Three Kingdoms: I am not Cao Rui

Jingzhou, Nanxiang County.

Nanxiang County is not as popular as Nanyang and Xiangyang counties. Geographically, Nanxiang County is located in the upper reaches of the Han River in Xiangyang County and was split from Nanyang County in the late Jian'an period.

Similarly, at the end of the Jian'an period, Cao Cao also split the western Hanzhong County into two halves, namely Hanzhong County and Shangyong County.

In short, Nanxiang County has many mountains and few farmlands, and its location is remote, so it is not often affected by war.

On the afternoon of October 20, Guanqiu Jian arrived here with 8,000 cavalrymen. After deliberately avoiding all areas along the river, Guanqiu Jian finally arrived outside Yin County in Nanxiang County without any danger.

The two cities of Zhuyang and Shandu in the downstream had been captured by the Wu army's navy that had gone up the river before, but Yin County was spared because it was too far away.

However, Guanqiu Jian remained cautious and did not enter the city to ask for support from local people. Instead, he temporarily set up camp ten miles outside the city and ordered his soldiers to cut wood and build a pontoon bridge.

"Brother," Guanqiu Xiu stood beside Guanqiu Jian and asked, "It will be the afternoon in two quarters of an hour. Do you want to cross the Han River tonight or tomorrow morning?"

Guanqiu Jian stood by the Han River wearing a helmet and armor, his eyes slightly narrowed, staring at the water in the distance. After a long while, he finally responded:

"Cross the river tonight, don't wait until tomorrow. I led the cavalry on a four-day march to find a safe place to cross the river. The military situation is urgent, and Xiangyang City is still surrounded by the Wu army. How can we wait until tomorrow?"

Guanqiu Xiu hesitated for a moment, but the person in front of him was his brother, so he mustered up some courage and asked:
"Can we really cross it? I see the river is wider here than in Fancheng, about a mile and a half wide. How can we cross it?"

Guanqiu Jian turned around and looked at his brother seriously, then smiled a little and put his arm around Guanqiu Xiu's shoulders: "Xiu, you asked a good question. If you don't see it with your own eyes, you won't know it. Come on, I'll take you to see it with your own eyes."

"Yes." Guanqiu Xiu nodded in agreement.

Thanks to Guanqiu Jian's important status, Guanqiu Xiu, who was in his early twenties, was kept by the emperor as soon as he started his official career and became a Sima of Qianshi. This time, Guanqiu Jian asked Guanqiu Xiu to be brought out to see a real army, and Cao Rui naturally agreed.

Except for the two thousand cavalrymen who were left on guard, the remaining three thousand cavalrymen each received an order to cut down trees, carry wood, or break down wood.

Rather than saying this is a temporary camp set up for crossing the river, it is more like a large construction site by the river.

When an army marches long distances, all kinds of tools are necessary, even for cavalry. How can a large army not bring tools when it has to build roads through mountains and bridges over rivers?
Guanqiu Xiu looked at the wooden boards stacked at the edge of the camp, frowned and asked, "Brother, how did these boards become like this, and how should they be used?"

Guanqiu Jian kicked the pile of wood, which could barely be called planks, and said with a smile:

"These wooden boards are indeed crude, but Ah Xiu, don't look down on them. Although they can't be used to make a proper boat, if you temporarily bake them and make something similar to a wooden box and put it in the water, the effect is the same as a boat. After arranging them in the river, tie them up with ropes, and then put some wooden boards on top, the army will be able to pass."

"Look here." Guanqiu Jian pointed to the southwest bank of the river. "Although it is one and a half miles, the water is shallow and the current is gentle in winter. There is also a sandbar in the middle to support it. It is much more convenient. It is not really a mile and a half away. It should take less than one mile..."

Before Guanqiu Jian finished speaking, he heard a commotion from the south, and it seemed to be getting louder and louder. At this moment, several of the soldiers who were busy beside the two men put down their axes and stretched their necks to look south!

The army has always been most afraid of camp roars, and although the daytime noise is better than the camp roar, it is also a very important matter. Guanqiu Jian, who was smiling and relaxed just now, became nervous in a few moments.

"A Xiu, stay here and don't move. I will take people to take a look." Guanqiu Jian whispered, and then immediately jumped on his horse and was ready to leave.

"Brother, I'll go with you!" Guanqiu Xiu said hurriedly, and prepared to mount his horse.

"Nonsense! Staying here is what you should do." Seeing Guanqiu Xiu trying to catch up, Guanqiu Jian got angry and picked up the horsewhip and whipped Guanqiu Xiu hard on the chest, making a muffled sound. Then he turned his horse and rode away, and his personal guards gradually followed behind him.

Guanqiu Xiu was stunned for a moment. As far as he could remember, this was the first time his brother had hit him. Although he was protected by armor and could not cause any real damage, the feeling of being whipped still caught him off guard.

"Alas." Guanqiu Xiu shook his head.

It seems that there are still many things to learn in the military camp.

Guanqiu Jian led a hundred cavalrymen to the south side of the Xiongnu formation, getting closer and closer. Seeing the Xiongnu people making a lot of noise, Liu Bao squeezed in the crowd and tried to explain something. Guanqiu Jian directly ordered the cavalrymen to rush forward to disperse the crowd and came to Liu Bao who was surrounded in the middle.

