Chapter Thirteen: Chess High One Move

  (one short of the previous one)

  Gong didn't hesitate for a moment, fearing that Yan Liang would take back the order or share this beautiful difference with others.

  Gong Du returned to his own army on horseback and led the 4,000 Yellow Turbans under his command towards Cao's army in the north.

  Yan Liang's heart was coldly laughing.

  Gong Du had a few kilograms and a few taels, his four thousand Yellow Turban Army's combat effectiveness was several points, Yan Liang was clearer than anyone.

  Even the elite Hebei army led by Yan Liang, when the soldiers were tempted by the baggage and did not form an array, was attacked by Cao Ren's army, and he also had no confidence in turning defeat into victory, let alone the miscellaneous troops led by Gong Du.

  Looking at the dust rising in front of him, Yan Liang glanced back at Xu You. At this moment, this strategist with a belly full of strategies was staring at Yan Liang with an astonished gaze.

  Xu You's eyes were clearly in astonishment, Yan Liang had actually understood his plan of killing two birds with one stone so easily, and had implemented it without any hesitation or delay.

  Yan Liang's clever strategy and decisive action once again gave Xu You a profound shock.

  After the shock, Xu You was also disappointed that Yan Liang didn't give him a chance to show off, and there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

  A horseman came galloping up, and it was Liu Pei himself.

  "General, Gong Du's troops are extremely undisciplined. If he is allowed to go alone to plunder grain, he will definitely take all the spoils for himself."

  Liu Bei's horse was not even able to stop, and he anxiously shouted loudly to Yan Liang.

  Yan Liang smiled faintly: "Don't worry, if we win this battle, I'm sure you'll get half of the more than 100 carts of spoils."

  Yan Liang's demeanor was calm and confident, his composed manner making it seem as if everything was under his control.

  Although Liu Bei still had his doubts, he was gradually infected by Yan Liang's demeanor as a great general and couldn't help but feel a few more points of reverence for this famous general from Hebei.

  "Halt the troops' advance for now, and let's see how our General Gong achieves his merit."

  Yan Liang wielded his long sword horizontally and shouted loudly.

  Ten miles away, Cao Ren halted his horse on a mound of earth and gazed out in the direction of Ancheng.

  "Bo Ning, at the Battle of White Horse, did you see Yan Liang's deployment with your own eyes?" Cao Ren asked casually.

  At the time of the Battle of White Horse, Cao Ren was in charge of defending Xudu and did not follow Cao Cao on his expedition.

  As for Man Chong, he was in the army at that time and only after the Yellow Turbans of Ru'nan rebelled and the previous governor was killed did he get appointed as the Governor of Ru'nan.

  "Report to the General, I was following the Prime Minister at that time and did not personally experience the Battle of White Horse. However, I heard Wen Far's relative say how Yan Liang forced Yun Chang to retreat."

  "With Cloud's superior martial arts skills, he couldn't gain victory, this person's martial arts are truly exceptional."

  Cao Ren was naturally calm and composed, with a clear understanding of right and wrong. He also didn't fear praising the enemy general to the faces of his fellow officers.

  Man Chong said, "Although our army was defeated in the Battle of White Horse, I think it's not entirely because of Yan Liang's prowess. There were many accidental factors involved. Today, General, your clever plan will surely defeat Yan Liang and restore the prestige of the Prime Minister after the loss at White Horse."

  As they spoke, a rolling cloud of dust suddenly rose into the sky, as if countless soldiers and horses were charging towards the baggage train in front.

  "General, look! The enemy is coming to plunder our grain. It seems that Yan Liang has indeed fallen into your trap." Man Chong exclaimed excitedly.

  A faint smile appeared on Cao Ren's calm face.

  The 8,000 elite troops of Cao's army halted their flags and drums, retreated to the north side of the hill, and hid their soldiers and horses.

  In front, the four thousand Yellow Turbans led by Gongsun, like starving beasts, swarmed forward, waving all kinds of weapons and charging towards Cao's baggage train.

  The escort of the baggage train was two thousand relatively weak infantrymen. Cao Ren had previously secretly instructed the leading army Xiao Xiao to pretend to resist, and more than 2,000 people abandoned their grain carts and fled.

  Gong Du saw the Cao army retreat, and over a hundred carts of grain were right in front of him. Who would still think about pursuing the enemy? Several thousand soldiers began to scramble for the grain.

  Gong Du shouted at the soldiers, wanting them to push the grain and fodder back to Ancheng and send it to their own camp. However, when the Yellow Turbans saw the food, their eyes turned green with envy, and they only rushed to grab it, completely ignoring orders.

  Gong Du was a bit panicked at this point, waving his spear and shouting loudly in an attempt to calm down these crazy subordinates, but he couldn't stop the chaos from continuing.

  On the vast and endless highway, more than 4,000 people crowded together, scrambling and shouting, with voices rising and falling in a cacophony of noise. They even fought among themselves over a few bags of grain, turning against their own kind.

