Chapter 98: Lure-the-enemy Stratagem
Yang Qian led three thousand Fire Oil Army soldiers hurrying along the Wanshui River in the darkness of night, with each carrying three to four Fire Oil Bottles. Their mission was to raid the enemy’s fleet with Fire Oil Bottles.
There was a relatively narrow Waterway on the Wanshui River, only about ten-odd zhang wide and around forty li long. Last year, Gan Ning had used this Waterway to annihilate Huang Zu’s fleet that came to provide support.
Now Sun He actually wanted to use this Waterway against Gan Ning’s army too, because he knew nothing about what happened last year.
While marching, the soldiers by the riverbank suddenly let out a chorus of screams, and soldiers toppled over one after another.
“Ambush! Ambush Soldiers!” the soldiers shouted in panic.
In the darkness, Arrows whistled through the air, coming like raindrops, with people constantly getting hit and screaming in agony.
The troops immediately fell into chaos, with no one knowing where the Arrows were coming from. In extreme panic, the soldiers only heard their Commander Yang Qian shouting loudly: “Get down! Get down!”
The soldiers who were not hit by arrows all dropped to the ground.
“Kill—”
Suddenly, Firelight blazed up all around, and Shouts of killing came charging from three directions.
Seven thousand soldiers surrounded this Fire Oil Army unit completely. Many panicked and jumped into the river to flee to the opposite bank without choosing a path, but three thousand Crossbowmen were ambushed on the opposite bank too, so those who jumped into the river could only be shot dead by the Crossbowmen.
Yuzhang Army soldiers charged into the crowd, instantly stabbing hundreds to death. The Fire Oil Soldiers were terrified out of their wits, with pleas for mercy and cries rising everywhere.
“Spare those who surrender! Spare those who surrender!”
The enemy’s shouts gave a glimmer of hope to the soldiers in the chaos. Over two thousand Fire Oil Camp soldiers hurriedly knelt to surrender, raising their hands high.
However, Commander Yang Qian quietly removed his Armor and led over a hundred Subordinates to jump into the river, swimming desperately toward the opposite bank. Unexpectedly, just as they reached the middle, countless dark shadows appeared on the opposite bank, all raising crossbows to shoot into the river. Arrows rained down like a storm. Yang Qian was pierced through the skull by three Crossbow Bolts and died on the spot. The rest of the soldiers were also hit by arrows one after another, none surviving, all shot dead in the river.
Over eight hundred Fire Oil Camp soldiers were shot or stabbed to death, while the remaining over two thousand one hundred all became captives, with none escaping.
Several Enemy Army Generals were taken away for interrogation. Soon, the Tooth General in charge of the interrogation reported to Xu Sheng: “They are all Fire Oil Camp soldiers, a total of three thousand men and ten thousand Fire Oil Bottles, all here. There are no more Fire Oil Camp soldiers in Wan County, nor any stockpile of Fire Oil Bottles.”
This was Xu Shu’s ploy to lure the enemy. By using a fleet to induce the enemy to adopt a Fire Attack plan, the enemy would surely send out their Firearm Camp for an Ambush. Xu Sheng then led his army to Ambush and capture them midway. On one hand, this greatly weakened the enemy’s Firearm Camp strength; on the other, it allowed them to ascertain the enemy’s Fire Oil storage situation.
Unexpectedly, the results were splendid—they had wiped out the entire Firearm Camp, breaking Wan County’s Fire Attack capability. Xu Sheng was overjoyed and immediately sent someone to report to the Strategist.
By the Official Road about twenty li from Wan County, Sun He led ten thousand troops ambushed inside a pine Forest. This spot was only sixty paces from the Official Road, allowing them to Ambush Taishi Ci’s five thousand troops with Crossbows.
At this time, Taishi Ci’s army was still over ten li from the enemy’s ambush position, but his Scout team had discovered the enemy’s movements.
Taishi Ci smiled at Xu Shu: “The Strategist’s lure-the-enemy ploy has succeeded. The enemy is ambushed in the pine Forest, preparing to Ambush us.”
