Three Kingdoms: Conquer Wu from Maicheng with Cavalry and Swords, Don't Fall Behind

It was freezing cold, and Liao Hua wished he could roll up all his clothes and limbs to add some warmth to his stiff, cold body. He had left in such a hurry that he hadn't brought any luggage, and his lips were frozen purple.

The entire route was a mountain path, exuding a desolate atmosphere.

Liao Hua dismounted, his legs buckling and he nearly lost his footing, staggering a few steps. He took a water pouch from his waist, knelt down by the stream to fetch water, and took a deep sip, making a satisfying "smack" sound as if it were the finest nectar.

A deep, resonant roar echoed through Liao Hua's chest, sending a jolt of fear through him, even causing his heart to clench slightly. This was the instinctive fear humans have of wild beasts in nature, something etched into their very blood.

"How could there be tigers in this wretched place, Shangyong?!" Liao Hua desperately restrained his frightened horse and fled in panic.

Shangyong is nestled between Wudang Mountain to the north and Wuxia Gorge to the south, with the Du River flowing through it and winding mountain ranges.

Originating from Fangling, it traverses valleys and streams, converges with various creeks, passes under Shangyong City, connects to Hanzhong in the west, and links to Xiangyang in the east.

Surrounded by mountains and water, shrouded in clouds and mist, it is a place where ten thousand troops can be stationed.

If the Northern Expedition were to capture Xiangfan, then Hanzhong, Shangyong, and Xiangfan, connected by the Han River, would form a natural barrier, offering a strategic advantage for both offense and defense. Even if Cao Wei's million-strong army came, they would be powerless against it.

Liao Hua, carrying a small flag with the character "Guan" on his back, galloped across the battlefield. The outline of Shangyong City came into clear view at the edge of his field of vision. His fatigue vanished, his shoulders trembled with excitement, and his eyes shone like two bright suns:

"Jingzhou is in grave danger; reinforcements must be sent immediately!"

Maicheng was in grave danger; the lives of Guan Yu and the people were entrusted to him. Once the reinforcements from Shangyong arrived, they would surely be able to save Maicheng from its dire straits. That profound sense of mission gradually eased.

Shangyong City was surrounded by water on three sides, and its walls were fortified with wooden palisades, making it an impregnable fortress. The garrison soldiers saw it from afar and rushed upstairs to report it, which was then relayed to the main hall.

Liao Hua arrived without any obstacles, like a whirlwind, his chest heaving violently.

The man at the head of the table inside the hall had a dignified appearance and a slightly plump figure; it was Meng Da.

He and Fa Zheng were both from Fufeng and had a deep friendship. In the early years of Jian'an, the two went to Shu together to serve Liu Zhang.

Later, dissatisfied with Liu Zhang's incompetence, the two betrayed Liu Zhang together and joined the Imperial Uncle, becoming meritorious officials in the Imperial Uncle's conquest of Yizhou.

Fa Zheng was skilled in devising ingenious strategies and was deeply trusted by the Imperial Uncle, holding a position second only to Zhuge Liang.

He served as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and was the most trusted advisor of the Imperial Uncle, responsible for formulating strategies.

Meng Da was recommended by the scholars of Dongzhou and became the general in charge of the army.

He and Fa Zheng, one a scholar and the other a warrior, represented the interests of the scholars of Dongzhou and secured the opportunity to lead the army to attack Shangyong.

For generals like Zhao Yun and Fu Shiren, who came from Youji, it was extremely difficult to get the opportunity to make meritorious contributions.

Wei Yan was a close confidant of the Imperial Uncle and also had the influence of the gentry in Jingzhou, so he was promoted much faster than Zhao Yun.

Competition in the workplace is fierce in any era, and in ancient times it was often accompanied by bloodshed.

Liao Hua said urgently, "I followed Lord Guan in battle, defending Maicheng against the enemy. Now the enemy is besieging us fiercely, and the city is short of soldiers and food, on the verge of collapse. The reinforcements from Shu are too far away to arrive in a day or two. Lord Guan sent me to risk my life to break through the siege and come here to ask for help. I hope the general will quickly raise troops from Shangyong to relieve our dire situation!"

Meng Da, following orders, served tea and calmly reassured the envoy, saying in a measured tone:

"Words alone are insufficient; I cannot dispatch troops arbitrarily. Do you have a general's order?"

His first principle in rejecting risks was procedural justice. He would never send troops until the procedures were completed.

