Chapter Thirteen: Forcing Deng Ai to Surrender

Page (1/3)

Deng Ai’s breathing grew labored, and a fine sheen of sweat appeared across his brow. He stared fixedly at the two forged secret letters, his fingers trembling despite himself.

“Your Majesty... What a masterstroke.” Deng Ai’s voice was hoarse beyond recognition. “But with nothing more than forged letters, you intend to make this old man...”

Liu Chen’s smile vanished. His gaze turned sharp as a blade.

“General Deng, I am not bargaining with you. Since I can forge letters from Huang Hao and Qiao Zhou, I can naturally forge one in your name as well and have it sent to Luoyang, where it will fall into the hands of Sima Zhao. And when that happens, your family in Luoyang—”

Fury instantly spread across Deng Ai’s face. Unable to restrain himself, he shouted, “Your ancestor, Liu Bei, was renowned throughout the realm for his benevolence, and that reputation gave rise to Shu Han. How could he have a descendant like you—sinister, deceitful, and despicable in your methods? Are you not afraid of disgracing your ancestor’s name?”

“With the realm itself on the verge of being lost, who still has the luxury of caring about anything else? Does the old general know why I was chosen to lead this army instead of Zhuge Zhan?” Liu Chen suddenly smiled.

“Why was that?” Deng Ai asked, genuinely curious.

The intelligence he had received claimed that Zhuge Zhan would lead seventy thousand troops against him. He had never expected to face Liu Chen instead—and that had been the principal reason for his defeat.

“Because I forged an imperial edict and seized military command by force.” Liu Chen made no attempt to conceal the truth. He recounted how he had forged the edict, stolen the paired male and female swords, forced his way into the army camp, slain the supervising officer, and taken control of the troops.

Deng Ai was aghast. Yet deep in his eyes appeared a trace of admiration. Thinking it over carefully, he knew that if he had found himself in such a situation, he would never have possessed either the nerve or the means to act as Liu Chen had.

“Your Majesty has truly employed remarkable methods. This old man’s defeat is no injustice.”

Deng Ai let out a long sigh.

Anyone who encountered such a ruthless man would have been defeated.

“Old General,” Liu Chen said, his voice suddenly gentler, though it still carried an irresistible force, “I respect you as one of the greatest commanders of this age. That is why I am giving you this opportunity. Whatever the Sima clan can give you, my Great Han can give you as well. And what the Sima clan cannot give you, my Great Han can give you too.”

Deng Ai remained silent for a long while before suddenly letting out a bitter laugh.

“Your Majesty knows that I still have a wife, children, and other family at home.”

“Put your mind at ease, General.” Liu Chen immediately reassured him. “I will send men to Luoyang. I believe it will not be long before they bring your family here. The only question is this: will you write the letter yourself, or shall I write it for you?”

The bitterness in Deng Ai’s heart deepened. He shook his head.

“This old man will write it himself.”

He had no other choice. If he refused, Liu Chen would simply forge a letter in his name. Since that was so, he might as well write it himself.

Page (1/3)

Page (2/3)

A look of triumph immediately appeared on Liu Chen’s face.

Liu Chen smiled faintly. “Excellent. Now, Old General, can you tell me who betrayed my Great Han?”

The last spark in the brazier died out, and darkness swallowed the prison cell. In the darkness, Deng Ai’s voice sounded especially old, though there was a touch more ease in his tone.

“Huang Hao. He was the one who sent men to contact me.”

“So it really was him! That eunuch!” Liu Chen suddenly slammed his hand onto the table and rose, his voice full of fury.

Deng Ai sighed. “He sent me a map of Shu’s defenses and promised to receive my army in Chengdu. His condition was that he be enfeoffed as a marquis once the deed was done.”

“What a wretched dog, selling out his master for glory!”

Liu Chen sneered repeatedly, then turned to Deng Ai and softened his tone.

“Thank you for speaking candidly, Old General. Rest here in peace for the time being. I cannot restore your freedom just yet, lest Luoyang discover the truth and your family pay with their lives.”

“Your Majesty has considered everything thoroughly. This old man is impressed.”

Deng Ai’s heart was bitter.

The moment Liu Chen produced the forged letters from Huang Hao and Qiao Zhou, he had known that only one path remained before him: submission to Liu Chen.

