Rejuvenation of the Han Dynasty in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 458
Lu Fan and Huang Gai had just arrived at a small lake to wash and rest, when suddenly thick smoke blew in the night sky, the fire was raging, and heat waves hit their faces.

"No, there are also ambushes here, retreat!" Lu Fan was shocked, got up and ran to his mount.

Huang Gai also hurriedly called the soldiers to retreat, and the Wu army was in a mess again. It was too late to take away the weapons and armor thrown by the lake, and they all got up and ran for their lives.

There were a lot of dry leaves and rotten grass in the reeds, which would ignite in case of fire. In addition, the southeast wind was strong, and the fire filled the whole reed field in an instant, and the thick smoke filled the air, covering the moonlight.

Wu Jun fled against the wind, and most of them were choked to tears. Before the fire burned, most of them were fainted by the thick smoke, and some even collapsed due to suffocation.

Lu Fan and Huang Gai rode their horses and galloped out of the sea of ​​flames in one breath. When they looked back, only a dozen or so cavalry followed, and the other infantry disappeared. The sea of ​​flames covered the entire willow forest. It's also a bad situation.

Zhuge Liang, Hao Zhao and others returned to the city. Huang Zu led Wenwu to meet him at the gate of the city in person. The sky was about to dawn, and he couldn't help being shocked to see the thick smoke billowing in the distance and the fire lighting up half of the sky.

Huang She talked about last night's battle, Zhuge Liang's ingenious arrangement, although there was damage to soldiers and horses, but this was completely negligible, a big victory greatly boosted the morale of Jiangxia's defenders, and it was a fatal blow to Wu's army.

Huang Zu took Zhuge Liang's hand personally and said to Pang Shanmin: "Kong Ming is indeed worthy of being recommended by the general. He is Zhang Liang reincarnated. With a clever plan, I, Jiang Xia, have no worries!"

Pang Shanmin's face was flushed, but he said modestly: "It takes hard work from all the generals to win the victory without any mistakes."

Zhuge Liang also clasped his fists and said: "The merit of this battle is due to all of you fighting hard, Kong Ming dare not claim the credit."

Huang Zu laughed loudly and said: "Haha, anyway, this battle is a big victory, and it will help our army. I predict that Sun Ce will be furious and will immediately raise his troops to take revenge. Does Kong Ming have any countermeasures?"

Zhuge Liang said: "The sandbanks and willow forests in front of us are all on fire, and they may not be extinguished for a day. If Sun Ce comes, it will be tomorrow. Minggong should first appease the soldiers, recharge their energy, and then discuss countermeasures with Minggong at night. "

"Excellent!" Seeing that Zhuge Liang was still so calm, Huang Zu had completely trusted him, and the more he looked at it, the more he felt that this young man had a bright future.

Immediately, an order was sent down to reward the soldiers with all the food and supplies they had obtained. Today, there will be a big feast for the soldiers, and the whole army will rest and reorganize, waiting for the final decisive battle.

Zhuge Liang, Hao Zhao and others went back to wash and rest first. Huang Zu personally ordered people to prepare a banquet. He had never been so confident since he dealt with the Sun family and his son.

As they were about to disperse, Huang Zu thought of Pang Shanmin's younger brother and asked, "Mr. Shui Jing said that your younger brother Pang Shiyuan is the most wise man today. I wonder how he compares with Kong Ming?"

Pang Shanmin frowned slightly, shook his head and said: "Shi Yuan is a man of intelligence and has a deep understanding of strategies, but it's not easy to put down rebellion."

Huang Zu caressed his beard and said with a smile: "Both of them have the appearance of a dragon and a phoenix. I think it is not an exaggeration to compare them to today's crouching dragons and phoenix chicks!"

Pang Shanmin said with a smile: "The metaphor of Duke Ming is really appropriate."

Huang Zu stroked his beard and pondered for a moment, then said: "Since Kongming came to the city, he has been arranging his weapons every day. He seems to have a lot of skills and can predict the enemy's victory. He is really a rare talent. I know a strange woman who is with him If a few of them match, a marriage may be achieved.”

"Oh?" Pang Shanmin asked with a smile: "Could it be that Mr. Ming wants to be the elder of the moon? That is Kong Ming's good fortune, but he doesn't know whose daughter that woman is?"

