Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3675 Holding troops in Jiangxia, observing the changes and awaiting the flames of war.

The mighty Yangtze River flows eastward.

Jiangdong's water fortress was built on the old campsite of Cheng Pu, which was located in Jiangxia.

The enormous ship resembled a lurking beast, its anchor chains making a dull clanging sound in the murky river water.

On the deck, Huang Gai and Cheng Pu stood by the railing. The river breeze, carrying the fishy smell of water, blew against their faces, ruffling their gray hair and slightly worn armor.

"Demou, what do you think of what Envoy Cao said?"

Huang Gai's voice was rough, like the sound of a boat plank being slapped against the river. He seemed to be looking towards Jiangling in the distance, or perhaps he was watching the flames of war rising in the north.

Cheng Pu stroked his graying beard, his face grave: "Cao Mengde is in dire straits in the Heluo region, entangled with Fei Ziyuan... He's utterly powerless to defend against Fei Ziyuan's eastward advance... If he knew that Liu Xuande of Jiaozhi had also come to Jiangdong, I'm afraid he... might just empty promises to make us defend Nanjun, making us Jiangdong men guard his gates... Hmph, do they think we, Prime Minister Cao, are his watchdogs?"

Cheng Pu snorted, his expression full of disdain.

For military generals, whoever has an impressive record is worthy of respect, even if their opponent is an enemy.

Clearly, Fei Qian's record is more impressive at present, while Cao Cao has suffered defeat after defeat, a far cry from his days when he swept across the north and south of Henan and conquered the territories of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu...

Huang Gai's lips curled into a cold smile. "De Mou, this battle still needs to be fought..."

Cheng Pu paused for a moment, "What do you mean by 'publicly acknowledged'?"

"Send some old, weak, and sick soldiers to patrol the river first, just to make a show of it," Huang Gai said. "Do you really want us, the men of Huai and Si, to shed blood for Cao Mengde? Dream on! However... if we allow Fei Yi to easily establish himself in Jingnan, it will obviously not be a good thing for Jiangdong..."

Cheng Pu took a sip of the stir-fried pork with vegetables, immediately choked, coughed twice, paused, and then lowered his voice, carrying a hint of desolation, "Gongfu's meaning is...where should our own sword be pointed...in the end...is still unknown?"

Huang Gai also sighed.

The two fell silent, and for a moment the only sounds around them were the roaring river and the howling wind.

After Zhou Yu's death, the situation in Jiangdong changed, and the old ministers who had followed the Sun family for two generations found themselves in an extremely awkward position.

Sun Quan's promotion of newcomers like Lu Su and Lü Meng was ostensibly a sign of "respect" for these veteran generals, but in reality, it was a gradual stripping of their real power.

Zhou Xun, Zhou Yu's eldest son, was more of a bookworm than a strategist. He would certainly excel at writing, but as for leading an army...

Zhou Yu's second son, Zhou Yin, was originally intended to pursue a military career, but he has been given a nominal title and is now far removed from the core of the navy, becoming a mere figurehead.

This callousness—the killing of the dog after the rabbit is dead, the discarding of the bow after the birds are gone—chilled the hearts and chilled the teeth of veterans like Huang Gai and Cheng Pu, who had spent their lives licking blood from the blade.

"Zhongmou... he was really... too hasty..." Cheng Pu sighed, his voice aged. "With Gongjin's death just now, he couldn't wait to seize power, bringing in this vicious Liu Bei? He's practically playing with fire! Are those local bullies in Jiangdong easy to deal with? And Liu Bei is even more of a tiger! To negotiate with him is like trying to get something from a tiger!"

"He's anxious because he's afraid." Huang Gai's gaze was sharp, as if it could pierce through a thousand miles and see the undercurrents surging within Wu County. "He's afraid we old fogies are too powerful to control, afraid the Jiangdong gentry are too deeply entrenched, afraid Sun Quan won't be able to hold onto his position as the ruler of Jiangdong! Bringing in Liu Bei is just a ploy to use one tiger to devour another, to let Liu Bei fight us, and those like Gu Yuantan, to the death, so he can reap the benefits and completely seize control of Jiangdong!"

"But is it so easy to reap such profits?" Cheng Pu sneered. "When wolves and tigers fight, one will inevitably be injured, or even both will be severely damaged. What if Liu Bei turns the tables, or Gu Yuantan and the others, cornered, collude with foreign enemies... the foundation of Jiangdong will be in grave danger!"

