Chapter 111: Draw the 'Ming Navy', huge ships and cannons!

At this time, Zhuque came to the palace to meet the emperor and brought news from Jianghuai and Jingxiang.

"Your Majesty, news has arrived from Jianghuai and Jingxiang..."

Zhuque looked solemn and said in a deep voice:
"Yangzhou Governor Liu Yao, Kuaiji Prefect Wang Lang, Yuzhang Prefect Zhu Hao, and former Jingzhou official Zhuge Xuan and other generals fought against Sun Ce's army at Poyang Lake, and finally... retreated to Nanchang!

"The navy was completely wiped out. Sun Ce's Jiangdong navy used this opportunity to overthrow Jianghuai!"

Liu Bian nodded slightly, his expression unmoved!
If he had drawn the "Ming Navy" before, he might have been a little solemn and worried.

Because the Yangzhou front was defeated, it would deal a direct blow to the court's strategy of sending troops south.

This is death before accomplishment, defeat before battle!

But now, with the Ming navy, and a Ming navy with 3800 warships at its peak, what does Liu Bian have to fear? !

Zhuque looked at Liu Bian with some suspicion, not seeing the shock and anger she thought she would see.

Zhuque was impressed that His Majesty was indeed calm and composed, and remained calm even when faced with a huge crisis. However, this calmness also made Zhuque gradually feel at ease and stable.

This is the role of the backbone!
"Liu Yao and other imperial allied forces retreated to Nanchang, while Sun Ce's army advanced by land and sea, besieging Nanchang and shocking the Jianghuai region.

"Later, Liu Yao asked for help from Jingzhou, but Jingzhou's Liu Biao was now seriously ill and was controlled by his wife's family, the Cai family, and they remained unmoved!
"This move angered the people in Jingzhou and Xiangyang who were loyal to the Han Dynasty. They denounced the rulers of Jingzhou and the five counties in southern Jingzhou rebelled. However, Cai Mao led the navy of Jingzhou to the south to suppress the rebellion and returned with a great victory.

"Finally, the Jingzhou navy even cruised on the Han River and the Yu River, showing off its might in front of Zhang Liao and other imperial generals in Nanyang County.

"This move has caused the morale of the loyal officials of the Han Dynasty in Jingxiang to plummet, and their confidence has been greatly damaged!"

After Zhuque finished speaking, he stole a glance at His Majesty, but was surprised to find that His Majesty remained unmoved.

"I understand." Liu Bian nodded.

The more happily these traitors jump now, the faster they will die in the future!

Now Liu Bian is giving them a chance, whether they can seize it depends on the choice of those aristocratic families!
He who knows the current affairs is a hero!

After the "Ming Navy" went south, all those who resisted the imperial court and Liu Bian were killed without mercy!!!

Thinking of this, Liu Bian asked: "Are there any other military intelligence reports?"

If there were only these two items, it would not cause Suzaku to panic.

You must know that as the commander of the Jinyiwei, he has the privilege of the emperor and can execute first and report later. What storms and waves has he not seen?
It shouldn’t make Suzaku so panicked!

...

Zhuque immediately lowered his head and listened obediently, his heart was already extremely shocked!
The reason why she told His Majesty the intelligence about Jianghuai and Jingxiang, one by one, from small to large, was to make His Majesty mentally prepared.

But unexpectedly, the first two pieces of information, which were enough to shock the entire court, remained unmoved by His Majesty!
Suzaku paused, said the most earth-shattering thing, and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, Liu Bei was summoned to take up the post of governor of Xuzhou. He advanced by land and sea, but his naval forces were ambushed by Yuan Shu's Huainan navy at Yuzhou Mountain near the mouth of the Huai River. Finally...

"Almost the entire army was annihilated, and only a few generals escaped with the remnants of the defeated army!"

At this time, Zhuque finally felt that Liu Bian's emotions were fluctuating a little, but it was only a little bit.

Liu Bian raised his eyebrows slightly, and finally understood what made Zhuque so panicked!

The navy under Liu Bei was known as the "Qingzhou Navy", a navy loyal to the imperial court and Liu Bian.

Originally it was the "Bohai Navy" of Yuan Shao of Jizhou. Under the design of Guo Jia, Liu Bei defeated the Bohai Navy and seized most of the fleet.

