My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 674 The Siege of Fucheng Again
Although this year's production was severely damaged by Cao Jun, we must salvage as much as we can.

Preliminary estimates suggest that at least 60,000 able-bodied men could be cleared out, including many Shu soldiers.

Now that Liu Feng's army is stationed in Shu, and there are also tens of thousands of troops from Dongzhou and Huang Quan, there is no need to support tens of thousands of Shu soldiers anymore. It would be better to take advantage of the momentum of the great victory and dismiss them as soon as possible to reduce the logistical pressure.

However, Liu Feng specifically instructed Lu Xun not to make a hasty, one-size-fits-all decision, as many Shu soldiers no longer had land or families and were barely surviving by serving in the army.

If they were to be dismissed directly, it could become a serious social problem, causing not only adverse consequences but also severely damaging Liu Feng's image in Shu.

The best course of action would naturally be to acquire land from the powerful clans and gentry of Shu to settle these soldiers. However, as the saying goes, it is hard to part with wealth. The previous efforts to collect food and supplies had already caused considerable problems, and now the attempt to acquire land would inevitably provoke a strong backlash.

Although Lu Xun was highly trusted and valued by Liu Feng, his position and official rank made it inconvenient for him to get involved in such matters, so he could only put it aside for the time being.

The day after the grand feast, Liu Feng led his army out early in the morning, following the same route Cao Ang had taken in his escape, passing through Shifang and arriving at Mianzhu.

To Liu Feng's surprise, Cao Cao's army did not burn the remaining supplies in the two cities. They left behind more than 300,000 shi of grain, enough for the army to use for half a year.

Four days later, Liu Feng's army appeared on the west bank of the Fu River. The army of more than 40,000 men, along with 10,000 laborers, stretched for dozens of miles. Their flags were waving, horses were neighing, and men were shouting, their voices shaking the city of Fu.

Cao Ang, Cao Chun, Sima Yi, and others stood on the city wall of Fucheng, watching Liu Feng's banner waving, their hearts heavy.

On the city tower of Fucheng, Cao Ang, with a solemn expression, gazed at the boundless camps on the west bank and the "Liu" banner fluttering in the wind, remaining silent for a long time.

The early summer breeze swept across the Fu River, bringing with it the faint clamor of people and horses on the opposite bank, adding to the oppressive atmosphere.

Cao Chun, standing beside Cao Ang, clenched his fists, a hint of worry in his fierce eyes, while Cao Xiu on the other side showed a hint of weakness, unable to resist. As for Sima Yi, standing half a step behind Cao Ang, he narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze deep, as if he was scrutinizing the enemy's military formation while also calculating his own choice.

"What an imposing and awe-inspiring formation."

Cao Ang finally spoke, his voice slightly hoarse: "Liu Zisheng has come east with his elite troops without taking a break, surely intending to take Fucheng in one fell swoop and wipe us all out."

Cao Chun replied in a deep voice, "Zixiu, there is no need to worry. Although the Left Army is strong, Fucheng is well-fortified and has ample supplies. Although our army has suffered a recent defeat, there are still 30,000 combat-ready soldiers in the city, enough to challenge them again. I am willing to lead elite cavalry out of the city to attack them while they are crossing the river and blunt their morale!"

Sima Yi shook his head slightly, his tone steady yet unquestionable: "General Zihe's bravery is commendable, but now is not the right time to engage in battle. Liu Feng is riding high on the momentum of his great victory, and his army is disciplined and well-organized, making him a force to be reckoned with. Moreover, although his army intends to cross the river, it is being supported by Zhou Yu and He Qi's army on the east bank of the Fu River. Attacking them while they are crossing is too dangerous; it is better to remain still than to move."

"Moreover, we are not without our own advantages."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ang and those around him, including Cao Chun, Cao Xiu, Li Zheng, and Yang Xiu, all looked at him, a sense of anticipation rising within them.

