Chapter 46: Breaking the City and Closing the Encirclement! Brainwashing Zhang Xiu? Xiao Fang's Ultimate Trump Card!

Zhang Xiu took half a step backward, his face frozen in a moment of utter astonishment.

Never in his wildest dreams had he expected that Zhang Ji would choose to burn himself to death at the very last moment!

Even in death, driven by his stubborn pride, he refused to leave a path of survival for the several thousand soldiers of Wuwei.

"Uncle, oh uncle, why must you push things this way?"

"Even if you were unwilling to surrender to Liu Xuande, you could simply have retired to your homeland to spend your final years. I am certain Liu Xuande would never have made things difficult for you."

"Alas~~"

Recovering from the shock, Zhang Xiu shook his head and let out a sigh of regret.

Zhang Yan, however, suddenly snapped back to reality. His features distorted in anguish and fury as he cursed bitterly,

"Liu Bei, you mere weaver of mats and seller of sandals, how dare you drive my father to his death!"

"I, Zhang Yan, share irreconcilable hatred with you. I swear I will kill you—"

Watching his hysterical cousin, Zhang Xiu remained silent, quietly observing his outburst.

Just at that moment,

from the direction of the main street, countless troops of Liu Bei's army came sweeping forward, sealing off all routes leading from the West Gate into the interior of the city.

Immediately afterward, the detachment led by Wei Yan, which had been shouting and brandishing flags outside the city, finally burst out of the darkness and appeared beneath the walls.

Along both flanks of the city wall, the two generals Xu Sheng and Liu Pi also led their respective forces charging along the ramparts.

In the blink of an eye, forces from all four directions surrounded the several thousand members of the Zhang family army at the West Gate so tightly that not even a drop of water could leak through.

"Second brother, calm yourself. Stop shouting."

"The enemy is on all four sides. We have been completely surrounded!"

With a grave expression, Zhang Xiu cut short Zhang Yan's hysteria and pointed toward the surrounding area.

Zhang Yan's body trembled. He finally stopped cursing and looked all around.

True enough, Liu's troops blocked every direction, leaving no path for retreat.

"Soldiers of the Zhang family army, listen to my orders! Hold the West City wall firmly and do not retreat half a step!"

"I demand that you risk your lives and share the fate of this gate tower!"

Drawing his sword, Zhang Yan screamed in a hoarse, shrill voice.

Yet the soldiers of the Zhang family army stationed along the wall looked panic-stricken and at a loss, their gazes turning unanimously toward Zhang Xiu.

Although Zhang Xiu was technically the deputy commander, in their eyes he remained the true leader who could decide their destiny, rather than Zhang Yan, the nominal young master of the Zhang family.

Zhang Xiu fell silent for a moment, then drew a deep breath.

"Second brother, the grand势 is lost. If we continue to offer stubborn resistance, the two of us brothers will only find a dead end."

"And these several thousand men of Wuwei will be buried along with us."

"After all, Uncle was not killed by Liu Bei."

"Listen to your elder brother's advice: let us surrender to Liu Bei!"

Trapped in this desperate plight, Zhang Xiu raised the matter of surrender once more.

He sought a path to survival not only for himself, but also for the several thousand fellow townsmen of Wuwei standing behind him.

Zhang Yan's expression changed abruptly, flaring up as if his fur had been singed, and he opened his mouth to rebuke Zhang Xiu fiercely.

Yet when the words reached his lips, he violently swallowed them back.

Given Zhang Xiu's prestige, if he made up his mind to surrender to Liu Bei, these several thousand brothers would undoubtedly follow his lead.

Could his own meager prestige possibly stop them?

After rolling his eyes a few times, Zhang Yan forcibly suppressed his anger and said,

"Elder brother, in this day and age, where on earth can one find a benevolent and righteous lord?"

"I reckon that letter urging surrender sent to you by Quan'er must have been written against his will under Liu Bei's coercion and threats."

"Perhaps Quan'er has already been murdered by Liu Bei by now. If we surrender to Liu Bei, we will undoubtedly fail to escape death."

