Chapter 121

"Why would they waste their troops for nothing?"

Hearing Gao Shun say this, the joy on Huang Zhong’s face also faded.

The state of the Shu army was indeed not quite right.

This Jiameng Pass had been under the control of the Shu army until it was captured by Zhang Lu.

By all logic, they should be very aware of how treacherous this pass was.

Knowing clearly that they could not capture Jiameng Pass with such a small force, why did the Shu army insist on coming to try?

The more they thought about it, the more Gao Shun and Huang Zhong felt that there was a trick.

But because the two had only arrived at the Jiameng Pass frontline recently, they really could not figure out where the problem lay.

"Could it be that the terrain of Jiameng Pass itself has some loophole?"

This thought suddenly popped into Gao Shun’s mind.

He hurriedly sent people to find a few local natives near Jiameng Pass.

Before long.

A few people who looked like fishermen were brought here by Gao Shun’s personal guards.

"Fishermen?"

Seeing their attire, Gao Shun’s doubts deepened.

With the broken terrain of Jiameng Pass, where would there be a river to provide them with fish?

Seeming to see the doubt in Gao Shun’s eyes, the leader of the fishermen replied:

"Reporting to the General, we are from Zhao Village, thirty miles away from Jiameng Pass."

"Next to our village, there is a river."

"Although the river is not long, the yield of fish inside is not low, supporting many people in our Zhao Village."

What Gao Shun wanted to hear was clearly not the domestic trivialities of Zhao Village.

He hurriedly interrupted:

"Where does that river eventually lead?"

The leader of the fishermen replied:

"It leads to a hillside, and if you continue forward, you can go to Ningqiang City."

"However, there is still a not-so-short distance to Ningqiang City."

"The last time I went to Ningqiang City was half a year ago."

"Wait!"

"You mean, that river can directly bypass Jiameng Pass?"

Gao Shun instantly captured the key point in the fisherman’s words.

"Yes."

"But under normal circumstances, no one would choose to take a detour."

"Unless..."

"Unless Jiameng Pass enters a state of martial law, right?"

Before the fisherman could finish, Gao Shun interrupted him.

Subsequently, Gao Shun ordered his personal guards to send these fishermen back.

He said to Huang Zhong with a solemn expression:

"General Hansheng, I roughly understand where the problem lies."

"Those Shu troops outside Jiameng Pass are likely just a decoy."

"Their true purpose is to take the waterway to bypass Jiameng Pass and cut off the supply line inside the pass!"

"In this way, Jiameng Pass is in danger."

Huang Zhong naturally understood what Gao Shun meant.

Both of their abilities to command troops could be considered quite good.

If it were a head-on confrontation.

Let alone twenty thousand Shu troops.

Even if fifty thousand Shu troops came to attack, the two generals could rely on Jiameng Pass to easily repel them.

But... once the supply line was cut off.

Jiameng Pass would instantly fall into internal and external trouble.

Let alone holding the pass, being able to keep the army from being wiped out would be considered a blessing.

For detailed examples, one can refer to the Battle of Jieting in history.

How arrogant was Ma Su!

Occupying a high position, he even intended to wipe out Zhang He.

But what was the result?

He was almost beaten by Zhang He to the point of meeting his ancestors on the spot!

Occupying a high position is sometimes a good thing.

But sometimes, it can also become a death-inducing requiem!

"No, we absolutely cannot let the Shu army’s scheme succeed!"

"This old man will take troops to guard the waterway right now."

"Kill any Shu troops on sight!"

Huang Zhong’s eyes were full of killing intent.

If Jiameng Pass were lost, Gu Yi’s plan to destroy Shu in one battle would likely be postponed indefinitely.

Even the results of this war might be limited to taking Hanzhong, and they would never be able to enter the Shu region.

"I am afraid... it is already too late."

Gao Shun sighed desolately.

If it were not for the fact that he and Huang Zhong were unfamiliar with the terrain around Jiameng Pass, there was no way the Shu army could have exploited such a loophole.

However.

Just when the two were worried.

On that waterway that could directly bypass Jiameng Pass.

A fierce battle was taking place!

The leaders of both sides.

Were none other than Gan Ning and Zhang Ren!

Zhang Ren handed the main Shu army force to Lei Tong as a decoy to attract the attention of the Dong Zhuo army inside Jiameng Pass.

And he himself led a small number of elites to take the opportunity to sneak through the waterway.

Planning to bypass to the rear and cut off the supply line of Jiameng Pass!

It was just a pity.

Just as he had crossed the waterway and thought his plan was about to succeed.

He ran into Gan Ning and the Brocade Sail Thieves, who had come to intercept him on Gu Yi’s orders!

"Gan Xingba?"

"You fellow actually dare to come back!"

Zhang Ren roared sternly.

As the saying goes, "Enemies meeting, their eyes are especially red."

Although Zhang Ren and Gan Ning had not officially fought before.

The reason Zhao Chi’s rebellion failed was precisely because it encountered Zhang Ren’s surprise attack.

And Gan Ning, as the number two figure in Zhao Chi’s insurgent army, was also forced to leave Yizhou after Zhao Chi’s failure.

In other words.

In Zhang Ren’s eyes, Gan Ning was Yizhou’s "number one wanted criminal"!

In Gan Ning’s eyes, Zhang Ren was the culprit who forced him to leave Yizhou!

"Zhang Ren, you fellow, why don't you stay properly by that fool Liu Zhang’s side and wander around this waterway with your army?"

"Could it be that you want to use this waterway to bypass to the rear of Jiameng Pass?"

