Since ancient times, Liuba had been one of the main transportation routes. It had always been known as the "Throat of the Qin and Han Dynasties". Its strategic location was very important. During the Wei and Shu wars, it was one of the key areas that both sides fought for.
But now, this land that had been silent for thousands of years seemed to once again reflect its importance. Deng Zilong led 30,000 troops here to fight Li Wen's 40,000 northwest border army to the death.
On the 20th of November, the cold wind howled. Li Wen led the army with difficulty to Firewood Pass. He ordered a group of people to enter Firewood Pass to check the situation. He wanted to see if there were any usable things in the city and if there were any intact houses that could allow the army to rest here for the night. But the result was very annoying.
Not only was there nothing that could be used in the city, but even more than half of the houses were demolished. Even so, there were still traps!
Of the 300 people sent to search for supplies in the city, 17 were lost, and more than 20 were carried out with injuries. Li Wen was so angry that his face darkened. Then, he sent people to carefully enter the city to remove the traps and look for intact houses.
After all, the weather was too cold. It would be better if they could live in the city.
In this way, it took them two hours to remove the traps. For this reason, they lost three soldiers and more than a dozen were injured.
Since the start of the south, they had not even seen the shadow of Xiao Ruxun's troops. But they had already lost more than a hundred people. If they didn't fall to their deaths, they died of exhaustion. Now, there were also those who were killed by traps. Li Wen was very angry.
After ordering the army to find a place to set up tents in the city for the night, Li Wen sent people to guard the city wall and set up various obstacles to prevent the rebels from attacking at night.
At about a quarter to nine in the evening, Li Wen was in his room with the senior officials and generals to discuss the military situation and discuss the next strategy and tactics. Suddenly, he heard the fierce sound of war drums and killing. Li Wen was shocked and shouted, "Enemy attack!" He immediately pulled out his sword and rushed out of the room to summon the army to defend.
The troops that were supposed to be sleeping hurriedly got up and lined up to prepare for the enemy. They were in a sorry state, and the battle cries continued until Li Wen personally climbed up the wall of Chai Guan to command the defense of the city. However, the battle cries stopped.
Li Wen found it strange and hurriedly asked the general guarding the city wall. The general said that he had been guarding the city since the battle cries started. However, he had not seen any enemies rush to the bottom of the city to attack. It was too dark to see anything further. If he wanted to see the situation, he would have to send troops out of the city.
However, it was too dangerous in such a dark and windy night.
One of the high counselors quickly said, "Governor, is this a scheme of the rebel army? Judging from the sounds, the number of rebels was definitely not small. They probably wanted to harass our army over and over again, but they did not attack. They wanted to wait until we were used to this kind of harassment and suddenly attack, catching us off guard! The city walls of Chai Guan are low and dilapidated. If our army is not prepared, it will be easy for a sneak attack. "
The other high level Ginseng hurriedly agreed.
"That's right, Governor. This is a very cunning plan!"
Yet another trusted aide, Gao Can, offered a plan.
"Governor, this subordinate suggests that we should beat them at their own game. The army should not relax. Get ready and set up an ambush in the city. Then, we will do what the rebel army wants to see. We will pretend to be panicking on the city walls and gradually become defenseless. When the rebel army thinks that we have let down our guard, they will attack. At that time, we will mobilize our army and catch the rebel army off guard. We will let them know how powerful we are!"
Li Wen nodded in agreement.
"Good! Just like that! Order all the battalions resting in the city to be ready and not to take off their armor. The troops resting outside the city must stay awake and not sleep. Prepare to join the battle at any time! "
Niu Bingzhong immediately obeyed and went to make the arrangements.
As expected, at around quarter past nine, the loud battle cries and war drums once again came from outside the city. Under Li Wen's orders, the troops in charge of acting immediately started running around the city walls with torches in their hands. They looked panicked. After the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, the battle cries stopped once again.
Li Wen and the civil and military officials beside him looked at each other and smiled. They felt that they had grasped the stupid rebel army's movements and that they were doomed.
Soon, when it was close to midnight, the battle cries and war drums once again sounded outside the city. The troops continued to act, but their speed and anxiety were much slower than before. They were not allowed to run too fast.
After the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, the battle cries stopped.
"Governor, we can let the troops prepare for battle. The next charge should be real!"
Li Wen nodded.
"Pass down the order. Prepare for battle!"
"Yes!"
The messenger immediately went to pass down the order.
Everyone sharpened their swords and waited for the rebel army to attack.
They waited quietly. Although the weather was colder at night and everyone's winter clothes were not thick, they still persevered. They waited for the moment when the rebel army would attack and they would successfully counterattack.
At quarter past midnight, a cold wind blew. The battle cries were even more intense than before, and the war drums were even louder than before. As the sound spread, Li Wen growled, "Prepare for battle!"
Soon, the order was passed down. The soldiers all picked up their swords and spears and prepared for battle.
The troops on the city wall looked down nervously, ready to run down the city as soon as they saw anyone charging over.
Li Wen planned to let the enemy enter the city and then use their superior forces to counterattack, giving the unprepared rebel army a head-on blow. The soldiers were very nervous as they prepared for battle.
In the end, after the time it took for a joss stick to burn, the drums and killing cries stopped. They sent someone to ask on the city wall, but they replied that they did not see a single enemy.
？？？
Li Wen's mind was filled with question marks. He looked at his senior counselors in confusion. The senior counselors looked at each other. Then, the first senior counselor, who was the leader, answered decisively, "It must be the rebels who want us to delay for a while longer so that we will let down our guard! This time, it's just a test. The next time will be the real attack! Everyone, do not slack off! The next time will be the rebel army's attack! "
Everyone thought that this was indeed the case. This was the rebel army's plan. They wanted them to slack off even more, then they would attack and settle things once and for all. It was too cunning! They had to give them a head-on blow!
Li Wen also nodded, indicating that he was right.
They continued to wait.
They waited for quite a long time. At a quarter past midnight, Li Wen could not sit still anymore. The cold wind was too cold, and many of the soldiers could not take it anymore and started to complain. Li Wen sent people up the city wall to take a look. The people who went up to the city wall to take a look came back and said that there was no movement outside. They did not know what was going on.
The senior staff members looked at each other in confusion. Li Wen frowned and felt the bone-chilling wind in the middle of the night. He looked at the soldiers who were shivering in the cold and was about to give the order for the troops to rest when the war drums and shouts of killing sounded again.
"They're here!"
The senior advisers shouted excitedly.
Li Wen was shocked and immediately ordered the entire army to prepare for battle. The soldiers were shocked and immediately entered a state of battle.
After the time it took for a joss stick to burn, the sound disappeared again.
They went up to the city wall to ask, but they still did not see any rebel army on the city wall.
"Did we see a ghost?!"
Li Wen roared angrily. Seeing the unhappy expressions of the senior advisers, the senior advisers also had awkward expressions, feeling that they had lost face.
That's not right!
Why are these people not following the script?
It's already the fourth time. Can they attack now?
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