Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3682 Cunningly Hiding Grain for Survival, A Lone Banner Unable to Distinguish the Perils of Yunmeng

Gangneung City.

The dilapidated government office.

When Cao Zhen fled, he set fire to the government office, and Xu Huang didn't have much time to repair it.

The charred beams and pillars jutted out towards the gray sky, and a few broken tiles wailed in the wind.

The fire that Cao Zhen set off when he left not only destroyed the grandeur of the government office, but also seemed to have burned away the last vestiges of order in the area.

Xu Huang frowned.

He, who commanded thousands of troops with ease on the battlefield, now felt as if he were stuck in a quagmire.

The quagmire of civil affairs.

Xu Huang was adept at handling military matters, but when faced with the complex and intricate post-war and post-disaster civil affairs of the devastated Jiangling region, he inevitably became somewhat overwhelmed.

After the initial panic subsided, the remaining civilians in Jiangling began to "point their guns at good people."

Were the people of Jiangling harboring "malicious intentions" or "deep hatred" towards the Flying Cavalry?

No, they just wanted to survive, and in that desire, they displayed a kind of "peasant cunning"...

Note that "peasant-like cunning" is, strictly speaking, a derogatory term. However, the target of this derogatory term is not "peasants," but rather those in positions of power who cause this phenomenon!
In other words, this is the wisdom and strategy accumulated by the Chinese people under the oppression and exploitation of thousands of years of feudal dynasties, in a specific living environment and historical context!
Throughout the long feudal agricultural society, peasants were at the very bottom of society, enduring multiple forms of oppression from landlords, officials, natural disasters, and war. They lacked political power, legal protection, and resources, and their living environment was extremely fragile. Faced with powerful and unjust systemic oppression, open resistance often meant destruction. Therefore, they developed a unique, informal, and roundabout set of survival strategies to carve out limited living space, protect their meager property, and evade unreasonable burdens.

For example, feigning ignorance, outwardly complying while inwardly resisting, or taking advantage of information asymmetry to trade with outsiders, or engaging in petty, calculating schemes to get a bargain, etc.

And, to treat people differently based on their status.

In other words, "good people are being held at gunpoint"...

The same applies to the remaining civilians in Jiangling. Their perception of Xu Huang and the Sichuan army's "cunning" was not based on any real "malice" towards Xu Huang or the Sichuan army, but rather on their instinct for self-preservation and maintaining basic survival.

Compared to the large-scale destruction caused by Cao Cao's army before their departure, the small-scale "dishonesty" of the people of Jiangling did not actually cause much serious damage. After all, the Jiangling area was already in a terrible state of disrepair; even if the people of Jiangling were "cunning," how much damage could they really cause?

It's just a bit troublesome...

For example, the instinctive act of hiding.

In order to cope with the endless requisitioning of grain and resources by Cao Cao's army, farmers would try every means to hide their remaining food and seeds, or hide their livestock or even people in the mountains and forests, and lie about their deaths, in order to avoid being completely deprived of their means of survival.

This behavior did not improve immediately after the arrival of the Sichuan army. After all, the Sichuan soldiers, who were always talking about "immortals," sometimes had no way of understanding the farmers and people in the Jiangling area.

Communication barriers exacerbate the difficulty of mutual cooperation and even mutual assistance.

Of course, in this process, there were also some people who took advantage of the chaos to seek petty gains. When government administration was completely paralyzed and order collapsed, some farmers might secretly take materials abandoned by the government or fleeing wealthy families that were not under strict guard, including but not limited to timber and tools, to repair their own houses or make a living.

Destruction is always easier than construction. The consequences of Cao Cao's army's disregard for people's livelihood and brutal governance in the Jiangling region are now being borne by Xu Huang and other Sichuan troops...

Is that unfair?

That's just how unfair it is.

Just then, the "Wancheng Messenger" arrived.

The request for help from afar surprised Xu Huang, but the bigger problem was how Xu Huang could distinguish between the genuine and the fake.
These days, there are no telephones, and no effective tools for long-distance communication.

Flying pigeon?

That would require setting a location for Pigeon Bro first, and you would need to bring the pigeons with you beforehand.

As for Xu Huang, he felt a deep connection to Wancheng...

I'm not familiar with it.

Gan Ning was equally unfamiliar with it. He might have some recollection of Jiangling and the area around Xiangyang, but Wancheng…

So, were Xu Huang and Gan Ning familiar with Pang Shanmin and Huang Zhong?

Sorry, we're not familiar with each other either.

Xu Huang carefully examined the presented "blood letter" and the fragments of military flags, waist badges, and other items that served as "tokens"...

Xu Huang inspected the military flags, waist badges, and other items, and found that they were all "old items".

This is a very important point, after all, there is a big difference between items that have been used for a long time and newly made items.

