Chapter Six: Liu Chen Meets the Veteran General

The next morning, the Shu army sentries atop Mianzhu city walls suddenly noticed unusual activity in the Wei army’s main camp.

“General Wei! The Wei army is breaking camp!” a sentry reported urgently as he dashed in.

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Zhan immediately led his generals up the city walls to observe. In the distance, dust clouds rose from the Wei encampment, clearly signaling a retreat.

“Father, the Wei forces are withdrawing abruptly. It must mean that His Majesty has already seized Fucheng, cutting off Deng Ai’s supply lines,” Zhuge Shang exclaimed joyfully.

Zhang Zun quickly responded, “Since His Majesty has severed their provisions, Deng Ai has no choice but to retreat. General Wei, if we do not pursue now, won’t we be missing a golden opportunity?”

Zhuge Zhan pondered for a moment, then looked at his son. “Shang’er, you have spent many days with His Majesty. What is your opinion?”

Zhuge Shang shook his head resolutely. “Father, before His Majesty departed, he repeatedly emphasized that Deng Ai is cunning and resourceful. Our army only needs to hold firm in Mianzhu and wait for his supplies to run out and chaos to ensue. A rash attack would play right into his hands.”

Huang Chong nodded in agreement. “What His Majesty said is true. Deng Ai is a treacherous villain; we must remain vigilant.”

Amidst the generals’ debate, a soldier hurried up the city wall, loudly reporting, “I have come under His Majesty’s orders to pay respects to General Wei. His Majesty has taken Fucheng and commands that General Wei must not pursue Deng Ai without royal authorization.”

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Zhan immediately replied, “It seems His Majesty anticipated all this. Relay orders to all gates: strictly defend the city, no sorties!”

Zhang Zun expressed dissatisfaction, “General Wei, if we miss this chance...”

“Lord Zhang!” Zhuge Shang suddenly raised his voice, sneering coldly, “This battle decides the fate of the Han dynasty. If we fall into a trap and lose Mianzhu, Chengdu will be imperiled! Therefore, we must strictly follow His Majesty’s command.”

Seeing his son’s firm gaze, Zhuge Zhan finally made his decision. “Order the entire army to hold the city at all costs. Anyone who disobeys and sallies forth shall be executed!”

As the sun set, Deng Ai stood on a hillside, gazing darkly toward Mianzhu.

“General, the Shu forces refuse to engage...” Tian Xu spoke quietly.

Deng Ai sighed deeply. “Zhuge Zhan has always been cautious; that is unsurprising. But to see young Zhuge Shang and the others restrain themselves so well is truly unexpected.”

“What shall we do now? Our provisions only last until tomorrow...” Tian Xu worried.

Deng Ai remained silent for a long moment, then gritted his teeth. “Order the entire army to turn toward Fucheng! Since baiting the enemy has failed, we must assault Fucheng directly to regain the supply route!”

Had he had enough provisions, he would have stayed here and attacked Mianzhu.

He now only hoped to capture Fucheng as quickly as possible, praying Zhuge Zhan would still be holding Mianzhu during his assault.

Night fell, and the Wei camp stirred again. Thirty thousand troops turned northeast, hastening toward Fucheng. In the darkness, several swift horses slipped silently from the main force, speeding toward Fucheng—scouts sent by Liu Chen to report Deng Ai’s movements immediately.

On Fucheng’s battlements, Liu Chen received the report and smiled with confidence.

“Deng Ai has finally lost his patience. Order the entire army to prepare for battle—the true showdown is about to begin!”

He turned to look southwest, where Mianzhu lay. According to plan, once Zhuge Zhan confirmed Deng Ai’s withdrawal to attack Fucheng, he would lead his forces in pursuit, creating a pincer attack.

“Your Majesty, all preparations are complete.” Yan Ming and Meng Qi approached side by side, their armor gleaming coldly in the torchlight.

Liu Chen nodded. “If we win this battle, Shu Han will see a turning point. If we lose...” He left the words unsaid, but all the generals understood the weight of this fight.

“Report!” a sentry came running. “Deng Ai’s vanguard is less than thirty miles from the city!”

