My father Liu Xuande

Chapter 629 Persuading Liu Pang

Cao Ang said with a sincere expression, "My lord, our allied forces are no match for the Left Army in open field battles. If we cannot evacuate Chengdu in time, we will be easily divided within the city by the Left Army. If the Left Army then attacks Luocheng and Mianzhu, not only will our retreat be blocked, but it will also be even more difficult for us to evacuate."

Although Liu Zhang remained silent, he was clearly already somewhat moved. Especially when he heard the second half of the sentence, his body trembled slightly, indicating that he was not optimistic.

Although Cao Ang ultimately failed to completely persuade Liu Zhang that day, the latter had clearly softened and begged Cao Ang to give him more time to consider.

Although Cao Ang was anxious, he knew he couldn't pressure the other party too much, so he could only nod in agreement. But before parting, he repeatedly urged Liu Zhang to make a decision as soon as possible.

Although Liu Zhang's progress here was not entirely unsuccessful, it was not particularly smooth either; he only managed to get a chance to persuade the other party.

In contrast, Pang Xi's situation was quite smooth.

Sima Yi and Yang Xiu came to visit together, and Pang Xi personally came out of his residence to greet them.

Pang Xi was from Sili Henan, which was under the jurisdiction of the Governor of Henan, making him a true son of the capital. If it weren't for the war, Pang Xi would have already entered the imperial court with the help of his family.

Now that Cao Cao has stabilized the court and returned the capital to Luoyang, he has established military farms, recruited displaced people, restored people's livelihoods, and encouraged sericulture farmers. In just a few years, Henan has recovered 40-50% of its former vitality. As a native of Henan, Pang Xi naturally has a great fondness for him.

Cao Ang's trip south also brought Pang Xi family letters, including those from elders and brothers. These letters, besides informing him of the family's current situation, praised Cao Cao's great talent and ambition, his mastery of both literature and military affairs, his diligent governance, and his aspirations to conquer vast territories. Subtly and overtly, they were urging Pang Xi to accept Cao Ang's attempts to win him over, or at least maintain a good relationship.

Sima Yi was from Hanoi, and Yang Xiu was from Hongnong. Theoretically, they were from the same hometown as Pang Xi, who was also from Henan, and both were from Sili. Moreover, Yang Xiu came from the Yang family of Hongnong, which was one of only two families in the country to have produced four generations of high-ranking officials.

Yang Xiu was the son of Yang Biao and the grandson of Yang Ci. He was the grandson of the Minister of Works and the Grand Commandant, as well as the son of the Minister of Works and the Grand Commandant, and the eldest son of the Yang family.

Such people are the ones Pang Xi needs to curry favor with even in times of peace.

Although the Sima family of Hanoi was far inferior, Sima Yi was deeply appreciated and trusted by Cao Ang, who relied on him as a right-hand man and considered him a confidant. Now that Liu Zhang had submitted to the court and bowed to General Cao Cao, Cao Ang, as the eldest son of the General and his trusted general, was naturally someone Pang Xi should pay attention to.

"This morning, I suddenly heard magpies chirping in front of the hall, and I was wondering what happy event it was."

Pang Xi stretched out his hands, taking one person in each hand, and led Sima Yi and Yang Xiu toward the mansion, laughing as he said, "Only now do I realize that a promising young talent has come to visit. My old phoenix tree has been honored today."

Sima Yi and Yang Xiu naturally remained humble, their eyes revealing surprise and delight. Pang Xi's attitude was highly beneficial to their subsequent tasks.

Sima Yi and Yang Xiu first chatted with Pang Xi, talking about the customs and people of Sili. Pang Xi listened with great emotion, his eyes filled with longing.

At this point, Sima Yi and Yang Xiu exchanged a glance, both feeling that the time was right.

Yang Xiu spoke up, "Master Pang, you have lived in Shu for a long time. Have you ever thought about returning to Henan?"

Pang Xi chuckled twice, shook his head and sighed, "The war in Shu is ongoing, and it is the time for my lord to use his military prowess. Although I miss my hometown day and night, I dare not have any intention of abandoning my post."

"Pang Gong is mistaken."

Yang Xiu first made a humble remark, then immediately continued the conversation, saying, "Before this trip south, the General met with me and instructed me to make sure to keep in close contact with Lord Pang after entering Shu. It's a pity that the war has dragged on and Liu Yizhou has been very resistant to the royal army. It was only now that we entered Chengdu and were unable to meet with Lord Pang sooner. This is truly our fault."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Pang Xi's eyes brightened considerably: "I didn't expect that the General would also know of me, Pang Xi?"

Sima Yi seized the opportunity to continue, "Why is Lord Pang so modest? Everyone in the court knows that the General has long admired Lord Pang. It is only a pity that Lord Pang is Liu Yizhou's beloved general and cannot be separated from him for even a moment. As the saying goes, a gentleman does not take what others love. The General has lofty ambitions and respects the virtuous and talented, so he can only suppress his feelings of longing for the General and keep them hidden in his heart. This time, when he entered Shu, he had the opportunity to meet the General, so it is not surprising that he specially summoned Dezu and entrusted him with an important task."

