Chapter 13 1. Jiang Gan is here

The defeat in the water battle of Huilongwan made Cao Cao secretly a little depressed.Although he did not show any inappropriate emotional reactions on the surface, nor did he pursue any responsibility for Cai Mao's underestimating the enemy's aggressive advance and command mistakes, but he personally drafted an order to ask Cai Mao, Zhang Yun, Yu Jin and other naval generals to learn more lessons and further improve Increase the training intensity of the sailors' coordinated operations, hoping that they can quickly get rid of the shadow of failure, grow rapidly, and quickly adapt to the complex needs of actual water combat.

Moreover, Cao Cao's worries about the situation behind Xudu became more and more serious day by day: he was different from Sun Quan and Liu Bei. Also sat an emperor.The last time Zhao Yan attempted to assassinate Cao Pi, this is enough to prove how arrogant the imperial court and his dissidents are!If they find out the news of the failure of returning to Longwan, they may not know what tricks they will use to frame their own Cao family!Alas... I really can't lose anymore, the status of the emperor of the Han Dynasty can no longer be used, but I must not let the "myth" of "invincible" piled up with countless victories be broken... They were all overwhelmed by their illustrious military exploits and mighty power!Once I can no longer give them enough shock, the following things will be very troublesome.

In order to divert his thoughts, Cao Cao stood on the high platform of the tower of the water village and looked into the distance.After looking at it, he really understood the reason why this place is called "Wulin" in the north and "Chibi" in the south.From his left, there is a lush pine forest along the coast. The dark and dense shade of the trees meanders far away, with no end in sight, and the leaves are bright in color even in the cold winter.On the right is a red cliff, like a city wall made of blood, running horizontally to the east.But under the cliff, there are countless Jiangdong warships coming from the lower reaches of the river like crucian carp crossing the river, constantly gathering and arranging.Those Jiangdong engineers were like ants, busy building the camp fence and the fort watchtower, etc., the sound of oars, hammers, chisels, and trumpets can be heard endlessly.

"General Cai, what's your opinion on the next step to meet the enemy?" Cao Cao withdrew his gaze and looked at Cai Mao who was standing at the corner of the high platform. Because of the defeat, Cai Hao was no longer as casual and natural in front of Cao Cao as before.Hearing Cao Cao's question, he suddenly felt that he didn't know where to put his hands and feet. He rubbed the back of his head and muttered, "This... this... Our navy is plagued by epidemics, and many soldiers are sick. It's not light, and the battle is not effective. Please also ask the prime minister to quickly send a team of doctors to the Jiangling camp for diagnosis and treatment."

Everyone was stunned when they heard this: Is this also considered "the next step to meet the enemy's high opinion"?It seems that this Cai Mao is now trying to protect himself and is unable to expand outward. "Well... If you want to fight against the outside world, you must first secure the inside." Cao Cao nodded slowly, and asked Sima Yi, the soldier who was standing under his left hand, and the Zhonglang, "Didn't your soldiers rush for six hundred miles three days ago?" Did Kuaiqi send a report of the epidemic to Junjun Xun for help? What? Jiangling hasn’t responded yet?”

Sima Yi bowed respectfully and replied: "I just received a reply from Junjun Xun. He sent a medical team headed by genius doctors Hua Tuo and Gao Zhan yesterday, and they are rushing here." "Very good. With famous doctors such as Hua Tuo and Gao Zhan coming, the disease of these sailors should be under control, right?" Cao Cao looked in the direction of Chibi Zhouying and murmured, "Let them rest and recuperate. After resting and regaining vitality, the truth will cross the river, drink the horse Wuyue, and shake Yangzhou!" Jia Xu, Mao Jie, Sima Yi, Xia Houyuan, Cao Chun, Yu Jin, etc. were listening clearly, and they all bowed to congratulate: "Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, is a master of martial arts, a man of great talent, what can Zhou Yu's son and Zhuge villager do?" Contest? I will die soon!"

Cao Cao laughed out loud, and his pride revived again, and he raised his voice and chanted: "A husband makes a name for himself when he lives in the world, and when he makes a name for himself, he comforts his life; when he comforts his life, he obeys the destiny, and if he obeys the destiny, he ascends to the top of the sky!" While he was reciting, he glanced sideways and saw Wu Mao, the head of the personal guard rushing up from the stairs of the tower, standing by the ledge and bowing his hands in salute, as if he had something important to report.Cao Cao turned to look at him: "What's the matter?"