Liu Chen drew a deep breath, unsheathed his sword, and shouted, “The fate of the Han dynasty hangs on this battle! Brothers, follow me to defend Fucheng to the death! Not a single soldier of Deng Ai’s shall live!”

The Shu soldiers on the walls shouted in unison, their voices shaking the night. In the distance, the torches of the Wei army stretched like a dragon winding forward. A decisive battle that would determine Shu Han’s destiny was about to unfold beneath the small city of Fucheng.

---

Fucheng.

The cold wind howled. Under the dawn’s light, the city walls gleamed with a chilling blue hue. Liu Chen stood atop the battlements, his breath crystallizing on his beard. He ran his hand over the wall—icy cold and solid. Thanks to the Shu soldiers’ all-night effort dousing the walls with water, a three-inch-thick layer of ice encased the entire fortress.

“Your Majesty, this tactic is truly brilliant!” Yan Ming excitedly pounded on the ice wall, laughing heartily. “The Wei army’s ladders simply cannot hold, and battering rams won’t break through this ice layer!”

Liu Chen smiled slightly, a hint of pride in his voice. “Heaven aids us. The past few days’ bitter north winds have frozen the water solid, just as we needed. Deng Ai must realize by now that he faces an ice fortress.” He turned to gaze at the horizon outside the city, as if seeing the despair in Deng Ai’s eyes.

Meng Qi hurried up the battlements, saluted, and reported, “Your Majesty, scouts report that the Wei vanguard is now less than five miles from the city!”

“Good.” Liu Chen’s eyes gleamed sharply. “Order the entire army to stand ready; archers and crossbowmen to the walls; prepare rolling logs and stones. Also...” He withdrew a letter from his breast and handed it to a nearby guard. “Have Zhou Feng make ready. Once the first wave of Wei assaults is repelled, he is to sally forth and meet Deng Ai immediately.”

“Understood!”

On the distant horizon, the dense mass of the Wei army surged forward like a tide. Deng Ai sat atop his horse, narrowing his eyes at Fucheng, his expression stormy.

“This truly is an ice fortress... Heaven has abandoned me!” he muttered in disbelief.

---

Had he faced only Fucheng’s usual defenses, perhaps his thirty thousand troops could have forced a breakthrough. But now, confronting an ice-coated city, even a fierce assault might fail to capture Fucheng.

Beside him, Tian Xu gasped, “General, the entire city wall is frozen solid! Our ladders may be useless!”

Deng Ai abruptly raised his hand to silence him. Suppressing his shock, he said sternly, “Issue orders to prepare for assault! Mere ice walls cannot stop my thirty thousand troops!”

“Is that General Deng? I’m Liu Chen. Greetings, General,” Liu Chen called cheerfully from the city below.

“Impudent boy, mocking an old soldier!” Deng Ai’s face flushed with rage. He cracked his whip and shouted, “Attack the city! Give me an assault!”

Drums thundered through the Wei ranks as thousands of vanguard soldiers hoisted ladders and charged the walls. But as Tian Xu predicted, the ladders slipped off the icy surface, sending soldiers sprawling in every direction. Arrows rained down from the walls, inflicting heavy casualties on the Wei vanguard.

“Fire flaming arrows!” Deng Ai roared.

Hundreds of fire arrows streaked through the sky toward the walls. However, the ice only melted slightly under the flames and did not compromise the structure. Meanwhile, the Shu soldiers had prepared wet cloths to extinguish any stray fires.

After half an hour, the first wave of attacks failed, leaving hundreds of Wei soldiers dead. The troops withdrew in disarray.

“General, such frontal assaults won’t work...” Tian Xu, drenched in sweat, hurried to report.

Deng Ai’s face was ashen. He had no choice but to order his army to camp outside the city for the time being and reconsider his strategy.

An hour later, Zhou Feng arrived outside the camp with two clerks.

“The King of Beidi in the Han north sends a letter for General Deng Wei of the Western Expedition!” Zhou Feng said, his face filled with fear.

“Let him come in,” Deng Ai replied coldly.