Everyone looked at the figure.
Yizhou Shepherd Liu Zhang also perked up, stood up and said, "General Zhang Ren, why are you here? Aren't you guarding Fushui Pass?"
The person who came was a strong man eight feet tall with a stern face.
This person's name is Zhang Ren, who is from Shu County and is engaged in Yizhou.
When Zhang Ren was young, he followed Liu Zhang's father Liu Yan.
When Liu Yan died of illness and Liu Zhang took over as the pastor of Yizhou, a large-scale rebellion broke out in Yizhou, led by Shen Mi, Lou Fa, Gan Ning and others, and was defeated by Zhao Wei and Zhang Ren.
Among them, Shen Mi and Lou Fa were killed.
Gan Ning fled to Jingzhou and then returned to Wu.
Last year, Cao Cao attacked Yizhou, but Yizhou could not resist. Zhao Wei received a secret letter from Cao Cao: Cao Cao promised that when he conquered Yizhou, he would be named the shepherd of Yizhou in the name of the emperor.
So Zhao Wei rebelled.
The army even reached Wengcheng in Chengdu.
In the end, Zhang Ren arrived with a large army, killed Zhao Wei, and put down the rebellion.
Later, in order to prevent Cao Cao from attacking from Zitong, Zhang Ren led troops to guard Fushui Pass.
Zhang Ren can be said to be Liu Zhang's most effective general.
Seeing him coming back, Liu Zhang felt reassured and hurriedly came up to greet him and said, "You have come back just in time! The two traitors, Fazheng and Meng Da, led the Wu army to attack the city and checkpoints all the way, and have already reached the south of the city!"
Zhang Ren bowed to Liu Zhang and then said: "General, don't worry, I came back this time just to hear the news about Fazheng and Mengda's rebellion."
"It's just that the situation is critical now."
"We have repelled the allied forces of Fazheng, Mengda and Wu, and I'm afraid we won't be able to stay in Yizhou anymore."
"I have received definite information. Cao Cao's army was defeated by the Jingzhou Army in Zitong. Cao Cao led the remaining tribes to flee and retreat to Hanzhong. Cao Cao's generals Xia Houyuan and Cao Ren, the mastermind Guo Jia, two cavalrymen of ten thousand people, including a All the tiger and leopard cavalry died in battle.”
"It's not me who destroys my own morale."
"But the Jingzhou Legion is indeed powerful."
"And the Jingzhou Legion is only one of the four major legions of the Wu Kingdom."
"This time Wu State attacks, we simply cannot defend it."
Zhang Ren's words silenced Liu Zhang and the Minister of Civil and Military Affairs.
Liu Zhang felt his heart go cold.
He had actually heard this news before.
However, he always held out hope.
the reason is simple.
He has two generals: Zhang Ren and Li Yan.
They are both brave and resourceful.
If they didn't speak, there was still hope.
Who knows, Zhang Ren came back and said he couldn't hold on.
Liu Zhang looked at Zhang Ren and said: "Is it really impossible to defeat them?"
Zhang Ren met Liu Zhang's somewhat fearful gaze and sighed longly: "General, I am a minister of the Liu family. If you ask me to die in battle, I will never frown."
"But, I can't ignore the facts just to please you."
"Now Wu is so powerful that no one party can resist it."
“It’s not just us in Yizhou.”
"Cao Cao and Zhao will eventually be defeated by Wu."
"If the general wants to keep Yizhou, it is impossible."
"Retreating to the south and being at the horns of each other with Jiaozhou, we can survive for more than ten years."
Liu Zhang's face turned pale.
Can’t save Yizhou?
How can we survive more than ten years by retreating to the south?
So what's the point of retreating to the south?
Not only are there many major barbarian tribes in the south, but they are often in rebellion.
Miasma is everywhere, there is too little land for cultivation, and the people are starved of food.
