Can I get to the other side?

After hearing Xu You's words, Cao Cao frowned.

Gather troops and block the ferry.

In this way, it is equivalent to giving up all the land in Yuzhou and Jiangbei, and directly starting the plan of defending Jiangdong by relying on the natural barrier of the Yangtze River.

But... is it necessary so quickly?

Zhang Liao has not yet started to attack Huainan County, and Sun Quan cannot attack for the time being. He still has some time to relocate the people.

Thinking of this, Cao Cao looked at Xu You and asked with narrowed eyes: "You are so eager to let me block the ferry and stop the migration of people. Are you worried that I will move all the people here?"

If he moved all the people to Jiangdong, it would not be a good thing for the court and the emperor, so he would be so suspicious.

After all, Xu You is loyal to the emperor.

Xu You laughed angrily when he heard this: "I analyzed the situation and gave you suggestions, but you suspected that I was harming you."

"In that case, why do you have to ask me?"

Although Xu You knew that Cao Cao was suspicious, he still felt annoyed. If he doubted him, he would not ask him for advice.

Cao Cao snorted coldly: "I originally trusted you, but you betrayed my trust, so how can I not doubt you? But..."

"Lord——!"

Before Cao Cao finished speaking, an anxious voice came from outside the wing room, and Xun You rushed into the room.

Without taking a breath, he anxiously said to Cao Cao: "Lord, Tongling Ferry was attacked, our troops were completely defeated, and the ferry has been lost now!"

"What did you say?"

This sudden news directly changed Cao Cao's expression. He stood up from the ground in shock, stared at Xun You and asked sternly: "Who attacked Tongling Ferry, where did the troops come from?!"

He did not deploy many troops at Tongling Ferry because he occupied the counties on both sides of the river. If he found the enemy, he would receive the news immediately and could send troops to rush to help at any time.

But now there is no news of any enemy crossing the river. How could a troop suddenly appear and attack Tongling Ferry?

"We don't know yet."

Xun You shook his head and said bitterly: "According to the report of the soldiers who escaped, they were suddenly attacked by the enemy in the early morning of the day before yesterday. There were thousands of people. I don't know whose army they were, but they were all well-equipped and well-trained elites!"

"The enemy attacked at night and burned the camp. Our army suffered heavy casualties and was almost wiped out. Only less than a hundred people escaped!"

After hearing this, Cao Cao felt a chill on his spine.

Thousands of people, and a team equipped with complete armor, this is obviously a regular army, either Sun Quan's troops or the court's troops!

But all the major ferry crossings were controlled by him. How did so many people cross the Yangtze River quietly without being discovered by him?

Could it be that they flew over!

Xu You saw through Cao Cao's thoughts and said slowly: "The only way to cross the river is by ferry, but now all the major ferry ports are controlled by you, and only the ships of the migrating people are traveling."

"If I guess correctly, they mixed in with the people, secretly crossed the Yangtze River with the help of your ships, and then attacked the ferry ports."

"The court would never do such a despicable thing. It should be Sun Quan... Cao Mengde, you are still a step late."

Disguising soldiers as civilians to cross the Yangtze River.

This behavior is simply shameless.

The court cares about face and will never do such a thing that will bring bad reputation; since it is not the court's army, it is self-evident who did it.

"My lord--!"

As soon as Xu You finished speaking, Le Jin hurried into the wing room and reported to Cao Cao: "The scouts sent news that Sun Quan's troops were fully dispatched and were rushing to Tongling Ferry by boat!"

Hearing this, Xu You looked at Cao Cao.

A playful look appeared on his face.

Cao Cao's face had turned livid at this time. He kicked over the table in front of him and said angrily, "Sun Quan! How can you do such a cowardly thing!"

"I swear to kill you!"

Crossing the river in white clothes is even more despicable than his act of stealing Jiangdong. Because he only destroyed the covenant, but Sun Quan directly violated the bottom line that has been agreed upon since ancient times!

"Pass my military order and send warships from major ferry ports along the river to block Sun Quan's fleet!"

"At the same time, mobilize the ships of major families to transport troops to Tongling Ferry day and night, alternately by land and water! We must arrive before Sun Quan and recapture the ferry at all costs!"

"This time I will lead the troops there in person!"

Cao Cao gritted his teeth and said, every word seemed to be squeezed out from his teeth, full of deep hatred and anger.

The gap in Tongling Ferry must not be opened.

If the ferry cannot be recaptured in time, Sun Quan's army will cross the Yangtze River and return to Jiangdong.