Sima Yi stroked his long beard and said slowly, "General, look, although we are trapped in an isolated city, there are still pillars supporting us outside the chessboard. The Grand General arrived in Jingbei a month ago, eyeing Xiangyang and Fancheng. How could he sit idly by and watch Yizhou fall? According to my calculations, the Grand General must already be preparing his troops and heading straight for Xiangyang. If war breaks out in Jingbei, how can the Left General remain calm in Shu?"

Then, disregarding the filth, Sima Yi squatted down and, using gravel and ash as materials, devised a plan: "Fucheng is our army's logistics base. Its abundant food and weapons, with granaries storing enough to feed the entire army for half a year, and its armory full of arrows enough to form a mountain. Moreover, the city is high and the moat is deep, with one side bordering water, and it houses 30,000 elite armored soldiers, all veterans of countless battles."

Gray marks drew an arc around the character "涪": "When General Zuo's main force returns east to Jingzhou and Xiangyang, that will be the day when this iron barrel formation turns into a noose."

Sima Yi's fingertip pressed heavily on the center of the ash stain, his eyes suddenly sharpening: "The crucial task now is not to launch a rash attack, but to emulate Li Mu's strategy of defending Dai during the Warring States period. Deep trenches and high walls will blunt their advance, and their arrogance will be quelled. Once the Left General's main force has moved east, the troops in Shu will be exhausted and worn out—"

Sima Yi suddenly slammed his palm down, raising a cloud of dust: "Our army should emerge like a trapped dragon from the abyss and reclaim all of Shu's lands!"

Cao Ang was somewhat puzzled. Although Sima Yi's strategy was the most suitable option at present, it was not particularly brilliant. Moreover, they had already discussed the details, so why repeat it in front of everyone?
Moreover, Cao Cao's uprising in Jingbei was a military secret, so how could it be revealed in public?

But then, Cao Ang suddenly realized something was wrong. Upon closer inspection, he suddenly understood.

At this moment, Cao Ang and others were standing on the city wall, surrounded by many junior and middle-ranking officers and soldiers on duty. Sima Yi deliberately spoke very loudly, and his voice carried far across the empty city wall, allowing the soldiers to hear what he was saying.

The worst thing for a city to defend is the lack of external reinforcements; whether or not there are reinforcements has an extremely significant impact on the defense of the city.

Upon hearing Sima Yi's words, the soldiers on the city wall were noticeably more spirited. They would occasionally glance at Cao Ang and the others with expectant eyes, clearly hoping to hear Cao Ang's affirmation.

Although Cao Ang's arrival increased the garrison strength of Fucheng, news of the great defeat at Fancheng inevitably spread at the same time.

Although Cao Ang had already issued a gag order, how could he really keep quiet when he was in such a dire situation?

Upon learning of the battle situation at Fancheng, even the troops of Cao Chun, Cao Xiu, and Li Zheng within Fucheng suffered a significant drop in morale, which was clearly detrimental to the upcoming defensive battle. Sima Yi's words, however, had clearly attracted the attention and interest of the surrounding soldiers and even lower-ranking officers.

Sima Yi must have done this on purpose, probably targeting the morale of the people in the city.

Upon realizing this, Cao Ang immediately beamed with joy, stepped forward to help Sima Yi up, and laughed loudly: "Zhongda truly lives up to my reputation as a strategist and strategist. Although we are trapped in Fucheng, my father will not abandon us. My father sent word the other day that the Jingbei campaign has already begun, Liu Jingzhou has arrived in Miannan, and there are many who have responded. Five counties have already been recovered. My father has already advanced to the walls of Xiangyang and is attacking day and night. The city is about to fall."

Cao Ang also used a little cleverness here. He did not address Cao Cao as the Great General, but instead referred to him as my father, which obviously reminded everyone of his identity.

If Cao Cao were a general, then that general might not necessarily be the one who needed to be saved.

