"Old General Yan, please, rise!"
Seeing this, Liu Zhang hurriedly helped him up, then rebuked Wu Lan. "Didn't I tell you to invite Old General Yan here? Why is he still in shackles?"
"Hurry up and take them off Old General Yan!"
Wu Lan had been scolded for no reason, but he dared not protest and could only do as Liu Zhang commanded.
"What is the meaning of this, my lord?"
Liu Zhang's behavior left Yan Yan rather bewildered. He was a condemned general awaiting execution, so why was he being treated with such courtesy?
"You have suffered, Old General Yan."
Holding Yan Yan's hand, Liu Zhang said gravely, "Word just arrived from the front. On the very day you left, Old General Yan, Liu Bei led his troops to capture De County."
"Swordland has fallen."
Yan Yan's expression changed sharply at this, but he had already prepared himself for it, so he merely sighed. "The reason I defied your orders and refused to return to Chengdu was that I knew Swordland would inevitably fall once I left."
"I simply never expected it to happen so quickly."
Shame showed on Liu Zhang's face, and his voice was full of regret. "I fell for that scoundrel Liu Bei's scheme and summoned you back to Chengdu, Old General Yan. This is entirely my fault."
"Liu Bei is far too cunning."
Yan Yan shook his head, then looked at Liu Zhang. "What do you intend to do, my lord? Do you wish me to lead the troops against the enemy, or escort you as you withdraw?"
There were only two paths before them now: fight the enemy or withdraw from Shu Commandery.
"Neither..."
Liu Zhang gave an awkward laugh, his eyes shifting evasively. "Here is the situation. I have already asked Liu Cong