My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Chapter 11: The arrow is on the string, cross the river, and attack Xiangyang by surprise! (Please read)
In Xiangyang City, inside a certain military tent.

"How could Liu Yuzhou know that there was a person like me, Wei Yan, in Xiangyang City?"

A young military officer, eight feet tall, with a face as red as a date and somewhat similar to Guan Yu, was looking at the letter in his hand with surprise.

The young military officer was Wei Yan.

The letter in his hand was written by Liu Bei himself.

Liu Bei was extremely frank in the letter, directly expressing his appreciation for the recruitment and laying out his plan for a surprise attack on Xiangyang. He asked Wei Yan to lead his troops as an internal supporter and seize the gate to allow Liu Bei's main force to break into Xiangyang.

The plan was bold, but it only surprised Wei Yan slightly.

What really moved him was that Liu Bei, such a famous figure who was a guest of Liu Biao, actually knew about a small character like an ant like him.

He even condescended to write a letter in person, inviting us with extremely sincere words.

He even told everyone about the plan of surprise attack on Xiangyang, which was a matter of life and death, without any reservation or precaution.

Wei Yan looked at the letter in his hand, his emotions surged like a tide, and his hands trembled slightly.

"My lord has recently found a man of extraordinary strategy. This man recommended you to my lord, saying that you possess the talent of a famous general in the Wei army, and that you possess a loyal and proud character, and that you are unwilling to join forces with the three thieves Liu Cong, Cai Kuai, and surrender to Cao Cao."

"When my lord learned that there was a brave and loyal man like Jun Hou in Xiangyang City, he naturally admired him greatly. Therefore, he ordered Qian to cross the river late at night to visit Jun Hou and ask Jun Hou to help my lord and capture Xiangyang!"

Liu Bei was also sincere. Once he decided to recruit Wei Yan, he treated him with sincerity.

So before leaving, he instructed Sun Qian to be honest with Wei Yan and not to deceive him with lies.

"A man of extraordinary plans? Which wise man in Jingzhou knows my Wei Yan's ambitions?"

A deep curiosity flashed across Wei Yan's eyes.

Sun Qian smiled, his eyes slightly mysterious:

"Although this person is from Jingzhou, he is not a famous scholar with a great reputation. He is a hermit with extraordinary talent who lives in seclusion in the mountains."

"If the Wei army is curious, you can come and see this man in Xiangyang after the matter is completed."

Living in seclusion in the mountains, a hermit with extraordinary talent...

Wei Yan became more and more curious and really wanted to see what kind of strange hermit could have such high regard for a mere military officer like him.

Wei Yan suppressed his curiosity temporarily, took a deep breath, stood up and bowed to Sun Qian.

"I, Wei Yan, have long admired Liu Yuzhou, but due to my humble status, I have not dared to go and serve him."

"I am so grateful to Liu Yuzhou for his high regard for me and for entrusting me with a matter of life and death. How can I, Wei Yan, not repay him with my own death?"

"Please, Mr. Sun, report to Liu Yuzhou that I am willing to fight to the death to open the city gates for Liu Yuzhou and help him capture Xiangyang in one fell swoop!"

Sun Qian breathed a sigh of relief.

...

Xiangyang, the provincial capital.

Liu Cong sat high in the main seat, frowning as he looked at the handwritten letter.

"Yidu, Degui, are we really going to surrender to Lord Cao?"

"There are still 100,000 armored men in the state. Do we really have no hope of stopping Cao's army and defending this foundation?"

Liu Cong raised his head and looked at Kuai Yue and Cai Mao with almost longing eyes.

Obviously he still had a glimmer of hope and was not willing to surrender to Cao.

"How does your lordship's great talent and strategy compare to Yuan Benchu's?"

"How does the strength of our Jingzhou army compare to the Hebei army back then?"

Kuai Yue stroked his thin beard and asked back in a cold tone.

Liu Cong was speechless.

"My lord, your talents and strategies are not as good as Yuan Benchu's, and the strength of our Jingzhou army is far inferior to that of the Hebei army."

"Even Yuan Benchu, who was so powerful, was still defeated by Cao Gong and his entire clan was wiped out. How can you, my lord, have the confidence to withstand Cao Gong's cavalry?"

