In July of the eighth year of Jian'an, Liu Bei ordered Zhang Fei to lead 10,000 troops to cross the river from Gong'an to attack the important town of Jiangling. When the news reached Wulin, Cao Cao was inspecting the water village with his subordinates. When Cao Ying's generals heard that Zhang Fei was coming, their expressions changed suddenly. And Deng Xi, who was following behind Cao Cao, couldn't help but hurriedly stepped forward and said, "Zhang Yide is the enemy of ten thousand people, and I also ask the prime minister to quickly dispatch troops to help Jiangling." ”

But at this time, Cao Cao waved his hand calmly and said, "You don't need to worry too much, Jiangling has its own wonderful talents." ”

Seeing that his lord was so calm, the big stones hanging on the chests of Cao Ying's civil and military officers naturally fell to the ground. In fact, Cao Cao didn't believe from the beginning that Liu Bei and Sun Ce would suddenly turn against each other. And he has never been afraid of Sun Liu joining forces. According to Cao Cao, no matter what plans Liu Bei and Sun Ce had, they would only hit a stone with an egg in the face of Cao's powerful forces. If he can defeat the Sun and Liu families at the same time, it will undoubtedly bring his prestige to a higher level. Therefore, while Cao Cao marched east to attack Wu, he also sent Xiahou Yuan and Jingzhou general Wen Ping to sit in Jiangling to monitor Liu Bei's every move. Originally, according to Cao Cao's judgment, Liu Bei would probably take advantage of Cao Sun's fierce battle to send troops to cut off Cao's army's grain route. It's just that at the moment, Liu Bei seems to be far more unstable than Cao Cao imagined, and he has sent troops to Jiangling without waiting for the decisive battle between Cao and Sun's two armies.

However, Liu Bei's move was somewhat unexpected by Cao Cao. After all, in Cao Cao's memory, although Liu Xuande was a hero in the world, his military performance has always been lackluster. Even the previous Shaobi escape, in Cao Cao's opinion, was only borrowed from the rainstorm. As for Zhuge Kongming, this son certainly has Su Zhang's talent. However, after all, he is still young and lacks military experience. Otherwise, how could the four alliances that had been good before, be broken by him, Cao Mengde. Now in Cao Cao's eyes, the only person who can be worried is only one person.

Thinking about this, Cao Cao couldn't help but stroll to the river. But seeing the surging river rolling eastward, the lights flickering not far downstream, it was the Chibi Water Village where Zhou Yu was stationed. For the young governor of Sun Wu on the other bank, Cao Cao admired it from the bottom of his heart. It's a pity that Zhou Yu and Sun Ce are friends for eight worships, and they are like brothers and sisters, and they are by no means characters that high-ranking officials can separate. So this admiration was transformed into a high fighting spirit in Cao Cao's heart at this moment: "Zhou Gongjin, what else can you do?" ”

Facts have proved that Cao Cao's self-confidence did not come out of nowhere. It's only ten days' work. Xiahou Yuan defeated Zhang Fei in Jiangling, and drove all the attacking Liu Beijun back to the south of the Yangtze River. As the so-called few families are happy and a few are sad, this Wulin Cao Jun Water Village is noisy and the gongs and drums are playing and celebrating each other. On the other side, there was an uproar in the water village of the Chibi Sun Army who learned of Zhang Fei's defeat.

"Zhang Yide is known as the enemy of 10,000 people, how can he be so vulnerable!" "Humph! What 10,000 enemies are, but they are in vain. "Yes! Zhang Yide was reckless and left Pi in his early years. It should not be a big responsibility. "I said a long time ago that Liu Xuande is not to be believed."

In the big tent of the Chinese army, a cadre of Sun Ying's civil and military generals, Zhang Fei, who had lost the battle, was extremely humiliating. In fact, you can't blame Sun Ying's snobbish generals. It's really too bad for Zhang Fei to lose this time. At this critical moment of the confrontation between Sun Cao's two armies, a major battle is about to break out. Zhang Fei's defeat not only boosted the morale of Cao's army, but also left Sun Ying in isolation.

