My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 616 Dilemma
Looking out from the south of Chengdu, the open fields are filled with soldiers of the Left Army, and hundreds of massive siege weapons stand there like ferocious beasts, ready to pounce and tear the city walls at any moment.

The Left Guard Army had already sounded the retreat, and the rear guard began to slowly withdraw back to their camp, while the vanguard remained to hold the line, covering the return of the remaining siege equipment to their own side.

"This Left Army is damn rich."

Standing beside Cao Ren, Zhang Xiu, though a general from outside the main branch of the imperial family, held a significantly higher position than Niu Jin, Wang Shuang, and others, holding the title of Zhonglang General appointed by the imperial court. Furthermore, Zhang Xiu's previous official rank was three levels higher than Niu Jin and Wang Shuang, being a miscellaneous general officially appointed by the court.

After surrendering to Cao Cao, Zhang Xiu, persuaded by Jia Xu, requested to relinquish his general title. Cao Cao declined several times, but Zhang Xiu firmly refused. In the end, Cao Cao gladly agreed and appointed him as a General of the Household, placing him on par with Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren.

Therefore, Zhang Xiu held a very high position in the army, and even Cao Ren respected him greatly.

Although Zhang Xiu's words were crude, the surrounding military officers actually expressed their agreement.

Such a large number of siege engines require not only wood, but also a large number of iron nails and mortises, as well as a huge amount of manpower, skilled workers and craftsmen.

Cao Ren and Zhang Xiu were both experienced generals, and they naturally knew how powerful an army with such strong logistical support could be.

"How could the Left Cursed Army be so rich?"

Niu Jin, standing nearby, couldn't help but chime in: "I heard that his family alone has two or three thousand warships that have entered Sichuan, and countless ships transporting military equipment and provisions on the river. Could there be a treasure trove in Zuo Mu? How can they afford such extravagant spending?"

Cao Ren was also filled with envy, but he said aloud, "Since you know how to envy the luxury of others, then you should fight even harder. If we can take Yizhou, even if it's just the three counties of Shu, wouldn't our future be better than it is now? You should know that Yizhou is a land of plenty, rich in resources. Shu brocade, well salt, and tea are sold all over the world. Taking one of these counties is better than taking two or three of the remaining counties in the Central Plains. You should all work hard."

Inspired by Cao Ren's words, the generals expressed their willingness to die for the court, the Grand General, and the Lieutenant General, and pledged to do everything in their power to conquer Shu.

After witnessing the retreat of the Left Guard Army, Cao Ren breathed a sigh of relief.

Regardless of what happens in the future, Chengdu has at least been saved today.

After Cao Ren and his generals descended from the south city, they first settled the Cao army that had entered the city, and then sent someone to relay the news from Chengdu back to Cao Ang. Subsequently, Liu Zhang sent people to invite them to the prefectural government for a banquet.

Because the war was still raging, no one knew whether the retreating Left Army would return.

Although alcohol was served at the banquet, all the generals were quite restrained, especially Cao Ren, who, apart from sharing a cup with Liu Zhang, did not drink a drop.

At this time, Cao Ang also led the main force of the army on a rapid journey, heading towards Chengdu.

When they reached the south of Xindu, they finally received news from Cao Ren and Liu Zhang, saying that the Left Army had withdrawn after Cao Ren's arrival and that Chengdu was out of danger.

Cao Ang breathed a sigh of relief and stopped taking the detour, crossing the Tuo River south of Xindu directly, which saved him a full twelve or thirteen miles compared to Cao Ren.

"My lord, today's events are quite strange."

Sima Yi stood beside Cao Ang, his brows furrowed with worry.

Cao Ang nodded and replied, "The large-scale mobilization of the Left Army may be intended to support the war in Ba County to the east."

Sima Yi slowly nodded, his gaze dark, and said as he pondered, “Sun Tzu said: ‘When you are capable, make it seem as if you are not capable; when you are active, make it seem as if you are not active; when you are near, make it seem as if you are far away; when you are far away, make it seem as if you are near; lure them with profit; seize them when they are in disarray; prepare against them when they are strong; avoid them when they are powerful; provoke them when they are angry; humble them when they are arrogant; exhaust them when they are at ease; and alienate them when they are close.’ Today, the actions of the Left Guard Army can be described as making it seem as if you are not capable, and making it seem as if you are not active.”

Cao Ang was somewhat puzzled and asked curiously, "What does Zhongda mean by this?"

Sima Yi explained: "On the surface, the Left Army of Guangdu is a gathering of heroes and elites, with its troops being the strongest forces that swept through the south. This must be their strength. On the other hand, the Left Army of Ba Commandery is unknown and its reputation is not widespread, so it seems that they are incapable. However, now the Left Army of Guangdu has mobilized its entire force to besiege Chengdu in order to prevent our army from sending reinforcements to the east. This seems like a feat, but in reality, it is not. Meanwhile, the Left Army of Ba Commandery has received full support from the Left Army of Guangdu. This seems like a feat, but in reality, it is not."

