Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3676 Arrows Deter Jiangdong, Blood Stains Xiangyang's Defense
After capturing Jiangling, Xu Huang's troops did not receive any reinforcements; on the contrary, they were weakened to some extent.

Jiangling City is not just a city, but a large area that includes the city itself.

Cao Zhen fled with his soldiers when he saw the situation was bad, but the remaining remnants of the army and the people of Jiangling were all waiting with their mouths agape...

Kill them all?
Obviously not.

Cao Cao's army had no bottom line, but the Flying Cavalry could not. It's like someone seeing someone cutting in line, standing on a high place with their hands on their hips cursing loudly, but then seeing that no one cares, they come down from the high platform and cut in line themselves when no one is watching.

Establishing order and restoring production and daily life in Jiangling City after the devastation of war was not an easy task, nor could it be accomplished simply by transferring money from one pocket to another or by providing work relief...

If there's no output for a short period, you can grit your teeth and persevere, but it definitely won't work in the long run.

Therefore, in the few days since Xu Huang occupied Jiangling City, he has not pursued the victory, but has instead focused on consolidating the local defenses and resuming production.

Just then, the Jiangdong army launched an invasion.

This means that Xu Huang must face a choice: north or south? That is the question.

"Huang Gongfu, Cheng Demou..." Xu Huang looked at the map, frowned in thought for a long time, and then slowly said, "The Jiangdong army attacked our river fleet... why didn't they cut off our land transport?"

That's right, the Jiangdong navy launched surprise attacks back and forth on the Yangtze River, turning a blind eye to land-based transportation.

Logically speaking, Huang Gai and Cheng Pu were both veteran generals, and it was impossible for them to make such a big oversight, assuming that the grain transport fleet on the water was all of Xu Huang's army's transportation means.

While traveling down from Zigui by water is indeed more convenient, it's not entirely impossible to travel by land, although it will be more costly.

"Or... is this what Jiangdong desires?" Xu Huang pointed to the land route from Zigui to Jiangling on the map. "To cut off our main route across the Yangtze River, forcing our army to use land transport? This increases our losses, which means... Jiangdong wants to keep our army tied down here? Then why?"

Xu Huang looked at Gan Ning, "Or rather, why doesn't Jiangdong just cut off my supply lines directly? What would happen if they completely cut off our supply lines?"

Gan Ning thought for a moment, "If the supply lines are threatened, they'll definitely want to eliminate the threat! Oh, I see, this means... they don't dare to really wage a full-scale war against us? Or... Jiangdong is internally unstable, and they have some concerns?"

"Exactly!" Xu Huang affirmed, his tone analytical. "With Zhou Yu's recent death, Jiangdong is bound to be shaken. Huang Cheng and his companion are veteran generals of Jiangdong, yet they are not stabilizing the situation in Jianye, but instead stationed far away in Jiangxia. This suggests they are somewhat hoarding their power... Their harassment of our supply lines could be for several reasons. First, it might be to demonstrate that their naval strength remains intact... Second, it could be that unforeseen events in Jiangdong have forced them to remain away... Third, perhaps they are testing our reaction and bottom line... They dare not launch a full-scale attack, because if a full-scale war breaks out and things change in Jiangdong's rear, they themselves will be in grave danger!"

Xu Huang smiled. "As mentioned in the official gazette, there are many factions in Jiangdong, hindering each other... With Zhou Yu's death, perhaps Sun Quan is unable to fully control the situation in Jiangdong right now? Huang and Cheng, those two old foxes, are probably using us to demonstrate their power to various factions within Jiangdong and to bargain! So they're neither attacking nor refusing to attack, neither cutting off nor maintaining control!"

Gan Ning clapped his hands. "Fighting is to demonstrate their worth; not fighting is to avoid us risking our lives against them!"

Xu Huang nodded. Having figured this out, he naturally made up his mind.

He ordered in a deep voice.

First, strengthen the escort. All subsequent grain ships, regardless of size, must be escorted by elite warships throughout the journey, traveling in formation to shorten the interval between voyages, reduce the risk of being separated from the main force, and deploy archers and crossbowmen to board the ships for defense.

The second is to change the regular flight routes and make use of tributaries or at night to carry out small-scale, multi-batch transfers, breaking down large shipments into smaller ones.

Thirdly, they increased the number of spies and scouts, sparing no expense to bribe fishermen near Jiangxia, to closely monitor the movements of the Jiangdong water fortress and strive for early warning. At the same time, they tried to obtain more detailed intelligence from within Jiangdong, especially regarding the power transition and troop movements after Zhou Yu's death.

