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

"How...how come there are so many Han soldiers?"

A Shu soldier's voice trembled, almost tearful, and his legs shook uncontrollably, almost causing him to collapse to the ground.

"General Zhang, what's going on? What exactly happened?!"

Zhang Yi, looking anxious and confused, shouted at Zhang Ren.

At this moment, he was filled with both fear of the situation spiraling out of control and deep doubt about Zhang Ren's decisions.

Zhang Ren's face was ashen, veins bulging on his forehead. He clenched his teeth and forced out a few words:

"I told you there was an ambush here!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yi felt a chill run down his spine, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over his head, instantly sobering him up.

He then realized that Zhang Ren's earlier warning was not an exaggeration, but a real danger.

"Immediately issue the order: evacuate from the valley! Retreat to Miancheng!"

Zhang Ren roared, his mind filled with only one thought: to lead the Shu army out of this dangerous situation as soon as possible.

Zhang Yi and the Shu soldiers then seemed to wake from a dream, and scattered in all directions, running around like a swarm of headless flies.

The already chaotic group, driven by fear, was now in complete disarray.

The morale of the Shu army completely collapsed, and everyone only cared about their own survival, completely disregarding their comrades around them.

However, the valley was so narrow that it was like a thin slit. With the army crammed into this small space, how could they possibly retreat so easily?

At this moment, people's hearts were in chaos, and they crowded and pushed each other, blocking the valley even more tightly, like a narrow passage filled with debris, where it was difficult to find even a crack.

It was too late to escape.

Just then, a sharp and piercing horn suddenly rang out from the valley slope, its sound piercing the sky like a sharp arrow and echoing in the silent valley.

Immediately afterwards, young generals such as Zhang Bao and Guan Xing led their troops and surged down the valley slope.

The armies from all directions seemed to descend from the sky, rushing towards the Shu army in the valley.

They were like a surging tide, unstoppable, and surrounded the Shu army.

In an instant, blood shot into the air like blooming red flowers, and screams echoed through the valley.

The sound was shrill and mournful, as if it were a wail from hell.

The Shu army in the valley was cut into countless segments, each of which was trapped in a desperate situation of being surrounded and killed.

They wanted to resist, but they seemed so powerless against this powerful offensive.

They wanted to escape, but there was nowhere to run in this narrow valley.

On the hilltop, Xiao He stood quietly, his gaze cold and stern, a slight sneer playing on his lips.

He looked at the chaotic Shu army in the valley as if he were watching a wonderful performance.

"Wen Chang, the Shu army is in chaos."

Xiao He spoke slowly, his voice calm and steady, as if everything was under his control.

"Congratulations on taking Miancheng."

He continued, his tone tinged with admiration.

Upon hearing this, Wei Yan burst into laughter, a hearty and cheerful laugh.

Then, he boldly declared:
"Grand Marshal, drink your wine and watch me slaughter everyone!"

Having said that, Wei Yan spurred his horse and charged down the hillside, dragging his sword behind him.

Wei Yan, like an enraged lion, charged headlong into the enemy ranks.

The long, gleaming sword in his hand, like the scythe of death, was wielded with unrestrained abandon.

Each strike was accompanied by the rolling of an enemy's head, blood splattering, mercilessly reaping one life after another.

Wherever Wei Yan went, enemy soldiers fell one after another, screaming in agony.

Tens of thousands of Shu soldiers were slaughtered in this brutal battle, their cries of agony echoing through the air.

The once orderly formation was now in complete chaos, with soldiers fleeing in all directions, resulting in countless deaths and injuries.

Blood stained the earth red, corpses piled up like mountains, and the air was filled with a heavy, nauseating stench of blood.

Amidst the chaos of battle, Zhang Ren's face turned deathly pale, and endless grief and indignation surged into his heart like a raging tide.

He boasted that he was the number one veteran general in Shu, and was known for his bravery, fearlessness, and superb martial arts skills. He believed that he was brave enough to defeat ten thousand men.

In Shu, he had experienced countless battles, but he had never suffered such a crushing defeat.

But fate played a cruel joke on him.

He never imagined that his wisdom would be as naive as that of a three-year-old, and that he would be manipulated by the cunning Xiao He.

Xiao He lured the enemy deep into his territory, leading his army into this desperate situation.

Now, the army has been almost completely wiped out under Wei Yan's fierce attack.

Thinking of this, Zhang Ren was filled with guilt and self-reproach. He felt ashamed to face Liu Zhang's trust and heavy responsibility.

"I can't lose, I absolutely can't lose!"

Zhang Ren screamed wildly in his heart; at this moment, he had completely lost his mind.

With bloodshot eyes, he wildly swung his long sword, like a mad beast, recklessly slaughtering the Han soldiers around him.

But all to no avail.

Despite his exceptional martial arts skills and extraordinary bravery, in the chaos of the battlefield, an individual's strength is ultimately insignificant.

