Shuhan

Yecheng looks particularly dull under the scorching sun of midsummer.

The atmosphere in the lobby of the General's Mansion was solemn. General Cao Zhen's face was ashen and his brows were furrowed. Listening to the intelligence brought by the scouts ahead, his heart felt heavy as if being pressed down by a huge rock.

The scout knelt in the middle of the hall, reporting the latest situation on the front line in a trembling voice: "General, the Han army is unstoppable. The four counties of Changshan, Julu, Anping, and Qinghe were occupied by the Han army without any resistance. The tens of thousands of soldiers in the four counties, as well as the even larger number of aristocratic families, were unable to cause any hindrance to the Han army and surrendered to the Han Dynasty one after another."

Cao Zhen's expression became even uglier. He clenched his hands into fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms, as if only this could relieve the fear and anger in his heart.

The speed of the Han army was completely beyond his expectations. It was not an attack on a city, but an unhindered march.

"How could this happen?" Cao Zhen whispered to himself, his voice full of reluctance and confusion.

The main forces of southern Hebei were concentrated in Yecheng, which was indeed the last line of defense against the Han army.

However, the rapid fall of the four counties made him feel an unprecedented crisis.

The scorching heat of midsummer caused beads of sweat to ooze out of Cao Zhen's forehead. He felt dizzy and had to hold on to the table beside him to steady himself.

He was extremely anxious, but helpless.

He knew that any panic or confusion at this moment could lead to more serious consequences.

"General, what should we do?" a deputy general asked anxiously.

Cao Zhen took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down.

He scanned the generals in the hall with a sharp gaze and said in a deep voice: "Pass the order and have everyone prepare to defend the city immediately. Yecheng is a big city with strong walls and thick gates. Even if the gunpowder of the Han army is powerful, it cannot blow open the gates of Yecheng. As long as we hold on for a year or so and delay the Han army's exhaustion, there may be a turning point on the battlefield by then!"

Upon hearing this, all the generals nodded and expressed their determination to defend Yecheng with all their might until the death.

Cao Zhen looked at their determined eyes and felt a little comforted.

At this moment, only by uniting as one can we resist the powerful offensive of the Han army.

However, Cao Zhen's heart was still full of worries.

Defending the city was not an easy task, especially against such a powerful enemy as the Han army.

The power of gunpowder, the advantage of military strength, the flexibility of tactics...

Every point may be the key to winning or losing.

Although Yecheng is strong, it is not invulnerable.

What's more, a long-term siege is a huge test for morale and food consumption.

In order to stabilize the morale of the army, Cao Zhen decided to inspect the city defenses personally.

He was wearing armor, holding a spear, and walking on the city wall in a heroic manner.

When the soldiers saw him, they raised their arms and shouted, and their morale was greatly boosted.

Cao Zhen smiled and waved to them, but secretly prayed in his heart that he could survive this crisis.

During the inspection, Cao Zhen carefully checked every city defense facility to ensure that they could play their best role.

At the same time, he also had cordial conversations with the soldiers to learn about their lives and combat situations.

His words were full of care and encouragement, making the soldiers feel the warmth and strength of the general.

However, when Cao Zhen walked to a relatively weak part of the city wall, his expression became solemn again.

There had been a small-scale battle here, and the city wall was severely damaged. Although it has been repaired, it still looks shaky.

Cao Zhen knew in his heart that such a city wall would not be able to hold out for long under the fierce attack of the Han army.

"We must strengthen the defense here immediately!" Cao Zhen gave the order decisively.

He mobilized a large number of soldiers and supplies to reinforce and repair the city wall.

At the same time, he also sent an elite force to garrison here, ready to respond to the attack of the Han army at any time.

After several days and nights of intense work, the defense of Yecheng was finally comprehensively strengthened.

Cao Zhen stood on the city wall, looking at the smoke and dust rolling in from afar, feeling extremely worried.

What is coming will be a brutal battle.

Mid-July of the ninth year of Tianming.

Outside Yecheng, the summer sun was scorching the earth like a fireball, and even the air was filled with a burning smell.

The Han army was approaching the border, but they did not slack off because of the scorching heat. Instead, they moved quickly and began to set up camp.

Their movements were swift and orderly, as if they had rehearsed them thousands of times. Within an hour, a large camp took shape.

Cao Zhen stood on the city wall, holding the railing tightly with both hands, watching the movements of the Han army outside the city with sharp eyes.

His heart was filled with worries. The speed and efficiency of the Han army far exceeded his expectations.

If the Han army's deployment cannot be disrupted in time, Yecheng will face an unprecedented crisis.

"Pass the order down and order the 500 cavalrymen in the city to leave the city immediately and harass the Han army's camp!" Cao Zhen gave the order decisively.

He hoped that in this way he could delay the progress of the Han army and buy more breathing time for Yecheng.

