Chapter 147 Prime Minister, Liu Zilie is really coming to kill us this time!
Chapter 147: Prime Minister, Liu Zilie is really coming to kill us this time!
In the heavy rain,
More than ten thousand soldiers rushed towards Xiangyang like a black tide.

"Damn it, I can't see clearly at all!"

"Stop complaining, Xiangyang is just ahead! We have never reached this place since we followed Uncle Liu!"

"Once the eldest son takes Xiangyang, Fancheng will not be able to escape! If we take Xiangfan, Nanyang will also be ours."

"I still have to follow the eldest son for fun! Not to mention Uncle Liu, even when the old lord Liu Jingsheng was here, we didn't take back Nanyang!"

Marching rapidly in the heavy rain, a few old soldiers still had enough energy to talk in low voices.

They served in the army when Liu Biao was the lord of Jingzhou. After the Battle of Chibi, Liu Bei occupied the four counties in southern Jingzhou, and they joined their comrades in swearing loyalty to Uncle Liu.

In the Battle of Gong'an, Liu Wu won a great victory, and they once again became soldiers under Liu Wu's command.

In the eyes of these old soldiers at the bottom of the society, Liu Biao, Liu Bei, or Liu Wu are, after all, relatives of the Han Dynasty and are all one family. There is no difference between being loyal to them and being loyal to the Han Dynasty, and there is no such thing as betraying one's master.

But even when the old lord Liu Jingsheng was alive, he was unable to completely control Nanyang.

Needless to say, Uncle Liu had already done his best to capture the four counties in southern Jing.

Only this eldest son, his momentum is really soaring to the sky...

Occupy Jiangbei!
Swallow Jingnan!
Now the army is advancing by land and sea, heading straight for Xiangfan!
As long as Xiangfan is taken, Nanyang will be the meat on the young master's lips, and he can cut his teeth at any time...

"It was indeed the right thing for Gongan City to open the gates to the eldest young master!"

"Uncle Liu is really confused. He doesn't want to make such a capable son the crown prince, but a seven-year-old baby?!"

"If Adou had really been made the emperor, the four counties in southern Jing would have been swallowed up by Cao Cao long ago, not to mention the battle to Xiangfan!"

The old soldiers were whispering to each other, but their footwork did not lag behind.

"drive!"

At the front, Wei Yan looked at the Xiangyang City getting closer and closer, let out a long breath, and looked at the deputy general riding side by side: "Pass on my military order..."

"The entire army will speed up and move forward for twenty miles and set up camp on the spot."

"I will completely block the road to Xiangyang City!"

……

……

"Report! Wei Yan's army is less than 40 miles away from the city!"

"Wei Yan is less than thirty miles away from Xiangyang City!"

"The enemy is already 20 miles from Xiangyang City!"

In the residence of the Xiangyang County Magistrate, scouts soaked all over were coming and going in an endless stream!
The latest news about Wei Yan's army kept coming in, but every time it came, the generals' faces became more gloomy involuntarily.

This army of ten thousand men was like a huge rock, weighing heavily on their hearts.

Could it be that Wei Yan was planning to attack the city on a rainy night?

"Report!" Another scout came running over: "Wei Yan's army is more than ten miles away from Xiangyang City. According to the scouts, the enemy has brought military tents and chevaux de frise, which is very strange."

Military tents and chevaux de frise?
All the generals present were stunned. Isn't this something for setting up camp?
Wei Yan attacked the city overnight and carried these things with him?

"Not good!" Lu Chang stood up suddenly, his face grim: "Wei Yan is not here to attack the city... He is going to set up camp outside Xiangyang!"

"He wants to block the last land route to Xiangyang City!"

After all, Lu Chang had fought on the battlefield for many years and saw through Wei Yan's plan at a glance.

Once the land route to Xiangyang is blocked, there is the Jingzhou navy behind them...

All the generals had wet backs.

