novelSusiti Chapter 10 Besieged on All Sides, the Dark Chess Breaks the Game
Chapter 10 Besieged on All Sides, the Dark Chess Breaks the Game
The tiger tally felt cold to the touch, but Liu Shan's fingertips grew increasingly hot, and even his breathing carried a heavy, forceful quality.
The hall was deathly silent, save for the crackling of the flickering candlelight, which made the atmosphere even more tense. Every flicker of candlelight seemed like a hidden danger.
Liu Shan lowered his eyes and stroked the patterns on the tiger tally, his knuckles turning white involuntarily, his eyes unfathomable—Li Yan's detention of Zhuge Liang was not a genuine act of rebellion, but merely an attempt to seize power in the court by using the current crisis to force the emperor to abdicate; while Sima Yi's ambush in Luoyang clearly indicated that he anticipated Liu Shan's desperate gamble and wanted to wipe out Shu Han's last trump card in one fell swoop.
In dire straits, only by taking the initiative to break the deadlock can one survive.
"Someone come here!"
Liu Shan's voice was not loud, but it carried a penetrating majesty that instantly broke the deathly silence in the hall. The candlelight was blown by the airflow and swayed slightly, casting light and shadow on his face.
The dark figure appeared in response, kneeling on one knee with his head pressed to the ground, his breathing calm and steady without the slightest disturbance: "Your subject is here, willing to go through fire and water for Your Majesty, even unto death!"
"Issue my secret order!" Liu Shan spoke clearly, his tone revealing an undeniable calculating intent. "Order Chen Dao to lead five hundred White Feather Soldiers to reinforce Hanzhong day and night!"
He abruptly changed the subject, emphasizing his words with unwavering conviction: "Tell Chen Dao not to lift the siege of Yangping Pass, but to secretly infiltrate the area where Zhao Yun is trapped, seize the opportunity to break out, and bring Zhao Yun back safely! Even if it costs us our White Feather Army, we must not allow Zhao Yun to be lost!"
The figure in the shadows looked up, a hint of hesitation flashing in his eyes, before finally asking in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, if Yangping Pass falls, Hanzhong will be in imminent danger. Are you really not going to rescue General Wei Yan?"
A cold glint flashed in Liu Shan's eyes, and his tone was icy: "Wei Yan is known for his courage and resourcefulness, and Yangping Pass is well-defended; he will surely hold it for three days. Zhao Yun is my right-hand man and the pillar of the Shu Han army; he must not be lost!"
"Your subject obeys the decree!" The shadowy figure asked no more questions, bowed deeply, and disappeared into the darkness like a ghost, leaving only a faint sound of wind in the hall.
Liu Shan turned around, looked at the dark night sky outside the palace, a cold smile curving his lips, and gently stroked the tiger tally with his fingertips.
Chen Dao and the White Feather Army were the last trump card left to Shu Han by Liu Bei, the emperor, a hidden piece he had kept secret for ten years, never to be used lightly. Today, facing enemies on all sides, this hidden piece must finally be unsheathed to break the deadlock.
Just then, a palace attendant's urgent announcement came from outside the hall, his tone tinged with barely concealed panic: "Your Majesty, Lord Qiao Zhou, along with officials from the gentry of Yizhou, has requested an audience late at night, claiming to have a brilliant plan to quell the rebellion to offer!"
Liu Shan's eyes darkened, and his fingers tightened slightly. He knew better than anyone that Qiao Zhou and his ilk had no good strategy for quelling the rebellion; they merely wanted to take advantage of the chaos and seize military power in the capital region to further strengthen the power of the Yizhou gentry.
However, with internal and external troubles intertwined, he needs to stabilize the gentry of Yizhou for the time being and prevent further internal strife. He can only feign compliance for now and then seek an opportunity to settle scores.
"Announce." A single word, calm yet carrying an unquestionable command.
A moment later, Qiao Zhou, dressed in court attire, led five or six aristocratic officials into the main hall, bowing respectfully. They all knelt and kowtowed, their voices deliberately respectful: "Your Majesty, we pay our respects! Long live the Emperor!"
Liu Shan sat upright on the dragon throne, instantly adopting a weary and helpless demeanor. His voice was hoarse, carrying a sense of powerlessness: "My beloved ministers, you have come so late at night. Do you have any good strategies to resolve the crisis in Shu Han? Li Yan is currently rebelling, the Prime Minister has been detained, and both Nanzhong and Hanzhong are under attack. I am truly at a loss."
Qiao Zhou was the first to stand up, bowed deeply, and spoke with a seemingly earnest tone, but his eyes concealed ambition: "Your Majesty, Shu Han is now besieged on both sides, Cao Wei is eyeing us covetously, and Li Yan is causing trouble in the south. We are worried day and night and wish we could share Your Majesty's burdens."
He abruptly changed the subject, revealing his true purpose: "Your Majesty, I humbly request that you grant military power to members of the aristocratic families of Yizhou in the capital region, and send trusted members of my clan to the south to assist General Ma Zhong in quelling the rebellion. We will certainly do our utmost to relieve the crisis facing Shu Han!"
