Wuxia: The Super Slave Master

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Luo Chen did not send Zhuge Liang with the army; he led his own troops in Yinping. As for Xu Da's army, Yan Qing trusted Xu Da's abilities. Yan Qing asked Zhuge Liang to remain in Chang'an to oversee all military and political affairs in Guanzhong; since Luo Chen was absent, Zhuge Liang would act in his stead. As for Zhang Juzheng and Lin Chong, one was fully committed to promoting the equal-field system and the militia system, while the other was working on steel and gunpowder; both were extremely busy, and Luo Chen did not allow them to participate in other matters.

Luo Jun acted swiftly and decisively; within just a few days, Xu Da's southern forces had advanced towards Jiameng Pass. Luo Chen's 20,000 troops also headed straight for Yinping Road. Xu Da made a grand display, while Luo Chen's army remained extremely secretive.

Meanwhile, news of Xu Da's 120,000-strong army reached Chengdu, causing widespread panic among the people of Sichuan.

In the main hall, the strategists whispered amongst themselves, while the generals opposite them wore solemn expressions. Zhang Song, with a small mustache and a gaunt face as if sculpted by a knife, sat in a corner of the hall, looking mockingly at the panicked strategists. "Liu Zhang is weak and incompetent; the annexation of Yizhou is only a matter of time. What's there to panic about!" "Everyone, quickly discuss what to do!" came Liu Zhang's distraught voice from the head seat. This short, stout Liu Zhang, looking at the urgent reports from Jiameng Pass and other places, was at a loss, sweating profusely.

"Since the time I sent this letter, the garrison commander of this pass has already been killed by Xiahou Yuan. Now, I am leading a small force to put up a stubborn resistance. Jiameng Pass will soon be lost."

The last thing that arrived was a short note from a deputy general at Jiameng Pass. Clearly, Jiameng Pass was likely now in Xu Da's hands.

A strategist of medium build, with a murderous look on his face, stepped forward. His complexion was weathered, and his hair was streaked with gray. "The only solution now is a scorched-earth policy. Xu Da's army of over 100,000 has entered our Shu territory. All cities should be sealed off and defended strictly. All civilians outside the cities should be moved inside, all grain should be confiscated, and all houses should be demolished. Then Xu Da's army will be forced to sleep in the open, unable to gather supplies, and will have no choice but to flee! Our Shu army will then pursue them and surely defeat them decisively!"

The hall was completely silent.

"That Huang Quan is too ruthless! He actually came up with this method," Zhang Song cursed inwardly.

“I think it’s feasible!” General Zhang Ren stepped forward. This Zhang Ren was a famous general from Shu, a staunch advocate of war.

He spoke up on May 5.3rd. Zhang Song told himself, "Let me show you what real debating skills are." "Anyone who says such a thing should be executed!" Zhang Song roared, his voice surprisingly loud despite his short stature.

"You've implemented a scorched-earth policy, confiscated all the people's grain, and destroyed all their houses. How can you be worthy of being the officials of Yizhou? You're utterly shameless!"

"You!" Zhang Ren roared in fury, seemingly wanting to draw his sword and kill the skinny man. "I'm doing this for the good of Yizhou, for the sake of my lord!"

"For the sake of our lord? The Five Pecks of Rice sect in Yizhou is a theocratic society, renowned for its benevolence and righteousness. You have ruined our lord's reputation! And who is the real aggressor? I think it's not Luo Chen, but you, Zhang Ren. You are a hundred times more brutal than them! At this rate, before Luo Chen's army even arrives, the surrounding peasant uprisings will have already killed you, Zhang Ren!"

"You..." Zhang Ren was speechless for a moment.

Chapter Twenty-One: Advance the Troops

Meanwhile, a heated debate broke out among the people of Sichuan. Zhang Song used all sorts of insults to hurl insults at them.

Fa Zheng spoke up. This Fa Zheng was usually petty and vindictive, but he was a man of great talent, and he and Zhang Song got along fairly well. "A scorched-earth policy, destroying productivity, is tantamount to destroying one's own Great Wall, and is extremely foolish," Fa Zheng said calmly.

