Three Kingdoms: The Kingdom Cannot Be Partial

Chapter 215 The Late Emperor's Cleverness: Seizing Shangyong

Above average.

The White Horse Pass has been captured, and the Han army is approaching the city.

Liu Shan escorted Li Fu to the banks of the river and then climbed the Bai Ma Fortress, a strategic pass guarded by the mountain.

As Li Fu traveled slowly along the frontier, he recounted in detail the people and events of Chengdu to the emperor. After surveying the ruins and broken walls of the frontier, he turned back to gaze at the city of Shangyong in the distance, and sighed after a long while:
"During his eight years in the prefecture, Meng Da built a fortified city that stretched for over a hundred miles."

"The city of Jin is not weak; the pass of Baili is not invincible."

"If it weren't for his nephew Deng Xian and his confidant Li Fu opening the city and surrendering to Wei, Shangyong would have been difficult to capture quickly."

"From this we can see that the reliability of fortresses and strongholds is ultimately not as reliable as the reliability of the people's hearts."

"If the hearts of the people are lost, then even the most impregnable cities and fortresses will turn to sand and gravel and be swept away by the eastward flow of the river."

At this point, Li Fu paused, then suddenly cupped his hands and faced south, gazing towards the direction of the Yangtze River, saying:

"His Majesty has posthumously conferred titles upon Feng Xiuyuan, Zhang Wenjin, Fu Yuanfu, and Cheng Wenlie, with the posthumous title of 'Loyalty' to honor their martyrdom."

"Furthermore, in recognition of Yang Jixiu's unwavering loyalty to the country even on his deathbed, and his strategy for conquering Wu, he was posthumously awarded a fine posthumous title."

"I believe that the people of Shu can be at ease, and Your Majesty can be free from worries while you are away."

Liu Shan looked at Li Fu and saw that he seemed hesitant to speak, so he asked, "It seems that you, Li Lingshi, have something you want to say to me?"

Upon hearing this, Li Fu hesitated for a long time before finally saying:

"Your Majesty, although I am not familiar with warfare, I have heard the military strategy that says, if you have ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if you have five times their strength, attack them; if you have twice their strength, fight them."

"Our Han army now numbers only 20,000, which is only twice the number of the enemy, making it extremely difficult to besiege the city."

"As for a direct assault, that is also not advisable."

"Sima Yi's forces were five times that of Meng Da's, so he spared no expense in attacking Shangyong, which was in accordance with military strategy, and thus he was able to take it. But our Han Dynasty cannot do that."

"I have heard that Zhao, the cavalry commander, has sent an envoy with a letter to persuade him, hoping to move him with words. However, Wei, the governor of Shangyong, refused to listen and even attacked him with arrows and stones."

"Neither should we use words to persuade, nor should we forcefully attack and seize the city."

"The only solution is to fortify the mountains and guard the strategic passes, build fortifications and garrisons, so that birds cannot cross and carts and boats cannot pass."

"When they have no food left inside and no help from outside, their morale will collapse, and even the most impregnable cities can be taken in one fell swoop."

"Your Majesty, I wonder if what I say is true?"

Liu Shan nodded and smiled:
"I never imagined that Minister Li would also have such profound knowledge of military strategy. It is truly a pity that he has been relegated to the position of a clerk."

"If one can serve as the Prime Minister's military advisor for several years, and in the future lead the Han army in the field, taking charge of a region independently, it would not be impossible."

Although "lingshi" is a general term for low-ranking civil servants, they hold a low position but bear heavy responsibilities. From the confidential matters of the prime minister's office to the documents of the prefecture and county, all rely on the hands of lingshi.

"Your Majesty's words are excessive."

"I am fortunate to hold the position of clerk in the Prime Minister's office, which is already a testament to Your Majesty and the Prime Minister's abilities."

After another pause, Li Fu said:

"Your Majesty, the reason I have made this argument is that I wish to offer a word of advice to Your Majesty."

“The Wei rebels of Shangyong did not understand the will of Heaven and failed to surrender and flee at the first sign of trouble, but instead defended the city.”

"Although I believe that the Great Han has fortified the mountains and defended the strategic passes, this city will surely be captured, I still fear the possibility of something going wrong."

"This place is dangerous and narrow; it is easy to advance but difficult to retreat."

"Your Majesty's body is of immeasurable value and bears the weight of the nation's burdens. I believe it is inappropriate for you to remain here for long."

"Perhaps we can entrust the military affairs here to Generals Zhao, Deng, and Gao, while Your Majesty returns west with me and takes command in Chengdu."

