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

Upon hearing this, Liu Xun's excitement subsided somewhat. His deputy's words did indeed make some sense. Liu Bei's army had been besieging the city for days without success; if they truly had no other options, they might use this trick to lure him out of the city and then ambush him. But then he reconsidered. Liu Bei's army had suffered heavy losses and their morale was low; if they were truly setting a trap, why would they feign such a desperate situation? Moreover, Liu Gui had many former subordinates who had cultivated their influence in Mianzhu for years, and with trusted confidants secretly assisting him, rescuing him wasn't impossible.

More importantly, Luocheng was already in dire straits, with food supplies running out and the garrison exhausted. If they continued to passively defend, they would be breached by Liu Bei's army sooner or later. At that time, he would not only fail to live up to the trust placed in him by his father and General Zhang Ren, but he would also become a prisoner, and Yizhou would fall completely into Liu Bei's hands.

Now that Liu Gui is helping him, if he can take advantage of Liu Bei's army's retreat to launch a preemptive strike and defeat their main force, he can not only lift the siege of Luocheng, but also take the opportunity to recover lost territory and boost the morale of Yizhou. This is the only turning point, and he cannot afford to miss it.

"It's not a trap." Liu Xun shook his head, a resolute light rekindling in his eyes. His tone was resolute. "Liu Bei has launched a fierce attack for several days, suffering heavy casualties and low morale. He has no confidence to set a trap. General Liu Gui is utterly loyal and would never betray his lord. This letter must be genuine. This is a golden opportunity. If we miss it, there will be no next time. Luocheng will surely fall, and Yizhou will surely perish!"

His mind was made up, and he immediately ordered his deputy: "Pass down the order to select three thousand elite soldiers from the city's garrison. They must be strong, skilled in martial arts, and rest well tonight to conserve their energy. Prepare their weapons and armor, and tomorrow morning, as soon as they see any unusual activity in Liu Bei's camp, they must follow me out of the city to pursue them!"

"Furthermore, keep this secret and do not let other soldiers in the city know about it, lest the news leak out and ruin the grand plan!" Liu Xun added, his tone serious and allowing no room for error.

Although the deputy general still had doubts, he dared not disobey the young master's order. He could only bow and accept the order, then turn around and go down to select elite troops and convey the command.

In the hall, only Liu Xun remained. Clutching the secret letter, his heart was filled with anticipation. He seemed to already see the scene of defeating Liu Bei's army and lifting the siege of Luocheng, the loyal soul of General Zhang Ren finally finding peace, and Yizhou returning to tranquility.

As dawn broke and the first hint of light appeared in the east, before the morning mist had completely dissipated, Liu Xun had already ascended the east gate tower, his gaze fixed intently on Liu Bei's army camp in the distance. He was clad in brand-new armor, wielding a long sword, his expression resolute, his eyes filled with anticipation. Behind him followed three thousand elite soldiers, each one spirited and eager to pounce, ready to leave the city at any moment to pursue them.

A moment later, sure enough, unusual activity was observed in Liu Bei's army camp in the distance. Inside the camp, figures were in disarray, banners were askew, and soldiers were hastily dismantling their camps and loading their loads onto carts. They looked panicked and hurried, as if they were retreating in a panic. They didn't even have time to dismantle the camp's fences, and many soldiers even abandoned their armor and weapons and fled into the distance. It was a scene of utter chaos and panic among the troops.

What delighted Liu Xun even more was that faint shouts of battle and the sound of drums could be heard from the distant mountains and forests, as if an army was indeed launching a surprise attack on Liu Bei's rear camp, just as Liu Gui had described in his letter.

"It's really chaotic! General Liu Gui has indeed made his move!" The soldiers on the city wall exclaimed in surprise, their faces showing delight, and their morale soared instantly.

Liu Xun's eyes gleamed with fierce light. Unable to contain his pride and excitement, he drew his long sword from his waist, pointed it towards Liu Bei's army camp, and shouted sharply, "Liu Bei has been unable to break through after a long siege, and his rear has been attacked by General Liu Gui. His army's morale has collapsed, and they are fleeing in panic! If we don't pursue them now, when will we? Open the east gate, follow me, and we will crush Liu Bei's army in one fell swoop, avenge General Zhang Ren, and relieve the siege of Yizhou!"