Cheng Pu looked at Huang Gai, a hint of sorrow and resolve flashing in his eyes. "Gongfu, we are old, but our comrades who have followed us through countless life-and-death situations, and their families, cannot be buried with us! Nor can we be like the descendants of Gongjin, reduced to empty titles, at the mercy of others!"

Huang Gai slammed his palm heavily on the railing, making a dull thud. "Exactly! The lesson of Commander Zhou is right before our eyes! If Sun Quan can treat Gongjin's sons like this, who knows if he won't turn against us, our nephews, and our old friends in the future? We shed blood and sweat for the Sun family, conquering half the country, not to be discarded like a rag in the end!"

Huang Gai looked around. On the river were the warships of the Jiangdong navy that they had personally led. Although many of the elite troops had been transferred away, the skeletons were still there and the morale of the army was still stable.

This force is the foundation of their livelihood and their last bargaining chip.

"So..." Huang Gai's voice was deep and powerful, like the undercurrents of a river, "We won't get involved in these muddy waters! We'll stay here, guard Jiangxia, and protect this navy!"

Cheng Pu understood, his eyes sharpening. "Use stillness to control movement? Wait and see what happens?"

"That's roughly it..." Huang Gai's eyes gleamed with shrewdness. "In Jianye, Wu Commandery, let Sun Quan and Liu Bei... let the famous figures of Jiangbei and Jiangdong fight it out! We only need to firmly grasp our military power!"

Huang Gai paused, his tone tinged with a cold calculation: "If Sun Quan can ultimately subdue all sides and stabilize the situation, then we will still be the pillars of Jiangdong. He won't dare to be disrespectful, much less easily diminish our power. But if, by some chance... the situation collapses, Liu Bei gains power, or Gu Yuantan and others gain the upper hand... then what about us here..."

Huang Gai and Cheng Pu exchanged a glance, both seeing the same determination in each other's eyes.

"...That's when we'll make our move!" Cheng Pu interjected. "Our old lord has been kind to us... but the Sun family's legacy isn't solely the responsibility of that one person! Whoever can keep Jiangdong from chaos, whoever can protect the interests of my Huai and Si people, whoever can give us the status and respect we deserve, we will help them! When necessary..."

Huang Gai nodded slowly, his calloused hands gripping the hilt of his sword at his waist. The cold touch gave him a long-lost sense of control. "Jiangdong is ultimately not up to Sun Quan alone! Gongjin's fate must not be repeated on us. We old bones either don't move, or we do... we must secure the greatest benefit! For the sake of our descendants, for the sake of our comrades, this military power, this Jiangxia, is our last foothold!"

The river wind grew stronger, causing the battle flags to flutter loudly.

The two veteran generals, though not towering figures on the massive deck of the warship, exuded an unwavering resilience and a ruthless edge born of experience. Like two old wolves lurking on the riverbank, their gazes swept across the waves, coldly watching the towering surge about to rise in the east, awaiting their moment.

"However..." Huang Gai broke the silence, "we can't just wait around..."

Cheng Pu's eyes darted around. "You mean..."

Huang Gai chuckled, "If we do nothing... haha, I'm afraid... so, let's go 'attack' Jiangling..."

Cheng Pu didn't quite understand at first, since Huang Gai had just said he would "sit idly by," but after thinking about it again, he understood what Huang Gai meant...

……

……

As the sun set, it dyed the river surface a blood-red hue. The enormous shadows of the multi-storied ships were cast on the undulating waves, twisting and deforming with the ripples, as if something were about to emerge from the riverbed.

On the deck, the Jiangdong sailors finished their drills and gathered in twos and threes, chatting quietly. The atmosphere was far less lively than usual.

Huang Gai and Cheng Pu's secret conversation was certainly not known to the ordinary Jiangdong soldiers, but the oppressive and heavy atmosphere in the army, as well as the solemnity and determination rarely seen on the faces of the two old generals, had already been keenly noticed by these veteran soldiers who had followed them for many years.

An elderly military officer, his face weathered by time, squatted by the ship's railing, carefully sharpening and wiping his ring-pommel with a coarse cloth. The blade reflected a cold, gleaming light in the setting sun. Without looking up, he whispered to a younger sergeant beside him, "See that? The expressions on General Huang and General Cheng's faces... I'm afraid something terrible is about to happen..."

