The Three Kingdoms: Zhaolie, the strategist, and the rise of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 437 Cao Zhang and his son die in battle at Mianzhu; Jiang Wei and Liu Yong achieve success in entering Shu.
Meanwhile, Jiang Wei, wrapped in a felt blanket, descended the seven-hundred-mile-long Motianling Ridge, like a divine army descending from the heavens, and stormed straight into Shu, causing a stir in the Wei court and among the people.

In the winter of the eighteenth year of Zhangwu, an urgent military report shattered the tranquility of Chengdu like a thunderclap.

In the Wei Kingdom's imperial palace,
The jade ruyi in Cao Rui's hand fell to the ground, and the sound of it shattering was particularly jarring in the deathly silent hall.

"What? Jiang Wei has crossed Yinping?"

Cao Rui suddenly stood up from the dragon throne, his face ashen.

"The Yinping Road is extremely dangerous, stretching for seven hundred miles, and even birds and beasts cannot cross it. Could it have fallen from the sky?"

The assembled officials below exchanged bewildered glances, none daring to respond. Only Sun Yang, a Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate, spoke in a trembling voice:

"The scouts reported that Jiang Wei ordered his soldiers to wrap themselves in felt and descend the mountain."

"By carving through mountains and opening roads, we have already conquered Jiangyou, Fucheng and other places..."

"Now it is only about 300 li away from Chengdu."

Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials showed fear on their faces, and whispers spread like a tide:

"The Qi army seems to have divine assistance!"

"Is this not a deliberate tactic employed by Han Xin?"

"Is it the will of Heaven that Jiang Wei is following this example today?"

Cao Rui surveyed the silent court, his heart surging with anger.

His gaze swept over the trembling courtiers, finally settling on a person in the corner.

"Que Ling Xian!"

Cao Rui hurried down the steps.

"Is there not a single official in the entire court who shares my burdens?"

Xi Zheng calmly stepped forward and bowed in greeting:
"The situation is urgent! Although Jiang Wei has won one battle after another, his army is deep in enemy territory and lacks reinforcements."

“Marquis Cao Zhang of Jiangyang still commands 10,000 troops at the front line. We should immediately order him to send troops to resist Jiang Wei’s army.”

"If Lord Cao can hold Mianzhu, Jiang Wei will find it difficult to advance an inch."

Cao Rui suddenly realized what was happening and immediately wrote down the imperial edict:
"Immediately convey my decree: Cao Zhang must return with his troops immediately and rush to the aid of Mianzhu! There must be no delay!"

The messenger received the order and set off, his horse's hooves thundering through the long night in Chengdu.

……

Let me talk about two things.

The autumn winds blowing across the Wenjiang River are chilling.

Cao Zhang stood barefoot in front of the military tent, the military report in his hand clenched so tightly that it left deep marks.

The urgent reports of the successive falls of Fucheng and Jiangyou were like two daggers piercing his chest.

"Five thousand defenders couldn't hold off Jiang Wei for three days?"

He turned around abruptly, his armor rustling against the map screen.

"That mediocre Ma Miao should have been executed back then!"

Enlisted soldier Yang Ji stepped forward and whispered:

"General, the Han dynasty is now experiencing a thrice-long revival, and the Mandate of Heaven rests in the north."

“Our army is trapped in Sichuan, while you hold military power.”

"If we surrender to Jiang Wei, we will surely be highly valued by the Han Dynasty."

Before he could finish speaking, the sword flashed across his throat.

Cao Zhang shook off the blood droplets from his sword and surveyed his trembling generals:
"Anyone who dares to surrender again will suffer the same fate!"

Everyone was terrified and dared not discuss surrender any further.

A clear, melodious voice came from the corner of the tent:
"Since Father holds great power, I am willing to be the vanguard."

Seventeen-year-old Cao Kai emerged from the earth, his silver armor reflecting the rising sun.

The young man's features possessed both the elegance of his deceased wife and the sharpness unique to Cao family.

Cao Zhang looked at his son and vaguely saw himself as a young man.

