Chapter 106 Both sides lose

"Gentlemen, the three generals and the 100,000 troops of the Zhuge Division have arrived in Fuling. The governor of Fuling surrendered to the city, but Zhang Ren, known as the first general in Sichuan, has led 50,000 troops stationed in Ba County to confront it. Although he can't go down in a hurry, with the wisdom of Zhuge military division and the courage of the three generals, Zhang Ren is definitely not an opponent. After the arrival of the 5,000 Danyang elite soldiers of General He Qi, plus the 20,000 Sichuan troops of General Lei Tong and the troops garrisoned in the three eastern counties, we have already have 80,000 or 90,000 troops, of which about 10,000 are in the middle of the field. In addition to the left-behind Hanzhong and the three eastern counties, I want to mobilize 50,000 Ma Ceying three generals to attack Xichuan. Pointing to the unfolded map, Zhao Feng introduced the current military situation in detail.

"Where does the unknown general want to enter the army?" Lu Xun asked at this time. Judging from the map, the three places of Jianmen Pass, Jianmeng Pass and Brazil County can be sent to the army. The first two places are rare in the world, and it is not easy to attack them. Although Brazil is relatively easy to attack, it is very unpredictable to be guarded by veteran Yan Yan.

"We will gather people first, and we will make our own decision when we enter the army!" Zhao Feng still retained a little bit, and then ordered people to go to Baocheng to transfer Wang Ping, who was familiar with the geography of Hanzhong and Xichuan, which was of other useful. Just then, someone came to report that there was an urgent letter sent to Jingzhou. Zhao Feng hurriedly ordered someone to come in, but he saw a small school full of dust coming in and handed Zhao Feng an emergency letter. Zhao Feng opened it and took a look, but he also gave a soft click.

"General, what's the matter?" Lu Xun saw that Zhao Feng's face was not very good-looking and asked quickly. Zhao Feng sighed and said in a flat tone as much as possible: "The lord originally wanted to send Gan Xingba to lead the army to the waterway to attack Xichuan, but there were rainstorms in Jing and Yangzhou, and the river soared. Gan Xingba personally checked the water situation of the Yangtze River. The sailor could not go against the current. This plan was no longer possible. What's more, Jingyang may have a flood at any time, and he can't draw too much food for the army to fight. Therefore, General Guan asked us to fight quickly.

Because Hanzhong has just bought war horses, there is not much food left. This expedition depends largely on Jingzhou to provide food and fodder, not to mention Zhang Fei all the way. Once the flood in Jingxiang is difficult to protect itself, Zhao Feng and Zhang Fei are not good at grain and grass, but it will be a little dangerous.

"Zhang Ren and Yan Yan are both famous generals in Sichuan, and they are well aware of the key points. If it is allowed to find out the reality of our army, it will stick to the war and try to fight back when our army's food is exhausted. After reading it, Lu Xun also sighed, and everyone was silent. Zhao Feng felt that this was really retribution. The year before last, he and Guan Yu took advantage of Jingbei's lack of grain and easily took Jingzhou. Now I'm short of food, and this kind of taste is really uncomfortable.

"It doesn't matter. We just need to break Xichuan as soon as possible!" Zhao Feng thought about the examples of Liu Bei and Zhong Hui and Deng Ai's capture of Xichuan in history, and he could learn something from it. Everyone knew that Zhao Feng acted steadily. Seeing that he was so confident, he also put down more than half of his heart.

Compared with Zhao Feng's people, the atmosphere of Shouchun at this time was a little solemn. As Zhuge Liang expected, this spring rain has been going on for more than a month since the beginning of spring. The whole Jianghuai is Jingxiang and Jiangdong, which are covered by this rain, and many winter wheat have been soaked. Fortunately, the last grain production base under Liu Bei's rule has not been attacked by Jiaozhou, which is far away in southern Xinjiang.

"The water level of mixed water and Ganshui has risen recently. Although many areas have strengthened the dam overnight, the symptoms are not the root causes." In the government of the State of Qi, although it has been the third update in the middle of the night, Liu Bei and his important officials are here. It was Chen Qun who introduced the disaster situation. Listening to his tone, he was not optimistic.

"Shi Yuan, how long do you think the rain will stop?" Liu Bei knocked on the head and asked Pang Tong on the left. In the absence of Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong is the most familiar with astronomy. Hearing this, Pang Tong opened the window and looked carefully. He said in a very affirmative tone, "Master, if you don't have two days, the rain will definitely stop!"

"Two days left?" Liu Bei never felt that two days were so long. Although there is nothing wrong at present, several tributaries of Yingshui have begun to flood, destroying several flowing villages. If it continues to rain for another two days, Liu Bei feels that the surname of the Yangtze River or the Huaihe River may not be very big.

"Your lord, the spring rain is very severe. According to the detailed report, the water level of the Yellow River has begun to flood yesterday. Jizhou and Yanzhou under Cao Qian's rule were also severely affected. Yi Su estimated that although we can't free our hands to go to the north, Cao can't think of the soldiers going south!" Lu Su opened his mouth at this time. When Liu Bei heard this, he was a little more at ease.

