Soldiers come to the world

On the endless sea, the sea breeze whips up small waves, slapping the reef and the coast. Under the blue jewel-like sky, a huge fleet is cutting the waves and sailing northward.

This is the fleet of the Han army sailing from the mouth of the Yangtze River. It consists of [-] large ships of more than [-] shi.

At this time, the Central Plains War was in the stage of confrontation, Cao Ren could no longer withdraw to Xuzhou, and the Han army had not launched an attack on Cao army for a long time. The key was that Liu Jing was waiting for news from Gan Ning.

After recapturing Jiaozhou with surprise soldiers, the Han army tasted the sweetness of attacking by sea. This time, in order to win the Central Plains War, Liu Jing used the navy again without hesitation. He hoped that the navy could play the role of surprise soldiers.

After last year's attack by sea, the Han army has accumulated a certain amount of experience, and it will be much easier to go by sea for the second time. Even so, the Han army has made a lot of preparations.

At the beginning of spring, Gan Ning sent two advance fleets to explore the sea routes along the northern coast. After sailing three times in a few months, the Han army basically determined the route. Ning and Lu Xun then marched northward with [-] Han troops.

The first time the Han army marched northward from the sea, they did not have too far a plan. They did not consider attacking Hebei, but wanted to capture Qingzhou. In this Central Plains War, Cao Pi had ordered Cao Xiu to lead [-] Qingzhou troops to Xuzhou. Qingzhou was empty, so Liu Jing saw the opportunity to seize Qingzhou.

Once the Han army captures Qingzhou, it will inevitably bring huge pressure to Xuzhou, and the balance of victory in the Central Plains War will completely fall to the Han army. This is Liu Jing's consistent style.

Six hundred warships cut through the waves in the blue waves near the sea. The fleet stretched for hundreds of miles, the sails were like clouds, and the momentum was huge. In the front of a four-thousand-stone building, Gan Ning stood on the side of the ship with a short halberd in his hand. Look out towards the shore, gazing at a black line of land in the distance.

Gan Ning's heart was ups and downs. He had been fighting in the water all his life. Ten years ago, he would never have imagined that he would actually go to sea to fight, and he had embarked on an unprecedented path.

"What is the governor thinking?" Sima Luxun walked slowly to Gan Ning's side and asked with a smile.

Gan Ning sighed slightly, "I feel that I am taking a road that no one has gone before. Expedition to the north by sea. For Cao Jun, this is probably a surprise attack that they can't imagine."

"I think Cao Cao may have been worried. After all, we have successfully raided Jiaozhou in the south. How could Cao Cao not know? But even if they knew, they would not be able to defend against them. Unless they have a navy to intercept them, the initiative is still in our hands. He can't take the elite soldiers. It is really unrealistic for strong generals to be deployed along the coast.”

Gan Ning nodded, and smiled again: "Actually, I have also thought about why the King of Han didn't let us go directly to Hebei. Hebei is currently empty of troops. We can sweep Hebei and kill all the way to Yedu. Wouldn't the pressure on Cao Jun be greater? ?”

"This is the stability of His Royal Highness the King of Han. Cao Wei is not Jiaozhou. It is impossible to swallow it all at once. We must take it step by step. Especially the Central Plains Campaign is the most critical step in attacking Cao Wei. Once we take the Central Plains, Cao Wei will be defeated. If we capture Qingzhou, then Form a north-south response."

While the two were talking, a watcher shouted from above their heads: "Captain, we see a beacon fire ahead!"

Gan Ning and Lu Xun hurriedly looked to the north, and they also saw a thin ray of beacon smoke in the distance, which was the signal from their advance army, and they finally arrived at their destination.

Gan Ning was overjoyed and ordered: "Send the flag to the rear and prepare to enter the port!"

A soldier waved a flag to tell the ships behind to slow down. At this time, Gan Ning's main ship also lowered its sails, slowed down, and sailed towards the watchtower where the beacon smoke was burning.

The landing place of the Han army is located in a huge bay, which is today's Jiaozhou Bay, which is under the jurisdiction of Chengyang County. The seaside in this area is basically deserted, and there are only a few fishermen living by the seaside.

But this does not mean that the government does not pay attention to the benefits of the sea. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, the State of Qi made a profit by drying salt on the seashore. During the Han Dynasty, the main source of Han salt was also the seaside. The salt farms operated by the government are mainly located in the Bohai Sea, while the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea only slowly developed after the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

This Northern Expedition of the Han Army also took into account the effect of surprise troops, so it did not go north to the Bohai Sea, but landed in Chengyang County, which is a little less populated.

As early as a few months ago, the advance team of the Han army built several sentry towers on the mountain at the entrance of the bay to guide the Han army fleet. As large ships sailed into the bay, this quiet natural harbor became lively stand up.

The fleet docked one after another, and the soldiers ran down from the warships and quickly set up tents in a wilderness. After nearly half a month of sailing, the soldiers needed to rest on the shore.

Soon, thousands of tents appeared in the wilderness, and the soldiers of the Han army moved thousands of bags of grain from the boats. After a two-day rest, the Han army marched lightly westward. The team will continue northward into the Bohai Sea, and will join the soldiers of the Han army at the mouth of the Yellow River.

At this moment, Marquis of the advance team quickly came to Gan Ning, knelt down on one knee and saluted, "See the governor!"

"Thanks for your hard work."

