Chapter 493: Lan Yu's Brat Has Fallen Into the Trap!

Lan Yu pointed at the map with his sword sheath and said in a low voice:

"Just now Xie Jing has already sent back the confirmation; the old man of Nan'an has already issued a proclamation tonight, raising troops to rebel, and in these two days he will move to engage our army in a death battle!"

"He also set a trap for me, letting Xie Jing hide ten thousand elite cavalry on the northern foothills of Pan Mountain, intending to use my thirty-five thousand troops as bait to lure me onto the official road of Pan Mountain, then attack from front and rear to swallow my Zhong Lu army in one gulp."

Upon hearing this, the generals reacted—some sneered, some shook their heads, some showed anger.

Feng Ziying said with a strange expression:

"The commanders responsible for the ambush on their side are actually our own people; this battle is truly interesting……"

What else are we fighting? I've never fought such a profitable war in eight lifetimes!

Shi Lang then slammed the table and said:

"This old dog has a good calculation! General, why not turn his scheme against him? Tomorrow, at Mid-Autumn, we strike fast and finish fast; after the victory we can report triumph to our lord father!"

Lan Yu smiled lightly and said:

"I also mean this; those few birds of Nan'an have little ability but great boldness; we need not waste time entangling with them—if he dreams of pacifying the realm, I will give him a perfect flower and moon.

Issue the orders immediately:

One, the entire army shall strike camp at once, carrying only three days' rations, travel light and march swiftly, without stopping, and must reach the west of Jizhou City by this afternoon tomorrow.

Nan'an is naturally suspicious; as soon as we appear before his city tomorrow afternoon, he will have no time to change his deployment.

If we move a step ahead of him, his whole plan will fall into chaos.

Two, immediately dispatch a thousand light cavalry to quietly detach from the main force, disguise as defeated troops, and circle north to the rear of Xie Jing's army.

At dawn we shall raid their camp, joining with Xie Jing's internal forces to strike his army from both sides, wiping out those veteran officers.

Xie Jing has already arranged for contacts; if we do not take a few hundred of his heads, that ten thousand elite cavalry will not be our blades.

Three, tomorrow the whole army will march through the Pan Mountain official road, bows strung, swords drawn, and not panic when encountering events.

Wait for the old man of Nan'an to come out to battle; then the vanguard can gain a slight advantage, the main force shall stand immovable like a mountain, and the rearguard shall spread left and right.

Remember, do not crush him outright at first; slowly lure him into the ambush!

Four, also send Shi Lang's detachment of five thousand elite cavalry to detour from the Sanhe direction, hide twenty li south of Jizhou City, stand by, and cut off his southern escape route.

Feng Ziying will lead the core three thousand cavalry of the Brave and Fruitful Camp northward to block the mountain trail exits at the northern foothills of Pan Mountain.

Wherever you encounter the Prince of Nan'an, do not bother with what he shouts; capture him alive for me; if you cannot take him alive, kill him.

Five, the remaining generals shall follow me and form up with the central army; without the commander's order, no one may engage.

When the moment arrives, we shall press from the east, north, and south three directions, leaving only the west open for them to flee into the mountains.

Inside the mountains there are no ambushes, only our crossbowmen; not a single one shall be allowed to escape.

As Lan Yu's military order was issued, the generals immediately responded in unison.

After the tents were struck, a low horn sounded in the main camp, and the three armies were roused from sleep.

Tens of thousands marched under moonlight, striking camp, dismantling tents, loading wagons, the baggage train went first, and each unit moved in order.

The bright moonlight fell upon the soldiers' iron armor, casting a sheet of cold silver light.

On the official road, the sound of hooves and footsteps gradually merged into a vast, muffled long river, rushing swiftly toward Jizhou City.

……

August fifteenth, afternoon.

Lan Yu's Zhong Lu army had already approached the west of Jizhou City.

Thirty thousand vanguard formed up on the plain west of the city, banners blocking the sun, spears and swords like a forest.

The sun slanted westward, sunlight slanting onto the iron armor coming from the direction of Zhouzhou, flashing a cold gleam.

The city walls of Jizhou were already lined with defenders; horns on the city towers blared long and continuously, one after another.

At the gate opening, the Prince of Nan'an personally led thirty-five thousand troops out in single file, forming up outside the west gate.

The central army's great banner rose high, the huge character "Huo" fluttering in the wind.

The Prince of Nan'an, fully armored, stood on his war chariot, sword in hand, flanked by Ma Shang, Chen Ruiwen, Qi Jianhui and other martial officers, everyone's faces as still as water, yet an unavoidable murderous aura lingered.

Seeing this, Lan Yu spurred his horse forward to the front of the formation, raised his long sword, and behind him tens of thousands of troops surged forward like a tide, forming three layers.

The central army's great flag swayed left and right, the drums thundered.

The Prince of Nan'an shouted loudly from his chariot:

"Lan Yu, you brat! You, a nameless nobody, dare to invade my Jizhou! Jia Jing has acted perversely, you aid the tyrant in his wickedness, your death date has arrived!"

His voice was loud and full of vigor, indeed bearing somewhat the demeanor of a great general.

Lan Yu snorted contemptuously, too lazy to quarrel with those who sell their names for profit; he merely pointed his sword forward and said coldly:

"Kill."

Immediately, the vanguard of eight thousand roared like a tide and surged out.

Cavalry led, infantry followed, directly crashing into the central army of the Prince of Nan'an.

The two armies clashed, blades and spears rang, cries of slaughter shook heaven and earth.

The Prince of Nan'an had made preparations; after the vanguard engaged for less than two moments, he ordered a leftward retreat while fighting.

While waving his troops to fall back, he loudly shouted, feigning inability to hold.

Lan Yu's vanguard pursued closely, while his rearguard held back, only slowly advancing.

Chen Ruiwen, amidst the chaos, looked back and saw Lan Yu's central army not pursuing, his brow furrowed; then he saw Lan Yu's vanguard charging fiercely, the distance between vanguard and central army already stretched.

He thought coldly: Indeed, they are nobodies, relying on numbers, the vanguard greedy for merit and recklessly advancing, becoming disconnected from the rearguard.

This is surely a heaven-sent opportunity!

The Prince of Nan'an also saw clearly; seeing Lan Yu's vanguard isolated deep inside, the main force lagging behind, he immediately laughed on his war chariot:

"Hahaha! Lan Yu, you brat have fallen into the trap! Order the rearguard to turn about and join me in striking his vanguard!"