Tiger Owl

Chapter 202 Celebrating Victory
When Xu Shu entered Anlu County, the thousands of Yuzhang Army prisoners of war who had been temporarily imprisoned by Cao's army were also released. Cao Ren originally wanted to reorganize them into the Jiangxia local army, but he did not have time to do so.

However, Xu Shu was more concerned about the 300,000 shi of salt. He was worried that Cao Cao's army would sink them into the Yu River, which would mean the end of everything.

Fortunately, the 300,000 shi of salt were all stored in the warehouse. Nanjun also needed salt, and Cao Ren wanted to transport this batch of salt back to Nanjun as spoils of war, but it was eventually taken back by the Yuzhang army.

Xu Shu picked up his pen to write a report, pondered for a long time, but didn't know how to write this battle report.
Let's discuss this with a few generals first and hear their opinions.

On the city wall, Xu Shu asked Huang Zhong, Zhao Yun, and Taishi Ci, "Generals, how should we write this report?"

Huang Zhong pondered for a moment and said, "This humble servant suggests that we speak the truth. When the forces are evenly matched, we are no match for the enemy. It was only because we had 25,000 more troops that we were able to defeat them in the end."

Zhao Yun also said, "General Huang is right. The enemy's combat experience is obviously superior to ours, especially their soldiers' coordination. I have experienced this firsthand. Our soldiers are lacking in actual combat and their coordination is not as good as the enemy's. If it weren't for General Taishi's timely arrival, we would have undoubtedly lost this battle."

Taishi Ci smiled slightly and said, "Although the enemy is very strong, I think the strategist's planning and deployment are the key to our victory. I received the strategist's urging order three times during the march. The strategist knows that my army can only win if it arrives in time. If it weren't for the strategist's timely urging, I might have arrived half a day later if we had marched normally."

Huang Zhong laughed and said, "I was wondering why we arrived so quickly. It turns out it was because the strategist urged us to come."

Zhao Yun sighed, "Yes! If it had been half a day later, our entire army would have been routed. This time it is the strategist's merit that cannot be denied."

Xu Shu waved his hand and said with emotion, "You don't need to think of me as so great. I don't have such strong planning and deployment capabilities, and it's impossible for me to be so precise as to know when the enemy will send out troops. I'm just worried that the enemy will defeat us one by one, so I'm considering gathering the two armies together as soon as possible."

That's why I repeatedly urged General Taishi to speed up the march. Unexpectedly, we encountered a crucial moment in the fierce battle between the two armies. This is fate, the will of Heaven!

Xu Shu immediately sent a message by pigeon to report the results, and then wrote a formal report, summarizing the opinions of the three men, and sent it to Chaisang as soon as possible.

After arranging the report, Xu Shu immediately sent troops north again to recapture Pingjing Pass. Cao Cao's army had already retreated from Pingjing Pass, leaving it empty. Xu Shu learned from this experience and reinforced each pass with two thousand soldiers, each guarded by a loyal veteran general.

Gan Ning received a messenger from Xu Shu at noon the next day. This was their first victory over Cao Cao's elite troops, a momentous event that was absolutely worth celebrating. Gan Ning ordered the whole city to beat drums and gongs in celebration of the victory.

Two days later, Xu Shu's official report arrived. After reading it, Gan Ning asked Lu Su, "What are your thoughts on this report, strategist?"

Lu Su smiled and said, "In his report, Military Advisor Xu attributed their victory to divine intervention. I think they were being modest. Without the soldiers' valiant efforts on the battlefield, without their rigorous training, and without Xu Shu's meticulous planning, even with divine intervention, they would not have succeeded."

Gan Ning nodded. "You're right. Military Advisor Xu said that General Taishi Ci's timely arrival was a stroke of luck, but without his meticulous planning, even with a stroke of luck, General Taishi Ci wouldn't have arrived in time. This time they defeated Cao Cao's elite army, and I'm going to reward them handsomely. The report says they captured 100,000 strings of copper coins, so we'll also give them 200,000 bolts of cloth as a reward. The fallen soldiers will also receive double the compensation."

"Please rest assured, General, I will make all the necessary arrangements!"