Lu Chang's expression was stern: "Send the order! Gather two thousand soldiers, hurry out of the city, and make sure to set up camp ten miles outside the city before Wei Yan!"

"Xiangyang must not become a dead city!"

……

boom! ~
That night, the gate of Xiangyang was opened for the second time.

The dazzling torches illuminated the corridor of the city gate, and two thousand soldiers swarmed out and rushed into the rainy night.

Behind the two thousand soldiers was a convoy loaded with camping supplies.

"Hurry up!"

"The general has ordered us to set up camp ten miles outside Xiangyang City!"

"Follow!"

In the heavy rain, two thousand soldiers marched forward with difficulty, one step deep and one step shallow, and finally reached their destination.

"Set up camp! Set up camp quickly..."

"kill!!"

"Enemy! The enemy is coming!"

"Fight, fight quickly...ah!"

Before they could finish their words, earth-shaking shouts of killing suddenly exploded in front of them.

When these two thousand soldiers arrived at their destination, Wei Yan led the army to attack!
The army rushed over like a flood breaking through a dam.

Densely packed and boundless!
Almost one wave completely submerged the two thousand soldiers...

Wei Yan jumped on his horse and charged into the two thousand soldiers, slashing horizontally and vertically with the sword in his hand!

The screams became less and less.
The blood on the ground became increasingly lighter as it was washed away by the rain.

In a moment,

The screams stopped and the blood was completely washed away.

Only Wei Yan's cold military order rang out: "Set up camp on the spot!"

……

On the top of Xiangyang City Tower,

Zhangling Prefect Lu Chang witnessed the fierce battle in the rain just now with his own eyes!
The two thousand men he sent out in the rain were ambushed by Wei Yan before they even had time to set up camp.

Wei Wenchang is indeed a fierce general...

As they had served under Liu Biao in the past, Lu Chang and Wei Yan naturally knew each other, and it was no exaggeration to say that they were old friends.

At that time, Liu Biao's two sons were fighting for Jingzhou, almost abandoning their bodies and fighting each other. In despair, they directly surrendered to Cao Cao, while Wei Yan took the risk and surrendered to Liu Xuande.

After Lü Chang defected to Cao Cao, he was appointed Wu Meng Du Wei, Li Jie Zhong Lang Jiang, and was granted the title of Guannei Hou. He had already been the prefect of Zhangling.

And what about Wei Yan?

He was not valued by Liu Xuande and was excluded everywhere.

Once upon a time, Lu Chang laughed at Wei Yan in his heart, laughing at how Wei Yan was deceived by the name of Liu Xuande and ended up in such a state.

However, it was not until today that Lu Chang realized that the person Wei Yan defected to was not Liu Xuande, but Liu Zilie!
Today, Liu Zilie is the second most powerful vassal in the world after Cao Mengde, and Wei Yan is the number one general under Liu Wu, ruling a region on his own.

I heard that Wei Yan even became sworn brothers with Liu Wu early on, with Wei Yan being the elder brother and Liu Wu being the younger brother.

It seems that my vision is inferior to Wei Wenchang after all...

They were once old acquaintances, but now they serve different masters. The two thousand people he sent out were directly eliminated. Wei Yan was still the same Wei Yan, showing no mercy at all!
Lu Chang returned to the hall.

"Sir, there are only 8,000 people in our city now, and there is no chance of opening a land route."

"Wei Yan has 10,000 men outside. We may not be their opponents, but we have a city to defend, so there is no need to fight them!"

"But our Xiangyang City is surrounded by water on three sides and only has land on one side. Now that the land is blocked, it will become an isolated city!"

"What else can we do?! If we send too few troops, we won't be able to defend Xiangyang City just like we did with 2,000 people before! If we send too many troops, do we still want to keep Xiangyang City?!"

"Yes, we can still defend the city now. Wei Yan only has 10,000 soldiers, so he can't do anything to us..."

"Yes, we must not go out of the city to fight again. You must know that the Jingzhou navy is floating on the river and they can land at any time!"

