Chapter 19: Bao Hong's Ambition

  Today is the third update, brothers and sisters give me some support, ask for flowers and collections!

  Yu State, Runan City.

  Bao Hong led four thousand officers and soldiers, taking advantage of the night to arrive at Runan City the next day, and hastily led the army to attack the city.

  The officers and soldiers attacked the city, and Gong Dou and Liu Bi had no choice but to fight back. Both of them had heard that Ji Ling was among the officers and soldiers, and they were afraid that Ji Ling would take out his three-pointed two-edged knife and chase after them, slashing wildly.

  However, things often develop in ways that are beyond people's expectations.

  There was no sign of Ji Ling among the officers and soldiers.

  The two of them were also cunning, and not seeing Ji Ling's figure, they understood that Ji Ling must have been held back by something and couldn't come in person. The only one who could hold back Ji Ling was Wang Can, so it was definitely Wang Can who had delayed Ji Ling, which is why Ji Ling couldn't make it to Runan City. Among the officials attacking Runan, there was no Ji Ling, but rather a lower-ranking military officer from the imperial court named Bao Hong. Liu Bi and Gong Dou suddenly felt a sense of relief in their hearts, not as constrained as before.

  Therefore, when Bao Hong attacked the city, Liu Bi and Gong Dou changed their style, no longer defending the city, but instead taking the initiative to attack.

  The two armies clashed, each having their victories and defeats.

  However, after a battle, Bao Hong only had a slight advantage when he fought against Liu Bi and Gong Du's army on the first day in the morning. By the afternoon of the first day, both sides were evenly matched, and by the second day, the Yellow Turbans were extremely fierce, and Bao Hong's Han army began to retreat steadily. After the battle on the second day in the morning, the official military camp immediately retreated five miles, and by the afternoon, it had retreated another ten miles. The entire official military camp was low-spirited, as if they had been intimidated by Liu Bi and Gong Du, and didn't even dare to engage in a frontal battle.

  Liu Bi and Gong Dou won two consecutive battles, and their desire for battle began to swell.

  Bao Hongyue retreated further back, and Liu Bi and Gong Dou closely followed Bao Hongyue, wanting to annihilate the government troops led by Bao Hongyue in one fell swoop.

  Actually, both Liu Bi and Gong Dou felt that fighting against Bao Hong was too aggressive, but the development of things often made it impossible for them not to desperately chase after Bao Hong. Only by having Wang Can hold off Ji Ling's troops could the two lead their soldiers to defeat Bao Hong's army and have enough energy to deal with Ji Ling who would arrive later at Runan City. Otherwise, once Ji Ling led his troops to arrive at Runan City, Liu Bi and Gong Dou wouldn't even have the thought of resisting.

  It's not that I don't resist, it's just that I can't resist!

  It was night, fifteen miles outside of Runan City.

  The Yellow Turban army camp, Liu Bei sat on the right side of the main tent, first seat, Gong Du sat on the left side of the main tent, first seat. Below them were the army's captains, thousand-man commanders, hundred-man commanders and other Yellow Turban generals. Liu Bei and Gong Du had a red glow all over their faces, with dense joy flashing in their eyes. Gong Du swept his gaze across the crowd and said: "Everyone, because Wang Can, the hundred-man commander, took the initiative to lead more than 70 Yellow Turban warriors to hold off Ji Ling, we were able to defeat Bao Hong smoothly. Now that Bao Hong is retreating step by step, what clever plans do you have to solve the problem of Bao Hong once and for all?"

  Gong Du nodded and said with a smile: "Tonight, General Gong and I have called you here to discuss how to deal with Bao Hong, and then tidy up the soldiers and prepare for battle against Ji Ling. You can speak freely, without reservation, and don't worry that General Gong and I will punish you for saying something wrong, just speak your mind."

  As soon as Gong Dou and Liu Bi's voices fell, the big account began to buzz with the sound of people's discussions.

  Although many people were discussing, no one dared to speak out because it was a matter of life and death. If they said the right thing and won the battle, there would be many benefits. But if they said the wrong thing and Liu Bei and Guan Yu adopted the wrong advice and lost the battle, it would be a matter of losing their heads.

  The school officers and thousand-household heads in the camp are all old veterans, so they naturally won't go up to tread on mines.

  On the contrary, Wang Can's old rival Liu Li was filled with excitement in his eyes. He stood up and bowed to Gong Dou and Liu Bi, saying: "General Liu, General Gong, I request to go to battle!"

  Liu Bi's eyebrows rose, and he asked: "Why did you ask for a fight?"

  Liu Li clasped his hands and said, "Bao Hong's army has been defeated by our troops and is in a state of disarray. Now is the time when the morale of the government soldiers is at its lowest, while our Yellow Turbans are full of vigor and would love to take up their steel knives and slash at the government soldiers. This is precisely the best opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Bao Hong's military camp. Therefore, I request permission to go to war and lead my troops in a night raid against Bao Hong!"

