Shuhan

In Shouchun City, the spring breeze blows gently across the bluestone road, bringing a hint of coolness.

The General's Mansion.

In the lobby, the flickering candlelight illuminated the kneeling figures, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.

The eunuch who came from the Luoyang Imperial Palace, dressed in gorgeous clothes and holding a bright yellow imperial edict, stood in the center of the hall. His face was serious and his eyes revealed unquestionable majesty.

General Sima Yi also knelt on the ground at this moment. Beside him, the Minister Cui Lin and a group of officials and generals in the General's Mansion were all wearing armor or official uniforms, with solemn expressions, waiting for the imperial edict to be read out.

The eunuch coughed lightly and cleared his throat. The sound echoed in the hall and was particularly clear.

He slowly unfolded the imperial edict. The bright yellow silk was embroidered with intricate cloud and dragon patterns, demonstrating the supremacy of imperial power.

The eunuch's voice, with a hint of barely perceptible awe, began to read out the contents of the imperial edict:
"Fengtian Chengyun Emperor, the imperial edict said:

General Sima Yi has made outstanding contributions in resisting the Han army and protecting the country and the people. He is truly a pillar of the country. I am very pleased and I have specially awarded him a thousand taels of gold to honor his achievements.

His son Sima Shi is brave and good at fighting, talented and intelligent, and has inherited his father's style. I am very pleased with him and have specially conferred him the title of Marquis of Guangping, with a fief of 1,000 households. I hope that he will continue to be loyal to the country and bring honor to the family.

General Hu Zun, who defended Bagong Mountain and repeatedly defeated the enemy, was commendable for his loyalty and bravery, so he was specially appointed as General Yu Han and given 100 hectares of fertile land as an encouragement. Other meritorious officers and soldiers were also rewarded to show the emperor's great grace.

Announce it to the world, let all know. I decree this!"

Following the eunuch's "I decree," a deep voice echoed in the hall: "Thank you, Lord!"

Sima Yi slowly raised his head, a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

Cui Lin and the others also showed joy on their faces, but did not dare to show it too much. They just bowed more respectfully.

The impact of Cao Xiu's death has passed.

The eunuch handed the imperial edict to Sima Yi, who took it with both hands.

With the imperial edict in his hand, shining brightly, the great general Sima Yi was majestic and awe-inspiring.

Minister Cui Lin stepped forward to congratulate him: "The great general's achievements are as bright as the sun and the moon, and the virtue of his descendants is also well known in the court and the country. Your Majesty's grace is a blessing to the country and an honor to us. I hope the great general will regain his glory and serve the country. We are willing to serve you and work together for national affairs."

The eunuchs also congratulated him, saying, "The great general's reputation has spread far and wide. Your Majesty's reward is well deserved."

Upon hearing this, all the generals stepped forward and said respectfully: "The general is brave and good at fighting, and he is both wise and courageous. We admire him like a surging river. Now that he has received this reward, he is truly a role model for us. We are willing to follow the general and go through fire and water without hesitation."

In the hall, there was an endless stream of flattery, and everyone was congratulating Sima Yi and his son.

Sima Yi dealt with these people with a smile, promised to prepare a banquet in three days, and then sent them away.

After everyone left, the hall gradually returned to calm, with only Sima Yi and his son left.

The heavy look on Sima Yi's face did not ease despite everyone's congratulations, but instead seemed even more serious.

He stared at the imperial edict in his hand, his brows furrowed, as if he was thinking about something extremely important.

Sima Shi, who was conferred the title of Marquis of Guangping, was originally filled with excitement and joy. His young face was filled with longing and expectation for the future.

However, when he noticed his father's worried look, the joy in his heart was instantly replaced by worry.

He hurried forward and asked with concern, "Your Majesty has given me such a generous reward, why does father look so worried? This is such a great honor!"

