Soldiers come to the world

In Jiangling, a viewing platform was built close to the pier on the north bank of the Yangtze River. It is six feet high and has a radius of about three acres. It can be seen on the river. Every morning, rain or shine, Cao Cao will come to the viewing platform to watch Cao Jun’s training in the river. .

The training has been going on for a month. With the full cooperation of Zhang Yun, Cai He, Deng Ji and other Jingzhou navy generals, Cao Jun's water combat ability has gradually improved, and he can start to arrange some simple water formations, but the training progress is still there. Very slowly, the navy is still dominated by the surrendered Jingzhou army.

However, the more than [-] Northern Cao soldiers were unable to fight on the water at all, and less than half of them no longer vomited violently by boat. This made Cao Cao very anxious. His plan was to train for two months, but according to this progress, half a year would not be enough. .

This morning, Cao Cao, as usual, was training on the viewing platform overlooking the river. There are nearly fifty large ships in the Yangtze River. A total of 2 people participated in the training.

The training is very simple, that is, crossing the river by boat four times, training [-] soldiers each time, seeing the big ships begin to dock one by one, and the training of the first batch of [-] soldiers is over, and groups of soldiers with pale faces hold the ropes from the boat. Getting off the ground with difficulty, he immediately collapsed on the shore, almost as if he was going to die in pain.

Cao Cao was so angry that his face was livid, and he said angrily: "After training for a month, why do you still look like a dying ghost? Haven't you made any progress?"

He turned back and shouted: "Go and get Zhang Yun for me!"

Not long after, Zhang Yun in armor hurried up to the viewing platform, knelt down on one knee and saluted, "See the prime minister!"

Cao Cao snorted heavily, and pointed at the suffering soldiers on the shore with his horsewhip, "Let me ask you, is this the first training for these soldiers?"

Zhang Yun was frightened and frightened, and said in a low voice: "Report to the Prime Minister, this is the fourth time they have boarded the ship."

"It's been four times. Why do you still look like a ghost? How did you train?" Cao Cao scolded Zhang Yun angrily.

Zhang Yun was so frightened that he didn't dare to stand up and said tremblingly: "They have made some progress. The first trip across the river was fine. When they came back, someone vomited first. The prime minister also knew that as long as one person vomited first, everyone would bear it." I can’t hold back, and the sour smell in the cabin is pervasive, so...."

"Hmph! Do you mean that no matter how many times you train, it won't work?"

"That's not the case. The key is an adaptation process. I think it will be much better after training for two or three months."

At this moment, Cheng Yu next to him interjected: "Dudu Zhang, I'm afraid you didn't understand what the prime minister meant. The prime minister didn't just allow him to take a boat, but wanted them to participate in water battles and run and fight on a big boat. Is this possible?" ?”

Zhang Yun's face turned pale, how could this be possible, Jiangdong Navy and Jiangxia Navy, those soldiers grew up by the river and were finally selected as sailors, not all soldiers are qualified for sailors, This is true even for the Jiangdong Army and Jiangxia Army, not to mention the soldiers of Cao Army who grew up on the northern plains.

In desperation, he had no choice but to answer: "To achieve what Mr. Cheng said, it will take two or three years of training at the earliest. Both the Jiangdong Navy and the Jiangxia Navy have trained for more than five years. Two months is really a humble job." Can't do it."

Cao Cao had no choice but to scold: "Go! Let the soldiers get used to riding a boat quickly. I don't care what method you use. I will give you another month. All soldiers must be able to travel long distances by boat, otherwise I will use your head to sacrifice flag!"

Zhang Yun was so frightened that he ran away with his head in his arms. Watching Zhang Yun run away, Cao Cao finally couldn't help sighing and said, "Zhongde, could it be that my decision to attack Jingzhou was wrong?"

Cheng Yu shook his head and said with a smile: "Actually, I think the prime minister thinks too much about the navy, and it's actually unnecessary."

"How do you say that?" Cao Cao asked suspiciously.

"Our southern expedition does not necessarily require water warfare. We just want to cross the Yangtze River. Soldiers can march eastward from land. I asked the local natives that as long as the ships reach the Puqi area, the army can go directly to Jiangxia. If we go forward, then we will be able to advance by water.”

Cao Cao shook his head and said with a wry smile, "Although I say that, I still have to travel thousands of miles by boat."

At this time, Liu Ye, the counselor next to him, said: "My minister also has a plan, I wonder if it is feasible?"

"you say!"

"Weichen thinks that it is not necessary to start from Jiangling. The army can march from Fancheng to Anlu County, and go north to bypass Yunmengze. In this way, it can reach the north bank of the Yangtze River in Anlu County. The opposite bank is Xiakou. As long as our warships If we can concentrate on the north bank, we can attack Jiangxia from the land as long as we cross the river once."

