novelSusiti Chapter 15 Ximen is in dire need; danger arises on the way.
Chapter 15 Ximen is in dire need; danger arises on the way.
Dusk was falling at the West Gate of Chengdu.
The torches on the city wall flickered on and off.
The reflection made the guards' tense faces appear even more solemn.
Just now, Liu Shan issued an order to allocate half of the troops to support the East Gate.
Only five hundred soldiers remained guarding the west gate.
They all looked exhausted, yet they still gripped their weapons tightly.
They kept a vigilant eye on the darkness outside the city, not daring to relax their guard for even a moment.
"Thump—thump—thump—"
Dull footsteps came from the shadows.
They drew closer, accompanied by the crisp sound of metal rubbing against metal.
The sound was so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
The commander gripped his long sword tightly, his palm clenched.
His voice trembled, but he forced himself to remain calm and shouted.
"Be on guard! Wei troops are attacking the camp!"
Before he finished speaking, a dark mass of Cao Wei's elite troops rushed out of the woods.
The leading general was clad in black armor and wielded a long sword.
His eyes were icy cold, and his whole body exuded a chilling murderous aura.
It was Guo Huai, a trusted general under Sima Yi.
"The Shu army is full of incompetent fools; the western gate is practically deserted!"
Guo Huai shouted loudly and charged forward first, brandishing his sword.
"Today we will raze this place to the ground and march straight to Chengdu!"
Cao Wei soldiers swarmed forward.
The siege ladders were erected instantly, densely packed, heading straight for the city tower.
Arrows rained down on the city wall.
The defenders fought back fiercely as logs and boulders rained down.
Screams rose and fell, staining the bricks and stones of the city wall red.
The commander gripped his long sword tightly, his fingernails digging deep into his palm.
With overwhelming odds, Ximen is in imminent danger!
His Majesty is still directing the battle at the East Gate.
If the west gate is breached, the Wei army will attack from both sides.
Chengdu will surely fall!
A resolute glint flashed in his eyes as he gritted his teeth and roared.
"Let's give it our all!"
He swung his sword and killed a Wei soldier who had climbed onto the city wall.
Blood splattered on his face, hot and blinding.
He continued to roar, trying to boost morale.
"My men, hold the city gates! Reinforcements will be here soon!"
But Cao Wei soldiers kept charging in.
The defenders suffered heavy casualties, and more and more fell.
The gap in the city gate tower was getting bigger and bigger.
Upon seeing this, a hint of smugness flashed in Guo Huai's eyes.
He brandished his sword again, urging his troops to launch a fierce attack.
Meanwhile, ten miles outside Chengdu.
Li Yan was escorting Zhuge Liang's carriage, hurrying towards Chengdu.
The frame moved forward slowly, at a low speed.
Zhuge Liang sat upright in the middle, gently waving his feather fan.
His expression was calm, but a hint of worry lingered in his eyes.
He looked towards Chengdu through the carriage curtain.
His Majesty is currently commanding the battle from the city tower.
Sima Yi is cunning and resourceful; he will certainly not only attack the east gate.
Your Majesty, you must be more vigilant.
Li Yan rode his horse to protect the carriage.
The wound on my shoulder blade is still throbbing.
He dared not relax for a moment, his eyes scanning his surroundings warily.
He was filled with guilt.
My previous lapse in judgment nearly led to a major mistake.
Today, I will ensure the Prime Minister's safety.
Only then can I atone for my sins and repay His Majesty's kindness in sparing my life.
Just then, the sound of rapid hoofbeats rang out.
An unidentified cavalry unit charged out from the mountains on both sides.
The leader was masked and held a curved knife.
With agile movements, it rushed straight towards the vehicle frame like a ghost.
"Protect the Prime Minister!"
Li Yan shouted loudly and spurred his horse forward.
He pointed his sword directly at the masked man, exuding an imposing aura.
Zhuge Liang's personal guards immediately surrounded the carriage.
He drew his longsword and engaged the cavalry in battle.
The curved blade clashed with the longsword, producing a piercing sound.
The masked man's knife skills were sharp and his moves were ruthless.
He then proceeded to kill several of his personal guards in succession, pressing closer and closer.
He charged straight at Li Yan, slashing with his curved blade.
