Three Kingdoms: Daily settlement helps Liu Bei revive the Shu Han dynasty.

Chapter 43 A Master Strategist, Calculating Every Detail Without Flaw or Inconsistency

Early the next morning,

A fast horse suddenly caught up from behind.

The messenger dismounted and knelt on one knee, saying, "Strategist, the lord has crossed the river and is asking about the situation here. He also asked you to wait a moment."

Lu Yong replied, "Go back and report to the lord that our army suffered very few casualties, which will not affect the road clearing."

Please rest assured, my lord, continue your journey south. I will be here waiting for you to join me.

"Yes, sir." The knight mounted his horse, turned around, and galloped away.

After the messenger left, Xu Sheng came in carrying a bowl of hot soup: "Strategist, have some hot soup to warm yourself up."

Lu Yong took the soup bowl, took a sip, and asked, "Have all the prisoners been interrogated?"

"They've been interrogated," Xu Sheng nodded. "They are soldiers of Zhou Shang, the prefect of Danyang, who were ordered to set up an ambush here. The leader is Zhou Shang's nephew, who came from Lujiang."

"Zhou Shang's nephew... It really is you, Zhou Yu!" Lu Yong was already certain in his heart that this person was Zhou Yu.

However, he still put down the soup bowl and asked, "What's your name?"

"Zhou Yu".

Lu Yong nodded slightly, pondering in his heart: "Zhou Yu suffered a defeat."

Liu Yao received my message. As long as he's not stupid, Sun Ce should be defeated at Niuzhu Camp as well.

What will these two plot next?

Whatever their next move, we need to speed things up.

Thinking of this, Lu Yong said to Xu Sheng, "Wenxiang, you lead four thousand soldiers ahead and take Dangtu County."

Find more boats and prepare for the people to travel south.

I await my lord here.

"Your subordinate obeys!" Xu Sheng clasped his hands in acceptance and departed.

Qingshan Road is less than forty li from Dangtu. Soldiers can travel light and quickly, and it takes them most of the day to get there.

Liu Yao's forces were mostly concentrated along the Hengjiangjin and Niuzhu camp line.

Dangtu only had a few hundred soldiers stationed there.

Xu Sheng could easily take him down.

Lu Yong then led the remaining five hundred soldiers to continue guarding the area, awaiting Liu Bei's arrival.

……

A few days ago,

A group of people entered Xuzhou from the north.

It was Zhao Yun, Zhao Yu, and fifty able-bodied men from Zhao Family Village.

In the middle of the procession was an oxcart, covered with a thick layer of hay.

A disheveled young man, bound hand and foot, sat in the carriage. It was Guo Jia, whom Lu Yong had specifically requested and Zhao Yun had personally bound.

Zhao Yu reined in his horse.

Looking back at Guo Jia, who was glaring angrily at him from the oxcart, he couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Why aren't you cursing anymore?"

"I won't argue with a woman!" he said, turning his head away.

This group of people completely ignored him; he got tired of cursing at them.

Although Guo Jia was kept tied up the whole way, he was never deprived of wine and meat, which made Guo Jia feel a little embarrassed.

The team quickened its pace and headed straight for Tancheng.

But when they arrived at Tancheng, the banner flying over the city walls was simply the character "单" (single).

Zhao Yun arrived at the governor's mansion, where Shan Jing personally greeted him and told him that Liu Bei had already led 100,000 soldiers and civilians south to Danyang.

Zhao Yun was startled. Without taking a break, he led his troops to turn around and leave.

Guo Jia became curious.

The fact that Liu Bei was willing to hand over Xuzhou and head south to seek a way out suggests that there must have been a mastermind behind him.

The reason he had previously shown such disdain for Liu Bei was...

It was precisely because they had accurately predicted that Xuzhou would be a death trap,

Neither Cao Cao nor Yuan Shu could sit idly by and watch Liu Bei grow stronger in Xuzhou.

If Liu Bei had stayed in Xuzhou and refused to leave, his fate would certainly not have been good.

But now it seems he underestimated Liu Bei and Lu Yong.

Moreover, the fact that 100,000 people followed Liu Bei to the south of the Yangtze River proves that Liu Bei truly won the hearts of the people.

The group traveled south along the official road. After passing Xiapi, they began to see a few scattered pedestrians.

As they continued walking, the sights on both sides of the road shocked Zhao Yu and the young men of Zhao Family Village.

The official road was packed with pedestrians.

The line stretched as far as the eye could see.

But the faces of the people did not show the pain, numbness, and despair they had when they fled.

Instead, there were smiles and hope.

Zhao Yu saw a little girl with a face covered in dust, looking at her curiously.

She couldn't resist taking a dry biscuit out of her bundle and handing it over.

The little girl shook her head and said in a clear voice, "Lord Liu gave us all dry rations."

