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

Chapter 98 Flanking Attack on the City
The following day, as soon as Guan Ping's reinforcements arrived, Guan Yu handed over Xiangyang to him.

Then he led a large army, advancing on both cavalry and infantry, crossed the Han River to the north, and headed straight for Fancheng.

Except for the smaller number of troops, just like at this time last year.

Of course, having more or fewer soldiers is a relative concept.

Guan Yu's forces are far weaker than last year.

But Xu Huang of Fancheng was the same.

Because they were abandoned by Cao Ren, they were essentially an isolated army.

Therefore, when faced with Guan Yu's large-scale crossing of the river to attack, he remained as prudent as ever and did not rashly engage in battle.

Once Guan Yu had crossed the river, he immediately set up camp on a high ground that he had used the previous year, creating a situation to block the city.

However, because Fancheng has a wide terrain and its troops number less than 10,000.

So in reality, half of it is enclosed and half is exposed.

It doesn't even qualify as one of the three surrounding cities.

At this point, the only mobile force that could fill the gap was...

Guan Ping's troops had just entered the city, and were exhausted, so they naturally could not venture out lightly.

Meanwhile, the Miwei tribe relied on Yuliangzhou and the mudflats along the shore, spending most of their time repairing the pontoon bridge.

They also had no intention of heading north to participate in the siege.

This action can certainly be explained.

This will allow the Guanping troops to rest and recuperate before quickly heading north tomorrow.

And in case Guan Yu is defeated, they can retreat quickly.

It is a stance of seeking stability.

At this point, any general who had clearly seen the disparity in troop strength between the two sides should have considered whether to take advantage of Guan Yu's unstable foothold on the north bank and launch a full-scale attack to break his encirclement.

But in reality, Xu Huang's composure still slightly surprised everyone.

By the time Guan Yu had finished setting up camp on the north bank, the soldiers had all eaten their afternoon meal in batches.

Xu Huang still did not make a move.

It was as if they had lost all willpower and were just lying there waiting to die.

However, at dawn the next day, just as the sky was beginning to lighten.

Suddenly, the drums of Fancheng roared, and several fiery dragons rushed fiercely toward Yuliangzhou.

Yes, Xu Huang didn't even bother with Guan Yu's camp.

Instead, they headed straight for the largest sandbar between Xiangfan and Xiangyang, a key point for controlling the river.

Xiang Chong, who had set up camp on the sandbar, seemed to be caught off guard and was quickly surrounded by Xu Huang's army, which then burned down his camp and houses.

However, just as Xu Huangjun was preparing to continue burning the pontoon bridge and the moored ships...

They were shocked to discover that all the ships that had been anchored there during the day had vanished.

After it was fully light, they finally saw that the enemy ships had long since retreated to the downstream waters east of Xiangyang.

At this point, it was completely intact and ready to go.

Thus, they could only retreat hastily amidst shock and regret.

"How did the captain guess that the enemy would attack our troops first?"

On the warship, Xiang Chong looked at Mi Wei with a look of complete admiration.

Mi Wei replied without hesitation, "Of course it's General Guan's brilliant strategy!"

"The general reminded me yesterday that Xu Huang only has one last chance to strike."

"This strike must not only be effective, but it must also hit the most critical spot."

"At this very moment, what does Xu Huang need most?"

Upon hearing this, Xiang Chong looked at a waterway north of Yuliangzhou.

That waterway leads to a tributary called "Yushui" (which later became known as the Baihe River).

The Yu River leads north to Deng County, Xinye, and even Wancheng, the seat of Nanyang Prefecture.

Therefore, this water outlet is also known as "Wankou".

And there is no doubt about it.

Even the northerners, who were relatively less skilled in naval warfare.

They still knew how to use rivers to transport supplies.

They also understood the advantages of advancing along the river.

He then said, "Prevent our army from entering the Yu River so that Cao Ren can then march south to provide reinforcements?"

Mi Wei: "Do you think Cao Ren will still have the strength and courage to march south within a few months?"

Xiang Chong was taken aback and shook his head.

He then asked in confusion, "If it's not to facilitate friendly forces' rescue efforts, then what is it for?"

