Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 189 It was the result of circumstances

Half an hour later.

He rode off to catch up with the city gate supervisor of Da Han Town in the east, then reined in his horse and returned to the city of Weixing.

"Where is he?!" On the city tower, Prefect Shen Yi of Weixing looked at the city gate supervisor who was returning alone, and was first stunned, then frowned.

Before Shen Yi could finish speaking, the panicked gatekeeper below the city walls looked up from his horse and shouted:

"General, that...that Han Zhendong is completely impervious to reason. No matter how I try to persuade him, he refuses to come back!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi froze, her mind racing. After a moment of contemplation, she stared at Shan Wu and then, as if struck by a sudden realization, demanded, "What did he say to you?!"

After asking the question, I felt a little annoyed.

It was obvious that the Shu Han governor of the east was trying to control him and make him, the governor of Weixing, personally come out to greet him.

"He...he didn't say a word!"

He simply went to Wu's southern camp on his own!

The city gatekeeper answered truthfully, only to feel his left cheek, which had been slapped, burning even more, and his heart growing increasingly uneasy.

"Useless!" Shen Yi was stunned for a moment, then angrily rebuked.

Upon hearing this, the city gate supervisor felt truly aggrieved.

Can you blame him?
How could the city gates be opened so easily?!
Beside Shen Yi, her son-in-law had already figured out Deng Zhi's scheme. Seeing his father-in-law's angry expression, he immediately started cursing:
"Uncle, Deng Zhi has quite the airs!"

"It is now clear that both Liu Shan and Sun Quan want Weixing City, which belongs to my uncle!"
"When Han and Wu were fighting, even the Wei court wanted to win over my uncle's support. My uncle was a rare commodity, and he was naturally waiting for the right price to go!"

"Furthermore, the Wu people arrived first, and the Shu people arrived later. The Wu people, who arrived first, treated my uncle with courtesy, but the Shu people, who arrived later, wanted to bully and manipulate him. This is far too arrogant and goes too far!"

At this point, Shen Yi's son-in-law snorted coldly.

"In my opinion, let Deng Zhi go if he wants to!"
"They say that the Han army will kill us as soon as they arrive? I don't believe it. Does the mere Shu Kingdom really have the ability to destroy us?"

Shen Yi's son-in-law shouted passionately, but the soldiers guarding the city wall all turned their heads away.

General Cao Zhen and General Zhang He were both dead. They were right next to Weixing County. General Sima Yi, who had beheaded Meng Da in just sixteen days, also suffered a great defeat.

How do their prefects compare to Sima Yi, Zhang He, and Cao Zhen?
How can these small fry compare to the troops commanded by Cao Zhen, Zhang He, and Sima Yi?

Shen Yi had regained her composure by this time and glared at her son-in-law:
What's the point of saying these angry words?

"The art of war says, 'To subdue the enemy without fighting is the highest form of military strategy.'"

"If we can defend this city without losing a single soldier, what does it matter if we lose some face?"

"Is face more important, or the lives of Wei Xing's eight thousand soldiers?"

Shen Yi was very clear about her background.

Ten years ago, he repeatedly switched between the Han and Wei dynasties.

When Meng Da intended to betray Wei and return to Han, he first reported and exposed him.

When the Han army was about to send reinforcements, they blocked the road, preventing the Han army from coming to the east.

Now that Deng Zhi has come alone, showing him the way to surrender, if he doesn't seize this opportunity to sell himself for a higher price, he will only be able to become a loyal subject of Wei when Shu Han's army comes to the city.

Why push things to the brink?

With this thought in mind, he snorted coldly at his son-in-law, who was somewhat stunned by his scolding:
"Don't think that just because Shu and Wu are fighting each other, we can really wait for the best price and rest easy."

"Zhuge Jin and Bu Zhi arrived here, but Sun Quan and Lu Xun had not yet arrived."

"This indicates that Sun Quan and Lu Xun were still confronting the Grand Marshal in Xiangfan at this moment."

"The situation has two possible directions."

"One was that the Grand Marshal was defeated and fled."

"In that case, the power of the Wu Kingdom will be immense."

"If Wu becomes too powerful, its army will surely sail up the Han River. Shu will also be unable to abandon Weixing and will inevitably bring its troops to the city to fight against Wu."

