Huang Gai sailed to Chaisang and saw that the navy was practicing, and warships were entering and leaving Pengli, but the momentum was far less than it used to be.
Chaisang was the main camp of the Jiangdong water village. Zhou Yu worshiped the governor, strengthened the navy, and expanded it many times, just to avenge Huang Zu and capture Jingzhou.
Since Liu Qi took over Jingzhou and resolved his grievances with Jiangdong, the naval center of gravity moved eastward to Qu'a. Huang Gai originally thought that Zhou Yu would also move to Qu'a, but he unexpectedly returned to Chaisang.
There were many worries along the way. I always felt that Jiangdong was missing something since Zhou Yu retired due to injury, but I couldn't explain it.
When they arrived at Chaisang, Zhou Yu was not in the house. The generals were going to invite him, but Huang Gai went to look for him on his own. In the north of the city were thousands of acres of rice fields planted by the navy, and there was great traffic and prosperity.
Walking on the path in the fields, Huang Gai couldn't help but think of Shouchun, which was flooded. If it weren't for Cao's ruthlessness, the scene in Shouchun would be the same.
In the midst of emotion, I came to a small bridge with a gurgling clear stream. I saw a person standing barefoot in the water, bending down and groping. After a while, he picked up the net bag, and many fish were jumping.
The man was smiling. He looked up and saw Huang Gai standing on the bridge. He was stunned for a moment and said in surprise: "Old General Huang, how come you have time to come here?"
When Huang Gai saw Zhou Yu smiling happily, he was so angry that he puffed his beard and glared: "Master Zhou, Master Zhou, I'm waiting to fight in blood on the front line, but you're fishing here?"
Zhou Yu smiled and said, "It's time to celebrate the great victory in Huainan. I'll go down to the river to catch fish myself. You're in for a treat. It's a good time to fry the dried fish to go with wine tonight."
Huang Gai paused and sighed: "Gong Jin didn't know something. Seeing that Shouchun could not be attacked for a long time, Cao's thieves actually dug up the Huai River and flooded the whole territory..."
"Oh? Is there such a thing?" Zhou Yu frowned slightly, packed up the fishing nets and went ashore: "It's going to be flooded!"
"What?" Huang Gai's eyes widened, "Is this the reaction you should have and what you should say as a governor?"
Zhou Yu shook his head and sighed: "Since ancient times, water and fire have been merciless, and the human power is small. What can I do?"
"You have changed!" Huang Gai walked up to him and looked at him condescendingly, "You are no longer that Jiangdong Zhoulang!"
Zhou Yu laughed and said: "I am who I am, can't I be completely different?"
Huang Gai snorted coldly: "You paid for Shouchun with your life, and yet you are indifferent to the loss of Shouchun? This..."
Zhou Yu said with a smile: "While I am recovering from illness, I must not get angry. If anger attacks the heart, there will be no cure!"
Huang Gai sighed and said: "The governor looks like this, I think there is no cure."
"It was just a joke!" Zhou Yu laughed and stood up to straighten his clothes.
Huang Gai said angrily: "Are you still in the mood to joke at this time?"
Zhou Yu took him back to the city and explained as he walked: "I have recently taken Huainan, and I am worried about the uncertainty of people's hearts. Although Shouchun is lost today, Cao Cao's move will definitely anger the people in Huainan, and the territory can be settled!"
"That's it!" Huang Gai suddenly realized, slapped his forehead, and praised again: "As expected of Zhou Lang, he has extraordinary knowledge!"
Zhou Yu smiled and said, "This is a blessing in disguise. How could you know it's not a blessing?"
Huang Gai breathed a sigh of relief, but then sighed: "Did you know that Duke Cheng was killed in battle?"
Zhou Yu said: "It is a blessing that a man dies in battle and his body is wrapped in horse leather. If he dies at the hands of a villain, he will not die in peace!"
"Why did Gong Jin say this?" Huang Gai was startled, then nodded and said, "I, Huang Gai, are the same. I would rather die in battle than die of old age on a sick bed."
Zhou Yu said with a smile: "General, he is getting stronger and stronger, and he may live longer than me!"
"Young people should not say such unlucky words!" Huang Gai was displeased and said, "Did you know that Ziyi died of illness?"
