The Second Volume of Water Margin

  In the grand tent, all the leaders had arrived and were seated on both sides. Tuo Tuo Tian Wang Chao Gai, despite having a bandage on his injured face, couldn't hide his spirited demeanor. In front of him was a defense map of Zeng's Head City, hand-drawn by Shen Xing Tai Bao Dai Zong, with detailed annotations.

  Dai Zong stood beside Chao Gai, with Wisdom Star Wu Yong sitting on the left and Ximen Qing sitting on the right. Yan Qing stood behind him, while Wu Song, Shi Qian and Tang Long sat beside them.

  "Dai Zong brothers, tell the various leaders about the situation in Zengtou City." Chai Ge had obviously heard Dai Zong explain it once before and now asked him to tell the other brothers again.

  Dai Zong coughed: "In Zengtou City, there are five strongholds guarded by the five tigers of the Zeng family. However, three of the five tigers have already died, and even the eldest brother Zeng Tu has been seriously injured and is bedridden. Therefore, the only ones who can be used now are Shi Wenguang, Su Ding, and Zeng Suo, the third of the five tigers."

  Zeng's army had no choice but to withdraw two of its camps, leaving only the three in front facing our army. Shi Wenguang was in the center, Su Ding on the left, and Zeng Suo on the right, with 700-800 soldiers in each camp, supporting each other.

  "This intelligence is the latest from this morning. Fortunately, Xiao Ke stayed overnight yesterday, otherwise it would have been a joke."

  "Zeng Jia's five tigers, Zeng Kui and Zeng Sheng, were killed by Ximen Xian's brother at the Fahua Temple." Chao Gai spoke up, "Zeng Mi came to raid our camp in secret, but was stabbed to death by Sun Li brothers. Zeng Tu also had his left shoulder shattered by a whip from Sun Li brothers. This is how we have today's great situation. Your merits will be recorded by the military advisor and rewarded according to your contributions!"

  Although these things were already known to the leaders, it was clear that Tuo Tuo Tian Wang Chuang Gei was extremely satisfied with Ximen Qing and Sun Li's performance.

  As soon as these words came out, the leaders below all nodded in agreement and nodded repeatedly.

  Wu Yong's face was somewhat awkward, as he had been advocating for punishment for Sick Yitian Sun Li in the morning, but now that Chao Gai had spoken, it was settled that Sun Li would be given great credit, which made Wu Yong somewhat annoyed.

  To be honest, surrendered generals like Yan Liuyi and Qin Ming were all openly won over by Song Jiang but secretly suppressed. Wu Yong also understood this and acted according to Song Jiang's intentions.

  Originally, in the previous expeditions, Song Jiang had brought them into his own army, and these surrendered generals had been staying on the mountain honestly, so they were naturally not noticed; but this time it was Chai Ge who led the troops to expedition, didn't this appear a situation that Song Jiang and Wu Yong did not want to see?

  "This linked strategy was originally intended to let Chao Gai lead the troops in person, but now that Ximen Qing has intervened, Gongming brother has already taken the first seat! Wu Yong, the clever star, was extremely annoyed, and the goose feather fan in his hand almost lost its feathers: "My second seat is also very stable! Now that Chao Gai hasn't been eliminated, an extremely powerful accomplice has appeared - Ximen Qing. I must think of a way to get rid of him!"

  Ximen Qing watched with a cold eye, seeing Wu Yong's frustrated appearance, secretly laughing in his heart.

  "Thanks, great leader!" Bian Que's son had woken up from his sleep and was now in high spirits. He heard Xun Guan say that he would be rewarded for his merit and was overjoyed. He immediately stood up and bowed to thank him, emphasizing the three words "great leader".

  "This Sun Li is not only good at fighting, but also has a high EQ!" Ximen Qing immediately caught the implication of Sun Li's words.

  Chao Gai is the real leader of the Liangshan heroes, no matter how hard you try, Wu Yong, it's all in vain!