"Something big? What's so big?" The sergeant asked worriedly. "I heard that our lord has invited that guy who occupied the south? Is this... a blessing or a curse? It hasn't been long since Governor Zhou left..."

"Who knows?" The old schoolmaster stopped wiping the blade, flicking his finger lightly across it, producing a soft "clang." "But... we can't go wrong listening to the old general! Back then, we followed General Po Lu and General Tao Ni to conquer the world, and later we followed Governor Zhou to fight the Shan Yue and Jiangling... We've been through fire and water every time! The old general told us to stay here, so we'll stay here! No matter how chaotic things get in Jianye and Wu County, we have swords in our hands and water beneath our boats, the sky won't fall!"

The young sergeant nodded as if he understood, and subconsciously tightened his grip on the hilt of the knife at his waist, as if the cold metal could bring him a sense of security.

The soldiers around them remained silent. They might not understand the complex power struggles at the top, but they knew that their fates were now inextricably linked with those of the two veteran commanders, Huang Gai and Cheng Pu.

This enormous ship is not only their camp, nor merely a tool for navigating the great river, but also a protective mountain, a final safeguard, embodying their future and the lives of their families.

……

……

Inside the cabin,

Huang Gai gazed at the map of the Yangtze River defenses spread out on the table, a hint of melancholy in his expression. This map was drawn during Zhou Yu's lifetime, and now, who knew when the next map update would arrive…

Huang Gai's rough fingers traced over several key points. "Here, send an additional fleet of fast boats to patrol day and night… Report immediately if the Sichuan army makes any unusual movements. Also, supplies… Starting tomorrow, ration them according to wartime standards; stockpile as much as possible, just in case."

Huang Gai raised his head. "The Sichuan army thinks they're safe after capturing Jiangling and settling ashore? Haha, no matter what… on this great river, they'll have to know that the Jiangdong navy… is the strongest in the world!"

Cheng Pu understood, nodding emphatically, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. "That's right! Cut off their supply lines!"

……

……

On a misty morning, several nimble speedboats from Jiangdong Mengchong glided into Jiangxia Water Village like ghosts.

The ship bore fresh impact marks and several charred scorch marks. Although the sailors were exhausted, their faces were filled with excitement and the joy of surviving a disaster.

On the largest warship, Huang Gai stood shirtless at the bow, water droplets clinging to his white beard. His bronze chest rose and fell slightly, but his eyes remained as sharp as ever. He carried a heavy cloth bag, which he casually tossed to Cheng Pu's personal guards who approached him. "Here you go!"

Cheng Pu's personal guard untied the bag, and several pieces of smoky, oily cured meat rolled out. He grinned and said, "Good stuff! Thank you for the reward, General!"

"Haha, General Huo Qubing's grain ships are quite fat!" Huang Gai's voice boomed, his laughter ringing out. "What a pity, more was burned than looted! But enough to make Xu Gongming jump up and down on the walls of Jiangling, and to let those guys in Jianye know that without us, they can't even protect their own doorsteps!"

Huang Gai deliberately raised his voice so that the surrounding sailors could hear him.

Cheng Pu also came over to greet Huang Gai, a smile on his face, "Congratulations, General Huang! May Jiangdong be victorious!"

"Victory! Victory for Jiangdong!"

"Victory! Victory!"

The soldiers of the Jiangdong navy cheered in unison, their morale soaring.

Cheng Pu nodded and returned to the cabin with Huang Gai, watching the Jiangdong soldiers unload supplies from the warships...

"Not much?" Cheng Pu asked in a low voice.

"Hmm..." Huang Gai responded, "That Xu Gongming is quite cunning... his supply convoy can travel by both land and water... we can only stay on the river... phew..."

"We should prioritize stability," Cheng Pu said. "Let's ignore the land... we'll just keep an eye on the river... anyway, the merits are there, even if Jianye wants to say something, it's useless!"

Huang Gai nodded.

In Jiangxia, far from the turmoil of Jianye, this elite naval force is their source of confidence in facing any future changes.

Each successful raid was a declaration of their own value and a silent warning to all parties within Jiangdong.

……

……

On the city wall of Jiangling, Xu Huang stood with his hand on his sword, his face ashen.

The city wall beneath my feet is dilapidated, and the traces of recent repairs stand out starkly against the ruins.

As far as the eye can see, the once prosperous town of Nanjun is now a scene of devastation, with barren fields and dilapidated villages.

The continuous warfare, like a greedy glutton, has long since drained the last bit of marrow from this land, leaving only tasteless white bones.

