After Yong'an entrusted his son to Liu Shan, Liu Shan turned evil and ruled the world.

Chapter 13 A Cold Arrow Brings a Sudden Turn of Events, and the Ambush Reappears

The sharp whistling of the cold arrow pierced through the air, cutting through the sounds of battle, like a venomous snake spitting its tongue, aimed straight at Ma Zhong's back—it was a contingency plan Sima Yi had prepared long ago, waiting for Ma Zhong to launch a full-scale attack to deliver a fatal blow.

Ma Zhong was swinging his spear, knocking a Cao Wei soldier away. The sudden whistling sound beside his ear was an instinctive warning from decades of battle experience. Before he could turn around, he twisted his waist sharply to the side, the armor clashing against the arrow with a piercing metallic clang.

"Pfft—"

The arrow couldn't be completely avoided; it grazed his shoulder blade and pierced his flesh. Hot blood instantly soaked through his armor, dripping down his clothes and splashing into the dust, leaving dark red spots. Ma Zhong groaned, his arm going numb, and his spear nearly slipped from his grasp and fell to the ground.

"General!" The personal guard beside him cried out and rushed forward, waving his sword to deflect the following arrows and then killing the Wei scout hiding in the shadows.

Ma Zhong gritted his teeth, pressing his wound to the floor, blood seeping from between his fingers. His brows furrowed, but he didn't retreat a single step. He suddenly raised his hand, his spear pointing directly at the Cao Wei ambush formation. His voice was hoarse yet powerful, jolting his soldiers into action: "What's the panic! Continue the assault! Disrupt the Wei camp's formation! Even if we die, we cannot jeopardize His Majesty's grand plan!"

He was covered in blood, yet his back remained ramrod straight. With each swing of his wounded arm, the wound reopened, but the determination in his eyes burned brighter than the flames. Seeing their commander's ferocity, the soldiers' earlier panic vanished, and they shouted in unison, charging after him into the depths of the Wei camp. The firelight illuminated half the night sky, and the shouts of battle echoed across the land.

Meanwhile, in Li Yan's military camp, masked men had surrounded him in the open space in front of his tent. The cold glint of their drawn swords made Li Yan's face turn pale. He clutched Liu Shan's secret letter tightly, his knuckles white, the edges of the letter crumpled from his grip, his expression as ferocious as a trapped beast.

"Who are you? How dare you act so presumptuously in my military camp!" Li Yan shouted, his voice carrying a hint of barely perceptible panic, yet he maintained the dignity of a commander-in-chief.

The masked leader sneered, his voice deliberately hoarse like a broken gong. His sinister gaze pierced through his mask, striking Li Yan directly: "Lord Li, the Grand Tutor has ordered that if you dare to defect to Shu, he will take your head as a warning to others!"

"Sima Yi's man?" Li Yan shuddered, a flicker of fear crossing his eyes, quickly replaced by ruthlessness. He abruptly raised his eyes, scanning the masked man before him, his mind clearing completely—Sima Yi had never intended to spare his life; the so-called cooperation was nothing more than using him as a pawn to eliminate Zhuge Liang.

Liu Shan's secret letter was still in his palm, the promise of "atone for his crimes by performing meritorious service and preserving his clan" still echoing in his ears; yet before him, Sima Yi's assassins had already drawn their swords, and his escape route had been cut off. Li Yan suddenly drew his sword from his waist, the blade gleaming coldly, pointing it directly at the masked leader: "I am a minister entrusted with the care of the young emperor of Shu Han, how could I be manipulated by Sima Yi! Today, I will make you treacherous villains pay for your crimes in blood!"

Before he finished speaking, Li Yan charged forward, sword in hand. The sword clashed with the long saber, producing a piercing metallic clang and sparks flying. Although he had long served in the imperial court, he had also honed his martial arts skills. Now, forced into a desperate situation, he unleashed astonishing combat power, and with flashing sword light, he successively killed two masked men.

