Chapter Eighteen: The Burning of Zhuge Xu

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Zhuge Xu sat upright within the Prefecture of Wudu Commandery, his fingers gently stroking the letter sealed with the title "Grand General Who Conquers the West," a faint smile creeping upon his lips. The flickering candlelight danced across his stern face, casting shadows that revealed eyes gleaming with ambition.

“Father, does that old curmudgeon Deng Ai dare to make requests of us now?” Zhuge Chong snatched the letter and skimmed a few lines before bursting into loud laughter. “This scoundrel actually says he wishes to share the glory of conquering Shu with you!”

Zhuge Xu snorted coldly, lifting a cup of tea from the table but not drinking, instead staring deeply into the floating tea leaves. His voice was low and measured: “Deng Shizai has always looked down on others. For him to humble himself like this, it must be because his forces are shattered and he can no longer hold out.”

Suddenly, he raised his head, his gaze sharp as a blade. “Bring in the messenger who delivered this letter.”

Soon, a dust-covered Wei soldier was ushered inside. Zhuge Xu noticed dried blood stains on his armor, clear signs of fierce battle.

“Where is your general now?” Zhuge Xu asked deliberately.

“The Grand General has captured Fucheng and is currently facing off against Shu General Zhuge Zhan at Mianzhu Pass,” the soldier replied hoarsely. “Our troops are entrenched, holding the mountain passes at all costs. We have launched relentless assaults for days…”

Zhuge Chong abruptly interrupted, “Isn’t the Grand General known as a master tactician? How could he be in such a sorry state?”

“Young General, please understand,” the soldier knelt abruptly. “Zhuge Zhan somehow summoned a large number of repeating crossbows. Our vanguard of three thousand was scattered before they could even form ranks…”

“That’s enough.” Zhuge Xu waved his hand to stop him, his eyes flashing with keen light. “How many men does Deng Ai still have?”

“Fewer than twenty thousand,” the soldier answered, head bowed. “General Deng says that with your aid, sir, he can take Mianzhu within seven days. Then Chengdu will be within easy reach.”

Zhuge Xu exchanged a meaningful glance with his son. After the soldier was dismissed, Zhuge Chong eagerly said, “Father, this is a godsend! Deng Ai is on his last legs—just the right moment for us to…”

“Silence!” Zhuge Xu suddenly barked, his eyes scanning the shadows outside the hall. Once assured no one was near, he lowered his voice. “That schemer Zhong Hui, relying on the favor of Lord Jin, always overshadows me. If Deng Ai is allowed to enter Chengdu first…” His fingers clenched tightly, crumpling the letter in his palm.

The Zhuge family was a peculiar presence in the Three Kingdoms. Zhuge Jin, Zhuge Liang, and Zhuge Dan served the three different kingdoms respectively. Within Wei, Zhuge Dan was loyal to Cao Wei, yet Zhuge Xu, a collateral branch, maintained a friendly relationship with the Sima clan.

Zhuge Chong caught on and grinned darkly, “Why not pretend to aid Deng Ai, and when both sides are exhausted…”

“Foolish!” Zhuge Xu slammed the table, snorting coldly. “If we’re going to swallow Shu, we must do it cleanly! Order the entire army to break camp immediately and take the hidden path through Yinping to strike directly at Fucheng! Deng Ai’s remnants are no threat; what I want is the complete credit for conquering Shu!”

Sima Zhao had not yet declared himself king precisely because he lacked a major achievement. Once Shu Han was destroyed, that glorious victory would justify his ascent to kingship as a matter of course.

Whoever won this great merit for Sima Zhao would be richly rewarded.

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Five days later, thirty miles outside Yinping City, in a deep canyon.

Liu Chen stood atop a cliff, gazing down at the Wei army winding through the valley like a long serpent. The mountain wind whipped his crimson cloak, revealing the gleaming Mingguang armor beneath.

