Chapter 244: Back to the sky, powerless and decisive
Liu Qi's legs went weak and he almost fainted, but he gritted his teeth and held on.
Outside the city, Yan Liang's army did not attack the city. The tens of thousands of people just stood in formation silently, as silent as the lifeless terracotta warriors and horses.
But this kind of silent silence is even more terrifying than the murderous shouting.
Liu Qi seemed to be able to feel that Wu Shuang's sharp eyes were staring at him, as if he wanted to cut him into pieces.
Facing such a powerful and terrifying military force, Liu Qi had cold sweat streaming down his back, and his face was as pale as paper.
Yan Liang stood in formation outside the city for half an hour. After frightening the enemy troops enough, he led his troops back to camp.
After annihilating Huang Zhong's five thousand soldiers and horses, Jiangling City was already in panic. Yan Liang did not need to attack urgently. He wanted Liu Qi to slowly taste the fear.
Liu Qi, who was on the top of the city, finally breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Yan Liang's army retreating. He ordered his generals to closely monitor the enemy's movements, while he retreated from the city first.
Fear had disturbed Liu Qi, and he did not dare to stay for a moment longer, for fear of losing his composure and shaking his already panicked military morale.
When he was going down to the city, a morning breeze blew, and Liu Qi felt a chill on his back. Then he suddenly realized that the armor on his back was soaked with cold sweat.
Returning to the state capital, Liu Qi locked himself up alone and refused to see anyone for a long time.
I don't know how long it took before Liu Qi finally calmed down from the panic, but he fell into anxiety about how to deal with the next dilemma.
When I was depressed, the soldiers outside the door came to report that it was Zhuge Liang who wanted to see him.
As soon as he heard the three words "Zhuge Liang", Liu Qi felt angry in his heart.
I remember that Zhuge Liang was full of confidence at the beginning, claiming that his plan was perfect and could definitely defeat Yan Liang. But now, Yan Liang used his plan and killed his five thousand elite soldiers and general Huang Zhong for no reason.
Up to now, there are only more than 10,000 soldiers and horses left in the city, and people are in panic. How can they resist the attack of Yan Liang's army?
Liu Qi was upset in his heart. He didn't want to see Zhuge Liang at first, but then he thought again. At this point, the incompetent officials had nothing to do. Apart from Zhuge Liang who could give him advice, who else could he rely on.
After hesitating for a moment, Liu Qi just invited Zhuge Liang in with his order.
The door opened. Zhuge Liang walked in slowly, still waving his feather fan lightly, still looking calm and calm.
With such a leisurely posture, it was as if the defeat last night had never happened, and his plan had not been discovered by Yan Liang at all.
Liu Qi really couldn't see through his cousin, and couldn't understand why this person could maintain such calmness under any circumstances.
"My eldest son, although our army has lost some troops in this battle, there are still 10,000 soldiers in Jiangling. Baqiu's Huangzu navy is still there, so the situation may not be irreversible. I think that eldest son should cheer up."
.”
Zhuge Liang was like Liu Qi's elder, comforting him with sincere words.
Liu Qi smiled bitterly, "Kong Ming, it's easy for you to say that. Five thousand elites have been lost. How long can the remaining panic-stricken troops last?"
Liu Qi's tone was sluggish and he had completely lost his fighting spirit.
Zhuge Liang couldn't help but frown secretly when he saw his virtue.
Liu Qi slumped down and said feebly: "Kong Ming, don't tell me that you have any plan to turn the tide now."
"Well... the eldest son is right. Liang does have a plan. If it succeeds, it will definitely save the defeat."
Zhuge Liang shook his feather fan gently, his brows once again filled with calmness and confidence.
Liu Qi's originally depressed and gloomy look suddenly seemed to be injected with some vitality, and he regained some hope.
"Kong Ming, do you have any other clever ideas? Tell me, tell me." Liu Qi jumped up and urged anxiously.
Zhuge Liang turned his eyes to the east and said calmly: "The Sun family from Jiangdong has been coveting Jingzhou for a long time, and will not tolerate Yan Liang monopolizing Jingzhou. Liang is willing to go to Jiangdong as an envoy for the eldest son, and persuade Sun Quan to send troops with his sharp tongue.
As long as Sun Quan is willing to march into Jiangxia, Yan Liang will not be able to care about each other, and he will naturally withdraw his troops. Then Jiangling's crisis will be resolved without a fight."
Borrowing troops from Jiangdong...
Liu Qi's thoughts were rolling, and after thinking hard for a long time, he realized that he seemed to have no choice but to do this.
He said excitedly but uneasily: "Kong Ming, are you really confident in persuading Sun to send troops to help?"
"Liang's brother Zhuge Jin is an official in Jiangdong. With his advice from the side and Liang Xiao's interests, I think Sun Zhongmou will be convinced. The eldest son can rest assured."
Zhuge Liang's words were full of confidence.
This confidence made Liu Qi cheer up again, and immediately said: "Very good, let's do it, but I don't know when Kong Ming you plan to leave."
Zhuge Liang said hurriedly: "Without further delay, Liang plans to leave the city tonight and go from Changsha to Jiangdong."
Liu Qi thought about the situation at hand, and was afraid that he wouldn't be able to hold on for long. The sooner Jiangdong was invited to send troops, the less dangerous it would be.
Liu Qi then agreed to Zhuge Liang's request.
…
The sun sets in the west and the moon rises in the east. Before I know it, it is late at night.
Liu Qi led a group of staff and personally went to the south gate to see Zhuge Liang off.
"Kong Ming, the safety of Jingzhou and the foundation of my Liu family are all in your hands." Liu Qi held Zhuge Liang's hand and gave serious instructions.
