SWDnovel Chapter 123 Even if we can't get water from the river, we can still dig a well!
Chapter 123 Even if we can't get water from the river, we can still dig a well!
Gan Ning's naval fleet docked at Langya Wharf and unloaded boxes of military equipment.
The most eye-catching items were the thirty disassembled parts of the Thunderbolt Car.
"My lord told me to tell you," Gan Ning said to Zhao Yun, "that Lü Bu's main force will definitely attack Langya. These are new troops, hastily made by Liu Ye, and I told you to guard them well."
Zhao Yun looked at the complex wooden frames and iron parts and nodded:
"Xingba, rest assured, if Lü Bu wants to pass through Langya, he'll have to step over my dead body first."
He led Gan Ning on an inspection of the city's defenses.
The moat has been widened and deepened, and river water has been introduced, making the current turbid and rapid.
Outside the city, in the woodland near Wild Wolf Valley, freshly turned soil and felled trees can be vaguely seen.
"General Zang Ba led two thousand Taishan soldiers and ambushed them in the woods over there."
Zhao Yun pointed to Wild Wolf Valley, "We've dug pits, sharpened bamboo sticks, and set up tripwires. If Lü Bu's army comes, they'll have to suffer a lot first."
Gan Ning grinned: "That's enough to give them a hard time. I'm watching the water route; they won't be getting any water from the river."
……
Lu Bu's army camp in Dancheng.
Wei Xu sat in the main seat, in a very good mood.
It's my first time being a head coach, and it feels pretty good!
Sun Ce stood below, bowing his head to report.
"General! Three groups of spies have been sent out, but none have returned. News has been cut off within Qingzhou."
However, Wei Xu did not show any displeasure upon hearing this.
Instead, he happily got down and took Sun Ce's hand, saying:
"Bo Fu, don't take it to heart. Spies are trivial matters. It's nothing serious. Our army's strength is undeniable; we can crush any conspiracy or trickery. Besides, we can call each other brothers; there's no need for formalities. From now on, we must work together as one!"
Sun Ce also feigned a look of fear:
"Thank you for your kind words, Commander. Rest assured, it is my duty!"
Haha! This is so cool!
A dignified feudal lord, upon seeing me, the commander, is like a quail.
Wei Xu was clearly satisfied with Sun Ce's performance and continued to ask:
"Okay! Well done! How's the situation here now?"
"Dancheng is a ghost town; not a single grain of food can be found. There are wells, though, but..."
Sun Ce paused for a moment,
"There were dead animals in the well, pigs and sheep, already rotting. The soldiers were unaware of this, drew water to cook their meals, and after drinking the water, they suffered from vomiting and diarrhea, and developed fevers. In less than three days, nearly a thousand people collapsed. The army doctor said it was an epidemic that could be transmitted from person to person."
"An epidemic?!"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the tent unconsciously distanced themselves from Sun Ce.
Wei Xu flung Sun Ce's hand away and vigorously wiped himself off.
Then he suddenly flung open the tent flap and was about to rush out.
I came to Qingzhou to gain prestige.
They're not here to die.
Why didn't Sun Ce say so earlier? If he had, I wouldn't have gone into the city.
The scene became eerily quiet for a moment.
Wei Xu suddenly realized that he was the commander-in-chief this time.
If I run away, won't my brother-in-law beat me to death when I get back to Xuzhou?
So he immediately tried to steer the conversation back on track:
"Ah! It seems Yuan Tan has run out of tricks! Doesn't he fear offending Heaven and the people with his actions? Men, pass down the order to quickly gather doctors from nearby villages to come to the army and treat our soldiers."
Then he spoke kindly and gently to Sun Ce:
"Bo Fu! Since there is an epidemic in the city, why don't we move outside the city? If a man dies in bed, wouldn't he be laughed at? Also, no soldier in the city who is infected is allowed to leave the city."
Sun Ce was overjoyed upon hearing this.
Do you think I like living in there?
Isn't it because if we bring it out, it will severely damage morale, and then you'll use me as a sacrifice?
Now that you've given the order, I won't hold back.
"Yes. I have already given the order that those who are infected be placed under centralized management, used utensils be burned, and water be boiled. But people are in a state of panic, and I myself have been coughing recently."
Furthermore, obtaining water is extremely difficult. The nearby rivers are patrolled by the Qingzhou navy; the other day, when they attempted to build rafts to fetch water, the rafts were rammed and sunk, resulting in the deaths of dozens of brothers.
