Cao Xiu turned defeat into victory in Fuling Lake, and his confidence increased greatly, but he also realized that there was still a gap with the Jiangdong naval army, so he strengthened training all day long, and urged Xiahou Nan to build a chain of ships.

Xiahou Nan owed money everywhere, barely scraped together the first batch of materials, and was looking forward to a loan, but Zhang Wei returned empty-handed, informing him that the borrowed money was seized by Cao Hong in Lujiang and turned into military expenses.

Xiahou Nan suddenly jumped like thunder, and scolded: "The surname Cao is too deceitful, when I set up Maolin Hall and asked him to borrow money, I didn't pull out a dime, but now I have seized my money for no reason, and I am inseparable from him." ”

Zhang Wei persuaded: "When General Cao first arrived in Lujiang, he urgently needed to govern the army and appease the people, anyway, it was all military expenses, and wherever it was used, it was for the prime minister, and the general didn't have to ......."

"Fart-" Xiahou Nan blushed, rolled up his sleeves and walked out: "I want to settle accounts with him, and if I don't pay back, Lao Tzu will kill him!" ”

"The general stays!" Zhang Wei hurriedly said: "General Cao Hong is a tiger general, and there are tens of thousands of horses ......."

"Oh......" Xiahou Nan stopped and kicked on the threshold: "I'll go find the prime minister's theory." ”

Zhang Wei grabbed Xiahou Nan: "The prime minister knew that there was a shortage of money and food in the army, but he still let the general handle this matter, it is because he values the general who is good at making money, and now the deadline is more than half, if he runs for this matter again, the time will run out, the military order will be violated, and the prime minister will be disappointed in the general, and it will be difficult to have any more affection to talk about." ”

"This ......" Xiahou Nan's face changed greatly, he sat on the threshold dejectedly, gritted his teeth and scolded Cao Hong a few times, turned his head and asked, "Sir, do you have a countermeasure?" ”

Zhang Wei shook his head and sighed: "The deadline is approaching, even if there is a strategy, it is in vain, I don't know how many materials the general has scraped together?" ”

Xiahou Nan said deflatedly: "At most, it can only be two or three out of ten." ”

Zhang Wei motioned to Xiahou Nan to go indoors, and said in a low voice: "For today's plan, I have to use expedient methods: pig iron can no longer be used for casting, but can be mixed with grass ash, sand and gravel, etc., after General Cao's inspection, the rest of the ships are connected in two or three, or three or four in line, which is probably enough." ”

"This ......" Xiahou Nan said worriedly: "If you cut corners and shoddy, I am afraid that you will miss a big event." ”

Zhang Wei smiled: "The general's words are wrong! Now that the two armies are facing each other, General Cao does not dare to go out lightly, and the Jiangdong people and horses do not dare to go north easily, as long as the ships are connected and the order is handed over within a time limit! I heard that Liu Qi scolded Huang Gai in Shouchun, and the generals in Jiangdong have long been dissatisfied, and I expect that there will be a big change soon. ”

"What the gentleman said is very true!" Xiahou Nan's eyes lit up, and he said in a deep voice: "My family cheats my own family, I have to do my best, and I can do as much as I want." ”

When the two were planning, Cao Xiu sent someone to invite, and there was an important military situation to discuss, so Xiahou Nan appointed Zhang Wei with full authority to build a chain of things, and came to see Cao Xiu in the tent.

In the Chinese military account, Cao Xiu was discussing with Niu Jin, and handed a letter on the table to Xiahou Nan: "Today, Wu General Zhou Tai sent someone to send a secret letter, because Liu Qi scolded Huang Gai, and appointed Lu Xun as the general of the navy, he was dissatisfied and had the intention of surrendering, what do you think, Zilin?" ”

Xiahou Nan read the letter, frowned and said: "Liu Qi has always been known for knowing and employing people, but this time he used a scholar to take charge of the navy, deliberately causing dissatisfaction among the generals, could it be that there is fraud in it?" ”

Cao Xiu nodded and said: "I'm also worried about this matter, don't say whether Liu Qi has ulterior motives, that is, all the people in Jiangdong are like Sun Quan, capricious, inconsistent words and deeds, Zhou Tai's words, I dare not believe it." ”