"allow."

Cao Zhang threw out the tiger tally, saying, "You will lead three thousand elite troops ahead, and I will personally lead the main army to follow."

Under the same scorching sun, Jiang Wei was examining the "Map of the Shu Road" in the Fucheng Treasury.

This was presented by Ma Miao, and the sheepskin scroll is marked in red ink with detailed annotations of every region in Sichuan.

"Liao Hua".

He suddenly rolled up the map and said, "Take your troops and set off immediately."

Liao Hua's hand, which was supporting his sword, trembled slightly.

"General, our army has just fought a bitter battle..."

"Cao Zhang controlled Baishui Pass and Wenjiang Road."

Jiang Wei pointed to a spot on the map, saying, "If they seize Luofengpo on the left slope of Mianzhu, even if our army has 100,000 men, it will be difficult for them to get through."

The two exchanged a brief glance.

"I will go now."

Liao Hua tightened his armor ribbons, saying, "But General, you must be wary of Deng Ai's return from Jiange."

When Cao Kai's vanguard crossed the Mian River overnight, they discovered that countless crows had taken flight from the jungle on the opposite bank.

The young man reined in his horse and sneered, "As expected, the Han army is coming to seize Luofeng Slope."

The lieutenant pointed to the distant firelight:

"Young General, should we wait for the main force to arrive first?"

"Soldiers are valuable and quick."

Cao Kai pointed his silver spear and ordered, "Men must be gagged and horses must be wrapped in hooves. We must capture the top of the hill before midnight."

Three thousand elite soldiers surged like an undercurrent.

Unbeknownst to the boy, a pair of sharp eyes were watching him from the pine forest at the top of the hill.

Liao Hua's hand gripping the crossbow was slightly sweaty—this young general of the Cao family's troop deployment style was quite similar to his father, Huang Xu'er.

In the darkest hour before dawn, the two armies clashed violently on the winding mountain road of Luofengpo.

Cao Kai's silver spear deflected three Han banners, when suddenly a familiar bugle call came from the hilltop.

"Father?"

The boy turned around in surprise and saw that Cao Zhang's main force had arrived ahead of schedule.

Further away, Jiang Wei's Xuanjia Army swept across the valley like an iron torrent.

When Jiang Wei saw Cao Zhang amidst the chaos of battle, the latter was slashing through a sidecar.

The two renowned generals stared at each other across a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood.

"Young General, do you recognize Cao Shi Huangxu'er?"

Cao Zhang laughed loudly and swept away the Han soldiers who tried to get close with his halberd.

"Would you dare to meet me alone?"

His answer was the sudden sound of a barrage of crossbow bolts.

Cao Kai rode his horse to block his father's path, and blood instantly bloomed on his left shoulder.

The young man, his silver spear planted firmly on the ground, shouted hoarsely:
"Father, hurry! The Qi army is far more numerous than we imagined!"

These words sent a jolt through Cao Zhang's body.

He suddenly looked up and indeed saw countless Han soldiers densely packed behind Jiang Wei.

However, many of these soldiers were familiar faces, seemingly including many from Shu (Sichuan).

"Tch! They're all traitors!"

After the royal army arrived, a large number of Shu people surrendered to the Han army.

This led to the continuous growth of Jiang Wei's forces.

Cao Kai suddenly broke free from his father's arm and rode alone towards Jiang Wei's central army.

The silver spear drew a resolute arc in the rising sun.

"My son, come back!"

Cao Zhang's roar shook the snow off the pine branches.

His response was a hail of arrows.

The boy and his horse were nailed to the stone tablet at Luofeng Slope, on which the four characters “Han Zuo Yong Chang” written by their ancestors were still inscribed.

Jiang Wei silently put down his bow and crossbow.

He saw Cao Zhang holding his son's body, looking up at the sky and howling. His cries fully expressed the pain of the father and son being separated by life and death.

But Jiang Wei still seized the opportunity to lead his troops in a surprise attack.

Cao Zhang had no will to fight. Holding his son's body, he fought and retreated.

