The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 326 Ma Su's death was greater than all his contributions in his life.

Yuzhou, Runan.

The Qi army camp outside the city was brightly lit.

Zhuge Liang was celebrating his victory with his generals.

He led the Jingzhou army northward up the river, joined forces with Chen Deng's Huainan army, and decisively defeated the Cao Wei Runan military region's army group.

If nothing unexpected happens, we should be able to completely control Runan in two days.

This place connects Jingzhou and Huainan, and has an extremely important strategic location.

"This battle was largely thanks to the valiant fighting of all the soldiers."

"I, Liang, raise a toast to everyone."

Zhuge Liang raised his wine cup to congratulate his generals on their victory.

"This is all thanks to the commander's command; otherwise, no matter how brave we are, we would be like headless flies on the battlefield."

"Hahaha……"

Everyone burst into laughter, their faces beaming with undisguised excitement.

Everyone was happy to have won the battle.

Just then, an envoy from Xiakou, covered in dust from his journey, burst into the tent.

"Report! Urgent dispatch from Xiakou!"

When the envoy knelt down to present the bamboo slips, river water was still dripping from his sleeves.

Kongming unfolded the letter and looked at it; his fingertips suddenly trembled.
"Zhou Gongjin is dead?"

The candlelight on the table crackled and popped, casting flickering light on his face.

Huang Zhong raised his wine cup and laughed:

"With Zhou Yu dead, there are no more heroes in Jiangdong."

"Isn't this a good thing?"

"I think this is double happiness, let's have a drink."

Before he could finish speaking, another messenger sent by Liao Hua staggered into the tent.

"My lord!"

"Don't be anxious, speak slowly!"

Zhuge Liang verbally reassured the envoy not to rush, but he himself unconsciously stood up.

"My lord!"

The messenger presented a piece of dyed silk, saying, "Military Advisor Ma has released thirty merchant ships from Eastern Wu without authorization."

"what?"

Zhuge Liang's body trembled slightly, and he sighed:
"Jingzhou is in grave danger!"

The generals were all puzzled and asked one after another:
"Why do you say that, my lord? The Yangtze River defense line is connected by beacon towers, and General Zilong is stationed there."

"Even if Zhou Yu were to die, and a new pro-war faction were to take over, how could they possibly break through my Yangtze River defense line?"

"Crossing the river in white!"

Zhuge Liang suddenly spoke sternly, his expression growing increasingly grim.

"If Lü Meng were to disguise himself as a merchant and sneak past Gong'an, wouldn't Jiangling be in danger?"

"This……"

The group looked at each other, somewhat at a loss for what to do.

Jiangling is the heart of Jingzhou. If the Wu people manage to sneak past Gong'an, divine soldiers will descend upon the city of Jiangling.

It would be difficult for the garrison troops of other cities to provide immediate support.

Once Jiangling is lost, it means that Jingzhou will also be lost.

At that time, not only Zhuge Liang, but also Huang Zhong, Huo Jun, Liu Pan and other generals from Jingzhou will be held accountable.

"My lord, let's hurry back to Jingzhou to provide reinforcements!"

"Yes, let's hurry back and provide support!"

The generals all advised Zhuge Liang to return.

Although the battle of Runan has been basically declared a victory, it is time to reap the rewards.

But this small victory is far from enough to make up for the sin of losing Jingzhou.

"Hansheng".

Zhuge Liang solemnly handed the command arrow to Huang Zhong.

"You will lead three thousand light cavalry to travel swiftly along the Mian River, without entering any city or attacking any fortified village."

"We must return to Jiangling as soon as possible and take up residence before the Wu people arrive."

Due to the information gap, Zhuge Liang was unaware that the Wu army had already besieged the city.

The only thing to do is to get back as soon as possible.

When the old general received the command arrow, he realized that Mr. Kongming's palms were covered in cold sweat.

"Here!!"

Huang Zhong solemnly bowed and turned to leave.

As they were talking, Chen Deng lifted the curtain and entered.

His jade belt was not yet fastened, indicating that he got up in a hurry.

Why is Kongming in such a hurry?

Upon seeing his arrival, Zhuge Liang bowed deeply.
“Yuanlong, there may be unforeseen events in Jingzhou, so I have no choice but to return to Jiangling temporarily.”

