Chapter 43: A Man to Rival Zhao Yun, Old Liu, Rest Assured! Nothing Beats a Son's Own Flesh and Blood!

"White-Feathered Soldiers!"

Xiao Fang slowly uttered three words.

Liu Bei suddenly remembered and nodded repeatedly, "Indeed, exactly these White-Feathered Soldiers!"

Xiao Fang gazed toward Wan City and continued:

"At that time, numerous heroes surrendered, and with time pressing, I didn't have the chance to inspect them one by one."

"Later, when we arrived at Biyang and settled down slightly, I finally had the leisure to look through the roster of the surrendered heroes from Runan, and only then did I discover that Chen Dao was also among the troops."

"Therefore, before Zhang Xiu's army launched their attack, I acted on my own initiative and ordered Chen Dao to lead his White-Feathered Soldiers into Wan City disguised as an inner force."

"As for Chen Dao, he is indeed exceptionally courageous and accepted this mission without the slightest hesitation."

Having no need to hide it any longer, Xiao Fang recounted the entire sequence of events to Liu Bei.

Only then did Liu Bei experience a sudden flash of realization.

After a brief pause, a hint of doubt crossed Liu Bei's eyes as he lowered his voice and asked:

"Military Advisor, this mission severely tests one's nerve and requires a man of supreme valor to undertake it. Can this Chen Dao truly shoulder such a responsibility?"

Xiao Fang smiled inwardly.

Old Liu, of course, could not know that historically, Chen Dao was unmatched in loyalty and valor. After defecting to Liu Bei from Runan, he guarded Liu Bei's side for half his life, commanding his most elite personal guard battalion.

That was none other than the legendary elite corps of Shu Han, the fabled White-Feathered Soldiers.

Rumors had it that every single man in this elite force was worth ten, and when Liu Bei suffered defeat at the Battle of Yiling, it was precisely thanks to the protection of the White-Feathered Soldiers that he successfully broke through the encirclement.

Historical records rated Chen Dao's fame and status second only to Zhao Guan.

How could a fierce warrior whose loyalty and valor rivaled Zhao Yun, commanding the elite White-Feathered Soldiers to boot, possibly be unequal to the mere task of infiltrating Wan City as an insider?

Naturally, these secrets could not be explicitly stated to Liu Bei.

Without further explanation, Xiao Fang simply replied calmly:

"Since I dare to employ Chen Dao, I naturally trust his capabilities. My lord need only trust me."

The suspicion in Liu Bei's eyes instantly vanished like mist.

Although he could not guess why Xiao Fang placed such immense trust and bestowed such a heavy responsibility upon Chen Dao, who possessed little prior renown.

Yet ever since he had known Xiao Fang, the advisor's ability in discerning talent had never once gone awry.

Wei Yan, Xu Sheng, Xu Chu... which of the individuals recognized by Xiao Fang was not an unpolished yet precious jade, a fierce warrior of the age?

"Since Jinglue trusts Chen Dao to this extent, this man must possess extraordinary abilities. Why should I harbor groundless fears..."

With his misgivings thus dispelled, Liu Bei ceased overthinking and raised his gaze toward Wan City.

Wan City, the Commandery Office.

"Father, over the past three days, we have forcibly requisitioned thirty thousand bushels of grain and forage, which is enough to sustain our five thousand soldiers for half a year."

"The predicament of grain shortage has finally been resolved, and Father can rest easy."

Holding the grain ledger in his hands, Zhang Yan reported the "good news" to Zhang Ji with a wide smile.

Stroke his partially gray, fine beard, Zhang Ji nodded with satisfaction and sneered:

"With this heavy burden off my mind, and with ample grain and forage, the soldiers will naturally feel at ease."

"If Liu Bei wants to attack my Wan City, let him come. I will keep him company and wear him down, let's see how long he can act arrogantly!"

Father and son burst into loud laughter together.