That night, the banks of the Mian River were filled with the stench of blood mixed with the smell of decaying grass.

Cao Zhang stayed up all night, repeatedly wiping the tiger-headed golden spear that had been with him for thirty years in his tent.

The dark red congealed on the spear tassel was indistinguishable as either the blood of the Han general killed in battle yesterday or the blood splattered when he bit his lip.

"Kai'er..."

He murmured to himself, looking at his haggard face reflected in the gun blade, and the image of the boy being pierced by thousands of arrows flashed before his eyes again.

Suddenly, the mournful neighing of warhorses came from outside the tent, waking the person from this nightmare.

The guard, holding the broken silver spear, knelt and reported:
"The young general's weapon... was retrieved from the lower reaches of the Mian River."

Cao Zhang grabbed the broken gun barrel and burst into tears.

a long time,

"Sound the drums to gather the generals!" The golden spear slammed to the ground. "Today, I will surely take Jiang Wei's head to avenge my son!"

At the same time, Jiang Wei was observing the sand table in the Han army camp.

When the scouts reported that Cao Zhang's entire army was dressed in mourning clothes, the red flag he held, representing Liao Hua's troops, paused slightly.

Jiang Wei looked at Liu Yong, the King of Wu, beside him, "Cao Zhang has indeed come after all."

Liu Yong gripped his sword tightly and shouted:

"I am determined to be a pioneer!"

"Not allowed, Your Highness."

Liao Hua got up, his bandages still soaked with blood.

"Cao Zhang is now a trapped beast, and his ferocity is doubly great."

"In yesterday's battle, even with the combined might of all the generals, I was still no match for them..."

Before he could finish speaking, a deafening roar erupted from outside the camp.

The drums of Wei's revenge resounded so loudly that the teacups on the table clattered, and a tattered banner bearing the character "Cao" was already planted a hundred paces away from the camp gate.

Jiang Wei lifted the curtain and looked out, only to see Cao Zhang charging into the enemy lines alone through the morning mist, his presence causing the Han army to break apart like waves.

Each swing of that golden spear brought forth a shower of blood, and within a mere half-incense stick's time, it pierced seven deer antlers.

"Bring me my bow."

Jiang Wei gave the order in a deep voice.

"General Liao protects the left flank of the King of Wu, while Mi Wei leads the crossbowmen to occupy the high ground on the right flank."

However, the course of the war developed far beyond expectations.

When Cao Zhang discovered Liu Yong's dragon battle flag, he abandoned Jiang Wei's main camp and rushed straight to the location of the King of Wu.

Liao Hua raised his spear to meet the attack, but within ten rounds, his tiger's mouth was shattered by the force of the blow.

Liu Yong, young and impetuous, brandished his sword to cut off the horse's leg, but Cao Zhang grabbed his hand, snatched the sword hilt, and threw him and his armor more than three zhang away.

"Escort!"

Jiang Wei fired three arrows in quick succession, but each one was deflected by the golden spear.

Taking advantage of the situation, the Wei army launched a simultaneous attack from both flanks, and the Han army's formation immediately collapsed.

In the chaos of battle, Liao Hua suffered another wound to his shoulder blade while saving Liu Yong.

If it weren't for the personal guards risking their lives to retrieve it, it would have almost fallen into enemy hands.

After retreating twenty li, the Han army took stock of their casualties at Xinlei Village.

Jiang Wei gently comforted everyone, saying:
"Cao Zhang is a famous general from the Cao Wei imperial family. He lost his son yesterday and comes here with resentment."

"Therefore, they were able to defeat our army."

"This is merely a last gasp before their strength is exhausted; once their elite forces are depleted, they will naturally be defeated."

Jiang Wei gazed at the wounded generals in the tent, his eyes finally settling on Mi Wei—

This son of Mi Zhu was not very interested in commerce, but was quite interested in politics and military affairs.

"Cao Zhang is brave and fierce, and cannot be defeated by force."

Mi Wei twisted off several strands of his beard and said, "I see that he is in a state of mental turmoil after losing his son. Why don't I write a letter to provoke him?"

