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

Chapter 132 A Strong Wind Reveals the Strength of the Grass (Part Two) (Seventh Update)

When Deng Ai captured Jiangyou Pass, the commotion was relatively small. However, after Deng Ai captured Fucheng, the news spread like wildfire throughout the entire Sichuan region.

Officials, commoners, the poor, and nobles all fled at the mere sight of the enemy. The entire Shu region resembled the scene before the fall of a kingdom, with everyone on edge and fearful.

Those who wanted to rise up in resistance were extremely few.

Many powerful clans were waiting for this day. "The one who will replace the Han dynasty is Dangtu Gao." Liu Bei and his son Liu Shan were going against the will of Heaven and would not have a good end.

"Bei" and "Chan" mean that they were ready to hand over Bashu (Sichuan and Chongqing) to the emperor.

Many people hated Huang Hao, resented Liu Shan's weakness, and hated Jiang Wei's aggressive military campaigns.

The people were suffering and were even less willing to risk their lives for Liu Han.

As Deng Ai marched into Shu, the entire region collapsed.

The news quickly reached Chengdu.

Zhuge Zhan, Dong Jue, Fan Jian, and other important officials went straight to the palace and held a private meeting with Liu Shan.

Inside a simple side hall.

Liu Shan didn't even have time to put on his crown and robes before he hurriedly sat down on the throne. Despite the dead of winter, he was shivering and sweating profusely.

It looked like a ball trembling, ridiculous and lewd.

Although he, although he, although... he really didn't expect the country to perish.

He wanted to remain emperor and didn't want to die. Because he didn't want to die, he believed in the wizard.

Now Deng Ai has already marched all the way to Fucheng. If he can't stop him, Deng Ai might cut off his head.

This is something he cannot accept.

Heads.

My head! Is it still there?

Liu Shan felt that he was dead, but it seemed that he was still alive.

Huang Hao stood beside Liu Shan, his face even more pale than Liu Shan's, and he was trembling even more violently.

"I'm going to die, I'm going to die, I'm going to die." Huang Hao's mind was in a mess, and he kept wailing in his heart.

It is in times of great crisis that true heroes emerge.

Dong Jue looked up at Huang Hao and sighed inwardly. He had met countless people in his life and considered himself to have a knack for judging character. Huang Hao's performance was even worse than that of the Ten Attendants back in the day.

The Ten Attendants dared to draw their knives and ambush He Jin, killing him. In the end, when all hope was lost, they had no choice but to drown themselves in the river.

"Huang Hao is a man who monopolizes the government and forced the powerful Liang Jiang Wei to leave for Hanzhong." Dong Jue shook his head inwardly.

As for whether the country would perish, Dong Jue didn't care much anymore. No dynasty lasts forever; let nature take its course. Of course, this was also due to his disillusionment. Back when Zhuge Liang was alive, he was a loyal and devoted minister.

Fan Jian and Dong Jue shared similar sentiments: let it be. Other important officials, such as the veteran Nanyang native and General of the Army, Zong Yu, the Prefect of Chongzhou, mostly felt the same way.

Only Zhuge Zhan was racking his brains for a solution.

Liu Shan composed himself and asked in a trembling voice, "My ministers, what should we do?"

Zhuge Zhan stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, if Deng Ai gains a foothold, it will lead to disaster. I request permission to lead troops into battle and subdue Deng Ai." After a pause, he added in a deep voice, "Currently, Chengdu still has 30,000 troops, including the Imperial Guards, the city defense forces, General Zhao, and General Zong, and the battle is being fought within the country. I am confident that I can defeat Deng Ai."

Actually, he wasn't confident; he had no experience leading troops even once. But he was Zhuge Zhan, so he had no choice but to grit his teeth and go for it.

The name Zhuge carries such weight.

Zong Yu glanced at Zhuge Zhan and immediately bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, this old minister is too old to go."

Alright, he lay down. He was a year older than Liao Hua. When Zhuge Zhan first came to power, Liao Hua wanted to attach himself to Zhuge Zhan and continue to contribute, trying to bring him along. He refused. He was already seventy, practically on his deathbed, why bother anymore? Besides, he could see that Zhuge Zhan was no good.

If he dies at home, he'll at least have a complete body; but if he dies on the battlefield, his head will have to go to Luoyang.

How pitiful.

Zong Yu's words made Liu Shan and Zhuge Zhan's expressions very unpleasant. Especially Zhuge Zhan, who had no experience in commanding troops. If he could have an experienced general like Zong Yu to guide him, his chances of victory would increase. On the contrary... but he couldn't do anything about Zong Yu.

