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

Chapter 332 A Life of Ups and Downs, How Much of It Is Converted to Poetry? A Heart Full of Turmoil is Nothing More Than a Delight in Drinking on Paper.

In the winter of the sixteenth year of Jian'an, a fierce north wind howled outside Yangping Pass.

Upon hearing the news that Liu Bei had arrived in person, Cao Cao donned his armor, mustered his elite troops, and marched out of the pass to form a battle array.

But then they saw Xuande in his golden helmet and brocade robe, flanked by Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, who asked in a loud voice:
"Why has Xuande violated our borders without cause? Why has he raised this unjust army?"

Liu Bei responded in response:

"I was ordered to suppress the rebels and reclaim the Shu region for the country. How can you say that my campaign was without just cause?"

After saying this, Liu Bei raised his hand and took out an imperial edict.

It was an imperial edict, ordering Liu Bei to attack Cao Cao.

Now that the imperial court is completely under Liu Bei's control, it is not difficult for him to draft an imperial edict.

Cao Cao then raised his whip and shouted:

"This is a forged imperial edict! It is definitely not an edict from the Emperor!"

Liu Bei also cursed:
"How can an imperial edict be considered a forgery if it is written in the emperor's own handwriting?"

"...Alright, I won't argue with you any further."

As he spoke, he turned around and called out to those behind him, "Where is Feng'er!"

Before he finished speaking, a young general emerged from Liu Bei's ranks, clad in golden armor and a red robe, brandishing his spear and shouting:
"How dare that traitor Cao Cao insult my father!"

It was his adopted son, Liu Feng.

Before Cao Cao could react, Liu Feng had already led more than ten elite cavalrymen to charge in.

The Wei army hastily engaged them, but Liu Feng broke through and charged left and right.

He killed two junior officers and ran back to his position.

Upon seeing this, the Qi army immediately shouted loudly:
"The general is mighty! The general is mighty!"

The drummer pounded the cowhide drum with a deafening roar that echoed throughout the entire valley.

Liu Bei was overjoyed and smiled at Cao Cao:

"Mengde, is my son brave enough?!"

Cao Cao's face immediately turned ashen. He had been caught off guard and had not expected Liu Feng to suddenly attack.

After galloping for a while, they immediately retreated.

While it certainly showed courage, it ultimately benefited the Wei army.

Thinking of this, Cao Cao couldn't help but feel a surge of anger and embarrassment, and he shouted:
"That shoe-selling brat, he always sends his adopted son to refuse you, sir!"

"When I summon my Yellow-Bearded Son, your adopted son will be turned into mincemeat."

Enraged, Liu Feng brandished his spear, spurred his horse, and charged forward again, heading straight for Cao Cao.

This time, Cao Cao was prepared and remained calm. He turned around and called out, "Where is Ziwen?"

A loud shout suddenly rang out from Cao's army formation:

"Your child is here!"

Suddenly, a valiant general, as heavy as a jujube, leaped out on his horse, his golden beard bristling like steel needles.

The spear in his hand gleamed coldly, while his black horse neighed like thunder.

It was Cao Zhang, courtesy name Ziwen, son of Cao Cao.

This boy is quite brave and strong, and is skilled in riding and archery from a young age; he has extraordinary strength and can wrestle with fierce beasts.

Cao Cao had advised him more than once:

"You do not study but are fond of archery and horsemanship; this is the courage of a common man, what is there to admire?"

Cao Zhang replied:

"A true man should emulate Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, and make meritorious contributions in the desert."

"Having commanded hundreds of thousands of troops and traversed the world, how can one become a scholar?"

Cao Cao then asked his sons about their ambitions.

Cao Zhang replied, "I am good at being a general."

Cao Cao then asked, "How would you be as a general?"

Cao Zhang replied:

"A general must be fully armed and ready to fight, and lead from the front in the face of danger."

"Rewards must be given, and punishments must be carried out faithfully."

Cao Cao laughed when he heard this, so he took Cao Zhang with him wherever he went to war.

Cao Zhang went out to meet Liu Feng, and a fierce battle ensued.

Cao Cao smiled and said to Liu Bei:
"This is my son. Why doesn't Xuande send your son to fight alongside you?"

The implication is simply a sarcastic remark about Liu Bei sending a fake son to the battlefield.

His real son was not as good as Cao Cao.

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was furious and led his troops to launch a surprise attack.

Cao Cao retreated, when suddenly he heard a horn sound all around.

