After ordering Liu Yin to continue to lead his troops to garrison outside Lu City to prevent Cao's army in the city from taking advantage of the situation to attack the rear and cut off his own way back, General Zhao Tong personally led an army directly along the remote and narrow wooden gate road to the north.

OK.

As soon as they left the wooden doorway, the scouts in front reported the latest military information.

The main force led by Zhang He is gathering in Xicheng, south of Jicheng, the capital of Hanyang County, preparing to march along Lucheng in batches.

"Oh? Assemble Xicheng, wouldn't it be disrespectful to Zhang He if we don't go there and give Cao Jun a greeting gift?"

After hearing this, Zhao Tong's eyebrows stretched, and his expression was indifferent as he pondered slightly.

The guard general Huo Yi heard this. He followed him for a long time, and naturally knew that this was his general who had another idea, so he raised his hands and asked, "General, what do you mean?"

"Xian Shao, please arrange for an army of soldiers to hide in the steep mountains on both sides of the wooden gate, and prepare as many bows and crossbows as possible."

"Here!"

Huo Yi had no doubt that he was there and respectfully accepted his orders.

After this order was issued, Zhao Tong said again, "Then the remaining troops will accompany me and go deep into the outskirts of the West City to meet with Zhang He, a famous general whose status was only lower than Xia Houyuan at that time."

"ah?"

But after hearing what he said, Huo Yi suddenly had doubts on his face, and he responded with some confusion and worry:

"General, is this too risky?"

"After all, there are many enemies in the west city, and the surrounding terrain is different from here. It is basically an open area. Are you afraid that if you head north rashly, you will be surrounded by the enemy?"

"It's okay!" However, Zhao Tong immediately responded with a wave of his hand. Huo Yi saw that there was a strong look of confidence on his face, and the worry deep in his heart dissipated a bit.

He chose to trust his general, after all, he never fought an unprepared battle.

After the order was passed, all except the sergeants who were ordered to lie dormant between the two sides of the wooden doorway.

Most of them, under the leadership of Zhao Tong, marched towards the west city.

When Zhao Tong's troops arrived at the outskirts of the west city, about twenty miles away, Cao Jun's spies quickly conveyed this military information back.

Xicheng, in the military mansion.

"Um?"

"What's going on? I heard that the main force of the Shu army stationed in Qishan is only about 10,000 troops. Facing our army's large-scale conquest, they are just throwing eggs at rocks. It is difficult to defend themselves. How dare they go deep into the hinterland of our army?"

"The Shu army took the initiative to attack. What on earth is that boy Zhao Tong doing?"

At this moment, the generals standing on the left and right sides of the mansion had different expressions and began to discuss with each other after hearing this.

For a while, I didn't understand Zhao Tong's intention of taking the initiative.

In addition, when Zhao Tong had not taken over Huo Jun's position as the governor of the second county in the past few times, he had only a few thousand troops under his command, but he dared to repeatedly attack the Kou-Longxi border, repeatedly defeating his own side, and could not be annihilated.

All the generals and schools in Guanzhong have heard of this reputation!

At this moment, Zhao Tong was repeating his old tricks, and his intentions were really confusing.

All the generals could not help but have their own worries.

"General Zhang, the Shu army has approached Xicheng. How should our army respond?"

The generals discussed each other for a long time, but in the end they could not come up with an idea. After a while, they all focused their attention on the commander-in-chief.

Zhang He has a handsome face, and even though he is in his forties, his long beard still does not affect his appearance. On the contrary, it adds a few points of mature temperament belonging to a middle-aged man.

At this moment, his face was as calm as water, extremely indifferent.

Gives people a sense of stability.

"According to this general's opinion, General Zhao's intention is very obvious. He is here to find out the truth about our army!"

After pondering for a while, Zhang He was worthy of being an old Jianghu. He thought for a moment and spoke bluntly. Almost instantly, he saw through Zhao Tong's previously finalized plan to go north.

"That being the case, I would also like to ask General Zhang to give an order to have the last general's army come out and directly annihilate this Shu army that has penetrated deep into the hinterland of our army without knowing the heights of the sky."