But what troubled Xu Huang even more was the contents of the document stained with dark brown blood...

Cao Cao personally led the expedition, and Wancheng was besieged!

Is it possible that Cao Cao personally led an expedition south?
Xu Huang dared not say that this possibility was entirely out of the question.

After all, Jingzhou is connected to the Central Plains. Now, the southern part of Jingzhou is damaged, and there are Li Dian, Liao Hua and others to the north. Seeing that the situation in Jingzhou is not good, Cao Cao led his troops to its aid...

Wancheng was situated right on the road between Yingchuan and Xiangyang, so it was the first city to be besieged...

Why go to the far one when you can find something nearby?
Cao Cao's army wasn't stupid, so it wasn't entirely impossible that messengers seeking reinforcements nearby might be safe, while those seeking reinforcements in unexpected places might actually arrive.

Moreover, when it comes to requests for assistance, dispatching multiple teams in multiple batches is the proper approach...

After all, not everyone has the surname Taishi.

Although Wancheng didn't have many supplies or weapons, there was one person...

Pang Shanmin.

Xu Huang stroked his beard.

However, Xu Huang's years of military experience and intuition in complex battle situations made him not immediately believe the "messenger from Wancheng," and he summoned him for further questioning.

"You say you're under the command of General Huang of Wancheng?"

Does General Huang still use the feathered bow and arrows?

Where is General Huang now?

When did you break through?

How many troops does Cao Cao have?

Where should we focus our efforts?

"Have you encountered Generals Liao and Li's forces along the way?"

Xu Huang's questions came like a machine gun, his sharp gaze piercing the 'messenger' kneeling below.

This "messenger from Wancheng" was clearly prepared, or rather, had undergone rigorous training. He answered questions in detail about things he "knew," but for things he "didn't know," he simply said he didn't know...

This makes it quite 'credible', since when fleeing for one's life, who would pay special attention to the details around them?
The messenger from Wancheng pleaded repeatedly, saying that the situation in Wancheng was extremely critical and that Xu Huang should send troops to its aid immediately.

Xu Huang's brows furrowed even more.

The lack of information makes it impossible to quickly verify many things.

The battle situation in the Fancheng and Wancheng directions was cut off by Cao Ren's troops and the complex terrain, leaving the Jiangling side as blind and deaf.

Did Cao Cao really march south? If so, how large was the campaign?
What is the situation of Liao Hua and Li Dian's troops besieging Fancheng?
Is it truly blocked, or...?

None of this can be verified.

If no rescue is provided, and the northern front of Jingzhou completely collapses, will Xu Huang be able to hold his ground in southern Jingzhou?

Xu Huang pondered for a long time and concluded that it was impossible, at least not at this stage.

Jiangling was not without its worries. To the southeast, Sun Quan, who occupied Jiangxia, had reached a tacit alliance with Cao Cao. His generals Huang Gai and Cheng Pu were leading their navy, clinging to the Yangtze River like leeches, harassing the vital waterway supply route for the Sichuan army from Zigui to Jiangling!
Xu Huang had no choice but to rely primarily on land transport, which increased costs and reduced efficiency. Meanwhile, the remaining civilians in Jiangling wouldn't immediately and tearfully submit to the banner of the Flying Cavalry just because Xu Huang raised a tricolor flag. Years of warlords and regional powers coming and going in Jingzhou had instilled in these civilians an instinctive fear and aversion to the army.

If the situation in Jingbei deteriorates, then when Xu Huang's own force is in Jiangling, Cao Cao's army will be in the north, and Huang Gai and Cheng Pu of Jiangdong will be in the south. They will pounce like sharks smelling blood!

The entire situation in Jingnan will collapse in an instant!

So, send troops?

Or not send it?

Xu Huang unconsciously rubbed the rough edge of the table, his mind racing with a fierce internal struggle.

If they don't rescue, and Wancheng truly falls and Huang Zhong dies, Xu Huang will be held responsible, further shaking the morale of the northern army; if they do rescue, and lead a large army forward, and fall into a trap, Jiangling will inevitably be in danger, leading to utter ruin.

Even if they don't fall into the trap, Jiangling cannot afford to leave its troops empty, otherwise it would be like selling all its weapons to the Jiangdong people.

So, is there any spare capacity to rescue Wancheng?

There is indeed some spare capacity now, because we need to take over the Jiangling area and cannot quickly launch an operation against Jingbei, so some soldiers are idle.

Every sip and every bite seems preordained.

If Xu Huang hadn't driven away Cao Zhen and killed Yu Jin, he wouldn't have even considered sending reinforcements, but now...

After a long silence, Xu Huang took a deep breath and made a compromise and cautious decision.

"Guards! Summon Gan Xingba!" Xu Huang shouted in a deep voice. A short while later, Gan Ning arrived.