"I'm afraid I won't be able to support Yuanlong in launching your final attack on Runan."

Zhuge Liang explained the matter to Chen Deng with a guilty tone.

In fact, Runan had already been basically pacified, and the last battle was an easy victory.

Zhuge Liang's withdrawal now is tantamount to handing over all the previous gains to Huainan.

From any perspective, Chen Deng and the generals of Huainan benefited.

But when Zhuge Liang said it, it sounded as if he had wronged Chen Deng.

This demonstrates Zhuge Liang's high emotional intelligence.

He knew that with such a mistake, he and his men would be held accountable.

Right now, it would be better to do the leader of Huainan a favor.

If he doesn't do this, he won't be able to protect himself, nor will he be able to protect his subordinates who will be implicated because of him.

"Does Kongming mean that the Eastern Wu side...?"

Chen Deng quickly helped him up and asked.

"Lu Meng crossed the river in disguise, and the situation in Jiangling became extremely precarious."

Zhuge Liang pointed to the military report on the table, "The battle of Runan can only be entrusted to Yuanlong."

A glint flashed in Chen Deng's eyes, and he immediately grasped Zhuge Liang's hand, saying solemnly:

"Kongming, rest assured, Deng will certainly live up to your expectations!"

"But..." he suddenly lowered his voice, "that Ma Youchang is really..."

Zhuge Liang closed his eyes and shook his head; when he opened them again, his expression was resolute.
"Take care, Yuanlong. I'll take my leave now!"

Outside the tent, the Jingzhou army was fully prepared to depart.

The stove, still smoldering with smoke, was hastily covered up, and the soldiers who had just received their reward put on their armor again.

Fei Yi was counting the grain carts when he saw Zhuge Liang come out and hurriedly reported:
"Travel light and quickly, carrying only ten days' worth of dry rations."

good.

Zhuge Liang nodded, then immediately mounted his horse and commanded, "Pass on the order!"

"Travel day and night to return to Jiangling immediately; anyone who is late will be executed!"

……

Jingzhou, Jiangling.

Thirty thousand elite Wu troops were already arrayed outside the city, with ladders, battering rams, and catapults lined up in a row, gleaming with a cold metallic luster in the morning light.

"Quickly! Organize a defense immediately!"

Ma Liang's voice trembled slightly; this battle was definitely going to be very dangerous for them.

Lu Meng stood on the deck of the warship, squinting at the fortified city with his single eye.

He raised the command flag and swung it sharply downwards:
"Siege!"

As eighty war drums sounded simultaneously, the Wu army surged towards the city wall like a tidal wave.

"Release the arrows!" Ma Liang shouted hoarsely.

Arrows rained down from the city walls, and the Wu soldiers at the forefront fell in droves.

But the following troops continued their charge, stepping over the corpses of their comrades, and soon ladders were erected on the city walls.

"Get the logs ready!"

Liu Xun, his hair and beard bristling, personally directed the defending troops to push the massive logs covered in iron nails off the city wall.

Accompanied by a series of teeth-grinding cracking sounds, more than a dozen Wu soldiers who were climbing fell with screams.

boom! !

A loud bang suddenly came from the south of the city.

Ding Feng's battering ram troops have already broken through the outer city gate and are now ramming the inner city gate.

"follow me!"

Li Yan drew his sword and led a squad of elite troops down the city wall.

Inside the narrow passageway of the city gate, a fierce hand-to-hand battle ensued.

Li Yan's armor was soon splattered with blood, indistinguishable between that of the enemy and his own.

Within the city, the people also spontaneously organized themselves.

Old Wang, the blacksmith, and his apprentices poured molten iron at the Wu army soldiers who were scaling the city walls. Amidst screams, several people fell from the walls.

Manager Wu of the silk shop led his employees to dismantle the door panels and make makeshift shields for the defending soldiers.

"The left wing of the city wall is under attack!" a soldier ran up to report.

Ma Liang turned his head and saw that Han Dang had already led his assassins up a section of the city wall and was widening the breach.

"General Zhang!" Ma Liang called out urgently.