He could not single-handedly reverse this inevitable defeat.

"General Zhang, the defeat is inevitable!"

Seeing Zhang Ren's frantic state, Zhang Yi was extremely anxious. He pleaded with him:
"Let's retreat! Let's abandon our army and retreat back to Miancheng! If we don't leave now, we're afraid our entire army will be wiped out!"

Zhang Yi knew that continuing the fight would only result in more people sacrificing themselves in vain. Only by preserving their strength and retreating to Miancheng could they have a chance of survival.

Upon hearing Zhang Yi's words, Zhang Ren flew into a rage. His eyes widened, and he roared:
"You bastard, what are you saying! These 30,000 Shu troops are the key to defending Miancheng. If we lose our troops, how will we defend Miancheng? Without these 30,000 troops, Miancheng is like an undefended empty city!"

Zhang Ren knew the importance of these 30,000 troops and he could not easily abandon them.

Faced with Zhang Ren's questioning, Zhang Yi was overcome with grief, and he cried with tears streaming down his face:
"But the tide has turned. Even if we die here, we can't turn the tide of the battle! As long as we live, we can fight again. We still have a chance to make a comeback!"

Zhang Yi tried to persuade Zhang Ren to recognize the current situation.

Before he could finish speaking, an unexpected event occurred.

"Whoosh!"

An arrow, like lightning, pierced through the air from behind, whistling sharply, and shot towards Zhang Yi.

Zhang Ren was startled when he saw the arrow flash. He wanted to warn Zhang Yi, but it was too late.

"puff!"

The arrow struck Zhang Yi squarely in the back of the head.

Zhang Yi felt a sharp pain, his body swayed, his body tilted, and he collapsed to the ground.

As he fell to the ground, his pained face was turned toward Zhang Ren, his eyes filled with resentment and despair.

Seeing this scene, Zhang Ren felt as if he had been struck by a heavy hammer. His body trembled involuntarily, and his determination crumbled instantly.

Fear, like a chill, instantly spread throughout his body.

He felt an unprecedented fear—a fear of death, and a fear of defeat. "That's right, if I insist on fighting to the death, I will surely die here. It's better to preserve my life and have a chance to redeem myself!"

Zhang Ren quickly weighed the pros and cons in his mind and gradually calmed down.

At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind—

escape!
They fled back to Miancheng, preserved their strength, and waited for an opportunity to make a comeback.

He dared not linger in the fight any longer, brandishing his long sword, and charged madly toward the valley entrance.

With his superb martial arts skills, he charged through the enemy ranks, killing several enemy soldiers with each swing of his sword.

Finally, before he was blocked at the valley entrance, he managed to fight his way out.

Looking back into the distance, the entire valley was completely stained red with blood, resembling a sea of ​​blood.

Tens of thousands of Shu soldiers were trapped inside the valley. Some were still fighting desperately, while others had already fallen in pools of blood.

A terrible scream faintly drifted over, like a sharp blade slicing into his heart.

"Wei Yan, Xiao He!"

Zhang Ren roared through gritted teeth:
"I, Zhang Ren, will make you pay tenfold for the humiliation you have suffered today! I swear, one day I will tear you to pieces to avenge this humiliation!"

Zhang Ren made a solemn vow in secret, his eyes filled with hatred and determination.

With a helpless sigh, Zhang Ren spurred his horse and galloped off towards Miancheng.

His figure gradually disappeared into the distance, leaving behind only a devastated battlefield and endless hatred.

In the valley, the Shu army was now in utter despair. They watched Zhang Ren's departing figure.

Fortunately, most of the Shu soldiers, seeing that Zhang Ren had escaped, knew that there was no point in continuing to resist, and chose to kneel down and surrender.

They laid down their weapons, knelt on the ground, and begged the Han army to spare their lives.

Ultimately, half of the 30,000-strong army chose to surrender to the Han.

Besides the more than 3,000 dead and wounded, fewer than 4,000 escaped the valley.

Most of the Shu soldiers who escaped were also seriously wounded and in a sorry state.

As the sun sets in the west, its golden rays bathe the earth.

The slaughter finally ended, and deafening cheers from the Han army echoed throughout the valley.

"The enemy annihilated in this battle should number around 20,000, and Liu Zhang no longer has the strength to stop General Wei."

Xiao He smiled with satisfaction and looked at Wei Yan, saying:

"Taking Chengdu is just around the corner. As long as we press our advantage and capture Chengdu in one fell swoop, the entire Shu region will be under our control."

Wei Yan nodded, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Wei Yan stood before the tent, a gentle breeze ruffling his imposing battle robe. He subconsciously stroked his long beard, a surge of emotion welling up within him.

