My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Forty li downstream of the Yi River.

One bamboo raft after another, carrying 10,000 Chu soldiers, was heading towards the north bank.

More than twenty bamboo rafts were the first to rush onto the riverbank, and more than four hundred Chu soldiers jumped off the rafts and onto the shore.

The Chu soldiers who landed quickly formed ranks, preparing to establish a firm foothold on the north bank to cover the landing of the main force.

"Issue the order: all rafts must disembark quickly. Within half an hour, I need all ten thousand men to be ashore and establish a camp on the north bank!"

On a small boat, Huang Zhong brandished his long sword and shouted.

With the command flags waving, the boats and rafts accelerated toward the north bank.

at this time.

Su Fei's expression changed slightly, and he pointed ahead, saying:
"General, it seems there are enemy cavalry attacking from upstream!"

Huang Zhong immediately became alert and turned to look west.

as predicted.

A cloud of dust came from the west, sweeping along the north bank of the Yi River towards the landing beach.

Amidst the dust and mist, cavalrymen appeared and disappeared, and the battle flags of the Wei Kingdom were also faintly visible.

Without a doubt, it must be Wei cavalry coming to intercept us!
"Everything is exactly as Grand Commandant Xiao expected. As expected, Cao Cao sent light cavalry to prevent me from landing!"

Respect flashed in Huang Zhong's eyes, and he raised his long sword:
"Order all ships to speed up and land at once."

Huang Zhong, a veteran of many battles, was well aware that in the current situation, the only chance to successfully land was to get as many soldiers ashore as possible and form a battle formation to withstand the Wei cavalry's attack.

As long as they can withstand the first wave of attack, they can buy enough time for the main force to land, allowing all 10,000 of his troops to land.

Unfortunately, the Wei army was clearly aware of this as well.

Commander Gao Lan seized the opportunity presented by the Chu army's small number of troops landing on the shore and launched his attack at the perfect moment.

"Soldiers of Youyan, follow me and slaughter all the Chu invaders!"

"Kill all the Chu soldiers who have landed!"

Gao Lan brandished his silver spear and shouted loudly.

More than four thousand Wei cavalry from Youyan, riding like the wind, swept in like a storm.

In an instant, the Wei cavalry crashed into them.

Although the Chu army that landed had formed ranks, they numbered only four hundred, how could they possibly withstand the charge of ten times their number of iron cavalry?

The sounds of breaking, screams, and neighing horses echoed across the north bank in an instant.

Within a few breaths, the Chu army's formation was broken through.

Forty thousand Chu soldiers were mercilessly overwhelmed by a torrent of iron cavalry ten times their size, their bodies swallowed by the iron hooves and blades of the enemy.

The landing site changed hands.

Enraged, Huang Zhong brandished his long sword and ordered all the boats and rafts to continue landing, determined to rush forward at all costs.

At this time.

Su Fei suddenly remembered something and reminded him:
"General, I remember that before we set off, Grand Commandant Xiao seemed to have given you a brocade pouch, instructing you that if our army's landing attempt failed, you should open the pouch and act according to the plan?"

Huang Zhong suddenly remembered, and hurriedly took out the brocade pouch from his bosom, opened it, and examined it closely.

"If we encounter Wei cavalry blocking our way, we must not make unnecessary sacrifices. We should immediately abandon the crossing of the river and retreat to our camp."

This short sentence caused Huang Zhong to show a look of surprise.

Clearly, Xiao He had already predicted that Cao Cao would send out light cavalry to intercept him before he led his troops out!

Moreover, Xiao He also anticipated that his landing operation would inevitably fail!

"It's been many years since I fought shoulder to shoulder with Grand Commandant Xiao. I never expected him to be as insightful as he was back in Jingzhou, as if he had gained divine insight..."

Huang Zhong clicked his tongue in admiration, but his eyes also revealed a hint of confusion.

If Xiao He had foreseen the current situation, why did he still offer a plan to the King of Chu to lead his army to cross the river downstream by stealth?

After all that trouble, they still couldn't cross the river and lost hundreds of soldiers. What was the point?

Puzzled as he was, Huang Zhong still swung his long sword:
"Order all ships to cease landing, immediately withdraw troops, and return to the main camp."

Su Fei was taken aback and said urgently:

"General Huang, we only suffered a slight setback, why did we suddenly withdraw our troops? Could it be a scheme by Grand Commandant Xiao?"

Huang Zhong handed the note to Su Fei and sighed:
"The retreat was Grand Commandant Xiao's plan."

Su Fei took a look, and his surprise turned into confusion.

He originally thought that Xiao He would have some ingenious plan in the brocade bag he gave to Huang Zhong, to help them defeat the enemy on the north bank and cross the Yi River smoothly.

Unexpectedly, the plan failed, and all it could do was order them to retreat.

"General Huang, this..."

Su Fei raised his head and looked at Huang Zhong with a puzzled expression.

Huang Zhong waved his hand and said firmly:

"There is a reason why Grand Commandant Xiao did this. We should just carry it out and not ask any more questions."

Left with no other option, Su Fei had to issue the order.

"Dang Dang Dang~~"

The piercing sound of gongs rang out over the Yi River. Hearing this, the Chu soldiers on their boats and rafts had no choice but to turn around and retreat to the south bank.

at this time.

