Xiami, where Weizi Town, Changyi City, later Shishi.

It was founded in the second year of the Middle Dynasty, that is, in 148 B.C., and is an ancient city with a history of more than 300 years.

Gan Ning was very strange in his heart, what did Liu Chuang take him to do in the secret. Seeing Huang Zhong leading an army alone, if he said that he was not envious in his heart, it would be absolutely a lie.

But since Liu Chuang arranged it like this, Gan Ning couldn't ask too much.

Xiami is a small city, located between Jiao and Weishui. However, when Gan Ning arrived in Xiami, he immediately felt an unusual aura.

This small city is heavily guarded.

On both sides of Weishui and glue, soldiers and horses are stationed, and as soon as you enter the dense, you can perceive the solemn atmosphere.

Guan Hai greeted Liu Chuang outside the city of Xiami and greeted Liu Chuang for a while.

In the past year, Liu Chuang has indeed been too busy to even have time to see Guan Hai.

On the day of the wedding, Guan Hai planned to go to congratulate him.

Who knew that there was an accident in Duchang, which made Guan Hai have to temporarily change his itinerary and stay in Xiami to deal with affairs. In desperation, he had no choice but to let Xun Kuang go to Gaomi on his behalf. But in this heart, there is always some guilt.

"Meng Yan, you're finally here!"

Guan Hai slapped Liu Chuang's shoulder hard, but Liu Chuang had a sincere smile on his face and did not get angry at all.

"This is Childe's uncle, but not the uncle of the family, but the uncle with the foreign surname.

Since the birth of Childe, he has followed Childe and is also one of the oldest fathers here. ”

Zhou Cang explained in a low voice in Gan Ning's ear, and Gan Ning nodded gratefully and wrote it down.

"Xingba, I've come to see my uncle."

Liu Chuang beckoned and motioned for Gan Ning to come up and meet Guan Hai.

At the same time, he introduced to Guan Hai: "This new general I recruited has the courage of ten thousand people, and Ziyi is also among them.

In the future, please take care of your uncle. ”

Guan Haihuan's eyes widened, and he looked Gan Ning up and down.

The scorching gaze that fell on Gan Ning made him feel nervous.

"Uncle, how's it going?"

"Indeed, a good man......"

Guan Hai nodded in praise, then shifted his gaze and said softly: "Meng Yan, but go now?" ”

"Hmm!"

"Then let's go now, I have sent someone to ask Lao Xue to prepare a place to live over there, let's stay there for a few more days tonight, so that we can see clearly."

"That's good!"

In this way, after Liu Chuang and Guan Hai converged, they didn't even enter the secret! And he went north.

"Yuanfu, where are we going?"

Zhou Cang glanced at Gan Ning, who was slightly nervous, and said softly: "I don't know very well, anyway, the guards here are very strict, you just follow suit." ”

Before arriving at the destination, Zhou Cang did not dare to explain the destination.

Everyone traveled about thirty miles along the official road, and a strong smell of sea water came to their faces.

A workshop appeared in Gan Ning's sight...... It's more like a shipyard than a workshop. When Gan Ning was in Ba County, he had also seen this kind of dock. So his heart moved, and he vaguely guessed what Liu Chuang was going to appoint him, and he felt ecstatic in his heart.

The dock has a large area, about 2,000 acres of land.

There are barracks stationed around, three steps and one post, five steps and one sentry, and the ground is heavily guarded.

Xue Zhou was outside the dock and had been waiting for a long time.

Seeing Liu Chuang, he hurriedly walked a few steps and bowed down and said, "Xue Zhou, meet Uncle Huang." ”

"Master Xue, don't be so polite...... Hehe, I've always wanted to come over to see the progress, but unfortunately the attitude of things made it impossible to make the trip. By the way, what's going on here? It looks like the shipyard has been built, and I don't know when it will be ready for production? ”

Xue Zhou hurriedly said: "Returning to Uncle Huang, after half a year, I finally lived up to my trust."

However, the craftsmen are not yet skilled, so the progress is a little slow. A sea vessel was launched yesterday and is preparing for sea trials today.

According to Uncle Huang, I have added two floating plates on both sides of the hull to enhance the stability of the ship when sailing at sea...... In addition, there are also a number of utensils, which have also been added. Compared with the original building ship, it is larger, about 30 zhang long, divided into three floors, 15 zhang high, and each ship can accommodate about 600 people...... It's just that the construction speed is very slow, and after all the craftsmen are all proficient, a maximum of one sea ship is guaranteed to be completed in a month. ”

Gan Ning was a little dazed when he heard it, such a huge ship......

Liu Chuang was noncommittal, and let Xue Zhou lead the way in front, he and Guan Hai accompanied him, and Gan Ning and Zhou Cang followed closely.