"Yes! We can't leave the city again, or we will be doomed!"

The generals were discussing the matter and were very excited.

Finally, it was concluded that although it was dangerous to have the land route blocked by Wei Yan, it could still be defended.

If they leave the city again, there is no way they can win the battle. Once the navy of Jingzhou takes advantage of the emptiness of Xiangyang City to land, they will be doomed.

"Xiangyang City has high walls and thick walls. Even if it is blocked, Wei Yan can't do anything to us." Lu Chang tried his best to calm the generals: "As long as we hold on, even if the Jingzhou navy lands, we can resist for a while."

"Everyone!"

"The situation in Xiangyang is not very clear, but we must not forget that Xiangyang and Fanyang are one. On the other side of the river is Fancheng, which is guarded by General Cao Ren. There are 20,000 troops stationed in Fancheng!"

"General Yu Jin has also arrived, bringing with him seven armies, totaling more than 30,000 elite soldiers!"

"There are 50,000 troops on the other side..."

"We will hold on here as long as we can. Every day we hold out means General Cao Ren can hold back Wei Yan for another day!"

"Xiang and Fan are one. We are not defending here alone, but trying to gain a chance to win for General Cao Ren. If Fancheng can repel Liu Wu, the siege of Xiangyang will naturally be lifted!"

After Lu Chang finished speaking, the emotions of the generals in the city calmed down.

With only 8,000 men at hand, they are facing the pressure of having their land passage blocked by Wei Yan and the Jingzhou navy coming in large numbers!
But the prefect of Zhangling shifted the pressure to the opposite side with just a few words. It was the job of Cao Ren, Yu Jin and others to defeat the invading enemy!
We in Xiangyang don't have to fight with Wei Yan. We just need to stay in the city and defend it. Even if we can delay Wei Yan, it will be considered a meritorious service!
However, at this time,
A scout hurriedly reported: "Sir!"

"grown ups!"

"Something bad is going to happen!"

"The messenger heading to Fancheng was blocked, and both the ship and the people were captured by the Jingzhou navy!"

"The Han River has been blocked!"

Boom~
There was shock in the hall!

Many generals turned pale...

It would be fine if the land route was blocked.

Now even the water access has been completely cut off?!

Lu Chang couldn't believe it: "The Han River has been blocked to the point where even a small boat carrying a message can't pass through?"

The scout folded his hands and said tremblingly: "It's impossible to get through. Not even a small boat can get through!"

"The Jingzhou navy is lined up to block our Xiangyang side. The large ships are blocking the river for dozens of miles. Although Xiangyang is surrounded by water on three sides, not even a piece of wood can be put into the water, and it is difficult for boats to cross!"

Xiangyang is surrounded by water on three sides and land on one side.

Blocked by land, Xiangyang has become a de facto isolated city.

Now the Jingzhou navy has blocked the river, and not a single piece of ship can enter the Han River... Xiangyang has become a dead end! Lu Chang felt extremely depressed and almost suffocated.

Surrounded by land and sea, Liu Zilie went to so much trouble... God knows what will happen next, God knows what Liu Zilie will do next.

Just now he was saying that we just need to wait for the battle with Liu Wu in Fancheng, but Liu Wu's army by land and sea is heading for Xiangyang!

But the river blocked the way, and there was no way to rescue Fancheng...

bang~
Lü Chang fell off his seat as if he had lost his soul, his eyes filled with fear: "Isn't that like being the butcher on the chopping board? Xiangyang is already doomed..."

All the horses in the hall were silent, and all the generals were silent. No one could say a word.

There was deathly silence in the field, just like the city of Xiangyang which had been trapped and was lifeless.

……

……

"The navy of Jingzhou has reached the Han River, and is now blocking the way between Xiang and Fan!"

"The news between the two cities has been cut off."

"The current situation in Xiangyang is still unknown..."

