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

Zhang Ren turned around abruptly and saw Huang Zhong and Wei Yan's banners fluttering in the wind on both sides of the mountain. Liu Bei's soldiers surged down from behind the mountain like a tide, while his ambush troops were being attacked from both sides, as if they were being tightly gripped by iron pincers. His carefully planned ambush had become a trap for the enemy.

"Hold on! Turn around and face the enemy!" Zhang Ren roared, trying to rally his troops, but the Shu army was already in chaos. Most of their arrows had been fired into the valley, and now that they turned back, they were almost powerless against the swordsmen swooping down from above.

The Shu archers on the cliff were scattered by Huang Zhong and Wei Yan's troops, their screams echoing everywhere. Meanwhile, Li Yan in the valley had regrouped, ordering the shield formation to disperse and the crossbowmen to fire back, the arrows like a counterattack, heading straight for the remaining Shu soldiers on the cliff.

A pincer attack from three directions, an impenetrable encirclement.

Zhang Ren was trapped on the cliff, with Huang Zhong's long sword in front of him and Li Yan's volley of arrows behind him. He fought hard with his sword, killing several enemy soldiers who charged at him, but his personal guards fell one by one, and the Shu soldiers were in complete disarray. Some abandoned their weapons and surrendered, some jumped off the cliff to escape, and some put up a stubborn resistance but were instantly killed.

"Charge out! Back to Luocheng!" Zhang Ren's eyes were bloodshot with rage. He knew that if they stayed any longer, their entire army would be wiped out.

He led his remaining troops to break out to the south, only to find that Liu Bei had already personally led men to block the valley entrance.

He wanted to turn back, but saw Li Yan rein in his horse, sword drawn, and shout sternly, "Zhang Ren! The situation is hopeless, why don't you surrender!"

Zhang Ren sneered and charged at Liu Bei with his sword, only to see Huang Zhong also rush down, blocking Liu Bei's path. Blades clashed, sparks flying. Zhang Ren, already exhausted from fighting for a long time, was knocked from his hand by Huang Zhong's sword after only a few exchanges. His personal guards rushed forward, pinned him to the ground, and bound him with iron chains, rendering him unable to move.

Zhang Ren was forced to kneel on the edge of the cliff, gazing at the corpses of Shu soldiers littering the valley below, and at the "Liu" banner fluttering on Luofeng Slope. His eyes were filled with endless sorrow and resentment. His meticulously planned ambush had been utterly crushed by a counter-ambush; the Baima target he had placed such high hopes on had turned out to be bait; and the gateway to Yizhou he had defended to the death had ultimately fallen.

As the morning mist dissipated, sunlight pierced through the mountains and forests, illuminating the bloodstains covering the slope, stinging the eyes. Li Yan slowly emerged from the valley, brushed the dust off his clothes, looked at Zhang Ren bound on the cliff, and said in a deep voice, "General Zhang, things have come to this; why persist in your stubbornness?"

Zhang Ren looked up at Li Yan, then at the distant Luo City, his voice hoarse yet filled with unwavering resolve: "I, Zhang Ren, was born a general of Shu, and I will die a ghost of Shu. How could I surrender to the enemy? Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you!"

Huang Zhong didn't care about any of that and shouted, "Bring him here!"

……

The battle at Luofeng Slope was completely over. The remnants of the Shu army either surrendered or fled. Zhang Ren was bound hand and foot and escorted by Huang Zhong's personal guards, heading towards Liu Bei's central camp. His blood-stained armor was tattered and torn, his hair was disheveled, and his face was covered in dust and blood, but he always held his head high and his back straight, showing no cowardice as a prisoner, his eyes full of arrogance and unyielding spirit.

Inside the central command tent, Liu Bei sat in the main seat, with Pang Tong, Gu Sulin, Fa Zheng, Li Yan, and others lined up on either side. The atmosphere inside the tent was solemn, completely devoid of the jubilation of the great victory just moments before.

Liu Bei remained calm, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table. He felt a deep appreciation for Zhang Ren's talent—this man was loyal, brave, and skilled in battle, well-versed in military strategy, and utterly devoted to his lord. If he could be recruited, it would greatly benefit his future governance of Yizhou and the consolidation of his foundation. He truly did not wish to kill such a loyal and valiant general.

Before long, the sound of armor rubbing came from outside the tent. Zhang Ren was pushed into the tent by his soldiers. Even though he had been defeated and captured, he still stood up and did not kneel. He coldly raised his eyes to look at Liu Bei in the main seat, his eyes full of contempt and resentment.

