On the endless sea, the sea breeze stirred up slight waves, beating the reefs and coasts. Under the blue gem-like sky, a huge fleet of ships was sailing northwards through the waves.

This is a Han army fleet sailing from the estuary of the Yangtze River. It consists of 600 large ships of more than 2,000 stone. The hull is very strong and can resist the large waves in the sea. The fleet is loaded with 30,000 elite Han troops and is moving northward.

At this time, the Central Plains War was in a confrontation stage, and Cao Ren could no longer withdraw to Xuzhou, and the Han army had not launched an attack on Cao's army for a long time. The key was that Liu Jing was waiting for news from Gan Ning.

After using surprise troops to recover Jiaozhou, the Han army tasted the sweetness of attacking by sea. This time, in order to win the victory of the Central Plains War, Liu Jing once again activated the navy without hesitation. He hoped that the navy could play the role of a surprise troops.

After experiencing last year's sea attack, the Han army has accumulated some experience, and it is relatively easier to go on the sea route again for the second time. Despite this, the Han army still made a lot of preparations.

In the beginning of spring, Ganning sent two advance fleets to explore the sea routes along the northern coast. After several months and three voyages, the Han army had basically determined the route. Just when the Han army and Cao army confronted each other in Qiao County, Ganning and Lu Xun led 30,000 Han troops to head north.

The Han army had no plans to attack Hebei for the first time, but instead of considering attacking Hebei, they wanted to seize Qingzhou. In this Central Plains War, Cao Pi had ordered Cao Xiu to lead 50,000 Qingzhou troops to Xuzhou, which made Qingzhou empty and Liu Jing saw the opportunity to seize Qingzhou.

Once the Han army seizes Qingzhou, it will inevitably bring huge pressure to Xuzhou, and the victory balance of the Central Plains War will completely fall towards the Han army. This is Liu Jing's usual style. The prudence of the Central Plains will inevitably lead to the surprises on the periphery.

Six hundred warships slashed the waves in the blue waves near the sea. The fleet stretched for hundreds of miles, with sails like clouds and a huge momentum. On a 4,000-stone tower ship in front, Gan Ning stood on the side of the ship holding a short halberd in his hand and looked at the shore, staring at a black line of land in the distance.

Gan Ning's heart was turbulent. He had been fighting in the water all his life. Ten years ago, he never expected that he would go out to sea to fight and embark on an unprecedented path.

"What are the governor thinking?" Sima Luxun walked slowly to Gan Ning and asked with a smile.

Gan Ning sighed slightly, "I am feeling that I am taking a path that my predecessors have not taken before, and the northern expedition from the sea is probably a surprise attack they cannot imagine for Cao's army."

"I think Cao Cao may have been worried. After all, we have successfully advanced south to attack Jiaozhou. How could Cao Cao not know? But even if he knows, they are unable to defend themselves. Unless they have a navy intercepted them, the initiative is still in our hands. He can't deploy all the elite soldiers and generals on the coast, which is really unrealistic."

Gan Ning nodded and smiled, "Actually, I have also considered why the King of Han did not let us enter Hebei directly. Hebei is now empty in troops. We can sweep Hebei and fight to Yedu. Wouldn't the pressure on Cao's army be greater?"

"This is the stability of His Highness the King of Han. Cao Wei is not Jiaozhou, so it is impossible to swallow it in one bite. It must be taken step by step. Especially the battle of the Central Plains is the most critical step in attacking Cao Wei. Once we take down the Central Plains, Cao Wei will be out of power. If we seize Qingzhou, we will form a north-south echo."

As the two were talking, the shout of the gaze of the soldiers from the top of their heads: "Governor, you see the beacon fire in front of you!"

Gan Ning and Lu Xun looked north quickly and they also saw a thin wisp of beacon smoke in the distance. It was a signal from their advance army that they finally arrived at their destination.

Gan Ning was overjoyed and ordered: "Send a flag to the rear and prepare to enter the port!"

A soldier waved his flag and informed the ships behind to move slowly. At this time, the main ship where Gan Ning was also located also lowered the sails, slowed down, and headed towards the pyrotechnic tower that burned the beacon.

The Han army landed in a huge bay, which is today's Jiaozhou Bay, which is under the jurisdiction of Chengyang County. The seasides in this area are basically deserted, and only a few fishermen living by the sea.

But this does not mean that the government does not attach importance to the benefits of the ocean. As early as the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, Qi State made profits by drying salt on the seashore. During the Han Dynasty, the main source of salt in Han Dynasty was also the seashore. However, whether it is Qi State or Han Dynasty, the salt farms operated by the government were mainly located in the Bohai Sea. The Yellow Sea and the East China Sea were developed slowly after the Sui and Tang Dynasties.

This northern expedition of the Han army was also considered as the effect of the surprise troops, so they did not go north to the Bohai Sea, but landed in Chengyang County, which was slightly sparsely populated. The Han army entered Qingzhou, and the fleet continued to sail and merged with the Han army at the mouth of the Yellow River.

A few months ago, the Han army advance team built several post towers on the mountain at the entrance of the bay to guide the Han army fleet. As large ships sailed into the bay, this quiet natural port became lively.

The fleets drifted one after another, and the soldiers ran down from the warships and quickly set up tents in the wilderness. After nearly half a month of sailing, the soldiers needed to rest on the shore.

Soon, thousands of tents appeared in the wilderness, and Han soldiers brought thousands of bags of food from the ship. After two days of rest, the Han army led light troops westward. Each soldier only carried dry food for ten days, while the fleet continued to travel northward into the Bohai Sea and would meet with Han soldiers at the mouth of the Yellow River.

