Chapter 151 The southeast wind is blowing, don't leave now! I'll slaughter Jingzhou with blood, and you'll steal money, food, and women!
It was a surprise. After waiting for half a month, Huang Gai finally pretended to surrender.

What was confusing was why Xiao Fang suddenly concluded without any warning that Huang Gai would come to pretend to surrender tonight.

"Why are you so sure, military advisor, that Huang Gai will come to pretend to surrender tonight?"

Liu Bei then asked about the doubts in his mind.

"Because the southeast wind has risen."

Xiao Fang raised his wine glass and pointed at the general's flag flying above his head.

"Southeast wind?"

Liu Bei raised his head and looked at the flying flags, but for a moment he failed to understand the implication of Xiao Fang's words.

Zhuge Liang and Xu Shu also looked up at the sky, pondering over what Xiao Fang had said.

This time, it was Xu Shu who had a gleam in his eyes and was the first to understand the mystery.

"If you want to attack with fire, you must use the wind."

“The saying ‘fire uses the power of wind, and wind helps fire’ is exactly this principle.”

"Especially if we launch a fire attack on the river, without a favorable wind, even if Sun Ce's fire ships crash into our water camp, they won't be able to use the wind to quickly spread the fire."

"If he encounters a northwest wind, the fire ship will be blown back and may even burn itself!"

"So if Sun Ce wants to use fire attack, he must wait for the southeast wind to rise!"

"I guess this is why Military Advisor Xiao determined that Huang Gai would come to pretend to surrender tonight."

Xu Shu guessed Xiao Fang's deeper meaning before Zhuge Liang did.

Xiao Fang nodded slightly.

As expected of one of the Three Heroes of Water Mirror, although his talent is slightly inferior to that of Zhuge Liang, his wisdom and strategies are also improving by leaps and bounds, and he is not far behind Zhuge Liang.

Liu Bei suddenly realized and nodded in praise:
"So the weather the military advisor mentioned is this southeast wind."

"Jinglue is well aware of the geographical advantages of Jingzhou and is able to make use of the weather with ease. He is truly beyond the reach of ordinary people."

At that moment, Lao Liu had no more doubts, so he secretly issued an order, ordering the generals of the water and land camps to secretly prepare for the battle.

When the last ray of sunlight is about to set.

A small boat came from the south bank and sailed quietly to the north bank.

When the lights are high.

Zhuge Jin, who had been away for a long time, stood in the big tent again.

"Zi Yu is here this time. Could it be that Huang Gongfu is coming to surrender tonight?"

As soon as Liu Bei met Zhuge Jin, he pointed out the purpose of his visit before Zhuge Jin could speak.

Zhuge Jin was surprised and said:

"How did Envoy Liu guess that Jin came here just to ask for General Gongfu's surrender tonight?"

Liu Bei smiled and glanced at Xiao Fang with admiration.

Every step on the other side was under Xiao Fang's control without any error.

He hesitated for half a month and was unwilling to come back, but when the southeast wind blew, Huang Gai came to seek refuge. What else could this be but a case of trying to cover up one's own guilt?

"Jing Lue said that when the southeast wind rises, it will be the time for Huang Gongfu to return."

"That's why I asked this question."

Liu Bei's words were quite frank and he did not try to fool Zhuge Jin.

Zhuge Jin was stunned, his eyes full of confusion, and he totally didn't understand the deeper meaning of Liu Bei's words.

How is the southeast wind related to Huang Gai's surrender?

Seeing Zhuge Jin's ignorant look, Zhuge Liang was completely relieved. He was sure that his brother was being used as a gun by Sun Ce and did not stand against Old Liu and participate in Zhou Yu's shocking layout.

"My lord has been waiting for Huang Gai for a long time!"

"Since you are here, don't leave. Let's warm up a glass of wine and wait for Huang Gai to come."

Xiao Fang called his brother-in-law with a smile.

Zhuge Liang, who was beside him, suddenly understood why Xiao Fang had specifically instructed Zhuge Jin when he returned to the South Bank that when Huang Gai came to surrender one day, he must let Zhuge Jin come to report the news.

It turned out that this was a plan Xiao Fang had prepared in advance for Zhuge Jin to escape.

"Brother-in-law is really a man of foresight. If not, when Huang Gai's false surrender is exposed, and brother is still staying on the south bank, wouldn't he be angered by Sun Ce and fall victim to his murderous hands?"

Zhuge Liang figured this out and breathed a sigh of relief.

As for Zhuge Jin, he heard a different meaning from Xiao Fang's words.

Xiao Fang called Huang Gai by his name directly, which was obviously disrespectful to Huang Gai.

Looking at Liu Bei's attitude and the expression of his brother Zhuge Liang, there seems to be an inexplicable strange feeling.

An ominous premonition shrouded Zhuge Jin's heart.

...

At night, water camp on the south bank.

More than 40,000 Jiangdong navy troops have all boarded the ships.

The southeast wind was blowing hard, and there was a strong murderous aura in the air.