Meanwhile, in terms of defense, they set up hidden stakes and iron chains at key ferry crossings and shallows near Jiangling Water Village, or sank some old and abandoned ships to block secondary waterways, forcing the Jiangdong navy to take the main channel, increasing the difficulty of being detected and intercepted.

In addition, flags were added near the Jiangling Water Village to create the impression that they were about to march into Jiangxia in a grand manner.

"As long as we can stall for time..." Xu Huang looked up, seemingly seeing the production and living facilities being restored around Jiangling. "Once Jiangling stabilizes, Huang Cheng's strategy of attrition will be ineffective! Jiangdong is going through a turbulent time; with Zhou Yu's death, internal strife is inevitable! Whether they fall into chaos on their own or we figure out their true strength, there will always be a turning point! Right now, it's better to bluff and make it appear as if we're about to launch a major offensive to the north and south..."

Gan Ning nodded and said, "Then, General, shall I go to the Jiangling Water Fortress?"

Xu Huang shook his head. "You go north... but you can leave your flag at the Jiangling Water Fortress..."

Xu Huang was somewhat worried that if Gan Ning remained at the water fortress, he might not be able to resist and charge out to fight the Jiangdong navy. Facing Huang Cheng and his men's elite private troops, Gan Ning might not be able to gain any advantage if he was not careful. And once the warships on the water were damaged, the situation in Jiangling would obviously become even more precarious.

After all, an arrow has the greatest deterrent effect when it is nocked on a bow.

At this stage, the focus is not on getting entangled with Jiangxia's Jiangdong navy, but on finding a way to contact Zhuge Liang, then march on Xiangyang, and take Jingzhou. After that, no matter how much Jiangxia and Jiangdong invade, they will not be able to shake the overall situation!

……

……

Summer rains come quickly and are heavy.

The torrential rain washed over the mottled walls of Xiangyang City.

This important town, standing on the banks of the Han River, now resembles an isolated island in a vast ocean, tightly surrounded by waves of military might surging from all directions.

To the north, Sima Yi's banners have been planted on the foothills of Mount Song, and his army is poised to advance on Runan, echoing the forces of Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong in Wancheng. Meanwhile, Liao Hua and Li Dian's army, which came from Wuguan Pass, is like a venomous snake, coiled at Danjiangkou, watching with predatory intent. To the south, Xu Huang and Gan Ning have just captured Jiangling. Although their supply lines are being harassed by the Jiangdong navy led by Huang Gai and Cheng Pu, their army is at its peak and could march north to attack the pass at any time.

On the city wall, General Cao Ren, still in full military uniform, let the rain wash away the mud and old bloodstains from his armor.

That's right, Cao Ren was also the General Who Conquers the South.

Of course, his "south" is clearly not the same as Liu Bei's "south".

Cao Ren was only in Jingnan, while Liu Bei was in Rinan.

However, the "difficulty" that Cao Ren is facing now is clearly very difficult.

He stood at the highest point of the city wall, his gaze sweeping over the defensive fortifications outside the city and then falling on the rows of houses inside.

The pressure, unprecedented pressure, was like an invisible boulder, weighing heavily on his shoulders and on the hearts of the soldiers defending Xiangyang.

He knew that if Jiangling was lost, there would still be room for maneuver, but if Xiangyang was also lost, Cao Cao's defenses in Yuzhou and Jingbei would completely collapse!

Cao Ren descended the city wall and returned to the government office.

Water dripped from the battle robes and armor, leaving speckled marks on the wooden floor, resembling a trail of blood...

"Bring me pen and ink!" Cao Ren took off his wet cloak and tossed it to his personal guard. He pushed aside another guard who wanted to help him remove his armor and rest, wiped his face and hands with a dry cloth, and then stood in front of the table.

The brush and ink were brought, and the guard helped him grind the ink.

Cao Ren took a deep breath of Xiangyang braised pork, then picked up his brush, dipped it in thick ink, and began to write swiftly on a piece of plain paper.

Ren bowed deeply and paid his respects to the Prime Minister.

"Xiangfan, a vital town and a bulwark of the nation, is now surrounded by enemies on all sides, its fate hanging by a thread. Yet, entrusted with this important mission by the Prime Minister, I bear the responsibility of defending this land; how dare I speak of retreat? The city's survival is my survival, its fall is my fall! I will lead my soldiers, united in purpose, using our flesh and blood as the city walls, our hearts and souls as our weapons, vowing to fight the enemy to the bitter end! Even if my body withers into the wild grass, I will not betray the Prime Minister's kindness! I only pray that the Prime Minister takes care of himself, so that we may rise again."

