The Nameless of the Common Clans

Jiangdong, Chaisang Camp.

Sun Ce looked at the map of Jingxiang in front of him. He had taken Jiangxia once, but unfortunately, because of Lu Bu, he eventually lost Jiangxia. Over the years, Sun Ce has always been somewhat hesitant about whether to take Jingzhou or Jianghuai.

Going to Jianghuai means that Jiangdong must give up the advantage of the navy and fight against Cao's army, which is good at fighting on the plains, in the open wilderness; and taking Jiangdong, to a large extent, is equivalent to giving up the Central Plains, especially in the current situation of the full-scale war between Chen and Cao, giving Sun Ce only one chance to choose.

Taking Jingzhou is relatively easier, and Jingzhou is surrounded by the Han River, with crisscrossing waterways, and mountains and rivers for defense. If Nanyang can be taken together, Sun Ce will have the ability to defend against the Central Plains with only Jingzhou and Yangzhou. Even if Nanyang cannot be obtained, as long as Jiangxia and Nanjun are obtained, it will be better for Sun Ce than staying in Jiangdong.

According to the strategy proposed by Zhou Yu and Lu Su to Sun Ce, first take Jingzhou, then advance to Bashu in the west, and then unite the Qiang tribe of Xiliang and many righteous men who are dissatisfied with Chen Mo's atrocities to annex Guanzhong. This is the most suitable strategy for Jiangdong. If it advances to the Central Plains, Jiangdong will have to devote most of its energy to defense alone.

In terms of national strength, although Sun Ce supported Liu Ji and established the Jiangdong court, Jiangdong and Jingzhou together are not the opponents of either Chen Mo or Cao Cao. Now the two tigers are fighting. If you can take Jingzhou before Chen Mo and Cao Cao decide the winner, you will have taken the first step to occupy the geographical advantage. Next, you can watch the dispute between Chen and Cao. If both sides are defeated, you can take advantage of the situation to attack Nanyang. If Chen Mo is strong, you can take Bashu first, but the Central Plains cannot be moved lightly.

Sun Ce previously attacked Guangling, Huainan and other places several times. Before, Chen Deng could still be said to be powerful, but after Chen Deng's death, even if Sun Ce accidentally captured some places, they would soon be recaptured.

It's not that Sun Ce is incompetent, but the strength of the Jiangdong Army in land warfare is really incomparable to that of the Cao Army. Even the generals of the Jiangdong Army are more adapted to water warfare. The land warfare level is okay for bullying ordinary generals, but it is a bit inferior to the generals of the Cao Army.

This shortcoming is not too obvious in places like Jianghuai where waterways are crisscrossed, but the further north you go, the greater this disadvantage is. Now Jiangdong has no time and conditions to form a special land warfare army, let alone cavalry.

The only place that can play the advantage of the Jiangdong Army in water warfare is Jingzhou, so this time, Zhou Yu and Lu Su suggested that Sun Ce agree to Cao Cao's alliance.

The difference is that Cao Cao asked Sun Ce to directly send troops to Nanyang to cooperate with the attack after capturing Jiangxia, but on Sun Ce's side, Zhou Yu and Lu Su's view is to ignore the war in the Central Plains and annex Jingzhou first before talking about other things, but giving up the attack on Jianghuai can also allow Cao Cao to fight Chen Mo with all his strength.

Everyone does not interfere with each other. As for who will benefit in the end, it depends on their own means.

As for taking Jingzhou, Sun Ce still has some confidence. Huang Zu is dead. This time, Jingzhou will probably use Cai Mao as the commander-in-chief of the army, and it is certain to win.

"Gongjin, this time I plan to cross the river directly across Jiangxia and attack Jiangling first!" Sun Ce clicked on the map, suddenly looked up, looked at Zhou Yu and said, "What do you think, Gongjin?"

"Is it too risky?" Zhou Yu looked at the map and frowned.

The advantage of water battles is that you can ignore the terrain. As long as you are by the water, you can kill directly, and the supply is more convenient and faster than on land, but you can't fight wherever you want.

Sun Ce's purpose is very clear. Jiangling is an important town in Nanjun. Although there is no definite news, this place must be where the Jingzhou army stores weapons and food. If you can capture Jiangling in one battle, it is equivalent to holding the death point of the Jingzhou army.

But there are several ferry crossings along the way. Let's not talk about whether Jiangling can be taken down in one battle with its strong fortress. Just take Jiangxia as an example. The Jiangdong navy is going upstream to attack Jiangling. The Jingzhou army in Jiangxia can easily block the retreat of the Jiangdong navy and cut off the supply. If the navy that goes to attack Jiangling cannot break through Jiangling in the first time, it can only be trapped to death.

"If not, Cai Mao will definitely defend to death. How dare he come to the river to fight me?" Sun Ce smiled when he heard it.

Zhou Yu suddenly realized: "Bo Fu is straightforward, why go around in these bends?"

The ultimate goal is still Jiangxia, but it has changed a way. From the previous strong attack, it has changed to attracting Cai Mao to lead the navy out. At that time, the original counterattack will be changed to downstream to attack the Jingzhou navy directly. With Sun Ce's attainments in water battles, unless a miracle happens, Cai Mao will be defeated.

"I have calculated that there will be an east wind on the Jiazi day of November. I will take advantage of the wind to the west, and when the east wind stops, I will go downstream and catch him off guard!" Sun Ce said with a smile.

Although the wind is mostly northwest this winter, there will be an east wind occasionally. Sun Ce has been preparing for a long time in Chaisang. Most local farmers know the approximate time of the east wind. Since Sun Ce has come up with this plan, he has naturally figured out the recent approximate wind direction.