Cao Cao pondered for a moment, then shook his head and sighed, "I'm afraid the warships won't be able to pass through Xiakou. Although the plan is feasible, it's not realistic, and it's too much trouble for the army."

Not only did Cao Cao not approve of Liu Ye's plan, but in fact, if Zhang Yun or any general who was good at water warfare were here, they would definitely oppose Liu Ye's plan, forcibly crossing the Yangtze River would not be so easy.

Besides, how could the Jiangxia navy allow thousands of empty ships to sail through Jiangxia and wait on the north bank of the Yangtze River? Liu Ye's plan is obviously unrealistic.

Cao Cao still didn't realize that it would be useless even if his army occupied the whole of Jiangxia. Jiangxia's army would still transport all the food for the soldiers and civilians to Qichun County. Cao's army only occupied an empty county, and it was difficult to even supply food.

The reason why the Chibi War broke out in history was because Cao Jun had to wipe out the Jiangdong Army, not just to cross the river.

At this moment, Yu Jin came out and said: "When Beizhi came from Anlu County, I heard that many people fled from the direction of Jingling County to Jiangxia instead of going by water. I think there must be a road on land. Lead the troops to capture Jingling County, and explore the way for the prime minister, so as to pay off the crime!"

At this time, Zang Ba also came out and said: "Xiao Zhi is willing to go with General Yu!"

A glimmer of hope lit up in Cao Cao's heart, he nodded happily and said, "I will give you five thousand troops. If you can successfully explore the way, I will absolve you of all guilt!"

. . . . . . . . .

At night, Cheng Yu hurriedly came outside Cao Cao's study. The door of the study was open, and the soft light came out from the room. Cao Cao could be seen pacing in the room with his hands behind his back.

Just as the guards were about to report loudly, Cheng Yu hissed, telling them not to disturb the prime minister's meditation. He also didn't interrupt Cao Cao's meditation, but stood at the door laughing without saying a word.

At this time, if Cao Cao felt something, he raised his head and saw Cheng Yu at the door, he couldn't help but smiled and said, "I was wondering if Zhong De would come to help me out, but I didn't expect that he really came, please come in quickly!"

Cheng Yu walked into the room and said with a smile: "The prime minister's worries are actually completely unnecessary, and I'm here to clarify."

Cao Cao laughed, "So Zhongde is my guest of honor, please sit down!"

The two sat down facing each other, Cheng Yu said: "Actually, although Liu Ziyang's plan this morning is not feasible, he has already touched on the root cause. Why doesn't the prime minister want to get to the bottom of it?"

Cao Cao said silently for a moment: "I have also realized something, but not thoroughly, Zhong De may as well understand me."

Cheng Yu smiled, "The prime minister's concern is not that the navy will not be able to compete with Jiangxia's navy. What the prime minister is really worried about is that the warships will not be able to enter Jiangxia, but this?"

Cao Cao sighed, "What Zhongde said is right! Of course I know that the northern soldiers will not be able to compete with the Jiangxia navy after another year of training. I am worried that the warships will not be able to go eastward. I will cross the river without a boat and return north in embarrassment. I would like to I plan to win over Jiang Dong with huge profits, but Sun Quan refuses to accept it, so how can I destroy Jiang Xia?"

Cheng Yu said again: "Liu Ziyang also saw this problem, so he proposed to go back to Fancheng by land, stationed on the north bank of Xiakou, and returning to Fancheng is definitely not possible, but his thinking is very correct."

"Go on!" Cao Cao already understood a little bit, and he looked at Cheng Yu solemnly.

"The last time I accompanied the prime minister and Liu Jing for a while, I found out that Liu Jing is a man who has ambitions for the world, and he is not like Liu Biao hiding in Jingzhou. It is because he has such ambitions that he can obviously send an elite navy Came to sweep Jiangling warships, just like in Fancheng, but he didn't do it, does the prime minister understand his intention?"

Cao Cao nodded, "He wants to wipe out my hundreds of thousands of troops."

"Exactly, so I think that as long as the main force of our army is not on the warship, then our warship will definitely be able to sail into Jiangxia territory, and he will definitely not intercept it."

Cao Cao finally understood the intention of Jiang Xia's army revealed by Cheng Yu. If the warship was destroyed prematurely, Liu Jing would have no chance to annihilate his army going south.

Thinking of this, Cao Cao stood up and walked to the map, staring at Yunmengze for a long time. After a long time, he said slowly: "Whether Jiangxia can be defeated depends on Yu Jin and Zang Ba's wayfinding. I hope they don't let me down." .”