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

"King of Shu".

Zhang Ren finally couldn't help but speak up:
"Xiao He is a cunning and deceitful man. I am worried that he is deceiving us. If he obtains the supplies but does not withdraw his troops, and instead continues to attack us, what should we do?"

Liu Zhang was taken aback, seemingly touched by Zhang Ren's words.

He paused for a moment, then regained his relaxed expression and smiled:

"With Wu Yi and Meng Da as guarantors, Xiao He and Wei Yan will definitely not go back on their word. You don't need to worry too much. Come on, let's drink."

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan sighed inwardly.

The father trusted Meng Da too much.

Zhang Song had initially guaranteed that Wei Yan's army was merely passing through Shu, but in the end, Wei Yan attacked cities and seized territory, his forces advancing directly towards Jiangzhou and threatening Chengdu.

Now, the father has not learned his lesson and still trusts Meng Da completely.

However, he couldn't say these things outright.

Liu Zhang raised his cup and laughed:

"I believe that Meng Da and Wu Yi's judgment is correct. At this time, Wei Yan must have already withdrawn his troops. You need not worry. Come, let's drink."

Although everyone still had doubts, they didn't want to spoil Liu Zhang's fun, so they all raised their cups and reluctantly agreed.

Just as the wine was about to be swallowed, a guard stumbled into the hall, collapsed to the ground, and breathlessly reported:

"Reporting to the King of Shu! Wei Yan has first broken through Heisong Pass and then Jiangzhou! Our defending army has been completely wiped out, and Gao Pei has been captured and surrendered to the Han Dynasty! Wei Yan is now advancing towards Chengdu from both the north and south!"

Bang!

The wine cup in Liu Zhang's hand fell to the ground and shattered.

Is Heisong Pass gone?
Jiangzhou is gone too?
Even Gao Pei surrendered to the Han army? He actually betrayed us?

In an instant, Liu Zhang seemed to be struck by lightning, frozen in place, his face filled with disbelief and terror.

The emperor and his ministers, including his son Liu Chan and generals such as Zhang Ren, were all horrified.

They were only worried that Wei Yan would refuse to withdraw his troops after receiving the supplies, but they never expected that Wei Yan would actually capture Jiangzhou.
How can this be?

Even if Wei Yan broke his promise, how could he easily take over the important town of Jiangzhou?

That's Jiangzhou City! It's not some paper castle!
For a moment, the Shu Prince's mansion was deathly silent.
"This is impossible!"

Liu Zhang suddenly stood up from his seat, his eyes wide open, and roared in disbelief.

"Wei Yan has already taken our supplies. Why is he so untrustworthy and treacherous?"

Liu Zhang's voice trembled with anger.

"Meng Da and Wu Yi swore that Wei Yan would definitely withdraw his troops. They spoke with absolute certainty, and I believed them without a doubt."

As Liu Zhang spoke, he paced back and forth in the hall, his steps hurried and heavy.

At this moment, a guard rushed into the hall in a panic, and before he could even stand properly, he hurriedly reported:

"Reporting to the King of Shu!"

Liu Zhang stopped and stared intently at his personal guards.

"I've heard that General Gao has been beheaded by Wei Yan, his head hanging high, and Meng Da has also surrendered to the Han Dynasty!"

The guard's voice was low and trembling, each word like a sharp blade piercing Liu Zhang's heart.

This devastating news struck Liu Zhang like a thunderbolt.

The immense impact made him feel dizzy and disoriented, as if the whole world had collapsed.

In an instant, Liu Zhang seemed to have all his strength drained away, and he collapsed to the ground, his eyes empty and filled with despair.

"why?"

Liu Zhang muttered to himself, his voice so faint it was almost inaudible.

"Why is this happening? Why have they all betrayed me? I've always treated them well, why are they doing this to me? Why?"

His voice grew louder and louder until it almost turned into a hysterical roar, tears welling up in his eyes, but he stubbornly refused to let them fall.