Zhou Yu looked at the map and nodded, saying: "I will secretly lead a group of people and seize Xiakou while you are fighting with the navy of Jingzhou, and cut off their way back!"

"Good!" Sun Ce punched Zhou Yu in the chest: "The one who knows me is Gongjin!"

The plan has been decided, and the next step is to wait for the east wind to rise.

However, on the Jiazi day, Sun Ce had already brought all the warships to the ferry, ready to go, but it was a rare sunny day on the Yangtze River, with clear skies, not to mention wind, and not a single cloud.

"My lord, there's no wind!" Zhou Tai came to Sun Ce anxiously, frowned and said, "How about we just go?"

"No big deal." Sun Ce leaned on the side of the boat and looked at the river view leisurely: "I haven't discussed with Cai Mao when to send troops, so it doesn't matter if it's later."

This strategy is to take the east wind as a signal, go with the wind, and turn back when the wind stops. Zhou Yu also issued orders based on the changes in the east wind. Without the east wind, this plan would be difficult to implement. Anyway, it's just these few days, and Sun Ce is not in a hurry.

"Yes!" Zhou Tai heard this and didn't ask any more questions. After bowing, he turned around and left.

Time passed bit by bit, until the evening, Sun Ce sat cross-legged on the boat board, with a flag in front of him, drooping the flag, occasionally fluttering, but this little wind was not enough.

The soldiers around were also a little depressed. In the morning, they were still in high spirits, but after a day on the river, their morale had long since withered.

"Lord, are you still waiting?" Jiang Qin turned over from another boat, ran to Sun Ce, and bowed to ask.

Sun Ce picked up the flag, waved it, and said helplessly: "Let's see tomorrow, withdraw the troops."

"Yes!" Jiang Qin agreed, stood up and prepared to withdraw the troops, but just as he turned around, a cold wind blew in his face, causing Jiang Qin to pause.

"Wait!" Sun Ce suddenly stopped Jiang Qin, looking at the flag fluttering in the wind, a flash of excitement flashed in his eyes.

"Lord..." Jiang Qin turned around, looked at the flag in Sun Ce's hand, and smiled. The wind that had been waiting for a day finally came.

"Order the soldiers of the three armies, light the torches for me!" Sun Ce couldn't help laughing.

"Yes!"

For a while, on the tower ships, the sails were raised, and the soldiers also became energetic and quickly pulled anchor. Under the command of Sun Ce, the fleet set sail from Chaisang and went upstream with the east wind.

When the fleet of Jiangdong passed Xiakou, such a large fleet was lit with torches for lighting, how could it not be noticed, and it quickly reported to Cai Mao.

"The Jiangdong army is attacking?" Cai Mao heard that the Jiangdong navy was coming, and his face changed immediately. He stood up and asked.

Is this Sun Lang planning to attack at night?

"No." The general bowed and said: "The Jiangdong fleet did not stay here, but went upstream. It seems that they are not attacking Xiakou."

"Not Xiakou?" Cai Mao frowned, thinking about the ferry crossings and cities along the river, and his face suddenly changed: "Not good, that Sun Lang must be heading for Jiangling, immediately order people to light beacons and notify the water forts along the river to prepare for war. Don't let Sun Lang succeed!"

Jiangling is an important place in Nanjun and even the entire Jingzhou. A large amount of food, weapons, and armor are stored there. If Jiangling is lost, half of Nanjun and even Jiangxia will be destroyed.

"Yes!" The general agreed and turned to pass on the order.

Cai Mao paced in the tent. Sun Ce was really bold. He dared to take Jiangling directly. However, Jiangling was not so easy to take. As long as there were precautions, Jiangdong would think too much to capture Jiangling.

Hmm?

Cai Mao's footsteps suddenly stopped. He pinched his beard and thought. Suddenly he looked up and shouted outside the camp: "Come here!"

"General!" A guard came in and saluted Cai Mao.

"Pass my military order, dispatch all the ships in Xiakou, tie up the five warships across the river with ropes, and the rest of the warships follow behind the warships to cut off the retreat of the Jiangdong army!" Cai Mao smiled. In this battle, he wanted to destroy the elite of Jiangdong. Sun Ce was brave, but he was just a reckless man. In this way, once the retreat was cut off, no matter who went to Jiangling, they would never come back. After this battle, let's see if Sun Lang dared to attack Jingzhou again!

"Yes!" The guards received the order and immediately turned around to pass on the order. Cai Mao also used his own ship. In his opinion, this battle was a must-win battle. It was a good opportunity to make a name for himself and let others know that Liu Bei was not the only one who could win the battle in Jingzhou.

Cai Mao was very fast, and the unusual movement in Xiakou was quickly discovered by the scouts arranged by Zhou Yu nearby. He immediately went to report to Zhou Yu.

"Use the obedient to defeat the rebellious. After this battle, the navy of Jingzhou will no longer be able to fight against Jiangdong. Jiangxia will be at our fingertips!" Zhou Yu looked at Lu Su and the generals around him and smiled.

"Gongjin, when will we send troops?" Cheng Pu looked at Zhou Yu. Although he was dissatisfied with Zhou Yu, since Sun Ce asked Zhou Yu to take charge of the overall situation, he had to listen.

"After the east wind stops, send troops immediately." Zhou Yu smiled and said, "Generals, go and prepare. In this battle, I will not only take Xiakou, but also the whole Jiangxia!"

"Yes!"