Jiang Wei frowned:

"If insults on the battlefield couldn't provoke us, what use are letters?"

"It's not an insult, but an attempt to sow discord."

Mi Wei stepped closer and whispered, "We can forge Deng Ai's handwriting and say that his son Cao Kai was actually assassinated by Deng Ai's subordinates because he was vying for credit..."

After pondering for a long time, Jiang Wei finally said, "Very well."

"Bring the silk scroll." Jiang Wei rolled up his sleeves, ground the ink, and deliberately let the ink bleed onto the five characters "Deng Shizai bows deeply."

Inside the central command tent of the Wei camp, Cao Zhang was drinking wine in front of a headless corpse.

The corpse was wearing Cao Kai's silver armor, and dark red blood was constantly dripping from its neck cavity.

"General..."

The guard, trembling, presented the letter from the Han envoy, saying, "It was sent by Jiang Boyue."

Cao Zhang opened it and looked at it, then said after just one glance:
"This is merely a scheme by Jiang Wei to sow discord; how could he possibly hide it from me?"

The following text mentions Jiang Wei's attempts to persuade Jiang Wei to surrender.

The book states briefly:

"General Jiang Wei, the General Who Guards the West, writes to Cao Ziwen, the Marquis of Jiangyang, the General Who Protects the Army:"

"Looking at the virtuous and talented people of modern times, there is none as venerable as your father."

"The current ruler of Wei is weak and incompetent; the imperial aura has already faded."

“We were ordered by the Emperor to lead a large army to attack Shu, and we have already captured all of its territory.”

"Chengdu is in imminent danger. Why don't you obey Heaven and the people, and come to our aid out of righteousness?"

"Wei Dang Biao Gong was appointed Duke of Xu to glorify our ancestors. This is no exaggeration. I hope you will remember this."

Cao Zhang was furious after reading it and tore the letter to shreds.

He ordered the messenger to be beheaded.

A moment later, the head was presented.

"Send this head back to the Han camp!"

He kicked over the table and roared at the stunned servant.

"Tell Jiang Wei that by this time tomorrow, I will chop him into mincemeat and feed him to the eagles!"

When the messenger's head was thrown in front of Jiang Wei, all the generals of the Han army looked terrified.

Jiang Wei stood in front of the camp, gazing at the Wei army banners fluttering atop the city wall of Mianzhu in the distance, his brows furrowed.

"Cao Ziwen truly deserves to be called the fiercest general of the Wei Dynasty."

Jiang Wei sighed softly and turned to Mi Wei, who was accompanying him.

"It seems he still doesn't believe in my good intentions."

Mi Wei cupped his hands and said:
"The general treated him with sincerity, but Cao Zhang remained obstinate and unrepentant."

"However, the defenses of Mianzhu are strong, and a direct assault is probably not the best strategy."

"Even if one plan fails, we should still defeat them with our personal guards."

Jiang Wei nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping over the generals below the tent:
“Cao Zhang is of a fierce temperament. If we deal with him in the usual way, it will only result in mutual destruction.”

“I have observed that his military actions have become increasingly impatient recently, which is precisely the opportunity to take advantage of.”

The generals in the tent looked at each other, all showing expressions of doubt.

Miwei stepped forward and asked:
"Since the general has such a brilliant plan, why not share it with everyone?"

Jiang Wei stroked his beard and smiled, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes:

"Cao Zhang has gone mad; we can use a surprise attack to defeat him."

Immediately, an order was issued: "Prefect Wang Qi of Tianshui and Prefect Qian Hong of Longxi, listen to my command!"

The two generals stepped forward in response.

Jiang Wei instructed, "You two each lead three thousand elite troops and lie in ambush on both sides of the valley ten miles outside Mianzhu City."

"Once I lure the enemy here, I will charge out on command."

He then said to Mi Wei:
"Tomorrow I will personally lead my troops to challenge them to battle, and feign defeat and retreat."

