Gan Ning helped Zhang Yan up and said with a smile, "My dear brother, you have not yet understood the general's intention. This is a plan to feign surrender. If it succeeds, it will be a great achievement."
Zhang Yan was startled, and finally reacted. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Three years ago, Lin Wen issued the Double Dragon Order to summon the leaders of various water areas around Dongting Lake, claiming to form the Jingnan Alliance. He also invited the common people, but we did not respond because we did not want to have anything to do with the bandits."
"God is really helping me!" Liu Qi laughed and said, "Lin Wen lost Zhou Xiong, which is like losing an arm. Since he knows your name, if you surrender, he will definitely accept you with pleasure."
Zhang Yan clasped his fists and said, "General, I will obey your orders even if I die."
Liu Qi smiled and said, "Lin Wen is resisting stubbornly. I have a plan to defeat the enemy, but I don't want to cause too much bloodshed. With the help of Zhang Zhuangshi, I will defeat the Dongting bandits in a few days."
Zhang Yan was overjoyed and said, "If the Dongting bandits are defeated, we fishermen can sail on the Yangtze River again. I will definitely do my best."
Liu Qi smiled and said, "Within a year, I will open fish markets in Changsha and Jiangling. Then you won't have to travel far. I will also investigate the taxation of Wuling this time."
Zhang Yan was delighted when he heard Liu Qi's plan. He clasped his fists and said, "I've heard that the general cares about the people. It's true. I'll go see Lin Wen tonight."
"Don't worry!" Liu Qi shook his head and said, "I'll write a letter here. You go to the Dragon King Temple, meet Xuan Zhizi, give him the letter, and follow his orders."
Although Zhang Yan was confused, he thought that since it was Liu Qi's arrangement, there must be a deeper meaning behind it, so he went down with Gan Ning to rest first.
…
Lin Wen sent Xuan Zhizi away and ordered his men to carefully guard the nine formations, burn incense and light lamps every morning and evening, and the blood evil would be dispelled in seven days.
In the past few days, people have been sent to inquire about the news of officers and soldiers. Liu Qi has been stationed on Wangyue Island and sent all the prisoners back to Linxiang area for resettlement. The news kept coming in, causing panic among the people on the island.
On this day, he was racking his brains for a solution to the Lingjiao ship issue when suddenly his followers came to report that Zhang Yan, a hero from Yuanjiang, had sent someone to contact him, saying that he was willing to fight against the government troops together.
Lin Wen was overjoyed when he heard the news, and hurried to receive the visitor in person. He then learned that Zhang Yan had a grudge with Gan Ning when they were traveling in the Three Gorges. When he heard that Gan Ning had joined the army, he was willing to join forces with him to take revenge.
Zhang Yan had fought with them several times before. Lin Wen knew that this man was more capable than Zhou Xiong. He had traveled in the Three Gorges for many years, but once he encountered danger and returned seriously injured, he never sailed again. Unexpectedly, he was injured by Gan Ning.
Now Lin Wen was feeling overwhelmed, and Zhang Yan's sudden arrival was like timely help. He immediately agreed to let Zhang Yan come to help as soon as possible.
After seeing off the visitor, Lin Wen looked at the formation beside him and laughed, "Master, you are truly a god. You helped me break the blood evil. Someone will come to help me soon. I will definitely reward you handsomely after the task is completed."
Two days later, Zhang Yan arrived with 3,000 men. Lin Wen was smiling happily at the dock. Without waiting for the fleet to approach, he waved and shouted, "Brother Zhang, I have heard of your great name for a long time. I have been waiting for you for a long time!"
When the fleet arrived at the port, Zhang Yan stepped ashore and clasped his fists, saying, "How dare I trouble the island master to come and greet you in person?"
Lin Wen laughed and said, "From now on, you and I will be like brothers, why should we be polite?"
As the two were talking, Lin Wen took Zhang Yan's arm and came to Shuanglong Hall together. He said with emotion: "Zhou Xiong was killed by the soldiers, and the twin dragons of Dongting Lake have become a joke. This other dragon must belong to Brother Zhang."
Zhang Yan waved his hands and said, "I have not done anything yet, so I am afraid it will be difficult to convince others. I would like to borrow the island master's hand to avenge myself. Fortunately, the island master accepted me, and I am very grateful."
