Weird Three Kingdoms

Chapter 3713 It's so dry.
The marshes south of Xinye City are like a huge green velvet cloth spread out in the sweltering summer heat.

The water here connects to Yunmengze.

Further south lies the Dahong Mountain.

Or it can be called Dazeshan.

The blue and white sky was reflected on the water's surface. The dense reeds, taller than a person, remained motionless in the stifling, windless heat, exuding the fishy smell of the swamp.

An arrow whistled past and struck an unfortunate wild duck in the neck, killing it instantly without a quack.

The other wild ducks and a few waterbirds were startled, flapping their wings and emitting short, piercing cries before disappearing into the deeper reed beds.

This perfectly illustrates the saying, "When disaster strikes, everyone flees for their lives."

"General, you are mighty!"

"Haha! I won! I won!"

Immediately, a small boat rushed out from the reeds, and a soldier lay on the deck and scooped up the wild duck.

Gan Ning, shirtless, revealing his strong, dark chest covered in old and new scars, handed the bow to his personal guard. "Immortal, find a place to roast it!"

The guard responded and immediately went to prepare.

The wild ducks in these marshes are not large. After plucking their feathers and removing their internal organs, they weigh only about two pounds, skin and bones included. They are not like the yellowish-brown ducks of later generations, and there is hardly any meat.

Gan Ning came specifically to shoot these wild ducks, purely out of boredom.

After all, hunting is time-consuming and physically demanding. If Gan Ning ate a whole duck by himself, that would be fine, but the problem is that Gan Ning has to share it. He can only eat one duck leg at most, and the rest will be given to the soldiers.

After sharing the roast duck, Gan Ning leaned against the gunwale of a small boat that was half-stranded on the mudflats, irritably wiping the short halberd in his hand with a coarse cloth. The cold metallic touch could not dispel the suffocation in his heart.

When they arrived at the southern outskirts of Xinye, they couldn't get through.

To the north and west are Cao Cao's troops.

In recent days, Gan Ning has attacked Cao Cao's supply convoys twice and destroyed a transit station, but he still has not been able to find a way to break through Cao Cao's defenses and reach Wancheng.

Of course, from God's perspective, Gan Ning's failure to reach Wancheng should be considered a good thing. It's not that Gan Ning and Huang Zhong together would make their combat power off the charts, but rather that Wancheng didn't have much food. If Gan Ning went there, it would only increase Huang Zhong's burden. If they ran out of food, they might even lose the opportunity to break through the siege because of their anxiety about the outcome.

Huang Zhong's breakout was, to some extent, a case of "falling into a trap," but on another level, it was also a case of "turning the tables on the enemy."

War is never something that rigid thinkers can handle.

Gan Ning is a bit stubborn, or rather, he has a bit of a personal obstinacy.

Logically speaking, he could have turned back by now, but Gan Ning was just unhappy and didn't want to leave.

The weather is very hot.

Sweat trickled down his bulging muscles, dripping onto the deck and instantly being absorbed by the scorching wood.

The soldiers around them sat or lay in the shadow of the boat awning, all listless, their soaked linen clothes clinging to their skin, their faces red and swollen from repeated mosquito bites and lingering fatigue.

In the vast marshland, mosquitoes are practically impossible to avoid. If it weren't for picking some mugwort nearby to burn and carrying insect repellent such as sulfur, one might have been sucked dry by the mosquitoes.

"Damn it, this place is awful!"

Gan Ning spat, the spittle landing in the murky water without even causing a ripple.

He had a love-hate relationship with this body of water. Without its cover, Gan Ning and his men would have been surrounded and intercepted by Cao Cao's army long ago, but staying in the water was also quite uncomfortable…

"General!" A scout, nimbly emerging from the reeds in a small boat like a water snake, approached Gan Ning's ship.

The scout, his face beaming with barely concealed excitement, lowered his voice and pointed behind him, "About fifteen li to the northwest, at the mouth of a river! We've spotted Cao Cao's supply convoy! Three large ships, escorted by seven or eight smaller boats, heading towards Xinye!"

Gan Ning's hand, which was wiping his short halberd, suddenly stopped, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. "You saw it clearly? It really is a grain ship? Not an empty hull?"

"Absolutely true!" the scout affirmed. "The ship is drafting very deep! And there are quite a few guards! But they look like local troops, not Cao Cao's elite!"

"County soldiers?" Gan Ning sensed some doubt.

