The Duke of Shu Han began guarding Jingzhou in place of Guan Yu.

Chapter 93: High in the West and Low in the East
Just as Miwei was anxiously watching the enemy camp in the north of the city.

Yang Yi and Xiang Chong, however, encountered unexpected trouble.

Yang Yi: "The Tanxi River mouth is blocked, and boats cannot pass?"

Xiang Chong: "It's not completely impossible to get across. The bamboo raft has a shallow draft. We can reduce the weight by half and then have someone push it in the water. We can still get it across."

"But this would take too long, and we would have to risk going out to the north of Shuikou to set fire to it. I'm afraid that the noise would be too great and the enemy would notice."

Yang Yi frowned upon hearing this and said:

What exactly is clogging the sluice gate?

"I remember that at this time the night before last, the officials and common people in the city were clearly vying to go boating on the Tanxi River!"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Chong let out a heavy sigh.

A muffled sound was forced from his throat:

"It's a human corpse."

people……

Yang Yi took a deep breath.

A picture naturally came to mind.

That night, in order to transport military supplies to the other side as quickly as possible, the Cao Wei military officers did not hesitate to carry out a massacre, so much so that the Tanxi River was filled with blood and corpses blocked the road...

This is not a baseless association.

After all, just yesterday afternoon, Xu Huang personally demonstrated what "aggression as fierce as fire" meant right in front of the city of Xiangyang on the banks of the Han River!

It can only be said that our side took advantage of Cao Cao's army's eagerness to retreat that night, so it's not appropriate to blame the other side for acting rudely now.

Left with no other choice, the two could only continue with the plan provided by Xiang Chong.

But as Xiang Chong had predicted, it was inefficient.

After working for more than two hours, they had only managed to push one-third of the fire ships out of the water.

By this time, the night was already past midnight, and the two discussed it.

We've already risked going this far to get to this position.

They simply moved all the remaining firewood onto the bamboo rafts that had already entered the Han River.

Then, before the enemy discovers them, set fire to as many ships as possible.

To be honest, the clouds were really thick tonight, and it was pitch black all around.

They actually managed to move it successfully and start the fire!

After the fire started, everyone immediately evacuated.

Within moments of the flames rising, Xiangyang City had already lit candles and started beating drums to confuse the enemy.

Soon, the burning bamboo raft was swept away by the current and crashed into the westernmost pontoon bridge.

As expected, it was lit.

At this moment, the enemy forces north of the city finally reacted, but it was already too late.

However, just as the rooster crowed, the second pontoon bridge was about to burn down.

The cumulonimbus cloud that obscured the moonlight all night.

Finally, a moderate autumn rain poured down.

When Yang Yi and Xiang Chong climbed the city wall, soaking wet.

Of the several pontoon bridges across the Han River, half are still standing.

However, the rising water level of the Tanxi River finally broke through the blockage and allowed it to flow smoothly again.

Upon seeing this scene, Yang Yi could only sneeze violently and was at a loss for words.

……

After daybreak, Cao's army continued to build fortifications to lock down the city.

And naturally, a portion of them were set aside to seize the valley west of the city.

Mi Wei and Xiang Chong carefully calculated their troop strength and finally abandoned the idea of ​​going out of the city to intercept them.

At Mi Wei's urging, Yang Yi went downstairs to rest first.

In this day and age, catching a cold is no small matter.

After confirming that the enemy was not making any further moves, Mi Wei found a corner on the city wall to rest.

Just like last year when they held out in Jiangling awaiting reinforcements.

Leading by example to stabilize morale is the best solution at present.

However, the name "Xiangyang" must have held extraordinary significance for a soul from a later era.

In a hazy, indistinct state.

Mi Wei dreamed that he had conjured up a powerful siege weapon from the 13th century, a counterweight catapult commonly known as the "Xiangyang Cannon".

Then, thanks to the advanced ballistics and engineering of later generations.

They fired with perfect timing, anticipating Xu Huang's movements and eliminating him on horseback.

As a result, Cao Cao's army suffered a major defeat and retreated, losing control of Fancheng. He then pursued the fleeing enemy all the way back.

It seemed that he was about to win the battle of Nanyang, achieving a feat that would surpass the three kingdoms, and his fame would be established on the ballistic map.

However, at the front line of the assault on Wancheng, due to improper operation, he was crushed to death by a crudely made wooden gun frame, regrettably losing the opportunity to annex Wancheng... He finally woke up in fright.

Upon opening his eyes, Miwei immediately touched his throbbing thigh.

Then I touched a hard, tattered bundle.

It probably fell from the roof beam.

Upon opening it, I found a piece of cow leg bone, or perhaps a horse leg bone. The bone was charred and brittle, with large and small teeth marks remaining on it.