The other aristocratic officials echoed their sentiments, their voices resounding in unison, carrying a subtle pressure: "Your Majesty, please grant our request! We are willing to serve you to the death, to share Your Majesty's burdens, and to prolong the life of Shu Han!"
Liu Shan lowered his eyes, his fingers unconsciously stroking the tiger tally, his brows furrowed slightly, seemingly hesitant, but in reality he had already made his plans.
He slowly raised his eyes, a hint of difficulty on his face, and his tone carried a hint of compromise: "I appreciate the loyalty of my ministers. However, the military power in the capital region is of great importance, so please allow me to think it over carefully."
"Alright then," Liu Shan changed the subject, offering a delaying tactic. His tone seemed earnest, but it actually concealed a desire to monitor him. "I hereby order Lord Qiao Zhou to temporarily take charge of the defense of the capital region, to deploy the city's garrison forces, and to pacify the people within the city; the rest of you, return to your posts, strictly adhere to your duties, and do not make any mistakes!"
Upon hearing this, Qiao Zhou and the others' faces instantly lit up with joy. They immediately knelt down to express their gratitude, their voices filled with pride: "Your Majesty, we obey! Thank you for your grace!"
After everyone bowed and withdrew, Liu Shan's pretense vanished instantly, leaving only a chilling coldness in his eyes. Appointing Qiao Zhou to temporarily command the city's defenses was merely a stopgap measure; he had already arranged for trusted confidants to secretly monitor Qiao Zhou's every move. If Qiao Zhou made the slightest move, he would be immediately apprehended, eliminating any future threat.
At this moment, in the south of Dianchi Lake, a fierce battle raged. Shouts of battle and the clash of weapons mingled together, staining half the sky red and soaking the ground beneath their feet with blood.
The allied forces of Zhang Yi and Meng Huo were surrounded by Cao Wei reinforcements. Arrows rained down on them, causing heavy casualties to the Shu army. The soldiers were exhausted and gradually fell into a desperate situation, and even their formation became scattered.
Meng Huo held a long sword, his body covered in blood, and a new wound appeared on his shoulder. Blood dripped down the blade, but he still fought to the death without retreating, his eyes filled with determination.
"Soldiers, hold the line! His Majesty has promised our tribe a permanent tax exemption. We will surely help His Majesty pacify the south and avenge our people!" He roared, his voice hoarse but powerful, as he swung his sword and killed a Cao Wei soldier who charged at him, the blood from the blade splattering all over his face.
Zhang Yi leaned against a tree trunk, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. The spear in his hand was riddled with nicks, and his arm trembled slightly from exhaustion, yet he still gripped the weapon tightly.
"General Meng Huo, hold on!" Zhang Yi's voice was hoarse, but his gaze was firm. "After General Ma Zhong defeats Gao Ding, he will surely lead his troops to reinforce us. Let's hold on a little longer. As soon as the reinforcements arrive, we can turn the tide of the battle!"
No sooner had the words been spoken than a deafening shout suddenly came from afar, dust billowed up, obscuring the sky, and a large army of Shu Han rushed in, their banners bright and their momentum overwhelming.
"Ma Zhong is here! Traitor, cease your arrogance!"
Holding a long spear, Ma Zhong led the charge, and his soldiers, each brave and fearless, charged straight at Cao Wei's reinforcements like tigers descending a mountain, instantly disrupting Cao Wei's formation.
Hope instantly ignited in Meng Huo's eyes, and he raised his arms and shouted, "Reinforcements have arrived! Soldiers, follow me and charge out to annihilate the traitor!"
The morale of the allied forces soared, and the previously exhausted soldiers suddenly unleashed astonishing power, attacking from both sides. The Cao Wei reinforcements were instantly put on the defensive, their formations were thrown into chaos, and they suffered heavy casualties.
Meanwhile, in Li Yan's military camp, the atmosphere was exceptionally oppressive.
Zhuge Liang was under house arrest in the main tent. He remained calm, gently waving his feather fan, showing no sign of panic. His eyes even held a hint of composure.
Li Yan walked slowly into the tent, a smug smile on his face, his tone full of arrogance: "Prime Minister, Liu Shan is now besieged on all sides, and Shu Han is in imminent danger. If you are willing to persuade Liu Shan to abdicate in my favor, I will spare your life and guarantee you a lifetime of wealth and honor."
Zhuge Liang raised his eyes, glanced at him indifferently, and said with undisguised sarcasm, "Li Zhengfang, you are too naive."
"His Majesty has long seen through your intentions. By detaining me, you are only courting death and will ultimately face destruction."
Li Yan's face darkened, and he sternly rebuked, "Stop talking nonsense! Liu Shan is cowardly and incompetent. Now that Zhao Yun is trapped and Wei Yan is holding Yangping Pass, the Southern Allied Forces are on the verge of collapse. He has long been out of options. The power of Shu Han will be mine sooner or later!"
Zhuge Liang chuckled lightly, said no more, and slowly closed his eyes, looking confident and composed. His calm demeanor made Li Yan feel somewhat flustered.
