Three Kingdoms: I, Ma Su, just want to die

Chapter 696: The War to Destroy Wu
After seeing off Xiahou Ba, Ma Su began to rest in Luoyang. He needed to recover from his illness as soon as possible in order to prepare for the next war against Wu.

Ma Su couldn't wait any longer. After all, he had been waiting for this opportunity for two and a half years, which was the longest wait.

However, the long wait was still effective, especially it provided great help to the farming in Lianghuai.

Because there had been no major disturbances in Lianghuai in the past three years, even if there were any movements southward, they were only minor. Under Deng Ai's farming, the potential of Lianghuai, a land of fish and rice, began to burst forth.

In less than three years, the population of Lianghuai more than doubled. Shouchun had enough grain to meet the needs of 100,000 people for two years, and all roads were improved.

Moreover, the Huai River and Huai River regions could recruit 40,000 troops and more than 100,000 civilians. The large army heading south to attack Wu would have food when they arrived, and they did not need to stay anywhere, but could go all the way to the Yangtze River.

Such a huge resource reserve far exceeded the needs of the attack on Wu. However, for the sake of caution, Ma Su still set the time for a large-scale attack on Wu to the spring of next year.

Ma Su had to leave some time for the Prime Minister. Otherwise, if he started a war before Zhuge Liang finished providing disaster relief, it would have a bad impact.

Ma Su rested on the spot to recuperate, while Qingzhou was also doing its best to complete disaster relief.

Thanks to the unremitting efforts of officials at all levels of the Prime Minister's Office and the General's Office, the Qingzhou flood was contained in a timely manner. Despite the large-scale flooding and the impact on more than 100,000 people, Ji Han was able to control the disaster in less than half a year.

Afterwards, with the personal presence of the generals of the four expeditions and four towns, the subsequent disaster relief was carried out with extraordinary efficiency. Finally, before the coming of another winter, Ji Han basically eliminated the impact of the Qingzhou flood.

Such an efficient action greatly shocked the people in Kanto. The Kanto nobles who had been skeptical about the imperial court were relieved and began to support the imperial court.

With this action, Ji Han basically consolidated his foundation in Guandong. With the support of the Prime Minister's Office and the General's Office, the Eastern Palace also basically completed its control over the local area.

The name of Crown Prince Liu Xuan also spread in Guandong.

This was great news for Ji Han, as it meant that the Crown Prince's supervision of the country had played a good role. If things continued like this, perhaps the matter of moving the capital could be brought forward.

Of course, not everyone is happy to see this happen, such as our Eastern Wu Emperor Sun Quan.

When he launched a fierce northern expedition to counterattack Ruxuwu, but his vanguard was defeated by Deng Ai's 3,000 men, Sun Quan knew that everything was over. After his army withdrew, he was immediately strongly criticized by the local clans.

Sun Quan finally relied on the last remaining power of the Sun family to overcome this difficulty and once again suppressed the internal pressure of Eastern Wu.

Originally, stabilizing the internal situation was good news. But when he heard that Ma Su had returned to Luoyang and Ji Han had stabilized the disaster in Qingzhou, his face became terribly gloomy.

"Xishu is going to take action against me..."

Sun Quan said expressionlessly, with a mixed emotion in his tone.

He saw clearly early on that Shu would definitely attack him before attacking Hebei. After all, Hebei was stronger than the southeast and could escape to Liaodong if necessary, but Sun Quan had no way to retreat.

Originally, Sun Quan thought that the Qingzhou flood was his last chance, and he might be able to fight for one or two years. But when Ji Han basically controlled the disaster in half a year, Sun Quan knew that he was doomed.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid we have to make plans early." Lu Kang looked at Sun Quan, and after a moment of silence, he spoke cautiously.

"Tell me, what other preparations can be made in advance?" Sun Quan took out the treasury account book with an expressionless face, then looked at Lu Kang and asked.

Sun Quan had checked the treasury in advance and found that the reserves were almost exhausted. Not only that, Sun Quan also owed a lot of money and food to the major wealthy families.

All the combat-ready soldiers of the Eastern Wu now number only about 40,000.

With just this amount of troops, food and fodder, and the natural barrier of the Yangtze River, can they really resist the powerful Shu army?

Maybe it's impossible? "Where's Luo Tong?" Looking at Lu Kang who remained silent, Sun Quan's face became more gloomy and he asked.

"He is still confronting the Shu army at Chibi Mountain. The Shu army relies on mountain roads to transport food to the mountain, making Luo Tong unable to move at all..."

"Tell him to come back to me as soon as possible!" Sun Quan slapped the table with a grim face, and then issued an order in a tough tone.

Now, in the entire Eastern Wu, only Luo Tong's navy is still capable of fighting. If he still has even a glimmer of hope, it can only be the Jiangdong navy.

So no matter what, Luo Tong must come back!

"But Your Majesty, Commander Luo said that if we withdraw like this, it will not only be of no help to the overall situation, but will also affect the western front..."

"I said, let him go back!" Sun Quan's tone was more unquestionable, which made Lu Kang stunned.

"Now I can't even hold on to Ruxuwu. Can he save Jianye by holding on to Chibi Mountain?"

"Return to Chaisang! This is my order! If he disobeys, send someone to replace him!"

Sun Quan had almost lost everything at this moment, and the Jiangdong Navy was his last bargaining chip. If this navy could not return to Jianye, Sun Quan would be no different from waiting for death.

Seeing Sun Quan's serious expression, Lu Kang finally gave up the idea of ​​continuing to persuade him.

Your Majesty is almost going crazy now, so you'd better avoid bad luck.

Sun Quan finally took a deep breath and spoke with a serious expression.

"Let Luo Tong retreat back to Chaisang, and only leave some troops to guard Jingzhou. The rest of the navy will all come to Jianye to protect the emperor. I will never allow the Sun family's foundation to be ruined by me!"

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Just as Sun Wu began to prepare for war in full swing, Ji Han's side seemed to be relatively calm.

Jiang Wei and Liu Yin did not leave Qingzhou until November and returned to Luoyang to rest. Ma Su himself did not come back to Shouchun until the end of the year.

It seemed that Ji Han did not make much preparations before the war.

This is not because the big man is careless, but everything has actually been prepared.

When Ma Su returned to Shouchun, Deng Ai immediately handed over the account book, which detailed the Han army's series of preparations and the siege deployment of Yangzhou.

"General, our military strength in Jingzhou has now expanded to 70,000. General Xiang has led the vanguard to the vicinity of Xiakou and is almost blocking the entrance to the Ni Wu army."

"The Han army in Jiaozhou also expanded to 40,000 and began to attack Nanhai County."

"The Huai River and Huai River regions have also mobilized 40,000 troops, and Henan and Xuzhou have 80,000 troops ready to go."

"Now, with just one order from the general, the Han army of more than 200,000 will completely crush the rebels in Yangzhou!"

(End of this chapter)