In the direction of Wuzhangyuan, a change is about to happen.
As for Jingzhou Nanyang, it was a bit too quiet.
From the beginning of November to now, the armies of both sides have not had any direct battles. Guan Yu went to Zhang Liao's camp to challenge him almost every day. No matter it was windy or raining, he was almost unstoppable.
Zhang Liao's response to this was even simpler. He closed the gate of the village tightly every day and arranged for people to strictly inspect the defense every day to prevent Guan Yu from attacking in the east.
More than twenty days have passed since this came and went.
Guan Yu thought it was no big deal, but Deng Ai and others couldn't stand it anymore.
Guan Ping and Guan Xing are sons, so some things are hard to say, but Deng Ai, the son-in-law, doesn't care about that.
"General, we have been leading the army here for more than twenty days. I don't know when we will attack the city?!" Deng Ai bowed and asked Guan Yu.
That means that you, old man, go to fight in front of other people's camps every day, for one or two days. It's quite a morale boost for everyone to see that the enemy troops don't dare to come out to fight. But it's been almost twenty days, and everyone is used to it.
We brought nearly 50,000 troops here to attack the opponent's defense line. We are not here to be a cheerleader to watch you challenge others. As a general of a country, why don't you do something serious? !
Although Deng Ai's tone and attitude were very respectful when he said these words, could Guan Yu, who was almost an adult, not understand the meaning behind his words? !
The second master is also annoyed. This Zhang Wenyuan is getting less and less courageous the longer he lives.
Where did your courage go when you led eight hundred people and almost defeated Sun Shiwan? !
Isn't it just a duel before the formation? How can you hold it in for twenty days in a row without coming out? !
As a general, courage comes first. Don’t you even have the courage? !
Guan Yu was angry, but no matter how angry he was, this was not the reason for Deng Ai to talk to him like this.
Although it is said that there are only superiors and subordinates in the army, have you forgotten that you are still my son-in-law? !
If Xu Shu had said this, Guan Yu could have just walked down the slope. But when Deng Ai said this, the second master just looked at him with squinted eyes, feeling arrogant in his heart.
Deng Ai faced the second master's narrowed eyes, but he was not afraid at all. I am not my master, so your trick is useless to me.
Yes, since he was a child, Deng Ai has not been too cold about Guan Yu's behavior of squinting his eyes at every turn, thinking it is a threat. Deng Ai is also an arrogant person, and will never be threatened by a mere look.
Besides, as a son-in-law, he and his father-in-law were born to be half-enemies, so Deng Ai was used to Guan Yu staring at him with squinted eyes.
Therefore, Deng Ai continued to bow, cupped his hands, and said, "The general has the important responsibility of the country. When marching to Nanyang this time, he should put state affairs first. Although the general's plan is good, Zhang Liao is not a fool. If you don't go out to fight for a day, I think you want to hold on to it, so the general must pay attention!"
That means Zhang Liao has probably seen through your little trick, so it's better to stop playing tricks and attack quickly.
If we don't fight, this military expedition will almost become an outing. If the morale of the army is loose, it will not be easy to get it back together again.
Guan Yu still didn't speak and continued to look at people with squinted eyes. What the hell is there in your words? !
If I don't like you, it's not all the reason why you kid cheated my precious daughter away! ! !
Back then, even if your master had objections to me, he would always be respectful and talkative to persuade me to come to you, but you just secretly accused me like this, right? !
Who doesn’t put national affairs first? !
In today's situation, your son-in-law, instead of finding a way for me to step down, insists on supporting me. Don't I want to lose face? !
The more Deng Ai said this, the more Guan Yu couldn't come down. Although he was sixty-one years old, the second master was no less arrogant than when he was young.
Deng Ai still wanted to say something, but Guan Ping couldn't stand it anymore. I don't know who he is.
Guan Ping hurriedly got ahead of Deng Ai, came out, bowed and said, "The general has been fighting for twenty days in a row, but Zhang Liao can't hold on. It shows that this man has lost his courage, and the morale of his army must be low. This is the time to use troops." . The last general is so bold that he will lead an army of five thousand to attack the city tomorrow. I ask the general to agree!"
When Guan Yu heard this, he immediately felt that his son was caring and at least knew how to help me. But the question really wasn't whether he wanted to attack the city.
The reason why Guan Yu wanted to challenge Zhang Liao in a duel was to win quickly.
The fundamental reason why Guan Yu demanded a quick victory was not because his own military strength was insufficient, but under the leadership of Zhang Liao, the Wei army's defense line was very solid and not easy to fight.
If it is just a problem that can be solved purely by relying on manpower, then does Guan Yu still have to challenge Zhang Liao, who is only in his fifties? !
Could it be that the second master doesn’t understand the risks involved? !
Both of them are not young anymore. If there is an accident in a duel before the battle, it is basically impossible for them to survive.
Therefore, in the final analysis, the current battle situation is really not a matter of choosing between duel or siege, but a matter of whether we are sure of winning.
Before there was a better way to win, Guan Yu was really reluctant to give up the one-on-one challenge with Zhang Liao.
Although there is some reason for Guan Yu's arrogance here, the actual tactical reasons cannot be ignored.
Therefore, Guan Yu thought for a long time, hesitated for a while, and finally waved his hand, rejecting Guan Ping's invitation to fight.
