Chapter VII: Operation Decapitation

In the Khitan military tent, there was a trace of tension and solemnity in the air. Xiao Feihu, a burly Khitan general with eyes like torches, sat at a heavy wooden map table, his brows furrowed, his gaze wandering from strategic point to point on the map, trying to find a breakthrough in the complex battle situation.

Xiao Feihu's gaze was like a sharpened blade, sharp and decisive. His broad palm pressed lightly on a spot on the sand table, where Li Keyong was in command, a key area marked by a red flag.

The staff officers around them all held their breath, as if even time had frozen at this moment. Xiao Feihu's voice stood out in this silence, his words seemed to freeze in the cold air, and every word was clearly audible.

"There is a saying in Chinese, 'Capture the thief first captures the king'." His words flowed slowly, and every word was full of authority and confidence.

His eyes slowly swept over everyone's faces, and their eyes reflected the light of fire, which was the desire for victory, the pursuit of glory. Xiao Feihu continued: "If we can take Li Keyong and Chengze in one fell swoop, then the entire Han army will lose its soul, like a beast that has been cut off from the main vein, and it will not be able to fight again. ”

His fingers moved away from his position in the command center and ran along the possible offensive line, his gaze closely following his gestures. "We will divide our forces and create the illusion of a multi-point offensive to confuse the enemy and make it impossible for them to judge our true intentions."

The air inside the tent seemed to be boiling because of Xiao Feihu's plan. The staff officers exchanged excited glances, and they understood the general's intentions. A young staff officer couldn't help but ask: "General, when are we going to attack?" ”

The corners of Xiao Feihu's mouth hooked up a smug smile, and his voice was calm and full of power: "Tonight, just tonight, the moon is dark and the wind is high on the night of murder." Our cavalry will quietly approach the hinterland of the Han army under the cover of night. ”

"Remember, be fast, act decisively and never give the enemy a chance to breathe," he stressed. The vanguard wants to choose our most outstanding warriors, to let them know that they are not just fighting for the Khitan, they are fighting for the glory of the entire steppe. ”

His staff officers sat around, everyone's expressions froze in the moment of thought, and the air seemed to freeze. Xiao Feihu's fingers paused at a certain point on the map, where Li Keyong's command center, the nerve center of the battlefield.

His lieutenant nodded hurriedly in agreement: "The general is wise!" Once Li Keyong and his vanguard officer Chengze fell, the Han army would inevitably be in chaos. ”

Xiao Feihu stood up and walked to the center of the tent, his gaze sweeping among the generals, looking for understanding and support. "We Khitan warriors are born to fight, and today, I want to select the elite, personally lead the team, and cut off their command. Without a leader, the Han people are like a swarm of headless flies, without any threat. ”

"General, but this is an operation that goes straight to the heart of the enemy army, and it is dangerous." A staff officer spoke worriedly, his eyes revealing concern for the success of the operation.

A sneer appeared on Xiao Feihu's face, "Danger? There is no place on the battlefield that is not dangerous! Only by facing danger can we grasp victory! ”

"I want you to select three hundred warriors at once, lightly equipped, and silently go around behind the enemy's army. We have only one goal: Li Keyong and Chengze! ”

The staff officer's brow tightened, and his face cast a shadow of worry in the light of the flickering fire in the tent. He knew very well that this time the operation was different from the past, they were going to face a cunning opponent like Li Keyong, and Cheng Ze's bravery on the battlefield was also a story of changing colors.

"General, we know your bravery and resourcefulness, but this action is directed at the heart of the enemy army, and is far more dangerous than any previous charge. If there's any surprise..."The staff officer's voice was low and full of worry.

Xiao Feihu's eyes flashed with an unusual light, he walked towards the staff officer step by step, and after standing still, he stretched out his finger and slammed heavily on the position of Li Keyong's command post on the sand table, making a dull sound.

