Chapter 837: Chen Deng's Strategy

That day, Gan Ning rushed alone to Xiapi and entered the city to meet with Zhang Fei. Since Gan Ning and Zhang Fei were already acquainted and held equivalent ranks, there was no issue of anyone looking down on him.

“Yide, do you dare to try this?” Gan Ning grinned as he looked at Zhang Fei.

“Why wouldn’t I dare?” Zhang Fei’s eyes widened with a wild laugh.

“Generals, we must be cautious. There are tens of thousands of troops outside the city. You've crossed paths with generals like Li Yan before, and as for the ones arranging the camp, Lai Min is known for his steady tactics, Huo Jun is skilled in defense, and Li Tong is coordinating everything. Isn't this plan too risky?” Chen Deng, who had been giving Zhang Fei warning signals all along, could no longer hold back. He stood up and voiced his concerns.

Though Chen Deng was known for his wisdom, he was not the type of strategist who enjoyed taking unnecessary risks, especially in situations where they already had an advantage. He wasn’t too fond of Fa Zheng's dangerous plan, feeling it carried too much risk. One wrong move could cost them dearly.

“What’s the danger? Those troops outside the city seem nothing more than a group of laborers to me. They may be tall and well-armored, but few can be called true elite soldiers,” Gan Ning scoffed, casting a glance at Chen Deng. He had no respect for the scholarly official with a slight mustache and didn’t bother to hide it.

“Indeed. Besides, what Fa Zheng said makes sense. For all we know, Big Brother might be waiting for us up north,” Zhang Fei, full of courage, agreed. To him, the army outside only had the appearance of elite soldiers, but not the spirit of one.

“General Zhang, our lord has not given orders for us to head north, meaning the situation there is not urgent. Our primary task is to hold Xiapi, not engage in open battle. If we can hold off the Yu Province army, they will eventually retreat without a fight,” Chen Deng argued, knowing he might offend Gan Ning but unable to stay silent.

Although Chen Deng knew Gan Ning was a renowned general, sometimes one had to oppose such plans, especially when Fa Zheng's strategy seemed overly risky. With control of Huaibei already secured and standing firm in Xuzhou, Chen Deng saw no need for such a dangerous gambit.

“Hmph, Chen, are you really willing to wait until our lord orders us north? Aren't you worried that by then, it might be too late?” Gan Ning retorted sharply. His straightforward nature had no patience for Chen Deng’s cautious approach, and his words left Chen Deng struggling to respond.

Chen Deng's face flushed red with frustration, but he took a deep breath before replying, “General Gan, our forces are strong. Even if Yuan Shao were to gather all his northern troops, it wouldn’t be enough to stop our lord. What concerns our lord is the threat of a southern and northern alliance, which could spread our forces too thin. But now, with just a few thousand soldiers holding back Yuan Shu’s forces, our lord is free to act as he pleases.”

“Before the battle is won, we must account for every possibility. Planning only for the best while ignoring the worst is a fool’s strategy. You mentioned Li Tong, Li Yan, and Huo Jun are all talented individuals. What if something goes wrong during our defense? Who will be held accountable? 'The longer we defend, the more likely we are to lose'—that’s no empty saying!” Gan Ning countered, showing no restraint in his words. Both he and Zhang Fei were known for their directness, often saying things others might shy away from.

“You…” Chen Deng was furious, but he couldn’t find the right words to argue back.

“Enough. I’ve made up my mind to follow Fa Zheng's plan,” Zhang Fei suddenly stood up, cutting the argument short.

Gan Ning immediately beamed, not even bothering to glance at Chen Deng as he laughed loudly. “Now this is the Yide I know! What’s the point of fighting Yuan Shu? The true challenge is heading north to defeat Yuan Shao. As for the southern and northern alliance, the best way to deal with it is to break one of them first!”

“We’ll leave it to Fa Zheng,” Zhang Fei said, patting Gan Ning on the shoulder. “But if anything goes wrong, you’ll have to bear the blame with me.”

“If something goes wrong, I’ll take full responsibility. I have the authority to act on my own,” Gan Ning said solemnly, looking straight at Zhang Fei. Before Zhang Fei could respond, Gan Ning broke into another hearty laugh. “But I trust Fa Zheng. Ever since he left Yanzhou, his predictions have been spot on. His plans may be risky, but I believe in him!”

Gan Ning’s words were filled with confidence. Over time, he and Fa Zheng had developed a strong camaraderie, as both were bold and audacious. Their personalities complemented each other well, and they found a perfect match in each other’s company.

Chen Deng glanced at Gan Ning and frowned slightly. He felt as though Gan Ning was trying to offer an explanation of sorts, but he quickly dismissed the thought. Someone with Gan Ning’s personality wouldn’t apologize for anything.

“I hope so. If this had come from Liu Bei or Advisor Jia, I’d be more confident,” Zhang Fei said with a sigh, still a bit unsure about Fa Zheng’s plan. If it hadn’t been for Gan Ning’s blunt comment about the potential consequences, Zhang Fei might not have agreed so readily. Chen Deng’s words rang true—this plan was indeed risky.

“Don’t worry,” Gan Ning said, laughing again. He knew that Zhang Fei still had some doubts about Fa Zheng’s abilities. Zhang Fei, despite his outward bravado, was meticulous and careful. Even an attempt at goading him might backfire, harming their relationship.

Chen Deng watched Gan Ning with newfound respect. Beneath the general’s brash and straightforward exterior lay a sharp and perceptive mind, though it didn’t come off as offensive.

“Well, if the general has made up his mind, I won’t argue further. I suggest that tomorrow afternoon, we lead six thousand soldiers to confront the Yu Province army with a proper military formation,” Chen Deng said, once again assuming his role as the strategist, his earlier complaints forgotten.

“Afternoon?” Zhang Fei asked, puzzled.

“If we lead our forces out to engage the enemy, it will be seen as good news for the Yu Province army. With the abilities of Li Tong and Li Yan, they will certainly send a large force to hold us down, while the remaining troops will likely aim for Xiapi,” Chen Deng explained calmly.

“Aren’t they more likely to aim at wiping out our field army?” Zhang Fei asked, still confused, as did Gan Ning.

“I’ll be accompanying you to challenge them,” Chen Deng replied with a composed expression. “That way, the chances of them targeting Xiapi will increase.”

“If we leave Xiapi under-defended, the odds of them targeting the city are indeed higher,” Gan Ning said, finally acknowledging Chen Deng’s strategy. It was the first time he truly saw the wisdom behind the man's words.

“Exactly. If we march out to battle, we’ll bring our elite forces, and you’ll be cautious. They won’t be able to swallow us easily, and from what I’ve seen, encircling us won’t be simple either,” Chen Deng explained further, looking to Zhang Fei for understanding. He now had a clearer sense of Gan Ning’s character—though Gan Ning was bold and direct, his thoughts were sharp and precise.

“I don’t get it…” Zhang Fei admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed.

“Do you think Xiapi without you or a field army full of elites is easier to defeat?” Gan Ning teased.

“Of course, Xiapi would be easier to defeat. Now I get it!” Zhang Fei’s face lit up as he looked at Chen Deng. “So we’re luring the enemy to attack Xiapi. But what’s the point of that?”

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