When they passed through the dock, they saw a simple dock by the sea.

A building ship about 60 meters long and nearly 30 meters high appeared in sight.

"There are more than 2,000 craftsmen in the entire dock, but no more than half of them are really skilled."

Standing on the dock, Xue Zhou also looked helpless, "Uncle Huang, if you stay with me for another two years, I can guarantee that all craftsmen will reach proficiency." ”

Leaky said softly: "But now, we don't have that much time. ”

He thought for a moment and asked, "What is the speed of this ship?" ”

Xue Zhou said: "It's the first time we've built such a huge ship, so it's hard to tell how fast he is."

This ship needs at least one hundred and fifty people to operate. If it weren't for Uncle Huang's arrival today, I would have ordered someone to sail out to sea for testing. ”

Liu Chuang thought for a while, then suddenly turned around and said, "Yuanfu, Xingba, would you like to board the ship with me for a sea trial?" ”

Gan Ning and Zhou Cang hurriedly bowed down and said, "This is an honor for me. ”

"Uncle Huang, don't board the ship."

Xue Zhou hurriedly stepped forward to stop it, and said softly: "This building is built by the ship, and the specific situation is still unknown. ”

Liu Chuang waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "Old Xue Xiu wants to be like this, I can trust your ability, and I will definitely board the ship today." ”

His attitude was very resolute, and Xue Zhou was not easy to stop.

So, he had to order all the sailors to board the ship, and Liu Chuang took Gan Ning and Zhou Cang on the ship, and Xue Zhou accompanied him.

Guan Hai can't get on the boat, and in his words, he will get dizzy when he gets on the boat...... Liu Chuang knew that he was seasick, so he didn't force it.

This sea ship is completely in accordance with the style of the Han Dynasty building ship, divided into three layers.

The first floor is called 'Lu', the second floor is called 'Feilu', and the third floor is called 'Bird Room'.

It's just that on both sides of the ship, in order to enhance its stability, two floating plates are added, which at first glance look like the wings of a seabird.

It has to be said that China's shipbuilding industry during the Eastern Han Dynasty was definitely ahead of the whole world. After Liu Chuang boarded the bird room, with a series of trumpets on the ship, the building boat slowly sailed out of the port. It was getting late, and torches were lit on both sides of the ship, illuminating the sea.

Gan Ning looked very excited, subdued the railing of the bird room, and couldn't help but praise it repeatedly.

However, he quickly said: "Uncle Huang, it may be very difficult for such a ship to sail in the river. ”

Yes, the volume of ordinary building boats is very inflexible when driving in rivers, so there are ships such as Mengchong, Chima, and fighting ships.

During the Battle of Chibi, Huang Gai relied on a fleet composed of dozens of Mengchong fighting ships to defeat Cao Wei's fleet.

Liu Chuang said: "Xingba, this ship travels on the sea, not in the river. ”

"Huh?"

"For now, I don't want to build a lot of that because it's not very useful to me. But when I settle down, I will naturally send someone to build it. When the time comes, the building ship Meng Chong will be mixed together and handed over to Xingba's command, what do you think? ”

Gan Ning was silent!

After a while, he said softly: "Uncle Huang means that this Beihai is not a place for us to stand. ”

Liu Chuang patted Gan Ning on the shoulder, walked down from the finch room, and came to the bow deck. It was the middle of spring, and the sea breeze was very violent. However, when the boat walks on the sea, it seems to be extremely stable. Liu Chuang pointed to the distance with his hand, but saw that the sky was dark and he couldn't see any scenery.

"Xingba, since I brought you here, I don't want to hide it from you.

Although Qingzhou is good, it is not a place where I live for a long time, and it is far more than a place for me to live temporarily. From here to the opposite side, it is about a six-day voyage, and it takes half a moon to make a round trip. When the time comes, I need you to command the fleet and go out to sea from the bottom to the other side, where I will stay. ”

Gan Ning was stunned, hesitated for a long time and said: "What Uncle Huang said is ......"

"Exactly."

Liu Chuang said: "I have ordered someone to explore the way, and now it can be regarded as a small achievement."

But for now, the time is not yet ripe...... When the time is ripe, I will move north on a large scale, but I don't know if Xingba is willing to help me? ”

These words can be said to be heartfelt.

Liu Chuang told Gan Ning about his future plan, 1510, and also made Gan Ning grateful.

It's just that he still has some doubts in his heart, and he can't help asking: "But in this way, wouldn't it be far away from the Central Plains?" ”

"Xingba, what do you think the situation in the Central Plains will become?"

"This ......"