After the fall of Yuan Shao and the imperial court's takeover of Jizhou, the naval force was completely handed over to Liu Bei, who was responsible for training and development.

The total fleet probably has nearly a hundred ships!
This naval fleet is also the main attacker when the imperial court marches south, and the main combat force in naval battles!

But now, they were ambushed and defeated by Yuan Shu's Huainan navy, and almost the entire army was wiped out!
This means that one leg of the imperial court's strategy of sending troops south has been cut off!

If Liu Bian hadn't drawn the "Ming Navy", he would have been really worried. But now he is not afraid!!!

only!

Liu Bei's Qingzhou navy marched south, but was ambushed by Yuan Shu's Huainan navy. The information revealed in this is very intriguing!
Besides the fact that the Qingzhou navy was inferior to the Huainan navy, there was also the fact that... had the navy's marching route been exposed? !
Why could the Huainan Navy grasp the situation so accurately and set up an ambush? !
"How did Liu Bei's marching route get exposed?" Liu Bian asked in a deep voice, "Did someone tip him off?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. The Jinyiwei is still investigating!" Zhuque replied in fear and trepidation.

"Order the Royal Guards to investigate quickly!"

"promise!!!"

Liu Bian looked at Zhuque without saying anything, so he asked, "Anything else?"

"Your Majesty, aren't you going to summon civil and military officials to discuss matters?" Suzaku asked doubtfully.

Such an important defeat, the collapse of Liu Bei's Qingzhou navy, meant that the court's strategy of sending troops south was blocked.

Your Majesty is actually indifferent? !
In the past, His Majesty would have immediately summoned civil and military officials to discuss the matter. Even though it was the dead of night in the early hours of the morning!
"No need, let them have a good sleep!"

Liu Bian looked at the panicked Zhuque and consoled him:
"You don't have to worry. I already have a plan for dealing with it. Go back and have a good rest. The court meeting tomorrow will make the final decision!"

"Subordinates... obey your orders!!!"

Suzaku retreated in confusion.

At this moment, Zhuque and other high-ranking Jinyiwei officials stayed up all night, frantically mobilizing Jinyiwei to infiltrate and investigate Jianghuai and Jingxiang!

Civil officials and military generals slept soundly because they were unaware of military intelligence and battle reports!
Although Emperor Liu Bian of the Han Dynasty knew the truth, he slept soundly and peacefully because he had a fleet of 3800 Ming navy ships!
Even in his dreams, Liu Bian saw the scene of giant ships and cannons fighting each other, and he was the commander-in-chief, defeating the so-called Jingzhou Navy and Huainan Navy with great force, crushing them with overwhelming force and sweeping through the enemy!
Big ships and big cannons, this is the romance of men!

……

Silent all night.

The next morning.

General Zhu Jun hurried to the residence of Grand Tutor Lu Zhi to pay a visit. Lu Zhi was a little puzzled after being awakened.

It was not yet the hour of Yin, the sky was still a little dark, and there was still more than an hour before the court session. Why did Zhu Jun come to visit? !

However, when Lu Zhi saw Zhu Jun's pale face, he knew that something big must have happened.

It could even be a catastrophe!

Zhu Jun was a famous general of the Han Dynasty who had fought in the army all his life and made great military achievements!

During the Yellow Turban Rebellion, the three generals Zhu Jun, Huangfu Song and Lu Zhi suppressed the Yellow Turban Rebellion and saved the country from chaos.

Such a veteran warrior who has experienced hundreds of battles has seen all kinds of storms and waves, and he remains calm even when facing a huge crisis.

But now, Zhu Jun was panicked and couldn't control himself!

"Gong Wei (Zhu Jun's courtesy name), what happened?!" Lu Zhi asked in a deep voice.

"The military department recently received an urgent report from Jianghuai..."

Zhu Jun said in a deep voice:

"Liu Yao, Zhu Hao, Wang Lang and Zhuge Xuan of Yangzhou joined forces, but were eventually defeated by Sun Ce's troops. The navy was completely wiped out and Nanchang was surrounded by soldiers!
"They asked for help from Jingzhou. Liu Biao was seriously ill and his wife's family, the Cai family, was in power. Jingzhou did not respond, which aroused public anger. The five counties in southern Jingzhou rebelled and responded to the court.