"If so, if something happens in the north, Your Majesty may launch another campaign in the north; if something happens in the east, Your Majesty may also launch another campaign in the east."

"Since the great victory in Guanzhong and the recapture of Xijing, everyone in the palace and government has been eagerly awaiting Your Majesty's return. We humbly request Your Majesty to grant the request of the court officials and return to Chengdu with me."

Liu Shan understood at this point.

Li Fu's visit this time was not merely to deliver a message; he also carried the glorious mission of "capturing" the emperor and bringing him back to Chengdu.

In fact, ever since the news of Cao Zhen's execution reached Chengdu, a number of important officials in the palace, such as Jiang Wan, Yang Hong, Guo Youzhi, and even Dong Yun, who had always been by Liu Shan's side, had never stopped urging him to return to Chengdu to take charge.

But he rejected it every time.

Regardless of how many people dared to speak out against him, he simply endured it. When he could no longer bear it, he would become a coward and use a trick to escape by sleeping or urinating.

"His Majesty……"

Seeing that the emperor was initially silent, and then began his usual act of feigning ignorance and changing the subject, Li Fu had no choice but to try to persuade him again.

Liu Shan felt a headache coming on and paced back and forth on Baima Pass like an ant on a hot pan. After a while, he suddenly pointed to a pair of monkeys on a lone pine tree on the cliff and said, "Li Lingshi, look, those two apes are truly a mother and child with deep affection."

Li Fu frowned slightly, but still followed the emperor's gesture and looked in that direction.

But then they saw two apes, one old and one young, perched on a lone pine tree on a cliff.

The baby ape appeared to be injured, clutching its arm.

The old ape grabbed a handful of leaves from the green trees on the cliff edge, stuffed them into its mouth and chewed them. After a short while, it spat them into its palm and placed them on the arm of the young ape.

A mountain breeze swept by, and the young monkeys let out a low, plaintive cry.

The old ape's mournful cries echoed back and forth, lingering among the mountains and valleys.

Li Fu cupped his hands and offered his advice in a permissive manner:

"Your Majesty, even apes, among all beasts, know how to protect their young."

"Your Majesty is the ruler of the country. As a sovereign, you should cherish the people and protect the nation."

Just then, the old ape on the lone pine suddenly abandoned the young ape and began to move nimbly among the vines and logs on the cliff face.

Finally, it disappeared from their sight.

However, it disappeared only to return again.

Once the ape had settled on the branch of the lone pine, Liu Shan noticed that the ape was holding a red fruit in its mouth.

They took the fruit and offered it to the baby monkey.

The young apes were hungry and gnawed at the food.

Upon seeing this, Li Fu pointed at the ape:

"Your Majesty, look, that young ape is wounded. If it hadn't lost the older ape chewing leaves to protect it and feeding it fruit, it would probably have died on the steep cliff and the lone pine tree."

"The people of Sichuan are like wounded monkeys on a lone pine tree on a cliff, hoping that Your Majesty will return soon to save the nation."

Liu Shan was in a real bind.

He had just pointed randomly; how could Li Fu possibly connect those two monkeys with him and the state?
However, at that moment, whether the young ape had eaten its fill and gained strength, or its injuries had healed, it leaped from the lone pine tree on the cliff and grabbed a green vine on the edge of the cliff.

The giant ape followed closely behind, leaping and climbing among the vines on the cliff face. Before long, it and the baby ape disappeared completely from everyone's sight.

"The cliff is thousands of feet high, even monkeys know to retreat, why does Your Majesty wish to venture into such danger?" Li Fu's voice once again pulled Liu Shan back to reality.

Liu Shan wiped the sweat from his brow and said:

“Li Lingshi may not know this, but the reason we were able to capture Xicheng last time was because of my imperial banner. The Wei generals on the city walls were so afraid that they surrendered.”

"The Wei general of Shangyong is unaware of my arrival. Once I bring my imperial banner to the city, he will be terrified and may even surrender like the Wei general of Xicheng."

“The entire Han army knows that I am here, so everyone is fighting hard and ready to die. If I were to retreat with you at this time, it would be detrimental to the morale of the army.”

Li Fu sighed inwardly. Just as Chief Secretary Jiang had said, even the Prime Minister himself probably couldn't persuade His Majesty, let alone them.
Moreover... the Prime Minister seemed not to mind at all the hardship and toil that the Emperor personally led in every battle, and General Zhao and other generals such as Deng Zhendong, Gao Zhengdong, and Liao Zhengbei never tried to dissuade him.

It seems that only the court officials who remained in Chengdu were urging His Majesty to return to the capital to take charge.

