A huge fire ignited in the water village again, thick smoke rolled and red flames soared into the air. The boats in the water village fled one after another, but were surrounded by Sui army warships. The big ship was like rain, and the Tang soldiers on the boat ruthlessly shot and killed the boat. The hard corners smashed the boat, and the river was filled with broken wood and broken boats.

The Sui army's strategy was very obvious, which was to completely destroy the Tang army's water power without leaving the Tang army one by one. Dozens of large ships rushed around the water camp. One hour later, the Tang army's water camp was completely destroyed. Apart from the more than a hundred grain transport ships burning with thick smoke, there was no other Tang army ships, and the fence of the wooden stakes of the water camp also disappeared on the water.

In fact, this was only part of the Qingjiang Operation. Another Sui army navy with more than 3,000 men drove more than 200 thousand-stone warships to search for civilian ships on the north bank of the Yangtze River in Nanjun. All civilian ships either drove to the south bank or were destroyed on the spot, completely cutting off the hope of the Tang army crossing the river south.

On the top of the city, Chai Shao looked at the grain transport ship engulfed by the fire. A trace of despair also arose in his heart. He lost the power on the water. In Jingxiang, which was covered with water, could they still win?

At that time, although Xiao Xian had thousands of warships, he was still defeated by the Tang army without warships, Yang Yuanqing was not Xiao Xian. He was originally a tiger on land. The advantage of warships undoubtedly made him feel like a tiger.

At this moment, Chai Shao could no longer tolerate Lu Zushang. Regardless of whether he had an affair with the Sui army or not, his poor command caused the Tang army to lose the last water power. With this, he would remove Lu Zushang from his post, regardless of whether he would annoy Li Xiaogong. Regardless of whether he Chai Shao exceeded his authority.

"Transfer my order, all the generals above will be concentrated in the tent of the Central Army in Beidaying."

......

Beidaying is the garrison of 50,000 troops brought by Chai Shao. Today is the second day after Chai Shao arrived in Nanjun. Several military failures occurred in a row, and the Tang army's water power was completely lost.

An County was lost, and this series of failures made Chai Shao determined. If he did not take decisive action, the entire Jingxiang battle situation would be defeated by his indecision.

In the commander's tent, more than 70 generals, generals and dozens of civilian officers gathered together. Chai Shao sat on the commander's position. He stared at everyone with a cold look and said slowly: "Since ancient times, whether the army can win a battle depends on whether the rewards and punishments are clear. It depends on whether the military discipline is strict. If you make meritorious deeds, you should be rewarded. If you fail to establish rules, you cannot achieve the goal. So today you will punish the defeated general."

His eyes fell on Lu Zushang and said sternly: "The first person to punish is General Lu Zushang of the Nanjun County. He has poor command and poor control of the water camp, which has led to the destruction of the Tang army's navy. He should be responsible for the first time and be dismissed from all his official positions and demoted him to soldiers to warn the three armies!"

The general of the Nanjun who was appointed by Lu Zushang was appointed by the General Manager of Jingxiang Xingtai. Only Li Xiaogong had the power to remove him from his official position. Although Chai Shao had a high position, he had no right to remove Lu Zushang. What he did today was obviously beyond his authority, but Lu Zushang was already disheartened and stepped forward and knelt down on one knee, "I am willing to be punished for my humble duties!"

Several soldiers came up. They took off his helmet and took him out of the tent. The generals watched Lu Zushang walk past them silently. Many of them were sympathetic. Lu Zushang fought and led the way, and the military was clearly rewarded and punished, but he ended up like this, which was unbelievable.

Chai Shao said loudly again: "The second person is punished by the Asian general Zhao Lan, bring it to me!"

Several soldiers pushed an officer out, who was Lu Zushang's confidant general Zhao Lan, who served as deputy general of the navy. Chai Shao said coldly: "The warship was burned by the Sui army scouts, and the patrol was not effective, causing the Sui army scouts to sneak into the water camp. If they were held directly responsible, they would be pushed out for me, beat a hundred military sticks, remove all official positions, and demote them to soldiers!"

Of course, Zhao Lan understood that Chai Shao was taking the opportunity to cleanse him. He knew that begging for mercy was useless, so he simply said nothing and was pushed down by the soldiers. Chai Shao then dismissed four or five of Lu Zushang's confidant generals with various excuses and wiped Lu Zushang's forces out of the officers. Then he said to the generals: "From now on, I, Chai Shao, temporarily took over the position of General Nanjun, and all Jiangling defenses are in my full responsibility."

Everyone bowed and bowed, "Abide by the order!"

Chai Shao glanced at Liu Fangzhi again and said, "At the same time, I appointed General Liu Fangzhi as the general, responsible for Jiangling City Defense!"

Liu Fangzhi was overjoyed and stepped forward and knelt on one knee, "I would like to serve the general!"

......

Chai Shao used Lei Ling Fengxing's means to rectify the army and firmly grasped the 70,000 troops in Jiangling City in his hands. At this time, he had accepted the reality that the Sui army ruled the river and began to redeploy troops. He drove all the people outside Jiangling City into the city.

He also ordered soldiers to build fortifications with mud bags on the riverside, and ordered his confidant general Luo Zhaolin to be the commander of the riverside defense, leading 10,000 archers to guard the riverside wharf and build the first defense of Jiangling City.

At the same time, Chai Shao forced 50,000 civilians to assist the Tang army in defending the city. The 60,000 defenders and 50,000 civilians on the city wall were closely defended, and the entire Jiangling was built like a wall of iron.

