Chapter 688 The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.

Libei.

Li Army Camp.

Xi Xiongtu sat in the main seat, with the generals standing in front of him, and the staff sitting on both sides. The whole hall was filled with a stormy atmosphere.

"General!"

"As you expected, the Yan army did not try to cross the river, and the main force has followed us."

"According to the spies, the army in Liyang City has left the city, and it should be coming for us."

Hearing the report of a general, Xi Xiongtu stroked his beard and showed a faint smile on his face: "According to the information I got, the food and grass in the Yan army can only support nine days at most."

"Now, we have cut off their connection with Liyang City. There is no need to fight them head-on. We only need to delay them for ten days to drag down the hundreds of thousands of troops under Yunxi!"

"But General... the food and grass in our army... is not enough to support half a month!"

"Hahaha!"

Xi Xiongtu laughed loudly and said, "Someone will send us food tomorrow. Besides, there may not be enemies in Liyang City."

"What do you mean, Marshal?"

"That's enough. There's no point in talking!" Xi Xiongtu stood up from the commander's chair, looked around and said, "Come here, our army is now in the initiative. Pass on my order to set up ambushes along the line, hold the terrain firmly, and set up obstacles layer by layer."

"There is no need to fight Dayan to death. Just take every step carefully and retreat while fighting. Our army will be invincible!"

"Yes!"

Although the generals didn't understand what Xi Xiongtu was up to, Xi's prestige in the army had reached its peak. After a series of battles, the generals believed in his orders.

"Marshal!"

Watching the figures walk out of the tent, a middle-aged man slowly stepped out and took out a secret letter from his sleeve.

"The latest news from General Gu Yun!"

"Hmm!"

Xi Xiongtu took the letter and quickly read it, then laughed out loud: "Good, good... Gu Yun actually raised an army of 50,000 behind enemy lines, God will not destroy our Dali!"

"If we win this battle, Shen Yu should be the first to win!"

"The only one who can save the collapsing building is Shen Yu!"

"Dayan deserves to be defeated!"

...

"Wenyuan!"

"How is the situation in Liyang City going?"

"My lord!" Zhang Liao bowed slightly and said solemnly: "General Guan and General Huang have arrived in Lidong by boat, and the Duke of Zhenguo has sent troops to meet them. They should be able to reach Xuanjian Pass tomorrow!"

"Good!"

Ning Fan He nodded with satisfaction and said with a smile: "Next, the highlight should be Dali."

"My Lord, what should we do?"

"We?"

Ning Fan's mouth curled up slightly, and he said playfully: "What does the war between Li and Yan have to do with Dayu?"

"Report--"

"General, Liyang City reported that a cavalry broke into Liyang City!"

"What!"

Ning Fan shouted with a 'furious' face: "Who is so bold as to attack my camp?"

"Pass my order, return to the army immediately, and we must recapture Liyang City!"

"Yes!"

So, more than 100,000 troops turned back before they could achieve their goal, and galloped towards Liyang City.

Ning Fan secretly calculated the benefits of this wave. Not to mention that the more than 100,000 troops under his command are now temporarily under his command. Not only did he resolve the crisis in Dali, he 'stole' the food and grass of Dayan, and also gained the trust of the empress. Naturally, they don't need to participate in the next things.

After returning to Liyang City, the city had been looted. Whether it was the granary or the treasury, they had been completely emptied, not even a grain of rice was left.

"Wenyuan!"

"Here!"

"You lead your army to the north immediately. Now there are 300,000 troops guarding the border between Dayan and me. You lead your army to attack their camp late at night!"

"Yes!"

Zhang Liao's eyes were full of brilliance. Using Dayan's troops to attack Dayan's camp?

He had never done such a thing before.

It was exciting just to think about it!

"My lord, then you..."

"I'm going back to Xueyue City to discuss important matters with the empress!"

"Yes!"

"Yu Huatian, Ning Yan, follow me back to Beijing."

...

The mess in the northern border was left behind. Ning Fan stole a million stones of grain and grass in Liyang City and left directly. Gu Yun was wandering between the cities in northern Li, recruiting soldiers and horses, and his power was growing!

Dayan's main force chased Dali relentlessly, but found that Dali seemed to have no intention of a decisive battle, but just kept shrinking the defense line and advancing step by step.

"Something is wrong!"

"Logically, Chen Ding should have led his army to block the retreat of the Li army."

"But now, three days have passed, why hasn't Dali stopped yet?"

Yunxi keenly discovered something unusual, and there was a hint of worry in his eyes. He looked at the staff beside him: "Everyone, if I guess correctly, something may have happened in Liyang City!"

"What does the commander mean?"

"Now, we are being led by the nose by Dali. In three days, we have been chasing for more than 70 miles, and the gains are negligible, but the food and grass in the army can only support six days at most."

"This commander has decided to send 100,000 troops to the northwest, and send orders to all cities in northern Li to send troops to block the main force of Dali."

"Let 300,000 troops outside Xuanjian Pass go south to encircle Dali."

"This..."

All the staff looked at each other, and some of them couldn't keep up with Yunxi's thinking. Now the ratio of troops between Dayan and Dali has almost reached three to one. Do they still need to continue to send troops south?

Even if the imperial court is wealthy and powerful, it cannot afford such turmoil!

"General, the Northern Border Army is now stationed outside Xuanjian Pass to guard against Dayu. If we rashly go south, what should we do if there is any movement in Xuanjian Pass?"

"No problem!"

Yunxi's eyes were shining with sharpness, and he said in a deep voice: "The most urgent task is to annihilate the main force of Dali, even if it costs some price."

"Whether it is the lost city or territory, we can get it back after we flatten Dali."

"Yes..."

"Send an order to continue chasing Dali, use cavalry to open the way, and break through their defense line at all costs. I will force them to fight!"

"Yes!"

...

Three days later.

Xueyue City.

Ning Fan and several others appeared on the street, but did not attract too many people's attention. After returning to the rented house, taking a bath and changing clothes, Lin Zhengxiang came to see them.

"Sir!"

"Have you investigated the background of Zheng Tu?"

"Yes!"

Lin Zhengxiang smiled bitterly and said in a deep voice: "According to our secret investigation, the prefect of Jingzhao was bribed by Dayan two years ago, and his superior was the Minister of Rites, Shi Chong!"

"Tsk!"

Ning Fan showed a playful look on his face and said with a smile: "Prepare the evidence. I want to prepare a big gift for the empress."

"Yes!"

After Lin Zhengxiang left, Xue Yueshan came in with tea, bowed slightly, and placed the tea in front of Ning Fan.

"It's getting late, do you want to rest?"

...