Liu Zhang had Liu Zhang's plan, and Liu Bei, according to his own plan, stationed troops under the city of Chengdu and surrounded Chengdu.
Zhang Fei led an army to besiege the north gate of Chengdu. The actual commander behind him was Liu Bei, and the military advisor was Fazheng.
Huang Zhong led his army to besiege the east gate of Chengdu, and his military advisor was Pang Tong.
Wei Yan led his army to besiege the west gate of Chengdu, and Zhuge Liang, his military advisor.
Zhao Yun led his army to besiege the south gate of Chengdu. The military adviser was not there.
General Zilong is both civil and military, so what kind of military advisor does he need?
As for Zhang Xi, he is in Liu Bei's army at the north gate, but this time there is no need for Zhang Xi to lead the army. His biggest task is to cut down trees and break rocks and manufacture large quantities of counterweight catapults.
After seeing the mottled city wall at the south gate of Luocheng City that could collapse at any time, Liu Bei immediately realized the power of Zhang Xi's new catapult. This time he attacked Chengdu City, Liu Bei was also prepared to follow the same pattern below Chengdu City.
Although this may destroy the walls of Chengdu, what if Liu Zhang really decides to defend and refuses to surrender? !
After Zhuge Liang's reminder, Liu Bei also knew that he still had hidden dangers. He needed to compete with Zhang Lu in Hanzhong and Xia Houyuan in Longyou for time. If he really couldn't quickly surround the city, then a strong attack would be a necessary option.
Therefore, Zhang Xi's main task now is to manufacture catapults, and in large quantities, more than fifty units.
Of course, Zhang Xi does not only have such a task. It is also his duty as a counselor to accompany the army and make suggestions.
Therefore, Zhang Xi suggested that Liu Bei send Liu Xun and Zhang Ren back to Chengdu.
On the one hand, it expresses Liu Bei's intention to preserve Liu Zhang's family, reduces Liu Zhang's will to resist, and prompts Liu Zhang to surrender.
On the other hand, this Zhang Ren is not the Zhang Ren in the novel. Apart from his commendable loyalty, his abilities are just that. As for Liu Xun, although he was good at guarding, he knew the power of the new catapult, so he asked him to go into the city to persuade, maybe he could create panic in Chengdu.
Liu Bei thought about it for a while and agreed.
After all, Liu Xun was Liu Zhang's son, and Liu Bei was moved by Zhang Ren's loyalty. He couldn't kill such a person even if he kept him, so he might as well let him go to show his benevolence and righteousness.
Therefore, Liu Xun and Zhang Ren returned to Chengdu city with Fazheng's letter specifically written to Liu Zhang to persuade him to surrender.
As for Liu Zhang, he really has mixed feelings in his heart now.
Liu Zhang was very happy that his son could come back alive. Liu Zhang always thought that Liu Xun had been killed when Luocheng was defeated.
But Zhang Ren came back alive, which made Liu Zhang feel a little embarrassed.
Because Liu Xun sent a letter saying that Zhang Ren failed to attack Liu Bei's army and was killed in battle. In order to boost the morale of the defenders, Liu Zhang went to mourn Zhang Ren in a big way and cried in person. What should I say now? Is it still too late to take it back? !
The most terrible thing is that these two people, a confidant and a biological son, came to persuade him to surrender when he came back.
This made Liu Zhang very angry.
For Liu Xun, he was always his son or the eldest son. What could Liu Zhang do? !
But Zhang Ren and Liu Zhang are welcome.
He directly placed the blame for the fall of Luocheng on Zhang Ren, and also accused Zhang Ren of colluding with Liu Bei, which led to the fall of Luocheng and the capture of Liu Xun. Obviously, Liu Zhang did not want to be polite to Zhang Ren this time.
As a confidant, it is natural to have the awareness to take the blame.
Zhang Ren didn't say anything, but Liu Xun really couldn't bear it.
Liu Xun still thinks that Zhang Ren is exaggerating and has high ambitions and low intentions, but this man's loyalty cannot be doubted.
Although he once misunderstood Zhang Ren, he later explained it clearly and Liu Xun had to praise Zhang Ren.
This man, for the sake of Liu Zhang, didn't even give up his reputation. Once word of the defeat and fake surrender and sneak attack got out, Zhang Ren would have no place anywhere.
Not to mention that the reason why he is not dead now is just to protect the safety of Liu Zhang's family. Such a person really cannot take the blame, nor can he be killed by Liu Zhang.
Once Liu Zhang killed Zhang Ren and Zhang Ren's story spread, no one would be willing to help Liu Zhang defend Chengdu.
So Liu Xun quickly stopped Liu Zhang, tried his best to explain to Zhang Ren, and repeatedly guaranteed Zhang Ren's loyalty, but Liu Zhang didn't listen at all.
Liu Zhang really didn't care whether Zhang Ren was loyal or not. He now needed someone to stand up and take the blame for the previous series of defeats, and Zhang Ren was the best candidate.
