Fancheng went to battle. There were not many troops on both sides. Chen Mo was testing Fancheng's defenses, and Zhuge Liang also wanted to take this opportunity to wipe out the cavalry that threatened Fancheng the most.

Although the cavalry cannot attack the city, if Fancheng wants to defend it, it must rely on the strength of the Jiangdong Army. The presence of the cavalry is a great threat to the Jiangdong Army, so Zhuge Liang wants to take this opportunity to severely damage the cavalry, so he does not hesitate to send troops. However, Chen Mo was also a man who was good at calculating. Zhuge Liang did not hesitate to use soldiers to lure him. The crossbows at the city head did not fire. He could naturally see that, so he sent a group of ordinary cavalry to test, and as expected, the true power of the opponent's crossbows was induced. , and then when luring the opponent to pursue, Ma Chao sent out a thousand cavalry, and not only defeated Zhuge Liang's riflemen, but also captured several rifles. Neither side tried their best in this test, but they could probably see some of the opponent's advantages. inferior.

Although the repeating crossbow is easy to use, replacing the crossbow arrows is too time-consuming. As long as the opportunity is found, the cavalry's restraint on the crossbowmen is quite obvious. However, based on Chen Mo's observation of Zhuge Liang during this period, after this battle, Zhuge Liang will probably The crossbowmen have been improved. Chen Mo has a few guesses about what the next battle will be like, but the specific details will not be known until the actual battle.

In the Ming army camp, Chen Mo held this crossbow with both hands. It was more bulky than ordinary crossbows. It would be difficult for ordinary people to hold it. This kind of crossbow is best operated by two people.

After studying for a while, Chen Mo opened a mechanism from the crossbow. The crossbow box that popped out surprised Chen Mo. Can this crossbow be equipped with arrows like this?

"The ingenuity of this thing's conception is really unbelievable. Zhuge Liang is really a strange person." After Chen Mo studied it carefully for a while, he handed the crossbow box to Xun You who was standing aside and said with a smile.

"Today I looked at Xiangfan and found that although Fan City is strong, it still lacks some foundation compared to Xiangyang. However, it is extremely difficult to break through. In addition to Jiangdong's close support, the most important thing is the pontoon bridge connecting Xiangfan. , I have seen it before. This floating bridge seems simple, but in fact it connects the two cities. Whether our army attacks Xiangyang or Fancheng, we are fighting against the soldiers of the two cities. It would be better if we can contain the soldiers of Xiangyang, but Xiangyang City There are a large number of defensive camps outside, which are easy to defend but difficult to attack. There are also a large number of traps. It is extremely difficult to attack Xiangyang City. However, if the pontoon bridge can be broken, then although Fancheng has Jiangdong support, these Jiangdong soldiers and horses will not be in the city after all. In addition, the terrain in Jiangzuo is relatively open, making it easier to conquer." Xun You said while playing with the crossbow.

"It's just a pontoon bridge, why don't you bring someone to burn it!" Dian Wei on the side heard this and said disdainfully, it's just a pontoon bridge, what's the big deal.

"I always feel that this pontoon bridge will not be so simple." Chen Mo thought, Zhuge Liang blocked the river with copper pillars and iron cables in the middle of the river. It seems that this is to protect the pontoon bridge from being easily destroyed. Now the ships upstream are blocked by the iron cables and have difficulty getting down. To destroy the pontoon bridge, the only way is to force the people to storm the pontoon bridge. However, if the pontoon bridge is taken by land, it will be within the range of the two city walls, so you have to risk your life.

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"Your Majesty, if you have any secrets, you will find out once you try them." Xu Huang said with a smile, "I will give it a try, general."

Chen Mo nodded and said, "Be careful with the city-top ballistae."

"Here!"

That night, Chen Mo personally came to Fancheng to fight outside. Under the dark night, it was obviously the best protective color, but Chen Mo found several bronze mirrors at the top of the city. Those bronze mirrors shone the light of the torches under the city.

Pieces of light clusters formed under the city, and the bronze mirror seemed to be manipulated by someone. Its position was not fixed, but moved from time to time.

"Do you think Zhuge Kongming is a Mohist or a Confucian?" Chen Mo looked at this scene speechlessly. Since the battle with Zhuge Liang, Zhuge Liang has used various utensils in endless ways. He is also proficient in the Eight Formations of Qimen and Confucian allusions.

He is also very familiar with it. I really don’t know which school this person is a disciple of.

Xun You, who was beside him, laughed when he heard this and said: "I heard that Zhuge Liang studied under Mr. Shui Jing. This man is a strange man in the world. He is proficient in Taoism, Qimen, art of war, and Confucian classics. But I have never heard that this man is good at these things. Zhuge Kongming knows these things, probably

It was obtained from others."

Naturally, Chen Mo has heard of Mr. Shui Jing’s name. When Lu Bu was governing Nanyang because he had no one around to help him, he had an idea for Mr. Shui Jing and Pang Degong. However, they knew about it in advance and escaped first. Chen Mo knew that these two people

Earlier, Cai Yong had talked with him about famous people in the world in his early years. As a great scholar in the world, Cai Yong was usually approachable, but in fact there were not many people who could catch his eye, and Mr. Shui Jing was one of them.

While the two were talking, Xu Huang had personally led a team of people under Fancheng. Although the light reflected by those bronze mirrors could illuminate an area, the corresponding areas that were not illuminated would be even harder to detect. In addition,

The bronze mirror does not rotate very fast, and those led by Xu Huang can easily avoid it.

"It's a pity that this method is somewhat useless here." Chen Mo looked at this scene from a distance, shook his head and smiled.