Seeing the two of them so confident, Zhang Xiu could not help but step forward and advise:

"Uncle, although our army's grain issue has been resolved, the food reserves of the citizens and households within the city have been entirely plundered, which will undoubtedly draw bitter resentment."

"Driven to the extreme of hunger, I fear they will take desperate risks and launch a collective rebellion!"

Zhang Ji's smile vanished, and his face was once again shrouded in a layer of gloom.

Zhang Yan, however, looked entirely disdainful and snorted coldly:

"Back then when we followed Lord Dong, marching from Luoyang to Chang'an, how many of those rebellious commoners did we kill?"

"If the people of Wan City do not know what's good for them and dare to stage a collective uprising, we will simply let our blades fall and massacre Wan City!"

Zhang Xiu secretly furrowed his brows.

The people of Xiliang were inherently brutal. After following Dong Liang to control the Han court, they became even like wild horses running loose without restraint, indulging in slaughter and pillaging.

Henan尹, where Luoyang was located, and Guanzhong, where Chang'an was located, were turned by their slaughter into landscapes littered with starving corpses where not a single crow crowed for a thousand miles.

Zhang Ji was naturally no exception.

Yet despite being a member of the Xiliang army, in private he did not approve of Dong Zhuo's policy of letting soldiers run wild and slaughtering people, frequently restraining his troops and avoiding civilian massacres whenever possible.

Hearing now that Zhang Yan intended to resolve the hidden dangers inside the city through such a simple and brutal method as slaughtering the soldiers and citizens of Wan City, Zhang Xiu naturally felt a deep aversion.

After a brief contemplation, Zhang Xiu had no choice but to arch his hands once more:

"If Uncle still relies on Nanyang to regroup after defeating Liu Xuande, excess slaughter will likely cause us to lose the popular support."

"In my view, it would be better to drive the soldiers and citizens out of Wan City, allowing them to seek their own survival. This would both avert a massacre and eliminate the hidden threat of a civil revolt."

He retreated to a second-best option and offered this strategy.

Zhang Ji mused in silence, seemingly moved by Zhang Xiu's plan.

"Father, my elder brother's plan is absolutely unfeasible."

"At this critical juncture of life and death, Father must all the more display an iron-fisted demeanor, so that the soldiers will stand in awe of your iron fist and dare not fail to fight to the death for you."

"If Father releases the soldiers and citizens out of the city, wouldn't that cause the soldiers to mistake Father for being weak and benevolent?"

"When that happens, if those soldiers of Nanyang origin lose their fear of Father, who will still fight to the death to defend the city for us?"

Hearing these words, the hesitation in Zhang Ji's eyes vanished instantly, replaced once again by a fierce and resolute sternness.

"Yan'er's words make sense. With my blade in hand, what reason do I have to fear their rebellion!"

"We Xiliang people are invincible under heaven; we do not rely on misplaced benevolence to win popular support, we rely upon our iron-shod hooves and sharp blades!"

"Pass my order: not a single person is permitted to leave the city. Anyone who dares to scale the walls and flee shall be executed without mercy!"

Zhang Yan lavished praise on Zhang Ji's brilliance.

Zhang Xiu's brows furrowed deeper and deeper. Gritting his teeth in secret, he wanted to urge caution once more.

Before the words could leave his lips,

Hu Che'er rushed frantically into the hall, looking panicked, and dropped to one knee.

"Reporting to the General, the enemy's drums are shaking the heavens at the Western Gate! It appears they are launching a massive night raid!"

The expressions of Zhang Ji and his son shifted abruptly; the iron-clad ferocity of a moment ago was instantly replaced by astonishment.

Liu Bei had only just surrounded the city; how could he launch a full-scale offensive so quickly?

Zhang Ji's gaze shot sharply toward Zhang Xiu, instinctively wishing to order Zhang Xiu as usual to deploy troops and fortify the Western Gate.

"Father, this son is willing to lead the troops and hold the Western Gate to the death!"

Instead, Zhang Yan leaped up, limping heavily, and seized the initiative to request this military assignment from Zhang Ji.