He was young, lacked prestige and power, and couldn't deal with Zong Yu. He even had to be very polite to him, after all, he was a senior figure.

"We can only hope for Zhao Guang," Zhuge Zhan thought to himself.

Liu Shan could have killed Zong Yu, or reprimanded him and forced him into battle, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Why would he kill him, or force him, at his age?

"Very well. My dear minister, prepare the troops for battle immediately." Liu Shan composed himself, ignoring Zong Yu, and spoke directly to Zhuge Zhan.

"Yes." Zhuge Zhan bowed in agreement and led his ministers away.

After they left, Liu Shan seemed to have been drained of his strength, collapsing onto his throne like a lump of mud.

Harem.

Inside Consort Li's bedroom.

Liu Chen had many children, and as a simple woman, she couldn't be happier and more content.

She was happily making clothes for her grandson, humming a little tune, and was quite cheerful.

Upon hearing the devastating news, she was stunned into silence, then cried out in terror, "If the country perishes, what will happen to my son and my grandson?"

Whether she lives or dies doesn't matter, or even what fate befalls her doesn't matter. But what will happen to her precious child?

Consort Li was terrified for a moment, then immediately took action, intending to consult with her brothers, but she couldn't find them, so she could only sit in her palace and wail loudly.

She cried for a while, then tried to leave the palace to see her son, but couldn't. She could only continue crying.

Consort Li's bedroom.

Consort Li was still very young, not yet twenty-five. She was extremely beautiful, with skin as smooth as jade and a graceful figure.

She was among the last batch of concubines selected by Liu Shan to enter the palace. She only served the emperor a few times and had no children.

She retired to the palace at a young age.

Upon hearing the news, the eunuchs and maids around Consort Li were all shattered. Consort Li, however, remained calm and rebuked them, saying, "It's just death, what is there to fear?"

She had no weapons, but dying was easy for her. She could simply find a well, jump in, and die.

Zhuge Zhan was about to leave the side hall when Zong left. He was old and wanted to go back to sleep.

Zong Yu's actions were understandable.

Many of the sycophants promoted by Huang Hao left without a word. In the blink of an eye, most of the important officials were gone.

Only three prime ministers remained, including Zhuge Zhan, and a few old men.

"There's nothing I can do." Fan Jian put his hands inside his sleeves and sighed inwardly.

Zhuge Zhan stood bewildered in the cold wind. After a long while, he composed himself and began to order the mobilization of troops.

He then bid farewell to the others and returned to his general's mansion to take charge.

The imperial guards' order of battle.

The Right Commander's Office of the Imperial Guard.

Li Qiu was resting by the fire when he received Zhuge Zhan's order. He gasped, his face turning pale, but then his resolve hardened. He sighed, "Death is inevitable for everyone; it's better to die a true man."

After speaking, Li Qiu ordered the troops to be organized and prepared for battle. Because the Imperial Guards had not fought for many years, the army immediately fell into chaos upon receiving Li Qiu's order.

Li Qiu then went to find Chen Ting, the Left Commander of the Imperial Guard, only to learn that Chen Ting had just asked for leave.

Li Qiu didn't get angry; he just sighed, "Everyone has their own ambitions." Then, he took charge of the Imperial Guards as the Right Commander of the Imperial Guards.

Tiger Cavalry Battalion.

When the news arrived, hundreds of Tiger Cavalry were riding and shooting in the camp.

Mi Zhao, the supervisor of the Tiger Cavalry, was reading in his study. Because of the cold weather, he had placed a charcoal stove beside him, but even so, he was still very cold. Every now and then, he would put down his bamboo slips and warm his hands on the charcoal stove.

An official suddenly burst in, conveying Zhuge Zhan's order.

Mi Zhao's face turned deathly pale instantly. After a long moment of stunned silence, he made a decision. He went straight home.

"It's a pity, but it really should end now." As he entered his home, he glanced back at the direction of the palace and thought to himself.

Despite saying that, he returned to his bedroom, covered himself with the blanket, and cried bitterly, feeling sorry for his grandfather and father.

"How could I possibly wish for the fall of the Han Dynasty? But there's nothing I can do. I'm not Zhuge Liang, Jiang Ziya, or Fei Yi. They're all dead. General Zhuge doesn't have the ability. Following him into battle would mean certain death. Waaah."

He could die, but he couldn't follow the wrong people into a war that was destined to be lost.

He did what he knew was impossible. He wasn't that noble.