The biting wind carried a deadly chill.
Li Yan swung his sword to parry.
A crisp "clang" sounded.
The longsword was shaken and bent slightly, and his arm went numb.
Li Yan was secretly alarmed.
This man possesses extremely high martial arts skills and is definitely not an ordinary Wei soldier!
"Who are you? Why are you blocking our way?"
Li Yan demanded an explanation, his tone full of vigilance.
The masked man gave a cold laugh, his voice hoarse and grating.
With a hint of sarcasm, every word was like a knife.
"Li Yan, you have betrayed the Grand Tutor and defected to Liu Shan."
"Today is your death day!"
"I've got my hands on the Prime Minister's head!"
Li Yan's heart sank, and his face turned pale.
It's Sima Yi's men again!
He actually went so far as to send such a skilled expert to get rid of the prime minister!
Today, we will risk our lives.
We absolutely cannot let him succeed!
Despite the excruciating pain from his wounds, Li Yan charged forward again, sword in hand.
They were locked in combat with the masked men.
The two exchanged blows, their swords flashing.
For a time, it was difficult to determine a winner.
The guards fought valiantly to hold off the remaining cavalry.
The casualties were mounting, and they were gradually losing their footing.
Zhuge Liang lifted the carriage curtain and watched the figures locked in combat.
His expression was solemn, and he gently waved his feather fan.
They already had a plan in mind.
This man's swordsmanship is strange and unlike that of a general from Cao Wei.
They seem more like江湖死者 (jianghu assassins).
Sima Yi, what a grand scheme!
On the city tower, Liu Shan was watching the battle at the East Gate.
His brows were furrowed, and his expression was solemn.
Suddenly, a palace attendant's urgent report came to his ears.
"Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened!"
"The west gate was suddenly attacked by Wei troops; Guo Huai led his elite forces in a fierce assault!"
"The defending soldiers have suffered heavy casualties, and the city gates are about to be breached!"
Liu Shan was startled and turned around abruptly.
A flash of surprise and anger crossed his eyes, but he remained calm.
Sima Yi was indeed cunning, using a feint to the east while attacking in the west.
While I'm diverting troops to reinforce the East Gate, launch a surprise attack on the West Gate!
If the west gate falls, Chengdu will be attacked from both sides.
The consequences could be disastrous!
He immediately spoke in a deep voice to the eunuch beside him.
"Issue my decree!"
"Order the garrison at the East Gate to dispatch 300 troops to immediately reinforce the West Gate!"
"Order Qiao Zhou to immediately mobilize the remaining militia within the city and send them to the west gate to assist in the battle!"
"Defend the city gates to the death! Do not retreat even a single step!"
"I obey your decree!"
The eunuch dared not delay and quickly left to deliver the imperial decree.
Chen Dao's deputy general rushed over.
He knelt on one knee, his expression urgent.
"Your Majesty, General Chen has learned of the urgent situation at Ximen."
"Two hundred White Feather Soldiers have been dispatched to provide reinforcements."
"However, the battle at the East Gate became increasingly fierce, with Sima Shi leading his troops in a fierce attack."
"Our army is gradually losing ground!"
Liu Shan closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened his eyes again, they were filled with determination.
Both the east and west gates are under emergency alert.
The prime minister encountered danger on the way.
There are remnants of palace cliques lurking within.
Today is the ultimate test for me!
No matter how difficult it is, I will defend Chengdu!
He leaned down and spoke in a deep voice to his deputy.
"Go quickly to the East Gate and inform Chen Dao."
"We must keep Sima Shi occupied."
"Even if it costs us our entire army, we cannot allow him to lead troops to reinforce Ximen!"
"I will personally go to Ximen to oversee the battle!"
"Your Majesty, you mustn't!"
The lieutenant hurriedly tried to dissuade him, looking anxious.
"The battle at Ximen is perilous; Your Majesty's health is of utmost importance, and you should not personally go to such a dangerous place!"
"My mind is made up!"
Liu Shan spoke firmly, without the slightest hesitation.
"I am the ruler of Shu Han, and I shall live and die with my soldiers!"
"Today, I will personally guard the West Gate and stand with Chengdu to the death!"
After saying this, Liu Shan turned around and took down the sword from the wall.
