Liu Zhang was shocked and angry when he heard this: "Zhang Ren...how dare you have two minds? How unreasonable!"
Pang Xi's betrayal devastated Liu Zhang. He was extremely disappointed and made everyone feel uneasy.
Wang Lei hurriedly admonished: "My lord, you have no doubts about who you employ! Nowadays, the safety of Shu belongs to General Zhang alone. As long as Liu Qi can be blocked, Chengdu will be safe. Don't be instigated by others."
Zhang Song sneered and said: "The safety of Shu lies entirely with Zhang Ren. We must be more cautious. If he can't get out, could he be waiting to kill Liu Qi?"
Wang Lei added: "Huang Gongheng is also in the army and will definitely be able to help General Zhang defeat the enemy."
Zhang Song said: "If we wait like this for a long time, people's hearts will change, states and counties will betray, and Chengdu will be left alone. How can we just sit and wait for death? Is it true that Yizhou, a country with abundant resources and vast land and resources, and outstanding people, has no one to use?"
Liu Zhang was already weak-minded, and he was even more hesitant when he heard this. He looked at Zhang Song and said, "Now that all the generals are commanding troops outside, who else can be used?"
As soon as he finished speaking, someone saw someone saying: "My child is willing to lead the troops to resist the enemy."
Liu Zhang was surprised when he saw that it was his eldest son Liu Xun: "My son dares to lead the army?"
Liu Xun said loudly: "Chengdu is in urgent need today. My father is busy with state affairs and can't sleep at night. Children should share their worries and fulfill their filial piety for their father."
Zhang Song praised: "It is really commendable that the eldest son has such filial piety."
Liu Zhang hesitated and said: "Although my son has good ambitions, he has never led an army, so he may not be qualified."
Zhang Song smiled and said: "In the past, Liu Qi was ill in bed and never led the army. He also defeated Cao Cao in Nanyang. The eldest son is as talented as Liu Qi and will be able to defeat the enemy! I have a plan that can control Zhang Ren and repel the enemy." Liu Qi."
Liu Zhang hurriedly asked: "What's the plan?"
Zhang Song said: "You can order the eldest son to lead troops to guard Luocheng and supervise Zhang Ren to go out to fight. See what his intentions are. If he doesn't go out, he will personally go to Mianzhu to meet the enemy. Huang Sima will be his military advisor, which will be enough to defeat the enemy."
"This is a wonderful plan. Even if Zhang Ren surrenders to the enemy, he can still defend Luocheng to protect Chengdu!" Liu Zhang was overjoyed and looked around at everyone: "Who can assist the eldest son in defending Luocheng?"
One of the generals came out and said: "I will go there in the end."
When Liu Zhang saw that it was Wu Yi, he paused slightly and said with a smile: "It would be best if Xun'er can get help from your respected uncle, I will feel at ease!"
Wu Yi was the brother-in-law of Liu Zhang's brother Liu Mao. At that time, Liu Yan died of illness, and everyone supported Liu Zhang's succession. Worrying that Wu Yi's brother would be dissatisfied, they gradually deprived him of his military power and only served as a casualty in Chengdu.
Now that Liu Mao has died and there is no longer a threat, Liu Zhang sees that there is really no one available, so he has no choice but to appoint Wu Yi. After all, the Wu family has moved to Chengdu, so he will definitely do his best.
Liu Xun took the order and came out. The young man was commanding troops for the first time. He was so energetic that he felt that his steps were brisk and his whole body was about to float.
Zhang Song ran a few steps before catching up, clasped his fists and said, "Song wishes the eldest son a great victory!"
Liu Xun turned around and saw Zhang Song. He cupped his hands and thanked him: "Domeng Biejia's kind words have made me enlightened. I can do anything Liu Qi can do."
Zhang Song said with a smile: "The eldest son is here to defeat the enemy. Since he can be loyal, his reputation will surpass Zhang Ren. Who in Shu will dare to disobey in the future?"
Liu Xun's face suddenly glowed red and he bowed deeply to Zhang Song: "There were people who talked about you secretly befriending Liu Qi. Fortunately, my father is wise and will not be swayed by the rumors. At this time of danger, everyone is in danger and everyone wants to protect themselves. Only My husband and my father and son worked together and tried their best to plan, and I will keep this kindness in mind."
Zhang Song hurriedly bowed in return and sighed: "Song is a minister of the Han Dynasty. Seeing the decline of the Han Dynasty, he should protect General Liu and revitalize the Han Dynasty. If his name can be immortalized on bamboo silk, what regrets will he have in this life? It is just a rumor that there will be rotten leaves under this tree. will disappear without a trace.”
Liu Xun looked at the trees in the courtyard and said with emotion: "As the saying goes, you will know the pines and cypresses when the weather is cold, and you will show your loyal ministers when the country is in trouble. Your reputation will be passed down through history."