Gan Ning comforted the Marquis with a few words, and then asked, "Is there anything going on?"

"I report to the governor, there is nothing unusual. There are only some fishermen living in this area, and it is under the jurisdiction of Zhuangwu County. However, the county seat is fifty miles to the north, and it is a very small county. At present, the government does not know that we are coming."

Gan Ning nodded, and turned to Lu Xun, "Lu Sima thinks we should start now, or rest for two days before leaving?"

Lu Xun thought for a while and said, "The main force of the Qingzhou army has gone to Xuzhou, and the troops here are empty. We will definitely capture Qingzhou like a bamboo shoot. In fact, there is no need to rush. I suggest starting tomorrow."

Gan Ning also agreed with Lu Xun's suggestion, and immediately ordered: "Take a day off, and the army will start tomorrow morning!"

In order to cooperate with the navy to go north to Qingzhou, Liu Jing was not in a hurry to fight the main force of Cao's army, but patiently waited for the opportunity. On the other hand, Zhang Liao's [-] troops also crossed the Yellow River from Yanjin and entered Liang County.

Zhang Liao's army originally went south to help Xuchang, but when they crossed the Yellow River, they were blocked by the Han army in Hanoi. A fierce battle broke out between the two sides. Zhang Liao defeated the Han army with superior forces and crossed the Yellow River with a raft. Zhang Liao went south with light troops and had no siege equipment, so he temporarily stationed in Dongjun, waiting for Cao Pi's orders.

As more than [-] Han troops confronted the main force of Cao's army in Qiaojun, Zhang Liao also received Cao Pi's order to enter Liangjun and prepare to participate in the Central Plains campaign. The intervention of Zhang Liao's army made the Central Plains battle complicated.

The time has come. This morning, Liu Jing, escorted by more than a thousand cavalry, came to Qiao County for inspection. There are currently [-] Cao troops in Qiao County, commanded by General Niu Jin. The two sides have been confronting each other for nearly half a month. The defense of the city gradually relaxed, and the soldiers on the city head became sparse.

When Liu Jing's team arrived at the city of Qiao County, a rapid alarm bell sounded from the top of the city, causing Cao Jun's soldiers to panic for a while. Groups of soldiers rushed to the top of the city, looking nervously at the city.

Liu Jing immediately stood on a small hill, smiled and said to Zhao Yun next to him, "Their defense is so smooth, if we sneaked into Qiao County last night, maybe we would have succeeded."

Zhao Yun smiled wryly and said: "After all, the confrontation lasted for half a month, and the weather has turned hot again. It is normal for Cao Jun to be lax in defense, but it is not an option to procrastinate like this. When is Your Highness going to have a decisive battle with Cao Jun?"

Liu Jing smiled, "I'm waiting for Zhang Liao's army to withdraw to the north. If Zhang Liao's army does not withdraw, I will not be sure of this battle."

Zhao Yun was taken aback, "Why does Your Highness think that Zhang Liao's army will retreat?"

The northward march of Gan Ning's navy was so secret that even generals like Zhao Yun and Wenpin didn't know about it. Only Sima Yi and Pang Tong knew about it.

Sima Yi smiled slightly and said, "Captain Zhao may not know that the [-] navy sailed north from the sea route more than half a month ago. General Gan Ning should have led his army into Qingzhou at this time. I believe there will be news in the next few days. .”

Zhao Yun was stunned for a moment, and then he was overjoyed that this matter was so secret that even he didn't know about it, but he didn't regret it, but was more excited. He couldn't help smiling and said: "In this way, Cao Pi will have to divide his troops and go north." Unless he doesn't want Qingzhou, but that's impossible."

Zhao Yun suddenly hesitated and said, "What if Cao Pi ordered Cao Xiu's army to rush back to Qingzhou?"

Liu Jing said indifferently: "The so-called know yourself and the enemy, and you will never end in a hundred battles. If Cao Xiu's army returns to Qingzhou, what will Xuzhou do? Who will protect Cao Pi's safety? The Central Plains War is important, but it is still a little bit worse than his own safety. Moreover, in Cao Pi's original order, he did not intend to let Zhang Liao participate in the battle of the Central Plains. He was just worried about the Youzhou Army's garrison in Yedu, and worried that Cao Zhang would launch a coup in Yedu, so he took the opportunity to let Zhang Liao take the Youzhou Army away from Yedu , so I concluded that Cao Pi must have asked Zhang Liao to help Qingzhou in the north, without the threat of Zhang Liao's army, I have ninety percent certainty in this Central Plains campaign."

Zhao Yun sighed after a while, "His Royal Highness has seen through Cao Pi."

At this moment, a group of cavalry rushed up in the distance, and the leader of the army rushed up the hill, said a few words to Liu Jing's guard, and was brought in front of Liu Jing. The guard said: "Your Highness, there is news from Qingzhou come over!"

Liu Jing laughed. Speaking of Qingzhou, Qingzhou news came, and he asked, "Where is the news?"

Junhou presented an eagle letter to Liu Jing, Liu Jing took it and read it, then smiled at Sima Yi and Zhao Yun: "Let's go back! We are going to fight Cao Ren in the Central Plains."

Sima Yi and Zhao Yun looked at each other, and Sima Yi asked anxiously, "Where is General Gan Ning?"

Liu Jing handed the eagle letter to Sima Yi, "He captured Linzi two days ago, and all the counties in Qingzhou surrendered in anticipation."

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