Seeing this, the soldiers on both sides shouted at him and tried to force him to kneel. Zhang Ren struggled fiercely and shouted, "I am a general of Shu. I will only kneel to the lord of Yizhou, never to you, you traitor who has seized my territory!"

Liu Bei raised his hand to stop the soldiers, stood up, and slowly walked to Zhang Ren. His tone was calm, with a hint of earnestness and appreciation for talent: "General Zhang, why be so stubborn? Liu Zhang is weak and incompetent, repaying kindness with ingratitude, and allowing the people of Yizhou to suffer. My entry into Sichuan this time is not for my own selfish desires, but to save the people of Shu and revive the foundation of the Han Dynasty. It is an act in accordance with Heaven and the people."

Looking at Zhang Ren's wounded body, a hint of regret flashed in his eyes. He continued to persuade him, "General, your loyalty and bravery are known throughout the land. It is truly a pity to die for a mediocre ruler like Liu Zhang. If you are willing to surrender, I will entrust you with important responsibilities. Together, we will restore the Han Dynasty, pacify the people, and free Shu from the suffering of war. You will also be able to achieve great things. Wouldn't that be more meaningful than dying for blind loyalty?"

Liu Bei's words were sincere, his tone full of genuine persuasion to surrender, without any coercion or threat. Everyone in the tent looked at Zhang Ren, hoping that he would change his mind.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ren burst into loud laughter, his voice hoarse and full of mockery. After laughing, he abruptly raised his eyes, staring intently at Liu Bei, and shouted angrily, each word piercing to the heart, without a trace of fear: "Following the will of Heaven and the people? Upholding righteousness? Liu Bei, stop your hypocrisy! You and I both know perfectly well that your so-called saving the people from suffering, your so-called restoration of the Han Dynasty, are all just a facade to conceal your ambitions!"

"You are a member of the Han imperial family, sharing the same royal blood as my lord. He treated you well, inviting you to Sichuan, yet you used a scheme to frame my lord. Is this the morality you speak of? Now, the people of Shu only know of you and not of Liu Zhang. Although you have lost the hearts of the people, we have a clear conscience!"

"I, Zhang Ren, am a man of honor, receiving the emperor's bounty. I should die on the battlefield, not serve a hypocrite like you! Kill me if you must, no further words are needed. There is absolutely no way you will make me surrender!"

"This old minister will never serve two masters again!"

His angry outburst, each word ringing out, echoed throughout the tent, instantly silencing everyone inside. The expressions on everyone's faces varied. Pang Tong and Fa Zheng were about to speak in rebuke, but Liu Bei raised his hand to stop them.

The earnestness and peace on Liu Bei's face gradually faded, replaced by an undisguised helplessness and melancholy. Looking at Zhang Ren's firm and resolute eyes, he understood that this man was deeply loyal and his integrity was unshakable. His attempts to persuade Zhang Ren to surrender were nothing but hypocritical rhetoric in Zhang Ren's eyes, and he could not persuade him in the end.

He remained silent for a long time, his fingertips clenching slightly. His heart was filled with reluctance, but he also knew that Zhang Ren refused to surrender. If he was kept alive, he would become a hidden danger in the future, and the old troops in Shu would also be stirred up again because of his heart. For the sake of the overall situation, he had no choice but to deal with him painfully.

Liu Bei closed his eyes, sighed softly, his voice filled with deep helplessness, and slowly said, "General, your loyalty and righteousness are admirable, but unfortunately, we have different paths and cannot work together. I really cannot bear to kill you, but since you insist on not surrendering, I have no other choice..."

He waved his hand, his tone heavy, and ordered the soldiers outside the tent: "Drag him out and behead him. Give him a proper burial to honor his reputation for loyalty and righteousness."

Upon hearing the commotion, the soldiers rushed forward, lifted Zhang Ren, who was still cursing angrily, and carried him out of the tent. Zhang Ren struggled all the way, angrily denouncing Liu Bei's hypocrisy, until he was outside the tent, when his voice gradually faded away, but he never showed the slightest intention of begging for mercy.

Liu Bei returned to his seat and sat down, gazing at the tent entrance with a forlorn expression. He sighed softly, "Killing loyal and righteous generals is not my wish, but the situation is what it is, and I have no choice."

Inside the tent, everyone remained silent. Zhang Ren's loyalty and determination, Liu Bei's appreciation of talent and helplessness, intertwined in the solemn atmosphere, leaving only a lingering sense of sorrow. This last loyal and brave general of Shu ultimately sacrificed himself for his lord and the foundation he held dear, leaving behind only his loyal soul at Luofeng Slope.