Li Fu frowned and pondered for a moment, then came up with a second plan:
"Your Majesty, now that the Great Han has already started a war with Sun Wu and has captured Xicheng, the Jiangzhou and Baidi line is far more important than the Shangyong and Fangling counties."

"Your Majesty...why not return to Hanzhong in the west, enter Sanba via the Micang Road, and then go downstream to Jiangzhou, becoming the governor of Jiangzhou and the governor of Yong'an?"

"Since His Majesty's great victory in the campaign, Li Zhengfang, the governor of Jiangzhou, Chen Shuzhi, the governor of Yong'an, and all the generals and officers under their command in Jiangzhou and Yong'an have longed to see His Majesty's face, but have had no chance to do so."

"If Your Majesty were to personally visit Yong'an and Baidi to inspect the troops, you would surely inspire the army to fight to the death, and the Wu bandits would be defeated in no time."

In any case, as long as we return to Hanzhong, His Majesty's safety will be guaranteed.

Even though Yong'an is the front line, only a few dozen miles from Wuxian, and can be reached in a short while, as long as Jiangguan is there, it is much safer than Shangyong, a place where it is easy to advance but difficult to retreat.

"Alright, I agree." Liu Shan agreed to Li Fu's alternative without hesitation.

The speed of the attack surprised Li Fu. However, as expected, the emperor suddenly changed the subject and said, "After we capture Shangyong, I will go to Jiangzhou and Baidi to inspect the troops and supervise the battle."

Li Fu felt dizzy and disoriented: "Your Majesty..."

Liu Shan suddenly extended five fingers:

“Li Lingshi, please wait a moment. If you set off today, the news of Shangyong’s capture may reach you before you even return to Hanzhong.”

"If Shangyong is not captured within five days, I will leave here and go to Jiangzhou."

Li Fu was dumbfounded: "Five days...you can take Shangyong in five days?"

The man was initially skeptical, but after observing the emperor's words and expressions repeatedly, and seeing how confidently the emperor spoke, he gradually developed a sense of reassurance and certainty.

After a short while, Li Fu looked at the Han emperor before him, whose expression was resolute and whose skin had turned golden bronze, and was momentarily dazed.

An emperor who personally leads his troops into battle, an emperor who wins battle after battle, an emperor who is generous with rewards, an emperor who ignores the advice of his ministers and insists on going to the front lines, braving arrows and stones, and sharing weal and woe with his soldiers...

Apart from the fact that he won consecutive battles, which is unlike the late emperor, he is practically identical to the late emperor.

Liu Shan took out a letter from his bosom, handed it to Li Fu, and said with a smile, "This is a letter from home. Please deliver it to the Empress for me."

Li Fu hesitated for a moment, then respectfully accepted it.

After he left, Liu Shan returned to the city of Shangyong.

One day.

two days.

Three days.

The Han army, which had remained inactive for several days, suddenly beat drums, raised flags, and marched out of their camp to form ranks.

On the city wall of Shangyong, Prefect Zhang Liang, Wei generals Yao Jing, Zheng Ta, and Li Fu stood solemnly.

Among them, Yao Jing and Zheng Ta were the ones who betrayed Shu and surrendered to Wei after Meng Da was beheaded.

This is a key reason why Shangyong did not surrender when the Han army suddenly arrived.

How could someone who had just betrayed his country a few months ago suddenly surrender the entire city to his former country?
"The Shu bandits are trying to launch a strong attack, but they're not going to succeed?" Prefect Zhang Liang frowned deeply.

He then let out a cold snort:
"Order the soldiers to prepare for battle! I refuse to believe that with the impregnable defenses of Shangyong, the Shu bandits can replicate Sima Yi's 16-day siege!!"

Yao Jing and Zheng Ta were stunned for a few moments, then nodded resolutely in unison.

Finally, all three looked at Li Fu, the lieutenant general.

This Li Fu was the one who persuaded Meng Da's nephew, Deng Xian, to surrender the city to Wei. He had been corresponding with Sima Yi for a long time, so after the city fell, he gained Sima Yi's trust and continued to stay and defend it.

At this moment, all three looked at Li Fu, their meaning self-evident: as long as you, Li Fu, do not surrender, the impregnable city of Shangyong will be extremely difficult for the enemy to breach.

Li Fu was about to curse: "Why are you all looking at me like that! I am a loyal minister of the Great Wei. When I opened the city gates, it was merely to fulfill my loyalty and wisdom!"

Upon hearing this, no one dared to investigate further.

