After the Han River overflowed and flooded Fancheng, and after the tide of the mountains and rivers receded, Guan Yu led a large army into the siege of Fancheng, surrounded the city to the point that the water was impassable, and there were multiple long sieges.

In Fancheng, Cao Ren went through the initial panic, and under the encouragement of Zhu Zhi, in order to motivate the city sergeants, he ate and slept with the sergeants, and he seemed to be particularly close. Even in the face of the attack of the Han army, Cao Ren was on the tower of the city, personally pulled the longbow, and shot the Han soldiers to strengthen the army.

Under this operation, the morale of Fancheng Wei gradually increased, and it was no longer in the previous downturn.

Guan Yu surrendered to the ban, and took advantage of the fact that the reinforcements from the Northern Wei Dynasty did not come, so he moved the camp to the outside of Fancheng, personally repaired the long base, and further threatened the defenders in the city, trying to use the tactics of besieging the city to send reinforcements, and using time to grind and force Fan Xiang to surrender.

On that day, the Han military camp in Fanbei.

In the big tent, Guan Yu sat on the couch and talked happily with the young generals in the tent.

Guan Yu looked at Tai Shiheng, who he hadn't seen for many years, and saw that he was handsome and handsome, and his eyes were attentive, so he couldn't help nodding slightly, and said: "Yuan Fu is heroic, and he has the legacy of your father. ”

"The prince praises!"

Tai Shi Heng looked respectful, and bowed: "Heng is young and shallow, I hope to ask the prince to teach him." ”

"Hmm!"

Guan Yu stroked his beard and said with satisfaction: "If you join the army today, you should be more reluctant." Military law is supreme, and there are no relatives of uncles and nephews, so you should not violate military law lightly. ”

As he spoke, Guan Yu pointed at Guan Ping and said, "Ping'er, Yuan Fu has just arrived at the barracks with his troops, and you are responsible for settling his soldiers and horses." ”

"No!"

Guan Ping led Tai Shiheng to retreat, and the two talked and laughed a lot on the road, obviously having a great relationship.

Tai Shi Heng, the son of Tai Shi Ci. Tai Shi Ci was defeated and died, and handed over his son and the left and right parts to Liu Bei.

Liu Bei treated Tai Shiheng as if he were his own, let him serve as an attendant early, and follow him around, thinking that he would increase his military and political knowledge.

Tai Shi Heng has the style of his father Tai Shi Ci, skilled in bows and horses, and has a deep relationship with Guan Yu's son Guan Ping, Huang Zhongyi's son Huang Xu and other second generations.

When Tai Shi Heng became an adult, Liu Bei returned the old department of Tai Shi Ci to Tai Shi Heng, and appointed Tai Shi Heng as a general, and followed the Chinese army all the year round to go on expeditions, and made a lot of achievements.

Today, Liu Bei was worried about the shortage of soldiers and horses under Guan Yu's tent, so he followed Huo Jun's suggestion and ordered Hubu General Tai Shiheng to lead 5,000 elite reinforcements to Xiangfan and transfer them to Guan Yu's tent to obey orders. After deducting the loss of soldiers and horses due to the war, Guan Yu currently has more than 40,000 soldiers and horses, ten times that of the defenders of Fancheng.

"Prince!"

After a while, Liao Hua stepped into the account, presented the letter, and said: "Hou Yin sent people south to ask for help, asking the prince to send troops to rescue. In one day, our army has received two letters from Hou Yin asking for help, I wonder if the prince wants to send military aid? ”

Guan Yu opened the letter, saw the content of the letter, and looked pensive.

On the letter, Hou Yin said that Xu Huang sent more than 10,000 soldiers and horses south, and the siege was very urgent, and his army was in turmoil. Now, with Guan Yu's prestige, he encouraged the left and right sergeants, and Fang barely held on. He hoped that Guan Yu could send an army to rescue Wancheng and not sit idly by and watch them be destroyed.

Guan Yu stroked his hair and smiled, his expression thoughtful.

