Cheers.
All of Fancheng cheered.
Countless people surrounded Lu Xun, their faces showing smiles of relief after near-disaster, their excitement evident.
Lu Xun… this young Grand Commander of the Navy, today… he truly turned the tide. He also, for the first time, showed the soldiers his strategic brilliance.
But…
In fact, the crisis was not over. Everyone knew that last night's surprise attack was merely Guan Yu's probe. Guan Yu had lost only a few thousand soldiers at most, his core strength unaffected… How would the battle continue? What would be the subsequent course of events? All eyes subconsciously turned to Lu Xun.
Seemingly sensing their doubts, Lu Xun sighed, "Although the mountain torrent was terrifying and fierce, it also receded quickly. Guan Yu's reason for not bypassing Jing and Xiang to directly attack Xuchang and Luoyang was his fear of us cutting off his retreat. He attacked immediately upon his arrival last night, which indicates his insufficient provisions. He mostly used scaling ladders for sieges, not siege engines like the well-and-well, which suggests a shortage of military equipment… In this light, Guan Yu is merely a paper tiger, fierce in appearance but easily pierced. What else is there to fear, everyone?"
Lu Xun's words were like a divine anchor.
Who would have thought… that after being surrounded by Guan Yu's vast army, Lu Xun, the commander of Fancheng, remained so composed? Of course… thanks to yesterday's great victory, his words undoubtedly instilled more confidence in many. At this moment, Lu Meng was provocatively challenging them from behind Cao Cao's lines. "Damn it, were they all born from bird eggs? Fearing the enemy like a tiger, what's the point of fighting? Go back to the Central Plains and sleep with your wives!"
"Distinguished gentlemen, please grant us passage!"
As the ships approached, women dressed as white-clothed merchants entered Deng Feng's sight at the foot of the beacon tower.
Cao Yu had already applied a human skin mask to appear more composed. His face displayed a smile peculiar to merchants, though even with such an expression.
Once the beacon tower was lit, it would signal an invasion of Jiangling. Jiangling city would close its gates tightly, and Deng Feng would receive the news immediately and lead troops to reinforce.
The soldiers worked hard all these years, and never had they seen so much gold… If each person were given a piece of this, they could buy several beautiful women from Bashu upon returning!
— "Good….."
Moreover…
Of course… this included the current situation.
— "In this battle, we will surely defeat the Wei army!"
It was from that day onwards that he began to diligently study military books… The seventh time he met Guan Yu, he could already speak fluently about the situation in Jingzhou, the war in Yiling, and his responses to all of Guan Yu's proposals.
"Absolutely not. The beacon tower is a restricted area. No vessels are allowed to dock!"
"Steward Liu from the Ministry of Works just sent word that the siege weapons transported by Steward Zhuge will arrive soon!"
"It's pottery and silk, sir…" Cao Yu shouted, and someone brought out much from the warehouse.
Deng Feng's eldest son, Xiahou Heng, second son, Xiahou Ba, third son, Xiahou Cheng, and fourth son, Xiahou Wei, all volunteered.
He gazed into the distance… at the beacon tower amidst the verdant mountains.
"Sir!" Deng Feng shouted, "We are merchant ships that often travel this waterway. The waves are too strong now; we will take shelter here briefly before departing."
Zhang Fei instructed, "Sink this white horse into the moat!"
"No!" Xun You stepped into the large tent and, amidst the enemy's peaceful curses, stated with firm footfall.
Cao Yu's heart was pounding in his chest. He quietly instructed, "Pass my military order: all soldiers on the ships are forbidden from acting rashly. Anyone who exposes military secrets will be immediately executed!"
……
— "The Wei army, from top to bottom, enjoys reading 'The Spring and Autumn Annals with Commentary'. Because he stays up late… his eyesight is not very good. Furthermore… after reading 'The Spring and Autumn Annals with Commentary' so much, he always thinks he is cultured and looks down on other cultured people. Whenever he hears of famous people appearing, he squints his eyes, looks at them indifferently, with a dismissive expression. Such a person… cannot be interacted with. If the relationship is right, he's fine. But his leadership is flawed. He looks down on his own people, let alone the enemy. Precisely on the battlefield, underestimating the enemy is a major taboo!"
"Heh heh." Zhang Fei laughed, "Gongda, you must give me a definite answer. How many days?"
……
The attendant stepped out from the stern and truthfully relayed the message to the armored soldiers hidden in the warehouse.
… At this moment, the area was garrisoned by Cao Cao's Zhang Fei.
The "Yuanshanzi" where the Shu army was stationed overlooked Deng Feng's camp… Of course, the advantage of being stationed here was… even if Cao Cao wanted to attack, he could only feign an attack…
To the south of the mountain was a natural basin shaped like a pot, known in ancient texts as "Yangtianwa," which could "station ten thousand soldiers." If history were to unfold, this would be the place where Zhuge Liang set up the "Four Formations Diagram" and the "Military Supervision Altar" at Wuhouping, and where Huang Zhong fought Zhang Fei!
