Shuhan

With a deafening roar, the city gate collapsed under the fierce attack, smoke and dust rose up, symbolizing the collapse of the last line of resistance.

Guan Ping immediately sent people to destroy Yubi City.

This city is of no use to the Han State. In case of defeat on the front line, the Wei army will return to Hedong and re-occupy Yubi City, which will be a great threat to the Han army.

Better to destroy it.

The counties in Hedong were originally ready to make a move, intending to use their natural advantages to deal with the Han army, but after hearing the news of the fall of Yubi City, they all surrendered.

Those cities that originally required a lot of effort from the army to attack seemed to have changed overnight. White flags representing surrender were raised high on the tops of the cities, and the city gates were wide open, as if to welcome long-lost relatives, to welcome the Han army into the city.

The soldiers' faces were filled with joy of victory, but they could not hide their fatigue from days of fighting. They marched through the city gates with firm steps and planted the flags of the Han Dynasty on every inch of land in Hedong.

In just half a month, the entire Hedong region was in the hands of the Han Dynasty. This speed was so fast that even the most optimistic generals had not expected it.

In Taiyuan County and Shangdang County, the news spread rapidly like wildfire. People in the cities of the two counties were in panic and rumors were everywhere.

On the streets, pedestrians were hurrying with solemn expressions. Many families had already begun packing up their belongings, preparing to flee this land that was about to become a battlefield.

The children's eyes were filled with fear and confusion, and they held their parents' hands tightly, as if this could help them withstand the coming storm.

Among the fleeing crowd, there were white-haired old men and women with babies in their arms. Their eyes showed confusion about the future and a desire for a peaceful life.

In the Han army camp, letters of surrender came in like snowflakes. Some were letters of surrender from local officials, and the words between the lines revealed their weariness of war and awe of the Han Dynasty; some were handwritten letters from ordinary people, expressing their yearning for peace and trust in the Han army in the simplest language.

These letters, like mirrors, reflect the complexity and helplessness of human nature behind the war.

Changan.

In the imperial city.

At this moment, Emperor Liu Chan of Han was sitting on the dragon throne in the Xuanshi Hall, surrounded by an aura of majesty without even being angry.

The flickering candlelight in the hall illuminated his young and calm face. His deep eyes sparkled with wisdom and determination.

The desk was piled with various memorials and documents. He held a red pen and reviewed them meticulously. Every stroke seemed to be drawing a blueprint for the future of the Han Dynasty.

The compilation of clan records is in full swing under the leadership of Zhang Fei and other loyal ministers.

Although Zhang Fei was busy compiling the documents, he still maintained his military character. In his spare time, one could often hear his hearty laughter echoing in every corner of the palace.

The clan records progressed rapidly, like a sharp sword, piercing the hearts of those aristocratic families that had been rampant for a long time.

These noble families, once upon a time, were an invincible force in the court, but now, like fallen leaves in the autumn wind, they have seen the reality clearly and no longer attempt to resist, but choose to surrender.

They were extremely submissive to almost all of Liu Chan's requests and almost always complied with them, for fear that their position would be lost.

After the last severe crackdown, no one among those nobles dared to take bribes, abuse power, or smuggle military equipment.

The atmosphere in the court was clear, and the majesty and wisdom of the Han emperor made everyone feel awe.

Under Lu Xun's careful governance and leadership, the hidden dangers in the four counties of southern Jing gradually disappeared, the people lived and worked in peace, and the army was well prepared, laying a solid foundation for the great cause of destroying Wei.

Just when the country was peaceful and the people were prosperous and everything was ready, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the tranquility of the Xuanshi Hall.

A messenger, dressed in armor and with a dusty face, rushed into the hall with an urgent letter that had traveled eight hundred miles.

He knelt on the ground, holding the letter high in both hands, his voice slightly hoarse from running for a long time: "Your Majesty, urgent news from Hedong!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan frowned slightly, then quickly took the letter, opened it and saw that it was news of victory!

Yubi City was broken and Hedong County surrendered!
This sudden good news made Liu Chan's eyes flash with joy that was hard to conceal.

He stood up suddenly, clenching his hands into fists, as if he wanted to deeply imprint the joy of victory in his heart.

"The fighter planes, the fighter planes have arrived!"

Liu Chan's voice was deep and powerful, echoing throughout the Xuanshi Hall.

This was not only a victory for Yubi City, but also an important step for the Han Dynasty to move towards unification.

His heart is full of longing and confidence for the future, but he also knows that the road ahead will be even more difficult.

"Your Majesty, now that Hedong has been pacified, the people of Taiyuan and Shangdang are in turmoil. This is a God-given opportunity. We should strike while the iron is hot and pacify the north in one fell swoop." A minister dressed in gorgeous court robes bowed and spoke, his tone full of excitement.

The emperor nodded slightly, his eyes deep, as if he was thinking about something.

"The people's hearts are the foundation of a country. We need both victory and benevolence. Pass the order down to treat those who surrender leniently and to properly resettle the civilians who have fled. Do not let the flames of war affect innocent people."

