Before Fushui Pass.
The wheat fields undulated like golden waves. Sima Yi's army and Zhuge Liang's army gazed at each other from a distance before Fushui Pass!
Unusually, Sima Yi, in his usual manner, had removed the "no battle" flag... Today, the scene of two armies facing off appeared.
Naturally, confrontations before the lines were accompanied by harsh words between the commanders.
The Shu army soldiers still used a dozen loud-voiced messengers to relay commands, while the Wei army had already deployed "megaphones"! -- "Ahem..."
The vibrating sound, amplified by Wang Lang, came from the megaphone.
Of course, this thing... calling it a megaphone was a misnomer. It was an extremely simple device, with a wooden stand underneath and a disc on top. For the craftsmanship of the "Great Wei Ministry of Works" at this time, this was nothing, merely child's play. Yet, in Zhuge Liang's eyes, it was astonishing.
"Can this thing transmit sound this far?"
Zhuge Liang murmured to himself... He couldn't help but recall the flying balls, the cannons, the wooden oxen and flowing horses... This added much more worry to his face.
Just then, Wang Lang's voice boomed from the megaphone.
"I have long heard of the great name of Zhuge Kongming. Today, I am fortunate to meet you... Since you know the will of heaven and understand the times, why do you still lead an army without renown to garrison here, like a mantis trying to stop a chariot?"
As these words were spoken... the sound, amplified by the megaphone, was deafening. Not only Zhuge Liang, but the entire Shu army was shaken...
Zhuge Liang composed himself. He glanced back at the messenger standing on the high platform, then declared loudly, "I am acting under imperial decree to punish traitors. What is this army without renown?"
With this simple, understated sentence, Zhuge Liang cut to the core of their verbal sparring – who had the more legitimate cause? This was also Wang Lang's intended method to defeat Zhuge Liang.
"The celestial numbers have changed, and the divine artifacts are to be transferred to the virtuous. This is the natural order. Since the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, the Yellow Turbans have been rampant, and the world has been in chaos. The state faced imminent peril, and the lives of the people were in dire straits. Our Wei Emperor assisted the Supreme Emperor in sweeping across the six directions, conquering the eight wildernesses, winning the hearts of the myriad peoples, and earning the admiration of all quarters. Even so, he did not lose his noble rank. The nation is secure, and the people are happy. Is this not glorious?"
"Hahaha..." Wang Lang's words fell, and Zhuge Liang burst into laughter. "I had expected that you, an old minister of the Han dynasty, would offer profound insights before the armies today. I did not expect you to utter such vulgarities. I have a word to speak, and I ask all to listen! In the past, during the reigns of Emperors Huan and Ling, the Han lineage declined, and eunuchs caused ruin... The nation was chaotic, and the seasons were harsh. Widespread unrest followed. After the Yellow Turbans, Dong Zhuo, Li Jue, and Guo Si rose in succession, holding the Han Emperor captive and cruelly oppressing the people. As a result, in the imperial court, incompetent officials held power, and within the palace halls, corrupt individuals feasted on public funds. This led to those with wolfish hearts and canine lungs dominating the court, and those with servile attitudes gaining influence. Consequently, the state became a ruin, and the common people suffered immense hardship!"
"In this time of national crisis, what actions did Minister Wang take? I have always known of Minister Wang's life. You resided by the eastern sea, and initially entered officialdom through the recommendation of filial piety and integrity. You should have assisted the ruler and supported the Han dynasty, rejuvenating Liu. How could you have instead assisted rebels and conspired in usurpation! Your sins are so grave that heaven and earth cannot tolerate them!"
The verbal battle had reached this point...
Wang Lang had invoked "heaven's mandate" to legitimize Cao Wei's rule, while also emphasizing the mighty power of the Wei dynasty, portraying Zhuge Liang as someone defying heaven and fate single-handedly!
Furthermore, Wang Lang had also offered Zhuge Liang a preferential term for surrender—still retaining his noble rank! Overall, Wang Lang's words were meticulously crafted, each sentence fitting perfectly... Yesterday, he had debated Lu Yu in a similar manner.
