Ling Bao returned to the city safely from the enemy camp on horseback. The soldiers were in an uproar, thinking that he had surrendered the city. However, when they entered the city, they were ordered to guard the city gates strictly. They were all confused.
Before he could ask, Ling Bao ordered Zhang Yi to be arrested, brought him close and yelled, "Zhang Bogong, you left me and ran away by yourself, why didn't you come to save me?"
Zhang Yi said helplessly: "The front army was in chaos, and the Jingzhou army took advantage of the victory. The defeat was like a mountain, and it was also helpless! If I went forward to rescue people, I am afraid that the city would have fallen by now."
Ling Bao was still furious and said sternly, "Do you know that deserting a battle is a capital crime? If you hadn't fled first and thrown the battle into disarray, how could I have endured the humiliation of being captured?"
He then ordered that he beheaded him, but the generals pleaded for mercy, and Ling Bao released Zhang Yi, taking into account his meritorious service in defending the city, to make up for his mistake.
When the two of them arrived at the government office, Ling Bao said, "If we hadn't done this just now, the army's morale might have been unstable. General, you should focus on the overall situation and don't mind it."
In fact, he did not really want to kill Zhang Yi. It was just that being captured alive was too embarrassing, so he put the blame for the defeat on Zhang Yi to save some face.
"How can I, Zhang Yi, bear grudges?" Zhang Yi smiled faintly and asked, "How could the general escape unscathed after being captured and not surrendering?"
Ling Bao laughed triumphantly and said, "How ridiculous that idiot Zhao Yun was fooled by my false surrender. He is still waiting for a reply outside the city and has not yet set up camp. I will make his entire army starve to death tonight. Hahaha!"
At this moment, drums sounded loudly on the city wall, and the defenders came to report that the Jingzhou army was outside the city challenging Ling Bao to a fight.
Ling Bao waved his hand and said, "Don't worry about him. Anyone who dares to approach the city will be shot with arrows."
Zhang Yi said: "General, you deceived Zhao Yun and returned. The defenders all saw it. If we don't answer him, he will be deceived and affect the morale of the army. We should rebuke him with stern words!"
"Well, that makes sense!" Ling Bao was also worried about the discussions in the army, so he and Zhang Yi rushed to the top of the city wall, thinking about how to respond on the way.
When they arrived at the city wall, they saw that it was Meng Da who was fighting. Ling Bao first cursed: "Meng Da, you are a traitor who betrays your master. How can you have the face to attack Yizhou?"
Meng Da shouted, "Ling Bao, you are such a treacherous villain, why don't you keep your word?"
Ling Bao sneered: "Ling is loyal to the master and sincere. I am ashamed to talk to a traitor. Get out of here!"
Meng Da was furious and was about to lead his troops to attack the city, but was forced to retreat by a hail of arrows. At this time, Zhao Yun also rode forward and asked Meng Da to retreat.
Zhao Yun rode to the city on horseback and said in a loud voice: "General Ling, if you don't surrender, you can die bravely and still maintain your integrity as a loyal minister. Why do you have to deceive me with words and never come back just to survive?"
"Hehe, haven't you heard that all is fair in war?" Ling Bao laughed and said, "It's all your fault for being so stupid that you didn't know my plan to escape. I was ordered to resist the enemy, so I should keep my body useful. How can I die so easily?"
Zhao Yun said coldly: "Yizhou will soon be lost. You should know the current situation. If you open the city to surrender, I will forgive you and avoid causing suffering to the people in the city. If you are defeated by me, I will kill you without mercy!"
"Come on, attack the city!" Ling Bao laughed wildly, "I want to see if your horse is fast enough to jump onto my tower."
Zhao Yun raised his spear and shouted, "Ling Bao, do you dare to come down to the city and fight me?"
Ling Bao put his hands on his hips and laughed: "Zhao Yun, if you have the guts, come up, haha... uh—"
Zhao Yun was enraged by Ling Bao and was about to take out his bow and arrow to shoot him, when suddenly the laughter from the city stopped. He looked up and saw a general beside him drawing his sword and stabbing Ling Bao to death. He was shocked.
The man raised his sword and shouted, "Ling Bao is a treacherous villain who wants to kill us. General Liu is kind and righteous. Those who are willing to surrender, please follow me!"
The defenders on the city wall were in chaos. After a moment's silence, they followed the man down the city wall. Only a few ran towards the west gate and escaped.
After a while, the city gate slowly opened. The defenders had already dropped their weapons and left the city, standing on both sides to welcome the army into the city.
