Chapter Thirty-Four Acting

  This afternoon, I have a small request. If the first recommendation doesn't get a good collection, it's likely to be a death sentence for this book "Ba Jun". So, I sincerely ask friends to log in and collect it as a member, just a few seconds of time may decide the fate of this book and mine. I will definitely repay everyone with more wonderful plots, thank you.

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  Fifty li north of Xin Ye, Yan Liang's army set up a large camp.

  Yan Liang led his two thousand infantry and cavalry, one day ahead of Cao's army, to occupy the advantageous terrain.

  Only one way to defend Xinye is death. Yan Liang must defeat Cao Hong in the battle of Ye, otherwise he will not be able to get out of the current predicament.

  To prevent Liu Biao from betraying him, Yan Liang had to leave most of his troops in Xinye and also left 500 cavalry as a mobile force.

  This time he led two thousand troops, only more than five hundred were cavalry, and the rest were all infantry.

  "General, scouts report that Cao Hong's army has set up camp fifteen miles away."

  Wen Ping hastily entered the account, his expression slightly solemn.

  "What is the enemy's troop configuration like? Are there any cavalry inside?" Yan Liang asked.

  "Wen Ping cupped his hands and said: 'Reporting to General, Cao's army has about 300 cavalrymen, the rest are all infantry.'"

  Cao Hong indeed came prepared and knew he was skilled at using cavalry, so his army was also configured accordingly.

  Five hundred against three hundred, in terms of cavalry, we are at a disadvantage.

  As for the infantry, it's even more unnecessary to mention that his own thousand-strong infantry was reorganized from the Yuannan Yellow Turbans, and their combat effectiveness was already inferior to Cao's fierce soldiers. Moreover, the number of enemy infantry was still more than twice his own.

  "General, I beg your pardon for speaking bluntly. The enemy is numerous and we are few, the enemy is strong and we are weak. This battle will be difficult to fight." Wen Ping's tone revealed his anxiety.

  Yan Liang coldly laughed and retorted: "What's wrong, are you afraid of fighting, Zhong Ye?"

  He is in a state of extreme anger.

  Wen Pin, who still had some worries in his heart, suddenly had his blood stirred up and said with a sigh: "Since Wen Mou has chosen to follow the general, he should stand shoulder to shoulder with the general and shed blood together. Even if he dies, he will not be afraid, let alone retreat."

  Wen Ping's generosity also stirred up Yan Liang's passion, and he said loudly: "With your words, Wen Ping, I, Yan Liang, can rest assured. You and I will fight side by side, and let those who look down on us see our prowess."

  In the grand tent, an indomitable will is spreading.

  Wen Ping was boiling with rage, but he remained calm and seemed to have picked up on a few hints from Yan Liang's words.

  "General, judging from your tone, have you already come up with a strategy to defeat the enemy?" Wen Ping asked excitedly.

  "To win with weakness is nothing but to catch the enemy off guard. You, Zhongyue, have studied military strategy extensively, how could you not know this principle?" Yan Liang said calmly.

  Yan Liang's tone and expression were confident, obviously he already had his own opinion.

  Wen Ping's confidence suddenly increased, and he hastily cupped his hands together in respect: "I am foolish and ignorant, I hope the general will enlighten me."

  "Go and invite that Manqing over for me. The success or failure of this matter all depends on this person." Yan Liang's mouth curled up with a sly smile.

  After one stick of incense had been burned, Man Chong was brought into the tent.

  The strategy to defeat the enemy was already thought out by Yan Liang when he left Xin Ye, so he brought Man Chong, who had been under house arrest all along, with him.

  "Bo Ning is here, sit down quickly. What are you still stunned about, don't you hurry to pour wine for Bo Ning?" Yan Liang showed great enthusiasm.

  Man Chong knelt down, a look of suspicion on his face.

  From Runan to Xinye, Yan Liang had been detaining him under soft arrest. Now at the time of battle, he brought this prisoner along and even treated him with good wine. How could this behavior not arouse his suspicion?

  After a few cups of wine, Man Chong couldn't help but say: "General Yan, if you have something to say, just say it straight out, no need to beat around the bush."

  Yan Liang was taken aback for a moment, then burst out laughing.

  "Man Bao Ning is indeed Man Bao Ning, sharp-eyed and straightforward. Alright, since we're both direct people, I'll just say it to you straight out."