An army emerged from each of the left and right flanks.

They are Ma Chao and Wu Lan.

Ma Chao's soldiers had been gathering strength in Bingzhou for a long time, and the previous battle in Chang'an was merely a small test of their abilities.

Today is the perfect time to display their might; upon entering the arena, they swaggered in with unstoppable force.

After a fierce battle, Cao Cao's troops were unable to withstand the attack and were defeated.

Amidst the chaos of battle, Cao Zhang encountered Wu Lan, and the two clashed.

After only a few exchanges, Cao Zhang stabbed Wu Lan off his horse with a single blow.

Cao Cao withdrew his troops and retreated to Yangping Pass.

Although Liu Bei won his first battle, he was depressed because of the loss of Wu Lan and ordered that his body be collected before advancing.

Inside Yangping Pass, the heavy city gates slammed shut behind Cao Cao.

He took off his helmet, revealing that his graying temples were soaked with sweat.

"What a scoundrel!"

Cao Cao was panting heavily, his fingers unconsciously tapping on the crenellations of the city wall.

"Back when we were discussing heroes over wine in Chen, I underestimated him."

Back then, Cao Cao placed himself and Liu Bei on the same level, believing that the only heroes in the world were the two of them.

It seems that the gap between the two is widening.

Cheng Yu handed over a handkerchief and whispered:

"Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are both men capable of fighting ten thousand men. Now, the Qi people have also gained Ma Chao and Liang cavalry, making it truly difficult for them to fight back."

This battle was also a probing exercise for both sides.

It's basically about seeing how strong both sides are on the front lines.

As it turned out, the Wei army still couldn't defeat the Qi army in a direct confrontation.

Despite the fact that some problems had arisen within this Qi army.

However, unless all these problems suddenly erupt and escalate, it will be difficult for the Wei army to gain any advantage over the Qi army.

Cao Cao turned around abruptly, "Zhongde, do you have a good plan?"

Cheng Yu pointed to the south side of the sand table:

"Thirty li south of Yangping Pass, there is a mountain called Yidingjun."

He traced his finger along the direction of the Mian River, saying, "If we take this position, we can cut off Liu Bei's supply lines."

"Liu Bei has come from afar and is tired; he will surely lead his army to seize Dingjun Mountain."

"At that time, we can take advantage of the mountain's terrain to fight Liu Bei."

Cao Cao nodded, agreeing to Cheng Yu's plan to seize Dingjun Mountain.

They then discussed who should guard Dingjun Mountain.

Unexpectedly, Cao Cao said, "I can go myself."

These words caused an uproar among the generals.

Xiahou Dun's single eye was wide open:
"It would be too dangerous for Lord Wei to go in person; it would be better to send another capable general."

Cao Cao shook his head and refused:
"Precisely because of its peril, it is only possible for a lone person or relative to go!"

Li Shimin once commented that Cao Cao had more than enough wisdom as a general, but lacked the talent to rule an empire.

Erfeng meant that he thought he was just as good at fighting as Cao Cao, but when it came to politics, she was far more capable than him.

To gain Li Shimin's recognition in military affairs, Cao Cao's military skills must have been among the best in the late Han Dynasty.

As the head coach, his decision to personally take the risk at this moment is not a sign of irrationality.

Rather, they knew that this was a critical moment, and they had no choice but to fight!

Because he was the weaker party, he couldn't defeat Liu Bei in a direct confrontation.

He could only exploit Liu Bei's weakness in supplying provisions and fight him to the death in this regard.

When faced with a life-or-death situation, the weak have no choice.

He could only gamble, betting that Liu Bei wouldn't dare to give up everything to fight him.

Liu Bei lost, but he merely withdrew from Hanzhong.

Cao Cao lost, which meant he was completely removed from the stage of history.

Therefore, Cao Cao had no choice at all.

He simply cannot win without resorting to unconventional tactics.

As for the second question, even if Dingjun Mountain was a place where one had to risk one's life, why did Cao Cao insist on going there personally?

Why not send trusted and beloved generals like Xiahou Dun and Cao Ren?

This is where Cao Cao's charisma and intelligence come into play.

Because what he was about to do was a matter of either achieving success or dying.

It's a one-off deal made at a crucial moment.

The task of guarding Dingjun Mountain is too arduous and dangerous; sending someone else would easily lead to failure.

Once you give up halfway, there's absolutely no way to turn things around.

