Chapter 856: Use the enemy’s trick against him and strike with thunder!
While Chen Wenzhao was eating and drinking on the city wall, in the military camp of Fengwu Army outside the city of Heyi County, Yuan Song, wearing a thick cotton jacket, was standing on the watchtower...
Observing the situation in Heyi County through a telescope, Yuan Song's expression was very serious. After a moment, he asked Zheng Chuang, the staff officer beside him:

"What time is it now?"

Zheng Chuang thought for a moment and said:
"It's just the third watch now, and there's about an hour left until the fourth watch!"

Yuan Song nodded slightly when he heard this, and his expression was still very serious as he looked towards Heyi County. Seeing this, Zheng Chuang hesitated for a moment and said:
"Master Yuan, it's cold outside and it's getting dark. Do you want to go back and rest for a while?"

Yuan Song did not reply when he heard this, but continued to look towards Heyi County with a serious expression.

Seeing this, Zheng Chuang continued to advise:
"Sir Yuan, you are the commander-in-chief of the Yunbing battlefield. The more than 100,000 Fengwu soldiers in the Yunbing battlefield all rely on you. You must take good care of yourself!"

As Zheng Chuang finished speaking, Yuan Song's nephew and captain of the personal guards, Yuan Sen, also whispered:
"Uncle, what Staff Officer Zheng said makes sense. It's too cold outside. Go back to your tent and rest for a while. When the traitor gives the signal at four o'clock in the morning, I'll call you to take command!"

Hearing the successive dissuasion from his subordinates and nephew, Yuan Song also felt a little cold, and then instructed Zheng Chuang:
“I’ll go back and rest for a while. I’ll leave the situation here to you. Notify me immediately if there’s any movement…”

Zheng Chuang nodded and said solemnly:
"Please rest assured, Master Yuan!"

Hearing Zheng Chuang's answer, Yuan Song nodded slightly, and then returned to the central army camp under the escort of Yuan Sen and others.

Because he received the latest intelligence from the Coordination Office, Yuan Song rushed from Jinyang to the vicinity of Heyi County yesterday in order to personally take charge of the operation.

However, he is old after all, and he has been in the army for decades, so he has many old health problems. It is still the coldest time of the year outside, and Yuan Song's body can't bear it after running around for several days in a row. Although he wants to hold on, he can't continue in the end.

As soon as Yuan Song returned to the tent, he lay down on the camp bed. Without his instruction, his nephew Yuan Sen set up a stove next to him and started to cook ginger soup for Yuan Song.

Half an incense stick later, Yuan Sen came to Yuan Song with a bowl of ginger soup. Seeing this, Yuan Song sat up on the camp bed and drank the ginger soup sip by sip.

As the ginger soup went down his throat, Yuan Song's face turned rosy, and the heat in his body became more and more intense. After recovering, Yuan Song said with some self-mockery:
"Human beings! You really can't refuse to admit that you're getting old. When I was in Yijing, I thought I could still work for at least ten years. I didn't expect that after coming to Yunbing, I would be stumped by the slightest cold. I'm really getting more and more useless..."

Listening to Yuan Song's words, Yuan Sen also comforted him:

"Uncle, you are in the prime of your life now, you don't look old at all! It's just that the weather in Yunbing is exceptionally cold this year. Not to mention that you are fifty years old, I am only in my twenties and I am shivering with cold!"

Although he knew that his nephew was comforting him, Yuan Song felt much better after hearing his nephew's words. He really didn't want to admit that he was old. He wanted to work for another ten years and didn't want to quit now.

After finishing the ginger soup in the bowl, Yuan Song instructed his nephew:
"You have been with me for many years and have made great progress over the years. Have you ever thought about your future?"

Yuan Sen felt it was very sudden when he heard this. He hesitated for a while, shook his head and said:
"Uncle, I really haven't thought about this matter. I just want to be your personal guard captain and take care of you by your side!"

Hearing Yuan Sen say this, Yuan Song shook his head with some pity and said:
"You are only 25 years old this year. This is the time when you should be ambitious. Why do you have no ambition?"

"When I was your age, I was a sergeant in the Imperial Guards. I always wanted to be a commander!"

Speaking of this, Yuan Song seemed to recall the time when he fought in the imperial army of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and a faint smile appeared on the corners of his mouth.

