Chapter 304 Stealing Nanpi (2/2)
Previously, Jia Xu leaked the false rumor about their mobilization, telling everyone that they planned to move the Mountaineer Legion and White Axe Legion into Xiongnu's territory. Both legion leaders also told their men about the preparation and their goal that they planned to head for Xiongnu regions as well, causing all spies to believe in the leaked info.
However, only the higher-up knew what their actual goal as they only communicated using the clan chat.
The purpose of this fault news was to divert Yuan Shao's attention from them and baited them into invading their neighbors.
Because Yuan Shao's affiliate cities were few and his foundation was being threatened by Gongsun Zan and Tong forces, they had to expand to obtain more resources and manpower from the other cities. To survive this struggle, Yuan Shao wanted to draft more soldiers to prepare for the possible showdown between Tong and their forces.
Everything went as Jia Xu foresighted. Tian Feng and Yuan Shao took Pingyuan in a flash and moved south.
Now, the defense of Nanpi was at its weakest. It was the chance to takeout Yuan Shao's home ground and annihilate his foundation.
They might not be able to get rid of Yuan Shao yet, but it was enough for now.
Slow and steady was Tong's style.
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May 25th, 185 AD.
The operation [Baited] began, and also the hidden forces within Tong's ranks.
Form Ye City, Immortal Legion of Tong and his 60,000 men marched to Ganling. Their job was to keep the main legion of Yuan Shao at bay in that deserted town and wither their supplies.
Jia Xu remained in Ye as the deputy governor for the meantime. He would be replaced once Te Langpu had completed the Julu finance overhaul project and transfer to Ye as the new governor.
Silver Axe Legion's 40,000 soldiers departed from Zhongshan and headed for Nanpi. This was their real main forces, which they had to occupy Nanpi at all costs.
Zhen Yi was reinstated as the governor of Zhongshan as all personnel from this city left to Nanpi.
Lu Zhi in Ji City also received the order from the clan chat. He mobilized Gongsun Zan Army of 20,000 cavalries and headed to join forces with the Silver Axe Legion. Among his troops, Zhao Yun, Tian Yu, Liu Bei, and all his Liu Bei's brothers were forced to go along with the army as well.
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June 30th, 185 AD.
The lightning assault from both Ji and Zhongshan City caught the garrisons of Nanpi off guard. All officials of Yuan Shao fled the city to Pingyuan while the innocent militias opened the gate for the invaders, surrendered to Lu Zhi and Xu Huang.
Lu Zhi coordinated with the troops and sorted the prisoners without causing difficulties to the locals.
Xu Huang immediately rushed into Yuan Clan residential areas to secure their primary objective, the Yuan Family, and they succeeded.
They have captured Yuan Shao's entire family, and Yuan Shang, the fake Emperor!
Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Jiang Man were astonished by the coordination between Lu Zhi Army and Xu Huang as they did not bother sending messengers to communicate, yet they moved as if they knew what the others planned to do.
Liu Bei, however, did not pay attention to the details of the siege battle. Instead, he enjoyed getting his sweet revenge.
”That's what you get for tricking me, Yuan Shao! Serve you right. HAHAHAHA!”
Seeing the obnoxious behavior of his disciple, Lu Zhi shook his head in resignation.
'This fool has a long way to go. I have to teach him about Julu's new philosophy again. What was it called? Emotional quotient? EQ?'
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Meanwhile, Guanzong County, east of Ganling.
Tong's 60,000-men army stood before Yuan Shao's 100,000 soldiers.
Yan Liang and Wen Chou were there, escorting Yuan Shao and Tian Feng as they moved as one legion.
On the other side, Tong rode a red horse, one of the Red Hare that Li Feihong bred, and stood tall in front of his army.
Hua Shi stood on top of an archer tower among 100 towers, spreading across the formations in between platoons of soldiers.
Xun Yu stood behind Hua Shi, acting as a coordinator in this battle.
Tong did not bring any other officers with him, which was reckless in Jia Xu's point of view. However, Tong, Hua Shi, or Friday would think that it was unnecessary.
Two white tentacles fluttered behind Hua Shi'a back. Each of them transformed into a spirit and wielded a composite bow that Hua Shi prepared for them.
Tong also summoned his Sloth and Greed. Both of them held a gun in their hands while a strap of bullet magazines hung on their shoulder.
Tian Feng stared at Tong's souls with an ugly expression.
”Blasphemy! This is cheating! Heaven is cheating us, men!”
Blood dripped down from Tian Feng's noses as he tried his best to come up with a strategy. However, he could not see a chance to defeat Tong and his spirits.
They did not have a way to counter them!
The battle details between Friday and Sun Jian forces were in their hands ages back. They, too, would be powerless if they were to fight Friday in that condition.
Now, they faced Tong who had a similar power.
”Retreat.”
Yuan Shao, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou turned to Tian Feng, the man with a pale face.
”We have no chance at all?”
”None.”
”You're right! This is cheating!”
Yuan Shao grudgingly glared at Tong and Hua Shi. He bellowed, ”If it isn't because of your power, you won't even have a chance to fight me!”
Hearing the desperate cry of Yuan Shao, Tong snorted and thought.
'True. I would have been nothing but an insect had I never had any power. To be honest, I want to eliminate all of you right out of the picture right now, but I'll need your forces and your brain in the future battles.'
Tong gazed at the log of the clan chat. A new report came from Ju Shou and Zhang He in Henei.
”Dong Zhuo is dead. Li Ru surrendered to the Xiongnu.”
”Cao Cao is likely to lose Luo Yang. We'll be their next target.”