Chapter 229

But sneering and mocking a bit should be fine!

"Hehehe... I am fully prepared!"

"Han Xin will surely come!"

"Surely come where?"

"He will surely come right here?"

A group of people, while packing up, sneered at Fan Zeng.

Hearing these words, it was false to say Fan Zeng felt no discomfort in his heart!

Being led around like a dog by Han Xin, and mocked by his own people!

All of this made his heart ache to the extreme!

Even though Chanyu Modu Chanyu Chanyu Modu still treated him with courtesy, still was polite!

He even comforted him!

But... the more so, the more uncomfortable Fan Zeng felt!

Finally, he simply waved his hand and went off to one side by himself.

He wanted to quiet down, to think carefully about why he had been defeated so miserably!

Why he had been played with by Han Xin in the palm of his hand?

He could not figure it out!

But regardless of whether he could figure it out or not!

On the march northward!

Scouts kept coming swiftly toward Han Xin:

"General, Hulun Grassland shows no abnormalities!"

"General, Hulun Grassland shows no abnormalities!"

"General, Hulun Grassland shows no abnormalities!"

At that moment, scouts kept reporting to Han Xin!

Listening to these scouts' reports, Han Xin frowned deeply, pondering something constantly.

Lu Wan sighed:

"Two months, and not a single sound from Hulun Grassland; there must be no one there!"

"If there were people, why would they not light a fire or pitch tents for two months?"

As he spoke, in fact, regarding Han Xin's plan, Wang Jian, Zhou Yafu, and Lu Wan had always been very clear!

That was to seize Hulun Grassland!

But... when the main army first arrived forty li outside Hulun Grassland, Han Xin suddenly ordered a halt!

"Why?"

Zhou Yafu did not understand at all!

Han Xin said, "I feel something is wrong; Hulun Grassland is one of the largest grasslands on the steppe, yet why is there not a single soldier stationed for defense?"

Zhou Yafu said, "Perhaps they did not have time?"

"Since we attacked the Xiongnu, the Xiongnu have been stunned by us; many grasslands are areas no one guards!"

Han Xin shook his head and said, "Other grasslands being like this is no problem, but... Hulun Grassland has the Tuermuhe River, one of the largest rivers on the steppe; to cut off the Tuermuhe River! one can only cut it off at Hulun Grassland!"

"Such an important place, with not even a garrison; is that not strange?"

"This..."

Zhou Yafu was bewildered!

For a moment, he did not know what to say.

And Han Xin ordered the main army to rest!

For a full four days, Han Xin ordered the main army to bypass Hulun Grassland and attack elsewhere!

"Ah?"

"Why?"

Once the order was issued, everyone was stunned.

Fan Kuai, even more confused, immediately walked toward Han Xin:

"We have already reached Hulun Grassland; why not attack inside?"

"If you fear an ambush, I will lead the army to scout!"

"If there is an enemy ambush, I will retreat immediately!"

Wang Jian shook his head and said, "If we send an army, how many troops would we need to send?"

"This Hulun Grassland is a vast expanse stretching three thousand li, and the surrounding ring of marshland is nearly a hundred li!"

"How many troops would be needed to search such a huge area?"

"Listen to the Grand General; attack elsewhere first, observe while fighting; as long as there are troops ambushing here, they cannot avoid setting up camp, they cannot avoid lighting fires and cooking!"

"Once we can confirm they are here, then we will go north and kill the Xiongnu people who are migrating!"

As Wang Jian spoke, he directly executed Han Xin's order, broke camp, and then went to attack other places!

And a month passed; Han Xin attacked every place around Hulun Grassland and returned here again, but... Hulun Grassland still showed no movement!

Fan Kuai shouted directly, demanding the occupation of Hulun Grassland and the cutting off of the Tuermuhe River!

But... he was stopped by Han Xin once again!

"Why?"

"Why?"

This time, it wasn't just Fan Kuai who didn't understand; Zhou Yafu, Lu Wan, Cao Can, and many others were equally baffled!

Even Wang Jian came to advise Han Xin:

"You are too cautious. The men I placed here to spy have been watching for a month, yet they have not detected a single wisp of smoke from campfires or cooking!"

"There should be no one here!"

Almost everyone was offering counsel.

Yet Han Xin responded with only a few words: "I do not believe it!"

Having spoken, he immediately issued a military order: "Head north and slaughter the Xiongnu!"

"What?"

Once that military order was issued, everyone was stunned!

Head north!

Is... is this to be a decisive battle?

But... the timing is not yet ripe!

Many rivers have not yet been dammed!

In many places, Xiongnu armies and Xiongnu people are still grazing their herds!

Everyone felt their scalps prickle with dread!

Wang Jian went so far as to oppose it, declaring that such a move would ruin the great plan!

Everyone was opposing it!

Some even proposed charging straight in; even if there were an ambush, there was no need to fear!

Li Yuanba is invincible!

Yet, the moment those words left their lips, Han Xin glared at them in fury!

His greatest fear was Li Yuanba engaging in a decisive battle here!

Because... there are far too many swamps in this area!

If Li Yuanba fights here, he could easily be trapped and perish!

And if Li Yuanba were to die here, he would have no way to explain it to Facing Ying Su!

Therefore, he was utterly resolute!

"Head north! The army moves immediately!"

"This..."

Everyone was stunned; though all believed this was a foolish move, no one dared say more.

Not even Wang Jian could!

Why?