And Lu Yu had directly pointed out to him, "This speech can be delivered by me, but Minister Wang cannot, because Minister Wang has accepted sustenance from the Han!"
Indeed...
Wang Lang's words had overlooked a crucial factor and premise – his own identity as a "turncoat." In this era, loyalty was the foundation of a person. To accept the ruler's provisions, to serve the ruler until death...
This was almost an accepted faith and principle!
Anyone who defied this sacred rule would never be able to hold their head up again.
And, as Lu Yu had reminded him, Zhuge Liang had indeed used this as an opening to attack Wang Lang. "...You, Zhuge, you have no martial virtue!"
Wang Lang was instantly enraged. He realized that His Majesty had foreseen this!
His Majesty said this Zhuge Liang had no martial virtue, and attacked him with his weaknesses right away! As expected. "Hahaha..."
Just as Wang Lang was cursing Zhuge Liang as a "village bumpkin," Zhuge Liang's voice once again drowned him out, "Silence! Shameless old rogue! Do you not know that people under heaven are eager to devour your flesh? How dare you prattle here! Today, fortunately, heaven has not extinguished the Han. Emperor Zhaolie reigns in Xichuan and has inherited the great lineage. I now, by the decree of the successor, lead an army to punish the traitors. Since you are a sycophantic official, you should only hide yourself and strive for food and clothing. How dare you speak of celestial omens before our army! You white-haired old fool? You grizzled old rascal? You are about to die and go to the netherworld. What face will you have to meet the twenty-four generations of Han emperors then?"
"You two-faced traitor! You have lived sixty-three years in vain, achieved nothing, and only know how to wag your tongue and assist Cao in his tyranny. You are but a broken-backed dog, yet you dare to bark and howl before our army!"
— "I have never seen such a shameless person!"
Zhuge Liang uttered all this in one breath. As he uttered each phrase, the messenger would shout it out. Each sentence was a precise strike, hitting Wang Lang directly in the heart.
Wang Lang's heart sank, and his legs stumbled. He realized that under this verbal onslaught, he had no power to retaliate!
The brilliance of Zhuge Liang's words lay in the fact that Wang Lang could neither deny the facts, as they were established, nor refute them... because... loyalty was a universal principle.
Such an attack would be unbearable for anyone!
Fortunately, Wang Lang was sixty-three years old at this time, not seventy-six. Although he clutched his chest, he could still hold on and endure a bit longer.
Meanwhile, behind the ranks, Lu Yu, seated serenely in the center, smiled faintly upon hearing this. His smile stunned everyone beside him.
Zhuge Liang's eloquence was indeed extraordinary! They felt as if Minister Wang was about to be verbally destroyed? And at such a moment, His Majesty could still smile.
Lu Yu slowly rose, gazed forward, and chanted, "Minister Wang's counterattack is about to begin!" Indeed...
Lu Yu had delivered this speech to Wang Lang once yesterday. Although hearing it a second time would still be painful, he was no longer completely unprepared.
In fact, this made Wang Lang even more confident. Because His Majesty had foreseen everything.
Where Zhuge Liang would strike in this verbal battle, His Majesty had already predicted it all!
"Ahem..."
Wang Lang's slight cough came from the megaphone, but he soon calmed down. He had remembered the words His Majesty had taught him yesterday.
— "You, Zhuge village bumpkin, I have resided by the eastern sea since childhood, and entered officialdom through the recommendation of filial piety and integrity, with a heart full of aspirations to assist the ruler and support the nation. I have long yearned to stabilize the Han and revive Liu. Alas, the Sun family of Jiangdong disregarded the rites and laws of the Han, raising troops to invade the southeastern regions. Your lord, Liu Xuande, did not think to raise an army to punish them, but instead allied with the Sun family to resist Wei. This led to the defeat at Chibi! And the collapse of rites and music, the disintegration of hearts, the deep sin, and the condemnation of heaven and earth upon the six commanderies of Jiangdong! Fortunately, our Great Wei's two generations of emperors have swept across the six directions, conquered the eight wildernesses, won the hearts of the myriad peoples, and earned the admiration of all quarters, causing Jiangdong to abandon darkness and embrace light, to surrender the Han and submit to Wei. This was not achieved through power, but by the mandate of heaven!"
