The Rebellious Officials and Traitors of the Late Han Dynasty

Chapter 512 Desperate Situation
Inside Shi Xie's mansion, the candlelight flickered, illuminating faces that looked gloomy and uncertain.

"Father, I have ordered people to seal the four gates, and tomorrow we will be able to seize the food and grass left outside the city by the Tang army." Shi Hui knelt on one knee, his eyes flashing with ambition, and said: "There are still 8,000 elite soldiers in Jiaozhi City, plus the Li warriors we secretly trained, we are enough to fight!"

Shi Xie's skinny fingers stroked the tortoise shell on the table, which was his divination tool. The cracks on the tortoise shell were intertwined, just like his tangled heart at the moment. After a long time, the old patriarch sighed: "The arrow is on the string and must be shot. But remember, if something cannot be done,

"Don't worry, father!" Shi Gan interrupted impatiently, "I have sent people to contact Jiuzhen and Rinnan counties, and we can gather 20,000 soldiers within three days. As long as we cut off Huang Zhong's food supply, no matter how strong his cavalry is, it will be destroyed!"

At dawn, a yellow battle flag suddenly rose on the top of Jiaozhi City. Under the leadership of Shi Hui, the defenders captured the camp outside the city and seized thousands of shi of grain and grass.

Although it was not much, Shi Hui did not doubt it. He thought that the Tang army's food and grass had not yet been transported to Jiaozhi, and Huang Zhong's army was still waiting for his own food and grass support.

Shi Hui, wearing iron armor, raised his arms and shouted on the city wall: "Men of Jiaozhou! The Tang army is tyrannical, usurping the Han Dynasty and establishing their own kingdom, and treating us like grass. This is outrageous to both heaven and man. Today, I, the Shi clan, raise the banner of rebellion to protect the country and the people!"

The emperor is far away and the Shi family has a high reputation in Jiaozhou. The people of Jiaozhou only recognize the Shi family and not the imperial court. They don't even have an impression of the Han Dynasty, let alone the newly established Tang Dynasty.

Shi Hui's order was immediately responded to, and a large number of Jiaozhou noble families joined in.

The news spread like wildfire. When Huang Zhong, who was chasing Liu Bei, received the urgent report, the army had already reached the Longbian River Valley.

Huang Zhong's face turned pale with anger, his silver beard stood up in anger, he turned around and looked at Sima Yi and said, "What a thief Shi Xie is! Zhongda really predicted it!"

Sima Yi unfolded the map calmly: "Don't worry, General. The Shi family's move has given us a good opportunity to completely eradicate the separatist forces in Jiaozhou. Hehe, Zhuge Liang will definitely take advantage of the situation to counterattack, so we might as well"

Before he finished speaking, drums suddenly roared from both sides of the valley. Countless arrows poured down like locusts, and the Tang army was immediately thrown to the ground.

"Huang Hansheng! Give me back my third brother's life!"

Liu Bei led the remnants of his army out of the forest, and Zhuge Liang, wearing a feather fan and a scarf, was beside him, and he had set up an ambush. What was even more frightening was that the scattered barbarians had regrouped at some point and rushed in like a tide.

Huang Zhong shouted "Form a formation!" and the Cavalry immediately formed an iron-clad defensive circle. Sima Yi narrowed his eyes and looked at the "Zhuge" flag flying on the top of the mountain. Suddenly he smiled and said, "Interesting. It seems that the Shi family and Liu Bei have colluded for a long time."

Looking at the situation before him, Sima Yi became more certain that his plan was correct. The power of the Shi clan in Jiaozhou was too great. Even if the Shi clan surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, as long as the Shi clan was there, Jiaozhou would still be the Shi clan's Jiaozhou and it would be impossible for them to obey the Tang Dynasty's orders.

It's just that the other party has just surrendered to the Tang Dynasty, and the Tang Dynasty should appease the other party. If you want to eliminate the Shi family, it will inevitably be suspected of having no reason to rebel, and the Shi family will rebel, which will be a good excuse for you to deal with the other party.

The situation on the battlefield took a sharp turn for the worse. The Tang army was attacked from all sides, and casualties increased sharply.

Huang Zhong wielded the Phoenix-beak Knife and killed more than ten enemy generals, but saw more barbarians pouring out of the dense forest.

