The rain came down like a pouring water. It hit the Jingzhou soldiers so hard that they couldn't breathe and couldn't open their eyes. They had to run even if they couldn't open their eyes. The thunder sounded fast and the raindrops fell fast. The rainwater flowed all over the ground and the roads were muddy.

The Jingzhou soldiers wearing straw sandals were so battered by the rain that they fled back to the camp without their helmets and armor. They were all in such a miserable state that they looked like drowned rats.

It's a pity that he was in such a hurry to escape that he didn't even care about the thousands of gunpowder cartridges thrown under the walls of Fancheng.

Of course Wei Yan was soaked by the rain, and because he was walking in a hurry and the road was muddy, he almost fell off his horse several times.

When we finally escaped to the camp, we were already coughing from the rain.

Wei Yan arrived at the camp, slipped off his horse, wiped the rain off his face, and ran towards Liu Cong's tent.

When he arrived at the door, he opened the curtain and came in without waiting for an announcement. He kept complaining about the terrible weather, hurriedly said hello to Liu Cong, and hurriedly tore down his laundry.

Liu Cong saw it and hurried over to help.

Wei Yan said: "My lord, this battle was going smoothly. The gunpowder tubes had been piled up and neatly placed on the base of the city wall. They were lighting the fire at the gate. Unexpectedly, the weather was so bad - there was a burst of thunder, and then a thunderbolt.

As the rain continued, heavy rain fell, soaking the medicine. Who has ever seen a thunderstorm in the twelfth lunar month? Isn't this strange?"

Liu Cong quickly consoled him: "The weather is causing trouble and it's not your fault. Take a rest and wait until the weather gets better before making plans. This article is long, so you should take a rest first and talk about it later."

When Liu Cong said this, he ordered the deputy general: "Go out and make arrangements for the soldiers who will go on the expedition, try to dry their clothes, have a good rest, and prepare for another battle." The deputy general agreed and went out.

Wei Yan is still nagging here: "If we wait for another meal, the gunpowder will explode, and a section of Fancheng wall will have to be blown down! As soon as this gap opens, I will lead my troops to rush in. At that point, there is no need.

Even if it rains and thunders, I will conquer Fancheng even if I use flying knives.

This is good, not only did we fail to capture Fancheng??????! It’s bad, it’s too bad, we retreated too far, and even left all the gunpowder tubes there, what should we do, what should we do?”

Wei Yan was so anxious when he said this that he stamped his feet and cursed: "It's all because of the weather, it's all because of the weather!"

Liu Cong thought for a moment and did not complain. Instead, he consoled him: "The situation is already like this, and there is no use regretting it. Well, let's do this. When the weather improves, you can lead your troops to grab it."

Wei Yan agreed, thought for a moment and then said: "It's broken. These gunpowder tubes have been wetted by rain and have returned to moisture. How can they still explode?"

Liu Cong said: "Let's talk about it then. Under normal circumstances, it doesn't matter. This bamboo tube has been watered with wax oil. No one touches it and normally water will not seep into it. Well, it may be wet. Move it back and put it in the sun.

Let’s dry it down below, it won’t be a big problem.”

Fortunately it was sunny the next day.

At this time, Liu Cong, Wei Yan, Ma Yuan, Liu Changyun and more than a dozen deputy generals were discussing matters in the Chinese army's tent.

Wei Yan said: "My lord, the weather will be good tomorrow. When the sun comes out in the morning, the road will be harder and smoother, and we can march in the afternoon. Otherwise, I will take the men and horses over there and take the place first."

To snatch back thousands of bamboo tubes of gunpowder?”

Lieutenant General Ma Yuan said: "The general doesn't think it's possible yet. The heavy rain has made the roads muddy, and I'm afraid it will be difficult to march in a day or two.

