When Liu Bei's army was under the fortified city, Xiahoudun had already arrived with reinforcements. It turned out that Cao Ang heard that Liu Bei was coming, so he ordered Xiahoudun to take 10,000 soldiers and horses as the vanguard, and he led 5,000 people behind.

The reinforcements of the Cao army had arrived, and Liu Bei, who had come to his senses, said gloomily: "Withdraw the troops!" ”

If he doesn't withdraw, he can't do it, so many people have been killed and wounded, and more people have escaped, and now the army in his hand is only a little more than 10,000. Even if the enemy was defeated in the field, it was not enough to gnaw down the fortresses of Cao's army. Liu Bei knew that for a long time in the future, defense would become the mainstream, and the attacker would pay a heavy price.

Seeing Liu Beijun retreating, Xiahoudun led his troops up to confront him. Guan Yu asked Liu Bei to retreat first with his baggage, and he himself stayed to engage Cao's army. The two sides lined up in the field, the artillery bombarded incessantly, and the infantry advanced as they fired a salvo. At a distance of forty paces, the smoothbore gunners lined up and shot each other, and were also shot by the other.

Zhang Fei led the cavalry to flank, penetrated several battle formations of Cao's army, and blew up an artillery position, but he himself was hit by a stray bullet. The flying buckshot shattered the steel armor on his body and struck his shoulder into a bloody blur. When Zhang Fei returned with five hundred cavalry, he could no longer support it and fell off his horse with a scream.

Cao's cavalry also routed several of Liu Bei's troops, but they also suffered heavy casualties. The two sides fought for a day, each paying the price of thousands of people. The Gurkha infantry brought by Liu Beijun played a great role in the field battle, holding on to the position on the right flank, repelling the attack of Cao's army, not to mention, but also taking the opportunity to launch a counterattack, killing and capturing hundreds of people.

But no matter how well the soldiers and horses under his command fought, they could not fundamentally solve the problem. After the battle, Guan Yu continued to retreat north with the wounded Zhang Fei. Xiahoudun wanted to continue the pursuit, but was called back by Cao Ang.

"Forget it, even if we kill Liu Bei, we won't be able to take much advantage, so it's better to stop the war."

Xiahou said stupidly: "It's cheap Liu Xuande." ”

After repelling Liu Beijun, Cao Ang's prestige soared, and no one in Xinluo City dared to openly question the voice, not only that, but there were also people who secretly poked and poked small reports, saying that when the lord went out on the expedition, someone colluded with the generals in the army and wanted to plot against him, and this person was Cao Ang's younger brother - Cao Pi!

Hearing that Cao Pi had such a move, Cao Ang was furious. Daddy has just been buried, so you're coming out like this? He called Cao Pi into the hall and asked him why he had done so. Cao Pi naturally denied it in every possible way, so Cao Ang called out the person who came out, took out physical evidence, and asked Cao Pi what else he had to say.

"Fake, it's all fake!" Cao Pi broke out in a cold sweat, and said stiffly: "If you want to add crimes, there is no excuse!" My brother can't tolerate me, so why use such a false accusation? ”

Cao Ang sneered: "I have long known that Zihuan is bold and reckless, but I didn't expect you to admit that there are all the human and material evidence." In this way, don't you usually boast that your literary talent is far superior to others, and you also wrote a work like "Classics"? Then make a hymn in public, and if you do it within seven steps, I will forgive you from sin. If you can't do it, you'll be asked to guard your father's grave for the rest of your life! ”

Cao Pi's mind was in a hurry, and just as he was about to speak, Cao Ang said again: "Let's take beans as the theme!" ”

After that, Cao Ang looked at Cao Pi coldly. Cao Pi took a step forward, and there was already something vague in his heart. Taking a step further, the scene in front of me seemed to become familiar, as if it had been experienced before. In a trance, it seemed that someone was slowly stepping out and reading a poem out of his mouth.

Cao Pi took a full step while reading: "Boil the beans to burn the bean basket, and the beans are crying in the kettle." It's the same root........."

Cao Ang was a little surprised when he heard Cao Pi read the first sentence, and when he heard the third sentence, he stood up involuntarily, and the expression on his face softened. He was going to wait for Cao Pi to finish reading the poem and announce his acquittal. Then, he saw Cao Pi after the sixth step, his right foot was hanging in the air, and he never put it down.

The first three lines of the poem are all good, but why can't you think of the last one? More cold sweat flowed down Cao Pi's forehead, and he maintained the posture of raising his feet for a long, long time.

"Alas," Cao Ang said as he sat back in his chair and said with a strange feeling, "Would you like to bring a chair over for you?" It's tiring to stand like this. ”

Cao Pi sighed, put down his right foot, and said dejectedly: "The little brother's talent is not enough after all. ”

Cao Angdao; "Those who are in power should do what they say, since Zihuan you can't make poems in seven steps, then go and guard the grave of your father. It doesn't take a lifetime, it doesn't take ten years. ”

Cao Pibai fell to the ground and choked up: "Thank you, lord!" ”

However, it was said that Liu Bei and Zhang Fei were both wounded, and after returning to the north with the troops, they lay in bed for a few days to recuperate from their injuries. Liu Bei gradually got better, but Zhang Fei's injuries worsened. Zhang Yide had "the courage of ten thousand people" when he was young, but the years are not forgiving, he is now nearly sixty years old, and all the functions of his body have begun to decline.