If Cao Cao hadn't personally led the team, no one else could have taken on this task of inheriting the fate of the Wei Kingdom.

Therefore, Cao Cao ordered Xiahou Dun and Cao Hong to guard Yangping Pass.

He himself led 10,000 of Wei's most elite troops south across the Mian River and set up camp at Dingjun Mountain.

As dusk settled, candlelight flickered within Liu Bei's camp.

Liu Bei stood silently facing Wu Lan's corpse, the general who had followed him for many years still bearing the broken blade of Cao Zhang protruding from his chest.

Guan Yu gently placed his hand on his brother's shoulder, unsure how to comfort him.

"Report——!"

The scout stumbled in, shouting, "That traitor Cao Cao has personally led his elite troops to occupy Dingjun Mountain!"

Liu Bei turned around abruptly, and the candlestick on the table was swept to the ground by the wind from his sleeve.

"That Cao Cao! He killed my beloved general and still dares to come out of the pass to provoke trouble!"

He drew his sword and shouted:

"Give the order: Beat the drums to assemble the generals!"

Inside the central command tent, the generals were locked in a heated debate.

Zhang Fei slammed his fist on the table and stood up:

"Brother! Let me go and chop off that traitorous Cao Cao's head!"

Ma Chao also said:

"This humble general is also willing to share the burdens of the King of Qi."

Just as the two generals were vying for the lead, Jian Yong reminded Liu Bei not to forget the strategic objective of this campaign.

Liu Bei was suddenly enlightened, realizing that he still needed to relocate people from Wudu.

A large number of Di people lived there, and they couldn't be allowed to side with Cao Cao.

So he instructed Ma Chao and Zhang Fei:

"You two can go to Wudu and relocate the Di people to Guanzhong, but you must not let them side with Cao Cao."

Upon hearing this, the two generals had no choice but to obey.

Liu Bei then personally led a large army to attack Dingjun Mountain.

Early December, winter.

The new wind roared on Dingjun Mountain, and Cao Cao climbed up to look far away.

Seeing the forest of large banners bearing the character "Liu" at the foot of the mountain, tens of thousands of Qi troops had surrounded the mountain like an iron barrel.

"Liu Bei has come in person after all!"

Cao Cao frowned, having been bullied by Liu Bei for most of his life, suffering repeated defeats.

With Li Yi absent today, it's time for the two of them to have a fair and square showdown.

"Pass on the order—"

"Order the archers to go up the cliff, and prepare the rolling logs and rocks!"

"Here!"

The Wei army began to make defensive deployments in preparation for the arrival of the Qi army.

At the Qi army's main camp down the mountain, Liu Bei also began preparations for attacking the mountain.

The soldiers on both sides earnestly advised:

"Your Majesty, the Wei army now occupies a superior position and has the advantage of terrain."

"If we launch a direct attack, we are using our weaknesses to attack their strengths."

"It would be better to temporarily surround Dingjun Mountain and not think of any other way to capture it."

Dingjun Mountain is located next to the Mian River, making it impossible to blockade the supply lines to the mountain.

The only way is to take the hilltop by force.

However, a strong attack is bound to suffer from the disadvantage of height, putting them in a dilemma.

The best solution the generals can think of right now is to wait for Zhang Fei and Ma Chao to open up the situation in Wudu.

This forced Cao Wei to shift its strategy, and then took the opportunity to make Cao Cao abandon Dingjun Mountain.

But as soon as the two left, Liu Bei couldn't just sit idly by.

Furthermore, he did not believe that Cao Cao, with only 10,000 men, could withstand the attack of his Qi army of 50,000.

Even though it has the advantage of being located on a hilltop.

"When Cao Cao sees me, he always flees at the mere sight of me."

"Our current predicament is truly a godsend!"

Why are you all cowards at war?

Liu Bei rebuked everyone for their reluctance to seize the mountain.

Cao Cao has now trapped himself on the mountaintop; what else could it be but a death sentence?
Liu Bei then pointed his sword to the mountain peak and said loudly:
"If we can capture Cao Cao alive in this battle, Hanzhong will be within our grasp!"

"You are all veteran generals who have fought alongside me for many years. Why do you dare not fight against such a small place as Dingjun Mountain?"

Generals Zhang Nan and Feng Xi advised:
"Your Majesty, the soldiers are exhausted after fighting in Henan and Guanzhong."