"What do you mean?" Huang Quan asked.

"After the scorched earth policy, agricultural production in Yizhou will inevitably be severely affected, farmland will be abandoned, and order within the city will be in jeopardy. Even if we repel the Luo army this time, they can easily regroup and make a comeback. Can we continue to implement the scorched earth policy? We will soon starve to death or be killed by peasant rebels."

"At least let's stop this attack first! We'll deal with the rest later!" Huang Quan said.

"Tch, short-sighted," Zhang Song sneered loudly. He saw that Huang Quan's expression remained unchanged, but his facial muscles were twitching, indicating that he was extremely angry.

Zhang Song was slightly nervous; this Huang Quan was a man of few words. He recalled that a few nights ago, around 10 PM, he lazily returned home and lay down on his bed. Then, a young man's voice rang out beside him: "Lord Zhang..."

Zhang Song was terrified and was about to call for help when the man calmly said, "I came from Luo Cheng's place." Zhang Song was startled and immediately guessed what was going on. He immediately gave up the idea of ​​calling for help.

"This general... was he truly sent by Prime Minister Luo?"

“Indeed, I am Yan Qing, the General of the Bodyguards of Prime Minister Luo.”

Upon hearing that the man was Luo Chen's personal bodyguard, Zhang Song sensed something was amiss; this man must be one of Luo Chen's confidants. "Prime Minister Luo understands," said the general named Yan Qing. "Mr. Zhang may appear arrogant and unruly, but he is actually deeply concerned about Yizhou and has been searching for a wise ruler for many years." Zhang Song was greatly alarmed. How could this Prime Minister Luo, a complete stranger, know his thoughts? (Because Luo Chen had read *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*.) Yan Qing left a box of gold, saying, "Please do your best to make Liu Zhang's policies favorable to us. Once Prime Minister Luo takes control of Yizhou, I will reward you handsomely." With that, he nimbly disappeared into the darkness.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing," Liu Zhang said in a gruff voice, pulling Zhang Song back from his reverie. "This scorched-earth policy... sigh, it's better not to do it. Even if I can't keep my position as the ruler of Yizhou, I can't treat the people of Yizhou like this." He sighed softly after speaking. "Zhang Ren, Ling Bao, Deng Xian, you gather the troops from all over Shu and disperse them to defend places like Jiange and Fucheng. Zhang Ren will be in charge of the specific deployment. Remember, you must not do anything that harms the people, such as scorched-earth policies. Everyone, disperse."

The officials dispersed with sighs and groans, but Zhang Ren cursed and swore, wanting to drive the fallen army back to their hometown.

At this moment, Luo Chen and Lü Bu were leading their army on a difficult march through the towering mountains. For contemporary college students like Luo Chen, who were used to a sedentary lifestyle, this kind of march was extremely dangerous. Strategizing was one thing, but carrying out those plans and orders was far more difficult. Eventually, Luo Chen had to be carried or carried by soldiers, which made him somewhat uneasy. Lü Bu, however, didn't seem to mind: "Prime Minister, you are a strategist, of noble birth, and shouldn't be in this godforsaken mountain. Your most important thing is to conserve your energy; don't overexert yourself, or we'll be in serious trouble. Without a leader, we'll be doomed." Since there were no paths in the mountains, the soldiers used their weapons and axes to carve out a way. When they encountered cliffs, the soldiers used their axes to create footholds, escorting Luo Chen down slowly. Many soldiers had sacrificed their lives along the way, and Luo Chen felt deeply guilty.

This road is not blocked by enemy troops, and you can't even see a single person. The main challenge is to fight against nature.

A week later, Youjiang City was in sight. From there, the roads were flat and wide, with Mianyang and Chengdu following in succession. "This is truly amazing!" Lü Bu exclaimed excitedly. "Xu Da and the others are still struggling to overcome their obstacles."

