I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 165 Guan Yu Trial Card

Guangling is still considered part of Jiangnan, and the rain here is very gentle, like a curtain of water quietly hanging down from the sky, blocking out the noise and making one want to just sleep soundly.

Whether it was Liu Miao, Lu Su, or Jiang Qin, Xu Huang, and others who were pretending to build camps in the puddles, they all looked up at the sky in astonishment.

"It's raining?"

Rain from the beginning of spring to Qingming Festival, one day rain and one day sunny.

Rain at the very beginning of spring is never a good thing, as it has a huge impact on agriculture and sericulture! Not to mention, it is an unexpected factor in the current war between the two sides.

"If it rains suddenly, the river will definitely swell!"

Jiang Qin, who was standing by a puddle, immediately summoned one of his personal guards: "Go and report to the lord immediately! Withdraw the troops at once!"

"Here!"

The personal guards galloped towards Huaiyin, only to encounter a messenger soldier also rushing towards them.

"Our lord has ordered! All troops must immediately leave the low-lying areas!"

Ling Xinbing's voice was loud and powerful: "Immediately move to the high ground in Dongyang to the south! Abandon everything except armor and weapons, such as provisions and supplies!"

Jiang Qin's personal guards, who were also former river bandits, felt a pang of reluctance upon hearing the order from Ling Xinbing: "That's all pure, hard-earned grain..."

"Give it up! Our lord said that your lives are the most important thing! Mere provisions are nothing to worry about!"

The order from General Lingxinbing was relayed to all areas, and the generals immediately began to evacuate this dangerous low-lying, waterlogged area.

Liu Miao also personally came to Dongyang to organize the local people to begin reinforcing the dikes of the Huai River.

Dongyang is also known as Xutai or Xuyi.

The one on the stage is high.

This place is also a rare high ground in the lower reaches of the Huai River, so after a little more construction, it can be kept dry and safe.

What about the other people downstream?

"Evacuation notices have been issued, and people are being advised to move as far south as possible."

Fortunately, due to the impact of earlier wars, Guangling's population was not large, and the number of people migrating south at this time was not too great. Lu Su quickly resolved the matter.

"After that, as long as we wait for Yuan Shu's army to release the water, we can wait in comfort and annihilate Yuan's army!"

Although Yuan Shu's army was still strong, the battlefield was muddy, making it impossible for cavalry to gallop freely or for large armies to assemble. This essentially rendered Yuan Shu's army's two greatest advantages useless.

Lu Su even suggested: "Why doesn't our lord take this opportunity to send a general straight to Yuan Shu's camp?"

"If we can seize the opportunity to kill Yuan Shu, the victory in this battle will be much more than just the territory of Lujiang!"

Liu Miao was also instantly smitten!

However, after some consideration, Liu Miao abandoned the idea.

Among my subordinates, only Huang Zhong is capable of leading an elite force to carry out a decapitation strike.

But Huang Zhong was left in Jinling to guard the house, and by the time he was transferred here, it would be too late.

As for the rest... even if there are fierce generals like Xu Huang and Chen Wu, they are still a level below Huang Zhong, so there is no need to send them on a risky mission.

"Take it easy and proceed cautiously, don't rush in."

Lujiang Prefecture alone was enough to satisfy Liu Miao's appetite.

While the idea of ​​getting rich quick is tempting, we haven't reached the point where we absolutely have to take that risk yet.

"Prepare more ships! We can then block Yuan's army here."

Liu Miao originally only wanted to hold off Yuan Shu and buy time for Zhou Yu and Sun Ce to capture Lujiang, but a sudden message from the north of Xuzhou made Liu Miao rush to Huaiyin again.

"Guan Yu, Guan Yunchang, a Lieutenant General under General Liu Xuande, greets Governor Liu Yangzhou!"

"Yun Chang, no need for formalities!"

Guan Yu has arrived!

Liu Miao looked the nine-foot-tall, bearded man with a face like a red date up and down, and was overjoyed: "How did Yun Chang come here?"

"Returning to Yangzhou, this time we are escorting the Mi family."

Mi Fang had previously promised that if Liu Miao could help mediate and return Liu Bei's family to him, and give Liu Bei a foothold, he would be willing to marry his sister to Liu Miao as a marriage alliance.

Now that Liu Bei has arrived in Xiaopei, he has naturally fulfilled his promise and sent the Mi family's gifts to Liu Miao...

For some reason, Liu Miao always felt that Guan Yu's gaze towards him held a hint of disdain...

"Yun Chang, how can this be?"

Liu Miao patted his chest: "Does Yun Chang really think that I'm only willing to help Xuande because of a woman?"

"I just said it casually at the time, I never expected you would actually send it to me?"

Liu Miao angrily waved his hand: "Yun Chang! I am helping Xuande, how can Xuande humiliate me with a woman? Quickly take this Mi woman away!"

In fact, Guan Yu did have some disdain for Liu Miao.

A true man should prioritize loyalty and righteousness! How can he be so lustful and so focused on women?

However, since it was Liu Miao's help that gave Liu Bei a place to stay, Guan Yu couldn't retaliate... But this doesn't mean that Guan Yu respected Liu Miao.

Only when Guan Yu saw that the anger in Liu Miao's eyes seemed genuine did he freeze in place.

Could it be... that Jian Yong and Mi Fang really made a mistake?
Guan Yu was filled with doubt, while Liu Miao was still roaring, "Yun Chang, please send the Mi family back! Don't tarnish my reputation!"

Guan Yu finally sided with Liu Miao.

Also.