"Elder brother, you must not be foolish and easily believe Liu Bei's lies!"

Zhang Xiu's heart gave a jolt. The resolute look in his eyes was once again replaced by hesitation.

He had to admit that Zhang Yan's hypothesis was entirely possible.

Reflecting on that day, when he learned his son was still alive and even saw his handwritten letter, he had indeed been overwhelmed by ecstatic surprise, perhaps letting his emotions cloud his judgment.

Looking back now upon careful reflection, to conclude that Liu Bei was a benevolent ruler and immediately decide to surrender based solely on a single piece of paper and a few words from a bodyguard was admittedly a bit hasty.

"Could Quan'er truly have been threatened by Liu Bei?"

"Perhaps my judgment was indeed mistaken, and Liu Bei's so-called reputation for benevolence is merely a superficial facade?"

"Could it be that Quan'er has indeed already been slain by Liu Bei by this moment?"

A succession of doubts surged within Zhang Xiu's mind, shaking his resolve.

Inside the city, along the main street,

Liu Bei had reined in his horse beneath the city walls, gazing into the distance at the West Gate tower.

"Elder brother, we have already surrounded Zhang Xiu and his brother upon the West Gate wall. Just give the order! I will be the first to charge up there and slaughter those Zhang brothers!"

Zhang Fei's eyes were bloodshot, and he was burning with impatience to engage in a massive slaughter.

Liu Bei, however, shook his head and said,

| "Strategist Jinglue was right. We are in dire need of a cavalry force, and Zhang Wenjin is a cavalry talent of exceptional caliber whom we must win over."

"Besides, Jinglue also said that Zhang Wenjin may not be entirely unwilling to surrender; he is merely constrained by circumstances."

Impatience flared in Zhang Fei as he pointed toward the ramparts and retorted,

"If that Zhang Xiu truly had any intention of surrendering, he would have already descended from the city walls by now. Look at this heavily guarded formation he has set up; it is clearly a stubborn defiance."

"Furthermore, what is so special about commanding cavalry? There is nothing remarkable about it. I can do it myself!"

Zhang Fei patted his chest and boasted extravagantly.

Liu Bei certainly did not take his empty boasting seriously; he was well aware of his sworn brother's true capabilities.

After a brief moment of contemplation, Liu Bei raised his riding crop and commanded,

"Pass down the order: all divisions shall temporarily surround the city without attacking, and await my further instructions."

"Someone fetch the strategist here immediately, so we may discuss strategies to persuade Zhang Xiu to surrender."

With the command issued, nearly ten thousand of Liu Bei's troops could only maintain the siege without launching an assault.

A single horseman galloped swiftly out of the city, heading straight for the main camp.

...

Inside the main camp,

Xiao Fang was still fast asleep.

Zou Wan, however, was still pacing outside the tent, frequently casting anxious glances toward the direction of the city of Wan.

The faint sounds of battle carrying over from afar left her utterly restless.

"Halt, who goes there!"

Xu Chu's shout rang out from outside the tent, immediately followed by the sound of a blade being drawn from its scabbard.

"My lord has already captured Wan City. Zhang Ji burned himself to death, and Zhang Xiu along with several thousand enemy soldiers are surrounded at the West Gate, refusing to surrender."

"My lord specifically invites the strategist to proceed to the West Gate to discuss strategies for persuading Zhang Xiu to surrender."

Hearing the messenger's report of victory from outside, Zou Wan's delicate body trembled violently. With a gaze full of joyful surprise, she quickly looked toward Xiao Fang, who was slumbering peacefully upon the couch.

"Zhang Ji is dead? Did Lord Xuande truly capture Wan City with such ease?"

"Everything was precisely within his expectations!"

Surging emotions filled Zou Wan's heart. As she gazed admiringly at Xiao Fang's resting figure, she stood rooted to the spot, momentarily dazed and lost in thought.

"Swish!"

Xu Chu strode directly into the tent and called out to Xiao Fang with a hint of excitement,

"Strategist, we have won! My lord has taken Wan City!"

