Ji Han Da Sima

Chapter 349 Liu Zhang Surrenders

AD 213, the eighteenth year of Jian'an, July.

Xia Houyuan died in battle, and Duke Cao Cao of Wei entered Hanzhong to attack the Southern Army. After months of hard work, the grain and grass were burned. On the pretext of the rebellion of King Dou Mao of Di, he accepted Sun Quan's words and transferred to Guanzhong. He ordered Zhang He, Cao Xiu, Yan Xing and other generals to lead the army. Go out to the northwest and collect the four counties in Hexi; order Xu Huang, Cao Zhen, Hao Zhao and other generals to go up to Shuofang and pacify the three counties of Shuofang.

Di King Dou Mao raised thousands of troops and refused to surrender. Ma Chao followed Cao Cao's order and led his army to conquer Hechi, killed Dou Mao, and surrendered the Qiang and Di tribes. After defeating Dou Mao, Cao Cao ordered Ma Chao to station troops at Bian to stop Hanzhong's pursuing troops.

Wudu and Yinping surrendered to the Cao family. Cao Cao ordered Zhang Ji and Yang Fu to move tens of thousands of Luo Qiang and Di from Wudu to Fufeng in Guanzhong and Yecheng in Hebei.

Once the Qiang Di were between six and eight people, there were more than 200,000 people, including the number of Han people. Cao Cao moved more than 300,000 people from Wudu and Yinping to enrich Guanzhong, Longyou, Hebei and other places.

Ma Chao made huge profits from this migration. He secretly gathered the Qiang and Di people who had fled on the migration road. He also used his prestige to secretly gather tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians in Wudu and the remote places of Yinping.

Taking advantage of the fact that Cao Cao was far away from Longnan, the mountainous terrain of Longnan was thousands of miles away, and the flow of information was inconvenient. Ma Chao stationed troops in Xiabian, and ordered Pang Rou and Ma Dai to station the people in Qiangdao and Dazhong. He appointed the county magistrate and the two of them privately, but Cao Cao did not know about them.

Cao Cao withdrew his troops from Hanzhong, and Liu Bei tentatively sent Liu Feng and Fu Wei to pursue him. Cao Cao had a back-up plan, and Cao Hong, Cao Zhang, and Xia Houshang led their troops to ambush Liu Feng and Fu Wei, who were defeated and returned with their lives.

Seeing that Cao Cao was advancing and retreating in a controlled manner, Liu Bei gave up the idea of ​​pursuing. Lu Xun was appointed as the commander-in-chief of Hanzhong, taking charge of the military affairs of the four counties of Hanzhong, Shangyong, Xicheng and Fangling.

Liu Bei led Huo Jun, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong and others from Jinniu Road into Shu and headed for Chengdu, hoping to surrender Liu Zhang and completely capture Yizhou.

As Cao and Liu withdrew their troops from Hanzhong one after another, Liu Bei's complete occupation of Hanzhong was regarded as victory, and the long-lasting battle for Hanzhong ended.

On Cao Cao's side, he lost Xiahou Yuan, Pang De, Zhao Ang and other generals, and his sergeants were killed and injured more than 20,000 people; on Liu Bei's side, he captured Pang De and Zhao Ang, and his sergeants were killed and wounded more than 10,000 people.

Cao Cao moved to Wudu and Yinping, with a population of more than 300,000 Han barbarians; Liu Bei swallowed up Hanzhong, which had a population of 450,000, and occupied the three eastern counties of Hanzhong, which had a population of 890,000.

Marching more than a thousand miles from Hanzhong to Chengdu, Liu Bei spent more than half a month to reach Chengdu. When the banners of Liu Bei, Huo Jun, and Guan Yu appeared outside the city, the Chengdu military officials were terrified.

In the big tent, Liu Bei sat high on a couch, with civil and military officials sitting on the left and right.

Liu Bei looked at Guan Yu and said with a smile: "Enter Shu to conquer, how hard it is for Yun Chang!"

Guan Yu bowed his hands in return and replied: "I have done something for my brother, but Yu dare not say anything about it. When I was in Shu, I heard that my brother defeated Cao Cao, and I was very happy. Now that my brother is here in person, please issue an order to attack the city."

In fact, before Liu Bei arrived, Guan Yu had the idea of ​​​​leading his own troops to capture Chengdu, but he was blocked by Zhuge Liang who came from Jiangzhou and said that he would wait until Liu Bei arrived in person.

Although Guan Yu longed for military success, he was clear about Liu Bei's important affairs, so he stayed at the camp without fighting, waiting for Liu Bei to arrive in person.

"good!"