"The roads to Shu are difficult to travel, and we have not had a few days to rest after arriving here."

"Now we are going to launch a strong attack on Dingjun Mountain, but I'm afraid it won't be easy to take it."

Liu Bei slammed his fist on the table and stood up, saying:
"It is precisely because I know that my soldiers are exhausted that I wish to end the war as soon as possible."

"If this drags on, won't it make things even harder for the soldiers?"

"You may convey my military order: as long as Hanzhong is captured."

"I will immediately withdraw my troops and let the soldiers go home to reunite with their families."

This……

Zhang Nan and Feng Xi exchanged a glance.

"go!"

"Here."

The two generals retreated upon hearing this.

Jian Yong slowly walked to Liu Bei's side and said:

"Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is not here now. Should we make a copy of the military reports from the front lines?"

"Then send it to Luoyang and instruct the Prime Minister to review it?"

Liu Bei waved his hand and said:
"The round trip to Luoyang will take at least twenty days, and military intelligence cannot be communicated immediately."

"Prime Minister is currently pacifying Henan and is already extremely busy with many affairs of state. Why should he be burdened with the war in Hanzhong?"

"You should know that the Great Qi Empire is the result of my joint efforts with Prime Minister Li."

"Since the start of the uprising, we have fought dozens of battles, large and small."

"Cao Cao has never been better than me. Today I am determined to take Dingjun Mountain by force. What can he do to me?"

"Could it be that I am ignorant of military matters?"

Jian Yong acquiesced for a moment, knowing in his heart that pride had clouded Liu Bei's judgment.

From Liu Bei's perspective, he was indeed undefeated in every battle against Cao Cao.

But Jian Yong, as Liu Bei's childhood friend and a loyal follower, clearly remembered—

In the second year of the Chuping era, Liu Bei arrived in Xuzhou just after being defeated by Cao Cao in Tan County.

It was at that time that Liu Bei found his Zhang Liang, Xiao He, and Han Xin—a perfect combination—amidst the chaos of the army.

But thinking about it, it makes sense.

The defeat at Tan County was, in the grand scheme of things, a minor stain on Liu Bei's military career.

Later, with Li Yi's assistance, Liu Bei won countless brilliant battles.

How could they possibly remember a trivial defeat in Tanxian?
At Liu Bei's insistence, the Qi army began a fierce attack on Dingjun Mountain.

After the third drumbeat, Liu Bei personally led his soldiers to scale the cliffs and attack the mountain.

Arrows rained down from the mountain, and the vanguard suffered heavy casualties.

The logs roared as dozens of soldiers fell off the cliff.

The vanguard of the Qi army was quickly defeated by the Cao army.

Seeing that Cao Cao had blocked his first wave of attacks, Liu Bei was furious.

"You scoundrel Cao Cao, how dare you kill my soldiers!"

Ignoring all advice, he personally took up his shield and stepped over the corpses to advance.

The soldiers had no choice but to bravely advance, protecting Liu Bei on both sides.

Halfway up the mountain, Cao Cao's black armor was stained with blood.

Urgent report from personal guards:

"Lord Wei! The enemy has broken through on the west flank!"

"Why panic!"

Cao Cao cleaved the arrow shaft in two with his sword, saying, "Report when the enemy is a hundred paces away!"

As he spoke, Cao Cao continued to lead his army to resist the Qi army directly in front of him.

A moment later, a personal guard came to report:
"Lord Wei, the enemy is within a hundred paces!"

Cao Cao was furious, "You only told me when the enemy was right up close!"

A moment later, Cao Zhang's battle robe was stained with blood, and the report came:

"Father, Liu Bei has personally led his army and has already breached two stockades!"

Cao Cao then stepped forward to examine it, and stroked his sword, saying:
"Does Liu Bei think we have too few soldiers?"

He immediately ordered Cao Zhang to lead the Tiger and Leopard Cavalry to the left, Gao Zuo to lead the archers and crossbowmen to the right, and he himself commanded the central army to hold the line.

At the same time, Zhang Nan was leading his troops up the cliff. Just as he raised his rattan shield, he suddenly heard a sound of something breaking through the air.

Gao Zuo shouted from the cliff: "Release the arrows!"

In an instant, arrows flew like locusts, obscuring the sun.

Countless logs and boulders crashed down with a deafening roar.

Zhang Nan shouted:

"Advance and you will live, retreat and you will die!"

Having said that, he personally took up his shield and charged forward, breaking through three layers of deer antlers in succession.

