Yingshui Tangtang flows to the southeast.

It is winter now, with favorable winds and smooth currents, and the big ship is sailing down the river at a speed of thousands of miles per day.

Liu Qing stood on the side of the ship and looked at both sides of the bank. The cold wind was coming in waves, and the chill seeped through the gaps in his clothes, making Liu Qing shrink his neck involuntarily.

"I wonder if the soldiers who are fighting abroad have winter clothes with them." Liu Qing muttered.

"Don't worry, my lord, winter clothes have been distributed a long time ago." Dian Wei rolled up his sleeves and exposed an arm and said, "A hot-blooded man is not afraid of the cold!"

Liu Qing said haha, that's because it's not the real winter yet, and he doesn't dare to ignore the frost damage on the grassland. Now he is urging Yanmen and other counties to increase coal output to keep out the cold in winter.

"Lord, look, that city is Ruyang."

Behind him, Xun Yan pointed to the faint shadow of a city in the distance.

Between Ruyang and Yingshui, there is an open field. The grain has been harvested, and it is full of withered yellow color.

"I didn't expect to see Ruyang in such a way. Maybe Yuan Benchu ​​was standing at the top of the city to admire the scenery!" Liu Qing joked.

"My lord, the war in Ruyang is about to begin, why don't we stay and take a look?" Dian Wei asked.

"Ruyang has Wen Yuan, Zi Long, and a filial father, so I'm not worried." There is also cooperation between inside and outside. Liu Qing didn't mention this, so he was relieved. But after all, Lu Kangna, Cao Cao and Lu Bu were supporting the defeated county.

It was quite risky in every aspect, so Liu Qing was still a little worried.

Along the Ying River, you can reach the Huai River directly, and you will reach Lujiang County on the shore, which is very convenient.

"I don't know what is happening to Lu Kang now. If he can be saved, not only will he be able to protect a great man, Zhongliang, but he will also be able to win over the Lu family of Wu County and add another force to Xuande's invasion of Wu County!"

"If Lu Kang can be enlisted, my lord can add another county, and from then on he can dominate the river. Firstly, he can cut off the connection between Yuan Shao and Yangzhou. Secondly, the two states of Yangzhou and Jing are all under the lord's feet!" Guo Jiadao said.

The key points of Lujiang River were discovered.

"No matter how loud the abacus is, we have to catch up! If it is true as Feng Xiao said, it will not be in vain for me to make this trip myself!" Liu Qing said into the wind, watching the distant city gradually disappear from his sight.

"My lord, it's cold and windy outside, so you'd better go back to the cabin!" Xun Yan advised.

Liu Qing nodded and led everyone back.

"Xiuruo, how long does it take to get from here to Huai River?"

"If you count from Ruyang, it's about three hundred miles away. If the wind is favorable tonight, my lord, when you wake up tomorrow, you can reach Huai River!"

"So fast?"

"That's how it is with waterways. If you go with the wind and the current, you will arrive in a few days. If you go against the wind and the current, you may have to walk for ten and a half days."

"God is really helping me, Lu Kang, you have to hold on!"

As he spoke, Liu Qing looked toward the southeast.

…

Shu County.

One day's exploratory attack allowed Liang Gang to figure out Shuxian's defense methods and intensity. On the first day, he saw few arrows, mainly stones and boiling water.

Yuan Shujun quickly summarized the countermeasures and built wooden shields overnight to withstand high-altitude projectiles and boiling water. He also concentrated all the archers and crossbowmen in the army to suppress the defenders at the top of the city.

In Yuan Shu's camp, the fire danced and illuminated the tents. The soldiers were prepared. Yuan Shu was not idle at this time. Yan Xiang and Yang Hong were formulating the final siege plan.

"Lord, the two of us have completed our discussion." Yang Hong said to Yuan Shu, who was sitting aside and worried.

"How will we attack the city tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow our army will attack from the east and west gates. Generals Liang Gang and Li Feng will attack the east gate. Generals Zhang Xun and Lejiu will attack the west gate. General Yuan Yin will lead his troops to station in the north of the city.

To confuse the defenders, General Ji Ling stationed himself five miles outside the south of the city to prevent Lu Kang from escaping through the south gate."

"The test is at the north gate, why not attack the north gate?"

"Back to my lord, after this battle at the north gate, Lu Kang will mobilize more troops and materials to defend, and our army will attack the west and east separately. In this way, the defense of the east and west cities will be weakened," Yan Xiang explained.

.

"So that's it. Let's make a decision. Tomorrow we will finish our work in one battle. We must break down the city and capture Shu County!"

"Here!" they both said in unison.

The next day, the morning sun rose in the east, and the city gates in Shu County were filled with firewood and smoke.

As usual, Lu Kang went to the north gate to patrol, and soon the soldiers and horses led by Yuan Yin appeared at the gate.

Soon, people from the east and west gates also came to report that there were traces of Yuan Jun, but not at the south gate.

Lu Kang understood that Yuan Shu was going to officially attack today.

"Dr. Xu, you go to the west gate, and I'll go to the east gate!" Lu Kang said.