"Tomorrow I will challenge Zhang Liao again in front of his camp." Guan Yu thought for a moment and then said, "If Zhang Liao goes to fight, that's it. If he doesn't fight, we will make plans later!"
In this meeting, Guan Yu still made such a decision, which made Deng Ai very angry. He might have to endure another day of cold wind tomorrow.
There is no way, recently when Guan Yu went out to fight, he was accompanied by three generals: Guan Ping, Guan Xing, and Deng Ai who took turns to accompany him. Tomorrow, it will be Deng Ai's turn.
Deng Ai left the tent unhappily and prepared for the wind blowing tomorrow.
As for Guan Yu, he left Xu Shu alone before leaving the tent.
There are some things. In fact, Guan Yu also has his own judgment in his heart. It's not that he doesn't know that the current situation is his own problem, but his worries are still the same.
The reason why Guan Yu wanted to fight in a duel before the battle was told to Xu Shu. Xu Shu did not support this, but he did not object either.
But now Guan Yu has failed to challenge for twenty consecutive days. Although he has temporarily decided to continue the challenge, the actual follow-up behavior still needs to be discussed with Xu Shu.
You can't really continue to challenge like this, right? !
If Zhang Liao is really determined to be a coward, he can't keep wasting food here in Deng County, right? !
With his son and son-in-law, Guan Yu had to act like his father, but with Xu Shu, Guan Yu really didn't need to.
"What does the military advisor think of today's discussion?!"
It's not necessary, but the second master's temperament is there. There are some things he can't say too bluntly, otherwise it will be too embarrassing.
As for Xu Shu, he has been partnered with Guan Yu in Jingzhou for more than ten years. Xu Shu knows Guan Yu's temper very well, so when Guan Yu said this slightly tactfully, Xu Shu immediately understood what Guan Yu meant.
When did Guan Yu need to ask others what they thought of the decision he made? Obviously, our second master now needs some "reasonable" suggestions.
Xu Shu smiled but was a little speechless. He is already in his sixties, can't he change his face-saving problem? !
Criticisms come true, Xu Shu is not Deng Ai. In fact, Xu Shu feels that Deng Ai's emotional intelligence is also very problematic.
But that is a problem that Zhang Yuanchang needs to worry about, not Xu Shu.
Since Guan Yu asked, Xu Shu had to say it.
"The general's intention is correct!" Xu Shu confirmed the second master first, and then said, "Now our army is insufficient in strength and the enemy's defense is tight. If we attack the city rashly, we may suffer heavy losses, and it will not be conducive to a quick victory. It's just the general." , when we march today, are we aiming to destroy the city or to contain it?!"
When Guan Yu heard this, he was silent for a while and then said, "Since I was ordered by my elder brother to guard Jingxiang, although there have been many twists and turns, I have achieved considerable military exploits by attacking Xiangfan in the north and holding Jiangdong in the south. Now the whole of Jingzhou, Only the three counties of Changsha, Guiyang, and Nanyang have not been able to get it. In Changsha and Guiyang, this is not a matter of war, it is only a matter of people seeking you, and this old man from Nanyang is bound to take it!"
When Xu Shu heard this, he immediately nodded, and then said, "If General is so determined, it won't be difficult!"
When Guan Yu heard this, he immediately became energetic. He looked at Xu Shu and asked, "What good plan does the military advisor have?!"
Xu Shu smiled slightly and said, "The general has already thought of the strategy. Although the rebel army is heavily guarded, it is all tied to Zhang Liao. If the general can kill Zhang Liao, there will be no one to coordinate Wancheng's defense line, and it will be easy to break." "
Well, this is a compliment. After hearing this, Guan Yu smiled awkwardly. Even if the formation kills Zhang Liao, it is just a way to kill one thousand enemies and lose eight hundred. If the formation cannot kill, it might backfire on his own army. .
This is really not a good plan, it is really a last resort.
Guan Yu quickly ignored the topic and asked, "May I ask if the military advisor has any other good ideas?!"
Xu Shu didn't show off to Guan Yu. Seeing Guan Yu take the initiative to skip it, he just smiled and continued, "The other strategy is to mobilize troops!"
"Transfer troops?!" Guan Yu frowned slightly, looked at Xu Shu, and said, "Where can we mobilize troops?!"
"The soldiers of Jingzhou and Shangyong's soldiers can all be adjusted!" Xu Shu replied.
Guan Yu's brows furrowed even more fiercely. After thinking for a moment, he shook his head repeatedly and said, "The rats from Jiangdong cannot be trusted. Wang Boyu is in charge of Jiangling and cannot leave without permission. The troops in Jingzhou cannot be adjusted. As for Shangyong's troops, they are not strong enough. , Kou Gongzhong still needs to guard against You Fufeng Zhang He, how can he be called in?!"
Xu Shu stopped laughing this time, calmed down his expression, and said to Guan Yu, "General, the total number of soldiers in Jingzhou is only one hundred thousand. If we use one hundred thousand to attack Nanyang's thirty thousand enemy, we may have a chance of victory. If everyone has concerns, everyone will We need to stay behind and only bring 50,000 troops to come and fight. The general needs to be cautious and try to live up to His Majesty's orders!"
Guan Yu finally understood. Xu Shu went around in a big circle, but he was still trying to persuade himself!
(End of chapter)