Xu Huang solemnly explained the current situation to Gan Ning and looked at him earnestly.

"This matter is of great importance, and the truth is difficult to discern. I order you to immediately select eight hundred elite soldiers skilled in both land and naval combat, prepare swift, light-bottomed boats, and proceed via the Yunmeng Marsh waterways, avoiding Cao Cao's army and any potential spies from Jiangdong, to Wancheng! However, you must ascertain two things: First, is Cao Cao's army truly besieging Wancheng? Second, what is the current situation of General Huang and the Wancheng garrison? If you encounter Generals Liao Hua and Li Dian's forces along the way, you must also ascertain their movements! Remember, be cautious and prudent; do not engage in battle without knowing the situation! After ascertaining the situation, report back immediately! There must be no errors!"

Eight hundred, a number that is neither too big nor too small.

A glint of barely contained excitement flashed in Gan Ning's eyes. He clasped his hands in a fist salute and proclaimed loudly, "Your humble servant obeys! Rest assured, General! The Yunmeng Marsh, with its crisscrossing waterways, is precisely where my skills will be put to use! I will certainly ascertain the true strength and weaknesses of Jingbei! Rescue Wancheng!"

Xu Huang frowned slightly, stood up, walked to Gan Ning, and patted him firmly on the shoulder. His tone was more serious than ever before, "Xingba! This mission concerns the entire situation! It's no child's play! Cao Cao's army is cunning, and Jiangdong is also eyeing us covetously! You must be extremely careful and proceed with caution! It's better to return empty-handed than to fall into danger! Remember, never be greedy for merit or linger in battle!"

Xu Huang gave repeated instructions, his eyes filled with deep worry and entrustment.

Gan Ning felt the force of Xu Huang's pat on his shoulder, and suppressing some of his usual unruly demeanor, he said solemnly, "General, rest assured! This humble general knows what's important! I will act with caution!"

Xu Huang nodded, and Gan Ning bowed again before turning and striding away to select men and ships.

Xu Huang watched Gan Ning's departing figure, but the weight in his heart remained unbearable.

If only Zhuge Liang were here...

Such a thought crossed Xu Huang's mind, but for now, he could only place his hopes on Gan Ning, who was familiar with naval warfare, hoping that he could quickly cross the Yunmeng Marsh, detour to Jingbei to investigate, dispel the fog of mystery, and bring back the truth...

……

……

With Xu Huang's earnest instructions and eight hundred carefully selected naval and land warriors, Gan Ning boarded more than ten thin-bottomed, lightweight, and fast boats and silently glided into the labyrinthine waterways of Yunmeng Marsh.

The vast expanse of water and the endless reeds swayed and rippled in the wind, making a rustling sound, perfectly concealing their movements.

At the very beginning of the journey, Gan Ning did indeed send scouts to explore the surrounding area as Xu Huang had requested, but it wasn't long before Gan Ning realized that this was making the journey too slow.

This is to gather intelligence and provide aid to Wancheng!
Gan Ning did remember Xu Huang's instructions, but he had reversed the order of importance of the two matters.

Xu Huang meant that the focus should be on gathering intelligence, with rescue being secondary, but he couldn't say it outright. However, Gan Ning remembered that rescuing Wancheng was the top priority, followed by gathering intelligence...

If we arrive too late, what chance will we have of saving a horse or a bastard?
"General, there are many forks in the waterway ahead, and the reeds are very tall. Should we send out more scouts to investigate carefully?"

A cautious veteran sergeant, looking at the increasingly deep waterway ahead, offered a suggestion in a low voice.

Gan Ning stood at the bow of the boat, shading his eyes with his hand as he gazed into the distance. Hearing this, he grinned, his usual arrogance tinged with nonchalance. "Hey! Old Zhang, don't be so naive! What are you afraid of? I could navigate this Yunmeng Marsh with my eyes closed! Cao Cao's army? Those Jiangdong rats? They dare to venture into this reed marshland? Even if they did, with our brothers' skills, are we afraid of them?!"

"Besides, General Gongming ordered us to go and return quickly; there's no time to dawdle! Send two teams five li to the left and right to scout! If anything seems amiss, immediately sound the alarm!"

"Five li? Is that the general..."

The veteran sergeant wanted to persuade him again.

"Alright, alright, listen to me!" Gan Ning waved his hand to interrupt, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Speed ​​up! Once we get past this reed patch, it'll be peaceful ahead!"

Gan Ning was eager to complete the reconnaissance mission, but he also subconsciously underestimated this familiar body of water. Gan Ning believed that fifty elite soldiers on each side of the boat were sufficient to handle any unexpected small-scale encounters.

Soon, two fast boats carrying scouts, one on the left and one on the right, parted the dense reeds like arrows released from a bow and headed to explore the depths of the waterway ahead.

