Zhang Liao sighed deeply, "A general must bow to circumstances. We have no choice now."
Hearing Zhang Liao's words, Zhu Meng slumped down on the cold chair.
"You arrange it tomorrow."
Emerging from Zhu Meng's tent, Zhang Liao looked up at the night sky and sighed again with helplessness. He knew that once the troops were dispersed tomorrow, Zhu Meng's era would be over.
It was even questionable whether the Crown Prince would allow Zhu Meng to live.
If Zhu Meng was in such a state, what was he, Zhang Liao, worth?
It was time to consider a retreat.
Returning to his quarters, Zhang Liao did not rest. Instead, he ordered his brother, Zhang Yonghe, to be summoned.
"Big brother, the sky is almost light, why are you calling me instead of sleeping?" Zhang Yonghe was completely bewildered.
Zhang Liao's expression darkened, "When our lives are at stake, you still want to sleep."
"This, this..." Zhang Yonghe was momentarily speechless.
"Alright, listen to me. Tomorrow morning, you take two hundred men and quietly leave the camp, heading to Xiangguo Temple fifty miles away."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yonghe's heart tightened, "Big brother, you're not planning to capture those baldasses, are you? If we arrest them, we'll be stirring up a hornet's nest."
Zhang Liao smiled slightly, "That's exactly the effect I want. As long as you bring the monks of Xiangguo Temple and present them to His Highness the Crown Prince, we will have performed a great service."
"But, General Zhu..." Zhang Yonghe hesitated to speak.
Zhang Liao waved his hand, "Enough, don't mention him. He is already useless. We must protect ourselves."
Zhang Yonghe finally understood, "I understand. I'll make the arrangements now."
Meanwhile, in Wannan City, Du Bai personally entered the city and reported his combat achievements to Xiao Jingyun overnight.
More than five thousand enemies killed, over five thousand captured, a total of over ten thousand. Their own casualties were only a few hundred.
Hearing this news, Xiao Jingyun could not help but clap his hands and exclaim.
"Excellent! Excellent! I never expected the Four Spirits Eight Trigrams Array to be so powerful."
"Tomorrow morning, I will announce this good news throughout the city so that the people will know."
"By the way, go back and pass on my message, all soldiers will be rewarded tonight."
The next morning, the news spread throughout Wannan City, stirring up great excitement among the people.
Upon hearing the news, Liu Kai, Liu Ce, Liu Tie, and others were naturally overjoyed. Just as they were about to have breakfast, they received a reply from Liu Rumei.
After reading Liu Rumei's suggestion, Liu Yuanwen deeply agreed.
"Little sister is right. His Highness the Crown Prince is truly putting himself in danger."
"It's a pity that the Great Tu Kingdom has already arrived outside, and he cannot leave now."
"Eldest Brother, it is said that there are enemy troops only to the south of the city, and the other three sides are completely empty," Liu Kai quickly added.
Upon hearing this, Liu Yuanwen jumped up, "Is that true? Then the enemy commander is too stupid, opening up three sides and only attacking one. What kind of siege is this? I must go see His Highness the Crown Prince."
Soon, Liu Yuanwen was fully dressed and hurried to the Crown Prince's palace to request an audience with Xiao Jingyun.
Although Xiao Jingyun had not slept all night, he appeared full of energy, stimulated by the victory.
Seeing Liu Yuanwen arrive, he smiled and beckoned, "Brother Yuanwen, please sit. There was a great victory outside the city last night. Have you heard!"
Liu Yuanwen cupped his hands, "I heard it from the citizens on my way here. Congratulations, Your Highness, congratulations."
Xiao Jingyun was quite proud and waved his hand gently, "This is just a small display of force. With Rumei's Four Spirits Eight Trigrams Array, why worry about the Great Tu Kingdom not being destroyed?"
Liu Yuanwen cupped his hands and bowed, "Your Highness, I have something to say, but I don't know if I should."
Crown Prince Xiao Jingyun waved his hand, "Ah, just say whatever you have to say."
"Your Highness, my sister sent news from Qingniu County suggesting that you withdraw from Wannan City and hand over command of the city to someone else."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingyun frowned, "I wonder what Rumei means by this."
"Oh, Rumei, please speak. If the enemy surrounds the city on all four sides, then communication between inside and outside the city will be cut off, which is not conducive to your deployment of troops. Therefore, she feels it is better for you to be outside."
Hearing this, Xiao Jingyun nodded approvingly. It was indeed Liu Rumei, who, even not in Wannan City, had a clear understanding of the current situation.
But now that his father was gone, and the Emperor was outside, there was no need for him, the Crown Prince, to go out anymore.
Thinking of this, Xiao Jingyun smiled calmly, "I have already sent people to inform all the reinforcements. The reinforcements will arrive within a month at most. There is nothing that needs to be adjusted during this period. Therefore, I will stay in the city. Only if I am in the city can the people be at ease."
Hearing Xiao Jingyun's words, Liu Yuanwen understood that no matter how much he persuaded, it would be useless. After a few more words, he rose to take his leave.
This time, Xiao Jingyun was very polite. He personally escorted Liu Yuanwen out of the main hall and had Zhou Quan see Liu Yuanwen out of the Crown Prince's mansion.
Soon, Zhou Quan returned and cupped his hands in salute to Xiao Jingyun, "Your Highness, I also find it very strange why the Great Tu Kingdom did not surround our Wannan City and only stationed troops outside the south gate."
Xiao Jingyun smiled slightly, "It's very simple. Although they have more than 400,000 troops, we have Wannan City as our base behind us. Troops can be deployed between the four gates at any time, and we can constantly engage them."
"And if their 400,000 troops only attack the area outside the south gate, we will either have to fight them head-on or retreat into the city."
Hearing this, Zhou Quan's expression became serious, "Then, in this case, won't the Four Spirits Eight Trigrams Array become meaningless?"
Xiao Jingyun nodded, "Yes, in this case, the Four Spirits Eight Trigrams Array will be of little significance, and we may have to retreat into the city soon."
Zhou Quan's brows furrowed, "Then Your Highness, can we think of a way to make the Great Tu Kingdom surround the city on all four sides?"
His words made Xiao Jingyun fall into deep thought for a long time. Then, he suddenly slapped the table.
"You make a good point." Sudancn.com
"Zhou Quan, lead the five thousand trained soldiers and divide them into three routes. Go out from the east, west, and north gates. Remember, do not go out all at once. Send out a group of people from time to time. After leaving the city, do not all run in the same direction. Run at least twenty miles forward, then find a place to hide, and quietly return after dark. Tomorrow, continue to run out."
Zhou Quan smiled, "Your Highness wants Qiao Na to think that you are strategically planning and deploying troops, so he has to surround the city to cut off contact with the outside world."
Xiao Jingyun nodded. Only then could his Four Spirits Eight Trigrams Array be more effective.
Everything proceeded as Xiao Jingyun had arranged. After dawn, the three city gates appeared very lively. From time to time, a dozen or twenty fast horses would rush out and speed away along the official road.
The news quickly reached Qiao Na's camp.