The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 199 Urgent Matters, Delayed Matters

"Wen Zhongye has been killed in action."

After a moment's thought, Jia Kui decided to tell the truth.

Zhu Ling was immediately surprised:

"Lu Xun was not well-known in the past, I didn't expect him to have such abilities?"

Jia Kui frowned and said:

"Lu Xun is indeed a man not to be underestimated."

"But I heard that it was not Lu Xun who actually intercepted and killed Wen Zhongye, but Mi Wei under Liu Bei's command."

Zhu Ling raised an eyebrow: "Who is Mi Wei?"

Jia Kui: "The son of Mi Zhu from the East Sea once raided Guanzhong last year. It is said that he has offered many strategies in Longyou, so he should not be underestimated."

Zhu Ling squeezed the gunwale and sighed:

Why did so many talented individuals constantly emerge under Liu Bei's command?

Jia Kui shook his head and said:

"The Central Plains are not lacking in talented individuals."

"Liu Bei may be able to demonstrate his abilities for a time, but his foundation is too narrow, and he will inevitably lose it in the long run."

"What I am worried about now is whether Mi Wei will go against the grain and plunder the Huai River after defeating General Wen Ping."

Zhu Ling then adopted a solemn posture:
"Your Excellency has come from Runan, have you not heard of this?"

Jia Kui immediately gave a wry smile:
"A forced march of seven hundred li, and we must also hide our tracks far from the great river... If Kui can successfully bring the army to Shouchun, he will have already lived up to the court's expectations. How can he possibly have the strength to worry about what lies behind us?"

"Fortunately, Wen Zhongye is not a reckless general; he must have made arrangements for the three passes, so there may not be any failures..."

Before he could finish speaking, a messenger arrived by boat with news.

Judging from the banners, they should be subordinates of Wang Ling, the governor of Yanzhou.

Zhu Ling and Jia Kui immediately went to see him.

After Wang Ling's envoy boarded the ship, he first respectfully presented a military report, and then announced in a loud voice:
"Wang Shijun and Zang Zhendong joined forces at Ruxukou, killing three thousand Wu soldiers, capturing over ten thousand, seizing over a hundred warships of various sizes, and capturing the enemy commander Zhu Huan of Ruxu alive!"

Zhu Ling immediately threw her head back and burst into laughter!

Such a great victory is not only enough to preserve Huainan, but it may also allow Zhu Ran of Lianwan City to be forced to retreat and then take over all the land north of the Yangtze River.

Even Jia Kui was somewhat pleased.

But the next moment, he noticed a briefing in the messenger's hand and asked curiously:
"Any further gains?"

Upon hearing this, the messenger's expression changed, and he reported in a deep voice:

"It's an urgent report from Runan!"

……

Wancheng.

As soon as Zhu Ran saw Lu Xun, he couldn't wait to speak:
"The situation is dire! We beg General Guan for help!"

Lu Xun looked at Zhu Ran, who was covered in bruises.

I felt a strange sense of sympathy for the fallen.

But he had actually anticipated this scene.

This is not the worst possible outcome.

So he took a deep breath and tried to remain calm, saying:
"Great Governor, do not worry, the reinforcements have already set off!"

He then told her all about his previous plans with Miwei.

Zhu Ran's expression softened slightly, and he said:

"Even so, I fear that the Wei army will cross the river in the autumn with a great victory and then march on Jianye."

"Now that I have suffered heavy losses, I am willing to retreat and defend Jiangdong, but I am also worried that the Northern Army will lose Wancheng as a threat. Therefore, I will do my best to cross south."

"I wonder what instruction Boyan has for me?"

Lu Xun had already prepared a response in mind, and said:
"Although Wancheng is located north of the Yangtze River, it is actually the gateway to the south."

"It is not easy to keep it, but it is even harder to gain it."

"If Wancheng is lost, it will not only be the loss of one city, but also the loss of Yangzhou!"

Zhu Ran: "I understand. To protect Jiangdong, we must continue to defend this isolated city north of the river to the death!"

Lu Xun nodded first, then changed his tone:
"Wancheng must be defended, but it does not necessarily have to be defended to the death."

Zhu Ran: "What do you mean?"

Lu Xun: "Before I went east, I had already heard that Mi Shishan had defeated Wen Ping."

"Judging by their intelligence and the timeline, they must have already dispatched troops to the Huai River by now."

“Runan and Huainan are separated only by a narrow strip of water. The Wei army will soon learn of this.”

"If Jia Kui returns with his entire army to rescue the city, the number of Wei troops besieging Wan City will decrease, and we can continue to defend the city."

"But if Jia Kui underestimates Mi Shishan, or if he doesn't get Zhu Ling's permission and only sends another unit to rescue him, then..."

Zhu Ran: "Then I can go north from Wancheng to Jiashi, attack his other units, and force him to either divide his forces or return with his entire army, right?"

