It was already daybreak, and Cheng Pu barely managed to get back to the city. He vomited blood and fell off his horse. Everyone hurriedly carried him to the mansion.
They saw that Cheng Pu was covered in blood. The doctor cut open his armor and clothes. There were many wounds on his body, especially a cut on his left rib, where the bone was visible. He was hit by an arrow in the back, and he did not dare to take out the arrow.
Cheng Zi fell to the side crying, and all the generals shed tears. Last time in Hefei, this time in Shouchun, Huainan became the place where Jiangdong failed.
Huang Gai asked Lu Meng, "How did you know that we were in danger and sent troops to rescue us?"
Lu Meng sighed: "Last night when the generals went out of the city, I harassed Cao's army and made preparations when they returned. Unexpectedly, Cao's army remained stationary. I expected that they were on guard, so I sent an order to the city to beat drums and shout to disturb the defenders, and sent another person to go there." Support, but who knows it’s still a step too late.”
Huang Gai said with emotion: "This time I finally saved Shouchun. I am wise and brave, and I can be a pillar of Jiangdong!"
Cheng Pu listened to everyone's discussion, opened his eyes quietly, and sighed: "I regret not listening to Ziming's words, which will bring trouble to you all!"
Huang Gai said hurriedly: "Victory and defeat are common matters for military strategists. Shouchun is still here. Don't worry about it, Mr. Cheng. Just rest in peace and recuperate."
Cheng Pu glanced at the crowd and said with a forced smile: "Since I followed the late lord, I have been fighting in the north and south for decades, and I have established a foundation in Jiangdong. This year, I have passed my sixtieth birthday and died on the battlefield. I have no regrets in this life. You don't have to be sad."
Huang Gai shed tears and said: "I have known you for a long time and have been with you for a long time. We are brothers and sisters. How can I just die before my great cause is accomplished? I can't bear it for the time being, and I will send him to Jiangdong for treatment."
Cheng Pu shook his head helplessly, looked up to the sky and sighed: "I have failed the Marquis of Wu, and I feel ashamed in my heart. You should work hard for Jiangdong, and my lord and I will protect you all in the nine heavens."
Cheng Zi said: "Father, we have to go back to Youzhou together and return home in rich clothes."
"After I die, I can be buried in Qu'a. It's enough to look at my hometown in the distance!" Cheng Pu patted Cheng Zi's arm, coughed several times, and shouted: "Hurry up, go and invite Lu Zijing!"
After saying this, he vomited blood and died. Cheng Zi burst into tears and all the generals mourned in silence.
But now is not the time to be sad, so he sent someone to ask Lu Su to take charge of the situation, treat the wounded, and deploy city defense.
In the afternoon, Lu Su rushed to Shouchun and ordered Cheng Zi to carry the coffin back to Jianye for funeral arrangements, encourage the generals and stabilize the morale of the army.
After a battle last night, nearly half of the troops were lost. The scouts reported that Xiahou Dun used Sima Yi as his military advisor to set up this trap. Thinking of the defeat of Ma Teng in Chang'an, all the generals were frightened.
After hearing this, Lu Su did not blame anyone, but praised Lu Meng for his wit and proper deployment. Otherwise, not only would all the troops leaving the city be wiped out, but Shouchun would not be saved either.
Huang Gai nodded and said: "There is another talented man like Sima Yi in Cao's camp. The Central Plains is indeed full of talented people. Fortunately, we in Jiangdong also have many talented people, including Ziming and other generals. The future is promising."
Lu Meng sighed: "Tao strategy is like the vast sea. I have not been able to see through Sima Yi's plan. I can only talk about it on paper. I need to think more."
Lu Su said: "Cao Cao transferred Sima Yi to the army. I don't expect him to stay in Xuzhou for long. The rainy season is approaching and Cao's army will retreat soon. As long as he is careful not to retreat, he will be safe."
This time, the generals no longer argued. Huang Gai was the leader, and they all elected Lü Meng as the defender and deployed troops to defend. Lu Su returned to Fei to build a waterway.
…
In the camp of Cao's army, Xiahou Dun celebrated his victory with other generals, but Sima Yi was the only one who was unhappy.
Cao Hong toasted and said: "We won a great victory in one battle and wiped out more than 10,000 Wu troops. Why is Zhongda still frowning?"
Sima Yi sighed: "My plan this time was supposed to take advantage of the situation to seize Shouchun. Unexpectedly, Lu Meng was able to see through my plan. He sent troops to rescue people first and defended the city. There are also heroes in Jiangdong!"
