Chapter 10: Gathering Information

  Gebo, located one hundred li southeast of Runan City, is a necessary route for entering Runan.

  Bao Hong and Yuan Shu's large army wanted to go to Runan, and the large army had to pass through Gebo.

  In the late afternoon, a blood-red sun hung on the horizon, casting a bloody glow over the blue sky. In the quiet mountains, urgent footsteps suddenly echoed through the forest of Ge Po Mountain. Liu Cheng's footsteps were swift and his breathing was weak and rapid, clearly having run for a long distance. He quickly ran to Wang Can's side, knelt down on one knee, and bowed: "Sir, Yuan Shu and Bao Hong's army has entered the territory of Ge Po."

  "Oh, has it finally arrived?"

  Wang Can smiled coldly and led his soldiers to rest in Longshan Valley for a night. The next day, at the fifth watch, he hastily brought Zhou Cang, Pei Yuanshao and others to rush to Ge Slope. Unexpectedly, when they arrived at Ge Slope, they did not find any trace of Yuan Shu's and Bao Hong's army. However, this also had its advantages, allowing Wang Can to have enough time to prepare everything to deal with the armies of Bao Hong and Yuan Shu.

  After waiting for two days, the arrival of the government troops finally came.

  "Zhou Cang, are all the traps set up?" Wang Can asked in a low voice.

  "Everything is ready, milord," Zhou Cang said loudly.

  Wang Can nodded and smiled: "Good, tonight we will go to lure the government troops out of battle, let them taste the wonderfulness of these traps. Now it's already evening, I estimate that Bao Hong and Yuan Shu will set up camp in Ge Po, and then wait until tomorrow to lead the army to rush to Runan City. What we need to do tonight is to lure the enemy out of battle. Zhou Cang, Pei Yuanshao, you two follow us together to investigate the enemy situation, see where Bao Hong's troops are stationed?"

  "Promise!"

  Zhou Cang and Pei Yuanshao replied with excitement on their faces.

  "Willow is grown, leading the way forward."

  Wang Can turned around and ordered Liu Cheng to follow him, the four of them quickly disappeared into the mountain forest, running towards where the government troops were camping.

  To the south of Ge Slope, government soldiers were slowly marching towards Ru Nan direction.

  In the center of the soldiers, a barbarian with a thick beard and a broad nose, wearing black armor, rode on a sorrel warhorse, holding a three-pointed double-edged knife, slowly following the departure of the army.

  This man was Ji Ling, a great general under Yuan Shu, who had been sent to Ernan City to exterminate the Yellow Turbans.

  "General Bao, the sky is already late. I think we should set up camp at Ge Po and rest for a night to let the soldiers recover their spirits and make sufficient preparations. Then tomorrow, with one mind, we will rush to Ru Nan City and capture it." Ji Ling's eyes narrowed slightly, his face showing an air of "I am the greatest in the world". He said loudly: "Besides, if we don't set up camp at Ge Po, we must continue on our way through the night. At this time, the army has already entered the forest, and to retreat or advance both require several li, no matter what, it will take an hour's worth of time. By the time we finish talking, the sky will be very late. We should set up camp here, I reckon the Yellow Turbans won't dare to come and steal our camp."

  "A group of reckless Yellow Turbans, it's fine if they just became bandits, but they actually dare to occupy cities, burning and killing, looting... it's really unbearable. In those years, Zhang Jue led the rebellion, our family followed the lord to suppress the Yellow Turbans, countless Yellow Turbans were killed. Now, a small group of Yellow Turbans want me to take action? Hmph, this group of damned Yellow Turban thieves."

  Ji Ling's face revealed a mixture of arrogance and impatience as he spoke.

  Ji Ling was Yuan Shu's first great general, brave and fierce, with a knife in one hand, few enemies could withstand him.

  It was precisely because Ji Ling's martial arts were strong that he was one of Yuan Shu's most trusted generals, yet he was dispatched to Ru'nan City to eliminate the Yellow Turbans. Ji Ling was indignant in his heart, a group of Yellow Turbans, where is it worth him taking action, letting him take action against the Yellow Turbans, it's simply a waste of great talent, using an ox knife to kill a chicken.

  Bao Hong nodded, a flattering smile on his face, and said: "Let's do as General Ji says. We'll rest at Ge Po for the night and attack the Yellow Turbans in Runan tomorrow. At that time, we'll still have to rely on General Ji to take action!"

  "Ah, General Bao can rest assured, they are just a group of Yellow Turban bandits."

  Ji Ling's face was filled with a smile, stroking his beard, and a hint of pride flashed in his eyes. However, on his face, there was also a trace of disdainful smile, it was unknown whether he disdained the Yellow Turbans or disdained Bao Hong for being afraid of the Yellow Turbans.

