Chapter 265: Slaying the Enemy General Before a Thousand Troops!

That night, during the hour of the Ox (1-3 AM), Gao Lan led 2,000 infantrymen out of the city with copper coins in their mouths to ensure silence as they carefully approached Guan Ping's camp.

At the same time, around midnight (11 PM - 1 AM), Guan Ping had already awakened all his soldiers, instructing them to stay within the camp and not make any noise. Meanwhile, Wei Yan had taken 2,000 soldiers out of the camp, positioning them a mile away. Although the night air was chilly in late autumn, these were well-trained soldiers, so there was no concern about them catching cold.

After Gao Lan left the city, Zhang He began to feel an uneasy premonition. He wanted to send someone to recall Gao Lan but couldn't find a good reason, so he paced anxiously back and forth in his quarters.

With a swift arrow, Gao Lan shot down a patrolling soldier, followed by a loud roar as he led his troops into the camp. However, after trampling over several empty tents, Gao Lan quickly realized that something was wrong.

"Kill them all!" Guan Ping charged out on horseback, shouting commands. A large number of soldiers emerged from all directions, their collective battle energy (cloud energy) forming a dense mass as they attacked Gao Lan's forces.

"Form up and retreat slowly!" Gao Lan quickly ordered a strategic withdrawal, recognizing the dire situation. Surrounded on three sides, he dared not order a full retreat.

"Slash!" In the confined space of the camp, Gao Lan's troops collided with Guan Ping's forces before they could even set the camp on fire. The two sides engaged in fierce close combat.

With a calm and calculated gaze, Gao Lan assessed the situation and decided on a bold move. Without seeing the other general Zhang He had mentioned, Gao Lan knew he had to make a tough decision—sometimes experience can be more frightening than intelligence, especially when honed in life-and-death situations.

"Throw the oil!" Gao Lan roared. Without hesitation, he ordered his men to throw oil forward and then lit it with torches.

"Ahh!" The fire quickly spread, separating Gao Lan's forces from Guan Ping's. The flames created a chaotic scene, allowing Gao Lan to regroup and issue new orders: "Rear units to the front! Shield bearers on the sides, spearmen behind them, and archers ready to shoot!"

Meanwhile, Wei Yan, who had been lying in wait, noticed that some soldiers were retreating from the camp, realizing that Guan Ping had failed to hold the enemy. Frustrated, Wei Yan got up, grabbed his large sword, and charged toward the enemy while shouting.

"It's coming from the left!" Gao Lan heard the commotion and felt a sense of relief. The uncertainty of an ambush had weighed heavily on him, but now that it had materialized, the pressure was lifted. While ambushes can be devastating, knowing where they are allows for some countermeasures—at least as long as it's not a near-impossible trap like the mythical "Ten Sided Ambush" (Shi Mian Mai Fu).

"Shoot!" Gao Lan shouted, calculating the distance between his troops and Wei Yan's. At the perfect moment, he ordered a volley of arrows to be fired.

"Damn it! Charge!" Wei Yan roared, his eyes bloodshot as he saw nearly a hundred of his men fall to the volley of arrows. He rushed toward Gao Lan, eager to understand why everything had gone awry despite his careful planning.

Wei Yan had many questions, but he couldn't get close to Gao Lan. The veteran general refused to give him the opportunity for a one-on-one duel, blocking Wei Yan's path with elite troops who nearly killed him with their coordinated attacks.

However, this close brush with death taught Wei Yan an important lesson: never stray too far from your own troops. After being given a horse by Guan Ping, Wei Yan and Guan Ping led their soldiers in a more calculated advance, gradually pressuring Gao Lan rather than recklessly charging in.

Despite Gao Lan's wealth of experience, the combination of being outnumbered and ambushed left him with limited options. His only hope now was for Zhang He to arrive quickly with reinforcements.

By the third watch (3-5 AM), Zhang He sensed that something was amiss. He had already prepared 5,000 infantry and cavalry, and now led them toward Guan Ping's camp—not to attack but to create enough chaos to extract Gao Lan safely.

"General, the gates of Le Ling have opened, and the enemy is advancing with no fewer than 3,000 troops," one of Guan Yu's officers reported.

"Three thousand men?" Guan Yu paused, stroking his beard thoughtfully. After a long moment, his eyes flashed with determination—the outcome would be decided here.

"Listen to my command," Guan Yu ordered. "I will position myself alone on the road and wait for the enemy general. Once I have slain him, you all must charge out without hesitation and wipe out the remaining forces during the ensuing chaos!"

Guan Yu had devised a bold strategy that only a fearless warrior could execute—a plan that relied on his strength and the enemy's lowered defenses.

"General, you mustn't!" His personal guards were shocked.

"Prepare yourselves and follow my orders. I will stand on the road alone and show you how to slay an enemy general before a thousand troops!" Guan Yu spurred his horse forward, positioning himself in the middle of the road. His guards exchanged uneasy glances but ultimately obeyed, hiding their horses some distance away.

Guan Yu took a deep breath, calming his mind. His excitement surged as he prepared for the darkness before dawn, the blackest part of the night. It was the end of October, with no moon in the sky. Even he could only see a thousand meters ahead, while the enemy wouldn't spot him until they were within five hundred meters. This was his only chance—one strike, one kill, and the illusion of a massive ambush would be created.