"King of Shu, we have fallen into a trap."

At this moment, Huang Quan said with a solemn expression:

"Meng Da must have been secretly colluding with Liu Bei, just like Zhang Song. He used the pretext of being an envoy to break away from the control of the King of Shu and join Wei Yan. He even helped Wei Yan to obtain grain supplies. After Wei Yan got the grain supplies, he immediately turned his back on him and led his army to attack and break through Heisong Pass and Jiangzhou City!"

Huang Quan analyzed the situation clearly, and with each sentence he spoke, Liu Zhang's face grew paler.

"I believe this is all Xiao He's scheme! Xiao He is full of tricks, and this must be his plan to lure us into a trap step by step."

Huang Quan continued.

Upon hearing Huang Quan's words, Liu Zhang's body jolted violently, as if he had been jolted awake from a nightmare and suddenly regained his senses.

"Meng Da, Zhang Song!"

Liu Zhang shouted through gritted teeth, his voice filled with anger and hatred:

"You two disloyal traitors! I have always trusted you greatly and entrusted you with important responsibilities, yet you dare to betray me! I will tear you to pieces to vent my hatred!"

As he spoke, Liu Zhang violently overturned the table in front of him to the ground.

He cursed angrily, his voice echoing in the hall for a long time.

Liu Zhang's angry voice seemed to threaten to overturn the entire palace.

The officials from Shu present were all panicked and looked at each other, not knowing what to do.

If only Baiguan City had fallen, the situation might still be within a controllable range.

With Heisong Pass as a natural barrier, Chengdu could remain secure and impregnable.

But now the situation is completely different.

Jiangzhou has fallen!

This news came like a bolt from the blue, plunging everyone into despair.

Jiangzhou was the last line of defense for Chengdu, and its fall meant that Chengdu's defenses had completely collapsed.

The Han army could easily enter the plains, as if they were in an empty field, and no one could stop their advance.

Under these circumstances, Chengdu is in a precarious and precarious situation.

Who can remain calm?
Everyone was filled with anxiety, as if the end of the world was imminent.

"Your Majesty, the fall of Jiangzhou is a foregone conclusion. I believe we must make new arrangements to stop the Han army's advance, otherwise Chengdu will be in imminent danger!"

Huang Quan calmed down, took a deep breath, and cupped his hands in a gesture of persuasion.

Upon hearing Huang Quan's words, Liu Zhang's body trembled again, as if he had been awakened by a bucket of cold water.

"You're right, you're right."

Liu Zhang muttered to himself, a glimmer of reason gradually returning to his eyes:
"I must mobilize troops to stop Wei Yan's attack. We must not allow the Han army to easily capture Chengdu."

But then, with a bitter expression and a look of helplessness, he said:
"But now the Han army has entered the plains, and their morale is high. What can I use to stop the elite Han army?"

"Wei Yan is incredibly brave and invincible. Moreover, the military genius Xiao He is also in the Han army. How can I possibly withstand such a combination?"

Liu Zhang's voice grew softer and softer.

"Father, I believe we should send Ling Bao south to lead the Jiange army to stop Wei Yan!"

At this moment, Liu Chan was extremely anxious and hastily offered a plan to his father, Liu Zhang.

At this moment, his eyes revealed urgency and expectation, as if he had grasped the last straw and was trying to find a way out for the crumbling Shu Kingdom.

Liu Zhang was still reeling from the devastating loss of Jiangzhou, completely listless and as if his soul had been ripped away. However, upon hearing Liu Chan's suggestion, his spirits lifted, as if he had seen a glimmer of light in the darkness.

If the Jiange Legion could be transferred south, it might actually be possible to withstand Wei Yan's attack and buy Chengdu a precious respite.

"General Ling is stationed at Jiange, which is a crucial gateway to northern Shu."

Huang Quan frowned, his expression grave, and said:
"Jiange Pass is easy to defend but difficult to attack. If General Ling is transferred to the south, Liu Shan will surely take advantage of the situation and launch a full-scale attack on Jiange Pass."

