Shen Chen took the lead with white and made a very conventional move on the right.
Guo Jia also quickly responded.
The two casually walked down more than ten steps, and Shen Chen asked: "Since your Majesty has doubts, why don't you ask?"
Guo Jia pondered: "Jia is confused. Logically speaking, the journey from Jingzhou to Hanzhong is more than a thousand miles. Sun Quan launched the attack in June, so why can Huang Zhong arrive in August?"
Shen Chen moved the tip of his original chess piece diagonally, and then said: "The journey is very long, but there is a big river flowing down, and it can travel thousands of miles in a day."
Guo Jia returned the tip and asked, "But it should take at least a month to send a letter from Jingzhou to Hanzhong."
"yes."
Shen Chen looked at the chessboard and thought, nodded and said: "You are thinking that if Sun Quan launches an attack in June, it will take at least July for the lord to get the news, and it will also take a month to send people from Hanzhong to Jiangzhou."
"Um."
Guo Jia sighed: "I estimate that all your ships are in Jingzhou and there are no ships available. If you take the land route from Jiangzhou to Jiangling, you will have to go in November. Even if you have ships, you still have to organize food, ordnance, supplies, etc." It’s September or October, why?”
"Why are reinforcements two months ahead of schedule?"
Shen Chen smiled. He found a good move, put the chess piece down, and said, "Isn't it beyond your expectations?"
“It’s beyond imagination.”
Guo Jia stared at the position where the chess piece landed, and thought for a moment. The chess piece in his hand was hesitating whether to go up or down, and said, "Unless you have been prepared."
"What would you think if we had guessed that Sun Quan might launch a sneak attack on Jingzhou three or four years ago?"
Shen Chen asked back.
"Crack!"
Guo Jia's fingertips trembled slightly, and the chess piece he was holding fell on the chessboard.
According to the rules, he has already lost.
But Shen Chen helped him pick up the chess piece and put it into his hand.
"Ahem. Thank you."
Guo Jia put the chess piece back into the chess basket, took out a silk scarf, covered his mouth and coughed a few times, and his face became even paler.
Shen Chen didn't do anything else and just kept waiting for him.
After a while, he calmed down, wiped away a little blood from the corner of his mouth, took another sip of tea, then touched another chess piece, placed it on the lower block, and said: "Three or four years ago, you guys Do you think Sun Quan will attack Jingzhou secretly?"
"certainly."
Shen Chen nodded: "What else can he do besides sneak attacks on Jingzhou? Can he beat Cao Cao when he goes north? Anyway, Cao Cao can't destroy him without a navy. We have a navy, which is his only threat."
"What about the methods Sun Quan used to paralyze you?"
"This is also our way of paralyzing him. He asked his sister Sun Shangxiang to marry the lord. We don't know how much false information he leaked and asked Sun Shangxiang to send back. In addition, we have to thank Cao Cao."
"Thank you, King Wei?"
Guo Jia thought for a moment and smiled bitterly: "Thank you, King Wei, for providing false news to Sun Quan in Liangzhou? But then again, where did Liu Bei's troops in Liangzhou come from?"
Shen Chen had a son, and then said: "He is a Qiang and Di person transferred by Ma Chaozheng. As you know, he has a high prestige among the Qiang and Di people in Xiliang."
"I see."
Only then did Guo Jia understand the reason and said bitterly: "You were already preparing for Sun Quan's attack on Jingzhou three or four years ago?"
Shen Chen said: "If Sun Quan sticks to Jiangdong, there is really nothing we can do against him. He occupies an advantageous position, and even if we have a navy, it will be difficult to break through the natural dangers of the river. The only way is to lure him to Jingzhou, open the door to rob the thieves, and close the door to fight. Only dogs can destroy Jiangdong."
"It seems you will be able to get Yangzhou soon."
Guo Jia calmed down and now finally understood why Huang Zhong's reinforcements arrived in Jingzhou two months earlier than he had expected. It turned out that Liu Bei's group had already made arrangements.
Judging from the current situation, Sun Quan is probably doomed. All his main forces have been destroyed in Jingzhou. Jiangdong's national power and war potential have been exhausted, making it difficult to organize resistance.
Then it still depends on the ability of their Cao Wei Group. If they can win the Nanyang battlefield, stabilize the situation in Nanyang, occupy the territory, weaken Jingzhou's strength while expanding their own strength, they may not be able to send troops to Jiangdong to compete with Liu Bei. Fight for Yangzhou.
"Let me guess what you are thinking."
Shen Chen looked at the chess game. The two sides had played more than forty moves. The layout phase was coming to an end and was about to enter the middle game. He placed another chess piece and said: "You are thinking, as long as you can hold on to Nanyang, even if Sun Quan is destroyed , you can also compete with us in Jiangdong, right?"
"Yes."
Guo Jiahan said with a smile: "Nanyang has a population of one million, and it is the main source of food and soldiers for Jingzhou. Without Nanyang, even if you win, your vitality will be greatly damaged. Why can't we fight for Jiangdong?"