After all, Zhang Ren was indeed defeated twice and lost Mianzhu. Not killing Zhang Ren before had already given some bad signs to the aristocratic families. If he didn't kill him this time, which of those aristocratic families would help him defend Chengdu? Go and communicate with Liu Bei privately early, maybe he will open the city gate and surrender at some time.
Therefore, Zhang Ren must be killed, and he must be killed according to the official punishment.
But Liu Xun tried so hard to dissuade him, so Liu Zhang couldn't kill Zhang Ren on the spot, so he had to order Zhang Ren to be imprisoned. When Liu Bei officially attacked the city, he had Zhang Renming sentenced to death.
At this time, Zhang Ren still didn't say a word and allowed himself to be dealt with, while Liu Xun could only sigh in his heart.
No wonder my family is in this situation now.
It's not that you can't understand your father's intentions, but there are some things you really can't do.
You must kill immediately and decisively when you should kill, and you cannot kill randomly when you shouldn't kill.
And to kill a person who is loyal to you for a group of people who may abandon you at any time. Is this really good?
Therefore, Liu Xun found an opportunity to visit Zhang Ren in prison and said tactfully, "This matter is because my father and son are sorry for the general. It is not the general who is sorry for us. Xun can send the jailer away. The general will leave the city and go to the prison." Just surrender to Liu Shijun."
Zhang Ren sat in prison, still closing his eyes and saying nothing.
Liu Xun could only sigh in the end, toast Zhang Ren with a glass of wine, and then left the prison.
However, before leaving, Liu Xun still told the jailer to treat Zhang Ren well and not to be wronged. This could be regarded as his last loyal care for Zhang Ren on behalf of Liu Zhang's family.
After returning to his mansion, Liu Xun stayed behind closed doors and locked himself up to save Liu Zhang the trouble of dealing with it.
As for Liu Zhang, he waited, waited, and waited for almost a month, but he still didn't see any signs of Liu Bei attacking the city.
Could it be that Liu Bei felt that he had too much food and grass, so he planned to waste some of it first? !
Or does Liu Bei think that he has more military rations than those in Chengdu, so he plans to compete with himself for consumption? !
Liu Zhang didn't understand, but Liu Zhang really didn't care.
Now he just wants to buy time. If Liu Bei doesn't attack, then I will continue to defend like this. When Cao Cao's army advances westward, who will cry when he sees it?
But Liu Zhang waited for this month and did not receive the news of Cao Cao's westward march to Hanzhong. Instead, he received the news that Xiang Cun was defeated and captured.
Fu Jin and Xiang Cun led 15,000 men to attack Jiameng Pass. They have been attacking from May to now, almost half a year ago, but they still failed to capture Jiameng Pass, which was defended by only 1,000 men.
Half a year after the attack, the weather gradually entered winter, and Fu Jin and Xiang Cun also slacked off a bit. They were preparing to wait for the winter and then continue the attack after the winter.
Then they were attacked by Huo Jun himself, who led his troops out of seclusion.
Fu Jin and Xiang Cun really didn't expect that Huo Jun, with only a few hundred men, would dare to sneak attack an army of more than 10,000 people. Therefore, they were completely unprepared and were easily dispersed by the hundreds of men led by Huo Jun. , had to retreat twenty miles in succession.
But when Huo Jun led his army back to the pass and Fu Jin Xiang Cun gathered his troops again and prepared to set up camp again, the army led by Meng Da suddenly came out from behind and killed two more people by surprise.
At the same time, when Huo Jun in Jiameng Pass saw that the two troops were being attacked, he immediately ignored his fatigue and led his troops out of the pass for the second time, attacking the two soldiers in front and back. The result was obvious.
Fujin Xiangcun could not gather his troops at all, and was attacked from both sides. He was defeated and captured.
Meng Da also led 3,000 soldiers to Jiameng Pass to help Huo Jun defend against the possible arrival of Zhang Lu or Xiahou Yuan's army.
When Liu Zhang saw this battle report, his heart suddenly dropped.
The lives and deaths of Fujin and Xiangcun are actually not important. What this battle report really reflects is that Liu Bei had long thought that Liu Zhang might contact Zhang Lu and sent reinforcements to Jiameng Pass early.
Now that Xiangcun's offensive troops have been dispersed and he himself has been captured by Liu Bei's army, there is no possibility of attacking Jiameng Pass with external forces.
Once Liu Bei can hold Jiameng Pass, or attack Chengdu before Jiameng Pass is breached, then all Liu Zhang's calculations will come to nothing.
If this is the case, then Liu Zhang might as well surrender to Liu Bei. After all, Liu Xun once said that Liu Bei swore in public that he would treat Liu Zhang's family well.
Zhang Ren may not believe Liu Bei's oath, but Liu Zhang does.
At Liu Bei's position, once he takes an oath in public, the weight of the oath will not be light. Once he fails to abide by it, the consequences will be very serious.
Swearing in public was still very credible before the Gaoping Ling Incident.
Then Liu Bei's army began to attack the city.
(End of chapter)