Recently, Gan Ning has been appearing around Xinye, causing chaos at Cao Cao's grain depots and supply convoys, which disrupted transportation for several days. Now, suddenly, a fleet of grain ships has appeared.

"Why not take the land route?" Gan Ning muttered.

The scout asked, "What?"

Gan Ning tucked his short halberd into his lower back. "Damn it...this guy's practically groping my face...coming by water instead of land, doesn't he know I'm here?"

The scout was taken aback. "Huh? So... this is a trap?"

Gan Ning clicked his tongue, "You idiot! Trying to pull tricks on me? I'll show you!"

Gan Ning felt that Cao Cao's actions were far too crude, almost an insult to his intelligence, and also an insult to his feelings...

Moreover, to be honest, Gan Ning's grain reserves were running low. Constantly catching fish and shrimp from the water without any meat or proper grain was not a good solution.

"That old scoundrel wants to trap us? We'll burn them down!" Gan Ning stood up, gestured with his hands, and surveyed the surrounding swamp. "Look at all this thatch! We'll go around to the front, set it on fire! Burn them! Burn the boats and the people, everything! Then we'll go home! Back to Jiangling! Half the men will stay and guard the house, the other half will come with me to burn them down!"

Burn them!

"Go home! Go home!"

After a brief silence, the surrounding soldiers began to shout.

They've been out there for too long, and now they're like bandits about to pull off one last heist before retiring from their life of crime, cheering and preparing for battle.

Gan Ning was, after all, still a member of the Jinfan Army; deep down, he was more interested in plunder and destruction than in the overall strategic situation.

He suspected Cao Cao's army was a trap, but he didn't think much of it...

The urge to pull off one last heist made Gan Ning less cautious.

"Grab your weapons! Get on the boat! Follow me!"

Gan Ning was the first to jump onto the small boat, then grabbed a leather armor and put it on, patting the gunwale to signal the boat to start.

Seven or eight equally agile small boats, like sharks smelling blood, silently glided into the maze-like reed waterways, speeding towards the inlet indicated by the scouts, led by Gan Ning.

The small boat navigated through the narrow waterway, with Gan Ning and the others crouching on the boat, deliberately minimizing the sound of the oars hitting the water.

Not long after, Gan Ning gestured.

A loud splashing sound came from ahead...

Gan Ning stood at the bow of the boat and slowly poked his head out from the thatch.

Not far away was Cao Cao's grain transport fleet, the oars slapping the water and making a splashing sound.

Gan Ning pulled his head back, then gestured to the soldiers behind him, "The fleet is heading this way...we'll go around them and set fire to the ships from both the front and back simultaneously..."

……

……

Skilled hunters often disguise themselves as their prey.

Between Gan Ning and Cao Cao, who is better?
Gan Ning had his eye on Cao Cao's ships, but Cao Cao had his eye on Gan Ning's men.

In the swamp, Gan Ning licked his slightly chapped lips, a fierce glint appearing in his eyes.

The prey is right in front of you!

"Set it on fire!" Gan Ning hissed.

In the small boat he was on, soldiers immediately struck flint and steel, igniting tinder, and then set fire to the dry grass piled on the side of the boat. They then brought the burning dry grass close to the thatch next to it.

Not far away, Gan Ning's men followed closely behind and lit the thatch.

The flames gradually leaped on the thatch, then expanded, and suddenly a huge wave surged up, crashing down on the 'unprepared' Cao army supply convoy!

"Enemy attack!"

"Someone set a fire!"

"Watch out!"

On the grain transport ships of Cao Cao's army, soldiers screamed in disarray.

Cao's soldiers tried to turn and escape, but it was too late.

The Cao army ships, which were downwind, were quickly engulfed in smoke and fire.

Seeing a Cao army grain transport ship, disoriented in the chaos, crash into the fire, the Cao soldiers on board scrambled into the water like dumplings being dropped into boiling water. Gan Ning smiled smugly, but his smile froze the next moment.

Because the Cao army's grain transport ship that crashed into the fire suddenly exploded with a loud bang, like a giant firework, and shattered into pieces!
Fragments and flames instantly scattered, covering an area of ​​twenty or thirty steps, including a small boat that Gan Ning's men were standing too close to!
Gan Ning succeeded; he did indeed set fire to these Cao army's "supply ships." However, Gan Ning also failed, because these "supply ships" had been waiting for Gan Ning to appear from the very beginning!