"Yes! The bandits are so rampant, we need to show them some color."

"General Zhang, you don't have to be so hesitant. The open terrain around the West City is very suitable for the deployment of large corps and the galloping of our cavalry. As long as they are divided and surrounded, no one in the Shu army can escape."

"Then Zhao Tong is so aggressive this time. Facing the attack of our entire army, even if he has three heads and six arms, he will definitely be unable to do anything!"

"Yes, this guy is the governor of Wudu and Yinping counties. As long as this person is captured by our army, the rest of the Shu army defenders in the two counties will inevitably be demoralized. By then, wouldn't it be a waste to regain the two counties?

Is it as easy as flipping a finger?"

After Zhang He revealed the intention of the Shu army to advance alone this time, all the generals under his command also had high military morale at this moment, and they all loudly called for battle.

"cough!"

Everyone fought for a long time, and finally ended abruptly when Zhang He coughed loudly.

Afterwards, Zhang He's expression remained unchanged and he said softly, "There is no need to engage in battle with him. Just order all the soldiers to stay in the camp and wait and see what happens!"

"Ah? General, why is this?"

"Zhao Tong only led a few thousand people deep into the army this time. With our superior military strength, our army can completely kill them and eliminate future troubles. Wouldn't it be a missed opportunity to stand still?"

"That's right, if you keep cutting off, you will be disturbed, General!"

Some generals found it difficult to understand Zhang He's decision, so they couldn't help but persuade them again.

"Have you ever heard of Zhao Tong's achievements before he came here?"

After the words fell, Zhang He first glanced around, then asked with a relaxed expression. Seeing that all the generals nodded in agreement, he slowly said:

"That being the case, what do you think, given the same military strength, what are your chances of winning in a field battle with them when they leave the city?"

These words were spoken one after another, and in the blink of an eye, the originally lively and noisy discussion scene in the military mansion quickly turned into silence like a nightclub.

All the generals fell silent for a moment.

Just kidding, no one here would dare to promise a 100% defeat against Zhao Tong's troops with the same military strength.

Fei Yao, Dai Ling and other generals who had previously garrisoned in Longxi had already given their answers.

Naturally, no one dared to fight as fiercely as just now.

Seeing that all the generals fell silent, a smile appeared on Zhang He's face, and he said slowly, "Zhao Tong came here to spy on the strength of my main force. He must have hoped that our army would launch a large-scale attack to observe and demonstrate.

The true combat power of our army can be used to calmly deploy defense after retreating."

"And according to the scout's description, the Shu army only wandered around the outskirts of Xicheng and did not approach the city. This shows that Zhao Tong had already planned it!"

"As long as our army launches a large-scale attack, he will tentatively fight fiercely and then retreat to Mumen Road."

"The terrain of the wooden gate is steeper and more complicated than the open West City, and is not suitable for large army operations."

"Obviously, that boy Zhao Tong was fully prepared and did not attack without any thought!"

"Since large armies cannot surround and kill the Shu army, and small groups cannot annihilate them, it is better to wait and see what happens next and wait and see what the Shu army will do next."

Following Zhang He's analysis and eloquent explanation, all the generals and principals came to their own understanding.

"The general is wise!"

"General Zhang Mingjian!"

The plan has been decided. In response to the frequent activities of the Shu army around the outskirts of Xicheng, the main forces of Cao's army converged and guarded the camp without any sign of going to war.

This news also quickly spread to Zhao Tong.

After hearing this, the guard general Huo Yi seemed to show some anxiety on his face and said, "Zhang He is indeed an old fox. It seems that he has seen through the general's strategy of testing the enemy's combat power, so he did not fall for it!

"

"What should our army plan next?"

After saying these words, Zhao Tong's face was calm, without any impatience, and he seemed so calm. He responded gently, "This general has already expected it. If Zhang He can't see through such an obvious intention, then he can't see through it."

You are a good general in vain."

"Hmm? Does the general have some backup plans?"

Seeing Zhao Tong showing such a confident face, with a light and airy expression on his face, he suddenly realized that his general seemed to have carefully considered everything.
Chapter completed!