"Prime Minister, the plague has spread in the army, and many people have been killed by the disease. Doctors recommend that sick soldiers be separated from healthy people as soon as possible, otherwise the plague will continue to spread."
After listening to Li Dian's report, Cao Cao was extremely anxious. In fact, he had similar worries when the army began to suffer from vomiting and diarrhea due to acclimatization. However, as time went by, this emergency spread among the crowd like wildfire and became out of control.
"Approximately how many soldiers are infected now?" Cao Cao asked.
"Prime Minister, the number of people who have died from the disease so far has reached 3,000, and there are still more than 6,000 people who are seriously ill, more than 8,000 people who are mildly ill, and even more people who have symptoms of infection."
"hiss......"
Cao Cao took a breath, anxious, and then looked at Yu Jin and Mao Jie, the current commanders of the navy.
"How are the preparations for the iron chain chain? Are our soldiers accustomed to walking and fighting on the ship?"
Seeing this, Yu Jin hurriedly stepped forward.
"Reporting to the Prime Minister, we organized ten warships into a group. Not only were they connected with iron chains, but also wooden planks were laid on them to reduce the shaking caused by wind and waves. Our soldiers walked and fought on the ship with basic habits, and even And you can ride a horse.”
Hearing this, Cao Cao showed a smile on his face and exhaled: "Seeing that the temperature on the river is getting lower and lower, and winter is approaching, we must completely capture Jiangdong before spring comes, and this battle will play a decisive role. . If the order goes down, all soldiers will step up their drills. Our army will launch an attack at any time."
"Yes, Prime Minister."
Cao Cao was also a little anxious. The ever-expanding plague made him unwilling to delay any longer. He wanted to use thunder to eliminate the threat of Jiangdong and Liu Bei as soon as possible, so that no one in the entire Central Plains would be his opponent to Cao Mengde, but like Xichuan He has not taken Liu Zhang, Xiliang, Ma Teng and others seriously yet.
However, at this moment, a soldier quickly walked into the camp, knelt down on one knee and said: "Prime Minister, there was a small boat sneaking into the shore opposite just now, and it was captured by my patrolling soldiers. This person said he was here to deliver a message."
"Deliver a message?"
Cao Cao narrowed his eyes slightly and asked someone to bring the letter to him and open it.
He quickly glanced at the content of the letter, his pupils suddenly shrank, and he said happily: "God helps me, God helps me~!"
The counselors and generals standing aside didn't know what news their lord had seen, and he was so happy? Every eye is full of curiosity.
Cao Cao waved the letter in his hand and said: "This is written by Huang Gai, a veteran of Jiangdong. He said in the letter that Zhou Yu's son used the post of governor of this war to squeeze out and suppress them, the veterans of Eastern Wu, and would be punished if they had the slightest political disagreement. Retaliation.
Yesterday, Huang Gai, the former member of the army council, only contradicted him for a few words and was dragged to the military camp and beaten. Huang Gai was so angry that he prepared to switch to our army and agreed on a time for surrender. At that time, he would lead the troops under the command of Rocket. Switch sides before the battle and help my army successfully capture Jiangdong! "
As soon as Cao Cao said this, Xun You, Cheng Yu and Jia Xu next to him not only did not feel happy at all, but had strange expressions.
Cheng Yu, who has an upright personality, couldn't hold it anymore and stepped forward and said: "Prime Minister, this letter is full of doubts. Is Huang Gai planning to surrender?"
The smile on Cao Cao's face softened a little and he said: "Fake surrender is not impossible, but Zhongde, you have to know that our army defeated Yuan Shao at the Battle of Guandu and pacified the north with a thunderous force. At that time, we still had few soldiers and few generals. We have won the victory, and now we have several times the opponent's elite troops, and we have the world's best counselors and so many fierce generals to support us. How can we lose? It's not surprising that someone in Soochow City comes to surrender. Those who know the current affairs are Gentlemen and good birds choose trees to roost in. It would be surprising if they could always be united."