— "The Governor of Jingzhou, Liu Biao, possessed both might and benevolence, and was admired by the people. In the early years, the Sun family of Jiangdong secretly hoarded the Imperial Seal. Fortunately, Liu Biao led troops to suppress them. Your lord, Liu Xuande, a subordinate dependent, stirred up trouble and instigated disputes, leading to the succession struggle and great chaos in Jingzhou. The Governor of Yizhou, Liu Yan, was diligent and benevolent. His son, Liu Zhang, was magnanimous and loved the people. Yizhou was prosperous and rich, and the people lived in peace and contentment. Your lord, Liu Xuande, under the pretense of protecting Xishu, actually usurped the position of host, favored close associates, oppressed the subjects of Yizhou, and falsely claimed the title of Gaozu, promoting the younger over the elder (Liu Feng, Liu Shan), which is scorned by the world!"
— "I have also heard of your life. You secluded yourself in Longzhong, possessing great talent and ambition, comparing yourself to Guan Zhong and Yue Yi. How can you assist a tyrant and harm the imperial family of Han? Do you not know that the people of Xichuan are eager to eat your flesh? You, Zhuge village bumpkin, when you return to the netherworld in the future, what face will you have to meet the twenty-four generations of Han emperors then?"
— "Your lord, Liu Xuande, claims to be a descendant of King Jing of Zhongshan and holds the position of General of the Left of Han. He has committed heinous crimes against his own kin, with blood debts upon his hands, resulting in no successor to the Han dynasty. Fortunately, our Great Wei Emperor Yu, divine, scholarly, and martial, responds to heaven and is favored by the people, following the precedents of Yao and Shun, ruling the Central Plains and bringing order to all nations. Is this not the will of heaven and the hearts of the people?"
— "Duke Shanyang, Liu Xie, still resides in his fief and upholds the Han calendar, building ancestral temples to offer sacrifices to the Han. Your lord, Liu Xuande, falsely claims Duke Shanyang is dead, deceiving the civil and military officials, using the name of reviving Han to wage war and usurp Han! Today, our Great Wei has a million armored soldiers and thousands of worthy generals. How can the faint glow of your rotting grass compare to the bright moon in the sky!"
Speaking up to this point...
Zhuge Liang felt his heart sink. Wang Lang's every word struck him with chest tightness and congestion, yet he was speechless! Unable to refute! "You... you..."
Before he could utter another word, Wang Lang's increasingly sharp pronouncements continued.
— "Do you not hear the ancients say that those who follow heaven prosper, and those who defy heaven perish? Treacherous officials and rebellious sons only know how to wag their tongues and dare to howl before our army. I, Wang Lang, have never seen such a shameless person!"
He stood up.
At this moment, Wang Lang stood up amidst the golden wheat waves!
Only "magic" could defeat "magic"!
When Wang Lang's final phrase, "I have never seen such a shameless person," was uttered, Zhuge Liang's pupils contracted, and his heart clenched violently...
"Pfft..."
A mouthful of blood surged forth.
His entire body trembled violently.
Yang Yi, standing beside him, quickly supported Zhuge Liang, who was about to collapse. "Prime Minister... Prime Minister..."
And because of Zhuge Liang's collapse, the Shu army, already demoralized, had their morale completely shattered and their minds broken... At the same time...
"Kill!" "Capture Zhuge alive!"
Sima Yi's long-raised command flag finally unfurled. "Kill..."
Instantly, banners waved, and countless Wei soldiers surged towards the Shu army like a tide! "Retreat to Fushui Pass... Retreat to Fushui Pass!"
"Beat the gongs... Withdraw, beat the gongs... Withdraw!" Amidst the golden wheat waves.
The Wei army charged like a tide, while the Shu army fled in panic, with countless soldiers trampling over each other! In contrast, Wang Lang.
He still held his chest high, his fists clenched.
