On the wall of Deng County, Shen Dan turned his face away with some embarrassment: "I am certainly not as good as Xu Gongming, but if something happens in Fancheng..."
Xu Shu looked at Shen Dan's face and carefully reviewed Shen Dan's resume over the years. This person was basically a noble family of Shangyong. He could gather people to form his own regime, but if he really faced a large-scale war, his experience and mentality were far from enough.
Logically speaking, such a person is not worthy of leading troops and being a general. Although he got the official position by virtue of the old appointment, he should be dismissed as soon as possible.
But in the affairs of the world, Shen Dan is not the only one who is in a position but does not fulfill his duties. There are countless people like Shen Dan.
Xu Shu had no choice but to teach him patiently: "General Shen, given the current situation near Xiangfan, the 8,000 men you and I have in Deng County are the nearest reinforcements. Whether it's Qian Zhenxi from Xuchang, the rear general from Jiangxia, or Xiahou Pingnan, it will take time for them to arrive in Xiangfan."
"If we rush to the city of Fancheng and the Wu soldiers take advantage of their numbers and break through, the morale of the people in the city will be greatly depressed. But if we wait and see, the soldiers in Fancheng will know that the reinforcements are there but have not arrived, and they will only fight harder to defend the city."
Seeing Shen Dan's dazed expression, Xu Shu continued:
"The Wu army's advantage lies in water battles and boats. I don't think Sun Quan can fight a long battle away from the water. Although we are only fifteen miles away from Fancheng, the Wu army will never dare to attack us in just fifteen miles. We are very safe."
Shen Dan bowed and said, "Then according to Master Xu, how long can Fancheng be defended?"
Xu Shu shrugged and spread his hands, saying, "We will defend as long as we can. This is Lu Shi's own destiny."
The look of realization on Shen Dan's face disappeared in an instant, and he stamped his feet anxiously: "I have often heard that Xu Gong is full of military strategies. Just now, after listening to Xu Gong's words, are we just going to sit and watch Fancheng being besieged and attacked?"
"What should we do? You and I should wait for reinforcements outside Fancheng!" Xu Shu stared at Shen Dan and said, "No matter how well I understand the art of war, I cannot act rashly in the use of troops. Eight thousand soldiers are not enough anyway. If we go to Fancheng, we will be like moths to a flame! Wait until Jiangxia or Xuchang comes to help, then you and I can do something."
Xu Shu had said so much, Shen Dan finally stopped asking and bowed to Xu Shu, saying, "I understand what you mean, Master Xu. I will wait for your instructions."
"Very good." Xu Shu stroked his beard and said, "Although we can't do anything about Fancheng now, we still have to do other things. General Shen, send scouts to explore the west and east."
"Go east to Caiyang. Go west along the Han River, through Shandu, Zhuyang, Yinxian, and Lingxian to explore. Once you reach Lingxian, you can return. If there is any situation or you encounter any enemy or our army, send someone back immediately to report."
Shen Dan nodded: "I understand, but Lord Xu, don't you need to send someone to check around Fancheng?"
"I know Lu Shi. He is capable of defending the city. There is no need to alert the Wu army by going to the place where they are stationed." Xu Shu replied.
"As you command, I'll send someone to investigate right away," said Shen Dan.
However, in Xiangyang on the south bank of the Han River, the attitudes of Zhao Yan and Niu Jin were completely opposite to Xu Shu's cautiousness.
Fancheng is low on all sides, so the water will be fine after draining and drying for a few days. But the terrain of Xiangyang is completely different from that of Fancheng. Xiangyang is slightly higher, but there is a lake called Yahu and a Tan River in the west of the city.
Whenever there is a flood, the Han River will flow into Ya Lake, take the water from Tan Creek, destroy the dams and sluice gates, and turn the area west of Xiangyang into a swamp.
The Han River made a big turn around Xiangyang, creating a large sandbar called Yuliangzhou in the middle of the river east of Xiangyang, and a lake like this was created east of Xiangyang.
The wall of Fancheng was about seven miles long. There were 20,000 Wu troops outside ready to attack, but only 5,000 people were stationed inside the city.
Xiangyang was only facing the enemy on the east and south sides, and a small part of the south was blocked by water. If you count carefully, it was 10,000 people in a width of more than five miles, defending against the 10,000 people of Zhuge Jin's army of the Wu army.
Courage grows naturally.
Moreover, Zhao Yan was known for his ability to judge the situation. When Guan Yu besieged Fancheng, Zhao Yan was in Fancheng with Cao Ren. Niu Jin, who was under Cao Ren's command at the time, was also in Fancheng with Cao Ren and Zhao Yan.
In other words, they were both intelligent, strategic, and courageous. They knew the situation in Fancheng and Xiangyang very well.
After several days of observation from the top of the city, Zhao and Niu had already figured out the arrangements of the Wu army.