However, the development of things was beyond Cao Zhen's expectations.

As soon as the five hundred cavalrymen rushed out of the city gate, thousands of cavalrymen poured out of the Han army formation like a tide.

These cavalrymen were well-equipped, including heavily armored infantry cavalry, lightly armored dragoons, and Xianbei cavalry from the far north.

They were lined up in neat rows and looked like a group of bloodthirsty beasts, ready to devour any enemy who dared to stand in their way.

Cao Zhen's face turned pale in an instant. He did not expect that the Han army had such a powerful cavalry force.

The 500 cavalrymen who left the city instantly lost their fighting spirit under the attack of the Han cavalry and fled back into the city on horseback.

Those who fled slowly were caught up by the Han cavalry and ruthlessly killed on their horses.

Cao Zhen looked at this scene, his heart filled with anger and helplessness.

His plan to disrupt the Han army failed, and instead made the Han army more determined to attack the city.

The next battle will be even more difficult.

Three days later, the Han army's camp was completely built.

The village walls are high, arrow towers are everywhere, chevaux de frise are densely packed, and all kinds of camp facilities are available.

The Han soldiers were busy in the camp, some were reinforcing the defense facilities, some were transporting supplies, and some were practicing battle formations.

The entire camp was filled with a tense yet orderly atmosphere.

Cao Zhen stood on the city wall, looking at the indestructible camp outside the city, his heart full of worries.

The Han army's siege will come soon, and it is still unknown whether Yecheng can withstand the Han army's offensive.

"General, what should we do?" a deputy general asked anxiously.

Cao Zhen was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Pass the order down, let the soldiers in the city strengthen their vigilance and be ready to fight at any time. At the same time, send someone to ask the court for help, hoping that the court can send reinforcements as soon as possible."

Upon hearing this, the deputy general immediately took the order and left. Cao Zhen continued to stand on the city wall, gazing deeply at the outside of the city.

His heart was filled with complex emotions, including worry, anger, helplessness, but also firmness and determination.

As a general, he must shoulder the heavy responsibility of defending Yecheng. No matter what the outcome, he will live and die with Yecheng.

As time went by, the Han army's siege finally arrived.

The sky was gloomy and covered with dark clouds, as if it was a heavy shadow cast by nature on the fierce battle that was about to take place.

Dull thunder rumbled faintly in the distance, and the occasional flash of lightning tore through the gray sky like a sharp sword, foreshadowing that this battle would be extremely brutal.

On the city wall of Yecheng, Cao Zhen was wearing heavy armor and holding a long sword that was shining with cold light. His figure was particularly eye-catching on the city wall.

His armor gleamed brightly in the sunlight, like an unshakable god of war.

His eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, without the slightest fear or retreat.

Inspired by the drumbeats, the Han soldiers rushed towards Yecheng like a tide.

bang bang bang~
The rumbling of drums shook everyone's heart like thunder, inspiring the fighting spirit and courage of the soldiers. Some of them held spears, the tips of which flashed coldly in the sun, like poisonous snakes about to devour lives; some wielded broadswords, which drew silver arcs in the air, carrying a chilling murderous aura; others pushed battering rams, ladders and other siege equipment, which slowly moved forward under the push of the soldiers, making a heavy roar.

The entire battlefield was filled with shouts of killing and the sounds of swords and horses, like hell on earth.

The shouts of the soldiers, the clash of weapons, and the neighing of horses intertwined together to form a tragic war symphony.

The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and gunpowder, making people feel suffocated.

Cao Zhen stood on the city wall and personally commanded the soldiers defending the city to resist.

He shouted loudly, his voice was loud and firm, as if it could penetrate the noise of the battlefield and reach the ears of every soldier.

"Hold on, defend the city!"

Cao Zhen held a long sword and led the charge at the front line. Every time he swung the sword, he accurately cut the enemy, leaving a string of blood.

His movements were agile and swift, like a tiger rushing down a mountain, making the enemy terrified.

His eyes were full of calmness and decisiveness, without the slightest hesitation or delay.

Under the leadership of Cao Zhen, the morale of the soldiers defending the city was greatly boosted and they fought bravely against the enemy.

Armed with weapons, they fought a desperate battle with the enemy.

In the arrow tower on the city wall, archers drew their bows and aimed at the enemies below the city.

With the sound of sharp whistles, arrows poured down like raindrops, shooting towards the enemy's dense formation.

Arrows pierced through armor and flesh, bringing about wailing and screams.

The enemies under the city fell one after another, but more enemies came like a tide, trying to fill this road of death.

In a corner of the city wall, a young soldier was waving his sword vigorously and fighting fiercely with several enemies.

His face was covered in dirt and blood, but his eyes were full of indomitable spirit and tenacity.

Every time he swung his sword, he hit the enemy accurately, making the enemy dare not approach easily.