"But it was suppressed by Cai Mao and the Jingzhou navy. The Jingzhou navy showed off their might in front of Zhang Liao and other generals, openly resisting the imperial edict.

"These two things are not serious. The real crisis is——

"Liu Bei responded to the imperial edict and went to serve as governor of Xuzhou. He advanced by land and sea. His naval force, the Qingzhou Navy, was ambushed by Yuan Shu's Huainan Navy near the mouth of the Huai River, and in the end... almost all of his troops were annihilated.

"The naval forces that the imperial court sent south are all gone!!!"

Boom——

Boom——

It was like a thunderclap that made Lu Zhi stagger. If it weren't for the quick action of the servant beside him, he would have fallen.

At this moment, Lu Zhi finally understood why Zhu Jun, who was used to many storms, looked pale and horrified!

Because the sky really fell!

The imperial court's strategy of sending troops southward had already been announced to the world. Now that the troops were mobilized, they suffered a series of defeats!
This will undermine the confidence of the court's troops, the loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty, and those who are loyal to the Han Dynasty! It will also cause concerns about the court's strategy of sending troops south!
Some people even question whether Your Majesty is being too greedy and reckless by sending troops south!
the most important is--

The "Qingzhou Navy" under Liu Bei's command was the main attacker of the court's southward attack and the only means of counterattack in naval battles!

But now, the troops had only been mobilized to Huainan, and there had been no large-scale declaration of war, battle, or decisive battle, but they had already been completely wiped out by the Huainan Navy!

Without the Qingzhou navy, how could the imperial court attack Yuan Shu in Huainan? !

Looking at the natural barrier of the Huai River, the imperial army could only sigh in despair!!!

Perhaps Yuan Shu's Huainan navy would also be like the Jingzhou navy, patrolling on the Huai River and showing off its might in front of the imperial army!
This is not only a show of force and a provocation, but also a humiliation to the court and Your Majesty!

What a shame!!!

"Your Majesty, do you know about this?" Lu Zhi asked in a hoarse voice.

Zhu Jun nodded heavily:

"The Imperial Guards received intelligence last night that Commander Suzaku entered the palace to meet the Emperor in the early morning.

"But for some reason, His Majesty did not summon us late at night. It was not until the urgent report from the military department came and woke me up that I realized it belatedly!
"Zi Gan (Lu Zhi's courtesy name), do you think His Majesty has some deep meaning? His Majesty actually suppressed this war report that is like the sky falling!" After hearing this, Lu Zhi was also stunned!

"Gong Wei, the sky is not falling!"

Lu Zhi gradually regained his composure, and his staggering body, which was supported by the servant, gradually stood up and no longer needed support:
"Our backbone is still there! Your Majesty can still remain calm, and the day will not fall! And -

“Things are totally different now!

"Your Majesty is in control of the overall situation, controlling the military power of the capital and the world! The six states of Hebei responded to the royal army. And there are also sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn and other magical tools to suppress it!
"Your Majesty is respected by all the people and is the master of the revival of the country!

"Isn't it just a few defeats? Isn't it just that the navy was almost annihilated? We can still develop, we can still wait for three to five years!

“We can afford to lose!!!”

Lu Zhi said with full confidence, this is the confidence of the court now!

"After Zigan's analysis, I feel more at ease. Yes! Things are totally different now!"

Zhu Jun nodded. He was also worried and confused. After communicating with Lu Zhi, he gradually calmed down, but he was still a little worried.

"But I'm afraid some clowns will take advantage of this to stir up trouble and fan the flames!"

"Your Majesty will make the decision. All we need to do as subjects is to follow the direction of your Majesty's flags!!!"

Lu Zhi said murderously.

"That's right. If Your Majesty were here, what would we fear, even mountains of swords and seas of fire?!" Zhu Jun laughed instead.

This is the domineering power of Lu Zhi and Zhu Jun!
In the late Eastern Han Dynasty, people were living in poverty, wars were rampant, and society was in turmoil. The Yellow Turban Rebellion brought years of war to various places.

Huangfu Song, Zhu Jun and Lu Zhi, these three loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty, made great contributions to pacifying various places and stabilizing the overall situation!
When later generations passed on and quoted them, they were accustomed to referring to them as the "Three Generals of the Late Han Dynasty"!
With their prestige and military strategy, they brought a brief period of stability to the turbulent times at the end of the Han Dynasty.

