Shu Han Confucian General of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 204
"Everyone, the 1 troops of the three generals and Zhuge's military division have already arrived in Fuling. Zhuo Ying, the prefect of Fuling, surrendered at Kaesong, but Zhang Ren, who is known as the No.5 general in central Sichuan, has led [-] troops to garrison Bajun to confront him. Although You can't go down in a hurry, but with the wisdom of Zhuge's army division and the courage of the three generals, Zhang Ren is definitely not an opponent. After the arrival of the five thousand Danyang elite soldiers currently under General He Qi, plus the [-] Sichuan troops of General Lei Tong before, and The troops stationed in the three east counties already have [-] to [-] troops, of which about [-] are farming in Tazhong. Excluding Hanzhong and the three east counties, I want to mobilize [-] troops to support the three generals and attack Xichuan." Pointing to the unfolded Map, Zhao Feng introduced the current military situation in detail.

"Where does the unknown general want to march from?" Lu Xun asked at this time.From the map, it can be seen that Jianmen Pass, Jiameng Pass, and Brazil County are three places where troops can enter.The first two passes are rare in the world, and it is not easy to conquer them.Although Brazil is relatively easy to attack, it is very unpredictable to have veteran Yan Yan guarding it.

"I'll gather my troops first, and I'll make my own decision when we enter the army!" Zhao Feng still reserved a little bit, and then ordered people to Baocheng to transfer Wang Ping, who is familiar with the geography of Hanzhong and Xichuan, for another purpose.At this moment, someone came to report that there was an urgent letter from Jingzhou.Zhao Feng hurriedly ordered someone to come in, but saw a schoolboy with a dusty face come in and handed Zhao Feng an urgent letter.Zhao Feng took a look at it, but he also let out a little surprise.

"General, what's the matter?" Seeing that Zhao Feng's expression was not too good, Lu Xun asked quickly.Zhao Feng sighed, and said as calmly as possible: "My lord wanted to send Gan Xingba to lead his army to attack Xichuan by water, but Jing and Yang prefectures suffered heavy rains and the river surged. Gan Xingba personally checked the water conditions of the Yangtze River. If we can’t go against the current, this plan is useless. In addition, Jingyang may break out of floods at any time, and we can’t get enough food to meet the needs of the army, so General Guan told us to make a quick decision.”

Since Hanzhong had just purchased war horses, there was not much food left. This campaign largely relied on Jingzhou to provide food and grass, let alone Zhang Fei's journey.Once the floods broke out in Jingxiang, it would be difficult for them to protect themselves, and Zhao Feng and Zhang Fei would be in danger if they were short of food and grass.

"Both Zhang Ren and Yan Yan are famous generals in Sichuan, and they know the key points. If they are allowed to find out the truth of our army, they will stick to it and not fight back. After our army supplies are exhausted, we will try to fight back." Lu Xun also sighed after reading it, and everyone was silent. .Zhao Feng felt that this was really retribution, he and Guan Yu took advantage of the lack of food in Jingbei the year before last to take Jingzhou easily.Now that I am also short of food, this feeling is really uncomfortable.

"It doesn't matter, we just need to break Xichuan as soon as possible!" Zhao Feng thought about the history of Liu Bei, Zhong Hui and Deng Ai's attacking Xichuan, and he could learn something from it.Everyone knew that Zhao Feng acted prudently, seeing how confident he was, they felt relieved.

Compared with Zhao Feng and others, the atmosphere in Shouchun was a bit dignified.Just as Zhuge Liang expected, this spring rain has been going on for more than a month since the beginning of spring.The entire Jianghuai area, including Jingxiang and Jiangdong, was covered by this rainfall, and a lot of winter wheat had been soaked.Fortunately, the last grain production base under Liu Bei's rule, Jiaozhou in the far southern Xinjiang, was not invaded.

"The water levels of the Confucian River and the Gan River have risen recently. Although the dams have been strengthened overnight in many areas, the symptoms are not cured." In Duke Qi's mansion, although it was midnight, Liu Bei and most of his important officials were here.It was Chen Qun who introduced the situation of the disaster just now. Judging from his tone, he was very pessimistic.

"Shiyuan, how long do you think the rain will stop?" Liu Bei patted his head and asked Pang Tong on the left.Without Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong is the most familiar with astronomy.Hearing this, Pang Tong opened the window to take a closer look, and said in a very positive tone: "My lord, within two days, this rain will definitely stop!"

"Two more days?" Liu Bei never felt that two days were so long.Although there is nothing wrong with it right now, several tributaries of Yingshui have begun to flood, destroying several villages passing by.If it continues to rain for another two days, Liu Bei feels that it is unlikely that the Yangtze River or Huaihe River will be peaceful.

"My lord, this spring rain has been very severe. According to detailed reports, the water level of the Yellow River has begun to flood yesterday. The disasters in Jizhou and Yanzhou under Cao Cao's rule are also very serious. Yisu estimates that although we have no time to spare for the Northern Expedition, Cao Cao don't even think about soldiers going south!" Lu Su said at this time.After hearing this, Liu Bei felt a little more at ease in his heart.