Liu Bei nodded slightly and said with a smile: "Now Cao Cao is defeated and retreats. Liu Zhang is isolated and helpless. Chengdu cannot be defended for a long time. I don't know, sir~"

"Report!"

The scout stepped inside, raised his hands and said, "To inform my lord, there are many scholars who crossed the wall of Chengdu and surrendered. The soldiers under Liu Zhang's tent arrested them."

"Ha ha!"

Zhuge Liang stroked his feather fan gently and said with a smile: "My lord, the people in Chengdu are in chaos. There is no need to send troops to attack. Send envoys into the city to talk about the pros and cons. It can be said that Liu Zhang abandoned the war and surrendered."

"Ok!"

Liu Bei stroked his sparse beard and said with a smile: "Who is willing to send an envoy to persuade Liu Zhang to surrender?"

Pang Tong stepped out of the queue, raised his hands and said, "Tong is not talented. I would like to be an envoy and persuade Liu Zhang to surrender on behalf of my lord."

Seeing that it was Pang Tong, Liu Bei readily agreed and said, "Shi Yuan's demeanor is extraordinary. When he enters the city, it will be said that Liu Zhang abandoned the city and surrendered. But I don't know what Shi Yuan wants when he enters the city?"

Pang Tong looked at Liu Bei's talisman, cupped his hands and said, "I'm afraid Liu Zhang won't believe me if I talk too softly. I wonder if my lord can give me the talisman to Tong?"

"Can!"

Liu Bei signaled Tai Shiheng to grant the talisman festival to Pang Tong, saying: "Liu Zhang has not taken any of the money from his family. He has been worshiped as the general of the four towns and moved to Wuhan to live in peace."

"The unification will live up to its mission!"

After Pang Tong retreated, Zhuge Liang gently stroked his feather fan and persuaded: "My lord, Liu Zichu is serving under Liu Zhang. He is extremely talented and wise, has integrity, and is not as good as Liu Zichu in making strategic plans. In the past, Zichu was not going well at the beginning. The general trend is to go far away from Jiaoling and take refuge in Bashu. I hope that the Lord will be magnanimous and will not punish his crimes and promote him!"

Liu Bei forced Cao Cao to retreat. He was in a good mood and said with a smile: "Many people in Jingchu have heard about Zi Chu's abilities. If I can get Zi Chu now, I will be extremely happy. Will I harm him?"

"Instruct the three armies to march into Chengdu. Anyone who harms Liu Zichu will be punished by the three tribes."

"promise!"

When Pang Tong entered the city, people in Chengdu were panicked.

In the assembly hall, Liu Zhang looked at the civil and military quarrels under the tent, his face was sad, and he didn't know how to make a decision.

Wang Lei's face turned red and he argued: "Your Majesty, Xu Jing fled across the city and should be punished. Otherwise, after being trapped for a long time, people's hearts will become unstable and everyone will want to flee."

Xu Jing, courtesy name Wenxiu, was from Runan. Due to the war in the world, Xu Jing first sought refuge in Jiangdong and then settled in Jiaoling. When Liu Zhang heard of Xu Jing's name, he sent envoys to recruit him to Shu and entrust him with important positions.

Now Xu Jing saw Liu Bei in person outside Chengdu and wanted to cross the city and surrender. However, he was captured by soldiers because of his old age. Everyone was arguing over Xu Jing's punishment.

"No!"

Zhang Song spoke up and said: "Xu Jing is very famous. To put him to death now will damage the reputation of the envoy. Moreover, given the current situation, Cao Cao defeated Hanzhong, Liu Bei and Huo Jun came to Chengdu, Song Dare to ask Envoy, can Chengdu be defended?"

"In view of the pine trees, why not surrender the city so that you can keep your wealth and honor?"

"asshole!"

When Wang Lei saw Zhang Song blatantly urging people to surrender, he was so angry that he grabbed his clog and threw it at Zhang Song.

Caught off guard, Zhang Song's eye socket was smashed, his wooden teeth scratched his brow bone, and blood spilled out. Zhang Song couldn't help but cover his brow bones, blood covering his palms.

Wang Lei was very angry and said: "Zhang Song, if you had not deceived the king and let Zhang Fei go to Bashu, would Yizhou be in such trouble now?"

Zhang Song covered his eyes and looked at Wang Lei with resentment in his right eye, saying: "Today's disputes in the world, only Cao Cao and Liu Gong are the strongest. Without Liu Gong entering Shu, Cao Cao also takes Hanzhong and lowers Shu."

"Sure enough!"

When Wang Lei saw Zhang Song's words, he couldn't restrain his anger. He got up from the table, rode on Zhang Song, and beat Zhang Song with his fists.

