After two or three days of sailing, ten warships entered Chaohu Lake from Shishui.

On the west shore of Chaohu Lake, the warships are lined up, pointing to the center of the water.

Standing at the bow of the boat, Cao Shuo looked into the distance, his face was very solemn.

It was a battle that even he didn't know the outcome of.

If the water thieves dare to go to land, he is 100% sure of exterminating these rampant and domineering thieves.

However, the water thief is in the water.

Chaohu Lake not only has a vast water, but also connects to the Yangtze River through Shishui.

Once the water thieves escape into the Yangtze River, it will be even more difficult to catch them.

"Childe." Standing beside Cao Shuo, Zhao Yun asked, "Do you want to ......?"

"Don't." Cao Shuo said: "First stationed here, send someone to tell Gongtai, let him go downstream, cut off the waters between Chaohu Lake and the Yangtze River." ”

"Cut off the waters?" Zhao Yun said: "In this way, a lot of fertile land on the shore will be flooded. ”

"It's much better to flood fertile land than to let thieves run rampant." Cao Shuo said: "Move all the people on the shore, and anyone who dares to obstruct will be killed." ”

"To the people too?" Zhao Yun asked.

"To dare to thwart migration is to shield water thieves." Cao Shuo said: "Can't you kill those who harbor water thieves?" ”

"In this way, the prestige that Gongzi has managed to establish is probably ......" Zhao Yun hesitated a little.

"What is prestige?" Cao Shuo said: "Prestige is not Huairou, and sometimes you need to use some necessary means. If someone says that the place is governed by virtue, this person is either a mediocre person, or he wants to bring disaster to the country and the people. Those who are superior must know how to combine rigidity and softness, those who follow me live, and those who oppose me die! Let the people know that they will live a very nourishing life if they are obedient and obedient. Not only did they have meat to eat, a house to live in, and clothes to wear, but there were also women to bear them and raise their children. If they dare to disobey, what use is it to ask those who rebel but to add to the trouble? ”

"That's what Childe said." Zhao Yun said: "I'll arrange it." ”

"Just leave these things to the local government." Cao Shuo said: "The most important thing is to let Chen Gong step up and lead people to block the river channel from Chaohu Lake to the Yangtze River. ”

Zhao Yun retreated.

Cao Shuo led the navy into Chaohu, and Chen Gong and others also led the army into Huainan.

As he was walking, a fast horse came ahead.

When he arrived at the Chen Palace, the knight on horseback shouted: "Gongzi has an order, please take the order." ”

Chen Gong clenched his fists and asked, "Dare to ask what military orders Gongzi has?" ”

"Childe has led the navy into Chaohu Lake." The knight who gave the order said: "General Chen is specially ordered to lead his troops to the river leading to the Yangtze River in Chaohu Lake and block the river to prevent the water thieves from escaping. ”

"Blocking the river?" Chen Gong was stunned for a moment, and asked the knight who reported the news, "Is this really the case with the child's order?" ”

"Exactly." The knight replied: "Please Chen Gong execute!" ”

The order was conveyed, and the knight spun around his horse and sped away.

Wei Yan, who was walking beside Chen Gong, said: "Chaohu Lake leads to the Yangtze River through water and then enters the sea. ”

"You and I can see it, can't Childe see it?" Chen Gong said: "He just wants to flood the neighborhood in order to establish his authority." ”

"Flooding the nearby Liangtian Liwei?" Wei Yan was stunned and said, "But the people living by the lake are all people......

Chen Gong smiled slightly, looked at Lei Shu and Chen Lan and said, "I'm afraid that only General Lei and General Chen can explain this matter clearly. ”

"General Wei probably doesn't know." Chen Lan said: "All the mountain thieves and water thieves have something to do with the people living around. Even if there is no kinship, the bandits and water thieves will sell goods with the surrounding people when they get benefits. Where thieves haunt, there must be a black market. Bandits or water thieves are cornered and will look for these places to stay. Childe did this, just to cut off the water thief's retreat. ”

Wei Yan suddenly said: "It turns out that there are still these Dao, if General Chen doesn't say it, I really don't know." ”

"General Wei led his troops to fight, unlike we used to be bandits." Lei Shu said: "It's reasonable not to know this. Chaohu water thieves are powerful, Gongzi is pro-recruited, I'm afraid I won't get much benefit this time. ”

"General Lei rest assured." Ji Ling said on the side: "Our son-in-law has always been invincible, and he can deal with thousands of troops, so what is a mere water thief?" ”

"General Ji, don't underestimate those water thieves." Lei Shu said: "They are as few as three or five people, and as many as a hundred and ten people, and they are difficult to find when they are separated, and they are a force to be reckoned with when they get together. Childe has only recruited the navy for a few months, and the soldiers have not received much training, and if they are not careful, they will suffer a big loss. ”

"Leave that alone." Chen Gong said: "Gongzi led the naval army into Chaohu Lake, and if the shore is only managed by local garrisons, it may not be able to be suppressed. Although the military order we received was to block the river, it did not require so many people. I plan to lead a detachment of men and horses to Chaohu Lake, and another group of men and horses led by General Lei and General Wei to block the river. ”

"Chen Gong rest assured, we will definitely live up to our mission." Wei Yan and Lei Ji clasped their fists and received the order.

On the water surface of Chaohu Lake, Cao Shuo, who led the naval army here, looked at the lake all day long.

Zhao Yun stood behind his side.

"The order to the public station has been delivered?" Cao Shuo asked.

"It's been ordered." Zhao Yun said: "However, the scout reported that Gongtai led 3,000 soldiers to Chaohu, and more soldiers were brought downstream by Wei Yan and Lei Shu. ”

"He's worried that I don't have enough people here." Cao Shuo said: "Although they are all soldiers on land, they can stabilize the rear for us, even if the war on the water is unfavorable, we don't have to worry too much." ”

"Are all the catapults on the ship ready?" Cao Shuo asked again.

"It's not just catapults." Zhao Yun said: "The messy net at the bottom of the ship has been laid out, and the collision angle of the hull has also been added, as long as the water thieves dare to come, they must be good-looking!" ”

"Don't take them too lightly." Cao Shuo said: "In this battle, one is to let the officers and soldiers of the navy practice in actual combat, and the other is to pacify the Chaohu bandits. For the water thieves, they can afford to lose, but we can't afford to lose. If I lose at Chaohu, from now on, my prestige in Huainan and other places will also plummet. ”

"Don't worry, there won't be too many water thieves." Zhao Yun said: "Although the sailors have not practiced much, our warships are excellent, and the number of people is far more than that of the water thieves. ”

"When you fight, you fight ordnance and equipment." Cao Shuo said: "Whoever has better weapons and sharper equipment will have more advantages on the battlefield." ”

"Send the order down and send out a small boat to find out where the water thieves are hiding." He gave an order to Zhao Yun.

(End of chapter)