"Sir, please grant us passage. We will not stay long… just take shelter from the wind and waves before leaving!"
……
Zhang Fei knew that at the end of the river… the operation had already begun.
……
At the beacon tower south of Jiangling, the soldiers on guard spotted the continuous ships from afar. Zhang Fei's actions achieved the desired effect.
As the ships neared the beacon tower, over ten merchant ships lowered their sails, appearing as if they were about to stop.
Deng Feng's leader saw what his brothers were thinking and muttered to himself that this was originally a thankless task, but the illicit gains would not be insignificant.
"What is it?" Zhang Fei asked, but as the words left his mouth, a sly smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"It's not!" Xun You's tone was resolute…
At that moment, his eyes were filled with murderous intent!
Of course… these curses had the intended effect.
According to the original plan…
But at this time.
"Bang!" Zhang Fei slammed his fist on the desk, his brow furrowed… "Where are my sons?" With a splash, the white horse fell into the river… and quickly sank to the bottom.
……
The seventeen peaks rose, from Shishanzi to Yuanshanzi, known as the "Seventeen Connected Peaks."
The river wind blew, and the green mountains on both banks were like painted eyebrows. Cao Yu, dressed in white robes like a merchant, stood at the bow of the ship. He could see the continuous beacon towers built by the Wei army.
Speaking of which… Cao Yu recalled when he led Zhou Yu to the palace to meet the Emperor.
When he mentioned this…
Cao Ying, the central army tent…
He walked ashore and instructed his brothers in front of the soldiers, "Quickly, quickly… distribute some pottery and silk to these gentlemen. Quickly… quickly!"
"He’s an arrogant and cowardly turtle afraid of the enemy, and has his wife been slept with by your elder brother?"
"Father, your son is here!"
……
Zhang Fei's words made Cao Cao astonished. He squinted… in this era, let alone "cannons," there was no concept of gunpowder…
"What is it?" Cao Cao was also curious.
"May Heaven protect us!"
"It's enough… in three days!" Xun You's tone was firm…
"It's not…" Xun You waved his hand, "This time it's not the Zhuge Repeating Crossbow!"
It could be said that because of where both sides were stationed, neither dared to launch a full-scale attack… but if it dragged on, Cao Cao, with his logistical depots in Hanzhong and extremely convenient supply lines, could afford it. The food supply of the Shu army… would be difficult to transport via the Shu road!
Dozens of merchant ships were sailing against the current on the Yangtze River…
"Quickly prepare the kindling!"
"Yes, sir!" Cao Yu shouted, but as this sentence escaped, a sly smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"Why?" Deng Feng asked hastily.
"The Emperor named it – the Red-Clothed Great Cannon!"
However…
Even though it was designed by Guan Yu, and the workshop was so confident… then…
Xun You "smacked" his lips, "Xun has not seen it either, but… it is a blueprint drawn by the Emperor, which went through more than ten processes. It was originally planned to be completed in one year, but it took eight years for the test to succeed, and ten years for it to be battle-ready…"
"Xiahou Miaocai fears the enemy like a tiger. Of your sons, how many are truly yours, and how many are your elder brother's?"
"Father, your son is here!"
……
Cao Ying was stationed in "Yangtianwa," while the Shu army was stationed on a relatively low mountain "Yuanshanzi" on the outer perimeter of Dingjun Mountain…
The mountains to the east form a solitary peak, extending for more than ten kilometers from west to east, like a dragon playing with a pearl, hence the praise "Seventeen Mountains, One Pearl."
It could be said that regardless of whether it was Guan Yu, or Zhou Yu, or even Cao Yu himself, they had already deduced it countless times, as naturally as eating and sleeping.
"Brothers' wives are not to be offended; riding them occasionally is fine! Hahaha…"
"Good!" Zhang Fei suddenly stood up, preparing to muster his troops…
Who was Zhang Fei? He was the current father-in-law of the state… After Lu Xun retired, he was ranked alongside Xiahou Dun as the patriarch of the Cao and Xiahou clans.
"Father, your son is here!"
"Yes!"
The soldiers on the beacon tower were somewhat moved. However, the leader remained extremely cautious, "What is on the ship?"
Soon, all the soldiers at the beacon tower sprang into action. Some went to light the fire, others prepared to throw torches into the beacon tower at any moment.
The praise that came from Lu Meng’s roaring voice echoed through the valley, filling the entire Dingjun Mountain with his curses…
"What is that?" Zhang Fei also found it curious.
"It's pottery and silk, sir…" Cao Yu shouted, and someone brought out much from the warehouse.
The leader quickly ordered.
"Yes!"
The soldiers on the shore had already received the pottery and silk handed over from the ship… their eyes widened as they looked at them.
"It’s pottery and silk, sir…" Cao Yu shouted, and someone brought out much from the warehouse.
When he said the last few words, he turned his head to look at the ships that had all docked. He himself did not care about his reputation, but… his status also did not allow him to be a shrinking turtle and let the enemy's foul language enter the military tents.