Chapter 287: Cao Cao Approves
Although all 1,800 warships were completely destroyed, the enthusiasm for war cannot be compared to the historical Battle of Chibi at all. It can only be considered a sneak attack, no different from Cao Cao sending troops to sneak attack Wuchao. Therefore, for Cao Cao, last night’s events cannot be called a devastating defeat, only heavy losses. An important reason is that almost no soldiers were killed in battle, and the barracks and supplies were not burned.
However, although it was not a devastating defeat, the consequences were very serious. Without warships, the Cao Army could no longer pose a substantial threat to the south bank of the Yangtze River.
Cao Cao immediately summoned several strategists again to discuss countermeasures. Seeing that they hesitated to speak, seemingly with some concerns, Cao Cao said, “Victory and defeat are common in military affairs. The key is to learn lessons. If we ourselves dare not face failure or speak the truth, how can we talk about learning lessons? Speak freely. Even if you pin the responsibility on me, I will absolutely not be angry.”
Cao Cao’s words reassured everyone. Cao Cao glanced at Cheng Yu, “Zhong De, you speak first!”
Cheng Yu said with some worry, “This Western Chu Army’s attack completely overturned my cognition. We are all northerners, skilled in land warfare, not understanding naval battle. Last night, the Western Chu Army’s sneak attack was somewhat like a land warfare sneak camp attack, but completely different. In land warfare, we can quickly deploy strong bows and hard crossbows to block, or the army can quickly withdraw. But naval battle is different; ships cannot withdraw or go ashore. Without a way to block, it’s a dead end. But we never thought about how to block the enemy army warships. This is our biggest mistake. We do not have a commander who truly understands naval battle.”
Cao Cao nodded. Although Cheng Yu spoke somewhat euphemistically, the meaning was very clear: their biggest mistake was improper personnel use, which was actually Cao Cao’s responsibility.
Cao Cao was silent for a long time, then nodded, “Improper personnel use is indeed the main reason!”
Beside him, Chen Qun said, “Chancellor, this Gan Ning is indeed a formidable figure. He could clearly have annihilated all our warships on the first day we entered Pengli Marsh, but he endured for nearly two months until yesterday when he suddenly struck. Chancellor, what were they waiting for these two months?”
Chen Qun’s words made everyone silent, piercing straight to the essence.
After a long time, Xun Yu said softly, “He was waiting for an opportunity, the opportunity to capture Jiangdong.”
Xun Yu’s words broke the silence and tore away the disguise, revealing the essence of the entire battle situation.
Cheng Yu also said, “He used Queyue City to tie us down, not letting us fully commit to Jiangdong. Now the Jiangdong situation is about to break through, and at this time he suddenly strikes. Clearly, he is also gambling on Jiangdong, cutting off our aid to Jiangdong.”
Cao Cao’s expression changed, blurting out, “Liyang County’s water fortress is their next target.”
Everyone understood. Gan Ning must want to completely eliminate all their ships on the Yangtze River, cutting off all their manpower and material connections with Jiangdong.
Cao Cao only felt an inexplicable panic in his heart. He immediately ordered, “Immediately notify Liyang County water fortress, order their ships to withdraw into Chao Lake at once!”
Chao Lake is different from Pengli Marsh; it is a long river distance from the Yangtze River, sufficient to defend against the enemy army fleet going north.
Everyone withdrew first, and Cao Cao kept Jia Xu behind.
Inside the tent, only the two of them remained. Cao Cao stood with hands behind his back at the tent entrance for a moment, then said coldly, “Jiangdong can no longer afford to delay. I approve the inferior strategy you mentioned yesterday. Hurry to Jiangdong immediately.”
On the Yangtze River, more than 800 warships were sailing swiftly westward. This massive fleet was precisely the warships stationed by Sun Ben in Liyang County, commanded by Great General Wang Kun.
They received Cao Cao’s urgent pigeon order yesterday, commanding the fleet to transfer entirely to Chao Lake. Although the reason was unknown, Cao Cao’s orders could not be defied. Wang Kun packed up the barracks and led 10,000 troops aboard to sail west.
The entrance to Chao Lake on the Yangtze River is Ruxu Pass, a bit far from Liyang County, over 600 li apart. The fleet needs five or six days of sailing to reach Xuru Estuary.
In the afternoon, the fleet was sailing in formation on the Yangtze River. This fleet’s ships belonging to Sun Ben numbered only 300, including 200 large mengchong warships and 100 medium doujian, while the other 500 were Cao Cao’s support, all uniform large tower ships, warships from the Yellow River.
To man this fleet, each warship requires at least 50 soldiers, but in reality they only had 10,000 troops. This was the 10,000 troops left to deceive the Jiangdong Army, allocated to each warship only 12 soldiers.
Although they found some boatmen, 12 soldiers per ship still seemed stretched thin.
Wang Kun could only secretly hope that nothing would happen.
But the more one fears something, the more it comes. Ahead, only 30 li from Xuru Estuary, at that moment, a fleet of 500 warships suddenly appeared in front of them.
This was the 500 warships and 30,000 navy commanded by Xu Sheng. Their goal was to destroy or capture Sun Ben’s ships.
Xu Sheng had led the army waiting east of Ruxu Pass for them for a long time. This was Strategist Pang Tong’s deduction: once the Pengli Marsh water fortress and warships were destroyed, the Cao Army would surely urgently withdraw the Liyang County warships, most likely retreating to Chao Lake, a relatively safe place.
The sudden appearance of the Western Chu Army warships caught Sun Ben’s army off guard. Wang Kun urgently ordered, “Warships assemble!”
The 800 warships were strung out long, front to back over 70 or 80 li apart. Assembling into combat formation would take at least two hours, but Xu Sheng’s forces were already prepared and would not give the opponent a chance to assemble.
Xu Sheng ordered, “Close in and seize the ships!”
Xu Sheng of course had intelligence support: the opponent’s 800 warships had only 10,000 troops, averaging 12 or 13 per ship. Even with boatmen, soldiers were still needed to assist in ship control, so truly combat-capable soldiers would not exceed 10 per ship.
This was the enemy army’s fatal weakness. How could Xu Sheng not seize it?
Western Chu Army warships charged at the enemy army warships, quickly closing in. Over a dozen long hooks latched onto the opponent’s gunwales, dozens of soldiers jumped aboard. The absolute troop strength disparity made Sun Ben’s army unable to resist, and large ships fell one after another.
Wang Kun’s warship was also surrounded and captured by three warships led by Xu Sheng. Western Chu Army soldiers raised three white flags of surrender on the enemy flagship.
This asymmetric naval battle lasted one and a half hours and ended. Except for burning five enemy tower ships, the remaining 833 warships were all captured. Including Commander Wang Kun, not a single ship escaped.
Sun Ben’s fleet and 10,000 troops were captured by the Western Chu Army and sailed grandly toward Pengze.
In Jiangdong’s Dantu County, the Cao Army had always been relatively lax on Dantu County’s south city gate, permitting citizens to exit the city and citizens to enter, but not allowing grain or supplies to be carried in. Citizens entering could only do so empty-handed or carrying vegetable burdens to sell.
That morning, Sun Quan came to the city wall to inspect as usual. During this time, they negotiated once more, and both sides finally entered substantive negotiations. The Cao Army proposed controlling military power, with official power and financial power belonging to Jiangdong. The Jiangdong regime could continue to be maintained.
But on this point, Sun Quan was not ambiguous at all. How could he possibly relinquish military power? Without military power, they would be fish on the chopping block.
