When the pottery merchant's troops arrived in Changwu County, Liu Pan had already led a group of troops to the rear to follow Liu Biao's orders to set up a formation. He handed over the entire Changwu County to Huang Zhong for guarding.
After Liu Biao learned of Huang Zhong's great achievements, he immediately promoted him to a partial general, and paid Huang Zhong fine armor, large shields, and 20,000 elite troops for his deployment from the rear, allowing him to guard Changwu County carefully.
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The reason why the main force of San Liu's troops did not arrive was because they had discussed and decided to meet with Huang Zu first to set up defenses on various waterways.
At present, to a certain extent, Jiangxia County's water routes are more important than land routes. At present, Liu Biao and others can maintain an invincible position by focusing on defending water and land. As for the chokepoint of land warfare, they will be left to this outstanding leader.
It’s Huang Zhong.
Because this fifty-year-old man has, to a certain extent, proven his ability. Even Qu Yi was defeated by him. Liu Biao believed that as long as he could hold on steadily, Huang Zhong would be able to stop Tao Shang's land battle.
The route of advancing troops.
But it is a pity that Liu Biao ignored an important point. He and Qu Yi made the same mistake, which was that they did not understand their enemies too well.
Liu Biao knew that the pottery merchant was very powerful, but he also felt that he was very powerful. In his opinion, he had lived decades longer than the pottery merchant and ate more salt than he ate rice. Even if they were equally powerful, the pottery merchant would not
Not your own opponent.
What's more, he still has Liu Zhang and Liu Bei to help him.
Even the famous Hebei general Qu Yi was defeated at Changwu City, but when it came to his ability and strength in leading troops in battle, Liu Biao felt that Tao Shang might not be Qu Yi's opponent.
He judged the pottery merchant's ability according to the method of one plus one equals two, and placed too much emphasis on water warfare and defense. This was really Liu Biao's mistake.
After arriving under the city of Changwu, the pottery merchant took a rough look around and found that although the city in Changwu County was not big, it was quite tightly fortified, especially the city defenses on the city towers were consolidated and arranged very late at night.
There were guards taking turns from morning to night, and they never let up for a moment.
"It seems that Huang Zhong is quite good at it," the pottery merchant said with a smile to Guo Jiada, who was observing the city defense with him.
Guo Jia was also full of admiration and said hurriedly: "Huang Zhong not only defended the city tightly, but also loved the people. I heard that he had approached the people who lived on the outside of the city and all moved to the inner city. Now the people who are encamped around the city gate
It’s the soldiers and horses of Jingzhou, and if they act like this, if the city is really captured, the number of people who will be harmed by the war will be greatly reduced."
The pottery merchant nodded suddenly after hearing this. He looked around and found that there was a mountain not far from the south gate of Changwu County. The terrain was quite high. From the angle, it seemed that he could observe the situation in the city.
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The potter told Guo Jiadao: "Let's go mountain climbing together and see if the situation in the city is as you said?"
Guo Jia sighed and said with a smile: "Why don't you believe me? Guo is in charge of the school affairs office. Could it be said that he can't even do this well?"
Tao Shang shook his head and said: "It's not that I can't trust you, it's just that things are changing. The message you brought back yesterday may have been changed by Huang Zhong today. It's better to be more cautious about some things... We won the battle at Guandu
Afterwards, many generals and soldiers in the army became too arrogant and impatient because of this victory, and were not as cautious as before... The victory brought them too many potential dangers and negative effects, making them unable to understand
Opponents who are new to the game cannot even see clearly their current situation. As a coach, I should lead by example."
Guo Jia pondered for a moment, then suddenly sighed and agreed: "At your age, it's really amazing that you can say such things!"
The pottery merchant smiled slightly and said nothing.
Having been born in two lifetimes, I naturally cannot be compared to an ordinary twenty-five-year-old young man.
The two men led the guards up the mountain and took advantage of the steepness of the mountain to look towards the city.
The current situation in the city is indeed as Guo Jia said. Basically all the residents of the outer city have been moved to the inner city, and those currently stationed around the city are all Jingzhou troops. Judging from their living and scheduling in the city, it is very consistent.
art of war.
Guo Jia sighed and said: "Although this place is small, it looks like it is difficult to eradicate. Liu Biao's main force is on the waterway. I'm afraid Gan Ning and the others won't be able to support it. The prime minister might as well leave a general to suppress him here."
Huang Zhong, how about you personally lead the Chinese army to support the navy?"
Tao Shang shook his head and said: "With the land route blocked, how can the navy be hostile to the Jingzhou army? They are not the navy that has not been practiced for a long time like Yuan Shu's command... But you said that Liu Biao's main force is there, which makes sense.
, let Xu Huang, Xu Rong and others lead the Chinese army on my behalf to support Gan Ning in confronting the main enemy force. I will lead a small number of soldiers to stay here and personally open up the land route here."
When Guo Jia heard this, he became a little anxious: "For Huang Zhong? Isn't it worth it to restrain a prime minister like you here?"
The potter smiled slightly, shook his head and said: "Everything must start from small things. This Huang Zhong is by no means simple. We must not underestimate it..."
"Report!"
While the two were talking, the Tiger Guards under Pei Qian hurried over and presented a letter to the pottery merchant, which read: "To inform the Prime Minister, Huang Zhong sent an envoy to my camp and delivered it to the Prime Minister.
Submit this letter of challenge!"
"War letter?" The pottery merchant took the scroll suspiciously, and then read it carefully.
After watching it for a while, the pottery merchant couldn't hold back his joy and started giggling to himself.
He then handed the slip to Guo Jia and said, "Where is this letter of challenge? It is clearly a letter of questioning to sow discord."
Guo Jia unfolded the slip, but saw that it detailed the previous confrontation between himself and Qu Yi, and roundaboutly mocked Tao Shang for his lax military laws and bias against Qu Yi, and that the general would not kill him if he made such a mistake.
It corresponds to the four words "unclear rewards and punishments".
"This old guy is not only good at fighting, but unexpectedly he is also a little bit evil." Guo Jia smiled and threw the slip back to the Tiger Guard guard and said, "What are you going to do, Prime Minister?"
The pottery merchant gently touched the bridge of his nose and said: "This old gangster wants to play tricks on me, but I won't accept his trick. I'll just ask someone to reply to him a letter for me. I have to use a tougher tone."
Yes, let him surrender quickly within three days, otherwise, I will wipe out his county."
…
The potter's reply fell into Huang Zhong's hands, which made Huang Zhong confused.
I have heard for a long time that Prince Taiping is a humble gentleman who knows etiquette. Why is his letter so overbearing?
His tone was sharp, but he also asked himself to surrender within three days, or else he would kill all the people in the county and burn them to the ground?
In particular, it also emphasizes that the pottery merchant's methods are definitely not something Huang Zhong can afford!
Is this what a gentleman should say?
Do you want it to be so sharp?
However, as Tao Shang was the overlord of the party and had been in the world for many years, Huang Zhong did not dare not take his words too seriously.
So he immediately ordered his soldiers to guard the city and carefully deploy defenses to prevent the pottery merchants from actually coming to attack the city.
But the potter actually made the three-day appointment and had selfish motives.
Three days were enough for his generals to take the main force of the Chinese army to the navy supporting Gan Ning, Zhou Tai and others.
Now, the pottery merchants began to deal with Huang Zhong.
After much thought, he decided to deal with an old gangster like Huang Zhong, who was neither powerful nor outsmarted.