Zhao Yi and Zhuge Liang ran away as soon as they could. They didn't have much to pack. They immediately took ten large soldiers and sailed along a warship in Jiangdong while no one was paying attention. They raised their sails and ran towards the other side.
Although Liu Bei's generals are intercepting Cao's army, Jiangxia is still Liu Qi's territory, which is Liu Bei's home. It is always safer for them to go there than here.
However, Zhao Yi was thinking that he was leaving in a hurry and forgot to say hello to Sun Shangxiang before leaving. This caused the latter to have many thoughts for no reason, thinking that he had been abandoned by the shameless thief and became seriously ill after returning home. In one incident, he almost lost his life again.
While Zhao Yi, Zhuge Liang, and Pang Tong fled back to Jiangxia, Zhang Liao also persuaded Guan Yu to let Cao Cao go back.
It can be said that Cao Cao suffered heavy losses in this battle. The fire on the river was like an endless hell, engulfing all his fleet, and even the camp on the Wulin bank was burned to ashes.
In this battle, many of Cao's troops were burned to death and burned. The smoke produced by the flames covered the sky and blocked the sun, choking people and making them unable to breathe.
When Cao Cao fled back to Jiangling City with his defeated army abandoning its helmets and armor, he was horrified to discover after a preliminary inventory that after this battle, the eighty-strong army he claimed was actually an army of 200,000, with most of them dead and wounded, and more than half of the returnees. Most of them had burns on their bodies, and many more were infected with the plague and had no strength to fight anymore.
In Jiangling City, several of Cao Cao's counselors and generals gathered together and looked at the ashen-faced Prime Minister Cao. Cheng Yu was the first to stand up.
Xun You was afraid that this guy might bring bad luck to Prime Minister Cao, so he hurriedly said: "Prime Minister, the matter has come to this, our army is no longer able to go south to destroy Soochow, and the most important thing in front of us now is how to deal with Sun Yat-sen." Liu Lianjun’s pursuit.”
At this moment, Cao Cao has changed into a genuine product. He looked serious, leaned on a high position, thought for a while and then said: "Our army's southern expedition, the weather, the right place, the people are not what I expected. Now that Wulin failed, the left It won't have much effect in Jiangling. What I'm worried about is that someone will take the opportunity to stir up trouble in the rear. So the most important thing for our army at the moment is to send troops back north and stabilize the court so that the young people in the court dare not do anything. as.”
When Cao Cao said this, he looked at the top general standing beside him and said in a deep voice: "Cao Ren and Xu Huang, I will leave three thousand soldiers and horses for you two to guard Nanjun, Wenpin will be stationed at Jiangxia Arterial Road, and Lejin will be stationed at Xiangyang. Man Chong has been hoarded in Dangyang for General Fenwei, and the rest will follow me back to Xudu and set off immediately."
The burly man standing at the head of the generals. They are Cao Cao's brothers. Cao Ren and Cao Zixiao resigned as generals.
Speaking of Cao Ren, his name does not seem to be as famous as the Five Tiger Generals, Zhou Yu, Zhuge Ren, etc. But in reality, Cao Ren has followed Cao Cao for many years and made many military exploits, defeating Yuan Shu, attacking Tao Qian, defeating Lu Bu, defeating Liu Bei, and participating in In the Battle of Guandu, it can be said that Zhang Liao was defeated bravely and his troops were not inferior to Guan Yu's. He was the well-deserved number one general under Cao Cao.
When he heard that Cao Cao had given him 3,000 troops to guard Nanjun, Cao Ren did not hesitate. He took a step forward and said, "The last general takes command!"
The rest of the people stepped forward to receive the order and immediately took action without any hesitation.
Xiakou, where Liu Bei's army is stationed.
"Strategic Advisor, Hongfei, and Mr. Shiyuan, you are back!"
Liu Bei had just won the battle and saw several people returning safely, and he was in a good mood.
When Zhuge Liang saw Liu Bei, he looked a little anxious and said, "My lord, it's not time to relax yet. It can be said that this moment is the most important node."
"Oh? What did the military advisor say?"
"Although Cao Cao was defeated, his fundamentals were not shaken much. Zhou Yu also sent Gan Ning as the vanguard to directly attack Jiangling City. In this chaotic situation, our army must also plan for itself. Therefore, Liang thought that now The most important thing is to take advantage of the unstable situation and seize the southern part of Jingzhou with lightning speed."
"this......"
Liu Bei hesitated a little when he heard this and said: "This southern county of Jingzhou originally belonged to Liu Biao, and now it should also belong to my nephew Liu Qi. If we just take it away...will there be anything wrong?"
"My lord, you should do extraordinary things in urgent times. Besides, we are not taking it for ourselves, but to help Liu Qi take it."
