Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Upon hearing this, Sun Ce's eyes were filled with admiration and joy, and he adopted Zhou Yu's suggestion without hesitation. He paced back and forth, his mind already sketching out the next battle plan, as if victory was just around the corner.

Seeing Sun Ce's agreement, Zhou Shan continued, "The patriarch also said that he has begun to build a naval force in Jiujiang County, and it has shown initial success. However, there are very few soldiers proficient in water warfare, and it will take time to slowly train them. However, the current war is urgent, and I'm afraid General Sun will have difficulty finding a suitable naval commander. Therefore, the patriarch has specifically ordered me to go to General Ma Chao and borrow Gan Ning, Gan Xingba, and their Jinyi Army for General Sun's use. General Gan Xingba is extremely talented and experienced in water warfare. Currently, under General Ma Chao, he mostly fights with cavalry, which makes it difficult for him to display his strengths. But once he is under your command, General Sun, and has the opportunity to traverse the waterways, he will surely be able to surprise the enemy and achieve unprecedented feats."

After listening to this, Sun Ce slapped his forehead suddenly and said with sudden enlightenment: "Gongjin is indeed thoughtful! I didn't even think of this. With Xingba's skills, it is really difficult for him to show his strengths in his brother's company when facing an all-cavalry army. But with me, I am preparing to form a navy. With his help, it will be like adding wings to a tiger, and I will definitely get twice the result with half the effort!" Thinking of getting a naval warfare genius like Gan Ning, Sun Ce couldn't help but show his joy and was full of confidence in the future war.

He immediately issued orders. On the one hand, he arranged for his soldiers to begin an orderly siege of the city, setting up camps around the city to cut off contact with the outside world. On the other hand, he began to inventory supplies and prepare to welcome Gan Ning and his Jinyi Army. At the same time, Sun Ce personally selected a group of strong soldiers with good swimming skills to prepare for the formation of a naval force.

A few days later, Zhou Shan rushed to Ma Chao's camp to ask for an audience. Ma Chao was immediately excited when he heard that it was sent by his third brother Zhou Yu. He also took the matter very seriously and quickly ordered his soldiers to welcome Zhou Shan into the tent.

As soon as Zhou Shan entered the tent, Ma Chao couldn't wait to greet him. He first asked with concern: "How is the war going on Gongjin's side? Is he doing well in Jiujiang County?" Zhou Shan answered one by one, and then Ma Chao asked: "What brings you here from afar this time?" Seeing this, Zhou Shan calmly told him all of Zhou Yu's plans.

After hearing this, Ma Chao's face was full of surprise, and he couldn't help but sigh: "This Gongjin is really a man of strategy and wisdom. He can defeat 100,000 armored soldiers alone!" After that, he immediately called Gan Ning and solemnly ordered: "Xingba, you must go to Sun Ce immediately and wait for his orders. You must provide your full assistance and there must be no mistakes!" Gan Ning accepted the order, clasped his fists in response, strode out of the tent and prepared to set off.

After Gan Ning left, Ma Chao looked at Zhou Shan again and asked, "Gongjin, do you have any other plans for this visit? Given the current situation, what should we do?" Zhou Shan bowed and said respectfully, "My lord told me when I came, General Ma Chao, that you have Lu Su and Xu Shu under your command. He was originally offering advice, so he may have overreached. I hope you two gentlemen will not mind. With you here, you can assess the situation and offer better advice."

Upon hearing this, Lu Su and Xu Shu waved their hands and said with a smile, "Gongjin, you're worrying too much. We're all doing this for the greater good, so why would we mind?" Ma Chao followed suit with a hearty laugh, "We're all brothers, so why should we differentiate between ourselves? Gongjin's plan is brilliant, and we should fully cooperate with him."

Afterwards, Ma Chao, Lu Su, and Xu Shu sat together to discuss Zhou Yu's strategy and the current situation. Lu Su stroked his beard, pondering for a moment before saying, "Zhou Yu's strategy of besieging the city, cutting off its food supply, and using water to defeat the enemy is truly ingenious. We can take advantage of Yuan Shu's forces being pinned down by Sun Ce and dispatch troops to harass his rear, making it difficult for him to defend both ends." Xu Shu nodded in agreement, adding, "Excellent! We can also send out scouts to closely monitor the movements of Yuan Shu's reinforcements. If they detect them, we can set up an ambush to intercept them."

Ma Chao listened to their analysis and nodded continuously, his eyes full of determination: "Okay! I'll do as you two gentlemen say. Immediately issue an order, let all units be prepared to attack at any time!" Inside the tent, the atmosphere was warm and tense. A new military operation was about to begin. Everyone was working together for a common goal, ready to go. When the time was right, they would launch a fierce attack on Yuan Shu to change this complex and ever-changing war situation.

Zhou Shan and Gan Ning led the Jinfan Army and rode at full speed to Sun Ce's place. When they arrived, Sun Ce had been waiting for a long time, looking at this long-renowned elite navy with his eyes full of anticipation and joy.

Upon seeing Sun Ce, Gan Ning knelt on one knee and saluted, "General Gan Ning, I have been ordered by General Ma Chao to await General Sun's orders!" Sun Ce quickly stepped forward to help Gan Ning up, laughing and saying, "Xingba, there's no need for formalities. I've long heard that your Jinfan Army is a force to be reckoned with. Your assistance today is even more powerful than before!"