Without saying a word, Zhang Ren led his personal guards and rushed over.

He fought his way out of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood in Yizhou, and he had a strong belief in his heart.

That means living, you must live!

Only by living can there be hope and a chance to seek revenge against the Wei people!

Only then can he return to his home in Yizhou.

With intense fighting spirit, Zhang Renhuai's spear remained incredibly sharp, and in the blink of an eye, he felled three Wu soldiers.

In the midst of the chaos, he caught a glimpse of Lü Meng on a distant warship.

Without thinking much, he immediately took his iron bow.

Zhang Ren crawled forward, pressing his body against the gap in the battlements and pulling the bow up with all his might.

Shout, "Go!"

"Whoosh-"

The arrow streaked across the battlefield like a meteor, striking Lü Meng squarely in the right shoulder.

The arrow was so powerful that it forced the Eastern Wu commander to take three steps back, breaking the ship's railing.

"Oh no! The commander has been hit by an arrow!"

The Wu army was thrown into chaos as they rushed over to protect Lü Meng.

Lu Meng gritted his teeth and broke the arrow shaft, only to find that the arrowhead had turned black.

It turned out that Zhang Ren had smeared fecal poison on the arrows.

At that moment, the defending troops on the city wall erupted in thunderous cheers. Li Yan found a tattered "Han" character flag from somewhere and waved it vigorously on the arrow tower.

The people of the city sang in unison, their voices even drowning out the fighting on the battlefield.

Lu Meng's face turned ashen; he knew victory was unlikely today.
"Ming Jin withdraws his troops!"

As the gong sounded for retreat, the Wu army withdrew like a tide, leaving behind only mountains of corpses piled up below the city.

A wounded warhorse struggled and neighed in the blood and mud, dragging its protruding intestines as it tried to stand up.

Ma Liang slumped down against the parapet, only then realizing that the drumsticks in his hands were already broken, and his palms were a bloody mess.

The setting sun illuminated the bloodstains on the city wall as if they were burning flames, and also shone on his blood-stained face.

"We... held on..."

He murmured, tears mingling with blood as they streamed down his face.

"Long live! Long live! Long live!"

Soon, a burst of wild cheers erupted from the city walls.

Soldiers and civilians mingled together, embracing each other and weeping with joy.

Everyone's face was beaming with joy.

Although they did not truly defeat the Wu army, today was indeed the Wu army's best chance to capture Jiangling and Jingzhou.

All of this was thanks to Zhang Ren's seemingly miraculous arrow.

Just as everyone was surrounding Zhang Ren, congratulating him and praising his bravery.

Zhang Ren simply scratched his head, indicating that he really hadn't thought that much about it.

He only saw Lü Meng appear and tried to shoot an arrow.

He himself did not expect that the arrow would hit the target and severely demoralize the Wu army.

However, regardless of the circumstances, the Battle of Jiangling thwarted the Wu people's ambition to seize Jingzhou.

It also demonstrates the tenacious resilience of the people of Jiangling.

It's a day worth remembering and celebrating!
……

Inside Wu Jun's tent, the smell of blood mingled with the aroma of herbs.

Lu Meng lay shirtless on the couch, while the army doctor used a red-hot dagger to cut away the rotting flesh from his shoulder.

Large beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, but he stubbornly bit down on a piece of wood without uttering a sound.

"hiss--"

When the dagger was inserted into the wound for the third time, Cheng Pu couldn't help but turn his head away.

The generals inside the tent saw the arrowhead, along with a piece of black flesh, being picked out and falling into the copper basin with a crisp "clang".

The old military doctor wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief and said in a trembling voice:

"Reporting to the Commander, the fecal poison has already penetrated three-tenths of the flesh; if we continue to force it..."

The south is humid, and medical and sanitation conditions were extremely poor in ancient times.

The sanitary conditions, especially in the military, were a disaster.

Therefore, once injured, the wound is very easy to become infected and cause illness.

Many people in history have died here, such as Zhou Yu, who just passed away.

"shut up!"

Lu Meng spat out the cracked wooden stick and struggled to get up.

"Jiangling is already at its last gasp; how can we abandon the great cause of Jiangdong because of my own sake!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a sharp pain struck him. He grabbed the map beside the bed and tore the words "Jiangling" to shreds.