"General, an urgent report has just arrived!" A scout, covered in mud and panting, rushed up the city wall. "Huang Cheng and his Jiangdong navy have moved again! Yesterday at dusk, they set out from Jiangxia and launched a surprise attack on one of our grain transport convoys! One large ship was burned, three were looted, and nearly two thousand bushels of grain were lost! The escorting officer fought valiantly and died in the line of duty!"

"It's those Jiangdong bandits again!" Xu Huang's personal guard gritted his teeth. "A bunch of defeated wretches, too cowardly to fight honorably, only capable of such despicable acts!"

Xu Huang frowned, not immediately reacting. He knew all too well how formidable Huang Gai and Cheng Pu were. The Jiangdong navy, commanded by these two, was a true battle-hardened elite force, far superior to the short-trained Cao army navy under Yu Jin.

Led by Huang Gai or Cheng Pu, they were swift and agile, their sailors maneuvering the boats as if on flat ground. They were particularly adept at using river currents, reefs, and morning mist to launch surprise attacks, striking and retreating without lingering in battle.

Upon hearing the news, Gan Ning arrived and said, "General! How about I disguise myself as a grain transport team again and ambush them?"

Xu Huang gazed at the desolate wilderness outside Jiangling City, silent and lost in thought.

Setting up an ambush is possible, but it only addresses the symptoms, not the root cause.

It's like applying glue – it feels great at first, but once it's done, you enter a period of reflection and discover a whole host of problems.

The desolate fields outside the city have been ravaged by war for years, leaving nine out of ten houses empty. Even those that remain are inhabited by the elderly, the weak, and refugees.

Hoping that Jiangling itself could supply food and provisions was undoubtedly wishful thinking.

Therefore, more than 70% of the food and provisions needed by Xu Huang and his men had to be transported from Yizhou via the Yangtze River. Not only was the journey long, but they were also being held hostage by Huang Gai and Cheng Pu, two venomous snakes entrenched in Jiangxia, which was truly unbearable.

What troubled Xu Huang even more was that Huang Gai and his men's harassment was extremely precise and deadly. They never attacked the main fleet escorted by heavy troops, but instead targeted the relatively weakly defended supply ships, or used the river fog and night cover to launch surprise attacks.

Once they succeeded, they burned the ships and seized the grain, then retreated to the Jiangxia Water Fortress. Relying on its well-established defenses and complex waterways, they rendered Xu Huang's counterattacks like punches hitting cotton.

Send troops to Jiangxia?
Not to mention the enormous costs of a large-scale expedition, given the unclear situation in Jiangxia, it would be incredibly difficult to attack the Jiangxia water fortress, which Cheng Pu had been building for a long time, solely with surface warships...

Xu Huang's intelligence on Jiangdong was clearly limited and outdated. He wasn't some powerful figure who could possibly know everything. He only knew that Zhou Yu, the Grand Commander of Jiangdong, had died of illness. After all, such a matter was of paramount importance, inevitably having a huge impact on the Jiangdong navy and overall strategy. The fact that Huang Gai and Cheng Pu, as Zhou Yu's former subordinates and veteran generals of the Huai and Si rivers, were currently stationed at the sensitive frontline position of Jiangxia was itself suspicious.

Is this another alliance between Cao Cao and Sun Quan?

"General!" Gan Ning urged from the side.

Xu Huang glanced at Gan Ning, "Hmm, you've succeeded in setting up an ambush once... but what about next time?"

"What next..." Gan Ning instinctively wanted to ask, but quickly understood Xu Huang's meaning and frowned. "Are we just going to let these Jiangdong bandits roam freely on the Yangtze River?"

Xu Huang slowly shook his head. "The first thing to determine isn't whether to set up an ambush... but rather what these Jiangdong people really want to do. Are they merely harassing the supply lines? Or... do they have some other motive?"

Gan Ning also fell into deep thought, "So... it was Cao Cao who sent them?"

Xu Huang nodded, "That's possible... Right now, our lord is engaged in a fierce battle with Cao Cao's army in the Heluo region... Cao Cao's army must be stretched thin, therefore..."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Xu Huang's eyes. "Huang Cheng's actions, while seemingly ruthless, are actually quite measured. They merely harassed the river's supply lines, burning and looting, but never attempted to land and attack the fortresses to escalate the war… What do you think… this signifies?"

Gan Ning was taken aback. 'This…'

He really hadn't thought of that...