"This is my final work, Chen Ren."

The thick ink on the paper resembled congealed blood.

Between the turns and twists of the strokes, they are as sharp as swords and spears.

This letter was both a declaration of determination to defend the city to the death to Cao Cao, and a final ultimatum to himself and all the soldiers and officers of the city.

There is no way out but to fight to the death!

He folded the letter, sealed it with sealing wax, and immediately sent his trusted bodyguards out of the city to deliver it to Yuzhou.

After sending his farewell letter, Cao Ren sat at his desk and pondered for a long time.

Before him lay the fortifications of Xiangyang and Fancheng.

When Cao Ren was building the city walls of Xiangyang, he never expected that he would need them so soon...

Those well-done and those poorly constructed fortifications seemed to swirl in Cao Ren's mind, forming lines of defense. But soon, these virtual defenses in his mind were shattered by a sudden thought.

"A traitor!"

Cao Ren gritted his teeth and spat out those two words.

He didn't know how many traitors were in the city, but he knew there were definitely some!

How long had Cao Ren been building the city defenses of Xiangyang?
So what about before Cao Ren?

Who is building and managing the complex sewer system in Xiangyang City?
"The Cai family..." Cao Ren rummaged through the table for a while, and then realized that there had been no news from Fangling for a long time!
"Damn it!" Cao Ren threw the wooden tablets and bamboo slips on the ground, scattering them all over the place.

Of course, it's also possible that Lady Cai remains 'loyal,' but Cao Ren dared not gamble on that 'what if'!
External threats are certainly deadly, but internal traitors are even more like a malignant tumor clinging to the bone!

He knew that no matter how great the external pressure was, Xiangyang's high walls and deep moats could still hold it up, but if the city was hollowed out from the inside and its gates were opened by collusion from within and without, that would be a real catastrophe!
Cao Ren looked at the churning dark clouds in the sky, listening to the raindrops tapping against the windowpane, making a monotonous and oppressive sound, as if playing the prelude to the impending bloodshed...

"Someone come here!"

"Order! Curfew is to be moved forward by one hour! Execute immediately! Anyone still on the streets after 5 PM, regardless of who they are, will be killed on sight! After all markets and wards close, they will be under the control of the army; entry is permitted, but exit is not!"

The order, like a cold, ironclad law, spread throughout Xiangyang in an instant.

The heavy city gate slammed shut, the clanging of chains particularly jarring in the rainy night.

Squads of Cao Cao's elite troops, clad in armor and sharp-eyed, silently poured into the city's important streets, markets, and docks, accompanied by low commands and rapid footsteps.

They blocked the road, occupied the high ground, and their cold spears gleamed with a deathly light in the rain.

The city of Xiangyang, which had just been dotted with lights and voices, was instantly plunged into a deathly silence, with only the sound of rain and the cold metallic scraping of soldiers' armor remaining.

The cleansing was carried out under absolute military suppression.

Cao Ren did not conduct any tedious checks or screenings; he simply began arresting people based on a list he had in his hand.

It is better to catch someone by mistake than to let him go.

This list originated from previous investigations of the Cai clan and other gentry families in Xiangyang, such as the Kuai clan, and was also based on clues provided by Cao Ren's spies within the city. The list included low-ranking military officers responsible for city defense and maintenance, minor officials managing granaries, merchants trading with areas outside the city, and even clerks planted in the government offices by several collateral branches of the Jingxiang gentry…

Beside the West Gate waterway, a squad leader responsible for maintaining the waterway gates was having supper with his wife and children at home. Before they were even halfway through their meal, the door was violently flung open, soldiers rushed in, and a cold blade was instantly pressed against the squad leader's neck. Before he could even cry out in protest, a rag was stuffed into his mouth, and he was dragged out like a dead dog. The terrified cries of his wife and children were drowned out by the soldiers' harsh shouts.

Want an explanation?
That's not true. Cao Ren's military academies are only responsible for arresting these people in the shortest possible time. They don't have time to listen to any one of them arguing, even if that person was originally part of Cao's army.

In a market town near the granary district, a merchant dealing in grain and fodder was frowning at his ledgers. The recent war and soaring grain prices had made him a fortune, but they also filled him with anxiety. Especially as the situation worsened, the merchant grew increasingly worried that he might earn his money but not live to spend it. He considered absconding with the funds, but the Han Dynasty had no virtual currency or celebrity endorsements for money laundering…

Guanzhong Money Exchange?

It had already been seized by Cao Cao's army.

Money and provisions were originally symbols of wealth, but now...

Suddenly, the shop door was smashed open, and Cao's soldiers rushed in with ferocious fury.