Sima Yi sighed softly upon hearing this, handed the imperial edict to Sima Shi, and then slowly said: "Master, if there is a reward for merit, then it is fine. However, think carefully, have we made any merit?
Since the Northern Expedition of the Han Dynasty, the Baguashan camp has been in danger. General Cao Xiu, the General of the Eastern Expedition, died on the battlefield, and more than 10,000 people in Shouchun were killed or injured.

At this critical moment, Your Majesty did not punish us, but instead gave us a generous reward. Do you really think this is a good thing?"

When Sima Shi heard this, it was as if a bucket of cold water was poured over his head. He was intelligent and quickly figured out the matter.

His eyes flickered, and he asked with a hint of uncertainty in his tone, "Father, do you mean that this is His Majesty trying to win us over? This is a deliberate reward, and in fact, His Majesty is already dissatisfied with us?"

Sima Yi nodded slightly, a bitter smile on his face.

He sighed again and said, "This is not the work of your Majesty, but the work of the Crown Prince Regent. If your Majesty handled this matter personally, he would definitely not reward us so generously. It seems that the Crown Prince is a little dissatisfied with us."

Hearing this, Sima Shi's heart inevitably became heavy.

Your Majesty's health is deteriorating, and the Crown Prince has been regent for several months.

If His Majesty passes away as the distinguished guest, the Crown Prince will be the new Emperor.

If Crown Prince Cao Rui was dissatisfied with them father and son, then the problem would be serious.

A trace of worry flashed in Sima Shi's eyes, and he clenched his fists as if trying hard to control his emotions.

Seeing this, Sima Yi gently patted Sima Shi's shoulder and comforted him, "Master, don't worry too much. As long as we act carefully and don't leave any handle for His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, nothing will go wrong. In addition, we must also be prepared in case something unexpected happens."

Sima Shi nodded, knowing full well that what his father said was true.

He took a deep breath, tried to calm himself down, and then asked, "Father, what should we do next?"

Sima Yi pondered for a moment, then slowly said: "We should pay close attention to the court's movements and understand the intentions of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. In addition, we should also make some powerful allies in case of emergency."

He has allies in the court.

As for how to gain Cao Rui's trust.
Sima Yi is still planning.

The news that Sima Yi was rewarded heavily in Luoyang eventually reached Liu Chan's ears.

At this moment, he was lying in the dragon tent, enjoying his rare leisure time.

Inside the dragon tent, the air was filled with fragrance and the flickering candlelight, reflecting the silhouettes of two beauties.

The two beauties, Bu Lianshi and Sun Shangxiang, were lightly dressed and had graceful figures, just like two beautiful flowers in spring, competing to bloom.

Sun Shangxiang was wearing a long gauze dress, the hem of which swayed gently in the wind, as if it would float away at any time.

Her brows were slightly furrowed, obviously displeased by the news that Sima Yi had been rewarded handsomely.

While helping Liu Chan massage his back and legs, she said, "Your Majesty, your actions do not seem to have the desired effect. Sima Yi seems to be highly valued by the Wei State."

Bu Lianshi sat on the other side of Liu Chan. She was wearing a tight silk dress, which was as thin as a cicada's wing and perfectly outlined her plump figure.

At this moment, the beautiful woman was holding a bunch of grapes in her hand, peeling them one by one and feeding them to Liu Chan.

Her movements were soft and graceful, as if she were performing a carefully choreographed dance.

Bu Lianshi chuckled and said, "Your Majesty, your handwriting certainly worked. No merit, no reward. Sima Yi did not achieve victory on the front battlefield, but he was rewarded generously. This was just to stabilize the people's hearts in Luoyang. In fact, there is already a rift between the monarch and his subjects."

After all, Bu Lianshi was the Queen of Wu, and she was quite sensitive about the struggle for power.

Sima Yi was rewarded handsomely, and she immediately sensed something else.

Liu Chan laughed when he heard this. He slapped Bu Lianshi's plump buttocks with one hand, making the beautiful woman scream shyly.