"Help!"

Zhang Song was short and his strength was not as strong as that of the taller Wang Lei. He struggled there, protecting his head with both hands and trying his best to avoid Wang Lei's fists.

"Help!"

"Your Majesty, the king is tired and lawless, so he beats the minister!"

Zhang Song struggled out, looked at Liu Zhang, and shouted.

"what!"

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Song was punched on the cheek by Wang Lei and screamed in pain.

Wang Lei's beating of Zhang Song happened suddenly and everyone was caught off guard. They watched the show for a long time before they came to their senses.

The officials secretly contacted Zhang Song and wanted to surrender to Liu Bei. They hurriedly stepped forward, pulled away the indignant Wang Lei, and rescued Zhang Song, who was beaten with a bruised nose and face.

Zhang Song covered the wound, grinning in pain, and said: "Your Majesty, Wang Lei is lawless. If he is not punished, he will dare to kill with a sword." Wang Lei adjusted his clothes and said sarcastically: "Xu Jing is lawless and escaped across the city. If I don't punish you, can I reassure people? And if I bring a sword to kill people, I will kill you for betraying the Lord. If it weren't for you, the traitor, who led the wolf into the house and spread the news, why would our army be like this?"

Zhang Song didn't dare to admit it. He pointed his fingers and refuted: "It's full of nonsense. How can Song be such a person?"

Wang Lei snorted coldly, with a look of disdain on his face.

"Your Majesty!"

Zhang Song covered his swollen mouth and signaled to Liu Zhang to punish Wang Lei.

"All right!"

Liu Zhang re-photographed the case and scolded: "All the ministers in the hall are all outstanding men from Bashu. The behavior of women and children walking around in the streets is not laughable."

Wang Lei's brazen beating of Zhang Song was no longer an ordinary incident. It was obvious that Liu Zhang was favoring Wang Lei. If no one else had intervened just now, Liu Zhang might have allowed Wang Lei to beat Zhang Song to death.

Of course, this has a lot to do with Zhang Song's increasingly biased attitude toward Liu Bei. Although Zhang Song did not let his brother discover the letter, as the person who welcomed Liu Bei to Shu, Zhang Song became increasingly jealous of Liu Zhang.

Needless to say at the moment, Liu Zhang knew with his toes that Zhang Song must be in secret communication with Liu Bei, otherwise there would be no need to speak for Liu Bei like this and persuade him to surrender.

Ignoring Zhang Song's resentful look, Liu Zhang looked as usual and said: "Now Liu Bei wins Hanzhong and Cao Cao retreats. The enemy is ahead. Can you teach me how to deal with the enemy?"

Wang Shang, the prefect of Shu County, raised his hands and said: "Your Majesty, the enemy is numerous and we are outnumbered, so it is not a long-term strategy. Now Liu Bei has sent Pang Tong into the city and is waiting outside the hall, so that your Majesty may be able to see him!"

Wang Shang, courtesy name Wenbiao, was born in Guanghan County. A member of the Wang clan of Guanghan, the great-grandson of Sili Xiaowei Wangtang, he was famous for his talent and learning and was well-known in the state. The current governor of Shu County is Liu Zhang, who can win people's hearts.

Seeing that it was Wang Shang who was speaking, Liu Zhang looked at the helpless people present, sighed and said, "Let Pang Tong come in and answer!"

"promise!"

After a while, Pang Tong entered the hall holding a talisman, and his movements were so elegant that the Bashu officials did not dare to look down upon him, and even Wang Lei treated him seriously.

"Under the great Sima's tent, Pang Tong, the commander-in-chief of the military division, and Pang Shiyuan paid homage to Liu Yizhou and met all the ministers." Pang Tong saluted and said.

Liu Zhang did not dare to neglect Pang Tong, so he motioned to his men to sit down and said, "I wonder what the important matter is when Grand Sima ordered Pang Qing to enter the city?"

Pang Tong raised his hands in thanks and said with a smile: "The situation is clear now. Tong is entering the city to persuade the general to surrender!"

"Persuade to surrender?"

Liu Zhang remained silent and then asked, "What advice does Duke Xuande have?"

Pang Tong slightly cupped his hands and said: "When Duke Xuande enters the city, he will not invade the city. He will not take any money from the general's family, nor will his official title be changed, so as to ensure peace for the king. All ministers will be promoted according to their merits, and they will all be put to important use."

As he said that, Pang Tong looked at Liu Ba and said with a smile: "In the early days of Mr. Liu, he was a sergeant in Jingchu. Although Mr. Liu was humiliated in the past, my lord ignored the past grudges and ordered the whole army to kill anyone who harmed Mr. Liu, including the three clans. This is This shows our Lord’s love for talents.”

