The next day, Zhang Fei ordered Fu Zhuo to challenge the enemy at the pass. However, because Dian Man was injured, Cao's army did not leave the pass, but just defended it tightly.
The next day, he sent Hu Ji with his troops to the pass to curse and even insult Dian Wei, but Dian Man still did not come out, so he had to return to the camp.
Five days later, weapons arrived, and Fu Rong led his troops to attack. Catapults threw huge stones to the pass, which suppressed Cao's army. But once they got close to the wall, they could hit them with pestle and ash bottles, and even without bows and arrows, the Han army was forced to retreat in an embarrassing manner.
The ladders could not reach the walls of the pass, and even the powerful catapults were of no use, and the two sides were at a stalemate.
After receiving the intelligence from Hanzhong, Zhang Fei knew that Xiahou Yuan was doomed to fail and Guanzhong was without a master. It was time to launch a full-scale attack, so he ordered his troops to retreat ten miles to make Cao's army gradually slack off.
That day, Liu Xiong sent someone to contact again, and his men were already hiding in the mountains, ready to attack the pass at any time.
Zhang Fei said, "In the past, Emperor Gaozu conquered Guanzhong and defeated the Qin army at Lantian. I want to go there myself."
Hu Ji was shocked and tried to persuade him: "General, you are a man of high moral character and high position. You should lead the three armies to capture Guanzhong. I am willing to go for such a small task."
Zhang Fei laughed and said, "Xiahou Yuan has been trapped in Baoxiade Road. The troops from Chencang Road and Qishan Road will arrive in Chencang. Chang'an will certainly send troops to support him. Now that I appear in Lantian, Chang'an will be shocked and will surely come out in full force to fight. This will help Wei Wenchang become famous in one battle."
Hu Ji slapped his forehead. Several months had passed and there was no news after Wei Yan and Wang Ping entered Ziwu Road. He almost forgot about this matter. If all the defenders of Chang'an were transferred out, Wei Yan would surely succeed.
He then made a plan with Zhang Fei and Fu Rong, and the two of them continued to attack the pass, while Wang Shuang attracted Dian Man's attention.
Zhang Fei selected five hundred elite soldiers, crossed Yaoshan Mountain from a small path, and after joining up with Liu Xiong's troops, he launched a surprise attack from behind.
Inside Lantian Pass, Dian Man had already recovered from his injuries. He only had a scratched cheek, leaving three scars, like tiger whiskers, adding a bit of ferocity.
On this day, Fu Rong came to the pass again to challenge Dian Man. Dian Man put on his armor and mounted his horse, went out of the pass to fight, and defeated Fu Rong in more than thirty rounds. If Hu Ji had not rescued him, he would have been beheaded on the horse.
The Han army retreated and did not move for several days, but suddenly came back. Dian Man sneered and said, "Fu Zhun and Hu Ji are no match for me. They retreated first, but now they come again. It must be that Wang Shuang has recovered from his injury. I will definitely compete with him to see who is better."
While they were discussing, someone at the gate shouted and cursed. It turned out to be Wang Shuang who had returned. Dian Man came out of the gate and shouted, "How dare you, the black stuff, come again?"
Wang Shuang shook his arms and laughed, "Yellow-faced thief, I left three marks on your face, which makes you look like a sick cat."
Dian Man was furious and said, "If it weren't for your despicable sneak attack, I would have killed you long ago."
Wang Shuang snorted coldly: "You were the one who used the hidden weapon first, but you blame me instead. Do you know the word shame?"
Dian Man said in a deep voice: "No need to use tricks today. Do you dare to fight me in an upright manner?"
Wang Shuang came here to attract Dian Man to fight, which was exactly what he wanted. He took off the meteor hammer on the spot, threw it back in front of the formation, raised his knife and shouted coldly: "Come and die!"
Dian Man also took down his small halberd and rode forward. The two men fought in front of the pass again. After fighting for seventy or eighty rounds with no clear winner, they both stopped fighting and agreed to fight again the next day.
While fighting was going on in front of the border, Zhang Fei crossed mountains and ridges to the top of Qinling Mountains and met Liu Xiong in the mountain temple.
Liu Xiong said, "To be honest, I am also a descendant of Emperor Gaozu, but I am the last of the side branches and my family has long been in decline. I have long heard that Liu, Guan, and Zhang were friends as strong as gold and as righteous as the sky. They are truly role models for us. Now that I have the honor to see you, I have no regrets in this life!"