  Man Chong's nerves were instantly tense, and he thought in his heart that Yan Liang was playing some trick again.

  Yan Liang said slowly: "I left Yuan Benchu and came to Jingzhou to form an alliance with Liu Jingsheng, I suppose you already know about it, General Wen."

  Man Chong nodded, but was still perplexed in his heart. What kind of courage did this person have to make such an unreasonable move?

  "Actually, Yan Mou didn't want to be an opponent of Cao Gong. If not, at the time of Ru Nan, he would not have intentionally let Cao Zi Xiao escape, this point Bo Ning should also see." Yan Liang continued to say.

  This point is deeply believed by Man Chong. If Yan Liang really wanted to deal with Cao Cao, he should have taken advantage of the victory in Ru Nan and advanced his troops to Xu Du at that time.

  "At the critical moment of the Battle of Guandu, Cao Gong should have concentrated all his forces to deal with Yuan Benchu, but now he has sent Cao Hong to attack me, who poses no threat to him. I think Cao Gong's move is suspicious and misplaced priorities, what do you think, Ben Ning?"

  "Bo Ning is just a prisoner of war, General said these words to me, it seems useless." Man Chong furrowed his brow and said.

  Yan Liang smiled and personally poured him a cup of wine, "I invited Bo Ning today, actually to ask Bo Ning to pass on a message to Cao Ziyan, to explain the pros and cons to him, to express my friendly intentions. If we both can stop fighting and focus on dealing with our respective enemies, wouldn't that be a win-win situation?"

  Man Chong suddenly realized that Yan Liang had a request for him, wanting him to be an envoy and persuade Cao Hong to withdraw his troops.

  "This is exactly the opportunity for me to escape, how can I miss it..."

  Overjoyed in his heart, he immediately said: "General is willing to make peace with Cao Zhenxiang, that's the best. General, rest assured, I will surely convey your good intentions to General Cao Ziliang."

  Looking at his proud and joyful face, Yan Liang was secretly laughing in his heart.

  He also pretended to be delighted and said loudly: "Then Yan Mou thanked Bohning, come on, let's have a drink."

  Man Chong was unaware, but Yan Liang's sudden eight-degree increase in voice was a pre-arranged secret signal.

  At this time, Wen Ping, who had been waiting outside the account, heard Yan Liang's password and immediately lifted the curtain, pretending to be in a hurry to enter.

  "General, Liu Biao's large army is approaching Xinye—"

  Before he could finish speaking, Yan Liang gave him a fierce glare, hinting at him to shut up.

  Wen Ping hastily changed his tone and laughed: "General, I didn't know you were having a gathering. It's actually nothing important. I'll come back later to report to you."

  Yan Liang waved his hand, and Wen Ping retreated with a sullen expression.

  This looks ordinary, but in his eyes, he is full of doubts and suspicions. He thinks to himself: "Yan Liang obviously intentionally interrupted Wen's words, listening to the half-finished sentence, it seems that he wanted to say that Liu Biao's army has approached Xinye, could it be..."

  Man Chong's heart suddenly shook, and a strange color flashed across his eyes, as if he had understood something in an instant.

  Yan Liang was watching Man Chong's expression changes secretly while performing, how could that momentary unusual color escape his eyes.

  He knew he was outsmarted by Manchuong.

  "To show General Cao our sincerity in making peace, Yan Certain is also willing to voluntarily withdraw his troops fifteen miles." Yan Liang pretended not to know and continued the play.

  Man Chong hastily said: "If the General can indeed do this, General Cao will certainly believe in the General's sincerity."

  After a few rounds of wine, Man Chong said it was time to set off and convey Yan Liang's intention to make peace with Cao Hong as soon as possible.

  Yan Liang showed a pleased expression and hastily sent Man Chong out of the camp with courtesy.

  Man Chong fled like a bird released from its cage, not daring to linger for a moment, and galloped wildly towards Cao's camp in the north.

  As he watched the figure disappear into the distance, Yan Liang's mouth curled up into a faint smile.

  "General, you said that Man Chong would fall into our trap?" Wen Ping appeared from the side.

  Yan Liang coldly smiled and said: "This Man Bao Ning is quite clever, wanting to deceive him won't be that easy, this play still needs to be performed more realistically."

  Wen Ping nodded slightly and asked: "Then what should we do now?"

  Yan Liang waved his hand and shouted loudly: "Pass on my order, the whole army will break camp!"