(PS: To explain, I am so early today because I have something to do in the afternoon. I got up at 5 a.m. to type, so there is still only one chapter today.)

The first large-scale siege by the Jing-Yuan coalition forces lasted from half past midnight in the early morning to half past midnight in the evening. However, there was no progress. Not only did they fail to break through the Xuzhou Army's Chaisang city defense, they also paid a heavy price. In total,

More than 3,500 troops were lost. In the end, only a handful of generals and soldiers were able to successfully climb the city on the first day of the siege. Only Gan Ning, one of the most powerful generals in Jingzhou, was able to come back alive after climbing the city. The remaining few

Everyone who climbed the city, whether they were low-level generals or ordinary soldiers, were chopped into pieces by the outnumbered Xuzhou soldiers on the city wall, leaving no chance for their companions to climb up the city.

For the siege party, this was an unsurprising result, because in the first large-scale siege, the defenders were at their peak in both manpower and material resources, and relied on their geographical advantages to block the enemy's first siege.

It is quite normal. Like Juhu's defense of Handan, it was defeated on the first day of the siege. In fact, it is a very rare situation, so such a result is not unacceptable to the Jingyuan coalition forces.

To be honest, it was the first time for Liu Qi to command such a large-scale siege battle. Even if Liu Qi's command in this siege battle was not outstanding, it could still be regarded as remarkable. At least it was organized.

It is clear and methodical, with a reasonable mix of troops and a relatively correct investment time for the reserve team. Except for some impatient orders for Lai Gong's team to attack with all their strength, which resulted in heavy casualties, there was no panic mistake often made by novices. So even on the first day of the siege

No one succeeded, and no one within the Liu Yuan coalition blamed or complained about Liu Qi's command error, which caused the sacrifice of the soldiers in vain. Liu Qi's favorite general Gan Ning, who performed the best, also won widespread praise from the Liu Yuan coalition and won Liu Qi's first victory.

Login rewards.

The same goes for the city defenders. In addition to cheering for the victory of defending the city, the Chaisang defenders were also glad that their army had severely damaged the enemy in the first battle, weakening the enemy's strength and damaging the enemy's morale. Therefore, after the battle,

In addition to giving rewards to the soldiers who had made meritorious services, Qiao Rui also ordered to reward the three armies. He rewarded the soldiers who defended the city with good wine and food. As a result, the cheers rang out again in the Chaisang garrison, and the generals and soldiers were very happy.

Only Yang Zheng did not show his face. When Chai Sang generals were celebrating their victory in the city tower, Yang Zheng found an excuse to sneak out of the city tower. He led Li Lang on the city wall to inspect the night watch status, and took the opportunity to think hard about some issues.

, there was a look of worry on his wretched thin face. Li Lang, who was always by Yang Zheng's side, yawned nonstop and couldn't help but said: "Master, it's already the second watch. If you don't want to drink, just go back and rest. Today you

It’s been a tiring day too.”

"Uncle Li, if you are tired, go and rest first. I'm not tired." Yang Zheng replied smoothly.

"Master, it's okay." Li Lang knew what Yang Zheng was thinking, so he advised: "I know you are worried about Gan Ning, but it's actually okay. You see, the bridge prefect is guarding the city so well, we just need to

Accompany him to guard the city carefully until Governor Lu's main force arrives for reinforcements. It doesn't matter whether we can kill Gan Ning or not. Master, you don't need to be so impatient."

"Is Uncle Qiao's city really well defended?" Yang Zheng was a little noncommittal and whispered to Li Lang: "Uncle Li, do you know how many arrows and city defense materials we have consumed in the past ten days?"

"I don't know." Li Lang shook his head, and then added: "There must be a lot, especially arrows, at least tens of thousands."

Yang Zheng nodded and sighed: "Uncle Qiao is indeed good at defending the city, but his strategy of defending the city is to pile up fortifications and baggage. Now we are surrounded by enemies on all sides, and the military supplies and baggage are used less and less. There is no way to replenish the city, but the enemy is backing us.

