The autumn wind is blowing, and all the trees are withered, but Shu is still lush and green.
Liu Qi left Yan Pu to guard Baxi and divided his troops into two routes to enter Shu. Zhao Yun left Nanchong and marched towards Guanghan, cooperating with Liu Pan's army from the north and south. He led his troops to take Jianmen Pass and open up the important road to Hanzhong.
Before leaving, he instructed the soldiers of the three armies to be careful and not underestimate the enemy. Although Yizhou's outer cover had been stripped away, Liu Zhang still had strength and could still fight.
In fact, objectively speaking, the comprehensive strength of the Yizhou Group is stronger than that of Liu Biao of Jingzhou. If we ignore the lord and only talk about civil and military talents, it can even be compared with the Yuan Shao Group.
At this time, Jianmen Pass could not be called a pass. Liu Zhang was guarding against Zhang Lu, and the main front-line fortress was at Jiameng Pass. There was only a fortress at Jianmen Pass. The pass was built by Zhuge Liang in the later period.
After Zhang Wei captured Jiameng Pass, Liu Zhang sent General Deng Xian to lead 20,000 troops to resist the enemy. At the break in Dajian Mountain, they built a camp with huge stones and set up a garrison from a high position.
Kou Feng and Liu Xian led their troops to attack the front of the camp. Deng Xian refused to come out and the two armies fought for several days. Lei Tong led another 5,000 troops to help.
That night the two generals discussed and decided to go out of the pass to rob the camp, and they indeed won a great victory. Kou Feng retreated to Jiameng Pass. Lei Tong was ready to pursue the victory and retake the pass, but was persuaded by Deng Xian.
Lei Tong said anxiously: "Liu Qi is still in Bazhong at this time. If we don't take advantage of the situation to retake Jiameng Pass, won't we miss the opportunity?"
Deng Xianyan said: "Since Baxi has been lost, Jiameng Pass is no longer a strategic location. There is a road from Langzhong that leads to Jianshan. If we attack Jiameng Pass, Liu Qi will take advantage of the opportunity to seize this stronghold, and you and I will have no way to advance or retreat."
Lei Tongyan said, "General, why don't you stay and guard the main camp? I will go and take Jiameng Pass and guard these two places. Even if Liu Qi's troops come, we can respond from the front and back, making it impossible for the enemy to advance or retreat."
"This is a great plan!" Deng Xian was overjoyed and ordered Lei Tong to take advantage of the situation to attack Jiameng Pass.
Lei Tong chased Kou Feng to Jiameng Pass. Kou Feng was furious and sent troops to meet the enemy. The two fought for forty or fifty rounds without a clear winner, so they each withdrew their troops.
Kou Feng was anxious and angry: "I didn't expect that there are many great generals in Shu. You and I have been defeated for a while. If we don't repel the enemy, how can we face General Liu?"
He and Liu Xian led the troops alone to guard Jiameng Pass this time. Seeing the victories from all directions, he was anxious and immediately sent troops after receiving the order from the general. He thought he could win the battle, but he suffered setbacks one after another and was greatly hit.
Liu Xian sighed, "If my Lingling general Xing Daorong were here, why would I be afraid of the generals in Sichuan?"
After Liu Qi inspected the four counties in southern Jing, Liu Du sent Liu Xian to Xiangyang for training. Since there was no one to lead the troops in the county, he had to leave Xing Daorong behind, and he missed him a little at this time.
Kou Feng said angrily: "I will not return to the pass until I kill this man tomorrow!"
Liu Xian smiled and said, "General, please be patient. General Liu always taught us that a general's strategy is more important than his courage. If the Shu army can raid the camp, we can do the same."
"What do you mean?" Kou Feng's eyes lit up and he clasped his fists and said, "I'll get ready right away."
As soon as he turned around and went out, he heard shouting and killing outside the pass. The guards came to report that a group of people had come from somewhere and were fighting with the Shu army.
Liu Xian said: "These must be the troops from Langzhong, hurry out to support them!"
The two men immediately ordered their troops to march out of the pass. Liu Xian guarded the gate, while Kou Feng attacked from behind, attacking the Shu army from both sides and causing great chaos.
Kou Feng urged his horse to take Lei Tong. Before he got close, he saw a general like a tiger among a flock of sheep, invincible. In a blink of an eye, he rushed to the center of the army and in front of Lei Tong.
Lei Tong hastily parried and swept away the spear, sending the weapon flying. Then he roared like a bolt from the blue, raised his hand and lifted the stunned Lei Tong from the horse's back, holding him above his head:
"Zhang Fei from Yan is here. Those who surrender will not be killed!"
