Zhang Fei had no idea that soon after he arrived, Zhang Liao had already set his sights on him, waiting for the right moment to strike hard. However, due to Chen Chi's "turtle strategy" being so frustratingly effective, Zhang Liao felt like a dog trying to bite a porcupine—no way in. So, he could only observe daily, looking for an opportunity to attack.
As for the results, honestly, Zhang Liao, who currently had little fame but was unquestionably one of the finest talents of the era, had developed a deep sense of disgust for the distant camp. Chen Chi had dug traps right under his nose, then brazenly started digging a moat, expanded the camp, and built an outer wall filled with traps.
Now, Chen Chi was even piling up earth mounds outside the outer wall and stationing archers atop them, fortifying the slopes that didn't face the camp with large logs, essentially making them vertical.
"How's the trebuchet design coming along?" Chen Chi asked the accompanying military craftsmen.
"It's operational, but there's a structural issue—the components wear out too quickly," the craftsman replied.
"Component wear? Don't worry about that. We don't need to actually use it—just set it up to intimidate. Once that's done, take it apart and reassemble it on the earth mound," Chen Chi said nonchalantly. The ultimate goal of his "turtle strategy" was to make the enemy lose the will to attack just by looking at the defenses, without even engaging in battle. Anything that could scare the enemy should be put on display.
From a hill several miles away, Zhang Liao used his internal energy to enhance his vision. Seeing the trebuchets on the earth mound extinguished his desire to raid the camp—his opponents were simply too crafty.
"Forget it, let's retreat and wait to rendezvous with General Lü. Military Advisor Chen must have his own plans. It's a shame we lost this opportunity," Zhang Liao muttered, reluctantly abandoning his plan to raid the camp.
With a dark expression, Zhang Liao led a thousand elite wolf riders away. Had he known things would turn out this way, he would have struck hard on the first day before he figured out his opponent's situation.
On the other side, Guan Yu, leading five thousand infantry and cavalry with Guo Jia as his military advisor, was only a day's journey away from Zhang Fei.
Contrary to Liu Bei's expectations, the new commander of Licheng was not Zang Ba, but instead, Guan Yu had promoted Wei Yan. Neither Guo Jia nor Zang Ba objected to this decision. At only twenty years old, Wei Yan successfully took command of a secondary army and prepared to engage Gao Lan from Ji Province in a tough battle.
"Brother Wei, are you sure about this plan?" Guan Ping asked nervously. He always treated Wei Yan, who resembled his father in many ways, with the respect of an older brother in private.
"Gao Lan is very cautious. Without a risky move, do you think he would fall into our trap?" Wei Yan asked, turning to Guan Ping.
"But if we're discovered, we'll lose Le Ling for sure," Guan Ping said anxiously. His father had just left, and the highest command of Licheng had just passed to Wei Yan. Guan Ping himself had just taken full command of a unit, and Wei Yan immediately proposed a daring plan that made Guan Ping's heart race.
"Losing Le Ling wouldn't affect the overall situation," Wei Yan said, licking his lips, a hint of excitement on his face. He hadn't expected Guan Yu to entrust him with the highest command in Licheng, and he was still a bit stunned when Guan Yu had suggested it.
Because of this, Wei Yan felt a deep sense of gratitude towards Guan Yu. Determined not to disappoint him, he planned to achieve a great merit to prove himself.
"You may be right, but if we lose Le Ling, Brother Wei, you'll surely be demoted. I'll also lose my position as a Sima and probably have to go back to training with my father. Not that I mind learning from him again, it's just..." Guan Ping said, feeling conflicted.
Which general doesn't want to command troops? Especially young officers like Guan Ping, who usually only had a few hundred soldiers under their command. Guan Yu was extremely strict with both of them, treating them no differently than other soldiers. If Wei Yan and Guan Ping hadn't performed exceptionally, they wouldn't have risen as quickly as they had.
"Do you want to go back to leading just a few hundred men when General returns?" Wei Yan asked, his tone full of persuasion that was hard for any general to resist.
"..." Guan Ping hesitated, remembering the days when he only commanded a few hundred men. Now he led nearly two thousand infantry and cavalry. The thought of going back made him shudder. "Alright, let's do it! If things go wrong, I'll take the blame with you. At worst, my father will give me a few lashes!"
"Don't worry so much. If there was no chance of success, I wouldn't attempt it. If we succeed, when the General returns, we'll be promoted to deputy generals," Wei Yan said, patting Guan Ping's shoulder.
"Alright, I'm in! I've been holding a grudge against Gao Lan ever since he injured me last time," Guan Ping muttered, recalling the injury he had suffered at Gao Lan's hands.
Meanwhile, in Yanzhou, Guan Yu and Guo Jia advanced steadily, without any unexpected events.
"Do you think Ping and Wen Chang will be alright?" Guan Yu asked, stroking his long beard. Only in front of Guo Jia did he reveal his true feelings, rather than maintaining his cold, stoic demeanor.
"They'll be fine. Wen Chang may take risks, but he's incredibly brave, and Ping is careful and steady. The two complement each other well, so I don't foresee any issues. Besides, if you want them to grow, you can't keep sheltering them under your wing. Wen Chang has the potential to become a great general, but if you don't let him go, his achievements will be limited," Guo Jia said, giving high praise to Wei Yan, a man he admired for his boldness and unconventional strategies.
"Thank you for your kind words," Guan Yu sighed. He valued Wei Yan even more than his own son.
"Don't worry, General. With Wen Chang's boldness, unless something unexpected happens, he should achieve great merit before we even return to Licheng," Guo Jia reassured him with a smile.
"Have you set up any backup plans, Military Advisor?" Guan Yu asked curiously. After spending a long time with Guo Jia, Guan Yu had grown accustomed to his ways. Unlike Liu Ye, who prepared many plans and let Guan Yu choose, Guo Jia specialized in always keeping a backup plan, never revealing all his cards.
"I do have a backup plan, but it will depend on whether they notice it. If they can fully utilize it, they'll prove they're capable of commanding an army," Guo Jia replied, smiling. He was also grooming these men, and his methods suited someone like Wei Yan. His intention was to use Gao Lan from Ji Province to temper them.
"Then I can rest easy," Guan Yu nodded. To be honest, he was still a bit uneasy. Before leaving, he had specifically instructed Zang Ba to keep an eye on the north. If Wei Yan and Guan Ping couldn't handle it, Zang Ba could take over command of the northern forces. Guan Yu had even written out a transfer order in advance, just in case.
"We should camp here for the night, rest, and regroup before joining up with Yide (Zhang Fei) tomorrow. We've already advanced deep into Yanzhou, so it's best to stay cautious and avoid giving Chen Gong any opportunity. He's not one to be underestimated," Guo Jia said, glancing at the sky. He had never taken Chen Gong lightly.