Zhou Yu suppressed his smile, walked silently for a while, and then said calmly: "It is expected that Ziyi is seriously ill."
Huang Zhong sighed: "I thought that we would follow our ancestors, travel around Jiuzhou, and go to the east of the Yangtze River to have this foundation. Now it has become a separatist regime. However, the hero is old, which is sad! The Sun family's hegemony still depends on young people like Gong Jin. People."
Zhou Yu looked into the distance and said with emotion: "The old general and Cheng Gong followed the late lord and made great contributions. They are worthy of Sun's merits! However, we followed Wu Hou to start a business, but failed to save the lord. It is because of the incompetence of our subordinates that we dare not take the credit." ?”
Huang Gai frowned and said: "Jiangdong Zhou Lang, magnanimous and energetic, when did he become so indecisive? When Bo Fu was assassinated, if we were to be held accountable, it was our followers who took the lead. Could Gong Jin's words be blamed on us? Not trying your best?"
Zhou Yu sighed: "The sky is unpredictable, and people are prone to misfortune and fortune. How can we predict it? It's just that Cheng Gong died in battle and Ziyi died of illness. It's just a temporary sadness."
Huang Gai thought that he was in a bad mood along the way, so he took it for granted. Seeing that Zhou Yu was also a little depressed and recuperating from illness, he comforted him and said, "How can this Jiangdong foundation be successful without the help of Gong Jin and Ziyi? Although Bo Fu is gone, he can still make meritorious deeds by entrusting him to the current Wuhou. It is the right time for a man to make meritorious deeds, and the future will be your world."
"The future?" Zhou Yu was walking to the door of the mansion when he suddenly laughed up to the sky and invited Huang Gai in, ordering his followers to hold a banquet to welcome him.
Huang Gai handed the letters from Lu Su and Sun Quan to Zhou Yu and said: "The war in Jiangdong cannot last for a day without Gong Jin. You must recover as soon as possible so that you can serve the Lord and live up to Bo Fu's great trust."
Zhou Yu finished reading the letter, put it aside gently, and said with a smile: "Huainan is guarded by Zijing, so it will be safe. Marquis Wu asked me about my plan to deal with Liu Qi. What does the old general have to say?"
Huang Gai shook his head and said: "When it comes to fighting in front of the formation, Huang is willing to be the vanguard and will never frown. However, in this country's diplomacy and planning, I am not good at it. I just follow orders!"
While talking, the food and wine had been served, and on the plate were freshly caught fish, golden and crispy, with an attractive color.
Zhou Yu raised his glass and said with a smile: "I haven't met the old general for a long time. I'm going to get drunk today. How do you like the taste of this little crispy fish first?"
After Huang Gai drank, he ate one and praised it endlessly: "It's good, it tastes great!"
Zhou Yu smiled and said, "I wonder how it compares to Guotai's pineapple cake?"
Huang Gai was startled, shook his head and said with a smile: "To be honest, I have never tasted Guotai's pineapple cake. I heard that it was just to encourage the young generals. I am a bad old man, but we don't have this blessing!"
Zhou Yu's fingers turned slightly white while holding the wine glass, and he continued to pour the wine and said: "Since the Marquis of Wu asked me, can I stay here to recuperate? Now that Liu Qi has returned to Jingzhou, I will personally go to Xiangyang to plan a common plan with him. In the Central Plains, we are going to destroy Cao Cao!"
Huang Gai was taken aback, and hurriedly waved his hands and said: "This must not be done! The governor is a minister of Jiangdong, how can he risk going to Jingzhou?"
Zhou Yu clasped his fists and said: "I am a great cause for the Marquis of Wu. Even if I risk my life, I will not give up. I will break into the dragon's pond and the tiger's den! Liu Qi can still go to Jiangdong alone. If I dare not go to Jingzhou, won't people laugh at me because there is no one in Jiangdong?"
"This..." Huang Gai frowned and said, "It's better to report this matter to the Marquis of Wu. It would be best to send more guards."
Zhou Yu waved his hand and said with a smile: "Just one of you can go. Mrs. Sun is in Xiangyang, so you don't have to worry about me! I heard that Hua Tuo and Zhang Ji are skilled in medicine, and I also want to stop by for a consultation. If I can recover as soon as possible, Only then can I serve Wu Hou!"
