The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

Chapter 131 A Strong Wind Reveals the Strength of the Grass (Sixth Update, Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Jiangyou Pass.

The pass was built by Liu Bei to guard the strategic Peijiang River and connect to the ancient Yinping Road to the north.

The purpose of its construction was to prevent the Wei army from entering the Chengdu Plain via the Yinping Ancient Road.

However, after Liu Bei's death, the Liu Han dynasty began to fight against the strong with the weak, and most of the time it was the Liu Han that attacked Cao Wei.

Cao Wei rarely attacked Liu Han. With peace prevailing in Shu, the importance of this pass declined sharply.

Jiangyou Pass is now in disrepair and has only two hundred weak soldiers left.

morning.

The banners bearing the character "Han" on the city wall fluttered in the wind, looking quite imposing. But not a single soldier was standing guard or patrolling the city.

Inside the pass, most of the two hundred elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people huddled inside row houses to keep warm, while a few people lit bonfires outside to keep warm.

In a normal military, doing this would be court-martial, as it could lead to accidental discharge and the burning of food supplies and equipment.

But this is normal at Jiangyou Pass.

The granaries were scattered and difficult to burn down in one go. As for the weapons, they were already rotten, so burning them wouldn't matter much.

While the soldiers warmed themselves by the fire, they uttered a lot of lewd nonsense.

Many people brag, such as saying I touched the neighbor's buttocks or that I seduced a widowed woman.

Military discipline has reached its lowest point.

Inside the bedroom of Guan Ling's residence.

Despite it being broad daylight, Jiangyou Governor Ma Miao was embracing his concubine, a plump, fair-skinned woman, and drinking lewdly.

Ma Miao's unrestrained laughter and the woman's coquettish voices combined to create a decadent melody.

Ma Miao was from Tu County in Han Jia Commandery. He was thirty-two years old this year. He was originally a minor official in the commandery, but later he bought the position of county magistrate. He governed so poorly that he was dismissed from office. He started over again by buying the position of Jiangyou Customs Supervisor.

He bought his position, so of course he'd try his best to get it back. Jiangyou Pass was already weak, and after he took office, the army didn't train even once, and a lot of military rations were sold off. Now there's a lot of resentment.

He mostly hid in the mansion, spending his time with his concubines and wives. Neither he nor the soldiers thought there was anything wrong with it.

That's just how the world is.

"My beauty, let's go to bed." Ma Miao reached into the woman's bosom, about to undress her and begin their passionate lovemaking.

Just then, a thunderous sound rang out.

"kill!!!!!!"

Ma Miao's arm trembled, his eyes instantly clearing, yet also going limp. Where did that killing sound come from? This is the heart of Liu Han territory.

Then he realized what was happening, shoved the concubine in his arms away, and shouted, "Someone, prepare the horses! I'm running away!"

"General!" The concubine cried out as she fell to the ground, trying to grab Ma Miao's hand. She also realized that there were enemies around, and if she, a woman, fell into the hands of the ravenous Wei soldiers, her fate was self-evident.

"Get out." Ma Miao flung the woman's hand away and hurriedly left the room, preparing to escape.

But it was too late.

His soldiers ran faster than him, and the horses in the stable were also taken away by the soldiers.

Even his servants had all fled.

Ma Miao suddenly felt dizzy and, after hesitating for a moment, he prepared to surrender.

It was evening.

Deng Ai entered Jiangyou Pass and sat down in the main hall of the pass commander's mansion with his generals.

In order to save his life, Ma Miao offered Deng Ai the wealth he had amassed during his tenure, as well as two beautiful concubines, constantly begging for favors.

The Wei generals present all showed disdain. In the face of battle, even if you lose and surrender, you still have a fig leaf to cover up your shame.

Surrendering without a fight and then begging for mercy like this is utter garbage.

The generals quickly became excited again; they were now in Shu (Sichuan). Even Ma Miao, the general in charge of the pass, was excited, so they could foresee what kind of mess the counties and passes ahead would be like.

They could go to Chengdu. With the enemy at the gates, Liu Shan trembled and surrendered.

The victory of conquering a nation is within reach.

