Three Reconstructions of the Han Dynasty: I Helped Zhuge Liang Perfect the Longzhong Plan

Chengdu, the governor's residence.

In just half a month, Liu Zhang had not slept a full hour. During the day, he was restless, repeatedly stroking the military tally on his desk, and constantly imagining the war drums and battle cries from the front lines. At night, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw the image of Liu Bei's army breaking through the city. The old stories of Zhang Song's defection, the leak of the secret memorial, and the deaths of Yang Huai and Gao Pei kept churning him. His heart felt like it was being crushed by a huge boulder, making it hard to breathe.

He dared not concern himself with politics, much less listen to news from the front lines. He could only pray repeatedly that Zhang Ren and his generals could hold Fucheng, and that Liu Bei would stop in his tracks out of consideration for their kinship. He even deluded himself into thinking that perhaps the Shu army could achieve a surprise victory and drive Liu Bei back to Jingzhou.

He barely touched the food brought by the eunuchs. His once round face quickly became thin, his eyes were bloodshot, and he looked terribly haggard. His fear and anxiety were so intense that even the palace servants dared not approach him.

Huang Quan and Liu Ba visited the palace several times, pleading with him to reorganize the rear and mobilize reinforcements, but he refused to see them each time. He had long lost his backbone and had lost even the courage to face the crisis. He only wanted to escape and let time slowly erode the last bit of life in Yizhou.

These words struck Liu Zhang like a thunderbolt. He froze, abruptly rising from his seat, his legs trembling, nearly collapsing. He steadied himself by gripping the table, his voice hoarse and barely audible: "You... what did you say? Zhang Ren... didn't Zhang Ren hold the line?"

Every word the messenger uttered was like a sharp blade, piercing Liu Zhang's heart.

Ling Bao and Deng Xian, fierce generals of Shu, both died in battle; Zhang Ren, his last reliance, also suffered a defeat and fled; Wu Yi and Fei Guan, his relatives by marriage and important ministers, whom he had always relied on, surrendered without a fight. In a short battle, three generals were lost, the gateways of Fucheng and Mianzhu were lost, the main force was completely wiped out, and even trusted ministers betrayed him. Liu Bei's army had completely torn apart the defenses of Yizhou and could advance straight into Chengdu at any time.

Liu Zhang stood there, stunned, his ears ringing, his vision blurring, his whole body trembling uncontrollably, his teeth chattering, unable to utter a complete sentence. The charcoal fire in the warm pavilion was still burning, but he felt a chill run through his body, a coldness that seeped into his very soul.

How could Yizhou, which he had painstakingly managed for over twenty years, be so fragile? How could the generals and ministers on whom he placed such high hopes be so easily defeated? How could Liu Bei's military might be so overwhelming that no one could stop it?

The last shred of hope he had held was now utterly crushed. The guilt of leaking the secret report, the remorse for Zhang Song's defection, the despair of the soldiers and civilians turning against him, and the collapse of the army at the front—all these pressures swept over him in an instant, completely overwhelming him.

He staggered back a few steps and collapsed onto the couch, clutching his chest tightly with both hands, gasping for breath. His eyes instantly turned red, and tears streamed down his face uncontrollably, but he didn't even have the strength to cry out.

Upon hearing the news, Huang Quan, Liu Ba, and others rushed into the palace. Seeing Liu Zhang's distraught and near-collapse state, they all sighed deeply, filled with sorrow. Yet, they had no choice but to step forward and plead with him to immediately mobilize the Chengdu garrison to reinforce the city's defenses and hold Luocheng to the death.

But Liu Zhang could no longer hear anything. He stared at the dark night outside the palace, his mind filled with nothing but the image of Liu Bei's army pressing closer and closer, and his heart was filled with despair.