Although the buckshot on his shoulder has been removed, the wound has been festering, and the person has been in a high fever. According to Shinrikyo priests, this is a typical time for lead poisoning. Liu Bei asked if there was a way to treat it, and he was told that there was no other good way at present, and he could only rely on himself to survive.

However, after hesitating for a while, the priest said, "If General Zhang can be sent to Luoyang, maybe he can still be saved." But along the way, we have to pass through the desert and the Gobi, and with General Zhang's current physical condition, it would be better to stay here and recuperate. ”

Liu Bei sighed and said, "If it weren't for my insistence, how could the third brother suffer such a catastrophe?" ”

Zhang Fei said vigorously on the sickbed: "If the eldest husband can wrap his body in horse leather, he is very lucky!" Now I just hate that I can't continue to fight and kill the enemy, but I want to die of illness on the bed! ”

Liu Bei held Zhang Fei's hand and said, "I'll write a letter to the general and ask him to come over ......."

Zhang Fei laughed and said, "Big brother is really confused! The journey to Luoyang is at least six or seven thousand miles, and there are many uninhabited Gobi Deserts on the road, and it will take a year to go and come. If I had been around a year later, my injuries would have healed. If I'm already dead a year later, what's the use of calling Wen Zheng over? ”

When Liu Bei heard this, he couldn't stop crying.

Four days later, Zhang Fei's condition deteriorated, and the temperature of his body rose sharply. Zhang Fei was already sick and dying, but he suddenly sat up from the sickbed and shouted: "Kill the thief, kill the thief!" ”

Liu Bei, who hurried over after hearing the inquiry, heard this familiar loud voice and said happily: "Third brother is well?" ”

He hurried into the room, which was filled with the smell of rancid and medicine, only to see that Zhang Fei had fallen back on his feet. Although he was angry, he glared angrily, as if he wanted to fight the enemy. Seeing this, Liu Bei fell to the ground and cried bitterly.

Tears flowed down Guan Yu's eyes, but he comforted Liu Bei and said: "Although the third brother unfortunately passed away, he fought all his life and became famous, and he can be regarded as a well-deserved death." Big brother, don't grieve too much, the affairs of the country still need you to deal with. ”

Liu Bei stopped crying, but he still couldn't let go, holding Zhang Fei's hand and crying until he passed out. After he woke up, he dragged his sick body to handle the funeral for Zhang Fei. He sent people to build a huge mausoleum on the mountain of Gorkha, and ordered people to carve inscriptions on the mountain to record Zhang Fei's exploits in life and life.

Before the mausoleum was repaired, Liu Bei had already fallen again. Although he was younger than Guan Yu, he was older than Zhang Fei, and after he fell again, his body quickly failed. Seeing that the days were numbered, he called Guan Yu, Chen Dao, Liu Chan and others to the sickbed and said, "My body is getting worse day by day, and it's time to prepare for the future." ”

Liu Chan was a little fat, kneeling on the ground, with a frightened expression on his face. Seeing that his son was like this, Liu Bei couldn't help but sigh, and said to Guan Yu, who had lost a lot of weight on the side: "Tiger father and dog, that's it!" If he can convince the public, the second brother will be able to assist. If he is not worthy of cultivation, the second brother will take his place as the lord of these hundred and ten cities. ”

Guan Yu said: "Brother is too tired, as long as he has a good life and recuperation, he will definitely get better." ”

Liu Bei said with a smile: "People are born to die, I am now in my sixties, and I am not considered to have died young, so what is there to taboo?" It has been more than 30 years since the three of us brothers started the army in Zhuo County. From the Central Plains to here, how many miles can it be long? Even a famous general like Wei Qinghuo is not as happy as me. I'm going to find the third brother now, maybe he has already prepared food and wine in the underworld, just waiting for me to come over. ”

Hearing this, Guan Yu couldn't help but burst into tears.

Liu Bei said with a smile: "Second brother Hero I, why did you make this little child shape?" The big husband dominates the world, enough! ”

He called Liu Chan and instructed: "After I die, Brother Ru and the others must serve Yun Chang as if they were serving me." If there are rebellious words and frivolous behaviors, Yun Chang will punish you and so on! ”

After Liu Bei finished instructing, he smiled and said to his wife and children in the room and a group of civil and military ministers: "In the past, when I was in Hebei, Wen Zheng once said to me: Who is the opponent of the heroes in the world, Cao Liu!" Now that Cao Cao is dead, and I am about to go to Huangquan, who else can be called a hero in this world? ”

He called to the left and right to come forward and said, "Get pen and ink, I will write a letter of persuasion to the general." ”

"Persuasion table?"

"Yes, the general has been the king of Wei for more than ten years, and it is time to sit in that position. He has taken a lot of care of us over the years, and probably cares about us and others, so he has always refused to do that arrogant act. Ask the general to be the emperor, just ask him to read the old love and give the Liu family a place to worship the ancestors, and that is enough. ”

Liu Bei was already very tired at this time, closed his eyes, as if he wanted to take a rest, but suddenly opened his eyes and said to Guan Yu: "Cao clan in the south, Sun clan." They have been based for a long time and are eager to do so. If Yun Chang intends to use troops, go and conquer the barbarians in the west! ”

After that, he ordered everyone to retreat, and ten days later, Liu Bei died suddenly.