"oh?"
Zhao Yi saw that Liu Bei was still troubled, so he fanned the flames and said: "My lord, the military advisor is right. Hongfei observed the sky last night, and the immortal also gave him enlightenment. My lord only needs to declare Liu Qi as the governor of Jingzhou, and then he can be justified." Go south and seize the four counties of Wuling, Changsha, Guiyang, and Lingling. This opportunity must not be missed, and it will never come back."
"The immortal gave a revelation?"
When Liu Bei heard Zhao Yi's words, a sense of mission arose spontaneously.
"Yes, my lord, Hongfei is a disciple of the Immortal. What he said must be right."
Zhao Yi and Zhuge Liang were talking to each other, which made Zhang Fei next to him feel itchy.
"Brother, what else is there to consider? Give me a team of troops, and I will conquer the four counties of Jingnan on behalf of my brother!"
Liu Bei looked left and right, his eyes becoming firmer.
"Okay, then we will prepare with both hands. While Liu Qi is appointed as the governor of Jingzhou, we will send troops to the four counties in Jingnan!"
"Very good!"
Zhang Fei rubbed his hands excitedly and volunteered: "Brother, you must let me be the vanguard this time!"
"Hehehe~ Third brother, don't worry, let's listen to what the military advisor has to say."
Zhang Fei slowly turned his head to Zhuge Liang, glared with a pair of bull's eyes and said, "I believe the military advisor will let me be the vanguard, right?"
Zhuge Liang smiled and nodded to Zhang Fei and said: "Yide, it's not that I disagree, it's actually that the capture of the four counties in Jingnan this time is of great importance and needs to be decided quickly."
"What do you mean, military advisor? Are you saying that I, Lao Zhang, can't do it?"
Zhang Fei's face turned dark and he was unhappy at the moment.
"This...because Yide likes to drink, I'm afraid..."
Before Zhuge Liang finished speaking, he shook his goose feather fan. The meaning was quite obvious, that he was afraid that you would drink and cause trouble.
"I...I am willing to sign a military order! If the military plane is delayed because of my drinking this time, the military advisor can chop off my head!"
"Hey, I don't dare to chop off Yide's head. Otherwise, let's compete. You lead one team, and I lead another team. We will launch an attack on Nanjun at the same time to see who can move faster."
"Okay! It's a competition, no matter whether you win or lose?"
Zhuge Liang laughed, stretched out his finger and said, "Whoever wins can ask the loser to do one thing, how about that?"
"Okay, let's do it!"
Zhuge Liang raised his hand to signal Zhang Fei not to worry, and turned to Liu Bei and said: "My lord, this alliance with Soochow is thanks to Hongfei who stayed calm in the face of danger and turned the tide. When I was seriously ill, he fought with the scholars on my behalf. He borrowed arrows from a straw boat and sent arrows to the enemy." The sky borrows the east wind, it’s amazing! I suggest that it is better to let Hongfei be a deputy to General Yide, so that he can supervise and supervise."
Liu Bei actually had the idea of promoting Zhao Yi for a long time, and Zhao Yi took the greatest credit for being able to form an alliance with Soochow this time. It can be said that without him, there would be no good situation today. Now that Zhuge Liang mentioned it, he immediately started thinking about it seriously.
"The military advisor is right... Hongfei, a young hero with both civil and military skills, is indeed rare... Third brother, let Hongfei go with you. Remember, if you have any undecided ideas, Ask Hongfei more, he is a disciple of the Immortal."
"Hahaha~ OK, OK, Hongfei, let's leave now~ We won't lose to the military advisor!"
Zhang Fei excitedly put his arms around Zhao Yi's shoulders, picked him up with one hand and walked out of the camp without any explanation.
"Hehehe~ This Yide is still so reckless in his actions."
Liu Bei laughed and cursed, and then asked in a low voice: "Commander, did you deliberately provoke him just now?"
Zhuge Liang slowly put away his smile and said seriously: "It may be the best choice to let the two of them go to Nanjun together. Not only can their personalities complement each other, but with the three generals accompanying them, Hongfei's safety can also be guaranteed."
"What did the military advisor mean...?"
Zhuge Liang gave an overview of Zhao Yi's situation and said: "Hongfei is indeed a rare talent, but he is too talented and has attracted the attention of the world. That's why Liang sent him and the three generals to Nanjun to avoid the limelight temporarily."
Liu Bei nodded thoughtfully and said: "Indeed, who among the immortal disciples is not jealous? How can I, Liu Bei, be so virtuous and capable? First I have a military advisor to assist me, and then I have a strange man like Hong Fei, so why worry about the Han Dynasty not being prosperous? Hahaha~ Generals Listen to the order and send troops to Changsha!"