At this time, the advance army marquis quickly came to Gan Ning and knelt down on one knee to salute, "See the Governor!"

"Thanks for your hard work."

Gan Ning comforted the Junhou a few words and asked again: "Is there anything happening?"

"The governor, there is nothing unusual. There are only some fishermen living in this area, which are under the jurisdiction of Zhuangwu County. However, the county is fifty miles away from the north and is a very small county town. The government does not know that we are coming at this time."

Gan Ning nodded and turned around and asked Lu Xun, "Sima Lu thinks we should set off now, or take a two-day break before leaving?"

Lu Xun thought for a while and said, "The main force of the Qingzhou army has gone to Xuzhou. The troops here are empty. We will definitely capture Qingzhou with great momentum. In fact, there is no need to be too anxious. I suggest you set off tomorrow."

Gan Ning also agreed with Lu Xun's suggestion and immediately ordered: "Stay on a day and the army sets off tomorrow morning!"

In order to cooperate with the navy to go north to Qingzhou, Liu Jing did not rush to fight the main force of the Cao army, but waited patiently for the opportunity. On the other hand, the 30,000 troops led by Zhang Liao also crossed the Yellow River from Yanjin and entered Liang County.

Zhang Liao's army originally went south to help Xuchang, but when crossing the Yellow River, he was blocked by the Han army in Henei. Fierce battle broke out between the two sides. Zhang Liao defeated the Han army with his superior forces and crossed the Yellow River with a raft. However, Xuchang was lost at this time. Zhang Liao's light troops went south and had no siege equipment. He temporarily stationed in Dongjun, waiting for Cao Pi's order.

With more than 100,000 Han troops confronting the main force of the Cao army in Qiao County, Zhang Liao also received an order from Cao Pi to enter Liang County and prepare to participate in the Central Plains Battle. The intervention of Zhang Liao's army complicated the situation in the Central Plains.

It was already the morning of the day. Liu Jing, under the escort of more than a thousand cavalry, came to the city of Qiao County to inspect. At present, there are 30,000 Cao troops in Qiao County, commanded by general Niu Jin. The two sides have been confronting each other for nearly half a month. The defense on the city was gradually relaxed, and the soldiers on the city became sparse.

When Liu Jing's team arrived at the foot of Qiao County, a sudden alarm bell rang out from the city, causing the Cao army soldiers to be in a state of confusion. Teams of soldiers rushed to the city, tense and nervously stared at the city.

Liu Jing immediately stood on a small hill and smiled at Zhao Yun beside him and said, "They have such a clear defense. If we sneaked into Qiao County last night, we might have succeeded."

Zhao Yun smiled bitterly and said, "After all, after confrontation for half a month, the weather has become hot again. It is normal for Cao's army to relax its defense. However, it is not a solution to drag on like this. When will your Highness prepare to fight Cao's army?"

Liu Jing smiled, "I am waiting for Zhang Liao's army to retreat north. If Zhang Liao's army does not retreat, I am not sure about this battle."

Zhao Yun was stunned, "Why does Your Highness think that Zhang Liao's army will retreat?"

The Ganning Navy's going north was extremely secret, and even generals like Zhao Yun and Wenpin were not aware of it. Only the two military advisors Sima Yi and Pang Tong knew about it. Liu Jing said to Sima Yi: "The military advisor might as well tell Zilong the reason."

Sima Yi smiled slightly and said, "Governor Zhao may not know yet. The 30,000 naval troops had already headed north from the sea more than half a month ago. General Gan Ning should have led his army into Qingzhou at this time. I believe that news will come in the next few days."

Zhao Yun was stunned at first, then was overjoyed. The matter was so secret that he didn't even know it, but he was not regretful, but was more excited. He couldn't help but smile and said, "In this way, Cao Pi had to divide his troops north unless he didn't want Qingzhou, but this was impossible."

Zhao Yun suddenly hesitated again and said, "What if Cao Pi ordered Cao Xiu's army to rush back to Qingzhou?"

Liu Jing said lightly: "The so-called knowing yourself and your enemy, you will never be defeated in a hundred battles. If Cao Xiu's army returns to Qingzhou, then what should we do in Xuzhou? Who will protect his safety? The Central Plains War is important, but it is still a little worse than his own safety. Moreover, in Cao Pi's initial order, he did not intend to let Zhang Liao participate in the battle of the Central Plains. He was just worried that the Youzhou army would garrison Yedu and worry that Cao Zhang would launch a coup in Yedu, so he took the opportunity to let Zhang Liao take the Youzhou army away from Yedu. So I concluded that Cao Pi must have let Zhang Liao assist Qingzhou in the north. Without the threat of Zhang Liao's army, I would be nine points in this battle in the Central Plains."

Zhao Yun sighed for a while, "Your Highness has seen through Cao Pi."

At this moment, a team of cavalry rushed to the distance. The leader of the army urged the horse to rush up the hill, said a few words to Liu Jing's guard, and was taken to Liu Jing. The guard said, "Your Highness, there is news coming to Qingzhou!"

Liu Jing laughed and said that when he talked about Qingzhou, the news came. He asked, "Where is the news?"

The military marquis presented a letter of eagle to Liu Jing. Liu Jing took it and read it, then smiled at Sima Yi and Zhao Yun and said, "Let's go back! Prepare to fight the Central Plains with Cao Ren."

Sima Yi and Zhao Yun looked at each other, and Sima Yi asked anxiously: "Where has General Gan Ning been?"

Liu Jing handed the eagle letter to Sima Yi, "He captured Linzi two days ago, and the counties in Qingzhou fell in love with the wind."

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Chapter completed!