After pacifying Changsha, Liu Qi immediately promulgated a series of measures to reassure the people, and at the same time ordered Xu Shu to train the army as usual, especially for the newly annexed Changsha army, and to train them strictly, so that they could improve their combat effectiveness as much as possible.

Tongguò pacified Linxiang, Liu Qi got 50,000 soldiers in the city, although after screening, those soldiers under the age of fifteen, over fifty and some veterans were all dismissed, and also got a full 30,000 elites, which made Liu Qi's army in Changsha now have been increased to a full 80,000!

Such a powerful military force has surpassed Sun Ce in Jiangdong, and even compared to Cao Cao, it is almost the same.

After a short rest, Liu Qi appointed Gan Ning as the captain of the Lou boat, based on his original 800 Jinfan army, took 500 warships, formed a 10,000 naval army, entered the river from Xiangshui, and the army was mighty, and went straight to Exian County, where Zhang Hu's thieves were located.

In fact, not long after casting the Jingzhou plow, Liu Qi in view of the importance of the southern water war, has secretly ordered Huang Yueying in Leiyang to recruit craftsmen to build warships, after nearly two months, Huang Yueying has built more than 10 building ships, more than 30 fighting ships, hundreds of ships, Liu Qi in Changsha after pacifying Changsha, immediately ordered Huang Yueying to escort those warships, along the Xiangshui to Linxiang.

Gan Ning selected five building ships, 20 fighting ships, and 100 ships, and after the army was proficient in the exercises, he commanded 10,000 sailors and headed towards Exian County.

Gan Ning soon came to the Zhou Ling, which is the range of Cai Mao in Nan County, and established a water army of tens of thousands of people, but because Gan Ning's army was under the banner of Liu Qi, the county magistrate of Zhou Ling did not dare to send someone to intercept it, so he had to immediately order someone to report to Cai Mao, saying that Liu Qi led a water army of 10,000 people to set off from here, the purpose is unknown, maybe to Shaxian, or to attack Xunyang in Yuzhang.

After receiving the news, Cai Mao immediately wrote to Huang Zu in person, asking Liu Qi if he wanted to occupy Shaxian on this trip, but Huang Zu replied affirmatively: "This time, the eldest prince's people are definitely not entering Shaxian, because the last general is Jiangxia Taishou, and he has never received any news that the eldest prince is going to occupy Shaxian." ”

Cai Mao was relieved when he heard this, thinking that Liu Qi was just going to attack Xunyang, so he no longer cared about it.

In fact, Cai Mao didn't know that although Huang Zu didn't lie, Liu Qi's army did not go to Shaxian, but he didn't sue him either, Liu Qi's army was actually destroying one of his wings this time.

Take the river to drive, the speed is extremely fast, although there are more than 400 miles from Zhouling to Exian, but it is only three hours to arrive, of course, the reason why this road can be so fast, but also with Huang Zu in advance to say hello, Jiangxia in the territory of Shaxian, Yixian water army all the way to release a lot of relationship.

"Everyone be careful, there is Exian not far ahead, everyone should prepare for battle immediately." Gan Ning was on the top floor of the building at the very front, looking into the distance, and turned to the herald and said.

"No." The herald immediately stood up and waved a few flags to the rear.

Then I saw that all the soldiers on the ships were on guard, each armed with swords, guns and equipment, ready to meet the battle.

At this time, the leader of the nearby water thieves also saw the huge fleet led by Gan Ning coming, and in a panic, he reported the news to Zhang Hu.

"Oh no, oh no, there is a huge fleet on the river, it seems that there are five ships, twenty fighting ships, hundreds of ships, and the estimated number is not less than 10,000 people, what should we do?"

Unexpectedly, Zhang Hu turned a blind eye to this, and said with a smile: "I have long heard Lord Cai say that Jingzhou Mu appointed Liu Qi as the Taishou of Yuzhang, and this time Liu Qi led the army to pass through here, and he must attack Yuzhang, so you don't have to worry, just let him pass." ”

"No." After the leader of the water thieves agreed, he immediately came to the surface of the river and ordered him to be allowed to pass.

Unexpectedly, the fleet suddenly approached the north shore, and then heard the sound of war drums, and then saw a large number of sergeants jump down from the boat and attack the water thieves on the shore.

"Hey, guys, what are you doing here? This is Jiangxia Huang Taishou's defense area, we are a family, you are a big flood washed the Dragon King Temple, the family does not know a family. ”

The leader of the water thieves shouted while ordering the water thieves to hurriedly report to Zhang Hu.

"Hmph, you're Zhang Hu's subordinate?" The leader of the water thieves immediately saw a fair-skinned sturdy man wearing armor and said coldly.

At this time, the leader of the water thieves also saw a brocade sail slowly rising on the building boat he got down, and couldn't help but be frightened, and blurted out: "It turned out to be the brocade thief Gan Ning!" ”

But I heard Gan Ning hehehe: "You are right, but the general is now the captain of the building ship under the command of General Fenwu Gan Ning, and your master Zhang Hu actually put a good captain not to do it, but to be a water thief, today the general will eliminate your water thieves in the disaster township, so that the river channel will be unimpeded from now on." ”

The leader of the water thieves hurriedly laughed and said: "General Gan misunderstood, although our leader is called a water thief, he is actually acting on the orders of Lord Zhang of Jiangling, the purpose is just to plunder the passing merchants, and most of the income is actually handed over to the government, this is a way for Lord Zhang to think of enriching the treasury, so, we are all a family, and General Gan is going to blame the good people." ”

Gan Ning sneered when he heard this, and said sharply: "Are you deceiving me, Gan Ning doesn't know that you are deliberately delaying time?" I'll tell you the truth today, Hugh said that you framed Lord Zhang, even if you really have a reason with Lord Zhang, today the general will definitely kill you, this general only has General Fenwu in his eyes, but there is no Lord Zhang. Brothers, kill me. ”

After Gan Ning finished speaking, he personally rushed forward, killed the leader of the water thieves with one sword, and then commanded an army of 10,000 to kill Zhang Hu's camp.

