Xiahou Dun was in Qingzhou and knew that his advance would affect Cao Cao's southern expedition. He urged his soldiers to attack the city for days, but with little effect.
Not only did Zhou Yu make good arrangements, he also poured ice water on the city every few days, causing the Wei army to suffer setbacks and its morale became increasingly low.
After being unable to attack the city for a month, Wang Ling offered his advice: "Qingzhou is strategically located in Beihai. Now Zhou Yu is trapped here. We can divide our troops to capture Beihai first. Wu's army will surely become chaotic without a fight."
"This is a great plan!" Xiahou Dun was overjoyed and looked around: "Who is going to take Beihai?"
All the generals bowed their heads, and Zhong Jin said: "General Tian once guarded Beihai, and he is familiar with the geography and people. He is the only one."
"This is exactly what I want!" Xiahou Dun immediately ordered Tian Yu to lead troops to take Beihai.
Tian Yu frowned and said: "Beihai City is much more dangerous than Linzi. Zhou Yu is good at using troops and must be prepared. He may not be able to succeed."
Zhong Jin sneered and said: "General Tian lost his position in Beihai. This is the time to atone for his sins. Zhou Yu's main force is in Linzi, but the general still refuses to move forward. Could it be that he has two intentions?"
Since Zhong Yao and Xin Pi surrendered without a fight, Cao Pi has strictly scrutinized everyone in the court, and has also brought senior officials and family members of various guards to Handan. The Cao family is very sensitive to this.
Xiahou Dun's face darkened when he heard this, and he said coldly: "Tian Guorang, do you dare to resist my general's order?"
Tian Yu had no choice but to lead 10,000 troops to Beihai. Xiahou Dun sent Wang Lingwei to join the army, giving him a half-month deadline to capture the city, otherwise military law would be engaged.
After dividing his troops, Xiahou Dun surrounded Linzi with his troops. Instead of asking Zhou Yu for support, he ordered the four gates to attack the city together. As long as one city was breached, Zhou Yu would be defeated.
The next day, after the soldiers had finished eating, they were beating drums and gathering to attack the city. Suddenly, soldiers came to report, and Cao Cao sent Jiang Gan to see him.
Xiahou Dun welcomed him into the tent. He felt uneasy and asked, "Did your Majesty send you to be your military advisor because of the unfavorable situation in the war?"
Jiang Gan stroked his beard and smiled and said: "Your Majesty is well aware of Zhou Gongjin's strategy and has not blamed the general. I am not here for military reasons. I ask the general to stop his troops and retreat for the time being. I will ask Zhou Lang to surrender."
Xiahou Dun was shocked and said, "Sir, what's your clever plan?"
Jiang Gan laughed and said: "I and Zhou Gongjin are close friends. We only need to go to the city to meet each other, without using a sword or a gun. With only a sharp tongue, I can ask the king to take Zhou Yu, and the general to take Xuzhou!"
Xiahou Dun said: "It turns out that the king has already made arrangements, Mr. Lao."
Jiang Gan wrote a letter, asking Xiahou Dun to send people to the city to shoot into the city, and waited for Zhou Yu's reply. Sure enough, the defenders on the city responded not long after, telling Xiahou Dun to withdraw, and only Jiang Gan was allowed to enter the city.
Xiahou Dun said worriedly: "Sir, if you go into the city alone, you may be in danger."
Jiang Gan laughed and said: "Don't say that I have a good friendship with Zhou Lang. Even if we are strangers, I would like to be Su and Zhang. When I go in and out of the enemy's city, I still walk in the back courtyard!"
"Sir, you are truly a hero!" Xiahou Dun was overjoyed and ordered people to prepare horses for Jiang Gan. He ordered all battalions to withdraw their troops and retreat three miles away.
Seeing the city gate slowly opening, Jiang Qian, wearing a Ge scarf and cloth robe, sat upright on his horse and walked in. As soon as he passed the city gate, he saw two rows of armored guards standing neatly, with swords and guns, and murderous intent. His face changed greatly.
Hearing the city gate close behind him, Jiang Gan hurriedly dismounted his horse and asked urgently: "I am an old friend of the Governor of Zhou, how can you be so rude?"
Xu Sheng came forward with an ancient ingot sword and shouted: "Your Excellency is coming from Cao Ying. He must be a spy of Cao's army. Why would you care about our old friend?"
Jiang Qian took a deep breath to calm his mind, said with a fierce smile: "I miss my old friend, risking my life to save him. I don't want the dignified Jiangdong Zhou Lang to treat his old friend like this. If it spreads, won't the world laugh at him?"
Xu Sheng was surprised: "Sir, are you here to save the Governor?"