Zhang Fei smiled and said, "Since you are a descendant of the Liu family, you should put your family and country first. A real man can achieve fame and success with just a sword in his hand. There is no need to look up to your ancestors."
"General San is right!" Liu Xiong clasped his fists and said, "Thank you for not abandoning me, General. I am willing to follow you and hold the stirrups for you."
Zhang Fei waved his hand and said, "Since the warrior has abandoned the dark and joined the light to serve the country, you and I are colleagues. How can I treat you as a slave? I prefer people who are self-reliant. If you and I make contributions, we will be rewarded."
Liu Xiong was extremely surprised and delighted, and hurriedly called several leaders to come over to pay their respects and discuss the matter of capturing Lantian Pass.
Zhang Fei said, "Cao's army rebuilt this pass. The terrain is difficult to attack and easy to defend. I have ordered the army to contain the pass. General Liu will set fire to the pass tomorrow. Dian Man will surely come to chase and kill him. I will capture him and take the pass."
Liu Xiong was shocked. Everyone said that Zhang Fei was reckless and aggressive, but he didn't expect that Zhang Fei was actually well versed in strategy. He respected him even more and ordered all the troops to rest and prepare.
In Lantian Pass, Dian Man and Wang Shuang fought for three days, but there was still no winner. Every time he was about to capture him, Wang Shuang's swordsmanship was so amazing that he always managed to escape at the last minute, thus preventing Dian Man from winning.
The deputy general advised: "When two tigers fight, one of them will be injured. Wang Shuang is just a lieutenant general. If you fight with him, if there is any mistake, the enemy army still has a general to lead the troops. Lantian Pass is in danger. It is better to avoid fighting."
Dian Man laughed and said, "If Wang Shuang's sword was not so heavy, I would have taken him down long ago. When I go to fight today, watch me dismount. I will definitely capture this black thief."
At this point, both of them were competing with each other. It was not only a matter of victory or defeat for the two armies, but also a matter of personal honor and disgrace. They would not give up until the winner was determined.
The next day, Dian Man went out on horseback again. He had already made a plan and was ready to capture Wang Shuang on horseback. Although he was at a disadvantage without a mount, Dian Wei was experienced in fighting on foot, and his halberd skills could only fully exert their power on the ground. So he had to use his special skills again.
The two generals faced each other. Dian Man was already tired of Wang Shuang's constant calling him "sick cat", so he roared and rushed out. After fighting for more than thirty rounds, he was about to dismount and fight on foot when he heard the sound of a bugle from the pass. He had to withdraw his troops temporarily.
After returning to the pass, Dian Man angrily asked, "I was about to kill, why did you sound the horn?"
The deputy general reported urgently: "The bandit Liu Xiong has come to harass us again. He just burned the food and grass in the valley and is shouting in the rear."
"How dare the rebel come again?" Dian Man was furious. He rode out of the back door without dismounting and led his troops to kill Liu Xiong.
Liu Xiong's sudden betrayal caught the Chang'an defenders off guard. They were defeated by Dian Man and Xiahou Ba a month ago, and he spread rumors everywhere to mislead the people. How could Dian Man let him go when he came again this time
After chasing them out of Guanwaipo, they saw Liu Xiong leading a group of bandits setting fires everywhere, shouting, "Dian Man, if you still remember how your father died, go back to your hometown in Chenliu as soon as possible. The road is long and it is not for you and your son to make it."
Liu Xiong had many thieves under his command, and they had sneaked into the interior of the country several times to steal. When Dian Man heard him speak like this, he became furious and urged his horse to kill them.
Liu Xiong resisted for several rounds but was defeated and retreated. The bandits fled all over the mountain. Dian Man pursued them relentlessly and came to the foot of the mountain, where he ambushed the bandits and cut off their escape.
I saw a group of people and horses lined up at the mountain pass, with flags flying with the word "Zhang" written in large characters. My heart tightened and I quickly reined in my horse and stopped.
I saw flags spread out to the left and right, and a general rode out on horseback, with a Yan chin, tiger beard, and round eyes. He held a Zhangba snake spear in his hand and laughed loudly, "Dian Man, do you recognize Zhang Yide from Yan?"
"Zhang Fei?" Dian Man was shocked and looked around. When did the Han army cross the Lantian Pass
Just as he was wondering, Zhang Fei had already rushed over with his spear in hand and his horse in hand, like a tiger descending from the mountains, with a terrifying momentum.