When the confused Shu army heard the shout and saw Lei Tong kicking his hands and feet in the air, they were so scared that they all fell to the ground.
When Kou Feng arrived, the crowd around him had already knelt down and exclaimed, "Ten Thousand Enemies, the reputation is well-deserved!"
When he was training troops in Wancheng, he always thought that his martial arts skills were pretty good. Even though he was not as good as Zhao Yun, he could still be among the top. After today's battle on the battlefield, he realized the gap between himself and these generals.
"Hahaha, young general, you're here just in time!" Zhang Fei turned around and laughed, throwing the thunder copper on the ground: "I'll give you a great deed!"
"No wonder General Liu is so invincible!" Kou Feng shook his head and smiled bitterly, secretly resolving to practice martial arts more diligently in the future, and it would be best if he could learn a few moves from Zhao Yun.
His mind raced, and he ordered his men to capture Lei Tong and take all the captives to Guanzhong. He stepped forward and saluted Zhang Fei: "Lei Tong was captured by General Zhang, how dare I take credit for it?"
Zhang Fei laughed and said, "It's my credit to kill the general and capture the enemy, but it's your credit to capture the enemy's camp."
Kou Feng was stunned and asked, "What do you mean, General?"
At this time, Liu Xian also came forward and clasped his fists and said, "General Zhang has arrived just in time. Now that the siege has been lifted, please enter the pass to rest. We will celebrate your success."
"It's not time to celebrate yet!" Zhang Fei waved his hand, dismounted and came to Lei Tong: "General Liu has made a plan to take Jianmen Pass, and asked me to spare your life. Are you willing to surrender?"
When Lei Tong heard that Jianmen Pass had been lost and he had been captured, he sighed helplessly, "Thank you, General, for not killing me. I am willing to surrender!"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "In that case, you can help me take Jianmen Pass."
Lei Tong was startled: "General, you just said that General Liu has taken Jianmen Pass, why do you want me to go again?"
Zhang Fei stroked his stubble and laughed, "I just said that I have decided on a plan to take Jianmen. The plan is decided, but Jianmen has not been taken yet. This plan needs your help to be implemented."
"Uh..." Lei Tong was dumbfounded.
"What? Are you going to regret it?" Zhang Fei's eyes widened. "I hate people who are fickle and untrustworthy the most. I will kill them if I see them!"
Lei Tong was excited by the murderous aura and said hurriedly: "I have long heard of your great name, and I am willing to follow General Liu. Now that I have surrendered, how can I regret it? If the general has any orders, just tell me."
Zhang Fei pointed at Kou Feng and Liu Xian and said, "Take these two back to Jianmen to claim the credit!"
"This..." Lei Tong was stunned again, thinking that Zhang Fei was not only a reckless man, but also had a confused mind
Kou Feng's face changed slightly, and he said anxiously: "General, although we have suffered a disadvantage in the battle, we are willing to be punished by military law, but you should not capture us and send us to the enemy."
Liu Xian laughed and said, "General, you misunderstood! This is a plan. The Jianmen camp is high up and easy to defend but difficult to attack. You and I will pretend to be captured, and General Lei will take us back to the Jianmen camp to claim the credit. When the time comes, we can break into the camp with the help of the insiders and the outsiders, and it will be a great achievement."
Kou Feng looked at Zhang Fei: "Is that so?"
Zhang Fei nodded approvingly: "My Lord, you are right. Liu Xian is quite wise. Would you like to join my army in the future?"
Liu Xian was pleasantly surprised and bowed, saying, "It is an honor for me to lead the troops with the general."
Kou Feng was looking envious when he saw Zhang Fei turn around and ask, "What do you think, young general?"
He quickly replied, "I do!"
Zhang Fei looked at Lei Tong again and said, "I think you have some skills. After we take Jianmen Pass, you can serve under me if you are willing!"
"Yes, sir!" Lei Tong complained in his heart. I was captured by Zhang Fei in one move. I don't know how he knew I was capable
But following Zhang Fei to fight is like leaning against a big tree for shade. Won't you be able to reap plenty of credit in the future
Zhang Fei was overjoyed, and immediately ordered the two generals behind him: "Fan Jiang, Zhang Da, the eldest master has ordered that you two guard Jiameng Pass, you must practice diligently and don't lose my men!"
Fan Jiang and Zhang Da were extremely surprised. They were Zhang Fei's personal soldiers and had been praised several times by Liu Qi when they were in Langzhong. They did not expect to be promoted so quickly and gladly accepted the order.