“Your Highness, your strategy is brilliant. Zhuge Xu has indeed brought out his entire force,” Yan Ming reported, sword in hand, eyes burning with battle fervor. “Scouts report that the Wudu garrison has been completely withdrawn, leaving only the old, weak, and infirm.”

“That suits us perfectly. Deng Zhong will soon seize Wudu,” Liu Chen said with a light laugh.

Yan Ming suddenly pointed to the valley floor. “Look! Your Majesty, that is Zhuge Xu’s banner!”

Liu Chen followed the gesture and saw a black banner embroidered with the characters “Zhuge” standing out prominently among the troops. Beneath it, a general clad in golden helmet and armor was confidently gesturing to his deputy, clearly certain of victory.

“Send orders to proceed as planned. Let the vanguard advance through the valley. When the main force enters the ambush zone, sound the signal with flaming arrows and set fire to Zhuge Xu’s troops,” Liu Chen said with a cold smile, his voice calm.

“Understood.”

Yan Ming hastened away without delay.

At that moment, in the valley below, Zhuge Xu suddenly reined in his horse, frowning as he surveyed the steep cliffs on both sides.

“Father, what is it?” Zhuge Chong urged, riding closer.

Zhuge Xu squinted, hesitating. “This terrain... if the Shu army has set an ambush here…”

“Father, you jest. This is already our Great Wei’s territory,” Zhuge Chong replied dismissively.

Zhuge Xu nodded and chuckled softly. “Indeed, this is Great Wei’s land. I only pity Liu Shan and Jiang Wei for possessing such mountains and rivers yet failing to be a match for us. Let us proceed!”

Before his words had faded, a fiery arrow suddenly streaked across the twilight sky, trailing a glaring red light.

“Disaster! We’ve fallen into a trap!” Zhuge Xu shouted fiercely. “All troops, retreat!”

“Kill!”

Shouts of slaughter erupted from all directions as rolling logs and boulders thundered down like a storm. The Wei army instantly descended into chaos; horses reared in panic, soldiers trampled each other. Even more terrifying, towering flames erupted at both ends of the valley, sealing off all escape routes.

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Liu Chen stood atop the cliff, coldly observing the chaos engulfing the Wei troops below. The firelight illuminated his youthful yet resolute face.

“Loose arrows!”

At his command, the hidden Shu archers emerged along the cliff edge. In an instant, a storm of arrows descended like locusts upon the valley. Specially crafted flaming arrows traced blazing lines through the air, igniting the Wei supply wagons.

In the dry winter canyon, with parched grass and brittle wood, the valley was transformed into a furnace.

“Protect the general!”

Zhuge Xu’s bodyguards hastily raised their shields but saw a flaming arrow strike the “Zhuge” banner directly. The silk banner caught fire instantly, turning into a blazing ball that shone fiercely within the canyon.

“Father!” Zhuge Chong galloped up, an arrow lodged in his left shoulder, shouting, “We’re surrounded!”

Zhuge Xu’s face turned ashen. He drew his sword abruptly, slicing through a flying arrow.

“Form a tight circle! Break out toward the valley entrance!”

But it was too late. At both ends of the canyon, the Shu had blocked the paths with oil-soaked rolling logs. Amid the roaring flames, rows of gleaming spears awaited silently.

“Zhuge Xu! Surrender now, or when else?” Liu Chen’s voice suddenly echoed down from the cliff, reverberating through the valley.

Zhuge Xu looked up, seeing a tall figure standing sword in hand amidst the firelight atop the cliff. His eyes widened in shock as he caught sight of red banners along the mountainside.

“Shu Han banners? Impossible!”

Yet another volley of arrows rained down, their tips wrapped in oil-soaked cloth that ignited on impact. The valley instantly became a sea of flames, filled with the anguished screams of the Wei soldiers.

“Chong’er! Stay close to me!” Zhuge Xu grabbed his son, charging back under the cover of their guards.