At the Jiange front, 100,000 Shu troops were assembled to defend the area. Xu Da's army slowly advanced. Deng Xian felt his horse snort and take a step back uncomfortably. The enemy's formation was disciplined, unlike anything he had ever seen before. Most wore dark armor, their banners bearing the large character "Luo" (落), while some bore the character "Xu" (徐). Large numbers of armored cavalry lined both flanks, their armor reflecting a terrifying light in the sunlight. Deng Xian even noticed that all their horses were equipped with stirrups. The enemy's central force was a dark mass, difficult to see clearly, but likely included infantry, charioteers, and archers. Deng Xian secretly hoped their cavalry wasn't so numerous. The Luo army's cavalry was renowned for its elite status. The Luo army controlled Guanzhong and Xiliang, areas famous for their fine horses. The core of the Luo cavalry consisted of Xiliang riders. Therefore, the Luo cavalry was numerous and extremely fierce. In the Battle of Tong Pass, countless Cao Cao soldiers fell victim to the Luo cavalry's blades. For a time, the soldiers of the Central Plains were terrified, and none dared to engage the Luo Army cavalry in direct combat. Now, these elite troops had drawn their sabers and were preparing for battle.

Deng Xian sensed a growing fear among his soldiers. This army had long been accustomed to a precarious existence; the soldiers lacked morale, their equipment was poor, their cavalry was weak, and they were even short of bows and arrows. Deng Xian couldn't understand where Zhang Ren's arrogant and domineering demeanor came from.

An enemy general in white robes and silver armor, carrying a long spear, charged to the front of the battle line: "People of Yizhou, surrender now! Or come and die!"

Zhang Ren drew his spear and spurred his horse forward slightly. "You mad bandits! You've kidnapped the Emperor! Now the 410 have invaded Yizhou again! I'll slaughter you all, leaving not a single one alive!" Deng Xian thought Zhang Ren was going to charge forward himself, but unexpectedly, he turned to Ling Bao and said, "Ling Bao! You fight him for a few rounds!"

Left with no other choice, Ling Bao spurred his horse and charged forward. In the blink of an eye, both horses galloped towards each other. Ling Bao raised his broadsword and hastily swung it down, but the enemy general easily dodged, tossing his spear from right to left, easily piercing Ling Bao's chest. Ling Bao cried out, fell from his horse, and died in a single exchange.

The Shu officers and soldiers were all terrified. Deng Xian heard Zhang Ren whisper in fear, "So formidable, so formidable..."

Deng Xian was terrified. He made up his mind: even if Zhang Ren ordered him to charge, he wouldn't go. If it was about to end, let Zhang Ren die himself. Clearly, the enemy was stronger than them. Wasn't it incredibly foolish of Zhang Ren to come out and engage in a direct confrontation instead of defending the city?

The enemy did not give the Shu generals another chance to fight. Deng Xian saw from afar that Xu Da, the commander of the fallen army, drew his sword and pointed it forward. Immediately, the enemy drums roared, and the enemy cavalry charged forward, shouting, their raised sabers flashing white light.

Some of the Shu soldiers at the front put up a brief resistance but were killed, while others fell before they could even react. The Shu soldiers at the rear began to rout and flee in a frenzy!

Chapter Twenty-Two: Yan Yan

The Shu army had completely lost their fighting spirit. They truly felt what terror was. Out of the corner of their eyes, they saw gleaming white sabers being brandished high, and behind them came screams of agony. It was as if that blade would fall on their heads any second, as if they were alive one moment and would step into the gates of hell the next. They had only one thought in their minds: escape, escape for their lives, escape back to the city.

Zhang Ren thrust his spear fiercely into the horse's back, startling it into a gallop back to the city. Deng Xian, not to be outdone, whipped his horse wildly. The two generals fled at the forefront, and the Shu soldiers had no will to resist. Zhang Ren fled back to the city, and more than 10,000 soldiers poured into the city. The city gates were immediately closed, and the drawbridge was pulled up, leaving 50,000 to 60,000 men outside shouting and yelling.