  Liu Bi nodded and smiled: "Your idea is good, but I'd like to ask a question, how can your hundred men launch a night raid?"

  Liu Li's eyes flickered and he gritted his teeth: "General, there are nearly two hundred people under my command, not one hundred!"

  Liu Bi was taken aback, furrowing his brow, and immediately turned to look at his personal bodyguard Dong Fang beside him, with a puzzled expression in his eyes. Dong Fang glanced at Liu Li, rolled his eyes, and whispered in Liu Bi's ear: "General, during the battle with Bao Hong these past two days, many of our centurions were killed by government soldiers. Liu Li has since recruited those soldiers who were under the command of the deceased centurions to join him, gathering a total of 200 men."

  Liu Bei's eyes flashed with a fierce glint, but his face wore a warm smile as he asked, "General Liu Ba, you have two hundred men under your command, which is quite impressive. But have you considered that Bao Xin still has over three thousand soldiers? Can you really succeed in a surprise attack?"

  Liu Li spoke hesitantly and knew that Liu Bi was angry, so he immediately apologized: "This, this... your humble servant was reckless, please forgive me, General!"

  "Of course you're arrogant, daring to expand the army without consulting your superiors! Is this something you can do? This is how one should conduct oneself. If you're only thinking of getting ahead but not doing actual work, I'm afraid that someday disaster will befall you. Do you understand?"

  Liu Li was sweating profusely and hastily said: "Understood, understood!"

  After finishing speaking, Liu Li returned to his seat, lowering his head and remaining silent.

  With Liu Li's interlude, the buzzing discussion in the camp gradually came to a halt. The quiet camp was eerily silent, and everyone was speechless, either looking down or staring at Liu Bi and Gong Dou, their eyes filled with expectation. That gaze made both Gong Dou and Liu Bi feel embarrassed to let them speak up.

  Finally, Gong Du spoke up.

  Gong Du looked at Liu Bei and said, "Old Liu, that bastard Bao Xin has been intimidated by us, so the camp will definitely be on high alert. Even if we go to harass them, I'm afraid we won't gain much. Why don't we let the soldiers rest well tonight and attack Bao Xin with our main force at dawn tomorrow? We might be able to defeat him in one battle. What do you think?"

  "Hmm, that's not bad either. Tomorrow, I must defeat Bao Hong." Liu Bi's large hand waved like a fan, and his face flashed with excitement.

  After a pause, Liu Bei continued: "However, we should also be prepared and take precautions. Bao Hong's troops were defeated and may try to launch a surprise attack. Let's send some soldiers to ambush in the military camp. If Bao Hong sends troops to attack, we can catch him off guard. If he doesn't send anyone, then let the soldiers who are ambushing tonight rest tomorrow."

  Gong nodded and said: "Good, let's do it as you said!"

  It was originally a gathering of ideas, but it became a discussion between Gong Du and Liu Bi. However, Liu Li also gained an advantage. When leaving, Liu Bi asked Liu Li to lead his 200 Yellow Turban soldiers to ambush the military camp on both sides. This is Liu Bi's way of giving Liu Li a little sweetness after hitting him first.

  Night, deeper and deeper, under the entire night sky, except for the crackling flames of the torches, a sheet of silence.

  Suddenly, under the quiet black night, a nightingale's chirping sound came, followed by a burst of fire arrows shooting into the Yellow Turban camp, causing a commotion, making the quiet black night extremely chaotic.

  "Ta-da! Ta-da!! Ta-da!!! "

  A succession of urgent footsteps came, and a large number of government soldiers rushed in. These government soldiers took advantage of the chaos in the Yellow Turban army camp to charge in and fight alongside the Yellow Turbans. Bao Hong followed behind the government soldiers, a hint of ferocity flashing in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and charged into the Yellow Turban camp with the soldiers.

  "Haha, the corrupt official has finally arrived!"

  Suddenly, a loud laughter came from the military account of the Yellow Turban Army camp.

  Gong Du held a steel knife, wore armor, and ran out of the camp quickly, standing in front of the soldiers, shouting: "You corrupt official, your time is up, I've been waiting for you for a long time. Hehe, tonight next year will be your funeral day."

  As soon as Gong Du's voice fell, he immediately rushed towards Bao Hong.

  The moment before, the chaotic military camp suddenly became neat and tidy. The soldiers who had been resting in the camp all rushed out quickly. These soldiers were sleeping with their clothes on, with their weapons by their side, so it was clear that after the officers and men attacked the camp, they didn't take much time to gather together.

  Bao Hong's face changed in shock, his complexion turned pale, and he shouted loudly: "We've been deceived! Withdraw, withdraw quickly!"