“Cao Zhang is impatient; he will surely lead his army to pursue us.”

"Wait until they penetrate deep into our territory, then unleash our ambush forces to cut off their retreat."

The generals received their orders and departed to make their own preparations.

Jiang Wei sat alone in his tent, gazing at the flickering candlelight, and murmured to himself:

“Cao Ziwen, since you don’t appreciate it, don’t blame Jiang Boyue for being heartless.”

The fog had not yet dissipated by the next morning.

Jiang Wei personally led 5,000 troops and marched straight to the city of Mianzhu to form his army.

He deliberately selected the old and weak soldiers with disheveled appearances to lead the troops, while the elite troops remained hidden behind the lines.

Where is Cao Zhang?

Jiang Wei spurred his horse forward and shouted loudly:
"General Jiang Wei, the Great General Who Guards the West of the Han Dynasty, is here. Do you dare to come out of the city and fight?"

The guards on the city wall hurriedly reported this. In a short while, the city gate burst open with a roar, and Cao Zhang charged out first.

He was clad in black armor, wielding a long halberd, his eyes wide with fury, his voice booming like a bell:
“That little brat Jiang Wei, he sent an envoy with sweet words and flattery the other day, and today he dares to invade again.”

"Are you perhaps taking advantage of the fact that my blade, Cao Zhang, is not sharp enough?"

Jiang Wei, still on horseback, cupped his hands and said:

"General Cao, why be angry? The Emperor is benevolent and virtuous, and the people throughout the land are devoted to him."

"If the general is willing to surrender, he will surely not lose his title of marquis."

Cao Zhang flew into a rage and pointed his halberd at Jiang Wei:

"How could the son of King Zhuang of Wei kneel before Qi?"

"Today I will take your head to avenge this humiliation!"

Having said that, he didn't reply and spurred his horse straight at Jiang Wei.

The two generals clashed on the battlefield, but after less than ten rounds, Jiang Wei feinted with his spear and then turned his horse and fled.

Cao Zhang was unwilling to part with it and shouted:

"The thief will leave!"

After saying this, he led his troops in a surprise attack.

Seeing their commander-in-chief win, the Wei army was greatly encouraged and rushed out of the city gates to pursue Cao Zhang.

The Han army feigned defeat, abandoning their banners and war drums, leaving a scene of devastation along the way.

Jiang Wei fought and retreated, occasionally turning his horse to exchange a few blows with Cao Zhang, but always retreating after a brief encounter.

Cao Zhang, caught up in the killing frenzy, completely disregarded the advice of his subordinates.

They chased each other for more than ten miles, gradually penetrating deeper into the valley.

Just as the Wei army was in the midst of their pursuit, suddenly cannons roared from both sides of the valley.

Wang Qi and Qian Hong each led their ambush troops out, instantly cutting the Wei army into three sections.

The Han army turned back and attacked from both sides.

Cao Zhang then realized he had fallen into a trap and hastily ordered a retreat, but the retreat route had already been blocked.

The Wei army huddled together in the valley, trampling each other, resulting in countless deaths and injuries.

"Don't panic!"

Cao Zhang shouted loudly, brandished his halberd, and killed several Han soldiers in succession.

"Follow me and fight your way out!"

However, the Han army was prepared, and arrows rained down, while logs and stones fell one after another.

Despite their desperate resistance, the Wei army was ultimately unable to break through the encirclement.

In the midst of the melee,
Cao Zhang was hit by several arrows, but fortunately his armor was strong and he was not seriously injured.

The fierce battle lasted for two hours, during which the Wei army suffered heavy losses.

The remaining troops protected Cao Zhang and barely managed to fight their way out, retreating back to Mianzhu.

Of the eight thousand elite troops who set out on the expedition, only three thousand remained.

Jiang Wei pressed his advantage and advanced all the way to the walls of Mianzhu, completely surrounding the city.

The Han army worked through the night to build fortifications, digging deep trenches and erecting high walls, surrounding Mianzhu like an iron barrel.

Cao Zhang retreated back into the city, inspected the wounded soldiers, and was filled with remorse.

