"Liu Qi, you little brat, come to confront me again. I swear to destroy this brat!"
In Ruxu Camp, Cao Cao had just taken a dose of Wu Shi San and endured the headache as he got up to handle the affairs, cursing.
Since arriving in Huainan, the two armies have been confronting each other for more than a month, with one victory and one defeat. Recently, there has been a lot of rain, making it inconvenient to transport food and fodder.
To provide food and fodder for 300,000 troops, at least 200,000 civilians would be needed, plus livestock and vehicles. The consumption on the road alone would be no less than that in the army.
Originally, when Cao Cao heard that Xiahou Mao was raising grain, he was happily waiting for this batch of grain. Once Xiahou Mao arrived, he would lead his troops south and conquer Jiangdong.
Capture Sun Quan, kill Zhou Lang, Da Qiao, Xiao Qiao, Wu Guotai, bah, where are you going, Er Qiao
Unexpectedly, this kid actually took the money to Xiangyang. In addition, the news of Cao Chong's serious illness arrived. Cao Cao was worried and angry, his head was splitting, and he fainted with a scream.
Upon hearing that Cao Cao had recovered from his illness, Xiahou Dun hurried to report military intelligence. In recent days, the Wu army has stepped up its training and assembled warships. The soldiers of Jingzhou are also cutting wood to make rafts, which must be preparations for another battle.
Cao Cao looked at the misty Jiangnan for a long time and sighed, "Liu Qi has come to help us, and Zhou Yu is leading the army. Jiangdong is as solid as a rock. Most of my navy has been lost, and the rainy season is coming. I intend to withdraw my troops. What do you think, Yuan Rang?"
Xiahou Dun clasped his fists and said, "What the Prime Minister said is very true. The training of the navy is not a one-day thing. It has been raining for several days recently, and many soldiers are sick. The morale of the army is low, so it is not appropriate to fight again."
"Jiangnan..." Cao Cao sighed and was about to order the troops to withdraw when Xiahou En suddenly came to report: "Prime Minister, Xiahou Mao is outside the tent asking for a meeting."
"Zilin?" Cao Cao was startled. "What is he doing here?"
"This rebellious son dares to come to the army?!" Xiahou Dun was furious when he heard this and rushed out with his sleeves rolled up.
A moment later, Xiahou Mao was carried in like a little chicken, dancing and begging for mercy.
When Xiahou Dun saw him throwing it to the ground, he cursed: "Evil beast, look at what you have done. You have made me lose all my face."
Xiahou Mao knelt on the ground, not daring to look at Xiahou Dun, and just begged Cao Cao for mercy: "Prime Minister, please spare my life. I have something to report."
Cao Cao's face darkened: "Zilin, why did you take the money and food to Jingzhou? Are you still thinking about the concubine in Xiangyang?"
"No, no, no!" Xiahou Mao waved his hands repeatedly and took off the sword from his back: "I am going to redeem the sword. I came here specially to return the Qinggang Sword. Please have a look, Prime Minister."
"Hmm?" Cao Cao narrowed his eyes slightly, and Xiahou Dun snatched the sword and handed it to him.
Xiahou Mao knelt on the ground trembling with fear. He had originally planned to stay in Xiangyang for a few more days, waiting for Cao Cao to return, and then go to Xuchang to return the sword.
But Xiahou Lan said that now that he had retrieved the Qinggang sword, if he did not return it, it would be like walking in the night in brocade clothes, and no one would know that he had avenged his previous humiliation and was proud of himself.
He was also advised to go to Huainan as soon as possible, return the Qinggang sword in the army, and save face in front of the three armies. Only then would he have face when the prime minister praised him and the generals congratulated him.
When Xiahou Mao heard this, his heart was moved. He returned to Xuchang overnight and rushed to the army. However, he was scolded as soon as he arrived. He immediately regretted it.
Cao Cao silently looked at the sword, handed it to Xiahou En, and asked, "I lost Wuguan because of this sword. This was Liu Qi's plan. Why did you spend money to redeem it? Do you know that my army is in need of money and food when it is dispatched?"
Xiahou Mao hurriedly said: "Although I was used by Liu Qi, this sword was borrowed by the Prime Minister, and there is a written receipt in Xiangyang. I will redeem it even if it costs my life. A real man is born in this world, how can he be laughed at by others? I can't go back on my word, and I must avenge my previous shame..."