Lin Wen smiled and said, "Brother Zhang, you are wrong. From now on, you and I will fight the enemy together. Why worry about not having opportunities to make meritorious deeds?"
A banquet had already been set up in the lobby, and the people who came with Zhang Yan were resting on the island. Lin Wen wanted to let Zhang Yan sit in the upper seat, but Zhang Yan hurriedly declined.
Seeing Zhang Yan being so humble, Lin Wen felt even happier. He immediately appointed Zhang Yan as deputy island master, let him sit in Zhou Xiong's seat, and introduced him to the leaders one by one.
Zhang Yan was deeply moved and clasped his fists in thanks, saying, "Thank you for your respect, Island Master. This time, I will fight with the soldiers and do my best to capture Gan Ning and avenge Island Master Zhou."
After three rounds of drinks, Zhang Yan suddenly sighed, frowned and kept silent while holding the wine glass.
Lin Wen asked, "Why are you sighing, elder brother?"
Zhang Yanyan said, "I am ashamed to say that although I wanted to take revenge, I was injured in the water that year and suffered from a disease that made me unable to go into the water again. That is why I hid in Wuling Mountain. It may not be easy to kill Gan Ning."
Lin Wen also knew that Zhang Yan had indeed withdrawn from Yuanjiang River and hid in the mountains in recent years. He thought that he had cut off the waterway and was looking for another way out. He didn't expect there was such a hidden story. He smiled and said, "Don't worry about this. You just guard Shenlong Island. I will take care of the naval battle. I will capture Gan Ning alive and bring him back for you to deal with."
Zhang Yan was overjoyed and raised his glass again, saying, "The island master has been very kind to me, and I will repay him with my life."
Lin Wen was very happy to have recruited another capable general. Moreover, Zhang Yan was quite prestigious in the Yuanjiang area. If other strongholds heard the news, they might also come to surrender.
Treating Zhang Yan well was to win people's hearts and also to show other leaders that anyone who was willing to submit to the Twin Dragons of Dongting Lake would definitely live a better life than before.
That day, Lin Wen ordered the entire army to hold a welcoming banquet and asked the people brought by Zhang Yan to get acquainted with the minions on the island as soon as possible so that they could work together to deal with the officers and soldiers.
The next morning, Lin Wen personally burned a stick of incense and was about to find Zhang Yan to discuss military training when suddenly a minion came to report a message.
Liu Qi spread the message on Wangyue Island that there were still two days left before the surrender deadline, and asked Lin Wen to be prepared, otherwise he would attack Shenlong Island in two days and leave no one alive.
Zhang Yan asked in confusion: "How did Liu Qi conclude that the island leader had surrendered?"
"This is just Liu Qi's wishful thinking!" Lin Wen sneered and said, "I have never seen such a shameless person in my life!"
Zhang Yanyan said: "Liu Qi has always been cunning. Even Cao Cao was repeatedly tricked by him. The island owner should be careful of this."
"I, Lin Wen, am not afraid of being frightened!" Lin Wen smiled coldly, "Liu Qi's move is just a bluff to confuse people. You and I just need to train our troops carefully. After three days, we will let him know how powerful the twin dragons of Dongting are."
Zhang Yan was puzzled and asked, "Since Liu Qi has announced that he will surrender in two days, why not fight him? I will do my best to help him. Why do we have to wait for three days? I am afraid it will affect the morale of the army."
Lin Wen looked at the formation with smoke rising from the distance, full of confidence, and said with a smile: "Three days later will be an auspicious day."
Zhang Yan asked again: "I heard that Liu Qi has found a way to crack the Lingjiao ship. I wonder if the island owner has any countermeasures?"
Lin Wen laughed and said, "Brother Zhang, you don't know that the reason why Zhou Xiong was defeated is because my island has offended the evil spirit. I have asked the experts to set up a formation to remove the filth and get rid of this evil spirit. If Liu Qi comes again, he will be eaten by fish."
Zhang Yan was speechless after hearing this. He originally thought that the places where incense and paper were burned were to commemorate the dead brothers, but he didn't expect it to be some kind of formation.
Everyone who travels around the world has to live with their heads hanging on their belts, and they pin their hopes for success or failure on pretending to be gods or ghosts. How did the two Dongting dragons become so strong and powerful