The Three Kingdoms: I asked you to save Guan Yu, not to destroy Sun Quan.

Chapter 263 Lu Xun's Inescapable Net Against Guan Xing

Although Zhou Xun was Sun Quan's son-in-law, he suffered a lot of suppression from Sun Quan after Zhou Yu's death, and he must have harbored resentment towards his father-in-law, Sun Quan.

Given that Sun Quan is now surrounded by enemies on all sides and his future looks bleak, Zhou Xun would never abandon his stepfather Guan Yu and turn to his father-in-law Sun Quan unless he's out of his mind.

If He Qi were to recklessly try to win over Zhou Xun, Zhou Xun would likely tie him up and hand him over to Guan Xing immediately. He Qi is on a heavy mission and cannot afford to take unnecessary risks.

He Qi understood the reasoning behind it and bowed, saying, "This humble general understands, farewell."

After saying this, he turned around and beckoned his personal guards to leave. Lu Xun watched his back and said slowly, "The He family of Shanyin has deep roots in Kuaiji. General He Qi will surely achieve great things on this trip, but we can't just focus on Guan Xing's back. We also need to look back at our own back."

"General Han, General Pan, have you studied Guan Xing's tactics?"

Han Dang and Pan Zhang were somewhat taken aback upon hearing this. Why were they studying that young upstart Guan Xing? They were busy cursing the Guan family father and son all day long. Who had the time to carefully study Guan Xing?

Han Dang couldn't answer, and feeling somewhat embarrassed, he said unhappily, "Governor Lu, please speak frankly. There's no need to beat around the bush."

Lu Xun was filled with countless "Damn it!" and wanted nothing more than to turn around and teach this old guy a lesson, but he dared not put it into action and could only swallow his anger and say, "These days I have been studying Guan Xing's fighting style and thinking about the reasons for Zhang Cheng's two defeats. In the process of thinking, I discovered the common points in Zhang Cheng's two defeats."

"When Guan Xing captured Zhang Cheng, he crossed Tianlong Mountain and seized Zhuji City behind Zhang Cheng. Then he set up traps on the road from Wushang to Zhuji to slow down Zhang Cheng's speed and wear down his morale. After exhausting Zhang Cheng, he launched a surprise attack."

"When Guan Xing captured Zhang Cheng twice, he led the main force to retreat from Zhuji to Wushang, but ordered Xie Chong to break out from Shan County and launch a surprise attack on Shanyin. After Zhang Cheng saw through Xie Chong's plan, Xie Chong turned east into Siming Mountain, and then took advantage of Zhang Cheng's attack on Shan County to break out of Siming Mountain and cut off Zhang Cheng's retreat."

"To be honest, Zhang Cheng didn't make any major mistakes in either of the two battles. It was Guan Xing who played too fancy. If you were in Zhang Cheng's shoes, would you two have a way to break Guan Xing's tactics?"

Han Dang and Pan Zhang remained silent. They were both experienced veterans and naturally understood how difficult it would be for Zhang Cheng to break through the stalemate when his escape route was blocked.

Lu Xun continued, "This shows that Guan Xing's greatest skill is infiltrating behind enemy lines and launching attacks on the weakest points in the enemy's rear defenses. The tactic of raiding Jianye from Maicheng was his idea."

"From Guan Xing's perspective, the best way to deal with us is to rush out of the corridor before us and hide in the Linru Mountains. After we enter the corridor, they can suddenly launch an attack and repeat the same tactic to raid Nanchang, or they can launch a surprise attack on Yu Han to completely block us in the corridor. Generals, if our tens of thousands of troops are really blocked in the corridor, do you two have a way to break the deadlock?"

Imagining the scene of being surrounded from the front and back, with no way to escape, Han Dang and Pan Zhang simultaneously widened their eyes and gasped in horror; the scene was too terrifying.

Han Dang angrily retorted, "How dare Guan Anguo act like this? Does he really think that the place behind us is his backyard?"

Pan Zhang shook his head and said, "It can't be that bad. Guan Xing should be able to guess that we don't have much food. As long as we hold Da Mo and keep fighting with us in the corridor, there's no need to take this kind of risk, right?"

Lu Xun shook his head and said, "Theoretically, that is indeed the case. We can't afford to lose, and Guan Xing also knows that we can't afford to lose. A war of attrition is most advantageous for him. But don't overlook Guan Yu. The new recruits led by Guan Yu may not be a match for Cao Ren."