"If Shu wins, do you think what Deng Zhi said was just nonsense?"

"If Grand Marshal Cao Xiu wins, Zhuge Jin and Bu Zhi will be cut off from their return journey, and Wu may well give up Wei Xing and pledge it to Shu Han."

"With Wu and Shu joining forces to attack the city, let alone whether we can hold it, even if we do, what can we get from the Wei court?"

The three eastern commanderies, located at the junction of Han, Wu, and Wei, were, in fact, relatively independent kingdoms under Wei, wielding considerable power.

Of course, with great power comes the inevitable loss of favor from both parents. They receive no benefits from the court, have to send their sons as hostages, and occasionally pay a small amount of tax to the Wei court to demonstrate their loyalty.

This is why both Wu and Han were vying for Weixing Commandery at this time.

This is a strategic location that can be captured without any fighting, simply by besieging the city for a hundred days.

On the city wall, Shen Yi selected more than twenty personal guards, gave his son-in-law a few instructions, and then walked down the wall.

As his son-in-law, Kuai Che, watched his father-in-law's retreating figure, he seemed to have thought of something, and suddenly his face turned wary as he shouted, "Uncle, wait!"

Shen Yi stopped in her tracks, her brows furrowed.

Kuai Che walked downstairs in a few steps and stood beside his father-in-law:
"Uncle, what if this is Deng Zhi's scheme to lure you outside the city and then tie you up?!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi glared at her son-in-law with exasperation:
Before the Han army arrived, Deng Zhi came alone.

"Even if he and the Wu people bind me, what benefit will it bring to Shu Han?"
"Are we just making wedding dresses for the people of Wu?"

After saying that, Shen Yi turned and left.

Don't be fooled by how indignant the city's garrison commanders and soldiers seem at Deng Zhi's threats.

When it comes to a life-or-death situation, who knows what these people will do?
Do you really think he knows nothing?
After learning that the Han army had defeated Sima Yi, occupied Guanzhong, and returned the capital to Chang'an, the generals and soldiers guarding Weixing discussed in private the most: would Shu Han take advantage of the situation to advance eastward?

Who is not afraid?
Ten years ago, after Liu Bei captured Hanzhong, his generals Liu Feng and Meng Da captured the three eastern commanderies with almost no effort.

Why?

It was dictated by circumstances.

If morale and fighting spirit are lost, everything else is in vain.

Although the vast majority of civil and military officials in Weixing Prefecture were promoted by him, they are still loyal to him.

But when it comes to a life-or-death situation, how reliable can these people be?
Meng Da was betrayed by his nephew and beheaded. Isn't this a cautionary tale?

The city gate opens.

More than twenty riders rushed out.

Before long, a person was seen slowly walking south.

"Deng Zhendong, please wait!" Shen Yi rode his horse to the side in front of Deng Zhi, dismounted, and although he was over fifty years old, he was still agile.

"The city's garrison commanders have been negligent; I hope Governor Deng will forgive them!" Shen Yi bowed and gave Deng Zhi an apologetic smile.

Deng Zhi asked, "Are you Shen Yi?"

"It is indeed I. I humbly request that Deng Zhendong come to the West City for a chat." Shen Yi straightened up, then put away his smile, trying his best to make his voice neither humble nor arrogant, and to appear sincere.

"No need," Deng Zhi said calmly, walking past Shen Yi and continuing south.

Shen Yi paused for a moment as he watched the Shu Han Zhen Dong pass by him.

Then he first looked around to see if there was any ambush.

After confirming that it was safe, he strode up to Deng Zhi, who was already more than ten steps away, and blocked his way, speaking solemnly and earnestly:
"Deng Zhendong".

"If the Han army really reaches the foot of Xicheng, I will surrender to Han rather than Wu!"

"I wonder if the Great Han Dynasty has a place for me, Shen Yi, to stay?"

Deng Zhi had intended to walk past Shen Yi silently, but stopped when she heard these words.

Head up.

But the Prefect of Weixing, who had been switching between the Han and Wei dynasties, had a sincere expression on his face.

He seemed to truly know that he had reached a dead end.

"Of course," Deng Zhi replied with a serious expression.