After the Jinfan Army arrived, Sun Ce decisively suspended the siege. He knew that with Gan Ning, a formidable naval commander, and the Jinfan Army, building a powerful navy was the key to defeating the enemy. He immediately issued orders, mobilizing resources and beginning to fully prepare the navy and build ships.

For a moment, the open space behind the camp was bustling with activity. Craftsmen toiled day and night, felling and processing massive logs, the clanging of hammers and hammers filling the air. Sun Ce personally supervised the battle, working with Gan Ning to design the ship designs and train the sailors. Under Gan Ning's meticulous guidance, the soldiers, initially unfamiliar with naval warfare, gradually mastered the techniques of rowing, sailing, and naval combat.

As preparations progressed, the offensive on the front lines became less intense. Yuan Shu's defenders noticed this change, and although they didn't know what Sun Ce was up to, their tense nerves relaxed slightly.

Yuan Shu had been closely monitoring the battles on the Lujiang front for days. Upon hearing that Sun Ce's offensive had been blocked and unable to take the city, his nerves finally eased, a long-lost look of relief appearing on his face. He turned to look at Yang Hong, standing nearby, and couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, "Ji Ling truly lives up to his reputation as a great general! He's truly lived up to my expectations by stopping Sun Ce so firmly."

Yang Hong observed Yuan Shu's rare good mood, yet he knew the situation remained precarious. He reflected that the situation couldn't afford any negligence, yet he didn't dare upset Yuan Shu and spoil his mood. Seeing Yuan Shu's smile, he chimed in, "Yes, General Ji is a brave warrior with exceptional strategy. He's the reason our defense remains secure. It's truly a blessing for our army."

As the two were talking, hurried footsteps were heard outside the tent. Yan Xiang walked in, looking exhausted and his clothes were covered in dust from the journey. Seeing him return, Yuan Shu's smiling face suddenly tightened, and a sense of foreboding welled up in his heart.

Yan Xiang stepped forward, bowed, his voice filled with helplessness and frustration. "My Lord, this mission to Tao Qian has not yielded satisfactory results. Old Tao Qian is obsessed with preserving his own strength and can't see the current situation clearly. No matter how much I persuade him, he refuses to send troops to help us."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu's face instantly turned ashen, his eyes burning with anger. He slammed the table and roared, "This old bastard! How dare he be so ungrateful! He was so timid at the critical moment and refused to send troops. I will never let him go!" After that, he paced back and forth in the tent, feeling angry and anxious. The already serious situation was now made worse, making him even more anxious and uneasy, not knowing how to repel the enemy.

Yuan Shu paced back and forth in the tent, looking anxious, his eyes bloodshot, and kept asking the people around him: "The situation is critical now, do you have any good strategies to defeat the enemy?" Yan Xiang had just returned from Tao Qian, and before he had time to catch his breath, he fell into deep thought, but he couldn't think of any effective solution for a while, so he could only look embarrassed and remain silent.

Seeing this, Yang Hong stepped forward and quietly offered a suggestion: "My lord, it's already June. The flood season will arrive in July and August, and the water level of the Gan River will undoubtedly rise significantly. Ma Chao's troops are already troubled by the rain, and their movements are restricted. Then, they will be trapped in the camp, unable to move. We can take this opportunity to dig up the embankment and divert the water to flood his camp. Or we can take advantage of the situation and send in our navy, using the power of the flood to attack Ma Chao's camp. Ma Chao's men are all from the north, unaccustomed to naval warfare, and they will definitely not be able to withstand our naval attack."

After hearing this, Yuan Shu's eyes suddenly lit up with hope, and the gloom on his face disappeared. He was overjoyed and couldn't help but reach out and stroke Yang Hong's back, praising him, "Sir, this plan is wonderful! Even if Zhang Liang and Chen Ping were still alive, they would only be as good as this!" After that, he immediately made arrangements with great energy, ordering all camps to be prepared, pay close attention to changes in water levels, and prepare the navy in advance to prepare for the upcoming water attack.

Yuan Shu's camp was abuzz with activity. Soldiers rushed to work, moving supplies, repairing warships, and surveying the terrain. Everyone was making final preparations for the impending naval attack, as if victory was just around the corner. Only the arrival of the flood season would allow them to defeat Ma Chao in one fell swoop and reverse the current unfavorable situation.

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, it's August. The sky seems to be punctured with countless holes, and the rain pours down relentlessly. The water level of the Ganjiang River continues to rise, fueled by the rain, the river widening and the current becoming more turbulent.

Sun Ce's camp was a scene of bustling activity. Since Gan Ning arrived with the Jinfan Army, naval training had progressed exceptionally smoothly. Leveraging his extensive experience in naval warfare and exceptional command, Gan Ning had trained his men to impeccable form. Daily, the soldiers battled on the river, the sounds of oars and shouts mingling and resonating across the surface. By now, their initial unfamiliarity had faded, and they navigated the waves with ease, possessing the demeanor of elite naval forces. They awaited a major battle to test the fruits of their training and showcase their prowess.

Meanwhile, Ma Chao's situation was far from smooth. During this period, he sporadically attacked Yuan Shu's fortified city, but the relentless downpour proved his greatest obstacle. The rain rendered the roads muddy, making it difficult to transport siege equipment. The soldiers' movement was sluggish, significantly reducing their effectiveness. Each attack was easily repelled by Yuan Shu's army, relying on the fortifications and favorable weather conditions. Ma Chao gazed at the relentless rain, feeling helpless and anxious. He knew that if this continued, not only would the city be difficult to capture, but he would also risk being forced into a passive position. He needed to devise a strategy quickly.