  On the mound, Cao Ren gazed down at the chaotic scene with a cold expression, his sword-like eyebrows and murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

  A loud shout, Cao Ren drew his sword and shouted in a low voice: "All troops listen to the order, launch a surprise attack on the enemy, whoever gets Yan Liang's head will be heavily rewarded, kill for me!"

  "Kill Lian Yu!"

  "Kill Lian Yu!"

  A thunderous roar spread from near to far, like a wave, and in an instant it was transmitted throughout the entire army.

  Eight thousand elite Cao troops, in unison, let out a thunderous roar, their killing cries shaking the heavens and earth.

  General Li Tong led the charge down the mountain slope, and the 8,000-strong Cao army hidden behind the slope suddenly emerged, swarming down from the earthy slope to attack.

  Cao Cao's army suddenly killed out, those four thousand Yellow Turbans who were in the heat of plundering, instantly became stupid, their first reaction was to pull their legs and escape.

  It's too late.

  The first to see Cao Jun's yellow scarf soldiers turn around and escape, unfortunately, the companions behind are still looting, and soon they collided with each other, more than 4,000 people, squeezing and pushing each other, unable to escape, but instead becoming more chaotic and crowded.

  Gong's horse saw Cao's army killing out, frightened and terrified, and hastily waved his spear to order the whole army to fight back.

  From prosperity to collapse, it only took a moment, the soldiers under his command were busy escaping, who would still listen to his orders.

  Gong Du, who had been blinded by his own greed, only now realized that he had fallen into Cao's trap. His momentary avarice had led himself and his 4,000 troops to the brink of death.

  Too late for regrets.

  When the vanguard of Cao's army arrived with a loud shout, Li Tong rode his horse and wielded his spear, unstoppable as he cut off the Yellow Turbans in two.

  The Cao army infantry arrived in a flurry, their knives and guns cutting down the frightened Yellow Turbans without mercy.

  The massacre begins here.

  Gong Du was cut off at the front of the army, seeing that the situation was unfavorable, and without regard for his troops, he galloped away with a few riders to escape southward.

  Li Tong, with bloodshot eyes, saw a bandit general fleeing in disarray and would not let him go, so he rode his horse swiftly and brandished his spear to block his way.

  Gong Du had no choice but to summon his courage and hold up his spear in resistance.

  But only a flash of blood light splashed into the air, two horses crossed over each other in mid-air, Gong Dou didn't even have time to see his opponent's move clearly, before his chest was pierced through, and he let out a dull hum as he fell off his horse.

  Li Tong beheaded Gong Du and hung his head on the horse's back, continuing to slaughter indiscriminately.

  After several rounds of fighting, the 4,000 Yellow Turbans were broken into several segments by Cao's light cavalry and then surrounded and killed by Cao's infantry.

  Li Tong, covered in blood, met up with Cao Ren and waved his spear excitedly, saying: "General Zi Xiao, your plan was indeed brilliant! The enemy didn't even have a chance to defend themselves, we killed them until they were scattered like fallen flowers."

  At this time, Cao Ren was not as excited as Li Tong. He had a gloomy face and his heart was filled with a bad premonition.

  In sight, they were all infantry of the enemy army, and not a single cavalryman was seen. However, the intelligence he received from Guo Jia indicated that Yan Liang led 2,000 cavalrymen to come to Runan.

  What's the use of having 2,000 cavalry then?

  Under the heavy fog of suspicion, Cao Ren observed carefully again and again, but he couldn't see any banner with the character "Yan" within his sight.

  Suddenly, on the Southern Avenue, dust and smoke rose again.

  The extreme of the eye, three thousand heads wrapped in yellow scarves emerged from the mad fog, shouting and killing towards the chaotic battlefield.

  "This Yan Liang is indeed quite capable..."

  Cao Ren's face showed a hint of surprise, but he immediately smiled coldly.

  "You think you can win with just this little trick? You underestimate me, Cao Zixiao!"

  Eagle-eyed, Cao Ren leapt onto his horse, brandishing his sword horizontally, directing over a thousand infantry and cavalry to the left and right. They bypassed the chaotic battle array and headed south to confront the three thousand Yellow Turbans who had suddenly arrived.

  The fierce battle resumes.

  Liu Pei's Yellow Turban army was numerous and had the advantage of a surprise attack, but its low combat effectiveness caused him to lose that advantage.

  The Cao army that came to meet them was indeed a crack regular force, and under the command of Cao Ren, although they were hastily summoned to battle and had fewer troops, they were in no way inferior.

  After a fierce battle, Cao's army became more and more courageous, while Liu Bei's forces gradually weakened, showing signs of defeat.

  When tens of thousands of people were fighting on the main road, a thousand-man light cavalry was quietly approaching from the north.

  Rushing through the woods, Yan Liang spurred his horse and drew his sword, leaping onto a small mound in front of him.

  "Zi Xiaolong, you've kept me waiting." Looking at the bloody battlefield below, Yan Liang's mouth slightly curved upwards.