Three Kingdoms

  Chapter 2862 Two doubts

  The sudden rain slowed down the actions of both parties in the Western Regions.

  In the later generations, if you get caught in the rain, it will be a big deal to catch a cold. After taking two pills and sleeping, you will recover in a hurry. But in the Han Dynasty, typhoid fever was a big problem, and a little carelessness would spread into a plague. So normally, no general would deliberately challenge the wind and rain or challenge the disease.

  When the wind and rain in the Western Regions came, the weather in Jiangdong in the south had already entered a hot season.

   At the time when Lu Bu and Zhang Liao withdrew to Xihai City, after intense preparations, Jiangdong sent troops.

  Huang Gai left Dongting Lake with 18,000 elite soldiers, went up the river, and camped not far downstream of Jiangling.

  Cao Jun discovered the movement in Jiangdong almost when Huang Gai led the troops out, and immediately reported to Cao Ren. Cao Ren also immediately reported to Cao Cao.

  『Huang Gongfu is the governor...』 Cao Cao stroked his beard and squinted his eyes, "Eighteen thousand soldiers...what do you want? 』

  Eighteen thousand is neither too much nor too little.

   After all, Jiangdong always has one hundred thousand and two hundred thousand, but now he suddenly only said that it was only 18 thousand, which is somewhat uncomfortable.

   And what exactly does this Wanba want to do?

   Judging from the marching route, it is indeed pointing to Yidao or Jiangling, but what can such 18,000 soldiers do? It's not that Cao Cao underestimated the Jiangdong soldiers... Uh, well, at this point in time, Cao Cao has not been burned once, and his impression of the Jiangdong soldiers is that they stay in the navy. Some looked down on the combat effectiveness of Jiangdong soldiers.

In Cao Cao's heart, if the 18,000 soldiers go ashore, they will have to pay at least 20% off, and then they can't all go ashore. Some of them should stay in the water village to watch the ships, luggage, etc., so those who go ashore Even if the combat power is 10,000, what can these 10,000 soldiers do?

   Fight against barbarians?

If the hussars didn't move out, it might not be a big problem to attack the barbarian road. After all, the fortifications of the barbarian road are not very strong, and there are not many troops stationed there. It is relatively easy to be conquered, but even if it is conquered Liao Yidao, with such a small number of pawns, it would be somewhat insufficient to attack further.

  If you take a step back and think about it, just to build a forward position, 18,000 soldiers are a bit too much. Even though Jiangdong uses ships to transport grain and grass, after all, it is somewhat far from Jiangdong Dongting Lake water village to Yidao along the waterway, and it is not like a grain road on land, and the route can be adjusted at any time. This waterway is just like this...

  『This is why Jiangdong is worried...』 Cao Cao smiled, and there was a hint of sarcasm in his smile.

  Guo Jia nodded in agreement with Mr. Cao, "Jiangdong is in a precarious state, so it is common sense to be cautious. 』

  Actually speaking, Jiang Dong is generally worried about Lao Cao. Although it is said that they have formed an alliance on the surface, in fact Jiangdong is still afraid that if Lao Cao turns his back on him and suddenly stabs Jiangdong with his back, so this time the expedition has a very strong sense of probing, like poking out a foot cautiously, and may withdraw at any time go.

  『Come on! ’ Cao Cao ordered, ‘Let Sun Shubi come over and tell me that I have something to discuss! 』

  Sometimes the minds of the ancients were so straightforward, so straightforward that they were written directly on the names of their descendants. For example, Liu Bei named his son Liu Feng and Liu Chan, and his thoughts were clear.

   But Sun Jian is relatively better, a little hidden, but only a little bit hidden. He didn't write his name directly, but hid it in the words. Sun Bofu, Sun Zhongmou, Sun Shubi, and Sun Jizuo could be seen at a glance. The boss is leading the army, the second is planning, the third and fourth are assisting, the division of labor is clear, and the expectations are far away.

  But what a pity...

   Wishes are often beautiful, but reality is often cold.

Sun Yi failed to provide any assistance to Sun Quan. As a hostage in exchange, he was named Qinghe prefect, but he did not take office immediately. Instead, he was a guest in Xu County under this name. Became the agent of Qinghe County Prime Minister. This has a famous name in later generations, it is called "hosting work".