Ding Feng quickly pressed him down and advised:

"Commander! This humble general is willing to sign a military pledge that this city will surely be captured tomorrow!"

"Just listen to the army doctor and rest in the tent!"

Han Dang immediately knelt down and clasped his hands in a fist salute:

"When we joined Sun's uprising against the rebels, the Commander-in-Chief was still studying! Do you not trust this veteran general?"

Suddenly a commotion arose outside the tent.

It turned out that Pan Zhang was leading in a prisoner who was bound hand and foot, and all the generals looked at the prisoner.

Pan Zhang then explained:

"Reporting to the Commander, we've captured a messenger!"

As she spoke, she unfolded the blood-stained silk book.
"Zhao Yun and Pan Jun have received the news and are leading their troops back to reinforce!"

Lu Meng's one eye suddenly shrank, and blood began to seep from the wound again.

He suddenly grabbed Cheng Pu's hand:
"Old General... General Sun was one of them back then..."

Cheng Pu understood and said in a deep voice:

"Tomorrow at the hour of Yin (3-5 AM), I will personally lead my elite troops to scale the city walls."

If it is not successful by noon...

He took the sword from his waist and placed it across the table, saying, "I will use this sword to commit suicide!"

The generals followed suit, and in the blink of an eye, seven swords were piled up on the table.

The candlelight reflected the cold glint of the sword blade, making Lü Meng's face appear even paler.

"well……"

Lu Meng finally relented, but suddenly grabbed the army doctor by the collar.

"But I must move my main tent to the front lines! If I cannot witness the fall of the city tomorrow..."

Before he could finish speaking, a mouthful of black blood spurted onto the medic's shirt.

"I...will die with my eyes open in disbelief!!!"

The generals were greatly alarmed.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, the old military doctor poured the anesthetic into Lü Meng's mouth, then turned to Cheng Pu and whispered:

"The governor's injury can only be treated with rest. If he gets angry, the wound will reopen, which may worsen the infection."

In professional terms, it means the wound has reopened, making it more susceptible to infection.

Given the humidity in the south, even with rest, it's hard to guarantee against infection, let alone in the military.

"understood!"

Cheng Pu swallowed hard; tomorrow was very likely the last day.

This was the last chance for the Wu people to obtain Jingzhou.

If they fail to defeat him, not only will Lü Meng's body not be able to withstand the attack.

Moreover, the reinforcements brought back by Zhao Yun and Pan Jun will surely arrive soon.

At that time, the Wu people will be trapped like turtles in a jar, with no chance of winning!
At the third quarter of the hour of Yin (3:45 AM), a light snow began to fall on the walls of Jiangling.

When Cheng Pu organized the third charge, he noticed that the soldiers on the ladders were moving slower and slower.

Without Lü Meng to command the troops, the Wu army seemed to have lost its soul.

Clearly, the commander's serious injury dealt a huge blow to the morale of the soldiers.

"Keep pushing! After we break through the city..."

The old general's encouraging words were suddenly interrupted by a burst of unified shouts.

Ma Liang stood atop the arrow tower, directing the soldiers and civilians to strike their shields and sing:
"A man in white crossed the river, intending to steal a chicken—"

"The governor's shoulders are broken and covered in mud—"

The Wu army below the city was in an uproar.

This vulgar skit, sung in the tune of a Jiangdong fisherman's song, turns Lü Meng's scheme into a joke.

At the end of the Si hour (9-11 AM), Lü Meng, despite his illness, actually came to the front lines.

The white cloth wrapped around his wound had turned brownish-red, and every step he took left bloody footprints in the snow.

With his soldiers fighting on the front lines, he simply couldn't find the peace of mind to recuperate.

It was almost noon, but there was still no news of the city falling.

This finally prompted Lü Meng to leave his tent and go to the front lines to check on the battle situation.

"Captain!"

When Ding Feng saw Lü Meng arrive, he hurriedly went forward to help him.

Lu Meng pushed him away, his one eye fixed on the city wall.

New songs are being sung there:
"Li Lang's brilliant plan has spread throughout the land—"

"Lu Meng's imitations are like those of a turtle—"

"puff!"

