Chapter 44: What an extraordinary man indeed! Zhang Ji: Liu备, are you trying to drive me to my death?

Xiao Fang watched as Lao Liu led the army out of the camp, then let out a yawn, wheeled his horse around, and turned back.

"Where is my brother-in-law going?"

Zhuge Liang turned his head and looked at Xiao Fang with a puzzled expression.

"Back to sleep, of course. After a good night's sleep and regaining our energy, we'll enter the city tomorrow to drink the victory wine."

"A-Liang, you shouldn't stay up either. Go back to sleep. Staying up late is bad for your health..."

Xiao Fang waved his hand and strode away without looking back.

Mi Zhu and the others watched that carefree receding figure, and a strong sense of admiration naturally arose in their hearts.

"Military Strategist Xiao's composure is truly enough to make us feel ashamed."

"It seems the strategist already has victory firmly in his grasp. Then we have nothing to worry about. Let us simply wait patiently for our lord's good news..."

Inside the military tent.

Zou Wan had already made the bed, but her delicate brows were knitted together as she paced back and forth inside the tent, her face clearly showing four words: deeply unsettled.

"In tonight's battle, I wonder if that Lord Xuande will be able to take Wancheng."

"The Xiliang army is so ferocious. If Zhang Ji manages to hold Wancheng, he might still have a chance to turn defeat into victory in the future."

"If that day truly comes and this Liu Xuande is defeated, what on earth should I do if I fall back into Zhang Ji's hands?"

"If he finds out that I surrendered my body to serve Liu Xuande's military strategist, what will I do if he kills me in a fit of rage?"

"My Zou clan might even be slaughtered by him..."

The more Zou Wan thought about it, the more anxious she became.

Just as she was sitting and standing uneasily, Xiao Fang entered the tent with a sleepy look on his face.

"Why has the young master returned?"

Zou Wan stopped pacing and looked at Xiao Fang with astonished eyes.

Xiao Fang gave a yawn and said dismissively:

"It's so late, I naturally came back to sleep."

Zou Wan was stunned.

Seeing that the bed had already been made and the temperature of the brazier inside the tent was just right, Xiao Fang thought that having an intimate companion to wait on him was quite pleasant after all.

So he kicked off his boots and prepared to undress and go to sleep.

Realizing what was happening, Zou Wan hurriedly stepped forward to help Xiao Fang remove his outer garments.

"That is not what this concubine meant. This concubine merely heard that tonight Lord Xuande is gathering a great army to attack Wancheng."

"At such a crucial moment, the young master ought to be at the camp gate watching the battle. Why have you returned to rest so early?"

Zou Wan asked cautiously while helping Xiao Fang undress.

"My role as military strategist is only to devise plans and strategies. Doing the heavy lifting of attacking cities and seizing territory is a task for military generals."

"My lord's army has already left the camp, so lingering at the camp gate is meaningless. Naturally, I had to come back to sleep."

Xiao Fang answered casually, stretched lazily, and lay down facing upward.

"By the way, when we wake up tomorrow morning, we should be entering Wancheng."

"If you aren't tired, tidy things up in advance so you won't be flustered and in a rush when the time comes."

After casually dropping these instructions, Xiao Fang closed his eyes.

Zou Wan wore a dazed expression. Before she could fully process his words, he had already begun to emit a faint soft snore and drifted off to sleep.

"A major battle is right before us, and he can still sleep this soundly?"

Zou Wan looked at that heroic figure of seven feet, marveling to herself.

Then, as she understood the underlying meaning of Xiao Fang's previous words, her beautiful face could not help but be filled with shock.

"Judging by his words, it seems he has absolute certainty of victory and can capture Wancheng by tomorrow morning?"

"Those Zhang family uncles and nephews are fierce Xiliang generals, and there are still several thousand Xiliang soldiers in the city. Yet in his mouth, they sound as fragile as paper?"

"This man is truly vastly different from ordinary men."

"My Nanyang actually produces such an extraordinary man. Why have I never heard his name before..."

Zou Wan's thoughts churned, and the awe in her eyes gradually gave way to a deep, profound curiosity.

...

The South Gate of Wancheng.

The tightly shut city gates were now wide open, the drawbridge was lowered, and the banner bearing the character "Liu" was hoisted atop the city walls.

Liu Bei brandished his riding crop and trotted into this Nanyang commandery seat.

"Your subordinate Chen Dao, fortunately not failing the mission, has already captured the South Gate for our lord!"

"Your subordinate respectfully welcomes the lord into Wancheng!"

A young, sturdy general with a white feather stuck in his helmet was already bowing in greeting at the foot of the city gate.

Liu Bei looked Chen Dao up and down, unable to conceal the appreciation in his eyes, and praised loudly:

"Strategist Jinglue's ability to recognize talent is indeed extraordinary. Chen Shuzhi, you truly are a tiger general capable of shouldering great responsibilities!"

"Starting today, you and your White-Hooded Guards will be under my direct command."

Upon hearing this, Chen Dao's face instantly surged with pleasant surprise.

Being under Liu Bei's direct command meant that Liu Bei intended to promote him to lead his personal bodyguard unit.

This was no simple promotion; it was a direct, on-the-spot ascension to sudden prosperity!