"Where's Xiahou Dun? No more?"
Shen Chen asked back.
"Former general, cough, former general can hold on."
Guo Jia coughed and said: "Although Sun Quan's national strength has been exhausted, you are fighting on both sides, and the national strength has also been exhausted. I think your rear should be unable to hold on before the former general is defeated in Xiangyang."
Shen Chen smiled and said: "That's hard to say. My lord governs the country mainly to suppress the wealthy families and develop the people's livelihood. After many years of management, the land of Jingyi has abundant grain and grass, and the warehouses are rich. On the other hand, Cao Cao, the wealthy families are everywhere, and they are rich. The fertile lands are all occupied by aristocratic families, how much can the common people get? There should be quite a lot of rebellions in your rear."
Guo Jia sighed: "How did the general know?"
"Sun Lang from Lu Hun, Zheng Gan from Guanzhong, Lu Shuihu, Wang Zhao, Wang Fu from Runan, and countless bandits and bandits from the Dabie Mountains and Funiu Mountains south of Chendu all sent me letters in these days. , accept my seal from afar and are willing to support the party for me."
Shen Chen dropped a bomb.
Guo Jia was stunned for a moment, and then said: "King Wei will be able to calm down these minor troubles soon. Now you should worry about not being able to repel us. Nanyang will be lost. How should you explain to Liu Bei?"
"It's easy to repel you."
Shen Chen said calmly: "When I defeat Xiahou Dun, Gan Ning and Huang She wipe out Sun Quan, and mobilize an army of 200,000 to go north, your tens of thousands of people will be wiped out in ashes without talking and laughing?"
"Yeah?"
Guo Jia smiled and said nothing.
The two of them had entered the middle game in an instant. The two sides were planning for each other, and the chess pieces had been played in more than seventy moves.
While playing chess, Guo Jia coughed from time to time and his face became paler.
Sometimes he even coughs up blood and the corners of his mouth are scarlet.
Seeing this situation, Shen Chen said: "Your Majesty is feeling unwell, why don't you go back to camp and rest?"
"It doesn't matter."
Guo Jia waved his hand: "Jia has an old problem. He thinks he is going to die every year, but he still lives every year. I really don't know how long Jia will live."
Shen Chen smiled and said: "Your Majesty, you should take care of yourself. Xiahou Dun is trapped in the city by me now. There are no ships coming out. Your troops are not as large as mine. If you fight me head-on, how can Xiahou Yuan be my opponent? What if? Wouldn't it be dangerous if you were defeated and your mind and body were exhausted?"
Guo Jia looked at the Jingzhou army behind Shen Chen and said with a smile: "The general claims to have a hundred thousand troops, but from what I can see here it seems that there are less than fifty thousand. General Zhengxi brought an army of sixty thousand. Could it be that there are also soldiers behind the general?" There is an ambush."
"It's good for you to know."
Shen Chen nodded.
The two sides played another thirty-four games, totaling more than one hundred and twenty hands, and soon reached the end of the middle game, approaching the official stage.
Guo Jia sighed: "The general's style of chess is really weird."
"Your chess skills are superb. You clearly saw the trap I laid before, so why did you jump into it again?"
Shen Chen was quite puzzled.
Guo Jia's chess skills are much better than his. Although he has an advantage by playing white first, this advantage has long been eliminated by his superb chess skills.
But in the middle game, Guo Jia clearly saw the trap, but still wanted to jump into it, which was puzzling.
Guo Jia smiled and said: "Isn't this Jingzhou a trap set by the general? Now that I have trapped Sun Quan and the former general, I can't see through the general situation of the world. Even if I can see through the chess game, what's the use?"
Shen Chen nodded: "It turns out that your Majesty was planning the situation according to the situation in Jingzhou, but currently, even though I fell into my trap, I only have the upper hand in the lower right corner, and in the rest, Mr. Ling has the upper hand. What you mean is that you have only lost Sun Quan and Xiahou Dun, but you can still occupy Nanyang and compete with us for Jiangdong?"
"Isn't it?"
Guo Jia asked back.
Shen Chen wondered: "Your Majesty, it's really hard to understand. Xiahou Dun gave up those 40,000 people at his will. And he was also the number one general under Cao Cao. He is gone. Do you think these tens of thousands of people can survive in Nanyang?" Resist me?"
"General, why don't you wait and see."
Guo Jiahan said with a smile.
"I see."
Shen Chen suddenly felt enlightened.
Guo Jia held the chess piece in his hand, looked at the chess game with lowered eyebrows, and asked casually: "What did the general understand?"
"I understand that your Majesty is here to delay time with me so that Xiahou Dun can evacuate, right?"
Shen Chen said.
Guo Jia raised his head in shock, staring at Shen Chen without saying a word.
The chess piece held between the index and middle fingers of his right hand started to shake.
Then he pretended to be calm and said: "Xiangyang is an important town in Nanzhou, and the former general has enough food and grass, so why should he evacuate?"
