Chapter Ten: Capturing Deng Ai and Forming the Heavenly Strategy Army

"Kill—!"

Deng Ai’s roar exploded beneath the city walls, like the cry of a dying beast. After a brief half-hour respite, he had launched his final assault.

Dragging his wounded leg, he swung his long sword, severing the throat of a Shu soldier. Hot blood sprayed onto his graying beard, instantly freezing into dark red slush. The old general’s bloodshot eyes were locked on a breach in the city wall, where dozens of Wei troops were locked in a gruesome tug-of-war with the defenders.

"Great General!" Tian Xu rushed over, his face covered in blood, shouting with joy: "The West Gate has fallen!"

Deng Ai lunged and grabbed Tian Xu’s shoulder armor, his nails digging into the metal: "Order the entire army to press forward! If we do not break Fucheng today, none of us will find a place to be buried!"

At that moment, the thunder of hurried hooves echoed from the flank of the battlefield. Deng Ai turned his head, his pupils constricting—on the horizon, a massive tide of Shu troops surged forward, the lead banner bearing the character "Han" snapping in the cold wind.

"Reinforcements?" Deng Ai stumbled back half a step, the taste of copper rising in his throat.

On the city walls, Liu Chen stood bathed in blood, silver armor stained crimson, his twin blades dripping. He watched the sudden arrival of reinforcements, a cold sneer tugging at his lips. In the distance, the vanguard led by Zhuge Shang struck like a dagger, piercing deep into the back of the Wei forces. The addition of these fresh troops instantly shattered the balance of the battlefield.

"Open the gates! All forces, advance!"

Liu Chen’s roar thundered from the ramparts. The heavy gates groaned open, and the Shu army, long held in reserve, poured out like a burst dam. Meng Qi’s twin sabers whirled, leaving waves of blood in his wake; Yan Ming swung his notched giant axe, each strike claiming limbs. Caught between two fronts, the Wei formation collapsed instantly.

"Do not retreat! Hold the line!" Deng Ai swung his sword to cut down two fleeing soldiers, but he could not stop the rout. Watching his men scatter like headless flies, he suddenly threw his head back and laughed, a shrill, owl-like sound: "Heaven has forsaken me!"

"Protect the Great General!" Tian Xu charged desperately with the personal guard, only to be unhorsed by a single thrust of Zhuge Shang’s spear. Several Shu soldiers swarmed them, binding the fierce Wei commander hand and foot.

Deng Ai stood leaning on his sword, his gray hair and beard dancing in the wind. He looked around; amidst the carpet of corpses, Shu soldiers were closing in from all sides. The old general slowly raised his sword, the cold light reflecting off his resolute face.

"Whiz—"

An arrow pierced the air, striking Deng Ai precisely in the wrist. His long sword clattered to the ground, splashing a patch of bloody snow. Liu Chen lowered his longbow and strode forward, the ice crystals on his black armor rattling as they fell.

"General Deng, I trust you have been well." Liu Chen’s voice held the composure of a victor.

Deng Ai clutched his bleeding wrist and sneered: "If you want to kill me, just do it. Why the hypocrisy?"

Liu Chen bent down to pick up the jade-encrusted sword, his fingertips tracing the inscription "Deng, General Who Conquers the West of Wei" on the blade, and smiled: "The General is a renowned commander of this age. If you were to submit to our Great Han..."

"Hahaha!" Deng Ai interrupted with a wild laugh, saying disdainfully: "A mere yellow-mouthed child, and you think yourself worthy to recruit me? The Shu-Han that even Zhuge Liang could not save—what makes you think you can? By virtue of these few lucky victories?"

A cold light flashed in Liu Chen’s eyes, but he calmly waved his hand: "Take him away and tend to his wounds."

He turned to look at the battlefield. The setting sun dyed the snow red, and the cries of crows mingled with the groans of the wounded, playing the final movement of this great battle.

Inside the Fucheng county magistrate’s office, a charcoal brazier dispelled the winter chill. Liu Chen removed his blood-stained armor and changed into a black silk robe, the twin swords at his waist gleaming coldly in the candlelight. The officers stood solemnly below the hall; the air was thick with the joy of victory and a faint scent of blood.

"Report—" A guard hurried in, "This battle resulted in over 18,000 Wei prisoners and over 5,000 killed. Forty-three officers, including Deng Ai, have all been captured. Our casualties are over 3,700, and only 200 remain of the King’s personal guard."

Liu Chen tapped his fingers on the table, the dull sound echoing clearly in the silent hall. He looked at the snowflakes drifting outside the window, as if seeing the young faces that would remain on the icy walls forever.

"For those who died, provide for their families, and let their heirs join the Prince’s guard. For the wounded, bestow generous rewards and provide for them for life." His voice was not loud, but every word struck heavily in the hearts of those present.

Zhuge Zhan stepped forward and bowed: "Your Highness, should we report the victory to Chengdu? Such a great triumph will surely inspire the court and the people..."

"No." Liu Chen interrupted sharply, "Anyone who dares to leak the news of this battle, behead them!"

The hall erupted in a murmur. Huang Chong could not help but ask: "Your Highness, Deng Ai is captured and the Wei army is destroyed, why must we keep this secret?"

Liu Chen stood up and walked toward the hanging map, his finger tracing the direction of Jiange: "Zhong Hui’s army of 100,000 still looms at Jiange. If they learn of Deng Ai’s defeat, they will surely withdraw and fortify Hanzhong." He turned abruptly, his gaze sweeping over the officers like lightning, "What I want is not just to repel the Wei army, but to annihilate Zhong Hui’s entire force and recover Hanzhong!"

Zhuge Shang gasped: "Your Highness intends to..."

"Feign defeat to lure the enemy." Liu Chen’s fingertip pressed heavily on the map, "Keep the Wei banners flying at Fucheng and announce to the outside that the battle is still raging. General Wei shall lead a thousand men to garrison Fucheng, blocking all news and creating the illusion that we are still in a bitter struggle."

He looked around at his officers, his voice rising: "Select the elite from the prisoners and form the Tiance Army! Zhuge Shang shall be the Left General of Tiance, Meng Qi the Right General, Yan Ming shall command the personal guard, and Huang Chong shall serve as Military Advisor. Complete the reorganization within three days!"

Meng Qi suddenly knelt on one knee: "This subordinate is willing to lead 3,000 troops, disguised as Wei soldiers, to seize Jiangyou!"

A glint of approval flashed in Liu Chen’s eyes: "Granted! Remember, I want the Jiangyou defenders alive—no corpses."

The officers looked at one another, stunned by the interlocking layers of the plan. Zhuge Zhan’s expression shifted, and he finally couldn't help but ask: "Your Highness, if His Majesty finds out about this..."

"General Wei." Liu Chen walked slowly to Zhuge Zhan, his voice suddenly softening, and sighed: "You hold a position in the cabinet, yet you can neither remove Huang Hao from within nor contain Jiang Wei from without. Tell me, among all the officials in the court, apart from me, who else can fulfill Prime Minister Zhuge’s wish to 'return to the old capital'?"

These words struck Zhuge Zhan’s heart like a heavy hammer. He looked at the man before him, so different from the gentle and refined Prince of Beidi he remembered.