Lu Xun nodded heavily and said:
"This is precisely the plan that Master Mi and I devised!"

Zhu Ran's expression finally relaxed completely.

Then, with a touch of emotion, he said:
“Others may not understand Boyan’s wisdom and shrewdness, but I do. You foresaw and prepared for all the troubles that have happened today.”

"To be frank, if Your Majesty had valued you as much as Liu Bei valued Mi Wei, how could you have suffered such a defeat today?"

Lu Xun shook his head upon hearing this:
"The King has treated me well; otherwise, why would he have appointed me as Lü Ziming's deputy?"

"In the end, it is because I am less intelligent than others, and I have suffered two defeats. Your Majesty is bound to have doubts."

"If you must blame someone," one person said. "First, blame Heaven for being so powerful, yet so submissive."

"Secondly, it's because Lü Ziming died too early, his life was cut short."

Zhu Ran fell silent for a moment.

But recalling Lü Huwei, the former leader of the generals, he suddenly sighed:
"If Lü Ziming were here, he might be able to persuade Your Majesty not to go north; even if you do go north, you will surely prevent the overall situation from falling into danger!"

Lu Xun was taken aback, then nodded silently.

……

Just as the battle in Huainan entered a new phase.

After a grueling seven or eight-day siege, Mi Wei finally captured Yiyang City, a foothold in Huaibei.

It must be emphasized that the "hardship" here does not refer to the process of attacking the city.

In reality, facing the overwhelming Han army, this small city with its low walls and shallow moat could not possibly hold out for long.

However, it is precisely because the advantages and disadvantages of both sides are so obvious.

So Miwei was wary from the very beginning.

While making the appearance of locking down the city and launching a strong attack, they sent Zhan Sifu and others to continue north to gather intelligence on the enemy.

Let's see who gave the city the courage to hold out.

Going deep into enemy territory to gather intelligence is, of course, a difficult task.

Several days passed before we could finish waiting.

Finally, before Zhan Sifu and the other scouts could return, the city could not withstand the pressure, and the county magistrate led the way in surrendering, revealing the truth.

"Do you think I'm also a bandit from Liangjia Mountain who's responding to General Guan's call, and that's why I chose to hold out?"

Miwei looked at the map and felt that this statement was a bit strange.

Being seen as a mountain bandit is nothing to be ashamed of.

The key point is that Liang County is in Hongnong, while Jia County is in Yingchuan.

Even if Runan is temporarily undefended, those two places are close to Luoyang, so the local garrison should still be sufficient.

How could a rabble from the mountains have managed to cross the provinces and counties to the south?

However, the subsequent return of Zhan Sifu and others proved this claim.

"in short."

"Previously, there were anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 rebels or refugees who marched south from Liang and Jia, only to be ambushed by the Wei army in Yingchuan."

"So that's why Yiyang County thinks we're just a bunch of rabble, nothing to fear, and even plans to launch a pincer attack with reinforcements, right?"

Zhan Sifu nodded repeatedly.

Miwei stopped dwelling on the matter and instead said:

"How many men are left in the rebel army? Are any of them continuing their southward march?"

If we can make contact with these righteous armies who are loyal to the Han Dynasty, then there will be more room for maneuver in our subsequent northward march.

Sharpening knives does not miss woodcutters.

Therefore, it is worthwhile to slow down the offensive.

After all, his main purpose in heading north this time was not to conquer Yuzhou.

Nanyang is the key.

Unfortunately, Zhan Sifu shook his head and said:
"In that battle, the Wei army was well-rested and exhausted, and won in one fell swoop. The rebel army scattered like birds and beasts!"

“I am not familiar with the customs of the people in the north, and I really do not know where to contact the leaders of the various tribes.”

Mi Wei stroked his beard and realized that the situation in the Central Plains was somewhat different from what he had imagined.

It is empty, but not completely empty.

Stable, but not completely stable.

Specifically, the dividing line is the gap in the square city wall.

The south is empty but stable.

The north is not empty, but it is also unstable.

Why is the latter less stable than the former?

Miwei looked at the map again.

From south to north, from north to south.

Suddenly I understood.

Because there are many mountains to the north!

Mountains are natural geographical boundaries.

Mountains are also natural places where filth and dirt accumulate.

Those people or things that deviate from "civilization" include thieves, hermits, rebel armies, and barbarian tribes.

They would instinctively converge on the mountains, relying on natural barriers to resist the "civilization" below.

This is the inevitable result of considering both subjective and objective factors.

In other words.

If we were to say where we are most likely to contact the rebels right now...

It must be in the mountains!

With a thought, Mi Wei tapped a finger on the map and said to those around him:
"Head towards Fangcheng, let's go into the mountains to find someone!"

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(End of this chapter)