After recalling the past, Yuan Song began to command:

“There is a sentry position under the Second Army. After the battle of Heyi County this time, you will fill this position. I will report to the General Staff…”

"It's not good for your future development if you are directly appointed as the commander. You must work hard after you go to the Second Army. Don't bring shame to our Yuan family. Try to make more contributions so that your uncle can promote you!" Yuan Song patted Yuan Sen on the shoulder and warned:
Yuan Sen was the son of his second brother, who died early of tuberculosis. Yuan Sen had been with him since he was fifteen years old. He had been fighting with him in many battles over the years, starting as a personal guard and eventually becoming the captain of his personal guards.

When he was the Chief of the General Staff in Yijing, Yuan Song thought that Yuan Sen was growing up and should have his own future. He couldn't always do things like serving tea and water by his side. However, knowing Yuan Sen's personality, he was not suitable for working in the agency, so Yuan Song did not keep Yuan Sen in the General Staff.

When he was transferred to Yunbing this time, Yuan Song also wanted to arrange Yuan Sen out and give Yuan Sen a broad space for him to achieve great things.

Yuan Sen had mixed feelings about Yuan Song's words. After hesitating for a while, he said to Yuan Song reluctantly:

"Uncle, I'm leaving too. Who will take care of you?"

Yuan Song burst into laughter upon hearing this and immediately said:

"I'm not a three-year-old child. Besides, Zhang Li and the others are here. You don't have to worry about it. This matter has been settled. Don't be so fussy. This is not a life-and-death separation!"

After hearing this, Yuan Sen calmed down and nodded heavily at Yuan Song and said:
"Uncle, I understand. I won't bring shame to the Yuan family..."

After hearing Yuan Sen's answer, Yuan Song nodded with satisfaction, then handed the empty bowl of ginger soup to Yuan Sen and instructed:
"Turn off the kerosene lamp. I need to take a nap. Come and call me at four o'clock in the morning!"

"Yes!"

While Yuan Song was resting, the Yunbing Army in Heyi County was quietly gathering. Huang Kai, the commander of the Yunbing Army, walked up to Chen Wenzhao and reported in a deep voice:

"General Chen, our troops are already in ambush near the South City Gate. As soon as the Fengwu Army arrives, we will give them a head-on blow!"

Listening to Huang Kai's report, Chen Wenzhao raised a cruel arc at the corner of his mouth and ordered:
"Tell the brothers, aren't you always clamoring for military pay?"

"Governor Wang has prepared a reward for us in Jinyang. Each Fengwu Army head will get five taels of silver. We have given them the chance to make a fortune. Now it depends on whether they can seize it!"

As soon as Huang Kai said this, a hint of greed appeared in his eyes, and he patted his chest and promised:
"Don't worry, General Chen. All of our soldiers are brave men. We will drink the blood of the Fengwu Army tonight!"

In response to Huang Kai's statement, Chen Wenzhao nodded with satisfaction and said:

"Very good! Go down and get ready! The show is about to begin!"

"Yes!"

Standing on the city wall and continuing to look at the Fengwu Army camp outside the city, Chen Wenzhao's eyes were full of teasing and complacency...

In his opinion, the Fengwu Army is now immersed in the joy of victory in capturing Wenshan County. They may think that the Yunbing Army will collapse under their powerful offensive, and they would never think that he would give them a severe blow in Heyi County.

Three days ago, Wang Muzhi, the governor of Yunbing, gave him a secret order, asking him to arrange his men to pretend to pass a message to the Fengwu Army, saying that he wanted to follow the example of Wenshan County and offer Heyi County to the Fengwu Army.

Wang Muzhi believed that the Fengwu Army had always liked to launch propaganda offensives, trying to find loopholes that could be exploited within the enemy, and they liked to use this tactic when attacking a city.

Therefore, as long as Wang Muzhi throws the bait to the Fengwu Army, they will definitely take the bait!

In order to make his plan look more realistic, Wang Muzhi also withdrew the Yunbing Army from Xiaode County, as if he was going to give up Heyi County!

In fact, Wang Muzhi really wanted to give up Heyi County. When the Fengwu Army captured Wenshan County and Xiaode County was unable to hold out, Heyi County was completely surrounded by the Fengwu Army. It could no longer achieve the purpose that Wang Muzhi had expected and stop the Fengwu Army from becoming a barrier to Jinyang!

