Chapter 8: Fa Zheng Presents His Strategy

  Liu Zhang turned his head, with his back to Fa Zheng, and wiped his face with both hands: "Yes, the enemy is too numerous, and Fu City will be broken sooner or later. We will all die without a place to bury our bodies."

  "My lord knows that the rebel army is strong, so why must you still execute Yu An and others on the city wall today, enraging Zhao Wei and cutting off our own retreat?"

  Liu Zhang smiled slightly and sighed, "What else can I do? If I try to please Zhao Wei, at most I will be made a puppet governor after the city is broken. It's better to die by An's sword and give our soldiers the determination to quell the rebellion."

  "The Prime Minister is indeed a brilliant and farsighted man." said Fa Zheng with a smile.

  Liu Zhang sighed and said, "Xiao Zhi, don't mock me. I knew it was wrong but did it anyway, and now I'm reaping the consequences. When the city falls, everything will be destroyed. Now that I think about it, I truly regret my impulsiveness. The rebel army is too strong, so I want to negotiate with Zhao Wei. Xiao Zhi, are you willing to act as an envoy?"

  Liu Zhang looked at Fa Zheng, and Fa Zheng burst out laughing after hearing Liu Zhang's words: "My lord, now that things have come to this point, why must you still test me? If my lord wants to make peace with Zhao Wei, why do I need to be sent as an envoy? My lord has a broad mind and hidden strategies, concealing his plans from the world. Fa Zheng is willing to follow my lord for life, never faltering or regretting it. Please, my lord, do not harbor doubts."

  Liu Zhang looked at Fa Zheng with a sincere face, not like pretending, and said: "Filial piety, integrity, loyalty, and righteousness are commendable. However, we are now in a desperate situation, and Filial Piety is showing his loyalty to the official at this time. Isn't he afraid that when the city is broken, he will be executed?"

  Fa Zheng said: "As the saying goes, adding flowers to brocade is not as good as sending charcoal in snowy weather. If it weren't for a critical moment, how could I make the lord believe in my loyalty? Fa Zheng has met a wise lord, and even if he dies, he will have no regrets. What's more...". Fa Zheng smiled slightly and said: "The lord knows that Zhao Wei's rebel army is numerous, yet he dares to bring 5,000 troops into Fu City, there must be a follow-up plan. Fa Zheng's life or death is still uncertain, it's a gamble with his lifelong fame and fortune, but Fa Zheng thinks it's worth it."

  Liu Zhang smiled and said: "Xiao Zhi is indeed a good gambler, but I have a later move, yet I don't have the number five, at most it's between four and six."

  Fa Zheng said: "Between 40 and 60, he dares to gamble with his life, the lord is a real gambler."

  Liu Zhang burst out laughing and said: "Xiao Zhi, you're willing to stake your entire life's reputation on a single gamble of five or zero, while I'm staking the fate of the world. Isn't four or six enough? Xiao Zhi, I know you have an extraordinary plan, now that the situation is critical, do you have any advice for me?"

  Fa Zheng didn't know if Liu Zhang was testing him or genuinely seeking his advice, but in any case, whether he would be reused in the future depended on his answer this time.

  "My lord, Fa Zheng does not know what strategy you will use, but I have a small plan that may slightly alleviate your difficulties and increase the chances of victory."

  "Oh, come on and tell me."

  Fa Zheng said: "In view of the current situation, what does the lord think is on the minds of the officials and generals within the city?"

  Liu Zhang thought for a moment and said, "Now that Zhao Wei's power is great, once the city is broken, I will be captured, and all of Yi Province will belong to Zhao Wei. Those officials who are not resolute in their hearts will naturally think about how to leave a way out for themselves."

  Fa Zheng smiled and said: "The lord is indeed wise, earlier the lord tested Fa Zheng, didn't he think that Fa Zheng wanted to sit on the fence and take advantage of the situation to surrender to Zhao Wei? Since that's the case, why don't we do the opposite, use a reliable general in the city to pretend to surrender to Zhao Wei, Zhao Wei will definitely not be suspicious, and when the time comes, launch a surprise attack, it will surely have an extraordinary effect."