Handing the letter to Lu Meng, Guan Yu said: "Hou Yin rebelled in Wancheng, and now he is holding Wancheng to defend Xu Huang. The war is urgent, and I want to lead my troops against the river and defeat Xu Huang to relieve the siege of Wancheng. At that time, there was Wancheng, and it was difficult for the troops of the Central Plains to help Xiangfan, and Xiangfan could be taken down by our army. ”

Guan Yu stood up from the couch, stroked his beard and asked, "Ziming, what do you think?" ”

Halfway through the letter, Lu Meng's face was embarrassed, and he said: "Junhou, Wancheng is deep in the realm of thieves, and now Xiangfan has not yet fallen, so it is not appropriate to send troops to attack Wancheng far away." In Meng's opinion, it is advisable to break through Fancheng first, surrender Xiangyang, and then seek Wancheng. ”

Guan Yu's eyebrows furrowed slightly, and he said, "Fancheng is trapped, and Cao Ren is frightened. Throughout the territory of Jingxiang, except for Xu Huang, there is no thief army. If Xu Huang can be defeated today, then the cities south of Wancheng can be drawn, and Xiangfan can also go down! ”

Xia Xiangfan has a different meaning from Xia Wancheng.

Under Xiangfan, at most one Xiangyang County was obtained, and the population was not large; If Wancheng can be lowered, it means that after this battle, the four counties of Xiangyang, Nanxiang, Zhangling, and Nanyang will all be included in the rule of the Southern Han Dynasty. The Southern Han could push the battle line to Fangcheng Xia Dao and threaten Xuchang at any time.

The significance of Xuchang is by no means the old capital of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, but Cao Cao's base camp in Henan. There were a large number of household registrations around Xuchang, and Cao Wei was able to fight in Jingzhou and Jianghuai all the year round, and the grain and grass needed by his army came from Xuchang.

Even though Yecheng rose and became the new base camp of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the role of Xuchang may have declined, but the role of military value has not decreased at all. Especially with the Southern Han Dynasty and the Northern Expedition to the Central Plains, the role of Xuchang in radiating Henan has become more and more prominent.

Therefore, Wancheng is really eye-catching, now Hou Yin occupies Wancheng, Guan Yu sent troops to Huaishui, once he can echo Hou Yin, defeat Xu Huang's department. At that time, not only Xiangfan can go down, but also take Wancheng, and the entire territory of Jingxiang will be returned to the Southern Han Dynasty.

At that time, the Southern Han Dynasty wanted to go north to the Central Plains, it was much easier, not only from Wancheng out of Xuchang, but also through Wuguan into the Guanzhong.

Faced with the temptation of Wancheng, Guan Yu was very longing, and Xiangfan could no longer satisfy his ambitions.

Lu Meng opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

In his planning, the best policy is to go down to Wancheng and restore Jingzhou; The middle strategy is to break Fancheng and slow down Nanyang; The next strategy is to descend to Xiangyang and encroach on Fancheng.

With the development of the current situation, his goal in this campaign is only to go to Xiangyang, Wancheng is too far away, and the difficulty is too high, which is beyond the current army's reach.

Although Hou Yin unexpectedly took Wancheng, for Lu Meng, there was a lot of hesitation in his heart. Reason told him that Wancheng seemed fat, but it was so easy to eat. At the moment, Xiangfan has not been pulled out, and he has gone far to relieve the siege of Wancheng, which is too radical.

After hesitating a little, Lu Meng persuaded: "Junhou, although there are only more than 10,000 people under Xu Huang's tent, but close to Xu and Ying, Junhou hastened to promote the army, I am afraid that I will encounter the enemy's army, so I should think twice before acting." ”

"Huh!"

Guan Yu stroked his beard and smiled confidently: "Yu Ban brought the Seventh Army, turned into a fish and turtle into the net, and was captured by someone. Now under the command of the thief army, who can stop me? ”

Saying that, Guan Yu commented on Xu Huang and said: "Xu Gongming is strict, and he drives the soldiers not to be idle. He is good at governing the army and is quite brave. In the past, when I was in Xuchang, I taught martial arts and Xu Gongming. Now Yu Ban is not my opponent, let alone Xu Gongming? ”

"It is often said that if God does not take it, it will be blamed. Today, according to Wancheng, it is like the overflow of Han water, which is blessed by heaven and the Han Dynasty. A certain borrowed Han water to flood the forbidden, and he will be able to rely on Wancheng to base the enemy. ”

Lu Meng put down the letter and said: "Meng is not worried that the prince is not defeated by Xu Huang, but is worried about the military of Xiangfan. In the past, the reason for building a long siege was to work hard for internal difficulties and external reinforcements. Why did the current monarch change the strategy set in the past? ”

Guan Yu's expression remained unchanged, and he smiled lightly: "This time, that time." Xu Huang can go to Xiangfan, why can't our army go to Wancheng Evil? ”

"Report, Marquis!"