  Report!

  A small school rode a horse quickly to Ji Ling's side and said loudly: "Report to the general, the end of the will has already explored the terrain of Ge Po, the surrounding mountains and forests are dense, and the weeds are lush everywhere. There is no open campsite suitable for the army to set up camp. Now it is autumn, and the mountains are full of withered branches and fallen leaves. The army is close to the mountain forest, and there may be danger in stationing. Please ask the general to decide."

  Ji Ling's expression turned solemn, "Does Ge Po really have no suitable place to stay?"

  Looking up at the trees all over the mountain, what enters the eyes is a piece of withered yellow.

  It is now October, the trees are withered and yellow, and the grass is sparse. The terrain of Ge Po is all deep mountains and dense forests, without a large enough open space to accommodate Bao Hong's 5,000 soldiers under Ji Ling's command. Therefore, the small school that was searching for a place to rest hurriedly ran to Ji Ling and asked him how to handle it.

  Ji Ling fell silent for a moment, then said: "When we set up camp at Ge Po, remember to clear away the weeds around the campsite. As for trees and such, it's too much trouble, so just leave them be."

  "Yes!" Little School responded with a bow and then turned around to carry out the order.

  Bao Hong, however, felt that it was not advisable and asked: "General Ji, isn't it a big taboo for the army to camp near mountains and forests? Moreover, Ge Po is a place with dense weeds. If a fire breaks out, I'm afraid there will be danger? Even if we clear away the surrounding weeds, but the wind is very strong today. If a fire starts, it will be difficult to deal with the situation as the wind will fan the flames."

  Ji Ling despised Bao Hong in his heart for being timid like a mouse, but on the surface, he showed a serious expression and asked: "General Bao, our great army is heading to Ru Nan to attack the Yellow Turbans. This group of Yellow Turbans has already learned about our news, and now they are probably worried about how to resist us. Do you think they will take the initiative to send troops?"

  "What? What?" Bao Hong's face turned red as he awkwardly said, "The Yellow Turbans are weak, they definitely wouldn't dare to launch a surprise attack."

  Ji Ling sneered and said, "That's right, since the Yellow Turbans don't dare to send troops, has anyone told you that being enemies with us and stationing beside the mountain forest is something to be afraid of? General Bao, you don't have to worry, nothing will happen!" Ji Ling had a lecturing tone, speaking with a heavy heart, after finishing, he ignored Bao Hong and gently patted the brown warhorse's ** with three points and two edges, quickly galloping forward.

  Bao Hong smiled wryly and gazed at the disappearing figure of Ji Ling, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

  In the distant official road, hidden in the mountains and forests, Wang Can, Zhou Cang, and Liu Cheng lived high and low, hiding in the mountains and forests to secretly observe the slow march of the official army. Wang Can's eyes were always on Ji Ling, who held a three-pointed two-edged knife, this was his main target for active attack, as for Bao Hong, let him go against Gong Dou and Liu Bi.

  "Your Excellency, Ji Ling is preparing to set up camp at Ge Po." Pei Yuanshao ran hastily and bowed his hands to Wang Can: "The soldiers hiding in the dark have sent news that Bao Hong and Ji Ling's army has begun to set up camp and prepare for a night's rest at Ge Po. When are we going to take action?"

  Wang Can shook his head and glanced at Zhou Cang beside him, saying: "Zhou Cang, how confident are you that you can kill Ji Ling?"

  "Less than 40%!"

  King Can frowned and asked again: "If Pei Yuanshao is added, how many percent of assurance is there?"

  Zhou Cang thought for a moment and said: "If we add Old Pei, we should have about 70% chance of winning!"

  "Seventy percent?" Wang Can lowered his head in contemplation, sighing inwardly that it was still too low, without absolute certainty. It would be better not to provoke Ji Ling. After a moment of silence, he asked: "You have seventy percent confidence in killing Ji Ling, then I'll only let you and Pei Yuanshao entangle Ji Ling, how much confidence do you have?"

  Zhou Cang smiled and said, "If it's just about tying up Ji Ling, there's absolutely no problem."

  Wang Can's face finally broke into a smile, and he said: "Alright, tonight you and Old Pei will be in charge of tying up Ji Ling. As for killing Ji Ling, I'll take care of it myself." He had been living here for nearly half a month now, during which time Wang Can had been training his archery skills day and night. For him, using swords or spears to engage in close combat with top martial artists was not as effective as mastering his own archery skills, allowing him to hit targets at a hundred paces, or even farther, with a single arrow.

  Play to one's strengths and attack the enemy's weaknesses, this is the best way to maximize one's advantages.

  P.S: On Monday,