After the grain transport ships caught fire and exploded, the flames spread out of control and were beyond the reach of Gan Ning and his men!

And an even more troublesome thing happened: a large number of Cao army soldiers appeared on the outskirts of the marshland, upwind of Gan Ning and his men, and gathered along both sides of the land, setting fires and encircling them at the same time!
Gan Ning set a fire, which was tantamount to revealing himself in the swamp!
"Not good!" Gan Ning realized the danger was approaching. "Break through! Break through quickly!"

Gan Ning took the lead and rushed through the burning thatch, breaking out of the fire before the flames engulfed the boat. However, he immediately ran into a small squad of Cao Cao's army searching for Gan Ning and his men!

A warship belonging to Cao Cao's army!

Just as the two ships were about to collide, Gan Ning pushed off the bow with his toes and soared into the air like a bird!

A chilling glint flashed from the blade in his hand!

*Pfft!*

A Cao army soldier who had just picked up a spear was cut down by Gan Ning with a single stroke and fell into the water with a scream.

Taking advantage of the momentum, Gan Ning landed steadily on the enemy ship's deck. His right sword and left halberd flashed, blood splattering as he cleared a small area in an instant. The soldiers behind Gan Ning also leaped onto the enemy ship or clung to the ship's side, fiercely hacking and slashing.

The Cao army soldiers on the warships were clearly no match for Gan Ning and his men; they collapsed instantly, like snow being doused with boiling water.

Screams, splashes, and the clash of weapons filled the air.

"Quick! Take control of the boat! Ram it!"

Gan Ning kicked a corpse aside and roared.

He rushed into the ship's hold and tried to steer the vessel to escape the fire.

But just as Gan Ning grabbed the helm, he saw something covered with tarpaulin inside the cabin...

Gan Ning's heart skipped a beat, and he used his short halberd to cut open the oilcloth.

The tarpaulin was torn, revealing bags of withered yellow weeds underneath!
Gan Ning's face froze instantly with the ecstatic joy of seizing the ship, and a chill ran from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head!
Fell into a trap!
Another trap?!
This ship is a trap too!
Damn!

Almost as soon as Gan Ning realized that these warships exposed on the periphery of the fire were also traps set by Cao Cao's army...

*Whoosh whoosh whoosh—!*

The next moment, a chilling sound of arrows piercing the air rang out, and burning arrows, like a torrential rain of fire, roared out from Cao Cao's army ranks on land!

Any ships captured by Gan Ning and his men are targets for firing!

Regardless of whether there are any Cao soldiers left on the ships!

*Pfft! Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!*

The rockets were embedded in the sails, cabins, and decks, and the flames, like greedy venomous snakes, spread wildly along the dry wood and greased surfaces, engulfing the ship in the blink of an eye!
Flames soared into the sky, and thick smoke billowed!
"Fire! Fire!"

"Jump! Get off the boat!"

"There are troops lying in ambush on the shore!!"

Many of Gan Ning's soldiers also wanted to exchange their small boats for larger ones, but like Gan Ning, they only discovered after boarding the larger ships that these larger ships were actually mines planted in advance!

As soon as any ship is captured by Gan Ning and his men, Cao Cao's soldiers on the nearby shore will immediately unleash a barrage of fire arrows!
Gan Ning's soldiers, who were just basking in the joy of capturing the ship, were completely stunned by the sudden sea of ​​fire and ambush.

Many people were engulfed in flames and screamed as they jumped into the water. Many more fled frantically on the burning deck like headless flies.

Gan Ning's eyes were bloodshot!

He saw it: the reeds on both banks were shaking violently, countless figures were moving about, and crossbows reflected a cold, icy light!
Those were definitely not lazy county soldiers, but well-trained elite troops of Cao Cao's army!
This was practically a massive fire that Gan Ning had meticulously prepared for!

The bait, traps, Cao Cao's soldiers, and Gan Ning and others were all burned together in a huge, widespread fire!
Knowing that he could not catch and block Gan Ning and his men on the water, Cao Cao simply laid a large net in an attempt to completely wipe out Gan Ning and his men's attacks from the southeast flank of Xinye.

"You traitor Cao! I'll curse your ancestors!"

Gan Ning let out a beast-like roar, as endless humiliation and anger almost consumed him.

We've been tricked again!
The same fire!

The same embarrassing situation!
A wave of scorching heat rushed towards him, licking his skin, while the deck beneath his feet groaned under the weight.

We can't stay on the ship any longer!