"If we can go through this heavy rain, we will be able to accumulate more strength for the Northern Expedition next year." Pang Tonghu said, although everyone knew that his words were not kind, but the fact is indeed the case.If they accumulate strength for one more year, with the water, soil and population of the five states under Liu Bei's rule, one year is enough for them to accumulate more food and troops.

According to the statistics of Chen Qun and Zhuge Liang, the total grain output of the prefectures under Liu Bei’s rule last year was conservatively estimated to be nearly twice the total grain output of the prefectures under Cao Cao’s rule. .Although Jizhou and Guanzhong were also well-known fertile lands under Cao Cao's rule, only wheat can be grown in these places, and there is only one crop a year. Compared with the four prefectures of Jingyang, Xuyu, where rice and wheat are cultivated in two crops, let alone compared with Jiaozhou, which practices three crops of rice a year.At the same time, according to Zhuge Liang's proposal, Liu Bei resettled a large number of veterans who retired every year to Yizhou to reclaim wasteland, and at the same time promoted the construction of Yizhou, and strengthened exchanges with the local aboriginals.It is expected that in a few years, Yizhou will become a major grain production base again.

Contradictory to the fact that grain production has the upper hand, the population under Liu Bei's rule is not as good as Cao Cao's.At present, the population of the five prefectures under Liu Bei's rule plus Hanzhong is about 80 million, which is less than 1000 million anyway.Cao Cao originally had a population of 400 million in the three prefectures. After pacifying Hebei, he occupied Jizhou, the most populous state in the world, with a population of 400 million according to a conservative estimate.The population ratio between the two sides is almost 1.5:1.And a larger population means a more sufficient source of troops.However, under the premise of insufficient food and grass, it is more likely to cause a crisis of insufficient military rations.Furthermore, once Yizhou can be captured this year and connected to Xiliang, Liu Bei will have even more room for maneuver.

"But don't be careless. Now that the battle in Xichuan is in full swing, if Cao Cao takes the opportunity to enter Hanzhong from Guanzhong, General Zhao will not be able to look after each other." Lu Su said suddenly.

"Didn't Zijing just say that Cao Cao is unable to go south?" Sun Gan asked a little strangely.

"Going south is powerless, but Cao Cao's strength should not be underestimated. Xiahou Yuan in Guanzhong is known for his long-distance surprise attacks. Hanzhong still needs to be careful." Lu Su said cautiously.

"Bo Tao has been on the battlefield for a long time. Even if Xichuan is captured, there will definitely be people staying in Hanzhong. Don't worry!" Liu Bei has great trust in Zhao Feng's ability. , I really haven't seen him suffer.

"For the sake of caution, my lord can send a general to garrison the three eastern counties to prevent the enemy from coming from Guanzhong." Lu Su thought for a while.Liu Bei nodded when he heard the words, and then asked: "Do you think there is a suitable candidate?"

"This is just in case, there is no need to work for a general, just order a partial general. In Su's opinion, it is enough to order Liao Yuanjian to lead an army of [-] troops to station in Shangyong!" Lu Su was talking about this, when there was a sudden "bang bang" , the originally closed door was pushed open, and Jian Yong, who was dripping with water all over, walked in with a look of shock.

"What's the matter with Xianhe?" Seeing Jian Yong's distraught look, Liu Bei suddenly had an ominous premonition in his heart.

"My lord, the Jingling section of the Xiangjiang embankment burst, and everything from Jingling to Hanyang was flooded!" Jian Yong said tremblingly, and sat down on the ground.Liu Bei was horrified when he heard the words, and he stood up tremblingly after a while, and said shyly, "How could this happen? Didn't Sun Kang, the county magistrate of Huangzhou, send someone to report that the Jingling embankment was safe?"

"Cao Jun's careful work took advantage of the heavy rain and the defenders were not prepared to dig up the dam, which resulted in this disaster!" Jian Yong said dejectedly, and Liu Bei couldn't help being furious when he heard the words. "Cao Mengde!" Liu Bei said bitterly, his voice was gnashing his teeth, making one wonder whether Liu Bei would kill Cao Cao alive if he was in front of him.

Once the Xiangjiang River floods, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will be affected, and the number of affected people is estimated to be no less than 200 million.Liu Bei defended against day and night, not only to prevent heavy rain, but also to prevent Cao Cao from taking the opportunity to destroy, and in the end it was still a hundred secrets.Cao Cao used tactics to be decisive, and this time he did not hesitate to destroy the Xiangjiang embankment, but also to make Liu Bei suffer a lot.

"Damn it, my lord, Cao Cao is so vicious, why don't I retaliate?" Pang Tong said angrily, Liu Bei hesitated for a while, and finally sighed: "Cao Cao can use a poisonous plan, but Bei can't use it. Changwen, organize immediately Manpower, go to the counties and counties along the river to rush to repair the dams and try to reduce the loss. Zijing, send more people to guard the important dams everywhere, so as to prevent Cao Cao from taking the opportunity to destroy them again, and make plans after the rain stops!"