"Raise the flag of immunity from death!" Xu Da ordered. "Those who surrender will not be killed." The order was immediately carried out. The Shu soldiers breathed a sigh of relief and knelt down to surrender, but some were still killed by arrows shot down from the city walls.

Xu Da didn't even allow his soldiers to rest—in fact, apart from the cavalry, most of the infantry and chariot troops hadn't even really started fighting yet—before ordering the attack on the city. Under Zhang Ren's desperate command, the Shu army initially put up a fairly tenacious resistance.

An urgent message was delivered to Chengdu by fast horse. Liu Zhang summoned his civil and military officials again for discussion.

"Zhang Ren has suffered a crushing defeat, and Jiange City is now on the verge of collapse," Liu Zhang said in a gruff voice. "Gentlemen, what should we do?"

“There are still over 150,000 troops stationed in Chengdu, Mianzhu, and other places. We can send 100,000 troops to help in this emergency,” Zhang Song jumped out. “My lord, this is extremely urgent. There’s no need to hesitate any longer.”

Huang Quan was utterly baffled. This Zhang Song, who had a deep-seated conflict with Zhang Ren, why would he go to rescue him? It was truly unbelievable! Shouldn't he have advocated for the garrison to defend and let Zhang Ren die...?

“Mr. Zhang, the troops stationed in Chengdu and Mianzhu are the last military force in the vicinity. If you bring them to the front line, what if there is an emergency in Chengdu?” Huang Quan questioned.

"Heh, there's something going on in Chengdu...々ˇ..." Zhang Song said with a disdainful look, "Then Mr. Huang, please analyze where the danger in Chengdu comes from? Could the enemy possibly fly over mountains and valleys to the city of Chengdu? You know, the enemy's main force launched a fierce attack on Jiange and then fought their way here... Are you perhaps delusional?"

A burst of laughter erupted all around.

Huang Quan was speechless for a moment, looking at Zhang Song with suspicion, which made Zhang Song feel uneasy.

Indeed, General Yan Qing had come again last night, telling him his mission was to significantly reduce the number of troops around Chengdu so they could be transferred to the Jiange front. Zhang Song pondered this, breaking out in a cold sweat. Could it be that Luo Chen could really appear at the gates of Chengdu undetected…? That would be terrifying. This Luo Chen was unfathomable. But he still accepted the mission. He had embarked on this path, and there was no turning back. Besides, Luo Chen taking Yizhou was practically inevitable… A wise bird chooses its tree, and a wise minister chooses his lord. He hadn't done anything wrong.

"What do the others think?" Liu Zhang was undecided.

"Chengdu is safe, the troops here should be urgently dispatched to the front line of Jiange..." The officials all expressed their support for Zhang Song, and of course, each of them received a large bribe from Zhang Song.

"Alright, let's do as Zhang Song says..." Liu Zhang, who never had his own opinions, gave the order in a gruff voice, and then went back to the inner hall.

Just as Xu Da's army was advancing rapidly and about to capture Jiange City, an unexpected event occurred. Everyone had overlooked the fact that the various counties and prefectures of Yizhou had also established their own defensive forces over the years, amassing considerable strength. Yan Yan, the prefect of Ba Commandery, was a renowned veteran general of Shu, skilled in using a broadsword and bow and arrow, with unparalleled accuracy. He was brave, resourceful, and highly respected, commanding the respect of all the generals and officers of Yizhou's counties and prefectures. Upon hearing of the crisis at Jiange, Yan Yan, without waiting for Liu Zhang's orders, immediately led over six thousand garrison troops to Jiange. Yan Yan's influence was considerable; seeing the veteran general heading to Jiange, other counties and prefectures voluntarily gathered troops to follow him, expanding the force to approximately forty thousand.