"Dangerous?" Xiao Feihu's voice was low and powerful, echoing in the tent, "On the battlefield, danger and opportunity always coexist. If we are timid, then when can we raise my Khitan majesty? When will we let these Han people know that their land will also be trampled by our horses' hooves? ”

His sneer was tinged with contempt, as if he had no interest in the invisible dangers. "No great conquest is done in safety and comfort. Tonight is the moment when we prove the bloody nature of the Khitan warriors. ”

He turned around and patted the staff officer on the shoulder hard, his tone becoming more determined. "What I need is a brave and careful warrior, each as agile as a cheetah and as cunning as a wolf. Immediately select three hundred of the most elite warriors for me, and tell them that tonight they will be the heroes of the Khitan, and their names will be sung in every steppe and every hill. ”

Another burly staff officer stepped forward, clapping his chest and his voice as passionate as a war drum. "General, I am willing to lead these three hundred warriors deep into the enemy's ranks, and even if I die, I will carve our names on the hearts of the enemy!"

Xiao Feihu looked at him, a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes. "Good! I just like your energy! But remember, our goal is not to die, but to take the enemy's head alive and capture Li Keyong and Cheng Ze alive. It's a hunt, and we're hunters. ”

He turned again to all the staff officers, his voice high-pitched and full of motivational power. "Go, my hunters, and silently go behind the enemy's army and take down the enemy's leader in one fell swoop. Tonight, we want to make the Han army tremble in fear, and let them know that the Khitan warriors are not only the kings of the grassland, but also the kings on the battlefield. ”

The staff officers stood up one by one, brave expressions on their faces, and the flames of war burned in everyone's eyes. They looked at each other and then responded in unison: "Yes, General!" ”

The air in the tent boiled over because of Xiao Feihu's words, and everyone's bodies were full of tension and anticipation before the action. Tonight will be the glorious battle of their Khitan army, and it will be the moment when they will leave a deep imprint on this land.

The staff officers stood up one after another, and a veteran replied with arrogance: "General, I am willing to lead the vanguard." ”

Wang De's chest was bulging, and his morale was high, he was tall, broad-shouldered and broad-backed, like an unyielding god of war. "General, in this operation, I am willing to be the vanguard, my Wang De is the most happy to face difficulties in his life, tonight, either he will become famous or die on the battlefield!"

Xiao Feihu looked at Wang De, and the approval in his eyes was even greater, "Wang De, your courage and determination are exactly what I need." But remember, our purpose is not to let you die on the battlefield, but to bring back the news of victory alive. ”

"I understand, General!" Wang De clenched his fists, as if he had seen the dawn of victory, "Your will is our guide to action, and we will not fail in our mission." ”

"Beware, Wang De, although Li Keyong is brave, he is more cunning, you must be careful of his counterattack." An elderly staff officer reminded him that his face was calm, and his slender eyes revealed deep experience.

"Don't worry, I'll be cautious." Wang De responded, and then turned to the other staff officers, "Brothers, we are making history, and everyone will be part of the legend." Let's make sure together that the legend is about the splendor of the Khitan. ”

Xiao Feihu stood up again, his figure projected on the swaying tent cloth, and seemed to be even taller and more powerful. He looked around, lowered his voice and said, "This battle is very important, and it is only allowed to succeed, not to lose." Wang De, you lead the vanguard to fire the first shot, remember, you must be fast, accurate, and ruthless. The rest, acting according to the plan, fought in tandem. ”

"Others, you are responsible for containing the main forces of the other side, and you must not let the enemy understand our main intentions." Xiao Feihu's gaze fell on the face of the staff officer one by one, "Everyone must give full play to your ingenuity and use the terrain, weather, and timing to disrupt the enemy's deployment." ”

"We must make sure that this night attack is a surprise victory and that the enemy's head is brought back in one fell swoop." His voice was firm and powerful.

The eyes of the staff officers lit the sparks of battle one by one, and they stood up one after another and saluted Xiao Feihu, showing their acceptance of orders and respect for the general.

"General, let the enemy tremble in the night." A staff officer said excitedly.

"Yes, let them know that the night is the Khitan's best friend." Another staff officer added.