In the Yangtze River waterway, military supplies can be continuously replenished. If the supply continues like this, once our city defense supplies are used up, the reinforcements of Governor Lu have not yet had time to come for reinforcements, or our navy is on the water battlefield.

What should we do if we are repulsed by the enemy and cannot provide us with reinforcements?"

"This..." Li Lang, who was not good at this, scratched his head and said, "Isn't it possible? How could Governor Lu's reinforcements be repulsed by the enemy?"

"It is not impossible, because our surface strength is always at a disadvantage. Even if the Poyang Lake Navy and Chaohu Navy combined, they still cannot surpass the Jingzhou Navy in terms of strength." Yang Zheng sighed softly again.

, said: "Although fighting a war is not based solely on the comparison of troops and ships, people who do not think long-term must have immediate worries. If we are not prepared for the inability to obtain reinforcements, once the reinforcements are really repelled by the enemy, we will just want to make up for it.

It’s too late.”

"That's true. According to the young master, what should we do?" Li Lang nodded and asked.

"The best way is of course not to count on reinforcements, but to prioritize how to repel the enemy with our own strength." Yang Zheng replied: "In this way, if we can get reinforcements, it will be a great victory. If we can't get reinforcements, it doesn't matter.

lose."

"Repelling the enemy with our own strength? It seems a bit difficult." Li Lang smiled bitterly.

"The difficulty is relatively high, but it is not hopeless." Yang Zheng said distressedly: "Actually, I have already planned to defeat the enemy. Our enemies are full of internal contradictions and hidden dangers. Not only do they not trust each other at all, but they also have many hidden dangers.

There are still many people who have been secretly hostile to each other, but these conflicts and hidden dangers have not exploded yet. Now I am missing an opportunity and a breakthrough. As long as Liu Qi gives me a chance, I can make his internal conflicts completely explode.

If you don’t fight, you will be defeated.”

Yang Zheng's words were a bit too profound. Li Lang, who only liked to enjoy the good fortune and pretend to be a thief, could hardly understand it. He could only comfort him: "Don't worry, young master. I believe you can do it. You are much smarter than that boy Liu Qi.

Didn't you see through the last time he was pretending in front of you? I believe that within a few days, you will be able to find some kind of opportunity to break through and play him to death!"

"Don't underestimate my senior brother, he is also a very smart and talented person." Yang Zheng did not dare to underestimate the enemy at all, and said: "The last time I saw through his cover-up, it was just because Uncle Cai accidentally said

He let it slip. It made me a little suspicious at first, but then the timing of Senior Brother's appearance was wrong, otherwise..., eh? Are you trying to hide it?"

Speaking of this, Yang Zheng suddenly stopped himself, with a look of surprise on his thin face. Li Lang had been following Yang Zheng inseparably for a long time. This was the first time he saw Yang Zheng with such an expression, and he hurriedly asked: "Master

, what’s wrong? What happened?”

Yang Zheng waved his hand to silence Li Lang. After thinking for a moment, a smile appeared on Yang Zheng's wretched and thin face, and he said: "I know how to create opportunities, Uncle Li, let's go. Let's go see Uncle Qiao to discuss the matter.

"Very quickly, Yang Zheng led Li Lang and dragged Qiao Rui out of bed again, who had gone to bed to rest. He also introduced his treacherous plan in front of Qiao Rui. Qiao Rui laughed and immediately sent guards to inform Yang overnight.

The certificate designated the Jingzhou prisoner of war to come to see him.

Yang Zheng designated this Jingzhou prisoner of war. It was the Jingzhou soldier who was rescued by the Xuzhou army when they were filling the river last time. Yang Zheng had long forgotten his name and it didn’t matter. Anyway, after the full rescue efforts of Xuzhou military doctors,

This Jingzhou soldier had already recovered his life. Although his injuries had not yet recovered, he could barely move freely. This made this Jingzhou soldier very grateful to the Xuzhou Army and repeatedly expressed his willingness to surrender and join the Xuzhou Army. So Qiao Rui came forward.

