The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 166 The rebel army besieged Zhen Ding City, but Liu Bei actually fled ahead of time (1st update)
"Rest assured, Chanyu, I, Gongsun Xu, will never break the promise I made."

With troops at his disposal, Gongsun Xu felt more confident and made a series of generous promises to Huchuquan and Afugan.

A hint of disdain flashed across Hu Chuquan's eyes: Even in the Tu Ge tribe, such an act of leading outsiders to plunder one's own relatives is despicable.

However, Gongsun Xu did not feel anything was wrong about this.

The aristocratic mindset of hereditary dukes and marquises led Gongsun Xu to see only self-interest and calculation.

As for how many people would perish in this scheme, that was not within Gongsun Xu's consideration.

Why would a noble son like Gongsun Xu care about the life and death struggles of ants?
"I will first contact Zhang Yan and arrange a date to jointly attack Zhengding. We will eliminate Liu Bei first, and then we can sweep through the counties!" Gongsun Xu quickly formulated an attack plan.

Huchuquan and Afugan did not object, or perhaps, for the two of them, any of Gongsun Xu's proposals would not affect the final outcome.

Even if they ultimately fail to defeat Liu Bei, they can turn around and plunder the people of Black Mountain, just like last time.

Once they decided to head south, Huchuquan and Afugan never intended to return empty-handed. As for plundering the people of Changshan or the refugees of Heishan, it made no difference!
"General, Gongsun Xu is back!" Fu Yun said solemnly.

If Gongsun Xu had truly gone to Bingzhou to invite the Tu Ge and Wuhuan to march south to Changshan State, it would have been impossible for him to return in such a short time.

Then there is only one possibility: Gongsun Xu had long been in league with the Tu Ge and Wu Huan, and was only there to welcome the Tu Ge and Wu Huan to the south, rather than to ask for troops at the last minute.

"Let's first find out who is commanding the troops of the Tu Ge and Wu Huan who are heading south."

Zhang Yan's eyes turned cold, signaling Fu Yun not to be impatient, and then went straight to see Gongsun Xu.

"Brother Gongsun, how come you returned so quickly?" Zhang Yan feigned surprise upon seeing Gongsun Xu.

Gongsun Xu, without batting an eye, fabricated a story: "When Chanyu Huchuquan and Lord Afugan heard that I wanted to avenge my father, they righteously sent troops south to help me. I met them on the way, which is why I returned quickly. With the help of Huchuquan and Afugan, the fall of Zhen Ding City is just around the corner!"

This blatant lie infuriated Fuyun behind Zhang Yan: Knowing full well that we have a grudge against the Tu Ge and Wu Huan, they still dared to collude in secret. The commander treats Gongsun Xu like a brother, but Gongsun Xu treats the commander like a fool. How hateful!

Zhang Yan, however, remained calm and composed as she engaged in a back-and-forth conversation with Gongsun Xu, sometimes expressing surprise, sometimes excitement, before finally making up her mind: "In that case, Brother Gongsun, you can report back to Huchuquan and Afugan, and we will surround Zhengding City with our troops first thing tomorrow morning! We must capture Liu Bei alive!"

Gongsun Xu laughed and promised, "When I rebuild my father's business, I will never forget Brother Zhang's contributions."

After Gongsun Xu left, Fuyun could no longer hold back: "Gongsun Xu is a despicable man! Commander, please allow me to go to Zhen Ding City!"

Zhang Yan nodded and instructed, "To avoid being discovered by Gongsun Xu, disguise yourself before entering the city. If we can help General Zuo capture Huchuquan and the others alive, it will be a great achievement for us."

Fuyun received the military order, disguised himself as a scout, left the camp, circled around a few times, and arrived at the front of Zhen Ding City again.

Because Liu Bei personally came to greet him by carriage, the city gate commander was very impressed with Fu Yun, the Black Mountain chieftain who could ride in the same carriage as Liu Bei into the city. When he saw that Fu Yun wanted to enter the city to see Liu Bei, he immediately ordered the guards to guard the city gate and then personally escorted Fu Yun to the Prime Minister's residence.

Arrogance at first, obsequiousness later; such is the fickle nature of human relationships.