"It rained heavily a few days ago. I don't believe that the grain and grass in Xiahoudun City were not flooded."
Shen Chen smiled and signaled: "Your Majesty, it's your turn."
Guo Jia felt a tightness in his chest and forced himself to put the trembling chess piece in his hand.
Shen Chen frowned and said, "Your Majesty, you are a man of ordinary means."
"The situation can probably be sustained."
Guo Jia resisted the urge to vomit blood and swallowed the blood that surged into his throat.
"What if I tell you that Fu Fang surrendered to me?"
Shen Chen dropped another bombshell.
"Pfft!"
Guo Jia finally couldn't hold on any longer and spurted out a mouthful of blood, which stained the chessboard.
"Sir, sir!"
The two boys were shocked and quickly stepped forward to help Guo Jia.
Shen Chen looked at the chessboard. As Guo Jia made two moves, the situation changed drastically.
Although his original chess skills were mediocre, he was at least stable and did not miss too many gaps.
Guo Jia's current situation is full of missed moves and flaws.
This chess piece.
There is no need to get off anymore.
Shen Chen stood up, stretched his legs that were uncomfortable due to squatting for a long time, and said, "Please help Lingjun go back."
After saying that, he returned to Yuluo, got on his horse, and drove away.
The two boys hurriedly ran back with Guo Jia in their arms. Xia Houyuan over there thought that Guo Jia was in poor health, so he quickly rode over and asked, "What's going on with your Majesty?"
Guo Jia fell into a coma.
Seeing this situation, Xia Houyuan had no choice but to order the withdrawal of troops.
Before the battle even started, Cao Wei's high-status Shangshu Ling had already fallen in front of the battle line. This was a huge blow to the morale of the army, and it was obviously difficult to fight the enemy again.
But it was not easy for him to withdraw his 60,000 troops. As soon as he gave the order to retreat, Shen Chen issued a clarion call to attack.
Cao Jun abandoned his helmet and armor and fled in defeat.
Shen Chen pursued and killed more than a thousand people, captured more than 4,000 people, and beheaded the enemy general Zhang Shun who was behind him.
Xia Houyuan was defeated and returned.
It's night.
In Yancheng, Guo Jiacai woke up with difficulty.
Xia Houyuan, Xu Huang, Zang Ba and others were surrounding the bed.
Seeing him waking up, Xia Houyuan complained: "Your health is not good to begin with. Why did you insist on going up to play against Shen Chen? You vomited blood in front of the two armies, and the morale of the army fell to the bottom, so that we were defeated." .”
Guo Jia said with difficulty: "General, withdraw your troops and return to Henan."
"What?"
Xia Houyuan said angrily: "What do you mean by this?"
Guo Jia said bitterly: "Fu Fang surrendered to Shen Chen, the former general. The former general could not be saved. After the former general was destroyed, Shen Chen's main force went north. If he does not withdraw to Henan, the entire army will be annihilated."
"This and this."
Xia Houyuan, Xu Huang, Zang Ba and others were all shocked and couldn't believe it.
After a while, Xu Huang asked: "Your Majesty, how did you know this news?"
"Shen Chen said it."
"How can you believe Shen Chen's words? What if he is deceiving your Majesty?"
Xia Houyuan frowned and said: "No matter what, we have to send scouts to find out the news first. I have sent people to pick up Yuan Rang. There should be a reply soon. Please wait patiently."
"well"
Guo Jia sighed and saw that he was on his deathbed. He said with difficulty: "Jia's death is not a pity, but if we lose our former general, the King of Wei hopes that the general will put the overall situation first."
"I will not withdraw my troops."
Xia Houyuan gritted his teeth and said: "I will never withdraw my troops before there is news about Yuan Rang."
"Shen Xiaoqing"
Guo Jia saw that he was stubborn and stopped trying to persuade him. He stared at the ceiling with dull eyes and his voice became weaker and weaker.
"At the beginning, Jia made a plan for King Wei to lure Sun Quan to attack Jingzhou."
"Unexpectedly, Shen Xiaoqing had already figured it out and laid out the plan a few years ago."
"Using Jingzhou as the chess game and Xiangyang as the bait. What a great spirit, Jia Yuan can't match it."
"It's sad. It's a pity that when good things happen, why does morning happen?"
At the end of the sentence, Guo Jia slowly closed his eyes.
His health is already very poor. If he continues to nurse himself back home for a while, he may be able to live longer.
But this time when he arrived in front of the battle, he found that both the strategy he had planned a few years ago and the current strategy to cover Xiahou Dun's retreat had been seen through by Shen Chen, and it was inevitable that he would be devastated.
Like the straw that broke the camel's back, Guo Jia died of illness.
Watch him slowly die.
Xu Huang, Zang Ba and others quickly went up to call.
Only Xia Houyuan's eyes were scarlet and he clenched his two fists.
He will never withdraw his troops before news of Yuan Rang arrives!