Shuhan

Although Liu Chan, as an emperor, accompanied Sun Shangxiang on a boat to Wujun, which seemed to be an absurd political affair, he actually had his own plans in mind.

During this trip, he planned to take the opportunity to go on a secret visit and see with his own eyes whether the old territory of the Wu Kingdom under his rule had really submitted, or whether there were still some people secretly plotting and making ill intentions.

Sometimes seeing is believing. Only by going there in person can you understand the real situation.

However, he naturally could not tell these thoughts to Sun Shangxiang, who was deeply in love with him.

She was immersed in happiness at the moment, with only him in her eyes and heart.

He liked to see her like this, carefree, as if all the worries in the world had been left behind.

Liu Chan knew in his heart that what Sun Shangxiang liked to hear were those words that could make her happy, those beautiful visions about love and the future.

So, he gently held her hand, looked into her eyes tenderly, and said in the most sincere voice: "Shangxiang, do you know? I am with you not only because I want to be with you, but also because I want to take this opportunity to see this land with my own eyes and see whether our people live and work in peace and contentment.

I hope that what I can bring to you is not only the love of an emperor, but also a peaceful and prosperous world."

After hearing this, Sun Shangxiang's eyes flashed with surprise and emotion.

She held his hand tightly and said softly, "I already know your majesty's intention. No matter what your majesty wants to do, I will be by your side to support you."

No matter what, she is already his.

It is so now and it will be so in the future.

Thinking of this, Sun Shangxiang rubbed her legs together, leaned on Liu Chan, and drew circles on his chest with her hands.

"Your Majesty, I feel a little seasick."

Liu Chan curled his lips, not wanting to expose her words.

Are you seasick?
I see you want to eat baguette.

"Then Madam, let's go inside and take a rest!"

At this moment, the sky was covered with dark clouds and heavy rain was about to fall.

A battle even more intense than this downpour is about to begin.

Shouchun City cleverly built a series of forts along the banks of the Huai River, which look like a giant dragon, majestic and imposing.

Within a radius of dozens of miles, the city was fortified and the land was cleared. The strategy was so sophisticated that it was breathtaking.

The city walls are majestic and towering into the clouds. The stone barriers glow coldly in the sun, as if every inch of them reveals an inviolable majesty.

Outside the city, the once lush forests have been completely cut down, leaving not a single tree behind. Instead, there are vast open spaces, making it impossible for any enemy to approach stealthily.

This was not only to prevent the enemy from using the trees as cover, but was also a strategic consideration to ensure that every inch of the city's defenses was within the defenders' line of sight and was impeccable.

Inside the city, it was a different scene.

The granaries are full, the weapons are sharp, the people live and work in peace and contentment, and the well-trained soldiers are always ready to deal with possible threats.

On both sides of the street, the houses are arranged in order.

The slowly flowing water of the Huai River adds a bit of agility and ruggedness to Shouchun City.

Outside the city walls, with the help of the natural barrier of the river, numerous checkpoints were set up, with both land and water advancing, forming an insurmountable natural barrier.

Even the most valiant enemy troops would be deterred by such an impregnable defense.

When night falls, the city walls are brightly lit, and the interweaving of light and shadow complements the starry sky, adding a bit of mystery and solemnity.

In Shouchun City, in the Governor's Mansion, Sima Yi looked particularly lonely.

He was wearing a loose pair of pajamas, which seemed to be taken out of his bag at random. The clothes were soft in texture, but could not hide his fatigue.

His clothes were slightly wrinkled, as if it was a testimony to his sleepless nights and heavy heart.

On his face, there were two obvious panda eyes with sunken eye sockets, revealing signs of lack of sleep due to worry in recent days.

Those eyes that were once as sharp as an eagle now seemed a little dull, as if they were weighed down by heavy thoughts.

Sima Yi sat at his desk, holding tightly in his hand an urgent report from Jianye. Every word on the report seemed to weigh on his heart. These days, news after news came like snowflakes, making him restless.

Although Shouchun City was strong, with high walls and deep trenches, he was full of uncertainty.

Now standing in Jianye City is the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, a true hero.

He was a overlord who could sweep across the world and unify the country.

Sima Yi did not dare to claim victory easily. The outcome of this battle depended not only on the strength of the city walls, but also on people's hearts, morale, and the unpredictable will of heaven.

