Xun You coughed lightly and said, "You should prepare more fire arrows so that the thieves can defeat them next time."

"Wen Lie, go get ready and check how many arrows are lost!" Cao Cao ordered and walked away.

Xiahou Dun stared at this ignorant son and said in a deep voice: "You are so young, what do you know? You don't have to say much about military matters."

Fire arrows need to be wrapped with thatch or cloth strips around the arrowhead, and soaked in kerosene before use. Sometimes, in order to save materials, the arrowhead will be 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. Xia Houmao stood on the shore and was stunned for a long time. He shrugged his shoulders and looked innocent: "Did I say something wrong?"

Knowing that Cao Cao had been fooled, he must have been unhappy and did not want to get into trouble. He was bored and wandered along the water village alone.

As we were walking, suddenly there was a muffled sound from the northern port, rolling waves, loud noises, and someone shouting for help.

Xia Houmao walked over quickly and saw ships coming and going. It was connected to the Xishan Dazhai and transporting horses and equipment. The soldiers were cautious.

Just now, a ship was carrying too much weight, and the wind was strong in the morning. A wave came over, and the soldiers steered the ship improperly, and it capsized in the water.

"You bastards, a bunch of trash!" Wen Qin came from the tent and cursed.

The lieutenant quickly apologized. The wind and waves were too strong just now, and everyone was in a hurry to transport supplies. They temporarily mobilized people to help, but they were not familiar with sailing and made mistakes in the rush.

Wen Qin was also the adopted son of Cao Cao. He was close to Cao Pi, Wei Xi and others. He was brave and courageous in his youth. This time he was brought out by Cao Cao to train with the army. Xiahou Mao saw him leading the army and was envious.

Wen Qin stepped forward to offer a few words of comfort, and Wen Qin sighed helplessly. Since the defeat of the navy army, anyone who knew how to sail a boat or even a little bit of water was transferred to the navy army for training. He was supervising the troops in the rear and liaising with Xizhai.

Although they were only separated by water, for the Northern Army who couldn't sail a boat, it was a tiring battle every day and it was not easy to patrol the camp.

Xia Houmao asked: "Since troops are always stationed here, why not build a pontoon bridge?"

Wen Qin smiled bitterly and said: "Did you know that the water in this river is bottomless? If it rains, the water will be so strong that it will be difficult for boats to cross, let alone build a bridge?"

"That's true..." Xia Houmao sighed, suddenly his expression became serious, and he ran towards the camp.

"Zilin..." Wen Qin was complaining. When he saw him running like a frightened rabbit, he was stunned and said: "People say that the Prime Minister's eldest son-in-law is at odds with his wife and brothers, and it seems that there is a reason for this."

Xia Houmao went straight to Cao Cao's camp. As soon as he reached the door, he bumped into someone. It was like hitting a wall. He took four or five steps back, and there were stars in his eyes.

Looking up, he saw Xu Chu standing there with a knife in hand, his burly body blocking the tent door tightly.

"Oh, what are you doing..." Xia Houmao held his knees with one hand, panting, "I, it's me!"

Xu Chu hummed: "No one is allowed to break into the Prime Minister's camp without permission!"

Xia Houmao knew that this was a wild bull, so he said helplessly: "Excuse me, General Xu, and tell me that I have important military information to report."

Xu Chu motioned to the guard next to him to enter the tent and report, and after a while he called Xiahou Mao inside.

Xia Houmao passed by Xu Chu, looked up at the black face, curled his lips and said "cut", and walked in proudly.

After entering the tent, they saw Cao Cao sitting at his desk rubbing his forehead. Xiahou Dun and Cao Chun were sitting aside in silence, and the atmosphere was a bit depressing.

Xia Houmao coughed slightly, stepped forward and asked, "I wonder how many arrows were lost just now?"

Everyone looked up at him, their eyes like daggers. Xiahou Dun was so angry that he gritted his teeth, thinking that you kid can't speak, so just shut up!

Cao Cao is in pain

He groaned and sighed: "More than a hundred thousand!"

Xia Houmao paused his chest, took a few steps forward, cupped his fists and said, "It's only a hundred thousand arrows. My son-in-law is willing to help me and make them for the Prime Minister."

