Chapter 566: Put it to death and live

While Li Qing himself quelled civil strife and resolved internal disputes in Dingzhou, the cavalry of the mountain wind had completely broken through Minzhou and entered the whole province without stopping, approaching Zhang Aimin's Minzhou Army, who had entered the hinterland of Yizhou. Behind him, Wang Qinian's infantry group swept across the entire Minzhou area and rolled in with the footsteps of the mountain wind.

When Zhang Aimin heard that Minzhou was lost, he immediately vomited blood and fell to the ground. He was carried back to the camp by his generals. He was unconscious for a long time before he woke up. As soon as he woke up, he struggled to get up, pounced on the table, pulled the map on the table, widened his eyes, stared at it, and kept sliding his fingers on the map.

"General, what should we do?" asked Zhang Ai, the general of the Minzhou Army.

Zhang Aimin sat down slowly, "It's clear now that the mountain wind and Wang Qinian's withdrawal from Dingzhou are completely a scam. The purpose is to lure us to attack Yizhou. Yizhou is a bait, a poisonous bait that lures us to attack."

Zhang Ai said with a blue face and hatred: "I'm wondering why the early attack was so smooth. Duke Anguo Li Huaiyuan is famous for his military strategy. His eldest son Li Sizhi and youngest son Li Muzhi are all extremely brave. The Li family is in charge of Yizhou for several generations. Once we break into Yizhou, we are in a trap."

Zhang Aimin smiled bitterly and said, "It's ridiculous that we have always thought that it was because we acted quickly and beyond Li's expectations that this was the result. Now that we think about it, the deeper we attacked, the deeper the trap. Li concentrated the main elite troops in the core protection circle centered on Yizhou City, and stuck us tightly here. Dingzhou Guowang Group surged, and our defeat was just around the corner. Only Duke An Guo could think of such a vicious plan?"

Zhang Ai said in confusion: "But, how could Duke An Guoshi command the mountain wind and Wang Qinian? These two people are the core figures of Dingzhou Group!"

"Maybe it was after Li Qing died, Duke An Guozhe grabbed these two people, maybe Li Qing is still alive!" Zhang Aimin said unconsciously. As soon as he said this, Zhang Aimin was stunned. Zhang Aimin seemed to realize something, jumped up and shouted: "Li Qing is still alive!"

The two looked at each other. If Li Qing was still alive, then the problem would be huge. Li Qing's life means that most of the careful planning of His Majesty the Emperor would be shattered. Not only would it not weaken the strength of Dingzhou, but it would instead prompt Dingzhou to openly rebel like King Ning. Once King Ning and Li Qing joined forces, Zhang Aimin shuddered, then this time the opponent's target was not only himself, but also Qiu Zhi on the Qingzhou front. However, Qiu Zhi was drawn 20,000 elite troops into Gaizhou at this critical moment.

"I want to notify the Emperor immediately!" Zhang Ai said.

Zhang Aimin shook his head, "No need, His Majesty the Emperor must know what we know now, and what we thought of, His Majesty the Emperor will definitely think further than us. Zhang Ai, what we have to do now is how to escape from this cage!"

"Retreat, General!" Zhang Ai said, "Since we know that Yizhou is a trap, we can withdraw immediately now, and it's still time!"

"Is it too late?" Zhang Aimin shook his head, "First, how could that old man Li Huaiyuan let me withdraw smoothly? He will definitely try his best to stick to me. Second, walking there is a problem, is it Minzhou? Wouldn't that happen to run into the heavy army group of Shanfeng and Wang Qinian?"

Zhang Ai looked at the map and suddenly his face changed color, "General Zhang, you don't want to cross Dacang Mountain!"

Dacang Mountain is the highest peak in Yizhou, with an altitude of nearly 4,000 meters. Even in the other three seasons, it would be difficult for the army to cross it. What's more, it's winter now, with heavy snow covering the mountain and unable to find a way out. Moreover, the mountain is steep and ice accumulates into rocks. If the army enters Dacang Mountain, wouldn't it be a death sentence?

Zhang Aimin slapped the table heavily, "It's Dacangshan, Zhang Ai, this is our only way out."

Zhang Ai looked shocked, "General, I object!"

"Zhang Ai, behind us, Dingzhou Iron Cavalry is rolling in. The two cavalrymen of King gathered together, with no less than 20,000. You know how well the soldiers of Dingzhou are equipped. How powerful are the barbarian cavalry, they will still be destroyed by them. If our two armies meet, who do you think will have a greater chance of victory!"

Zhang Ai said hesitantly: "General, war is not necessarily a battle that will win with good weapons. He involves a lot of things, including the right time, the right place, the people and the right people..."

Zhang Aimin patted his shoulder, "You also thought that the right time and place are just as good as us. The mountain wind that led the cavalry is experienced and extremely old in combat. This man has fought with the barbarians for many years, and has used the cavalry easily and has many tactics. Wang Qinian, who was behind him, was called the first infantry battalion of Dingzhou at that time. It is conceivable that his power is not because I am determined by others and destroying my own prestige. When the troops are equal, I have no chance of winning against the Dingzhou soldiers."