Gan Ning celebrated his victory with the high-ranking officials. When he returned to his residence, it was already dark. Da Qiao heard that her husband was a little drunk, so she personally led Xu Wei and Xiao Qiao to greet him.

Da Qiao quickly gave Xu Wei and Xiao Qiao a wink, and the two of them rushed over to help Gan Ning up.

"Let's go to the study first!"

The three men helped the husband to the study and settled him down to lie down.

"Husband, would you like me to give you a warm bath?"

Gan Ning waved his hand, "No need, I'm fine today, I just drank a few too many cups. Give me some water!"

"coming!"

Xiao Qiao brought over a large bowl of warm tea, which Gan Ning gulped down in one go. He let out a long sigh and said, "That was refreshing!"

"Why did you decide to drink today, my husband?"

"Didn't you hear the whole city banging drums and gongs today?"

"I heard that we won?"

Gan Ning smiled and nodded, "We defeated Cao Cao's elite troops in Jiangxia, which is a great achievement, so the whole city is celebrating. Let's go out for drinks to celebrate." "I see. No wonder my husband drank so much."

"My wife, go and rest! I'm a little tired today too."

"Then I'll go back first, and I'll have them come back to take care of you right away."

Xu Wei and Xiao Qiao helped Da Qiao back to her room. After thinking for a moment, Da Qiao said to Xiao Qiao, "Xu Wei might not be able to take care of her husband by herself tonight. You stay here tonight too."

Xiao Qiao, flustered and confused, said, "Sister—"

Da Qiao glared at her. "This is your job. If you're unwilling, I can have my husband write you a letter of divorce!"

Xiao Qiao lowered her head, "Okay!"

Xiao Qiao carried a bucket of hot water into the study, and the two of them worked together to wash their husband's face and feet. They then helped him upstairs to lie down, and Gan Ning quickly fell asleep as drowsiness washed over him.

"Yunqing, where do you think I'll sleep tonight?"

"It's up to you. If you want to sleep alone, there's a small bed in the inner room. If you want to sleep in the big bed, you can squeeze in next to me!"

"I'm not used to sleeping with him yet, I'd rather sleep in the small bed! Or, would you like to sleep in the small bed with me?"

Xu Wei shook her head. "My husband will definitely need to get up in the middle of the night tonight, so I need to stay by his side."

"Alright then! I'll go to sleep alone."

Xiao Qiao had no choice but to go to the inner room alone, feeling dejected.

Xu Wei took off her outer garment and long skirt, and lay down next to her husband in her undergarments. She hugged her husband's waist, pressed her face against his back, felt his warmth, and sighed happily.

Xu Wei thought of Xiao Qiao again and couldn't help but laugh, 'That silly girl, she doesn't dare to pursue her own happiness.'

Suddenly, she felt someone lie down next to her. When she turned around, she saw it was Xiao Qiao.

"Huh! How did you come to this realization?"

Xiao Qiao pouted and said, "I'm afraid you won't be able to take care of me alone tonight."

"Okay, go to sleep! I'll wake you up if you need anything."

Xiao Qiao hesitated for a moment, "Why are you sleeping with him in your arms?"

"He's my husband, of course I have to hold him. Just because you don't want to doesn't mean I don't!"

At this moment, Xu Wei suddenly thought of a serious problem: what if her husband wanted to have sex with her in the middle of the night? Wouldn't that be in front of Xiao Qiao?
That won't do. She quickly whispered a few words in Xiao Qiao's ear, and Xiao Qiao's eyes widened immediately. "Really?"

"It's hard to say. If he's drunk, he might just do it to you without thinking."

"Then I'll go sleep in the small room!"

Xiao Qiao didn't want her first time to be lost so carelessly, so she quickly got up and went back to her room.

In the middle of the night, Xiao Qiao was suddenly awakened by a strange sound, like panting or groaning.

Suddenly, something occurred to her, and her heart pounded. She quickly got up, tiptoed barefoot to the door, and peeked into the bed. She gasped, covering her mouth, her eyes widening. Oh my god! What did she see?
At that moment, Xiao Qiao's eyes were glued to him.

(End of this chapter)