The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 419 Liu Zhang Surrenders

Inside the city of Chengdu, Liu Zhang looked panicked. This time he was really panicked. The Cavalry Army was at the gate of the city, only thirty miles away from Chengdu. General Wei Yan, the General of the Western Expedition, was leading the army personally, and rebels such as Li Yan and Fei Guan were among them.

"Everyone, the enemy is already at the gate of the city. How are we going to break this situation?" Liu Zhang asked impatiently.

There was an anxious look on his face, and he wished he could conjure up hundreds of thousands of troops out of thin air.

Unfortunately, no one spoke in the hall and everyone kept their heads down.

"My lord, there are still tens of thousands of troops in the city. Chengdu is very strong and has plenty of food and grass. It can support the city for a year. General Zhang Ren is still in Zitong. If you order him to return to defend the city, we can defeat Wei Yan."

Huang Quan said loudly.

But just as he finished speaking, he heard a burst of laughter in his ears, the voice was full of disdain.

"Zhang Song, what are you laughing at?"

Huang Quan's eyes were filled with anger, which made him more uncomfortable than Zhang Song's rebuttal.

"Don't others think of the things you have thought of? Wei Yan's troops are at the gates of the city and are about to attack, and you ask Zhang Ren to return to support? Qin Shou is personally leading a large army to attack Zitong City. We are about to face more enemies." Zhang Song sneered.

After hearing this, everyone in the hall nodded. Once Zhang Ren withdrew his troops, Qin Shou would personally lead the army to attack. At that time, Chengdu would be even more difficult to save.

"Zhang Ziqiao, do you want to surrender?" Wang Lei looked at Zhang Song coldly, with murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

"If we surrender, we still have a chance of survival. If we resist, I don't know whether the Cavalry will spare our lives, but my lord's life will definitely be in danger." Zhang Song shook his head and said, "If my lord resists, Zhang Song will naturally offer his wealth and servants to my lord for his use."

After hearing this, Wang Lei immediately understood what Zhang Song meant.

Whenever Liu Zhang wanted to go to war, he would follow him and provide Liu Zhang with his wealth and private soldiers. However, it was impossible for him to expect Zhang Song to die for Liu Zhang.

He also knew that this was not just Zhang Song's opinion, most people at the scene thought so.

"If you want to fight, I am willing to die for you." Huang Quan stood up, glanced at everyone, and shouted, "Everyone, we have received great kindness from you, your father and son. Shouldn't we die for you?"

Unfortunately, his words did not resonate with everyone.

Liu Yan and his son were nice to everyone, but if they were asked to sacrifice their lives for Liu Zhang and his son, and if they were asked to do so in a situation where they would surely die, I'm afraid few would be willing to do so.

Look, even Fei Guan, Liu Zhang's son-in-law, betrayed him. How could he expect others to work for him? We all have families to support, and we can't let our entire family be killed just because of Liu Zhang.

In the final analysis, it was because of Liu Zhang's incompetence. The father and son of the Liu family did not do much good in Shu, and few people were grateful. Otherwise, there might have been people who lived and died with the Liu family.

Liu Zhang looked at everything in front of him and felt a sense of loss.

He also knew that now had come to the most critical moment. If he was not careful, the inheritance left to him by his father would be owned by others. However, he had no way to deal with this situation.

Liu Zhang, a man of letters who could not bring peace to the world with his pen, nor a man of arms who could not ride a horse to slay the enemy and rule the country, relied on only a few civil officials and generals, who now had admitted defeat and were thinking of surrendering to the court. Faced with this situation, Liu Zhang was helpless.

"Ah, this is probably fate!" Liu Zhang sighed and said, "Zi Qiao, send someone to see Wei Yan. I am willing to open the city gate and submit to the court. I only hope that the Prime Minister can spare the lives of the people in Sichuan."

"My lord, I still have troops in Chengdu and Bazhong, why should we surrender?" Huang Quan exclaimed.

"My Lord, I, Wang Lei, swear to live and die with Chengdu." Wang Lei also said loudly. However, in the hall, apart from the two of them, no one else supported the other party's point of view. Everyone knelt there, without the slightest shame on their faces.

Seeing this, Liu Zhang couldn't help crying and said, "Everyone, my father and I have lived in Sichuan for decades and have never been kind to the people in Sichuan. Now that the imperial army has arrived, how can I let the people in Sichuan suffer for my own wealth? Forget it, forget it."

Zhang Song saw this and said quickly, "Don't worry, my lord. The Prime Minister is magnanimous. The General of the Western Expedition came here on the Prime Minister's orders. My lord also took the initiative to submit to the Prime Minister. The General of the Western Expedition dare not neglect my lord."

After hearing this, Liu Zhang sighed in his heart and could only nod his head repeatedly, not daring to refute.

Immediately, Zhang Song ordered someone to report to Wei Yan on horseback, and Wei Yan was overjoyed when he heard the news.

"Liu Zhang has surrendered. It is just as the lord expected. As long as my army is at the gates of the city, Liu Zhang will surrender. Although we have encountered many difficulties in crossing the Yinping Ancient Road, it is easy to capture Liu Zhang today. What does the suffering we suffered before mean?"

Wei Yan looked around and said.

"Congratulations, General, for your extraordinary achievement. You will surely be rewarded by the Prime Minister." Fei Guan flattered.

Wei Yan smiled complacently at first, then shook his head and said, "I can't say any more. For today's victory, our Cavalry Army worked together. It was the Prime Minister who had a far-sighted vision. Wei Yan was just following the Prime Minister's orders."

Wei Yan's words were not spoken casually. If Liu Bei had not confused Zhuge Liang on the battlefield in Jingzhou, he might not have given up the four counties of southern Jing and chosen Bashu. After all, Bashu was richer than the four counties of southern Jing, had a larger population, and had a more dangerous terrain. If he occupied Bashu, he could still establish his own regime.

There is also the role of Qin Feng. Without Qin Feng, Wei Yan would not have been able to pass through the Yinping Ancient Road so easily, enter Jiangyou, and capture Mianzhu and other places.

Wei Yan's vigorous advance and his siege of the city were all the credit of the brave cavalry. Only Wei Yan knew these words clearly.

When the army arrived at the city of Chengdu, they saw Liu Zhang standing there in a white robe, with Zhang Song and other civil and military officials standing on his left and right.

"Liu Yan was also a hero of his generation. He occupied the land of Bashu. Unfortunately, his descendants were not ambitious and ruined his foundation. What a pity." Wei Yan jumped down from his warhorse.

"The criminal Liu Zhang pays homage to the general."

When Liu Zhang saw Wei Yan striding towards him, he was frightened and quickly fell to the ground with a look of fear on his face.

"General, you are wise and righteous. You put an end to the chaos in Sichuan and saved the people of the city. You have made great contributions to the court. The Prime Minister once said before I went to the battle that if Ji Yu could surrender the city, he would be a meritorious minister." Wei Yan helped him up and comforted him, "Now that the general has opened the city gate, he is a meritorious minister of the court. What crime have you committed?"

Liu Zhang felt relieved immediately after hearing this. What he was most worried about was his own life. Now that he could save his life, he felt at ease.

"General, the city has been settled, you can enter now." Zhang Song persuaded.

"General Liu, please."

Wei Yan pulled Liu Zhang and said.

"General, please."

Liu Zhang quickly took half a step back.

From then on, Liu Zhang surrendered.

(End of this chapter)