The Jiang bandits are mostly a mob and are very courageous. After a fierce battle, among the 6,000-strong army, only over 300 people were killed or injured.
Stepping on their feet, Xu Mu and Li Zhiqiu walked side by side and slowly walked towards Bailu County.
"You and I now only have a hundred river boats. No matter how powerful the river bandits are, they still don't have official shipyards and are not good at repairing and strengthening them. Most of these boats are still in dilapidated condition. It may be bad during a water battle." Li Zhiqiu's voice was deep.
Xu Mu also looked helpless.
The two dragons crossing the river are now swimming in shallow water.
"If I have a choice, I don't want to have a water fight...but you and I have no second choice."
What Li Zhiqiu said was equivalent to saying it in vain.
Muyun Prefecture and Shu Prefecture are separated by the Anling Mountains, so it is unrealistic to walk through the mountain trails. Therefore, Chen Changqing could only lead a large army to kill from the water of Xiangjiang River. If the enemy cannot be stopped on the river, Bailu County, which is guarded by the river, will have no strategic significance.
Simply put, as long as Chen Changqing lands ashore, they will be defeated due to the terrain on the Shuzhou border.
Water battle is the only chance.
"The chances of you and me winning are less than 30%." Li Zhiqiu hesitated before speaking.
"Master Li, it's not low anymore."
"This is combined with your cleverness and the morale of the soldiers who are not afraid of death. Otherwise, it will not even be 100%."
"Master Li is sincere."
Li Zhiqiu smiled and said, "There is nothing you can do. You and I are the same kind of people. Baseless fanatics who just want to save the people and save the world."
"I wonder when Captain Li thinks the army will attack from Muyun Prefecture."
"At least not for half a month."
"Why." Xu Mu was stunned.
"He needs to mobilize troops, recruit people, provide food, grass and baggage, and use civilians... In addition, I know some basic skills of looking at the sky. After tomorrow, Xiangjiang will enter the rainy season. So, for most of the month, it is... Your and my final plan.”
"Does Captain Li have any plan?"
"Throughout the ages, when the military strength is declining, the only way to have a chance of victory is to take advantage of the situation. For example, the little boss used fire to attack the Jiang bandits."
"Does Captain Li mean to use fire?"
Inexplicably, Xu Mu thought of someone. He is not a person from this world, but Mizuro, who was burned into the Three Kingdoms.
"Like your previous fire awning, it is definitely not advisable. The building boat clears the way, and the hull is too small to produce any sparks. People from the north are good at horses, and people from the south are good at boats. Chen Changqing has lived in Xiangjiang for a long time. Although he is cunning, he is not A mediocre person. Don't forget that he was the general of Dingbian who followed the young marquis step by step."
Xu Mu nodded silently.
"Don't worry, during this period, you and I will try to find ways to get more warships. For example, not far from Bailu County, there is another water village. I am thinking that we should be able to grab a hundred warships this round. .”
"In Bailu County, I heard that there is a shipbuilding company called the Wei family. My little boss can go and visit it. As for the water village on the other side, there are hundreds of warships. I will take people to get them."
Xu Mu nodded and cupped his hands slightly.
"This game can be regarded as a battle of survival for you and me. When life and death are at stake, isn't it happier to be a standing hero than to be a bear?"
Taking the book boy with him, Li Zhiqiu walked away. After only walking two hundred steps, he suddenly remembered something and turned his head.
"My little boss, did your Poisonous Eagle strategist win the battle?"
…
Holding the wooden stick, Jia Zhou took two breaths, his face expressionless. Fan Lu stood behind him, looking down at the canyon, feeling like vomiting.
This was not his first time on the battlefield. He followed Xu Mu and fought countless life and death battles. But now, under his eyes, these 20,000 people were clearly ambushed and killed.
A very brutal ambush.
Lure the enemy into the canyon path, then divide the troops to block both ends with fire. Rain of arrows and boulders will continue to push them down the canyon——
Severed limbs and rotten flesh were scattered everywhere, and some of the defeated troops who were still alive were wailing and kneeling on the ground, holding their heads high, crying, begging for life and prostrating.
"Fan Lu, if you light a fire below, you can burn the corpses and stop the plague."
Jia Zhou turned around and walked forward silently.
This frail scholar who had taught in a private school for fourteen years was about to start another life of his own.
…
As Li Zhiqiu said, in the early morning of the next day, the originally calm river surface suddenly turned into a violent storm.
The dark clouds in the sky are gathering more and more, until the surrounding scenery is shrouded in gray.
"Si Hu, go get an umbrella."
"Where are you going, Brother Mu?"
"Went to eat mutton soup. It will close in half an hour."
Si Hu's face was frightened and angry. He hurriedly took two oil-paper umbrellas and walked outside the governor's house with Xu Mu.
Following the muddy road, there is a miserable state of barrenness everywhere along the way. After being devastated by river bandits for several years, not even rice seeds could be left. In the beginning of spring, many people in ragged clothes stared blankly at the spring rain, which was as precious as oil.
Behind Bailu County, there are still some uncultivated fields, and the matter of rice planting has been entrusted to Chen Jiaqiao.
Xu Mu stopped, looked around a few times, and sighed inexplicably.
"Brother Mu, this wine shop and inn are closed."
The former gangster in the black shop escaped before Xu Mu could take action. In this way, in the huge Bailu County, there are not many shops open.
"Don't be anxious." Xu Mu responded. This round, he is going to the Wei family. According to Li Zhiqiu, the Wei family in Bailu County has been making a living by building ships for generations.
Soon after, Chen Changqing's army crossed the river, and it was already a matter of life and death. In the last moment, he must prepare more war chips.
"Brother Mu, I can't eat enough. Where else can I go?"
"Go to Wei's house."
"The Wei family has mutton soup? Is it served in a big bowl?"
"have."
The Wei family is considered a small squire in Bailu County. Even if it is not mutton soup, it should be other delicious food as a treat. Strangely enough, the Jiang bandits occupied Bailu County and did not embarrass the Wei family too much.
Xu Mu is more willing to believe that this is a family that has made a lot of efforts to survive.
Following the muddy road in the city, almost to the west of the city, Xu Mu saw the Wei family's mansion. It's not very luxurious, but it still has the simplicity and restraint of a small aristocratic family.
It is understandable that a family that lives off the river and lives by building ships would not want to leave the county near the river. Of course, if the Wei family did evil, he wouldn't mind sorting it out first. The treasury in the Sheriff's Mansion has been running low for a long time.
"But General Xu?" An old slave holding an umbrella stood by the door of the mansion, as if he had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Xu Mu approaching, he spoke hastily.
"Exactly."
"General, please follow this old slave into the mansion."
Xu Mu nodded, raised his head and looked around, and found a dozen dead soldiers of Hutang who were under surveillance, hiding on the tile roof at the head of the courtyard, slightly arching their hands towards him.
Xu Mu stepped forward, asked Si Hu to close the umbrella, and the two of them walked in side by side.
