Chapter 43: A man who can rival Zhao Yun, don't worry, Lao Liu! He is still my son!

"White Li soldiers!"

Xiao Fang slowly uttered three words.

Liu Bei suddenly remembered and nodded repeatedly: "Yes, it is the Bai Li soldier!"

Xiao Fang looked towards Wancheng and continued:
"There were many heroes who surrendered at that time, and time was tight, so I didn't have time to count them one by one."

"Later, we came to Biyang and settled down a bit. I had time to look through the list of heroes who had surrendered from Runan, and that's when I discovered that Chen Dao was also in the army."

"So before Zhang Xiu's army attacked, I took the initiative to order Chen Dao to lead his Bai Li soldiers to sneak into Wancheng as an internal response."

"Chen Dao is indeed very courageous. He accepted the task without hesitation."

There was no need for Xiao Fang to hide anything any longer, so he told Liu Bei everything that had happened.

Liu Bei suddenly realized.

After a pause, Liu Bei's eyes flashed with some doubt, and he lowered his voice and asked:

"Military Advisor, this mission is extremely challenging and requires a brave man to take on. Is Chen Dao really capable of doing this?"

Xiao Fang smiled secretly.

Of course, Old Liu didn't know that Chen Dao in history was a man of unparalleled loyalty and bravery. After he joined him in Runan, he spent half his life protecting him and commanded his most elite personal guards.

That is the famous elite army of Shu Han, the legendary Bai Li soldiers.

It is said that each of these elite soldiers is worth ten men at a time. When Liu Bei was defeated in the Battle of Yiling, he was able to successfully break through thanks to the protection of the Bai Li soldiers.

According to historical books, Chen Dao's fame and status are second only to Zhao Yun.

How could a warrior who is as loyal and brave as Zhao Yun, and who leads the elite Bai Li soldiers, be unable to perform the simple task of sneaking into Wancheng and acting as an insider?

However, these secrets naturally could not be told to Liu Bei.

Xiao Fang didn't explain much, just said lightly:

"Since Fang dares to use Chen Dao, he naturally believes in his ability. My lord, just trust me."

The doubt in Liu Bei's eyes disappeared in an instant.

Although it is hard to guess why Xiao Fang trusted and respected Chen Dao so much and entrusted him with important tasks since Chen Dao was not well-known.

But ever since he met Xiao Fang, Xiao Fang's ability to judge people has never gone wrong.

Wei Yan, Xu Sheng, Xu Chu...Which one of the people recognized by Xiao Fang was not a rough jade and gold, a tiger warrior in the world?

"Since Jinglue trusts Chen Dao so much, he must be a man of extraordinary abilities. Why should I worry about nothing..."

Liu Bei's worries were relieved, so he stopped thinking about it and looked towards Wancheng.

Wancheng, the county seat.

"Father, in the past three days, we have forcibly collected 30,000 hu of grain and fodder, which is enough for our 5,000 soldiers to eat for half a year."

"The problem of food shortage has finally been solved. Father can rest assured."

Zhang Yan held the grain book in his hand and reported the "good news" to Zhang Ji with a smile.

Zhang Ji stroked his half-white beard, nodded with satisfaction, and sneered:
"My father's worries have been resolved. With sufficient food and grass, the soldiers will naturally feel at ease."

"Liu Bei wants to attack my Wancheng. Go ahead and attack me. I will accompany him to fight and see how long he can be so rampant!"

The father and son looked at each other and laughed.

Seeing how confident they were, Zhang Xiu could not help but say:
"Uncle, although our army's food supply has been resolved, the food stored by the soldiers and civilians in the city has been taken away, and they will surely complain."

"They are extremely hungry, I'm afraid they will take risks and start a riot!"

Zhang Ji's smile disappeared, and a layer of gloom covered his face again.

Zhang Yan looked down on him and snorted coldly:
"Back then, when we followed Lord Dong from Luoyang to Chang'an, we killed many unruly people."

"If the people of Wancheng don't know how to live or die and dare to rebel, we will kill them all!"

Zhang Xiu frowned secretly.

The people of Xiliang were brutal to begin with, and after they followed Dong Zhuo to take control of the Han court, they became like wild horses that had broken free from their fetters, burning, killing, and looting at will.

Henan Yin, where Luoyang is located, and Guanzhong, where Chang'an is located, were killed by them until the fields were full of starving people and no roosters crowed for thousands of miles.

Zhang Ji was naturally no exception.

However, although he was a member of the Xiliang Army, he privately disagreed with Dong Zhuo's practice of letting his troops kill and plunder. He always restrained his troops and tried not to massacre civilians if possible.

Now, hearing that Zhang Yan was going to use such a simple and crude method to resolve the hidden dangers in the city by slaughtering the people of Wancheng, Zhang Xiu naturally felt resistance.

After a moment's hesitation, Zhang Xiu could only bow again:

"After my uncle defeats Liu Xuande, he will have to rely on Nanyang to regroup. If he kills too many people, he will lose the support of the people."

"Xiu thinks it would be better to drive the civilians out of Wancheng and let them find their own way to survive. This would not only avoid killing, but also eliminate the hidden danger of civil unrest."

He settled for the next best option and offered a plan.