"Reporting to the Prime Minister, Mr. Jiang Gan Jiang Ziyi, a famous scholar in Jianghuai, came from Hefei with a letter of introduction from General Zang Ba, and went to serve under the account of the Southern Expedition Army." "Jiang Gan? Do you know this person?" Cao Cao turned his head and asked Jia Xu, Mao Jie, Sima Yi and others. "Returning to the Prime Minister, Jiang Qian, this person, I once heard Dr. Wang Lang talk about him. He seems to be the favorite student of Jiangdong Confucian Qin Song." Mao Jie recalled for a while, and finally remembered, "It is said that his eloquence is as good as a god, Standing alone in Jiangdong..."

"Very good, then let him come up." Cao Cao immediately sat back on the couch and waved his hands outward. Wu Mao responded and hurried down the stairs. After a cup of tea, a middle-aged scholar with a tall crown and a broad belt slowly came up from the staircase.He went straight to Cao Cao's bed, eight feet away, bowed first, with a respectful expression on his face: "Jiang Gan, a Confucian scholar in Xiajiujiang County, pays his respects to the prime minister." "Please get up quickly! I have admired Mr. Jiang's name for a long time, and I am honored to meet you today—" Cao Cao hurriedly got up from the cot to help him, and responded with a smile, "But I don't know what advice Mr. Jiang has come here this time?"

"Your Excellency, the gentleman of Zhou, who is a virtuous and corporal, makes me admire you." Jiang Qian took advantage of the situation and answered with cupped hands, "I am here this time, not for the next person, nor for the prime minister. -" As soon as he said this, Jia Xu, Mao Jie, Sima Yi, Xia Houyuan, Cao Chun and other members of the prime minister's government could not help but look at each other in blank dismay.Jiang Gan's words were a little weird from the moment he opened his mouth—he didn't come for that person, and he didn't come for himself. Isn't what he said absurd?