By then, the situation he had finally stabilized would fall into turmoil again, and the major families that had already surrendered might turn to Sun Quan again!

These aristocratic families were fence-sitters. He relied on force and the temptation of benefits, and they were far less rooted than the Sun family in Jiangdong.

"Yes!"

Li Dian and Le Jin took the order and withdrew.

Cao Cao stood up and strode out of the wing room. Seeing this, Xu You said anxiously: "Cao Mengde! You promised to restore my freedom. Do you want to break your promise?"

He just suggested that Cao Cao gather troops to guard the various ferry crossings, not to covet the people and materials that have not yet migrated, and not to give Sun Quan a chance.

Facts have proved that his suggestion is completely correct.

Cao Cao stopped, glanced back at him, and said expressionlessly: "We'll talk about it when I get back!"

After saying that, he strode away, leaving only an angry Xu You cursing in the side room.

…

Tongling ferry.

Although several days had passed since the battle, there were traces of flames burning everywhere in the ferry, and there were dried dark red blood stains on the ground, which looked shocking.

Immediately after Lü Meng secured the ferry, he sent people to clear out the ships at the ferry in preparation for the arrival of the subsequent army.

"Wen Xiang, how many days until our fleet arrives?"

In the cabin of one of the ferries, Lu Meng asked Xu Sheng beside him, with a look of eagerness on his brows.

But they came in alone this time. The army was not on the other side of the river. They needed to take a boat from other places to reach Tonglingdu, which took a certain amount of time.

He was very worried that Cao Jun would come back before the fleet arrived.

Because they had only come over with two thousand men, and had lost more than three hundred in the previous attack. If Cao's army came to kill them, it would be impossible for them to defend the ferry with their small number of troops.

"It will probably take another day or so."

Xu Sheng made an estimate and then replied, "Ziming, don't worry, our fleet will be dispatched as soon as possible. No matter how fast Cao Cao's reaction is, it will not be as fast as our actions."

"By the time the Cao thieves' soldiers and horses come over, our army will have already arrived at Tonglingdu, and we will be able to launch a counterattack against them by then."

Lu Meng felt relieved after hearing this.

But after thinking for a moment, he said to Xu Sheng: "Wen Xiang, you send people to recruit a group of young men nearby, equip them with the weapons and equipment left by Cao's army who died in the battle, and then add them to the army."

Xu Sheng asked doubtfully: "What's the use of this? Even if we give them weapons and equipment, they are just a bunch of rabble."

It doesn’t mean that having weapons and equipment makes you a soldier.

Soldiers need to be trained. They must at least understand orders and understand basic formation and combat skills. This requires a month or even more training.

Without these trainings, a group of ordinary people armed with weapons and equipment would be defeated in an instant if they fought against a real army.

But where do they have time to train now?

Lu Meng sighed: "I have been feeling a little panicked for the past two days. I always feel that the army's crossing of the river will not be so smooth this time."

"If Cao's army arrives before our fleet, we must defend Tongling Ferry no matter what, so we should try to recruit as many people as possible to prepare for emergencies."

Xu Sheng nodded and left the cabin.

But soon he returned again and said to Lu Meng excitedly: "Ziming! Go out and take a look, our fleet is here!"

"What? So fast?"

Lu Meng was taken aback and hurried to the deck.

Then he raised his eyes and looked at the river in the distance, and sure enough he saw one warship after another lying across the river, heading towards Tonglingdu in a mighty way. It looked extremely spectacular!

Seeing this scene, Lu Meng could no longer hold back the excitement in his heart and said to Xu Sheng: "Quick, get ready to welcome the fleet!"

When the fleet arrived at Tonglingdu, he no longer had to worry about Cao Jun's counterattack. This crossing operation was a complete success!

However, his joy did not last long.

Because as the distant fleet approached, he gradually saw clearly that the flags flying on the warships were not the "Sun" flags, but the "Cao" flags.

This is actually Cao Cao's fleet!

Lu Meng's expression suddenly changed when he saw this, and he exclaimed: "How is this possible! How could Cao Jun's fleet arrive first?!"

He couldn't believe what he was seeing.

But no matter how much he rubbed his eyes, the flags on those warships still did not change. This is Cao Cao's army!

"Ziming, what should I do?"

Xu Sheng recovered from the shock at this time, holding the sword in his hand, and cast his inquiring eyes on Lu Meng.

There are two options before them now.

Either give up Tongling Ferry immediately and escape to the other side by boat; or stick to Tongling Ferry and delay time until their army arrives to help.

The former may survive, but the latter will narrowly escape death.