He sighed softly, feeling a sense of powerlessness in his heart.

but
He must not lose heart.

He must cheer himself up. For the sake of this city and the people here, he must find a way out.

But at this moment, he just felt physically and mentally exhausted, as if all the burdens were on his shoulders, making it difficult for him to breathe.

It was late at night and the only sound in the Governor's Mansion was the flickering candlelight. Sima Yi sat alone in the darkness, thinking about a myriad of things, but he could only sigh.

"Hey~"

"Why are you sighing, my husband?"

Outside the room, a soft voice was heard, followed by the entry of a young woman in loose pajamas.

She is thin, but as graceful as a Yangzhou skinny horse, and every step she takes reveals an indescribable charm.

The faintly visible grace under the pajamas makes it difficult for any man to look away. It is a kind of natural beauty without any embellishment, as if it can naturally evoke tenderness in people's hearts.

However, Sima Yi's mind was not on this.

He looked up at the woman, a complex emotion flashed in his eyes, then he lowered his head and sighed.

He had mixed feelings in his heart, including guilt towards his wife at home and worry about the upcoming war.

"The war is urgent. I am worried and can't sleep." There was a hint of fatigue and helplessness in Sima Yi's voice.

As a governor, I have a heavy responsibility on my shoulders and cannot slack off in the slightest.

Although the woman in front of him was a beauty bestowed upon him by His Majesty, and she served him very well and was the tenderest lady in his heart, at this moment, he could not focus his attention on her.

When Jingshu heard this, a trace of worry and heartache flashed in her eyes.

She walked to Sima Yi, sat down gently, reached out and stroked his hair, trying to bring him some comfort.

"My dear, I know you are worried, but please believe that no matter what happens, I will always be by your side to support you."

Her voice was gentle and firm, as if it could bring a little strength to Sima Yi.

Can you really stay by my side forever?

Sima Yi sighed in his heart.

Sima Yi stared at the beautiful concubine Jingshu in front of him, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

He sighed softly, and finally opened his heart: "Although Shouchun City is managed by me like an iron barrel and seems indestructible, the people in the city are loyal to the Han Dynasty, and the spies of the military department are active and have been killed repeatedly.

They were like poisonous snakes in the shadows, lurking in every corner of the city, spying on our army's deployment and passing the intelligence to the Han army.

I was forced to change guards frequently to confuse the enemy. However, this made the soldiers dissatisfied, and fatigue and anxiety spread among them, making it easier for them to be taken advantage of by spies.

It’s difficult! "The human heart is indeed an invisible and intangible existence, hidden deep in everyone's chest, mysterious and complex.

However, at critical moments, human hearts have the amazing ability to influence the situation.

The war between Han and Wei is the best proof of the power of human hearts.

The Han State won every battle and was extremely powerful, which caused the fence-sitters in the Wei State to begin to waver.

They saw the strength of the Han State and worried about the future of the Wei State, so they began to leave a way out for themselves and collude with the Han State.

Sima Yi knew this very well. He understood that the instability of people's hearts was the biggest hidden danger in Shouchun City.

Even though he managed Shouchun like an iron barrel, he could not resist the betrayal of people.

The existence of those fence-sitters is like a time bomb that may explode at any time and blow Shouchun City to pieces.

Therefore, Sima Yi was worried.

What he was worried about was not only the military threat from the Han State, but also the instability of the people's hearts in Wei.

To defend Shouchun, we must first win the hearts of the people of Wei.

But this is a difficult task because the human heart is the most elusive and difficult to control.

Especially since Your Majesty is in poor health now, it is unknown how long he can live.

What if the Han Kingdom attacks during the period of national mourning?

Jing Shu heard this, a trace of worry flashed in her eyes, but she then gently comforted Sima Yi: "My husband, you have done well enough. Although the people in the city are loyal to the Han, your wisdom and courage are unmatched by them.

Those spies are nothing but shady villains. How can their tricks compare with your great talent and strategy? My husband only needs to stick to his heart and trust his own judgment, and Shouchun City will be safe and sound. "

Having said that, Jingshu stood up, walked behind Sima Yi, and began to gently massage his shoulders, trying to relieve his tense muscles and tired mind.