Suddenly, a general in a golden helmet and with a yellow beard appeared, brandishing a halberd and charging forward; it was none other than Cao Zhang.

Cao Zhang shouted:

"Die, you rat!"

With a sweeping motion, he slew three soldiers. Zhang Nan raised his spear to meet the attack, and the spear and halberd clashed, sparks flying.

After about five rounds of fighting, Zhang Nan's arm armor was pierced.

Cao Zhang turned his horse around and thrust his halberd, killing Zhang Nan.

Upon seeing this, Feng Xi was furious:

"Give me back my brother's life!"

He swung his sword straight at Cao Zhang.

Gao Zuo lay prone on the cliff, drew his bow and nocked an arrow, and struck Feng Xi squarely in the right eye.

Feng Xi screamed and fell off a cliff, where he was trampled to death by the chaotic army.

Upon seeing the loss of two generals, Liu Bei's eyes widened in fury.

"You traitor Cao! I swear I will kill you!"

He personally took up his sword and shield and charged up the mountainside.

Cao Cao waved his command flag, and Cao Chun led his elite cavalry to meet the enemy.

In the midst of the chaotic battle, Liu Bei spotted Cao Cao in the midst of the fighting.

Then he roared angrily:
"You traitor Cao! You've exhausted all your tricks, why don't you surrender now!"

Cao Cao sneered:

"You big-eared scoundrel! Who will emerge victorious today is still uncertain!"

The two armies clashed fiercely, and for a time the battle was evenly matched.

Just as the stalemate was at its peak, Gao Zuo led his archers to outflank Liu Bei from the rear.

Cao Zhang led his cavalry in a charge, throwing the Qi army into chaos and causing countless deaths and injuries.

When Liu Bei saw that half of his brothers had all fallen, he became even more furious.

He snatched a sword from his lieutenant, wielding two swords, and prepared to challenge Cao Cao to a duel.

At that time, arrows rained down from the front lines.

Even many of the elite front-line soldiers fell to the ground, but Liu Bei, still caught up in the moment, insisted on continuing his charge.

The surrounding soldiers were so frightened that they quickly stopped him.

Liu Bei ignored him and insisted on going up.

Seeing this, the supervising officer Pang Tong rushed ahead of Liu Bei and charged into the enemy lines with him.

Liu Bei was greatly alarmed and shouted:
"Shiyuan, dodge the arrow!"

Pang Tong replied:

"If Your Excellency personally faces arrows and stones, how much more so should a lowly person like me?"

Seeing this, Liu Bei had no choice but to take Pang Tong's hand and retreat back to his own camp.

At this moment, Cao's army also gained the upper hand. If the Qi army did not retreat, it was very likely that Cao's army would take advantage of the terrain.

They formed an encirclement at the foot of the mountain and annihilated the enemy in one fell swoop.

At this point, the generals once again urged Liu Bei to withdraw his troops.

Seeing that the situation was hopeless, Liu Bei sighed deeply:
"Is Heaven not helping the Han?"

Left with no other option, they had to order a retreat.

Cao Cao stood atop the mountain, watching the Qi army retreat in defeat, and sighed while stroking his sword:
"Liu Bei is truly my match!"

After a fierce battle, the Wei army finally repelled the Qi army's offensive and held Dingjun Mountain.

In this battle, the Wei army suffered over a thousand casualties, while the Qi army suffered over ten thousand casualties.

The mountain stream turned red.

……

The setting sun, like blood, cast a crimson glow over Dingjun Mountain.

Liu Bei reined in his horse and stood before the camp gate, his armor riddled with knife marks and arrow holes.

The once bright green brocade battle robe had been stained dark brown with blood and dust.

Behind them, the remaining soldiers staggered back to camp in twos and threes, some supporting the wounded, others carrying the corpses of their comrades, their steps dragging as if they were carrying a thousand pounds.

"Kings……"

Jian Yong stepped forward, his voice hoarse, "The count of all departments has been completed, and more than 10,000 people have been lost."

Liu Bei's jaw was clenched, and his beard was stained with blood of unknown origin.

He did not answer, but simply tossed his riding whip to his personal guard and strode toward the central command tent.

The candles inside the tent were not lit, and twilight seeped in through the gaps, casting blood-like shadows on the ground.

Military reports were piled up on the desk, with the top scroll unfolding—it was Li Yi's "Memorial to Stop the Campaign against Shu," written to him before the expedition.