Xun You nodded and was about to say something when he suddenly heard a series of crisp sounds in the silent night. It was the enemy who had set up a trap on the pontoon. Once touched, the trap would be triggered immediately, causing a loud noise.

Chen Mo and Xun You's expressions changed. They looked over quickly and saw that the bronze mirror on the top of the city was moving faster. Soon they locked onto Xu Huang and others. A large number of Jingzhou troops appeared on the top of the city and fired arrows towards the bottom of the city.

A ballista began to be debugged under the city. For a moment, thousands of arrows were fired and cannon stones fell. Many of the soldiers who went to destroy the bridge fell under the rain of arrows. Xu Huang was alert and immediately rolled into the river.

, only escaped, but among the hundreds of soldiers who followed him to destroy the bridge, only three other than Xu Huang survived in the end.

"The general is incompetent, please punish me!" Xu Huang returned to the camp in embarrassment and knelt down next to Chen Mo.

"Gongming, get up quickly!" Chen Mo quickly stepped forward to help Xu Huang up, looked up and down, and then breathed a sigh of relief when he found that Xu Huang was fine, and asked someone to quickly change Xu Huang into clean clothes. After a long time, when Xu Huang returned

Afterwards, Chen Mo shook his head at Xu Huang and said, "As long as everything is alright, it's hard for anyone to detect this kind of agency at night. Gongming must not blame himself for this."

When Xu Huang heard this, he burst into tears of gratitude. After thanking him, he stood back to his seat.

Qian Zhao frowned and said: "Zhuge Liang is quite well prepared. If our army wants to destroy the pontoon bridge, the only way is to destroy the iron cable in the center of the river and take a boat down the river to crash into the pontoon bridge."

The generals thought it was reasonable and nodded one after another, but Chen Mo felt that it would not be easy even if he destroyed the copper pillars in the center of the river and destroyed the pontoon. People like Zhuge Liang would probably take everything that could happen to the extreme, but how extreme would this be? The extent is yet to be determined.

Knocking on the table, Chen Mo said with a smile: "This floating bridge is certainly crucial, but even if Zhuge Liang's calculations are exquisite, there is one thing that he definitely failed to calculate."

"Oh?" The generals were confused when they heard what Chen Mo was talking about. In everyone's opinion, whether it was the copper pillars in the center of the river and the iron cables crossing the river, the pontoon bridge between Xiangfan or the layers of fortifications outside Xiangyang City. , almost the whole of Xiangfan was included, and the fierceness of Fancheng's crossbows was experienced by the cavalry today. It is not easy to break through Fancheng. Without corresponding suppression, even if the Ming army rushed to the city, their morale would be destroyed. , there is no flaw in this at all, but I don’t know what Chen Mo said Zhuge Liang didn’t take into account?

"I wonder what the king is talking about?" Xun You asked with a smile.

"Liqiu!" Chen Mo clicked on the map and looked at the crowd and said, "Although Xiangfan's defense is tight, it does not have many troops. Although Jiangdong's troops are sufficient and Liqiu's terrain is dangerous, it is far inferior to that of Xiangyang."

When the generals heard this, they suddenly realized that Liqiu was Jiangdong's temporary troop garrison after all. If Liqiu could be captured, Xiangfan would be strong, but without Jiangdong's army, it would become an isolated city. They could easily besiege Xiangfan from all sides. Xiangfan's military strength can be increased even at the cost of human lives.

Naturally, Chen Mo would not risk human lives to add to Xiangyang's situation, but as long as Xiangfan is trapped, it will not be possible to cut off water, but it will be possible to deprive him of food. If Liu Bei is defeated and returns to reinforcements, he will block them along the way. If Liu Bei does not return to reinforcements, Xiangfan will be destroyed. A little bit sleepy to death.

And in terms of strategy, if they attack Jiangdong, will Zhuge Liang help them? After all, Jiangdong soldiers and horses came to help Jingzhou, but now they have become Chen Mo’s main target of attack. If Zhuge Liang does not help, there will be resentment in the hearts of Jiangdong generals. If help, but they can swallow up Xiangyang's reinforcements and further weaken Xiangfan's defensive strength.

Xun You smiled and said: "Your Majesty is far-sighted and far-sighted, but I cannot match him."

"Don't say these polite words, Gongming!" Chen Mo waved his hand and looked at Xu Huang.

"The general is here!" Xu Huang quickly stepped forward and bowed.

"You lead 30,000 troops and horses, with Zhang Xiu as your deputy general. Starting tomorrow, we will attack Liqiu!" Chen Mo said solemnly.

"General, take your orders!" Xu Huang quickly agreed.

"Ma Chao, Pang De!" Chen Mo looked at Ma Chao and Pang De who were standing aside and said in a deep voice.

"The general is here!" Ma Chao and Pang De stood up quickly.

"You two each lead your own cavalry to raid the formation. If Fancheng doesn't send troops to assist, that's it. But if Fancheng sends troops to help Jiangdong, wait for them to leave the city, quickly cut off their return route, and leave the reinforcements outside the city." Chen Mo said with a smile.

"General, take your orders!" Ma Chao and Pang De bowed.

After Chen Mo adjusted his offensive strategy, he ordered everyone to disperse and make good repairs before heading out to Liqiu tomorrow.

After the generals bid farewell to Chen Mo, they returned to camp to repair.

Chen Mo took Xun You to the copper pillar in the center of the river. He looked at the copper pillar in the center of the river from a distance. After a long time, Chen Mo said, "Gongda, I want to use this Zhuge Liang for my own use. What do you think?"

Xun You smiled and said: "Zhuge Kong is clearly a genius. If he can be used by our lord, it will be a blessing for our court. However, I am afraid that such a person cannot be persuaded by words."
Chapter completed!