After summoning the Jingzhou soldier to hand over the mission, the Jingzhou soldier named Wang Qinian immediately patted his chest and expressed his willingness to work hard for Qiao Rui to repay the Xuzhou army for saving his life. Qiao Rui was overjoyed when he heard this and quickly promised Wang Qinian an official position.

He then ordered Wang Qinian to put on the military uniform of a Xuzhou soldier, personally sent Wang Qinian out of Chaisang City, and asked Wang Qinian to rush to the Jingzhou camp overnight.

As a big-headed soldier who can do almost nothing but show off his strength, Wang Qinian was of course caught by the patrolling Jingzhou soldiers before he even got close to the gate of the Jingzhou Army camp. Fortunately, Wang Qinian was originally a member of the Jingzhou Army.

After he came out, he immediately reported his name, the name of his team and his superior, so the Jingzhou Army patrol team would naturally not abuse him. Then Wang Qinian said that he had escaped from Chaisang City and asked to see Liu Qiyou immediately.

The Jingzhou Army patrol did not dare to neglect reporting important events. After disarming Wang Qinian, they took him into the camp to report to Liu Qi.

When Wang Qinian was taken into the camp, it was already halfway through the fourth watch, and Liu Qi was sleeping soundly. In order to let Liu Qi rest for a while, Han Xi did not report to Liu Qi immediately, but asked someone to find out Wang Qinian's identity until the next day.

Liu Qi didn't report the news until he woke up in the early morning. As a result, Liu Qi heard that Wang Qinian, a soldier from the army, had escaped from Chaisang City. Instead, he scolded Han Xi and asked Han Xi to report him immediately if such a thing happened in the future.

After freshening up, he ordered the guards to bring Wang Qinian to his sleeping tent to pay homage.

After a while, Wang Qinian, who had been carefully identified, was brought into Liu Qi's sleeping tent. Liu Qi asked Wang Qinian urgently about his entry into the city. Wang Qinian kowtowed and replied: "My eldest son, I was captured by the Xuzhou bandits on the evening of the third day of the winter."

At that time, the villain was ordered to participate in filling the river. Unfortunately, he was hit by an arrow and fell unconscious on the battlefield. Later, our soldiers may not have cleaned the battlefield carefully enough, thinking that the villain was dead and did not take him away. The villain was captured by the Xuzhou bandits.

In the city, the villain was forced to join the Xuzhou bandit army. He had to submit to the enemy's camp, but he was loyal to the lord and the eldest son. He found an opportunity last night and slipped down the city wall quietly, and escaped back to meet the eldest son.

.”

"Okay, very good." Liu Qi was overjoyed. He didn't have time to inquire about various details after Wang Qinian was captured by the Xuzhou Army. He couldn't wait to ask: "You said you had something big to report, what big thing is it?"

"Sir, I heard in Chaisang City that there were rumors that our General Gan Ning from Jiangxia was colluding with the Xuzhou bandit army, saying that General Gan was an internal agent of the Xuzhou bandit army." Wang Qinian's answer shocked Liu Qi.

Then Wang Qinian kowtowed and said: "My eldest son, General Gan was wronged. I can testify for him. The Xuzhou bandit army set up an ambush in Wengcheng that night, so General Gan did not take the opportunity to attack Chaisang City.

"

"What did you say?" Liu Qi was a little speechless, then suddenly woke up and blurted out: "Could you be talking about what happened on the night of the tenth day of winter? The Xuzhou bandit army sent troops to sneak attack on our navy camp, and Gan Ning led his army to pursue

What happened when the Xuzhou bandits arrived at the North Gate of Chaisang, but Gan Ning refused to enter the city after Chaisang opened the door?"

"Yes, yes, that's the thing." Wang Qinian nodded quickly and said: "Actually, that night, the villain was also on the wall of the north gate of Chaisang. At that time, the walls around Wengcheng were already full of Xuzhou bandits.