However, the masked men were agile and outnumbered, each one fearless, and Li Yan gradually fell into a disadvantageous position. In the midst of the fierce battle, a masked man slashed horizontally with a long sword, slashing hard across Li Yan's shoulder. Blood gushed from the deep wound instantly, staining his robes red, and the force of the blow weakened.

"Lord Li, if you know what's good for you, surrender now, or don't blame us for being ruthless!" the masked leader shouted, his long sword aimed straight at Li Yan's face, determined to kill him with one blow.

Li Yan had nowhere to escape and could only close his eyes and await death, his heart filled with resentment—he regretted his greed for power and his mistakes, his hesitation, and even more so, his near betrayal of Shu Han, failing the late emperor's trust.

Just at this critical moment, a rapid sound of hooves and the clanging of armor rang out. White Feather Soldiers, wielding long spears, charged into the camp like tigers descending a mountain, their spear tips pointing directly at the masked men, instantly breaking through the encirclement.

"Lord Li, this humble general has come to your aid on His Majesty's orders!" Chen Dao's voice was powerful and resonant. He swept his spear out with unstoppable force, forcing the masked leader back several steps. The chilling aura of the spear tip pressed directly against the man's throat.

Li Yan opened his eyes and saw Chen Dao leading the White Feather Army rushing towards him. The weight that had been hanging over him finally lifted. He staggered and grabbed the soldier beside him, panting heavily, his face full of relief at surviving a close call. Looking at the elite White Feather Army under Chen Dao's command, he felt completely at ease—Liu Shan had been prepared all along, sending Chen Dao to his aid. It seemed he had chosen the right path today.

Chen Dao didn't waste any words. His gaze swept over the masked man before him, and his tone was icy cold: "Take him down! Leave him alive to interrogate him and find out Sima Yi's next plans!"

The White Feather Soldiers were all fierce and fearless, moving with ghostly speed. Although the masked men fought back valiantly, they were no match for this force. In a short time, most of the masked men were captured. Only the leader of the masked men took advantage of the chaos to mount his horse and try to escape.

"Where do you think you're going!" Chen Dao leaped into the air, his spear shooting like an arrow, aimed straight at the masked man's back. With a "thud," the spear pierced through the man's armor and penetrated deep into his body.

The masked man fell to the ground with a thud, struggling to tear off his mask to reveal a hideous face covered in scars. Li Yan stepped forward, his pupils contracted sharply, and he exclaimed in shock, "It's you! You are the commander of Sima Yi's personal guards, how could you be infiltrating my camp?"

Blood trickled from the masked man's lips, yet he continued to sneer, his eyes filled with malevolence: "Li Yan, you have betrayed the Grand Tutor, and you will surely be punished by Heaven! My Grand Tutor has already laid a trap, and Shu Han is doomed. Your choice today is nothing but courting death!"

As soon as he finished speaking, he gritted his teeth and black blood flowed from the corner of his mouth. He had already concealed poison on his body and committed suicide by poisoning himself.

Chen Dao frowned, bent down to examine the body, and said to Li Yan in a deep voice, "Lord Li, this man died by poisoning and left no further clues. His Majesty has ordered that you immediately release the Prime Minister and return to Chengdu with me to discuss strategies for defeating the enemy and atone for your crimes through meritorious service."

Li Yan bowed respectfully and firmly, saying, "Your subject obeys the decree!" After this incident, he had no more distracting thoughts—he had no way out but to loyally assist Liu Shan and defend Shu Han to the death in order to atone for his sins and preserve his clan.

At this moment, the atmosphere in Sima Yi's tent was so heavy it seemed to drip water, and even the air seemed to freeze.

The scout knelt on the ground, trembling all over, his voice choked with sobs, not daring to lift his head: "Grand Tutor, something terrible has happened! Although Ma Zhong was wounded by an arrow, he still led his troops to harass our rear, causing heavy losses to our army; the personal guards sent to assassinate Li Yan were also defeated by Chen Dao's White Feather Army, and the commander of the personal guards committed suicide by poison!"

