Three Kingdoms: Li Shimin, dressed as Liu Shan, forcibly abducts Sun Shangxiang.

Chapter 25: Father, hold on!

Is His Highness the Crown Prince going to send a message to Yong'an Palace?

Inside Sun Huan's residence in Yiling City,

Suddenly, silence fell.

Sending a message from Yiling to Yizhou at this time would be like Lu Xun sending a message from Zigui to the south bank—there are too many variables involved.

"Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Guan Xing couldn't help but speak up: "If we want to send a message to Baidi City, we must go through Zigui."

"Now Lu Xun has awakened."

"Shamoke also said that when he intercepted the messenger from Zigui, he allowed a single Wu soldier to escape! I'm afraid Lu Xun already knows that something has happened on the south bank."

"They will certainly be wary of those going to the south bank; if they capture them..."

His Highness the Crown Prince remained unmoved: "Why send a message to Baidi City, then go all the way to the south bank and cross Zigui?"

The way back,

Liu Shan had already planned ahead when he arrived.

But when he said that, everyone present was stunned.

Not going to the south bank?

How can one reach Baidi City without going along the south bank or passing through Zigui?

"Go to the north bank,"

"Heading straight to Shangyong!"

Mediocre?

Guan Xing and Zhang Bao were instantly stunned.

Has Your Highness overworked yourself too much lately and become confused?

Only Huang Quan,

His eyes lit up instantly!

The mighty General Zhenbei of the Han Dynasty seemed to have figured something out, and had grasped some clues...

"Your Highness, Shangyong is now on the border of Wei!" Zhang Bao couldn't help but exclaim.

"Moreover, the one currently guarding Shangyong is Meng Da, a traitor from Yizhou!"

"How could this traitor have allowed the Han army to enter the country?"

then,

Meng Da and Fa Zheng both joined Liu Bei's forces.

He was one of the key figures who led Liu Bei into Sichuan.

Later, Liu Bei achieved a great victory over Cao Cao in Hanzhong, and then ordered Meng Da and Liu Feng to capture the three counties of Shangyong.

When Guan Yu was defeated at Maicheng, Meng Da and Liu Feng refused to send troops, arguing that "the mountain counties have just submitted and should not be shaken."

Although the reasons given were sound,

However, the emperor still blamed the two men for Guan Yu's death and harbored resentment towards Meng Da.

Furthermore, Liu Feng was arrogant and domineering at the time, and he bullied Meng Da! Meng Da was afraid of being punished by the emperor, and he also resented Liu Feng's aggression.

With gritted teeth,

He actually submitted a memorial to the emperor to bid farewell and led more than 4,000 households of his followers to surrender directly to Cao Wei!

At that time, Liu Bei was preparing for the eastern expedition. Upon hearing about Meng Da's affair, he was both shocked and furious. In his anger, he vomited several liters of blood!

His Highness the Crown Prince wanted to use Meng Da to send a message to Yong'an Palace, but that was simply impossible.

Zhang Bao tried to persuade him further: "Your Highness might consider other options; Shangyong is truly..."

However, Huang Quan, the General Who Guards the North of the Han Dynasty, suddenly stepped forward, cupped his hands, and bowed to Liu Shan, saying, "Your Highness's wisdom and foresight are truly admirable!!"

A far-sighted plan?

What is the connection between this message from Shangyong and the Crown Prince's far-sighted plans?

"this?"

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei looked bewildered and subconsciously glanced at Huang Quan...

Previously, Huang Quan had submitted a letter of surrender to Cao Wei, planning to enter Wei territory from Shangyong.

He was acutely aware of the importance of Shangyong.

It is located at the junction of the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu.

It is also a strategic hub connecting Hanzhong and Jingzhou, making it a place that all three parties and all sides want to possess!

This place was the front line of Shu Han's northern expedition and a vital link to Jingzhou.

From Shangyong, one can go south through the Three Gorges and enter the territory controlled by Eastern Wu. If the enemy controls this place, they can go downstream to threaten Jiangling. It can be said to be the lifeline of Jiangdong!

For Cao Wei, this place was truly a barrier guarding the western gateway to the Central Plains.

Such a strategically important location, yet the Crown Prince had already begun his plans...

Huang Quan could even foresee that the moment Meng Da received the Crown Prince's letter would be the moment when the situation among the three families would change!

Meng Da was an old friend of Huang Quan, and he knew many things...

Many things are not as simple as black and white.

The intricacies and complexities of human relationships involved cannot be explained in just a few words.

Thinking of this,

Huang Quan couldn't help but sigh with emotion:

"Your Highness's decision to have Meng Da deliver a message to the Emperor was truly a brilliant move."

"This is truly killing two birds with one stone! No! It's more than just killing two birds with one stone; it's turning decay into magic, and crisis into opportunity... Even if it were Prime Minister Zhuge Liang's scheme, it couldn't be more impressive!!"

Liu Shan raised his eyes and glanced at Huang Quan.

"The General Who Guards the North knows me."

Guan Xing and Zhang Bao couldn't understand their own schemes and plans.

But this great Han general who guards the north has already seen through everything he has planned!

He is indeed a great talent!

