The day after the decisive battle of the naval army, Liu Zhang led his troops to arrive at the city of Xiangyang, and then he directly led his troops and horses to swagger into the city of Xiangyang, why didn't Wang Rui intercept it? I'm sorry, Wang Rui had been captured alive the day before, and the "Liu" flag flying high in Xiangyang City heralded the change of an era. Unknowingly, it was Huang Zhong who came to greet Liu Zhang.

Previously, Huang Zhong had been leading the British army to garrison Hanzhong to guard against Dong Zhuo. This time, Liu Zhang planned to attack Jing, adopted the strategy of Xun Yu and other strategists, and came to the Ming Plank Road and the Dark Chen Cang! Liu Zhang personally led nearly 100,000 land and water troops along the Yangtze River to attack the hinterland of Jingzhou, besiege Jiangling, an important town in Jingzhou, and then besiege it without attacking, in order to mobilize the defenders of Xiangyang to send troops to rescue. When Wang Rui transferred the entire Xiangyang and Nanyang garrisons to relieve the danger of Jiangling, Huang Zhong, who was secretly stationed in Fangling, led 10,000 elite soldiers, including the British army, to attack Xiangyang and successfully captured it. In order to prevent Cao Cao and others from taking the opportunity to capture Nanyang, Liu Zhang ordered Huang Zhong to set off at the same time, Hua Xiong led all the cavalry of Hanzhong with a total of 5,000 people to attack Nanyang County, his task was not to capture a certain city, but to contain the defenders of Nanyang to return to Xiangyang (although Nanyang had not many soldiers, but the cautious Liu Zhang did not ignore it), but also to deter the surrounding princes such as Cao Cao. Of course, in this way, the strength of Hanzhong was greatly reduced, fortunately, Wei Yan was in charge, and there was a favorable location available, Liu Zhang was not very worried, but he still ordered 15,000 recruits who had not yet completed their training to be transferred to Hanzhong to enrich the defense.

Although the streets were cleaned, the bloodstained and damaged houses still silently told Liu Zhang and others that although the sneak attack on Xiangyang was successful in one fell swoop, the battle was still cruel.

Liu Zhang asked: "Hansheng, when you capture Xiangyang, is our army seriously damaged in battle?" ”

Huang Zhong bowed and said: "My lord, because of the huge momentum that the lord made in Jiangling, Wang Rui almost exhausted the troops in Xiangyang, and there were only 20,000 soldiers and horses left in Xiangfan and Nanyang, most of which were private soldiers of rich families and newly recruited recruits, and less than 5,000 veterans. Before the war, the general found out that Xiangyang's troops were relatively strong, with more than 8,000 troops and 3,000 veterans. Our army only has 10,000 soldiers and horses, a slight advantage, if the strong attack will be difficult to overcome in one fell swoop, so the last general ordered 300 British soldiers under the leadership of Yuan Jian disguised and mixed into Xiangyang City, they managed to get some weapons in the city, and then took advantage of the last night's closure of the city, the defenders were lax, in one fell swoop to seize the West Gate, and held on until the end of the general led the troops to arrive. After our army entered Xiangyang, Wang Rui mobilized troops to launch a counterattack, but those private soldiers had their own plans, and at the same time they also saw that Wang Rui's defeat was imminent, if they did not draw a clear line immediately, they were afraid that their families would be implicated after the war, so they ordered their private soldiers to give up resistance; As for the recruits, they didn't even have time to complete the most basic training, so that they could resist the first elite soldiers of our Yizhou Yingwu Army, there is no doubt that they are foolish dreams, and where our army passes, the recruits are also like private soldiers. The only trouble was the 3,000 veterans in the city, who were familiar with the terrain of Xiangyang and used the streets to deal with our army, causing certain casualties to our army. In this battle, our army suffered a total of 347 casualties, more than 300 minor and serious wounded, 1,100 enemies annihilated, nearly 7,000 enemies captured, and more than 300 officials at all levels below Wang Rui, the assassin of Jingzhou. ”

Liu Zhang nodded and said with a smile: "Good job, what's the reaction to Fan Cheng on the other side?" ”

While speaking, everyone arrived at the palatial Jingzhou Assassin's Mansion.