Pang Xi was overjoyed and deeply moved. He recalled that when Cao Cao's envoy entered Chengdu, he praised Liu Zhang, mentioning him in the process, and even appointing him as a General of the Household in the name of the court. This was far more valuable than any official petition submitted by Liu Zhang himself.

It seems that the general truly respects him. Even if Yang Xiu and Sima Yi have exaggerated, there must be some truth to it. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel even happier.

"You are overpraising me, General."

Pang Xi was overjoyed to be valued by Cao Cao. He spoke modestly while showering Cao Cao with flattery: "General, you have been invincible in the Central Plains. You defeated the Yellow Turbans in Qingzhou, defeated Lü Bu in Yanzhou, destroyed Li and Guo in Guanzhong, pacified Henan, and welcomed the Emperor. This is truly a great achievement for the Han Dynasty. If the Han Dynasty can be restored in the future, you will be the one who made the greatest contribution."

Seeing Pang Xi praising Cao Cao and flattering him excessively, Yang Xiu and Sima Yi exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with joy. Clearly, Pang Xi had fallen into their trap.

Next, the two people who were having a good conversation suddenly turned serious.

Pang Xi was startled, not understanding why, and thought he had said something wrong that displeased the other party.

Yang Xiu suddenly sighed, "Today's conversation with Master Pang was like drinking ice on a summer's day, how delightful! I only regret that I could not learn more from Master Pang. Thinking of this, I can't help but feel melancholy."

Pang Xi was initially quite pleased with himself, but he was surprised that Yang Xiu also held him in such high regard. If this were to spread, it would greatly enhance his reputation.

Upon hearing the latter half, his expression changed, and he asked in surprise, "Why does Dezu say this? Does General Cao intend to withdraw his troops?"

“Dezu”.

Sima Yi's face darkened as he said, "You have misspoke."

Yang Xiu quickly apologized.

But Pang Xi wouldn't have it. He pressed on, "Dezu, Zhongda, what can't you tell me? If Zixiu is short of food and supplies, I have plenty of resources here. We can allocate them to Zixiu temporarily. If there are still shortages later, please allow me to report to the magistrate and make further arrangements."

It must be said that Pang Xi was indeed quite close to Cao Cao's army at this time, and was even willing to give up important supplies.

This is not to say that Pang Xi was really that stupid, that he lost his sense of the situation after being flattered by Yang Xiu and Sima Yi.

On the contrary, this is precisely where Pang Xi's shrewdness lies.

Pang Xi was not a fool; otherwise, he would not have been relied upon by Liu Zhang and his son for two generations and held a high position.

Pang Xi was mediocre in battle and not particularly outstanding in civil administration, but his strength lay in his exceptional abilities in every area. With his keen insight, it was not difficult for him to see just how dire the current situation had become.

For Pang Xi, Liu Zhang's ship was undoubtedly a sinking vessel, and it was constantly taking on water. How could he not consider his own future at this time? Yang Xiu and Sima Yi arrived at this time, both of whom were young and talented, from prominent families, and clearly had the shadows of Cao Cao and his son Cao Ang behind them.

How could Pang Xi bear to refuse such an olive branch?

As for the so-called supplies, whether they are given a lot or a little, isn't it all up to Pang Xi to decide?

Whether or not to give it is a matter of attitude, and also a potential response. This is also Pang Xi's way of proactively expressing goodwill to Cao Ang, Yang Xiu, and Sima Yi, and showing his willingness to accept their offer.

What puzzled Pang Xi was that after hearing his answer, Yang Xiu and Sima Yi did not show any joy on their faces, but instead looked troubled.

"Dezu and Zhongda".

Pang Xi deliberately frowned: "I treat you as my dearest friend, but do you two think I am unworthy to be your friend?"

Yang Xiu and Sima Yi were overjoyed and quickly explained, "It's not about supplies, but... it's that we may have to leave Chengdu."

Pang Xi was greatly shocked. It wasn't that he hadn't considered that Cao's army would withdraw, but he really didn't expect them to do it so quickly.

Although they suffered a setback in the field battle a few days ago, it was only a minor defeat. Apart from the wounded, the actual losses amounted to only a few thousand men. Although the number was large, it was not a crippling blow to the allied forces of nearly 100,000.

These days he was still thinking about how he should dissuade Cao Ang from leaving the city to get revenge if Cao Ang was young and hot-blooded and wanted to go out of the city to get revenge. He never expected that Cao Ang not only had no intention of getting revenge, but even wanted to run away.

Before Pang Xi could ask any further questions, Sima Yi took the initiative to say, "Lord Pang, we have come here with confidential military information to tell you. However, this matter comes from my mouth and is only to your ears. You must not pass it on to a third party."