Liu Bei reached out and stroked the bamboo slips, gazing at Li Yi's handwritten letter.

I couldn't help but feel a bitter taste in my throat.

He couldn't understand how he had such formidable strength when he first raised his army.
Yet they still managed to defeat the arrogant Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao.

Now that his strength far surpasses that of the two Yuan brothers, why is it that he cannot defeat Cao Cao despite having a clear advantage?
Suddenly, a commotion arose outside the tent, mixed with crying, shouting and cursing.

Liu Bei lifted the curtain and looked out, and saw more than ten Xuzhou soldiers pushing and shoving several Qingzhou soldiers.

A lame soldier shouted hoarsely:
"Damn it! It took two months to walk from Luoyang to Yangpingguan, and my heels are worn down to the bone."

"So many villagers have perished today!"

When will this war end?

That's how war is; once you win, everyone can grit their teeth and bear it.

But once a battle is lost, all the problems and contradictions that have been accumulated before will erupt in an instant.

It poured down like a torrent, and no one could stop it.

"shut up!"

Xu Chu brandished his whip and roared, "Anyone who sows discord among the troops will be executed!"

Liu Bei pondered for a long time, then slowly walked forward, and the crowd fell silent instantly.

When the soldier from Xuzhou saw him arrive, he immediately knelt down with a thud:
"Your Majesty! We are too exhausted to walk any further..."

"When we were in Guanzhong, the brothers were already suffering from acclimatization problems. Now that we've come to Sichuan, we really can't take it anymore."

Before he could finish speaking, he choked up and could no longer speak.

"Go and have your meal."

Liu Bei helped the soldier up and instructed the supervising officer beside him to give the wounded soldiers something good to eat.

He then retreated to his tent alone.

It was clear that the morale of the Qi army had collapsed.

In particular, they have now lost three key generals: Wu Lan, Zhang Nan, and Feng Xi.

These three generals were among the earliest to follow Liu Bei in establishing his regime.

Although they had Li, Guan, and Zhang in front of them, their brilliance was completely overshadowed by them.

But they were, after all, veterans of the army, the earliest and most senior officers who followed Liu Bei.

As a result, all three were killed in battle, which was undoubtedly a devastating blow to the morale of the army.

The candlelight inside the tent was dim, and then the cook entered.

He held a ceramic pot in both hands, inside which was a stewed chicken.

"Your Majesty, please eat some while it's hot."

The cook's voice trembled, "No matter what, Your Majesty must take good care of your health."

Liu used chopsticks to pick up a rib, and suddenly fell into deep thought.

"Report——"

The imperial guard Xu Chu lifted the tent flap and entered, his iron armor still glistening with night dew.

"Your Majesty, what is the password for the army tonight?"

"Weak ribs."

Liu Bei blurted out, his brow furrowed with displeasure.

"Huh? Chicken... chicken ribs?"

Xu Chu was taken aback, thinking he had misheard.

"A chicken rib, a chicken rib..."

Liu Bei seemed oblivious to Xu Chu, only repeatedly mentioning the chicken ribs on his chopsticks.

Xu Chu, however, took it as true and solemnly cupped his hands, saying:
"The general understands!"

After bowing and stepping down, he passed on the nighttime slogan of "chicken rib" (meaning something of little value).

The supervising officer, Pang Tong, was also patrolling the camp at night when he heard the nighttime password and was greatly surprised.

"A chicken rib?"

Pang Tong stopped Xu Chu and questioned him, "Does Your Majesty really say that?"

"How dare this humble general speak such nonsense?"

Xu Chu nodded; he also felt that something was amiss.

"Sir, you are learned; do you understand the mysteries within?"

Ha ha……

Pang Tong stroked his beard and smiled, "Chicken ribs are something that has no meat to eat, but is a pity to throw away."

"Now the king cannot advance and win, but he fears being laughed at if he retreats, so he is in a dilemma."

"Oh? From what you're saying, sir, could it be that you mean..."

"Shh!"

Pang Tong quickly gestured for silence, then took Xu Chu's hand and led him to a secluded spot.

“Zhongkang, you are a man of few words and a serious nature. I am only saying this to you, so please do not speak carelessly.”

Xu Chu nodded, instructing Pang Tong to speak frankly.

Pang Tong then explained:

"When Prime Minister Li was in Luoyang, he strongly advised the king not to attack Shu."

