Chapter 1804

Liu Bei immediately summoned Zhuge Liang, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and other civil and military officials to discuss the matter of attacking Jiangdong.

"Everyone, this is a rare opportunity to attack Jiangdong; who is willing to lead the troops?" Liu Bei said arrogantly.

Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and others rubbed their fists, ready to make a big move. Liu Bei immediately appointed Guan Yu as Grand Commander to lead a hundred thousand troops to attack Jiangdong.

At this time, although the situation in Jiangdong was turbulent, under Zhou Yu's wisdom and the assistance of Jiangdong's generals, the situation gradually stabilized.

Zhou Yu ordered Gan Ning as Vanguard Commander to lead five thousand elite soldiers to camp on the south bank of the Yangtze River, preparing to meet the enemy.

After Gan Ning camped on the south bank, he immediately reported the enemy situation to Zhou Yu: "Yuan Shu's army has two hundred thousand, Lu Bu's army has fifty thousand, and Liu Bei's army has one hundred thousand, forming a pincer formation on the north, east, and south sides of Jiangdong respectively."

Hearing this, Zhou Yu frowned tightly; he knew clearly that none of these three forces were easy opponents, and any one of them could cause his entire army to be annihilated.

"I must find a way to scatter them and defeat them one by one!" Zhou Yu thought silently.

Zhou Yu immediately ordered someone to invite Sun Quan, saying to him: "The affairs of Jiangdong all started because of Sun Ce. Now that Sun Ce is dead, you can woo some forces to help you; only then can you contend with these three forces."

Hearing this, Sun Quan thought silently: "It seems Zhou Yu wants me to be his pawn."

However, Sun Quan appeared grateful on the surface and said: "I will follow the Grand Commander's arrangements entirely."

Zhou Yu immediately ordered someone to pass the command down, letting Gan Ning lead five thousand elite soldiers to camp on the north bank of the Yangtze River to lure Yuan Shu into attacking.

After receiving the order, Gan Ning quickly camped on the north bank of the Yangtze River. Not long after, Yuan Shu led a hundred thousand troops to launch an attack on Gan Ning.

Although the five thousand elite soldiers led by Gan Ning were few in number, because Gan Ning used troops skillfully, he quickly scattered Yuan Shu's formation.

Yuan Shu was furious and immediately ordered his army to cross the river to pursue. Meanwhile, Gan Ning led his five thousand elite soldiers running wildly westward, luring Yuan Shu's massive army into the western mountains and forests.

Unaware it was a trap, Yuan Shu pursued all the way into a steep valley. Suddenly, deafening shouts of battle rang out from all around. Guan Yunchang led five thousand elite cavalry charging from both sides of the valley, cutting off the retreat route of Yuan Shu's massive army.

Yuan Shu was terrified and wanted to turn back to escape, but it was already too late. Guan Yu led elite cavalry charging into the enemy ranks, slashing all the way, completely cutting off the retreat route of Yuan Shu's massive army.

At the same time, Zhou Yu led Jiangdong troops attacking rapidly from the rear, catching Yuan Shu's massive army off guard.

After a fierce battle, Yuan Shu's two hundred thousand troops were scattered and defeated. Meanwhile, Gan Ning also led his five thousand elite soldiers back to Jiangdong safely.

At the same time, Lu Bu led fifty thousand troops to launch an attack on Jiangdong. But Lu Bu's military tactics were not as good as Zhou Yu and Guan Yu's, and he was quickly trapped in the pocket formation laid out by Zhou Yu, Gan Ning, and others.

After being besieged, Lu Bu urgently requested help from Liu Bei. Liu Bei wanted to rescue Lu Bu, but Zhuge Liang believed that the overall situation should take priority at this time, and one should not lose the big picture for a small gain.

Zhuge Liang said to Liu Bei: "If we rescue Lu Bu now, then we will be sandwiched and attacked by Yuan Shao and Cao Cao together. In this way, we will face total destruction."

Hearing this, Liu Bei thought silently: "It seems my previous guess was correct." Liu Bei immediately followed Zhuge Liang's advice, gave up rescuing Lu Bu, and instead launched an attack on Zhou Yu.

At this time, Zhou Yu had successfully defeated Yuan Shu and Lu Bu, and had also eliminated most of their troops. He knew Liu Bei's threat was greater than Yuan Shu's and Lu Bu's, but he also knew that if he could defeat Liu Bei, then Jiangdong could be secure.

Zhou Yu immediately ordered someone to pass the command down, letting Gan Ning lead five thousand elite soldiers to camp on the south bank of the Yangtze River to lure Liu Bei into attacking.

After receiving the order, Gan Ning quickly camped on the south bank of the Yangtze River. Not long after, Liu Bei indeed led a hundred thousand troops to launch an attack on Gan Ning.

Gan Ning used troops skillfully and quickly scattered Liu Bei's formation. Liu Bei was furious and immediately ordered his army to cross the river to pursue. Meanwhile, Gan Ning led his five thousand elite soldiers running wildly westward, luring Liu Bei's hundred thousand troops into the western mountains and forests.

Unaware it was a trap, Liu Bei pursued all the way into a steep valley. Suddenly, deafening shouts of battle rang out from all around. Guan Yu led five thousand elite cavalry charging from both sides of the valley, cutting off the retreat route of Liu Bei's massive army.

Liu Bei was terrified and wanted to turn back to escape, but it was already too late. Guan Yu led elite cavalry charging into the enemy ranks, slashing all the way, completely cutting off the retreat route of Liu Bei's massive army.

At the same time, Zhou Yu led Jiangdong troops attacking rapidly from the rear, catching Liu Bei's massive army off guard.

After a fierce battle, Liu Bei's hundred thousand troops were scattered and defeated. Meanwhile, Gan Ning also led his five thousand elite soldiers back to Jiangdong safely.

Liu Bei, having no choice, could only return to Xuzhou with his defeated and scattered troops. Although this attack on Jiangdong was unsuccessful, Liu Bei also understood a principle: he could not yet contend with Liu Yu, Zhou Yu, and others. He needed more time and resources to strengthen his forces.

Meanwhile, at this time in Jiangdong, Zhou Yu, Gan Ning, and others were also actively preparing for war. They knew that as time passed, more and more forces would want to attack Jiangdong. Therefore, they must make full preparations to guard against attacks from other forces.

Just as everyone in Jiangdong was united in preparing for war, Liu Chan, far away in Bashu, also learned of the news of Sun Ce's death. He thought silently: "Sun Ce is dead; no one in Jiangdong can stand in the way. Attacking Jiangdong now will surely succeed in one stroke!"

Liu Chan immediately summoned Zhuge Liang, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and other civil and military officials to discuss the matter of attacking Jiangdong.

"Everyone, this is a rare opportunity to attack Jiangdong; who is willing to lead the troops?" Liu Chan said arrogantly.

Zhuge Liang and others rubbed their fists, ready to make a big move. Liu Chan immediately appointed Zhuge Liang as Grand Commander to lead a hundred thousand troops to attack Jiangdong.