"But we still have 10,000 imperial guards!" Zhang Ai said.

"The Imperial Guard has drawn the elite troops of the entire army and is indeed very strong in combat power, but this army has one of the biggest weaknesses, which is that they rarely fight cruel wars. So when they have the upper hand, they will be unparalleled and will exert their combat power to 120%. But once they fall into a fierce tug-of-war, they will exert their strength to 70% or 80% or 80%. Do you think we can gain the upper hand when we meet Dingzhou soldiers? Even if we don't fall into a disadvantage, it will be a tragic battle that can be imagined." Zhang Aimin said.

Zhang Ai agreed with this. The Imperial Army was indeed full of enthusiasm in the early battle against Yizhou, but when it arrived at the core protection circle of Yizhou, the Imperial Army could no longer show their superior strength. This is not a matter of combat power, it is entirely their mentality.

"What's more, if we retreat along the original path, how could the old fox Li Huaiyuan have not been arranged? Then we are trapped in the attack between the Dingzhou Army and the Yizhou Army, and there will be a way out there?"

Zhang Ai's face was solemn, "Doesn't that mean we can only walk along the way to climb Dacangshan?"

"Not bad!" Zhang Aimin nodded, "This is a dead end, but for us, it is a dead end to flow out a dead end. You can't imagine crossing Dacang Mountain, you can't imagine Li Huaiyuan, and you can't imagine crossing the mountain wind, they must think that we will not seek death, but must fight them to the death. Their purpose is to wipe out our Minzhou Army. If Qiu Zhi makes any mistakes in Qingzhou, then your Majesty's left and right arms will be cut off. Therefore, we must preserve our strength, cross Dacang Mountain, go to Qinzhou, and Xingzhou to meet with Your Majesty."

Zhang Ai's face was tragic, "General, I just crossed Dacang Mountain. I wonder how many of our 50,000 Minzhou Army and 10,000 Imperial Guards can be left in the end?"

Zhang Aimin showed a determined look on his face, "Even if only half of it is left, it will save 30,000 elite soldiers for His Majesty. After experiencing this war, the soldiers who can survive will definitely become the enemy's dream. Will those who crawl out of the Hall of Hell be afraid of life and death in the future?"

"Okay, I'll do it!" Zhang Ai also became furious for a moment, "and let it die. But, General, how can we hide it from each other and make it unknown to us? Li Huaiyuan and Kushanfeng are both very old!"

"This time we are putting our lives to death. We beat us by surprise. The whole process is a word that highlights. Hurry! When they react, we have entered Dacang Mountain. If they are not afraid of death, follow us!" Zhang Aimin said fiercely.

"Zhang Ai, from tomorrow on, I will increase the intensity of the attack, and you, secretly lead an army to sneak to the right. Seeing this, Gufu County, take him down. When you launch an attack on Gufu County, I will lead the entire army to retreat. In the early stage, we will retreat towards Quanzhou. When we are halfway through, the entire army suddenly turns. When our army arrives, you must just capture Gufu County. We will go past Gufu County and enter Dacang Mountain without stopping."

"Yes, there will not be many defenders in Gufu County. It is very easy to take him down. It is just a bit difficult to grasp the time. If you fight too early, you will inevitably startle the enemy. If you fight too late, you will inevitably entangle the enemy with the large army!"

"You are the most powerful general under my command, and I believe you can get the right time." Zhang Aimin looked at Zhang Ai trustworthyly.

"Yes, General, I won't let you down, but General, should I notify General Ouyang Jianqiang of this combat plan?"

"No, this person will definitely oppose it strongly. I will notify him when the whole army arrives at Gufu, so he has to follow us into Dacang Mountain. Otherwise, with his own army, he will swallow up even the slags for the enemy!"

Opposite Zhang Aimin, in a giant bastion, Li Sizhi, the general of the commander-in-chief of the Yizhou Army in the Western Front, was standing on the top of the bastion, staring at the Minzhou Army's attacks in the distance. From yesterday, the Minzhou Army suddenly began to go crazy. The intensity of the attack was several levels stronger than before. The first line of defense was broken by them several times. Although it was finally taken back by the Yizhou soldiers, the cruelty of the war made Li Sizhi secretly frightened, and at the same time, he was puzzled. Logically speaking, Zhang Aimin should have known that the Dingzhou Guowang Group had already copied his nest and was forcing him to the back. At this time, he should have planned how to escape. Why did this person do the opposite? Could it be that Zhang Aimin still hoped to break through the Yizhou defense line to get rid of the dilemma in front of him? That was too despised.

Li Sizhi shook his head, no, Zhang Aimin is not such a brainless person.

"He must be running away!" Li Sizhi pointed to the military camp opposite and said to his son Li Zheng.

Li Zheng smiled and said, "Father, even if he is asked to escape back to Quanzhou, he will run into the mountain wind and the Wang Qienian infantry group. Zhang Aimin is doomed this time."

Li Sizhi smiled, "This time the strategy Li Qing and the old man jointly set is indeed impeccable. However, for the victory of this battle, our Yizhou suffered too much loss. Almost all Yizhou territories except the core protection circle were plundered by these bastards, and the losses were heavy!"
Chapter completed!