At this moment, Wang Lang, Minister Wang, had finally stood up!
— That year, with my fists clenched, I argued so well that Zhuge Liang could not retort!
....
....
Shu had just experienced a heavy rain!
The rain passed, the sky cleared, and the sun emerged from behind the dark clouds, radiating brilliant light. In Chengdu, within the Emperor's temporary palace, the morning court convened as usual.
Today was the first and fifteenth of the month, a grand court session. All Shu officials were required to report their duties.
Originally, this task was overseen by Jiang Wan. But for some inexplicable reason, Jiang Wan was not among the officials waiting outside the temporary palace today. Some court officials began to discuss.
"Where is Chief Clerk Jiang? I haven't heard anything, has he gone to Fushui Pass?"
"Could it be that military supplies are running low, and Chief Clerk Jiang has gone to Nanzhong to procure them?"
"That's not right either. Not long ago, the Prime Minister confiscated Zhen's granaries, so supplies should be abundant!" "Have you all noticed that this temporary palace is somehow strange today?"
"You mean the guards are all unfamiliar faces?" "Commander of the Central Army, do you recognize these guards?"
After Li Yan, the position of Commander of the Central Army in Shu Han was given to Fei Yi, who was highly trusted by Zhuge Liang. He squinted, maintaining an expression of looking at his nose and his heart. "With the army at Luogu outside, and internal peace secured, as long as Duke Ge is at Fushui, Chengdu will be safe!"
Amidst the discussions of the officials, the doors of the temporary palace opened, signaling the imminent start of the morning court. The officials entered, exchanging glances, aware that the atmosphere today was indeed somewhat strange.
Even the announcement of the morning court was skipped. "Tatat..."
As the last official entered. "Dong, dong..."
A loud slamming sound echoed. Everyone turned their heads, only to see that the doors of the temporary palace had been closed. Not only that, but the sound of footsteps, "tatat," followed from outside. A group of guards surrounded the temporary palace, and some even locked the main gate.
This...
In an instant, all the court officials were bewildered. The atmosphere... felt a bit... off!
"What are you all doing?" Fei Yi roared.
As the Commander of the Central Army, he was responsible for the Shu army within Shu.
The replacement of the guards was the Emperor's
will, the change in city defenses was also the Emperor's will. He, Fei Yi, was carrying out the imperial decree. What was wrong with that?
But now, with the guards surrounding the temporary palace, he realized the gravity of the situation! "Silence!"
Just then... a crisp voice echoed through the hall.
Everyone looked towards the dragon steps, but it was not Liu Chan standing there, but... Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong!
"All you dukes and ministers, recent secret reports indicate that our Shu Han has been infiltrated. Until we ascertain who the spies are, you will have to remain within this temporary palace."
Spies? Traitors? Everyone frowned...
"Zhao Zilong? The Prime Minister ordered you to guard Chengdu, not to act recklessly. Spies? I, the Commander of the Central Army, have not heard of any spies. When did the Prime Minister issue an order to investigate spies?"
Fei Yi, the Commander of the Central Army, argued righteously.
The other court officials also chimed in, "Yes... what is the meaning of confining us here?" "And the guards outside, the troops at the city gates, where is Chief Clerk Jiang? Where is Chief Clerk Jiang?"
At this moment, the officials were shaken.
In contrast, Zhao Yun squinted... and did not directly answer the questions of these Shu Han officials. "Chief Clerk Jiang was murdered by these very spies. I, this general, am keeping you confined within the imperial palace to ensure your safety!"
"Zhao Zilong... does the Prime Minister know of your actions?" Fei Yi shouted! Just then...
"Whoosh" A cold gleam of a saber flashed. In an instant, Fei Yi's heart tightened. He felt a chill on his chest and looked down to discover... the cold saber had pierced his chest!
Simultaneously, a sharp, icy voice rang out. "I've had enough of you Jingzhou people!"
"Anyone who disobeys General Zilong's orders is an enemy of all the Yizhou people!"
Niu Nai Tang Tang Tang reminds you: Please remember to collect after reading.