"What a Zhuge Kongming, he actually designed to urge the governor of Pontus to fight," looking at the excited generals below, Zhou Yu touched the tiger talisman and sneered secretly. As the saying goes, one blow, then decline, three and exhaustion. Now Zhang Fei's defeat has already dampened Sun Jun's spirit. If Zhou Yu did not send troops to fight Cao Cao in a decisive battle, then Sun Ying's morale would soon be exhausted. Of course, the current situation cannot be said to be completely unfavorable to Sun Jun. At least Cao's army will be strong and inferior to the enemy after victory. There is a saying that arrogant soldiers will be defeated, and perhaps the key to determining victory or defeat lies in this battle. So, Zhou Yuxuan, who had made a decision in his heart, even swept his gaze to Huang Gai who was standing aside.

Huang Gai, the word is over, originally a descendant of Huang Zilian of Nanyang Taishou, but the family was separated, and Huang Gai's grandfather moved to Lingling to live. Later, the villagers died, Huang Gai had a difficult life, but he still had ambitions, although he was poor, he still often paid to warn himself, and studied books and the art of war by himself. After that, he served as a county official, and was then investigated for filial piety and was promoted to the public office. In the first year of Chuping, Sun Jian raised volunteers, and Huang Gai followed him. Sun Jian defeated Caokou in the mountains in the south and Dong Zhuo in the north, so he appointed Huang Gai as the Sima of the other department. After Sun Jian's death, Huang Gai continued to follow Sun Ce to fight in the north and south, and can be said to be the minister of the Sun family.

At this moment, facing Zhou Yu's gaze, the veteran of Sun Ying immediately came out with a sense of understanding, "Dudu, Cao Jun is newly victorious, and the morale is booming." This is because of avoiding its sharpness and hitting its laziness. However, the grain and grass in the camp will be exhausted, and the expenditure will be less than ten months, so Gai thought that the governor should follow the advice of Mr. Zibu, collect the troops as soon as possible, and return to Wu County. ”

As soon as Huang Gai said this, there was an uproar in the tent again. It is known to everyone that Zhang Zhao was expelled from the shogunate by Sun Ce because he tried his best to oppose the war with Cao Cao. Now Huang Gai not only mentioned Zhang Zhao's admonition again in public, but also did not shy away from admitting that the grain and grass in the army were only enough to last for a month, which was obviously forcing Zhou Yu to withdraw his troops. Thinking that the governor of Zhou in front of him had always been a strong advocate of resisting Cao, a military general immediately turned his attention to Zhou Yu.

Sure enough, he saw Zhou Yu in the hall raising his eyebrows, and laughed angrily, "Still studying Wu Jun?" Does the old general still want the lord to surrender to the Cao thief? ”

Facing Zhou Yu's murderous question, Huang Gai hugged his fists without giving in, "Du Du Mingjian, the old man is all for the sake of Sun's foundation. ”

"Humph! Thou hast deceived the people and disturbed the hearts of our army here, what a crime thou shalt deserve! Hearing a bang, Zhou Yu overturned the case in front of him, drew his sword and pointed it at the tip of Huang Gai's nose, and said angrily, "Take down Huang Gai left and right, and launch the gate to behead the public!" ”

Everyone saw that Zhou Yu was about to push the veteran Huang Gai out and behead him, and they were stunned one by one for a while. Han Dang, who has a very good relationship with Huang Gai on weekdays, even knelt down directly to intercede for Huang Gai, "Calm your anger!" Please also ask the governor to see that General Huang is the father of the Sun family, and spare General Huang once. ”

Zhou Yu shook his long sword and scolded sharply, "General Yigong Hugh wants to say more!" Otherwise, Yu Lianru will be punished together! ”