With the loss of Fucheng and Mianzhu, Luocheng became the last line of defense for Chengdu. But how long could Zhang Ren's defeated army hold out? Wu Yi and Li Yan surrendered, and even turned against each other, capturing a general from Shu. The morale of the army and the people was completely shattered, and he, the ruler of Yizhou, had become a lonely figure.

Just when all hope seemed lost, the door to the warm pavilion was gently pushed open, and a series of steady footsteps approached from afar. Liu Zhang looked up and saw his eldest son, Liu Xun, dressed in plain, close-fitting clothes, with a long sword at his waist, striding into the hall. The young man was tall and straight, and his eyes and brows displayed a determination and courage that was completely different from Liu Zhang's cowardice.

Seeing his father's haggard, dejected, and despairing appearance, Liu Xun felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, but he suppressed his emotions and strode to Liu Zhang. He knelt down, kowtowed heavily, and said in a strong and resounding voice, "Father! Your son, Liu Xun, begs your permission to immediately go to Luocheng to join General Zhang Ren in defending the city and resisting Liu Bei's army!"

This request to volunteer was like a thunderclap, instantly jolting the dazed Liu Zhang awake. He stared blankly at his eldest son kneeling on the ground, momentarily speechless, his eyes filled with astonishment and confusion.

Liu Xun raised his head, his gaze fixed firmly on Liu Zhang, his tone earnest yet resolute: "Father, Luocheng is Chengdu's last line of defense. As long as Luocheng stands, Chengdu stands; if Luocheng falls, Chengdu will surely fall. General Zhang Ren is loyal and brave in battle, but he is outnumbered. As his son, it is my duty to share your burdens. I cannot stand idly by and watch the traitor Liu Bei invade our Yizhou territory!"

"Though I am unworthy, I am willing to lead the elite troops of Chengdu to Luocheng, fight alongside General Zhang Ren, and defend the city to the death. Even if we fight to the last man, we will never retreat a single step, and we will never allow Liu Bei to set foot in Chengdu!"

Looking at his eldest son, who was full of vigor and willing to die, Liu Zhang felt his long-suppressed despair and grief instantly dissipate with a complex emotion.

His lips trembled as he looked at Liu Xun's resolute face, his heart filled with mixed emotions—he himself was cowardly and incompetent, ruining a great land, but his son had such courage and responsibility, volunteering to defend Luocheng, a city where life was a matter of life and death.

The despondency of the past few days vanished, and a faint but real hope quietly ignited in the depths of his lifeless heart.

Liu Zhang rose shakily, reaching out to help Liu Xun to his feet. His fingertips were icy cold, but his voice was choked with a long-forgotten sob: "My son... my son has shown such responsibility, and I am very gratified... but Luocheng is dangerous, and Liu Bei's power is great. Your journey there will be fraught with peril..."

"Your son fears neither death nor life!" Liu Xun stood tall, his voice firm. "As long as we can defend Luocheng, protect Yizhou, and protect my father and the people of Shu, your son will not hesitate to die a thousand deaths!"

Looking into his son's resolute eyes, Liu Zhang's turbid tears streamed down his face again, this time filled with hope. He gripped Liu Xun's hand tightly, as if grasping at the last straw, and a glimmer of light finally returned to his previously unfocused gaze.

"Good! Good!" Liu Zhang said twice, his voice still hoarse but with more strength. "I grant your request! Immediately dispatch 10,000 troops from Chengdu, under your command, to Luocheng to assist General Zhang Ren in defending the city to the death!"

"With my son going, General Zhang Ren will have a strong backing. Luocheng will surely be defended, and Chengdu will surely be preserved! There is still hope for Yizhou, there is still hope!"

At this moment, Liu Zhang's long-suppressed despair vanished. Watching Liu Xun's departing figure, he seemed to see the last glimmer of hope for Yizhou. For the first time in this desperate situation, the weak but persistent ruler of Yizhou felt a flicker of hope, eagerly anticipating that his son could hold off Liu Bei's army in Luocheng and protect this last vestige of his empire.