Every soldier of the Jiangdong Army felt that tonight was unusual, and their blood began to boil inexplicably.

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu were wearing armor and holding swords, their two young faces burning with determination as they looked at the 40,000 soldiers who were about to come out in full force.

"My lord, my fifty baggage ships are already loaded with kerosene and firewood and are ready!" "At the command of my lord, we will set out immediately and head straight for the north bank!"

Huang Gai rode his horse forward and asked Sun Ce for orders.

Sun Ce's face was burning with enthusiasm, and he said happily:

"Whether Gongjin's strategy of controlling the Yangtze River can be realized, and whether my Sun family's ambition of controlling the two states of Jing and Yang can be accomplished, all depends on the shoulders of General Gongfu!"

"If we win this battle, General Gongfu will be appointed governor of Jiangxia!"

Jiangxia County reaches Jiangling in the west, Xiangyang in the north, and Moling in the east. It is actually the hub of Jing and Yang states.

For such an important place, Sun Ce did not give the position of prefect to any member of the Sun family, but gave it to Huang Gai, a foreigner. This reward was a huge investment.

The purpose was simply to motivate the veteran Huang Gai to give his all in this crucial battle.

"Thank you for your kindness, lord. I will go through fire and water for the Sun family's hegemony, and I will never refuse!"

Huang Gai first thanked him generously, then he bowed:

"The post of governor of Jiangxia should be held by a member of the Sun family. How dare we expect that?"

"If you can capture Jingzhou in the future, please make me the governor of Lingling!"

Sun Ce was stunned.

Among the counties in Jingzhou, Jiangxia is second only to Nanjun, and its wealth is far greater than that of Lingling, a remote place in southern Jingzhou.

He gave up the post of Prefect of Jiangxia and wanted to be the Prefect of Lingling. What kind of thought was this?

"Bofu, General Gongfu is from Lingling. He is the governor of Lingling. This is a great return to his hometown."

Zhou Yu smiled and pointed out Huang Gai's motive.

Sun Ce suddenly realized and laughed:

"That makes sense. If you don't return home when you are rich and powerful, it's like walking in the night in fine clothes."

"Okay, after I win this battle and take over Jingnan, I will make you, General Gongfu, the governor of Lingling!"

Huang Gai's needs were met, and he said no more. He immediately took the order and left.

At the command, more than fifty grain ships slowly sailed out of the water camp and, taking advantage of the favorable wind, headed straight for the water camp on the north bank.

Sun Ce watched Huang Gai's grain ship sail away, then he looked around at his generals and shouted, "Generals, listen to my orders!"

Ling Cao, Dong Xi, Chen Wu, He Qi and other generals bowed solemnly.

Lu Su and Lu Xun also stood with their heads bowed.

"Tonight we will fight. I will launch a fire attack and burn down the enemy camp on the north bank!"

"I will split my forces with Gongjin into two groups. Gongjin will lead 20,000 naval forces to attack the north bank and defeat Liu Bei head-on!"

"I will lead 20,000 troops upstream to intercept Liu Bei and his defeated army!"

"If we win this battle, Jingzhou will belong to me, Sun Ce!"

"The money, food and beauties of the seven counties of Jingxiang are all yours to take!"

"I have only one request for you. Except for Liu Bei and Xiao Fang, who are left for me to kill personally, the remaining 40,000 enemy troops must be killed without a single one left alive!"

"Do you understand everything?"

Sun Ce's murderous words of encouragement echoed in the ears of the generals like thunder.

The words "you can take all the money, food and beauties as you please" instantly gave the generals a boost.

"We are willing to fight to the death for our lord!"

"Kill all the enemy troops!"

"Capture Liu Bei and Xiao Fang alive!"

The Jiangdong generals roared like wild beasts, waving their weapons and shouting in excitement.

Sun Ce showed a satisfied smile on his face and waved his hand:
"All troops, listen up! Get on board and set off!"

Then Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and other generals boarded their ships.

After leaving the water camp, 40,000 Jiangdong naval forces and a thousand warships split into two groups.

Lu Su and Lu Xun stood side by side on the pier, watching the Jiangdong army leave in full force.

"Brother Zijing, what do you think are the chances of success for our lord and Governor Zhou?"

Lu Xun glanced at Lu Su and asked in a low voice.

"Gongjin's chess game is flawless. He will most likely win tonight's dragon-slaying game."

Lu Su changed the subject and sighed softly:
"But after this battle, I'm afraid that none of the 40,000 soldiers on the other side will be able to escape from Mount E alive."

"Rivers of blood will flow in Jingzhou, and this is inevitable."

Lu Xun's expression froze and he fell silent.

Looking up at the night, he seemed to have seen the butcher knife in Sun Ce's hand raised high.

It seemed as if he also saw that Jingzhou would follow the same fate as Jiangdong, with countless heads falling.

"Am I really wrong?"

"But the lives of my entire Lu family are in the hands of Sun Ce. Do I have any choice?"

Lu Xun let out a soft sigh, a look of guilt and helplessness flashing through his eyes.

(End of this chapter)