"It's rare for Zi Lin to share my worries!" Cao Cao exhaled a breath of turbidity and turned pale, "But arrows can be made, but bad breath is hard to come out. Why do you, Liu Qi, keep going against me?"

Xiahou Mao said: "Prime Minister, don't worry. Although Liu Qi has some despicable methods, my son-in-law's trip to Xiangyang is not without success. Not only did he find out a lot of important information, but he also provided good strategies to resolve the Prime Minister's worries."

Xiahou Dun said sternly: "Treason, how can I allow you to discuss such important military affairs here without getting out?"

"Slow down!" Cao Cao tapped his forehead, motioned Xia Houmao to sit down, and asked, "What have you seen in Jingzhou?"

Xiahou Mao said: "Jingzhou is sending troops to Jiangling and Zigui. I predict that soon they will send troops to Yizhou. Liu Qi will not stay here for long."

"Oh? Liu Qi actually wants to plot Xichuan?" Cao Cao's eyes gleamed slightly, he thought for a moment, and then asked: "What other military information is there?"

Xia Houmao also talked about how Liu Qi vigorously promoted commerce in Jingzhou, improved the status of merchants, and opened trade routes to Jiaozhou, South Vietnam and other places to make money, which made him salivate.

Cao Cao listened for a while, but said disdainfully: "Liu Qi is abandoning his roots to chase the weak. Businessmen are clever and deceitful, take laws and regulations, stir up trouble, and move around all the year round. Once the country is in trouble, they all have far-reaching ambitions and no evil intentions.

, this move will surely bring about its own consequences."

Xia Houmao was surprised and said: "Is it so serious?"

Xun You nodded and said: "Since ancient times, the people of industry and commerce have been like beetles. Liu Qi despised scholars and valued businessmen, and gathered money. This is to drink poison to quench thirst! Liu Biao governed Jingzhou with a brilliant literary style. Celebrities rushed to join him, and the territory was purged. Liu Qi rebelled

If we follow this path, in the future, Jingzhou's giant businessmen will be rampant, everyone is chasing profit, and the younger generation will go to literature to pursue profit. The merchants will discuss state affairs and put profit first. I fear that not only will there be chaos in Jingzhou, but it will also cause great trouble to the country.

That’s it!”

Xia Houmao glanced at Cao Cao secretly and did not dare to mention making money again, fearing that others would label him as a disaster for the country and the people. He quickly changed the subject and said with cupped fists:

"My son-in-law came here in a hurry because he just saw a large ship capsized in the back village and it was extremely inconvenient to transport the baggage and horses. He came here to offer advice. This can also cure the soldiers' vomiting disease."

Cao Cao's eyes lit up and he asked hurriedly: "What's Zi Lin's countermeasure?"

Since arriving in Huainan, the navy has suffered from many diseases. Even those who trained in Xuanwu Lake often vomited and fell ill on the ship. It is even more conceivable that others.

The doctors were helpless because of the acclimatization, so the combat effectiveness of the men and horses was greatly reduced, and Cao Cao was most troubled by this matter.

Xiahou Mao said: "When my son-in-law went from Nanyang to Jingzhou, he saw a chain boat on the Han River..."

He then told Liu Qi how he had built a pontoon bridge on the Xiangjiang River using an old boat chain. Not only could pedestrians cross it, but cattle and horses could also walk on it. No matter how the wind and waves fluctuated, they could still walk on flat ground.

After describing it, Xiahou Dun and others were all moved, and they all lowered their heads and began to discuss.

"Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful..." Cao Cao's eyes flashed, he put his hands on his hands and laughed: "Wonderful! If there are serial warships in our army, not just small ones, even on the big river, we will not be afraid of the navy from the east of the Yangtze River.

!”

Xun You also said: "Prime Minister, this plan is feasible. Make preparations early!"

Cao Cao immediately ordered Xiahou Dun to personally take charge of the matter, and gathered blacksmiths to build a chain of iron ropes overnight to lock the ships and connect the east and west villages first.

Everyone was delighted. Cao Cao praised Xiahou Mao: "Zilin has made great achievements this time. If you want any reward, just ask."

Xia Houmao cupped his fists and said, "My son-in-law has nothing to ask for. I wish the Prime Minister would capture Liu Qi as soon as possible. I can humiliate him in person. It's enough to avenge the previous humiliation!"
Chapter completed!