There was obvious sarcasm in Kuai Yue's tone, as if he was mocking Liu Cong's arrogance.

Liu Cong fell silent, the glimmer of hope in his eyes gradually fading. "Since you have already submitted your surrender to Cao Gong, please stop hesitating and overthinking."

"Lord Cao has such a broad mind that he can even accommodate Zhang Xiu, so how could he not accommodate you, my lord?"

"Since the Lord of Jingzhou can't hold on anyway, why not offer it to Lord Cao and peacefully enjoy wealth and glory in Xudu? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Cai Mao also smiled and painted a big rosy picture for Liu Cong.

A trace of bitterness flashed across Liu Cong's eyes, and he could only sigh:

"Since the matter is settled, and you two insist on surrendering to Cao, I can only follow your lead."

Cai Mao and Kuai Yue looked at each other and smiled knowingly.

"But Liu Xuande already knows about this. He and Cao Cao are sworn enemies, so he probably won't surrender to Cao with us."

Liu Cong showed some concern and reminded:

"What if he hears that we have surrendered to Cao Gong and becomes enraged and leads his army to attack us?"

Cai Mao's nerves immediately tensed up, and his brows revealed his fear of Liu Bei.

Kuai Yue smiled faintly and said disapprovingly:
"Liu Bei prides himself on his benevolence and righteousness, but he's burdened by his false reputation. I suspect he'll be mindful of the last words entrusted to him by our late Lord Jingsheng, and will not oppose our lord by sending troops to attack Xiangyang."

"According to Kuai Zhi's judgment, Liu Bei would either go south along the Han River and go to Jiangxia to join Liu Qi, or he would go south past Xiangyang to seize Jiangling."

"If he chooses the former, that would be best. We can then wait for Cao Gong's army to arrive in peace."

"If he chooses the latter, we will simply close the city gates and let him go south to Jiangling."

"As for whether to pacify Liu Bei or to destroy him, it is all up to Cao Gong to decide."

Cai Mao breathed a sigh of relief, his face lit up with confidence:
"Don't say that Liu Bei is pedantic. As Yidu said, he probably won't attack Xiangyang."

"Even if he really attacks, I have 30,000 soldiers in the city. Although their morale is unstable now, we can hold out for three to five days behind closed doors until Cao Cao's army arrives."

"Don't worry, my lord. Liu Bei is nothing to worry about. Just wait for Cao Gong's arrival with me."

Liu Cong was silent.

...

The next day, late at night.

Fancheng Water Camp.

Liu Bei stood on the pier, holding his sword, staring coldly towards the direction of Xiangyang City on the opposite bank.

Thousands of soldiers behind him were boarding the ship in an orderly and rapid manner under the supervision of generals such as Zhang Fei.

There were only 2,000 soldiers in the Fancheng Water Camp. Liu Bei's army suddenly attacked and the soldiers either surrendered or fled after a brief resistance.

Liu Bei captured the water camp without bloodshed.

The first step of the surprise attack on Xiangyang was successfully accomplished.

Next, they crossed the river at lightning speed, and the army rushed to the city of Xiangyang before dawn.

"My lord, my army has boarded the ship. Let's cross the river."

Zhuge Liang beside him pointed towards the south bank with his feather fan.

Liu Bei said nothing, but took out Wei Yan's handwritten reply.

"Military Advisor Kong Ming, do you think that Wei Wenchang, whom Mr. Bowen recommended, is truly capable of great use?"

Liu Bei looked at the letter again, and there was obviously some worry in his words.

Zhuge Liang, however, looked determined, gently waving his feather fan and saying:
"We have already captured the water camp, which means we are at war with Liu Cong. The arrow is on the string and must be fired."

"As for Wei Yan, since my lord trusts Xiao Bowen, he should also trust the people he recommends."

Liu Bei was shocked, as if he understood something.

After taking the letter back and taking a deep breath, there was only murderous intent on his face.

Liu Bei pointed his whip to the south and shouted:
"Pass on my command. The entire army will immediately sail across the river and launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang!"

　Old author's new book, please feel free to collect it and read it
　　
　
(End of this chapter)