The Three Kingdoms: I asked you to save Guan Yu, not to destroy Sun Quan.

Chapter 386 Lu Xun's Doomsday (5)

Seeing Zhou Fang's distraught state, Hao Yu couldn't bear it and asked, "General, what do you think he's after? Even if he uses self-harm to lure us into an ambush so that Lu Xun can gain some advantage, what difference will it make?"

In this battle, Lu Xun suffered a complete defeat in terms of strategy and tactics. Even if he won a few more battles, it would not change the final outcome. Therefore, Hao Yu could not understand Zhou Fang's self-harming behavior.

What's the point?

Shen Yi replied, "What else could it be besides fame and fortune? How can I prove my worth to General Guan and the King of Hanzhong if I don't work hard?"

"If Zhou Fang's self-inflicted injury ruse succeeds, his reputation will at least increase several times over. Even if the king does not give him an important position, he can still become a recluse like Pang Degong and Shui Jingxian, and gain the collective respect of the gentry."

Hao Yu asked in astonishment, "Who are Pang Degong and Mr. Shui Jing? I've never heard of them. Are they even more powerful than General Guan?"

"And how did Zhou Fang become a hermit by using a self-inflicted injury ruse to deceive people? Is the threshold for becoming a hermit really that low?"

Shen Yi was speechless for a long time after being choked up. He kicked her in exasperation and said, "Get out! I told you to study, but you just slack off every day. Now you come here to ask such stupid questions. Get out of my way!"

After saying this, he turned and went back to his tent to sleep. These days, Lu Xun's relentless attacks day and night had kept him from getting a good night's sleep. Now that Lu Xun had retreated and would not attack again for the time being, and he had no intention of leaving the city to pursue him, he naturally wanted to seize the time to sleep, rest, and recharge so that he could concentrate on dealing with the battle ahead.

Shen Yi had a wonderful plan, but he didn't get to rest. Before he even reached the tent, he heard someone behind him shout, "General, Cheng Li, the military commander, has sent an urgent report saying that he has important military intelligence to report to you."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi quickly turned around and saw a personal guard leading a messenger with a command flag on his back rushing towards them. He hurriedly went to meet him and asked, "What happened?"

The messenger handed over the letter and bowed, saying, "Reporting to the general, the day before yesterday, the mountain people under Commander Pan Linqu reported that they discovered traces of Wu troops while hunting in Kuocang Mountain. There were about 10,000 men carrying the Lü character flag."

"This Wu army is currently traveling between Kuocang Mountain and Donggong Mountain. It is estimated that they have reached Lishui and are only one step away from Wushang. Cheng Sima said that they are very likely the naval force led by Lü Dai. They probably landed in Yongning (Wenzhou) and came to Wushang. So after receiving the news, he quickly gathered troops to go into the mountains to intercept them. However, he does not have enough troops and wants to ask you to send some troops to support them."

Shen Yi's expression changed slightly as he snatched the letter and quickly examined it. At the same time, he shouted urgently, "Have Hao Yu come to see me. You go and rest first. I'll let you know the result after we've discussed it."

After saying this, he turned and went into the tent without waiting for the messenger to agree, and began to compare Cheng Li's letter with the sand table and map made by Guan Xing.

Before the results could be determined, Hao Yu rushed into the tent and asked anxiously, "General, what happened?"

Shen Yi handed over the letter and waited for him to finish reading it before saying, "The Wu army flying the Lü banner must be Lü Dai. Lü Dai did not land at Zhang'an or Kuaiji Bay, but chose Yongning County, which is further south. His purpose is self-evident."

Yongning is the Wenzhou of later generations. It is a small coastal city surrounded by countless mountains. It is separated from Lishui by Yandang Mountain, Kuocang Mountain and Donggong Mountain. These mountains are now the territory of the Yue people.

However, with Pan Lin's capture, all the able-bodied men from the various tribes of Shanyue were taken to the army by Wang Tao. The remaining old, weak, sick, and disabled men, Xie Chong and Cheng Li, provided them with some assistance within their capabilities in the name of the Prefect's Office, as requested by Guan Xing. For example, they provided the Shanyue with looms and farm tools by adopting a "try before you pay" approach, and also sent county officials to the mountains to survey the terrain and help the Shanyue build bridges and pave roads.