Gan Ning, on the other hand, led the main fleet, maintaining a certain distance and following closely behind.

Deep in the reed marshes, all was quiet except for the gentle lapping of the water against the side of the boat and the sound of the wind rustling the reeds.

The sunlight was cut into tiny spots by the dense reeds and cast onto the dark water.

Time passed slowly, but the scouts ahead did not send out any alarm signals.

"See? I told you nothing was wrong!"

Gan Ning smiled smugly at his personal guards.

However, just as the main fleet was about to enter a relatively open area with unusually tall and dense reeds on both sides, a cold shout was suddenly heard from afar!
In an instant, dozens of rockets carrying deathly screams soared into the air and then viciously swooped down on Gan Ning and his fleet!
"Enemy attack! Rockets! Raise shields! Prepare to extinguish the fire!"

Gan Ning's roar followed.

While shielding his head and face with a shield, he directed the following ships to immediately scatter and take cover.

Two scout ships, each with fifty men.

Indeed, if it were a direct fight, there would definitely be ways to issue a warning...

The problem is that Cao Cao's ambush was not intended to involve a direct confrontation with Gan Ning and his men!

*Pfft!*

*Sizzle!*

"Fire! Help! Put it out!"

"ah--!"

The flames leaped and spread wildly, fueled by the grease!

Thick smoke billows up!

Screams, gasps, and the sound of falling into the water instantly shattered the tranquility of the water.

The ships, which had spread out to the left and right, had stumbled into an ambush point where Cao Cao's army had laid fire oil!

Fueled by the wind, the speedboats rushing forward on both sides instantly transformed into giant torches floating on the water!
Retreat immediately!

Gan Ning immediately gave the order, and told the soldiers on those ships that had been contaminated with oil to abandon ship immediately! At this point, it was futile to put out the fire. Staying on the ship would make them sitting ducks. They would either be burned alive or shot to death. The only chance of survival was to jump into the water and use the dense reeds for cover.
Abandon ship! Jump overboard! Quit the prodigal son!

The surviving soldiers discarded their heavy armor and plunged into the murky, icy river, desperately swimming towards the depths of the reeds on either side.

Cao's army rained down rockets and arrows, and soldiers were constantly struck by arrows in the water, their blood staining patches of the surface red, and screams filled the air.

Gan Ning was the last to jump into the water.

He looked back and saw that the five speedboats at the front were all engulfed in flames, burning fiercely and billowing thick smoke into the sky.

Corpses and struggling wounded soldiers floated on the water, a scene of utter devastation.

Of the five fast boats at the front, less than half of the soldiers were still struggling to swim backward!
The fire spread faster than a person could swim!
"Follow me! Let's dive down!"

Gan Ning roared at the struggling soldiers nearby, took a deep breath, and plunged into the murky water.

He was an expert in water and knew that underwater movement was the only way to avoid arrows and flames from above.

However, diving is also extremely dangerous. The surrounding area is full of aquatic reeds and underwater plants. If you are not careful, you can get tangled in them and drown.

Gan Ning could only rely on his senses and desperately swim away from the fire ships and arrows.

Above him, the crackling of flames, the whooshing of arrows piercing the water, the shouts of Cao Cao's soldiers searching for the final blows, and the dying screams of his own soldiers echoed like a symphony from hell, muffledly reaching his ears through the water. With each breath, he could only surface briefly, inhale a mouthful of air mixed with thick smoke and the stench of blood, before immediately diving back down.

Gan Ning didn't know how long he had been underwater, until his lungs were burning with pain, and until the shouts and flames above his head seemed to have receded a little, before he finally surfaced.

He was breathing heavily, wiping the dirty water and duckweed from his face.

Looking around, there weren't many soldiers who had managed to dive down and escape the ambush of fire, following him...

Above the ambush area, thick smoke billowed up like a giant black dragon rising and obscuring the sky.

Of Gan Ning's vanguard of five fast boats and nearly three hundred elite soldiers, only about a hundred remain...

Gan Ning's rear guard ships arrived and, while maintaining a watchful eye, pulled Gan Ning and the others onto the ships.

"General..."

A soldier's voice was choked with sobs.

Stop crying! Hold it in!

Gan Ning gritted his teeth, his gums almost bleeding.

He gazed at the thick smoke that symbolized his painful defeat and enormous loss. His usual arrogance and unruliness had vanished, replaced by unprecedented sorrow, anger, and a deep-seated regret.

And unprecedented anger!
General Xu Huang's admonitions were still ringing in his ears, yet he...

He thought...

However, most things in this world cannot be assumed.

He slammed his fist down on the deck.

Gan Ning was careless.

Now, the losses are heavy, and the mission is unfinished.

But he is still alive...

He made a mistake, but the humiliation and the price he paid must be washed away and repaid with blood!