The merchant forced a smile and tried to step forward to greet him, but a sharp blade pierced his chest.

"Investigation reveals this thief colluded with foreign enemies to inflate prices! Execute him immediately!" The Cao army leader waved his hand. "Seize all goods in the shop! Take everyone away!"

Cao's soldiers rushed into the inner courtyard and coldly dragged out everyone else.

The Cao army commander was about to pull out the merchant's "evidence" from his pocket when his soldiers unexpectedly discovered a hidden compartment under the merchant's bed, containing several secret letters exchanged with suspicious individuals outside the city...

Cao Cao's army leaders laughed loudly, "Aha! Look! The evidence is conclusive! Take them away!"

A side courtyard of the Xiangyang Prefectural Government Office.

A minor official surnamed Cai, who was in charge of some documents and files, was dragged out of his office by two burly men and pressed directly onto the cold bluestone slab in the courtyard.

Cold rainwater mixed with the blood on his face streamed down.

Cao Ren's personal guard commander personally interrogated the official, had his shoes and socks removed, and without saying a word, ordered one of the official's toes to be cut off.

A piercing scream, so shrill it was inhuman, instantly tore through the rain.

"Speak! Where are the hidden armors in the city? Where are the entrances and exits of the secret passages? And who are the accomplices?!"

The torturer's voice was like a steel blade scraping bone: "Cut off another one!"

"Ahhh..."

Overwhelmed by pain and fear, the minor official suffered a mental breakdown and incoherently uttered several names and locations.

Some of it is true, and some is just his ramblings in extreme pain.

A typical residential area in the north of the city.

An elderly craftsman who once participated in the repair of the city's defenses lives here.

When Cao's soldiers burst through the door, the old man was cowering in a corner, terrified. Without any interrogation, the leading officer simply checked the names and addresses on the list, confirmed their accuracy, and then coldly waved his hand. A flash of light, and a white-haired head rolled onto the damp ground, its cloudy eyes wide open, filled with confusion and fear. The stench of blood quickly filled the small space.

It's clear the old craftsman wasn't an inside agent, but he could have been found and his location and the city's defenses discovered.

To ensure that the secret can be kept, only the dead can do so.

Slaughter was a tactic that Cao Ren intentionally employed.

What he wanted was deterrence, fear, and to make any potential mole understand...

Betrayal only leads to death!
He deliberately arranged for some arrests and executions to take place near the entrances to streets or market areas.

A dragged figure, desperate cries, splattered blood, a head rolling away...

These sights and sounds, transmitted clearly through door cracks and window frames, reached the ears and eyes of the people who were ordered to stay at home and were trembling with fear.

Blood from the street, mixed with rainwater, flowed into the ditch.

Tonight, no, perhaps in the next few days, the residents of Xiangyang will smell the stench of blood in the water.

The most crucial interrogation took place in the dungeon of Prefect Cao Ren's residence.

Cao Ren personally went to the dungeon.

He slowly walked up to the group, his gaze fixed on them as if they were pieces of lifeless meat.

The commander of the personal guards reported the "results" of the interrogation in a low voice.

A new list, along with several possible locations of secret passage entrances.

Cao Ren listened without showing any expression. He walked up to the minor official surnamed Cai who had revealed the clues about the "waterway" and "secret passage".

When the minor official saw Cao Ren, he trembled as if he had seen a demon, tears streaming down his face as he begged, "General...General, spare my life...I...I've told you everything I know...I really have told you everything..."

Cao Ren reached out and pinched the clerk's chin, which was soaked with blood and sweat, forcing him to raise his head.

"Whether the entrance you provided is genuine or not, I will verify it myself." Cao Ren's voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth. "But what I want now is something you 'don't know.'"

The clerk's eyes were filled with confusion and despair: "General... I... really don't know..."

"Don't know?" Cao Ren narrowed his eyes slightly, shoving the clerk's head aside. "Then think carefully... think about your family... they should be in the cell next door right now."

The clerk's pupils dilated instantly, and he let out a beast-like roar: "No! General! It's not their fault! Please! Please!"

Cao Ren remained unmoved.

A moment later, the terrified cries and pleas of a woman and child came from the next cell. The cries were so shrill that they pierced through the thick stone walls and struck the hearts of every prisoner.

"I'll ask you one last time!" Cao Ren's voice was like that of a judge from hell. "To whom did you send your intelligence?! Who has the master map of the city's secret passages? Speak!"

The minor official's spirit completely collapsed.

Amidst the desperate cries of the minor official's family, he wept uncontrollably and incoherently revealed a name...

(End of this chapter)