The Youyan cavalry had already reached the shore, and seeing the Chu army retreat in fright, their morale soared.

They brandished their weapons, cheered and shouted, showing off their power to the retreating Chu army, and hurling all sorts of taunts and insults.

Gao Lan stood on the bank, spear in hand, watching the retreating Chu army, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

This was the first time in his life that he had ever fought against the Chu army, which was rumored to be the strongest in the world.

Gao Lan originally thought that this battle would be a fierce one.

Unexpectedly, the victory ended so easily, which surprised him quite a bit.

"The Chu army is nothing special..."

Gao Lan gave a cold laugh, a hint of disdain rising at the corner of his mouth.

Xiahou Chong brandished his weapon, pointing at the Chu army on the water and shouting wildly:

"Chu dogs, come at me if you dare! I haven't had my fill of killing yet, don't run away!"

On the north bank of the Yi River, there were sounds of mockery and insults.

On the raft.

Huang Zhong gripped his long sword so tightly it made a clicking sound, his aged face burning with hatred.

If it weren't for Xiao He's instructions, given his volatile temper, he would have already led his troops to storm the north bank and fight the enemy to the death.

So what if you have four thousand iron cavalry?
How dare you insult me, Huang Zhong, like this? I'll fight you to the death!

"Grand Commandant Xiao must have another brilliant plan. I'll let you be arrogant for a little while longer, hmph!"

Huang Zhong finally suppressed his anger and waved his hand, shouting:
"Order the entire army to retreat to the south bank and return to the main camp in Yijing!"

After suffering several hundred casualties, the ten thousand Chu soldiers retreated to the south bank and then along the riverbank towards the main camp in Yijing…

Night fell in the Chu camp, in the king's tent.

Generals Huang Zhong and Su Fei, looking ashamed, stood before Liu Bei.

"Your Majesty, this old minister failed to cross the Yi River by stealth and was defeated by the enemy. I beg Your Majesty to punish me."

Huang Zhong silently apologized.

This veteran general of the Great Chu Dynasty, though hot-tempered, still understood human relationships and social dynamics.

He did not attribute his defeat to Xiao He's instructions, but instead took the blame upon himself.

Liu Bei and Xiao He exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly.

"General Hansheng, it was I who ordered you to abandon the crossing and retreat to the camp. What crime have you committed in this defeat?"

Xiao He stepped forward with a smile and handed Huang Zhong a cup of welcoming wine.

Seeing that Xiao He was so responsible and didn't let him take the blame, Huang Zhong breathed a sigh of relief and felt a sense of admiration.

He accepted the wine, but then asked, puzzled:
"Grand Commandant Xiao, since you are so resourceful and foresaw that Cao Cao would send light cavalry to ambush us, why did you still suggest to the King that I lead the army to cross the river downstream by stealth?"

Su Fei and the other officials all looked at Xiao He with suspicion.

"In fact, General Hansheng, your purpose in this battle is not really to force your way across the Yi River, but to take this opportunity to find out how many cavalry Cao Cao still has."

"With specific numbers, Your Majesty will have a clear understanding and be able to decide how many troops to send and which types of troops to send to strike directly into the heart of Youzhou, rendering Cao Cao's defenses at Yijing ineffective!"

Xiao He, unhurriedly, revealed the first layer of mystery.

Huang Zhong was stunned, his eyes growing increasingly blank, completely failing to grasp the deeper meaning behind Xiao He's words.

The ministers in the tent were also completely bewildered.

Probing the number of Wei cavalry, they stormed deep into Youzhou, rendering the Yijing defenses virtually nonexistent...

These things seem completely unrelated, like they have no connection whatsoever.

"Bowen, now is the time for everyone to know."

Liu Bei smiled and then explained to everyone:
"What you may not know is that as early as when Qingzhou was captured, Bowen had already petitioned me to gather shipwrights and build a new navy along the coast of Qingzhou."

"The ships used by this navy are all new-style seagoing vessels created by Bowen, which can sail far into the sea without fear of wind and waves."

"In this campaign against Wei, Bowen's strategy was to lead the main force here to attract Cao Cao's forces, while Bo Yan, Tan Zhi, and Xiu Mu would sail north by sea with the navy, land at Yuyang in the Bohai Sea, and then advance directly to Ji County to sweep through the heart of Youzhou."

"If Cao Cao learns that our army has landed behind him, he will surely use all his cavalry to intercept us first."

"Hansheng, your battle was precisely to test the number of Wei cavalry remaining. Only with this information in mind could I make the corresponding deployment."

"Gentlemen, do you now understand Bowen's plan?"

The truth is revealed.

The tent erupted in surprise and excitement.

Huang Zhong and the other ministers suddenly realized what was going on, and exclamations of surprise and admiration arose everywhere, all marveling at Xiao He's profound foresight.

Amidst a chorus of admiration, Ma Su suddenly said:

"Your Majesty, Grand Commandant, in my opinion, while a long voyage across the sea can certainly deceive the Wei army, conceal our whereabouts, and achieve the effect of a surprise attack."

"As Su knew, sailing far from the coastline, it is very easy to lose one's way."

"So, how can we ensure that our navy can successfully reach the coast of Yuyang in this naval raid, instead of getting lost in the vast ocean?" (End of Chapter)