In the first month of the spring of the 20th year of Jian'an, Liu Qi returned to Shouchun. Although it was the end of the year, there was no trace of joy.
Huang Gai took the opportunity to send troops, but was defeated by Sima Yi's plan. The Wei army took advantage of the situation to advance and counterattack Shouchun. The troops approached the city with murderous intent.
This was Sun Cao's third Shouchun battle. Two heavy defeats made the Jiangdong defenders very nervous. Coupled with the unfavorable battle, the city was lifeless. Lu Su rushed from Hefei to the front line to calm the morale of the troops.
Liu Qi entered the city directly, and Lu Su first took him into the back hall and reported secretly: "This time the troops were defeated, the Wei soldiers did not kill them all. As expected, many Wei soldiers sneaked in and made a careful effort. We have sent people to monitor closely. I wonder what the situation is like in the water stronghold? "
Liu Qi said: "I have promoted Lu Xun to be the Commander-in-Chief of the Navy. Everything is ready. All we need is the east wind."
"Dongfeng?" Lu Su was slightly startled, then nodded and said, "The general's words make sense. We really need to wait for Dongfeng."
Liu Qi asked: "General Huang, is everything ready?"
Lu Su stroked his beard and sighed: "The old general is already old. I'm afraid... why not choose a young general?"
Liu Qi said helplessly: "Of all the generals in Jiangdong, Huang Gongfu has the highest prestige. It is difficult to win people's trust by punishing him. This is also the old general's insistent request."
Lu Su said with emotion: "The old general is truly a hero of Jiangdong, not inferior to Zhao Lianpo!"
Liu Qi said: "If something happens tomorrow, I'm afraid the army's morale will be unstable. I need you, sir, to deal with it more to avoid making things worse."
Lu Su nodded and said: "If this plan is successful, if Cao Cao is concealed and he attacks Xuzhou in one fell swoop, then there will be no danger to Jiangdong. Huang Gong will be strong after he is overthrown. This battle will surely be remembered in history. How can it be compared to wearing a strong sword and fighting in a bloody battle?" not worth it?"
Liu Qi secretly smiled in his heart. In the current situation, Huang Gai's beating would have much less effect than the Battle of Chibi. However, the war in Huainan turned around and the Han Dynasty was revitalized. Huang Gai's evaluation by future generations would never be low.
The next day, Liu Qi summoned the generals to raise their tents and asked about sending troops. All the generals were silent and bowed their heads in response.
Liu Qi sneered and said: "I have always heard that there are many talented people in Jiangdong. In ancient times, there was Xiang Chongtong, and today there is Sun Bofu. They are all heroes. But now you and others are timid and have no responsibility. It can be seen that Huainan has been defeated repeatedly in battles."
As soon as these words came out, the whole hall was shocked. The generals looked at Liu Qi angrily. If they had not taken care of Huang Gai's face, they would have drawn their swords against Liu Qi.
Behind Liu Qi, Zhao Yun from the left and Chen Chen from the right arrived. Their expressions were calm and they looked at the Jiangdong generals coldly.
Huang Gai stepped forward excitedly, clasped his fists and said, "General, there is no need to ask. It was Huang's strong suggestion to send troops."
Liu Qi snorted coldly: "I went to inspect the water stronghold and I told you repeatedly that you are not allowed to send troops without permission without the general's order. Why did the old general disobey the order?"
Huang Gai sneered and said, "General Liu has been to Huainan since he visited all the camps, waiting for an opportunity to go to war. He just wanted to show off and win people's hearts, but he told us to stick to it. Wouldn't it make Cao Cao laugh at me that there is no one in Jiangdong?"
"How outrageous!" Liu Qi slapped the case and said, "I was entrusted by the Marquis of Wu to take charge of Jiangdong. As a veteran general, you are supposed to set an example, but you act with such high spirits. Do you want to test whether our military laws are not strict?"
Huang Gai laughed and said, "I have been with General Polu all over the southeast for three lifetimes. Why do I need you to teach me how to do things?"
Liu Qi stood up and shouted: "Huang Gongfu, don't rely on your old age. This troop dispatch is unfavorable and has undermined our military power. How can you explain it?"
Huang Gai glared at Liu Qi, stroked his beard and said: "General Liu went to Xuyi, but with the strength of our Jiangdong navy, we were defeated by Cao Xiu, so what?"
"Bold!" Liu Qi was furious, pointed at Huang Gai and shouted: "I have been entrusted by the Marquis of Wu to take charge of the army, and the army will work together to prosper the Han Dynasty. How dare you destroy our military law? If you don't kill the old man, it is not enough to establish your authority. Here comes - Behead Huang Gai in public to correct military law!"
