Chapter 359 (1/2)
“I am sorry, General Yang Wu. I have to send you on your way for Brother’s great cause!” Zhang Fei’s Serpent Spear was stained with blood. He had managed to deeply cut Zhang Xiu arm when Zhang Xiu wasn’t paying attention.
“Your brother’s great cause?” Zhang Xiu endured the pain in his arm and asked. “Liu Bei wants to kill me?” Zhang Xiu could not understand why Liu Bei would want to kill him after saving him. After all, Liu Bei had sacrificed his White Eared Soldiers and Chen Dao to save him. Besides that, it was easier to kill him earlier when he was still injured from the battle against Lu Bu. Even a common soldier would have been able to kill him. There was no need to wait until now.
“It is not Brother who wants you dead. It is the Military Advisor who wants you dead! He says that you are obstructing my brother’s path so I have to kill you!” Zhang Fei did not hide his killing intent. Zhang Xiu had to die today or there would be a war with the Zhang Xiu’s Army. Zhang Fei was a frank person and immediately said the things on his mind. Naturally, Pang Tong was involved and had been the one to arrange this. The main plan was to kill Zhang Xiu and allow Liu Bei to get past this obstruction. Plan B was to be used if the main plan fails. To pacify Zhang Xiu’s anger, Pang Tong would sacrifice his life to prevent a battle as the Liu Bei’s Army would not be able to win against Zhang Xiu’s Army at this time.
“Pang Tong?” Zhang Xiu thought of the man. “I am obstructing Liu Bei’s great cause? It is he who wants me dead!” Zhang Xiu could not help but laugh bitterly when he understood the real reason. “This Pang Tong is truly good at scheming!”
Zhang Xiu knew that Liu Bei sending the troops to rescue him was Pang Tong’s idea. He knew that Pang Tong wanted him to swear allegiance to Liu Bei out of grat.i.tude or to keep Liu Bei’s fame as a benevolent ruler. What Pang Tong did not expect was for the losses to be this heavy. Chen Dao and the White Eared Soldiers were lost. On top of that, Zhang Xiu did not want to swear allegiance to Liu Bei.
Liu Bei only managed to keep his fame as a benevolent and righteous person from his actions. This was not what Pang Tong wanted which is why this plan was put into action. By killing Zhang Xiu, they claim that Zhang Xiu had died from a serious injury caused by Lu Bu. This would not only allow Liu Bei to be benevolent but they would also be able to use his death as a banner for revenge to absorb the Xiliang Cavalry. Zhang Xiu’s two children would also not be able to fight against Liu Bei. Although Jia Xu was in Nanyang, that man would only protect himself. Besides that, the incident with Cao Cao had already caused a crack in the relations.h.i.+p between Jia Xu and Zhang Xiu. In other words, Jia Xu would not move as long as Liu Bei did not want to get rid of him. Even if Liu Bei had lost the White Eared Soldiers, his strength would have increased by obtaining the Xiliang Cavalry.
Zhang Xiu knew that bloodshed could no longer be avoided. Either he would die and then have his own men work for the enemy or he would manage to escape and break off relations with Liu Bei.
Now that relations have fell apart, Zhang Xiu showed a cold expression and asked. “Zhang Fei. Did you think you could kill me on your own?”
“Hm?” Zhang Fei frowned. Although Zhang Xiu was injured, he was still a powerful general. It was true that Zhang Fei did not have absolute certainty that he could defeat Zhang Xiu.
“Third General. In that case, let us join in as well!” A familiar voice pa.s.sed through the forest. A group of soldiers wearing the armor of the Xiliang Cavalry soldiers pulled out their swords and showed their killing intent.
“It’s you!” Zhang Xiu widened his eyes when he saw this person. This was one of the person that ambushed Hu Che Er and killed two thousand of his Xiliang Cavalry. Liu Bei had reimburse him for that though they were unfortunately lost in Yangzhou. Liu Bei also executed Liu Pi to placate him but this person was not executed. The man was one of Liu Bei’s two remaining generals, Liao Hua Liao Yuanjian.
“I was wondering why it was so fishy but it seems that you have already planned this!” Zhang Xiu finally understood why they managed to find an empty s.p.a.ce so quickly after Zhang Fei asked for a spar and why Zhang Fei managed to get his Serpent Spear so quickly. Everything had already been prepared earlier. The two guards outside his camp may have already been caught in this trap.
“General Zhang Xiu. With us here, would you be able to go on your way with ease?” Liao Hua led a group of men out.
“Once I get out of here, if that Big Eared Liu does not give me a good explanation for this, the Liu Bei’s Army better be prepared to become history!” Zhang Xiu’s expression was ice cold. Pang Tong had truly caught him in a trap and wants him dead. Not only did he send Zhang Fei but also Liao Hua to kill Zhang Xiu. Zhang Xiu did not care whether Pang Tong was acting independently. Even if Pang Tong was acting independently, he was certain that Liu Bei knew about this. To have someone scheme against you was truly uncomfortable.
“Say that once you escape!” Liao Hua immediately led his men to attack Zhang Xiu. Zhang Fei saw Liao Hua moved and joined the attack.
“Not bad!” Zhang Xiu avoided Liao Hua’s slash. A second cla.s.s warrior like Liao Hua could attract Zhang Xiu’s attention but it was not enough to kill Zhang Xiu. Zhang Xiu knew that Liao Hua was not weak. Otherwise, he would not have been able to ambush Hu Che Er successfully. Hu Che Er even had to retreat fighting against Liu Pi and Liao Hua. “You are still lacking a little!” Zhang Xiu said and knocked away Liao Hua’s sword. Liao Hua may be strong but he was still not good enough to fight against Zhang Xiu.
Besides that, the group of soldiers only numbered around ten. They were not even worth the attention for Zhang Xiu. Zhang Xiu swung his spear causing blood to fly. In a single swing, Zhang Xiu killed two people.
“Even if we are lacking, we just need to kill you!” Liao Hua saw two of his men fall to the ground but he did not care and continued to attack Liao Hua.
Zhang Xiu wanted to kill Liao Hua and the other few soldiers but Zhang Fei suddenly appeared and attacked together with Liao Hua, placing pressure onto Zhang Xiu. When Zhang Xiu wanted to kill Liao Hua, Zhang Fei’s Serpent Spear would strike from another angle. If Zhang Xiu insisted on killing Liao Hua, he would also die from Zhang Fei’s attack.
On the other hand, Liao Hua’s attacks was able to pester Zhang Xiu such that Zhang Xiu would have even greater difficulty obtaining an upper hand against the equally skilled Zhang Fei.
With their cooperation, Zhang Xiu quickly used up his strength and frowned. Continuing like this would not be good. Zhang Xiu quickly searched for an opportunity. He then broke away from the two warriors and killed one ordinary soldier.
After breaking away, Zhang Xiu gasped for breath and said, “Not bad. One attack from afar while the other attack at close distance. It truly makes people amazed but let us end this here today!” Zhang Xiu coldly said.