Chapter 283 New Crisis
"Our army is difficult to defeat Yu Jin, and our army on the other side of Guishan is a bit weak. The subordinates believe that we should first ensure that the two places are not lost, and then find a way to defeat the enemy."
Ailang nodded, "Okay, then send 20,000 people to Guishan." Xu Shu clasped his fists and said, "Lord is wise! I will go and pass the order now!" As he said that, Xu Shu was about to leave.
Ailang hurriedly shouted, "Don't be anxious, Lao Xu, have dinner first and then leave!" Xu Shu smiled and said, "I have eaten it. My subordinates took their leave." As he said that, he hurriedly went. Ailang shook his head and said, "I'm really impatient!" Huang Wudie picked up a chopstick of dishes and put them in Ailang's bowl, and said angrily: "Aren't you the same as him?" Ailang smiled, "Do I have it?" Huang Wudie glanced at Ailang. Seeing this, Ailang couldn't help but move his index finger, but Lao Huang was present, but he could only pretend to be a gentleman.
At this moment, a personal soldier rushed in and clasped his fists and said, "General, Xuzhou has an urgent report."
"Oh. Ask him to come in."
The personal soldiers responded and ran down. After a while, a messenger with dust and blood was quickly stepped in and said, "Go to the general!" Then they stood up and took the bamboo bag on their backs, and presented it with both hands.
Huang Wudie immediately got up and walked out of the hall, but the bamboo slip bag was transferred to Ailang. Ailang opened the bamboo slip bag, took out a roll of bamboo slips, shook his hand, and spread it out. Seeing that the letter was Chen Gong's handwritten letter, it said that the main force of Cao's army attacked Xuzhou for many consecutive days, and the people of Xuzhou were unstable, so he asked him to return to Xuzhou to stabilize the people's hearts! Ailang felt very depressed and murmured: "Mom's! It's good to have more people! It's good to have more people! It's willful!"
"Brother, what is the letter saying?" Huang Wudie couldn't help asking.
Ailang said: "It's nothing, it's just that Cao's army's offensive is fierce, and the people of Xuzhou haven't seen me for many days. People's hearts are unstable. Old Chen told me to go back quickly to stabilize people's hearts!"
Huang Zhong clasped his fists and said, "Lord, Xuzhou is the confidant of our army, and there is no way to make any mistakes! Since Chen Gongtai wrote to ask his lord to go back, it is better for him to return to Xuzhou quickly!" Huang Wudie looked a little unhappy, but she didn't say anything. Ailang nodded thinking.
The next morning, Ailang led the guards away from Yunting and headed south to Xuzhou. Ailang, the defense in the north, asked Xu Shu to be fully responsible, and ordered Zang Ba, Huang Zhong, Huang Wudie and others to obey him. The war in the north was temporarily stable, but this war was far from over.
At the same time, the war in Jingzhou was suspended. Zhou Yu's several plans were discovered by Zhuge Liang, not only failed to make any progress, but also damaged many troops and caused a severe blow to morale. Sun Jian had no choice but to temporarily stop the attack.
In the Sun Jian army's tent, Sun Jian, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were discussing matters.
Sun Ce frowned and said, "I just received the news that the war between Cao Cao and Lu Bu is in full swing! Although the Cao army is not going well, thanks to the rebel general Cao Xing, they have occupied Qingzhou! The current situation is very unfavorable to Lu Bu!"
Sun Jian frowned and said, "What I worry most now is that Lu Bu cannot resist and is destroyed by Cao's army in one fell swoop! If that is the case, we are afraid we will face Cao Cao's army directly!"
Zhou Yu thought, "This possibility is not great. Lu Bu's command can be said to be a powerful general like a cloud of counselors like rain, and there are hundreds of thousands of troops. It has been a long time since he operated Xuzhou and other places. Although Cao Cao is strong, I think it is impossible to completely eliminate Lu Bu in a short period of time! The incident in Qingzhou can be said to be just a coincidence, and I don't think similar things will happen again." He clasped his fist at Sun Jian and said, "Lord, I think our strategy cannot be changed. We should continue to implement the strategy of annexing Jingzhou to fight against Cao Cao!"
Sun Jian frowned and said, "I understand what Gongjin means. However, Gongjin, we have been attacking Jingzhou for some time, but not only did not make any progress, but we have lost our troops and generals. Now that we are depressed, we will be a waste of military strength when we fight again!" Then he said with some annoyance: "It's all because of that Zhuge Liang! I didn't expect this person to be so difficult!"
Zhou Yu looked confident and smiled and said, "Lord, I am at least 90% sure I can succeed this time!" Sun Jian and Sun Ce were surprised and asked him about his clever plan. Zhou Yu smiled and said, "Jingzhou is actually the foundation of the Liu Biao family. To put it bluntly, Liu Bei and others are just Liu Qi's subordinates. Now that Liu Qi is recuperating, Liu Bei and others are able to take charge of the military and political affairs of Jingzhou. It can be said that he is occupying the nest and overseeing his affairs. If you say that the Jingzhou army and officials are all loyal to Liu Bei, I absolutely don't believe it."
