The Later Three Kingdoms: Slaying Deng Ai, and Reviving the Han Dynasty

outside the palace.

Chang Heng mounted his horse, reined in his horse, glanced back at the palace, then looked down at the bamboo slips piled on the cart, a strange look appearing in his eyes.

"Let's go," Chang Heng said, lightly tapping the horse's belly with his feet. The warhorse neighed and carried him forward.

"Yes!" More than twenty strong men responded loudly, some pushing and pulling carts, others walking alongside them, and proceeded forward along the main road.

After traveling for a while, the group arrived at the ferry crossing. A large ship was moored at the crossing, with more than ten strong men on board, all carrying swords and bows and standing guard.

Upon seeing Chang Heng, they immediately showed delight. Someone went into the cabin to call Chang Heng's younger brother, Chang Liang.

"Brother, you're finally back." Chang Liang hurriedly got off the boat, walked quickly to Chang Heng, and said with a sigh of relief and a happy face.

Chang Heng shouldn't have been involved in this matter; it was too dangerous. What if the King of Beidi had discovered him and killed him? He sat on the boat waiting, feeling like each day was an eternity. Now, the outcome is truly a happy one for everyone.

"I'm sorry for making you worry, brother." Chang Heng smiled apologetically, patted Chang Liang's shoulder, and then strode onto the large ship.

His companions carried vehicles and bamboo slips.

"It's good that you're back, brother." Chang Liang shook his head, then noticed the bamboo slips and asked in surprise, "Why did you bring back so many bamboo slips?"

"It was a gift from the King of the North," Chang Heng said casually.

"Oh." Chang Liang found it strange, but didn't ask any further questions, and just said "Oh."

The two brothers went into the cabin and sat down together, and a strong man brought in tea.

Chang Heng suddenly said to Chang Liang, "Liang, there's a Confucian saying: 'Judging a person by their appearance, you'll lose Ziyu.'"

What does that mean? Chang Liang, who was not well-educated, was completely confused and looked utterly bewildered.

Chang Heng explained with a smile, "You can't judge a person by their appearance alone." He then sighed, "Everyone says that Liu Chen, the King of Beidi, is a greedy and stingy man, but in my eyes, he is a hero."

"The Liu Han dynasty may not necessarily perish," he added meaningfully. He was quite surprised by Liu Chen's treatment of the Yang brothers. Being bold, he changed his name and came to see Liu Chen in person. He felt that the best way to judge a person was to use one's own eyes.

Even one's own eyes might be deceived.

He recalled his time with Liu Chen with deep emotion.

Liu Chen was handsome, with a refined appearance and the air of a monarch. He was straightforward, and his words and actions inspired trust; he was neither frivolous nor cunning.

He's seen all sorts of people in his life; he wouldn't be wrong. Liu Chen is no ordinary person.

But Liu Chen has such a reputation, and his ambitions are far-reaching.

In his view, Liu Shan was incompetent, and his sons were also mediocre. Given this situation, the Han dynasty probably wouldn't last more than a few years.

However, Liu Chen is a variable.

Cao Cao famously said, "A son should be like Sun Quan; Liu Biao's sons are like pigs and dogs."

The praise actually goes to Sun Quan for his excellent succession. Sun Ce's Jiangdong territory was far from a good one; it was a hot potato. Had it been someone else, they would likely have perished.

Sun Quan's ability to maintain his position is truly remarkable.

The same applies to Liu Han.

Although Liu Shan was incompetent and lacked military prowess, with Liu Chen in charge, the mess could be cleaned up, and perhaps the dynasty could be restored to its former glory.

Chang Heng recalled the military treatise Liu Chen had given him and sighed, "The world is about to change. Liang, we've amassed a vast fortune through years of robbery and plunder. It'll allow us to live comfortably for many years to come. From today onward, I will study. Brother, you will study with me."

Chang Liang was speechless. "Can't I just not read? I'd rather bang my head against a wall than read a book."

Chang Heng squinted at Chang Liang, making Chang Liang's skin crawl. Chang Heng said, "Liang, if you don't behave, I'll hang you up and beat you in front of everyone."

Chang Heng was a man of his word, and Chang Liang shuddered. He quickly smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Study, study. Whatever you ask me to do, I'll do."

