My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

"General Wu, have you ever heard that the land of Jiaozhou has never submitted to our Great Han?"

Deng Zhi deliberately posed this question to Wu Yi in a manner that suggested she already knew the answer.

Upon hearing this, Wu Yi was startled and momentarily at a loss for words.

Jiaozhou is remote and treacherous, its people are fierce and its terrain is dangerous. It has always been resistant to the rule of the Han Dynasty, a fact he was well aware of.

However, when Deng Zhi brought it up so deliberately, he vaguely sensed that there must be some unknown deeper meaning behind it.

Perhaps, it's not a good thing.

"I...of course I know."

Wu Yi barely managed to steady himself, then changed the subject:
"But what direct connection does this have with your deployment of troops to Jingzhou?"

Deng Zhi's lips curled into a cold smile as she said:
"General Wu is well-versed in military strategy and tactics, surely he knows the 'openly repair the plank road while secretly crossing Chencang' tactic?"

Wu Yi was taken aback, secretly trying to figure out Deng Zhi's intentions.

"To be honest, the true purpose of our Han Dynasty this time is to borrow your Shu territory to reclaim the Jiaozhou region, which has not submitted to our rule. General Wu, do you understand?"

Deng Zhi finally revealed the truth.

Liu Zhang, who had been listening silently all along, finally had his doubts resolved and breathed a sigh of relief, as if a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

Having laid the groundwork, Deng Zhi rose and solemnly bowed to Liu Zhang.

"King of Shu, in addition to the aforementioned matters, I have come to Shu on the Emperor's orders to request passage through your territory. I hope Your Majesty will grant my request!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhang was overjoyed.

He had been worried that the Han state's military action in Jingzhou was aimed at his Shu state, but now that he heard it was to reclaim Jiaozhou, he was naturally greatly relieved.

"Your Highness is a loyal subject of the Han Dynasty. How can we not grant passage to the Han? Not only that, Your Highness should also supply the royal army with provisions to fulfill your duty as a host!"

Zhang Song quickly echoed his agreement.

As a collaborator, he had secretly surrendered to the Han Dynasty back then, and naturally hoped that this matter could be carried out smoothly.

Upon hearing Zhang Song's words, Liu Zhang nodded repeatedly, and was about to agree when he heard a stern voice say:

"King of Shu, you mustn't!"

Huang Quan stepped forward and firmly opposed it.

Liu Zhang's gaze immediately turned to Huang Quan, awaiting his explanation.

"If the Han state were to use this as a pretext to conquer Guo, how should we respond..."

Huang Quan stopped mid-sentence, seemingly unwilling to make his point too definitively.

Seeing this, Wu Yi quickly chimed in:

"Indeed, King of Shu, if the Han Kingdom wants to destroy Jiaozhou, it can simply go south along the Xiang River. Why must it pass through our Shu Kingdom?"

The two men stood on the same side and expressed strong opposition to the idea of ​​using the passage.

Liu Zhang hesitated again.

Seeing this, Meng Da snorted disdainfully and said:
"You are all truly ignorant! This must be a brilliant plan by Grand Marshal Xiao Bowen! If we march south along the Xiang River to destroy Jiaozhou, the enemy will have heavily fortified the Five Ridges. How could the Han Dynasty possibly cross that pass?"

This question once again left Wu Yi and his companion speechless.

"you……"

Wu Yi was furious but couldn't find any words to refute him.

"In my opinion, it is the inescapable duty of the King of Shu to submit to the Emperor and assist the Emperor in destroying Jiaozhou."

Zhang Song's implication was clearly that he was trying to persuade Liu Zhang to agree to let him pass through.

Liu Zhang's wariness was completely eliminated.

"Jiaozhou does not submit to the Han Dynasty, and it is indeed necessary to punish them!"

Liu Zhang stood up and said with great passion:

"I have decided to invite General Wei to lead his army into Shu, so that we may use the roads of Shu to wipe out Jiaozhou!"

Deng Zhi's lips curled up, and a sly smile flashed in her eyes.

He knew that his mission had been successfully completed!
He suppressed his smirk and praised Liu Zhang's loyalty.
Liu Zhang continued to offer toasts and shower Liu Zhang with flattery.

For the next three days, Liu Zhang hosted banquets for Deng Zhi every day, and the two discussed the details of the Han army's entry into Shu, striving to ensure that nothing went wrong.

Several days later, the agreement was finally reached, and Deng Zhi took his leave.

Liu Zhang personally escorted Deng Zhi out of the city to show his sincerity.

He also sent Zhang Song as an envoy with generous gifts to Jingzhou to meet with Wei Yan in order to further consolidate the relationship between the two sides.

Several days later, in Jingzhou.

In the naval camp, on the pier, Wei Yan and Xiao He stood side by side, looking westward.

Countless warships slowly approached from upstream, heading towards the Jiangling naval camp.

Judging from the flags, they are the flags of the Shu ships. It seems that the fleet escorting Deng Zhi has arrived.