"If we can experience this heavy rain, we can save more strength in the Northern Expedition next year." Pang Tong suddenly said that although everyone knew that his words were a little unkind, the fact was indeed the same. If one more year of strength is accumulated, with the water, soil and population of the five states under Liu Bei's rule, one year is enough for them to accumulate more food and troops.

According to the statistics of Chen Qun and Zhuge Liang, the total grain output of the prefectures under Liu Bei's rule last year is conservatively estimated to be nearly twice the total grain output of the prefectures under Cao Jian's rule, which did not include the grain obtained by Hanzhong at that time. Although Cao Yan's rule in Jizhou and Guanzhong are also famous fertile places, they can only grow wheat, and these places are only cooked once a year. Even if the method of deep cultivation is adopted, the grain yield obtained cannot be compared with the four prefectures of Jingyang and Xuyu, which practiced two seasons of rice and wheat cultivation, let alone the implementation of rice three times a year. Compared with the familiar Jiaozhou. At the same time, according to Zhuge Liang's proposal, Liu Bei will relocate a large number of veterans every year to Yizhou to reclaim wasteland. At the same time, he will promote the construction of Yizhou and strengthen exchanges with local indigenous marriage. It is expected that in a few years, Yizhou will become a large grain production base.

Contrary to the prevailing of grain production, the population under Liu Bei's rule is not as good as Cao. At present, the population of Liu Bei's five states plus Hanzhong is about 9.8 million, which is less than 10 million anyway. Cao Qian originally had a population of 4 million in the three prefectures. After pacify Hebei, he occupied the most populous Jizhou in the world, with a conservative estimate of 13 million. The population comparison between the two sides is almost 1.5:1. And more population means more troops. However, under the premise of insufficient food and fodder, it is also more likely to trigger a crisis of poor military food. Moreover, once it can win Yizhou this year and connect to Xiliang, then Liu Bei's room for maneuver will be wider.

"But you can't be careless. Now the war in Xichuan is in full play. In case Cao Qian takes the opportunity to enter Hanzhong from Guanzhong, General Zhao can't take care of each other at the beginning and end." Lu Su suddenly said.

"Didn't Zi Jingshi say that Cao can't go south?" Sun Qian said something strangely when he heard the words.

"It's powerless to go south, but Cao's strength should not be underestimated. Guanzhong Xiahou Yuan is also known for being good at long-distance surprise attacks, and the land of Hanzhong needs to be carefully alert." Lu Su was cautious.

"Bao has been in the battlefield for a long time. Even if he attacks Xichuan, there will be people in Hanzhong. There is no need to worry!" Liu Bei has a lot of trust in Zhao Feng's ability. Although he has been plotted several times, he really didn't see him suffer losses when he really did things seriously.

"For the sake of caution, the lord can send a large general to the three eastern counties to prevent the enemy from coming from Guanzhong." Lu Su thought for a time. Liu Bei nodded when he heard the words, and then asked, "Do you think there is a suitable candidate?"

"It's just to prevent it just in case. There is no need to work as a general. In Su's opinion, just order Liao Yuanjian to lead 20,000 troops to settle in Shangyong!" When Lu Su was talking about this, he suddenly "banged", the closed door was pushed open, and Jian Yong, who was dripping water all over his body, came in with a horrified face.

"What's wrong with Xianhe?" When Liu Bei saw Jian Yong's depressed appearance, he suddenly had an ominous foreboding in his heart.

"Master, the section of the Xiangjiang embankment broke the embankment, and all of them were flooded from Jingling to Hanyang!" After Jian Yong said in a trembling voice, he was already sitting on the ground. Liu Bei was hofounded when he heard the words. After a long time, he stood up tremblingly and said astringently, "How could this happen? Didn't Sun Kang, the magistrate of Huangzhou County, send someone to report yesterday, saying that the Jingling levee was foolproof?

"Cao's army took advantage of the heavy rain to dig the embankment, and the result was caused by this disaster!" Jian Yong said calmly, and Liu Bei couldn't help but be angry when he heard the words. Cao Mengde!" Liu Bei said with hatred word by word, and his voice gritted his teeth, which really made people doubt whether Liu Bei would have scratched him alive if Cao was in front of him.

Once the water of the Xiangjiang River overflows, all parts of the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River will be affected by it, and the affected population is expected to be no less than 2 million. Liu Bei said that he should guard against the night, not only to prevent heavy rain, but also to prevent Cao from taking advantage of the destruction. Finally, it was still a hundred secrets. Cao Shen has always made a decisive decision. This time, he did not hesitate to destroy the Xiangjiang embankment, but also made Liu Bei lose a lot.

"Damn it, Lord, Cao is so vicious. Why don't we wait for tat?" Pang Tong said with hatred. Liu Bei hesitated for a long time, and finally sighed, "Cao Yan can do poison, but he can't use it. Changwen immediately organized manpower to repair dams in all counties along the river to reduce losses. Zi Jing, send people to guard the dikes everywhere to prevent Cao Chan from taking the opportunity to destroy it again, and make plans after the rain stops!"

