I did it all for the Han Dynasty!

Chapter 389 Not a single one of them is a man?

"The traitor Liu Miao has led his troops to attack Shu!"

"The enemy forces from the east are at the city gates!"

"The great Han emperor is approaching his loyal Chengdu!"

"..."

When Chengdu received news that the main force of the Han army had arrived at Pengmo from Waijiang, the entire city fell silent.

They hurriedly dispatched the Dongzhou soldiers guarding Chengdu to Pengmo, but they heard the news of Pengmo's fall before they were even halfway there, so they had to return to Chengdu.

Huang Zhong and Sima Yi's troops, who were traveling along the central route, also launched an attack on Niu Bie immediately, making a move to join forces with Gan Ning's army and achieve a complete encirclement of Chengdu!
"How is this going?"

For the first time, Liu Zhang's question was met with such silence.

"Why is Liu Miao's main force located at Wai Shui? Why is it at Peng Mo?"

"..."

Liu Zhang's honest and simple face also took on a ferocious look.

"Liu Miao stayed in Guanghan for so long, yet no one noticed anything amiss?"

"..."

"Speak up! Why are you all mute?"

What else can be said?
The Han army's advance is about to penetrate Chengdu.

Although Chengdu is a large city, its city defense layout is far less easy to defend than that of Jiangzhou or Baidi City.

Once the outer barriers of Shu are breached, Chengdu will be like a ripe peach, or a piece of meat rotting in a pot!
What's the point of speaking at this point?

When Liu Zhang saw that his usually eloquent Shu officials were now completely silent, he stamped his foot in anger.

Liu Zhang was waiting, waiting for a scholar from Shu to step forward, to draw his sword against Liu Miao, and to engage in a decisive battle with him!
Chengdu still has troops from Dongzhou available for battle! As long as these powerful clans in Shu unite and mobilize their private armies, there is still hope for Shu!
Unfortunately, Liu Zhang did not get the unity of the people he was waiting for; instead, he was met with people groveling and begging for mercy.

"Your Highness, Liu Miao once said that he would withdraw his troops and not invade Shu if the Wu family was handed over..."

"Ridiculous! Don't you know that my widowed sister-in-law is observing mourning?"

"Wouldn't that be even better? Liu Miao seems to have a particular fondness for this."

"..."

"It's reversed! It's reversed!"

Liu Zhang, looking menacing, circled around as if searching for a sharp sword.

But a pity.

In the Shu King's palace, there are beans and halberds, peach branches of longevity; there are green pearls and yellow rings, and jade arrowheads; there are peach boxes in rows, and plums and apricots growing in abundance... but there is not a single deadly weapon or sharp sword!

"You, you guys..."

Liu Zhang was utterly dejected at this moment.

"Your Highness, you may send Wu Yi's cousin, Wu Ban, to persuade him."

They had no sword, but they had already found a way out.

Wu Ban eventually received orders to go to Wu's residence.

Dressed in mourning clothes, Wu knelt before the brazier in remembrance of her deceased husband, watching the flames flicker sadly.

The straw rope around her waist accentuated her slender figure, making her incredibly thin waist appear even more solitary. Her long, black hair was unadorned, loosely tied into a bun with a wooden hairpin, with a few strands falling down her neck, making her skin appear as white as fresh snow and smooth as jade.

Her face was as beautiful as a lotus blossom, with a faint blush on her cheeks, like a crabapple in bloom, glistening with dew. Her eyebrows were as slender as distant mountain mists, curving into her hair; her bright eyes were as clear as autumn water, with her eyelashes lowered to conceal a pool of radiance, and when she looked up, her eyes sparkled with a captivating beauty.

This is the face that a fortune teller once described as "incredibly noble."

At that time, Liu Yan believed it, Wu Yi believed it, and even Wu herself believed it.

But Wu never expected that in the end, it would be in this way that it would become "incredibly valuable".

She rose gently, turned her face to the side, revealing a nose like a star and a neck like the moon: "You just murdered my husband, and now you want to force me to marry someone else?"

Wu Ban was still somewhat embarrassed, but he still reminded Wu Shi, "Sister, you can't say such things, otherwise the Wu clan may lose their foothold."

Wu smiled dismissively.

"What is there that cannot be said? Even if I don't say it now, when I take off this mourning garment and put on my wedding dress, will the world still not see it?"

Wu Ban didn't know what to say at this moment, he just kept urging Wu Shi: "I hope you hurry up, sister, otherwise the Han army may approach Shu at any time."

"His Highness has already sent an envoy to Guanghan to see Liu Miao. My sister must also go there as soon as possible, otherwise not only will our clan suffer, but the people of Shu will also be unable to escape a catastrophe!"

Wu's originally indifferent eyes now held a hint of sorrow.

She had no idea how she, a woman, had inexplicably become involved with the people of Sichuan.

She couldn't understand why, when there were so many people of high status, they were nowhere to be seen when it was time to protect the country, leaving only a woman like her to throw herself into their arms.

What's the point of defending such a nation?
But under Wu Ban's urging, she took off the mourning clothes she had only worn for a few days and changed into a wedding dress. She was then sent to Fucheng and Guanghan by fast horse day and night, competing with the Han army that was about to approach Chengdu in terms of speed.

