Hearing the battle cries getting clearer, Zhang Lu panicked and said, "Now that Nanzheng has been breached, we can only surrender to the Duke Of Yan."
Yan Pu said, "When Nanzheng was under siege, the Duke Of Yan would have given us preferential treatment if we surrendered to him. But now that the city has been breached and we are exhausted, surrendering is not a good idea. "
Mr. Shan said, "In my opinion, why don't you take the south gate and flee to Bazhong to defend the city? When Sun Liu rises, Yuan Xi will withdraw his troops. You can then raise your voice and restore Hanzhong to its former glory. "
Zhang Wei felt that it made sense and tried his best to persuade Zhang Lu.
Zhang Lu listened to the three's advice and led hundreds of his men to escape through the south gate.
Bai Xiaowen's army occupied Nanzheng and quickly swept away the remaining resistance of Zhang Lu's army. He personally led his army from west to east to attack the east gate and support Ma Chao.
Yang Ren at the east gate was attacked from both front and rear and could not help but panic.
Bai Xiaowen shouted, "Yang Ren! At this point, why don't you surrender? "
Yang Ren gritted his teeth and said, "Don't even think about it!"
But Bai Xiaowen's army had already charged out from the inside and climbed to the top of the city wall. The archers under Yang Ren's command all knelt down and surrendered.
Yang Ren saw that the situation was hopeless and jumped down from the top of the city wall, preparing to escape.
But from the side, an army rushed over. It was Ma Chao who had found a gap and chased after Yang Ren on another warhorse! He raised his spear and stabbed Yang Ren down.
Bai Xiaowen sighed, "Yang Ren was one of the few loyal generals in Hanzhong. Unfortunately, he did not know how to adapt to the situation!" He ordered his men to bury him.
Ma Chao had been shot several times but he was still in good spirits. He rode his horse to Bai Xiaowen.
Bai Xiaowen said, "Meng Qi was ambushed and that was my fault. Fortunately, Meng Qi was brave enough to protect himself. "
Ma Chao did not dwell on this issue and asked, "Did the Duke Of Yan capture Zhang Lu?"
Bai Xiaowen shook his head and said, "He is not in the city."
Ma Chao's expression turned ugly. "That bastard got away again!"
Bai Xiaowen smiled and said, "Why are you in such a hurry? Since Nanzheng had fallen, where could Zhang Lu escape to? In less than four hours, he will be captured by me. "
…
Zhang Lu and Zhang Wei took Yan Pu and several hundred bodyguards and fled to Bazhong.
The terrain in the middle of Sichuan was very dangerous. Fortunately, the guards were familiar with the local roads, otherwise, they would definitely get lost.
When they reached a narrow path, Zhang Lu's expression suddenly changed. "There's someone up ahead!"
As soon as these words were shouted, the sound of drums could be heard, and a group of soldiers and horses came out in formation.
Qiao Rui, Han Xu, Li Shuyi, and Camille led a thousand elites to block the front.
Qiao Rui spoke in a clear voice, "Zhang Lu, my lord has said that even if you surrender now, you will not lose your marquis title. If you resist stubbornly, it will be too late for regrets! "
Zhang Wei said sternly, "How dare you little pawns block the way!" His horse brandished its sabers and charged.
Camille pulled out her spear and was about to shoot, but Qiao Rui stopped her.
Li Shuyi had already met the attack, his two swords like a drizzle of rain. In just one exchange, several bloody lines appeared on Zhang Wei's warhorse and it fell down with a neigh. Even Zhang Wei fell and rolled on the ground.
Li Shuyi tapped the ground with the tip of his toes and moved seven or eight meters horizontally as if riding the clouds. He once again closed in on Zhang Wei, his two swords like a tempest.
Zhang Wei was no match for Li Shuyi. Whether he fought back desperately or blocked, he could not stop Li Shuyi's mercury-like attacks.
Like a small knife cutting through flesh, Zhang Wei's life was constantly being sapped away.
"Wait!"
"Stop fighting …"
"I give up!"