Fu Yun didn't want to cause trouble by clashing with the city gate commander, so he took some money as a token of gratitude and then went inside to see Liu Bei.

It was still Zhuge Liang who emerged to face the fleeting clouds.

Upon learning that Gongsun Xu had arranged with Zhang Yan to besiege Zhen Ding City the next day, Zhuge Liang simply smiled faintly and sent Fuyun back.

Fu Yun was astonished again: "Strategist Zhuge, I don't understand. As long as General Zhang and General Zuo cooperate from the inside and outside tomorrow, they can defeat the Tu Ge and Wuhuan, and even capture Huchuquan and Afugan alive. Why are you still not allowing General Zhang to surrender?"

Zhuge Liang's smile remained unchanged: "The time is not yet ripe. When it will be your turn to surrender will be clear in time. Tomorrow, as agreed with Gongsun Xu, first surround the city of Zhen Ding, then send some archers to fire a few volleys of arrows at the city walls to show your determination to breach the city. As for the rest, just observe the situation."

After carefully reassuring Fuyun, Zhuge Liang once again sent him out of Zhen Ding City. Unable to understand Zhuge Liang's intentions, Fuyun could only hurriedly return to relay Zhuge Liang's arrangements to Zhang Yan.

"We need to besiege the city and shoot arrows at it at the same time?" Zhang Yan pondered, looking down.

Although she had lived in Montenegro for more than ten years, this was the first time Zhang Yan had encountered such an absurd request.

"Could it be... that General Zuo still suspects we are feigning surrender? Is tomorrow's action a test?"

This night.

Zhang Yan tossed and turned in his tent until midnight, still unable to grasp Zhuge Liang's intentions. He was also worried about whether he should really go to besiege the city and fire arrows as Zhuge Liang had arranged the next day. He finally fell asleep around dawn.

When Zhang Yan appeared with bloodshot eyes, Fu Yun, Lei Gong, and the others were all astonished.

"General." Fu Yun looked at Zhang Yan with concern.

"Nothing's wrong." Zhang Yan shook her head slightly, then asked, "Have the Tu Ge and Wuhuan made any moves?"

Fu Yun nodded solemnly: "The scouts report that the Tu Ge and Wu Huan will arrive in Zhengding City in at most half an hour."

Zhang Yan took a deep breath: "In that case, we can set off now."

"General, I still don't understand." Fu Yun voiced his doubts, as did Lei Gong, Bai Que, and the others.

Zhang Yan sighed softly: "Zhuge Liang was able to defeat Tadun and his 30,000 cavalrymen with only 3,000 troops. He must have the ability to devise divine strategies. How could we possibly see through his intentions so easily? Since you want us to besiege the city and fire arrows, we will do as you say."

Immediately.

Zhang Yan then personally led tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry to besiege Zhen Ding City.

It was said to be tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry, but in reality, most of these were just cheerleaders.

Unlike regular armies, bandits are often soldiers when they pick up weapons and civilians when they lay them down.

As the Black Mountain Army, along with the Tu Ge and Wuhuan tribes, besieged the city, chaos erupted in Zhengding City.

The powerful clans, scholars, and heads of prominent families in the city were filled with fear and gathered at the gate of the Prime Minister's residence, pleading with Liu Bei to take charge of the situation. However, the news that came out was that Liu Bei had already left the city!
"When did General Zuo leave? I didn't hear a thing about it."

"But General Zuo's 10,000 troops are still inside the city!"

"Are you stupid?! General Zuo isn't here, so who can command those ten thousand troops? Besides, if those ten thousand troops want to leave Zhen Ding City, who can stop them?"

"What should we do then! Without General Zuo, how can we defend Zhen Ding City?"

"It's all your fault. You were so stingy with those few coins. If you had offered gold and silk earlier, Zhang Yan's men outside the city wouldn't have been in this situation."

"Is it too late to give it to me now?"

"."

Outside the mansion, a great commotion erupted. Inside, the Chancellor of Changshan, Tao Sheng, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, pacing around Zhuge Liang: "Military Advisor Zhuge, you must not abandon the city! If you leave, we are truly doomed!"

　Update 1 is here!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)