"If Guan Yu is forced back to Jianye City by Cao Ren, Cao Ren can send a detachment south to attack Guan Xing's rear while besieging the city, and then we can attack Guan Xing from both sides and seize Kuaiji County. After all, Cao Ren is also eyeing Kuaiji, especially Kuaiji after Guan Xing's land reform."

After the land reform, not only Cao Ren wanted Kuaiji, but Lu Xun also wanted it; no one wanted to miss out on reaping the fruits of Guan Xing's labor.

Moreover, Wushang also has a steel plant built by Guan Xing. Who wouldn't be envious of a steel plant?

Lu Xun continued, "With Guan Xing's intelligence, he couldn't possibly be unaware of this, so Guan Xing is definitely thinking of a quick victory, just like us."

"Even if Guan Xing didn't see this point, he would definitely try to infiltrate behind us and cause trouble. You know, when people encounter problems, they like to use their best methods to solve them, and they will also stumble on their best methods. Those who can swim are the ones who drown."

"Therefore, I am certain that Guan Xing will use the same method to deal with us this time."

Han Dang looked down on Lu Xun, but that didn't mean he lacked critical thinking and judgment. Knowing that Lu Xun was right, he couldn't help but ask, "Then what should we do?"

Lu Xun laughed and said, "Of course, we will deal with whatever moves we make. Before I came, I specifically discussed it with Prefect Yu Fan. Prefect Yu has already laid a trap in Nanchang. If Guan Xing doesn't go, fine, but if he dares to go, we will make sure he never comes back."

"But Prefect Yu's forces are limited and can only protect Nanchang. If Guan Xing does not enter Nanchang but causes trouble around Poyang Lake, Yu Fan will be helpless. So we have to be on guard."

"General Pan Zhang, you will first come with me to Yuhan openly and honestly. After arriving in Yuhan, lead 10,000 elite troops to sneak into Linru by day and night, and wait for an opportunity to find and annihilate Guan Xing."

"Infiltrating behind enemy lines is a very difficult task. No one under Guan Xing's command can do it well. So if the Han army really infiltrates, it will definitely be Guan Xing who leads the team. Moreover, Guan Xing's best hiding place is the Linru Mountains, because Linru is closest to the Poyang Lake Plain, making it the most convenient place for him to seize Yuhan and cut off our retreat."

Pan Zhang had no objection when he learned that the target was Guan Xing himself. Hearing this, he excitedly rubbed his hands together and said, "Don't worry, Commander. If Guan Xing doesn't infiltrate, fine. But if he dares to infiltrate behind enemy lines, I'll immediately twist his head off and give it to you as a chamber pot."

The biggest flaw of the older generation is that they look down on young people, believing that they have more experience than young people and have no reason to lose to a bunch of greenhorns.

Pan Zhang shared the same mentality, feeling that Yuzhang was his territory. He was a veteran general who had fought for many years, and there was no reason for him to be defeated by Guan Xing, a mere teenager who hadn't even grown up yet, on his own land.

Therefore, Pan Zhang gladly accepted the task, preparing to achieve the greatest merit by capturing Guan Xing.

If Guan Xing is captured in Linru, there will be no need to fight any more battles. Without Guan Xing, Kuaiji can easily return to the hands of the Jiangdong gentry.

Han Dang was somewhat envious of Pan Zhang's initiative and frowned, saying, "But Commander, Guan Xing's infiltration behind enemy lines is just your assumption. But what if Guan Xing doesn't come? How can we quickly take over the corridor and enter the Jinqu Basin?"

Lu Xun's assumptions are all based on the premise that Guan Xing will make infiltration. But what if Guan Xing doesn't choose to infiltrate and instead stays firmly in the corridor to wear you down?

After all, the corridor was a dangerous place and it didn't look like it could be taken quickly. If the army was blocked in the corridor and became stalemated, and Cao Ren sent troops south to seize Kuaiji as Lu Xun suggested, wouldn't their attack on Guan Xing be doing Cao Ren a favor?

Lu Xun laughed and said, "General, rest assured. I have already suggested that the lord contact the governor of Jiaozhou, Lü Dai, and ask Governor Lü to lead the navy from Panyu north to Kuaiji, and then find a place to land and attack Guan Xing from the rear. With the cooperation of General He Qi and Governor Lü Dai, Guan Xing is doomed."