Zhou Yu took the battle report sent by Lu Xuan and quickly browsed it. When he read the contents of the letter, his brows rose and he was even more amazed in his heart.
He is worthy of being the king of his own family.
In a short time after entering Yizhou, Liu Zhang was captured. Just after he went north, he started a war with Cao Cao. He killed Cao Ren in Ju County and Xiahou Yuan in Yangping Pass.
In terms of speed, my own king ranks first.
After Zhou Yu read the entire content of the letter, he was in high spirits and ordered: "When someone comes, please inform Li Tong to come and discuss the matter."
The attendant received the order and turned around to inform.
Not long after, Li Tong entered the camp, cupped his fists and said, "Great Governor."
Li Tong was just thirty years old, with a tall and powerful body and sharp eyebrows. He was a general discovered by Zhou Yu in Yuzhou.
Li Tong was a native of Jiangxia and a knight-errant. In the early years, he gathered the knight-errants of Jiangxia County and spread across Jiangxia and Runan areas, becoming a local force with considerable influence.
Historically, after Cao Cao took the emperor and established his capital in Xuchang, Li Tong judged the situation and decisively led his troops to defect to Cao Cao. He was appointed by Cao Cao as General Zhenwei Zhonglang and stationed at the border of Runan.
Cao Cao's arrangement is a simple recruitment. If you defect to me, I will give you an official position.
It is equivalent to saying that Li Tong had a number with Cao Cao.
As for the relationship between Li Tong and Cao Cao, there is no such close relationship. They are not considered direct relatives or confidants. Li Tong does not have any influence, let alone the history of tiger generals like Xu Chu who defected to Cao Cao and were directly favored by Cao Cao.
.
However, Li Tong is very determined and discerning.
When Cao Cao attacked Zhang Xiu, Cao Cao did not have enough troops and did not recruit Li Tong. However, Li Tong judged the situation, decisively led troops to help, and took the lead in the battle. He made outstanding contributions and was promoted to General Pi and Marquis of Merit by Cao Cao.
Runan County served as the captain of Yang'an.
General Zhenwei Zhonglang is a general with no name. He is just Cao Cao's arrangement for Li Tong to defect to him, so it is of no value.
However, unlike General Pi and Captain Yang'an, it was Cao Cao who recognized Li Tong for the first time.
From here, Cao Cao began to regard Li Tong as one of his own. After Li Tong was appointed as the Duwei of Yang'an, he governed the local area, stabilized people's hearts, and had considerable political achievements.
During the Battle of Guandu, both Liu Biao and Yuan Shao sent people to seduce Li Tong. In the general environment at that time, everyone was optimistic about Yuan Shao and not Cao Cao. However, Li Tong decisively rejected Liu Biao, and even killed Yuan Shao's envoy and sent Yuan Shao to
The seal and ribbon were also given to Cao Cao to express his feelings.
The battle at Guandu was fierce, Cao Cao was in a desperate situation, and Yuzhou was in rebellion across the board. Liu Bei also personally went to Yuzhou to disrupt the situation, but Li Tong stood firm like a needle in the sea, sweeping away the bandits and calming the situation in Runan.
After the Battle of Guandu, Cao Cao rewarded Li Tong for his merits and further promoted Li Tong to the post of Governor of Runan and Marquis of Duting.
In the fourteenth year of Jian'an, Guan Yu flooded Fancheng and Jingzhou fell into a desperate situation. Cao Ren desperately resisted Guan Yu. At that time, Cao Cao's people were in Hanzhong and Cao Cao's subordinates were unable to rush to rescue. Li Tong mobilized his troops to rush to Jingzhou to rescue, but he died of illness there.
On the road.
After Cao Pi succeeded to the throne, he was given the posthumous title of Marquis Gang.
Such a person, if he had not died of illness early, would have definitely become a talisman in the southern part of Wei State.
However, Li Tong died early.
