readytorunbook Chapter 705: Flood Season Arrives and Moves to Higher Ground
Chapter 705: Flood Season Arrives and Moves to Higher Ground
The atmosphere within the tent was so heavy and oppressive, as if it could be squeezed out of water. Ma Chao sat upright in the main seat, his brow furrowed as he scanned the tent's ranks, his expression thick with worry. Outside, a torrential downpour poured down. The pea-sized raindrops pounded the ground, stirring up layers of water and making a crackling sound, as if mercilessly announcing their difficult predicament.
"Everyone, the incessant rain is making our situation increasingly difficult," Ma Chao said, breaking the silence. His voice was filled with fatigue and helplessness. "Not only are our attacks repeatedly hindered, but even leaving the camp has become a problem."
Xu Shu stood up and bowed, his face filled with worry. "My Lord, the situation is truly critical. The continuous heavy rain has caused the water level to rise continuously, and the terrain where we are camping is too flat. As the water level continues to rise, the safety of the camp is truly worrying."
Lu Su also stood up, nodded slightly, and said solemnly, "Mr. Xu is absolutely right. If we remain here for a long time, and a capable person in Yuan Shu's army devises a plan to divert the Gan River and drown our troops, this plain would instantly become a vast ocean. Then, our soldiers would be in imminent danger, vulnerable to slaughter like fish."
As soon as these words were spoken, an uproar erupted in the tent. Anxiety washed over Xu Huang and Zhang Ren's faces. Xu Huang stepped forward, clasped his hands together, and spoke urgently, "My Lord, we've fought tooth and nail for a year and a half, and we've done our duty to the young emperor. In my opinion, why not withdraw our troops for now? Why risk our brothers getting hurt in vain?"
Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's brow furrowed even deeper. He glared at Xu Huang with a sharp gaze and said in a deep voice, "Gongming, stop your nonsense! How can we retreat now? We've gone through so much hardship, are we going to lose everything?"
Ma Chao then turned his gaze towards Lu Su and Xu Shu, his expression softening slightly as he spoke sincerely, "However, what you two gentlemen say does make sense. In your opinion, should we quickly find high ground to re-establish camp, to prevent Yuan Shu's army from breaching the water and overrunning our army?"
Everyone in the tent fell into deep thought. For a moment, the only sound was the roaring rain outside the tent, as if mocking their predicament and urging them to make a decision as soon as possible. A decision concerning the life and death of the army was quietly brewing in this solemn atmosphere.
Inside the tent, flickering candlelight illuminated the exhausted and anxious faces of the men. Xu Shu bowed slightly, his expression solemn, his tone filled with worry. "My lord, to be honest, what Gongming said is not without reason. It seems this flood season is unlikely to end anytime soon, and the rain shows no sign of stopping. The prolonged rain has caused many soldiers to fall ill, and even the horses have not been spared. We have wasted time here with little success. In my opinion, returning to the capital and moving troops might be a viable option."
Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's brows knitted into the shape of a "川" character. He pondered, "How could he not be aware of the damage done to his men and horses?" However, the current situation was complicated. While the timing and location weren't favorable, his second brother, Sun Ce, had already fled to Lujiang Commandery, and Zhou Yu was also in Jiujiang, holding Yuan Shu's rear. Such a harmonious situation was truly rare. If he gave up now, didn't seize this opportunity to achieve a decisive victory in one fell swoop, then gathering his forces to corner Yuan Shu later would be incredibly difficult. Thinking of this, Ma Chao shook his head slightly and rejected Xu Shu's suggestion.
At this point, Lu Su's brows furrowed as he spoke slowly, "General, if we choose to move to higher ground and camp now, we'll have to abandon our siege of Yuan Shu. This will instantly change the balance of power. Once the flood season truly arrives, and we lack naval forces, Yuan Shu could use his navy to trap us on high ground. Supplying us with food and fodder would then become a major problem."
These words were like a bombshell, instantly darkening the atmosphere within the tent. Zhang Liao, usually calm and composed, frowned, anxiously saying, "My lord, if what Mr. Fa says is true, then wouldn't the lives of our soldiers have been sacrificed in vain? We brothers are not afraid of dying on the battlefield, but to be trapped and dying like this is truly unbearable!"
Ma Chao took a deep breath, slowly stood up, and swept his gaze over the crowd with a firm yet gentle gaze. His eyes held the composure of a veteran, yet also showed concern for his men.
"Brothers!" Ma Chao declared loudly, his voice resonating through the tent, steady and powerful, carrying a reassuring strength. "We've fought our way through countless hardships and dangers, and every time we didn't grit our teeth and persevere, this time will be no exception! I know the situation is difficult right now, and everyone is filled with energy, worry, and anxiety. I understand."
He paused briefly, his gaze meeting those of the others, and continued, "Gongming and Yuanzhi proposed a withdrawal out of concern for our brothers, and I sympathize with them. But we've fought our way here, expending so much effort, and now that victory is so near, how can we give up halfway? Bofu's troops have already reached Lujiang County, and Gongjin is also holding Yuan Shu back. We have the advantage of people, and this is a truly rare opportunity. Retreating now would be a shame."
Ma Chao walked up to Lu Su and patted him on the shoulder. "Zi Jing's concerns are not unfounded. Moving to higher ground will indeed present many challenges. However, our current camp could be flooded at any time. This is an imminent crisis. We must resolve this first so we can stabilize our position and then find a way to break the deadlock."