"Zhongda, there are too many barbarians. Should we evacuate?"

Huang Zhong shouted loudly.

"Don't worry, General. We will destroy Liu Bei today, and our reinforcements will arrive soon."

Sima Yi shouted in comfort.

Huang Zhong nodded and never mentioned retreat again, but commanded the army to continue fighting. However, as the number of local natives increased, the Tang army gradually fell into a disadvantage.

At this critical moment, a familiar horn sounded suddenly from the southeast.

"That's the signal from our navy!" the blood-soaked deputy general shouted in surprise.

On the river, dozens of warships were breaking through the waves. The Tang Navy's battle flags were fluttering in the wind, giving off a majestic aura. On the deck, Gan Ning held a pair of halberds and smiled at the sky, saying, "General, how are you? Am I late?"

"Xingba arrived at the right time."

Huang Zhong was overjoyed when he saw Gan Ning coming to kill him. He guessed that this must be Sima Yi's trick.

In the chaos of the army, Liu Bei saw the navy on the river and his expression changed drastically.
He quickly turned to Zhuge Liang and said, "Military Advisor, why is the Tang navy here?"

Zhuge Liang paused with his feather fan, a trace of solemnity flashed in his eyes: "My lord, this is Sima Yi's plan. We have fallen into the trap!"

Before he finished speaking, Gan Ning had already landed with his elite navy, and rushed straight to the flank of Liu Bei's army like a tiger descending from a mountain. At the same time, in the distance, dust and smoke were billowing, and another group of Tang cavalry was galloping over, led by Wen Pin.

“Hahaha!” Sima Yi clapped his hands and laughed, “Lord Xuande, today this Longbian River Valley will be your burial place!”

Liu Bei's face turned pale, and his hand holding the sword was shaking slightly. He looked around and saw that the Tang army had formed a siege, and the barbarian soldiers who had originally come to help saw that the situation was not good and began to flee in all directions.

"Uncle, hurry up!" Guan Ping shouted, and swept his sword across, trying to cut a bloody path for Liu Bei.

Zhuge Liang hurriedly ordered the troops to retreat, but it was too late. Wen Pin's cavalry had cut off their retreat, Gan Ning's navy had blocked the river, and Huang Zhong personally led the cavalry to attack from the front.

"kill--!"

Amid the deafening shouts of killing, Liu Bei's army was defeated step by step. Guan Ping and other generals fought to the death to protect their master, and their bodies were covered with wounds.

As the sun sets, the Longbian River Valley is stained with blood. Liu Bei's army is defeated by the Tang army on three sides, and the remnants are forced to the riverside.

"My Lord, get on board!"

Zhuge Liang didn't know where to get a small boat. Liu Bei held his swords tightly, his eyes filled with tears: "How can I abandon my soldiers and live alone!"

"Uncle!" Guan Ping knelt on one knee with blood all over his body and said loudly: "As long as the green mountains are here,

Before he finished speaking, a stray arrow suddenly pierced Guan Ping's chest. The young general stumbled two steps, and the sword in his hand fell to the ground with a clang.

"Ping'er!"

Liu Bei cried out in grief and tried to move forward, but was held back by Zhuge Liang. The veteran Huang Zhong had led his personal soldiers to within a hundred steps, the cold light of his sword was fascinating, and he stared at Liu Bei intently. Victory was just around the corner, and today he was going to capture Liu Bei alive.

On the river, Gan Ning's warships were closing in. Zhuge Liang made a prompt decision and ordered his personal guards to help Liu Bei board the boat. As the boat left the shore, Huang Zhong shot an arrow and hit Zhuge Liang in the left shoulder.

"Military Advisor!" Liu Bei stretched out his hand to pull him.

Zhuge Liang gritted his teeth and pulled out the arrow, then threw the blood-stained feather fan at the pursuers and shouted, "Tang thieves, stop being so arrogant! The Han Dynasty is not over yet!"

As the boat sailed farther away, the sounds of fighting on the shore faded. Liu Bei sat slumped in the boat, his expression dazed. He glanced around and saw only a few of his personal soldiers and a wounded Zhuge Liang.

Is there still hope for myself?
Liu Bei felt a wave of despair.

(End of this chapter)