Like Huang Gai, Han Dang, who was born in Liaoxi County, Youzhou, is also an old minister of the Sun family. Because he is good at bows and arrows and horsemanship, he has excellent strength. Han Dang was appreciated by Sun Jian, followed him around the expedition, and took several adventures. Capture the enemy and take the prisoners. After Sun Jian's death, Han Dang followed Sun Ce to cross the Yangtze River eastward, crusading against Danyang County, Wu County, and Huiji County in Yangzhou, and was promoted to the rank of captain first, and was awarded 2,000 soldiers and 50 horses by Sun Ce. After that, Han Dang followed Sun Ce to conquer Liu Xun, the Taishou of Lujiang County in Yangzhou, and defeated Huang Zu in Shaxian County, Jiangling County, Jingzhou. Returning to the division to pacify Poyang County in Yuzhang County, Yangzhou, and concurrently leading the county magistrate of Le'an, Shanyue was afraid and convinced.

Seeing that Zhou Yu was going to behead Huang Gai first. Later, he threatened to punish Han Dang, as if a god was blocking and killing God, and the Buddha was blocking and destroying the Buddha's posture, and the Sun Ying general at the scene immediately knelt down with Han Dang and begged Zhou Yu for mercy. "Please spare General Huang!"

Looking at the black press below and kneeling with a group of colleagues. After Zhou Yu was in a stalemate for a moment, he finally returned the sword to the sheath and said, "Huang Gai, I will spare your life today, but the death penalty can be avoided, and the living crime cannot be escaped." Someone, drag him out of the tent, and beat him with fifty sticks! He will have a resignation in the future. No mercy! ”

With Zhou Yu's order, the two wrestlers both stepped forward and set up Huang Gai out of the tent. Outside the tent, there was the crackling of the meat and the muffled snort that Huang Gai struggled to endure. It makes people's hearts beat when they hear it. And some generals who originally had different intentions saw that even Huang Gai and other veterans were almost beheaded by Zhou Yu to show the public, and they were so frightened that they didn't dare to gasp more, let alone talk about the word "retreat". For a time, inside and outside the Sun camp, they were united and hated the same enemy. Zhou Yu took advantage of the situation to order the generals to take grain and grass to make final preparations for the upcoming decisive battle.

And at the same time that Sun Ying was sharpening his knives, the Cao Jun Naval Division on the other side was also ready to go. In particular, Zhang Yun, the captain of Changshui, connected the warships in groups of thirty with iron chains, and laid wooden planks on the ships, which solved the seasickness problem that plagued Cao's army in one fell swoop, so that the soldiers and horses could go back and forth on the warships as if they were on the ground. This move not only made Cao's soldiers cheer, but even Cao Cao, who had been in battle for a long time and knew the art of war, was also proud, thinking that he had won the victory. Seeing that Cao's soldiers had adapted to Zhang Yun's ship formation after day and night drills, Cao Cao, who felt that the time was ripe, ordered to summon the troops under the tent to set up a formation in Wulin Water Village to review the sailors.

On this day, Cao Cao stood on the bow of the flagship ship with his hands in his hands, looked around at the ship formation that was as stable as Mount Tai, and couldn't help but look up to the sky and laugh when he was full of spirits, "Wonderful! Wonderful! In the past, Cai Anzhen invited Gu to watch the giant ship together, but Cai's giant ship is really small compared to today's ship array. ”

Seeing this, Deng Xi on the side hurriedly lost no time in flattering and said, "If the prime minister gets this ship formation, he will be able to gallop across the rivers and lakes, and he will be invincible." ”

The strategist Pei Qian echoed, "Compared with the battle formation of the king master, the Dongwu warship is like a bird against a bird, and a firefly is like a firefly against the sun and the moon. It is no wonder that Zhou's children will panic and beat the veteran of the Sun family. ”

