The order was passed, and the 20,000 troops suddenly stopped and hundreds of steps in front of the north gate, and they were unable to move forward.

Not only Shi Dakai, but also the 20,000 soldiers of the Wei Dynasty, looking at the strange scene in the enemy city, all opened their mouths in surprise, and they were all confused.

According to common sense, when Zhao Fan learned that their army was coming, he had already ordered all five thousand soldiers to come to the city, aiming for crossbows, and raised the wood and flying stones, waiting for the Wei army to attack in a high position.

But the scene I saw in front of me was too unexpected.

The city walls that were supposed to be densely packed with people were now empty and empty.

The suspension bridge that should have been hanging high was actually in a falling state.

The city gate, which was originally closed, was now open, and there was still no sight of half of the soldiers guarding the gate. Only seven or eight old men were sprinkling water and sweeping the floor as if they were nowhere to beside the door, as if they didn't take their 20,000 troops seriously.

What's the situation?

The same question mark burst out from the minds of the soldiers of the Great Wei Dynasty. They looked at each other and then looked at the empty enemy city, all of them were confused.

Looking at the situation in front of him, Shi Dakai, who was originally murderous intent, had dissipated his murderous aura at this moment, and replaced it with deep suspicion.

The 20,000 Wei troops stopped before the enemy city, neither retreated nor attacked the city, forming a stalemate.

The head of the north gate of Chen County.

Thousands of Taiping soldiers were curled up and squatting under the female wall, each of them trembling with fear, not even breathing, let alone showing up.

Thousands of people were all worried, fearing that the city gate would be so wide open. The next second, the Wei army rushed into the city openly and killed them completely.

Zhao Fan, hiding in the city tower, had already had a cold sweat at this moment. He didn't dare to go out, but he lay on the crack of the door from time to time and looked out of the city from a high place. His heart was beating wildly, and his face was written with two "tough" big "tense".

Behind Zhao Fan, all the officials in the county were panicked and wiping their sweat from time to time, and they didn't even dare to breathe.

Among the group of panicked and uneasy people, Deng Ai was the only one who was calm and composed. He sat in the corner and sipped a sip of wine, revealing a calm temperament that was not the same age as him.

Zhao Fan turned around and found Deng Ai in the corner. Seeing Deng Ai's relaxed look, his eyes burst into disgust and annoyance.

He ran over in a few steps and asked Deng Ai in a deep voice: "Deng Shizai, the enemy is already standing under his nose. You are still in the mood to drink, what do you mean!"

Deng Ai put down his wine glass, stood up slowly, and smiled calmly and said in a calm tone: "Since the Wei army did not advance immediately...attack, it means that Shi Dakai had already fallen into the Kong City plan of Kong City, and he was confused. He would retreat later. Why should the prefect be so anxious... and he might as well sit down and have a drink."

Seeing that Deng Ai said so relaxed and confidently, Zhao Fan was nervous and irritable, and then calmed down a little, but he said worriedly: "The thief has not attacked now, but this does not mean that your plan has been successful. If he sees through your plan later, he will still launch an attack. Deng Ai, then the prefect will take responsibility for the loss of Chen County by then."

Zhao Fan's implication is already very clear. If Shi Dakai launches an attack later, he will never dare to lead his army to resist and will immediately abandon the city and flee.

When he fled to Hong Xiuquan and was asked about it by Hong Xiuquan, Zhao Fan would put all the blame on Deng Ai for losing the city and ask him to take the blame and apologize for his death.

Deng Ai's brows froze slightly, and a hint of displeasure or even a hint of contempt flashed through his eyes.

Yes, he felt a little contempt for Zhao Fan from the bottom of his heart.

You know, he is just a minor official in the county. Even if the empty city plan was offered by him, the decision to adopt it was ultimately in the hands of Zhao Fan.

Since Zhao Fan decided to use the empty city strategy, it means that he is also willing to bear the consequences of the failure of the strategy.

But now Zhao Fan said that if the plan fails, he, Deng Ai, will take the blame and let him be a scapegoat. Such an irresponsible boss will naturally make Deng Ai feel disgusted.

Deng Ai felt excited again, but swallowed his saliva, suppressing the anger in his heart, and said coldly: "Don't worry, the prefect, if my empty city plan was an ordinary reckless enemy general, it might really be useless. It was precisely because of Shi Dakai's extremely wise that he would be suspicious and be deceived, and this plan would definitely succeed!"

"What if!" Zhao Fan was still worried and asked.

Deng Ai was silent for a moment and said with a sigh: "This plan was offered by me, Deng Ai. If it fails, the Heavenly King will blame me, Deng Ai, and I, will bear the consequences with all my strength."

"Okay, this is what you said!" Zhao Fan nodded with satisfaction and said to the county officials on both sides: "You have heard it too. If the Heavenly King starts to blame you, you must be a witness."

The county officials in the world naturally called it yes.

Deng Ai remained silent, snorted coldly and returned to his seat, lowered his head and continued to drink.

Zhao Fan had no choice but to go to the door with uneasiness and looked down at the city anxiously through the crack of the door.

In front of the city, the Wei army had been in formation for a long time, but never attacked the city.