Lu Meng spat out a mouthful of blood, staining his chest armor red.

He pointed tremblingly at the city wall, making an indistinct "gurgling" sound in his throat.

"Captain!"

Han Dang rushed forward and picked up Lü Meng, only to find that blood was still trickling from the corner of his mouth.

A disturbance began to break out in Wu's army. First, some soldiers in the rear guard dropped their weapons, and then the commotion spread like a plague throughout the entire army.

Someone shouted, "The governor is dead!" and the 30,000-strong army scattered like a receding tide.

Cheng Pu watched this scene with tears streaming down his face:
Battering rams were abandoned in the moat, siege ladders lay askew in the snow, and even the most elite private retinues were scrambling to climb onto the warships.

As dusk fell, the last Wu warship hastily departed from the shore.

The "Lü" flag at the stern was haphazardly torn off and thrown into the surging river.

Meanwhile, the Jiangling banners on the city walls still fluttered in the wind and snow, their surfaces riddled with arrow holes and bloodstains.

On the night of the 30th of the tenth month in the fifteenth year of Jian'an (200 AD).

Wu Jun's warships sailed eastward downstream amidst the wind and snow.

Lu Meng lay amidst layers of brocade quilts, the stench of decay spreading from his shoulders to his chest, while the physician knelt beside him, silently weeping.

"Generals... come here..."

Lu Meng suddenly opened his eyes, and his single eye was bright and clear as if in a final burst of light.

"The failure to capture Jingzhou this time is entirely my fault."

"Before setting out on the expedition, I swore an oath before the Lord of Wu, but now I have returned empty-handed."

"I have no face to go back and see Lord Wu."

Han Dang and others knelt down and wept bitterly:

"Take care, Commander!"

The atmosphere inside the tent was oppressive and heavy, but Lü Meng's face appeared unusually calm.

"Listen..."

"After I die, my ashes may be scattered into the great river."

Trembling, he tore off the governor's seal from his waist, "I... am unworthy... to be buried in the land of Wu..."

“Lu Boyan can act as my governor in my place.”

Everyone bowed their heads and sighed; those who heard it were all moved to tears.

They wept not only for their Grand Commander, but also for the failure of an operation meticulously prepared for years.

What awaits them in the future?

Lu Meng gazed at the swaying cabin ceiling and suddenly let out a long sigh:
"Heaven has no pity for me; my life is short, but my hatred is long."

"Ten years of honing one's skills, all swept away by the tide of the river in a single night."

After reciting the poem, he breathed his last, his one eye still wide open, gazing westward.

"Commander—!"

The entire cabin was filled with generals kneeling and weeping bitterly.

Just then, a piercing sound of the ship's planks cracking suddenly came from outside the cabin.

Han Dang lifted the curtain and looked out, only to see dozens of warships approaching like ghosts in the wind and snow, with the "Zhao" flag fluttering at the bow of the leading ship.

"It's Zhao Zilong of Changshan!"

Ding Feng drew his sword, only to find his own fleet in disarray.

The vanguard had lost its will to fight due to the recent death of its commander, while the rearguard ran into a group of hidden reefs.

Zhao Yun stood at the bow of the ship, his silver spear gleaming coldly in the moonlight.

He could have taken advantage of the chaos to launch a surprise attack, but he saw white banners fluttering on Wu's ships and could faintly hear crying.

The lieutenant said urgently, "General, if we don't attack now, when will we?"

Zhao Yun looked westward:

"The most urgent task at hand is to get back to Jiangling."

"With this unexpected turn of events, the people in the city must be filled with panic."

"I need to lead my troops to stabilize the situation in the city."

"As for Wu Jun..."

Looking at the soldiers on the Wu ship, all dressed in white mourning clothes, it was clear that a great general had died.

As the saying goes, a desperate army is bound to win.

In order to save time, Zhao Yun did not bring many troops.

Moreover, water is not his forte.

It's best to avoid creating unnecessary complications right now.

So he lowered his gun and gave the order:

"Order that arrows be used to block the waterway, and the entire army continue westward!"

On Wu Jun's side, Cheng Pu was ordering people to move Lü Meng's body into the inner cabin.