Zhuge Liang only said lightly: "Don't worry, eldest son, Liang will do his best."
After saying goodbye for a few times, Zhuge Liang took his leave and left.
The city gate opened, and Zhuge Liang led only one servant and two horses out of the city, heading towards the south bank of the river under the cover of night.
Liu Qi watched Zhuge Liang go away, heaving a long sigh of relief, and seemed to have regained some composure and confidence.
Here, Kuai Yue next to him sighed and murmured: "Once this person leaves, I'm afraid he will never come back again."
His sigh was clearly meant for Liu Qi to hear.
Liu Qi frowned, turned around and glared at Kuai Yue, saying displeasedly: "Kuai Yidu, why did you say this?"
"Sun Quan was troubled by the Shanyue Rebellion, and his commander-in-chief Zhou Yu was injured and recuperating. He had no time to take care of Jingzhou at the moment. Otherwise, Rong Yanliang would not have been able to besiege Jiangling so calmly. Kong Ming's visit was clearly an excuse to ask for help and take the opportunity to escape."
Kuai Yue's words only contained sarcasm.
Liu Qi's heart was shaken, and he seemed to persuade Kuai Yue a little, but then said: "Kong Ming has always made suggestions for our government, how dare you doubt his loyalty."
Kuai Yue smiled again. "If this Kong Ming really wants to serve the lord loyally, why does he refuse to become an official despite his talent, and is only willing to be an unknown behind-the-scenes person? Hasn't the lord ever thought about the reason?
?”
"Kong Ming...he just doesn't care about fame and wealth." Liu Qi panicked.
"Indifferent to fame and fortune? Haha, if he is really indifferent to fame and fortune, he should live in seclusion in the countryside. If he doesn't care about worldly affairs, why bother about worldly affairs."
What Kuai Yue said made Liu Qi's heart tremble. He turned around and looked outside the city with a suspicious look in his eyes.
"This subordinate is just talking casually. Whether the master can be trusted or not, I will resign."
After Kuai Yue finished his sarcastic remarks, he laughed at himself and walked away.
Liu Qi's face became more suspicious. He murmured: "Zhuge Kongming, are you really what he said..."
The night was dark and Zhuge Liang had disappeared from sight.
After traveling a long way, Zhuge Liang reined in his mount. Looking back at Jiangling, a look of regret appeared on his handsome face.
"My eldest son, Liang is not your minister. After doing this, Liang is extremely benevolent and righteous to you. As a useful person, Liang has more important things to do, so I forgive him for not being able to accompany him. As for Yan Liang, hum, yes
One day, I'll let you be crazy for a few days..."
After thinking for a few times, Zhuge Liang suddenly turned around and without any hesitation, he rode away from Juechen.
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Zhuge Liang walked quietly, waving his sleeves and not taking away a single cloud.
In fact, Yan Liang didn't know that this stubborn Wolong had already left if he had to go against him.
A trick-or-treating strategy eliminated Liu Cong, wiped out Liu Qi's five thousand elites, and frightened the survivors of Jiangling City.
Two days later, after taking some rest, Yan Liang ordered the entire army to launch a mad attack on Jiangling City.
This time, Yan Liang no longer only used thunder chariots to scare the enemy, but commanded his 30,000 troops to launch a fierce siege battle against Jiangling City.
Liu Qi is still resisting.
After Zhuge Liang left, although Liu Qi didn't know whether Zhuge Liang really asked for reinforcements for him, he made good use of it. He informed the whole army that reinforcements from the Wu people were on the way. As long as they could hold on for a few more days,
Yan Liang's army will retreat without a fight.
Inspired by Liu Qi's "beautiful lie", these Jingzhou troops with low morale held on to their last glimmer of hope and relied on the solid Jiangling City to withstand several rounds of Yan Liang's violent attacks.
They could not attack the city for several days and lost more than a thousand troops.
Looking at the dilapidated but still majestic Jiangling City, Yan Liang couldn't help but sigh a little, thinking that Liu Biao really had the foresight to build Jiangling City so strong that even Liu Qi could still carry it to death.
Attacking the city is indeed the best strategy.
After being unable to attack by force for several days, Yan Liang decisively ordered a halt to the attack.
If Yan Liang controlled several states like Yuan Shao did back then, he would certainly be able to attack Jiangling City without hesitation of soldiers until he overwhelmed Jiangling City with corpses.
The fact is that although he currently has 50,000 troops, the territory he occupies is less than half of Jingzhou. With such a population base, it is easy to lose his troops, but it is not easy to replace them.
Yan Liang would not waste his precious soldiers in a siege battle.
At the end of the day's siege, all the troops returned to camp.
After entering the Chinese army's tent, Yan Liang threw his helmet on the table, turned around and said to Xu Shu: "Yuan Zhi, you have to come up with a plan for me immediately. This battle cannot be delayed any longer. Within this month, I will
The general must conquer Jiangling City, and skin the boy Liu Qi."
Yan Liang's tone left no room for doubt, forcing Xu Shu to come up with a plan.
Xu Shu, who followed him in, already had a sly smile on his face, "Lord, please calm down. In fact, these days, I have been thinking about how to break the strong city of Jiangling without losing generals."
Seeing Xu Shu's sly smile, Yan Liang had a premonition that he, an extremely smart counselor, seemed to have a plan in mind.
Yan Liang paused in anger, and there was also a hint of excitement in the corner of his mouth, "Yuan Zhi, it seems that I am right to bring you to attack Jiangling this time. Looking at you like this, you probably have some clever plan."
Xu Shu smiled, stroked his beard and said, "I'll tell you nothing from my lord, I do have a plan in my mind. As long as I use it properly, I can defeat the fortified city of Jiangling without spending a single soldier."