Hearing Pei Qian mention Zhou Yu's beating of Huang Gai, the corners of Cao Cao's mouth also raised a smug arc. In fact, the news that Huang Gai, the veteran of the Sun family, was beaten by Zhou Yu and his skin was open and his blood was pouring out of his flesh and blood drifted to Cao Cao's ears along the river wind early in the morning. Cao Cao was not surprised by the change that happened in Sun Ying. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu are of course young and vigorous, and they insist on competing with him Cao Mengde. However, the old ministers in Sun Ying, such as Zhang Zhao, Huang Gai and others, always opposed Sun Ce's sending troops. At first, Zhou Yu had the full support of Sun Ce, and Shang was able to disagree with the public, and waved his army north to confront Cao's army on the river. However, with the defeat of Zhang Fei's army in Jiangling, Sun Ying's hearts fluctuated, and it was not surprising that Zhou Yu, who was still young, in order to suppress dissent, beat the old man of the Sun family to establish his authority. It's just that in this way, the contradiction between Zhou Gongjin and the old ministers of the Sun family will inevitably become more intensified.

Thinking that the generals of the Sun camp had fallen out of harmony, and Zhou Yu was eager to fight for the sake of his prestige, Cao Cao's mind couldn't help but think of the magnificent scene of the ship formation under his feet crushing the Sun family's sailors to pieces. Yes, the ship array in front of him is Cao Cao's recent proud work. It was precisely because of such a killer move that Cao Cao had the confidence to deal with Sun and Liu at the same time.

It is said that although it was Zhang Yun's idea to connect the bow and tail of the ship, the arrangement and arrangement of the warship was Cao Cao's proud work carefully calculated according to his book "Battleship Order". In fact, the reason why Cao Cao attached so much importance to the study of the sailor was mainly stimulated by the Donglai sailor. In particular, Cai Ji's record of intercepting and killing Yuan Shao in Yanjin with a sailor made it even more difficult for Cao Cao to sleep and eat, for fear that one day Cai Ji would reuse his old skills to cut off the north-south connection of Cao's army. Therefore, since he saw the huge ship of the Donglai Navy Division on the Yellow River, Cao Cao has been concentrating on studying the tactics of water warfare. According to Cao Cao's view, the art of war is all over the place, and it is always changing, as long as it is properly arranged, the battle arrays on land can be applied to rivers, lakes and seas. "Battleship Order" is a set of water warfare tactics summed up by Cao Cao based on his many years of combat experience and combined with the characteristics of water warfare. Of course, just talking on paper can't be done after all, and the real effect of "Battleship Order" still needs to be known through actual combat experience.

This time, he first tried the knife with the Sun family's sailor, and after he captured Zhou Gongjin alone, he and Cai Anzhen fought on the Yellow River - after secretly making up his mind like this, Cao Cao turned back to Zhang Yun and asked, "Captain Zhang, since the sailor has become an army, I don't know when he can go to war?" ”

Zhang Yun knows how to understand astronomy and geography. However, he expected that Cao Cao would ask relevant questions when he inspected the sailors, so he had asked Deng Xi and others in advance how to answer. At this time, hearing Cao Cao's question, Zhang Yun first pretended to look up at the cloudless sky, and then glanced at the battle flag fluttering in the wind on the side, and then solemnly clenched his fists and replied, "Back to the prime minister, the east wind has risen, and I think Zhou Gongjin will take the initiative to fight in the near future." At that time, we will only need to wait for our work, and we will be able to annihilate the invading enemy in one fell swoop. ”

Although Cao Cao was not familiar with the climate change in Jingzhou, he was well aware of the weaknesses of the ship array under his feet. Because the ships in the ship formation are connected by iron cables, and each ship is affected by the wind and current, the speed of the ship formation is far inferior to that of ordinary warships in terms of speed and mobility. Therefore, the best way to attack the formation is to defend and counterattack. And this is also a big reason why Cao Cao is reluctant to take the initiative to attack Chibi. However, if Zhou Yu was forced to take the initiative to attack Cao Jun's water division, it would be a different matter.

In fact, as far as the information obtained so far is concerned, Zhou Yu has indeed put on a posture of being about to take the initiative. So at this moment, after listening to what Zhang Yun said, Cao Cao nodded thoughtfully and said, "Good, I am here to wait for Zhou Gongjin to throw himself into the net." (To be continued......)