Lu Meng stared at the fleet of Cao's army not far away, and finally punched the railing and said fiercely: "Fight! We may not lose if we occupy the ferry. Let the whole army prepare to fight!"

Even if they escape to the other side now, there is a high possibility that they will be overtaken. They might as well choose to fight to the death and guard the ferry to prevent Cao Jun's ship from landing.

"good!"

Xu Sheng didn't say much and went directly to mobilize the army.

At this time, he was on the largest warship of Cao Jun.

Cao Cao, who looked exhausted, stood on the deck, looking at Tonglingdu, which was already very close at hand, with murderous intent almost overflowing from his eyes.

In the past few days, he first led the army to march day and night from land to Wuhu Ferry, and then rushed back by boat from Wuhu Ferry. It can be said that he did not dare to stop for a moment.

Now we finally arrived at Tongling Ferry!

Although Cao Cao was exhausted physically and mentally from running around for several days, he still cheered up and ordered: "Seal the river and don't let these rats escape!"

He knew that the enemy occupied the ferry and it would be difficult for him to reach the shore, so he adopted a strategy of advancing by water.

Before he arrived at Tonglingdu with his fleet, he asked Le Jin and Li Dian to lead their troops off the ship and outflank them from the rear, completely blocking the enemy's retreat!

"Lord, they don't seem to be planning to escape."

Cheng Yu also came with him on this trip. After observing the movement on the shore, he said to Cao Cao in surprise.

Cao Cao couldn't help but sneer when he heard this.

Of course he knew why the enemy didn't run away, they just wanted to wait for reinforcements to arrive, but how could he not have expected this?

As early as when he learned that Sun Quan's fleet was dispatched, he immediately ordered all the ferry crossings to block the river surface and prevent Sun Quan's fleet from passing at all costs.

So Sun Quan could only march on land to reach the other side of Tongling Ferry, but how could marching on land be faster than marching on water?

And even if he reached the other side, he would not give Sun Quan the opportunity to cross the river, otherwise he would have brought so many warships in vain?

He had already made all the preparations!

"Bring the boats over!"

With Cao Cao's order, the fleet began to change its formation and surrounded Tongling Ferry in a semicircle.

At the same time, Li Dian and Le Jin also led 10,000 troops to the ferry from the rear, and launched a frontal attack without saying a word!

"Kill!"

Countless Cao soldiers rushed to the camp.

Behind the Sun army soldiers was the Yangtze River, and there was a fleet of Cao's army blocking the river. There was no way to retreat, and the only way was to fight.

However, they were all elites selected from various armies. Now facing the desperate situation of a battle with their backs to the river, the morale of the soldiers not only did not decrease, but became even higher!

"Fight with this group of treacherous rats!"

"Kill!!"

"Don't let down the prestige of our Jiangdong children!"

"Defend the ferry to the death!"

After a wave of arrows from both sides, many Sun army soldiers rushed to the Cao army with red eyes, and fierce hand-to-hand combat started instantly!

However, even though their resistance was very tenacious, the difference in numbers between the two sides was too huge, and the defense line they built was soon broken by the Cao army.

Seeing this, Lu Meng and Xu Sheng also chose to join the battlefield and led the soldiers to fight with the Cao army.

Soldiers kept falling, and blood flowed into the Yangtze River, dyeing the river water on the shore red, and the air was filled with blood.

There was no suspense about the outcome of this battle.

The resistance of the Sun army lasted only half an hour. More than 1,700 Sun soldiers were killed or fled in collapse. Only a dozen guards were left beside Lu Meng.

"Put down your weapons, and I will spare your life!"

Le Jin led his troops to force Lu Meng and other remnants to the bank of the Yangtze River, and said murderously with a long knife dripping with blood in his hand.

At this time, Lu Meng's armor was broken, and there were seven or eight wounds of various sizes on his body. The whole person was almost a bloody man.

But after hearing what Le Jin said, he laughed out loud, grinning: "There is no Jiangdong boy who is afraid of death! If you want to fight, then fight. I am not afraid of you!"

Le Jin sneered: "You can even use such a despicable method as crossing the river in white clothes. Why are you pretending to be a hero here? You are just a group of shameless rats!"

"Shut up!"

Lü Meng's eyes were wide open, staring at Le Jin and said: "Cao Cao broke his promise and destroyed the alliance. You are the real rats!"

"You are not qualified to kill me. I will never die in the hands of you villains!"

After Lu Meng cursed, he looked at the sword in his hand that had broken countless cracks, and said hatefully: "My plan failed, it was fate!"

After that, he swung the sword and killed himself!