Silver Fox of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 247 Attacking Yiyang
In the midwinter of November, the icy north wind howled across the vast surface of Dongting Lake, blowing countless waves like waves.

The rolling waves hit the shore and submerged the wild slopes on the shore of Zikou Lake. Except for the fishing village, most of the shore is covered with weeds taller than people. Swaying gently in the cold wind.

The wind blows the reed flowers on the shore of the lake, and the large ships on the lake also sway. In the white mist, the defenders of Zikou found countless ships coming in the direction of Zikou .

"Woooooooooooo."

The horn sounded for a long time, and the entire Cai Mao army in Zikou seemed to be shaken.

But after a while, the sharp and piercing sound of the horn was quickly replaced by a desolate and quaint and gentle tone.

Immediately afterwards, the originally chaotic camp seemed to have become quiet again. Many soldiers had already put on their military uniforms, took the ring swords, and then quickly returned to the camp.

Cai Hao walked out of the camp slowly, looked around and said, "What happened? Why did you sound the enemy's horn at the beginning, and then quickly said that it was your own?"

"Taiwei, someone has been sent to investigate."

The attendant replied: "The sound of the horn came from the shore of Qingcao Lake in the north. It was separated by four or five miles. It may take a while to reply."

"Ah."

Cai Mao clasped his hands behind his back, and nodded slightly: "As the order, let the battalions be more careful, and send more people to patrol the surrounding area."

"only."

The servant went to deliver the order.

At this moment, Cai Du and Hu Zheng just came over.

Seeing the two of them coming, Cai Mao lifted the curtain of the tent and walked in. When the two of them entered, he was already sitting cross-legged on the head of the tent.

"Zimu, Yuheng, you are here."

"Duke Ming, Uncle."

The two bowed their hands in salute.

"sit down."

Cai Mao motioned for them to sit down.

After sitting down, Hu Zheng said, "Duke Ming, I don't know what happened just now?"

"I have already sent someone to ask, wait for the news."

Cai Hao waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about this, it's been four days, is there no news from Han Hu and Wang Jie?"

According to the order, Han Hu and Wang Jie were supposed to set off on October 25 and meet him at Zikou on October 28, but four days have passed since the scheduled meeting date.

"No news yet."

Hu Zheng shook his head, with some ominous premonition in his heart, and said worriedly: "Ming Gong, none of the scouts we sent have come back, is it possible?"

"Probably in ambush."

Cai Mao's face became serious: "Shen Chen is the most usual person who will set up an ambush. A few days ago, Hanhu Wangjie wrote a letter to report that they had successfully captured Zuotang and Linyuan, and said that the enemy would immediately withdraw their troops. At first I thought it was because of them. Knowing that you have few soldiers and dare not defend, now it seems that you may have set up an ambush long ago."

Cai Du frowned and said, "My lord uncle, it seems that we have underestimated Liu Pan. We used to think that there were only 2 people in Jingnan, but now there are so many more people coming out suddenly. .”

"It's okay."

Cai Hao is not completely incompetent, what he lacks is incomplete information, at least there is no problem in tactical arrangements, at this moment he also understood what Cai Du meant, raised his left arm to stop Cai Du's words: If you can't scare me, send someone to pass on my order to march into Yiyang."

Hu Zheng wondered: "Duke Ming, now that Hanhu Wangjie's partial division is being attacked, the enemy must have known our plan. If we attack Yiyang now, won't we be trapped outside Yiyang City, and it will be protracted and difficult to break through?" .”

Cai Mao laughed and said, "Of course I know this, but I expect that there is not much food and grass in the city. They ambushed Hanhu Wangjie on the road from Yuan to Yiyang in the north, and they will retreat to Yiyang. The siege will destroy the city."

"I see."

Hu Zheng thought so too. They also sent a large number of horse scouts to inquire about the defenders in Linyuan, Hanshou, Yiyang and other places. There are less than 6000 scattered scattered.

Now most of these troops have withdrawn from the direction of Linyuan to Yiyang, and if they want to ambush Hanhu and Wang Jie, they must not be less than 1 people. Now there are more than 2 troops in the direction of Lanxi, which means There are more than [-] Liu Qi's troops in Yiyang.

Coupled with Liu Pan's defenders in Luo County, it is conservatively estimated that Liu Qi's army in Jingnan is more than 3, and may even be more than 4.Although this is a huge gap from the estimated 2 people, it is not without the power to fight.

After all, their main force is now in Yiyang, and Zhang Yun's tens of thousands of troops are behind them. Even if Liu Pan has an extra 2 horses for some reason, Cai Mao thinks he can handle it easily.

It's just that Hu Zheng still hesitated, hesitated for a moment, and said to Cai Mao: "Ming Gong, I have been tossing and turning for the past few days. I can't sleep at night, and I feel a little worried."

"What worries does Yuheng have, why don't you tell me?"

Cai Mao picked up a glass of water on the table and poured it into the inkstone. The servant next to him understood and immediately began to grind the ink. There was a charcoal basin beside him. He seemed to feel the smell was a little uncomfortable, and he squeezed a handful of spices. Throw it in a basin, and the fragrance will overflow immediately.

Hu Zheng said: "Duke Ming, I was just thinking. Now that Liu Bei has just entered Bajun, we will immediately attack Jingnan. Although Bajun is thousands of miles away from Jiangling, it is only two days' journey down the river. this."