General Xiahou De advised:
"General, there is no need to blame yourself too much. Victory and defeat are common occurrences in war."

"The most urgent task is to find a way to seek help from Chengdu."

That night, Cao Zhang summoned his generals for a meeting.

He looked around at everyone and said in a deep voice:
"Today's defeat is all due to my underestimation of the enemy and reckless advance. Now we are trapped in an isolated city. Does anyone have a good plan?"

Xiahou De stepped forward:

"This humble general is willing to risk his life to break through the encirclement and go to Chengdu to seek help."

Cao Zhang shook his head:

"The Han army has a tight encirclement; how can we get out?"

"This humble general is willing to fight to the death!"

Xiahou De said with a sigh:

"If we can break through, we will go to Chengdu for help."

"If I cannot, then death is the only option!"

Seeing his firm resolve, Cao Zhang had no choice but to agree.

At midnight, Xiahou De led five hundred daredevils to quietly open the south gate in an attempt to break through the siege.

Unexpectedly, not far from the city gate, they heard the sound of a clapper.

Torches blazed on all sides, and the Han army was already in full battle array.

Mi Wei immediately rode to the front of the formation and shouted loudly:
"General Jiang anticipated this. You still intend to break through and seek reinforcements?"

"Retreat immediately, or you may escape death!"

Xiahou De was furious and spurred his horse straight at Mi Wei.

The two generals fought for only a few rounds before the Han army ambushed them from all sides, surrounding the Wei army.

Xiahou De charged left and right, but was ultimately outnumbered and shot by a hail of arrows, falling from his horse and dying.

Of the five hundred daredevils, not one survived.

With no hope of reinforcements, the morale of the defenders on the city walls plummeted.

Cao Zhang witnessed Xiahou De's death in battle from the city wall, and wept bitterly, beating his chest.
"Lord De died for me, and I will avenge him!"

The next day, the Han army launched an even fiercer offensive.

Jiang Wei personally supervised the battle, and the Han soldiers bravely scaled the city walls.

The Wei army held their ground and fought desperately, with rolling stones and logs raining down, and corpses piled up like mountains beneath the city walls.

For three consecutive days, the Han army launched relentless attacks, day and night.

Cracks began to appear in the defenses of Mianzhu City, and a breach was made in the southwest corner of the city wall by a catapult.

Although it has been urgently repaired, it is no longer as sturdy as it once was.

Late that night,

Cao Zhang inspected the city's defenses and saw that the soldiers were all hungry and had few arrows left. He was filled with worry and indignation.

Upon returning to the mansion, several of his generals came to request an audience.

“My lord,” Zhang Dun, the adjutant, reported, “the city’s food supplies are only enough for ten days, and we have less than 50,000 arrows.”

"If no reinforcements arrive, it may be difficult to hold out for long."

Another general said:
"Now, besides you, who else is capable of breaking through the Qi army's encirclement?"

"Why don't you, my lord, personally go to Chengdu to seek reinforcements? We, your humble servants, will defend the city to the death!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhang remained silent for a long time before finally sighing:

I appreciate your kind intentions.

"However, if I break out, the morale of the army will surely collapse."

"If Mianzhu is lost, the gateway to Chengdu will be wide open, and the Qi army can drive straight in."

"Zhang was entrusted by the King of Wei to guard this city; how could he abandon it and flee?"

He stood up, his gaze resolute:
"...A prolonged stagnation is not a good strategy."

"Tomorrow I will personally lead my elite troops out of the city to fight Jiang Wei to the death!"

The generals were all alarmed and tried to dissuade him:
"General, you mustn't! The enemy army is too strong; if they go out of the city to fight in the open, it will play right into Jiang Wei's hands!"

Cao Zhang said with emotion:
"A true man should die on the battlefield, not be trapped in a lonely city and wait for death."

"My mind is made up, gentlemen, say no more!"

At dawn the next day, Cao Zhang summoned his generals and gave them instructions:
"Zhang Dun, listen to my command! I will now lead the army out of the city for a decisive battle. You will lead three thousand soldiers to defend the city."