Liao Hua hurriedly pulled out a silk scroll from his bosom. Guan Yu was personally appointed General of the Vanguard by the King of Hanzhong, and granted the authority to command troops.

After reading the silk scroll, Meng Da, clearly prepared, said with righteous indignation:

"Guan Yu was in charge of Jingzhou, and Shangyong was subordinate to Hanzhong, so I couldn't make decisions on my own."

The second tactic to refuse the order was to question the legitimacy of the silk manuscript.

Liao Hua's expression stiffened slightly: "The Han Dynasty is a game of chess; how can it be divided so clearly! Guan Yu is the sworn brother of the King of Hanzhong. If he were to fall, how would you, General, maintain your inaction?"

Meng Da sneered, "Without the King of Hanzhong's order, you expect me to disregard my duty to defend the region and send troops? And you're so reckless, threatening a high-ranking official like me! Liao Yuanjian, you are shameless!"

The third trick of a seasoned workplace veteran: You talk about loyalty, I'll talk about reason.

Liao Hua knelt down, carrying thorns on his back, to apologize: "I spoke a little too hastily, I hope the general will not take offense."

Meng Da waved his hand: "If you dare to speak rudely again, I will have you thrown out."

Liao Hua pleaded in anguish, "The most urgent task is to send troops immediately to aid Guan Yu."

Meng Da feigned reluctance, saying, "It's not that I don't want to help, but that I simply cannot. The King of Hanzhong has appointed Liu Feng to advance eastward from the Mian River. I must consult him before making any decisions."

The fourth trick of seasoned office workers: complaining.

Liao Hua raised his face and shouted, "Meng Da, are you going to send troops or not?!"

Meng Da suddenly stood up, and changed his tone to one of firm resolve: "If Liu Feng wants to come to my aid, I will definitely send troops. Please rest assured, General."

The fifth trick of seasoned office workers: passing the buck and shirking responsibility.

Liao Hua, unsuspecting, went to ask Liu Feng for help. It was like a middle-aged man who had failed in his business, asking a friend for money to make ends meet. If the friend had his reasons for not lending, shouldn't the nephew at least offer some explanation?

Liu Feng was young, handsome, with clear and firm eyes, exuding a seemingly righteous sense of justice and sharpness. After careful consideration, he replied:

"General, please rest for a moment, and allow me to make a decision. Meng Da is the commander-in-chief of Shangyong, and I am his deputy. I will go and ask him to send troops."

Liao Hua trembled, his pleading gaze fixed on Liu Feng.

Liu Feng's blood boiled: "I will certainly not fail in my mission." After saying that, he immediately rushed to discuss with Meng Da and explain the situation.

Meng Da revealed his true feelings: "With all the counties of Jingzhou lost, only Maicheng remains. What great things can we accomplish here? Don't forget, Xu Huang and Cao Ren still have hundreds of thousands of troops stationed in Xiangfan. If our troops in the mountain city dare to leave lightly, the enemy will surely attack."

Liu Feng looked down at the ground and said, "I understand what the general is saying, but Guan Yu is my second uncle after all. It would be unrighteous not to save him."

Meng Da raised his eyebrows: "You treat Guan Yu as an uncle, but he may not treat you as a nephew. When the King of Hanzhong wanted to establish an heir, Guan Yu said that you, General, are an adopted son and cannot usurp the throne! You risked your life to rescue Maicheng and lost Shangyong. How will you explain this to the King of Hanzhong?"

Liu Feng and Meng Da exchanged glances and immediately summoned Liao Hua.

Liao Hua was overjoyed to receive news so quickly: "Generals, when will we send out our troops?"

Liu Feng's expression was gentle and kind: "Shancheng has just been annexed, and the people's hearts are not yet settled. I am here to guard Shangyong on my father's orders and dare not leave without permission."

Liao Hua's heart trembled: "General, are you going to stand by and watch me die?"

Liu Feng replied matter-of-factly, "This is nothing more than a drop in the ocean; how can it possibly extinguish the fire in Jingzhou?"

Liao Hua grabbed Liu Feng's hand, pleading, "You are the adopted son of the King of Hanzhong. The King of Hanzhong and Guan Yu swore to live and die together. Can't you save him now?"

Liu Feng waved his sleeve and said, "It's not that I'm unwilling, but that I'm unable to."

Liao Hua cried out to heaven and earth, "I will go to Chengdu immediately and report you two treacherous officials who have misled the country to the King of Hanzhong!"

Meng Da's eyes flashed with ferocity; he wished he could get rid of him as soon as possible, but he didn't have the guts.