Cai Mao looked at Cai Du, Cai Du smiled lightly and said, "I forgot to tell Lord Yuheng about some things. When Liu Bei entered Sichuan, he traveled by land, and the boats were only hundreds of baggage ships. It took more than a month to reach the river. State. We are sure that he will attack Jingnan after he arrives in Jiangzhou."

"Going by land?"

Hu Zheng suddenly realized, and said with a smile: "So, so, even if he got the news, tens of thousands of troops, plus countless supplies, it is impossible to come back without thousands of ships."

"Exactly."

Cai Mao nodded: "What's more, Liu Zhang is so bad, but Zhang Lu can beat him outside the gate of Chengdu in a few months. Liu Bei must also be anxious that Liu Zhang will be destroyed, so he probably won't support Jingnan. Zhang Yun will watch over Jiang Xia. Liu Qi and Huang Zu can't make trouble."

"Master Ming is wise!"

Hu Zheng bowed his hands and saluted, and couldn't help being convinced.

In terms of tactical arrangements, Cai Hao did not miss too much, although the only problem is that he did not wait another month or two to determine the situation in Yizhou, which lacked some safety.

But at least in Cai Mao's view, even if Liu Bei hadn't attacked Shu County yet, and heard the news that Jingnan was attacked, he would definitely not be able to come back in a short time.

So he thought he could sit back and relax, even if Liu Bei put all his eggs in one basket, from Berkshire to Jiangling, it would be beyond his reach.

"Report!"

At this moment, the attendant outside the door reported back.

"Come in!"

"Report, Lieutenant."

The attendant came in and knelt on one knee and said, "It's General Wang."

"Wang Jie?"

Cai Mao was very surprised and hurriedly asked, "Where is he?"

"Wait outside the camp."

"Come in."

"only!"

The servant will do it immediately.

After a while, Wang Jie came in hurriedly.

After arriving in the tent, he knelt down on one knee and cupped his hands and said, "Meet the Taiwei."

"Humph!"

Cai Mao was furious and said: "I ordered you to arrive at Zikou four days ago, why did you arrive at this time, and you should be punished for delaying the military plane!"

Wang Jie quickly said: "Back to Taiwei, it's not that I delayed the military plane, but that Hanhu was ambushed and the whole army was wiped out. I had to return to Hanshou and send people to Nan'an, where General Sun and General Qian sent a fleet to take me over." .”

"Han Hu was indeed ambushed."

Cai Mao frowned immediately, as he had expected it before, and he couldn't help being a little annoyed when he confirmed the truth of the matter.

Hu Zheng was surprised and said: "General Wang, didn't the Taiwei order you to go to Linyuan to meet General Han first, and then come to Zikou together? Why was he safe and sound when he was ambushed?"

Wang Jie explained: "It's a long way from Zuo Tang to Linyuan. I should have gone to Linyuan first to meet General Han, but I didn't expect the sudden heavy rain, which delayed half a day. By the time we arrived at Linyuan, General Han had already left. Immediately afterwards, the scouts sent just happened to find the enemy ambushing in Yaoshan, so they managed to escape."

"Really?"

Cai Mao was suspicious for a moment, squinted at him and said, "Did you secretly buy it from Tian Tian?"

Wang Jie suddenly felt insulted, furious in his heart, bowed his hands, looked away and said: "If the Taiwei doesn't believe it, he can kill Jie himself. Jie has already delayed the military plane, even if it is a capital crime, there is nothing to say!"

"All right."

Seeing that his tone was serious, Cai Mao knew that he had resentment in his heart. He thought about stabilizing the morale of the army, so he waved his hands and said, "I can trust you, but after all, the military plane was delayed. I thought you came all the way here, and the death penalty is a terrible crime." No, let Zhao Sheng control the soldiers and horses first. You will accompany the battalion and give Zhao Sheng the first lieutenant general. Are you convinced by this arrangement?"

"The final general is willing to submit."

Wang Jie's words were obviously a little angry.

Convince me it's fake.

Although he did delay the military plane, the problem is that he kept the team.

Hanhu's 8000-strong army was wiped out. Up to now, his army has seen no one alive or dead.

Although I was delayed for a few days, there was a reason for the incident, but now I have seized the military power innocently, how can I be convinced?
However, the delay of the military plane is indeed a reason that cannot be refuted. Although Wang Jie knew that Cai Mao suspected that he was in collusion with his brother-in-law Tian Mai, he was really helpless when it came to the delay of the military plane.

"Order all the ministries to break out of camp before noon, and must arrive at the city of Yiyang before dark today."

Cai Mao caught a glimpse of the attendant beside him grinding the ink, so he took out a piece of paper and began to write the letter. After the letter was finished, he stamped his Taiwei seal, and said to the attendant beside him, "Send it to Jingling."

"only!"

The attendant put the paper into the wooden box, and immediately left the tent to go to Jingling.

Cai Du at the side actually saw the contents of the letter, after all, it was his nephew, Cai Mao was not suspicious, so he knew what Cai Mao wrote.

However, Cai Du only glanced at the content, even if it was a very important military event, he didn't have any intention of passing on the news.

After all, his brother-in-law had told him a long time ago that he didn't need to do anything, it would be fine to just watch quietly like this.

(End of this chapter)