In fact, after seeing Shen Yi proactively transport grain to the Wu army yesterday, and then seeing Shen Yi send the city gate guard out to detain him today, he already knew that there was no need for Shen Yi to persuade him. Without the arrival of the Han army and the attack of the Wu army, without being offered a good price, or rather, without facing certain death, this man would certainly not surrender, whether to Han or Wu.

Seeing the sincere expression on the face of the General Who Guards the East, Shen Yi sighed with some melancholy and looked towards the west of the city:
“Deng Zhendong, I, Shen Yi, have lived in this western city for most of my life, and I’m already tired of it.”

"Now I am old and frail, and I no longer have the mindset of my youth. I only wish to die peacefully under the window of my home."

"If I surrender to the Han, will the Emperor of Han truly tolerate me, Shen Yi?"

The Shen family was the largest powerful clan in the three eastern counties. The brothers Shen Dan and Shen Yi had gathered nearly ten thousand followers in the area between Xicheng and Shangyong when they were young.

Whether it was Zhang Lu at the beginning, Cao Cao later, or Zhaolie who occupied Hanzhong and annexed three counties, and then Cao Pi and Cao Rui, the Shen family changed hands four or five times, but from beginning to end, Shen Yi was the governor of Xicheng.

Regardless of who he was dealing with, Shen Yi always maintained his own military power and independence, obeying orders but not proclamations.

In other words, troop deployment for battle is acceptable, but they are absolutely forbidden from going to court to meet the emperor.

Now ask Deng Zhi: Is there a place for him in the Han Dynasty? Will the Emperor accept him?

The meaning is obvious:

He no longer intended to take this western city, nor did he intend to maintain his military power. He only hoped that the Han Dynasty could provide him with a place to enjoy his old age in peace, and that would be enough.

It really sounds like a dead end.

Deng Zhi was silent for a moment, then said sincerely:

Lord Shen.

Although Meng Da betrayed the Han and joined the Wei, his son Meng Xing still served as the military supervisor in the Han Dynasty.

"Although Liu Feng was punished for not rescuing Guan Yu, his son Liu Lin was not implicated by his father's crime and was still a general in the Han Dynasty."

"This is all due to the benevolence and virtue of the late emperor."

"Although I did not receive His Majesty's order to come here, I cannot make any promises to you casually."

"But I dare tell you that His Majesty today has the same style as His Majesty the Great Emperor."

"Emperor Gaozu pardoned Yong Chi's crimes and made him the first to be enfeoffed as a marquis. If you can bring your entire prefecture back to Han, His Majesty will surely forgive your past mistakes and enfeoff you as a marquis will be inevitable. Otherwise, how can you appease the people of the world?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yi's old face showed a look of emotion:

“I admire Deng Zhendong’s courage to come here alone today, and I am also aware of the sincerity of the Han people.”

"However... Xicheng is not just Shen Yi's Xicheng. Everyone in the city, from the highest to the lowest, has family members who are being held hostage in Wei."

"So... it's not that I can surrender to the Han just because I want to."

"Please have Deng Zhendong report back to the Emperor of the Great Han Dynasty."

"If the Han army can join forces with the Wu army to resist the Wei army for a hundred days, so that no one in the city, whether young or old, will be implicated in the crime."

“I, Shen Yi, will naturally open the city gates with my bare chest.”

"One is to present the seal and ribbon to the emperor."

"Secondly, I would persuade my troops to join the Han army."

"Thirdly, they sought to move to Sichuan."

I hope the Emperor can understand my predicament.

Deng Zhi was silent for a moment, then nodded: "His Majesty will understand."

...

Fancheng.

Grand Marshal Cao Xiu stood atop the city wall, quietly watching the Wu navy on the Han River.

Before long, Qin Lang, the military supervisor, ascended the city wall.

"Greetings, Grand Marshal." Qin Lang bowed respectfully to the top military figure of the Great Wei.

With the Grand General dead and Sima Yi defeated, the only person the Great Wei can rely on now is this important member of the imperial family.

Cao Xiu nodded slightly, then asked, "A-Su, what is the military situation in Shang County and Shangluo?"

The defeat in Guanzhong had nothing to do with Qin Lang. He had no military power; he was merely sent by the emperor to supervise the army, so Cao Xiu had no ill will towards him.

What he loathed were Sima Yi and incompetent fools like Xiahou Mao.