Xiao Feihu nodded, and a confident smile appeared on his face again. "We will not let the night be lonely, tonight, we are the masters of this world. Go, for the Khitan, for the glory, and return to break the enemy! ”

With the last order given, the staff officers dispersed tacitly, each going about preparing for the necessary action. Their steps were firm, and every movement revealed professional calmness and preparation for a decisive battle, and the night outside the tent seemed to be even deeper. Tonight will undoubtedly be a long and crucial night.

This game of life and death, glory and power is advancing on the chessboard of the battle with the heartbeat of every participant. Xiao Feihu, the Khitan general, was about to strike the deadliest blow in his hand.

After a short rest, Li Keyong's big tent was brightly lit and he was discussing battle plans with various generals, striving to end this ruthless war as soon as possible.

Li Ke used the green tendons on his forehead to beat faintly, and he stood in the center of the tent, his eyes sweeping sharply over each general. The atmosphere inside the tent was tense and solemn, and everyone knew that the next decision would affect the direction of the entire war.

"Everyone!" Li Keyong's voice sounded, both powerful and magnetic, "The war continues to this day, the people are suffering, the soldiers are tired, and my heart is painful. If this battle is not resolved quickly, I am afraid that it will be difficult for the world to be peaceful. ”

A general clenched the weapon in his hand and replied in a deep voice: "Marshal Qiyu, although our army is sleepy, its morale has not declined. With just one order, we can immediately charge into battle and fight the enemy to the death. ”

"War is not child's play, and quick success is not a good strategy." Another civilian with a focus on strategy stepped forward, his tone calm but assured, "We should consolidate our defenses, and at the same time send scouts to keep a close eye on enemy movements and look for a breakthrough." ”

Li Ke nodded in agreement, and then turned his gaze to the veteran general who was a military advisor, "Wang Zhen, you are most familiar with the tactics of the Khitan, what do you think?" ”

The veteran Wang Zhen is wearing battle armor, and the medal on his chest shines with the glory of the battlefield. "Xianggong, the Khitan army is strong with cavalry, and night attacks are common. We can't afford to take it lightly. Vigilance at night should be immediately strengthened to prevent the Khitan army from taking advantage of the situation. ”

A young general interjected eagerly: "But if we just defend, we will always be passive." We should take the initiative and make the enemy tired. ”

Li Ke pressed his hand on a place on the sand table, pondered for a moment, and then spoke: "It is important to take the initiative to attack, but blind attack will only cause unnecessary losses. We need precise intelligence and informed decision-making. What Wang Zhen said is extremely true, we must strengthen our precautions. ”

The atmosphere inside the tent suddenly tensed, and everyone was thinking of countermeasures to ensure that they could defend themselves against a possible night attack.

"Then, the most important thing now is to ensure that the various camps can support each other, and not let the Khitan army find a breakthrough." A staff officer suggested that he move his fingers quickly across the sand table to establish a link between the camps.

Li Keyong's gaze lingered on the sand table, examining every route and every sign. "That's right, it's important to hold on, but we also have to be prepared to fight back. As soon as we find any weakness in the Khitan army, we should deal them a heavy blow. ”

"I suggest immediately dispatching elite cavalry and secretly ambushing in case of a Khitan night attack." A battle-hardened veteran suggested.

Li Ke tapped the sand table, and his thoughts became clearer and clearer. "Good! Immediate action, all battalions on alert, elite cavalry ready to support, while keeping a close eye on the enemy's movements. This war, we must win, and beautifully. ”

All the generals promised in unison, "Obey!" There was a lot of determination and strength in the voice.

After this discussion, everyone's face welled up with confidence. Li Keyong's leadership was convincing, and his plan was steady and well-thought-out. Although the future is full of unknowns, under his leadership, everyone is confident and ready to meet the upcoming challenges.

In the discussion of the generals, Cheng Ze had been listening quietly, his eyes were deep, and his thoughts seemed to pass through the smoke and clouds of the battlefield. As a member of Li Keyong's team, he has his own unique perspective on the upcoming challenges.

