After Guan Yu and Gan Ning left, the Jiangdong generals gathered over, and Cheng Pu said: "Dadu Governor, when the 15,000 soldiers and horses sent by Liu Bei fought with Cao Cao, although they had a little success, they didn't matter to the battle situation. How can there be such a cheap thing in the world! Now that we are marching with them, I am afraid that we will have to divide the southern county with him at that time. Wangdu Governor thinks twice. The crowd agreed.

Zhou Yu said: "I have also thought about what you said. Why don't you let them leave now, that is, they will fight to the death with Cao Ren, so that we can sit and watch him wear down his troops, and when he returns from defeat, he will naturally lose the qualification to share Nanjun with us. ”

Cheng Pu said: "Governor, I'm afraid that Guan Yunchang won't fight to the death." ”

Zhou Yu said: "It's okay, if he doesn't enter the army, when I take Nanjun, I will lead Nanjun alone in the name of fear of war, and Liu Bei has nothing to say." ”

Zhou Yu then smiled and said, "If these fifteen thousand people are in Liu Bei's hands, he can occupy Xiakou, divide Chaisang and Nanjun, and choke our Yangtze River waterway. To the south, you can take the four counties of Jingnan, and you can come to the west to plot the southern county. Now, I am dragging these soldiers and horses, and Liu Bei may not even have 20,000 people in his hands now. If they go south to the four counties of Jingnan, they need to divide their troops and garrison them everywhere after taking them, and they will not be able to occupy them due to insufficient troops. If we want to occupy the four counties in Jingnan, we must draw all the soldiers and horses of Xiakou to have the strength to fight, and then it will be equivalent to abandoning Xiakou and the entire Yangtze River, and we can occupy it and open up a waterway to connect Chaisang and Nanjun. After that, I only need to garrison along the river in Jiangdong, and I can seal it in the south, Liu Bei occupies the four counties of Jingnan, and can neither go north nor west, sit in the city of sorrow, and be in a dilemma, and I have reported to the lord, please send a partial division to lead the troops to respond, after Liu Bei went south, he immediately took Xiakou. Baqiu has been taken by me, Baqiu, Changsha County will have no danger to defend, and then if you can take the entire Changsha County, it is the best, if you can't take it, Liu Bei will only get Changsha County that has lost its barrier. After Gan Ning finishes the matter on the military order, I will give some rewards casually, and I will find another opportunity to order Guan Yu to attack Xiangyang, pretending to block Cao's reinforcements, so that he can successfully take Nanjun, so that he can fight with Cao's reinforcements in the north, even if they can't all consume these 15,000 soldiers and horses, they must be reduced to tired soldiers, and they will not be able to pose a threat to us for at least a year. After I take Nanjun, I will recuperate. When the time came, he controlled Liu Bei, but he was in the palm of his hand. Then wait for the opportunity to take Yizhou Liu Zhang, and my lord can divide the world with Cao Cao. "Everybody said it was wonderful.

Cheng Pu said: "If Gan Ning can't complete the military order, why don't you take advantage of the killing of Gan Ning." ”

Zhou Yu said: "Killing Gan Ning is equivalent to breaking with Liu Bei and Liu Qi." Cannot. ”

Lu Su arched his hand and said: "The governor has a very good plan, but if Liu Bei sticks to Jiangxia, there are still more than 100,000 people in Jiangxia, Liu Bei may not give up easily." ”

Cheng Pu also continued: "Governor, Zijing's words are reasonable, besides, we don't care about the four counties of Jingnan, just waiting for Liu Bei to enter the army is not too passive." ”

Zhou Yu said: "I understand what you mean, you underestimate Liu Bei too much, if you don't make a decision to become a big thing in ancient and modern times, Liu Bei will die in a dilapidated Jiangxia County for the sake of 100,000 people?" The four counties of Jingnan and the district of Xiakou are more important. If Liu Bei is trapped in Jiangxia, then sooner or later the four counties of Jingnan will belong to my Jiangdong, and Liu Bei will be flanked by us and defeated without a fight. The lord is now besieging Hefei with the main force, otherwise Liu Bei of the four counties of Jingnan would not want to touch it at all. But even so, I can't be cheap Liu Bei, and the four counties of Jingnan can't give him all if Liu Bei wants to take them. General Huang, I bother you to take your headquarters to attack Wuling County, my main force needs to attack Nanjun, besiege Jiangling, and guard against Guan Yu and these people repeatedly, so you can't give you too many soldiers and horses, you do your best, you can take as many counties as you can, don't be reluctant, Changsha will be dealt with by the lord and Cheng Dudu. ”

Huang Gai promised: "Don't worry, I understand." ”

Zhou Yu said again: "Cheng Dudu, you lead the troops and horses of the headquarters to Baqiu, once Liu Bei leads the troops out of Fankou and Xiakou, as long as one of the two places is withdrawn, Liu Bei will give up, Liu Bei will never be stupid enough to send thousands of people to guard Xiakou, if that is the case, you can send troops to drive away, and meet the partial division sent by the lord in Xiakou." ”

Cheng Puyingnuo.

Lu Su was about to speak, Zhou Yu waved his hand and said, "Zijing, I know what you want to say." If we force our way into Xiakou, we are afraid that Liu Bei will turn his face. If Liu Bei wants to take advantage of everything, then I, Zhou Yu, will turn my face, and I Jiangdong will never make wedding dresses for others! Lu Su was silent.