Besides, the soldiers’ clothes are damp and their armor is moldy. Well, it doesn’t matter. The main reason is that the bows and arrows are wet, and the bow strings are soft and flimsy. How can you shoot arrows? After the sun comes out, the bows can be used in battle before they are hardened. "

Liu Cong said: "Ma Yuan is right. I can't help but be anxious. We have to wait a few more days."

Wei Yan said: "Oh, I was so anxious that I forgot. Yes, the bow string is loose, how can we fight.

However, I am worried that if these thousands of gunpowder tubes are snatched away by Cao's soldiers, they will be used instead. What should I do? Well, aren't we shooting ourselves in the foot?

No, we have to snatch these gunpowder barrels back no matter what, and let them dry out in the dry air, so we can use them later!"

Liu Cong said: "These Cao soldiers have not yet understood the function of our gunpowder tubes. Under normal circumstances, they will not take them back. Even if they are taken back, they will not use them, so don't worry.

But it’s right to come back early to bask in the moisture.

How about this, Ma Yuan, tomorrow afternoon, if the weather is good, you can send a few scouts to check it out and report the situation back."

Ma Yuan agreed. So the meeting ended and everyone went back to their tents to have dinner and sleep.

Wei Yan was the most impatient. After dinner, he lay on the bunk and thought: "My lord ordered Ma Yuan to send a few scouts out tomorrow and the day after tomorrow to investigate the situation. It's okay to go alone, and it's also true to go with a thousand people. It's better for me to lead two thousand people myself."

Go grab it back.

It's such a pleasure. You can't procrastinate in doing things, especially on the battlefield. A moment's hesitation will delay the opportunity.

Well, you have to ask your lord for permission to do this, he usually won't agree.

Forget it, I will tell Ma Yuan to take hundreds of people to grab some."

When Wei Yan thought of this, he made up his mind and prepared to take matters into his own hands tomorrow.

The next day was another good day. Jingzhou Bingmen had just woken up and had not eaten breakfast. The fiery red sun in the east sky showed its smile. As soon as it arrived, the ground in the military camp was hardened by the sun.

Wei Yan walked back and forth several times before going in and out of the military camp. After lunch, he came over and urged Ma Yuan: "You don't need to send a few scouts. You can go there yourself with one or two hundred troops. When you get there,

First, hide in the distance. See if Cao's soldiers on the city are unprepared. Then rush over and snatch back some of the gunpowder tubes. You don't have to linger too much. Just take back three or four of them if no one is there.

Bring it back and we'll verify it to see if it's soaked through.

If they are still usable, I will lead my troops to snatch them all back the day after tomorrow.

I have already told my lord about this matter, just go ahead and do it."

Ma Yuan took the people away.

Wei Yan came back and told Liu Cong: "Ma Yuan said that if he sent a few scouts to check, it would be better to bring some 80 people to grab some. I thought it made sense, so I ordered him to take the people.

I want to bring it back and let us verify it and see if it works. I will take people there tomorrow to grab them all. If it doesn't work, we won't need them. This will save the time of sending scouts to inspect and report back. You

Do you think it will work?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Cong thought it was not a bad idea, so he nodded and said: "That's okay. Let's do it this way." There was a hint of complaint in his heart: "No, you also sent troops away, and what are you asking me for?"

Besides, Ma Yuan led a hundred soldiers and walked for half an hour on the bumpy road before arriving at a forest not far from Fancheng.

Ma Yuan ordered everyone to hide, and he took a soldier carrying farm tools, dressed as a farmer going to the fields, and strolled to a place not far from the moat of Fancheng. While strolling with farm tools, he looked towards Fancheng.

With.

I saw Cao soldiers walking back and forth on the top of the Fancheng wall to patrol the city, but there was no large number of Cao soldiers guarding the city. When I looked closely at the wall and followed the gunpowder tubes originally placed, it seemed vaguely that they were still there.

Thinking it was an excellent opportunity, I secretly cheered.

He just pretended to stroll around like this for a while, then picked up the farm tools and returned to the woods.
Chapter completed!