Her technique was gentle and skillful, as if every stroke could dispel the worries in Sima Yi's heart.

Sima Yi held Jingshu's hand with his backhand. Those hands that had experienced countless hardships seemed particularly gentle at this moment.

He looked at Jingshu affectionately, his eyes full of gratitude and cherishment: "Jingshu, thank you very much."

When Jingshu heard this, she felt happy.

The light in her eyes was like a lit candle, warm and bright.

Jingshu leaned gently on Sima Yi's shoulder, feeling the deep affection and dependence from his heart.

"By the way, has the lady received any letter?"

When Sima Yi asked about his wife and Sima Zhao, a hint of sadness flashed in Jingshu's eyes.

Although Sima Yi doted on her, he was always concerned about his wife and eldest son at home.

She sighed softly, but still tried her best to keep smiling, and said in a soft voice: "There is nothing wrong at home, the lady and the eldest son are both fine. The lady even specially sent spring and summer clothes for my husband and the eldest son."

The lady is also a remarkable woman, and it is normal for the husband to always think about her.

Although Jingshu was very jealous, she had to endure it.

A person should fulfill his duties.

Besides
She was sent by the palace.

As she spoke, Jingshu took out a package from her side, which contained neatly folded clothes.

Sima Yi gently stroked the clothes, as if he could feel his wife's deep longing and care for him.

"Put it away."

Jingshu put away the clothes carefully, folding each piece neatly, as if she was also sorting out her thoughts.

When she turned her back to Sima Yi and was about to put her clothes back in place, she suddenly felt a warm force tightly wrapping her from behind.

She was startled, then delighted.

This sudden hug made her feel Sima Yi's deep attachment and love for her.

A happy smile bloomed on her face, and her eyes sparkled with surprise, as if to say, "It seems that my husband still likes me."

She turned around gently and snuggled in Sima Yi's arms, feeling his warmth and strength.

Her heart was filled with sweetness and satisfaction, as if at this moment, all her sorrows and worries had disappeared.

"Jingshu, the night is long, are you willing to accompany me?"

Jingshu's face flushed with drunkenness and she nodded gently.

"I will serve my husband well."

The following scene is not suitable for children.

For Sima Yi, Jingshu must be appeased.

He now commands an army of 100,000 and is resisting the front line of the Han Army's Northern Expedition. If he cannot reassure His Majesty, how can he survive?

How can you be in power?

People!

Sometimes things just change.

In a tavern in Shouchun City, the lights were dim and people were everywhere.

On such a seemingly ordinary night, two unusual figures met here. One was dressed in merchant's robes, with a calm face and a sharp look in his eyes; the other was dressed in servant's clothes, seemingly humble, but his behavior was quite capable.

When the two met, they exchanged a few pleasantries. The man in the merchant's robes chuckled and said, "Hey, isn't this Xiao Zhang? How are you these days? Is your business still booming?"

Hearing this, the servant also sighed in a pretentious manner and shook his head, saying, "Oh, don't mention it. It's hard to do business these days, but we have to find a way to make a living."

Their conversation sounded ordinary, nothing more than some gossip about business, and their voices were not loud, but just loud enough for people around them to hear.

When people around heard their conversation, they just thought it was two ordinary people chatting and did not realize the hidden meaning behind it.

The man in merchant robes and the servant cleverly confused the people around them with seemingly insignificant words.

However, when the topic changed slightly, the servant lowered his voice and said to the man in merchant robes: "The commander of the spy army has arrived outside Shouchun City. He has already issued a death order. If we don't instigate useful people and make a breakthrough in Shouchun, we will be severely punished."

When the man in merchant robes heard this, his expression suddenly changed.

He thought to himself: How easy is it to break through Shouchun? The defenses here are strict, and people's hearts are complicated and changeable. It is even more difficult to instigate useful people.

What's more, the order from the commander of the secret army was so severe that if it failed, the consequences would be disastrous.

He pondered for a moment, his eyes revealing a bit of determination.

There is no way out at this point.

Once you board a military ship, there is no possibility of getting off.

No matter how difficult the road ahead is, he must give it a try.

hiss~
So he took a deep breath and nodded to the servant, indicating that he understood the difficulty of the task.

The two tacitly ended this brief meeting and returned to their respective roles. (End of this chapter)