"Grand Marshal, is it necessary for you to personally welcome Zhang Song, who is merely a nobody?"

Wei Yan stroked his beard and asked.

The implication is that Zhang Song's official rank did not seem to warrant the Han Dynasty's Grand Marshal personally coming to welcome him.

Xiao He smiled slightly.

He knew perfectly well that Wei Yan had clearly forgotten that when Zhang Song passed through Jingzhou, he had secretly surrendered to Liu Bei.

With Zhang Song as an inside agent, the campaign to conquer Shu and destroy Liu Zhang would naturally be much easier.

In a short while, the boat docked.

Deng Zhi led Zhang Song off the boat and onto the pier.

"Zhang Guoxiang, this is Xiao Bowen, the Grand Marshal of the Han Dynasty."

Deng Zhi stepped forward to greet him, and then introduced them.

"This is General Wei Wenchang."

Zhang Song immediately stepped forward to pay his respects, and said with a smile:
"I never imagined that after ten years, I would be able to witness the grandeur of the Grand Marshal once again. I, Zhang Song, pay my respects to the Grand Marshal and General Wei."

Xiao He stepped forward with a beaming smile, helped Zhang Song up, and comforted him:

"Yongnian, please don't stand on ceremony. Time flies, and ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. I never expected that we would have the chance to meet again and share a drink."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Song was filled with a myriad of emotions, surging like a tidal wave.

The past years come to mind one by one.

Wei Yan, standing to the side, suddenly realized what was happening and laughed:
"Zhang Guoxiang, I have already prepared a small feast to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey. This wine is a fine brew that I have treasured for many years. Today, I will treat it as a welcome feast for you. Let's go and drink and chat."

Led by Wei Yan, they slowly entered Jiangling City. Soon, they arrived at the government office. Inside, a grand and solemn banquet had already been prepared.

Zhang Song was naturally invited to take the seat of honor, symbolizing the importance and respect shown to him.

Xiao He picked up his wine cup and rose slightly, saying:

“Yongnian, the Emperor has longed for you for a long time. Over the years, whenever he mentions your talent, he always praises you highly.”

"Today, I will offer you a toast on behalf of the Emperor."

Wei Yan quickly raised his wine cup and echoed:
"Yes, Zhang Guoxiang, this glass of wine is our way of showing our respect for you."

Zhang Song was deeply shaken, as if struck by lightning.

Liu Bei, that's the Emperor of Han, a great ruler, whose power shook the four directions, yet he never forgot me after all these years?

Zhang Song had never felt such immense honor. His excitement surged like a tide, almost making him unable to control himself.

He immediately stood up, raised his wine cup high with both hands, and bowed deeply towards the direction of Luoyang.

Looking at Zhang Song's devout expression, Xiao He's lips curled into a meaningful smile again, and he said:
"With such a wise and capable minister as Yongnian as his advisor, how can the emperor not successfully conquer Shu and achieve a great and lasting legacy!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Song was slightly taken aback, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes:
"Grand Marshal, General Wei, do you perhaps harbor the intention to attack Shu all along? I hope you two can enlighten me on the reasons behind this."

Xiao He smiled without saying a word, only nodding slightly.

Wei Yan stroked his beard lightly, a hint of smugness in his expression, and slowly said:

"Speaking of which, Deng Bomiao's mission to Shu this time was precisely part of the Grand Marshal's plan..."

At that moment, Wei Yan revealed all the details of the plan.

Wei Yan then recounted in detail how Xiao He, under the pretext of recovering Jiaozhou, lured Liu Zhang to welcome his army into Shu, and how he then seized the opportunity to capture Baiguan City, advancing swiftly towards Chengdu and ultimately taking over Shu.

Zhang Song suddenly realized what was happening, and stood there stunned, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief.

It turns out that when Deng Zhi proposed that Wei Yan should pass through Shu to recover Jiaozhou, he and Meng Da even thought of pushing the issue forward and strongly persuaded Liu Zhang to agree.

Therefore, the two of them spared no effort to help Deng Zhi deceive Liu Zhang and invite Wei Yan to lead the Han army into Shu.

Who would have thought that this was a trap that Xiao He had already set up?

From the very beginning, Xiao He never intended to actually take Jiaozhou. Instead, he was scheming against Liu Zhang, proceeding step by step with each move carefully planned and interconnected.

Such profound foresight impressed Zhang Song.

After a long while, Zhang Song finally came to his senses. He slowly raised his head, looked at Xiao He, and said with admiration in his eyes:
"So this was all the Grand Marshal's brilliant plan! Today, I have finally witnessed the wisdom of the God of War. I am completely convinced!"

As Zhang Song spoke, he expressed his deep admiration, then stood up and bowed respectfully.

After a long sigh, Zhang Song seemed to have made up his mind and immediately ordered his attendant to carefully present a scroll.