"Avenge General Zhang Ren! Lift the siege of Yizhou!" Three thousand elite soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and echoing throughout Luocheng.

The east gate of the city swung open with a roar, and the heavy gate slowly slid down. Liu Xun, clad in armor and spear in hand, led three thousand elite soldiers in a fierce pursuit of Liu Bei's rear guard. The sound of hooves pounding the ground was deep and powerful, dust billowing up. The young general, full of vigor and ambition, was unaware that danger was lurking beneath the surface.

He spotted the rear of Liu Bei's army in the distance; the ranks were sluggish, the banners were scattered, and the soldiers looked panicked. He was convinced the enemy was like frightened birds, utterly vulnerable. He immediately led his troops in a fierce charge, shouting, "Kill! Don't let Liu Bei escape! Capture Liu Bei alive, and kill Pang Tong—a great reward awaits!"

Three thousand elite soldiers followed closely behind, each one striving to be the first, charging towards the rear of Liu Bei's army. Shouts of battle and the sound of horses' hooves mingled together, echoing across the plains. Liu Xun took the lead, brandishing his spear and slaying several of Liu Bei's soldiers who had fallen behind. His confidence grew stronger, and he felt that victory was just around the corner.

Just as his men were chasing into a wide valley between the two mountains, the tail of Liu Bei's army, which had been "running away", suddenly stopped and turned around, revealing a disciplined military appearance. The soldiers all looked serious, holding weapons and with sharp eyes like eagles. There was no sign of them fleeing in panic.

Liu Xun's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition instantly swept over him. He abruptly pulled on the reins, wanting to order a halt to the pursuit, but it was too late.

The next moment, a deafening horn blast suddenly rang out from both sides of the mountain peaks. The horn blast was sharp and powerful, breaking the tranquility of the morning.

"kill--!"

"Release the arrows!"

Huang Zhong's thunderous roar echoed through the mountains and forests. Instantly, a volley of arrows rained down from the left slope, their sharp whistling echoing through the air, heading straight for the Shu army's ranks. Caught completely off guard, the Shu soldiers fell in droves in the front ranks, their screams and wails piercing the valley. Those struck by arrows rolled to the ground, while the rear ranks scattered in panic, trampling each other, and their formation completely collapsed.

In the woods on the right, Wei Yan, already poised for battle, led his heavily armored cavalry in a charge down the mountain. Their hooves shattered the rocks, and wherever their iron hooves passed, Shu soldiers were either killed or wounded. Their spear formation ruthlessly slashed into the Shu army's flank, cutting them in two. The cavalry charged back and forth, their sabers flashing, blood splattering everywhere. The already loose Shu army formation was instantly shattered.

Liu Bei's main force in the central route simultaneously turned around, beating drums and shouting, and steadily advanced. Long spears were like a forest and swords flashed like snow, suppressing them from the front. The three armies formed an iron barrel encirclement, trapping Liu Xun's three thousand men in the valley, with no way to advance or retreat, like beasts in a cage.

"We've fallen into a trap! It's an ambush!" The lieutenant was terrified. He swung his sword to deflect the arrows and rushed to Liu Xun's side. "My lord! Break through quickly! It'll be too late if we wait any longer!"

Liu Xun stood frozen, his face contorted with elation, all color draining from his skin. He watched as his soldiers fell, wounded by arrows, and as Liu Bei's army closed in from all sides. A chill ran from his toes to his head. He gripped his spear tightly, his knuckles white, regret tearing at his heart like a knife. But now, retreat was impossible; Wei Yan's cavalry had completely blocked his escape route.

"Reorganize! Break through towards the east gate!" Liu Xun roared, his eyes bloodshot, as he swung his spear to deflect the arrows flying in his face. He spurred his warhorse and personally led his personal guards to the front, attempting to tear open a gap in the enemy lines.

But Huang Zhong had already spurred his horse down the hillside. The old general, his beard and hair bristling, swung his broadsword with tremendous force, instantly cutting down the oncoming Shu army guards. Blood stained his blade, and his momentum was unstoppable. "Liu Xun, you little brat, you've fallen for my brilliant plan! Surrender now!"