  Although Sun Li didn't even glance at Wu Yong when he spoke, Wu Yong still sensed a deep-seated hostility from these five words.

  After all, he was the clever star, Wu Yong surprisingly smiled and praised: "General Sun's achievement last night is a great merit, our military advisor must remember it heavily."

  It is also obvious that this sentence is a double meaning.

  Others couldn't hear it, but Sun Li and Ximen Qing could still make out the sound. Sun Li didn't dare to get angry, so he sat back down. Ximen Qing chuckled: "Wu Junshi works day and night, when it's time to hand in his merit book, don't let your eyes blur and grab the wrong one."

  As soon as these words came out, Wei Sun's eyes immediately cast a grateful glance.

  "This general naturally understands." Wu Yong shook his fan and replied indifferently.

  Tongtian Tianwang Chuō Gài also detected the hostility in the words, and said to Wu Yong in a low voice: "Military strategist, my wound has not fully healed yet, I can't withstand the wind. If you continue to fan like this, I'm afraid my wound will heal even slower..."

  Wu Yong's face turned slightly red, and he covered his face with a goose feather fan, saying: "I don't know why, I just feel hot."

  Hu Ge nodded and loudly said to the crowd of leaders: "Everyone knows the situation, so tomorrow our army will divide into two routes, attacking the left and right forts, making it impossible for Zeng Tou Shi to freely deploy troops. We'll also ambush a branch of soldiers, waiting for the left and right forts to catch fire, then directly insert into the middle fort guarded by Shi Wen Gong!"

  "Are we going to attack from both sides and break through the center?" Ximen Qing thought, this was his first time attending a military meeting, it felt more immersive than watching TV dramas.

  "The left camp is guarded by Zeng Suo, which brother wants to go?" Chao Gai asked, holding up the first command arrow.

  Jin Maohu Yan Shun, Huo Yan Xuan Deng Fei and Moyun Jincheng Ou Peng immediately stood up together, all bowing their hands and saying: "I am willing to go!"

  Huang Guo nodded in satisfaction: "The three brothers can lead eight hundred men and horses to go together. If Zeng Suo is captured, bring his head back to see me. If Zeng Suo is not captured, attack the stronghold with all one's might!"

  "Brother, rest assured!" Yan Shun went up and received the token in his hand.

  Chuang Ge picked up the second token: "The right side of Zengtou City is guarded by their deputy teacher, Su Ding. This person's martial arts are extraordinary and must be dealt with carefully."

  Liu Tang and Ruan San Xiong stood up, Liu Tang cupped his hands and said: "This time out of the expedition, although I am the vanguard of the front army, but no merit has been established. I am willing to lead the troops with the three brothers Ruan to attack the right camp. Su Ding's martial arts are high again, but it is not the opponent of our four people."

  "Good!" Marshal Tianwang Chao exclaimed with great joy: "Brother Liu Tang's knife skills are superb, and he is certainly not inferior to that Su Ding! You four are all following me on the same path as my good brothers, take 800 men with you too! Bring back Su Ding's head to see me!"

  "We'll definitely present this man's head!" Liu Tang saw Xiang Gai respond and excitedly went up to take the command token.

  Huang Guai nodded and ordered: "Bai Sheng brothers, you can bring 300 people to guard the camp, don't make any mistakes!"

  A sly-looking man with a rat-like gaze stood up from below and nodded in obedience.

  "It turned out that this guy was Bai Sheng!" Ximen Qing secretly measured this "with him not much, without him not less" white day mouse Bai Sheng: "If it weren't for his old friendship with Chao Tianwang, how could he be ranked before my third brother? That black three fat Song Jiang is hateful!"

  "Let's leave some men and horses behind to ambush with me, wait for the fire to start on both sides of the camp, then rush straight to the central camp, and meet that Shi Wenguang!"

  "Brother Ximen Qing, you may follow me!"

