Chapter 31: Fabricating a Victory Report, Seizing Chencang by Surprise

Liu Chen watched as Zhuge Chong led the cavalry away, disappearing into the dust. He turned to his personal guards and ordered, "Pass the word: the entire army will rest for one hour, then we shall march at full speed toward Chencang. Remember, we must fly the banners of the Wei army."

Under the cover of night, the army moved slowly. After advancing no more than ten miles, they encountered Zhuge Chong returning. Several severed heads hung from his warhorse; evidently, some had attempted to flee Dashanguan during the surprise attack, hoping to escape back to Chencang, but unfortunately for them, they had been overtaken by Zhuge Chong.

"Your Highness, the mission is accomplished." Zhuge Chong bowed.

"Good," Liu Chen said, flicking his whip. "We head for Chencang now. We shall deceive them into opening the city gates."

"Your Highness, Liu Hong is a close confidant of Sima Yan and possesses some real talent," Zhuge Chong said after a moment of thought. "If we approach with so many troops, he may not be so easily convinced."

Liu Chen pondered this and realized Zhuge Chong’s logic was sound. After all, with the front lines suffering from a lack of supplies, there was no reason for a large force to be heading to Chencang to transport grain.

"What do you suggest?" Liu Chen asked.

"I have met with Liu Hong several times and we have some acquaintance," Zhuge Chong suggested. "Perhaps I should go ahead to pay him a visit, and then find an opportunity to strike him down."

"No, if you go to see him, how many men could you bring?" Liu Chen shook his head. He stroked his short beard, his eyes darting back and forth before he suddenly smiled. "I have a plan that will allow you to lead a hundred men into Chencang."

Zhuge Chong’s eyes brightened. "Please, Your Highness, reveal your plan."

"Where is Deng Bei?" Liu Chen shouted behind him.

Deng Bei, grandson of Deng Zhi, was a colonel in the Imperial Guard.

"Here, Your Highness." Deng Bei stepped out from the ranks, gripping his long spear.

"I will head to Chencang with Changmao. You will lead the army five miles behind us. Once you hear the sounds of battle coming from the city, you are to charge forward immediately and take Chencang," Liu Chen commanded.

"Understood," Deng Bei replied promptly.

"Changmao, prepare the silk banners. We are going to Chencang to report a victory: General Who Conquers the West, Deng Ai, has breached Chengdu, and the Shu-Han Emperor, Liu Shan, has surrendered," Liu Chen said with a chuckle.

Zhuge Chong and Deng Bei’s mouths hung wide open in disbelief. They had not expected Liu Chen to come up with such a strategy, yet they had to admit that it might actually work to trick the gates of Chencang open. It just sounded absurdly strange.

"Let’s go! To Chencang."

Liu Chen ignored their hesitation. If they could take Chencang, the Yan-Han dynasty would have a glimmer of hope. Otherwise, he would be forced to follow in the footsteps of Zhuge Liang—six expeditions from Qishan, fighting across Longxi and Liangzhou, a path of endless hardship that was not the outcome Liu Chen desired.

"Yes!"

Zhuge Chong hurriedly had the victory announcement prepared. A short while later, a hundred cavalrymen set off toward Chencang.

The night was as dark as ink, shrouding the city of Chencang. On the walls, torchlight flickered, illuminating the vigilant faces of the guards. On the main road outside the city, the sound of rapid hoofbeats approached from the distance, shattering the silence of the night.

"Victory! A great victory! General Who Conquers the West, Deng Ai, has breached Chengdu! The Shu-Han pretender, Liu Shan, has led his people in surrender!"

"Shu-Han has surrendered!"

"General Deng Ai has taken Chengdu!"

The high-pitched cries, accompanied by the thundering of hooves, surged toward Chencang like a tidal wave. Under the night sky, the message was loud and clear, carrying far into the distance.

Liu Chen, dressed in the uniform of a Wei officer, rode a swift horse with a composed expression, though his eyes remained fixed on the city gate ahead. Zhuge Chong followed closely, holding high a scroll of silk—the carefully forged victory announcement. Behind them, the hundred cavalrymen shouted in unison, their voices rolling like thunder.

The guards on the watchtower grew restless upon hearing the shouts. A soldier hurried to the county office and spoke to a stern-faced young general clad in armor: "General, there is a unit of Wei cavalry outside. They claim to be bringing news of a victory, stating that General Deng Ai has taken Chengdu and Liu Shan has surrendered."

This young general was the commander of Chencang, Liu Hong, a close friend of Sima Yan. He frowned, feeling a sense of doubt.

Lately, the front lines had been bogged down, and reports of food shortages were constant. How could such a major victory report appear so suddenly? Yet, he dared not be negligent; after all, Deng Ai was the General Who Conquers the West, and if this were true, it would be glorious news.

Moreover, he knew Deng Ai had taken the Yinping path, making communication difficult. He hadn't received a letter from Deng Ai in a long time; under such circumstances, the possibility of Chengdu being taken could not be entirely ruled out.

Liu Hong walked quickly to the watchtower and looked down. He saw the cavalry below, all dressed in Wei uniforms and looking high-spirited. He recognized the man in the lead.

"General Zhuge!"

He recognized the man as Zhuge Chong, son of Zhuge Xu. Sima Yan was set to marry Zhuge Chong’s daughter.

At that moment, the man was holding the victory scroll high, and it did not appear to be a deception. Liu Hong observed them carefully but found nothing suspicious.

"Let them send the report up for inspection," Liu Hong ordered his personal guard after a moment of deliberation. To be safe, he decided to check if the report was indeed in Deng Ai’s own hand.

The guard acknowledged the order, ran to the edge of the wall, and shouted down, "My general orders that Young General Zhuge send the report up for verification!"

A basket was lowered on a rope.

"Young General, such is the law of the Imperial Court. Please forgive me," Liu Hong said, a hint of apology in his voice.

Zhuge Chong laughed heartily and replied, "Heji, that is only right! This report was written by the General’s own hand."

He dismounted, held the silk scroll, and walked quickly to the gate, placing it in the basket. The guards pulled it up, took the report, and handed it to Liu Hong on the tower.

Liu Hong unfurled the scroll and examined it by the light of a torch. The handwriting was indeed Deng Ai’s, and it bore the seal of the General Who Conquers the West. His heart settled, and he said to his guard, "Deng Shizai is truly lucky. Zhong Hui was held up by Jiang Wei at Jiange, so he seized the chance to take the Yinping path, slaughter his way into Mianzhu, and reach the gates of Chengdu, forcing Liu Shan to surrender. He has gained the merit of destroying a kingdom for free."

Combining this with the information he already had, Liu Hong pieced the events together with reasonable accuracy. His tone carried a hint of jealousy; that such a great achievement should fall to an officer from a humble background was truly hard to swallow.

"Open the gates! Welcome the messengers into the city!" Liu Hong commanded his guards.

"Yes!"

The guards did not hesitate and hurriedly ordered the gates opened to let Zhuge Chong and his men enter.

The gates groaned as they slowly swung open. A sharp glint flashed in Liu Chen’s eyes. "It’s done," he thought to himself. He signaled to the cavalry behind him and surged forward, taking the lead as they charged into the city.

Zhuge Chong and the hundred cavalrymen followed closely behind, filing through the gate. As they entered, Liu Chen suddenly thrust his long spear forward and roared, "Attack!"

The sudden turn of events caught the guards completely off guard. A cold light flashed from Liu Chen's spear, and he instantly struck down a soldier beside him. Zhuge Chong and the other cavalrymen drew their weapons and launched a fierce assault on the surrounding defenders.