"If I do not return, you may... decide what to do with me."

Zhang Dun knelt down and wept:

"This humble general swears to live and die with Mianzhu!"

Cao Zhang helped Zhang Dun up and smiled slightly:
"...There's no need for that."

"If the situation is hopeless, the lives of the soldiers should be the priority."

Having said that, he donned his armor, took up his halberd, and strode down from the city wall.

The city gates slowly opened, and Cao Zhang took the lead, charging out with the last five thousand elite troops of his force.

Knowing that they had no way to escape, the Wei soldiers fought bravely and charged straight into the Han army camp.

Jiang Wei was prepared. Upon seeing the Wei army leave the city, he ordered the vanguard to retreat slightly while the left and right flanks moved forward to encircle them.

Unexpectedly, Cao Zhang was determined to die this time, and the ferocity of his attack was beyond expectation.

Where is Jiang Wei?

Cao Zhang roared in the midst of the battle, brandishing his halberd, and was invincible.

"Do you dare to fight me?"

When the Han soldiers saw Cao Zhang, they were filled with fear as if he were a god descending to earth, and dared not approach him too closely.

Cao Zhang led his troops straight through the encirclement, breaking through three lines of defense, and was about to break out of the encirclement.

Jiang Wei watched the battle from under the commander's banner, and seeing Cao Zhang's bravery, he couldn't help but admire him:
"A true tiger general!" He immediately ordered, "Let him out."

Miwei was puzzled:

"General, why did you let the tiger return to the mountain?"

Jiang Wei shook his head and said:
"Cao Zhang is destined to die today. I respect him as a hero, and let him die a worthy death."

He then ordered all units to leave one side open and wait for Cao Zhang to break out before closing in.

Cao Zhang was unaware of the trap. Seeing the Han army retreating ahead, he thought a breakout was imminent.

Overjoyed, he led his army in a rapid advance.

Just as they broke through the encirclement, they suddenly heard cannons firing from all sides.

The Han army's ambush troops emerged and surrounded the Wei army at its core.

It turned out that Jiang Wei had already set up several ambushes outside the city, waiting for Cao Zhang to walk right into the trap.

At this moment, the Han army surged in like a tide, dividing and surrounding the Wei army.

Cao Zhang led his personal guards in a fierce charge, killing hundreds of Han soldiers, but the Han army continued to swarm in.

The Wei soldiers died one after another, and in the end only Cao Zhang and a dozen or so personal guards were left, surrounded on a small hillside.

Jiang Wei rode his horse to the front of the formation and shouted loudly:
"General Cao! The situation is hopeless, why not surrender now?"

"We will surely report this to the Emperor, and ensure the General's lifelong wealth and honor!"

Cao Zhang, covered in blood, pointed his halberd at Jiang Wei:
"Jiang Boyue! Do you dare to fight me to the death?"

The Han generals all tried to dissuade him:

"General, you must not risk your life! The struggle of a cornered beast is especially fierce."

"Cao Zhang's defeat is inevitable; all we need to do is have someone shoot him dead."

Jiang Wei gazed at Cao Zhang for a long time, then suddenly sighed:
“Cao Ziwen sought benevolence and obtained it; I should fulfill his loyalty and righteousness.”

He then picked up his spear, spurred his horse, and rode towards the front of the battle formation.

"General!"

Wang Qi, Qian Hong, and others will all try to dissuade them.

Jiang Wei waved his hand and said:
"...Gentlemen, there is no need for further words."

"Today's battle is not for personal grudges, but for each of us to fight for our lord."

"Since General Cao is seeking a battle, how can I possibly disappoint him?"

Arriving at the front of the formation, Jiang Wei cupped his hands and said:

"General Cao, please!"

Cao Zhang laughed loudly:

"What a fine Jiang Boyue!"

"Today, let us determine who is superior and who is inferior, and let us decide our fate!"

Having said that, he spurred his horse forward, his long halberd aimed straight at Jiang Wei's face.