After all, at that time Shangyong belonged to Wei. It was perfectly legitimate for the people of Wei to open the city gates and surrender to the Wei general. What was wrong with that?
However, at this moment, Li Fu suddenly turned his head and coldly snorted at the two surrendered generals, Zheng Ta and Yao Jing:

"But it's you two..."

"Enough!" Prefect Zhang Liang interrupted sharply.

"With a great battle imminent, we must unite as one and work together to build a strong fortress. No one should ever again utter such hurtful words that damage the bond between our comrades!"

"As long as we hold Shangyong, we will both be loyal subjects of the Great Wei!"

The generals then fell silent.

Before they could finish, the Han army had already formed their battle formation.

Seeing the Han army's spears and halberds like a forest, and their banners fluttering in the wind, the Wei army, which had already suffered a defeat at the Baima Pass west of the city, once again felt as if they were facing a formidable enemy.

By midday, the Han army had not attacked the city.

The generals of the Wei army were bewildered and did not understand why.

Zhang Liang, Li Fu, Yao Jing, and Zheng Ta reunited on the city wall, gazing at the tall banner bearing the character "Zhao" amidst the Han army formation.

Suddenly, a scout rushed from the north of the city to the south.

"General...General, something terrible has happened! A force has suddenly appeared in the north of the city, and it's probably...probably more than thirty or forty thousand men!"

"What?!" Zheng Ta and Yao Jing were shocked.

Generals Li Fu and Zhang Liang looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Could it be... could it be that the Grand Marshal has come to our aid?!" Li Fu suddenly thought of something.

“Yes…it’s possible!” Prefect Zhang Liang’s eyes lit up.

Zheng Ta and Yao Jing breathed a sigh of relief:
"That's certainly true."

"In that case, the Shu bandits must have discovered that the Grand Marshal's army had arrived, which is why they formed ranks under the city walls!"

However, the messenger shook his head: "General...General, the person who came...is not in the armor or uniform of our Great Wei soldiers."

The Wei generals Yao Jing, Zheng Ta, Li Fu, and Zhang Liang looked at each other in bewilderment.

Before long, they all rushed to the north of the city.

Before long, tens of thousands of troops arrived in a mighty procession.

"What...what is that?" Zheng asked in astonishment, looking at the great banner below the city.

Everyone took a closer look.

"General Bu Zhi of Wu".

General Zhuge Jin of Wu.

General Tang Zi, the Conqueror of the West.

"Wu...Why are the Left and Right Generals and the General Who Conquers the West of Wu here?!"

"Could it be...could it be that the Grand Marshal...the Grand Marshal has already been defeated?!"

"The Grand Marshal has been defeated... Could it be that... Wu and Shu have now agreed to divide the three eastern commanderies?!"

All the Wei generals turned pale.

Before long, Wu's army arrived at the city gates.

"General...General, something terrible has happened!" Just as the generals were in shock and confusion, another scout rushed from the south of the city to the north.

"What's wrong?!" Zheng exclaimed in surprise.

"General... South of the city... South of the city, the Emperor of Shu Han's dragon banner is approaching the city!"

"Wh...what?!" Yao Jing was suddenly terrified and at a loss.

"Shu Han...the Emperor of Shu Han...why would the Emperor of Shu Han be here?!"

Zheng, who had surrendered to Sima Yi along with Yao Jing, almost collapsed, leaning against the parapet: "No wonder that old bastard Shen Yi was defeated so quickly... it was actually the emperor of Shu Han who personally led the expedition."

Yao Jing and Zheng Ta returned to the south of the city.

But then they saw the Han emperor's dragon banner fluttering in the wind.

Both of them had dry mouths and throats, and their faces looked bitter.

An arrow was shot from below the city.

The arrow carries a letter, which the two men unfold and examine.

Before long, Shangyong finally opened its gates and surrendered the city.

Four Wei generals, Yao Jing, Zheng Ta, Li Fu, and Zhang Liang, surrendered by baring their shirts and binding themselves.

Liu Shan saw the gates of Shangyong wide open in the distance and sighed inwardly.

I must say, the Emperor's Dragon Banner is really useful.

In the future, have the craftsmen make several more and distribute them to Zhao Yun, Wei Yan, Zong Yu, Deng Zhi, and others. They can be used to boost morale and also as a feint at crucial moments.

Who said that only the emperor could use the dragon banner?
Soldiers never tire of deceit!

In this way, when I personally lead the army in battle with the dragon banner, the Wei army probably won't be able to be sure if it's a strategy to lure the enemy deep into their territory.
(End of this chapter)