It’s not that you can’t attack, but that you dare not attack.

Shi Dakai stared at the old people who were sprinkling water and sweeping the floor in front of the city gate. The more he looked, the more suspicious he felt. When he looked at the empty scene above the city, the suspicion in his heart became more and more serious.

After hesitating for a long time, Shi Dakai waved his hand and shouted, "I ordered the entire army to retreat ten miles and set up camp!"

The order was passed down, and the left and right deputy generals were all surprised.

A deputy general asked hurriedly: "General Shi, our army has reached the city gate. There is no enemy shadow on the head of Chen County, and the city gate is also open. Why should we withdraw our troops? Just kill into the city in one breath."

"What do you know?" Shi Dakai snorted coldly, pointed at the hole-open city and said: "The enemy opened the city gate and could not see the shadow of half a soldier. It was obvious that he wanted to lure me to attack the city. I think that Zhao Fan must have ambushed the heavy troops in the city. How could I let him be fooled?"

"But, it's not said that Hong Thief has led the main force to escape, leaving only Zhao Fan and five thousand weak soldiers?" The deputy general said suspiciously again.

Shi Dakai said in a deep voice: "There are treacherous people like Yang Xiuqing and outstanding strategists like Sima Hui in the Taiping Army. Maybe this is just their tricks and we must not underestimate them."

Shi Dakai had made up his mind and immediately ordered the entire army to withdraw his troops and set up a camp with ten miles. At the same time, he sent a messenger to report the military information to the pottery merchants who were still in the north.

The order was passed down, and 20,000 soldiers of the Great Wei who were coming in a fierce manner had to suppress the fierce fighting spirit and retreat slowly in an orderly manner.

On the line above the city, the Taiping Army who were crouching under the female wall saw the Wei army retreating like a tide, were both surprised and happy. If it weren't for the order, they would have jumped up excitedly and cheered loudly to celebrate and escaped the disaster.

And inside the city tower, there was already amazement and excitement, and all the officials of Guiyang County clapped their hands to celebrate.

Zhao Fan was even more excited and his body was trembling. There was a light of surprise in his eyes, as if he couldn't believe his eyes, and he couldn't believe that the murderous aura came and the rebel general Shi Dakai, who was invincible, actually withdrew without a single arrow.

"Shi Zai, your empty city plan has been successful, it has been really successful. You really made me admire you." Zhao Fan said to Deng Ai excitedly and joyfully, his attitude was completely different from before.

The county officials and colleagues all looked at Deng Ai with unexpected eyes, but the meaning of appreciation was less than jealousy.

Deng Ai drank the last sip of wine in the glass, stood up and looked at Zhao Fan, and smiled faintly: "I said earlier that Shi Dakai must have been fooled. Now the prefect finally believed it... it should be believed."

"Your plan is indeed wonderful, but Shi Dakai is so fierce. Why did he dare not attack when he saw my city gate open?" Zhao Fan pressed his surprise, but asked in confusion.

Deng Ai sneered and stuttered, "This is actually simple. Shi Da is very good at using troops, but the more people like this, the more suspicious he is. When he sees our city gate open and there is no one above the city gate, he will naturally wonder if there are heavy troops hidden in my city. In the case of the reality and reality, he of course had to choose to retreat first and dare not attack the city rashly."

Zhao Fan suddenly realized the truth, and looked at Deng Ai with a little novelty, as if he couldn't believe that this humble and inconspicuous stuttering boy, who had such wisdom and insight, could have helped him solve a big crisis. It was really a surprise.

Zhao Fan patted Deng Ai's shoulder and praised: "Deng Shizai, Deng Shizai, I didn't expect you to be a big talent. Don't worry, I will report your contribution to the King of Heaven. Just wait for the King of Heaven to be promoted to you."

"Thank you, Lord Prefect." Deng Ai bowed excitedly and thanked him repeatedly.

I thought he was confident and talented but not appreciated, so I hoped to be famous and made a great contribution today. If he could really get Hong Xiuquan's appreciation and promotion, he would have a greater space to show his talent once his official position was promoted. He would be even further away from his ambition to become famous all over the world and achieve success. How could he not be excited about it?

Zhao Fansui comforted and praised Deng Ai again, and then sent him down the city.

As soon as Deng Ai left, the county magistrate approached and lowered his voice: "Sir, how should I write this good news? Do you really want to write down Deng Ai's contributions truthfully?"

"Ahem, how to write a good news? Do you still use this prefect to teach you?" Zhao Fan glared at him with a dry cough, and his tone of questioning was meaningful.

The county magistrate immediately understood and said with a smile: "Sir, do you think the subordinates can write this way? Let's write about the rebel Shi Dakai's army being imminent. Our army is so powerful that the army is in a turmoil. The prefect is calm in the face of danger, so he calms the morale of the army in time and puts down an empty city plan. He shocked the rebel Shi Dakai and saved Chen County. What do you think?"

Zhao Fan was satisfied and didn't say anything, just nodded.

The county magistrate understood and hurriedly wrote a good news according to Zhao Fan's intention, and sent someone to go south to report to Hong Xiuquan.
Chapter completed!