On the second day after Huang Zu sent a clipper to Chaisang to recall the army, Yuan Yao also summoned the generals to discuss military affairs.
Yuan Yao's sneak attack on Jiangxia was mainly to burn the grain stores in Jiangxia Town, thereby forcing the Jingzhou Army that besieged Chaisang to withdraw.
As for capturing Jiangxia, Yuan Yao has no plans yet.
First, Jiangxia is an important town in Jingzhou and an important gateway to the east of Xiangfan. Liu Biao will never give it to others. If Yuan Yao really takes over Jiangxia Town, he will have to fight to the death with Liu Biao, which is inconsistent with the development direction that Yuan Yao has already determined.
Second, and most importantly, Yuan Yao does not yet have the strength to annex Jiangxia.
So this time, Yuan Yao came simply to burn food.
But what Yuan Yao didn't expect was that he would meet Gan Ning unexpectedly this time. Moreover, due to a strange combination of circumstances, Gan Ning actually became the biggest helper for his successful attack on Jiangxia.
In this battle, in addition to the powerful general Gan Ning, the army also unexpectedly surrendered three generals, Su Fei, Chen Jiu and Zhang Shuo.
According to Su Fei, Xiakou's grain storage accounts for only 30% of Jiangxia Town. If Yuan Yao had only burned the grain stores in Xiakou that night, he would certainly not have been able to force Huang She, Han Xi and others to withdraw.
But Gan Ning's three fires in Shiyang City burned at least all the grain stored in Jiangxia County.
The total number of Jingzhou troops on the front line is nearly 15,000, and their monthly consumption of military rations is at least 20,000 dendrobium. Even if there are 10,000 dendrobium of food left in Shiyang City, it will not last long.
There is no doubt that the Jingzhou army will withdraw!
In fact, Su Fei's estimate was too much. Shiyang City's grain reserves were burned by Gan Ning until only three or four thousand dendrobiums were left!
As soon as Huang Zu finished counting the remaining grain, he sent people to various counties under the Jiangxia Army to collect grain.
This small amount of food was not enough even for Huang Zu himself, let alone continuing to provide supplies to the Jingzhou Army on the front line.
After Yuan Yao captured Xiakou, he chose to release all the prisoners, not only to allow Gan Ning to take advantage of troubled waters to attack Shiyang City, but also to consume Huang Zu's food reserves to the maximum extent.
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There is no doubt that Gan Ning should take the lead from the beginning to the end of this battle!
Without him sneaking across to Miakou with more than 30 boats, Su Fei would not have been able to lead the navy to leave Xiakou, allowing Yuan Jun to take advantage of the situation.
Without Gan Ning's wit and bravery, it would have been impossible to burn the grain stores in Jiangxia Town to pieces, thus forcing Huang Zu to withdraw his troops.
After summoning all the generals to enter the account, Yuan Yao's first thing was to promote Gan Ning to Sima of another department on the spot. He would temporarily take over the 800 old troops of his own department, and then supplement them after returning to Yuzhang.
At the same time, Gan Ning was rewarded with a thousand collared armors. Although these thousand collared armors were ripped off from the Jiangxia army in Xiakou, after putting on new armors, Gan Ning's men also had a completely new look. It looks a bit like a regular army.
The two hundred Yuan troops who followed Gan Ning in the night attack on Shiyang City, regardless of whether they were alive or dead, had their merits recorded and were rewarded after they returned to the army.
After the temporary reward, everyone began to discuss what to do next.
A group of generals were arranged on the left and right.
In the Han Dynasty, civil servants respected the right and despised the left, so it was said that demotion meant moving to the left.
But the military attache respected the left and inferior to the right, putting the left first. For example, the general on the left takes his position before the general on the right.
Therefore, the column on the left is headed by Zhonglang General Huang Zhong, followed by Zhaoxin Colonel Lu Dai, and Sima Ganning of the other divisions at the end.
On the right side are all reduced generals. Headed by Su Fei, the former governor of Jiangxia, followed by the captain Chen Jiu and the military lord Zhang Shuo.
Among them, Chen was seriously injured and was in bed, leaving an empty seat to show respect.
Although they were sitting in the same tent, Su Fei and Zhang Shuo looked at each other, feeling very uneasy.
"Since it's an important military matter, we'd better avoid it for the time being while we wait for the new arrival!"
Su Fei stood up, bowed his head and said.
Zhang Shuo also quickly stood up and followed Su Fei.
"It doesn't matter!"
Yuan Yao waved his hand casually: "Don't be suspicious of others, but don't be suspicious of employees. Since you recognize me as your master, why should you have any estrangement?"
"I don't know how much food is left in Jiangxia. I want to send troops to Shaxian to continue to put pressure on Huang Zu and force him to withdraw. What do you think?"
Yuan Yao went directly to the topic.
Huang Zhong and Lu Dai looked at each other and were about to stand up to ask for orders, but there was someone who moved faster than them.
Gan Ning jumped up and said loudly: "I am willing to accept my order!"
When Yuan Yao saw Gan Ning standing up, a smile immediately appeared on his face.
Huang Zhong and Lu Dai secretly thought at the same time: It's broken!
No more credit.
Yuan Yao looked at Gan Ning with affection beyond words.
But after a moment, Yuan Yao smiled and shook his head: "No!"