Ding Feng, Han Dang, and others immediately organized their men to return fire.

As the wind and snow intensified, the two fleets sailed in opposite directions.

The white banners on Wu's warships gradually disappeared into the darkness, while the torches on the bows of Han's ships turned into specks of fire in the river mist.

Both sides suffered losses in this encounter.

But none of them were interested in fighting and stopped short of a decisive battle.

They each went their separate ways, east and west.

Soon, Zhao Yun and Pan Jun's troops returned to Jiangling.

The snow on the walls of Jiangling City has not yet melted.

Zhao Yun, clad in silver armor and white robes, stood on the city tower, gazing at the ruins of the Wu army's camp outside the city, his spear gleaming coldly in the morning sun.

"General Zilong!"

Ma Liang, dragging his injuries, climbed the city wall, with bandages faintly visible beneath his official robes.

"If the general doesn't return soon, Jiangling will be lost!"

Zhao Yun turned around and helped the swaying Ma Liang:
"Ji Changli's defense of the isolated city is a great achievement."

"King Qi will surely reward you handsomely later."

He inadvertently caught a glimpse of the scars peeking out from Ma Liang's sleeve—scabs from beating the drum day and night.

Pan Jun arrived in a hurry, reporting that "the granary in the west of the city has been looted by rioters!"

"I will handle this."

Zhao Yun unfastened his sword and handed it to Ma Liang, saying, "I need to borrow the prefect's seal."

Zhao Yun led his warriors to the scene and immediately beheaded the troublemakers.

The situation was quickly brought under control.

Then a new decree was issued:

Those who commit armed robbery shall be bound and displayed in the marketplace.

The elderly, women, and children can receive two liters of relief porridge each day.

Families of war dead are exempt from taxes for three years.

Thanks to the efforts of Zhao Yun, Pan Jun, Ma Liang, and others, Jiangling quickly returned to order.

The overall situation has basically stabilized.

The Gangneung crisis has now been officially declared over.

A few days later, Zhuge Liang also returned to Jiangling.

The main hall of the Jiangling Prefectural Governor's Office.

Zhuge Liang removed his crane-feather cloak and knelt before the desk, wearing only a plain white undergarment.

The civil and military officials from Jingzhou stood on both sides of the hall, even deliberately lowering their coughs.

"Liang, guilty."

The sound of a feather fan gently resting on the table startled everyone, causing them to look up.

Zhuge Liang slowly removed his turban, revealing his prematurely gray hair.

"The appointment of Ma Su led to the loss of Gong'an, and because of this one man, the civil and military officials of Jingzhou have been implicated."

"This is all because Liang did not heed the advice of you gentlemen and insisted on employing this man."

As Zhuge Liang spoke, his finger traced the map of Jingzhou on the table, stopping at the burned-out villages that were circled.

"...Three thousand seven hundred households were displaced as a result, all due to Liang's fault."

Fei Yi couldn't help but speak up:
“My lord, this is not solely your fault.”

"It's all because Lü Meng is too cunning..."

"No."

Zhuge Liang suddenly slammed his hand on the table, startling a flock of crows outside the hall into flight.

"Liang's use of Ma Su was a mistake due to oversight."

As he spoke, he took off the seal of Jingzhou and placed it on the table.

“Liang has already submitted a memorial to the King of Qi, resigning from his post as Governor of Jingzhou.”

"I don't deserve to be in this position anymore..."

"My lord! My lord!"

Everyone was shocked upon hearing this and immediately knelt down to beg for mercy.

"My lord, we are willing to share your guilt!"

Zhuge Liang was very popular in the workplace.

Everyone has gotten used to being around this kind and gentle leader.

If it were someone else, who knows who it would be.

Therefore, everyone hoped that Zhuge Liang would not leave.

"But before that..."

Zhuge Liang lightly raised his feather fan, and the sound of armored vehicles suddenly rose outside the hall.

Four fierce guards escorted a disheveled man as he staggered in, the shackles dragging harshly on the ground.

"Ma Su!"

Zhang Ren slammed his hand on the table and stood up, the scabbard at his waist causing the table to shake.

The prisoner trembled at the sound and raised his filthy face.