Pang Xi was taken aback. He had only thought that the two had come to him to strengthen their relationship, or on a deeper level, on behalf of Cao Ang to win him over. He never expected there to be such a secret. He immediately promised that he would never tell anyone else.

Next, Sima Yi informed Pang Xi that Jiange and Tianxiong had been lost, that the Left Army had cut off the allied forces' supply lines, and that the allied forces could only rely on the grain stored in Chengdu.

As Pang Xi listened, cold sweat poured down his forehead, and he swayed slightly, almost losing his composure. He never dreamed that the situation would deteriorate so drastically.

Pang Xi was merely an ordinary person, capable of discerning some simple situations, but asking him to devise a solution to such a difficult problem was simply asking the impossible.

"What... what should we do!?"

Pang Xi tried to lower his voice, but he couldn't control his emotions and shouted loudly. Fortunately, Sima Yi and Yang Xiu didn't take it to heart and just waited for Pang Xi to vent his emotions.

It took Pang Xi a full cup of tea's time to gradually calm down.

Seeing that Sima Yi and Yang Xiu were both calm and composed, Pang Xi couldn't help but feel a little hopeful. Could it be that Cao Ang had already come up with a solution?
Therefore, Pang Xi hurriedly asked Cao Ang what his countermeasures were.

Sima Yi then presented Pang Xi with his plan to evacuate Chengdu.

After listening, Pang Xi fell silent.

It was not only Liu Zhang who was reluctant to evacuate Chengdu, but even Pang Xi was extremely unwilling.

Although Yizhou is remote and far from the prosperous Central Plains, this does not mean that Chengdu is not prosperous.

In fact, Chengdu is not only prosperous, but also in no way inferior to the major cities in the Central Plains.

During the Eastern Han Dynasty, only the capital Luoyang, the secondary capital Chang'an, and Nanyang, the birthplace of the Han emperor, could rival Chengdu. Even the most prominent cities in the land, such as Wuxian, Xiangyang, Jiangling, Yecheng, Pengcheng, and Shouchun, could not compete with Chengdu.

Yizhou is known as the Land of Abundance. The breeding and weaving techniques of Shu brocade are unparalleled in the world. It also has the benefits of tea, well salt, copper and iron. Although the Xihan River was cut off from Hanzhong and Guanzhong due to the Wudu earthquake, merchants were still willing to travel thousands of miles along the plank road to enter Shu, which shows how lucrative it was.

The saying "Yangzhou is first, Yizhou is second" only began in the late Tang Dynasty and even the Northern Song Dynasty.

At that time, Yangzhou was not as prosperous as Yizhou.

Chengdu, as one of the top five cities in China, is not only densely populated, but also boasts thriving commerce, magnificent architecture, numerous workshops, and a constant stream of merchants and travelers.

As a key minister during Liu Yan's reign, Pang Xi followed Liu Yan into Shu and was later highly valued by Liu Zhang after Liu Yan's death. His life in Chengdu was almost as comfortable as it had been in Luoyang. Moreover, over the years, Pang Xi had acquired a considerable amount of property in Chengdu, including fertile fields, workshops, and mines outside the city. This brought him millions of coins worth of goods annually, hundreds of bolts of various fabrics and silks, as well as various bronze wares, well salt, tea, and tens of thousands of bushels of grain.

To withdraw at this point would be tantamount to abandoning all these assets, which would be almost as tantamount to taking Pang Xi's life.

Pang Xi pondered for a long time, but finally shook his head and said, "This... how can this be? Besides, Chengdu is a fortified city with deep moats and plenty of grain reserves. It is the perfect place to defend it to the death. Although Luocheng is also a fortified city, how can it compare to Chengdu? Abandoning Chengdu for Luocheng is not the act of a wise man."

Yang Xiu and Sima Yi showed no surprise or distress at Pang Xi's refusal. Even before they arrived, they had already determined that Pang Xi would not accept so easily.

However, since they have come, they must have made some preparations.

After Pang Xi finished speaking, Sima Yi said, "Lord Pang, with your wisdom, it's not hard to see that although Chengdu is fortified, it is already a besieged city. It is deeply surrounded by the Left Army, and its supply lines are threatened by the Left Army. If it is held for too long, it will surely fall. Moreover, there are indeed still grain reserves in Chengdu, but they were used up extremely in the past. How much can be left now? I'm afraid it may not even last until this year's autumn harvest."

Pang Xi's face was extremely ugly, but he couldn't refute Sima Yi in the slightest, because everything the other party said was true.

Seeing Pang Xi remain silent, Sima Yi gave Yang Xiu a meaningful look, and the latter nodded slightly, advising, "Lord Pang, this retreat to the east has indeed brought you many losses and benefits."

At this point, Yang Xiu deliberately paused, giving Pang Xi time to think.

Then he slowly continued, "My lord understands this matter and has told us that he will compensate Lord Pang."

"compensate?"

Pang Xi asked in surprise, "What is compensation?"

There are three types of compensation.

(End of this chapter)