"I have already made up my mind about the candidate to attack Sha Xian."
Huang Zhong and Lu Dai were happy at the same time.
Sure enough, the young master has not forgotten us two old guys.
The young master is indeed not the kind of person who likes the new and hates the old!
"Marquis Zhang Jun, how about I give you another five hundred soldiers and let you lead the troops to defeat Sha Xian?"
A basin of cold water was poured directly on Huang Zhong and Lu Dai's foreheads.
"I?"
Zhang Shuo suspected that he had heard wrongly, so he turned around and found that he was the only military marquis named Zhang in the whole tent.
"Yes, that's right, don't doubt it, it's you!"
Yuan Yao affirmed.
Zhang Shuo stood up and looked at Huang Zhong and others on the left, but still felt a little unreal.
Has my talent finally been discovered?
"Why, doesn't Zhang Junhou have confidence?"
Yuan Yao asked.
Zhang Shuo gritted his teeth and quickly raised his hands and said: "I will definitely live up to the general's expectations and I will definitely capture Sha Xian for the general!"
"Who asked you to capture Sha Xian?"
Yuan Yao looked at Zhang Shuo with a strange expression.
This man is quite confident. Sha Xian is a big county after all. There are at least a few hundred county soldiers. The city is high and the pond is deep. How can you win with a few hundred people?
Scratching his head, Yuan Yao explained: "Maybe I didn't make it clear and it's my fault."
"I said I would fight Sha Xian, but I didn't mean to actually fight Sha Xian, nor did I want to conquer the city."
Everyone was puzzled.
Since you don't want to capture Shaxian, why did you send troops to Shaxian?
Zhang Shuo was a little dizzy, and Gan Ning, who was standing next to him, stared at him with big eyes and small eyes, with an expression of not knowing what Yuan Yao was talking about.
"Presumably the general sending troops to Sha Xian was just a bluff. He actually wanted to cover the retreat of the army, right?"
Just when everyone was still confused, Su Fei suddenly spoke up.
Yuan Yao looked at Su Fei, a cold light flashing in his eyes that was not easily noticed.
This man was quite intelligent. Fortunately, he didn't have the kindness to let him go and let him return to Huang Zu.
When everyone heard the sound, they first looked at Su Fei, and then focused on Yuan Yao.
Yuan Yao smiled: "Yes, that's what I want to do!"
Gan Ning was a little puzzled: "Since you want to retreat, young master, why not just retreat?"
"If Huang Zu dares to lead his army to pursue him, I am willing to defeat him on behalf of the young master!"
Yuan Yao smiled but said nothing and looked at Su Fei.
I want to see how smart you are!
When Yuan Yao saw this, everyone focused their attention on him again.
Su Fei also knew that this was Yuan Yao's test of him. However, he had just opened his mouth to expose Yuan Yao's plan. At this time, it was obviously impossible to take a step back and stay out of the matter.
Perhaps, from the moment he was captured alive by Gan Ning, he could not go back to the past.
After taking a look at Yuan Yao, Su Fei had no choice but to bite the bullet and said, "I'm guessing that General Yuan's move was not without purpose."
"Similar to the release of prisoners of war the day before yesterday, General Yuan's move is also to increase Jiangxia's food consumption."
"As long as the general is still stationed in Xiakou, making gestures of repairing ships and collecting fish paste and kerosene, the people in the north of the Yangtze River will be afraid that the general will launch another night attack, so they will inevitably recruit civilians, repair the camps, and strengthen war preparations."
"Shaxian is the closest to Shiyang City. It is only seventy miles away and can be reached day and night. And the general has thousands of troops gathered here. He only needs to assume the posture of attacking Shaxian to force the county magistrate of Shaxian to open warehouses and release grain. , recruit soldiers to defend the city."
"Other counties and cities will also become panicked and follow Sha Xian's example."
"If you act like this, you can use up Jiangxia's food supply, which will have a much greater impact than capturing a city or a place."
After Su Fei finished speaking, he lowered his head. He only dared to look at the table and did not dare to look directly at Yuan Yao.
Everyone in the house was shocked.
Yuan Yao also had a new understanding of Su Fei in his heart.
In addition to being more fearful, there is also a bit more appreciation and appreciation for talents.
No wonder, being able to serve as the governor of a county under the age of thirty is quite resourceful.
Bang bang bang~
Yuan Yao smiled, applauded Su Fei and said, "What Su Fei said is more thoughtful than what I thought."
"This general did not think of repairing the ship's equipment, collecting kerosene, and pretending to be suspicious of the soldiers."
"This is a wonderful strategy!"
Zhang Shuo was the first to react this time and praised Su Fei: "So, all I need to do is lead the troops and make noise under Shaxian City?"
Everyone also looked at Su Fei.
Some are in disbelief, some are approving, some are envious, and some are noncommittal.
Su Fei felt something else in his heart.
Yuan Yao, who are you coaxing?
Although he had only joined Yuan Yao's camp for two days, the smart Su Fei knew that Yuan Yao's mind was far ahead of his own when he first talked with him.
This is a scent that smart people can smell each other.
How could a thoughtful person like Yuan Yao only let people pretend to attack Shaxian instead of pretending to be suspicious of soldiers in Xiakou?
This is obviously nonsense!
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