When Sun Ce heard Zhou Yu's words, he immediately understood what he meant and said happily: "I understand Gongjin's meaning. Gongjin wants to use that Liu Qi, right?"
Zhou Yu nodded, "That's true! As long as it arouses Liu Qi's suspicion about Liu Bei, there will be a fight between the two, and then we can reap the benefits of the fisherman!"
Sun Jian was happy, but then became embarrassed and said, "But how can we arouse Liu Qi's suspicion of Liu Bei?" Zhou Yu smiled without saying a word.
His eyes turned back to Xuzhou.
Ailang finally returned to Xuzhou. The people of Xuzhou, who were originally in a state of uneasiness, couldn't help but calm down when they saw Lu Bu marching on the street. The people cheered at Ailang, as if Ailang had returned triumphantly after winning the battle. The cheers came one after another. Ailang saw countless people gathered on the street and cheered loudly at him, both surprised and joyful. He never expected that he was so loved by the people?!
In the Cao army camp outside the city, Cao Cao, who had just rested, was awakened by the sudden bursts of huge cheers from the city. He quickly put on his clothes and walked out of the tent, looked at Xuzhou City, and listened to the huge cheers that kept ringing in the night sky, and was shocked and suspicious.
Ailang returned to the hall of his General's Mansion, and the civil and military officials met together. Ailang shouted, "No need to be polite!" The civil and military officials straightened up and looked at Ailang. Chen Gong first reported: "General, during your absence, Cao's army has been attacking Xuzhou fiercely. It seems that Cao Cao insisted on conquering Xuzhou!"
Ailang sneered and said angrily: "He wants Xuzhou but he can't just want him! If you want to take Xuzhou, you have to pass our level! I really don't believe it! I have so many troops under my command and Xuzhou City is so strong. Cao Cao can really fight!" The generals roared and agreed, as if they wanted him to let Cao Cao go!
Ailang was shocked by the roars of the generals and couldn't help but grin and shouted in anger: "What are you calling? I almost shattered my head!" Everyone couldn't help laughing.
Ailang asked Chen Gong: "Old Chen, how are the losses of our army and Cao's army during this period?"
"Report to the general, our army suffered more than 12,000 casualties, while Cao's army suffered at least three times the number..."
When Ailang heard this, he felt relieved and smiled, "One to three or more! Then I'm afraid of nothing, let's just waste it slowly! Let's see who can afford it!" Everyone couldn't help laughing again.
Seeing that it was already very late, Ailang said, "Okay, if there is nothing to do, go back and rest!" Everyone agreed and came out one after another, only Chen Gong was still in the hall.
Seeing that Chen Gong had not gone down, Ailang knew that he must have something to tell him. He stood up and walked into the hall and asked Chen Gong, "Old Chen, do you have something to tell me?"
Chen Gong clasped his fists and said, "The General is wise!" Then he frowned and said, "Some things are not easy to say in front of everyone, so he had to say them to the General privately." Ailang smiled and said, "If you have something to say!"
"Yes. General. Judging from the current situation, Cao's offensive seems to have been curbed. However, our army's situation is not optimistic at all! The enemy's army is in a huge situation. If we insist on consuming it with our army, we are afraid that our army will suffer a certain level of casualties..."
Ailang smiled and said, "Are you worried about the morale of the army? You are safe! Don't you understand our officers and soldiers? I believe they are stronger than Cao's army!"
Chen Gong smiled and said, "What the lord said is very true! Although our army's strength is far less than that of Cao's army, when it comes to the combat effectiveness and fighting will of the officers and soldiers, I am afraid that Cao's army will be slightly inferior." Then his expression darkened, "But what the subordinates want to talk about is not the army, but the people." Ai Lang was stunned, "People?"
Chen Gong nodded, "The people are not as good as the army, and their spirits are easily hit and they do unexpected things. Our army has not fought fiercely with Cao's army for a long time, but the people have already become unstable..." Ai Lang suddenly realized and smiled, "That's why you called me back anxiously."
Chen Gong nodded with a smile, "The General came back and stabilized the hearts of the people immediately." He paused and said with a serious expression: "But even if there is a general in charge, it is probably difficult to stabilize the hearts of the people for a long time. As long as the time for siege reaches a certain limit, as long as the casualties of our army reach a certain number, people's hearts will be uncontrollable. At that time, it will be a big trouble! If hundreds of thousands of people in Xuzhou City are uncontrollable, the consequences will be unimaginable! This matter must be planned early!"
Ailang couldn't help but feel headache when he heard Chen Gong's words and muttered: "If the people riot, it would be really troublesome! They are all from the villagers, so you can't let the army fight! Besides, even if I give this order, the army may not be able to do it!" He looked at Chen Gong and asked with hope, "Old Chen, do you already have a good idea?"
Chen Gong smiled bitterly and said, "I didn't think of any good idea for a while. It just made people closely monitor the movements in the city. If someone dares to make trouble, he will take measures as soon as possible! But although this method is feasible now, I am afraid that as the situation deteriorates, it will not have much effect."
Chapter completed!