Since the role of Heyi County has become very small, Wang Muzhi doesn’t want to waste all the 15,000 soldiers and horses in Heyi County there...
These 15,000 men are all veterans of the Yunbing Army and they are very powerful. If they can be withdrawn back to Jinyang, they will be able to play a greater role in the subsequent defense of Jinyang!
Although he had such an idea, Wang Muzhi also knew that Heyi County was surrounded by the Second Army of the Fengwu Army. Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult for them to withdraw, so Wang Muzhi set up a trap and asked his men to pretend to surrender the city, luring the Second Army besieging the city into an ambush to severely damage the Second Army, and then taking the opportunity to break out in the direction of Xiaode.

Although the Yunbing Army withdrew all its soldiers from Xiaode on the surface and Xiaode County was taken over by the Fengwu Army, in reality Wang Muzhi had more than 500 elite soldiers secretly hiding in the county.

In addition, Xiaode is very close to Jinyang and is easy to attack but difficult to defend, so Wang Muzhi also plans to launch a night attack on Xiaode tonight to recapture Xiaode County in order to support Chen Wenzhao's troops to break out.

Chen Wenzhao deeply agreed with Wang Muzhi's entire plan. Although he had a blood feud with the Fengwu Army and dreamed of taking revenge on the Fengwu Army, as the old saying goes, it is better to live a miserable life than to die well!

Although Heyi County is still in his hands at the moment, everyone knows that it is only a matter of time before Heyi County is conquered by the Fengwu Army. Once Heyi County is conquered by the Fengwu Army, Chen Wenzhao’s fate will naturally be self-evident...
So now that he has a chance to survive, Chen Wenzhao is naturally very happy. Before leaving Heyi County, he wants to severely attack the Fengwu Army, let these Fengwu Army know how powerful he, Chen Wenzhao, is, and collect the interest of revenge for his father's murder!

Soon it was four o'clock in the morning, which was the time agreed upon by both parties. Under Chen Wenzhao's order, the defenders at the South Gate fired three fireworks as a signal.

As the signal slowly rose in the sky, the Fengwu Army, which had been ready outside the South City Gate, immediately rushed towards the South City Gate.

Looking at the Fengwu Army soldiers rushing up, Chen Wenzhao couldn't help but burst into laughter. He could already imagine the refreshing scene that after a cup of tea, countless Fengwu Army soldiers would suffer heavy casualties and blood would flow all over the ground, wailing helplessly in pain and despair!
However, after waiting for a while, Chen Wenzhao did not hear any shouts of killing from his subordinates, which made him a little confused. Logically speaking, the Fengwu Army should have been ambushed after entering the city from the South Gate. Why didn't his soldiers take action yet?

Just as Chen Wenzhao was puzzled, the flustered Huang Kai came to him and reported:

"General, after the enemy entered from the South Gate, they did not continue to charge into the encirclement. They stopped at the South Gate!"

After hearing this, Chen Wenzhao widened his eyes in disbelief, and at this moment, a thunder-like roar suddenly sounded in the dark night.

Although the sound was like thunder, Chen Wenzhao, who had been bombarded by the Fengwu Army for more than a month, immediately realized that the Fengwu Army was firing at them...

Chen Wenzhong immediately had a bad premonition in his heart, and his premonition turned out to be correct. Soon another messenger came to report:

"General, the Fengwu Army has launched a full-scale attack on the city from the east, west, and north. Our brothers are about to be unable to stop them!"

Upon hearing the news, Chen Wenzhao felt his head sink, and then his legs went limp and he sat on the ground. He closed his eyes in pain.

In order to set up an ambush at the South Gate, he drew out most of the garrisons from the other three gates. Now the garrisons at these three gates were very weak and they would certainly not be able to hold out against the all-out attack of the Fengwu Army. Now it was completely too late to transfer troops back from the South Gate!

Just as Chen Wenzhao was sinking into endless pain and regret, he suddenly thought of a possibility. He roared like a madman grasping at the last straw:
“Let all the soldiers attack the South Gate! Take back the South Gate for me. It is our last hope. We must fight our way out! Fight with the damn Fengwu Army…”

(Originally this chapter was not planned to have this plot, but yesterday I received a very thoughtful chapter review, which made Tongming suddenly realize it, so I temporarily adjusted the plot today. I hope everyone likes it. The only pity is that the chapter review has been harmonized!)
(End of this chapter)