Gan Ning calmly fiddled with the Great River-Dominating Blade in his hand.

The Brocade Sail Thieves had an absolute advantage fighting on the waterway.

Let alone the thousand or so Shu troops under Zhang Ren.

Even if the number were doubled, Gan Ning would not be afraid!

Looking at Zhang Ren.

He appeared much more solemn at this moment.

In his original plan, there should not have been any enemies on this waterway.

But this fellow Gan Ning actually appeared here!

And he instantly saw through his intentions.

Clearly, he was prepared.

"Gan Xingba! Do you dare to decide the outcome with me in a duel?"

Zhang Ren provoked.

As a wise general, Zhang Ren was different from ordinary hotheads.

If it were any other Shu general here, they might have rushed up with their soldiers to fight to the death with Gan Ning without a word.

But Zhang Ren would not.

He knew clearly that with the small force he had, it was highly unlikely they could be a match for Gan Ning and the Brocade Sail Thieves.

If they wanted to lead the army to escape, their speed on the waterway could never compare to the Brocade Sail Thieves.

The only way to break the situation was to defeat Gan Ning.

Otherwise, the thousand or so Shu troops would likely all be buried here today.

Therefore, it was better to provoke Gan Ning.

Using this method to force Gan Ning to accept a duel!

Of course, Zhang Ren was also quite confident in his own martial arts.

At least among the Shu generals, no one could defeat Zhang Ren.

In terms of martial arts level classification.

Zhang Ren could be classified as a first-rate general.

Roughly on the same level as the Northern Hero Zhang Xiu.

However.

What Zhang Ren did not know was.

Gan Ning’s martial arts were a grade stronger than his!

Although not comparable to top-tier fierce generals like Lu Bu, Huang Zhong, and Zhao Yun.

But Gan Ning was at least at the level of a super-first-rate fierce general.

His blade technique was played to a miraculous level.

Facing Zhang Ren’s provocation at this moment, Gan Ning naturally had no reason to refuse.

He raised his Great River-Dominating Blade and smiled contemptuously:

"Zhang Ren, I originally thought you were a smart person."

"As it turns out, you chose the most stupid way!"

After speaking, Gan Ning and Zhang Ren each drew their weapons and fought together under the witness of the soldiers on both sides.

In the blink of an eye.

Thirty rounds had passed.

Gan Ning was still handling it with ease.

But Zhang Ren already had fine beads of sweat on his forehead.

To outsiders who didn't understand, perhaps they were evenly matched.

But only Zhang Ren himself knew that this fellow Gan Ning was completely toying with him!

I am afraid that after at most another hundred rounds, Zhang Ren would be defeated due to exhaustion.

"Heh, Zhang Ren, you people under Liu Zhang are really one worse than the other."

Gan Ning mocked continuously.

Hearing this, Zhang Ren remained unmoved.

But the group of Shu soldiers following him were filled with righteous indignation.

In their view, what qualification did a rebel like Gan Ning have to criticize them?

"General, let us help you!"

Seeing that Zhang Ren was gradually unable to hold on, several of his trusted aides hurriedly waved their weapons and rushed up.

Seeing this, the Brocade Sail Thieves, who had been ready to go, also swarmed up.

The battle between the soldiers of the two sides officially began.

At this moment, Zhang Ren’s heart was bleeding!

He had gone to great lengths to duel with Gan Ning precisely because there was a huge disparity in combat power between the soldiers of the two sides.

The thousand or so men under Zhang Ren, although they could be called elites of the Shu region.

But fighting the Brocade Sail Thieves on the waterway was a complete waste.

Soon.

This small-scale skirmish came to an end.

Without any suspense, Gan Ning and the Brocade Sail Thieves achieved victory.

And Zhang Ren was also defeated and captured by Gan Ning.

Unyielding even in death, he looked at Gan Ning through gritted teeth.

"Tsk, actually, what I said just now wasn't entirely correct."

"Your Shu region still has many talents."

"But under that fellow Liu Zhang, wanting to be reused is harder than ascending to heaven."

"Zhang Ren, you kid are a talent."

"I don't want to kill you; I’ll just hand you over to the sir to deal with."

Gan Ning laughed wantonly.

Immediately, he took the Brocade Sail Thieves to continue guarding the vicinity of the waterway to prevent any more Shu troops from wanting to pass through in the chaos.

However.

Except for Zhang Ren.

Among the Shu army, there were no more such bold people.

A few hours later, Gan Ning did not wait for the Shu army, but instead waited for the Jiameng Pass garrison led by Huang Zhong.

Learning that Gu Yi had anticipated the enemy’s movements and sent Gan Ning to lead the Brocade Sail Thieves to guard the waterway in advance, Huang Zhong felt deep admiration for this.

At the same time.

The more talkative Huang Zhong chatted with Gan Ning again.

Both were outgoing people, so there was naturally no pressure in getting along.

There was quite a feeling of meeting an old friend at first sight.

Subsequently.

Huang Zhong returned to Jiameng Pass and told Gao Shun about the fierce battle that had taken place by the waterway.

……

Ten days later

Gu Yi personally brought a portion of his soldiers to Jiameng Pass.

Five days ago, Lei Tong had already led the remaining Shu troops outside Jiameng Pass back to the Shu region.

Huang Zhong and Gao Shun were worried that the Shu army had a trick, so they did not lead their troops to pursue.

However.

Even if Lei Tong and these people were allowed to escape, it was of no consequence.

In Gu Yi’s view, the most threatening general in the Shu region was Zhang Ren himself.