Zhao Yu returned to Zhao Yun's side and said with a smile, "The lord chosen by you, brother, is indeed extraordinary."

Zhao Yun did not reply; he was only focused on catching up with Liu Bei.

Guo Jia, sitting on the oxcart, looked at the dense crowds on both sides of the road, a thoughtful expression flashing in his eyes from time to time.

But he quickly returned to his lazy demeanor.

The group continued south.

Zhao Yun encountered Guan Yu and Zhang Fei along the way, and they exchanged pleasantries for a while.

When Zhao Yun arrived at Ruxukou, boats were shuttling back and forth on the river, and Jiang Qin was directing the crossing.

Upon hearing that it was Zhao Yun, Jiang Qin immediately dispatched two boats to take Zhao Yun and his party across the Yangtze River.

South bank of the Yangtze River

Liu Bei, accompanied by Zhou Tai, Lu Su, and over a hundred personal guards, arrived at Qingshan Road.

The entire mountain was almost completely burned bare by the fire, a charred black landscape, a scene of utter devastation.

Lu Su said with lingering fear, "If the strategist hadn't seen through the enemy general's treacherous plan, this fire would have likely caused us heavy losses."

Liu Bei reined in his horse, and said with lingering fear, "That's true... We can't let Huai'an take any more risks in the future."

Liu Bei's troops marched forward for more than ten miles, and a camp appeared in an open area ahead.

Lu Yong had already received the scout's report and was now standing outside the camp gate waiting.

Upon seeing Liu Bei and his entourage, Lu Yong stepped forward to greet them.

Liu Bei dismounted from a distance and strode toward Lu Yong.

As you get closer,

Before Lu Yong could bow in greeting, Liu Bei reached out and grabbed his arm, carefully feeling him up and down.

Only after confirming that Lu Yong showed no signs of injury did Liu Bei breathe a sigh of relief. "It's good that he's not injured..."

Lu Yong covered his vitals with his hands, and said to Liu Bei with a wry smile, "Don't worry, my lord, I'm really not injured."

Liu Bei glared at him: "You're not allowed to go to the front lines again next time."

"Yes, yes..." Lu Yong quickly agreed with a smile.

The two walked into the camp side by side.

Liu Bei looked around.

The camp was orderly, with soldiers patrolling and training in shifts, and the wounded were all housed in sheltered areas.

The prisoners were kept in a concentrated area on the west side of the camp.

After reviewing it, Liu Bei nodded with satisfaction before asking, "Where is Wen Xiang?"

"I sent him ahead to take Dangtu County," Lu Yong replied.

"Dangtu is close to Liyang and Moling. Liu Yao and Sun Ce are not easy to deal with. I'm afraid they will stab us in the back while we are marching south... Therefore, we need a great general to guard it."

"That's what I think too," Liu Bei replied, "but we're short-handed right now."

The second brother is to cover the rear and guard against Yuan Shu and Wu Jing.

The third brother is to escort the people along the way.

Gong Yi and Wen Xiang were both too busy to attend...

The two exchanged a glance and simultaneously frowned.

Just as they were feeling a bit overwhelmed, a commotion suddenly broke out outside the camp gate.

A guard approached, knelt on one knee, and exclaimed, "My lord, General Zhao has returned!"

"Zilong?" Liu Bei was taken aback at first, then his face lit up with wild joy. "Zilong is back!!!"

Liu Bei, pulling Lu Yong along, quickly turned around and left the camp.

Zhao Yun and his group arrived at the camp gate, followed by Zhao Yu and fifty able-bodied men from Zhao Family Village.

Guo Jia was also captured and walked in the middle of the procession.

Zhao Yun dismounted and strode to Liu Bei, kneeling on one knee and clasping his hands in greeting, "My lord, I am late!"

Liu Bei quickly reached out to help Zhao Yun up, patting his arm vigorously and saying, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back!"

His gaze passed over Zhao Yun and landed on Guo Jia, who was tied up in the group. He asked curiously, "Zilong, who is this...?"

Zhao Yun stood up, followed Liu Bei's gaze, and replied, "He is the person the strategist specifically requested me to bring back."

A hint of surprise flashed in Liu Bei's eyes.

He strode up to Guo Jia, who was bound hand and foot, and couldn't help but turn back to Lu Yong to ask, "Huai'an, why did you bring back a grown man?"

Lu Yong stepped forward, a slight smile on his lips, and said:

"My lord, Zijing excels in general strategy, but lacks in ingenious tactics."

"The person before us is a master strategist, with flawless and meticulous plans, and he is also adept at manipulating people's hearts. He can complement Zijing perfectly."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei gave Lu Yong a strange look and asked, "Are you sure you're not describing yourself?"

"?" Lu Yong's smile suddenly froze.