The area between Jiangxia City and Xiakou Port faces the river on one side and mountains and forests on the other.
The wealth of Jingzhou is well known all over the world, and Xiakou Port is the main hub connecting Jiangxia to other counties, with prosperous trade and constant exchanges of merchants. Therefore, this official road between the two places is the main artery of Jiangxia.
But today, there were no people coming and going on this flat and wide official road, only a large army was running.
"Hurry up! Keep your formation and don't get confused."
Gan Ning rode at the front of the team and commanded the army. He was ordered by Ji Shu to lead 15,000 soldiers to capture Xiakou Port.
"Xingba, a long and urgent march is not conducive to combat. It's better to let the soldiers go slower."
The one who spoke was Zhuge Jin. He was appointed as Gan Ning's adjutant and went with the army. At this moment, he was riding beside Gan Ning.
Hearing this, Gan Ning touched his chin and groaned before opening his mouth to answer.
"Our army is all elite soldiers who have experienced hundreds of battles. This distance is not a problem. The Jiangxia army under Huang Zu has been out of battle for a long time, so I am not afraid of him. But what Mr. Ziyu said is reasonable. I just want to hurry up. Go to Xiakou to end the war here so that we can complete the master's plan of encircling and annihilating Cai Mao. If you think about it carefully, it seems that I was a little negligent and underestimated the enemy."
"Send the order to the entire army to advance slowly."
Seeing Ling Qi take the order and leave, Zhuge Jin was a little surprised. He didn't expect Gan Ning to be so easy to get along with.
"Xingba can just call me 'Tzuyu', but adding the word 'sir' is a bit more interesting."
Gan Ning laughed and turned to Zhuge Jin.
"Haha! Brother Ziyu, don't blame me. It's just that there are too many scheming scholars in our Jiangdong Army. Now I can't help but add the honorific title of 'Mr.' whenever I see a scholar."
Zhuge Jin couldn't help but smile. Although the two of them were officials in Jiangdong, one was in charge of government affairs and the other was in charge of military affairs. They didn't have much interaction before, but they couldn't help but get closer after chatting all the way.
While the two of them were talking and laughing, the army marched for several more miles.
"Report! Three thousand Han troops were found one mile ahead, under the banner of 'Wu'. We don't know who is leading the army yet."
A scout ran back from the front and came to Gan Ning and Zhuge Jin to report.
"How dare Huang Zu's defeated army dare to fight us? Have you checked the nearby mountains and forests to see if there are any ambushes?"
Gan Ning was dumbfounded by Huang Zu's courage.
"General, some brothers have already gone to investigate, but no ambush has been found yet."
Gan Ning glanced at Zhuge Jin speechlessly and smiled.
"Should I say he is courageous or stupid? Alas, I feel a little embarrassed when I think of me working under him for two years. Alas, I will go and meet Huang Zu in person to see what tricks he can play! "
Zhuge Jin had lived in Jingzhou for a long time and was somewhat aware of Huang Zu's arrogance and willfulness, but even so, it was a bit abnormal. He gave Gan Ning strict instructions.
"Caution comes first!"
"As for the flag with the word 'Wu', I think of one person. Wu Ju, he is the commander-in-chief of the Jiangling Navy. He should have followed Cai Mao on the expedition. Unexpectedly, he was left behind in Jiangxia."
Gan Ning nodded and ordered the entire army to be on alert.
It didn't take long for the two armies to meet on the open road.
Tens of thousands of Jiangdong troops were waiting in full formation. They stared at the Han army as if they were staring at a fat lamb.
In terms of momentum, the Han army on the opposite side was obviously a little afraid. At this time, a burly man with a small beard walked out on horseback, pointed a long spear at Jiang Dongjun and shouted.
"I am Wu Ju, the commander-in-chief of the Jiangling Navy. Will the rebel general Gan Ning dare to come out and fight?"
When Gan Ning saw Wu Ju coming out and was about to step forward to speak, he was stunned when he heard the words.
He was Sun Ce who defected to Sun Ce after abandoning Huang Zu. He himself felt that he was looking for another sage leader, but he couldn't refute it if he really said he was a 'rebellious general'. It's just that the name is indeed a bit unpleasant.
Gan Ning thought that this was Wu Ju who was ordered by Huang Zu. Huang Zu was not found in the Han army, so he stepped forward with a slightly darker face and said.
