Jiangling Campaign: A Neglected All-Star Clash(Three Kingdoms 56)
History of China-Three Kingdoms
Previous Chapter ：Liu Bei-the Biggest Winner of Red Cliff
Catalog of Three Kingdoms’ history
From the beginning to the end of 209 A.D., Liu Bei刘备 had spent a whole year to occupy four commanderies in southern Jingzhou,rapidly growing his power.
During this period, Zhou Yu周瑜 and Cao Ren's曹仁 battle of attack and defense under the city of Jiangling江陵 did not stop for a moment.
In order to isolate Cao Ren and cut off his connection with Man Chong满宠 in Dangyang当阳, Yue Jin乐进 in Xiangyang襄阳, Wen Pin文聘 in Jiangxia江夏 and Xu Huang徐晃 in Fancheng樊城, Guan Yu关羽 led thousands of soldiers to launch frequent harassment and blocking attacks against Cao's reinforcements and provisions on both land and water routes in the vast area of north of the Yangtze River, which is known as the "Blocking the Northern Way"(绝北道).
However, since Guan Yu had only a few thousand soldiers, it is unrealistic to completely block the main road connecting Jiangling with the northern region of Jingzhou, so he can only use the guerrilla warfare method that Liu Bei's army specializes in, to raid and delay at the enemy's rear, and to increase Cao's transportation costs.
When Cao's soldiers are too many, Guan Yu bluffs and disgusts them; when Cao's soldiers are few, he attacks them by surprise; whether he wins or loses Guan Yu will retreat orderly, he wouldn't cost much. In nearly a year's time, the invisible Guan Yu guerrilla squad caused great trouble to Cao's army, and became the key booster for Zhou Yu's victory in the front battlefield.
When Cao Cao returned to the north, he had ordered Xu Huang, who was stationed at Fancheng, to go south to support Cao Ren. At the beginning of 209 A.D., Xu Huang began to march while clearing the roadblocks along the way, and successively cleared the bandits along the way to JiangLing. After successfully arriving at Dangyang, he joined forces with Man Chong to attack Guan Yu in Hanjin汉津, and Guan Yu was repulsed, so Xu Huang succeeded in arriving at Jiangling,but suffered great cost.
During this period, Guan Yu also had several engagements with the reinforcements sent by Yue Jin and Wen Pin, which led to a greater loss of Cao's already exhausted troops.
In order to rescue Jiangling, Cao Cao has no choice but to send the Commanderial Governor of Runan汝南, Marquis of Capital Village, Li Tong李通, to lead his troops south and fight against Guan Yu. Along the way, Li Tong was constantly blocked by small groups of troops sent by Guan Yu, and the road was littered with obstacles such as chevaux de frise. Fortunately, Li Tong fought valiantly and led the way, which made them step by step to Jiangling city. However, soon Li Tong contracted a disease and died before entering the city, but he was able to deliver reinforcements and provisions to Cao Ren in a thrilling manner.
Jiangling city originally had a large amount of provisions stored in it, but under Guan Yu's frequent attacking, it was gradually unable to support itself, and the soldiers could not be replenished in time after they were killed or injured. Under such circumstances, Cao Ren, who could have held out for a long time, was in an increasingly difficult situation.
In order to break this situation, Cao Ren wanted to go out of the city to fight with Wu’s army in the field, replacing defense with offense, while Zhou Yu also wanted to say goodbye to the tough tug-of-war and defeat Cao's army in one stroke in a battle of movement. So they agreed on a date, and at that day, Zhou Yu and Cao Ren each led their main forces and fought together under the city of Jiangling.
At that time, Zhou Yu personally rode his horse to command the war, and his position was very forward. Unfortunately, he was shot by a stray arrow in his right rib, and he was so seriously injured that he could only order his troops to return. The news of Zhou Yu's injury soon reached into the city, thus Cao Ren was so delighted that he led his army out of the City to attack Wu’s battalion. Learning of Cao Ren's attack, Zhou Yu strongly endured his wounds and went out to patrol the battalion, loudly motivating his generals. After seeing Zhou Yu from a distance, Cao Ren then had to retreat back to the city.
Under the front and rear attack from Zhou Yu and Guan Yu, Cao's army suffered many deaths and injuries. By the end of 209 AD, Cao Ren finally could not hold on any longer and fled by abandoning the city with his defenders. Zhou Yu, who had fought hardly for a year, finally succeeded in capturing Jiangling, a strategic fortress of pivotal significance. Sun Quan then appointed Zhou Yu as the Governor of Nanjun Commandery南郡, the defense line of Cao Cao's army was compressed north to Dangyang, and Liu Bei was awarded with the land to the south of the Yangtze River in Nanjun ,because of the contribution of Guan Yu& Zhang Fei.
From this point on, Jingzhou was divided into three, with the northern part of Nanjun, the northern part of Jiangxia and the whole of Nanyang going to Cao Cao, the southern part of Jiangxia and Central part of Nanjun on going to Sun Quan and the southern part of Nanjun plus the four commanderies in southern Jingzhou,going to Liu Bei.
Liu Bei's territory seems to be the largest, but it is sidelined in the south of Jingzhou, away from the core of the central plain. Sun Quan's land is the smallest, but they are all the essence of the region along the Yangtze River, and also contain Yiling夷陵, the gateway to the west into Yizhou益州.
So afterward, both sides feel that they have suffered a loss. Liu Bei thinks that without the help of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, Zhou Yu will not be able to drive away Cao Ren easily, and now he has not been able to share half an inch of land to the north of the Yangtze River, which is unreasonable; Sun Quan thinks that as the main force in the battle of Red Cliff , the southern part of Jingzhou should have belonged to Wu as spoils, and not to mention that Liu Bei took them by taking chance of no one had time to take care of them, while Liu Bei is actually still not satisfied with it.
These two side, they are like a couple who suddenly got rich, and before the honeymoon is over, they are thinking about each other's card balance, they are no longer as close as they used to be!
To be Continued.
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