After beheading Chen Wu, Guan Yu gave him a generous burial because of his courage and loyalty. Then, taking advantage of the current of the water before retreating, he took advantage of the warships to lead the army towards Fancheng.
There was a flood last night, and Li Yi led his troops into Fancheng. He didn't lose much of his troops, but he lost a lot of baggage, food, weapons, and equipment.
At this time, there were white waves around Fancheng, and the water was getting worse. The clay construction was gradually soaked by the water and collapsed. The men and women in the city carried earth and bricks under Li Yi's initiative, but they still couldn't fill it. People in Fancheng were in panic, and knowing that the Chu army was coming to kill them, even more people were frightened.
Li Yi was a general for the first time, and he was at a loss when faced with such a desperate situation.
Someone in the city told me: "Today's danger is beyond human power. We can take a boat and leave at night before the enemy troops arrive. Although we will lose the city, we can save our lives."
Li Yi is the number one scholar in Dajing martial arts, how can he live in an ignoble way? He angrily said: "A man sacrificed his life for the country and died without any regrets. How can he retreat in the face of danger? How can I abandon the city and live because I have been so favored by the emperor?"
Li Dan was the former Chief Envoy of Bingzhou. Later, the national policy of Bingzhou was successfully implemented. He was called back to Beijing to serve as Minister of War due to his meritorious service. Although his father Li Ru was serving in the Fifth Army during this battle. After the army resisted the Chu army's attack, Li Ru led the army westward and ordered Li Yi and Li Dan to stay and cooperate with Chen Wu to defend against the Chu army.
At this moment, Li Dan heard Li Yi's strong words and was instantly impressed by the new number one pick.
He crossed the threshold and said in admiration: "You are worthy of being the number one scholar of Dajing. You are responsible and responsible. I will definitely report to the Emperor to express your visit."
Seeing that it was Li Dan who came in, Li Yi hurriedly said: "Now we are facing a powerful enemy and we are in a desperate situation. Please teach me, sir!" Li Dan is the son of Li Ru. He has a strong background and has contributed to the implementation of national policies in Bingzhou. He has a high status in the court, is modest and low-key, and is respected by others.
Li Dan said: "How can the mountains and rivers come suddenly? They will retreat on their own in just a few days. As long as we hold on to the city for a few days and the water level recedes, the battle can be turned from defeat to victory. Moreover, the Xichuan army has not yet mobilized. If the emperor knows about Chu If the army mobilizes troops to attack Nanyang, the soldiers and horses from Shu will definitely move east to defeat Chu. At that time, we can send troops to cooperate with the army from Shu to attack Chu."
Li Yi was overjoyed and said, "Thank you sir for teaching me!"
So Li Yi rode up to the city and gathered the generals to swear: "I have been ordered by the emperor to protect this city, and I swear to live and die with this city. Anyone who dares to abandon the city will be killed without mercy!"
All the soldiers agreed loudly.
Therefore, Li Yi personally went to the city to lay out the defense equipment. The soldiers did not dare to slacken the protection day and night. He mobilized the whole city, old, young, women and children, to carry earth and rocks to fill the city wall and defend the city.
The next day, Guan Yu came by boat, only to see that Fancheng, which was originally in danger, had been filled up again overnight. He knew that the defenders in the city were going to defend the city. Fancheng is a border city directly facing the Chu State. The city has also been repaired, heightened and reinforced, and the city is fully equipped with defensive equipment.
Although Li Yi's army discarded a lot of ordnance, they could replenish it in the city.
In any case, Fancheng must be conquered, otherwise the army would not be able to penetrate deeply into Wancheng and occupy the entire Nanyang. Unable to achieve the strategic purpose of this battle, they ordered the army to attack the city by boat.
The water level outside the city is more than ten feet away from the city head, and it is impossible for a boat to get close to it.
Guan Yu ordered Zhou Cang to lead a large ship to fight. The height of the high ship was just the same as the top of the city due to the water level. As long as the soldiers fought hard to kill the enemy, they could enter the city.
Li Dan had already anticipated this and had prepared enough fuel to wait.
He put the fuel into earthen jars and sealed them, and placed several huge slingshots on the city head. After Zhou Cang led the building ship to slowly approach, he ordered the soldiers to put the earthen jars containing fuel into the full tanks. Inside the slingshot, it was launched with a command.
The fragile earthen jar hit the hull of the ship, shattering it into pieces, and fuel splashed onto the hull. Zhou Cang was originally a little suspicious when he saw the slingshot set up on the city wall. When the earthen jar was smashed and the fuel flowed out, his face suddenly changed and he realized that the Jing army was going to burn the warship.
But it was too late.
Following Li Yi's order, thousands of flaming arrows shot out, hitting the warship like raindrops. In an instant, the warship burst into flames with fierce fire and thick smoke. Zhou Cang hurriedly ordered his soldiers to put out the fire, but it was irreversible.
Guan Yu, who was behind, looked at the burning warship and his face was livid.
Looking at the densely packed earthen jars placed on the top of Fancheng City, I knew that Jingjun had prepared enough fuel to burn the ship. Guan Yu was confident that if all the warships attacked together, they would be able to break through Fancheng, but the cost would be too high and it would probably take all the warships.
But he didn't understand where Jingjun got so much fuel!
Guan Ping said: "Father, the enemy has been prepared for a long time and wants to defend Fancheng. It is better to wait until the water recedes and use trebuchets to break the city!"
Guan Yu nodded and ordered the army to retreat.
Watching the Chu army retreat, Li Yi and Li Dan breathed a sigh of relief. Of course there was not enough fuel in Fancheng. The fuel they just threw out was already all the fuel in the city. All the empty jars placed on the top of the city were used to confuse Guan Yu.
Fortunately, this strategy worked and the Chu army withdrew.
Li Yi looked at Li Dan with admiration: "As expected of Prime Minister Li, he is full of ingenuity, I admire him!"
Li Dan smiled and said: "If it weren't for the general's courage, how could I alone be the opponent of the Chu army? If we can defend Fancheng in this battle, the general should take the lead!"
Li Yi: "It all depends on Mr.'s plan."
…
The news that Guan Yu raided Nanyang, flooded Fancheng, and killed Chen Wu appeared in Zhang Xiu's hands the next night. At this moment, Zhang Xiu had crossed the Yellow River, led his troops along the coastline, and appeared quietly in Donghai City in Xuzhou.
Sun Ce's troops marched westward, and Lu Su's troops marched northward, leaving Xuzhou empty.
The mysterious Sixth Sea Route Army has quietly moved south and is about to arrive at the agreed place at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Zhang Xiu's troops appeared in Donghai City to cooperate with the sea route army and attack Xuzhou and Qingzhou with lightning speed. , and then used the Chu army, the west and north routes, to completely surround and annihilate Wei and Wu.
But he didn't expect that Guan Yu would dare to take the lead in attacking.
He also killed his naval commander Chen Wu!
When he saw this battle report, Zhang Xiu's face suddenly turned as cold as ice, and his eyes flashed with murderous intent, but he did not issue any orders. Instead, he sat down calmly and thought silently.
The whole room was silent.
Armand and Turitsen stood on both sides like nails.
"Since the Chu army made the first move, we cannot stand still," Zhang Xiu said slowly after a while, "Order Lu Xun to lead the infantry eastward and attack Jingzhou according to the planned plan. Confess Meng Huo as General of the Expedition to the West and lead Nanzhong Soldiers and horses, attack the southern region of Jingchu from south to north."
"Here!"
Armand responded quickly and went out to deliver the order.