"Useless! All of you are useless!" Sima Yi slammed his fist on the sand table, shattering it instantly. Chess pieces scattered everywhere, and wood chips flew everywhere. His eyes were bloodshot, filled with rage and disbelief. He roared, "How dare Li Yan betray us? How could Chen Dao's White Feather Army arrive so quickly? Liu Shan, you brat, just how many trump cards has he been hiding?!"

He thought he had a perfect plan and could reap the benefits, but he never expected that Liu Shan would outmaneuver him. Li Yan defected, Ma Zhong was not defeated, and the White Feather Army launched a surprise attack. All his plans were disrupted at this moment.

Hao Zhao stood respectfully to the side, barely daring to breathe. After a long while, he cautiously whispered his question: "Grand Tutor, the situation has now reversed. Ma Zhong is harassing our rear, and Li Yan has defected to Shu. Our army is attacked from both sides. Should we temporarily withdraw our troops and seek another opportunity?"

"Withdraw the troops?" Sima Yi sneered, the rage in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by a chilling ruthlessness. "I led a large army, traveling day and night, expending countless provisions and manpower. How can I return empty-handed?"

He walked to the tent window, gazing in the direction of Chengdu, his expression icy and resolute, his tone certain: "Liu Shan's provisions are running low, and although the city is well-prepared, it's at its last gasp! Li Yan has just defected, and morale is still unstable; Ma Zhong has been wounded by an arrow, and his injury is serious, but he's nothing to fear!"

"Pass down the order: tomorrow morning, the entire army will attack the city!" Sima Yi turned abruptly, his voice carrying an undeniable authority. "Hao Zhao, you will lead 10,000 elite troops to launch a main attack on the east gate, making sure to breach it; the rest of the soldiers will divide and attack the four gates, launching relentless assaults at any cost, ensuring that Chengdu is flattened and Liu Shan and Zhuge Liang captured alive today!"

"Yes, sir!" Hao Zhao bowed and agreed without the slightest hesitation. He turned and quickly left to convey the military order.

Sima Yi clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white, his nails digging deep into his palm. He made a silent vow: Today, no matter the cost, I will take Chengdu, capture Liu Shan and Zhuge Liang alive, to avenge today's humiliation, and completely crush Shu Han!

On the city wall of Chengdu, the night wind howled. Liu Shan, dressed in a dragon robe, stood atop the wall, his gaze fixed intently on the movements of the Wei camp outside the city. Chen Dao's secret letter had arrived, informing him that Li Yan had been rescued and would soon escort Zhuge Liang back to Chengdu. However, Ma Zhong had been wounded by an arrow, his condition unknown, and he was still leading troops to harass the Wei camp's rear.

He raised his hand and gently stroked the bricks and stones of the city wall. His fingertips were icy cold, but his expression remained calm. The city's food supplies were only enough to last three days. Sima Yi would launch a full-scale attack on the city tomorrow. Ma Zhong was wounded, Li Yan had just surrendered, and morale was not yet stable. Today was a battle for the life and death of Shu Han.

"Issue my decree!" Liu Shan turned and gave a solemn order to the eunuch beside him, his tone imposing and leaving no room for argument. "Order the soldiers on the city walls to be on high alert, prepare rolling logs, boulders, and arrows, and defend the four gates to the death, without retreating an inch; order Qiao Zhou to appease the people and gentry within the city, strictly prohibiting the spread of rumors and disturbances, and immediately stopping any panic; further order all the imperial guards within the city to be on standby at any time to rush to the aid of the four gates, and anyone who retreats will be dealt with according to military law!"

"Your subject obeys!" The eunuch bowed and left quickly, not daring to delay even for a moment.

Just then, Qiao Zhou rushed over, looking anxious and slightly disheveled. He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! There are aristocratic youths in the city secretly contacting Cao Wei spies, intending to open the city gates, let the Wei army into the city, and disrupt the morale of the troops!"