Huang Zu is the head of the Huang family in Jingzhou today, and his status is comparable to Liu Biao, Cai Mao and others. He personally acted as a matchmaker, which is of great benefit to Zhuge Liang's reputation in Jingzhou.

Huang Zuyan said: "The brother Huang Chengyan has a daughter who has a strange appearance and even more extraordinary abilities. She is best at the art of armor, mechanism and equipment, and is proficient in the art of ghost valley. No one can match it today. If these two become husband and wife , will be invincible.”

"Duke Ming is talking about Huang Yueying?" Pang Shanmin knew it as soon as he heard it, and said with a frown, "I heard that Huang's appearance is ugly. You see, my brother-in-law is elegant and handsome. He is a dragon and phoenix among people, isn't it..."

"Hahaha, this is my elder brother's plan!" Huang Zu laughed loudly when he heard the words, "Because I reached the age of marriage last year, people often came to ask for employment, and my elder brother is the most impatient with these vulgar customs, and he doesn't like being disturbed by others, so Let people spread rumors that there is an ugly daughter in the Huang family, with yellow hair and dark skin, so that people can’t marry her daughter unless she is the one who is favored by my brother!"

"So that's how it is!" Pang Shanmin suddenly realized, he didn't expect Huang Chengyan to be so weird, and he didn't hesitate to gamble his daughter's reputation in order to avoid trouble.

Huang Zu stroked his beard and said with a smile: "After Jiang Xia is settled down, you and I will take Kong Ming to Xiangyang together, and meet his two older sisters by the way, to reminisce about the past, how about it?"

Pang Shanmin naturally understood Huang Zu's meaning, nodded and smiled and said, "I'd rather see the meeting of crouching dragon and phoenix chicks!"

Huang Zu burst out laughing, after a while the banquet was set up, all the generals went to the banquet, Zhuge Liang was like the stars holding the moon, everyone came to toast, Hao Zhao's limelight was robbed by him alone.

But Hao Zhao didn't care, and still sat there eating and drinking silently. When someone came to toast, he always refused to come, and he didn't appear indifferent or arrogant.

After dinner in the evening, Huang Zu hurriedly invited Zhuge Liang and Hao Zhao to discuss strategies against the enemy. Although he was happy in his heart, he also knew that the enraged Sun Ce was difficult to deal with.

Huang Zu said: "We have defeated the Wu army this time, but it is only a vanguard part. Sun Ce will definitely not give up and will be even more angry. How does Kong Ming plan to defend against the enemy?"

But Zhuge Liang said: "I am going to ask Sun Ce to come here in anger, so I can use tricks."

Huang Zu was taken aback, and asked, "Kong Ming plans to come out?"

Zhuge Liang asked: "There is an earthen city in the north of Xiling, but there are not many troops to defend it. Why?"

Huang Zu said: "The earth city was originally built for the hunters in the mountains to trade. The woodcutters and hunters in the Dabie Mountains are brave and unruly. Every time they go to the city, they always make trouble. I ordered people to build this city for them to trade goods. Five years later, it has become a small city, but after the war with the Sun family, the city gradually became deserted and it was useless to defend it, so I had to give up."

Zhuge Liang said: "This city is close to Xiling. If there is a team of troops to defend here, it will form a cornering force. It would be a pity to abandon it."

"What?" Huang Zu was surprised: "This city is low and dilapidated, I'm afraid it will be difficult to defend it, and I'm afraid none of the generals will dare to take on this important task."

As soon as the words fell, Hao Zhao clasped his fists and said, "Let me go!"

Huang Zu was startled, looked at Hao Zhao, and saw that he looked calm, as if he was doing something so simple, he couldn't help but frowned and said, "General Hao, this city is really not easy to defend..."

Hao Zhaoque said: "I have visited this city once. As long as half of the weapons in Xiling City are transported there, I guarantee that it can be defended for ten days."

Huang Zu looked at Hao Zhao in disbelief, and then at Zhuge Liang, letting him make up his own mind. After all, Hao Zhao was sent by Liu He, and the two of them must have understood something when they came together.

But Zhuge Liang said with a smile: "Just stick to it for three days, it will be enough!"

(End of this chapter)