People at that time praised them for their achievements in maintaining social stability.

For example: "The world is in chaos and the market is in ruins. Mothers cannot protect their children and wives have lost their husbands. Thanks to Huangfu, we can live in peace again."

After making great contributions, the “Three Generals of the Late Han Dynasty” did not take credit for themselves or become arrogant, nor did they rely on their troops for self-reliance. They were truly loyal ministers of the Han Dynasty and pillars of the country!

As long as the Han Emperor is still here!

As long as these pillars of the country are still here!

The sky of the Han people will never fall!!!
...

As time passed, all the officials in the court gradually woke up and prepared to start today's court meeting.

As they headed towards the palace, news gradually came in.

Civil officials and military generals gradually received intelligence from Jianghuai and Jingxiang.

The higher the position, the more they knew, but they did not say much and remained silent.

Even when officials familiar with them asked about it, they did not respond and remained noncommittal!
Those officials in lower positions or not in relevant departments know very little.

This made all the officials in the capital panic!
But even if only a few words of intelligence were revealed, it shocked all the officials in the court!
Naturally, there were officials among the ministers who opposed the court's decision to send troops south.

It’s not that they are rebelling against the Holy Will.

Instead, he had just ended his campaign against Yuan Shao in Hebei. Although he had won a great victory, he should have rested for three to five years and lived in harmony with the people's livelihood.

Now we are launching military operations one after another, which may be harmful due to our excessive military spending.

It will do more harm than good to the country and the people!

But because His Majesty insisted on going south, they had no reasonable excuse to refute.

But today!
This military intelligence report seemed to give them an opportunity!
In this panic, with different thoughts in everyone's mind, they came to Nangong Chongde Hall and started today's court meeting!
Not long after all the officials took their seats, Emperor Liu Bian of Han arrived!

After the yes, the court meeting begins!
General Zhu Jun stepped out and said, "Your Majesty, the military received urgent reports from Jianghuai and Jingxiang at the beginning of the morning hour!

"Yangzhou Governor Liu Yao, Kuaiji Governor Wang Lang, Yuzhang Governor Zhu Hao, former Jingzhou official Zhuge Xuan and other generals joined forces to engage in battle with Sun Ce's rebels in Poyang Lake!
"Finally, he was defeated and retreated to Nanchang. His naval forces were completely annihilated by the rebel Jiangdong navy. Sun Ce's rebel army surrounded Nanchang..."

"Wow—"

Before Zhu Jun finished speaking, all the officials in the court were shocked!
They finally understood why the capital was in such a state of turmoil and people were in panic today!

Such a defeat occurred on the Yangzhou front!

This will undermine the morale of the imperial army as it is about to march south!
This is defeat before the battle!!!
Only the ministers who have learned the specific military situation can remain calm!

They seemed to be watching the situation, but in fact their eyes were glancing at the Han Emperor sitting on the dragon throne above, only to find that the Han Emperor Liu Bian was calm and unmoved!
This actually calmed everyone down!

This emotion seemed to be contagious. All the officials in the court looked at the Han Emperor sitting on the dragon throne with such calmness and composure, and they gradually calmed down as well!
Their backbone is still there!

Their spiritual support is still there!
As long as your majesty is still here, the sky will not fall!!!
The puppet emperor in the past has now become the pillar of support for all officials in the court and the Han Dynasty!

"I know!"

Liu Bian replied calmly.

Sure enough, His Majesty already knew about it. Zhu Jun was shocked and continued:

"Liu Yao asked for help from Jingzhou. It happened that Liu Biao of Jingzhou was seriously ill, and his wife's family, the Cai family, was in power. They were unmoved. This move angered the loyal officials of the Han Dynasty, and the five counties in southern Jingzhou rebelled.

"But Cai Mao led the Jingzhou navy to suppress the rebellion and returned with a great victory. He also flaunted his power in front of Zhang Liao and other generals from the Jingxiang Command of the imperial court, which was full of provocation..."

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the court were filled with indignation and were extremely furious!
The Han Dynasty was a "powerful Han" country, and even the civil officials present were masters of the six arts of a gentleman. They were eager to go to the battlefield immediately and flatten Jingzhou!
But the Han Emperor Liu Bian, who was at the top, still replied calmly: "I know!"