Liu Ba was quite surprised to see Pang Tong say this. But because of Pang Tong Fengchu's reputation, Liu Ba surrendered his hand to express his goodwill.

All the Bashu scholars in the hall were whispering to each other, discussing Liu Bei's character or the content of his surrender.

Wang Lei looked dissatisfied and said sarcastically: "There are still more than 20,000 soldiers in my city, and the food and grass can last for a year. I'm afraid it's not too early for Ambassador Pang to surrender!"

Pang Tong smiled slightly, looked around at everyone, and said, "Do you know that Lu Boyan defeated Zhang He and Huo Du attacked Xiahou in a surprise attack?"

"Cao Cao sent Xia Houyuan to invade Hanzhong. He was first frustrated by Lu Boyan and then died at the hands of Huo Du. Later, he personally led his troops into Hanzhong and waited for a long time. When my lord went up to Hanzhong, he burned food and defeated the enemy. Cao Cao was defeated and left. , is there any foreign aid in Chengdu today?"

"My lord Liu Gong, Huo Du Zhongmiao, and Guanhou Yunchang are surrounding Chengdu. If you don't surrender, when will we wait?"

As he spoke, Pang Tong threatened him and said: "Liu Yizhou, my lord is kind and kind. If you surrender now, you will be treated kindly. You must not resist stubbornly and draw weapons to your body, and you will regret your actions now."

Wang Lei was speechless, but he was filled with resentment in his heart.

Liu Zhang pondered for a long time, sighed and said, "Pang Jun can leave temporarily while Rong Gu talks with the ministers."

"good!"

Pang Tong was not in a hurry and walked out of the hall, ignoring Zhang Song's eager eyes.

When Pang Tong retreated, Liu Zhang looked lonely and said: "The enemy is the enemy now, not me. I want to leave the city and surrender. What do you think?"

"No way!"

Wang Lei wet his clothes with tears and said: "There are still more than 20,000 elite soldiers in the city today, and the harvest lasts for one year. How can you surrender to others and abandon the legacy of your ancestors?"

"Exactly!"

Huang Quan wiped his tears and said: "My ancestors and I have been ruling Shu for more than twenty years. If we fight from the city now, and the civil and military officials and the people work together, they will be able to defeat Liu Beier!"

"Your Majesty, please think twice!"

The civil servants in the hall raised their hands and responded.

"Ugh!"

Liu Zhang spoke in a sad tone and said: "The father and son have been alone in the state for more than 20 years, and they have no kindness to the people. Now we have led Liu Bei into Shu and have been attacking for nearly two years. The people have been displaced and countless corpses have been exposed in the wilderness. This is Zhang's crime." If we fight again, how can I feel at ease?"

"Your Majesty!"

Wang Lei rolled around, hugged Liu Zhang's thigh, and cried, "Kill Zhang Song and use up all the money in the treasury. You can then defend the city and wait for Cao Cao's reinforcements."

Liu Zhang shed tears, helped Wang Lei up, and said regretfully: "I regret that I didn't listen to Wang Qing's words, which is why we are in today's disaster. If you surrender to Liu Bei now, your talents will be put to good use."

"Your Majesty, you can't!" Wang Lei cried.

Seeing this situation, everyone in the hall shed tears. Although Liu Zhang was weak, he treated his subordinates very well. Now that the master is like this, how can everyone feel better?

"Surrender!"

Liu Zhang looked downcast, pointed at Zhang Yi, and said: "Qing is leaving the city on behalf of Gu to surrender to Duke Liu."

Zhang Yi, courtesy name Junsi, was born in Chengdu, Shu County. He served as a state official and served as an Army Sima. After Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei left, he was ordered by Liu Zhang to fight against Guan Yu. Due to the unfavorable outcome of the war, he retreated to Chengdu.

Zhang Yi's unfavorable battle almost meant that Liu Zhang had no power to resist.

"No!" Zhang Yi responded with tears in his eyes and choked with sobs.

"Your Majesty!"

Wang Lei lay on the ground, sobbing.

When Liu Zhang entered the side hall, everyone left with sighs.

Zhang Song rubbed his beaten face, stood up from the table, and burst out laughing.

Liu Zhang surrendered and Liu Bei entered the city. What did he have to fear?

"Han Ji Zhaowu Ji": "In the autumn of the 18th year of Jian'an. The Central Patriarch retreated from Cao Cao in Hanzhong and surrounded Chengdu. Liu Zhang was frightened and surrendered the city, and Bashu was settled."

(End of this chapter)