Zhang Song coughed dryly and said hurriedly: "The military situation is urgent. We can first send someone to urge Zhang Ren to go to war. When his departure is unfavorable, the young master will try to turn the tide and his morale will be greatly boosted!"
"Liu Qi has a sleeping dragon and a phoenix chick, and I also have a husband to plan, so why worry about the big thing failing?"
Liu Xun was overjoyed, thanked Zhang Song, and sent an order to Zhang Ren to urge him to go to war. He and Wu Yi ordered 20,000 troops and horses to march to Luocheng.
Unconsciously, half a month has passed, and rumors are spreading in Mianzhu Pass on the front line. They say that Zhang Ren intends to surrender to the enemy, is passive and idle in the fight, and will only wait for another group of troops to reach Chengdu before surrendering to Liu Qi.
Although Zhang Ren didn't take it seriously, Huang Quan was worried. If things continued like this, the defenders would lose their fighting spirit. They were secretly waiting for the moment of surrender, and their morale would become increasingly low.
On this day, a general order suddenly came from Chengdu. Liu Zhang appointed his eldest son Liu Xun as a general and led his troops to assist in the battle. The sentry horse had sent a message urging him to go to war.
Zhang Ren accepted the letter, but still stood still. Huang Quan couldn't help but persuade: "Although the eldest son came to help in the battle, he actually came to supervise the battle. The lord must have heard the rumors and became suspicious. Why did the general continue to disobey the order?"
Zhang Ren said calmly: "Don't you hear that the general is outside, and the emperor's orders are not accepted? This must be Liu Qi's plan. If he sends troops at this time, isn't it playing into his ambitions?"
Huang Quan sighed: "But the general disobeyed orders and did not fight, so he fell into Liu Qi's plan!"
Zhang Ren put his hands behind his hands and looked out the door, and said slowly: "A certain person is loyal to the Lord, and heaven and earth can teach him. As long as he fulfills his duty to protect the territory, why should he be afraid of rumors?"
When Liu Xunbing arrived at Luocheng, he was furious when he learned that Zhang Ren had disobeyed orders and refused to fight. He sent his own soldiers to urge the battle and ordered him to break through Liu Qi's camp within three days.
Three days later, the scouts came to report, but Zhang Ren still stood still. Liu Xun was furious: "Zhang Ren relies on his own merits and openly disobeys orders. He treats my general's orders as if they are nothing. How can this be unreasonable?"
When he first led the army, he was repeatedly disobeyed by the general, which would have been unbearable for anyone else. An order was sent to arrest Zhang Ren and behead him for questioning.
Wu Yi said: "General Zhang has a heavy responsibility in guarding Mianzhu Pass. If he is detained rashly, the morale of the army will be shaken, and he may be forced to surrender to the enemy. This is the time when the general is killing the enemy and making great achievements. Why not go to the army in person to question him?"
Liu Xun left half of his troops to defend the city and personally led his troops to Mianzhu Pass. Zhang Ren and Huang Quan came out to meet him.
Zhang Ren knew why Liu Xun came and reported: "When troops approach the city, it is difficult to resist the enemy. We can only stand firm and wait for changes. Jingzhou's troops will not be able to transport food and grass in time, so they will retreat."
Liu Xun turned a deaf ear and only asked Huang Quan about the military situation. Huang Quan reported the war truthfully and also said a few good words for Zhang Ren. Zhang Fei and Chen Dao were highly skilled in martial arts and had Pang Tong as their strategist, so it was indeed difficult to fight against the enemy.
Liu Xunyan said: "Master Huang is a member of the army, why don't you offer suggestions to defeat the enemy?"
Huang Quan then told Zhang Ren that he had proposed three strategies, all of which were vetoed. Liu Xun snorted slightly and sent a message to his troops to rest and send troops to meet the enemy tomorrow.
Seeing that Liu Xun never answered him, Zhang Ren left the camp with a sigh and went to patrol alone at the critical moment. Although Liu Zhang and his son were suspicious of him, he felt that he had a clear conscience and just fulfilled his duties.
Before he knew it, it was late winter, the north wind was howling, and Zhang Ren was in a desolate mood. Seeing that Yizhou was in danger and he was under suspicion, his heart was desolate far worse than the coldness on his body.
At this moment, a horse suddenly came galloping under the moonlight. The defenders hurriedly beat the drum, and only after two blasts did they see the man shoot an arrow at the critical moment and then fly away.
The soldier took the arrow and saw that there was a letter wrapped around it, with the word "Ren" written on it. He opened it and took a look. He was so surprised that he dropped it. He gritted his teeth and said, "Liu Qi, what a vicious trick!"