  Sun Yi came and paid a respectful visit to Cao Cao.

  『Shu Bi is here, please take a seat, you are welcome. How about eating and living in Xu County? Is there anything wrong with it? 』Cao Cao smiled, like a friendly neighbor tempting little loli with a lollipop.

  『Report to Prime Minister, Yi is fine, thank you for your concern. ’ Sun Yi replied solemnly.

Cao Cao nodded, exchanged greetings for a while, then stroked his beard and said slowly: "Recently, there was an interesting incident. A man was hunting in the forest outside the city. When there is a sound, he rushes out and looks at him. Seeing a woodcutter rushing away, he suspects that he has got the blade. First he calls for him, but when the woodcutter fails to respond, he becomes more suspicious and picks him up..."

  Cao Cao took a look at Sun Yi, "Then when he saw the official, he knew that the woodcutter was deaf, but he didn't get his sword." Orion first paid the fine, and then went back to the forest to search for him. He had already lost his position and could not get his sword. 』

  Sun Yi blinked, "Prime Minister means..."

  Cao Cao laughed, "It's just that I just knew about it by accident, and I found it interesting. I chatted for a while, and Uncle Bi was too worried." 』

   After finishing speaking, they chatted again, and then rewarded Sun Yi with some clothes, food and utensils, and sent Sun Yi away.

   Seeing Sun Yi leave, Guo Jia came out from the side room, and smiled: "The Prime Minister's words are too straightforward..."

  Cao Cao laughed loudly, "Don't speak bluntly, I'm afraid I don't understand!" 』

The two laughed again, and after a while, Cao Cao slowly put away his smile, and his small eyes stood up, "Heluo Yang sent someone to send a secret report, saying that the Hussars were hunting for spies in the Guanzhong... to kill a certain A lot of people..."

  Guo Jia sighed, "This hussar really doesn't understand etiquette at all. 』

  Before Cao Cao released some spies captured in Shandong and returned them to Chang'an. Of course, the hussars didn't say nothing at all, and there were still some horses and armors to send, which was equivalent to ransom for these people, but this kind of thing would not be vigorously publicized no matter in the past or the present.

  Cao Cao actually wanted to reach a tacit understanding through this method, that is, the two sides caught each other's spies and spies in exchange, not beheading...

  Cao Cao did this not because Cao Cao was kind, or Cao Cao just wanted to show kindness. In fact, he still hoped that those spies could bring back more things. After all, if they were killed, they would really be worthless. And once you know you won't die, how can you hide something, even if you keep it in your mind. Anyway, Cao Cao felt that he had made money by bringing any new technology from Guanzhong.

  But this time, Yuwenji, the hussar's subordinate, directly attacked.

   This made Cao Cao angry, but more suspicious.

  『What exactly is the hussar hiding? ’ Cao Cao looked at Guo Jia and asked.

  Guo Jia was silent for a while, "It may be related to the Western Regions." 』

  The reason why Guo Jia was silent was because he felt that there might be some ambiguities in this matter, but he didn't know what was wrong with it, so he wasn't very sure, he could only say maybe.

  Cao Cao was a little emotional, "The important thing in the military is to know yourself and the enemy." The Six Secret Teachings of Hussars can be said to be proficient. 』

  Guo Jia cupped his hands and said, "Prime Minister, Rong Chen will send some more people to investigate. 』

  Cao Cao nodded and said, "Be careful. 』

  Guo Jia took the order to retreat, and Cao Cao sat in the hall, squinting his eyes.

   After a while, Cao Cao asked someone to recruit his subordinates, and asked him to go to Hanoi to find Le Jin, and ordered him for a while...

Looking back, let’s talk about Huang Gai. After he was stationed in the lower reaches of Jiangling for a period of time, he received a letter forwarded by Sun Yi through Xiangyang. After reading the letter, he shook his head and sighed, and then ordered the soldiers to collect the ships , march forward.

  Sun Yi’s letter stated that Cao Cao was mocking Jiangdong, but Huang Gai knew that the reason why he stayed was not because of timidity or doubts, but because of some other reasons...

  Of course, Jiangdong has always been wary of Cao Jun.