"No!" Lu Su and Chen Qun knew that Liu Bei could not do tit for tat, so they sighed that they still went to work separately. Liu Bei looked at the spring rain outside the window with his hands behind his back, and then sighed for a long time, "Fifty million men, how much is left?"

In sharp contrast to Liu Bei's compassionate people, at this time, in the Wei palace in Ye City, Cao Jian was overjoyed after learning that the strategy had succeeded.

"Wen He, after this, Liu Bei's loss of grain and grass is really countless!" Cao said with a wild smile. Jia Xu, a poisoner, has always made a cruel move, and a strategy can make people's corpses everywhere. This time, it hit the weakness of Liu Beijun.

"But Prime Minister, there has been continuous spring rain in Hebei recently, and the disaster is also very serious!" Liu Ye, the counselor beside him, saw that Cao Qian was a little too excited and quickly poured some cold water on him.

"If it is miserable, Liu Xuande will not be miserable!" Cao is full of confidence. But this time, he miscalculated. Although the Xiangjiang embankment was successfully dug, under the careful management of Zhang Zhao, Zhuge Liang and others, the water conservancy measures in Jingzhou and Yangzhou are far more perfect than those in Hebei. In addition, the embankment was guarded by a large army, Cao's people did not dare to dig in the key section. The hole he dug was just in a place that was not too urgent, and it was blocked the next morning. In the end, although it suffered heavy losses, it did not hurt the muscles and bones of the whole middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. On the contrary, Hebei, although he has been carefully managed by Xun Yu, although he was born in Yingchuan, he is Wang Zuozhi, but his understanding of the important surname of water conservancy facilities is far less than Zhuge Liang, who has lived in Jingxiang for a long time, let alone Zhao Feng, a time traveler.

The final ending was that Cao Yan had just made Liu Bei suffer a big loss. Before he was happy for a long time, Xiahou Dun, the governor of Jizhou, told him a very unpleasant news: the Yellow River dam broke the embankment.

"What?" Cao Qian was not happy, but he saw Yang Xiu running angrily and said to Cao Qian with a frightenful face, "Master, the big thing is not good, Xun Shangshu him?"

"What's wrong with Wen Ruo?" Cao Qian actually twitched when he heard the words, and his intuition told him that something had happened to Xun Yu.

" Xun Shangshu, he committed suicide by taking poison!" After Yang Xiu finished speaking, he was already in tears. Cao Yan was shocked when he heard the words, and his mind was blank for a while. The whole person was stunned like a demon and began to stagger subconsciously.

"Master, be careful!" Seeing that Cao Qian almost fell down, Yang Xiu hurried forward and held him. Unexpectedly, Cao Jian pushed him away and muttered, "Wen Ruo, Wen Ruo, is the Han Dynasty so important? If I become the king of Wei, you don't even want to die?

After staggering a few steps, Cao Yan felt that his head was getting more and more painful. He shivered for a long time, and finally shouted and fell down on the spot.

"King of Wei (Princess)!" Yang Xiu and others were shocked and hurried forward to help him up. At the same time, they quickly summoned the imperial doctor not to mention it. After more than two consecutive hours of careful diagnosis and treatment by the imperial doctor, although Cao Wei was still unconscious, his condition finally stabilized a little. In the early morning of the next day, Cao Wei woke up.

"Ah!" After Cao Yan opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was Cai Wenji, who was sitting by the bed and looking at him anxiously. With a sigh, Cao Gan reluctantly squeezed out a smile and asked, "Wen Ji, what time is it now? How long have I slept?"

"It's only a few hours. It's still early. It's still dawn?" Cai Wenji comforted him softly while pulling the quilt on Cao Yan.

"Wen Ji, do you think I did something wrong?" Cao was silent for a long time and suddenly asked. After asking, he began to gasp. He didn't know whether it was a disturbance or a depressed mood.

Cai Wenji was silent when she heard the words, and finally sighed, "Right and wrong, I can only comment on it with future generations!"

"Maybe you're right, but if you're right, why did Wen Ruo abandon me?" Cao Yan didn't seem to be very relieved by Cai Wenji's words. He sighed for a long time, and then sighed at the beautiful woman in front of him, "Maybe your father is still here, and you will also think I'm a Han thief!"

"You can't say that, husband, you pacified the north and knocked on the Xiongnu. You are still meritorious to the Han!" Cai Wenji quickly said with relief. Cao Yan smiled with some relief when he heard the words, and also sighed with a little emotion, "I, Cao Mengde, have done a lot of good things!" At this time, he finally understood that the reason why Xun Yu suddenly asked for death was related to his claim to be the king, but it also had something to do with Jia Xu's poisonous plan. He has always advocated self-cultivation to govern the country and the world. He must not accept that he killed and injured the people to weaken the enemy.

"Liu Xuande, Liu Xuande, I'm much worse than you this time!" Cao Wen muttered in his mouth, and finally fell asleep with a long sigh until the sky woke up at dawn.

(to be continued)