As he spoke, his eyes kept signaling hints to Zhang Ji.

After a momentary surprise, Zhang Ji immediately understood.

Although Zhang Xiu was brave and skilled in battle, his son Zhang Quan was after all in Liu Bei's hands, and Zhang Xiu had even earnestly urged their father and son to surrender to Liu Bei.

With such a "criminal record," how could they safely order him to lead troops?

Should Zhang Xiu defect in the heat of battle and lead his forces to surrender the city to Liu Bei, what then?

Even if Zhang Xiu did not betray them, if this battle successfully repelled Liu Bei, Zhang Xiu's prestige among the Zhang family army would inevitably soar once more, causing the soldiers to follow his lead exclusively.

Should Zhang Xiu leverage his prestige within the army to forcefully compel their father and son to surrender to Liu Bei, what would happen then?

Zhang Ji rolled his eyes a few times, then shouted:

"Yan'er, quickly mobilize the troops from all gates to reinforce the Western Gate and hold off Liu Bei."

"Wenjin, you go along as well and properly assist your younger brother!"

Zhang Yan breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

Zhang Xiu, however, felt a shock ripple through his heart, his astonished gaze snapping toward Zhang Ji.

He had never expected that at such a critical moment, Zhang Ji would reverse his usual stance and order his lame cousin to serve as the commander-in-chief to lead troops in repelling the enemy!

To suddenly entrust such a heavy responsibility to someone with no prestige in the army and who had virtually never led troops in battle—was this not utterly absurd?

After the shock passed, Zhang Xiu instantly understood.

Zhang Ji had grown suspicious of his nephew, fearing he would defect in the heat of battle.

Therefore, he would rather risk using his own lame biological son as commander than take the risk of letting Zhang Xiu command troops again.

"I merely wanted to plot a way out for the Zhang family army, Uncle, why must you torment yourself thus..."

Zhang Xiu sighed inwardly, a trace of bitterness flashing across his eyes.

Zhang Ji, however, stepped forward and patted both of them on the shoulder:

"You must remember: when brothers are of one mind, their sharpness can cut through metal!"

"I shall hold down the prefectural office. With the two of you joining forces, you must defeat that scoundrel Liu Bei for me!"

Zhang Yan's arrogant pride was stirred, and he declared resolutely:

"Father, rest assured! Although this son has impaired legs and cannot mount a horse, commanding troops to defend the city is more than enough to deal with a mere mat-weaver and straw-shoe vendor!"

Zhang Xiu, however, lacked all spirit, merely offering a forced arch of his hands to accept the order.

The two then took their leave and hurried toward the Western Gate.

Zhang Ji watched them out the door, gazing at the Western Gate where flames soared into the sky, a self-satisfied smirk playing at the corners of his mouth.

"Liu Bei, you think that because you won a single battle, you can dare to treat me, Zhang Ji, as a nonentity?"

"Today, I will let you taste the feeling of shattering your weapons beneath the city walls!"

...

The Southern Gate, Liu Army Camp.

Everyone was listening with bated breath, entirely focused on the sounds of battle coming from the Western Gate.

In the blink of an eye, half an hour had passed.

Xiao Fang looked up at the night sky where the moon had already crossed the zenith, then shifted his gaze to Liu Bei.

"My lord, Zhang Ji's main force has pretty much been lured toward the Western Gate."

"Ignite the second beacon fire and signal Shuzhi!"

A surge of energy coursed through Liu Bei as he immediately issued the order.

The second beacon fire flared up once again above the rear camp.

Following that,

Drawing his twin swords from their scabbards, Liu Bei took a deep breath and shouted sternly:

"All troops, listen to my command! Follow me out of the camp and head straight for the Southern Gate!"

The camp gates burst open with a resounding crash.

The five thousand soldiers, who had been building up their momentum for long, poured out of the camp like a tidal wave, sweeping fiercely toward the Southern Gate of Wan City.