Xun You coughed lightly and said, "We should prepare more fire arrows so that we can defeat the enemy the next time they come."
"Wen Lie, go and prepare, and check how many arrows have been lost!" Cao Cao ordered, then left.
Xiahou Dun stared at his son who didn't know the seriousness of the matter and said in a deep voice: "You are so young, what do you know? Don't say anything more about military affairs."
Fire arrows need to be wrapped with straw or cloth strips on the arrowhead and soaked in kerosene before use. Sometimes, in order to save materials, the arrowhead is pulled out. It must be prepared in advance and there is no time to use it in a hurry.
Everyone was busy with military affairs. Xiahou Mao stood on the shore for a long while, shrugged his shoulders and looked innocent: "Did I say something wrong?"
Knowing that Cao Cao had been tricked, he must be unhappy, but he didn't want to bring bad luck upon himself, so he was bored and wandered alone along the water fort.
As they were walking, they suddenly heard a muffled sound from the northern port, the waves rolled, there were noises of people, and someone was shouting for help.
Xiahou Mao walked over quickly and saw that there were ships coming and going here, connected to the West Mountain Stronghold, transporting baggage and horses, and the soldiers were all very cautious.
Just now, a boat was overloaded, and the wind was strong in the morning. A wave came, and the soldiers did not steer the boat properly, so it capsized in the water.
"Bastards, a bunch of trash!" Wen Qin came out from the tent and cursed when he saw this.
The deputy general apologized hastily with a smile. The wind and waves were too strong just now and everyone was in a hurry to transport the supplies, so they temporarily transferred people to help. However, they were not familiar with driving the boat and made mistakes in a hurry.
Wen Qin was also Cao Cao's adopted son. He had close relations with Cao Pi, Wei Feng and others. He was brave and courageous since he was young. This time, he was brought out by Cao Cao to train with the army. Xiahou Mao was very envious of him when he saw him leading the troops.
Wen Qin stepped forward to comfort them and sighed helplessly. Ever since the navy was defeated, anyone who could sail a boat or even swim was transferred to the navy for training. He was supervising the army in the rear and keeping in contact with the West Camp.
Although they were only separated by a river, the Northern Army, which did not know how to sail, lived in fear every day and did not have to patrol the camp easily.
Xiahou Mao asked: "Since we are stationed here all the time, why not build a floating bridge?"
Wen Qin smiled bitterly and said, "Do you know that this river is bottomless? If it rains, the water will rush fast and it will be difficult for boats to cross, let alone build a bridge?"
"That's true..." Xiahou Mao sighed, his expression suddenly became stern, and he ran towards the camp.
"Zilin..." Wen Qin was complaining, and seeing him running like a frightened rabbit, he stood there in shock, saying, "People say that the prime minister's eldest son-in-law and his wife are not in harmony, and his brothers are not on good terms. It seems there is a reason for this."
Xiahou Mao ran straight to Cao Cao's camp. As soon as he reached the door, he bumped into someone head-on. It was like hitting a wall. He retreated four or five steps and saw stars.
Looking up, I saw Xu Chu standing there with a sword in his hand. His burly body blocked the tent door tightly.
"Oh, what are you doing..." Xiahou Mao held his knee with one hand, panting, "It's me!"
Xu Chu hummed, "No one is allowed to enter the Prime Minister's tent without permission!"
Xiahou Mao knew that this was a wild bull, so he said helplessly: "Please inform General Xu and tell him that I have important military information to report."
Xu Chu signaled the guard beside him to go into the tent to report, and after a moment he called Xiahou Mi in.
Xiahou Mao passed by Xu Chu, looked up at the black face, pouted his lips, said "tsk", and walked in arrogantly.
When I entered the tent, I saw Cao Cao rubbing his forehead at the desk. Xiahou Dun, Cao Chun and others were sitting beside him in silence. The atmosphere was a bit depressing.
Xiahou Mao coughed lightly, stepped forward and asked, "I wonder how many arrows were lost just now?"
Everyone looked up at him, their eyes as sharp as knives. Xiahou Dun was so angry that he gritted his teeth, thinking to himself, you kid can't speak, so just shut the fuck up!
Cao Cao groaned in pain and sighed, "More than a hundred thousand!"
Xiahou Mao paused, then took a few steps forward, clasped his fists and said, "Just a hundred thousand arrows, I am willing to serve you and rush to make them for you, the Prime Minister."