Liu Chan smiled and said, "The imperial decree of the generous reward was issued by Cao Rui. I guess he is already dissatisfied with Sima Yi. If Cao Pi dies, I'm afraid it will be our chance."

Liu Chan had a profound insight into the political situation of the Wei State.

When Sun Shangxiang heard Liu Chan's words, her brows gradually relaxed.

She said softly, "Your Majesty is wise. If we can take this opportunity to weaken the power of Wei, then our Northern Expedition will hopefully be realized." Bu Lianshi also nodded. She snuggled in Liu Chan's arms and said softly, "Your Majesty is a man bestowed by heaven. The pseudo-Wei will naturally not be a match for our Han Dynasty."

"However, although I caused discord between the king and his ministers in Wei, I have not yet made any progress in Shouchun."

There was an undisguised heaviness between Liu Chan's brows, as if an invisible boulder was pressing on his heart.

A month ago, the Han army cleverly set an ambush and successfully made Cao Xiu suffer a great loss, which seriously damaged the Wei army. This should have been good news that was exciting.

However, the joy of victory was as fleeting as dewdrops in the morning light.

Attacking the Wei army’s camp on Bagua Mountain became an insurmountable natural barrier before them.

Every charge and every shout was accompanied by the blood and lives of the Han soldiers.

Up to now, nearly seven thousand brave men have fallen on the cold soil of the middle-level camp of Bagua Mountain. This number weighs heavily on Liu Chan's heart, making it difficult for him to let it go.

Even if the surrendered troops were used as consumption, the price should not be so tragic.

Now, the Han army had to adopt the strategy of attacking in rotation. While attacking the stronghold, they also regarded it as a training exercise. However, such progress was undoubtedly a drop in the bucket for them who urgently needed to break the situation in Shouchun.

Liu Chan's fingers tapped lightly on the table in a chaotic rhythm, revealing his inner anxiety and uneasiness.

The longer it takes, the worse it will be for them.

In another month or two, it will be the cold winter. By then, both offense and defense will face even more arduous challenges.

He must find a way out of the situation and not let any more precious lives go to waste.

So Liu Chan tidied his appearance and walked out of the dragon tent, and immediately saw Fei Yi outside the tent.

"Where is General Zilong now?"

Upon hearing this, Fei Yi immediately stepped forward and replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, General Zilong has arrived in Jianye."

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan nodded slightly, frowning slightly, as if he was thinking about something.

After a moment, he slowly spoke: "Tell him not to come to Shouchun again. I will write him a letter immediately and give him a sword. Seeing this sword is like seeing me. This time, the surprise attack will all depend on General Zilong."

When Fei Yi heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He immediately asked, "Your Majesty, are you planning to send General Zilong to attack Wei from the sea?"

Liu Chan nodded again, his eyes flashing with determination and resolve: "Yes. We have already built eight ships, which is enough. We just need to ensure that the grain route is unobstructed. This move will surely bring great deterrence to the State of Wei."

Upon hearing this, Fei Yi immediately agreed, with an excited look on his face.

If this plan succeeds, it will pose a great threat to the State of Wei and will also gain more initiative for the State of Han.

Liu Chan looked at Fei Yi and nodded, his heart full of hope for this ingenious move.

In order to prevent the Han State from attacking Wei from five directions, Wei's military forces in Qingzhou, Youzhou and Jizhou were already quite depleted.

And he wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to harass the Shandong Peninsula, namely Donglai and Beihai areas, to establish a foothold in Qingzhou, and make the Wei State be attacked from both sides!
at the same time.

On the top of Jianye City, the moonlight was like water, falling on Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun was wearing tight armor, and every muscle looked extremely strong, as if containing infinite power.

Time has carved a few shallow wrinkles on his face, but his eyes still sparkle with sharp and firm light as when he was young.

He originally planned to go to Shouchun to pay a personal visit to Emperor Liu Chan, but before he could set off, he saw Cong Wenpin hurrying over.