"Asshole, how dare you speak so brazenly here?" Xiahou Dun was so angry that he kicked him in the butt.
"Hahaha!" Unexpectedly, Cao Cao was not angry at all. Instead, he stroked his beard and laughed, "My Xiahou family also has such a loyal man. Great, great..."
After saying several good words in a row, Xiahou Dun stared with one eye: "Is this good?"
"Get up!" Cao Cao motioned Xiahou Mao to stand up and said with a smile: "A real man is most afraid of being without ambition and inaction. What Zilin redeemed is not only a sword, but also the dignity of a man. This is my Xiahou son."
Xiahou Dun glared at Xiahou Mao who was snickering, and snorted, "You think you're right to aid the enemy?"
Xiahou Mao shrank his neck in fear and begged for mercy: "I, Xiahou Mao, count money and never lose to others! If I lose money, I can earn it again, but if I lose face, I can never get it back!"
"Rebellious son!" There was actually pride in Xiahou Dun's eyes. After hearing this, he grabbed him and wanted to beat him again.
Xiahou En advised, "Brother Yuanrang, it's rare that my nephew is so ambitious. For the sake of the Prime Minister, please turn a blind eye to this matter!"
Xiahou Dun shouted angrily. He originally just wanted to pretend to hit him a few times, but after hearing these words, he hit him harder, causing Xiahou Mao to wail in pain.
Boom boom boom—
At this moment, drums suddenly sounded in the camp, trumpets blew one after another, and the sounds of people and horses shouting were everywhere. This was the signal of enemy attack.
Xiahou Dun released Xiahou Mao and followed Cao Cao out of the camp. Cao Xiu, who was in charge of patrolling the camp, hurried over to report: "The Dongwu navy broke through the defense line and rushed into the camp, and it seems that they intend to attack the camp."
Cao Cao looked up and saw thick fog on the water, extending to the waistlines of the two mountains. The sound of drums was mixed with the sound of dense bells. It was obvious that the warships of the Wu army were approaching.
When everyone arrived at the water fort, the defenders were busy forming a battle formation and the archers were on high alert. In the fog, they could see countless huge black shadows slowly approaching.
"Catch Cao the thief and destroy the traitors!" The sound of drums was heard above the water. The Wu army shouted loudly and rushed to the shore.
"Zhou Lang, you finally can't stand it anymore and want to take advantage of the fog to attack our camp?" Cao Cao stroked his beard and smiled coldly, and ordered: "Shoot them with arrows at random, and be careful of the main roads to the camps."
Arrows rained down from the shore, and the enemy ships disappeared in the thick fog one after another. Screams were heard one after another. Under the dense rain of arrows, the enemy ships did not get close.
Xun You also rushed over after hearing the news. Hearing the screams one after another, he warned: "Zhou Yu knew that the water fort was well-defended, but he still dared to attack. He must have other intentions. We must be on guard against Liu Qi's feint to the east and attack in the west."
Cao Cao suddenly realized what was happening and immediately issued an order: "Inform the West Camp immediately and tell Le Jin to keep his troops still and be careful to prevent a raid on the camp."
The sentry went to pass on the order, and a quarter of an hour later the Wu army retreated. Cao Cao sneered, "How can such a petty trick break our camp?"
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief and were about to withdraw their troops back to the camp when they suddenly heard the sound of drums on the water and countless fleets approached again.
Cao's army was in a panic, and it took Xiahou Dun and other generals to stabilize the formation. They fired arrows again and forced the enemy ships to retreat.
Cao Cao waited for a while, and seeing no more movement and the thick fog on the water gradually dissipating, he sneered, "Zhou Lang's use of troops is just like this."
"Thank you, Prime Minister Cao, for lending me your arrows—"
At this moment, uniform shouts were heard from the water, echoing in the valley.
Cao Cao's hand that was pulling his beard paused slightly. Everyone was shocked and surprised. A mountain breeze blew by, and the thick fog dissipated. Only grass debris and arrows were seen floating on the water, but there was no blood or corpse.
Cao Cao's face was as gloomy as water, and he said in a cold voice: "Such a despicable method must be used by Liu Qi, a little kid, and he has been ambushed by this young man!"
Xiahou Mao said at the side: "It's just a loss of arrows. I can just miss it next time!"