck and then he was dead.
The same thing happened everywhere, and the soldiers who were peeing fell into their own urine without even pulling up their pants.
Chen Yu exhaled white air, her hands were stained red with blood, she wiped them on her trouser legs and asked in a low voice: "Which direction is the food and grass?"
Kong Qing gestured and pointed the way. "Wait for me outside the camp in half an hour. Once the signal comes,
Liang, just wait for the general's men to arrive."
Chen Yu didn't respond and quickly moved towards the grain warehouse. Kong Qing was helpless. Since Chen Zhao couldn't control her, he was even less able to do so. He could only bite the bullet and follow her.
After touching a place, Chen Yu raised her hand to signal to stop, then twisted her body and hid behind the tent.
Kong Qing didn't understand what was going on, so he just lay there waiting for her.
Shen Yu listened carefully for a while, and suddenly whispered: "Something is wrong here, it's too quiet."
After she reminded him, Kong Qing also realized that there should have been snoring in the tent, but now there was only the sound of the wind.
The Xijuebei camp is empty!
Where did the 20,000 soldiers go?
Shen Yu quickly analyzed the situation and found that Boda's 20,000 soldiers had only two options.
First, take advantage of the night to raid the north gate of Yanliang Pass.
Second, return to defend the Xijue South Camp and concentrate troops to attack the main gate.
The more Chen Yu thought about it, the more frightened she became, because no matter which of the two possibilities was true, there was a prerequisite, that is, the Western Jue people knew about tonight's raid.
If Chen Zhao led his troops to raid the South Camp, they would surely fall into a trap from which there would be no return. Moreover, the Western Jue people could also take the opportunity to raid the north gate of Yanliang Pass, attacking from both sides.
It depends on whether Shen Zhongan chooses to save his son or return to defend Yanliang Pass. No matter what choice he makes, he will be very passive and will suffer serious damage.
Kong Qing also understood immediately, and uttered a few words in a heavy voice, "There are spies in our camp."
Shen Yu nodded, "The position is not low."
As she spoke, Shen Yu was already walking in the opposite direction.
Kong Qing grabbed her and asked, "Where are you going?"
"We need to figure out where they are going so we can make the next plan. You wait here."
This young lady doesn't play by the rules, and Kong Qing is already having a headache because of her.
Chen Yu groped her way out of the tent, and half a minute later, she groped her way back.
The weather at the end of October was very cold, but a thin layer of sweat had already appeared on Chen Yu's head.
She spoke quickly, "The horse manure on the horse trail to the north is all fresh. They are probably going to go around and attack from both sides. I will stay here. Leave twenty of you to me. You take the rest of you to cut off their horse trail on the way back so that they can't return to defend."
As he was speaking, a sharp whistle suddenly came from the wind, followed by two short bird calls.
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