Liu Miao hadn't expected that the powerful clans of Shu would fawn over him so quickly!
"Is it appropriate for me to be related to Liu Mao, who is of the same clan?"

"In terms of their closeness or distance, how does it compare to the relationship between Emperor Wen of Jin and Ziyu?"

When Duke Wen of Jin fled to the State of Qin, he married Huai Ying, the wife of his nephew, Prince Yu of Jin. However, people in the world did not criticize Duke Wen of Jin for this.

Now that Liu Miao has married Liu Mao's wife, who is no longer within the five degrees of kinship with him, what difference does it make?

Liu Miao was surprised that Liu Zhang's envoy had even come up with a reason for his actions!
Liu Miao then asked, "But Liu Mao has just passed away. Is it inappropriate to do this?"

"No!"

The other party was even more formidable, actually producing a pre-prepared divorce agreement!
"Liu Mao had already divorced Wu when he passed away! Therefore, Wu was not in mourning! This is naturally in accordance with the law!"

"..."

Liu Miao gained a deeper understanding of the shamelessness of these powerful clans.

Anyway, Liu Mao is dead. Did he have a mental illness? Did he get a divorce? What was he really like...?

Anyway, none of this matters!

The important thing is that they must get Wu into Liu Miao's bed!
To be precise, they are determined to protect their family property and their status!
As for the rest—etiquette, morality, standards—it's all utter nonsense!
Even Liu Miao couldn't help but sigh when he saw the divorce agreement: "The world is going to the dogs, and people's hearts are no longer what they used to be!"

But clearly, not everyone is so devoid of morality and shame.

When Liu Miao and Wu were alone in a room, Wu took off her outermost wedding dress.

What was revealed inside was pure white.

"You're getting married while wearing mourning clothes? Is this your way of resisting?"

Wu's cold, powdered face remained unmoved.

Liu Miao scrutinized Wu's figure, which was wrapped in mourning clothes.

"I just thought of a poem and I want to recite it to you."

Wu lowered her gaze, assuming that Liu Miao had thought of some erotic lyrics he wanted to use to humiliate her; or that he wanted to insult her for pretending to be virtuous when she was actually a prostitute...

"The king raised the surrender flag atop the city walls; how could I, a concubine deep within the palace, have known?"

"One hundred and forty thousand men laid down their arms, and not one of them was a true man!"

Wu's eyes finally regained their light, and she looked at Liu Miao with a hint of surprise, finally asking him a question.

"Was this made by a woman?"

"Even a man couldn't write such poetry."

"Was it written by Cai Yan, the daughter of Cai Yong?"

"You actually know about Zhao Ji?"

Liu Miao shook his head: "I have forgotten who wrote it, but this person's state of mind is probably no different from yours."

"Moreover, this matter has nothing to do with men or women."

"It is clearly a minority who enjoy wealth and luxury, yet they expect other men to fight for them and other women to suffer humiliation for them. This poem should not be directed at the ordinary men of Shu."

Liu Miao thought of Zhang Ren, covered in blood, being carried to him by Gan Ning.

"At least, the men of Shu that I know are quite spirited!"

It was only at this moment that Wu began to properly observe Liu Miao for the first time.

Liu Miao had a dignified appearance, and his physique had become increasingly refined over the years of battles. Even without armor, dressed only in civilian clothes, he still exuded a powerful aura.

Thinking back to what Liu Miao had just said, Wu finally realized that Liu Miao was ultimately different from the men she had met before.

In fact, Lady Wu had already prepared herself to be killed by Liu Miao.

After all, when a woman gets married, especially to the emperor, wearing mourning clothes under her wedding gown is no ordinary offense.

But Liu Miao clearly didn't care. In fact, Wu could feel Liu Miao's gaze sweeping over her buttocks and thighs in a rather impolite manner before he made a sound of praise.

"Alright! If you have nothing to do, then leave! I've been busy with battles these past two days and don't have time to keep you company."

"Ok?"

Wu's expression finally showed a slight surprise.

Seeing his expression, Liu Miao felt somewhat helpless.

"You are considered pretty, but there are actually quite a few prettier women in my harem!"

"Besides, the reason I specifically requested you was to buy time. You don't really think I'm going to give up the entire Shu region for a woman like you, do you?"

"..."

Wu's gentle perception of Liu Miao was instantly shattered!

Although Liu Miao was telling the truth and had not offended her, Wu felt that it was even more infuriating than an offense!
However, Wu also keenly grasped the key point in Liu Miao's words.

"Your Majesty, are you still going to attack Shu?"

"Otherwise what? Did I bring tens of thousands of people to Shu for fun?"

"Do you know how many people lost their closest friends and blood relatives because of this war?"

Liu Miao rolled up the official documents on the table, indicating that Wu could leave.

"correct!"

As if remembering something, Liu Miao called Wu back.

"Do you know who killed Liu Mao?"

"..."

"Are you still going to pretend to be deaf and dumb at this time?"

Liu Miao found it somewhat amusing.

Tell me, and I will avenge him!

"He's a member of the Liu clan, after all, and one of my own! I'll help him if I can!"