In Fancheng, scouts knelt in the hall and reported military intelligence to Cao Ren and a group of defending generals.

Jingzhou Navy!

Liu Wu actually brought the Jingzhou navy to attack us?
What’s even worse is that the Jingzhou navy has blocked the waterway between the two cities!

Sweat oozed from Cao Ren's forehead...

The current situation has exceeded his expectations. The feeling of being caught off guard once again reminded him of the scenes of his battle with Liu Wu outside Xiling City.

Those endless means.

Those various unexpected reversals of situation.

That feeling of powerlessness...

"Wei Yan has 10,000 soldiers attacking Xiangyang City by land, and now Liu Wu has led the navy to cut off the connection between Xiangyang and Fan..."

"Right now, I am afraid that Wei Yan and Liu Zilie will join forces to attack Xiangyang and put Xiangyang in a deadly situation!"

"Wei Yan's army is still fifty miles away from Xiangyang, and Lü Chang is a veteran. As long as he sets up camp outside the city and guards the land passage, he will be able to hold out."

"That being said, Liu Zilie has many ingenious plans. Who knows what other methods he has? Fortunately for us, we have the north to rely on. Prime Minister Cao can still send reinforcements to rescue us. If Xiangyang is trapped..."

All the defenders of Fancheng had worried and heavy expressions on their faces.

Liu Zilie!
These three words were like three heavy stones, weighing on their hearts.

Liu Zilie really came in person, and his big flag was flying on the ship of the Jingzhou navy. The defenders who had no doubts about defending Xiangfan suddenly felt a little uneasy.

The atmosphere in the hall suddenly became low. Cao Ren noticed this keenly and said, "It doesn't matter. Liu Zilie just brought a navy here. How much can he change the situation?"

"Xiangyang is one of the largest cities in the world, and it has sufficient food and grass. It has a garrison of 10,000 soldiers, and Lü Chang is a steady veteran. Even if Liu Zilie surrounds it, Lü Chang is more than capable of defending Xiangyang."

"The outcome of this battle depends on Fancheng!"

"Liu Zilie has brought the Jingzhou navy here. It is impossible that he only cares about Xiangyang and ignores Fancheng. I think he will definitely land and attack Fancheng..."

Cao Ren said in a low voice: "Fancheng has 20,000 soldiers guarding it, and General Yu Jin has 30,000 reinforcements outside the city."

"Liu Zilie's Jingzhou navy was inherited from Liu Bei, and there are only 20,000 soldiers at most. Even if he brings all of these 20,000 soldiers ashore to attack Fancheng, what can he do?"

"Could it be that my 50,000-man army is no match for his 20,000-man army?"

"As long as we defeat Liu Wu, the siege of Xiangyang will be lifted and Xiangfan will be safe!"

Cao Ren was not just trying to appease people; what he said was well-reasoned and factual.

The eyes of the generals in Fancheng lit up immediately...

Could it be that the 50,000 troops in Fancheng could not defeat Liu Wu's 20,000 troops?

How can this be.

If they defend Fancheng, they can wear Liu Wu down half to death, and with the support of Yu Jin's 30,000 troops...

In this battle, the advantage is still on me!

The generals finally felt relieved.

Cao Ren also breathed a sigh of relief, but there was still an important matter that needed to be resolved quickly.

Yu Jin originally set up camp fifty miles northwest of Fancheng, but now that Liu Wu's navy was approaching, Yu Jin had to change the location of his camp.

Cao Ren: "Come here! Pass my military order to General Yu Jin..."

"Now Liu Zilie's navy has blocked the Han River, and Xiangyang City is trapped, and there is no traffic between Xiangyang and Fan. At present, the situation in Xiangfan is all in Fancheng. I predict that Liu Zilie will definitely attack Fancheng..."

"Order General Yu Jin to find a new base and build a camp thirty miles outside the city to support Fancheng!"

……

……

Several riders rode out of Fancheng on horseback, all of them were scouts.