"What happened? Why is there such a commotion?" Guanqiu Jian was not polite at all. He looked down from above with disdainful eyes, staring straight into Liu Bao's eyes.

"General, I am incompetent in commanding my subordinates, and rumors have spread among the troops..." Liu Bao replied with a bow, sweat all over his forehead.

"Come closer." Guanqiu Jian waved his hand.

Liu Bao understood and stepped forward to explain in a low voice: "General, the Xiongnu have been in Bingzhou for a long time and have never been to such a place in the south. When we followed Lu Gong across the Yellow River before, the tribesmen were already a little scared. Now that we have to cross the Han River again, which is much wider than the Yellow River, and there are no ferries and we have to build a floating bridge, we are even more afraid." "Some people say that going further south is suicide, and we should quickly ride back to Bingzhou to graze before crossing the river..."

Guanqiu Jian asked in return: "Why didn't I see you showing any fear when we crossed the Liao River that day?"

Liu Bao hesitated for a few moments, and finally said: "Your Majesty was in the army with us at that time. In addition, Liaodong is in the north, so I am more or less familiar with it and feel more at ease. Now the army is heading south..."

"I understand." Guanqiu Jian nodded in response, his expression becoming serious.

Not to mention that for ordinary soldiers or civilians of this era, the big rivers and the towering mountains are inherently frightening and timid.

What Liu Bao said was not without reason. For these Xiongnu light cavalrymen who grew up in Bingzhou, the anxiety, fear, and other emotions that had accumulated since they moved south from Hebei finally broke out when they were about to cross the Han River, which was a mile wide.

Especially at times like this, we need to take it slow. Relying on military orders to force people will only make morale worse and will do more harm than good.

After thinking for a few moments, Guanqiu Jian asked, "Liu Bao, among the five of you, which one is causing the trouble? Which one is causing the most trouble?"

Liu Bao looked around, pulled Liu Ni, who was hiding behind him, over, and said to Guanqiu Jian, "General, the trouble started in the central Xianbei tribe. The other tribes are just watching and have not made any noise yet."

Guanqiu Jian said, "Well, I will take the other three tribes with me, and only leave the two of you, the left and middle Xiongnu, here. Liu Bao, Liu Ni, do you two know what to do?"

Liu Ni was younger than Liu Bao, but more timid. He quickly shook his head to indicate that he did not understand.

Seeing this, Liu Bao sighed and bowed to Guanqiu Jian, saying, "General, please give me two hundred elite cavalrymen, and I will handle this matter."

"No!"

Guanqiu Jian said firmly: "This kind of thing cannot be done. It must be done by you Xiongnu people yourself."

"Liu Bao, let me teach you!" Guanqiu Jian stared at Liu Bao with a stern face: "Your 600 cavalrymen will stand guard outside, first pick out the peaceful ones, then behead all the leaders of the most violent crowd, and pardon the crimes of the rest."

“Can you do it?”

Liu Bao wanted to continue to refuse, but after meeting Guanqiu Jian's stern eyes, he finally changed his mind and sighed and replied: "Please send some people to prepare in the distance to prevent any accidents. I will take care of the things here!"

"Very good." After Guanqiu Jian nodded, he turned his horse and slowly left the place. Following the order to set off, 1,200 Xiongnu cavalrymen, led by the leaders of various tribes, followed Guanqiu Jian northward.

Under the pretext of inspecting the camp and guarding the surrounding area, Guanqiu Jian personally led the 1,200 Xiongnu light cavalry and toured the surrounding area for an hour.

As the sun was setting, Guanqiu Jian led his troops back. Before they reached the camp, Liu Bao and Liu Ni came to meet them.

Liu Bao's face looked a little ugly, while the younger Liu Ni next to him had red and slightly swollen eyes, as if he had just cried.

"What's the matter?" Guanqiu Jian asked calmly.

Liu Bao bowed and said, "General, there was a fight among the soldiers in Liu Ni's army, and nineteen of them died. I and Liu Ni are here to apologize."

Liu Ni rubbed his eyes and said in a trembling voice: "I am here to apologize."

Those who could gather and stir up trouble were almost all people of some status in the tribe, and they were all Liu Ni's relatives or confidants. For this young Xiongnu nobleman in his twenties, killing his confidants and relatives was not an easy thing, not to mention that he was forced to do it by the situation!

Guanqiu Jian sighed and said, "Liu Ni, I will consider that this is the first time that your troops have followed me on an expedition, and since they have all died, I will not punish them any more."

"Those soldiers who died in the fight can be compensated according to the standard for soldiers killed in battle. I hope this can comfort your troops a little."

"Thank you, thank you, General." Liu Ni couldn't hold back any longer and started crying, covering his mouth and nose.

When Guanqiu Jian saw this, he shook his head, rode away and ignored it.

The floating bridge has been built for more than half. In a few moments, the first group of people can be transported across the Han River and set up camp on the other side of the Han River. A young Xiongnu nobleman is crying, so let him cry. Do we need to comfort him? (End of this chapter)