Chapter 216

They all felt nothing was amiss.

Wang Jian said, "If they were merely fleeing out of fear, that would be one thing, but... what does it mean that they fled and then returned?"

As he spoke, he gazed at the map!

Indeed!

During this period, the Xiongnu have been doing exactly this: whenever Han Xin's army approaches, they flee immediately.

Once Han Xin's army retreats, they return at the very first opportunity!

"In that case, let us simply charge straight into this pasture and occupy it outright!"

"Let us see how they react!"

Zhou Yafu spoke up.

This proposal received support from Fan Kuai, Cao Can, Xia Houying, and many others!

However, Wang Jian shook his head: "This pasture is one of the largest pastures north of the Guhe River!"

"There are six hundred thousand Xiongnu civilians and two hundred thousand stationed troops here; they cannot possibly abandon this place lightly!"

"Moreover, this area contains numerous unknown zones, such as swamps!"

"And toxic zones!"

"These zones are strange and ever-changing; even local herdsmen frequently risk falling into the swamps!"

"If we rashly charge in, what if we encounter an ambush?"

"When something unusual happens, there must be a hidden cause!"

"We must ascertain their motives first!"

"We cannot become rashly arrogant just because there is a Li Yuanba!"

"If we suffer heavy casualties later, who will take responsibility?"

Wang Jian's voice rang out, and instantly, everyone fell silent!

Meanwhile, Han Xin stared at the map and smiled: "Do you know what a small group of ants does when they encounter a vast swarm of ants and both happen to be fighting over a piece of food?"

"Uh..."

The moment he spoke, Fan Kuai and Lu Wan were all stunned!

Wang Jian also looked at Han Xin, puzzled.

Han Xin said, "That small group of ants will send one ant to sound the alarm, while the rest of the small group will launch harassing attacks!"

"By harassing the vast swarm of ants, they prevent them from carrying the food away immediately; once the main ant army arrives, both sides will fight over this piece of food!"

"The victorious side will claim the food!"

"And now, the Chakin Pasture is that piece of food!"

"Although our army is small in number, we are that powerful ant army!"

"These two hundred thousand troops are the weak ants!"

"They are waiting for reinforcements!"

"If my guess is correct, their reinforcements are on the way!"

"Moreover, these reinforcements are vast in number, and even... they have brought the method of hegemony to deal with Li Yuanba!"

"What?"

The moment he spoke, everyone present was startled!

Even Wang Jian was shocked:

"The method of hegemony to deal with Li Yuanba?"

"What method in this world could possibly deal with Li Yuanba?"

Han Xin said:

"There are many methods to deal with Li Yuanba!"

"Deadly poison attacks; no matter how strong your physique, if you inhale an excessive amount of poison, you will die!"

"The swamps of the grasslands; no matter how strong you are, if you fall in, you will be trapped in the mud and surely perish!"

"The thunder and lightning of the heavens, which destroy all things; even Li Yuanba cannot withstand the lightning!"

"Snakes, insects, rats, ants, and venomous bees; the methods I can think of alone number over a hundred!"

Upon hearing these words, everyone's hair stood on end!

Wang Jian shouted, urging Li Yuanba to quickly scout and see if reinforcements were arriving!

But Han Xin merely smiled and waved his hand, saying, "No need!"

"Those reinforcements have surely already arrived!"

As he spoke, he slapped the map and said:

"Launch a surprise attack tonight and seize this pasture!"

"What?"

The moment he spoke, everyone present was stunned again; many did not understand and began asking Han Xin why!

Han Xin said, "They are waiting for reinforcements, so we will simply deny them that opportunity!"

"Before their reinforcements arrive, we will first devour these two hundred thousand men!"

"Li Yuanba, tonight you will ride Wanli Yanyunzhao to block their retreat!"

"Fan Kuai, Lu Wan, Cao Can, you three will each lead twenty thousand men to encircle them from the east, south, and west!"

"Zhou Yafu, you will lead five thousand men and attack from the front alongside me!"

"Wang Jian, you will lead all remaining forces to guard the main camp!"

Han Xin issued his orders.

And as these orders were issued one after another, everyone couldn't help but draw a sharp breath!

Because the number of troops attacking from the front was far too few!

On the contrary, the forces surrounding them on all four sides were so many...

"This... this is too dangerous!"

Xia Houying swallowed hard.

The others felt equally shaken!

Han Xin, meanwhile, laughed: "Tonight, we'll annihilate all two hundred thousand of them!"

After speaking, he looked toward Li Yuanba:

"Li Yuanba, the position you're guarding is extremely critical — that spot should be the direction all the Xiongnu army will flee toward!"

"Kill them all!"

He issued the military order!

Li Yuanba immediately bowed: "Yes, sir!"

As they spoke, a group of people began making arrangements and heading off to set things up!

And Han Xin stared at the map, then looked toward the Chakeqin grasslands outside the tent!

This night was destined to be a night reeking of blood and gore.

Two hundred thousand Xiongnu troops were about to die a wretched death!

Three hundred li beyond the Chakeqin grasslands!

On the marching route of Chanyu Modu Chanyu Chanyu Modu's army!

To be fair, the Xiongnu army was absolutely the fastest-moving army of any under heaven!

Why?

Because... the horses!

Looking across all under heaven, no army could boast that more than half its soldiers were mounted.

Yet the Xiongnu had done it!

Because the grasslands were vast, and countless cattle, sheep, and horses roamed here!

Therefore, this place was a natural horse pasture.

But even so, Chanyu Modu Chanyu Chanyu Modu still felt it was too slow!

Because... he always had an ominous premonition!

He was always worried about the two hundred thousand troops stationed at the Chakeqin grasslands!

Even though he had long since issued orders, telling them that if they could run, they shouldn't linger!

Everything was to be judged by preserving strength.