Cao Ang was startled: "General Zuo intends to cut off my retreat. Is the Left Guard Army of Ba Commandery his trump card?"

Sima Yi nodded: "If I am not mistaken, the Left General must have made such a deployment."

Cao Ang was greatly alarmed, but he forced himself to remain calm and continued to ask Sima Yi for advice: "What should we do now? If our army is tied down by the Left Army of Guangdu under the walls of Chengdu, and if something happens in Zitong, our army will be trapped in Shu."

In fact, Cao Ang's words were still polite. If Zitong had been captured by He Qi's troops, Cao's army would not only have been trapped in Shu, but would have been doomed to die without a burial place.

Although the territory currently controlled by the Cao family could barely provide some of the military rations, the biggest problem was not the lack of food, but the deteriorating morale of the army. Once morale collapsed, even sufficient supplies of provisions and weapons would be useless. More importantly, Zitong not only severed the Cao family's supply lines, but also cut off Liu Zhang's hopes.

Unlike Cao Cao's army, Liu Zhang had a certain degree of freedom. He could submit to the court and surrender to Cao Cao today, but who knows if he could turn around and join Liu Feng tomorrow?
"My lord need not worry too much."

Sima Yi, however, appeared quite relaxed: "General Zuo's plan is indeed brilliant, but with Li Dian stationed in Zitong, there will be no mishaps within a month."

"What does Zhongda mean...?"

Cao Ang had already sensed the unspoken meaning in Sima Yi's words, but the thought was so frightening that he had to confirm it with Sima Yi.

Sima Yi, however, was not as nervous as Cao Ang. He said with a relaxed expression, "Within a month, it will be enough for my lord to determine whether Chengdu can be sent to the rescue and whether the Left Army is ready to fight."

Cao Ang remained silent for a moment, then managed to squeeze out a sentence: "If we cannot provide aid or fight at that time..."

Sima Yi, however, seemed oblivious to Cao Ang's expression, and said decisively, "Then naturally we should immediately retreat eastward, abandon the Luocheng line, and retreat back to Fucheng and Zitong."

It turns out that Sima Yi not only wanted to abandon Chengdu, but also the six counties along the Luocheng line, retreating all the way back to the Fucheng and Zitong line, holding onto one-third of the commanderies and kingdoms east of Guanghan, as well as the Guanghan vassal state.

Upon receiving Sima Yi's confirmation, Cao Ang's heart sank, but he had to admit that Sima Yi's advice was likely correct.

The sudden arrival of 20,000 Left Guard troops put immense pressure on Cao Cao's army. If not handled properly, the consequences would be unbearable for Cao Cao's army and even the Cao family.

If they retreated to Fucheng and Zitong in time, not only would Hanzhong be safe, but they could also preserve the Guanghan Dependent State and one-third of the eastern commanderies of Guanghan Commandery. These places combined still have a population of over 1.2 million, almost equal to the current total population of Yanzhou, which would be a great boon to the Cao family.

Relocating wealthy people from these areas to Guanzhong to cultivate the land in the future would greatly improve the situation in Guanzhong.

However, if they resolutely stay in Shu to fight the Left Guard Army, victory would be gratifying, but the gains would only be three counties in Shu. But if they were to lose, not only would Shu and Guanghan be in danger, but even Hanzhong would be in imminent peril.

Cao Ang had no choice but to seriously consider Sima Yi's advice, and arrived in Chengdu with great anxiety.

Liu Zhang also went to great lengths to welcome Cao Ang upon his arrival.

Despite years of war and famine, the once prosperous Chengdu granary, overflowing with wealth and riches, has been reduced to a state of utter devastation.

However, Liu Zhang gave a strict order. Even at this point, he still took out his savings and cleared out the wealth in the Chengdu treasury. He also collected more than eight million coins, more than two thousand bolts of silk of various colors, and three hundred bolts of Shu brocade. He kept half of it to reward the Shu soldiers and Dongzhou soldiers who fought bloody battles today, and gave the other half as gifts to Cao Ren's troops.

That evening, Liu Zhang hosted a banquet in Chengdu, inviting Cao Ang, Cao Ren, Sima Yi, and others, and distributing wine and meat to reward the allied forces.

Cao Ang was not in high spirits, and even when Liu Zhang personally served him wine, he seemed somewhat absent-minded. Fortunately, Liu Zhang did not take it to heart, but Zhang Song, Qin Mi, Yang Hong and others noticed this and guessed the possible reasons.

**
That evening in Guangdu, Liu Feng also distributed wine and meat to reward the entire army.

After a day of fierce fighting, the Shu army suffered over 1,400 casualties, while the Left Guard army also lost over 1,100 men.

The fact that the Left Guard Army suffered such heavy casualties despite the presence of counterweight catapults demonstrates the height and strength of Chengdu's city walls and the complexity of its defensive fortifications.

Even though long-range firepower such as counterweight catapults swept through the area, it only cleared the visible defenses. Many hidden defenses and fortifications hastily repaired by the Shu army still caused considerable trouble for the Zuo Mu army.

