Chapter 16 Battle against Cao Ren
Cao Ren led his army across the Baihe River, and Li Dian sent people to report. Liu Qi took the initiative to leave the city and set up camp to resist the enemy.
Cao Ren sneered and said: "Sick man Liu Qi, you are so rampant after a small victory. I don't know how high the heaven and the earth are. I want you to learn the real art of war."
Before Cao Jun marched to the camp, the two armies set up their positions. Liu Qi looked frail on the horse, and next to him was a white-haired veteran who was nearly fifty years old.
Cao Ren became more and more disdainful and sneered: "How can the old, weak, sick and disabled dare to resist our army?"
Li Dian said: "He is seventy years old, but he is still able to defeat the Qin soldiers. This man is the one who will fight against Lu Xiang. Generals must not underestimate the enemy."
Cao Ren curled his lips and smiled: "General Li will go into battle to see how strong he is."
Li Dian frowned and said: "Liu Qi deliberately showed weakness in front of the battle. Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are hiding in the camp. I'm afraid there is a trick!"
Cao Ren said angrily: "When we were in Fancheng, you were passive and lazy in fighting, and were arrogant to our army's morale. Now you have repeatedly excused yourself and refused to face the enemy. Could it be that you have two intentions?"
Li Dian had no choice but to fight his horse to call for battle. Liu Qi winked at Huang Zhong over there, and Huang Zhong raised his sword and rode out.
The drums were beating loudly in front of the two armies, and the two men came forward to fight. Although Li Dian was good at martial arts, he was no match for Huang Zhong.
When Cao Ren saw that Li Dian was struggling so hard against an old general and was losing ground every time, he felt ashamed and shouted: "Bang the drum!"
Dong dong dong——
The sound of drums in front of Cao's army became more intense. Li Dian listened to the drums and told him to fight hard, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and fight again.
After barely five rounds, Huang Zhong shouted loudly, his white beard flew up, and his sword was cut from the air.
Li Dian's weapons flew out, and he was swaying on his horse. Before he could sit still, he saw Huang Zhong urging his horse closer, reaching out to grab the belt of his robe, dragging him to his horse and galloping to respond.
"General Li!" Cao Ren was shocked and was about to ride a horse to rescue him. Suddenly he saw a fiery red shadow shaking at the camp gate, like a flame.
Looking at it carefully, he saw that it was the red rabbit and horse sticking its head out there. On the horse was a man with a red face and a long beard, looking sideways at him with a murderous look on his face.
Cao Ren was shocked, raised his sword and shouted: "Guan Yunchang, you don't want to hide in the dark and attack people, do you dare to go out of the camp to fight?"
When Guan Yu killed Yan Liang, Cao Ren saw it with his own eyes, and that sword is still reflected in his mind.
This man's sword is as powerful as thunder, and it's no joke to be attacked by him.
Liu Qi was disappointed when he saw that Cao Ren did not come to rescue him, so he asked Huang Zhong to escort Li Dian down, while Guan Yu urged his horse to slowly come out of the shaft gate.
Danfeng's eyes narrowed to a slit, his three-foot-long beard fluttered in the spring breeze, his robes bulged, and the red rabbit horse raised its head and paved its hooves with unruly momentum.
Liu Qi could clearly see the nervousness of the soldiers in Cao's camp. They were tensed like a bowstring. Cao Ren also put his sword across his chest to be on guard. The archers on both sides stretched their bows and nocked arrows, aiming from a distance.
Cao Ren shouted: "Chang Yun, your brother was killed by Liu Biao and his son, why do you still accept the thief as your father and work hard for them?"
Guan Yu Danfeng's eyes were slightly opened, cold light burst out, and he stroked his beard and said: "Guan knows what is right and wrong, and there is no need for outsiders to comment."
Cao Ren said: "The prime minister has admired the general for a long time. He treated him with courtesy when he was in Xuchang. He still remembers him. Why don't we help protect the emperor and bring peace to the world together?"
Guan Yu said coldly: "Cao Cao deceived the emperor and ignored his superiors. I swear to destroy the traitors on my brother's orders! Cao Zi is filial, so don't make any noise. Come and fight!"
Cao Ren's face changed slightly, and he laughed and said: "I am a general, how can I show off the courage of an ordinary man?"
Pointing a knife at Liu Qi: "Liu Qi, do you dare to fight with me?"
Liu Qi asked: "What is a fighting formation?"
Cao Ren said: "Tomorrow I will set up here for a while. If you can break it, I will withdraw from Fancheng. How about it?"