Yan Yan led his army stealthily towards Jiange. Seeing Xu Da's army fiercely attacking the city, with heavy casualties on the walls, the city was on the verge of collapse. Yan Yan immediately led his troops in a charge. Caught off guard, the fleeing army was routed and fled. Ma Chao, focused on commanding the battle, was enraged when Yan Yan appeared. He charged at Yan Yan with his spear, while Yan Yan drew his sword. The two exchanged blows for twenty rounds without a clear victor. Yan Yan feigned defeat and retreated on horseback. Ma Chao, unaware, gave chase. Yan Yan swiftly drew his bow and released an arrow. With a "whoosh," the arrow flew towards him. Fortunately, Ma Chao was no ordinary man. Although he had underestimated his opponent, he reacted quickly, dodging the arrow and striking the red tassel on his helmet. Ma Chao broke out in a cold sweat: "This old bastard is incredibly skilled! If I hadn't dodged quickly..." Seeing his first attempt miss, Yan Yan fired again, but Ma Chao was already prepared. Seeing the arrow coming, he reacted swiftly, raising his left hand and grabbing it. Another arrow came, but Ma Chao didn't bother to dodge; he simply used his breastplate to block it, and the arrow slid off the breastplate.

Seeing his attacks fail several times, Yan Yan began to panic. Ma Chao pounced, and Yan Yan, weakened, began to falter, his swordsmanship becoming increasingly chaotic. Fortunately, Yan Yan was surrounded by Shu soldiers, who scattered and the Shu army encircled Ma Chao. Seeing this, Ma Chao ceased fighting Yan Yan and swiftly broke through the encirclement. The Shu army did not pursue him and entered the city.

The following day, over 100,000 Shu troops from Chengdu arrived at Jiange, bringing the total force under Zhang Ren and Yan Yan's command to 150,000, surpassing Xu Da's forces. Of course, the troops inside the city dared not launch a counterattack immediately; the enemy's fighting prowess was too strong, especially their cavalry—a deadly weapon that instilled fear in the Shu soldiers. A stalemate ensued. Xu Da's attempt to capture Jiange became increasingly difficult, seemingly impossible, given the formidable strength of 150,000 men. Yan Yan, far more difficult to deal with than Zhang Ren, was also quite cunning.

"Our lord has passed Yinping, but there is still no news. Now our troops are stuck here and unable to advance. This is truly worrying," Xu Da said anxiously during a meeting in the central command tent.

"When our lord left, he left strategist Zhuge Liang to oversee the state. We can send someone over to consult with him," Xiahou Yuan suggested.

“That Zhuge Liang is quite young. It is said that he used to farm in Nanyang. It’s really incomprehensible that our lord would let such a person oversee the country…” Ma Chao complained. “We should ask the General to contact our lord as soon as possible and ask him for instructions on what to do next.”

Xu Da frowned, caught in a dilemma.

"Report! Battle report from Chengdu and Mianzhu!" The soldiers outside the tent clamored. A sergeant entered: "General, battle report from Chengdu and Mianzhu! Our lord has led 20,000 troops in a fierce attack on Mianzhu, and it will be captured soon. Liu Zhang's forces in Chengdu are now in complete chaos!"

Chapter Twenty-Three: Huang Quan

Xu Da was caught in a dilemma when, unexpectedly, the situation took a dramatic turn for the better, and news arrived that Luo Chen was approaching Chengdu. Inside the tent, from Xu Da, Ma Chao, and Xiahou Yuan down to the lower-ranking officers and soldiers, everyone wore expressions of joy.

"Our lord is wise and mighty," Xu Da said. "Our mission now is to launch a fierce attack on the enemy in front of us, hold them back, and prevent them from returning to reinforce us!"

Chengdu is in complete chaos.

With only about 50,000 troops remaining in the surrounding area, morale was shattered. The main force and key generals were all on the front lines at Jiange, leaving mostly civil officials in Chengdu. From the governor's mansion of Yizhou to the common people of Chengdu, panic and gossip were rampant.

Huang Quan sat inside the carriage, hurriedly straightening his clothes. Liu Zhang had urgently summoned a meeting of high-ranking officials in the city to discuss countermeasures. "Hurry up!" Huang Quan urged the coachman. "Snap!" The crisp sound of the whip and the shout answered him. "Sir, there's a large crowd gathered ahead. Should we take a detour?" the coachman outside asked. Huang Quan peeked out and saw a young man who looked like a Taoist priest preaching to the crowd. "Stop," Huang Quan ordered, "Listen to what he has to say."