"What about here?"

"After yesterday's day, the North Gate defenders know how to defend. Go quickly!" Lu Kang urged as he walked.

Liang Gang and Li Feng arrived at the city. The two of them observed the city for a while, watching the smoke rising vertically.

"The defenders are making food at the top of the city now?" Li Feng asked, not knowing why.

"Confused, that's water boiled in a pot. Didn't you listen to what Chang Shi said?" Liang Gang scolded.

"Hey, haven't you seen this before?"

"I will attack with all my strength on your left and your right. The Lord has orders. The first one to ascend will be promoted to the third level of military rank!"

Soon, Yuan's army swarmed up. Some people set up ladders to cross the trench, and some laid planks. There was no moat outside Shuxian City, but there was a trench nearly ten feet wide to block the enemy.

Under the trench, many sharp wooden thorns were buried. Anyone who fell would be seriously injured, and those who were seriously injured would die suddenly on the spot.

Lu Kang arrived at the east gate and soon discovered Liang Gang who had attacked the north gate yesterday.

"Stir up, officers and men. The rebels have arrived. Burn the fire louder. The crossbowmen must aim and shoot. Don't waste arrows. When the enemy comes, don't panic. Aim your spears at the barbarians.

Straight knife, go to..."

Before he finished speaking, a soldier quickly grabbed Lu Kang and exclaimed: "Master, be careful!"

Then, a wave of arrows roared in and hit various places on the city head. Several defenders did not dodge in a hurry and were already wounded by the shots.

"Strike hard! Crossbowmen, fight back!" Lu Kang finished his words and ordered the crossbowmen to fight back.

The two sides shot back and forth, and Yuan Jun carried the ladder and supported the wooden shield to the bottom of the city and began to build the ladder to climb the city.

Then, dozens of blazingly burning wooden sticks soaked in water were thrown down from the top of the city. Suddenly, a large smoke filled the air. Because there was no wind in the morning, a large amount of smoke accumulated under the city. For a while, even the sight was blocked.

blocked.

There were bursts of coughing from the city. The smoke not only irritated his breathing, but also irritated his eyes, causing him to shed tears. Even so, Yuan Jun still climbed up the ladder, and then poured down boiling water, stones, and spears.

Greetings one after another...

There were fires all over Shu County, and the smoke gathered in the sky, forming a large smoke column. Although it was not as conspicuous as the smoke from the wolf, Xia Houyuan still observed it while he was traveling.

"Brother, look!" Xia Houyuan pointed quickly, "That's Shu County, Yuan Shu has already attacked the city!"

"What did the military advisor say? If Yuan's army attacks the city, they will attack the rear army! You have to hurry up! Lieutenant Lu, speed up!" Xiahou Dun did not forget to greet Lu Bu.

When Lu Bu heard this, he silently clamped his horse's belly, and the horse immediately increased its speed tacitly and overtook the Xiahou brothers.

Now that the three armies could see the smoke of Shu County, they naturally fell into the sight of Yuan Shu's scouts. Several scouts pushed their mounts to the extreme speed, fearing that if they were too late, irreparable consequences would result.

"Report——"

"Report——"

The lengthy shouting sounded throughout the military camp, and even Yuan Shu, who was waiting for news of the siege in the camp, became nervous when he heard it.

Could it be that the city was destroyed so quickly? Otherwise, why would the voice be so urgent and eager!

Several scouts rode directly to the Chinese army's camp and dismounted, almost rolling and crawling.

"My lord! My lord, there are cavalry attacking from the north! About thousands!"

When Yuan Shu heard this, his head buzzed and he went blank for a moment.

"Tell me clearly! Who are these troops?" Yang Hong asked after taking the words.

"The one at the front is under the banner of Lu!"

Lu? Yang Hong searched quickly in his mind. General Lu, could he be Yuan Shao's General Lu Weihuang?

"And Xiahou!" the scout continued.

Xiahou! Yang Hong's eyes narrowed. Xiahou's letter was so unique. It was clearly Cao Cao's subordinate. Then Yang Hong instantly thought of the war in Pei State. Cao Cao came from Pei State!

This cavalry is not one of our own, but Cao Cao's army. So it goes without saying that the general carrying the flag with the word "Lü" is self-evident. The only general named Lu who is closest to here is Lu Bu, the captain of the Liang Kingdom.

However, whether it is Pei or Liang, these two places are separated from Lujiang County by Runan County and Jiujiang County. The journey also takes a long time. Yuan Gong's troops have only been here for a few days. Even if Lu Kang sent troops to ask for help,

I haven't brought any news yet.

Little did Yang Hong know that Lu Kang had indeed sent people everywhere to ask for help, but he did not expect that the cavalry that was attacking now came on their own.

It is even more impossible for Yang Hong to know that when the order for Cao Cao and Lu Bu to come to Lu Kang's aid came out, Yuan Shu was still on his way to Jiangxia, begging Yuan Shao for forgiveness and asking for the surrender of Lujiang County.

Yuan Shu came to his senses and said in shock: "It's Cao Ah Man, why is Cao Ah Man here!"
To be continued...