His voice was not loud, but it revealed unquestionable majesty.

At this moment, Liu Chan seemed to be surrounded by an invisible force. His eyes became more determined and his body became more upright.

He turned and looked at the night sky outside the window. The stars there were shining brightly, as if foreshadowing that the Han Dynasty's future would be even more glorious.

No matter how rough the road ahead is, he will lead the people of the Han Dynasty step by step toward victory and realize a great cause that will last for thousands of years.

That night.

Without any delay, Liu Chan said to the eunuch Huang Hao: "Immediately summon Shangshu Ling Fa Zheng and Prime Minister Zhuge Liang to the palace to discuss the plan to destroy Wei!"

Liu Chan's voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard throughout the hall, revealing the emperor's unquestionable intention.

Huang Hao immediately accepted the order.

Soon, two important ministers entered the hall one after another.

Fa Zheng was wearing a dark purple robe of a Shangshuling, the corners of which swayed gently with his steps. He had a gaunt face, sharp eyes, and steady steps, and every step he took seemed so calm and unhurried.

Zhuge Liang, on the other hand, was dressed in simple and elegant attire of a scholar, holding a tablet in his hand, walking lightly, his brows revealing wisdom and calmness.

His eyes were deep, as if he could see through all the mysteries of the world. There was a faint smile on the corners of his mouth, which showed a kind of confidence that he knew everything in the world.

The three of them sat around a desk, on which was spread a huge map, marking the territories of the Han and Wei countries, as well as the progress of recent wars.

The loss of Yubi City and the complete fall of Hedong County were like a sharp sword pointing directly at the heart of Wei State, and also provided the Han Dynasty with an unprecedented opportunity to fight. Liu Chan's eyes slowly moved on the map, and finally fixed on the location of Luoyang. He took a deep breath and said slowly: "At this moment, I want to raise an army of 100,000, first take Taiyuan and Shangdang, and then conquer Luoyang. What do you think, Prime Minister?"

There is hope for the future in his words, but also a hint of uneasiness that is hard to detect.

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang gently put down the tablet in his hand, took a step forward, and said in a calm but firm voice: "Your Majesty, although Hedong County has been taken by our Han State, the plague is rampant here. Your Majesty, who is worth a million dollars, may not be able to go to the front line in person. Moreover, if you go straight to Luoyang through Zhongtiao Mountain, the food route will be long and the logistics supply will become a huge burden. I think it is the best strategy for Chang'an to attack Luoyang through Hongnong County."

After hearing this, Liu Chan was silent for a moment and did not respond immediately. Instead, he turned his gaze to Fa Zheng.

Fa Zheng felt Liu Chan's gaze, took a step forward, and said in a steady and powerful voice: "Your Majesty, I think that we can divide the troops into two groups. One group will go north to Taiyuan and Shangdang to contain the Wei army; the other group will go along Hongnong County and head straight to Luoyang.

The opportunity for war has arrived. Whether to fight or not is no longer a question. The key lies in how to fight. Advancing in two directions can both disperse the Wei army's strength and support each other. This is indeed a good strategy."

After hearing this, Liu Chan frowned slightly, as if he was weighing the opinions of the two important ministers.

This battle not only concerns the future of the Han Dynasty, but also his majesty and wisdom as an emperor.

After a moment of silence, he suddenly slapped the dragon case, his voice firm and decisive: "Send 100,000 troops, 30,000 to support Guan Ping and stabilize the Hedong defense line, and the remaining 70,000 main forces will go straight to Hongnong! Although logistics are difficult, Hongnong is the direction of the main attack, and Hedong is a detachment. However, who can make a great military achievement between the detachment and the main force, it still needs to be determined in actual combat!"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng smiled at each other and shouted at the same time: "Your Majesty is wise!"

Next, the three began to plan in detail the specific marching route, troop deployment, and logistical support.

Zhuge Liang's finger gently moved across the map, and every time he pointed to a place, he explained in detail its strategic significance and the difficulties that might be encountered. His wisdom was astonishing.

For example, when discussing how to manage Hangu Pass, Zhuge Liang stepped forward and said: "Hangu Pass is located within the ancient Qinling Mountains Road, backed by the Yellow River, with steep terrain. It is the eastern gate of the Guanzhong Plain. Its geographical advantage of "one man guarding the pass, ten thousand men cannot open it" makes it an excellent place for military defense. Controlling Hangu Pass means taking the initiative strategically, so that we can advance to Luoyang.

Hangu Pass is located in a steep terrain. If the enemy army occupies this pass, it will form an extremely advantageous defensive situation. Therefore, when attacking Hangu Pass, it is necessary to overcome the unfavorable factors of the terrain and adopt flexible and changeable tactics.

The logistical supply line for the war to destroy Wei was extremely long, requiring a lot of manpower and material resources to ensure. In the process of attacking Hangu Pass, it was necessary to ensure that the logistical supply line was unobstructed, otherwise it would seriously affect the continuity and effectiveness of the military operation. "

Fa Zheng added that he had unique insights and could often point out the key to the problem, making the entire plan more perfect.