Finally, Ma Chao looked at Zhang Liao, his gaze filled with trust. "Wenyuan, I understand what you're thinking, brothers. You're all passionate men. We're not afraid of death, but we're afraid of dying in vain. But as long as I, Ma Chao, am here, I will never let your sacrifice be in vain. I will meticulously plan and arrange this relocation to ensure it's foolproof. Together, we can weather this storm and turn the tide!"
In Ma Chao's tent, after a heated discussion, although everyone had their own concerns, the commander Ma Chao had already made a decision. Although everyone had concerns, no one objected. After all, in this complex and ever-changing battlefield, the commander's decision was the direction that guided the army forward.
At Ma Chao's command, the troops sprang into action. Soldiers busily toiled in the rain, dismantling tents and carrying supplies. Their soaking clothes clung to their bodies, and the rain streamed down their faces, yet no one slacked off. Working together, the soldiers meticulously loaded the heavy loads of food, fodder, weapons, and other supplies onto the chariots. Then, pulled by their powerful horses, they painstakingly advanced toward the higher ground.
The troops advanced slowly along the muddy road, their horses' hooves mired in the mire, making each step an immense struggle. Soldiers slipped and fell, but they quickly climbed back to their feet and continued on their way. Commanders moved back and forth among the troops, shouting and maintaining order, ensuring the troops' safe and swift movement.
In Yuan Shu's camp, the atmosphere was heated and exciting. A scout hurriedly reported that Ma Chao's army was moving to the higher ground, and the camp was immediately in an uproar.
Yang Hong's face was filled with joy. He quickly walked up to Yuan Shu, bowed, and said, "My lord, this is a godsend! Ma Chao's army's shift has undoubtedly thrown their formation into disarray. They're already struggling in this rainy weather, and now they're busy relocating their camp. This is the perfect time for us to strike. If we seize this opportunity and pursue them, we'll surely catch them off guard!"
Lei Bo, standing nearby, also stepped forward to echo the sentiment. He crossed his arms, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Mr. Yang is absolutely right! Ma Chao's army has been suffering greatly from the recent rain. Soldiers are sick, horses are diseased, and now they have to move camp. The troops are scattered and the people are in a state of panic. If we don't fight now, when will we? I am willing to lead an elite force and attack immediately. We will surely capture the enemy's head and enhance our military prestige!"
Yan Xiang frowned slightly, his expression worried. "My lord, we must be cautious in this matter. Ma Chao is a seasoned warrior. Since he has decided to move his camp, he must have taken precautions. If we pursue him rashly and fall into his ambush, we will be in danger."
Yuan Shu listened to the debate, his mind wavering. He paced back and forth, pondering for a moment before saying, "Mr. Yang and Lei Bo are indeed right. It would be a shame not to seize such a golden opportunity. But Mr. Yan's concerns are also justified. Ma Chao is no ordinary man."
At this time, Li Feng stepped forward from inside the tent and said, "My lord, I suggest we send a small force to test the waters. If Ma Chao's army is unprepared, we can launch a full-scale attack. If it's a deception, this small force can be withdrawn in time to avoid heavy losses."
Yuan Shu's eyes lit up, and he nodded in praise. "This is a brilliant plan! As you suggest, we'll send three thousand light cavalry out to test the waters. Proceed with extreme caution. If we detect anything unusual, we'll withdraw immediately. Don't fight any longer."
Yuan Shu's army sprang into action. Five hundred light cavalry, led by a captain, galloped in the direction of Ma Chao's retreat. The clatter of horses' hooves echoed through the rain, sending up layers of water. In his tent, Yuan Shu anxiously awaited news, silently praying that this probing move would yield a decisive victory, turning the tide of battle and restoring his army's prestige.
Amidst the muddy rain, Ma Chao's army's shift proceeded in an orderly fashion. Zhang Liao, tasked with finishing the troops' work, was in charge. Clad in a black straw raincoat and wielding a long sword, his gaze piercing the surroundings, he closely observed the movements. Raindrops streamed down his resolute face, dripping into the muddy water at his feet.
At that moment, Yuan Shu's 500 light cavalry, led by Li Feng, approached like a black whirlwind. Riding a tall horse and clad in silver armor, Li Feng stood out against the rain. He gazed at Ma Chao's troops, who were shifting ahead, and felt a surge of pride in his heart, believing this was a golden opportunity to achieve merit.
"Brothers, charge! Kill them all!" Li Feng shouted, brandishing his spear, charging forward. The light cavalry behind him were also in high spirits, shouting and following closely behind. The sound of their horses' hooves was particularly rapid in the rain.
However, Zhang Liao was prepared. Seeing the enemy approach, he calmly waved his sword and issued a series of commands. The soldiers, already well prepared, quickly formed a defensive formation, with shieldmen in front, spearmen in the rear, and crossbowmen on either flank, ready to fire.
Li Feng led his light cavalry to the front, but found that Ma Chao's army's defensive formation was tight and difficult to break through. He was anxious and was about to order a forced charge, but saw Zhang Liao shouting and rushing into the enemy formation like a tiger descending from the mountain.
Zhang Liao's swordsmanship was incredibly sharp, each strike accompanied by a whirring sound, and the rain was split by the blade, scattering everywhere. Wherever he struck, the enemy fell one after another, and no one could withstand his sharp edge. Seeing this, Li Feng was terrified and quickly rushed forward with his spear in hand to meet the attack.