By the time the news reached Zhuge Liang, it was already late at night.
Zhuge Liang was about to go to sleep when he suddenly heard this news and sat up abruptly.
"What? Is the news true?" Zhuge Liang asked.
The guard quickly replied, "The news is absolutely true. It is said that Zhang Da and Fan Jiang, those two scoundrels, killed General Zhang while he was drunk."
Zhuge Liang rubbed his temples, feeling irritated: "Why did it have to happen at this crucial moment?"
Zhuge Liang fell into deep thought, and after a while, he suddenly remembered something: "Where are Zhang Da and Fan Jiang?"
The guard immediately replied, "They took General Zhang's head and went to Eastern Wu!"
Zhuge Liang's expression changed instantly, and he said urgently, "Oh no! Quickly send cavalry to pursue them! We must intercept them and not let them set foot in Eastern Wu!"
Zhuge Liang knew very well that if Zhang Fei's head fell into Sun Quan's hands, it would cause a huge uproar!
"Yes, sir!" The guard immediately turned and walked out.
"Someone, bring Pang Shiyuan here!" Zhuge Liang ordered.
"Here you go!"
After a short while, Pang Tong rushed over and anxiously said as soon as he entered, "Kongming, I already know!"
"With Yide killed, Zhang Da and Fan Jiang took his head to Eastern Wu, which will likely cause a great disaster!" Pang Tong said with a worried expression.
Zhuge Liang sighed and said in a deep voice, "I have already sent troops to intercept them. I hope they can stop them in time."
Both men were intelligent and knew what would happen once Zhang Fei's head was brought to Eastern Wu.
Guan Yu was killed by Eastern Wu, and now if Zhang Fei's head were also brought to Eastern Wu, they would know very well that it would cause a huge uproar!
Liu Bei will inevitably raise an army to attack Eastern Wu.
"Alas!" Pang Tong shook his head slightly, his heart filled with worry.
Inside the military tent, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost palpable.
Liu Bei sat at his desk, clutching the battle report tightly in his hand—the devastating news of Zhang Fei's death.
His heart felt as if it had been torn apart by a sharp blade, causing him excruciating pain.
"Eastern Wu! Give me back my...brothers! Give me back my...brothers!" Liu Bei's voice echoed in the tent, filled with grief and anger.
Tears and anger mingled in his eyes, reflecting his inner struggle, which ultimately transformed into a raging inferno.
The generals knelt, their voices firm and resolute: "Our lord, we too are heartbroken by General Zhang Fei's death. We are willing to follow you, our lord, and swear to avenge General Zhang Fei to the death!"
However, Zhuge Liang, Pang Tong, Fa Zheng, and other civil officials looked solemn. They knew that Liu Bei was now blinded by grief and anger.
Zhuge Liang stepped forward, his voice calm yet powerful: "My lord, we are all deeply saddened by the death of General Zhang Fei. But war is no child's play; once it begins, the consequences will be unimaginable."
"Kongming! My second brother Guan Yu and my third brother Zhang Fei both died at the hands of Jiangdong! Are you still going to persuade me not to start a war?" Liu Bei roared, his voice filled with deep sorrow and despair.
Zhuge Liang remained silent, not daring to speak.
The deaths of Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were not just the loss of two military generals, but also the deaths of Liu Bei's sworn brothers!
For Liu Bei, these two men had followed him from humble beginnings, remaining loyal and devoted even in his impoverished times. Such brotherhood was truly precious!
Pang Tong stepped forward, his eyes revealing worry: "My lord, General Zhang Fei and I were the closest of friends, practically like brothers. But I implore you to consider the greater good."
Liu Bei's gaze fell on Pang Tong, his eyes instantly turning red. His voice trembled as he roared, "Impossible! This time...this time, I will not listen to you!"
Liu Bei's attitude was resolute, his tone firm, and brooked no argument.
The strategists could only sigh; they knew very well that Liu Bei had been blinded by hatred.
They didn't know what to say.
Only Zhuge Liang stepped forward and said, "My lord, while the deaths of Generals Guan and Zhang are indeed tragic, once a war begins, it is difficult to control!"
"If Cao Wei launches a surprise attack while we are fighting a major battle with Jiangdong, what should our army do?" Zhuge Liang's voice was not loud, but every word was precious.
Pang Tong frowned deeply: "My lord, Kongming is right! If Cao Wei takes the opportunity to launch a surprise attack, we will be attacked from both sides and be in grave danger!"
Liu Bei remained silent for a long time before finally raising his head, his eyes flashing with a cold light: "My mind is made up, do not try to persuade me any further!"
"My lord..." Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang called out urgently.
"Step back!" Liu Bei roared.
Liu Bei's expression was extremely serious and solemn.
Seeing this, Pang Tong and Zhuge Liang exchanged a glance, and finally could only smile wryly, bow, and slowly withdraw from the military tent.
Then, Liu Bei drew his twin swords from his waist and addressed his generals, "Listen to my command!"
"Ten days from now, we will muster our troops and prepare for war. We will march east to attack Sun Quan, capture Jianye, and desecrate the ancestral graves of the Sun family for three generations to vent my hatred!" Liu Bei shouted coldly, his killing intent chilling.
"Yes!" the generals responded in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and the earth.
Then Liu Bei waved his hand, signaling all the generals to leave.
Liu Bei sat quietly in his original spot, looking at the battle reports on the table. His eyes grew increasingly red, as if blood was about to flow from them.
"Second brother! Third brother! May your spirits in heaven protect me. This time, I must conquer Eastern Wu and avenge you!" Liu Bei murmured to himself.
Because Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong strongly opposed Liu Bei's campaign against Wu, Liu Bei left the two of them to guard Yizhou.
He then led Xu Shu and Fa Zheng as military advisors to accompany the army.
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