Deng Ai inwardly despised Ma Miao, but outwardly reassured him, "General Ma, don't panic. I not only don't want your wealth or beauties, but I'll also appoint you as a colonel and give you a hundred soldiers. You may leave now."

"Thank you, General." Ma Miao was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly. At the same time, he thought of his family in Tu County and asked Deng Ai to send someone back to Tu County to tell his family to go up the mountain to take refuge, so as to avoid being captured by Liu Han.

Deng Ai agreed.

After Ma Miao left, Deng Ai raised his head, revealing a radiant old face, and said, "Gentlemen, we have succeeded. Speed ​​is of the essence in war; we will send troops to attack Fucheng tomorrow."

"Yes!" the generals responded loudly, their faces flushed with blood, and they rubbed their hands together, shouting excitedly.

Deng Ai nodded with a smile, then said, "People like Ma Miao are not worth mentioning, but we must treat them well. We are currently deep in enemy territory, isolated and without a base of operations. Liu Shan lacks benevolence and has lost the hearts of the people. On the contrary, we must win their hearts. Issue an order that soldiers must not abduct women, rob property, or forcibly conscript laborers. If it is unavoidable, laborers should be employed with money. I will not harm the people in the slightest; those who disobey will be executed without mercy."

After saying that, Deng Ai opened his eyes wide, revealing a murderous look.

"Yes!" the generals responded in unison once again.

The Wei army rested and recuperated for a night both inside and outside the pass. The next morning, Deng Ai left a contingent of troops to guard Jiangyou Pass, ordering them to repair the city walls and strengthen defenses.

He then ordered Ma Miao to lead the vanguard in attacking Fucheng, and appointed Yang Xin, the governor of Jincheng, to assist Ma Miao.

Because Ma Miao was the garrison commander of Jiangyou Pass, and the Wei army was fierce, Liu Han was unpopular.

Wherever the Wei army passed, the officials and people of Liu Han either surrendered or fled, like stray dogs.

Deng Ai captured Fucheng without bloodshed.

morning.

Fucheng.

The banner bearing the character "Han" was torn down by the Wei army and left to be trampled on outside the city.

The banner bearing the character "Wei" rose and fluttered in the wind, proclaiming that the master of this city was now surnamed Sima.

The elite soldiers on the city wall, fully armed and in high spirits, stood guard and patrolled.

The elite troops in the city counted and moved supplies.

The grain and supplies in Fucheng were piled up like mountains.

On the south gate.

Under the banner bearing the character "Wei," Deng Ai stood tall and proud, gazing towards Chengdu with a spirited expression.

In fact, he only truly breathed a sigh of relief now.

Jiangyou Pass is too small to be considered reliable.

Fucheng is different.

Fucheng is located next to the Fu River. To the northwest is Jiangyou Pass, to the northeast is Jiange Pass, and to the southwest is Mianzhu Pass.

Geographical location is very important. Cutting off Fucheng would cut off the main grain supply routes of Jiange, Hanshou Pass, and Yang'an Pass.

Therefore, Fucheng was different from other cities in Sichuan and Chongqing, and it was built to be extremely tall and sturdy.

Jiang Wan, Fei Yi, and Jiang Wei all once stationed in the city.

Now, his 30,000 elite troops can threaten Jiang Wei's rear and relieve pressure on Zhong Hui in Hanzhong.

At the same time, countless grain supplies, provisions, and Shu brocades in the city all became his.

His 30,000-strong army could be sustained by the city's food supplies for a year and a half, and it could also support his southward advance to attack Mianzhu and Luocheng, and ultimately reach Chengdu.

His 30,000 elite troops were originally rootless duckweed, but now they have a foundation and can grow strong.

"Hahahaha." Deng Ai suddenly burst into laughter, head held high, chest puffed out, left hand gripping the hilt of his sword, feeling extremely pleased with himself, truly at the pinnacle of his life.

An old steed in its stall may still aspire to gallop a thousand miles. The greatest credit for conquering Shu belongs to none other than him.

When the guards, officials, and soldiers around Deng Ai heard his laughter filled with "victory is certain," they were all filled with excitement.