"But the opponent will not surrender sooner or later, but they come at a time when our army is chained and plagued by plague. This timing is a bit too weird."
Cao Cao waved his hand and said: "Needless to say, I will let people verify whether what Huang Gai said is true, but no matter whether he really surrenders or pretends to surrender, our army cannot delay it any longer. We should take advantage of the plague before it hurts our roots." , the whole army launched a general attack."
"Prime Minister..."
"Okay, everyone, please step back."
Cao Cao didn't want to say any more. Although Cheng Yu wanted to stop him, he also knew that his lord's decision would be difficult for others to change.
After everyone in the military tent retreated, Cao Cao sat alone in the main seat, tapping his fingers lightly, as if he was thinking about something and waiting for something.
I don’t know how long it took, but a set of footsteps entered the tent from far away. From afar, he said, "Prime Minister, Man Chong has something to report."
Cao Cao looked happy and said hurriedly: "Bo Ning came really fast, come in quickly."
Cao Cao called Man Chong in, who didn't wait for him to ask, and said proactively: "Prime Minister, we have found out clearly that Huang Gai did have a quarrel with Zhou Yu. He was tied up in the military camp and whipped in public, and he was not even injured. light."
"Oh, so Huang Gai's surrender is most likely true."
Faced with Cao Cao's question, Man Chong did not answer. He knew that the prime minister was talking to him.
After Cao Cao got the news of Man Chong, although he also felt that Huang Gai's surrender was still doubtful, he could not wait and did not dare to wait any longer. He must defeat the enemy before the army was defeated by the plague.
Moreover, when the two armies are fighting, this kind of rebellion is also very common. Even when Cao Cao fought with Yuan Shao, he himself was at a disadvantage, and many people wrote to Yuan Shao saying that they wanted to surrender. Now that he is powerful, there are people in Soochow who want to surrender. Nothing more than a normal thing.
Cao Cao narrowed his eyes and thought for a while, then slapped his legs with his palm and said: "Okay! It's settled, Boning, write a secret letter for me and send it to Huang Gai, saying that I accept him bringing people to surrender, as long as If we can successfully defeat Zhou Yu this time, he will be the governor of Jiangdong from now on."
"Yes, Prime Minister, I will do it right away."
In the Chibi military camp, Huang Gai, who was covered in wounds, received a reply from Cao Cao. The two confirmed the specific time and signal for surrender. The development of this war seemed to be unstoppable.
Zhao Yi, on the other hand, specifically asked Huang Gai for an assault boat. Not only that, he also found some gasoline from the warehouse and poured it on the haystack of the assault boat, and combined it with the kerosene Huang Gai was looking for. , sulfur, smoke, salt and other substances, wrapped in a cloth curtain. Once sparks are seen, they will definitely burn like maggots attached to the bones. As long as Cao Cao's fleet gets even a little bit of it, and the breeze blows, Even if you want to attack it, you won't be able to put it out.
The time has come to the day agreed between Huang Gai and Cao Cao. Just after noon that day, thick fog moved across the river and the cold wind blew. Zhou Yu and others stood on the military camp's commanding platform, looking at the river with solemn expressions.
Zhao Yi also stood among them, his eyes fixed on the handsome flag that was blown fiercely by the wind at the edge of the military camp.
Suddenly, the flag fluttering in the wind trembled for a while. After a while, it began to flutter in another direction under the influence of the cold wind. The wind direction really changed!
"East Wind! Governor, it is really the East Wind! The East Wind that Mr. Zhuge borrowed is coming!"
Huang Gai couldn't hide his excitement when he saw the sudden change in the wind direction on the river, while Lu Su turned around and looked at Zhao Yi with his eyes wide open, his shock undisguised.
Although Zhou Yu tried his best to control it, the shock in his heart could still be seen through his slightly narrowed eyes.
At this moment, he also became more determined to take Zhao Yi's life. Maybe after this battle, or maybe during this battle. In any case, such people cannot put him back easily. If something happens in the future, Change, no one wants to be an enemy of someone who can use immortal magic.