Zhou Yu said again: "Where is the public achievement? ”

Ling Tong came out and said, "The last general." ”

Zhou Yu said: "Listen to the order, you lead the soldiers and horses of the headquarters to follow behind Guan Yu, monitor the movement of his troops, and report to me at any time." ”

Ling Tong said: "Command." ”

Zhou Yu stepped forward and walked up to Ling Tong's eyes and said, "Public achievements, military affairs, don't be rash, do you understand?" ”

Ling Tong said: "Don't worry, the governor understands." ”

Zhou Yu said: "Okay." Where is the text? ”

Xu Sheng came out and said, "Yes." ”

Zhou Yu said: "You lead the troops and horses of your headquarters to station on the river west of Jiangling, monitor Guan Yu from the side, and report to me at any time." ”

Xu Sheng promised. Zhou Yu said: "The rest of the people will march with me. "The people took the command.

Jiangling City is on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and Guan Yu and Zhou Yu are on the south bank of the Yangtze River. If you want to enter the army, you must first cross the Yangtze River. And Cao Ren had already prepared along the river, and if he forcibly crossed the river, he would only be attacked by Cao Ren at that time. It was this point that Zhou Yu took a fancy to, which inspired Gan Ning to march as a pioneer. If you want to attack Gangneung Fortress, it is already very dangerous to cross the Yangtze River first. Therefore, Guan Yu and Gan Ning could only set up a big camp close to the Yangtze River and look at Jiangling across the river.

That night, Gan Ning discussed with Guan Yu and said, "Yun Chang, I will lead five hundred elite soldiers to take Yiling tonight. ”

Guan Yu said: "Isn't it too urgent?" ”

Gan Ning said: "The soldiers are fast, while Zhou Yu doesn't know the geography here." And the Ling Tong behind is to monitor the soldiers and horses. If Zhou Yu thinks that our troops are too slow, and if he does not advance against us with fear of the enemy, and asks us to cross the Yangtze River as soon as possible, it will only increase our losses, and we will take us by surprise. ”

Guan Yu said: "Okay, isn't there less than five hundred." ”

Gan Ning said: "That's enough, Yun Chang remember to come to support early." ”

Guan Yu said: "Don't worry, once you send someone, I will immediately send troops." ”

Gan Ning said: "Then I'll go." ”

That night, he led 500 people to attack Yiling, and the Yiling guard general was Liu Zhang's general in Yizhou. Disgusted with Cao Cao and dissatisfied with Liu Zhang's cowardice, Gan Ning suddenly attacked, and attacked Su without a fight. Gan Ning and his soldiers and horses, a total of more than 1,000 people, guarded Yiling.

There were those in Yiling City who were unwilling to surrender and quietly left and reported to Cao Ren in Jiangling.

When Cao Ren learned about it, he immediately realized that once Yiling was lost, it was equivalent to saying that soon Zhou Yu and Guan Yu would cross the Yangtze River and come to Jiangling City. His own defense along the Yangtze River was self-defeating.

Cao Ren secretly scolded the raid on the waste. The most important thing at the moment is to recapture Yiling. Cao Ren led 5,000 soldiers and horses, surrounded Yiling on all sides, and attacked day and night.

Cao Ren set up a high platform outside the city overnight, shooting arrows from above in the city, the arrows were as dense as rain, Gan Ning had few soldiers, everyone was frightened, only Gan Ning talked and laughed freely.

Cao Ren attacked several times, and Gan Ning carried a big sword and a strong bow. Use a strong bow from afar, and every shot must hit. Kill the enemy with a broadsword at close range. The soldiers were encouraged by Gan Ning and repelled Cao Ren's attack.

Gan Ning sent people out of the city early in the morning to ask Guan Yu for help. Guan Yu had already packed up, and as soon as Gan Ning's request for help arrived, he didn't care about the Jiangling camp, and led all the soldiers and horses to relieve the siege of Yiling.

Ling Tong in the back noticed something unusual, and as soon as he inquired, Guan Yu threw the camp away, and hurriedly reported to Zhou Yu, and he led five hundred people to follow.

Guan Yu went to Yiling, sent the elite captain into the city first to inform Gan Ning, agreed to attack inside and outside, and set a trap on the way back of Cao's army, and divided several teams of 100 people to ambush with flags and gongs.

On the night of the agreement, Guan Yu was the vanguard, divided the troops into three routes, and took turns to engage the Cao army.

When Cao Ren saw Guan Yu leading the troops, he didn't dare to be careless, and he also personally led the troops to arrive.

When Gan Ning saw that Guan Yu was starting to move, he gathered all the soldiers who could fight under the city gate, and he watched from the city tower.

After nearly two hours of melee between the two sides, Gan Ning judged that all the soldiers and horses of Cao's army were already engaged in battle, so he opened the city gate and attacked Cao Ren. The two of them should cooperate with each other to defeat Cao Ren.

Cao Ren originally had fewer soldiers than Guan Yu, and he was even more ineffective after being flanked. had to be defeated, and on the way, Guan Yu ambushed the soldiers, and the Cao army was like a frightened bird, and the armor, weapons, and banners were left all the way.

After the great victory, Guan Yu settled in Yiling, and Gan Ning persuaded Guan Yu to divide his troops to seize Yidu, Zigui and other places, and all the west of Yiling surrendered, and Gan Ning ordered them in the name of Jingzhou Mu Liu Qi.