Shuhan

The Zhongtiao Mountains are majestic and tall, like a giant dragon lying on the earth. At the foot of the mountain, the salt lakes are like pearls inlaid on green satin, sparkling and glittering under the scorching sunlight, which is beautiful beyond words.

The salt crystals sparkled in the lake, as if countless tiny gems were gently jumping, the scene was extremely spectacular.

The air is filled with a faint scent of salt, which interweaves with the occasional neighing of horses in the distance, forming a unique and vivid picture.

By the lake, groups of craftsmen have already begun their busy work.

They were dressed in coarse cloth, their skin was tanned by the sun, their foreheads were covered with fine beads of sweat, but their faces were filled with long-lost joy and hope.

The war once caused this salt lake to fall into silence. Now, with the temporary end of the war, the salt lake has finally regained its vitality.

The craftsmen held long spoons and skillfully stirred the salt water in the pot. The flames burned fiercely under the stove, illuminating their determined faces.

The steaming heat and the aroma of salt interweave as if telling a story of rebirth.

On the edge of the salt lake, a military camp stands proudly, with military flags fluttering in the wind, looking majestic and solemn.

Inside the military camp, soldiers were moving around in an orderly manner. They were none other than the famous Nuer Army that had captured Yubi City.

Since the battle of Yubi City, this army has been like a sharp sword, invincible and unstoppable.

Now, they are temporarily stationed here, waiting for the next order.

The demolition of Yubi City has been completed, but Guan Ping does not feel relieved.

The war is far from over, and the resumption of production in the salt lake is of self-evident importance to national stability and people's livelihood.

Therefore, he personally led the army to eliminate the surrounding bandits and ensure that the salt lake could be put into production as soon as possible.

At this moment, a burst of hurried horse hooves broke the silence of the military camp.

A cavalryman galloped over from a distance, shouting loudly: "Your Majesty's decree! Your Majesty's decree!"

His voice penetrated every corner of the military camp, attracting everyone's attention.

The cavalrymen were dressed in silver armor, iron helmets, and had long swords hanging around their waists, looking heroic.

He entered the military camp unhindered and headed straight for the central military tent.

Inside the central army tent, Guan Ping and other generals were sitting around a huge map, discussing the next military action.

The arrival of the cavalry made them stop what they were doing and look towards the door.

The cavalryman quickly dismounted, holding a yellow imperial edict in his hand, and strode in.

His face was full of solemnity and awe, as if what he held in his hands was not only the emperor's edict, but also the fate of the entire country.

Upon seeing this, Guan Ping immediately stood up and led his generals to meet them.

After some courtesy.

He took the imperial edict from the cavalry and slowly unfolded it.

The emperor's handwriting on the imperial edict was vigorous and powerful, and the words between the lines revealed his trust and expectations for Guan Ping and the Nuer Army.

Guan Ping read the imperial edict carefully, and his expression gradually became solemn.

This decree is not only a recognition of their past military achievements, but also a daunting challenge for future tasks.

After reading the imperial edict, Guan Ping looked up at the generals and said in a deep voice: "Your Majesty has ordered us to continue to eliminate banditry and ensure the smooth production of the salt lake. At the same time, send a small army to cross Zhongtiao Mountain and pretend to attack Chenguan. The main force will go north to Taiyuan to manage Bingzhou!"

Upon hearing this, the generals rubbed their hands and nodded to show that they would obey your orders.

After conquering Yubi City, the emperor gave generous rewards. Some of them were promoted three levels, and some were rewarded with huge amounts of money and property.

Now there is another war, and instead of being afraid, they can’t wait for the war to come.

Ten days later.

Guan Ping stood on a high platform in the Yanchi military camp. The sunlight shone through the thin clouds onto his resolute face, reflecting a gleam of unyielding light.

He was wearing iron armor, a battle robe on his shoulders, a long sword hanging from his waist, and his eyes revealed firmness and determination.

During these ten days, he hardly slept a wink, devoting himself to the arduous task of preparing for war.

The cavalry of the Nuer Army became more brave and skilled in fighting under his strict training, and the newly added 10,000 infantrymen also gradually developed a strong combat capability under his careful training.

In addition to military training, Guan Ping also personally supervised the preparation of logistical transportation.

Thirty thousand civilians were carefully selected and they were tasked with providing food and supplies for the army.

Logistics is the lifeline of war and must not be neglected in the slightest.

Therefore, he had people check every grain truck to ensure that every grain of food was delivered safely to the front line.

On the morning of the tenth day, when the first ray of sunlight penetrated the mist and shone on the Yanchi military camp, Guan Ping gave the order to march.

Under his leadership, the army marched towards Taiyuan in the north in a mighty manner.

