Chapter 54: Yan Liang and Wen Chou's shock (fixed)
Ever since their departure, Yan Liang and Wen Chou had kept a close eye on Liu Bei’s movements.
Today was the final deadline of the military order, yet Pei County still hadn’t fallen, so they brought reinforcements to prevent Liu Bei from escaping with his troops.
“General Yan, what is your intention?”
Liu Bei glanced at the soldiers surrounding him, then turned his gaze toward Yan Liang and Wen Chou, asking without changing his expression, “Why do you bring us here?”
Wen Chou snorted coldly. “Shouldn’t we be asking Shiyun? Today is the last day for Pei County to fall; has Shiyun forgotten about the military order?”
“If Pei County isn’t taken today, the penalty will be death!”
At these words, all the soldiers took a step forward.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei flew into a rage, his eyes wide and round as he bellowed, “Death to your shitty legs! Let’s see which of you dare defy my dage today!”
Guan Yu also said coldly, “If you wish to execute my elder brother, you must first tread over my corpse!”
Both men were tall and mighty, far more formidable than the average soldier. The display of their unwavering resolve left the surrounding soldiers stunned, no one daring to take a step forward.
Yan Liang and Wen Chou were incensed by this display.
Yan Liang snorted coldly. “It seems you all intend to defy our orders! Be warned that this general will be merciless! Archers, prepare your bows!”
At his command, the archers stepped forward, nocks loaded with arrows ready to fire at any moment.
In the age of cold weapons, the power of the crossbow far surpassed that of the bow, and it boasted high accuracy and formidable force—so much so that even ordinary soldiers could wield them effectively.
Within close or mid-range distances, the crossbow was virtually invincible, unable to be withstood without heavy armor protection!
Now Liu, Guan, and Zhang all wore plain cotton robes, devoid of protective gear; but even if they had been armored, their distance from the enemy would have rendered them incapable of withstanding the terrifying penetration of the crossbow’s deadly bolts!
“Dage, watch out!” Both Guan Yu and Zhang Fei’s expressions shifted dramatically as they stepped forward to shield Liu Bei behind themselves.
But Liu Bei said, “Second Brother, Third Brother, please step back. I wish to speak with these two generals.”
Wen Chou smiled upon hearing this. “Shiyun, military orders are paramount, and even if you begged for mercy, it would be futile. Besides, you yourself signed this pledge, and no one forced you to do so.” He thought Liu Bei meant to plead for mercy.
But Liu Bei only said, “General Yan and General Zhang, today is indeed the final day of the time limit you set forth on your pledge, but evening has not yet fallen, nor has the sun begun to set. Why must you be so hasty?”
“We brothers will stay here until sunset; even if we were to die, it would still be too early for you to execute us.”
Yan Liang narrowed his eyes slightly, then smiled. “Very well, let’s wait till the sun sets, but don’t blame this general for being lenient!”
“However, you may not leave this tent under any circumstances!”
Liu Bei’s expression remained unchanged as he turned around without hesitation and walked back inside.
Guan Yu and Zhang Fei followed him.
Watching them enter, Wen Chou frowned at Yan Liang. “Gongji, why not just attack directly? Clearly, Liu Bei is simply dragging out the inevitable.”
“Even if we gave him fifty thousand soldiers right now, he wouldn’t capture Pei County before nightfall. What point is there in wasting breath on him?”
Yan Liang laughed. “It’s merely giving him more time to live, what harm can there possibly be in letting him have these few extra hours? Uncle Wu needn’t worry, we’ll keep a close eye on them.”
He then ordered the surrounding soldiers, “Surround the tent with guards and increase patrols, no one is allowed to leave!”
“Yes sir!”
Outside the tent, Liu Bei heard Yan Liang’s orders as well.
Yan Liang hadn’t lowered his voice on purpose, clearly intending for him to hear.
“Two cowards without the courage to face each other!”
Zhang Fei clenched his teeth in anger; if he were allowed to fight Yan Liang and Wen Chou head-to-head, he could easily skewer both of them! But facing so many soldiers and crossbowmen, there was nothing he could do.
It truly was what happens when a tiger is trapped in a small village, only to be preyed upon by dogs!
Liu Bei sighed. “I have burdened you all with this trouble. Now…we truly have nowhere to escape, our paths blocked.”
The situation being what it was, he had no choice but to resign himself to their fate. Just as Yan Liang said, he was merely buying time until death came knocking at their door within a few hours.
“Dage, why say such things?” Guan Yu asked sternly. “We brothers swore an oath at the Oath of the Peach Garden, swearing to die together. If we give our lives here today, we will have fulfilled that promise!”
“I’ll do the same!” Zhang Fei nodded solemnly.
Tears welled up in Liu Bei’s eyes as he clutched his two brothers’ hands, choking back sobs. “Having you two as brothers throughout my life has been enough for me, even unto death!”
“Dage!”
The three embraced tightly, holding one another close.
Time passed slowly; the sun sank lower toward the west, hanging over the mountain peak as it cast one last ray of light upon the mortal realm.
The sky was dyed crimson, bright as blood.
Liu Bei and his brothers walked out of their tent together. They no longer planned to resist—death would come, but they would die with dignity.
Yan Liang sneered at this sight, then waved his hand. “Prepare to execute!”
Soldiers stepped forward to bind them all in five-pointed stocks, then the imperial executioner moved to carry out the sentence.
“Report—!”
Just as the executioner was about to strike, a voice suddenly rang out from afar. A scout rushed over to report to Yan Liang and Wen Chou, “General, there has been a turn of events at Pei County!”
“The defending troops inexplicably withdrew, leaving through the southwest gate, abandoning the city! All gates of Pei County are now wide open!”
At these words, Liu, Guan, and Zhang’s heads snapped up, shock written plainly on their faces.
Yan Liang and Wen Chou reacted similarly.
“What nonsense are you spouting?! How could they abandon the city?” Wen Chou snarled, grabbing the scout by the collar.
The scout’s face flushed scarlet, fear creeping into his tone. “But General, it is true—I swear. If you don’t believe me, you can go see for yourself right now.”
Yan Liang knew this news must be true, but he had no intention of letting Liu Bei off the hook. “It’s undoubtedly a ploy to lure our enemy,” he said coldly. “We need not heed it!”
“Imperial Executioner, prepare to execute!”
“Hold!” Liu Bei stood up, his eyes shining as he stared at Yan Liang.
“It was I who wrote to Lu Bu, asking him to return Pei County to me. Now that he has withdrawn, Pei County is mine by conquest!”
“I have captured Pei County within ten days—this military order has been fulfilled!”
At this time, the sun on the western peak finally sank below the horizon.
Wen Chou gnashed his teeth and spat, “Rubbish! Don’t deceive yourself! Do you think this general is so easily fooled?! Where is the imperial executioner? Execute these traitors according to military law without delay!”
“Tsu-eh! Stop!” Yan Liang called out, stopping Wen Chou with a dark expression. He ordered, “Loosen their bonds!”
“Gongji!”
Wen Chou grew anxious—their chance to kill Liu Bei and his companions had arrived!
Slightly irked, Yan Liang yelled back, “Are you trying to tarnish my lord’s reputation?”
Upon hearing this rebuke, Wen Chou instantly cooled down. He glared hatefully at Liu, Guan, and Zhang before stormily leaving the scene.
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