After inviting Liu Zhang to take a seat, Huang Zhong continued: "Although our army captured Xiangyang for a short time, it could not hide from the defenders of Fancheng, fortunately, all the Xiangyang naval army was transferred to Jiangling, although the two cities were clothed with water, but like a moat, when the defenders of Fancheng mobilized fishing boats to prepare to cross the river to rescue Xiangyang, our army has occupied Xiangyang City, and the last general immediately transferred 3,000 elite soldiers to be deployed along the river to block the enemy on the beachhead. It was getting late, and if the soldiers and horses of Fancheng crossed the river at night, it was extremely dangerous, and they saw that Xiangyang had fallen into the hands of our army, so the soldiers and horses of Fancheng did not force the Han River to cross the river, and withdrew to the city that night. In the early hours of this morning, the last general sent people to persuade him to surrender, and the defender of Fan City proposed that as long as the lives of the soldiers could be guaranteed, he would agree to open the city gate to welcome our troops into the city. The subordinates have the courage to take charge of their own affairs, agree to the other party's conditions, and fail to ask the lord for his guilt! ”

Liu Zhang laughed: "Hansheng decided Fancheng without a fight, what is the crime?" I think that the counties of Nanyang can also be handled in the same way, if it can be decided without a fight, the people will suffer less from the war, and it can be regarded as those of us who are officials to do a little bit for the people! ”

Xun Yu hurriedly said: "The lord's intentions are very good, now that Wang Rui has been ambushed, he can be ordered to write a book and recruit all counties!" ”

Xi Zhicai also said: "After Wang Rui was ambushed, all parts of Jingzhou have become a plate of scattered sand, the soldiers have no fighting spirit, the people are panicked, and officials at all levels are looking for a place to go to protect their glory, so our army should appease and deter on the one hand, and accept them all, otherwise they may be taken advantage of by others!" ”

Guo Jiadao: "The words of the two are reasonable, at present, the first place of our army is Nanyang, if we get Nanyang, we can ensure the stability of Jingzhou for thousands of miles, so that it can become another stable supply base for our army's soldiers, food and salaries, so as to fund our army's rejuvenation of the Han Dynasty." To the south, our army to the north can pose a threat to the east and west, seek an opportunity to restore the imperial capital, and attack Yuzhou to the east, passing through the Central Plains. As for Jingnan, it can be taken second, and after our army is based in Jingzhou, whether it is Cao Yin, Su Dai, or Liu Du or Zhao Fan, there is no need to be afraid, and sending a partial division can be pacified! ”

Xun You said again: "There is no water army in Jingnan, as long as Zijing and Xingba completely annihilate the Jingzhou water army, and the army is on the river, Jingnan is like a turtle in an urn, and the lord can take it when he wants to take it!" (The news of the victory of the navy has not yet come)

Liu Zhang smiled: "I have full confidence in Zijing and Xingba, Gongda, are you willing to gamble with me?" I expect that the good news has been on the road, and I will hear the news of the great victory of the navy army in two days! ”

Xun You bowed and said: "The lord is like a god, and he doesn't dare to respond to this gamble!" ”

Guo Jiadao: "If Zijing wins, he will take advantage of the situation to attack Jiangxia, and fight hard against the Jingzhou naval army, even if he wins, he will suffer great losses, and the soldiers are tired, if you want to capture Jiangxia, I'm afraid it will not be so easy, Jia thinks that you should send an infantry to help?" ”

Xi Zhicai nodded and said: "It is already difficult for the naval army to attack the city, so it should send infantry to help!" In addition, Hua Xiong's subordinates are all cavalry, and their combat power is strong, but they are not much of a threat to the city, and I am afraid that they also need an elite infantry to go to achieve the purpose of deterrence, so as to recruit the counties of Nanyang! ”

Liu Zhang listened to everyone's words and said: "Ling Wenyuan and Ziyan led a barbarian army of 10,000 to Jiangxia to help Zijing and Xingba; Ling Shenzhi temporarily replaced the Xiangyang Order and led his troops to stay in Xiangyang; Ling Hansheng led his troops to Nanyang as a pioneer to help Huaxiong, and the rest of the civil and military forces followed up with me. In addition, immediately ask Wang Rui to write to the counties that have not yet been annexed, ordering them to open the city within a time limit to accept our army into the city, otherwise our army will be captured by force! ”

"Yes!" Everyone said in unison.

Xun You said again: "The lord has placed heavy troops in Nanyang, are you worried about Dong Zhuo, Lu Bu and others?" ”

Liu Zhang nodded and said: "I can't help but worry, Jingzhou's fragrant dumplings have been swallowed by us, I don't know how many people are red-eyed, although Dong Zhuo and others are in trouble, and the possibility of sending troops to attack Nanyang is extremely small, but the heavy profit is ahead, I have to guard against it!" Be careful, there is no big mistake, I will transfer the elite soldiers to Nanyang, even if someone covets Nanyang, you have to twist your fingers and think carefully about the success or failure! ”

Zhang Liao and others, who had a heavy responsibility, quickly said goodbye and left, and before leaving, Liu Zhang couldn't help but encourage him.