The two generals engaged in a fierce battle on this small hillside.

Although Cao Zhang was exhausted, he was determined to die.

Every move was powerful and heavy, completely disregarding his own defense.

Jiang Wei knew that he was exhausted, so he simply defended the gates and waited for an opportunity to counterattack.

After more than thirty rounds of fighting, Cao Zhang was panting heavily and his movements gradually slowed down.

Seeing that he was at his last gasp, Jiang Wei couldn't bear it, so he feigned a thrust of his spear and turned his horse to retreat.

"General, why don't you rest for a moment before continuing the battle?"

Cao Zhang, knowing his thoughts, smiled wryly and said:

"Jiang Wei is indeed a man of noble character! But today, I only wish to die to repay the country's kindness!"

Having said that, he spurred his horse forward again.

After fighting for more than ten rounds, Cao Zhang was exhausted.

He was pierced in the shoulder by Jiang Wei's spear and fell off his horse.

Jiang Wei hurriedly sheathed his spear, jumped off his horse, and went forward to check.

Cao Zhang lay on the ground, blood gushing from his wounds.

He gazed at the sky and murmured:

"Father... Your son... has done his best..."

After saying this, he breathed his last and died.

Jiang Wei stood beside Cao Zhang's corpse, remaining silent for a long time.

He then removed his own battle robe and gently covered Cao Zhang with it, instructing his men:
"Give General Cao a grand funeral, in accordance with the rites due to a feudal lord."

Upon seeing this, the guards all collapsed in tears before Cao Zhang, fuming:

"The general sacrificed his life for the country; how can a lowly person like me live on?"

They then drew their swords and committed suicide.

"don't want!!"

Jiang Wei tried desperately to stop it, but it was too late.

All the elite troops died in front of Cao Zhang.

Jiang Wei sighed deeply:
"There are still loyal and righteous people in Sichuan."

He then ordered that all his personal guards be buried together with Cao Zhang.

at this time,

On the city wall of Mianzhu, Zhang Dun witnessed Cao Zhang's death in battle and wept bitterly.

The generals requested permission:

"General, we swear to defend the city to the death and avenge General Cao!"

Zhang Dun shook his head and sighed:

"General Cao said on his deathbed that if things cannot be done, the lives of the soldiers should be the most important thing."

"With no reinforcements from outside and no supplies from within, why send our soldiers to their deaths in vain?"

The following day, Zhang Dun surrendered the city.

After entering the city, Jiang Wei strictly ordered that the people not be disturbed.

They also gave a grand funeral to the fallen Wei soldiers and to the Wei officers and soldiers who surrendered.

Those who wish to stay will be enlisted in the army, and those who wish to leave will be given travel expenses.

With the fall of Mianzhu, the gateway to Chengdu was wide open.

Jiang Wei stood on the city wall, gazing northwards, but felt no joy of victory.

Miwei came to report:
"General, our army has taken control of the entire city."

"However... Cao Zhang's former subordinates requested that a shrine be built in his honor to worship him."

Jiang Wei nodded in agreement:

“Cao Ziwen’s loyalty and bravery are commendable, and this is only right.”

After a brief pause, he continued:
"Order the three armies to rest for three days."

"Next, we'll march on Xindu."

"promise!"

Mi Wei accepted the order, but then hesitated and said:

"The general seems... to be preoccupied?"

Jiang Wei sighed softly:
"Today's victory may also be my defeat in the future."

"In the art of war, victory and defeat are unpredictable, but loyalty and righteousness will endure forever."

As the sun set, Jiang Wei's shadow stretched long on the city wall.

The road to unification is finally coming to an end.

In this chaotic world, the tragic tale of heroes appreciating each other will continue to unfold.

I don't know why, but it seems that China is about to be unified.

Instead, Jiang Wei felt a sense of foreboding and was filled with unease all day long.

I have a feeling that something big is going to happen.

At this moment,
A servant reported that King Liu Yong of Wu, along with his personal guards, had urgent business to discuss with him.

(End of this chapter)