The Five Pecks of Rice sect in Yizhou was a branch of Taoism. Yizhou was a theocratic state, and the people were quite devout Taoists.

The young Taoist priest, seemingly full of energy but with a worried expression, said, "A few days ago, there were unusual celestial phenomena in the southwest! The Southern Star, located 480 degrees to the west, was as large as an egg and exceptionally bright. Recently, it has been teetering on the brink of collapse, becoming dim and difficult to discern. Our Yizhou is in imminent danger!" The surrounding people discussed among themselves, appearing extremely panicked.

Seeing everyone's panic and their indifference, the Taoist priest continued, "In the northwest of the Central Plains, a star has moved south, incredibly bright and radiant! Its light has now surpassed that of the southwest star, shining over the entire western region."

"The Northwest and Central Plains, isn't that the territory of that Prime Minister Luo Chen?" someone shouted from the crowd. "He's already on his way to Chengdu!"

The Taoist priest didn't give a direct answer, but simply nodded slightly: "The will of Heaven cannot be defied, the will of Heaven cannot be defied! To defy the will of Heaven will surely bring great disaster to Yizhou, great disaster indeed..."

Upon hearing this, Huang Quan jumped off the carriage, shouting, "You sorcerer! You're spreading heresy! Come on, seize him!" The soldiers behind the carriage immediately rushed forward with their knives. The Taoist priest remained calm. With a light and agile gait, he leaped onto the roof, leaving behind the words, "Heaven's will cannot be defied! Surrender now to ensure your safety!" before disappearing without a trace.

Huang Quan was furious. Such seditious rumors had likely spread throughout the streets and alleys, severely impacting the morale of the people and the army. That Taoist priest was none other than Yan Qing in disguise.

When Huang Quan arrived at the main hall of the Governor of Yizhou, he saw Liu Zhang silently weeping, completely disoriented. Some of the officials bowed their heads in silence, some wiped away tears, and some even wailed loudly. Only Zhang Song and Fa Zheng remained relatively calm.

"My lord," Huang Quan cupped his hands in greeting, then turned to his ministers and said, "What's the use of crying! We need to pull ourselves together and come up with a plan!"

Zhang Song stepped forward and said, “The current situation is extremely critical. I wonder if my lord is aware that some common Taoist priests and children are spreading rumors that there are unusual celestial phenomena, with the northern star shifting south. I advise my lord to follow the will of Heaven, submit to Luo Chen, and cede Yizhou. In this way, my lord can also save himself…”

"Bullshit!" Huang Quan roared in fury. "You actually believed what that street urchin said!" He turned to Liu Zhang excitedly and said, "Luo Chen's army has less than 20,000 men, while I have 50,000 troops around Chengdu. Even if we have to defend the city, Chengdu's walls are high and its moat is deep and wide, and our supplies can last a year. What's there to be afraid of! At the Jiange front, there are fierce generals like Yan Yan and Zhang Ren, who have gathered more than 150,000 troops and are rushing back to Chengdu day and night. Who knows, we might even capture Luo Chen alive!"

Huang Quan's words were quite forceful, and Liu Zhang and his ministers calmed down somewhat. Huang Quan pointed fiercely at Zhang Song: "Zhang Song, you traitor! First, you rejected my suggestion and deliberately transferred the large army near Chengdu to the front line; now you're using rumors from the streets to incite our lord to surrender. What are you trying to do! I think you're a spy for that treacherous villain Luo Chen!"

"You're talking nonsense!" Zhang Song replied nervously, his forehead sweating slightly.

Huang Quan stepped closer and pointed at Zhang Song's nose: "You traitor, don't try to deny it!" He bowed to Liu Zhang: "My lord, please throw Zhang Song into the death row! Lest this villain collude with us from within!"

Liu Zhang seemed about to agree, and Zhang Song panicked: "My lord, don't listen to Huang Quan's nonsense!"

