Because they had to travel a long distance, Gao Shun ordered the trapped troops to take off their heavy armor. With scouts nearby to gather information, the soldiers could travel lightly to save energy and increase the speed of their daily march.
Gao Shun and Lan Tian were riding ahead. During the chat, they accidentally mentioned Lan Ji, "Sir, are you too harsh on Zhong Ling? In fact, many adult generals are no longer as good as him."
"How does Zhong Ling compare with you in running the army?" Lan Tian asked back.
"Ruling the army requires accumulation of experience. Zhong Ling is still young and still has a lot to learn." Gao Shun answered truthfully.
Lan Tian smiled slightly: "Isn't the answer very clear?"
"Zhong Ling did kill Han Dang. Sir, you should encourage him more. I can see that he is eager for your praise." Gao Shun reminded.
Lan Tian frowned: "Actually, I'm very pleased, but teaching my son is like training soldiers. If you don't be ruthless, you will easily make mistakes in the future. He is indeed still a little young now. Let's polish it for a few more years."
"Boyang has always been with Mr. and Miss. It's understandable that you should be stricter. But Zhongling has been training with General Guan for a long time. If you are still so strict when we meet, aren't you afraid that the child will not be close to you? Praise appropriately or not It's necessary." Gao Shun shook his head and smiled bitterly.
"I admit that Zhong Ling's talent is very good, and he has the same demeanor as his great father, but this child has had a strong temper since he was a child. If he is not suppressed, he will not be able to control it in the future. This time he made a military exploit by killing Han Dang, but when it comes I will tell Yun Chang in Fancheng not to give Zhong Ling another promotion." Lan Tian looked serious.
"If you don't get rewards for meritorious service, you might not be able to convince the public..." Gao Shun's face was full of bitterness.
Lan Tian replied meaningfully: "How can you say no reward? His military commander came here in vain, and this military merit is offset by it."
Gao Shunyi heard this and said, "Good guy, who would have thought that Lantian would be so strict with his son?" However, his wisdom must have profound meaning.
"Jiangling is one hundred and seventy miles away from Dangyang. Even if we march quickly, it will take three days. We can't catch up with Lu Meng's ship. Why are you so sure that they will land in Dangyang?" Gao Shun changed the subject and asked in confusion. ask.
"Lü Meng jumped over the wall and escaped into the Juzhang River. He probably analyzed that Jiangdong has lost control of the Yangtze River and it is no longer possible to forcefully escape back to Jiangdong through the Yangtze River. Therefore, he chose to take the Juzhang River waterway to distance himself from us, and then choose a suitable land to go north to Xiangzhou. , Fan, or help Cao Ren attack the back of General Guan, or use Cao Cao's territory to return to Jiangdong, so as to avoid encountering our main force." Lan Tian explained.
Gao Shun still had doubts, "Lü Meng can definitely go upstream to the Zhang River and then go ashore, so that he can be farther away from us."
Lan Tian then stretched out two fingers: "There are two reasons. One is that there is a straighter official road to the north of Dangyang, and the distance to Xiangyang is the shortest. The other is that the upper reaches of the Zhang River is restricted by the terrain of Jingshan Mountain, and the river is narrow and deep. It’s not enough, hundreds of ships moving forward at the same time can easily run aground.”
"Sir, you really thought carefully and took all factors into consideration. It's not aggrieved that Lu Meng was defeated at your hands." Gao Shun suddenly understood.
Lan Tian frowned and shook his head: "Actually, Lu Meng still has another way to go, and that is to take the Jushui River when the road is divided. The river upstream of the Jushui River is relatively wide, but to go to Xiangyang by land, you have to take the mountain path, and you can go back over the mountains to the west. Go to Yiling."
"Circumbing Yiling? That's absolutely impossible. Generals Su and Li have led their fleet into the Juzhang River. The water escape route has been cut off. They can only survive by taking Xiangyang." Gao Shun speculated with certainty.
"It's useless to talk more now. Let's go on our way first. Everything will be subject to the news from the reconnaissance camp."
