In Jiangzhou City, the Governor's Mansion, Zhao Wei is receiving Gan Ning who has returned to the city to resume his duties.
It was not Zhao Wei's intention for Gan Ning to go out of the city to collect grain, but Gan Ning's initiative.
For a while, Zhao Wei even felt that Gan Ning just wanted to take the opportunity to escape.
Zhao Wei was inevitably surprised by Gan Ning's sudden return to Jiangzhou today.
"General Gan, I wonder how our gains have been in the past few days?"
Zhao Wei didn't have any high expectations. Now that Gan Ning is willing to come back, it is a great comfort to Zhao Wei.
"I am reporting to the Grand Administrator that I have intercepted more than a hundred of Liu Zhang's grain transport ships on the Yangtze River. Unfortunately, I cannot bring them back to the city. I will have to throw them all into the Yangtze River."
Gan Ning lowered his head and reported, with a hint of regret in his voice.
"Did you really intercept Liu Zhang's military rations?"
Zhao Wei was so shocked that he stood up and walked to Gan Ning's side.
Gan Ning was much calmer than Zhao Wei and just nodded lightly.
"Yes, the food and grass can be piled up like a mountain, but I couldn't bring it back. Please forgive me, Governor Zhao!"
"What kind of crime does General Gan have? He has simply made a great contribution!"
Zhao Wei directly helped Gan Ning up, his eyes full of excitement.
There is no shortage of food and grass in Jiangzhou City, not necessarily forever, but within one or two years.
Zhao Wei has brought all the grain that Bajun can collect to Jiangzhou!
Jiangzhou City occupies a dangerous position and the city has sufficient troops and supplies. This is the reason why Zhao Wei had the confidence to resist Liu Zhang.
But Liu Zhang's situation is different. He leads an army of tens of thousands. Once he runs out of food, he will face collapse.
Zhao Wei's expression changed, and he suddenly calmed down from the great joy.
Liu Zhang was known for his treachery and had so many talented people and strangers under his command. How could he not pay attention to his own food supply?
How did Jia Long and Ren Qi perish?
Just because the two of them fell into Liu Zhang's trick again!
"General Gan, are you sure it's all food and grass?"
Gan Ning nodded again to confirm Zhao Wei's question, and at the same time assured him emphatically.
"Don't worry, Governor Zhao. All the hundreds of ships have been inspected. They are definitely forage."
After receiving Gan Ning's confirmation, Zhao Wei fell into deep thought again. He was not a fool, and now he wanted to think about the benefits of this matter.
At present, Liu Zhang has gathered an army of 50,000 to 60,000 troops outside Jiangzhou City, and the pressure on food and grass must be huge.
To reach Jiangzhou, the grain and grass from Nanzheng and Jiameng Pass need to climb over high mountains, which is extremely unrealistic!
Therefore, the grain and grass supplies for Liu Zhang's Jiangzhou camp must have been transported from Chengdu via the Yangtze River.
The provisions of more than a hundred ships were enough for at least half a month. After being robbed this time, Liu Zhang's army would definitely be short of food.
But what if the food and grass were not robbed?
Ever since Zhao Wei heard about Gan Ning's victory, he had doubts in his heart.
Did Gan Ning really intercept Liu Zhang's supplies, or had he surrendered to Liu Zhang and came to pretend to surrender?
It was a pity that Zhao Wei could not act rashly. Firstly, Gan Ning had a good reputation in Ba County and was a powerful landlord. Secondly, Gan Ning himself was very brave and had close relations with many of Zhao Wei's generals.
If it were other insignificant personnel, Zhao Yuda could arrest them and interrogate them severely, but he could not do this when facing Gan Ning.
Unless there is conclusive evidence that Gan Ning has rebelled, Zhao Wei cannot take any action.
"General Gan, what do you think we should do next?"
Zhao Wei's intention was very clear. As long as Gan Ning suggested taking the initiative and hijacking the camp, he would definitely be a spy.
Gan Ning did not answer immediately, but fell into deep thought.
After a long time, Gan Ning slowly spoke out his suggestion.
"Prefect Zhao, I feel that this robbery of food and grass will have a great impact on Liu Zhang. With Liu Zhang's military habits, he will definitely guard against our attack, so we must stay calm and wait until Liu Zhang runs out of food."
After hearing Gan Ning's words, Zhao Wei breathed a sigh of relief, and his suspicion of Gan Ning was reduced a lot.
"Then we will stick to Jiangzhou?"
Gan Ning nodded, with worry flashing in his eyes.
"Prefect Zhao, I think Liu Zhang will rush to attack Jiangzhou in the next few days. If the attack fails, Liu Zhang will retreat."
Zhao Wei frowned, feeling the same worry in his heart.
Liu Zhang brought 50,000 to 60,000 people to Jiangzhou City. He couldn't just go back in despair without doing anything, right?
"sweet..."
"Report!"
Before Zhao Wei could say anything, there was a sudden rush outside the door, and then a soldier broke in.
"Master Taishou, the enemy troops outside the city are besieging you on all sides, and the four gate defenders are in emergency at the same time!"
"What!"
Zhao Wei was shocked. Jiangzhou City had the Yangtze River and Jialing River as natural dangers. He had arranged two thousand people at each gate. How could it be in panic just after the attack?
"What's going on? Tell me quickly!"
"Master Taishou, there are huge siege engines outside the city. The enemy archers are standing on them to suppress the defenders on our city wall. Fortunately, there is a moat to resist, otherwise the enemy would have already attacked the city wall!"
Zhao Wei suddenly became panicked. Could it be that he, who was sitting on a natural danger, could not hold on even for a day?
At this time Gan Ning took the initiative to stand up and immediately proposed countermeasures to Zhao Wei.
"Prefect Zhao, quickly mobilize the soldiers in the city to support the four gates. If the enemy breaks any of the gates, Jiangzhou City will be in danger!"
Liu Zhang had an army of 50,000 to 60,000 men. As soon as the city gate was lost, Zhao Wei would immediately lose the capital to fight.
"Yes, yes! Go and pass on the order, and have the soldiers go to the city to fight the enemy immediately!"
After the soldiers left, Zhao Wei looked at Gan Ning again.
"General Gan, Liu Zhang's camp is in the direction of the south gate. Come with me to the south gate and take a look!"
"As you command!"
Gan Ning immediately accepted the order and followed Zhao Wei galloping out.
When Zhao Wei and Gan Ning came to the south gate city wall and saw the corpses of their own soldiers on the ground covered with arrows, they immediately understood why the four gates were in panic!
There are two huge wells outside the city, which are much higher than the city wall. The archers of Liu Zhang's army stood above and shot wantonly, while the suppressed city defenders did not dare to show their heads!
According to this situation, it was indeed a critical situation, because the city wall had no ability to resist the city, and the soldiers defending the city were so frightened that they cowered under the battlements and did not dare to fight back.
Zhao Wei was so anxious that he braved the dense arrows and ran to the battlements. He wanted to see how far Liu Zhang's army had advanced.
When he saw the situation outside the city, Zhao Wei finally breathed a sigh of relief.
There were no enemy troops. Liu Zhang's siege soldiers were still trapped outside the moat and were still building pontoon bridges.
Only after crossing the moat can the soldiers set up ladders and climb up.
At this time, Gan Ning also braved the rain of arrows to come to Zhao Wei and shouted in his ear.
"Prefect Zhao, this is the well gate, we must destroy it first, otherwise the city wall will fall sooner or later!"