He strode down the city wall, his posture upright.
The Imperial Guards followed closely behind, rushing towards the West Gate.
Deep within the palace, the night was thick.
The infiltrator, a traitorous remnant, evaded the patrolling guards.
They quietly crept up to the door of Liu Shan's palace.
He held a short knife in his hand, his eyes filled with malice.
A smug smile crept onto his lips.
Liu Shan went to the West Gate to oversee the battle, leaving his palace unguarded.
Today we will take his life and present it to the Grand Tutor.
Perform great deeds and you will be rewarded with wealth and honor!
He gently pushed open the door to the bedroom.
They went in quietly.
His gaze swept around, but he found the palace empty.
There was only a dragon bed, and on the table lay an unfinished secret letter.
Just as he was wondering, a series of footsteps suddenly sounded.
Dong Yun rushed in with several guards.
He pointed his long sword directly at the remaining followers, his expression icy.
"Traitor! How dare you infiltrate the palace with ill intentions! Prepare to die!"
The remaining members of the gang were startled and secretly alarmed.
Oh no, we've been ambushed!
He suddenly swung his knife and charged forward, trying to break through the encirclement.
However, he was surrounded by guards and could not escape.
The short sword clashed with the longsword, producing a piercing sound.
Within moments, his arm was slashed by the guards.
Backed into a corner, with no way out.
Dong Yun said coldly, "Speak! How many more accomplices are lurking in the city?"
What other schemes does Sima Yi have up his sleeve?
A ruthless glint flashed in the eyes of the remaining members.
He bit his tongue hard, and black blood flowed from the corner of his mouth.
He committed suicide by poisoning himself again.
They were exactly the same as the aristocratic sons and masked men from before.
Dong Yun frowned and picked up the secret letter from the table.
He glanced at it quickly, and his expression changed drastically.
He immediately turned around and shouted at the guards.
"Quickly, follow me to the West Gate! His Majesty is in danger!"
At this time, the West Gate tower was in complete disarray.
The defenders suffered more than half their casualties, and corpses littered the field.
Guo Huai led the Wei troops and had already climbed the city wall.
They engaged in a fierce battle with the guards.
The breach in the city gate was getting bigger and bigger.
The battle between Li Yan and the masked man also reached a fever pitch.
Li Yan's wound reopened, and his clothes were soaked with blood.
His strength gradually waned, and he gradually fell into a disadvantageous position.
The masked man's curved knife was pointed directly at Li Yan's throat.
Zhuge Liang's chariot was surrounded by cavalry.
The royal guards were few in number and in dire straits.
A cavalryman raised his long sword and slashed at the wagon.
Zhuge Liang remained seated, his expression unchanged.
Liu Shan led the imperial guards to the west gate.
Seeing the tragic scene before him, a trace of pity flashed in his eyes.
He immediately drew his sword and shouted sharply.
"My men, follow me and kill!"
"Defend the West Gate, defend Chengdu!"
The Imperial Guards shouted in unison, their voices resounding through the sky.
He followed Liu Shan and charged forward, engaging in fierce combat with the Wei soldiers.
Although Liu Shan lived in the palace for a long time, he also developed martial arts skills.
He wielded his sword and killed several Wei soldiers with a valiant and graceful movement.
The morale in the city was instantly boosted.
What he didn't know was that Guo Huai had already prepared a backup plan.
An elite Wei army was quietly circling around to the rear of the west gate.
Prepare to launch a surprise attack through the secret door and head straight for the city tower.
The masked man, seeing that he couldn't defeat Li Yan after a long attack, decided to give up.
He then pulled a poisoned needle from his pocket.
With a flick of his finger, the poisoned needle was aimed directly at Zhuge Liang's carriage.
Even more fatally, Dong Yun was on his way to the West Gate with his guards.
They were suddenly ambushed by unidentified people.
The guards suffered heavy casualties and were unable to resist.
Dong Yun was surrounded and could not move an inch.
It was impossible to deliver the secret message to Liu Shan.
That secret letter revealed Sima Yi's true conspiracy.
They surrounded and killed Liu Shan, and captured Zhuge Liang alive.
To conquer Shu Han in one fell swoop and eliminate future troubles forever!
[End of Chapter]