I am used to living in a place like Chengdu with fine clothes and fine food. Why go there to survive just to survive for more than ten years?
All the other civil and military officials were too embarrassed to say anything.
If even Zhang Ren said this, Yizhou would be unsafe.
Liu Zhang was silent for a long time, then looked at Zhang Ren with a pleading look on his face: "There is no hope at all?"
Zhang Ren let out a long breath, pondered for a long time and said: "This time we defeated Fazheng, Liu Bei and other armies. I will guard the south."
"General Li Yan will continue to guard Fushui Pass."
"We can't hold on."
"Or, we can protect Chengdu for several years."
Liu Zhang was on the verge of collapse.
Just protect Chengdu for several years?
What about a few years later?
Or will it be conquered by Wu?
Zhang Ren felt extremely uncomfortable when he saw Liu Zhang looking like this.
But in the end, he couldn't say anything to comfort her.
After all, the current situation can comfort him for a while, but not forever.
At this moment, a soldier rushed out and said, "Report, urgent information coming from Fushui Pass!"
Liu Zhang quickly cheered up and said, "Send it over!"
The soldier quickly came in and handed a bamboo tube to Liu Zhang.
Liu Zhang took the bamboo tube, opened it, took out the paper inside, and shook it open.
The next moment, his eyes darkened and he almost fell down.
Seeing this, Zhang Ren hurriedly helped Liu Zhang and said: "General!"
All civil and military officials also gathered around.
Liu Zhang tremblingly handed the paper to Zhang Ren and wailed: "Those thieves Li Yan and Zhang Song, after General Zhang Ren left Fushui Pass, they led their troops directly north to join the Jingzhou Army in Zitong!"
The civil and military officials instantly became noisy.
Zhang Ren's expression also changed drastically, he hurriedly opened the paper and glanced at it.
The letter was written by Wu Yi, the general who guarded Mianzhu Pass.
Wu Yi, the elder brother of Wu, the wife of Liu Zhang's elder brother Liu Mao who died last year, and like Zhang Ren, were generals who had followed Liu Zhang's father Liu Yan in their early years.
Moreover, Wu Yi followed Liu Yan longer than Zhang Ren.
Wu Yi was originally from Chenliu, Yanzhou, and his father was an official of General He Jin.
After the general He Jin was killed by the eunuchs, Wu Yi followed his father Liu Yan and settled in Yizhou.
Wu Yi and Liu Zhang are closely related.
Most of Yizhou is related to Wu Yi.
It can be said that it is impossible for Wu Yi to lie.
When he received this information, it was certain that Fushui Pass was gone.
Li Yan, Zhang Song and others indeed surrendered to Zi Tong's Jingzhou Army.
Now Fushui Pass is gone.
The Jingzhou Army can easily move south.
At Mianzhu Pass, as long as the Jingzhou Army wants to, they can break through Mianzhu Pass at any time.
Mianzhuguan and Chengdu are only a short distance away.
Once Mianzhu Pass is breached, Chengdu will be in danger.
Zhang Ren looked at the letter written by Wu Yi and instantly lost confidence.
In Yizhou, he and Li Yan were the only ones who could really lead the troops to fight.
Now Li Yan has also voted.
Just rely on him.
Even if he is shattered to pieces, he can't resist it!
However, Zhang Ren was only slightly disappointed and looked at Liu Zhang.
As long as Liu Zhang insists on defending the city, he is willing to die in battle and will never compromise!
Liu Zhang only stood up with the support of civil and military officials.
After a while, he lowered his head, looked at Zhang Ren and said, "Now, what else can I do except surrender?"
Zhang Ren instantly burst into tears.
Other civil and military officials also burst into tears when Liu Zhang said this.
When Liu Zhang saw this, he also started crying.
The whole meeting hall was full of crying.
After crying for a long time, Liu Zhang asked Zhang Ren to go out of the city gate and ask Huang Gai to surrender.
Huang Gai was already ready to accept the surrender.