   It's just that since Sun Yi wrote the letter, it can't be said that he didn't move at all. After all, he didn't give Sun Yi face, and Sun Yi probably didn't have a good life in Xu County.

  Huang Gai sent people to go back to report, and at the same time led his troops out of Jiangling, and went to Yidao by land and water.

  Cao Jun's water army was very restrained, and almost didn't even patrol. He just stood on the wall of the Jiangling water village and watched the Jiangdong water army pass by from a distance.

  Huang Gai's marching speed is not fast, at most thirty miles a day, this speed can even be described as a turtle crawling. Because most of the baggage of the Jiangdong Army is loaded on the ship, the speed of marching on land is not limited to the baggage truck, and the army can also walk in a straight line, while the navy needs to walk along the waterway, which is relatively winding. It's a little more winding, but the waterway saves effort, so normally such a march would have to go up to fifty miles, but now Huang Gai forced his speed to half the line.

  Every day when the sun is just westward, Huang Gai will set up a simple water fortress, and then cooperate with the army on the shore for defense. Going to bed early and walking late every day is like going on an outing.

  Huang Gai's attitude confused the scouts of the hussars.

  Marching is not like marching, there is no sense of speed at all, and the baggage ships behind the entire fleet are so brightly placed there, no matter how you look at it, they look like bait. The bait was so obvious that the hussar soldiers who had been ambushing on the shore before hesitated, thinking that they would be caught if they attacked.

  After all, Huang Gai is also a veteran who has fought for many years, how could it be possible that he doesn't even understand the need for protection of the baggage ship?

  But seeing Huang Gai approaching Yidao day by day, the hussars Chuanshu water army who couldn't find a suitable opportunity could not do nothing, so when the Jiangdong water army approached Yidao, they began to attack tentatively.

  When Huang Gai saw the appearance of Hushi Chuanshu water army, he did not choose to fight regardless of the number of the water army, but set up camp on the spot. The army village on land was connected with the water village on the water. All the trees and shrubs near the wall of the village were cut down, and a large number of fortifications were arranged, as if building a new city on the spot. Team leader Wang Shuang was dumbfounded.

  In the original plan, Wang Shuang came to lure the enemy...

   As a result, the Jiangdong army shrank into a tortoise shell before it could be lured!

   In desperation, Wang Shuang sent people back to inform the latest changes, while cautiously probing the attack.

Huang Gai was equally cautious. He ordered the stronghold to be guarded, and dragged all the supply ships to the innermost place to prevent the rockets from burning. Thousands of troops, thousands of warships attacking like...

  At the same time, Jiangdong soldiers on land also lined up and set up crossbow arrays on the shore to assist the water army in counterattacking.

  Faced with such a posture, Wang Shuang really felt "flattered", and shouted in his heart that I am just a small military academy, so why such a big posture, even if the hussars came in person, it would be nothing more than that!

Huang Gai's behavior was very abnormal, which made Wang Shuang dare not be righteous in the slightest, but only tried step by step, and arranged at least half of the forces on the periphery as a warning, in case Jiangdong's warships came from that corner. Rush out from inside to outflank.

Huang Gai sat on top of the navy boats, watching the Jiangdong Navy and Hussar Navy boats coming and going, and the arrows coming and going. It seemed that the fight was very lively. In fact, both sides were very restrained, just like a live ammunition military It's the same as the drill, using real guys, but they didn't aim to kill real people. Therefore, although Huang Gai's face was serious and serious, his mind was no longer on the battlefield.

  Anyway, if Huang Gai still needs to personally command this level of combat, then the non-commissioned officers of the Jiangdong military academy can really commit suicide by throwing themselves into the river on the spot.

  The real battle has not yet begun.

  The two sides fought for two days, and each suffered some injuries.

  Wang Shuang was a little helpless, he had tried his best, but the Jiangdong Army just huddled in the stockade and couldn't come out.

   This made Wang Shuang almost go crazy.

  Continuing to consume was not Wang Shuang's goal, so after the battle ended the next day, he withdrew a certain distance back, distanced himself from the Jiangdong Army, and kept monitoring the Jiangdong Army. Anyway, with Wang Shuang's pawns, it is impossible to defeat Huang Gai.