Before the words fell, the attendant stepped inside, presented the letter, and said, "This is the letter of Hou Yin, the third letter of the day. ”

"Wancheng is in a hurry!"

Guan Yu sighed, picked up the letter, and browsed its contents.

But seeing Hou Yin's letter, he didn't talk about the critical situation in Wancheng, nor did he talk about the pros and cons of Wancheng's gains and losses. Instead, he praised Guan Yu's character in the letter, saying that Guan Yu was righteous and thin, and he could give up the wealth and wealth given by Cao Cao, and follow Liu Bei because of loyalty.

The reason why he Hou Yin rebelled against Cao Wei and seized Wancheng was mostly because he envied Guan Yu as a person. Now he is grateful to Guan Yu for going north to relieve the siege, and if he has the opportunity, he is willing to lead the horse for Guan Yu to fall.

Seeing the letter, Guan Yu was even more happy, and said: "Ziming, Hou Yin is against me because of me, and I call myself a righteous man." How can he ignore Hou Yin's plea for help and make him lose in Wanchenghu? ”

Lu Meng was slightly stunned, the reason why he was able to persuade Hou Yin, in addition to relying on Guan Yu's prestige, didn't the rest be to use his official position and money to open the way?

I really expect Hou Yin to rebel because he is loyal to the Han family, this is a big joke!

Lu Meng sorted out his thoughts and said, "Prince, Wancheng has changed abruptly, even if there is a sense of haste. It is better to communicate with Your Majesty first, get Your Majesty's edict, and then send troops to Wancheng. ”

Saying that, Lu Meng's face was slightly straight, and he said: "Prince, the reason why Meng advises is that Meng is unwilling to enter Wancheng and wait and see the Central Plains. Because of the weight of Xiangfan, Meng did not dare to move. Now I only hope that the prince and the marquis will think twice before acting, and do not rush to use troops. ”

"Ziming's meaning, how can someone not know!"

Guan Yu's face did not change, and said: "Most of the sergeants under Hou Yin's account are mountain people, and it is difficult to take on a big responsibility. Now Wancheng is in danger, how can he hesitate and be slow. Xu Huang only had more than 10,000 new soldiers under his tent, and Wancheng was obtained by our army. ”

"And if the thief army is prosperous, I will take a boat down the river, and I can easily return to Xiangfan, how can Xu Huang besiege me in Wancheng?"

"Now is different from Cao Ren's time, when Meng Da lured down, and now Hou Yin really descended; It is easy to advance and difficult to retreat when building water, and it is easy to advance and retreat in water, so what is the danger? ”

"I have often heard that with soldiers, it is necessary to control people but not to control others. Now to relieve the siege of Wancheng, so that the enemy is blocked in Wancheng, Xiangfan has not seen reinforcements for a long time, and the people are panicked, and they will surrender to our army. ”

Seeing that Guan Yu could not be persuaded to move, Lu Meng asked: "I don't know how many soldiers and horses the prince wants to send north?" ”

Guan Yu paced and said: "Today, the soldiers are surrounding the two cities of Xiangfan, and they must not withdraw from the long siege lightly. I want to march north with 8,000 soldiers, leaving more than 30,000 people to besiege the two cities. ”

"The prince will ride eight thousand steps, and I am afraid that there are few soldiers!" Lu Meng said.

Guan Yu pondered a little and said, "There are thousands of thieves in Fancheng, and there are five thousand thieves in Xiangyang. 20,000 soldiers are not enough to besiege the two cities; 30,000 soldiers, can be able to surround Xiangfan. ”

"I will ride eight thousand steps north, and I will attack Xu Huang with Hou Yin; The next strategy is based on Xu Huang Yuwan, making it difficult for the thief army to aid Xiangfan in the south. And let the two generals Meng Da and Fu Fang go out of Nanxiang and echo our army in the west of Wancheng. Ziming led a large army to besiege Fancheng, and the soldiers were ready to be dispatched at any time. ”

"Such an arrangement can not only map Wancheng, but also surround Xiangfan. What does Ziming think? Guan Yu said with a smile.

Seeing that Guan Yu was properly arranged, Lu Meng arched his hand and said: "The prince and the imperial army are going north, and it is advantageous to advance cautiously, and to leave quickly when defeated." The army of the Meng general was outside Fan, waiting for the general's news. ”

"Good!"

Guan Yu stroked his hair and smiled, and said, "I haven't seen you for a long time, I don't know if Gongming can improve." ”

(End of chapter)