"Abandon ship! Get in the water! Dive into deeper water!"

Gan Ning roared with all his might, his voice sounding unusually hoarse amidst the sea of ​​fire and screams.

He was the first to throw away the cumbersome leather armor and plunge into the murky, foul-smelling water!

The icy water, thick with the stench of mud, instantly enveloped him, temporarily shielding him from the scorching heat and choking smoke.

Relying on his instincts honed from years of making a living on the water, Gan Ning struggled to swim away from the fire ship.

He held his breath, using both hands and feet to push aside the tangled water plants, his body pressed against the slippery silt at the bottom of the water, desperately trying to dive into the area with the deepest water and the most complex waterways in his memory.

A muffled cracking sound came from the water above, possibly from a burning ship or a gunpowder explosion.

The arrows made a series of "plop" sounds as they hit the water, but the force of the arrows was reduced by the water, thus losing their deadly threat.

Gan Ning dared not show his face. His lungs felt like they were on fire, but he endured it until he felt like he was about to suffocate. Only then did he cautiously peek out half of his head from a hidden corner surrounded by thick reed roots.

What lay before me was a scene of purgatory.

The small boat he brought and most of his men who boarded the ship were engulfed in flames.

The ship twisted and burned, crackling and popping, with thick smoke billowing into the sky.

Burning wood, charred corpses, and a burning man still struggling and screaming floated on the water.

On land, Cao Cao's soldiers fired indiscriminately into the marshland, with rockets falling from the sky from time to time, piercing through the thick smoke and adding new flames.

Screams, wails, and roars of flames intertwined to create a hellish elegy.

Gan Ning clenched his teeth so tightly that his gums almost bled.

He forced himself to remain calm, observing the movements of Cao Cao's army. They didn't seem to intend to launch a waterborne attack; instead, they firmly controlled the land, using a hail of arrows to block the water's surface, clearly aiming to trap or kill them in this area.

We must use water and fire to wipe out Gan Ning and his men!
Damn it... that's ruthless...

Gan Ning felt a chill in his heart.

He tried to discern the direction and recall the complex waterways of the marshland.

We cannot stay here. We must leave this deadly area as soon as possible and escape to a wider area, deeper waters, or tributaries that Cao Cao's army cannot completely block.

We must contact the remaining men as soon as possible, otherwise they may also fall victim to Cao Cao's army!
Gan Ning took a deep breath and plunged back into the murky water. Like a wounded water beast, he relied on his familiarity with the water and his strong desire to survive to navigate the maze-like waterways and dense reed roots with difficulty.

Along the way, he encountered several of his subordinates who had also managed to escape and were struggling in the water, carefully navigating through the water and fire.

After an unknown amount of time, when Gan Ning felt his strength was about to be exhausted and his lungs were being pulled apart by a bellows-like pain, he finally escaped the core waters shrouded in flames and death.

He struggled to swim to a shallow beach far from the battlefield, and climbed ashore on all fours. He collapsed on the muddy bank, panting heavily, each breath carrying the heavy smell of blood and the putrid stench of mud.

He lay on the cold, muddy ground, turned his head, and looked towards Xinye.

The sky above was still stained an eerie dark red by the thick smoke.

The scattered, charred fragments floating on the water silently testify to the horrific massacre that had just taken place.

Gan Ning spat out a mouthful of muddy water, wiped the filth from his face, and revealed his still arrogant eyes, which were filled with deep-seated hatred.

He lost most of his ships and men; he had once again failed in a fire attack!
He didn't have many soldiers left, and on top of that, food supplies were running low...

"You old bastard! I'll fuck your ancestors!" he roared hoarsely, his voice weak and mournful in the empty marshland.

Gan Ning struggled to sit up and began to count the remaining soldiers around him who had crawled ashore one after another, all in a similarly disheveled state.

A mere few dozen people, all injured, their eyes still filled with shock.

Sometimes, the gap in intelligence is indeed difficult to bridge.

In fact, after attacking Cao Cao's supply route, Gan Ning should have realized that the second supply convoy of Cao Cao's army had less grain than usual, and that Cao Cao was suspected of targeting Gan Ning and his men. Especially after the unusual appearance of the supply convoy, Gan Ning clearly sensed something was wrong, but he was still greedy for credit and felt that he had to pull off a heist before leaving.

On the battlefield, whoever is greedy is not far from defeat.

Unfortunately, anyone can offer hindsight advice, but very few people can truly resist the temptation even when faced with a lure.