Chapter 12: Eastern State Troops (Seeking Recommendations and Collections)

  Wang Can led a large group of officials from the inner city to hurry over. When he saw Liu Zhang, he wanted to bow down, but Liu Zhang, who was covered in blood, barely managed to hold Wang Can up and panted heavily, saying: "Wang Can, you can come here, which shows that you are indeed loyal to this official. However, now this official has entered a desperate situation, you are an official, there is no need for you to accompany the burial with this official, you can leave on your own."

  "Wang Lei hastily knelt down and said: 'My lord, although Wang Lei has no strength to bind a chicken, he has a heart that is loyal and dedicated. My lord is in a desperate situation, and Wang Lei wishes to share life and death with you.'"

  "Do not die in vain loyalty." Liu Zhang said weakly, after a sleepless night, his heart was somewhat tired. "A military general should die on the battlefield, wrapped in horsehide, while a civil official should govern a region and bring benefits to its people. What is the use of you, Wang Jun, dying at the city gate today? Return to Chengdu, fulfill your duties, comfort the people, this is what you should do. Remember, whether it's Zhao Wei or Ben Guan, as a civil official, you should always prioritize the people, rather than accompanying me in death here."

  Liu Zhang is not that great, he would rather die than let his people suffer, but what he can't bear to see is a loyal minister like Wang Lei dying in vain on the battlefield. However, when Wang Lei hears this, he can't help but feel a surge of emotions, thinking that with such a lord who loves his people like his own children, what regret could there be in death?

  "Wang Lu wept and said: 'Your Excellency, as a civil official, it is indeed right to prioritize the people. However, as a subject, one must exhaust loyalty and righteousness. If Your Excellency, this wise ruler, does not exist, and Zhao Wei, this treacherous martial artist, enters Chengdu, what future can be spoken of for Yizhou? The people will surely be in a precarious situation, and Wang Lu would rather die than aid the rebels. Please allow me to fulfill my loyal heart with blood, make my ambition clear, and leave a good name in history.'"

  Liu Zhang sighed and looked up at the sky. In ancient times, especially during the Han Dynasty, loyalty and righteousness were considered the highest moral standards. People like Wang Lei regarded loyalty and righteousness as their lifeblood. Liu Zhang knew that he could no longer persuade Wang Lei, so he gave up and turned to the civil officials behind Wang Lei, saying in a low voice, "As for you, if you want to leave, then leave."

  A dozen or so officials stood still, those who wanted to leave had already left. Liu Zhang looked into the crowd and saw that Gong Zhi was also among them. Liu Zhang couldn't help but ask: "Gong County Magistrate, are you willing to stay too?"

  Gong Zhi was originally not willing to come to Dongcheng, but Wang Ju summoned the officials and let them leave if they wanted to. Those who were willing to stay went to Dongcheng. Gong Zhi felt uneasy in his heart because Liu Zhang had left a deep impression on him - an unparalleled treachery, with a knife hidden behind a smile. Yesterday he was still toasting you and praising your outstanding governance, but the next day he would behead you.

  Gong Zhi was really unclear about the situation, and he was afraid that if he lifted his foot to escape, he would be caught by Liu Zhang's soldiers. He reluctantly came to Dongcheng, thinking that when the rebels broke into the city, he would find an opportunity to surrender to Zhao Wei. The county magistrate of Fu City might not be able to keep him safe, but at least his life should be spared.

  But now, Gong Zhi looked at the city head full of corpses, the bloody killing of the soldiers, and Liu Zhang covered in blood. He was deeply shocked by this scene, which made him feel that Liu Zhang was not only ruthless but also a true lord, with so many people willing to die for him.

  The tragic scene on the city wall, the heavily wounded but unyielding defenders, had a profound impact on Gong Zhi's heart. At this moment, this county magistrate who had always been afraid of death suddenly felt that death was not so terrible after all.

  Liu Zhang asked, Gong Zhi looked at the city head, and after a while replied: "I am willing to stay."

  Liu Zhang turned around with his sword, looking out of the city. He didn't want to look at these people behind him. The rebel army was about to attack the city, and these people were just a pile of corpses waiting to happen.

  Wang Can looked at Liu Zhang's back and suddenly shouted loudly to the officials behind him: "We, though civil officials, should now draw our swords to kill the enemy and share life and death with the soldiers."

  Wang Lei picked up the general's sword that had fallen on the ground and rushed to the city gate. Gong Zhi was stunned for a moment, and then suddenly found some courage, shouting: "Do you want to be captured?"