It was none other than Ma Canjun, who had been missing for many days, but his brocade robe was now tattered and worn like a beggar's garment.

Zhuge Liang slowly descended the steps, the sound of his boots hitting the blue bricks causing the entire hall to hold its breath.

He stopped three steps away from Ma Su. "Do you know why Liang was able to intercept you?"

Without waiting for a reply, he suddenly unfolded the silk painting in his hand.

"You actually fled north along the beacon tower route set up by Liang himself!"

Ma Su crawled two steps on his knees, his forehead bleeding from the impact.
"The students are confused..."

"Confused?"

Zhuge Liang suddenly shouted, startling the dust on the beams into falling down.

He tossed out a stack of documents.

"Thirteen sections of the river defenses were illegally altered! Thirty enemy ships were released without authorization!"

With each sentence spoken, a scroll of bamboo slips was slammed down in front of Ma Su.

"Is this foolishness? This is treason!"

Ma Su was speechless and could only kowtow and admit his mistakes.

There are actually three versions of the story of Ma Su's death in history.

One version says that Ma Su was beheaded by Zhuge Liang and his head displayed to the public.

One version says that Ma Su died in prison.

One possibility is that Ma Su escaped.

But the key point is that all three of these accounts come from the same historical book – the Records of the Three Kingdoms.

The biography of Zhuge Liang states, "He returned to Hanzhong and executed Su to appease the people."

The biography of Ma Su states, "Ma Su was imprisoned and died."

The biography of Xiang Lang states, "When Su fled, Lang knew about it but did not report it. Liang was angry with him and dismissed him from his post, sending him back to Chengdu."

Therefore, the most reasonable explanation is that all three statements are correct.

It is likely that Ma Su was defeated and prepared to flee, but because of the Han-Wu alliance at the time, Wu did not want to accept Ma Su and offend Zhuge Liang.

So they sent him back.

Upon his return, Zhuge Liang punished him, imprisoned him, and executed him.

Therefore, it can also be considered that Zhuge Liang killed Ma Su.

Only with this explanation can this historical record make sense.

Regardless of the circumstances, Ma Su at the time definitely wanted to take a gamble.

Whether one surrenders to Cao Wei or Sun Wu, it is considered treason.

If Ma Su had chosen to surrender to Cao Wei, Cao Pi would have undoubtedly treated him well.

Because this would be a great disgrace to Shu Han.

Cao Pi would not let go of this opportunity to humiliate Shu Han.

Zhuge Liang's expression changed, and he shouted:
“You have been well-versed in military strategy since childhood and are familiar with tactics.”

“I have repeatedly warned you that Gong’an is the foundation of Jiangling.”

"You are entrusted with this heavy responsibility on behalf of your entire family."

"If you had listened to Liao Hua's advice earlier, would this disaster have happened?"

"The defeat and loss of generals, and the suffering of the people, are all your fault!"

"If military discipline is not upheld, how can the troops be respected?"

"You have broken the law, so don't blame me."

"After your death, I will provide your family with a monthly stipend, so you need not worry about it."

Neither the Shu Han nor the current Qi Han had the custom of slaughtering the families of their ministers.

Zhuge Liang would be even less likely to do so.

After saying this, he ordered the guards to take him out and behead him.

Ma Su wept and bowed, saying:
“Your Excellency regards Su as a son, and Su regards Your Excellency as a father. I hope you will deeply consider the meaning of punishing Gun and promoting Yu.”

"If this friendship will not be lost, then even in death, Su will have no regrets."

After saying this, he kowtowed three times to Zhuge Liang.

What Ma Su meant was, "You treat me like your own son, and I regard you as my own father and elder brother."

I hope you can deeply understand the great righteousness of Shun killing Gun and employing Yu, so that our lifelong friendship will not disappear because of my death.

Although I, Ma Su, am dead, I will leave no regrets on my journey to the underworld.

That's right, the idiom "though he died, he had no regrets" actually originated from Ma Su.

Historical records state, "Therefore, the 100,000 people wept for him."

This means that the scene was quite moving, and the entire Shu army wept.

Seeing this, Fei Yi pleaded with Zhuge Liang on his behalf:
"In the past, when Chu killed Dechen, Duke Wen was pleased."