Facing Cao Cao's astonished gaze, Jiang Gan added without haste: "Actually, I came here this time for the sake of the common people in the world. I am thinking of the survivors in my heart. I only hope that the prime minister will unify the Liuhe, Kuangfu Han Shake away the clouds and shadows in the high sky, sprinkle the bright brilliance of the sun and the moon again, save the people from the water and fire, and put the world on the mat!" "This...Jiang Jun, how can you praise him too much? I really don't dare to accept the truth." Cao Cao was slightly startled when he heard this, and then smiled again. Jia Xu suddenly interjected from the side: "Mr. Jiang, I am Jia Xu, a poor scholar from Liangzhou. I am very polite. It is said that Mr. Jiang Jun's master is Mr. Qin Song, a famous Confucian in Jiangdong. Mr. Jiang must have heard about it! But I don’t know why Mr. Qin Song’s general talents and knowledge can’t convince Zhuge Kongming in Chaisangsun’s mansion, so that today he borrowed Jiangdong’s navy to hinder the prime minister’s great cause of unifying the world?” When Jiang Gan heard this, his heart skipped a beat.There are indeed many traps in this Cao Mansion!As soon as I stepped in, this Jia Xu jumped out to give me a blow!snort!Let's "ride a donkey to read the libretto—we'll see"!So, with a certain expression on his face, he said eloquently: "Mr. Jia, you don't know something. In this world, the wise are wise, the fools are foolish, the virtuous are wise, and the humble are despicable—just as the wise and wise Mr. Jia cannot be transformed into a General Zhang Xiu, who is brave and intrepid, cannot transform himself into a wise and wise Lord Jia! At the meeting of "Talk of Confucianism" in Chai Sangsun Mansion, Zhang Zhao, Gu Yong and other old people listened to Zhuge Liang Mr. Qin has no choice but to be seduced by him and persist in his integrity. He changed his mind halfway. Now Mr. Qin has resigned from office and returned to his hometown. Come here to fulfill Mr. Qin's unfinished ambition in life, and assist Prime Minister Cao to sail down the six counties and eighty-one counties in Jiangdong without bloodshed!" After hearing this, Mao Jie's face changed slightly: "Jiang Jun's tone is so loud! With Jiang Jun's talent, can he be an enemy of Zhuge Liang? Otherwise, with your ability, why would you dare to show off in front of the prime minister?" "My lord's words are wrong! Zhuge Liang is nothing more than an exaggerated mediocrity! How can he be compared with my subordinates?" Jiang Gan smiled and said, "He has always claimed to be the tool of Guan Zhong and the talent of Le Yi. Guan Zhong assisted Duke Huan of Qi to dominate the world and dominate Liuhe; Le Yi relied on the resources of the weak Yan small country to conquer the seventy-two cities of Qi State in one fell swoop—all of them were true husbands who helped the world and Kuang Shi! And Zhuge Liang was shameless and took it as his own Yu, in the thatched hut, he didn’t work hard, but he used hot words to confuse people’s hearts; even after he came out of the mountain and joined Liu Bei, he didn’t have any clever plans to help him. On the day when the king’s master went south, he had no choice but to abandon his armor with Liu Bei. Ge, look out for the wind and flee! This person can't repay Liu Biao to make the common people safe, and he can't follow Liu Cong to return to the imperial court. If he assists Liu Bei, he abandons Xinye and goes to Fancheng. Under the sect, blame Jiangdong's elders! Gentlemen, please see, how can he be called Guan Zhong's weapon and Le Yi's talent?" Although Jia Xu, Mao Jie, and Sima Yi all heard that his words were too extreme, too mocking, and too vain, but he was scolding Zhuge Liang for Cao Jun after all!Who would be stupid enough to jump out and argue with him?So, one by one had to laugh without saying a word. Cao Cao, however, was elated when he heard it—this Jiang Gan stood in front of him and scolded Zhuge Liang fiercely, which was considered a breath of anger for himself.After he finished laughing, he frowned, and said slowly, "Jiang Dong Zhou Yu is proficient in water warfare, and uses troops strangely. Does Mr. Jiang have any countermeasures?" "Zhou Yu, what's the point? He's just a flamboyant gentleman! Prime Minister Cao, you don't know. When Jiang was studying in the 'Wanyuan Academy' in Kuaiji County, Lu Su and Zhou Yu were both Jiang's classmates and friends. .” "Oh? It turns out that Lu Su and Zhou Yu are Jiang Jun's classmates and friends? But I don't know if they can be enemies of Jiang Jun?" Cao Cao asked in surprise. "This... At that time, there was a rumor in the 'Wanyuan Academy': 'According to the dangerous guard Zhen Zijing, Jia Zhoulang who crossed the river to fight, the tongue is brilliant and the lotus flower is Qi Ziyi'-the two of them talked about wars with Jiang, I have always been defeated repeatedly, and I am convinced! Don’t worry, Prime Minister, you only need to send Jiang Mou across the river with a boatload of servants, and Jiang Mou will be able to persuade them both to surrender!" After hearing Jiang Gan's words, Cao Cao stroked his beard and fell into a long thought.Let's not talk about how credible Jiang Gan's words are, but the matter of sending Jiang Gan across the river to persuade Zhou and Lu to surrender at this moment is already worth pushing.A few days ago, his navy was defeated by Zhou Yu's ambush at Huilongwan. Today, Zhenxiang will send Jiang Gan to persuade him to surrender.If Jiang Gan's words were false, wouldn't Zhou and Lu both laugh at their own incompetence and make such a bad move?Of course, the strategy of persuading surrender and appeasement is not impossible.But we must adapt to the current situation and wait for the opportunity.Now is definitely not the best time to send people to persuade them to surrender.You have to wait until these sailors under your command have recuperated, regained their vigor, revived their glory, and won a victory on the river before they can send Jiang Gan to the other side to persuade them to surrender. It will be very effective! After thinking through all this, Cao Cao smiled and said to Jiang Gan with great enthusiasm: "Oh! Mr. Jiang has worked hard all the way from Hefei City, so it's better to rest for a few days in the camp of Zhenxiang. Jiang Jun has a brilliant tongue, so if you want to persuade Zhou Yu and Lu Su to surrender, you don't have to be in a hurry. Now, the truth is, I really want to hear from you about the situation of Chaisang and Sun Quan..."