"Wake up quickly! My lord invites you to enter the city and persuade Zhang Xiu to surrender!"

His voice boomed like a tiger's roar, finally arousing Xiao Fang from his pleasant dream. Yawning reluctantly, Xiao Fang sat up.

"Who is making such a racket? They won't even let a man sleep in peace."

Xiao Fang rubbed his sleep-heavy eyes and complained with annoyance.

Xu Chu stepped forward excitedly, repeated the cause and effect of the events once more, and then gestured toward Zou Wan.

Zou Wan finally came to her senses and hurried forward to assist Xiao Fang with dressing.

"Zhang Ji has burned himself to death? He has some backbone after all; no wonder my lord resolved the battle so quickly..."

Xiao Fang muttered to himself, seemingly entirely unsurprised by the outcome of the battle.

Not until his armor was properly fastened and Zou Wan brought a damp cloth to wipe his face did he become fully awake.

"Zhongkang, prepare the horses. We must hasten to Wan City."

"In addition, arrange for someone to invite Zhang Quan to Wan City as well. Remember, treat him with courtesy!"

Xiao Fang gave his instructions as he walked out of the large tent.

"Understood!"

Xu Chu acknowledged the command and arranged for men to carry out their respective duties.

Xiao Fang swung onto his horse and looked back at Zou Wan, who had seen him off to the edge of the tent.

"Pack up your valuables and prepare to enter the city."

"Once the fighting is over, you will be able to reunite with your family."

With that, he whipped his horse and galloped away, leaving a trail of dust.

Zou Wan watched Xiao Fang depart, her eyes filled with deep admiration as she murmured with emotion,

"When he told me to pack my valuables last night, he truly wasn't speaking idly. Liu Xuande really did breach Wan City with such ease..."

Following this reflection, recalling Xiao Fang's final words, Zou Wan's delicate brows knitted together once more, and a trace of sorrow washed over her eyes.

"Hearing his words, could it be that he holds me in contempt and wishes to send me away?"

"Yet everyone knows I have served by his side for many days; who would believe I am still pure? What face do I have left to see my father and mother?"

"Alas~~"

A faint, lingering sigh echoed in the night air.

...

Upon the battlements of the West Gate of Wan City,

"If we surrender, even if Liu Bei does not execute us on the spot, he will undoubtedly settle accounts afterward and root us out entirely!"

"Furthermore, Father was driven to his death by him, and Quan'er was killed by him. We share irreconcilable hatred with Liu Bei; how could we possibly surrender to him?"

"Listen to your younger brother: the enemy forces are fewer outside the West Gate. If we suddenly charge out through the West Gate with our brothers united in heart, we will surely fight our way through a bloody path to survival."

"By then, we can head south to join Liu Biao, and utilize Liu Biao's power..."

Zhang Yan was still speaking endlessly, trying to indoctrinate Zhang Xiu.

Suddenly, a commotion rippled through the soldiers.

Hu Che'er pointed down beneath the city wall and shouted excitedly,

"It's the young general! It's the young general!"

Zhang Xiu's heart leaped. He hastily lunged toward the edge of the parapet to look down, and indeed saw Zhang Quan walking alone out from the ranks of Liu's army, laboriously making his way toward the city gate.

"Quan'er!"

Overjoyed, Zhang Xiu hurried forward a few steps to support Zhang Quan as he approached, crying out with profound emotion,

"You're alive! You're truly still alive, Quan'er! You didn't die after all!"

Zhang Quan caught his breath, a look of gratitude upon his face as he replied,

"I was originally destined to die, but Strategist Xiao applied his miraculous skills and brought me back to life."

"Lord Xuande treated me with utmost courtesy and cared for me a hundredfold, which is why I am able to come before Father alive today!"

Having said that,

Zhang Quan knelt halfway to the ground with difficulty, cupped his fists, and said,

"Father, Lord Xuande is a benevolent and enlightened ruler. Father, please submit to him!"

As these words were spoken,

the heart of Zhang Yan, whose expression was already taut, skipped a beat.