"No!" Four soldiers came up from both sides of the hall, all white soldiers, and suppressed Huang Gai without any explanation.
"Stop!" Han Dang and others were shocked and stepped forward to stop him. The two sides pushed each other.
There was a clear clang, and a cold light suddenly appeared in the hall. Liu Qi held Sun Quan's sword in one hand and Wu Hou's seal ribbon in the other, and said loudly: "There is a token of Wu Hou here. Anyone who dares to disobey the order will be killed!"
Zhao Yun and Chen Dao took a step forward, glaring at the Jiangdong generals, pressing their hands on the hilts of their swords, ready to fight.
Seeing that the situation was not going well, Zhu Huan hurriedly begged for mercy: "General Liu, please calm down. I'm an old minister from Jiangdong. You can't kill him. Please forgive me."
Liu Qi said coldly: "With this general order, who dares to mess with my laws? Send Zhu Huan out——"
Chen Dao stepped forward, grabbed Zhu Huan's arm, and pushed him out. Han Dang and other generals were all sullen, pointing at Liu Qi and about to attack.
Liu Qi raised his sword and cut off a corner of the table, and said in a deep voice: "Anyone who dares to plead for mercy will be treated the same as this case!"
"My sword is not bad at all!" Someone in the hall drew his sword and stood up. It was young Ling Tong. He gritted his teeth and looked at Liu Qi: "If you don't let Old General Huang go, I will cause you to splatter three feet with blood."
Liu Qi's eyes were slightly glaring, and he said in a deep voice: "Where is Zilong?"
Zhao Yun jumped down from the hall, heard a dragon roar, and a cold light burst out. He drew his sword and stabbed Ling Tong.
Although Ling Tong was young and energetic, he only wanted to threaten Liu Qi and did not dare to take action. He quickly dodged when he saw Zhao Yun stabbing him with his sword. In addition, his martial arts skills were far inferior to Zhao Yun's, so he was snatched away in two or three strikes. He took the sword and was pushed out of the government office.
In the blink of an eye, the two generals were blasted out. The soldiers and officials outside the mansion were all shocked. The gate was crowded with people, and even the common people came to watch the fun.
Han Dang's face was livid, and the knuckles holding the sword turned white. After a long time, he took a deep breath and looked at Lu Su: "Captain..."
Lu Su clasped his fists and said: "Huang Gai violated the military order, but he actually wanted to defeat Cao Cao as soon as possible and relieve the general's worries! Since ancient times, victory or defeat has been a common thing for military officers. If you kill the general at this time, it will be detrimental to the army, but it will make Cao Cao's thieves happy. I hope the general For the time being, I will forgive him and I will remember the crime. After Cao Cao is defeated, it will not be too late to report to the Marquis of Wu and deal with it."
Han Dang and others suppressed their anger and begged for mercy. Not to mention Huang Gai's usual prestige in the army, even Liu Qi's actions made them feel sad. Today, if he succeeded in killing someone with a borrowed knife, it might be their turn next.
Liu Qi took a deep breath and said slowly: "If you don't respect Lu Zijing's face, it will be difficult to spare this old thief today! But the death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime cannot be spared. Drag him out and beat him with a hundred spine sticks to set an example."
Han Dang was shocked and said: "General Liu, no, General Huang is old and weak. How can he bear a hundred sticks?"
"Don't push yourself too far!" Liu Qi was so angry that veins popped out on his forehead, "This is the order of General Wu Marquis, who dares to disobey it?"
Han Dang gritted his teeth and pulled the generals to kneel down to excuse themselves.
Lu Su couldn't stand it anymore, so he begged Liu Qi again: "If the general punishes Huang Gongfu, he needs to be worshiped by another general. Why not exempt him from his official position to compensate for the crime?"
Liu Qi pointed at Huang Gai and said coldly: "Old man, when I was in Nanyang, tens of thousands of people could defeat Cao Cao's 300,000-strong army, all with strict military discipline. Do you dare to mess with my laws? Send me fifty sticks, and then Anyone who violates this will be punished for both crimes.”
Huang Gai was pushed out of the door and said with an angry smile: "Liu Qi, if you want to kill me, kill me. Why do you have to show off? It seems like an ignorant boy like you is trying to destroy Cao Xinghan, hahaha——"
"Old thief, I swear to kill you!" Liu Qi kicked the table over and was about to kill Huang Gai with his sword. Lu Su and others hurriedly stopped him.