Xu Shu stroked his beard and smiled faintly: “This is not my success, but our Lord’s weaken-the-enemy ploy that deceived them. Xunyang County only has five thousand troops, so Sun He naturally feels contempt and dares to send troops out to Ambush. If we still had fifteen thousand troops stationed, they wouldn’t dare take such a risk.”
“In that case, I can strike the enemy from both front and rear!”
Taishi Ci had ten thousand more troops following behind. He planned to deploy those ten thousand troops behind the enemy for a pincer attack.
Xu Shu shook his head: “No need to send ten thousand troops. Just send two hundred Fire Oil Soldiers to set the pine Forest ablaze with fire, forcing them out, then attack the enemy in the chaos.”
This Plan was good. Taishi Ci hurriedly opened the map for a close look. Five li to the South, there was a Small Road parallel to the Official Road.
He pointed at the Small Road and said to Xu Shu: “This Small Road can bypass the enemy’s ambush position. Please have the Strategist lead the ten thousand troops behind to take the South Small Road first to the East of the enemy’s ambush spot. When the pine Forest fire starts, our two armies charge out together for a pincer attack—the enemy will surely be defeated!”
Xu Shu gladly said: “Excellent plan! I’ll set off right away!”
Xu Shu took dozens of soldiers on Horseback and galloped rearward.
Taishi Ci immediately sent two hundred Fire Oil Soldiers to detour North, preparing to set fire behind the enemy.
Taishi Ci then led his army to advance slowly Eastward, walking a full one and a half shichen. They were still about two li from the ambush spot when a large pine Forest appeared ahead. At this time, Gan Ning received the news that the ten thousand troops were already to the East not far from the enemy.
With five thousand troops to the West and ten thousand to the East, they formed a pincer formation against the enemy.
Taishi Ci waved his hand and ordered: “Launch the fire arrows!”
Three soldiers lit the fire arrows and shot them continuously into the Sky. Three Arrows trailing black smoke flew into the Sky one after another.
Sun He, ambushed in the pine Forest, was starting to grow impatient from waiting. Over ten li, and the enemy had taken a full one and a half shichen.
But Sun He restrained his inner Anxiety and patiently waited for Taishi Ci’s army to arrive.
“Report to the Prefect, the Enemy Army is coming!” shouted the lookout soldier in the tree.
Sun He perked up and hurriedly stood on a Large Stone to gaze toward the Western Official Road.
Sure enough, he saw from afar the five thousand Enemy Army appearing two li away. The enemy had come.
Sun He shouted excitedly: “Crossbowmen, prepare!”
At that moment, commotion suddenly arose from behind, with soldiers shouting loudly.
Sun He flew into a rage and turned to shout: “No noise! You’ll alert the Enemy Army!”
A soldier ran up to report, “General, fire has broken out in the pine Forest behind us. The flames are spreading fiercely, and some of our brothers are trapped by the inferno.”
Sun He was greatly startled and hurriedly climbed onto the Large Stone to look rearward, only to see raging flames in the Forest behind, thick smoke billowing to the Sky, with rear soldiers desperately fleeing forward.
“Bad! We’ve been discovered!”
Sun He was no fool. He immediately realized they had been spotted, and the enemy had struck first.
“Withdraw quickly! Get out of the Forest.”
The fire was spreading too fiercely, with countless soldiers engulfed in flames, emitting desperate screams. If they didn’t withdraw, everyone would be swallowed by the fire.
The ambushing soldiers fled in panic out of the Forest. Just as seven to eight thousand reached the Official Road, Gan Ning led five thousand soldiers charging from the West, while Xu Shu commanded ten thousand from the East. With a pincer attack, Sun He’s army collapsed across the line. Soldiers scattered in flight, discarding Armor and helmets, seeking any chance to escape. Those who couldn’t flee knelt to surrender.
Taishi Ci searched everywhere for Sun He. A soldier pointed to a Waterway: “The enemy Commander led hundreds along the Small River to flee.”
Taishi Ci immediately led two thousand soldiers in pursuit along the Small River.