"Once Jiange falls, the northern defense line of Shu will completely collapse, and Liu Shan's army will be able to advance unimpeded. At that time, even if we successfully block the Han army's attack, how will we defend against Liu Shan's attack?"

"I believe that the Jiange Legion is related to the overall safety of Shu, and it must not be acted upon lightly."

After listening, Liu Zhang nodded slightly, a look of agreement on his face:
“Gongheng is right. The Jiange Legion bears the heavy responsibility of defending against Liu Shan and should not be mobilized lightly. But now that Jiangzhou has been lost, how can we stop the Han army’s fierce offensive if we don’t mobilize the Jiange Legion?”

A hint of helplessness flashed in Liu Zhang's eyes.

Just then, Huang Quan stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said:

"King of Shu, although Jiangzhou has fallen, you still have 60,000 troops at your disposal. These 60,000 troops are the backbone of our Shu. If used properly, they may be able to turn the tide."

"Your Majesty, I am willing to lead the army south to block the southern Han army's attack. At the same time, I recommend Zhang Ren to lead troops north to block the Han army led by Wei Yan!"

"The Han army has come from afar, and their supplies must be difficult to obtain. If we have these two armies, we can hold our ground and wait for them to tire themselves out. We will surely be able to wear down the Han army until they run out of food and retreat."

"At that time, we will be able to seize the opportunity to strike, recover the lost territory, and retake Jiangzhou!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhang's spirits lifted, and a glimmer of hope rekindled in his previously dim eyes.

He said with pleasure:
"Very well, very well, we will do as you say. You and Zhang Ren will lead the northern and southern armies respectively, and you must hold off the Han army's attack for me!"

...

In Miancheng.

The dust billowed, like the roars of angry beasts.

The battle flags blotted out the sky, fluttering wildly in the gale.

On the main road, 70,000 Han troops slowly marched north.

As agreed beforehand, Guan Ping had led an elite force to attack cities south of Chengdu, attempting to encircle Liu Zhang's army from the flank.

Wei Yan, on the other hand, headed north along the Fu River, aiming directly at the important town of Miancheng.

Miancheng is a vital transportation hub connecting the north and south. Once captured, the Han army can penetrate further into the heart of Sichuan.

"Grand Marshal, how do you think Liu Zhang will respond to our attack next?"

Wei Yan rode up to Xiao He's side, tilted his head slightly, and asked with a hint of curiosity in his eyes:
Who will be in charge of defending Miancheng? Will it be Zhang Ren or another general?

"Liu Zhang has no shortage of elite troops and capable generals in Shu, so we should not underestimate him."

Xiao He's gaze was deep, as if he could see through everything, and he slowly said:
“Ling Bao is stationed at Jiange, which is an important barrier for Liu Zhang to defend against Liu Shan. He should not dare to move him easily. Therefore, I think Liu Zhang will definitely send Zhang Ren to Mianzhu to resist our attack.”

"If he comes to defend Miancheng, it will probably not be easy for us to conquer it."

As soon as Xiao He finished speaking, a scout on horseback galloped up like the wind and came right up to his horse.

The scout dismounted and knelt on one knee, saying:

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal and General Wei, we have just received an urgent report that Zhang Ren has led 40,000 Shu troops into Miancheng!"

Sure enough.

Upon hearing this, Wei Yan couldn't help but praise:
"The Grand Marshal is indeed a prophet. As expected, Zhang Ren came to defend Mianzhu. With him here, this battle will not be easy."

Xiao He smiled slightly, his eyes revealing confidence:
“Zhang Ren is extremely strict in disciplining his troops and has a long-standing reputation. Liu Zhang’s decision to have him garrison Miancheng is a brilliant move! However, our Han army is no ordinary force either, and we may well be able to conquer Miancheng.”

...

A moment later, in the main tent.