Even though it was raining in Xiangfan area at this time, their speed did not slow down at all.

The cloth bag he was carrying contained a military report wrapped in oilcloth. It was to be sent to Xuchang, to Prime Minister Cao, urgently!
The ground is already full of mud...

The scouts whipped their whips vigorously in the rain, and the Pegasus galloped towards the north at all costs...

The horses' hooves were raised, and the wet soil was brought out of the earth.

The horse's hooves fell, and water splashed high up.

They set out from Fancheng and attacked day and night. When they arrived at Wancheng, it was already dark.

Changing horses at the post station,

A new round of Pegasus took over the urgent message and the relay began.

Travel day and night!

By the time the scouts rushed out of the Nanyang Basin and set foot in the Central Plains, a bright sun had already risen from the east.

The scouts hurried forward in the direction of the sun.

Because they knew how important and critical the situation was, the military newspaper wrapped in oil paper in the cloth bag heading north was enough to change the overall situation in the world.

[Liu Wu, governor of Jingzhou, led his army north to attack Xiangfan.]

[The Jingzhou navy blocked the Han River, the reinforcements from Fancheng could not come to the rescue, Xiangyang was trapped...]

[Prime Minister, Liu Zilie is really here this time!!]

……

……

Xudu city.

It was already night, and after the curfew, Xuchang was completely silent.

In the magnificent Prime Minister's Mansion,
Cao Mengde was sleeping soundly, as if he was haunted by a nightmare. At this time, Cao Cao was sweating profusely, and even his pillowcase was wet.

……

midwinter,

Outside Xiling City,

Heavy snowfall...

"Quick! Quick!"

Looking at the terrifying figure getting closer and closer behind him, Cao Mengde was heartbroken!
We can’t let him catch up!
We must not let him catch up, otherwise it will be all over!
“Gee! Gee! Gee!!”

The driver whipped the horse with all his might, and the carriage shook more and more violently.

boom! ~
Cao Mengde felt that the world was turned upside down...

Finished!

Am I, Cao Mengde, really going to die here today?

"Lord!"

It was Cao Hong. Cao Hong had arrived! Cao Hong lifted himself onto the horse's back...

"My lord, hurry up!"

"Zi Lian, what are you going to do?!"

“The world can be without floods, but it cannot be without justice for a day!”

Clang clang! ~
"Liu Zilie, Cao Hong will fight with you!"

Cao Cao's whole body was shaking, his arms were out of control, and he couldn't even shake the reins.

His arms sank down, and he was about to shake again...

Suddenly!
A hand held down his arm.

Wet,
Full of blood,

A hand as hot as fire held down his arm tightly!

An extremely hoarse voice rang in his ears: "Cao thief, I caught you..."

……

Boom! ! ~
Thunder broke through the sky, and in an instant, it lit up the entire city of Xudu.

"Ah!!~"

A scream of extreme fear was heard from the Prime Minister's Mansion.

It was Cao Mengde's voice...

boom! ! ~
The door was kicked open, and Xu Chu, with half of his face exposed, led his troops in and shouted, "My Lord!"

A frightened voice sounded immediately:
"Zhongkang, I am fine."

"It was just a nightmare..."

The candles were lit, and the room became brighter.

Cao Mengde woke up from his dream, his whole body soaked. Before he could catch his breath, he suddenly heard the sound of water outside the house.
Crash, crash! ! ~
Crash! ! ~
It rained heavily...

　Two chapters today, a total of more than 10,000 words. Brothers, I have something to say. Others write two chapters a day, sometimes I write two chapters, sometimes three chapters, but I am different from them. They write 2,000 words a chapter, I write 5,000 words a chapter, and sometimes I write 7,000 words. For example, the two chapters I wrote today have the same number of words as their five chapters... There is a huge difference between my 5,000-word chapter and my 2,000-word chapter. Today, I spent ten hours on the computer writing these two chapters. My update volume is two or three times theirs!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)