"The world is not yet at peace, and it would be a pity to execute a wise and strategist."

Kongming, with tears streaming down his face, replied:
"The reason why Sun Tzu was able to win the world was because he used the law clearly."

"Now that the four directions are divided and war has just begun, if we abandon the law, how will we defeat the rebels?"

"He should be executed."

Therefore, he urged the warriors to drag Ma Su away and behead him.

A moment later, the warrior presented Ma Su's head at the foot of the steps.

When Zhuge Liang saw Ma Su's head, he wept bitterly.

Fei Yi asked:

"Just now, Your Excellency has already clearly stated Ma Su's faults and upheld military law. Why are you crying now?"

Zhuge Liang said with tears in his eyes:

"I am not weeping for Ma Su."

"I am reminded of when the King of Qi toured Jingzhou, he instructed Yu Liang before departing, saying—"

"Ma Su's words are exaggerated; he should not be given important responsibilities."

"Now that this has come to pass, I deeply regret my own ignorance."

"I weep because I recall the words of the King of Qi!"

When the soldiers, both high and low, heard this, they all sighed and wept.

Ma Su also completed his image as the only genuine victim of the military order.

Many people find the character of Ma Su incomprehensible.

I don't understand why he "violated the proper conduct and acted inappropriately".

Indeed, any two ordinary generals would regard Zhuge Liang's offensive and defensive strategies as divine pronouncements and strictly implement them.

But only Ma Su would not do that.

There are actually many examples in reality.
The great scientist you see is my dad, nothing special.

I even offered suggestions while he was writing the book.

At this time, Wang Ping, an old worker who had no formal education and had switched jobs from the factory, came over to offer suggestions.

You can't do that...

The scientist Ma Su was even more furious.

I have three doctoral degrees in my hands, you know?

You illiterate traitor, how dare you give me advice?
When the battle situation took a sharp turn for the worse, Ma Su's mentality collapsed.

Ah... how could this happen?
When strategizing, the advisors are always calm and composed.

Few who actually become commanders can maintain their former glory.

That's why it's said that Confucian generals like Zhuge Liang and Zhou Yu are so rare.

Because many strategists are truly only suited to offering advice from behind the scenes.

If you really let him go to the battlefield and lead troops alone, he just won't do it well.

Of course, the Qi-Han of today is completely different from the Shu-Han of history.

Because of the loss of Jieting, Shu Han lost its best chance to successfully launch a northern expedition.

Even if Qi Han lost Jingzhou, he still possessed the territorial territory of Cao Wei in history.

Moreover, Jingzhou was not lost.

The death of Ma Su was of little consequence to the talented state of Qi.

but--

Although Ma Su's death was not a great loss, it would trigger a huge political upheaval in the State of Qi.

At this time, Liu Bei, who was still finishing up work in Henan, had already learned of the changes that had occurred in Jingzhou.

Zhuge Liang's letter also arrived, which briefly stated:

"I, a man of meager talent, have presumptuously assumed the position, and personally wield the banner and axe to inspire the three armies."

"If one cannot clearly explain the rules and laws, one will be fearful when faced with a situation."

"The fault lies with me for failing to properly assign duties, as evidenced by the disobedience of the public security officers and the lack of vigilance in Jiangling."

"Your subject is ignorant of people and lacks understanding of many matters. It is my duty to hold the leader accountable in the Spring and Autumn Annals."

"Please demote yourself three ranks to atone for your faults."

Liu Bei put down the letter, his brows furrowing into a deep frown.

Zhang Fei was completely unaware of what had happened and was still immersed in the joy of his great victory.

Seeing Liu Bei looking troubled, he asked:

"After winning the battle, why is my elder brother worried instead of happy?"

Liu Bei waved his hand, signaling Zhang Fei to be quiet.

Zhang Fei noticed that Liu Bei's expression was off, and immediately shut his mouth.

After a long while, Liu Bei suddenly put down the letter and called out:

"Go! Call Wang Jingxing and Hua Ziyu here."

The attendant then asked, "Should we call him Prime Minister Li?"

"No! Don't call Li Xiang here."

Liu Bei said solemnly.

……

(End of this chapter)