This calm voice, like a wake-up call, gradually calmed down all the angry officials in the court!

Zhu Jun stole a glance at Liu Bian and immediately told him the last piece of information:
"Liu Bei was appointed governor of Xuzhou, and he advanced by land and sea. However, when his navy was at the mouth of the Huai River, it was ambushed by Yuan Shu's Qingzhou navy, and in the end... almost all of his troops were annihilated!!!"

"Wow—"

The whole place was in an uproar!
This time, many officials lost their composure. The uproar shook the sky for ten miles. Even the people in the inner city outside the palace seemed to be able to hear it!

Liu Bei's Qingzhou navy is the main force of the imperial court's attack on Huainan, and it is also the only navy force that the imperial court can fully trust now!
now……

Ambushed by Yuan Shu's Huainan navy, almost wiped out?!
Doesn't this mean... that the imperial court's strategy of sending troops south has been cut off? !

All the officials in the court secretly glanced at the Han Emperor!

But they found that their Majesty was still calm and unmoved!
His Majesty is His Majesty. He remained calm despite the collapse of Mount Tai. He is indeed their backbone and spiritual support. It also made them gradually calm down!
but! !! !!

Even if Your Majesty remains calm, the court should not continue to insist on sending troops south at this critical moment!

Because there was no Qingzhou navy under Liu Bei's rule, the imperial court was completely helpless in the face of the natural barrier of the Huai River and could only sigh in despair!

Because the Jingzhou Navy and the Huainan Navy are recognized as the two major navies of the Han Dynasty, and no other can be compared with them!
The navy of Jingzhou and the navy of Huainan are both rebelling against the imperial court and Your Majesty!
Although the court's retreat would disappoint the people of the world, it should not rashly march south in the absence of naval forces to avoid suffering an even greater defeat!

We should recuperate and gather our strength, wait for another three to five years, develop our navy, and have enough power to compete with the navy of Jingzhou and the navy of Huainan before we march south!
Therefore, all the officials in the court wanted to advise His Majesty to revoke his order and temporarily postpone the strategy of sending troops south!
But, they dare not!!!

At this time, Zhu Jun, Lu Zhi, Wang Yun and other ministers stood up and said in unison:

"Your Majesty, it is not favorable to march south now. We request that you temporarily suspend the southern attack strategy and develop the navy first!!!"

General Zhu Jun, Grand Tutor Lu Zhi, Minister of Civil Affairs Wang Yun and other ministers stepped forward, and the court officials also stepped forward and advised:

"Your Majesty, please hold off on marching south!!!"

Looking at the advice of all the officials in the court, Liu Bian was unmoved. He just said with full of energy and without any doubt: "You are not joking!"

"His Majesty……"

Zhu Jun stepped forward and knelt down with a thud.

Although the Han people knelt when attending court, this was a courtesy, not a kneeling ceremony.

Now Zhu Jun knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Dong dong dong——" blood came out of his forehead!
He wants to die!!!

"Your Majesty, for the sake of the country, please suspend the strategy of sending troops!"

Liu Bian looked at Zhu Jun, and was actually a little moved!
You must know that Zhu Jun's legitimate son Zhu Hao was surrounded by Sun Ce's troops in Nanchang and urgently needed rescue. But he asked the court to postpone sending troops!
If the imperial court really did this, it would certainly boost the arrogance of Yuan Shu and other rebels. Sun Ce's army would further besiege Nanchang.

Zhu Hao will definitely die!
But even though his legitimate son was doomed to die, Zhu Jun still advised Liu Bian to revoke his decision. This was not for personal gain, but for the sake of the country and Liu Bian's reputation!

"You are all loyal subjects of the Han Dynasty!"

Liu Bian walked down from the throne and the altar, and came to Zhu Jun. He personally helped Zhu Jun up, who was flattered. "I am not acting on my own will, but I have made every possible preparation!"

"This……"

Zhu Jun was stunned!
Lu Zhi, Wang Yun and other ministers were also stunned!

Xun Yu, Xun You and others were also stunned!
Fully prepared?!
Faced with the natural barrier of the Huai River and the hundreds of meters wide moat of Jingxiang, how could the imperial court, which lacked naval forces, be "fully prepared" to deal with it? !

"Come with me!"

Liu Bian decided to take them to see the grandeur of the "Ming Navy"!

……

(End of this chapter)