The cavalry rode their war horses, in high spirits; the infantry followed closely behind with firm steps; and the civilians drove the carts loaded with food and fodder slowly forward.

The first stop is Queshu Valley.

This valley has a dangerous terrain, is easy to defend but difficult to attack, and is the only way to Taiyuan.

The south valley mouth is called Fenshui Pass, and the locals also call it Lingshikou.

Guan Ping had already sent out scouts and had gathered almost all the intelligence about the area.

Although this place is dangerous, there are not many soldiers stationed here, only about a thousand people.

However, he did not take it lightly, but instead formulated a battle plan more carefully.

When the army arrived at Queshu Valley, Guan Ping personally led the charge.

He waved his sword and shouted loudly, encouraging the soldiers to move forward bravely.

The cavalry rushed to the valley entrance like a tide, the sound of horse hooves was deafening and the dust was flying.

Loud.

The infantry followed closely behind, holding spears and shields, passing the cavalry and rushing towards the Wei army camp at the mouth of the valley.

More than a thousand guards seemed panicked by the sudden attack.

Although they fought hard, they were quickly defeated by the overwhelming army.

Some people fled in all directions, while others knelt down and begged for mercy.

Guan Ping did not make things difficult for them, but ordered the soldiers to capture them for further processing.

After conquering Queshu Valley, the army rested for a while and then continued to march northward.

The next target was Gaobiling, the last pass leading to the Jinyang Basin from Hedong, also known as Han Xinling.

The terrain of this pass is even more dangerous and it is the last barrier leading to Taiyuan.

Guan Ping knew that this battle would be even more difficult.

On the way to Gaobiling, Guan Ping constantly discussed tactics and formulated countermeasures with his generals.

Although there were not many defenders at Gaobiling, the terrain advantage was extremely obvious.

The mountains here are steep, with steep cliffs and deep ravines. It is backed by Mianshan Mountain in the north, connected to Huoyue Mountain in the south, faces Lingkong Mountain in the east, and faces Qinwangling Mountain in the west. It is an ancient official road from the Qin and Han Dynasties. The geographical location is very dangerous, and it is the throat of north-south transportation. It has always been a battleground for military strategists and is known as the "thoroughfare of Sichuan and Shaanxi."

In 196 BC, Chen Xi in the north rebelled and joined forces with the Xiongnu to invade the Central Plains. Liu Bang led his army to fight. Empress Lü planned to murder Han Xin in the Weiyang Palace coup and sent people to take Han Xin's head to Dai County, Shanxi Province to meet Emperor Gaozu. When they arrived at Gaobi Ridge, south of Lingshi City, Emperor Gaozu returned in triumph and ordered him to be buried on the ridge. The accompanying soldiers each scooped up a handful of soil to form a tomb.

Therefore, this place is also called Han Xin Ridge.

Han Xin Ridge is steep, but unfortunately there are not many Wei soldiers stationed there.

News came from the Military Affairs Department that there were only a thousand Wei troops in Guanzhong, and the remaining two thousand were from the five Huns in Bingzhou. These people would not follow the Wei army to the death.

Therefore, as long as the momentum is demonstrated and the casualties reach a certain level, Han Xinling will be captured!
Taking various factors into consideration, Guan Ping decided to adopt the tactic of dividing the troops and attacking simultaneously. One part of the troops would attack from the front to attract the attention of the defenders, while the other part would attack from the flank to disrupt the defenders' position.

Led by Guan Ping, the army slowly marched towards Han Xin Ridge.

Along the way, Guan Ping constantly discussed tactical details with the generals to ensure that everyone was clear about their tasks.

The outcome of a war often depends on the handling of details, and any negligence may lead to total loss.

When the army arrived at Han Xin Ridge, the sky had already turned slightly white, and the mountains looked even more majestic and spectacular in the morning light.

Guan Ping stood on a high place, looking at the pass ahead, with an indescribable sense of pride welling up in his heart.

He turned around and said to the generals behind him: "Today's battle is related to whether our army can successfully enter the Jinyang Basin. Everyone must go all out!"

"promise!"

The generals responded in unison, their voices echoing throughout the valley.

With an order, Guan Ping personally led the main force to launch an attack from the front.

He was wearing iron armor, holding a long sword, and leading the charge.

The long sword flashed cold lights in the air, and every swing was accompanied by a sound of breaking through the air, which made people feel cold.

Under his leadership, the soldiers bravely advanced and engaged in a fierce battle with the defenders.

They shouted, waved their weapons, and fought a desperate battle with the defenders.

On the front battlefield, Guan Ping engaged in a fierce battle with the defending generals.

The two men fought back and forth, the swords flashed like lightning, and every confrontation was terrifying.