  "This is natural!" Ximen Qing accepted the order: "Tianguo brother's injury has not healed, he cannot ride a horse. I will bring the Bingshuai guards to escort the carriage!"

  "My worthy brother, your words are quite to my liking." Xiangzi nodded his head and then said to the other leaders: "After the two camps on both sides have been broken through, set fires and quickly gather in the middle!"

  "Understood!" This time all the leaders responded in unison, especially the voice of Bian Que's son Sun Li was particularly loud.

  Because Tota Tianwang Chuang Ge arranged it this way, he wanted to let Sun Li and Shi Wengong fight a battle! How could Sun Li not be excited?

  "Get up early tomorrow and cook a meal for the soldiers, so they can eat their fill before going into battle!"

  "Is it Bu Yuntu Sun Li?" The name was obtained from the mouths of the soldiers who escaped back. Shi Wengong frowned slightly: "No wonder I saw a yellow-faced big man on the battlefield last time, and I didn't expect it to be him!"

  "What kind of person is Sun Li, with such ability?" On the side, Zeng Quan was already tearful: "The Liangshan bandits have killed another son of mine, how can I swallow this breath? Why doesn't the teacher gather his men and go to Liangshan stronghold to avenge me?"

  "Teacher is going to war, I'll follow! Let's meet that Sun Li!" Zeng Suo looked at his older brother Zeng Tu, whose left arm was completely disabled and who was unconscious, and got so angry that he jumped up and down, shouting that he wanted to go to war.

  "Deep hatred must be reported slowly." Shi Wengong comforted: "That Sun Li originally was the commander of Dengzhou's military, his martial arts are not ordinary, he alone protected Dengzhou from pirate invasions. Because he is skilled in using steel guns and iron whips, and is proficient in archery and horse riding, people on the rivers and lakes gave him the nickname 'Sick Ertu'. This person even makes me need to be careful when dealing with him, no wonder Zeng Tu was injured."

  "Big brother, can this wound be cured? The left arm is already crippled, how can you still wield a sword and gun?" Zeng Suo asked with a long sigh.

  Shi Wengong remained silent for a moment, then sighed and replied: "Even if Zeng's left arm recovers, he won't be able to use that steel spear again. Wait until the Liangshan bandits retreat, and I'll teach him some single-handed combat skills."

  Zeng Quan asked: "How can the Liangshan bandits retreat? I'm afraid they will come to attack Zengtou City in no time. Does the teacher have a strategy for retreating troops?"

  It has come to this. Shi Wengong also had no idea: "At present, the momentum of Liangshan is strong, and the soldiers are high-spirited. It's not possible to have a head-on collision with them. We should hold our ground and not go out, while sending someone to Lingzhou to report the news and ask the government to come together to eliminate the Liangshan bandits. We must know that the Liangshan bandits are from afar, with little food and grass, so holding our ground is the best strategy."

  "If it weren't for some old grudges with Lingzhou Prefecture, why would the old man have to recruit troops and hire two teachers?" Zeng Quan shook his head and said, "Lingzhou won't send any troops."

  Su Dingyi suggested, "Even if Zengtou City and Lingzhou have some conflicts, once Zengtou City is broken, Liangshan may attack Lingzhou. Perhaps considering this point, the Lingzhou government will not sit idly by."

  "What Su Ding said makes some sense." Shi Wengong also said: "It won't hurt to send an envoy and see what the attitude of Lingzhou Prefecture is like?"

  Zeng Qian smiled wryly, how could Zeng Tou Shi possibly let Ling Zhou Fu intervene? If Ling Zhou Fu came to retreat the enemy, I'm afraid they would turn around and take over Zeng Tou Shi. At that time, the results of his own hard work for over a decade would be gone in an instant, he was afraid he would vomit blood.

  Zeng could have escaped but was unwilling to let Lingzhou Prefecture get involved.

  "Let the old man think it over again."