After a long time, he slowly spoke:
"A brilliant plan, like a stroke of genius, easily wiped out 20,000 Shu troops. Grand Marshal, your wisdom is truly unfathomable and you remain invincible under heaven!"

After speaking, he turned his head slightly, his eyes full of admiration for Xiao He.

Wei Yan's words of reflection stirred up ripples throughout the camp.

Zhang Song, Meng Da, and other strategists were all deeply impressed by Xiao He's ingenious and unparalleled wisdom.

Xiao He merely smiled at the praise from the crowd. He slightly raised his head, his gaze sweeping over everyone as he looked north, and pointed lightly with his finger:
"Now that the Shu army has been wiped out, Zhang Ren's troops number only a few thousand. Wen Chang, now is the perfect time to press our advantage and crush Miancheng!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Yan immediately threw his head back and burst into laughter, his laughter as loud as a great bell.

He drew his long sword sharply from his waist and shouted:
"Order the entire army to continue north and take Miancheng directly!"

The order was issued swiftly like thunder, and upon hearing it, the fighting spirit of the soldiers instantly ignited like a raging fire.

The 50,000 Han troops, like a galloping steel dragon, marched northward in a mighty procession, their hoofbeats shaking the earth as they headed straight for Miancheng.

...

Inside the government hall in Miancheng, however, there was a deathly silence.

Zhang Renzheng rested his hand on his forehead, his brows furrowed, his thoughts a jumbled mess, a thousand ideas constantly intertwining in his mind.

This brutal battle filled his heart with pain.

"In this battle, our army lost 20,000 soldiers, and only 3,000 men escaped in disarray."

Chen Shi reported the battle losses with a pained expression and a low voice, his eyes filled with worry:

"We now have less than 5,000 troops left, and the Han army is already at the city gates. General Zhang, should we abandon the city and retreat south, or go and seek reinforcements?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ren abruptly raised his head and retorted:

"If Miancheng falls, Chengdu will be like a city without a strong defense. How can I face the King of Shu?"

Chen Shi was speechless after being rebuked by Zhang Ren's words. He sighed and said helplessly:
"If we do not abandon Miancheng, with morale low and soldiers filled with fear, how can we possibly defend this city?"

Zhang Ren slammed his hand on the table and shouted:
"What I fear least is defending a city. I, Zhang Ren, have fought for many years and experienced countless battles. I refuse to believe that with me here, Wei Yan can breach my city!"

Upon hearing this, Chen remained silent.

He knew that Zhang Ren's words were true. After all, Zhang Ren was the most skilled general in defense in Shu.

Zhang Ren was confident in defending Miancheng, so what right did Chen Shi have to question it?
"So... are we just going to hold out to the death?"

Chen hesitated for a moment, but still couldn't help asking.

Zhang Ren pondered for a moment, then his gaze hardened.
"We must defend, of course, but we cannot sit idly by and wait for our demise. We must send someone to Chengdu to request reinforcements from the King of Shu! Only with reinforcements can we be more confident in defending Miancheng."

Chen Shi followed orders and quickly selected several capable messengers, instructing them to disguise themselves and escape Miancheng under cover of night, heading towards Chengdu to seek help from Liu Zhang.

At the same time, Zhang Ren mobilized all his soldiers to climb the city wall.

Although the soldiers were exhausted, upon hearing Zhang Ren's order, they mustered their spirits, picked up their weapons, and climbed the city walls, ready to defend Miancheng to the death.

Unfortunately, Zhang Ren's desperate defense proved utterly powerless against Wei Yan's powerful offensive.

At Wei Yan's command, nearly a hundred Divine Thunder Cannons were forged.

When Meng Da and the others saw the Divine Thunder Cannon, they were immediately shocked, as if they had seen the most incredible thing in the world.

"Is this the legendary Thunder Cannon, the number one siege weapon in the world?"

Meng Da's face was full of astonishment, and his voice trembled slightly.

He had long heard of the Divine Thunder Cannon, but seeing it with his own eyes today, he was still shocked by its immense power and unique design.

Wei Yan smiled and said:
"This is the most powerful siege weapon created by the Grand Marshal. With it, conquering cities and seizing strongholds will be as easy as taking candy from a bag."

Upon hearing this, Meng Da was amazed.

Over the years, he had only heard the legend of the Divine Thunder Cannon, but had never seen it with his own eyes.

When I saw it today, it certainly lived up to its reputation.

"Miancheng definitely can't withstand the artillery bombardment. Wenchang, let Zhang Ren experience fear!"

Xiao He sneered.

Wei Yan shouted in a voice as loud as a bell:
"Order the entire army to assemble immediately beneath the walls of Miancheng! Today, I will use those divine thunder cannons to blast Miancheng to smithereens!"

"Boom-boom-boom!"

The rousing drumbeats suddenly erupted like thunder, like a battle horn, instantly igniting the passion in the hearts of all the soldiers. (End of Chapter)