Zhang Wei kept begging for mercy. He did not expect the female general in front of him to be so strong that he could not resist at all.
However, Li Shuyi's two swords were faster and faster. He had no intention of stopping.
"Is it appropriate to kill him? I think he's Zhang Lu's younger brother, "Camille whispered.
Qiao Rui shook his head. "Captain has already said that Zhang Lu can live, but Zhang Wei must die."
Zhang Lu was shocked and scared to see Zhang Wei being suppressed. Although he knew some Taoist techniques, he had not been on the battlefield for a long time and did not dare to fight personally. He could only say, "Stop fighting. We'll surrender, okay?"
However, it was too late. The fire damage from Li Shuyi's Demonic Fire Jade Pendant and the cumulative damage from the poison skill exploded together, taking away Zhang Wei's life.
Qiao Rui said, "Zhang Wei has not given up on his evil intentions. My lord has long heard that he has repeatedly tempted you to resist the imperial court. If you want to live a peaceful life and be a Marquis of Taiping, Zhang Wei cannot be allowed to live. "
Zhang Lu dismounted from his horse and cried bitterly while caressing Zhang Wei's corpse. Then, he said, "I've long wanted to surrender to the Duke Of Yan, but this subordinate refused."
Qiao Rui immediately led the troops to escort Zhang Lu, Yan Pu, and a group of personal attendants back to Nanzheng.
… …
Nanzheng City.
Bai Xiaowen received Zhang Lu.
At this moment, Zhang Lu was still in shock. After all, his younger brother had been killed in front of him! He was afraid that Bai Xiaowen would chop him up as well.
Bai Xiaowen did not do so. Instead, he comforted Zhang Lu. "Although you were not conferred a title by the imperial court, you have governed Hanzhong for many years. You have ensured peace and prosperity, and the population is abundant. Your achievements are more outstanding than many provincial governors conferred by the imperial court. Today, I will confer you the title of Marquis of Langzhong, and you will live in a thousand villages. I will prepare a grand residence for you in Sizhou. You can live there for the rest of your life. "
It was already good enough for a defeated duke to be reared in captivity. Moreover, he had been conferred the title of Marquis.
Zhang Lu thanked him.
Bai Xiaowen did not want to kill Zhang Lu.
Zhang Lu had governed Hanzhong for many years and had won the hearts of the people. Killing him would not only disappoint the people of Hanzhong, but it would also cause Liu Zhang to be conflicted when conquering Xichuan.
Moreover, Ma Chao was still waiting.
Bai Xiaowen saw Ma Chao's hesitant expression and said to Zhang Lu, "Now, I will ask you something. You must answer truthfully."
Zhang Lu quickly nodded.
Bai Xiaowen asked, "That day, after Old General Ma Teng died, you wrote a letter to Ma Chao stating that you would give up the fight for the position of Guanzhong's Third Assistant. Who taught you this? "
After Bai Xiaowen asked this question, he saw Zhang Lu's hesitant expression and said, "Don't try to lie. You must not be the only one who saw that person. I will ask your subordinates later. There must be someone who knows. "
Zhang Lu quickly said, "How would I dare to deceive the Duke Of Yan? There was indeed such a person who told me to write a letter to give up the position of Third Assistant and stay away from trouble. "
Ma Chao could not help but ask, "Is that person under Liu Bei's camp called Jian Yong?"
Zhang Lu shook his head in confusion. "Jian Yong? No, he calls himself Dan Fu. He is from Jingzhou and has traveled here. "
When Bai Xiaowen heard the name Dan Fu, he had an idea. He asked, "Did Dan Fu say who he is serving now?"
Zhang Lu shook his head. "He did not say this. Dan Fu is skilled in both the pen and the sword. He is quite intelligent. I usually call him 'Mr. Dan' instead of his name. "
"Where is this person now?" Bai Xiaowen asked.
"When the city was breached, Dan Fu advised me to flee south to Bazhong and wait for an opportunity. He was originally with me, but for some reason, he disappeared. "Zhang Lu answered.
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