Although the construction of bridges and roads was intended to break the mountain's blockade of the Yue people and allow the government to better control the area, it also strengthened the connection between the inside and outside of the mountains and improved the quality of life for the Yue people.

Therefore, as the policy was implemented, the people of the Yue region gradually became loyal to the government, and it was normal for them to report any news to the government immediately.

Getting back to the main point, although there are many mountains between Yongning and Lishui, they are not all cliffs and precipices. It is possible to pass through the gaps at the bottom of the mountains. Although there is still a distance and many mountains between Lishui and Wushang, the mountains between Lishui and Wushang are not so steep. As long as Lü Dai reaches Lishui, he can quickly cross the mountains and reach the city of Wushang.

Damn Lü Dai, you finally came all the way from the sea, but instead of landing at Kuaiji Bay to seize Shanyin City, you landed at Yongning and crossed mountains to attack the tiny Wushang City. Aren't you tired?

Despite his complaints, Shen Yi keenly realized Lü Dai's shrewdness. This move had struck at the heart of the Han army. If Lü Dai acted discreetly and quickly enough, he could easily capture the poorly defended Wushang City and then head straight for Damo to join forces with Lu Xun to attack him from both sides.

Alternatively, they could seize Zhuji and Shan County before Xie Chong could react, keeping Xie Chong's troops outside the Jinqu Basin, occupying the entire Jinqu Basin, and then calmly turn around to attack them from both sides with Lu Xun.

Just thinking about these two consequences sent chills down Shen Yi's spine. If Lü Dai succeeded, Shen Yi estimated that he would be severely injured, if not killed.

Fortunately, their Han army followed the mass line and gained the support of all the common people, including the Yue people in the mountains. They received the news from the mountain people in time; otherwise, if they had only discovered Lü Dai's whereabouts when he arrived at the city, things would have been much more complicated.

Hao Yu said urgently, "General, Wushang must not be lost. You know the steel mill is outside the city. If Lü Dai seizes the steel mill, we'll be in big trouble."

The weapons and farm tools manufactured by the steel mill are produced and put into use immediately. Although the factory doesn't have much stock, it can still produce. If Lü Dai were to take Shen Yi away, he would probably be devastated.

Shen Yi nodded and said, "You're right. You should immediately lead your troops back to Wushang and follow the orders of Commander Cheng. I will also transfer some troops from various defense lines to support you. Remember to keep Lü Dai trapped in the mountains of Lishui. We must not let him enter the Jinqu Basin and cause trouble for the stability we have finally restored."

"Yes..." Hao Yu bowed, took his leave, and turned to depart.

Shen Yi called out to his retreating figure, "And call Li Gousheng here with you too."

Li Gousheng arrived quickly. Shen Yi put his arm around his neck and pointed to the sand table to explain the situation to him before saying, "Cheng Sima must have already sent someone to report to Prefect Xie Chong, but we also need to communicate with Prefect Xie Chong. I'll write a letter for you to go to Shanyin immediately and give to Prefect Xie Chong, asking him to send the navy south from the sea to recover Yongning and establish a defensive line in Yandang Mountain to cut off Lü Dai's retreat. If that old man Lü doesn't come, fine, but if he does, he won't be able to go back."

Their Han army also had a navy. The navy trained by Zhou Xun and Ji Jie might not be able to defeat the Eastern Wu navy that followed Zhu Huan to surrender to the Wei army, but it would be enough to deal with Lü Dai's troop transport ships.

Lü Dai has already landed, which means his fleet is now empty. Shen Yi doesn't think Zhou Xun and Ji Jie will face any pressure heading south to deal with Lü Dai's fleet, which is now undefended by Wu troops.

As long as Zhou Xun and Ji Jie successfully arrive and recapture Yongning, even if Lü Dai has extraordinary abilities, he will only be able to feed mosquitoes in the mountains.

Li Gousheng patiently waited for Shen Yi to finish writing, then took the still-wet letter and said, "General, rest assured, even if I have to run my legs off, I will deliver this letter to Prefect Xie as quickly as possible."

After saying this, Shen Yi turned and left. He picked up his pen again, wrote a letter, and then called over an experienced scout, saying, "Immediately go to Qianligang Mountain to contact General Wu Yue and ask him to deliver the letter to General Guan through his channels."

Such a big matter naturally needs to be reported to Guan Xing. As for how to deal with it afterward, I believe Guan Xing will give clear instructions.