"It's rare that Zilin can share my worries!" Cao Cao exhaled a breath of turbid air, his face pale, "But arrows can be made, but bad tempers are hard to get rid of. Liu Qi, why do you keep going against me?"
Xiahou Mao said, "Don't worry, Prime Minister. Although Liu Qi has some despicable means, I have not gained nothing from my trip to Xiangyang. Not only have I found a lot of important information, but I have also offered good advice, which will definitely relieve your worries."
Xiahou Dun said sternly, "Rebellious son, how can you discuss important military matters here? Why don't you get out now?"
"Wait!" Cao Cao tapped his forehead, motioned Xiahou Mi to sit down, and asked, "What have you seen and heard in Jingzhou?"
Xiahou Mao said: "Jingzhou is sending troops to Jiangling and Zigui. I predict that they will send troops to Yizhou soon. Liu Qi will not stay here for long."
"Oh? Liu Qi actually wants to take over Xichuan?" Cao Cao's eyes were slightly stern. After thinking for a moment, he asked again: "What other military information is there?"
Xiahou Mao also talked about how Liu Qi vigorously promoted commerce in Jingzhou, enhanced the status of merchants, and opened trade routes to Jiaozhou, Nanyue and other places to make money and profit, and he spoke with great saliva.
Cao Cao listened for a while, then said disdainfully: "Liu Qi is abandoning the fundamentals and pursuing the trivial. Merchants are cunning and deceitful. They take advantage of laws and make trouble. They move around all year round. Once the country is in trouble, they have far-sighted ambitions and no real purpose. This move will surely bring disaster to themselves."
Xiahou Mao was surprised and asked, "Is it that serious?"
Xun You nodded and said, "Since ancient times, businessmen have been the five pests. Liu Qi despises scholars and values merchants, and gathers money. This is drinking poison to quench thirst! Liu Biao governed Jingzhou with a brilliant literary style, and famous scholars rushed to join him, and the territory was cleaned up. Liu Qi did the opposite. In the future, Jingzhou will be full of big merchants, and everyone will pursue profit. The younger generation will abandon literature and pursue profit. Merchants will discuss state affairs and put profit first. I am afraid that not only will Jingzhou be in chaos, but it will also be a great disaster for the country!"
Xiahou Mao stole a glance at Cao Cao and didn't dare to mention the matter of making money again, fearing that everyone would label him as a scourge to the country and the people. He quickly changed the subject and said with a fist:
"I hurried here because I saw a large ship capsize in the rear camp just now, which made it very inconvenient to transport the baggage and horses. I came to offer a suggestion. This move can also cure the vomiting disease of the soldiers."
Cao Cao's eyes lit up, and he asked hurriedly, "What countermeasures does Zilin have?"
Since arriving in Huainan, the navy has been suffering from many diseases. Even those who are training in Xuanwu Lake often vomit and become sick on the boat, so the situation for others can be imagined.
Doctors were helpless as the soldiers and horses were not used to the local climate and water, so the fighting capacity of the troops was greatly reduced. This was the biggest headache for Cao Cao.
Xiahou Mao said: "When I was traveling from Nanyang to Jingzhou, I saw linked boats on the Han River..."
He then told the story of how Liu Qi used old boats to chain together a floating bridge across the Xiang River, which not only could be crossed by pedestrians but also by cattle and horses, and which could be walked on as if on flat ground, regardless of the wind and waves.
After hearing this description, Xiahou Dun and others were all moved and started discussing it with their heads down.
"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful..." Cao Cao's eyes sparkled, and he laughed, clapping his hands: "Wonderful! If our army had linked warships, we wouldn't be afraid of the Jiangdong navy, not just the small Ruxu, but even on the big river!"
Xun You also said: "Prime Minister, this plan is feasible, we should prepare for it early!"
Cao Cao immediately ordered Xiahou Dun to take charge of the matter personally, and gathered blacksmiths to forge a chain of iron chains overnight to lock the ships and connect the east and west camps first.
Everyone was delighted. Cao Cao praised Xiahou Mao and said, "Zilin has made great contributions this time. If you want any reward, just ask."
Xiahou Mao clasped his fists and said, "I have no other request. I hope that the Prime Minister can capture Liu Qi as soon as possible. I can humiliate him in person and avenge my previous shame!"
Cao Cao laughed and said, "Little Liu Qi, you have been cheating for a long time. Now I am using your tricks to capture you. Did you expect this? This is called the law of nature!"