Wei and Jin did not submit to Zhou

Chapter 123: The bottom overcomes the top (5)

Late at night, an uninvited guest arrived at the Chengdu Imperial Palace, surprising Liu Shan.

"General Liu, this is a letter from your daughter sent from Zhong Hui's camp. Please take a look."

"I was merely delivering a letter for someone; I know nothing else about it."

Qiao Zhou bowed to Liu Shan and said...

Liu Shan nodded slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. He opened the letter and knew from just a few sentences that it was written by Liu Yue.

There were no clues in the handwriting, speaking habits, or tone of voice.

However, the things described inside were terrifying. They were even earth-shattering.

After a long silence, Liu Shan finally asked in a low voice:
"On September 12th, at midnight, wait near the West Gate of Chengdu; someone will come to pick you up. Do you think this is believable?"

Liu Shan trusted Qiao Zhou and handed him the letter, hoping he would offer some advice.

"If we don't go, we will offend Zhong Hui."

If Zhong Hui were to report to Sima Zhao that Deng Ai was supporting your plans to restore the kingdom, then it would be difficult to explain.”

Qiao Zhou sighed, saying that he shared the same thoughts as Liu Shan.

Not going meant choosing Deng Ai over Zhong Hui.

Others wouldn't need to use knives to deal with Liu Shan; simply speaking ill of him to Sima Zhao would suffice.

With over 100,000 troops at his disposal, how could Zhong Hui possibly let Liu Shan off the hook?

"So, we have to leave in two days?"

Liu Shan asked in confusion. He knew that sending his daughter to Zhong Hui as a concubine would not be the last hurdle, but he did not expect Zhong Hui's next move to come so quickly!
This is absolutely suffocating!
"In my opinion, General Liu must go."

"Not going will surely lead to utter destruction."

Qiao Zhou said in a deep voice, this time without mentioning anything about surrendering and losing half the battle.

He was a surrenderist in Shu, but he had no personal grudge against Liu Shan.

"Should I go alone, or should I go with the prince and concubines?"

Liu Shan was a man with a conscience and did not want to flee alone. If he left, Deng Ai might target his family.

"General Liu, this is a matter of life and death, there's no time to worry about anything else. Keep this a secret. You must travel alone, with at most one attendant!"
"This humble official is unworthy, but I am willing to escort you to Zhong Hui's camp."

Qiao Zhou knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Liu Shan.

"That's fine then."

Liu Shan helped Qiao Zhou up.

Qiao Zhou certainly didn't want to see Liu Shan die, but he also had his own selfish motives. Zhong Hui had over 100,000 troops under his command, and if they clashed with Deng Ai, Deng Ai wouldn't be able to withstand them.

At this point, they should have jumped from Deng Ai's boat to Zhong Hui's boat, instead of dying with Deng Ai.

Compared to the risks of getting close to Deng Ai, escorting Liu Shan to Zhong Hui's camp was nothing.

Almost at the same moment, in a military tent in Shi Shouxin's camp, Liu Qin, naked from the waist down, was lying face down on a soft cushion, his buttocks already spread open.

The physician was applying medicine to him at that moment, and after the medicine was finished, Liu Qin was in so much pain that he was about to faint.

“A little physical pain is nothing. Zhong Hui has already used military rods on you, so he won’t bother you anymore.”

Shi Shouxin entered the military tent, sat down next to Liu Qin, and smiled.

"Commander Shi, Yang Hu has a secret letter for you."

Liu Qin took out a letter from his chest and handed it to Shi Shouxin.

"Okay, you can focus on recovering."

Shi Shouxin took the letter, casually opened it, and read it quickly, immediately understanding the situation.

Yang Hu was his friend, so the secret letter was very straightforward:

Duke Jin was wary of Zhong Hui's more than 100,000 troops, fearing that if they were to rebel, they could easily seize control of the Shu region. Therefore, Duke Jin was currently hesitant to make any personnel changes in Shu, fearing the consequences.

Wei Guan also privately reported some information to the Duke of Jin, but I was unaware of these matters.

Just act according to the circumstances while serving Zhong Hui. Duke Jin already knows your loyalty and will not settle scores with you in the future.

If you can facilitate the army's return to the capital, that will be a great achievement, and the Duke of Jin will not concern himself with anything that happens in Shu during that time.

I will wait for your return at Jiange. I shouldn't lead troops into Shu. Duke Jin is extremely concerned about this matter, and I am also feeling uneasy about it. I can't help you much more.

After reading the letter, Shi Shouxin casually placed the letter on the oil lamp and lit it, leaving no evidence.

Yang Hu's letter is extremely informative; it even reveals that Sima Zhao has seized the initiative in the situation.

Deng Ai and Zhong Hui, these two turtles in a barrel, are still completely unaware!

"Look, Zhong Hui can beat you with a military rod whenever he wants. Why don't you join me from now on?"

Shi Shouxin asked the question, making no attempt to win over Liu Qin.

"This humble general is willing to die for Supervisor Shi."

Liu Qin, whose buttocks were bruised and battered, hurriedly pledged his loyalty. He had no choice but to do so. Zhong Hui's beating had taught Liu Qin a lesson: in officialdom, you really can't survive without someone protecting you!
What was the point of Zhong Hui beating him with a military rod?

It didn't really serve any purpose; it was purely a way to vent his anger. But Zhong Hui did have the right to vent his anger!

Even after being beaten, Liu Qin dared not cry out. If he did, Zhong Hui would order a severe beating, and fifty strokes of the rod would be the end of his life.

He escaped this ordeal today only because Zhong Hui gave Shi Shouxin some face, allowing him to take him back and be flogged.

Thinking of this, Liu Qin couldn't help but sigh, "The world is so difficult; even unforeseen disasters can take a person's life."