Wei Xu's face grew paler and paler. He subconsciously covered his mouth and nose with his sleeve, leaned back slightly, and moved further away from Sun Ce.
"Does Bo Fu have a way to deal with the Qingzhou navy?"
Hmph! There are certainly ways.
But seeing how irritating you look, I don't want to tell you.
Seeing that Sun Ce was also helpless, everyone fell silent for a moment.
Seeing that the atmosphere had become tense again, Wei Xu thought that as the commander-in-chief, he should take some action.
So he offered some words of comfort:
"It's okay! Even if we can't get water from the river, we can dig a well!"
Everyone bowed and said, "The Commander-in-Chief is wise!"
Wise my foot!
Sun Ce sneered inwardly.
If getting water were feasible, I would have had a well dug long ago.
Don't you know that groundwater is all connected?
Since the well water is already contaminated, digging another well won't change anything.
Vice-captain Song Xian clearly also felt that the head coach was unreliable, and suggested:
"General, the epidemic is a minor matter; what is serious is the destabilization of the army's morale and the cutting off of the water supply. The Qingzhou navy is rampant; we must eliminate this threat first before we can secure water and restore morale."
"Do you have a solution?"
"Lure them into an ambush," Song Xian said. "The Qingzhou navy relies on its fast ships; they can harass and then retreat. We will build new ferries, pretend to fetch water, and lure them to attack. At that time, we will have crossbowmen lie in ambush on both banks, and when their ships get close, we will unleash a volley of arrows. Then, our infantry will counterattack on rafts, seize their ships, and perhaps inflict heavy damage."
Wei Xu pondered for a moment: "Who will go to lure the enemy?"
Song Xian glanced at Sun Ce: "General Sun's troops have recently been hit by an epidemic, and their morale is low. We can feign weakness now. Let them continue their activities along the riverbank, making it appear as if they are eager to fetch water. I will lead two thousand archers to lie in ambush in the reeds upstream. When the enemy ships arrive, they will fire arrows upon command."
Wei Xu nodded: "Alright. Sun Ce, your troops continue to camp by the river, raise more flags, and send men every day to pretend to fetch water to build boats, making sure to lure out the Qingzhou navy."
Sun Ce clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This humble general obeys the order."
After Sun Ce left, Wei Xu slammed his hand on the table and immediately gave an order.
"What a despicable wretch! Issue an order that Sun Ce's troops move to camp inside the city and are not to approach the main force without permission! Investigate all people and objects that have come into contact with their troops! Also, immediately send a physician from Xiapi!"
Then he instructed his personal guards:
"Everything Sun Ce touched is now unclean! Burn it all!"
……
Sun Ce returned to his new camp in the west of the city. Cheng Pu and Zhou Tai greeted him.
"How is it?" Cheng Pu asked.
"Wei Xu is afraid of the plague and told us to get lost. Song Xian suggested that we be used as bait to lure Gan Ning's navy." Sun Ce sat down and took a sip of water.
"General, should we remind them that Gan Ning is cunning and might not fall for our trap?" Zhou Tai asked.
Sun Ce didn't speak, but looked at Cheng Pu.
Cheng Pu slowly shook his head:
"Don't remind them. Not only don't remind them, but make it even more convincing. The more Wei Xu and Song Xian think we are incompetent and pitiful, the less guarded they will be. If their plan succeeds, it will be their achievement. If it fails..."
He paused:
"The Qingzhou navy is not weak, and Gan Ning is no ordinary man. The ambush may not go smoothly. Even if we win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory. At that time, Wei Xu will have suffered heavy losses, but will not have achieved complete success, and the epidemic will still be spreading in the army... It will be difficult to explain to Lü Bu."
Sun Ce understood, a cold glint flashing in his eyes: "Therefore, we only need to watch the show. If they win, we are blameless; if they lose, we... will have an opportunity."
"Exactly."
Cheng Pudao,
"The more mediocre and submissive the general is right now, the better."
Sun Ce nodded and said to Zhou Tai:
"Go, have the brothers cut down more trees, build rafts, and make it look lively. Also send some men to the river to fetch water, and dump it as soon as they get it up, making it look like a mess. Remember, if you really see Gan Ning's boats, run fast, or you'll actually get shot to death."
"promise!"