Mi Wei pointed in the direction of Fancheng and said:

"To convince all my men in the city that they will be rescued!"

"On the contrary, if we turn around and attack the general's camp to clear the northern route," "that can only mean that Fancheng is completely without help and can only find its own way out."

"If Xu Huang is determined to escape, those thousands of elite cavalry will rush north and it may not be easy to stop them."

This is what military strategy calls "do not ambush the retreating army."

"But doesn't he still want to implement the scorched-earth policy?"

"Then we can't rush it, we have to play it safe."

Xiang Chong suddenly realized.

I couldn't help but admire him secretly.

He thought to himself that this Commandant Mi's ability to calculate people's gains and losses was becoming increasingly sophisticated.

Now they can even interact with Xu Huang, a famous general from the north.

However, he remained as humble as ever, never taking credit for others' achievements, which is truly admirable.

While they were pondering, Cao Cao's army had already completely retreated to the north bank.

They also burned down a number of the newly built pontoon bridges that were just erected yesterday.

But it doesn't matter anymore.

Just as Xu Huang threw a left hook to the south, Guan Yu pressed forward.

They occupied another high slope on the northern outskirts of Fancheng and set up a second camp.

This further restricts Xu Huang's mobility outside the city.

After a day of rest, Guan Ping on the south bank also began to oversee the army's northward crossing to support Guan Yu's siege of the city.

At this point, Xu Huang would have no choice but to take the entire city and perish together.

Otherwise, if they wanted to burn the city again, they would have to first go out of the city to face Guan Yu's army and fight a desperate battle before anything else could happen.

In order to reduce the possibility of Xu Huang taking desperate measures later.

The Miwei naval force, numbering over two thousand, swiftly bypassed the large bend where Yuliangzhou was located.

Then it turns north at Wankou and heads straight for Dengcheng on the upper reaches of the Yu River.

……

Half a day later, Mi Wei arrived with Zhang Jian, who was traveling with him, and a few personal guards.

Climb up a small hill called "Dengsai" in the southeast of Deng County.

This mountain, bordered by water to the southeast, resembles a fortress protecting Deng County.

But conversely, it is also a vantage point for observing the county town from above.

After reaching the summit, the county seat of Deng County comes into view in the distance.

Although the flags in the city were not clearly visible, the number of people in the city could be estimated to be at least 20,000 to 30,000.

Meanwhile, the camps and village houses scattered around the city were numerous, with the number of people only increasing.

The situation is pretty much as Miwei had predicted.

Soon, Zhang Jian made contact with his inside contact in the county town and further clarified the movements of Cao's army.

After Cao Ren led the retreat north, Cao's various units gradually withdrew in the following days.

Now only a thousand local county soldiers remain in the city, mostly the old and weak.

Without a doubt, these thousand weak soldiers were no match for the seventy or eighty thousand people in the surrounding area.

In fact, according to the inside agent's description.

Deng County has been temporarily taken over by local elders and respected elders in recent days.

They gathered together and formed strongholds according to their respective hometowns to protect themselves.

Those with greater strength occupied the houses in the city.

If this continues and no one keeps an eye on things, who knows what kind of trouble might arise.

Mi Wei dared not be negligent. After the troops were fully organized, they set off for the county town with their flags raised.

Along the way, the local laborers heard that Guan Yu's army was coming, some were overjoyed, and some were worried.

But most people just watch numbly.

Fortunately, apart from Cao Jun's county soldiers, no one dared to step forward to stop this well-organized and highly motivated army.

Even the county soldiers only fired a few arrows symbolically before surrendering on the spot.

……

At dusk, in the main hall of the county temple.

Xiang Chong, covered in sweat, said:
"Captain, there are too many people; we simply can't control them."

"If we cannot properly gather these troops, we will be unable to defend the city."

“My idea is to simply disperse all the laborers except those from Deng County, leaving only a sufficient number of able-bodied men.”

"With the large amount of supplies left behind by Cao Cao's army, they can hold this place for a long time and cut off the enemy's reinforcements to Fancheng!"

Upon hearing this, Mi Wei has not yet expressed his opinion.

Zhang Jian, who was standing nearby, said urgently:
"You must not drive them away!"

(End of this chapter)