  As he spoke, he picked up a sword and rushed out. The remaining officials looked at each other, then started picking up the dead soldiers' weapons on the ground. There were not many light weapons such as swords, but some officials wielded long spears and charged towards the city gate. Courage is contagious, the soldiers in front fought to the death, and these officials instantly turned into soldiers.

  The wide sleeves fluttered on the city wall, Liu Zhang tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, and his eyes couldn't help but become moist. There are many heroes in Shu, only because they didn't meet a wise lord. Unfortunately, he would die today, otherwise, he would have led these loyal and righteous warriors to achieve great things that would be remembered for ages.

  At this time, Liu Zhang suddenly saw a commotion in the distant Zhao Wei's camp, and a large army came from afar, like a tiger descending a mountain, rushing towards the rebel army. The cavalry of Lei Tong had already lost seven or eight out of ten, and Deng Xian's infantry was also severely wounded. As soon as this army arrived, the troops of Lei Tong and Deng Xian were immediately swept into the torrent.

  "Kill."

  At the forefront, he held his sword high, and the soldiers behind him were all brave and unstoppable. Zhao Wei's rebel army had been fighting for a day and night, and their physical strength had reached its limit. As soon as the main force arrived, it only took one round to capture Zhao Wei's camp, and the main force charged towards the two million rebel troops without stopping, causing them to be utterly defeated.

  Wang Lei and others stopped in their tracks, quietly watching the sudden change at the foot of the city. Fa Zheng, who was slowly picking up a sword from the ground, raised his head to look at this unfamiliar large army in front of him, with sweat on his palms.

  When he picked up the sword on the ground, Fa Zheng felt extremely painful in his heart. It was hard to find a bright lord, but why did Fa Zheng encounter a bright lord just now and fall into a desperate situation? Heaven didn't leave any chance for me.

  But this large army suddenly arrived, awakening the desperate Fa Zheng. Fa Zheng only hoped that it was not Pang Xi's army, otherwise, Xichuan would be in great chaos. And the three to five years that Lord Liu Zhang said could not wait, he and the loyal civil and military officials of Liu Zhang would have to wait.

  In any case, he could follow Liu Zhang and establish some achievements, rather than dying on the small city wall of Fu Cheng.

  "What if Cao Cao and Yuan Shao unite the north? What if Jiangdong is as solid as gold soup? Can't I, Fa Zheng, with countless heroes in western Shu and a wise ruler on the throne, match you in battle?" Fa Zheng's heart was filled with heroic ambition.

  But Liu Zhang knew where this large army came from, and an uncontrollable joy had already appeared on his face. The large "Huang" character on the military flag was shining brightly. Liu Zhang let out a breath of air and said softly: "Huang Gongheng, you finally didn't disappoint me."

  Huang Quan led 20,000 troops from Dongzhou to attack Guanghan. The Dongzhou troops were the refugees from the three auxiliary regions who had been taken in by Liu Yan. They were brave and powerful, each one capable of taking on ten men. Zhao Wei's strong army was at the end of its strength, and it scattered as soon as the Dongzhou troops charged. Tens of thousands of soldiers were scattered across the plain like a flock of chickens, ducks, pigs, and dogs, to be slaughtered by the Dongzhou troops.

  "In the end, Huang Quan arrived late, causing our lord to fall into danger, a crime punishable by death." Huang Quan led his troops in a fierce attack, and the city gates creaked open under Liu Zhang's orders. Huang Quan dismounted and bowed, and the officials saw that it was Liu Zhang's trusted general who had brought troops to kill their way in, and they were all overjoyed. Fa Zheng's heart finally fell back into place, and the most critical moment had finally passed. From now on, everything would be bright and sunny for Western Shu.

  Liu Zhang slowly sheathed his sword and said to Huang Quan, "This is not the time for apologies. The governor's order is that 5,000 soldiers from Dongzhou will be stationed in Fu City to drive out the scattered rebels within the city, while another 5,000 soldiers will sweep around Fu City to gather the rebel remnants. The remaining soldiers will follow me to pursue Zhao Wei and ensure not a single rebel escapes."

  Zhang Ren stepped forward and said: "The lord has been directing the battle for a whole night, let's leave the pursuit of the rebel army to General Huang and General Mo."

  Liu Zhang wiped his face with the clear water brought by the soldier and coldly said: "Zhao Wei's army besieged the city, killed thousands of loyal and righteous generals, and even the civil officials who followed me were almost buried in the east city. If I don't kill Zhao Wei, it will be hard for me to vent my hatred. Pass on my order, all the bloody soldiers in the east city return to the inner city to rest, the soldiers from Dongzhou follow me to pursue the rebel army, anyone who dares to resist will not be spared, kill."