The archers and crossbowmen also spread firewood all over Wengcheng and prepared fire-starting materials such as sulfur and kerosene. The villain was also responsible for throwing kerosene cans. As soon as the Xuzhou bandit army lured General Gan into Wengcheng, he immediately lowered the handle of the thousand-jin gate.

General Gan blocked Wengcheng, and then threw away the torches and kerosene, so that General Gan and his troops could be burned to death and shot to death. Thanks to General Gan's cleverness, he paid the money and retreated his troops in time, so he did not fall into the Xuzhou bandits' plot.

He saved the lives of many of our Jingzhou soldiers. Therefore, General Gan was unjustly accused. He only had merit but not guilt."

It would have been better if Wang Qinian didn't cry out for Gan Ning. This superfluous cry made Liu Qi immediately suspicious and recalled what happened that night. At that time, he learned that Chaisang's defenders took the risk to open the city gate at night to let the defeated army return to the city.

, I did ask Gan Ning why he didn't take advantage of the situation to attack Chaisang City. Gan Ning explained that since the enemy dared to open the door late at night, there must be an ambush inside the barbican city. Not only would he not be able to take the city by venturing into the city, but he would also sacrifice the lives of his soldiers in vain.

Agreeing with Gan Ning's judgment, he was busy taking care of the affairs of Zhang Yun and the Cai brothers afterwards, completely forgetting about the matter.

A small matter that had been forgotten in the back of his mind was brought up to his face by a prisoner who had escaped from the enemy's city. Liu Qi, no matter how inexperienced he was, could not help but become suspicious. After looking at Wang Qinian for a moment, Liu Qi suddenly asked: "Where did you come from?

I heard rumors that someone in our army was plotting to slander General Gan Ning?"

"From the Xuzhou bandit army." Wang Qinian quickly replied: "The Xuzhou bandit army in Chaisang City has spread the news, saying that you forced General Gan to personally attack the city because you were suspicious of General Gan.

Colluding with the Xuzhou bandit army."

Of course, Liu Qi did not force Gan Ning to attack the city in person. It was Gan Ning's choice to take the lead. However, after hearing what Wang Qinian said, Liu Qi inevitably remembered a detail that happened yesterday - more than 20,000 troops were deployed to attack the city.

Among them, Gan Ning was the only one who climbed up the city wall and escaped from the city wall without incident! Thinking of this, Liu Qi finally became suspicious, looked at Wang Qinian for a moment, and asked: "When Gan Ning climbed the city yesterday, how could you

On the city wall?”

"No." Wang Qinian answered truthfully.

"Then where were you then?" Liu Qi asked again.

"Villain..." Wang Qinian, who had never had to cross Qiao Rui's advice on this issue, hesitated, and took some time to answer: "Reporting to the eldest son, at that time the villain was guarding the city at the north gate of Chaisang. After the villain was captured

They were assigned to the North Gate City to help defend the city."

"Then who was the general in charge of our army's attack on the North Gate yesterday?" Liu Qi asked again.

"This..." Wang Qinian began to panic, and after a long while he replied: "Back to the young master, I don't know. I am a grassroots man in Guizhou and I don't know how to read, so I don't know."

Liu Qi didn't say anything, but looked at Wang Qinian coldly. Wang Qinian was already feeling guilty. Now that Liu Qi was staring at him so closely, no matter how much he pretended to be calm, he could not help but look panicked. His body was still trembling slightly, but Liu Qi suddenly slapped the case.

, asked: "Since you are guarding the city at the north gate of Chaisang, why did you enter the city from the west gate of Chaisang last night?!"

"Ah!" Wang Qinian's expression changed drastically, and it took him a long time to say: "Little man, little man, he went under the city wall from the north gate, and then..., and then went around to the west!"

"Nonsense!" Liu Qi roared: "If you are coming down from the north gate, you should surrender to our army's water stronghold in front. Why should you go around to the west and surrender in front of our army's Chinese camp?

Say! Why is this?!"
To be continued...