Cheng Ze stood up and said in a deep voice: "Marshal, the generals have their own suggestions, but we must be well aware of the enemy's cunning. Although the Khitan army is strong, it is not invincible, we must not only defend, but also find the right time to counterattack. ”

Li Keyong's gaze turned to Cheng Ze and nodded affirmatively, "Well said, Cheng Ze." What are your plans? ”

Cheng Ze took a step forward, his finger wandering between the mountains and forests and roads on the sand table, "Xianggong, I think we can set up an ambush in this forest, and besides, we can send a team to collect intelligence in the nearby villages to understand the movements of the Khitan army." ”

"Then you mean that we should look for opportunities to attack in the garrison?" Rick's eyes were fixed on the woodland on the sand table.

"Exactly." Cheng Ze replied, "I am willing to personally lead the team into the forest to secretly observe the enemy's situation, once the Khitan army relaxes, we can surprise and deliver a fatal blow." ”

One of the generals said with some concern: "But this woodland is treacherous, if the Khitan army is alert, our ambush troops may fall into disadvantage." ”

Cheng Ze shook his head firmly, "The Khitans are proud, they wouldn't have thought that we would dare to set up an ambush in the forest. And, even if they found out, with what I know about the woodlands, we could use the terrain and get out safely. ”

Li Keyong thought for a while, and then said to Cheng Ze: "Cheng Ze, this matter will be handed over to you." But you have to be careful not to act recklessly. ”

"Don't worry, Marshal, Cheng Ze understands the measure." Cheng Ze said solemnly.

Li Keyong turned to the generals, "Now, we must not only hold our ground, but also be ready to attack. General Chengze led his troops into the woodland, and each of you must do your duty. ”

"Yes, Marshal!" Once again, the congregation answered in unison.

With the development of strategies and the assignment of tasks, everyone is acting according to their responsibilities.

In a corner of the tent, Li Keyong had a secret conversation with several of his cronies.

"Tactically, we need a decisive decapitation operation." A sharp glint flashed in Li Keyong's eyes.

Cheng Ze immediately understood his intentions, "If the decapitation operation can be successful in one fell swoop, it will definitely greatly demoralize the enemy and win the initiative for us." ”

"Exactly." Li Keyong nodded, "But such an action is extremely risky, and once it fails, the consequences will be unimaginable." ”

The staff officer next to him also chimed in, "This is indeed a bold plan, marshal, we must make sure that nothing goes wrong." We need detailed intelligence and sophisticated planning. ”

"I'm willing to take on this responsibility." Cheng Ze stood up, his voice full of firmness, "I have studied the marching route and camp layout of the Khitan army, as long as I am given enough scouts and elite soldiers, I am confident that I will live up to the trust." ”

Li Keyong looked at Cheng Ze and muttered, "I can trust your courage and ability, but this matter is related to the overall situation, and it is by no means child's play. ”

"Marshal, hesitation will not help the situation." The veteran next to him spoke in support of Cheng Ze, "If we don't take a risk at this time, I'm afraid we will fall into a situation of being beaten passively." ”

Wen Chen also said, "If the decapitation operation can be executed accurately, it will deal a fatal blow to the enemy." But we must ensure the secrecy of the operation, as well as the route of rapid retreat. ”

Cheng Ze once again emphasized, "I have a complete plan, and I know where the enemy is loosely guarded. Just act with precision and get the job done. ”

Li Keyong finally made a decision, "Okay, then follow your plan." But remember, it's all about safety, and if things don't go well, retreat immediately. ”

"Yes, Marshal!" Cheng Ze and the other generals agreed in unison.

As the evening breeze blows and the fog of war lifts, everyone knows exactly what role they will play. The decapitation operation is not only a blow to the enemy, but also a test of one's own courage and wisdom. Cheng Ze and his team immediately began to prepare, and the sound of Li Keyong and the generals' winning strategies continued to be heard in the tent.