Zhao Yun came closer, dismounted, clasped his fists and said, "What's your name, General?"
Zhang Yi returned the greeting and said, "I am Zhang Yi. Ling Bao is shameless and does not know the current situation. If we don't kill him, I don't know how many people will die."
Zhao Yun praised: "He takes the overall situation into consideration and cares for his soldiers. He is a true hero!"
Zhang Yi hurriedly said, "How dare I? Liu Yizhou and the eldest son are from the same clan. We are both Han generals, and we should work together to support the court."
"That's quite true!" Zhao Yun admired Zhang Yi very much. He led his troops into the city and ordered him to continue to take charge of the surrendered troops, issue a notice to reassure the people, and send people to inquire about the surrounding news.
The next day, Liu Pan's troops also came to Guanghan from Deyang. It turned out that after Huang Zhong persuaded Yan Yan to surrender, the two veteran generals refused to give in and led their own troops from Jiangyang along Tuojiang River to the north to take the central part of Jianwei. Liu Pan only took Deyang nearby.
At this time, scouts came to report that Liu Qi had already captured Fucheng and was preparing to attack Mianzhu. Liu Pan prepared to continue his advance and meet up with Liu Qi.
Xu Shu said, "Now my troops are divided into three groups. Gan Ning and Li Yan are advancing by land and sea with unstoppable force and will soon reach Wuyang. Huang Zhong and Yan Yan have already reached Zizhong, and wherever they pass, the people surrender. We must not act too hastily. We must first calm the people's hearts and wait until the eldest son takes Mianzhu before we can advance at the same time."
Liu Pan asked: "How should we use our troops now?"
Xu Shu said, "I have sent people to spread rumors everywhere. We can first divide our troops to take Guanghan and Qianwei and other counties. If we pacify these two counties, it will be like cutting off the arms and legs of Chengdu. Then we can form a siege on Chengdu. Liu Zhang will have nothing to rely on and will naturally surrender without a fight."
Liu Pan agreed with this and ordered Yu Jin and Zhang He to take Pi County and wait for Huang Zhong's troops to join them. Zhao Yun led the cavalry to Mianzhu to assist in the battle, while the other generals divided their troops to pacify the counties and publicize Jingzhou's policies.
Not only will the people in the territory be exempt from taxes next year, they will also be allocated land, and there will be financial subsidies for childbirth. All these measures that benefit the people have already spread, and once the notice is announced, it will immediately win people's hearts.
Zhang Yi asked for orders, saying, "I am from Wuyang, and I am willing to go to the city to persuade the people to surrender, so as to prevent the generals guarding the city from being ignorant of the current situation and bringing trouble to the elders and fellow villagers."
Xu Shu said with a smile: "If Bo Gong leaves, Qianwei can be settled!"
It turned out that the Zhang family was a prominent family in Jianwei. Zhang Yi's great-grandfather had served as Sikong, and his great-great-grandfather had also served as a prefect. They were quite prestigious in Wuyang and even in Jianwei. With the help of the Zhang family, taking the city was a piece of cake.
Liu Pan was overjoyed and sent Zhang Yi to the army to meet Gan Ning, asking him to seize the opportunity and pacify Qianwei as soon as possible, so that the surrounding areas would surrender.
At the same time, Huang Zhong and Yan Yan also led their troops to Niubi County, which is located at the junction of Shu County, Guanghan County and other three counties. It controls the Tuojiang waterway and can lead directly to Chengdu.
Looking at the surging river, Huang Zhong said with emotion: "This is the last city left in Qianwei!"
Yan Yan sighed, "All along the way, everyone surrendered and there was no fighting. You and I really seem to be here to enjoy our retirement."
Huang Zhong laughed and said, "From this we can see that General Yan is highly respected and admired by everyone. This is what we call the old tiger's heroic spirit!"
The two men laughed and before they knew it they had arrived at the county town. The front had already received the news and had closed the city gates for defense. Yan Yan was still in the front, and Huang Zhong followed behind. The soldiers set up their battle formation at the foot of the city.
Yan Yan rode forward and said in a loud voice: "I am Yan Yan. Now General Liu has united his forces to revive the Han Dynasty and fight against the rebellion. I have surrendered, let alone you?"
In the past, after shouting this sentence, the county magistrate would open the city and surrender, but the time it took varied.
Just as he was waiting for a reply, he saw a man sticking his head out and yelling, "You old thief with a beard, you old man with white hair, you betrayed your master like a dog that has lost its home, how dare you bark here?"