On the afternoon of the 15th, Zhao Yan and Niu Jin stood leisurely at the northeast corner of the tower, looking at Fancheng on the other side of the Han River, watching the Wu army ships on the Han River, and occasionally looking at the Wu army under the city. Niu Jin approached Zhao Yan and said, "The Wu army has been under the city for almost five days, and our army has not yet fought with them. The Wu people must think that there are few soldiers in the city or they are timid."
"Tomorrow is the sixth day. At dawn, Lord Zhao, why don't you allow me to lead the troops to charge the Wu camp?" Niu Jin's bearded face was grinning at this time: "I remember that when we were under the city of Jiangling, Lord Cao and I charged like this!"
Zhao Yan had known Niu Jin for more than ten years. He was brave and daring, but he always boasted. In Jiangling, who didn't know that it was Niu Jin who fell into Zhou Yu's camp and Cao Ren personally led his troops to rescue him?
It's really like 'Cao Ren and I joined forces to attack Zhou Yu'.
Zhao Yan glanced at Niu Jin with a half-smile. Niu Jin was also in his fifties, so Zhao Yan could not say anything to him. Instead, he asked directly, "Judging from the flags below the city, the enemy must be Zhuge Jin's troops of the Wu army. This man is not good at fighting, and he only got a high position because of Sun Quan's promotion. Shucai, how many people do you want to use to attack the camp?"
Niu Jin smiled and said, "Put on your armor and gather outside the city gate at night. When there is a glimmer of light in the east, immediately attack the Wu army camp and make noise, and then return."
"We can't have too many people in this kind of situation. Too many people will cause chaos and slow down the return to the city. Lord Zhao will let me lead 600 elite troops."
"Six hundred?" Zhao Yan narrowed his eyes and looked towards Yuliangzhou in the northeast, where Sun Quan's army was stationed. After looking for a long time, Zhao Yan said:
"Don't bring 600 people. Bring 200 more, so that you can make 800. I can then report your achievements to the court."
"Eight hundred?" Niu Jin was stunned for a few moments, then burst into laughter: "Mr. Zhao, your opinion is great, eight hundred is eight hundred! Zhang Wenyuan imitated what Mr. Cao did at Jiangling City when he was at the gate of Hefei City. Today, I, Niu Jin, will also imitate Zhang Wenyuan!"
"Lord Zhao, I will go down and select the soldiers now."
"Yes." Zhao Yan smiled and nodded: "Don't be stingy with the wine and meat, reward yourself first before leaving."
"I know." Niu Jin replied with a bow.
……
In the morning, Cao Rui led the Secretariat, the Privy Council and a group of Imperial College students from Luoyang. The Luoyang North Palace, which had left its owner, was now under the sole control of Empress Dowager Guo.
In the afternoon, Concubine Feng Yuan entered Empress Dowager Guo's Changle Palace and told her everything about her singing of Hujia with the Emperor yesterday. In the end, she refrained from telling him what he had asked her in the morning.
"Will you invite Cai Zhaoji?" Dowager Guo sat on a carved lacquer chair in the side hall and looked at Feng Yuan who was standing respectfully in front of her. "Since you have invited Zhaoji, you can also invite Zhenji. You should know who Zhenji's husband is, right?"
After saying that, Empress Dowager Guo pointed to the small chair on the side and motioned Feng Yuan to sit down.
"Thank you, Queen Mother, for the invitation. I know about this matter. My family is in Tongdi County, and Cai Zhenji's husband, Yang Gongzheng, is the lord of my hometown. I have heard of his name for a long time."
"You are right." Queen Mother Guo nodded slightly. "Yang Zhongping is now the governor of Shangdang. Since he has a history with your family, he also has a history with me. Then call him to the palace to have a chat."
"The Queen Mother is wise." Feng Yuan nodded.
Feng Yuan's grandfather was granted the title of Marquis of Tongdi during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han. The Queen Mother Guo, who was in front of her, fled from Jizhou to Bingzhou due to war when she was young, and lived in the Feng family for several years. Later, she returned to Yecheng because of the recommendation of the Feng family and was able to join Cao Pi's side.
Empress Dowager Guo's family was small, so naturally she supported the Feng family more. Feng Yuan's entry into the palace was also arranged by Empress Dowager Guo.
Feng Yuan was quiet for a while, but couldn't help asking, "Queen Mother, I don't understand why you asked Cai Zhenji to come with you? She must not understand so many musical instruments and poems."
"You don't understand that." Queen Mother Guo said with a smile: "If you want to maintain your favor in the harem, it is not something that can be done by one person alone. You should make friends with many people. Although Cai Zhenji does not understand music theory, she has a daughter who is of marriageable age."
"The Yang family of Taishan is also a famous family, and they have a long history with your Feng family. In addition, Cai Zhaoji and Cai Zhenji's father, Lord Cai, is also a well-known and talented person. I think this Yang family girl should enter the palace." (End of this chapter)