Cao Hong laughed and said: "This battle is enough to show your ability to join the army. Now that half of the defenders have gone, it will be much easier to attack the city again."
Sima Yi said: "The city does not need to be defended by many soldiers. Shouchun is strong. We only need 10,000 horses and can defend the city for half a year. If it were Lu Meng who defended the city, it would be as difficult as climbing to the sky."
Cao Hong patted him on the shoulder: "The Prime Minister often said: The situation on the battlefield changes rapidly. Although we missed a good opportunity today, we defeated the Wu army and dampened its spirit, which is worthy of celebration. There will be a day when the city will be broken, so we can look for good opportunities again."
Sima Yi sighed softly and toasted with the generals to celebrate. He wanted to perform well in front of Cao Cao, but in the end he fell short and was somewhat disappointed.
When Cao Cao heard in Xuzhou that the front army was victorious, more than ten thousand people were beheaded, and General Cheng Pu was seriously injured and died. He immediately recovered from his head illness and went to the front camp to reward the three armies in person.
Just as they were preparing to discuss how to divide their troops to attack other parts of Huainan, it suddenly rained heavily for days and days. The camp was also damp and depressing.
Xun You said: "It has been raining for days and it is the plum rain season in Huainan. The soldiers are tired and the siege in Shouchun is too long. It is better to stop fighting for the time being, recharge our batteries and send out troops again in autumn."
Cao Cao looked up to the sky and sighed: "The strength of the Wu army has declined. It is time to take advantage of the victory to advance, but the weather, the right location, and the people are all heading east of the Yangtze River. How lucky is Biyan?"
Then he sent an order to retreat when the weather cleared. Just as he was preparing to rest, Sima Yi came to see him.
Cao Cao smiled and asked, "Is Zhongda unwilling to retreat just now?"
"Exactly!" Sima Yi clasped his fists and said, "I thought I could retreat in order to advance. The prime minister has given the order to break out of the camp. The Wu army will definitely relax their vigilance. This is a good opportunity to take advantage of longevity!"
Cao Cao frowned and said, "As a general, Lu Meng is extremely cautious. I'm afraid there will be no chance again."
Sima Yi said: "It will rain heavily. Although it will help the Wu army to block my advance, it can also help me capture the city. Why not attack with water?"
Cao Cao looked slightly stern: "You mean, dig the Huaihe River?"
Sima Yi nodded and said: "Prime Minister, I have a high opinion. Since ancient times, water and fire have been merciless. In the past, when I went down to Pi to defeat Lu Bu and conquered the waters of Yi and Si, Lu Bu was still restrained. How about Lu Meng?"
"No!" Cao Cao waved his hand and said: "In the past, the water flooded Xiapi. It was because there were many enemies around and the situation was urgent. The two rivers passed around Xiapi and flooded it. Now the Huai River is far away from Shouchun. Once the embankment breaks, , this land of thousands of miles, thousands of hectares of fertile farmland, and hundreds of thousands of people will all be reduced to nothing, how can we make it happen?"
Sima Yi clasped his fists and said: "The Prime Minister is considerate of the people's sentiments and is really a benevolent master. However, if Huainan is owned by Jiangdong, its people will become our enemies. If one thing is declining, the other is growing, isn't it like raising a tiger and causing trouble?"
Cao Cao paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. After a long time, he sighed: "You know that once the Huai River is dug out, it will lose the hearts of the people. Even if you get Shouchun, it will be difficult to capture Huainan!"
Sima Yi smiled lightly and said: "Huainan can't be used by me, so why bother destroying it? If you get the land, you can educate the people. If you get the land and move the people, with a little favor, they will be grateful."
I wanted to say that Cao Cao slaughtered Xuzhou, leaving no chickens and dogs, and even a rebellion occurred in Yanzhou, but now the people of Xuzhou are still obedient and pay grain and taxes?
But when the words came to his mouth, he still felt that they were not appropriate, so he just cupped his fists and said: "It is related to the safety of the Central Plains, Prime Minister, please think again."
Cao Cao sat there and began to knead his brows again. He also thought of the war that year, when ten houses in the Central Plains were empty. He moved people from Nanyang, Jizhou and other places, and spent more than ten years in farming and farming, and now he is getting better.
If the Shouchun area is turned into a vast ocean, it may not be able to regain its vitality within three to five years.