At this moment, Fa Zheng stepped forward: "My lord, there is currently no evidence. To kill a minister without authorization is probably inauspicious. It would be better to place him under house arrest for now and deal with it after we defeat Luo Chen. The war outside is more important..."

Upon hearing this, Liu Zhang nodded: "Do as Fa Zheng says."

Liu Zhang then asked Huang Quan, "Mianzhu is currently in imminent danger. Mianzhu is the gateway to Chengdu... but there is no one to defend it. What do you think we should do, sir?"

Huang Quan declared passionately, "My lord, please lend me 20,000 troops! I, Huang Quan, am willing to fight to the death at Mianzhu to stop Luo Chen's offensive!" Upon hearing this, the court fell silent; Huang Quan was indeed a daredevil. Liu Zhang was deeply grateful, saying, "Sir, your loyalty and righteousness will surely be repaid handsomely."

Huang Quan was a shrewd man. He outwardly touted the various advantages of the Shu army, but in reality, the Shu soldiers were demoralized and weak, making it very difficult for them to hold off Luo Chen until reinforcements arrived. "In the best-case scenario," he said, "I am going to Chengdu. If I manage to hold off Luo Chen and Generals Zhang Ren and Yan Yan return in time, then Chengdu will be safe. In the worst-case scenario, I will die on the battlefield. I urge my lord to have unwavering faith and hold out in Chengdu. In the end, we will surely succeed." With these words, Huang Quan led his troops to Mianzhu with a rather tragic air.

The elite troops of Luochen gathered in battle formation beneath the walls of Mianzhu City, which appeared dilapidated and vulnerable. Although this place was the gateway to Chengdu, it had been peaceful for many years, surrounded by towering mountains. The Yizhou leadership believed there was no possibility of engaging the enemy, so they had not bothered to repair the city's defenses. Huang Quan stood solemnly atop the city wall, surrounded by soldiers who seemed ready for battle.

"Please answer, Mr. Huang Quan!" Huang Quan looked down and saw what appeared to be a young general, clad in fine armor, surrounded by guards. The general didn't exude any murderous aura; he had a refined and scholarly demeanor, even somewhat cultured. Yet, between his brows, a commanding presence emanated, suggesting a thousand talents in both literature and martial arts.

“I am Huang Quan!” he shouted.

The young man cupped his hands in greeting: "My apologies for not being more respectful. I am Luo Chen. I have long admired Mr. Huang Quan's unwavering loyalty and extraordinary strategies. Meeting him today, I can confirm that his reputation is well-deserved."

Huang Quan was secretly amazed. He hadn't expected the renowned Prime Minister Luo Chen to be so young yet possess such extraordinary bearing, truly unmatched in the world, displaying the demeanor of a ruler. However, his expression remained cold as he replied, "Prime Minister Luo, your intrusion into the territory of Yizhou is a disgrace to your illustrious reputation!"

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Enemy Approaches the City

As Luo Chen and Huang Quan were exchanging words, Huang Quan condemned Luo Chen for his unprovoked invasion of Yizhou. Luo Chen smiled slightly: "I am the Chancellor of the Great Han Dynasty, ordered by the Emperor of Han to lead troops to Yizhou. What's wrong with that?" He took out a piece of exquisite yellow silk: "This is the Emperor of Han's edict. I have already ordered it to be distributed throughout the streets and alleys of Yizhou. Your lord, Liu Zhang, defies the might of Heaven and dares to attempt to establish a separatist regime! My leading the royal army to punish him is perfectly justified!"

Huang Quan was quite annoyed: "You are called the Chancellor of Han, but in reality you are trying to coerce the Emperor..." He was worried that if this edict were to circulate in Chengdu, it would greatly undermine the morale of the army and the people, and the surrender faction might gain the upper hand.

Seeing his guilty conscience, Luo Chen chuckled and said, "Sir, your loyalty and strategic thinking are truly admirable... The world is in chaos today, and the government's orders are ineffective. I wish to restore order and rebuild the authority of the Han Emperor, and I need someone like you by my side. As the saying goes, 'A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on.' If you don't mind, I will certainly treat you as an honored guest..."