In Jiangling City, a team of soldiers were registering young and strong door-to-door households. According to Chai Shao's order, all men over 16 and under 40 who were not engaged in agriculture would go to the city to assist in defense. In this way, merchants, craftsmen, boat-lost fishermen and some unemployed vagrants must go to the city to assist in defense. Every household closed doors and windows, and the man hid, and the Jiangling City was in chaos.

In Jiangling City, not far from the other palace where Chai Shao lives, there is also a huge house covering an area of ​​nearly 40 acres. This is the residence of the Xiao family of Jiangling. The Xiao family of the Southern Dynasty has always been a famous noble family. At its peak, the Liang Dynasty was established and ruled south of the Yangtze River.

However, since Hou Jing led his army to break through Jiankang City sixty years ago, the Xiao family suffered a catastrophe. The Xiao family in Jiankang City was almost killed. General Chen Shubao took the opportunity to seize the country of the Liang Dynasty and establish the Chen Dynasty. Some of the Xiao family's children fled to Jingxiang, used Jiangling as the capital to rebuild the Western Liang Dynasty. Until Yang Jian sent a large army south, Xiao Liang surrendered the whole country, and the Xiao family survived and reused it, including Yang Guang's empress, who was also the daughter of Xiao.

At this time, almost all the Xiao family had gone north to the Sui Dynasty. There were very few Xiao family left in Jiangling City, including Xiao Xian who could use Xiao family after he rebuilt Xiao Liang.

At present, the Xiao family in Jiangling City is the Dunhuang Xiao family in that year. After being forced to leave Dunhuang, they moved back to Jiangling and rebuilt the family with the commercial benefits they earned in Dunhuang. They also received the full support of Xiao Xian, making the Xiao family the number one in Jiangling.

At this time, in a secret room in the Xiao Mansion, five or six main figures of the Xiao family gathered together to discuss major issues related to the fate of the Xiao family. They just received a letter from Xiao Yanqi, the prefect of Changsha County, yesterday, conveying Yang Yuanqing's respect for the Xiao family.

The head of the Xiao family is still Xiao Yinyin. She has controlled the Xiao family for nearly 20 years and has supreme authority within the Xiao family. However, she has not been in good health in the past two years and has left many things to her brothers and nephews to do. She only cares about big things, and what they are discussing together today is a huge matter.

Xiao Yinyin is nearly fifty years old, but she is still very well maintained, with delicate skin and charming appearance, no difference from ten years ago, just like she is frozen at the age of thirty.

"Our Xiao family must surrender to the Sui Dynasty. This is not to be questioned. Guan'er has become the prefect of Liang County. He is also the confidant of the King of Chu. It is not a problem to become a prime minister in the future. Cong'er, currently the chief minister of Zhao County."

Xiao Yinyin's voice was very soft, but there was an irresistible majesty in her tone. "More importantly, the Sui army has occupied the north and headed south to the south of the Yangtze River. The entire east of Jiangxia County has been incorporated into the Sui Dynasty. The Tang Dynasty has remained with Guanzhong and Bashu. If the Sui army captured Jingxiang, the world will be determined. At this time, the Xiao family must not stand in the wrong team. Not only that, they must also use all their connections to help the Sui army seize Jiangling."

Next to him was a tall and thin old man. His name was Xiao Yanqin. He was Xiao Yinyin's elder brother and Xiao Feng's father. Xiao Yinyin was not external, and he was responsible for the entire family's external affairs.

Xiao Yanqin smiled at everyone and said, "I fully agree with the opinions of the head of the family. There are so many famous gentry in the Sui Dynasty. If our Xiao family wants to have a place in it, it not only depends on the position of Wuer in the court, but also on the influence of the Xiao family in Jingxiang. Helping the King of Chu seize Jiangling is only the first step. Next, we will expand our influence in the entire Jingxiang and strive to become the first rank of Jingxiang..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Yinyin interrupted him, "Brother, let's talk about what happened in the future. Now is the first step. How can we help the Sui army seize Jiangling?"

Xiao Yanqin pondered for a moment and said, "Maybe I can ask someone to help."

As soon as he finished speaking, a family member reported outside the door, "The head of the family, the prince of the Tang army, is here, and I want to see the head of the family."

Chai Shao actually came, which made everyone stunned. They looked at Xiao Yinyin together. Xiao Yinyin knew in her heart that if Chai Shao came to the door, the problem would not be big. She said to Xiao Yanqin: "I am in poor health and I will not see a foreigner. Brother, let's deal with it!"

Xiao Yanqin nodded and stood up and said, "Then I'll go."

He opened the door and walked quickly out the door. He heard him ask the butler from afar, "Is there any army coming to the door together?"

"No, only General Chai and two guards."

In the room, everyone in the Xiao family was silent and patiently waited for Xiao Yanqin to return.

...........

In the guest hall, Chai Shao was drinking tea slowly and waiting, with two guards standing beside him. As a senior official of the Tang Dynasty, Chai Shao had a high political awareness. Since he controlled Jiangling City, he naturally hoped to get the support of Jiangling local wealthy families.

Jiangling Xiao family was the first family he visited, but Chai Shao did not know that Jiangling Xiao family moved from Dunhuang, nor did he know that Yang Yuanqing's confidant Xiao Feng was a child of Jiangling Xiao family.

The Xiao family of Jiangling moved from Dunhuang, which is the secret of the Xiao family. They all said that they moved from Danyang County, and would never say that they returned from Dunhuang, mainly because they were afraid of affecting their reputation.

At this time, Xiao Yanqin walked in from outside and gave a deep bow with a smile, "Little Minor Xiao Yanqin met General Chai."
Chapter completed!