Qin Lang's expression was not good, and he said:

"Reporting to the Grand Marshal, the reinforcements from Jia Yuzhou and Wang Jianwu (Wang Ling) arrived too late, and Shang County could not be saved."

"Now Wang Jianwu is leading an army of six thousand to defend the southeastern pass of Shang County."

Shangluo and Shangxian counties are located in Shangluo Valley, which was the fiefdom of Shang Yang in the past. It is the only way to enter Guanzhong from Wuguan.

"Has Shang County fallen?" Cao Xiu frowned.

What Qin Lang just mentioned was a narrow pass in the southeast of Shang County, not Shang County itself.

Qin Lang shook his head: "We can't hold them. The cities of Shangluo and Shangxian have been in disrepair for years and are poorly defended. If the Shu bandits block the passes, Shangxian will fall in less than two months."

These were the words Wang Ling said to him.

Cao Xiu looked displeased and snorted coldly:
"Cowardice before the battle even begins!"
"I refuse to believe it, are the Shu bandits really that difficult to deal with?"

Qin Lang said, "The commander of the army is Wei Yan, the General of the Cavalry of Shu."

Cao Xiu rolled his eyes at Qin Lang and snorted coldly again:

"When a country lacks great generals, even a mere upstart can rise to fame!"
"If I had known this would happen, I should have let Zidan..."

At this point, Cao Xiu stopped talking, glanced at Cao Shuang beside him who looked somber, and sighed deeply.

He wanted to say that if he had known this would happen, His Majesty would have allowed him to guard Guanzhong, and the Shu bandits would not have been able to gain such power and influence.

At that time, Wu was powerful while Shu was weak, so the emperor appointed him as Grand Marshal to deal with the southeast, while leaving Cao Zhen to guard the central government.

"Grand Marshal, the Yu River has risen, and Governor Jia of Yuzhou can send his navy south at any time," Qin Lang reported, bringing with him intelligence for the mission.

After thinking for a moment, Cao Xiu nodded: "Okay."

Qin Lang looked around, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping himself.

Cao Xiu understood and dismissed everyone around him.

Only General Cao Shuang remained, along with his own Chief Clerk to the Grand Marshal, Huan Fan, who was known as the "brain trust".

"Grand Marshal, the Shu bandits have sent spies to spread rumors in the three areas of Wuguan, Tongguan, and Hedong, saying that Shu wants to compete with Wu for the three eastern commanderies and break the alliance."

"His Majesty has decreed that if Sun Quan sends his navy up the Han River to provide assistance, the Grand Marshal should act accordingly."

Cao Xiu paused slightly, then exchanged a glance with his strategist.

Seeing Huan Fan deep in thought and silent, Cao Xiu seemed to be talking to himself:
"Why would the Shu bandits break their alliance with the Wu traitors at this time? Isn't this self-destructive? Could there be a trap involved?"

Cao Xiu had no choice but to be vigilant.

The fact that the Shu bandits were able to seize Guanzhong cannot be said to have nothing to do with the Wu bandits. Now that they have just won a battle, they are eager to start a war with Wu.
He did not believe that the Shu and Wu states, which had finally re-established their alliance, would break off relations at this time.

Seeing Huan Fan remain silent, Cao Shuang also dared not comment. He then said, "In my opinion, this must be a scheme by the Shu and Wu bandits to trick us into going to the aid of the three eastern commanderies."

Cao Shuang, who was usually quiet and reserved, nodded slightly.

Qin Lang replied, "His Majesty has discussed this matter with Grand Tutor Zhong, Minister Chen, and Liu Taizhong, and they believe there is no foul play involved."

Huan Fan finally nodded:

"Grand Marshal."

“I believe this news to be true.”

"Shu and Wu have a deep-seated hatred for each other, and their alliance is merely a temporary measure. Sun Quan's desire to seize Xicheng is a direct attack on the heart of Shu, which is already a breach of the alliance. The Shu invaders will not be without anger."

"In my opinion, once the Wu rebels' navy sails westward up the Han River, it will be the opportunity to defeat Wu."

"Regardless of whether Wu and Shu are plotting against us, defeating the Wu bandits first is always the right thing to do."

Cao Xiu pondered for a moment upon hearing this, and then nodded.

(End of this chapter)