Human teeth marks.

Miwei stared blankly for a moment.

I was wide awake.

……

Yang Yi only rested for half a day before climbing back up the city wall.

He was drawn here by the noise from outside the city.

Upon entering the building, Mi Wei and Xiang Chong were frowning and gazing at the western suburbs.

Yang Yi quickly stepped forward to observe, and immediately frowned as well.

It turned out that the enemy had temporarily halted their fortifications along the riverbank and moved most of their troops to the west side of the city.

Looking southwest at this moment.

Between the gaps in the hills, a large number of chevaux-de-frise, wooden barriers, and other chevaux-de-frise were arranged in layers.

Faintly, the sounds of horses neighing and drumming could be heard coming from outside the gap.

The sky above it was filled with billowing smoke and dust.

Yang Yi recalled that during the day yesterday, a considerable number of enemy cavalry headed west along the upper reaches of the Han River in search of shallow waters.

I had some guesses at the time:

"Could it be that Guan Yu has personally led his light cavalry to provide support?"

Soon, in the afternoon, a large number of Cao Cao's cavalry suddenly poured in from the southwest gap.

The flags were askew, and the formation was scattered.

Some knights simply rushed to the stream to water their horses, completely ignoring the orders of the drums and banners.

Seeing this, Yang Yi was overjoyed and turned to Mi Wei, saying:

"Like father, like son; Guan Dangkou's son, he decisively defeated the enemy cavalry in a single battle!"

"Captain, if we attack now, we might be able to join forces with Guan Dangkou to launch a pincer attack from both sides, wipe out the enemy cavalry in one fell swoop, and then connect with the land reinforcements!"

To his disappointment, Mi Wei, who was usually obedient to advice, turned to Xiang Chong beside him instead.

Upon seeing the enemy cavalry retreat, the latter immediately rushed to the wall and stood on tiptoe to look into the distance.

His frown deepened.

Seeing this, Yang Yi stepped forward and asked, "Juwei, what are your concerns?"

Xiang Chong turned around upon hearing the sound and said to the two of them:

"If the enemy cavalry were indeed defeated by Guan Dangkou, they should not retreat in this direction."

Upon hearing this, Yang Yi exchanged a glance with Mi Wei and hurriedly asked, "How do you know?"

Xiang Chong pointed to the hills and valleys in the western suburbs and said:
"The terrain here is rugged and unsuitable for horse racing."

"If you want to stop Guan Dangkou's light cavalry from coming to the rescue of Xiangyang, leaving behind infantry and enough deer antlers will suffice."

"Besides..."

Xiang Chong paused slightly and said:
"I always felt that although the enemy cavalry appeared to be in disarray, they actually maintained a disciplined approach in their advances and retreats, without disturbing our own infantry formation in the slightest."

"From this perspective, even if there is a defeat, it is most likely not a major one!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Yi fell into deep thought.

But soon, he suddenly looked up at Miwei.

But he saw that the latter was already looking at him.

Mi Wei: "What did Lord Yang think of?"

Having miscalculated twice in a row, Yang Yi felt a pang of regret and became quite humble.

"Captain, please go first!"

Mi Wei said directly:
I have a question.

"If the enemy cavalry is defeated but not routed, and we wish to fight again, where nearby is a suitable battlefield?"

Yang Yi replied without hesitation:
"It must be that flat land outside the gap in the southwestern hills. Around Xiangyang, only that place is suitable for thousands of cavalry to maneuver and fight."

"If you ask me, we should go a little further south to the Zhonglu area, which is Liao Yuanjian's (Liao Hua's) hometown."

"That is the true land where thousands of horses and ten thousand cavalry roam freely!"

Seeing Mi Wei nod repeatedly, it was clear that he had the same idea as Mi Wei.

Yang Yi continued the conversation:

"I also have a question."

"If the cavalry of both sides really do turn to fight in Zhonglu, will Xiangyang be able to find out in time?"

"Absolutely not!" Mi Wei replied without hesitation.

"At this moment, our scouts outside the city, apart from Xi Zhonglang's troops who are supervising the rear on the Han River, are only Zhan Jun's barbarian cavalry."

"The former has been temporarily out of contact since the enemy forces split up and moved south yesterday."

"The latter are not good at breaking through enemy lines, and their numbers are far fewer than the enemy cavalry. Yesterday I ordered them to try to go towards the Han River to meet the reinforcements, and they did not dare to go deep into the southwest."

"Xu Huang's constant scouting with his troops makes it easy for him to ascertain the distribution range of our scouts..."

At this point, Miwei and the two men exchanged glances.

The three of them said in unison: "Lure the enemy!"

(End of this chapter)