Liu Qi nodded and smiled: "It's a deal!"
Cao Ren was secretly happy, so he sent an order to withdraw his troops and set up camp, and summoned his generals to arrange their formation.
Li Dian was captured, and he was the only general left. Although Liu Qi had fewer soldiers, he still had Zhang and others to guard, so he would not easily go to war.
This formation has been practiced for several years. As long as Guan Yu and others are lured into the formation, no matter how powerful he is, he will not be able to escape and ascend to heaven. If he can capture Guan, Zhang and others, Liu Qi will have nothing to fear.
Liu Qi dismissed his troops and returned to the stronghold. He ordered his men to take Li Dian up and asked, "Are you willing to surrender?"
Li Dian shook his head and smiled bitterly: "My father and son have been so kind to the Prime Minister, how can they betray me? I only regret that General Cao did not listen to my advice, and I am afraid that Fancheng will not be protected."
"Oh?" Liu Qi knew that Li Dian was quite strategic and could see through his own plan. He felt more and more fond of him and asked, "You are also from Shanyang, right?"
Li Dian was startled, then suddenly remembered that Liu Biao was also from Shanyang, and nodded slightly.
Liu Qi sighed: "Cao Cao is called the Prime Minister of the Han Dynasty, but he is actually a traitor to the Han Dynasty. He is no different from Dong Zhuo. I heard that the general is well-read, so why should he help Zhou to do evil? Since we are fellow countrymen, we should work together to fight against thieves, why not abandon the secret and surrender to the light?"
Li Dian shook his head and said: "I have studied in the Spring and Autumn Period and know the word loyalty and righteousness. How can I be ungrateful and betray my master?"
Guan Yu suddenly opened his eyes and said in a deep voice: "You also read Spring and Autumn Annals?"
Li Dian was shuddered and nodded: "I have been studying since I was a child. I read the "Spring and Autumn Annals of the Zuo Family" under my teacher. I admire the loyalty and righteousness of the ancients and will never be a repetitive villain."
Guan Yu snorted slightly, closed his eyes and stroked his beard, and said in a cold voice: "He who does not distinguish between right and wrong is called foolish loyalty!"
"You..." Li Dian was furious and was about to retort when he suddenly realized that he was no longer a prisoner, so he sighed dejectedly and lowered his head without saying a word.
Liu Qi smiled and said: "The general doesn't know something. My second uncle often reads the Spring and Autumn Period at night without letting go of the scroll. If the general has experience, why not learn from it?"
Li Dian looked at Guan Yu, who was holding his long beard and turning his face slightly, and said, "I would like to learn from you!"
During the late Han Dynasty, aristocratic families passed down sutras for generations. A set of sutras and classics is like the martial arts secrets of a martial arts sect. It is not only a family heirloom, but also a matter of reputation.
Li Dian studied literature as a disciple, so he naturally had some integrity and did not want to lose to a warrior like Guan Yu.
"Come with me!" Guan Yu flicked his robe and walked out with his hands behind his back.
Liu Qi asked Guan Ping to take Li Dian down, and told him to watch carefully and not to anger Guan Yu, who was cut with a knife.
Li Dian is not a real general, but he is quite strategic. If Guan Yu can persuade him to surrender, he will join Guan Yu's army in the future. The two of them have something in common.
After all, Guan Yu became a monk halfway through his studies in the Spring and Autumn Period and relied on his own understanding. Li Dian was a famous teacher and came from a major. If they could communicate with each other, they might be able to change Guan Yu's temper.
At this time, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun led the troops back to the camp. Zhang Fei was dissatisfied and said: "This kid Cao Ren didn't dare to fight with my second brother, which made me wait for a long time in vain."
It turns out that before today's battle, Liu Qi designed Guan Yu to capture Li Dian, and when Cao Ren came to rescue him, Guan Yu stepped forward to block the enemy, and ambushed two groups of troops. He then defeated Cao's army and captured Cao Ren.
Unexpectedly, Cao Ren did not dare to fight Guan Yu, so he had to make other plans, but it was good to buy Wei Yan more time.
Liu Qi asked the two of them to go back and rest, and asked Xu Shu: "Cao Ren is going to set up a military formation tomorrow. Does the military advisor know the formation method?"
Xu Shu smiled and said: "I often travel with Kong Ming and others in Longzhong. I know a thing or two about Qimen Dunjia. I will know for myself when I watch the formation tomorrow."
Chapter completed!