I rode and slashed unparalleled in the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 928: Danger in Hanzhong

A few days later, outside Luoyang City.

After obtaining permission from the court, Liu Fan set out back to Yizhou with a team of imperial doctors, Zhang Su and others.

At the last moment before leaving, he bid farewell to his two younger brothers, Liu Dan and Liu Zhang, in the stone pavilion.

"Brother, please persuade father to stop before it is too late, otherwise the consequences will be disastrous!"

Just as Su Yao and others expected, these Liu brothers who had always followed the court had no expectations at all for their father to defend Yizhou.

In their view, if Yizhou resisted stubbornly under the general trend of the times, it would be doomed to fail.

My dad is old now, and I dare not make mistakes when he is old.

Even Zhang Su changed his mind after observing for a few days:
"Don't worry, my two lords. When I return this time, I will also do my best to assist the eldest lord and explain the pros and cons to Envoy Liu, so that Yizhou will not follow the footsteps of Yuan Shu and others."

The changes in Luoyang City and the mighty iron army under Su Yao's command completely shattered the luck in the heart of the Yizhou envoy.

This person's destiny cannot be resisted.

However, having said that, neither Zhang Su nor Liu Fan were actually sure whether they could persuade Liu Yan.

As a relative of the Han royal family, Liu Yan served as the magistrate of Luoyang County, the governor of Jizhou, the prefect of Nanyang County, the director of the Imperial Clan, the Minister of Rites and other officials. Although he was not arrogant, he was a man with strong opinions.

This time, he had painstakingly planned to depose Shi and establish Mu, and retreat to Yizhou for many years. How could he give up so easily just because of a few words from them?
And sure enough, another month later, in Mianzhu, the capital of Yizhou, Liu Yan, lying on his sickbed pretending to be sick, listened to Zhang Su and Liu Fan talking about what they had seen in Luoyang. He was so angry that he gnashed his teeth after they advised him to let go of his obsession.

"Su Yao is only in his twenties and comes from a lowly family. How can he be qualified to rule the world?"

Liu Yan angrily sat up from the couch, his eyes full of resentment:

"He makes hens crow at dawn, destroys the foundation of our ancestors, and even wants to disrupt the world with new policies. This is a traitor to the country!"

Liu Yan threw the medicine bowl to the ground, and porcelain shards flew everywhere:

"I, Liu Junlang, am a relative of the Han Dynasty and the great-great-grandson of Emperor Jing. How can I bow down to such a traitor?!"

Zhang Su saw this and quickly advised: "Please calm down, sir! Su Yao is now powerful and has taken control of all thirteen states. Even people like Yuan Benchu ​​and Liu Jingsheng have to bow down to him. Although Yizhou is dangerous, it is difficult for a single state to fight against the imperial court."

"What are you afraid of?!" Liu Yan interrupted sharply, "The road to Shu is as difficult as climbing to heaven! Back then, Emperor Gaozu used Yizhou as his foundation and eventually established his empire. Now the court is incompetent and treacherous, it is time for my Liu family to revive!"

Liu Fan knelt on the ground, his voice trembling: "Father, please think twice! Su Yao is not comparable to Dong Zhuo and Yuan Shu. He has excellent soldiers and sufficient food, and he also has magical weapons. I saw it with my own eyes in Luoyang. His newly made 'Divine Arm Crossbow' can shoot 300 steps and break armor like paper; the 'Thunderbolt Chariot' can throw 100-jin boulders and destroy cities and strongholds. What's even more terrifying is."

Liu Fan raised his head, his eyes full of fear: "Su Yao taught the army the method of 'Heavenly Thunder', and it is said that the gate of Shouchun was broken by one blow. If the army approaches, Yizhou's natural defenses may be destroyed."

"Shut up!" Liu Yan was furious. He picked up the jade ruyi beside him and threw it at Liu Fan. "Rebellious son! You have been imprisoned in Luoyang for many years. Could it be that you have been bribed by the thief Su and are here to disrupt our army's morale?!"

Liu Fan's forehead was bruised by the blow, but he didn't dare to wipe it off. He just kowtowed repeatedly: "I dare not! I am just worried about my father's safety, the people of Yizhou, and my two younger brothers."

"Get out!" Liu Yan pointed outside the door, "Pass my order, immediately strengthen the defense of each pass, and recruit 50,000 Qing Qiang soldiers. Also send people to contact the Nanman to fight against the court together!"