Zhang Ji pondered in silence, as if he was persuaded by Zhang Xiu's plan.

"Father, my brother's plan is absolutely not feasible."

"At this critical moment of life and death, father needs to show his iron fist, so that the soldiers will be afraid of his iron fist and dare not not fight to the death for him."

"If father releases the civilians in the city, won't the soldiers mistakenly think that father is weak and merciful?"

"If those soldiers from Nanyang lose their fear of my father, who will fight to the death for us to defend the city?" Hearing these words, the hesitation in Zhang Ji's eyes disappeared in an instant, and fierce determination surged in his eyes again.

"Yan'er is right. I have a knife in my hand, so why should I be afraid of their rebellion?"

"We Xiliang people are invincible in the world. We don't rely on being soft-hearted to win people's hearts. We rely on our iron hoofs and swords!"

"Pass on my order. No one is allowed to leave the city. Anyone who dares to escape will be killed without mercy!"

Zhang Yan praised Zhang Ji for his wisdom.

Zhang Xiu's brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and after gritting his teeth, he still wanted to persuade him again.

The words remained unspoken.

Hu Che'er ran into the hall, looking panicked, and half-knelt on the ground.

"General, the enemy troops at the west gate are beating drums, and it seems they are planning a night attack!"

Zhang Ji and his son's faces changed, and their just ruthlessness was instantly replaced by surprise.

Liu Bei had just laid siege to the city, why was he launching a massive attack so soon?

Zhang Ji's eyes shot towards Zhang Xiu, and subconsciously he wanted to order Zhang Xiu to mobilize troops and guard the west gate as usual.

"Father, I am willing to lead the army and defend the west gate to the death!"

Zhang Yan limped up and took the lead in challenging Zhang Ji to a fight.

While speaking, his eyes kept hinting at Zhang Ji.

Zhang Ji was slightly surprised, but immediately understood.

Although Zhang Xiu was brave and good at fighting, his son Zhang Quan was in Liu Bei's hands after all, and he even urged him and his son to surrender to Liu Bei.

With such a "criminal record", how can we still let him lead the troops with confidence?

What if Zhang Xiu turned against his allies in the battle and led his troops to open the city and surrender to Liu?
Even if Zhang Xiu had not betrayed them, if he could defeat Liu Bei in this battle, his prestige in the Zhang family army would surely increase greatly, and the soldiers would follow Zhang Xiu's lead.

What if Zhang Xiu relied on his prestige in the army to force them father and son to surrender to Liu Bei?
Zhang Ji rolled his eyes a few times, and then shouted:
"Yan'er, quickly mobilize the troops from all gates to reinforce the west gate and block Liu Bei."

"Wenjin, you go with us and help your brother!"

Zhang Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Xiu was shocked and looked at Zhang Ji in surprise.

He never expected that at such a critical moment, Zhang Ji would go against his usual behavior and let his lame cousin be the chief general to lead the army to fight the enemy!

Isn't it ridiculous to let a person who has no prestige in the army and has hardly led troops in battle suddenly take on such an important task?

After being surprised, Zhang Xiu immediately understood.

Zhang Ji was suspicious of his nephew and was afraid that he would turn against him in the middle of the battle.

Therefore, he would rather let his lame son be the commander-in-chief than take the risk of letting him lead the army again.

"I just want to find a way out for the Zhang family army. Why are you doing this, uncle..."

Zhang Xiu sighed inwardly, a hint of bitterness flashing across his eyes.

Zhang Ji stepped forward, patted the two on the shoulders and said:
"You must remember that when brothers work together, they can break any obstacle!"

"I'm here at the government office. You brothers, join forces and make sure to defeat that bastard Liu Bei for me!"

Zhang Yan's pride was aroused, and he said with emotion:
"Don't worry, father. Although I am disabled and cannot ride a horse, I am more than capable of leading the army to defend the city and dealing with a mat weaver and shoe seller!"

Zhang Xiu, however, was in low spirits and just bowed his hands reluctantly to accept the order.

The two of them then took their leave and hurried to the west gate.

Zhang Ji watched the two of them go out the door, and looked at the west gate where flames were shooting up into the sky, with a hint of smugness on his face.

"Liu Bei, do you think that just because you won a battle, you can treat me, Zhang Ji, as nothing?"

"Today, I will let you have a taste of what it's like to be defeated at the gate of a city!"

...

South gate, Liu Jun’s camp.

Everyone was listening attentively, focusing on the sounds of killing coming from the direction of the west gate.

Half an hour passed in the blink of an eye.

Xiao Fang looked up at the night sky. The moon was already at its zenith, so he turned his gaze to Liu Bei.

"My lord, Zhang Ji's main force has almost been led to the west gate."

"Light up the second beacon and send a signal to Shuzhi!"

Liu Bei was cheered up and immediately issued an order.

The second beacon was lit again above the rear camp.

Afterwards.

Liu Bei drew his double-edged sword, took a deep breath, and shouted sternly:
"All troops, listen up! Follow me and charge out of the camp and head straight for the south gate!"

The camp gate burst open.

The five thousand soldiers who had been accumulating strength for a long time poured out of the camp like a tide and attacked the south gate of Wancheng.

(End of this chapter)