“Old General, apart from Shi Zuan and Yuan Shao, the remaining commanders—including your son Deng Zhong, the Defender of the West Sima Duan Zhuo, the Administrator of Tianshui Wang Qi, the Administrator of Longxi Qian Hong, the Administrator of Jincheng Yang Xin, the general Fan Zhen, and the army supervisor Tian Xu—have all been captured alive. Most of the thirty thousand troops have surrendered as well, and I have already made proper arrangements for them.”

Liu Chen continued, “Your Majesty’s methods are truly extraordinary. This old man is filled with admiration.”

When Deng Ai had first received Huang Hao’s letter, he had abandoned Zhong Hui without hesitation and led thirty thousand Qiang, Hu, and Liangzhou troops in a bold surprise attack along the Yinping Road. He had never imagined that within the span of a single day, he would become Liu Chen’s prisoner.

“Old General, I intend to take the Yinping Road once more. What do you think?”

Liu Chen suddenly asked.

Page (2/3)

Page (3/3)

Deng Ai was stunned at first. Then his eyes widened, and he blurted out, “Could Your Majesty be planning to launch a surprise attack on Longxi?”

The corners of Liu Chen’s mouth lifted slightly, ambition gleaming in his eyes.

“The old general truly understands the art of war. Now that the Yinping Road is known to me, why not turn the tables and use it in reverse? Sima Zhao must believe that our army has withdrawn into Chengdu. He will never expect us to dare strike first.”

He did not tell Deng Ai that he intended not only to launch a surprise attack on Longxi, but also to seize Hanzhong, trap Zhong Hui beneath Jiange, and extinguish the Sima clan’s ambitions once and for all.

Deng Ai’s brows drew tightly together. He rubbed his beard absently and said hesitantly, “But the various commanderies of Longxi still have garrisons. If we cannot conquer them swiftly, we may find ourselves attacked from both sides.”

In the past, Zhuge Liang, Jiang Wei, and the others had all advanced from Hanzhong to seize Longxi and the surrounding regions. Yet each time, Wei reinforcements had arrived, causing their supplies to run short and even leaving them threatened from both front and rear. In the end, they had been forced to withdraw.

“That is why I need the old general’s assistance.” Liu Chen suddenly leaned forward and lowered his voice. “The Administrator of Longxi, Qian Hong, and the Administrator of Jincheng, Yang Xin, are both imprisoned here. If we can obtain letters from them urging surrender, then use your banner and reputation, we may be able to take those commanderies without a battle.”

At this, Deng Ai gave a bitter smile.

“Your Majesty intends to bind this old man completely to your war chariot.”

“Old General,” Liu Chen declared, his eyes blazing, “the Sima clan usurped Wei and established itself in its place. All under Heaven seethes with outrage. Though the Han is weak today, it possesses the protection of mountains and rivers. So long as the soldiers and people stand united, we can seize the opportunity before the Sima clan has secured its footing. Take Longyou, occupy Guanzhong, and the road to hegemony will lie open! When that day comes, you will be a founding hero, your name immortalized in the annals of history!”

Deng Ai remained silent for a long while. Then he raised his head, a fierce light flashing from his eyes.

“If that is so, this old man will stake everything on this gamble with Your Majesty. However—”

“Speak freely, Old General.”

“Your Majesty should first cut off Zhong Hui’s retreat and trap him and his hundred thousand troops beneath Jiange.” A ruthless glint flickered in Deng Ai’s eyes. “Zhong Hui is fiercely ambitious and has long harbored disloyal intentions. If we sever his route home and then persuade him by appealing to his interests, we may be able to turn him to our use.”

A sharp light flashed through Liu Chen’s eyes. He immediately understood.

“You mean to set Zhong Hui against Sima Zhao?”

“Precisely.” Deng Ai stroked his beard. “Zhong Hui embarked on this campaign against Shu with the intention of carving out a realm for himself. If our army now seizes Hanzhong and cuts off his supply route, then sends someone to meet with Zhong Hui in secret...”

Liu Chen suddenly burst into laughter and slapped the table.

“Brilliant! Zhong Hui will then be trapped between advancing and retreating. He will either surrender to our army, or—”

“Or be driven into Jingzhou, where he can establish himself as king and break with Sima Zhao.” Deng Ai took up the thread, his eyes gleaming with the wisdom of long experience. “Whatever the outcome, it will benefit our Great Han.”