Chapter 696: The War to Destroy Wu

Chapter 696: The War to Destroy Wu

After sending Xiahou Ba away, Ma Su began to rest in Luoyang. He needed to recover from his illness as soon as possible to deal with the next war against Wu.

For Ma Su, he couldn't wait any longer. After all, he had been waiting for this opportunity for two and a half years, and this was the longest wait.

However, the long wait was still effective, especially for the Lianghuai farming.

Because there was no big fuss in Lianghuai in the past three years, even if there was a southward movement, it was just a small fight. Under Deng Ai's farming, the potential of Lianghuai, a land of fish and rice, began to burst out.

In less than three years, the population of Lianghuai more than doubled. The grain stored in Shouchun could meet the needs of 100,000 people for two years, and all roads were improved.

Moreover, Lianghuai could recruit 40,000 troops and more than 100,000 civilians on the spot. The large army heading south to attack Wu had food when it arrived, and there was no need to stay on the spot to reach the Yangtze River.

Such a huge resource reserve far exceeded the needs of attacking Wu. However, for the sake of caution, Ma Su still put the time for the large-scale attack on Wu in the spring of next year.

Ma Su had to leave some spare time for the prime minister. Otherwise, if he started a war before Zhuge Liang completed the disaster relief, it would have a bad impact.

Ma Su rested on the spot, while Qingzhou was also doing its best to complete the disaster relief.

With the unremitting work of officials at all levels of the Prime Minister's Office and the General's Office, the Qingzhou flood was contained in time. In the case of large-scale floods and more than 100,000 people affected, Ji Han completed the disaster control in less than half a year.

Then, with the personal visit of the generals of the four expeditions and four towns, the subsequent disaster relief progressed with extraordinary efficiency. Finally, before the arrival of another winter, Ji Han basically eliminated the impact of the Qingzhou flood.

Such an efficient action greatly shocked the hearts of the people in Guandong. The Guandong tycoons who were originally quite suspicious of the court were relieved and began to support the court.

With this action, Ji Han basically consolidated its foundation in Guandong. With the support of the Prime Minister's Office and the General's Office, the Eastern Palace also basically completed the control of the local area.

The name of Prince Liu Xuan also spread in Guandong.

These are great news for Ji Han, which means that the prince's regent has played a good role. If it continues like this, maybe the matter of moving the capital can be brought forward.

Of course, not everyone is happy to see it happen, such as our Emperor Sun Quan of Dongwu.

When he launched a fierce northern expedition to counterattack Ruxuwu, but his vanguard troops were defeated by Deng Ai's 3,000 men, Sun Quan knew that everything was over. After his army withdrew, it was immediately strongly criticized by the local faction.

Sun Quan finally relied on the last remaining power of the Sun family to overcome this difficulty and once again suppressed the internal pressure of Dongwu.

Originally, it was good news to stabilize the internal situation once. But when he heard that Ma Su had returned to Luoyang and Ji Han had stabilized the disaster in Qingzhou, his face became terribly gloomy.

"Western Shu is going to attack me..."

Sun Quan said expressionlessly, with a complex emotion in his tone.

He saw clearly early on that Western Shu would definitely attack him before attacking Hebei. After all, Hebei is stronger than the southeast, and can escape to Liaodong when necessary, but he, Sun Quan, has no way to retreat.

Originally, Sun Quan thought that this Qingzhou flood was his last chance, and he might be able to fight for one or two years. But when Ji Han basically controlled the disaster in half a year, Sun Quan knew that he was going to be finished.

"Your Majesty, I'm afraid we have to make plans early." Lu Kang looked at Sun Quan, and said cautiously after a moment of silence.

"Tell me, what else can be prepared in advance." Sun Quan took out the account book of the treasury expressionlessly, and then looked at Lu Kang and asked.

Sun Quan had checked the treasury in advance, and the reserves were basically exhausted. Not only that, Sun Quan still owed a lot of money and food to the major nobles.

And all the soldiers in Dongwu who can fight now only have about 40,000 people.

With this little force, this little food and a natural barrier of the Yangtze River, can they really resist the Shu army with its magical power?

Maybe not?

"Where is Luo Tong?" Looking at Lu Kang who remained silent, Sun Quan's face became more and more gloomy, and then asked.

"He is still confronting the Shu army in Chibi Mountain. The Shu army relies on mountain roads to continuously transport food to the mountain, causing Luo Tong to be unable to move at all..."

"Tell him to come back to me quickly!" Sun Quan slapped the table with a sullen face, and then issued a tough decree.

Now in the entire Dongwu, only the navy in Luo Tong's hands has combat effectiveness. If he still has even a glimmer of hope, it can only be the Jiangdong Navy.

So no matter what, Luo Tong must come back!

"But your majesty, Commander Luo said that if we withdraw like this, it will not only be unhelpful to the overall situation, but also the western front..."

"I said, let him retreat!" Sun Quan's tone was a little more unquestionable, which made Lu Kang look stunned.

"Now I can't even hold on to Ruxuwu, can he save Jianye by holding on to Chibi Mountain?"

"Return to Chaisang! This is my order! If he disobeys, send someone to replace him!"

Sun Quan has almost lost everything at this moment, and the Jiangdong Navy is his last bargaining chip. If this navy cannot retreat to Jianye, Sun Quan will be no different from waiting to die.

Seeing Sun Quan's serious expression, Lu Kang finally gave up the idea of ​​continuing to persuade him.

Your majesty is almost going crazy now, so it's better not to get into trouble.

Sun Quan finally took a deep breath and spoke with a serious face.

"Let Luo Tong retreat to Chaisang, and only leave some troops to guard Jingzhou. The remaining navy will all come to Jianye to protect the emperor. I will never allow the foundation of the Sun family to be ruined here!"

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Just as Sun Wu began to prepare for war in full swing, Ji Han seemed to be somewhat calm.

Jiang Wei and Liu Yin did not leave Qingzhou until November and returned to Luoyang to rest. Ma Su himself came back to Shouchun at the end of the year.

It seems that Ji Han did not make much preparations before the war.

This is not that the Han side is careless, but that everything is actually ready.

When Ma Su returned to Shouchun, Deng Ai handed over the account book as soon as possible. It detailed the series of preparations of the Han army and the siege deployment of Yangzhou.

"General, our forces in Jingzhou have expanded to 70,000. General Xiang has led the vanguard to Xiakou, almost blocking the gate of the rebel Wu."

"The Han army in Jiaozhou has also expanded to 40,000 and has begun to attack Nanhai County."

"And the Lianghuai area has also mobilized 40,000 people, and 80,000 troops in Yu and Xu are ready to go."

"Now, with the general's order, more than 200,000 Han troops will completely crush the rebels in Yangzhou!"