Mythical Three Kingdoms

On the other side, Xuu You rode his horse gazing at the moon that was about to reach its zenith, "The Hai Hour has arrived, our reinforcements must have already started their movements. How splendid, such a peaceful night can only be disrupted by bloodshed which unveils the curtain of the stage. However, the plays of Mount Tai are indeed a form of beauty."

"Strategist, at this time, will our night attack be effective?" Wen Chou said with a bitter smile, he could see things a mile away, in such brightness a night attack would hardly bring any element of surprise.

"A night attack?" Xuu You looked up at the bright moon, lightly stroking the horse's back with his left hand, "When did I mention a night attack? Ingenious strategy just needs an element of surprise, and this bright moon provides the perfect opportunity for it."

Yann Liang was clearly perplexed and couldn't understand a word Xuu You was saying. What was all this about!

"The Hai Hour has come, and it seems the Lyu Brothers have already attacked Chiping. By Midnight at the latest, they should have accomplished my request. Let's also get ready," Xuu You indifferently turned back to look at Wen Chou, his eyes brimming with confidence at that moment.

"Alright," Wen Chou nodded. Xuu You's confidence was infectious; if the enemy had the guts to challenge them, what was there to fear?

[So they already know I'm here, huh? Chen Zichuan is indeed formidable. Although I don't understand how he did it, what good does it do them to know? This full moon on the fifteenth is my greatest advantage. How can a general not understand the timing of the heavens?] Xuu You thought to himself silently.

Xuu You caressed the horse's mane, calming his mind. After eliminating three waves of scout cavalry, he realized that his flawless strategy had been seen through by some means. However, he wasn't worried about that, as the core of his cunning plan didn't lie there.

After the moon reached the zenith, Chen Xi too was getting weary. He had been waiting for Xuu You's grand army to attack, and although he knew that any night attack under such moonlight was a joke, he still felt slightly worried. Had Xuu Ziyuan planned for so long only to be foiled by the timing of heaven? Wouldn't that be a joke?

"It seems that they aren't coming," Chen Xi sighed heavily as he stared at the high moon. He had made thorough preparations, yet the timing of heaven had nullified it all.

Immediately, Chen Xi stopped talking and swiftly harnessed his spiritual power to manipulate the weather, stabilizing the conditions of that area. Since it was a clear sky, then let it be clear to the end; such cloudless weather was a good thing, too.

"Xingba, have someone guard the camp entrance, add more troops, increase patrols, and send out more secret sentinels. In short, do not give Xuu You any chance to exploit!" Chen Xi exhaled and commanded, after watching for so long without seeing anyone, he was indeed tired.

"You should rest first, Strategist. With me, Gan Xing, here, I won't give the enemy any chance at all," replied Gan Ning, saluting with his fist.

"Good, I'm counting on you. I'm going to rest now," Chen Xi was truly weary as well. He patted Gan Ning and then yawned as he made his way to the Central Army's resting quarters.

"Gan Luoo, dispatch men to protect the Central Army. I've had an ominous feeling all day," after Chen Xi left, Gan Ning instructed his trusted aide.

"Yes!" Gan Luoo responded.

When Chen Xi returned to his own tent, the sounds of Fa Zheng and Zhuge Liang playing chess and chatting could still be heard from Zhuge Liang's tent next door.

"Aren't you two going to rest?" Chen Xi asked as he yawned, opening the tent curtain.

"Can't sleep," Fa Zheng replied gloomily, "Aren't you the least bit worried, Zichuan? I am very concerned."

"Carry on, I'm off to sleep. Remember to wake me if anything comes up," Chen Xi yawned again and staggered back to his tent to rest.

"Zichuan, wake up…" Chen Xi had just laid his head on the pillow when Zhuge Liang's urgent voice reached his ears.

With a "whoosh," Chen Xi sat up straight, "Has Xuu You arrived?"

"No, he hasn't come here, the enemy went to New Linyi City, they're attacking the city now!" Zhuge Liang replied quickly.

"What?" Chen Xi was startled, "Are those guys seeking death? Do they really think they are ten times fiercer than my army that they dare to attack the city at night?"

"Zichuan, tonight the moonlight is bright enough to see clearly, so there's no problem seeing during a night siege. Moreover, an aide from General Xuu's Tiger Guard came to report that they never expected the enemy to attack the city at night, and their defense was lax, they almost allowed the enemy to capture a stretch of the city wall." Zhuge Liang hastily recounted the situation.

"Ah! The enemy went to attack the city?" Chen Xi said in disbelief, "How is that possible? With us stationed here, do they dare to attack the city, aren't they afraid we'll crush them in a pincer movement?"

"But just earlier when our army's generals were not at the city walls, the enemy almost broke through in one go!" Zhuge Liang was just as incredulous.

"Bring me the Tiger Guard who delivered the message earlier," Chen Xi ordered Zhuge Liang, with some suspicion that the messenger might have been one of Xuu You's men in disguise.

When Zhuge Liang brought over the Tiger Guard, Chen Xi recognized him as an acquaintance. This man was a relative of Xuu Chu, one of the strong men who had set out on the road with Xuu Chu.

"Xuu Liang, how come it's you?" Upon seeing him, Chen Xi knew that what had been said earlier was no lie.

"Governor Wang sent me over at my clansman's request," Xuu Liang said, scratching his head with a simple and honest look.

After confirming there were indeed no issues, Chen Xi grew even more perplexed about what the enemy was trying to do. Granted, if they could take New Linyi City in one fell swoop, all of Chen Xi's previous efforts would be for naught, but was the gamble really worth it?

"Xiaoo Zhi, what are you thinking about?" Though Chen Xi was suspicious that there might be a problem, such a good opportunity could not be passed up without regret.

"I'm wondering if this troop really belongs to Xuu You," Fa Zheng said with a furrowed brow, "If this is indeed Xuu You's force, then what is he trying to do? Lure us into an attack – is it a detachment from the hundred-thousand-strong army of Yanzhou?"

"And if this troop doesn't belong to Xuu You, if indeed they are baiting us to attack, then what could be Xuu You's objective? To annihilate us completely?" Zhuge Liang said incredulously, just as puzzled by the questions Fa Zheng posed.

It wasn't that Zhuge Liang underestimated Xuu You, but rather that Chen Xi's forces were not insubstantial; even thousands of cavalry couldn't possibly wipe out Chen Xi's army, especially since Chen Xi had prepared a large number of Heavy Crossbows to offset the cavalry disadvantage; Zhuge Liang didn't believe Xuu You could be unaware of this.

"Impossible, my force's deployment can't be crushed by just a few thousand cavalry, unless they have tens of thousands of cavalry. However, if they had that many, there'd be no need to disguise their movements—they could just come out in the open," Chen Xi shook his head and said, "Send orders to the left and right camps to join me on the campaign."

"Directly ambush the enemy from both front and back at the same time?" Zhuge Liang said with a frown, "What if it's like Xiaoo Zhi said?"

"We'll stake our Reserve Army, to achieve victory in a single battle! In any case, our goal is to hold Linyi, not to capture territory. If both sides end up crippled, it actually works in our favor, not to mention, it's not certain we'll end up crippled." Chen Xi said unapologetically, "I want to see what Xuu You is planning to do, what he can do!" (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please go to m.qidian.com to read.)