"The king did not listen, which led to the defeat at Dingjun Mountain."

"Now that we have suffered heavy losses, Your Majesty is in a dilemma."

"So, according to Mr. Yi...?"

"Let the soldiers pack their belongings and prepare to withdraw."

"Someone has to do this; we can't let the king lose face."

"Yes, I understand."

After the two men had made their decision, they instructed the soldiers to pack their belongings, saying that they were preparing to withdraw their troops.

Upon hearing the order to withdraw, the soldiers in the camp were overjoyed.

Joyful sounds filled the entire camp as everyone sang praises of Liu Bei's kindness.

Disturbed by the crowd, Liu Bei went out of the camp to see what was happening and found all the officers and soldiers celebrating.

He asked in surprise:

"Our army has just been defeated, yet the soldiers are not worried but rather happy. Why is that?"

Jian Yong then replied:

"Because the king issued an order to withdraw the troops, the soldiers longed to return home, and upon hearing this order, they were naturally overjoyed."

Liu Bei asked in astonishment, "When did I ever issue such an order?"

So he asked Jian Yong, "Who spread this message?"

Jian Yong replied that it was Pang Tong.

"Shiyuan?"

Liu Bei's eyes flickered, and he couldn't help but recall how Pang Tong had shielded him from arrows during the day.

Thinking about it carefully, Shi Yuan has been training in Bingzhou for several years now.

They have indeed accumulated considerable experience.

Over the years, he has focused his attention on Zhuge Liang, seemingly forgetting that there are so many untapped talents around him.

"Summon Shiyuan to my tent."

After saying this, Liu Bei turned and went back into his tent.

Jian Yong quickly found Pang Tong and asked:
"Could it be that the king's order to withdraw the troops was actually made on Mr. Fengchu's own initiative?"

"What if it is, and what if it isn't?" Pang Tong asked with a smile.

"Heh, if that's the case, you've got some nerve."

"Even Prime Minister Li rarely oversteps the King's authority and acts arbitrarily. You are a junior of the Prime Minister, how dare you do this?"

"Prime Ministers are rare, but when they are, they are rare."

"The opportunity is right in front of me, and I can't let it pass me by."

"What opportunity?" Jian Yong asked, looking bewildered.

Pang Tong smiled but did not answer, and went directly to see Liu Bei.

King Qi, royal tent.

"...Shiyuan has arrived."

Liu Bei didn't even look up, his pen still writing military matters on the bamboo slips. "Sit."

Pang Tong stepped inside and greeted Liu Bei.

"How many years has Shiyuan followed me?" Liu Bei suddenly asked.

"It has been thirteen years since I came to Xuzhou from Xiangyang with my uncle."

Pang Tong answered calmly, seemingly without any concern that Liu Bei would hold him accountable for issuing military orders without authorization.

"What about Bingzhou?"

Liu Bei asked again.

"A full ten years."

Pang Tong's Adam's apple bobbed. "I was entrusted by Prime Minister Li and received the King's favor to be transferred to Bingzhou as Prefect. It has been ten years since then."

When mentioning his experience in Bingzhou, Pang Tong's tone became even more composed and confident.

Because behind these ten years is Pang Tong's steady and down-to-earth progress, step by step.

"Ten years..."

Liu Bei finally put down his pen, and couldn't help but look up and sigh:

How many decades does one have in a lifetime?

"Your ability to take root in such a harsh and cold place as Bingzhou is a testament to your composure."

Liu Bei smiled helplessly and shook his head.

In the past, he always assumed that Zhuge Liang was a substitute for Li Yi.

So they spared no expense in nurturing him, even offering up Jingzhou to promote him.

I hope that in the future, I can leave behind a younger version of Li Yi for my son.

Looking back now, I realize that my preconceived notions were somewhat naive.

It has wasted nearly ten years of the youth of an equally outstanding junior.

But this is also because Li Yi is too outstanding.

As the saying goes, "Having seen the vast ocean, one finds it hard to be impressed by mere rivers; having beheld the clouds of Wushan, one finds other clouds pale in comparison."

With Li Yi's outstanding achievements preceding him, how much of a stir could later talents like Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, and Xu Shu possibly make in Liu Bei's heart?

Liu Bei chose Zhuge Liang because he was very similar to Li Yi.

He is handsome and refined, with a gentle and elegant demeanor, and possesses great talent.

Pang Tong, with his simple and honest appearance and more radical personality, was naturally at a disadvantage in his competition with Zhuge Liang.