Zhang Hu was terrified when he heard that Gan Ning led the army to launch a surprise attack, not only because of Gan Ning's reputation as a thief, but also because Gan Ning himself and his soldiers were brave and good at fighting, the most frustrating thing for him was that although he had many warships and the navy was elite, he didn't have time to launch at all, so he was put on the shore by the other party and fought with his own army.

Zhang Hu had no choice but to put on armor and reluctantly go out to meet the enemy.

But as soon as he came out of the camp, Zhang Hu sadly saw that from the time he learned that Gan Ning had launched an attack to the present, it was just a cup of tea, and the elite of the sailors under his command died and surrendered, and less than 1,000 of the 5,000 troops were still resisting.

And even the 1,000 troops who were resisting had lost their will to fight, and it was only because the other party did not push them too much that they barely maintained their formation.

"Zhang Hu, if you want to live, obediently hand over the military power and warship, and then let my general fall, otherwise, you will only die today." Gan Ning looked at Zhang Hu, who was pale, and said with a cold expression.

"That's it, I'll leave my life to the general." Seeing that the general trend had gone, Zhang Hu let out a long sigh, and ordered his own soldiers to tie himself up and surrender to Gan Ning.

Gan Ning ordered someone to escort Zhang Hu to the big tent in Zhang Hu's camp, and then asked slowly: "Zhang Hu, do you remember when you robbed the eldest prince in the name of the general?" As long as you tell who is behind the scenes, and promise to testify for the eldest prince, you will be spared. ”

"Really?" Zhang Hu was born as a thief in Jiangxia, he has been used to eating and drinking in the mountains for so many years, and he cherishes his life very much, and now he heard that he can have a chance to live, so he naturally refused to let it go, and hurriedly bowed down and said: "The general can't break his word." ”

Gan Ning laughed and said, "How can this general be untrustworthy? ”

Zhang Hu knelt on the ground and said respectfully: "It's not a secret, the villain also admires the eldest son's literary talents**, but that Zhang Yun is Cai Mao's cronies, and Liu Jingzhou's nephew, under his command commanding tens of thousands of naval troops, the power is monstrous, the villain really dare not disobey, so he accepted his order, led the army to rob the eldest prince in the name of the general, the original intention was to kill the eldest prince, and then count the crime on the general's head, but I didn't expect to meet the general is leading his subordinates to pass by, the villain knew that he was not an opponent, so he had to flee back to Exian, In fact, today's villain knows that today's general is crusading against the villain, and he knows that today's resurrection will be difficult, but he didn't expect the general to be magnanimous and willing to spare the villain's life. ”

Gan Ning saw that the other party confessed so happily, he was secretly happy in his heart, and at the same time deeply despised him, so he frowned and asked, "You said that you were ordered by General Zhang, but is there any evidence?" If you frame the general casually, even the general will not be able to save your life. ”

"Naturally, there is, the correspondence between Zhang Yun and the villain, the villain has been retained, in fact, the villain did not expect to have today, but he was afraid that Zhang Yun would not fulfill his promise, so he threatened him, but that Zhang Yun has not done too much over the years, although the villain has suffered a little bit, but it will not be without a way to live, so he has the attitude that more is better than less, and he did not dare to report to him."

"Oh? Where are all those letters? Gan Ning's eyebrows raised, and he hurriedly asked.

"It's in the left front leg of the chair where the general is now sitting, and the middle of this chair leg is empty, and all these letters are hidden in it." Zhang Hu stepped forward cautiously, then nodded and said.

Gan Ning immediately stood up, carefully cut off the chair leg with his sword, and then split the chair leg to take a look, and sure enough, he found that a large number of letters were stored inside, Gan Ning carefully opened it, and found that it was all letters written by Zhang Yun to Zhang Hu, one of the letters clearly stated, so that Zhang Hu was called a water thief, robbing merchants on the river, and the income was divided into thirty-seven, Zhang Yun accounted for seven, Zhang Hu got three, and explained to him, don't worry about Jiangxia guarding Huang Zu, "Although you are in Jiangxia, Huang Zu will not be hindered by my benefits." ”

In addition, Gan Ning also found that Zhang Yun actually wrote a letter asking Zhang Hu to loot the military supplies transported from Jiangling to Wuling, and the proceeds were still shared with him, and it is not clear whether Zhang Yun did this?

Of course, Gan Ning also found a letter from which Zhang Yun ordered Zhang Hu to intercept and kill Liu Qi.

"Hmph, I really didn't expect this Zhang Yun to be so bold, not to mention the murder of my general several times, but also dared to openly indulge the water thieves, and sit on the ground with the thieves to share the spoils, I don't believe that my general can't defeat this official with these evidence."

Gan Ning carefully put away these letters, and then ordered someone to escort Zhang Hu down, and then chose his henchmen to secretly escort the letters and Zhang Hu from Exian County to Linxiang by land, waiting for Liu Qi to dispose of them.