But he was Cao Cao's eldest son and the heir to his cause, so how could Cao Cao ignore him?
After speaking, Cao Ang deliberately showed a smug look, glancing at the crowd out of the corner of his eye. He noticed that the soldiers on the city wall were all in high spirits and listening intently, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He then continued, "If we simply hold our ground and await reinforcements, the situation will surely change dramatically. General Zuo will not be able to stay in Shu for long. Once he leaves Shu, his elite troops will surely follow him eastward. At that time, who in Shu will be able to stop our army?"

Just as Cao Ang had predicted, his coordinated attack with Sima Yi immediately boosted the morale of Cao's defending soldiers and gave them hope for reinforcements.

Cao Chun, Yang Xiu, and the others also realized what was happening and began to speak.

Seeing the soldiers whispering amongst themselves, disregarding military discipline, Cao Ang knew that this news would surely spread throughout the entire army within the day.

At that time, the morale of Cao Cao's army in Fucheng will surely rebound.

Cao Ang and the others were overjoyed. Even the composed Cao Chun nodded repeatedly, praising Sima Yi's words. Seeing Cao Ang and the others so excited, the officers and generals listening nearby were also greatly encouraged. Cao Ang nodded in agreement and immediately ordered the plan to be carried out.

The city and its surroundings were immediately bustling with activity as soldiers and civilians worked together to repair the fortifications, creating a tense yet orderly atmosphere.

That afternoon, Liu Feng's army began crossing the river south of the city, and Zhou Yu's troops came out in full force to cover the flanks of the main army.

The Left Army had the advantage of a navy with numerous ships, and Zhou Yu's troops had also built several pontoon bridges in advance south of the city. Therefore, in just half a day, Liu Feng's army had crossed the Fu River and entered the camp that had been prepared in advance.

After inspecting the camp and watching the soldiers go into their quarters to rest, Liu Feng returned to the central command tent and summoned his generals for a meeting.

Inside the tent were a constellation of stars. On the left were Gan Ning, Zhou Yu, He Qi and other members of the Left Staff, while on the right were Huang Quan, Wu Yi, Wu Ban, Leng Bao, Yang Huai, Gao Pei and other generals and officers of the Yizhou Army.

Dozens of people crowded the central command tent to the brim, yet you could hear a pin drop.

Liu Feng sat in the main seat. Although he was young, no one dared to go against his will, and his power and influence grew day by day.

"Gentlemen, Cao Ang's defeated army is now holed up in Fucheng, like turtles in a jar."

Liu Feng, in a loud voice, first set the tone for the meeting: "However, even a cornered beast will fight. Fucheng is the key to the northern gate of Yizhou, with high walls and deep moats. Cao Cao's army will surely defend it to the death. A direct assault will inevitably result in heavy casualties. What good strategies do you all have?"

Wu Yi stepped forward first: "My lord, our army is powerful. We can first send envoys to persuade them to surrender, to spread the word of our army's might and virtue, and to demoralize them. If they do not surrender, we can then gradually advance with fortifications, dig trenches, build earthen mounds, and suppress them with bows and crossbows. Once they are exhausted, we can launch a fierce attack."

Leng Bao added, "We can also divide our forces to control the upper and lower reaches of the Fu River, especially the key road to Jiange in the north, to completely isolate Fu City, leaving Cao's army without external reinforcements and internal supplies, which will inevitably lead to internal strife in the long run."

The Yizhou army, whose soldiers surrendered at that time, naturally wanted to show off, and their speeches were quite enthusiastic and proactive.

Liu Feng nodded in affirmation, then looked at Huang Quan, who was standing quietly to the side: "Gongheng, what do you think?"