Although Zhuge Liang and Feng Yu were equally renowned talents.

However, the two have very different personalities and styles of doing things.

Zhuge Liang was humble and gentle, a virtuous and upright gentleman.

Pang Shiyuan was arrogant and obsessed with his reputation; he was a ruthless and unscrupulous strategist.

The two are almost complete opposites.

Especially in the path of officialdom.

Compared to Zhuge Liang's "not seeking fame among the feudal lords".

Pang Tong said, "A true man should be adorned with gold and purple, not have the magnanimity to withstand a great flood."

Pang Tong was far more eager to "advance" than Zhuge Liang.

But Liu Bei preferred Zhuge Liang, a gentle and refined gentleman like Li Yi.

Even Li Yi seemed to have a high opinion of Zhuge Liang.

Just when Pang Tong thought he could no longer make progress, Li Yi stepped forward and gave him some pointers.

"Go to Bingzhou to hone your skills. Young man, hold your head high, and you will surely see the vastness of the universe."

Pang Tong trusted Li Yi and was willing to give up the wealth of Jing and Xu to go to Bingzhou to hone his skills.

This process took ten years.

It truly took ten years to hone a skill.

"Shiyuan, after the Battle of Hanzhong is over, you shall return to the court with me," Liu Bei suddenly said.

Pang Tong was startled, then overjoyed!

What Liu Bei meant by this was that he wanted to transfer Pang Tong to a position in the central government!

It seems that these ten years of experience have not been in vain; he has finally caught Liu Bei's attention.

It's also because Liu Bei had too many dazzling stars around him.

If it were Liu Bei in history, how could he possibly have gone ten years without noticing him?
Just as before Liu Bei acquired Zhuge Liang, the scholars around him were all of the same generation as Jian Yong, Mi Zhu, and Sun Qian.

Doesn't this comparison make Zhuge Liang seem even more amazing?

But in this world, who were there before Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong arrived?

Those were great talents like Xun You, Chen Deng, Lu Su, and Liu Ye, not to mention the star Tian Shu.

Once Liu Bei experienced what it felt like to have such great talents, unless you, the Crouching Dragon and the Young Phoenix, could completely overwhelm them with your abilities.

Otherwise, it would be difficult to attract Liu Bei's high attention.

At least he wouldn't be as open and honest with Li Yi as he was with Li Yi, sharing everything.

"Oh, by the way, did you come up with this 'chicken rib' slogan for the army on my behalf?"

"...Yes, chicken ribs are tasteless to eat, but a pity to throw away."

"This reflects the current state of our army, so I dare to guess that General Wang intends to withdraw his troops."

Liu Bei stood with his hands behind his back, a half-smile on his face.

He said in a cold tone:
"I have never given such an order, how dare you overstep your bounds and do it on my behalf."

"Is this Prime Minister Li teaching you?"

Pang Tong was not intimidated by Liu Bei's posturing, but calmly replied:

"Li Xiang gave me one piece of advice: Your Majesty is no match for the Cao family. You treat your subjects well and will surely not betray them."

"Although I dare not presume to act on behalf of the king, how can I not remonstrate with him when I see his faults?"

Hahaha……

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei laughed heartily, finally finding peace of mind.

It turns out that it wasn't Zhuge Liang who resembled Li Yi, but rather that Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong combined were what made him resemble Li Yi.

Zhuge Liang was the outward appearance of Li Yi—gentle, refined, and a gentleman.

Pang Tong represents a hidden side of Li Yi; he is ruthless when necessary and kills when the time comes.

Even in his dealings with others, he was just as smooth and tactful.

"...Ziyu, so this is the unpolished jade you left for me?"

Liu Bei sighed inwardly, then called out to Pang Tong:
"Shiyuan, you may sit down and eat chicken with me."

Liu Bei invited Pang Tong to sit down and eat the stewed chicken that they hadn't finished earlier.

This was an honor reserved only for Li Yi, and Pang Tong was deeply honored, thanking him repeatedly.

The following day, Liu Bei officially announced the withdrawal of his troops.

Seeing that Liu Bei was in a good mood, Jian Yong couldn't help but tease his boss:
"Does Your Majesty not want Hanzhong?"

Liu Bei smiled and pointed to Pang Tong, who was riding alongside him:
"Hanzhong is already in our hands, why would we not want it?"

……

(End of this chapter)