"Hehe, I can sue you, at most two or three me, there will be a big war in the Central Plains.

There will definitely be a large-scale war between Yuan and Cao, and if we stay in Qingzhou, no matter which one we rely on, we will inevitably end up being cannon fodder. And this war is by no means going to end in the short term. That's why I'm going north, avoiding this big battle, and recuperating.

Hiding for five years, at least three years, when the time is ripe, I will return to the Central Plains.

It's a very complicated plan, and I'll have to be even more cautious until the time comes...... In the future, the sea route will inevitably become the only way for me to go south to the Central Plains. It is precisely because of this that I need the help of an admiral who can open the sea route for me, which is why I asked you to come from Jingzhou. I believe that with the ability to rejuvenate the hegemon, this navy will definitely be built, I don't know what you think? ”

Gan Ning's mind was suddenly in turmoil.

He never expected that Liu Chuang had such a huge plan in his heart.

All the doubts before disappeared at once.

He hurriedly said: "Uncle Huang, rest assured, Gan Ning will never live up to the trust of his son." ”

"Yuanfu!"

"The end will be."

Liu Chuang said softly: "From today on, you will be Xingba's assistant and the deputy governor of our navy.

Now this navy is only a prototype, and it is precisely because of this that I sent you...... Although you may seem rude and reckless, you are actually delicate. With you as Xingba's deputy, I can also put my mind at ease. This navy will be in your hands from this day onwards. ”

When Gan Ning and Zhou Cang heard this, after the two glanced at each other, they bowed down at the same time and said, "I am willing to follow the orders of the emperor's uncle."

Liu Chuang laughed and turned around and stood on the deck with his hands in his hands.

The sea breeze struck, stirring his robe and hunting, and the majestic body, in the firelight, showed a kind of sky-high pride.

"How about this ship, let's call it the Flying Bear?"

Liu Chuang's 'Flying Bear' named the ship Flying Bear, which shows his ambition.

Subsequently, he familiarized Gan Ning and Zhou Cang on the ship, and then boarded the finch room again and summoned Xue Zhou.

"Old Xue, you just said that the craftsman is completely skilled, I'm afraid it won't be in the short term.

And what I lack most now is this ...... In this way, when I go back, I will move the artisan battalion in the hands of Fei Wo to the next secret. I have an idea that you might as well think about it, and then you can discuss it with Fei Wo. In fact, it is not necessary for everyone to be a skilled craftsman, you can divide them according to different types of work. For example, a carpenter does the work of a carpenter, and a shipwright is only responsible for building ships.

Make all the objects a unified standard, and then carry out production.

This way, you can make the most of the craftsmanship of skilled craftsmen and hand over the small bits and pieces of work to others. ”

This method mentioned by Liu Chuang is the assembly line production that was quite popular in later generations.

In fact, as early as the Qin Dynasty, this standard assembly line process has appeared, but with the demise of the Great Qin, it has also disappeared.

After Xue Zhou heard this, he thought about it carefully and said, "The method that Uncle Huang said can be tried. ”

"I really can't do it, so I'll go to Yuanyin.

He's very good at it, and you can talk to him about it.

In short, I don't ask about anything else, only the result...... I hope that by the middle of the next year, at least thirty seagoing vessels will be completed. ”

Thirty ships?

Xue Zhou couldn't help but grin when he heard this.

However, he did not flinch, but bowed down and said: "Please rest assured that Uncle Huang is fighting hard, and he will not live up to Uncle Huang's ......trust."

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

In this way, Gan Ning and Zhou Cang stayed in Xiami.

When Liu Chuang left Xiami, he secretly instructed Guan Hai and Xun Kuang to fully support Ganning Zhoucang and complete the formation of the navy.

The shipbuilding technology of the Eastern Han Dynasty could not be done by far-sea navigation.

But the problem of offshore navigation is not too big...... What's more, Liu Chuang has already marked the destination from the beginning. In the following time, Ganning Zhoucang had plenty of time to explore the sea route, and its range of activities was limited to the Bohai Bay from the beginning, and there was no need to worry about encountering too much danger.

In addition, when Xun Chen gained a firm foothold in Bohai County, Liu Chuang could also try to add a foothold in Bohai County.

The navy has always been Liu Chuang's confidant.

When Gan Ning and Zhou Cang took office, Liu Chuang's last shortcoming in the entire plan was completely made up.

In March of the third year of Jian'an, Cao Cao marched south again and besieged Zhang Xiu's base in Sui County.

This is also Cao Cao's third expedition against Zhang Xiu, and this time, Cao Cao's determination is very great, vowing to fight a battle and completely solve Zhang Xiu.

Zhang Xiu held on to the city and fought endlessly with Cao Cao.