"only."
The trapped army marched rapidly for two days and advanced one hundred and twenty miles as planned.
While setting up camp for a rest, Chu Qing reported the latest news to Lan Tian and Gao Shun: "Sir, General, the two generals Su and Li arrived at the fork of the Juzhang River half a day ago, because Lu Meng's fleet was divided into two. Entering Jushui and Zhangshui, they also divided their forces to pursue them."
"As expected by Mr. Jiangdong, the rats from Jiangdong actually went to Jushui. What news is there in the direction of Dangyang?" Gao Shun asked.
Chu Qing cupped his fists and answered: "Also half a day ago, a team of about 3,000 people landed in Dangyang, and its leader should be Sun Jiao, who originally surrounded the police."
"So Lu Meng's main force went to Jushui?" Lan Tian twitched his beard.
"The situation should be like this. My soldiers have borrowed General Li Yi's boat to cross the Zhang River to the west and pursue along the east bank of the Ju River to ensure that they are always aware of the whereabouts of Lu Meng's main force." Chu Qing nodded in reply.
Gao Shun lowered his head and analyzed: "Sun Jiao's troops are one and a half days ahead of us. Even if we catch up, we have to go near Xiangyang to catch up, but Lu Meng's main force went to Jushui. Sir, what do you think we should do?"
Lan Tian made a prompt decision and ordered: "Chu Sima, send someone overnight to inform General Li Yi to seize the empty boat left by pilot Sun Jiao and send us to pursue Lu Meng by water."
"only."
After Chu Qing answered, he was about to leave the camp. Gao Shun stopped him and asked Lan Tian: "Should we just ignore Sun Jiao? There is no way we can chase after Lu Meng."
Lan Tian explained: "Lü Meng's main force still has more than ten thousand people, and the death net is overwhelming. Governor Su cannot withstand it. We can only drive the Jiangdong soldiers forward like cattle and sheep. Gan Xingba's boat returned to Fancheng from the Han River very quickly. By the time They arrived near Xiangyang in exhaustion. General Guan will break them if he waits for work. We are just holding on to the fish and not slipping through the net."
"Uh... Sun Jiao didn't miss it, didn't he? Maybe they took a detour south and never went north to Xiangyang." Gao Shun asked back.
"Sun Jiao and Lu Meng are both false and true. I guess he must go to Xiangyang first. If he really turns back and goes south, I have backup plans waiting to deal with him. Later you will send someone to Jiangling to deliver the message and let Yuan Zhi stabilize Jiangling. After that, draw some troops and horses to wait for the rabbit in the sun. If Jiangling's troops arrive late, don't forget that there is Pang Lingming's cavalry." Lan Tian smiled slightly.
Gao Shun was dumbfounded and murmured compliments: "Sir, there is really no unnecessary step in using troops like this. Gao Shun really admires it..."
"Haha, don't forget those people in Guli. I won't let Ling Mingming make a trip." Lan Tian added.
Gao Shun nodded secretly, thinking about what he meant by looking at the overall situation? Sir, this is the overall situation, and you are simply playing with the rats from Jiangdong.
After receiving the order, Li Yi drove a boat overnight to the meeting point. Early the next morning, the trapped troops rushed to the river to board the boat, and then transferred from Zhangshui to Jushui and headed north.
Lantian looked at Linju on the map and thought to himself that the place where General Guan had been beheaded might have some secret plans.
Li Yi's fleet went north up the Ju River. When they just arrived in the waters of Linju County, the scouts came on a Jingzhou speedboat to report the news. Lu Meng's main force suddenly returned when they were crossing the Jingshan Mountains. Their abandoned warships were controlled by the Jingzhou navy. Lü Meng is now being pursued by land and has been harassed by Su Fei's fleet on the waterway. He is now forced to evacuate towards Linju.
After hearing the report, Lan Tian immediately ordered Li Yi to stop the boat and dock, and then ordered Gao Shun: "Bo Ping, let the soldiers put on their armor, grab their weapons, and the time to close the nets and hunt has finally arrived."