Wen Pin was wearing light armor, but his brows revealed a murderous look. He saluted to Zhao Yun and said with respect: "General Zhao, His Majesty has ordered you to be the commander-in-chief and I to be the deputy commander, leading 30,000 Han naval forces to attack Wei by sea. This is the imperial sword bestowed by His Majesty, which is like a tiger talisman. General, there is no need to go to Shouchun to pay homage."

This imperial sword has a slender and upright blade with smooth lines. It looks like a silver dragon shadow about to break through the air, emitting a faint cold light.

The sword blade has been carefully polished and is extremely sharp, like the rising sun, radiant with light and exuding an indestructible aura.

There is no unnecessary decoration on the sword, only a few simple and powerful lines, which show its extraordinary status.

The scabbard is made of fine ebony, which has a hard texture and a calm color, forming a sharp contrast with the silver color of the sword.

The mouth of the scabbard is inlaid with a circle of fine gold edges, which not only adds a sense of luxury, but also makes it look solemn and majestic.

The scabbard is also engraved with fine cloud and dragon patterns, symbolizing the noble and extraordinary status of the holder.

The hilt is equally exquisite, made of the same ebony wood as the scabbard. It feels heavy in the hand, giving people a sense of stability and solidity.

The handle is wrapped with circles of fine metal wire, which is both beautiful and practical, and can effectively prevent the handle from slipping off during fierce battles.

The handle is carved into the shape of a lifelike tiger head, with eyes wide open and fangs bared, as if ready to pounce on the enemy at any time, demonstrating the sword's dominance and majesty.

As for the sharpness of the sword, there is no need to say more.

With just a light swing, one could feel the air being split in two wherever the sword passed.

Zhao Yun held the sword in his hand and felt that it was sharper than the Qinggang Sword.

After handing over the imperial sword, Wen Pin handed a handwritten letter to Zhao Yun.

Zhao Yun took the letter, opened it and saw that it was filled with Liu Chan's earnest expectations and strategic deployment.

After reading it, he nodded immediately, his eyes revealing firmness and determination: "I don't know much about the navy, I only know how to kill on the battlefield. I'll have to trouble you with the sea trip."

Wen Pin smiled slightly. He knew Zhao Yun's bravery and loyalty very well, and also understood the importance of this surprise attack.

He said: "All the people in Jiangdong who are proficient in maritime affairs have been summoned to the army. Since this is a surprise attack, we must be quick and catch the enemy off guard. I think we can set sail tonight."

Zhao Yun nodded and said, "I think so too."

The two hit it off immediately and began to mobilize troops and prepare for going to sea.

Of course, the trip to sea had been prepared for more than half a year, and this time everything went as planned in an orderly manner.

The night in Jianye was dark and quiet, with only the occasional barking of dogs and the banging of night watchmen breaking the silence.

Late at night, eight sea vessels and more than twenty modified large ships were quietly anchored at the port of Jianye.

These ships have been carefully selected and modified, and each is equipped with powerful weapons and sufficient supplies.

Under the moonlight, the ships appear even more majestic and mysterious.

Zhao Yun and Wen Pin stood on the dock, looking at the ships that were about to set off, their eyes full of anticipation.

Zhao Yun held the imperial sword tightly, his heart filled with passion and heroism.

This surprise attack will be the most important battle in his life, and will also be a highlight of his contribution to the Northern Expedition of the Han Dynasty.

Wen Pin was directing the soldiers to load supplies and weapons onto the ship.

Finally, everything was ready, and Zhao Yun and Wen Pin led the soldiers on board the ship.

With an order, eight sea vessels and more than twenty large ships started at the same time and rushed towards the sea.

Zhao Yun stood at the bow, looking at the vast sea ahead, and a surge of ambition and passion surged in his heart.

The ship sped past in the night, leaving behind streaks of white waves. (End of this chapter)