In May, after Zhang Xiu asked for help several times, Liu Biao decided to send troops to the rescue, capture Wancheng, and cut off Cao Cao's retreat.

At this time, news came from Xudu that Yuan Shao, under the persuasion of Tian Feng, was ready to send troops to attack Xudu, which surprised Cao Cao.

Seeing that the city was about to be breached, Cao Cao was in a dilemma.

Guo Jia persuaded Cao Cao not to fall in love with the city, and to return to Xudu as much as possible.

"The lord rest assured, after this battle, Zhang Xiu has been frightened, and he will never dare to peep at Yingchuan again.

The lord only needs to order Zilian to garrison Wancheng, which is enough to make Zhang Xiu tremble. After solving Yuan Shao's threat, try to persuade Zhang Xiu to surrender. Zhang Xiu is now like a frightened bird, as long as the lord is not to blame in the past, Zhang Xiu will inevitably surrender, and Nanyang will not live up to the threat? ”

After Cao Cao listened to Guo Jia's persuasion, he also felt that it made sense.

Does he hate Zhang Xiu?

Hate someone's guts!

You must know that his eldest son Cao Ang, nephew Cao Anmin, and the love general Dian Wei all died at the hands of Zhang Xiu.

But Cao Cao is a heroic figure after all, and he knows very well the grievances of this person, which is more important than the great cause...... After thinking twice, Cao Cao decided to withdraw from the army. In front of Cao Cao, Liu Biao's department refused to take risks, and then Zhang Xiu pursued the soldiers, and the form was also extremely dangerous. However, Cao Cao was not chaotic in the face of danger, obeyed Guo Jia's idea, and ordered the sergeants to dig dangerous obstacles for tunnels overnight, so that the baggage was carried first, and then the elite soldiers were ambushed behind.

After dawn, when Zhang Xiu and Liu Biao's pursuers arrived, Cao Cao ambushed his troops in all directions, attacked on foot, defeated Liu Biao and Zhang Xiu, and then returned to Xudu safely.

After this battle, Zhang Xiu no longer had the courage to attack Yingchuan, and hid in the city and did not dare to move.

In the fourth year of Jian'an, Yuan Shao prepared to attack Cao Cao.

He first sent someone to recruit Zhang Xiu, wanting to flank Cao Cao. Zhang Xiu was about to agree, but was stopped by the strategist Jia Xu.

Zhang Xiu thought that Yuan was strong and Cao was weak, and he had defeated Cao Cao and killed his son and nephew, so he was unwilling to surrender. But Jia Xu believed that it was precisely because of this that he should surrender to Cao Cao. Yuan Shao's soldiers are many generals, and even if Zhang Xiu surrenders, he will not be valued by Yuan Shao; But Cao Cao's soldiers and horses are weak, and it is the time to employ people, so if he surrenders to Cao Cao, he will definitely be taken seriously. Moreover, Cao Cao served the Son of Heaven to order the world, and his name was right, he had the ambition of the world, and he was about to show the world virtue, so he must not count the grievances with Zhang Xiu before.

In the end, Zhang Xiu surrendered to Cao Cao......

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It's June, and the weather is unusually hot.

Liu Chuang sat in the mansion, looking at the battle report sent from Xiapi in his hand, and couldn't help but smile bitterly.

In May, Liu Bei coerced Cao Cao to return to the prestige of Xudu and sent troops to attack Xuzhou. It's just that he didn't send troops alone, but contacted Xiahoudun and Chen Deng to attack together.

Lu Bu had already been reminded by Liu Chuang, so he was prepared.

He ordered Zhang Liao to resist Chen Deng, and he personally led the army, defeated Liu Bei and Xiahoudun in Wuxian, and took advantage of the situation to seize Xiangxian......

"I'm really powerful, Liu Bei and Xiahoudun joined forces, but they were also defeated by him.

It's just that in this way, it will inevitably stimulate Cao Cao...... I'm afraid that Cao Cao will soon use troops in Xuzhou, and my father-in-law is in danger! ”

He looked up at the people in the hall.

"Ji Bi, Changwen, if Cao Cao really uses troops against Xuzhou, I'm afraid we can't stand idly by."

Chen Qun and Chen Jiao nodded slightly.

In fact, Liu Chuang knows very well that this vicious battle is inevitable......

After closing his eyes and pondering for a moment, he stood up: "Pass my order, Gao Shun Xu Chu will lead the Xiong Zhen army and immediately go to Dongwu to assemble...... Ordered Shi Jian and Tai Shi Ci to strengthen the defense and prevent Lu Qian from sneaking attack. Ji Bi, in addition, I have to worry about one more thing, preparing to go to Yecheng. (To be continued.)