Although two of his sons remained in the capital, Liu Yan felt more confident now that his eldest son Liu Fan, whom he had always valued the most, had returned.

Next, Liu Yan used an excuse to put the imperial physician and his followers sent by the court under house arrest, actively preparing for war, hoping to use the natural barrier to defend the city. In his view, Su Yao's disorderly politics was unpopular, and the people of the world surrendered only because of his powerful military force.

As long as he holds on to Sichuan and Shu firmly, and fights two beautiful battles to break the myth of the invincibility of Su Yao's army, then those people in the world who have suffered from Su Yao for a long time will surely respond in unison, and he, Liu Yan, will surely become the banner figure of the world's anti-Su movement and create a great cause like Emperor Guangwu!
However, when Liu Yan was dreaming about the Spring and Autumn Period, a scout rushed into the meeting room in a panic:

"Report - urgent report from Jiameng Pass! It is said that a cavalry suddenly appeared in the north and attacked Yangping Pass from Jinniu Road. Hanzhong is in danger!"

"What did you say?!"

"What on earth is Liu Yan the old thief doing?!"

Just when Liu Yan learned the news, Zhang Lu in Hanzhong also received the bad news.

Yangping Pass is a pass between Sichuan and Shaanxi in the Qinling Mountains, at the intersection of the Baocheng Railway (Baoji to Chengdu) and the Yang'an Railway (Yangping Pass to Ankang). To the north is the Qinling Mountains, to the south are the Daba Mountains and the Migang Mountains, and the Jialing River flows through the town.

There is also a particularly famous mountain beside the Jialing River called Zilong Mountain. According to legend, Zhao Yun once guarded and trained his troops here.

Yangping Pass is both the gateway to northern Shu and the throat of Hanzhong. Not far to the south is Jiameng Pass, and to the east out of the mountains is the Hanzhong Plain.

Zhang Lu was now entrenched in Hanzhong, with Liu Yan's support, and all his energy was focused on Guanzhong in the north. He never expected that his retreat would be cut off.

"Who is it? Who is it?!"

"Liu Yan can't possibly go against me right now. Where did these people come from? Whose banner are they flying? What exactly are they trying to do?!"

Zhang Lu asked hurriedly, but the news he got made him feel cold all over.

"Report to the Master - The defeated soldiers have reported that the enemy cavalry are coming from Wudu, many of them are dressed as Qiang people, holding flags with the word 'horse' on them, and they say that they are Ma Chao, the captain of the Xiliang Army, who is following the orders of the general."

Before he could finish his words, Zhang Lu exclaimed, "Ma Chao?! Ma Shoucheng's son? Isn't he in Liangzhou? Why is he here?!"

Who in the world doesn't know the name of Xiliang Ma Teng? Ma Chao became famous at a young age and was the bravest of the three armies. Now he suddenly appeared behind him. Zhang Lu was panicked for a moment.

He hurriedly called his subordinates to discuss the matter, and everyone started cursing after hearing what happened.

"Ma Mengqi is the real grandson!"

General Yang Bai's eyes widened with anger, and he pounded the table fiercely:
"His father was defeated by Su Yao before, but he didn't seek revenge and was willing to be his lackey. It's really a disgrace to his reputation!"

Zhang Lu's counselor Yan Pu frowned, "After Ma Teng was defeated, Su Yao held him in Beijing as a hostage. It's not surprising that Ma Chao obeyed his orders."

"Yangping Pass is the western gate of Hanzhong. If we lose our cavalry, they will arrive at the city any day. We must provide support as soon as possible."

Zhang Lu calmed down after hearing this. He was well aware of the importance of Yangping Pass. Fortunately, the pass was strong and majestic and difficult to capture. As long as he held on for a while and waited for Liu Yan's reinforcements to arrive from Jiameng Pass and attack the enemy from behind, he could completely destroy the enemy cavalry.

Therefore, Zhang Lu immediately dispatched troops, recruited local soldiers from Hanzhong and his own Five Pecks of Rice Sect, to rush to Yangping Pass to confront Ma Chao.

However, once Su Yao makes a move, this will definitely not be the only trick he uses.

Soon, Zhang Lu's troops found themselves in a dilemma before they even set out.

(End of this chapter)