"Your subordinate thanks the lord for your high regard. Your subordinate will surely go through fire and water for the lord to repay your kindness in recognizing my worth!"

Chen Dao immediately knelt on one half-knee and bowed gratefully and resolutely.

Liu Bei smiled and lightly brandished his riding crop:

"Had it not been for Strategist Jinglue's recommendation, how would I have known there was a tiger general like you, Chen Shuzhi, in the army? You should thank the strategist, that discerning judge of talent."

"Lead the way ahead. We shall fight shoulder to shoulder and take Wancheng!"

Chen Dao's heroic spirit blazed furiously; he immediately vaulted onto his horse and took the lead.

The five thousand Liu soldiers followed closely behind the White-Hooded Guards, rolling overwhelmingly into the depths of Wancheng.

Facing an enemy descending like divine soldiers from the heavens, the Xiliang soldiers along the way scattered and collapsed at the mere sight of them.

The Liu army proceeded unimpeded, invincible, and fought their way all the way to the commandery government office.

At this moment.

Inside the main hall of the commandery office, Zhang Ji was still pacing back and forth with his hands behind his back.

The forced calmness on his face, however, could not conceal the anxiety and unease revealed in his eyes.

"I know Wenjin well. As long as I am alive, no matter how dissatisfied he is or how much he wants to surrender to Liu Bei, he will certainly not dare to act rashly."

"With his assistance, Yan'er will surely be able to repulse Liu Bei in this battle. It can also serve as an opportunity for Yan'er to establish his prestige."

"A nephew is, after all, only a nephew. This Zhang family army will eventually have to be handed over to my own biological son..."

Zhang Ji muttered to himself, gradually slowing his pace, and the worry on his face faded somewhat.

Suddenly.

Outside the main hall, a deafening clamor erupted, as if a great army was descending upon them.

Zhang Ji's heart tightened, and he instantly grew tense.

Could it be that the West Gate had fallen, and Liu Bei's forces had fought their way into Wancheng?

Yet three thousand soldiers had been deployed to the West Gate, and Zhang Xiu was there as well. How could it possibly have been breached?

Even if they couldn't hold out, it shouldn't have fallen so quickly, right?

Questions buzzed wildly in Zhang Ji's mind. He immediately grabbed his long saber and prepared to go out and see what was happening.

"Report! The enemy forces launched a joint attack from inside and outside, breaching the South Gate, and have already fought their way into Wancheng!"

"Report! Liu Bei's army has broken through the government gates and is fighting its way in!"

"Report! The back courtyard has been breached by the enemy forces!"

The Xiliang soldiers guarding the commandery office rushed in one after another, tumbling and stumbling, hammering Zhang Ji with avalanches of disastrous news.

Zhang Ji felt as though he had been struck by bolts of lightning. Swaying, he took several steps back and collapsed, leaning against the desk.

His face was already distorted and twisted, occupied entirely by boundless terror.

"A joint attack from inside and outside? Where did Liu Bei's army in the city come from to coordinate from within?"

"Liu Bei's main force was clearly attacking the West Gate. Why did they suddenly breach the South Gate?"

"What is the meaning of this?"

"What on earth is going on here?"

Zhang Ji froze in place, his mind buzzing. He was completely at a loss, panicked and bewildered.

Suddenly.

His body shook violently as the realization abruptly struck him.

The enemy forces at the West Gate must have been making a feint!

Their sole purpose was to draw all of his main forces to the West Gate, leaving the defenses at the South Gate completely hollowed out.

Liu Bei had then seized the opportunity to launch a fierce assault, capturing the South Gate in one fell swoop and breaking into Wancheng.

"I've fallen for Liu Bei's stratagem of luring the tiger away from the mountain!"

"Could this once again be the work of that Xiao Fang?"

Zhang Ji suddenly broke out in a cold sweat, recalling Zhang Xiu's earlier warning.

Zhang Xiu had reminded him repeatedly that although Liu Bei's strategist Xiao Fang lacked a prominent reputation, he was extremely formidable.

At the time, however, he had dismissed it and paid no heed.

Now, this trick of luring the tiger away from the mountain was without a doubt the handiwork of that Xiao Fang.

He had been so easily toyed with by a person of such obscure reputation!

Yet, even if Liu Bei employed deception, how could the South Gate have been breached so easily?

And how on earth did that surprise force coordinating from within appear inside the city?

Did they sprout wings and fly in?

Zhang Ji sank into remorse, confusion, and shock-induced rage.

In the brief moment he was lost in distraction, the defending Xiliang soldiers were driven back step by step, and countless Liu soldiers swarmed in from all directions to surround and slaughter them.

"General, we have no way out. Let us surrender!"

"Indeed, General! Listen to General Wenjin's advice and surrender to Liu Xuande!"

The morale of the Xiliang soldiers completely collapsed. One after another, they fell to their knees before Zhang Ji, crying out and pleading bitterly.

Looking at the soldiers desperately urging him to surrender, boundless sorrow and despair surged in Zhang Ji's heart. He looked up to the heavens and cried out in anguish:

"I, Zhang Ji, am a grand Cavalry General of the Han, yet I am being driven to a dead end by a mere mat-weaver and straw-sandal vendor!"

"The heavens are blind! The heavens are truly blind—"