Li Yan feigned composure and turned to his trusted aides, instructing, "Keep a close watch on the Prime Minister. No one is allowed to visit him. Report any unusual activity immediately. Any delay will be punished according to military law!"
"Your subordinate obeys!" The trusted aide bowed and replied, then withdrew to stand guard outside the main tent.
Li Yan stepped out of the main tent, gazing southwards with ambition in his eyes, his fingertips lightly tapping the military tally at his waist. He was convinced that if he waited just a few more days, the allied forces of the south would be defeated, Yangping Pass would fall, and Liu Shan would be driven to desperation. At that time, the power of Shu Han would be within his grasp.
Little did he know that his every move was being watched by Zhuge Liang's confidants. His conversations with his trusted men and his communications with Cao Wei's secret envoys had already been recorded and quickly transmitted to the Chengdu palace.
In Hanzhong, beneath Yangping Pass, war raged and corpses littered the fields.
Wei Yan, covered in blood, held a large sword and stood firmly in front of the city gate. His armor was already soaked in blood. More than half of his soldiers had been killed or wounded, but he still held on and refused to retreat, his eyes full of determination.
Hao Zhao led the Cao Wei army in repeated fierce attacks. The city gates were already full of cracks and were on the verge of collapse. The defense line of Yangping Pass was on the verge of collapse.
"Wei Yan, if you know what's good for you, open the city gates and surrender now, or I will raze Yangping Pass to the ground and leave no one alive!" Hao Zhao stood in front of the formation, shouting sternly, his tone full of arrogance.
Wei Yan sneered, his voice hoarse but firm: "Traitor Hao Zhao, cease your arrogance! I, Wei Yan, swear to defend Yangping Pass to the death, and await His Majesty's reinforcements to protect the territory of Shu Han!"
He gazed into the distance, a hint of anxiety in his eyes, silently pondering: His Majesty sent Zhao Yun to provide reinforcements, but he has yet to arrive. Could something have happened to General Zhao Yun? No matter what, I must defend Yangping Pass, and live up to His Majesty's trust and the expectations of the people of Shu Han!
Just as Hao Zhao was preparing to order another attack on the city and completely crush Yangping Pass, a series of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from afar. An elite cavalry force galloped in, their banners embroidered with the character "Chen," and their figures were as swift as arrows.
Chen Dao led his White Feather Soldiers, bypassing the main force of Cao Wei's army, straight to the place where Zhao Yun was trapped. His soldiers were all elite and moved swiftly, instantly disrupting Cao Wei's ambush formation and catching Cao Wei soldiers off guard.
"General Zhao Yun, Chen Dao has arrived to reinforce us!" Chen Dao shouted, brandishing his spear and slaying several Cao Wei soldiers, carving a bloody path through them.
Zhao Yun had been trapped for many days and was exhausted, with multiple wounds on his body. Upon hearing Chen Dao's voice, hope instantly ignited in his eyes. With his last bit of strength, he swung his spear to kill the Cao Wei soldiers around him and made a desperate breakout toward Chen Dao.
Outside Luoyang, Sima Yi sat upright on his horse, gazing in the direction of Yangping Pass, a smug smile playing on his lips, his eyes filled with calculation.
"Liu Shan, you did indeed send a surprise attack on Luoyang, but unfortunately, you're still too inexperienced." He tapped his fingertips lightly on the saddle, his tone full of disdain. "Once Zhao Yun and Wei Yan are killed in battle, Zhuge Liang is detained, and Li Yan rebels, you will be all alone. At that time, I will lead my army south and conquer Shu Han in one fell swoop, unifying the world!"
Just then, a scout rushed over, covered in sweat, kneeling on one knee, his voice tinged with panic: "Grand Tutor, something terrible has happened! Chen Dao has led the White Feather Army to reinforce Hanzhong and has successfully rescued Zhao Yun. Ma Zhong has also defeated Cao Wei's reinforcements, relieving the siege of the Southern Allied Forces!"
Sima Yi's expression changed drastically. He gripped the reins tightly, his knuckles turning white, his eyes filled with disbelief, and his tone tinged with shock and anger: "How is this possible? How could Liu Shan have such a trump card? Weren't the White Feather Soldiers long ago gone?"
Inside the main hall of Chengdu, Liu Shan received a secret report from his spies. A confident smile appeared on his lips, and the coldness in his eyes gradually dissipated, replaced by a composed and confident demeanor.
He knew that the first step in breaking the deadlock had been successful. Zhao Yun was rescued, the siege of Nanzhong was lifted, and the perilous situation of Shu Han finally took a turn for the better.
What he didn't know was that Li Yan, seeing the situation in the south reverse, panicked and secretly contacted a secret envoy from Cao Wei, promising to offer Zhuge Liang in exchange for Cao Wei's military assistance, intending to make a final desperate attempt; while Sima Yi, after learning that his plan had been exposed, had also changed his strategy, personally leading his army straight to Chengdu, hoping to take advantage of Chengdu's weakened military strength and seize the capital of Shu Han in one fell swoop...