Zhang Song gently unrolled the scroll, pointed to its contents, and solemnly said:
"Before leaving Shu, I carefully drew this scroll. The scroll depicts the mountains and rivers of Shu, showing where the mountains are towering and the roads are flat; there are also strategic passes and fortified passes, and the terrain and defenses of each pass are clearly marked."

"In addition, the deployment of troops, how many troops there are, how they are stationed, the storage of provisions, the location and quantity of provisions, and all other secrets are clearly visible."

“Even the strength of the generals of each pass and town, their martial arts, strategies, and ability to lead troops are clearly marked.”

"If the Grand Marshal intends to enter Shu, this scroll will surely be of great use. Today, I present this map to the Grand Marshal and General Wei, hoping to contribute to the great cause of unifying the Han Dynasty."

Wei Yan carefully examined the scroll, his eyes gleaming with excitement, and exclaimed with delight:
"You have rendered a great service! This scroll is truly priceless! With this scroll, we can take over Shu in no time! The Emperor's reconquest of Shu is made possible by your merit!"

Zhang Song was secretly delighted to receive such high praise from Wei Yan.
Wei Yan turned slightly to the side, his gaze slowly shifting to Xiao He, before asking:
"Grand Marshal, in your opinion, what should we do now?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao He's lips curled up slightly, and he said:

"Now, everything is ready, like an arrow on a bowstring, ready to be released. All that's missing is the crucial step of sending troops!"

"Wenchang, this matter is urgent and time is of the essence. Let's set off immediately."

Wei Yan burst into hearty laughter.

...

Three days later, Chengdu.

Several days later, Zhang Song finally returned to Chengdu.

At this moment, Liu Zhang was like an ant on a hot pan, anxiously hoping that Zhang Song could bring back good news.

He was restless in his residence every day, sometimes staring blankly at the door, sometimes pacing back and forth.

When Zhang Song's familiar figure appeared in Liu Zhang's sight, a hint of surprise flashed in Liu Zhang's eyes.

After returning to Chengdu, Zhang Song quickly made contact with Meng Da and other like-minded members of the pro-Han faction.

They secretly plotted and continued to carry out their deceptive schemes.

Then, Zhang Song entered the palace to meet Qi Zhang and firmly stated that Wei Yan's entry into Shu was indeed, as previously said, merely to borrow passage through Shu and recover Jiaozhou, in order to dispel the last trace of doubt in Liu Zhang's heart.

Under the repeated persuasion of Zhang Song and others, Liu Zhang's doubts gradually dissipated like lingering snowflakes. He was no longer hesitant and uneasy, but instead felt a sense of determination.

Zhang Song was secretly delighted and hurriedly urged:
"Your Majesty, to show our unwavering loyalty to the Han Dynasty, we urge you to make a decision as soon as possible! Time waits for no one, and further hesitation may lead to unforeseen circumstances."

After listening, Liu Zhang pondered for a moment, then without further hesitation, slammed his hand on the table and shouted:
“What you say is absolutely right. We can no longer hesitate. We must quickly welcome the Han army into Shu! Hurry! We must not let the Emperor of Han become impatient with me or question my loyalty to the Han Dynasty.”

Liu Zhang has made his decision.

He then asked the crowd who would be willing to go to Jingzhou again to act as a guide and lead the Han army into Shu.

Clearly, he hoped to find a reliable and capable person to ensure the smooth entry of the Han army into Shu.

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Song volunteered again without hesitation, his eyes firm as he said:
"King of Shu, I am willing to go to Jingzhou again to personally welcome Wei Yan and his army into Shu. I will certainly live up to my mission and handle this matter properly."

Liu Zhang was very pleased to see Zhang Song's initiative and determination, and immediately ordered Zhang Song to go downstream to meet the Han army.

He personally prepared the necessary manpower and supplies for Zhang Song, and instructed him to be careful on the journey and to make sure that this important mission was completed successfully.

The next day, early morning.

Zhang Song, with his carefully selected men and ample supplies, boarded a ship and sailed eastward down the river, heading straight for Jingzhou.

Liu Zhang personally escorted Zhang Song out of the city gate. Standing at the gate, he watched Zhang Song's departing figure and silently prayed that everything would go smoothly.

"Once Wei Yan enters Shu, the Han emperor will see my sincerity and should not easily punish me! I hope that my actions will bring peace to Shu."

Watching Zhang Song's figure gradually disappear from sight, Liu Zhang breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling incredibly relaxed, as if a heavy stone had finally been lifted from his heart.

Before this, the Han Dynasty had already wiped out all the warlords.

Looking across the thirteen states, he was the only one left to rule his own territory.

Liu Zhang was fearless, day and night, no longer afraid that Liu Bei would bring his entire army.

just now.

It seems the crisis has passed.

He thought that by helping the Han state to borrow a passage and recover Jiaozhou, he would receive a favor from the emperor of the Han dynasty, who was of the same clan.

Let him continue to rule the Shu region, becoming a king of one side! (End of Chapter)