Three Kingdoms: I help Liu Bei grow thousands of miles

Chapter 281

Sun Quan waited in Ruxuwu for two hours, but he didn't wait for the warships from Jiangxia to approach. Then Lu Su went back and explained the reason.

Gan Ning returned to Jingzhou for the right reasons, and failed to get rid of the guy who made him ashamed. After hearing this, Sun Quan was a little disappointed, but at this time he couldn't pursue the backstab, which would leave an excuse for Liu Bei.

Lu Su secretly rejoiced that he heard the news last night, otherwise he would be an accomplice if he foolishly invited someone to destroy the Sun-Liu alliance today.

With Lu Su's wisdom, he certainly knows that the hero Liu Bei will sooner or later stand in the way for Jiangdong to seize the world, but there are priorities to weigh the pros and cons. Before Cao Cao's strength weakens, he must not add another enemy.

Lu Su was honest and trustworthy, and Sun Quan did not doubt him.

The friendly forces had withdrawn, and Sun Quan turned his attention to Cao Cao again.

The two armies continued to confront each other at Ruxukou. Cao Cao relied on the continuous supply of food and grass from the rear, and ordered Zhu Guang, the prefect of Lujiang, to farm in the front line, intending to fight Sun Quan for a long time. Sun Quan waited for the right time according to Chen Wu's suggestion.

During this period, Sun Quan sent people back to Jianye to take turns to rest and recuperate, and went to the rear to raise and escort the army rations.

Just entered February, the spring rain is like crisp.

One evening, Sun Quan, accompanied by Lv Meng, was patrolling the camp, only to find that there was more soup in the soldiers' bowls than rice, and the faces of these Jiangdong children were full of dishes.

"Ziming, Chen Wu and Pan Zhang sent food one after another. Why did the soldiers eat so poorly?" Sun Quan asked suspiciously when he walked outside the camp.

Lu Meng shook his head and said, "The general doesn't know, but Zibu (Zhang Zhao) is in charge of military supplies. Maybe he deliberately saved rations? After all, these tens of thousands of people consume a lot every day."

Lu Meng knew too well that it was not easy to be a family. At that time, he spent military food with Lai Gong in Jiaozhou, and forced himself to go back to Jiangdong. Cao Cao was sitting in several states in the north. It was hard to say that Jiangdong would consume food.

Sun Quan nodded slightly and didn't continue the topic. When he returned to the dock, he immediately summoned Zhang Zhao to ask.

Zhang Zhao said calmly, "It is true that I have reduced my rations. Although the spring rain has already fallen, it will take some time for the water level of Chaohu Lake to rise sharply. The days after not tightening up on food and clothing will be difficult."

"However, when soldiers are treated so harshly, where will the fighting morale come from?" Sun Quan asked worriedly.

Zhang Zhao smiled wryly: "Last year, there was a large area of ​​borers in the south, and the rice production in various counties was drastically reduced. The military rations we ate were all from the past. It is not bad to have a bite to eat. My lord, you should remember that kindness does not control soldiers."

Sun Quan is not a frugal person, let alone be kind to the soldiers. He just wants to maintain a high fighting spirit and defeat Cao Cao after the water in Chaohu Lake rises.

"It would be great if the rain could be heavier." Sun Quan walked to the window, and the rain was pattering outside.

Zhang Zhaojin said: "Cao Cao has reached his twilight years, and his actions have become more and more stable. It is difficult to have a big defeat like Chibi. My lord, even if Chaohu Lake is flooded, Cao Jun can't stay where he is. They can retreat to Gao We can do it anywhere, so we may not be able to kill many enemies."

Sun Quan turned around abruptly, he only thought that the water in Chaohu Lake would rise sharply, and the warships in Jiangdong could sail unimpeded. He never thought that Cao Cao could retreat before the water rose.

"Fortunately, Zibu reminded me, is there a clever way to help me?" Sun Quan asked.

Zhang Zhao thought for a while and answered: "The refugees from Shouchun and Lujiang fled to Jiangdong in the past two months, and brought a valuable rumor with them. I also heard it from the soldiers transporting food."

"What rumor is it?"

