Late November.

Zhao Baian led an army of 50,000 to Chenzhou and was preparing to send people to Chenzhou to recruit surrender. If he could win without a fight, this would be the best result.

Late that night, Cao Shi thought that Zhao Baian had come to the army, and his foothold was not stable, and planned to attack them, and caught them off guard. Unfortunately, Zhao Baian would not give Cao Shi any chance at all. He was well prepared inside and outside the military camp. Cao Shi's three thousand troops were discovered in advance dozens of miles away. Zhao Baian asked Huang Hui to lead five thousand troops outside. After Cao Shi's troops arrived, he attacked him a counter-ambush. The three thousand troops were coming and going, and the entire army was destroyed.

Zhao Baian and his group stood on the wooden wall, looking at the field outside, and the battle ended in less than an hour.

Huang Hui said: "It seems that there is no need to send people to Chenzhou to recruit surrender."

Since Cao Shi took the initiative to launch an attack, he was obviously ready to die and there was no possibility of being surrendered.

"This Cao Shi is also a fool. We have a total of 50,000 troops and only 3,000 soldiers. What can we do? What else can we do when we want to launch a surprise attack? It's simply ignorant."

Kou Xiong mocked Cao Shi and then said to Zhao Baian: "Master General, the opponent is defeated at this time and his mind is dispersed. Give me ten thousand soldiers and I will attack Jia Yancheng, or the overall situation can be determined by one battle."

Sima Zhong said in a deep voice: "General Kou, the situation in Lingnan is not just a Cao Shi. Don't forget that behind him, there is still a Shihu, who is our biggest enemy."

Kou Xiong said: "Of course I know this, but now there is this opportunity, why not fight? First, get rid of Cao Shi and fight Shi Hu."

Everyone discussed it, but they could not see Zhao Baian talking, so they all looked at him.

Zhao Baian looked into the distance with a contemplative look on his face. He had been thinking for a long time.

"Master, what do you think?"

Huang Hui asked in a voice.

Zhao Baian came back to his senses, looked at them, and said, "There is more than 20,000 troops deployed inside and outside Jiayan City. As far as I know, the maximum number of soldiers and horses of the governor of Chenzhou is no more than 15,000. Where do these extra soldiers come from?"

Kou Xiong said: "The war is imminent, and it is not normal to force the men to enrich the team?"

“Not like.”

Zhao Baian shook his head: "It's too late to go in time, and there's no need for this. Cao Shi didn't have any soldiers to use, nor did he end up in the end. The thousands of additional soldiers and horses are likely to come from outside."

After hearing Zhao Baian's words, everyone thought about it carefully and found that there was something really right. Besides, if Cao Shi really wanted to force his men, it would not be too difficult to get him 10,000 or 20,000 yuan. Why did he get 5,000 yuan more? This is indeed worth everyone's contemplation.

"If it weren't for the people in the city, there were only two possibilities. One was Shi Hu's secret support, and the other was Zhan Po's troops to help."

Sima Zhong said, "What are the concerns about the Grand Marshal?"

“That’s exactly that!”

Zhao Baian nodded, Sima Zhong's guess was exactly what he was worried about.

Zhao Baian raised his hand and pointed to the front, saying, "From here to Chenzhou, you have to pass through the three states of Chun, Feng and Bian.... It is 800 miles away."

Speaking of this, Zhao Baian turned around and pointed his finger to the right rear: "Two hundred miles away is Enzhou, where there are 20,000 troops of Shihu. If we continue to march forward, Shihu is behind, it will be a huge threat, so we must guard against it."

Huang Hui frowned and said, "At least 20,000 troops must be left to guard against each other. If the retreat is cut off, the situation will be unimaginable."

Zhao Baian said: "Leave 20,000. The army we use to attack Chenzhou is only 30,000. Cao Shi has 20,000 troops in his hands. In a battle tonight, he will lose 3,000 and 17,800 people. If he uses Jiayan City to defend the city, it will be difficult for us to capture it in a short time, and once a stalemate is formed..."

Speaking of this, Zhao Baian didn't continue to talk about it, but everyone knew the truth.

The situation in Lingnan is very complicated. On the surface, it seems that there is only one Cao Shi, but secretly there are Shi Hu and Zhan Po. Zhao Baian has to face three forces. Once he has been attacked Chenzhou for a long time, time will delay, and the later it will change. The greater the danger.

Sima Zhong asked, "What do you think of the Grand Marshal?"

"Two roads, quick decision, slow down."

Zhao Baian glanced at everyone and said in a deep voice: "Huang Hui led 10,000 troops to station Chenzhou, Kou Xiong led 10,000 troops to station Longzhou in the last place, Sima Zhong led 10,000 troops to station Fengzhou, and I led 20,000 troops to march Chenzhou. We are not far apart. Anything happens can be responded to and supported as soon as possible, and look for opportunities in the stalemate. If you can fight, you can fight. If you can't fight, you won't fight. This is a slow fight."

Huang Hui said in a deep voice: "How to talk about quick decision?"

Zhao Baian sneered and said, "If you don't hit Cao Shi, concentrate all your strength and attack Enzhou, and hit Shihu first."

Hearing this, Huang Hui and others were shocked. They never expected that Zhao Baian would have such a bold idea.

Kou Xiong laughed and said, "The general's intention is just right for me, I think that's what I can do."

Huang Hui and Sima Zhong were both in deep thought.

Zhao Baian's idea is extremely bold and has great risks. As for the moment, Shi Hu obviously does not want to turn against the court openly. In this way, no matter whether Cao Shi can fight or not, the worst result is nothing more than a return without success. Shi Hu will never rashly send troops. Everyone will continue to maintain the status quo. Shi Hu and Cao Shi form a local separatist. Since they have achieved the set goal, they will not do things too much. In this way, most prefectures and counties in Lingnan will still be in the hands of the court, and the whole situation will not be too bad. However, once they actively attack Shi Hu, it will be poked into a hornet's nest. Both sides will lose all room for maneuver, and the situation in Lingnan will also lose control, completely fall into a turmoil, and even affect the whole world.

Of course, risks are proportional to returns, with great risks and great returns. If Shi Hu can be quickly defeated with lightning speed, Chenzhou where Cao Shi is located will almost become an isolated city, and the situation in Lingnan will be completely pacified at the fastest speed.

"Two veteran generals, just tell me what you think. Anyway, I support the quick decision. It's too troublesome to slow down and there are too many changes. It's better to concentrate your strength and fight him. There are so many of us here, are you still afraid that Shi Hu will not succeed?"

Kou Xiong saw that Huang Hui and Sima Zhong did not speak for a long time, and said impatiently.

Sima Zhong said: "Tomorrow, I will send someone to Enzhou, let Shi Hu withdraw 10,000 troops, take a detour to Chenzhou, and cooperate with us to fight..."

Huang Hui frowned and said, "What if Shi Hu agrees?"

Sima Zhong said with a very serious expression: "If you agree or not, he will not be able to leave."

Huang Hui was slightly stunned, and then understood Sima Zhong's meaning. He had already chosen to fight quickly and send people to Enzhou to ask Shi Hu to withdraw 10,000 troops, but he was just careless.

Huang Hui looked at Zhao Baian: "Master, you can make a decision."
Chapter completed!