The reason why Liu Feng took the initiative to attack Chengdu today was indeed, just as Sima Yi had guessed, to coordinate with He Qi's offensive along the Fu River.

In order to keep Cao Cao's main force firmly in the vicinity of Chengdu, Liu Feng did not hesitate to deploy all his troops to launch a fierce attack on Chengdu. After inflicting heavy losses on Liu Zhang, he forced Cao Ang and Cao Ren to come to the rescue.

The plan was carried out quite successfully.

To rescue Chengdu and Liu Zhang, Cao Cao's army even split into two forces, sending cavalry first and infantry following. This shows that Cao Cao considered Liu Zhang and Chengdu to be of considerable importance.

After successfully luring the enemy, Liu Feng did not want to waste the lives of his soldiers, so he decisively ordered the retreat.

This led to the scene in the afternoon when the Left Guard Army, having received reinforcements from Cao Cao, completely retreated. As a result, Liu Zhang was extremely grateful to Cao Cao and became even more dependent on him.

This naturally has both advantages and disadvantages for the Left Guard Army.

Tactically speaking, this means that Liu Zhang and the Shu army would cooperate more with Cao Cao's army and, to some extent, bridge the differences and conflicts between the two sides.

Strategically speaking, this move by Liu Zhang and the Shu army will appropriately influence Cao Ang and Cao Ren's judgment, making it more difficult for them to abandon Liu Zhang and Chengdu.

**
Li Dian stood atop the city wall of Zitong, gazing at the scene outside the city, his brows furrowed.

He Qi's army of over 20,000 men, plus 8,000 laborers and 2,000 naval troops, totaling nearly 30,000 men, began besieging Zitong after arriving at the city.

Zitong City is located in the northwest of the Sichuan Basin. "Connecting Qin Pass and controlling Shu Road", it is an important hub of the ancient Shu Road. It controls Jianmen Pass to the north and the Fu River to the south. It is known as "controlling the three Ba ​​regions and the border of Yizhou". It is the northern gateway of the ancient Shu Kingdom. Its southern part is the junction of the dangerous and easy Shiniu Road. It is the southern entrance of the "thousand-mile plank road connecting Shu and Han", and is known as the "key to northern Shu".

Zitong is different from Jiange, as it is not located in the mountains, nor is it like Fucheng, as it is not located in the plains. Instead, it is situated in a hilly area between the plains and the mountains.

This region has the spurs of mountains that cut large areas of hills and plains into small fragments. Zitong City is located in one of the larger plains, backed by the Zitong River, with hills on the opposite bank. The city is surrounded by water on three sides, with only the eastern side being hilly and plain.

Zitong City has four city gates, one each in the east, west, south, and north.

The south gate leads to a tributary of the Zitong River, while the west gate leads directly to the Zitong Port on the river. The north gate has a pontoon bridge for crossing the river to Guanghan and Jiange. Only to the east are hills fragmented by several foothills and many small plains.

In other words, the best battlefield for besieging Zitong is the east side of the city. The other three directions can only provide some restraint or cut off Zitong's external connections, but cannot directly attack the city. Unless the attacking side is willing to withstand the long-range firepower of the Zitong defenders and use simple ladders and battering rams to attack the city.

The city wall where Li Dian is standing now is the eastern city of Zitong.

Li Dian was calm, refined, and studious, and was known in Cao Cao's army for his combination of courage and strategy.

In the original timeline, Li Zheng died of illness due to the Battle of Guandu, and his subordinates were all taken over by his cousin Li Dian.

However, the Battle of Guandu did not take place at this time, and Li Zheng did not die from the plague; instead, he lived a good life. Therefore, Li Dian only served as Li Zheng's deputy general, assisting his elder brother in commanding the Li family's troops.

Regardless of whether Li Dian was the commander-in-chief, his personal military ability was quite outstanding. His offensive ability was remarkable, and he dared to engage in open field battles. His defensive ability was even more outstanding because of his personality.

Among Li Dian's most outstanding battles was the Battle of Bowangpo, which involved Liu Bei.

During the battle, Li Dian saw through Liu Bei's plan to feign defeat and lure the enemy. He tried to persuade Xiahou Dun to stop, but to no avail. Xiahou Dun ignored his advice and fell into Liu Bei's ambush. Li Dian then led his troops to rescue him, bravely charging forward despite the arrows, forcing Liu Bei to let Xiahou Dun go.

Therefore, Li Dian not only possessed outstanding military abilities, but also had a remarkably calm and analytical personality, making him the type of opponent that strategists and generals disliked the most.

At this moment, Li Dian stood on the city wall deep in thought because he had noticed the abnormality of the Left Army.

After arriving at Zitong City, He Qi's Left Army blocked the Zitong River with its navy and used cavalry to cooperate with the navy to destroy the pontoon bridge north of the city, while the main force of the army was stationed on the hills east of the city.

(End of this chapter)