However, he originally thought that he would have to attack the city several times.
But he didn't expect Liu Zhang to surrender so quickly.
After discussing with Zhang Ren, it was finally determined that the time for surrender would be tomorrow morning, around Chen hour.
Zhang Ren then rushed back to Chengdu.
Early the next morning, Liu Zhang wore plain clothes, held the seal of Yizhou Mu, opened the city gate with all the civil and military officials, knelt at the city gate, and welcomed Huang Gai's army into the city.
Huang Gai had already organized his troops.
Seeing Liu Zhang coming out with all the civil and military officials, Huang Gai went up with Liu Bei, Fazheng, Meng Da, and the army.
Fazheng watched Liu Zhang hand the seal to Huang Gai, then he lay on the ground with a trembling look. He sneered and cursed: "It's really a waste. You have managed the huge Yizhou to look like this."
When Liu Zhang and all the civil and military officials heard what Fazheng said, they all lowered their heads and kept crying.
This Fa Zheng was once a minister of Yizhou!
Now, as a traitor, he is so arrogant.
The two figures stood up together.
One of them is Zhang Ren.
The other one is a man named Wang Lei, who is engaged in Yizhou.
Zhang Ren drew his sword from his waist and was about to charge forward, but Liu Zhang grabbed his sleeve tightly.
Soldiers from all around quickly surrounded him.
Zhang Renhu's eyes widened, he glared at Fa Zheng and said, "You traitor!"
Fazheng said proudly: "Traitor? Now, all I know is that I am a guest and you are a prisoner."
Pointing at Zhang Ren, Fa Zheng said: "Come here, kill him!"
Liu Bei on the side quickly laughed and said: "Stop!"
Looking at Huang Gai, Liu Bei said: "General, although this general is irritable, he is human and only behaves like a loyal man."
Huang Gai looked at Fazheng.
Fazheng looked at Liu Bei, frowned, and said coldly: "Mind your own business!"
Liu Bei: "."
Huang Gai signaled the surrounding soldiers to retreat.
Zhang Ren fell to his knees again and hit the ground hard with his head.
He now hates himself for being incompetent.
Let a traitor be arrogant and domineering in front of you, and you will be arrogant!
Wang Lei looked at Fazheng's triumphant look and sighed.
Looking at Liu Zhang, Wang Lei said: "Now that the Lord is being humiliated, you all can endure it shamelessly. But I, Wang Lei, can't!"
"A loyal minister will not serve two masters."
"Not to mention, helplessly watching the Lord being bullied by villains!"
"My lord, Wang Lei has taken the first step!"
Huang Gai and Liu Bei saw this and said in unison: "Just wait a moment!"
However, Wang Lei didn't give them any chance. He drew his sword and wiped his neck directly.
Blood spurted out from his wound.
Wang Lei looked at Fazheng and Mengda, smiled sadly and said: "I'll wait for you in the underworld, traitors——"
Before he finished speaking, his body fell straight to the ground.
Huang Gai sighed heavily.
Liu Bei looked at Wang Lei's body and shook his head.
After getting off the horse, Liu Bei helped Liu Zhang up and said: "No matter what, you are also a member of the Han clan. For the sake of these martyrs, please straighten your back."
Huang Gai looked at Fazheng and Mengda.
Fazheng and Mengda both looked away.
Huang Gai then got off his horse and signaled all the civil and military officials to get up.
Afterwards, Huang Gai and Liu Bei also walked on foot, leading Liu Zhang and hundreds of civil and military officials into the city.
When he arrived in the city, Huang Gai asked the soldiers to commit no crime against the common people, so he wrote a letter to Lu Yi, and sent the letter and the seal of the Yizhou Shepherd to Wu County in a hurry, giving it to Lu Yi, asking Lu Yi to send someone or come to Yizhou in person. Take over Yizhou and appease the officials in Yizhou.
(End of chapter)