Liu Chan listened quietly, nodding from time to time, and sometimes putting forward his own opinions. His eyes became more and more determined, as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

As the discussion deepened, the atmosphere in the hall became increasingly tense and heated.

Every detail was carefully considered and every possible risk was fully anticipated, just to ensure victory in this battle.

Time passed quietly. When everything was ready, Liu Chan stood up, glanced at every minister present, and said in a sonorous and powerful voice: "Gentlemen, this battle is related to the rise and fall of our Han country. I hope we can go hand in hand and face the national crisis together. When we return victorious, I will reward you according to your merits!"

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang and Fa Zheng were both startled, then they bowed and responded in unison.

At this moment, the hearts of the three of them are closely connected. For the same goal, they will work together to create a glorious chapter belonging to the Han Dynasty.

the other side.

Deep within the majestic imperial palace in Luoyang City, sunlight filtered through layers of glazed tiles, dappling onto the magnificent hall, but it seemed unable to dispel the gloom and dullness lurking in the depths of the palace.

In a corner of the hall, the Wei Emperor Cao Rui was wearing a luxurious dragon robe embroidered with a five-clawed golden dragon, shining with golden light, demonstrating the supreme majesty of imperial power.

However, at this moment, he temporarily forgot his identity as an emperor. He was squatting on the ground, enthusiastically fighting crickets with the eunuch beside him, his face filled with rare ease and joy.

The chief eunuch, dressed in dark red eunuch's uniform and a tall hat, had a flattering smile on his face. He carefully held an exquisite cricket jar and glanced at Cao Rui from the corner of his eyes from time to time, trying to guess the young emperor's thoughts.

The sunlight shone on his face, revealing traces of time, but it could not conceal his desire for power and flattery.

Just as the two were immersed in the fun of cricket fighting, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly broke this rare tranquility.

A guard in iron armor rushed into the hall, holding a front-line military report tightly in his hand. His face was solemn, as if carrying the smoke and blood of the battlefield.

He knelt on the ground, raised the military report above his head with both hands, and reported in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty, Yubi City... has fallen!"

This sentence was like a bolt from the blue, instantly shattering the ease and joy in Cao Rui's heart.

His face turned pale in an instant, as if all the blood in his body had frozen at that moment.

He stood up suddenly, his foot slipped and he almost fell, but he didn't care about anything else and stomped the cricket on the ground to death with one foot, as if he wanted to pour out all his anger and fear on this innocent little life.

He took the military newspaper from the guard, his hands trembling slightly, his eyes fixed on the densely packed words, as if he wanted to engrave them into his heart.

Every word in the military report pierced his heart like a sharp sword: Yubi City fell, most of Hedong County surrendered to the Han Kingdom, the Wei army suffered heavy losses and morale was low... Every word was like a heavy hammer, hitting his heart hard and making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

"It's over, it's over, what should I do?" Cao Rui murmured to himself, his voice low and hoarse, full of despair and helplessness.

He looked up at the dome of the hall, and his eyes, which were once full of confidence and ambition, now became empty and confused.

He seemed to see the Wei Kingdom that he had built collapsing bit by bit, and he was powerless to do anything about it.

The eunuch was also frightened when he saw this.

He hurried forward a few steps, gently holding Cao Rui's arm with both hands, and his voice was trembling: "Your Majesty, even if Hedong County is gone, we still have Taiyuan and Shangdang. If we hold on to these two places, the Han Kingdom will not dare to do anything! Your Majesty, please don't worry too much, or you will hurt your body!"

Cao Rui gave a bitter smile, which was full of bitterness and helplessness.

He shook his head and said in a low voice: "It's not that simple. The Han Kingdom's northern expedition was obviously planned for a long time, with strong troops and high morale. Our army has been defeated in succession, morale is low, and people are panic-stricken. Although Taiyuan and Shangdang are important, I'm afraid it will be difficult to hold on without good generals to guard them!"

Having said this, his eyes suddenly became firm, as if he had regained the decisiveness and courage that belonged to an emperor in an instant.

He turned around abruptly and ordered the eunuch: "Quick, summon Sima Yi!"

At this time, who else except Sima Yi could take on this important task?
Upon hearing this, the eunuch hurriedly responded and left, his steps were hurried, as if he was also anxious and uneasy about this sudden change.

Cao Rui stood where he was, gazing deeply into the distance, as if thinking about his next response strategy.

The hall was once again peaceful, with only the sound of Cao Rui's heavy footsteps echoing.

He walked to the dragon throne, sat down slowly, clenched his fists and placed them on his knees, his eyes flashing with determination and resoluteness.

As time passed, the sunlight outside the hall gradually dimmed, but there seemed to be a flame burning in Cao Rui's heart.

He took a deep breath, as if to absorb all his courage and strength into his chest. Then, he slowly closed his eyes and began to plan every next step in his mind.

We must fight!
He is Cao Rui.
Why fear a war? (End of this chapter)