  Wang Shuang thought about it, but couldn't figure out what Huang Gai was doing, so he could only wait for the next order, while doing his best to complete his task. Anyway, if Huang Gai wanted to march, he had to fight Wang Shuang first.

  Wang Shuang's soldiers were not many, but it was like a stone stuck in the river, or a barrage. If it was not cleared, it would be difficult for Huang Gai to march smoothly.

  Wang Shuang felt that he couldn't be lured anyway, so he watched from the outside to see how Huang Gai would act before deciding his next move.

   There is nothing wrong with doing this, but it is a pity that compared with Huang Gai, Wang Shuang and Huang Gai are actually quite inferior in terms of experience and strategy. He did not realize that the danger had quietly approached.

   At night, Huang Gai lay down with his clothes on.

  There were footsteps coming from outside the cabin, Huang Gai opened his eyes immediately, and sat up, as if he hadn't slept at all and was awake all the time.

  『Captain, there is news…』 said the guard outside softly.

"Come in. Huang Gai ordered, and then looked at the guards who came in, "What's the matter?" 』

  『Reporting to the governor, General Zhu has sent a signal and is ready to attack at any time. ’ replied the guard.

  Huang Gai raised his gray eyebrows, "Good! Have you found the hussars ambushing? 』

   The guard nodded, "It's in a bend near Yidao. 』

  Huang Gai laughed, and then waved his hand vigorously, "Send me the general order, the warship in the water village, cook at the third shift, and attack at the fifth shift!" 』

  The guard responded, then hesitated, "Captain, then Cao Jun..."

  Huang Gai smiled and patted the guard's shoulder, "Yes, I know how to use my brain, very good." But what do you think those soldiers in our Luzhai are used for? 』

   The guard was stunned, and immediately bowed, turned around and went out to deliver the order.

After a while, the Jiangdong soldiers in the water village started to move. All the ships were adjusting their positions, equipped with ordnance, food and grass and other items. , Jiangdong navy ships of all sizes filed out!

The Jiangdong navy is well-trained, and the forward warships are separated like minesweepers, and the probe rods are extended long, and after a while, the iron chains and hidden stakes set by the hussars under the water are detected. Either cut it off, or made a mark, and then continued to investigate forward, and when the Jiangdong water army had removed these underwater traps, the Sichuan and Shu water army led by Wang Shuang didn't react.

  Wang Shuang had indeed planned to use it as a bait before, but he did not expect that he would lure Huang Gai for two days, and Huang Gai would not move at all.

  If it was on land, the hussars' cavalry could be described as moving like rabbits, so now Jiangdong's navy is showing the same speed on the water. Wang Shuangcai received the news and saw Jiangdong's navy rushing under his nose.

  Wang Shuang was careless.

  After all, Wang Shuang himself is not considered an excellent warrior. After seducing Huang Gai for two consecutive days, who would have thought that Huang Gai would directly launch a full-force attack in the early morning of the third day?

  These Jiangdong water troops followed Huang Gai to kill Wang Shuang and others. Under the light of the torches, each of the Jiangdong navy was aggressive, like a crocodile jumping up from the water, biting its prey and about to roll to death.

When Wang Shuang and others went out to fight, the space left for them was already very narrow, so Wang Shuang had no chance to entangle for long, so he immediately retreated with a roar, but even so, Jiangdong Army, relying on the advantage on the water, It also continued to attack Wang Shuang and the others. The small boat is like a swimming fish, quickly following behind Wang Shuang and other warships, constantly harassing and obstructing, as long as Wang Shuang's boat is slightly delayed, the Jiangdong ship will directly press up like a dark cloud .

  Arrows and crossbows flew staggered.

   From time to time, the Chuanshu navy was shot and fell into the water.

  At this moment, the sharpness of the Jiangdong navy was fully revealed, so that Wang Shuang and others almost used all their strength to keep a certain distance, and fled to Yidao...

  The Chuanshu water army was beaten badly immediately, and even Wang Shuang was hit by a stray arrow from nowhere. Fortunately, the armor was strong enough, and the injury was not too serious. Wang Shuang gritted his teeth, and looked back from time to time, "Let's chase! chase it! When we get to Yidao, it will definitely make you **** look good! 』

  (end of this chapter)