Guan Ping gradually gained the upper hand with his superb swordsmanship and extraordinary courage.

While fighting with the defending generals, he commanded his soldiers to attack, pushing back the defenders' defense line step by step.

At the same time, under Guan Ping's careful command, the sneak attack troops on the flank quietly approached the defenders' camp.

They wore light armor, held short swords, and were agile, moving through the mountains and forests like ghosts.

Their target was the food and supplies of the defenders. If they succeeded, it would deal a fatal blow to the defenders.

With an order given, the sneak attack troops pounced on the defenders' camp like a tiger descending from the mountain.

They quickly and accurately found the location of the defenders' food and supplies, lit torches, and burned all flammable objects.

Flames shot up into the sky, illuminating the entire valley red.

The defenders were thrown into disarray by the sudden attack.

They tried to fight back, but the surprise attack troops were already fully prepared and used the terrain and the cover of night to quickly evacuate the scene.

The defenders on the front battlefield became even more panicked when they saw the camp on fire.

They sent some troops to put out the fire, but it was too late.

The fire spread rapidly, burning all the defenders' food and supplies.

The defenders lost their logistical support and their morale plummeted and their combat effectiveness was greatly reduced.

Guan Ping was overjoyed when he saw this. He waved his sword and shouted, "Brothers, charge! The defenders are already in disarray. This is a great opportunity for us to win!"

Inspired by him, the soldiers fought bravely and launched the final battle with the defenders.

After a fierce battle, the defenders were finally unable to withstand the powerful offensive of Guan Ping's army and fled in defeat.

The Han Xinling Pass was finally breached by Guan Ping's army.

Guan Ping stood on the pass, gazing at the Jinyang Basin in the distance, with an indescribable joy welling up in his heart.

The obstacles have been overcome and Taiyuan is right in sight.

Do the five Huns really dare to challenge the Han Dynasty?
the other side.

Hongnong County.

Large numbers of Han troops gathered outside the city of Hongnong County like a tide, with flags flying and armor flashing. The momentum was so great that it seemed to cover the sky.

The military camp tents stretched out like a giant dragon. At a glance, it was more than ten miles long. They were densely packed and well-arranged, demonstrating the Han army's strong strength and strict military discipline.

Sima Yi stood on a high platform in the city of Hongnong County, his brows revealing an inviolable majesty.

He clasped his hands tightly in front of his chest, staring at the vast Han army camps below with sharp eyes, his expression so serious that it seemed as if water could drip out of it.

"The Han army has 100,000 soldiers. This is probably most of their main force." Sima Yi thought to himself, his brows furrowed, a solemn light flashing in his eyes.

“The pressure on my side is really huge!”

He turned around and looked at the generals behind him. Their faces were also filled with worry and tension.

Military reports have arrived from the direction of Chenguan in the north, saying that they have also discovered traces of the Han army.

This news was like a huge rock, weighing heavily on Sima Yi's heart.

"Is it true, as Your Majesty said, that the Han army wants to conquer the world in one battle?" Sima Yi whispered to himself, with a barely perceptible hint of doubt in his voice.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his heart, then turned around and said loudly to the generals behind him: "No matter what the Han army intends, Hongnong County must not fall into their hands!"

Upon hearing this, the generals straightened their backs, with determination flashing in their eyes.

Sima Yi began to quickly arrange defenses. He pointed at the map and said firmly and forcefully, "Sima Shi, you lead 5,000 soldiers to guard the east gate. Liang Ji, you lead 7,000 soldiers to guard the west gate. Du Xi, you lead 8,000 soldiers to guard the south gate. I will guard the north gate myself. At the same time, I will send scouts out of the city to collect intelligence on the Han army so that we can adjust our strategy in time."

After receiving the order, the generals turned around and left, and began to make busy preparations.

Sima Yi stood on the high platform, staring into the distance with a sharp gaze.

As time went on, the atmosphere in Hongnong County became increasingly tense.

Soldiers were busy moving back and forth on the city walls, strengthening fortifications, sharpening weapons, and preparing for the upcoming battle.

Sima Yi continued to patrol the city walls, checking every weak link in the defense to ensure that nothing could go wrong.

As night fell, outside the city of Hongnong County, the Han army’s tents were brightly lit, like a sea of ​​stars.

Sima Yi stood on the city wall, staring at the lights, feeling an indescribable worry in his heart.

The strength of the Han army should not be underestimated. This battle will be one of the most difficult challenges in his life.

However, he did not back down.

Behind him is the Wei State and his family.

The State of Wei could give him wealth and honor, but the emperor of Han might not necessarily do so.

so.
He can only fight hard. (End of this chapter)