Sure enough, as Zhang Zhao and Zhuge Jin expected, on the third day after Xu Sheng returned to Jiangdong, Lü Meng was defeated in Jingzhou, and the news that 50,000 soldiers and horses were annihilated in Jingzhou spread in Jiangdong.

For a time, the people were full of complaints, especially the families of the soldiers who went out to attack Jingzhou and died in battle.

Their relatives have stayed in Jingzhou forever, how can they not be angry after losing their father, son, and husband?

Fortunately, Sun Quan was prepared, and immediately sent someone to spread the news, saying that the 50,000 soldiers and horses were only captured, not killed.

He is currently negotiating peace with Liu Bei, as long as the peace negotiation is successful, these 50,000 soldiers and horses will all come back, and they will all come back to reunite with their families.

As soon as the news broke, the people who reacted violently fell silent, and it was good that they were not dead and could all come back.

Sun Quan calmed the people, and asked Xu Sheng to gather troops and horses to go to Jiangxia for reinforcements. On the one hand, he sent Zhuge Jin to Jiangling to meet Guan Yu to delay time.

At this moment, Sun Quan received another letter.

This letter was sent by Liu Chan.

Its purpose is naturally to unify the country.

The content is roughly that he is willing to strike a truce with Sun Quan, but he just likes Ling Tong and wants to take Ling Tong for his own use, so he wants Sun Quan to write a letter to Ling Tong to persuade him to surrender and persuade Ling Tong to serve him. That is, to threaten Sun Quan with peace, if you want to negotiate peace, let Ling Tong out, and if you don't let it, then fight.

Sun Quan took the letter sent by Liu Chan and said angrily: "It's too much to deceive people! It's too much of a deception! Zibu, Liu Chan killed several of my generals, and now he actually asked me to write a letter to persuade Gongji to surrender, so as to separate the relationship between me and Gongji! It's so deceitful!

I didn't raise an army to take revenge, but he deceived me! ”

Zhang Zhao took the letter and read it, and after reading Zhang Zhao, he muttered: "General Ling Tong surrendered in order to protect the soldiers and horses, not to betray the lord and submit to Liu Chan, I think Liu Chan should have taken a fancy to General Ling Tong's talent, so he had the heart to accept it."

It seems that Liu Chan guessed that we would choose to negotiate peace, so he used the matter of peace to coerce the lord, and asked the lord to write a letter of persuasion to General Ling Tong to drive a wedge between you and General Ling, so as to achieve the goal of subduing General Ling Tong. ”

Sun Quan snorted coldly and said, "If I write a letter of persuasion, wouldn't it chill Gongji's heart?" ”

Zhang Zhao nodded and said, "What the lord said is good, but this letter of persuasion still has to be written." ”

Sun Quan said in a deep voice: "I can't write!" Although Gongji surrendered, it was to save the soldiers and horses, and there was nothing to be sorry for me, and I couldn't let Gongji chill. ”

"Hey!" Zhang Zhao sighed and said: "My lord, since ancient times, those who have achieved great things have not been informal, but now that Jiangdong is in danger, you can't have the kindness of a woman, give up a Ling Tong and protect Jiangdong, it's completely worth it."

For the sake of Ling Tong, Liu Chan proposed to negotiate peace, we can make use of this matter, you can spread this letter, and write to Ling Tong to ask him to surrender.

If Liu Chan agrees to abide by his promise and agree to negotiate peace, then it is naturally good, if Liu Chan does not agree to negotiate peace, then he will be infamous for not being trustworthy, he is the son of Liu Bei, and he will inherit Liu Bei's foundation in the future, I am afraid he will not dare to regret it.

As for General Ling Tong, he is loyal to your lord, and now he should understand your situation, and he will never betray your lord because of a letter, and when the time comes, Liu Chan will only steal chickens and rice. ”

"Zibu's words are good!" Sun Quan nodded, and then said: "It's just hype, I'm afraid that the generals will be chilled." ”

Zhang Zhao said: "The lord just said that he wrote the letter because he believed that Ling Tong would not surrender, if Ling Tong really did not surrender, it would be the lord's wisdom and knowledge, and it would be a good story in the future."