Huang Quan pondered for a moment and said, "Generals Wu and Leng's strategies are both mature and prudent. I would like to add two points: First, although Cao's army was defeated, the troops in Fucheng have not suffered any losses and their fighting strength is still considerable. In particular, Cao Chun and Zhang Xiu's elite cavalry still pose a threat. We must be wary of them resorting to desperate measures and launching surprise attacks on our supply lines or the besieging forces. Second, Sima Yi and Yang Xiu are both talented individuals and must have many good strategies. We must guard against their cunning. General Wu's earlier suggestion of persuading them to surrender may be worth a try."

Liu Feng agreed wholeheartedly: "Gongheng's concerns are absolutely correct. Since that's the case, let's proceed according to the plan: Wu Yi, Wu Ban, and Fei Guan, you three will each command your troops to construct a long siege around the North Gate, with deep moats and high walls, focusing solely on defense and not attacking. Xing Ba, all boats on the Fu River will be under your command and control. Control the river, patrol upstream and downstream, and cut off the enemy's waterborne communication. The rest of the units will be divided into shifts for guard duty, taking turns to rest and recuperate. Without my orders, no one may engage in battle! Be especially vigilant against enemy night attacks!"

"promise!"

The generals responded with a resounding roar.

The army rested the next day and was treated to an extra meal that evening.

On the morning of the third day, an envoy carrying a white flag rode swiftly to the outskirts of Fucheng.

After receiving the report, Cao Ang glanced at Sima Yi.

The latter nodded slightly: "My lord, in war, envoys are not to be killed. It would be harmless to see them."

Cao Ang gladly accepted the advice and ordered his men to bring the messenger to the county government.

After the envoy entered the hall, he bowed respectfully without being arrogant or humble.

Cao Ang was somewhat surprised, as the envoy was very young, looking much younger than him.

Cao Ang became interested and asked, "May I ask your name, esteemed envoy?"

"This foreign official is named Sun Quan and currently serves as a scribe in the Left General's staff."

It turned out that the envoy was none other than Sun Quan.

After considering the suggestions of Wu Yi and Huang Quan, Liu Feng decided to entrust the mission of envoy to Sun Quan.

"Sun Quan..."

Cao Ang felt the name sounded familiar, but couldn't quite place it, so he turned to look at Sima Yi and Yang Xiu.

Yang Xiu spoke first, saying, "My lord, this man should be the second son of General Sun, the former General Who Destroyed the Enemy. His elder brother is Sun Ce, the former Colonel Who Destroyed the Enemy, who is now also under the command of the Left General."

Sima Yi smiled and nodded in approval.

Cao Ang suddenly realized that Sun Jian had also been acquainted with Cao Cao. Their relationship wasn't particularly close, but they were old friends. Although they later belonged to different factions due to the split within the Yuan family, they never actually fought each other, so their relationship wasn't bad.

"So you are the son of the late General Po Lu. Please take a seat."

Cao Ang recalled that the Sun family had once ruled Jiangdong, and a thought suddenly occurred to him.

Sun Quan calmly walked into the room and sat down, his expression unchanged despite Cao Ang's enthusiasm.

Cao Ang secretly gave Sima Yi and Yang Xiu a look. After a moment, Yang Xiu took the initiative to speak: "I heard that your elder brother originally established himself in Jiangdong, but was later pacified by the Left General. When the General heard the news, he thought of his friendship with Sun Polu and wanted to bring your family to Luozhong, but the Left General refused to release them, so he had no choice but to give up."

Sun Quan sneered inwardly upon hearing this.

Such a low-level provocation, does he really think Sun Quan is a three-year-old child?

Sun Quan immediately straightened up and said in a loud voice, "In the past, my elder brother was deceived by Yuan Gonglu and did not know the will of Heaven. He resisted the royal army. Fortunately, General Zuo was magnanimous and was able to correct his mistakes. General Zuo's kindness to my family is as high as a mountain and as deep as the sea. Although my family did not know that the General had such a hidden kindness, even if things had gone well at that time, my family had received great kindness from General Zuo and could not betray it."

(End of this chapter)