  Liu Zhang listened to Fa Zheng's strategy and thought it was feasible. He thought to himself that Fa Zheng indeed had hidden cleverness and was a rare intelligent strategist. He nodded and said, "Hsiao-chih's words are reasonable, but I don't know who can undertake the heavy responsibility of pretending to surrender."

  "School Lieutenant Deng Xian."

  "Why?"

  Fa Zheng said: "Deng Xian was once under Zhao Wei's command, but later transferred to General Zhang Ren's army. He has an old relationship with Zhao Wei, and the Deng family is a large clan in southern Yizhou, which is controlled by Zhao Wei. Deng Xian has a foundation for surrendering, both emotionally and rationally. If he pretends to surrender, Zhao Wei will not suspect him. To be absolutely safe, my lord can send an eloquent envoy to accompany him."

  "Who?"

  "Let Zhang Song drive."

  "Zhang Song?" Liu Zhang couldn't help but turn his head to look at Fa Zheng, this guy wouldn't be like in history, letting Zhang Song and Zhao Yun secretly communicate, and taking himself along with them, would he?

  But immediately denied this answer, Fa Zheng is a rare talent, Liu Bei can be let go, how could he look up to such a master as Zhao Wei, if Fa Zheng has such short-sightedness, then he might as well go to rely on Zhao Wei, and don't bother himself.

  "Your Excellency, please forgive Fa Zheng for slandering his colleagues. Zhang Song, although a subordinate of yours, has been wavering in his loyalty. Previously, he had been harboring dissenting thoughts towards you, which is why he could collude with Deng You to feign surrender. However, Zhang Song and I are close friends, and though he is prone to opportunism, now that he knows your profound wisdom and foresight, he has truly submitted to you and will not engage in any duplicitous behavior. If Your Excellency trusts this humble official, with Zhang Song's talents, he will surely make Zhao Wei unsuspecting."

  Liu Zhang smiled to himself, this Fa Zheng is indeed interesting. He himself was a man with ulterior motives and accustomed to taking advantage of situations. Now that he spoke of Zhang Song, his words were righteous and proper. However, this also showed that Fa Zheng was truly loyal. People like Fa Zheng and Zhang Song, if they can be assisted by their lord, then assist them; if not, then let them go. Why not use this opportunity to test whether the two are truly sincere? At the same time, it would also be a good chance to examine his own so-called "kingly aura".

  Liu Zhang invited Deng Xian and Zhang Song, telling them of Fa Zheng's plan. Zhang Song had already known about this matter beforehand, except for the part where Fa Zheng slandered him. All other details had been discussed with him by Fa Zheng before, which was also a way for Zhang Song to show his loyalty to Liu Zhang. He agreed immediately. Deng Xian, a rough and straightforward man, had followed the loyal and righteous Zhang Ren for many years, and had been influenced by him. He carried out orders without hesitation, and didn't think too much about it. If his lord told him to pretend to surrender, then he would pretend to surrender.

  Liu Zhang, seeing the two men agree, instructed the details and said to Deng Xian: "General Deng, I reckon that the city can still hold out for at least two more hours. At that time, it will be dark, and the rebel army's offensive will weaken. Then you can carry out the plan of feigning surrender. Currently, the military strength in the city is scarce, so I won't send troops to respond to you. You just need to wait until there are troops with the flag of Ba Xi Taishou Pang Xi, killing into Zhao Wei's army, and then cooperate inside and outside, be sure to heavily defeat the rebel army."

  "What? Is it true that Pang Tong, the Governor of Bazhou, has sent troops to support us?" Both Fa Zheng and Zhang Song were shocked and amazed. No wonder Liu Zhang was so confident. If Pang Tong supported Liu Zhang, it would be much easier to put down the rebellion.

  Liu Zhang coldly snorted: "Pang Xi is just a turncoat, I will deal with him sooner or later."

  Liu Zhang left after finishing speaking, the next two hours are the most critical two hours, he must go to supervise the defense of the city. Fa Zheng and Zhang Song were both bewildered, not knowing whether Pang Xi supported Liu Zhang or not, if not, where did the army that Liu Zhang mentioned come from?

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