The group was engaged in a heated discussion about how to conquer Miancheng.

Meng Da was the first to step forward, his expression serious, and he recounted Zhang Ren's formidable abilities one by one.

After hearing this, Zhang Song also said with a solemn expression:

"Zhang Ren is not only exceptionally capable, but he also led 40,000 Shu soldiers to garrison Miancheng, making the city's defenses impregnable."

"If he holds Miancheng to the death, keeps the city gates tightly shut, and refuses to come out and confront us head-on, it will be no easy task for us to break through Miancheng."

"If we launch a rash attack, we will inevitably pay a heavy price."

After hearing the two men's detailed descriptions, Wei Yan gained a deeper understanding of Zhang Ren.

A hint of apprehension unconsciously surfaced in his eyes.

He, who was originally full of confidence, couldn't help but frown at this moment.

Wei Yan stroked his beard and nodded slowly, then looked at Xiao He beside him:

"Grand Marshal, according to your plan, how should we take Miancheng?"

"Given the current situation, we can't afford to linger here at the foot of Miancheng, otherwise our food and supplies will become a major problem."

Xiao He smiled slightly and said:

"Taking Miancheng by force is indeed not easy, but we can emulate the Battle of Baiguan."

Upon hearing this, Wei Yan's eyes lit up instantly, and memories flooded back to him like a tide.

In the Battle of Baiguan, Xiao He devised a plan to lure Yang Huai into a night raid on the camp. He had already laid a trap beforehand, just waiting for Yang Huai to come and die.

At that time, Yang Huai, confident in his bravery, led his troops in a rash attack, only to find himself surrounded by the Han army.

"Is the Grand Marshal trying to provoke Zhang Ren into attacking?"

Wei Yan suddenly realized what was going on and quickly asked.

Xiao He nodded slightly, confirming Wei Yan's guess.

Wei Yan then asked:
"How does the Grand Marshal plan to lure that old scoundrel out of Miancheng? Zhang Ren is no like Yang Huai; I'm afraid he won't be easily fooled."

At this moment, everyone's eyes turned to Xiao He, hoping he could come up with a brilliant plan.

Xiao He's gaze slowly shifted to Gao Pei, a sly smile appearing on his face:
"Last time it was Zhang Yongnian who lured Yang Huai out, this time we'll have to rely on you. You and Zhang Ren were colleagues, so you know him to some extent. If you step in, we might be able to succeed."

Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze fell upon Gao Pei.

Gao Pei looked bewildered and at a loss; he hadn't expected such an important task to suddenly fall on his shoulders.

Xiao He lowered his voice and explained his plan in detail.

Originally, he planned to have Gao Pei, as a former colleague, issue a challenge to Zhang Ren, thereby provoking Zhang Ren and luring him out of the city for a decisive battle.

Meanwhile, they set up ambushes around Miancheng, waiting to annihilate Zhang Ren once he left the city.

Everyone suddenly understood, their faces showing admiration, and they all praised:
"I see. Grand Marshal's plan is brilliant. It avoids a direct attack on Miancheng and lures Zhang Ren out of the city, allowing us to defeat him in one fell swoop."

Wei Yan was full of praise. He turned to Gao Pei and asked solemnly:
"Are you willing to carry out this brilliant plan? This is a great opportunity to make a name for yourself."

Gao Pei nodded excitedly. He knew that although he had surrendered to the Han Dynasty, he was still uneasy.

There was no other reason than his desire to secure his position in the Han Dynasty.

As a surrendered general, he desperately needed a great achievement to elevate his status in the Han army.

How could Liu Bei not give important positions to meritorious officials?

Xiao He's plan gave him a golden opportunity to make a name for himself, so how could he miss it?

Gao Pei answered without hesitation:

"Thank you, General Wei and Grand Marshal, for giving me this opportunity to perform meritorious service. I am willing to carry out this plan! I will certainly not fail in my mission and will lure Zhang Ren out of the city." (End of Chapter)