"Why don't you dare? Is there no one in Jingzhou? Send one of your young generals to die."
Unexpectedly, Wu Ju said sarcastically again.
"Hmph! A leader of water thieves has become the general of Jiangdong. I think Jiangdong is the one who has no one to use. Don't panic, my troops. Watch me capture the enemy general Gan Ning alive!"
After speaking, Wu Ju slapped his horse and rushed forward. The Han army behind him immediately waved flags and shouted.
A nameless evil fire rushed upwards in Gan Ning.
"You little thief is arrogant! Let's see if I don't kill you today!"
Seeing Gan Ning going into battle, the cheers from Jiangdong's army immediately overwhelmed the Han army's cheers. The soldiers on both sides couldn't help but feel a little excited, staring closely at the battlefield, which was the stage they longed for.
The two horses were galloping as fast as lightning, and the short distance was covered in an instant.
The spear in Wu Ju's hand seemed to be aimed at Gan Ning's heart, but as soon as he got closer, it attacked Gan Ning's throat cunningly.
Gan Ning stared at Wu Ju with a cold light in his eyes, his sword in its sheath, taking his time.
As soon as he arrived on the battlefield, Gan Ning immediately became very calm. Seeing Wu Ju's spear getting closer and closer, but there was no wave in his heart.
The trajectory of the spear tip seemed to draw a silver line in Gan Ning's eyes.
Seeing the two horses converging, Wu Ju stabbed suddenly. The galloping horses made the stabbing seem to span space.
At this time, Gan Ning's sword came out of its sheath.
The snow-white blade only left an afterimage in the air, like a ribbon made of light.
Go, go, go, go, go!
The sound of weapons being torn disappeared in an instant, the two horses staggered away, and a wisp of sparks flashed in the air.
There was a trace of pity in Gan Ning's eyes as he only cut off a piece of armor.
Wu Ju's eyes were full of horror, he was just a little bit close to having his entire arm chopped off by Gan Ning. He put away all his contempt and shouted angrily.
"kill!"
The two men turned their horses and fought back.
Wu Ju didn't dare to be careless this time, and the spear danced out with several spears, piercing Gan Ning's eyes, throat, and shoulders respectively. Then he felt the horror again.
Gan Ning seemed to have seen through all his attacks, and he could easily swing his spear away, letting the spear head fall into the air. Not only that, the long knife was supposed to be shorter than his own spear, but in Gan Ning's hands it seemed to have turned into a poisonous snake, crawling up along the shaft of his spear and opening its bloody mouth at him.
Use short strokes and long strokes, and the second attack will come first.
Looking at the shallow blood stain on his arm, Wu Ju was a little scared.
"What do you think you are doing? If you only have this ability, don't leave today!"
Gan Ning laughed loudly and flew forward. Wu Ju was shocked, annoyed, angry and anxious and quickly parried.
After only three rounds of fighting, Wu Ju's helmet was chopped off by Gan Ning, leaving him disheveled and in a miserable state.
It's too late, but it's soon. In the eyes of the officers and soldiers of both armies, in less than a moment, Wu Ju was killed by Gan Ning and was left without armor.
"General Gan is mighty!"
The morale of Jiangdong's army was high and they cheered like thunder.
At this time, Wu Ju was already covered in cold sweat. If he still dared to fight, he turned around and ran back.
"Hmph! If you dare to insult me Jiangdong, I won't let you stay today!"
Gan Ning had no intention of letting Wu Ju go. He chased after him on horseback and struck Wu Ju on the back with the long knife in his hand.
When Wu Ju saw Gan Ning chasing after him, he was so frightened that he couldn't care about anything else. He could only try his best to fight and fight for the last glimmer of life.
Fortunately, the soldiers under his command were not frightened stupidly yet.
"Fire the arrow! Fire the arrow!"
When the attack failed, Gan Ning decisively abandoned Wu Ju and turned back.
"Withdraw! Withdraw!"
Wu Ju, who fled back to the main formation, roared loudly and ran away without looking back. Seeing such a situation, the Han soldiers dared to stay and fight, so they hurriedly fled to Xiakou.
"kill!"
Gan Ning gave an order, and Jiangdong's army pursued him with great momentum.