Jiang Gan saw that Xu Sheng didn't dare to take action, so he turned his head away with a slight hum, pulled his beard and squinted at the sky, and stopped paying attention.
"Please!" Xu Sheng gritted his teeth secretly, ordered people to make way, and took Jiang Gan into the city.
Seeing the murderous soldiers on both sides, Jiang Gan was frightened, but he had to force himself to calm down. When he came to the government office, he saw Zhou Yu reviewing documents at the desk.
Xu Sheng went inside to report, and Zhou Yu raised his head. Seeing that his eyes were confused and full of exhaustion, Jiang Gan sighed with emotion: "Jiangdong Zhou Lang is so charming, I don't expect him to be so haggard!"
Zhou Yu looked indifferent, put down the book and asked, "Is Ziyi a good person who travels far and wide to work as a lobbyist for the Cao family?"
Jiang Qian was startled and said displeasedly: "I haven't seen you for a long time. I heard that Gong Jin was trapped in Qingzhou and came here to rescue me. How dare you doubt me and say goodbye!"
After saying that, he rolled his sleeves and turned around, ready to leave, but he saw Xu Sheng standing at the door with his sword straddled, shouting: "I'm afraid you won't be able to come and go!"
Jiang Gan was shocked and turned pale. He pointed at Zhou Yu and said tremblingly: "How dare you treat an old friend like this?"
"Hahaha, Ziyi, don't be surprised!" Zhou Yu burst out laughing suddenly, went down to the hall and took Jiang Gan's arm, and said with a smile: "Since I am not a guest of the Cao family, I should reminisce about the past. What I just did was just a joke!"
"Playing?" Jiang Gan was stunned, pushed Zhou Yu away arrogantly, wiped his sweat and said, "You're sweating from playing!"
Zhou Yu told Xu Sheng: "This is my classmate and close friend. Although he comes from Cao Ying, he is not a guest of Cao's family. General, there is no need to doubt him."
Then he ordered a banquet to be arranged, and he and Jiang Qian sat down to greet each other. Only half a jar of turbid wine was served, the cups and plates were very simple, and there were only three plates of pickled vegetables and dried fish, which looked very shabby.
After three rounds of drinking, Zhou Yu stopped his glass and sighed: "My old friend is here, so we should be treated kindly. But we are trapped in the city, with no food and grass inside, no reinforcements outside, only wine and pickles, we are really unworthy of our opponent."
"The value of making friends and reminiscing about the past lies in knowing each other. Even spring water is also nectar!" Jiang Gan shook his head slightly and said tentatively: "Today Jiangdong has been stolen by Liu Qi, and Gong Jin is beyond his reach. I don't know what his plan is?"
"Hmph, Sun Quan is so stupid, how can he be the lord of Jiangdong?" Zhou Yu was really angry, slapped the table and shouted coldly: "If I had known this, I should have appointed Bo Fu as the master back then, how could I be ashamed of today?"
Jiang Qian was secretly happy when he heard this, and took the opportunity to provoke: "With sufficient civil and military tactics, if he meets the Ming Dynasty master, he will be comparable to Wei and Huo, and he will be famous! However, Sun Zhongmou had no plan and handed over Jiangdong to others. This has never happened in ancient times. I also feel sorry for Gong Jin."
Zhou Yu drank several glasses of wine and murmured: "When a man lives his life, when he meets a confidant, he relies on the righteousness of his ruler and ministers externally, and the kindness of his flesh and blood on the inside. He must follow his words and follow his plans, and share the blessings and misfortunes. What regrets can there be in life?" However, God is jealous of talents, Bo Fu was killed, and the entrusted person was a human being. My heart is like a knife piercing my heart. Is there anyone in the world who is worthy of Zhou Yu's entrustment?"
Jiang Qian said: "Now the power of the tripartite alliance has been broken. Gong Jin is now in dire straits. Liu Qi and Cao Gong are fighting fiercely in the north and south. These two are the only masters of the world. It would be a pity if my brother's talent is buried here. There is still more to do." Think of countermeasures early.”
Zhou Yu gritted his teeth and said: "Liu Qi's men are hiding in the camp and plotting against Jiangdong. I swear to destroy them!"
Jiang Gan was overjoyed and asked hurriedly: "What about Prime Minister Cao?"
"Cao Mengde? Huh--" Zhou Yu snorted coldly, his eyes gleamed slightly, and he said in a deep voice: "Since I became an official, I have wanted to do great things with Bo Fu. The Jiangdong industry was created by the two of us. Now Sun Quan cannot defend it. I am entrusted with the responsibility of entrusting the orphan, if I don't take it back, how can I have the face to see Bo Fu in the future?"
Jiang Gan was shocked when he heard this, dropped his wine glass to the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "Gong Jin wants to... want to be the master on his own?"