"These days, you have to rely on your brothers when you're out in the world. Without your brothers, you can't get anywhere."

Shi Shouxin said meaningfully.

"Yes, without the help of brothers, it's impossible to get by."

Liu Qin echoed, and the two had reached a tacit understanding. After reassuring Liu Qin, Shi Shouxin went to find Li Liang and inquired about his mission to deliver the message.

Li Liang said frankly, "Commander Shi, please rest assured. You have seen Qiao Zhou's reply; he promised to make this happen. As for more details, I don't know. It's too risky for me to go to Chengdu. If I'm caught by Deng Ai's men, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Shi Shouxin nodded slowly, though he was also quite anxious inside, which was why he kept confirming.

"Okay, I get it."

Shi Shouxin patted Li Liang on the shoulder and left the enemy's tent.

Then he found Meng Guan, and there he saw this fierce man sharpening his knife in the military tent!

"Are you ready? We're leaving tonight."

In order to reach Chengdu by September 12th, it was clear that they could not set off on the same day, but had to set off a day in advance and lie in ambush nearby.

"Ready, one hundred cavalry, two hundred horses, all equipped with wooden clubs and long sticks with the spearheads removed."

When the horse gets tired, change horses. The round trip is a total of four hundred li, no problem!

Meng Guan placed the ring-pommel sword next to the whetstone and bowed to Shi Shouxin.

"Okay, I'll leave it to you this time. I have to stay in the camp to deal with Zhong Hui's summons and inquiries, and I also have to handle military affairs, so I really can't leave."

After receiving Liu Shan, take him directly to this camp; under no circumstances should he be handed over to Zhong Hui.

If anyone tries to take Liu Shan away, whoever they are, beat them with sticks! Don't try to reason with them! All the groups on the road are enemies; don't hesitate, strike when necessary!

Shi Shouxin patiently gave instructions.

"Please rest assured, Supervisor Shi, even if it costs me my life, I will bring Liu Shan here!"

Meng Guan resolutely blocked the railway.

"it is good!"

Shi Shouxin held Meng Guan's hand tightly.

Suddenly, he remembered something, and his expression changed drastically!
"Wait a moment, I'll be right back."

Shi Shouxin jogged all the way to Liu Yue's military tent, where the little princess of Shu, already dressed in her personal guard uniform, was looking at him with curiosity.

"If General Shi had something to do, he could have just sent someone to fetch me. Why did you come all the way here?"

She asked with a smile on her face, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes, which narrowed into slits.

"Can your father ride a horse?"

Shi Shouxin asked a strange question.

He recalled that Liu Shan had lived a life of luxury for decades, not on the battlefield. It was perfectly normal for Liu Shan not to know how to ride a horse; it wasn't a big deal in ordinary times. But in crucial moments, even such a small thing could be fatal!
If we can't ride horses, we won't be able to keep up with Meng Guan's group and return quickly! How will we bring the people back then?

"Of course I know how to ride a horse; my father also goes hunting occasionally."

Liu Yue pondered for a moment and then spoke.

Liu Shan certainly knew how to ride a horse, but whether his bones would break after riding for two hundred li was another matter entirely.

"Thanks."

Shi Shouxin replied with two words, turned and left, leaving Liu Yue standing there dumbfounded. "You rushed over just to ask me this question? Couldn't you have talked to me a little longer?"
With a lump in her throat, Liu Yue quickly stood up and grabbed Shi Shouxin's hand to stop him from leaving.

"The procession to pick up your father is about to depart. We can talk about it later."

Shi Shouxin explained something to her, gently patted her smooth and delicate little hand, and then walked out of the military tent.

For a moment, Liu Yue felt extremely uneasy.

Sure enough, the contents of the letter that Shi Shouxin asked her to write that night were all true, and it is very likely that every word this man said was true!

Will Father be able to reach Zhong Hui's camp safely?
Will Zhong Hui really fight Deng Ai?
Will Deng Ai really lose? Will Zhong Hui settle scores with the rulers and ministers of Shu Han afterward?

One question after another popped into Liu Yue's mind, making her quite distracted. Even if she wasn't particularly politically astute, she could sense that a major, dramatic event was about to unfold!

Compared to this, her leaving the Fei family and even becoming another man's concubine is nothing to mention.

Compared to those major events that resulted in deaths and shipwrecks, she, the princess of Shu, was nothing!

They waited and waited until midnight before Shi Shouxin dragged his weary body into Liu Yue's military tent.

"General Shi... how is the situation?"

Liu Yue, her eyes bloodshot from lack of sleep, asked in a low voice.

"The cavalry has already set off."

Shi Shouxin nodded, seemingly unwilling to say more.

Will we encounter any dangers on the road?

Liu Yue continued to ask. Even she understood that if Shi Shouxin was nervous about something, it certainly wouldn't be easy.

"It's uncertain, things may change. Perhaps this is what the ancients meant by 'Man proposes, God disposes.'"

Shi Shouxin breathed a sigh of relief.

Liu Yue didn't answer, but remained silent for a long time before finally asking:
"When you asked me if I wanted to commit suicide, you even went to find a crooked tree. Was it out of pity for me?"
If I had agreed then, my reputation for fidelity would have been passed down to posterity, wouldn't it?

She looked up at Shi Shouxin, her face filled with respect and admiration.

That's true, but you're still more lovable as you are now.

Of course, if you want to be remembered for generations, I will still grant your wish.

Shi Shouxin patted Liu Yue's small hand and said.

Some people may appear cold and hard, but they are actually very soft-hearted.

Liu Yue suddenly covered her face, crying and laughing at the same time, her whole body convulsing, completely losing the composure and calmness that a princess of Shu should have.

(End of this chapter)