Upon hearing this, Huang Quan's expression changed: "I, Huang Quan, have a lifelong reputation for loyalty. How could I possibly curry favor and serve two masters!" With that, he drew his sword and shouted, "Fire arrows from the city wall!"

Arrows rained down, and the guards beside Luo Chen drew their shields and swords, forcing Luo Chen to retreat.

A quarter of an hour later, the Luo army's general assault began. These Luo soldiers, who had almost experienced death once, truly displayed what bravery meant. The arrows frantically fired from the city walls did nothing to stop them. Seeing that the city walls were low, Luo Chen said to Lü Bu, "Lead some brave warriors and climb up quickly." Two soldiers crouched at the corner of the wall, and Lü Bu, stepping on their shoulders, actually climbed up the city wall barehanded. He threw down ropes from above, and hundreds of soldiers climbed the wall one by one. The Shu soldiers on the wall were terrified and surrounded Lü Bu. Lü Bu, wielding his waist sword, slashed several men, and blood soaked the city walls, leaving the Shu soldiers in awe. Once the Luo soldiers below had reached the top, the Shu soldiers on the wall were no longer able to resist and fled in disarray. Lü Bu opened the city gate, brandished his halberd, mounted his horse, and charged into the city, followed by a large contingent of Luo soldiers.

Lü Bu leaped on his horse, brandishing his halberd, cutting down enemies wherever he went, as if they were nothing. Seeing two lieutenants guarding Huang Quan, seemingly trying to escape, he shouted, "Huang Quan, don't run! Surrender now!" and spurred his horse forward at lightning speed. One lieutenant tried to block him, but Lü Bu swung his halberd, severing the lieutenant's right arm. The lieutenant screamed, fell from his horse, and was trampled to death. The other lieutenant, seeing he was no match for Lü Bu, abandoned Huang Quan and fled for his life. Huang Quan, realizing he could not escape, sighed, "Rather than be captured and humiliated, I'd rather die." He rolled off his horse, bowed several times towards Chengdu, and wept bitterly, saying, "Alas, the foundation of my late lord's empire is surely destroyed." With that, he drew his sword and committed suicide. Lü Bu dismounted and took his head.

The Shu army, already demoralized, saw that Huang Quan was dead and that the Luo soldiers were all brave and fearless, so they had no will to resist and surrendered one after another. In less than an hour, Luo Chen had wiped out the remaining enemy forces in Mianzhu.

Seeing that Lü Bu was quite pleased with himself with Huang Quan's head hanging on his head, Luo Chen couldn't help but sigh and scold, "Huang Quan was a loyal and righteous man. He had already committed suicide. Why take his head and destroy his body?" He then ordered that the head and body be buried together with a proper burial.

A day later, Luo Chen's army had already reached the gates of Chengdu.

Luo Chen, mounted on his horse, gazed at the towering city walls of Chengdu in the distance. He spurred his horse forward, his guards following closely behind. These were ancient city walls, imposing and solid. Most city walls preserved to the modern era are dilapidated, bearing the marks of time, especially those from the Three Kingdoms period, which are extremely rare. But the city before him was bright and imposing, seemingly impregnable. He moved closer, even able to see the terrified faces of the soldiers atop the walls. Finally, one of the guards spoke: “My lord, you cannot go any further; it is too dangerous… If you are injured, General Yan Qing might kill us all…”

Luo Chen snapped out of his daze and chuckled, "You don't need to be so apprehensive. I'll talk to Yan Qing later and have him cancel the order. Getting injured is common in battle, how can we kill a warrior just because I'm injured... Besides, Yan Qing has probably rested enough, let's call him back."

In the dimly lit hall, Liu Zhang's ministers remained silent. This time, none of them showed any signs of grief; they simply remained silent, and the hall was as quiet as death.

"Report!" A soldier outside reported, "There is a defeated general outside the city who wants to come in for negotiations."

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"How many men did he bring?" an advisor asked.

Alone.