Although Li Tong was a knight-errant, he had deep determination, foresight and foresight. From the beginning to the end, he identified with Cao Cao. Even though Cao Cao was constantly in danger, Li Tong never changed.
Especially during the Battle of Guandu, most people in Xudu and the Runan area turned their backs on Cao Cao. Among such a group of people, Li Tong's perseverance was particularly valuable.
Zhou Yu admired Li Tong very much. After Li Tong defected, he kept Li Tong with him to train him. Because Li Tong's biggest shortcoming was still not reading much, which was a common problem among most generals in the late Han Dynasty.
Except for people from big families, the military generals are all unskilled in the art of war and are all wild.
Zhou Yu asked: "Wen Da, have you read "Sun Bin's Art of War" recently? Have you read half of it?"
Li Tong cheered up in the face of Zhou Yu's inquiry. He was older than Zhou Yu, but he admired Zhou Yu from the bottom of his heart and regarded Zhou Yu as his teacher.
If it weren't for Zhou Yu's bit by bit instruction, he wouldn't have been able to read "Sun Tzu's Art of War" first, then "Sun Bin's Art of War", and many other military strategies.
This is his shortcoming.
Li Tong said respectfully: "Reporting to the Governor, I have read the article "Sun Bin's Art of War: Eight Formations". However, there are still many things I don't understand and I have not been able to fully understand this article."
Zhou Yu said solemnly: "When you read, you have to keep reading and you will understand naturally. You first read it over and over again to understand it. Finally, if you don't understand anything, ask again and I will explain it to you."
"As you command!"
Li Tong answered quickly.
Zhou Yu changed the subject and said in a deep voice: "I called you here because I just received news from the king. In the battle at Yizhou, the king killed Cao Cao's generals Xia Houyuan and Cao Ren, and trapped Cao Cao in Nanzheng County, Hanzhong. You
Take people with you to spread the news among Xiahou Dun's troops and disturb Xiahou Dun's military morale."
After hearing this, Li Tong first agreed, and then said: "Captain, your Majesty has trapped Cao Cao, and victory is just around the corner. We now have to wait for news from both Taishi Ci and Gao Shun, and then take advantage of the trend to attack. But with the king's information, our plan
Do you want to make changes?"
After Zhou Yu heard this, he weighed it in his mind.
The news from Lu Xuan essentially replaced some of the intelligence from Tai Shici and Gao Shun, because it could disrupt Xiahou Dun's military morale.
"Report!"
At this moment, the soldiers entered again and reported: "The governor, the sentinels of General Taishi Ci and General Gao Shun each arrived at the same time."
"Bring it in quickly!"
Zhou Yu gave an order.
At this moment, a smile appeared in Zhou Yu's eyes. The long-awaited news finally came. The soldiers went to deliver the message. After a while, two sentries came in and each handed over the information.
Zhou Yu took it over and looked at it. After reading the contents of the letter, his smile became even bigger.
Taishi Ci led 30,000 elite troops from Nanyang County to the north, raided Yingchuan County, captured Kunyang, Fucheng and Jiaxian County, and went straight to Yangzhai County, the seat of Yingchuan. Taishi Ci's army had cut off Guanzhong
The passage from Yingchuan to Yanzhou ensures the safety of Zhou Yu's west side.
Gao Shun led 10,000 elites and invaded Liang State, captured Suiyang, the seat of Liang State, cut off the army of Yujin in Taishan County to the east, and possibly returned to aid Xiahou Dun of Chen State.
Both sides achieved results.
Both Taishi Ci and Gao Shun were trying to expand their results and further control the situation.
Zhou Yu smiled brightly and said loudly: "I didn't expect that today would be the third day of happiness. Not only is the good news coming from the king, but Taishi Ci and Gao Shun have also successfully achieved our expected goals."
"Li Tong, beat the drums immediately and mobilize our army to attack Xiahou Dun."