It was worth it for His Highness the Crown Prince to risk his life to find him...

Half an hour later,

On the walls of Yiling!

Emperor Liu Shan of the Han Dynasty stood side by side with General Huang Quan, who was in charge of guarding the north.

Watching the messenger ride away into the distance, Liu Shan immediately ordered: "Send someone across the river to the south bank to deliver the order for the isolated army to Shamoke..."

"From this day forward, both banks of the Yangtze River will raise the banner of Cao Wei."

"Yes, sir!"

The messenger soldier had disappeared.

Huang Quan couldn't help but look at Liu Shan again, his gaze becoming increasingly complicated.

The distant ones begin at Shimen Mountain.

More recently, whether it was receiving a message from Meng Da just now, or ordering both sides of the strait to raise the Wei army's flag.

This great Han general, who was in charge of guarding the north, could finally confirm one thing...

these years,

His Highness the Crown Prince has always been hiding his true abilities!

Yes, that's for sure!

If not for concealing one's talents and keeping a low profile...

How could the Crown Prince transform overnight from a weak and incompetent prince into a wise, courageous, decisive, and strategically astute ruler?

From the time of Emperor Gaozu of the Former Han Dynasty,

Emperor Xiaowen,

Emperor Xiaoxuan

Even Emperor Guangwu of the Later Han Dynasty... even that old emperor in Yong'an Palace, which one of them didn't hide his talents and bide his time?

This is the Liu family's traditional learning; how could His Highness the Crown Prince not know it?!

Thinking of this, Huang Quan couldn't help but stroke his beard and sigh: "Everyone says that His Highness the Crown Prince is indulging in pleasure and has no interest in politics."

"How could anyone know that Your Highness has been biding your time and blending into the crowd all these years?"

"The saying goes, 'He who does not speak for three years will astound the world when he does.'"

"After three years of not flying, it soars to the heavens in a single flight! Your Highness is indeed as described!"

"With this plan in place, we are now safe!"

Guan Xing and Zhang Bao, standing to the side, were even more confused.

What does this have to do with anything?

From the moment he delivered the letter, this General Zhenbei seemed like a completely different person, speaking in a very secretive and evasive manner.

On the one hand, they were also finding all sorts of ways to flatter His Highness the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince merely had Cao Wei's banner raised on both sides of the Yangtze River; how could that possibly bring them peace?

I really can't understand it...

"You guys."

Huang Quan seemed to have guessed what the two were thinking, but simply shook his head: "They are still young and lack experience."

"Even though Jiangdong has received some news from the south bank, they are still confused and can't figure out our situation."

Then, his tone became serious: "Can we, here in Yiling City, calmly plan for the future...?"

"The crux of the matter lies in whether Jiangdong considers us to be either Liu Han or Cao Wei!"

The Battle of Yiling

No one knew better than Jiangdong how devastating the Han army's defeat was.

The Han army had already exhausted its food supplies and weapons.

The young and middle-aged are almost all gone.

Exhausted,

In short, Yizhou has almost bled dry, just like the old emperor about to pass away in Yong'an Palace...

It was like a candle flickering in the wind, on its last legs.

Even though Jiangdong knew at this moment that someone had gathered tens of thousands of troops and controlled both sides of the Yangtze River.

But once you find out,

These people are remnants of the old Bashu army; Jiangdong will surely have the courage to fight back.

Just because of the Battle of Yiling,

This boosted the morale of the Jiangdong army against Shu Han!

If Sun Quan were to lead a large army to attack, even if our side were to win, it would be a Pyrrhic victory, and we might not even be able to reap the rewards of victory in the end.

They could only retreat to Yizhou to recuperate, which allowed Cao Pi to gain a great advantage.

"But if the Sun family were to believe that Cao Wei was on both sides of this great river, well..."

Huang Quan sneered: "That would be a different story."

"While the Sun and Liu families were fighting fiercely at Yiling, Cao Pi was constantly preparing his troops and observing from the sidelines!"

"Although Jiangdong won the Battle of Yiling, its troops were already exhausted and its national strength was greatly depleted."

"The Wei army is strong and well-equipped, and its national strength has not been damaged."

"If the rulers and ministers of Jiangdong believe that Cao Pi has launched a southward invasion, then they need to think carefully. If they are defeated by Cao Wei, can they afford the consequences?"

"And what we want..."

slap~

Huang Quan slammed his hand on the city wall:

"That's the time Jiangdong needs to weigh things up!"

"By the time they've finished weighing their options, the entire country will be out of their control..."

Boom!

On the great river,

The wind raged.

The raging waves are towering!

The steam rising from the river was getting heavier...

The river almost completely enveloped the entire river, obscuring both banks. The vast city of Yiling was shrouded in mist, its outline completely hidden.

In a word,

It was not easy to regroup this force in Yiling.

His Highness the Crown Prince of the Han Dynasty must do everything possible to preserve the Han's strength; he must achieve the greatest victory at the lowest cost.

Liu Shan's gaze seemed to pierce through the thick fog: "The Emperor of Han, it's coming soon, it's almost here..."

"Liu Xuande,"

"My father,"

"You'd better hang in there!"

Urgent! Major plot twist! Watch now!