Liu Shan's eyes darkened, a chilling glint flashing in them, and his aura instantly became fierce. He had anticipated that some aristocratic families would try to take advantage of the situation, but he hadn't expected them to be so impatient, daring to betray their country at this critical juncture.

"Qiao Zhou," Liu Shan said calmly, yet with immense force, "you immediately summon the leaders of the gentry of Yizhou and proclaim my words in front of everyone—if anyone dares to collude with the enemy and betray the country, or conspire with the Wei army, I will exterminate their entire clan and confiscate their property without any leniency!"

He paused, then added, "Furthermore, send your trusted confidants to thoroughly investigate any aristocratic sons who are colluding with the enemy. Once confirmed, arrest them immediately, bring them to the city gate, and execute them as a warning to others!"

"Your Majesty, I obey!" Qiao Zhou bowed and accepted the order, secretly admiring Liu Shan's composure and decisiveness. In the past, he had always thought His Majesty was cowardly and incompetent, but today he realized that His Majesty's courage and strategy far exceeded everyone's imagination. He turned and left, thinking to himself: With such courage and wisdom, Shu Han will surely be able to turn danger into safety and live up to the late Emperor's trust.

As night faded and the sky began to lighten, the morning sun pierced through the clouds and shone on the city walls of Chengdu, but it brought no warmth whatsoever.

The bugle calls of the Cao Wei army sounded again, shaking the heavens and resounding through the sky. Hao Zhao led ten thousand elite soldiers, armed with shields and long swords, their momentum unstoppable, heading straight for the east gate of Chengdu. The shouts of the soldiers made the earth tremble slightly.

On the city wall, Shu Han soldiers strung their bows and drew their swords, their expressions solemn as they watched the approaching Wei army. Their palms were already sweating, but not one of them retreated—behind them lay their homeland, the land of Shu Han, and the trust of His Majesty.

Liu Shan stood atop the city wall, his dragon robe fluttering in the morning breeze. His gaze was resolute, fixed on the area outside the city, without a trace of panic, his eyes filled with determination. He raised his hand, grasping the tiger tally at his waist, and silently vowed: "Sima Yi, today, I will fight you to the death! I will never let the land of Shu Han fall into your hands!"

Just as the Wei army was about to arrive at the city and the siege was about to begin, a deafening shout suddenly came from afar. A large army of Shu Han rushed in, with a prominent "horse" character embroidered on its banner. Dust flew up and the momentum was overwhelming.

Liu Shan looked up and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes—it was Ma Zhong! He had actually led his soldiers back despite being injured!

But this surprise lasted only a moment before being replaced by solemnity.

Behind Ma Zhong's army followed a large and well-equipped elite cavalry unit from Cao Wei. The leader, holding a long spear, had a sinister expression and sharp eyes like an eagle. He was none other than Sima Yi's eldest son, Sima Shi! He reined in his horse and stood at the front of the formation, his gaze fixed on the Chengdu city walls, a strange smile playing on his lips.

At the foot of the city wall of Chengdu's east gate, a young nobleman quietly slipped to the gate, a dagger in his hand, his eyes coldly fixed on the guards. Taking advantage of their momentary lapse in attention, he stealthily approached the gate bolt, a sinister smile curling at the corner of his mouth—he was the young nobleman who had secretly colluded with the enemy. Today, he would open the city gate, let the Wei army into the city, and exchange it for wealth and glory.

On one side, Ma Zhong was wounded and returned to reinforce the city, but was pursued by Sima Shi; on the other side, the Wei army was at the city gates and about to attack; and on the other side, treacherous people inside the city were plotting to open the gates and surrender the city.

Desperation struck again. Liu Shan stood atop the city wall, gazing at the chaos before him, his fingers tightening slightly—this life-or-death battle was far more dangerous than he had imagined!

[End of Chapter]