"Xun Lingjun, whom Cao Cao relied on, was forced to commit suicide by Cao's bandits in Shouchun."

Sun Quan's eyes widened when he heard this, and he asked in disbelief: "I heard that Xun Yu has the talent of a king, how could Cao Cao force him to death? Are you going to cut off your own arm?"

Zhang Zhao shook his head, "As I said just now, Cao Cao is now in his twilight years, and he has to consider not only the immediate affairs, but also many behind-the-scenes matters. It seems that someone invited Cao Cao to be the Duke of the Duke, but Xun Yu objected because he didn't know the current affairs. , so there is such an ending.”

Sun Quan can understand Cao Cao very well. With the power and reputation that the opponent currently holds, isn't it easy to capture the Duke of Jinjue?Xun Yu's move is indeed against the way of a courtier. His elder brother Sun Ce finally became a general with a mixed number. Now he is a general of chariots and cavalry. Maybe he can learn from Cao thief in the future?
"Zibu mentioned the matter of Xun Yu, what exactly is he trying to say?"

"Cao Cao will not take any risks now. If my lord informs Chaohu that the water is rising, do you think he will retreat early?"

Sun Quan frowned, "Tell Cao thief such an important military situation?"

"Hahaha, everyone in the neighborhood knows this day and time. Even if my lord doesn't tell me now, can I hide it from Cao Cao? Since there is no absolute certainty of annihilating the enemy, why waste food like Lu Ziming?" Zhang Zhao asked back.

"Cao thief can really retreat?" Sun Quan asked again.

Zhang Zhao nodded and said, "It's at least [-]% possible, but if my lord can agree with Cao's entry into the rank, Xun Yu, who opposed it now, is dead, and the other party will not return?"

Sun Quan's eyes lit up when he heard it, and he said that Zhang Zibu was still very good at trying to figure out people's hearts, and the time to become Duke was right in front of him, who could bear it?So he immediately wrote a letter and sent it to Cao Ying.

Now Xun Yu committed suicide, and the mastermind Xun You has been ill for two years, and he did not follow Sun Quan in the Eastern Conquest this time, and the rest of the Zhong, Chen and other nobles did not expressly object. Just go back to work.

Cao Cao was very surprised to receive a letter written by Sun Quan. This junior actually reminded himself?There are only eight simple words on the letter: spring water is born, and the public should go quickly.

Cao Cao looked at the eight characters in a daze, and Jiang Ji, who was sitting at the bottom, reminded: "Prime Minister, there seems to be handwriting on the back of the letter."

Cao Cao turned over the letter paper, and there were also eight words: Congratulations to the prime minister, enter the public kingdom.

"Congratulations to the Prime Minister, what does it mean to enter the public kingdom?" Cao Cao raised the letter paper and asked suspiciously.

Jiang Jixi said: "This grandson Cheqi invites you to be the Duke of Wei. The mighty virtue of the lord has shocked the enemy chiefs, and it is what everyone expects."

"The prime minister is expected by all." The ministers, led by Jiang Ji, shouted in unison.

On the side, Chang Shi Dong Zhao's eyebrows stretched, and Sun Quan will be the first to persuade Jin Biao. After all, he is the chariot general of the big man, and the prime minister's Jinjue is more justified.

Cao Cao saw that the civil and military people were so excited, and it seemed that everyone was impatient, so he thought of retreating. After inquiring about the surrounding situation in detail, he learned that the water level of Chaohu Lake rose after the beginning of spring, and the vast area between Qibao Mountain and Ruxu Mountain It will be submerged, and the waters of Chaohu Lake will expand to the vicinity of the mouth of Ruxu.

In the previous battles, Cao's ships suffered heavy losses, so Cao Cao decisively ordered to withdraw his troops and return to the north, and ordered all the people in the counties and counties facing the Yangtze River to the Central Plains to prevent Sun Quan from harassing the southeast border, and made a gesture of fortifying the walls and clearing the wilderness.

The people panicked when they heard about it, and more than [-] households fled to Jiangdong with their old and young.

In February of the 18th year of Jian'an, Cao Sun ended the first battle of Ruxukou.

(End of this chapter)