"No!" Lu Su and Chen Qun knew that Liu Bei would not be able to retaliate, so they sighed secretly and went to work separately.Liu Bei looked at the spring rain outside the window with his hands behind his back, and after a while he let out a long sigh and said, "How much is left of 5000 million men and common people?"

In stark contrast to Liu Bei's compassion, Cao Cao was overjoyed when he learned of the success of the strategy in the Wei Palace in Yecheng.

"Wenhe, after this, the loss of Liu Bei's food and grass is really countless!" Cao Cao laughed wildly.Jia Xu, a poisonous man, has always used ruthless moves, one trick can make people's corpses litter the field.This time, it hit Liu Beijun's weakness even more.

"But Prime Minister, there have been continuous spring rains in Hebei recently, and the disasters have been very serious!" Liu Ye, a counselor at the side, saw that Cao Cao's excitement was a bit too much, and quickly poured cold water on him.

"No matter how miserable it is, Liu Xuande will not be miserable!" Cao Cao said confidently.But this time, he miscalculated.Although the Xiangjiang embankment was successfully dug, under the careful management of Zhang Zhao, Zhuge Liang and others, the water conservancy measures in Jingzhou and Yangzhou were far more perfect than those in Hebei.In addition, the embankment was guarded by a large army, and Cao Cao's men did not dare to dig in key areas. The hole they dug was only in a not too critical place, and it was blocked the next morning.In the end, although the loss was heavy, it was not enough to hurt the entire middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River.On the contrary, Hebei, although Xun Yu has carefully managed it, although he was born in Yingchuan, although he is a talented Wang Zuo, his understanding of the importance of water conservancy facilities is far inferior to that of Zhuge Liang, who has lived in Jingxiang for a long time, let alone Zhao Feng, the traveler.

The final outcome is that just after Cao Cao made Liu Bei suffer a big loss, before he was happy for a long time, Xia Houdun, the governor of Jizhou, told him a very unpleasant news: the Yellow River Dam burst.

"What?" Cao Cao was feeling upset when he saw the master secretary Yang Xiu running over angrily, and said to Cao Cao with a look of horror: "My lord, something is wrong, Minister Xun Shu?"

"What's wrong with Wen Ruo?" Cao Cao twitched when he heard the words, and instinctively told him that something happened to Xun Yu.

"Xun Shangshu, he committed suicide by taking poison!" Yang Xiu burst into tears after finishing speaking.Cao Cao was shocked when he heard the words, and his mind went blank for a moment.The whole person seemed to be dazed, and began to stagger subconsciously.

"My lord, be careful!" Seeing that Cao Cao almost didn't fall, Yang Xiu stepped forward to help him.Unexpectedly, Cao Cao pushed him away, muttering in his mouth: "Wen Ruo, Wen Ruo, is the Han Dynasty so important? I become the king of Wei, and you don't even want your life?"

After staggering a few steps, Cao Cao felt his head hurt more and more. He trembled for a while, and finally fell down on the spot with a yell.

"Wei Wang (Lord)!" Yang Xiu and others were shocked, and hurriedly stepped forward to help him up, and at the same time summoned the imperial physician without mentioning it.After more than two hours of careful diagnosis and treatment by the imperial physician, although Cao Cao was still unconscious, his condition finally stabilized a little.In the early morning of the next day, Cao Cao woke up.

"Ah!" After Cao Cao opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Cai Wenji who was sitting on the edge of the bed looking at him anxiously.Sighing softly, Cao Cao forced a smile and asked, "Wen Ji, what time is it now, and how long have I been asleep?"

"It's only a few hours, it's still early, and it's not yet dawn?" Cai Wenji comforted Cao Cao softly, while pulling the quilt over Cao Cao.

"Wen Ji, do you think I did something wrong?" Cao Cao suddenly asked in silence for a long time, and he began to pant after asking, not sure if it was because of his headache or depression.

Cai Wenji was silent when she heard the words, and finally sighed: "Right or wrong, we can only leave it to future generations to judge!"

"Perhaps you're right, but if you're right, why would Wen Ruo abandon me?" Cao Cao didn't seem to be much relieved by Cai Wenji's words. He sighed for a long time, and then said to the beautiful woman in front of him: "Perhaps your father is still alive, and he will also regard me as a traitor!"

"You can't say that, my lord, you have done a great service to the big man by pacifying Saibei and knocking down the Xiongnu!" Cai Wenji quickly comforted.Cao Cao smiled gratifiedly when he heard the words, and said with some emotion: "I, Cao Mengde, have done a lot of good things!" It has something to do with being king, but it also has something to do with Jia Xu's poisonous tricks.He has always advocated self-cultivation, regulating the family, governing the country and the world. He would never accept this way of killing and wounding the people to weaken the enemy army.

"Liu Xuande, Liu Xuande, I'm much worse than you this time!" Cao Cao muttered in his mouth, and finally fell into a deep sleep with a long sigh, and woke up until the sky was bright.

(End of this chapter)