Niu Jinyan said: "Since Liu Qi came to Huainan, he has indeed done things publicly, and he must think that he has taken all the Jiangnan and has the heart of an arrogant soldier." Now and cronyism, suppressing meritorious veterans, Wu Jiang is dissatisfied is the normal situation of people, if Zhou Tai really has the intention of surrendering, is it not a missed opportunity? ”

Cao Xiu also had a hard time making a choice, and asked Xiahou Nan: "Zilin studied the art of war hard, and won the praise of the prime minister, can he have a high opinion?" ”

"How dare you!" Hearing this, Xiahou Nan straightened his chest, coughed dryly, and thought hard, and after a while, he suddenly clapped his hands and said, "I have a plan, but I can test Zhou Tai's intentions." ”

Cao Xiu hurriedly asked, "Will the plan be released?" ”

Xiahou Nan said: "Why don't you go back to Zhou Tai and ask him to come to the water village secretly at night to discuss important matters?" If they dare to come, they can test their sincerity, but if they dare not come, they are deceitful. ”

"That's a good plan!" Cao Xiu was overjoyed, and immediately sent someone to contact Zhou Tai and agreed to meet in the northwest water village three days later.

Three days later, the sun sets, the glow shines on Fuling Lake, the golden light ripples, the birds return to their nests, and the reeds in the distance have turned green, full of vitality.

Cao Xiu and Xiahou Nan personally guarded the shore, ignoring this charming spring color, looking at the lake, suddenly a water bird flew up, and stretched its neck, anxious.

It wasn't until night fell and the lake fell into darkness and he was disappointed that he saw a fishing lantern lit up on the lake from a distance, coming quickly along with the spring breeze.

Before the boat landed, the man jumped lightly, stood firmly on the shore, and smoothly shifted the oars, and the boat took advantage of the momentum to run aground on the shore with a bang, and the whole action was clean and neat.

Cao Xiu secretly applauded, Mo said that this person is very familiar with the water, it is such a small boat, none of his subordinates dare to drive out on a windy day, a big wave comes, I am afraid that he will have to feed the fish.

Holding back the excitement in his heart, Cao Xiu walked out of the reeds, hugged his fists and said, "Dare to ask if the person who came is General Zhou?" ”

"Exactly!" The man packed up the oars, raised his head, and saw his face full of scars in the dim firelight, giving people a fierce aura, and said, "Zhou Tai pays a visit to General Cao." ”

"No need to be polite." Cao Xiu hurriedly stepped forward to return the salute and welcomed Zhou Tai into the tent.

Looking closely, I saw that Zhou Taikong was powerful, especially his arms were like ancient trees, and his muscles were knotted, and he was really a tiger general.

Shi Li sat down, Zhou Tai hugged his fists and said: "There are a lot of sentinels on the water, and I don't know if the governor meets, what important things to discuss?" ”

Cao Xiuyan said: "I got the general's letter, I was very happy, I was waiting for the army to respond, but I didn't get the prime minister's order, and Xiahou joined the army to say that the general was quite strategic, and I was afraid that there was fraud in the letter, so I came to meet face-to-face." ”

"Ah, me?" Xiahou was stunned, pointing to his nose and speechless, isn't this selling me to my face?

"The Governor actually doubts his sincerity?" Zhou Tai was furious, Huo Ran got up and pulled out a short knife from his waist, looked up to the sky and laughed angrily: "I can't imagine that my Zhou Tai has a bad fate, and I can't meet the Lord in my life, what is God's will?" ”

"General, no!" Cao Xiu got up and explained: "These are all the words of the strategist, and I expect that the general will not deceive me, so I will meet in person." ”

Zhou Tai smiled sadly: "A certain person from a humble background, living in Jianghuai, fortunately appreciated by Wu Hou, he had to make meritorious contributions, seeing that the meritorious deeds were about to be accomplished, who knew that in the end he was bullied by Liu Qi's children, how could the eldest husband be depressed and bullied by outsiders?" A certain abandonment of the dark to the light, but the general is suspicious, under the whole world, there is no place for Tai to stand, only one death. ”

Cao Xiu saw that Zhou Tai was about to kill himself again, hugged his arm regardless of the danger, and said with a smile: "It's just a joke, the general doesn't have to take it seriously." ”

Zhou Tai raised his hand vigorously, cut off a strand of hair, and said: "I treat the governor with loyalty, and I don't hesitate to risk death to see him, but the prince takes me as a play." Cut off the hair left by your parents today to show your sincerity. ”