Liu Miao was such a powerful vassal, a member of the Han imperial family, and a general of the Han dynasty. How could he make such a big fuss over a woman he had never met?
Guan Yu disliked Mi Fang in the first place, and seeing Liu Miao so angry now, he wondered if Mi Fang was shamelessly trying to get into Liu Miao's hands in order to climb the social ladder. The usually arrogant Guan Yu finally bowed slightly and paid his respects to Liu Miao: "Now that Lü Bu is blocking Xiapi, we cannot communicate with Liu Yangzhou. Perhaps there really is some misunderstanding."

"However, now that I have already brought Lady Mi here, how can I possibly send her back like this? Wouldn't such behavior invite criticism?"

Liu Miao, who had just been clamoring for a "refund," immediately changed his tune.

"Yun Chang is right!"

"My reputation is ruined, so be it. How can I ruin the reputation of an innocent woman as well?"

"I'd rather the world betray me than let Liu Miao betray the world!"

Liu Miao gave a reluctant look.

"In that case, let the Mi family stay."

At this moment, Guan Yu looked at Liu Miao with completely new respect!

I thought he was just a scoundrel, but why did his line "I would rather the world betray me than let Liu Miao betray the world" sound so heroic?

Guan Yu was immediately ashamed: "Liu Yangzhou is truly righteous!"

"You flatter me, Yun Chang."

Liu Miao sighed slightly: "But this place is a battlefield after all, and Yuan Shu is about to breach the dikes and let the Huai River flood this place. So this is not a place to wait for people. I ask Yun Chang to make another trip and send the Mi family to Jiangdong for resettlement."

A look of surprise flashed in Guan Yu's phoenix eyes: "Yuan Shu actually intends to flood this place?"

"Exactly."

Liu Miao sighed, "The situation is unfavorable to our army now. Zhang Xun and Qiao Rui under Yuan Shu are both renowned generals. I don't know if we can defeat them in this battle."

A cold glint flashed in Guan Yu's eyes as he disdainfully stroked his beard: "Zhang Xun and Qiao Rui are nothing but clay chickens and earthen dogs! Why should Liu Yangzhou worry about them!"

"If I were to encounter such a person, I would surely be able to kill him easily!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Miao immediately stepped forward and grasped Guan Yu's hand: "Is what you say true, General?"

"Of course it's true!"

"Could the general help me slay the two barbarians and repel Yuan's army?"

"..."

Guan Yu's eye twitched slightly.

Are you being polite?

He never expected that Liu Miao would actually say such a thing to him!

I was merely escorting Lady Mi to Guangling to arrange a marriage between her and Liu Miao, and now you, Liu Miao, actually want me to go and fight Yuan Shu?
However, Guan Yu is Guan Yu after all.

Once words are spoken, there's no reason to take them back.
Moreover, Liu Miao's kindness in helping Liu Bei regain a foothold was genuine, so how could Guan Yu not repay him?

He immediately clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Liu Yangzhou's purpose is to punish the traitors of Han! It is my duty to do my utmost to assist him!"

"How magnificent is Yun Chang!"

Liu Miao then asked, "I wonder if Guan Yu could also take advantage of this opportunity to eliminate Yuan Shu as well, and thoroughly cleanse the world?"

Guan Yu: “…”

However, since the words had already been spoken, Guan Yu had no choice but to grit his teeth and persevere.

"If I encounter Yuan Shu on the battlefield, I will surely bring Liu Yangzhou Yuan Shu's head!"

"Yun Chang!"

Liu Miao was deeply moved!
"In that case, this battle will depend entirely on you!"

Guan Yu was now completely in a bind, so he bowed with both hands and said, "Of course!"

Liu Miao then prepared a banquet for Guan Yu and invited Xu Huang, Guan Yu's fellow townsman from Hedong, to attend as well.

We are all strangers in a foreign land, and also people far from home.

In particular, Guan Yu's hometown of Jie County and Xu Huang's hometown of Yang County are not far apart, and the scenery and people in their memories can match up!
Having been away from home for a long time, Guan Yu was moved to tears upon seeing old friends and hearing their familiar accents. Even a tough man like him couldn't help but sigh, "I wonder if I will ever be able to return to my hometown in this lifetime?"

"Yes, Yun Chang!"

During their conversation, Xu Huang also sensed Guan Yu's righteousness and immediately raised his cup to invite him: "Liu Yangzhou has always taken it upon himself to restore order to the world! If we also have Yun Chang's assistance, wouldn't we be able to easily quell the traitors of Han and bring peace to the world!"

"Yun Chang, in my opinion, why don't you stay in Jiangdong and serve under Liu Yangzhou, and work together to achieve great things? What do you think?"

Hearing Xu Huang's words, although Liu Miao had little hope, he still craned his neck to look at Guan Yu, hoping that Guan Yu would agree to the matter simply because he was drunk or confused...

Unexpectedly, although Guan Yu was slightly drunk, he still firmly said, "Thank you for your kindness, Gongming!"

"I fled my hometown years ago after committing a crime, and later ended up in Zhuojun, Youzhou. If it weren't for my lord, I'm afraid my bones would be cold by now!"

"My lord has shown me the kindness of being reborn. I have long ago sworn an oath that I will never betray him in this lifetime!"

Guan Yu let out a slight hiccup.

"When the world is at peace and the Han dynasty is restored, I will surely return to Hedong with my lord. That would be a triumphant homecoming!"

The implication is... if Liu Bei isn't by my side, what's the point of returning to my hometown?

Although Liu Miao had expected this, he still sighed slightly at this moment.

However, the sigh was fleeting, and Liu Miao raised his cup to Guan Yu: "If that day ever comes, Yun Chang, do not forget to call me to accompany Gongming!"

At this moment, Guan Yu had completely let go of his resentment towards Liu Miao, and immediately raised his wine cup to toast him.

"must!"

(End of this chapter)