If Ling Tong descends, then all the sins are also on Ling Tong. Later, the lord can summon Jiangdong Wenwu to come over, and then I will be this wicked person. ”

Sun Quan sighed and said: "Hey, the Jiangdong foundation established by my father and brother must not be lost in my hands, for the sake of Jiangdong, I can only be wronged by public achievements." Zibu, you helped me gather the civil and military people over. ”

However, after a long time, the military generals of Jianye came to the main hall.

Sun Quan handed over Liu Chan's letter to a group of civil and military officers to read.

Those who were timid and afraid of things suggested that Sun Quan write a letter of persuasion to Ling Tong in order to achieve the goal of seeking peace.

Sun Quan naturally refused to agree at first.

Then Zhang Zhao stood up, Chen Qing took advantage of the stakes, persuaded Sun Quan, and Dianwu also admonished.

Under Zhang Zhao's lead in "persecution", Sun Quan reluctantly agreed: "Hey, now my Jiangdong is in danger, if I don't negotiate peace, I am afraid that there is a danger of destruction." I Jiangdong can have today, the Ling family's father and son have contributed a lot, and I don't think they want to see the Jiangdong foundation that they have worked so hard to build up be ruined.

I have written this letter of persuasion since you have advised me, but I believe that he will never surrender. If Gongji really surrenders, then it is also my Sun Quan who can't stand him first, and when the time comes, I will send his wife and children to him, and wish him to make contributions under Liu Bei! ”

As soon as Sun Quan's words came out, he made himself invincible.

First, the letter of persuasion was written by Zhang Zhao, and they took the lead in forcing him to write it.

Second, and Sun Quan also said in advance, I believe that Ling Tong will not surrender because of this, if Ling Tong really surrenders, it is Ling Tong who is unrighteous.

But even so, I don't blame you, but I will return your family to you, and I wish you to follow Liu Bei to make contributions.

In this way, everything will be dissociated from Sun Quan, and Sun Quan himself can also gain a reputation for generosity.

Subsequently, Sun Quan personally wrote a letter and sent it to Jiangling.

When the letter was on the way, Zhuge Jin had also arrived in Jiangling.

At this time, Guan Yu had also led his troops back to Jiangling.

Jingzhou originally had 55,000 soldiers and horses.

Guan Yu's Northern Expedition brought 30,000 soldiers and horses, but in order to attack Fancheng, he suffered a lot of losses, and only 23,000 people remained.

Guan Yu returned to Jingzhou with 20,000 soldiers and horses, and the remaining 3,000 soldiers and horses, plus the 10,000 soldiers and horses brought by Liu Feng from Shangyong, and Pang De's 1,000 cavalry, a total of 14,000 soldiers and horses guarded Xiangyang.

The remaining 25,000 soldiers and horses in Jingzhou, of which 5,000 are guarded in Yiling all the year round.

Sun Quan sent troops to attack Jingzhou, with 5,000 soldiers and horses guarding Yiyang, 5,000 soldiers and horses guarding Gong'an, and 10,000 soldiers and horses guarding Jiangling.

The 25,000 soldiers and horses also suffered many casualties during the war, and now only more than 22,000 people remain.

After the war, Yiling, Yiyang, and the public security also sent 5,000 soldiers and horses back to defend the town.

As for the 14,000 cavalry that Liu Chan brought from Xiliang, they also suffered nearly 1,000 casualties.

In this way, in addition to the soldiers and horses guarding Xiangyang, Yiling, Yiyang, and public security, the total number of troops that Jiangling can use is 40,000.

27,000 Jingzhou soldiers can fight on foot and on water.

There are also 13,000 Xiliang cavalry.

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