"Hahaha." Chang Heng burst into laughter.

Just then, the able-bodied men loaded the bamboo slips and carts. Chang Heng gave the order, and the boats sailed south.

They were from Bi County, Zangke Commandery, in the south.

..............

After Chang Heng left, Liu Chen returned to his daily routine.

The next morning.

Last night, Liu Chen did not summon anyone to attend to him in bed, and occupied the bed alone. After waking up, he summoned eunuchs and palace maids to help him wash up and change his clothes, and then ate breakfast.

After thinking for a moment, he stood up and left the palace, then went to the study amidst a retinue of attendants and began to read.

A short while later, Huang Chong walked in from outside with a solemn expression.

"What is it?" Liu Chen sensed something was amiss and narrowed his eyes as he asked.

"Your Majesty, General Jiang has altered the defensive layout of Hanzhong," Huang Chong said in a deep voice.

"They've finally arrived." Liu Chen let out a breath, his expression turning serious. He turned to the eunuch and said, "Bring me the map of Hanzhong."

"Yes." The eunuch bowed and left the study. When he returned, he brought back a landscape map.

Liu Chen and Huang Chong sat down in the center of the room and spread out a map of Hanzhong.

Huang Chong revealed General Jiang Wei's new strategy for Hanzhong, which Liu Chen had actually known for a long time.

This is also one of the reasons for the demise of the Liu Han dynasty in history.

It may be important, or it may not be.

But it must be the reason.

Hanzhong is a flat area surrounded by mountains on all sides, making it naturally easy to defend and difficult to attack.

To the west lies Yangping Pass, a place where one man can hold off ten thousand.

In the north, the only road is the mountain road that runs through the Qinling Mountains; the Shu Road is harder than climbing to heaven.

In the heart of the Hanzhong Basin, Zhuge Liang also built two magnificent cities, Han and Le.

Liu Han's previous defensive strategy involved having the Governor-General or Prefect of Hanzhong stationed in Hanzhong. When enemy forces pressed in, they would guard the strategic outskirts of Hanzhong, keeping the enemy at bay.

For example, when Cao Shuang, the Grand General of Cao Wei, attacked Liu Han, his general Wang Ping used this strategy to defend Hanzhong. Because the roads to Shu were difficult, transporting supplies for the army was extremely challenging. If Wang Ping could simply hold the line, Cao Wei's supply lines would break down on their own, forcing the army to retreat without achieving its objective.

Wang Ping was a general during the mid-Liu Han dynasty.

However, doing so would only keep the enemy outside. While it would successfully defend, it would not effectively inflict casualties on the enemy.

General Jiang Wei has now changed his strategy. He has ordered the governor of Hanzhong to garrison at Hanshou, a pass further back, leaving the outer perimeter undefended while the elite Han troops guard the cities of Han and Le. His intention is to let the Cao Wei army pass through, and then, relying on the terrain, annihilate the Cao Wei army that has entered Hanzhong, thus achieving a great victory.

This strategy is very aggressive, with high risk and high reward.

As it turned out, Jiang Wei overreacted, and the Cao Wei army advanced unimpeded. However, in the end, the cities of Han and Le in Hanzhong did not fall.

Until Liu Shan surrendered.

After examining the topographical map and analyzing the situation with Liu Chen, Huang Chong stroked his beard and sighed, "The General is old, but the fire in his heart burns ever brighter. He wants to conquer the Central Plains before he dies. But he can't even stabilize the court. He wants to use this strategy to lure the Wei army to attack, then annihilate them to increase his prestige, suppress the court, and at the same time launch a northern expedition to the Central Plains."

Liu Chen said, "If Cao Wei leads 100,000 troops to attack, and the General follows this strategy to slaughter Cao Wei's 100,000 elite troops, then the Northern Expedition will indeed have a great chance."

Liu Chen sighed softly, stood up, walked out of the study to the corridor, put his hands behind his back, and looked up at the sky.

However, Jiang Wei overreacted in history.

But ah.

In this time and space.

I'm here for you.

The wheels of history keep turning, and all the scripts that were meant to be played out have been played out.

This was a fierce and spectacular battle.

It's about to begin.