Ambush in the city

Khorat was under attack, and Khun Thai, unable to withstand the assault, retreated to an isolated city to seek reinforcements. This news greatly shocked Maha Bandula, who was in Bangkok.

"Bastards! I knew these Han people couldn't be trusted. A bunch of villains who betray their alliances."

The people beside him really wanted to remind this Second Prince that the two sides had never signed a formal alliance.

The original agreement was just to jointly attack Khmer and divide the land.

But looking at the furious Maha Bandula now, no one dared to touch a nerve at this time.

"Your Highness, Khorat is now in urgent need, and Khun Thai is asking for reinforcements. What do you think we..."

After his rage, Maha Bandula's anger gradually subsided, and he waved his hand impatiently.

"You guys go arrange the reinforcements!"

After speaking, he got up and walked away angrily, preparing to go to the backyard to vent his frustrations on two beautiful wives he had just snatched.

Everyone looked at each other, could only sigh helplessly, and began to discuss the rescue matters.

"The enemy has ten thousand troops. I think it's enough to dispatch five thousand elites to rescue them."

"No, no. The Han army's elites are extraordinary. I think we need at least ten thousand."

"I heard that the army in iron armor isn't there this time. I think we should send more people and wipe this army out."

"We should send more people; we still need to counterattack and recover the lost territory."

After a heated discussion, Maha Bandula's advisors and generals finally made the decision:

Withdraw three thousand from Bangkok, five thousand from Ayutthaya, and three thousand each from Lopburi and Rayong, totaling fourteen thousand to rescue Khorat.

In Phetchabun, Liu Rengui's main force was already poised and ready to act according to the plan when the letters from Hong Wantong and Liao Hua arrived.

Liu Rengui took a quick glance and immediately showed a triumphant smile.

"Come here!"

A soldier walked into the commanders tent, saluted Liu Rengui, and waited for orders.

"Pass on the order: cancel the previous order. The army will stand by..."

"Yes!"

"Wait, come back!"

The soldier was just about to go out when he was called back by Liu Rengui.

"Ask General Xia Luqi to come over."

"Yes!"

The army, which had been ready to go, fell silent again, which left everyone confused.

However, Xia Luqi left the main camp alone with two divisions of the Beiwei Army.

The Toungoo army's execution efficiency was very high this time. In less than ten days, more than ten thousand troops had assembled.

This time, the reinforcements were mainly Toungoo elites, and the main general was Ang Lai, Maha Bandula's trusted and beloved general.

"Soldiers! The Han people have broken their promise, betrayed the alliance, and launched a surprise attack on Khorat. What do you say we do!"

"Kill them all!"

"Kill them all!"

The crowd was filled with indignation. Ang Lai felt the morale was usable and immediately waved the large saber in his hand.

"The army sets off to rescue Khorat and kill all the Han people!"

Watching the spirited and heroic army set off, Maha Bandula felt full of confidence and looked forward to Ang Lai's victory report.

"Only this many people came? It seems these toungoo people don't value Khorat very much."

The army was still more than a hundred miles away from Khorat when Hong Wantong and Liao Hua received the intelligence. Both were obviously a bit dissatisfied and felt a bit sorry for Xia Luqi having made this trip.

Xia Luqi was indifferent. While gnawing on a roast chicken, he said nonchalantly:

"It doesn't matter. If fewer come, we'll just open our appetites and eat them up directly."

Their original plan was to attract a large number of enemy troops to rescue them, which could reduce the resistance for Liu Rengui's offensive. They didn't expect so few to come.

They were initially disappointed, but Xia Luqi's words woke them up. If they could wipe out this wave of reinforcements, the effect might be even better.

"General Xia is right. Since that's the case, let's change the plan and eat up this wave of reinforcements directly."

Stuffing the chicken into his mouth in two or three bites, Xia Luqi walked to the sand table.

"I saw it on the way here. This area is all plains, and there is no place to ambush troops. Where are you planning to intercept them?"

The smiles on their faces disappeared. If they wanted to intercept, the best choice was naturally to ambush the reinforcements, but the problem was there was no place nearby to ambush.

The two frowned at the sand table, while Xia Luqi continued to fight with his chicken.

This problem lingered in their minds. Feeling restless, the three decided to go out of the city to check the terrain again.

Just after walking out of the county office, before the three of them could get on their horses, Xia Luqi looked at the surrounding houses and narrow streets, suddenly thought of something, and slapped his forehead.

"I know where to set the ambush."

The two stopped their movements and looked at Xia Luqi with anticipation, waiting for the rest of this fierce general's words.

Xia Luqi pointed to the nearby houses and the narrow streets.

"We will set the ambush in the city. As long as they enter these streets, their troops will not be able to spread out. At that time, our crossbowmen can shoot them down at will from high ground."

Hong Wantong and Liao Hua looked at each other and saw surprise in each other's eyes.

Now there was no need to leave the city; all that needed to be done was to perfect this battle plan.

First, they definitely had to move all the civilians out of the city. With money and food compensation, plus Khun Thai's coercion, these civilians reluctantly left their homes for the time being.

Outside the city, the Xuanjia Army was responsible for acting as the Qian Army besieging the city. Inside the city, the Beiwei Army acted as the besieged Khun Thai and his troops, and also served as the main force for inflicting casualties.

Finally, there were the props to block the road. Carts filled with hay and sulfur were hidden in the streets and alleys.

Just two days after they were ready, the Toungoo reinforcements arrived. Liao Hua led the Xuanjia Army to resist symbolically for a while, then retreated to the camp, closed the gates, and looked terrified.

"Hahaha, these cowardly Han people only know how to use schemes and tricks. Cowards!"

Ang Lai spat fiercely, turned his horse's head, and waved his hand.

"Enter the city and see that incompetent Khun Thai."

In Ang Lai's view, since these Qian troops were so vulnerable, Khun Thai, who lost to the Qian Army, must also be an incompetent rat. He was already prepared to mock and humiliate this surrendered general.

Swaggering to the outside of the city gate, Ang Lai shouted loudly:

"Open the gate quickly. I am Ang Lai, a general under the Second Prince. The Prince sent us to rescue you."

Khun Thai just wanted to agree, but was stopped by Hong Wantong. After whispering a few words in his ear, Khun Thai immediately shouted to the people under the city:

"Please forgive me, General Ang Lai. We were tricked into opening the city gates by the Han people using this trick before, which is why we lost Khorat."

Ang Lai was a little unhappy, but he also knew that Khun Thai being cautious was right, so he could only reply patiently.

"How about this, I will let you take my seal and come up in the hanging basket."

"General Ang Lai, the Han people have used this trick too. I think it's better if you come up yourself."

Ang Lai was a little impatient, but in the end, he had to nod.

"Alright then, you lower the hanging basket."

Sitting in the hanging basket, Ang Lai was still cursing in his heart, thinking that he must teach this Khun Thai a good lesson later.

While going down in the hanging basket, Ang Lai was cursing:

"You cowardly Ayutthaya people..."

His words got stuck because he found that none of the people in front of him had faces he recognized, but instead...

"Han... woo... woo..."

Ang Lai only had time to shout one word before his mouth was covered, and then a steel saber was held across his neck.

Khun Thai respectfully bowed to Hong Wantong.

"General, this person is indeed Maha Bandula's trusted and beloved general, Ang Lai."

Hong Wantong looked at Ang Lai, who had already been quickly tied up like a pig on the ground with his mouth stuffed, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Pass the order, open the city gate!"

The city gate opened slowly, and fourteen thousand Toungoo soldiers began to enter the city.