However, the number of enemies increased and his strength was gradually exhausted.

Just when he was about to be surrounded by the enemy, an old veteran rushed over, waving his spear, and repelled the enemies one by one.

"Kid, hold on!" the veteran shouted, his voice full of care and encouragement.

He moved toward the young soldier, brandishing his spear, trying to free him from the enemy's encirclement.

When the young soldier heard the old general's call, a warm feeling surged in his heart. He gritted his teeth, swung his sword hard, and fought side by side with the old general.

On the other side of the city wall, a young general was holding a spear and fighting fiercely with an enemy general.

His body was agile and flexible, and the spear in his hand seemed to have life, dancing with impenetrable speed.

Although the enemy general was extremely brave, he gradually seemed unable to withstand his attacks.

Finally, in a fierce battle, the young general found the right moment and pierced the enemy general's chest with a gun. The enemy general opened his eyes wide and fell to the ground unwillingly.

The young general put away his spear and looked into the distance, panting. His eyes were full of determination and pride, as if telling everyone: as long as he was brave and fearless, he could also achieve great feats on the battlefield.

The battle lasted for a whole morning and both sides paid a heavy price.

However, the Han army's offensive showed no signs of abating.

They continued to charge at the city walls, trying to find a breakthrough.

Although the soldiers defending the city fought desperately, their casualties continued to increase.

Cao Zhen looked at the scene before him, his heart filled with worry and helplessness.

He knew that if this continued, Yecheng would be lost sooner or later.

However, as a general, he must hold on until the last moment.

He took a deep breath and shouted loudly: "Brothers! We are the warriors of the Great Wei! For our homes and loved ones! We must fight to the death!"

His voice echoed on the battlefield, inspiring every soldier defending the city. They all straightened their chests and shouted loudly: "Fight to the death! Defend Yecheng!"

The shouts were earth-shaking, as if they could shake the mountains and rivers.

In the following battle, the soldiers defending the city resisted the Han army's offensive even more bravely and fearlessly.

They slashed the enemies with the weapons in their hands and built an indestructible line of defense with their flesh and blood.

Cao Zhen always fought at the forefront, and his figure became a banner in the hearts of the soldiers defending the city.

However, the Han army's offensive was as surging as the tide, as if it would never stop.

The soldiers defending the city were gradually running out of energy, and casualties were increasing. Cao Zhen looked at the scene in front of him, and his heart was filled with despair and helplessness.

He knew that Yecheng had fallen into a desperate situation...

But there was nothing he could do.

Defend the city, defend the city!
Even if you are the last person left, you have to defend the city!
The brutal offensive and defensive battle had lasted for ten full days. The ancient and solid city of Yecheng still stood firm despite the baptism of artillery fire for days.

On the city wall, the flags of the Wei army fluttered in the wind. Although the edges of the flags were already torn, the bright colors and majestic patterns still conveyed the unyielding will of the Wei army.

The Wei army in the city suffered heavy losses. Their armor was covered with blood and dirt, and their tired faces were filled with perseverance and determination.

However, it was these brave warriors who used their flesh and blood to build an indestructible line of defense, making every charge of the Han army futile.

The Han army that attacked the city also suffered heavy losses; their corpses piled up like mountains and blood flowed like rivers.

Although they were large in number and well-equipped, they were still overwhelmed by the tenacious resistance of the Wei army.

The eyes of the Han army's soldiers were filled with fatigue and despair. They knew that the battle had lasted too long. If it continued like this, even if they could eventually capture Yecheng, they would pay an extremely heavy price.

On the eleventh day, the war finally ended.

The two sides tacitly carried the bodies of their soldiers back from the battlefield for burning and burial.

In midsummer, the sun is scorching, and if a corpse is left undealt with for too long, it can easily cause an epidemic.

The soldiers of the Wei and Han armies silently carried the bodies of their comrades. Their movements were heavy and slow, and everyone's heart was filled with grief and sorrow.

The peaceful days lasted for three days, during which time both inside and outside Yecheng were exceptionally quiet.

However, this tranquility is only temporary, and everyone knows that war may break out again at any time.

Cao Zhen stood on the city wall, looking at the Han army camp in the distance, his heart filled with worry and uneasiness.

He didn't know what the Han army would do next, nor did he know whether he could continue to defend the city.

However, just when Cao Zhen thought that a major war was about to break out again, the Han army sent an envoy.

The messenger was Cao Zhen’s brother Cao Zhang!

Cao Zhang, wearing a fine armor robe and riding a tall warhorse, slowly drove towards the gate of Yecheng.

His face was still majestic and dignified, but there was a hint of fatigue and helplessness in his eyes.

Upon hearing the news, Cao Zhen rushed over to greet Cao Zhang in person.

The two met in front of the city gate, looked at each other, and said nothing.

Cao Zhang slowly dismounted, walked in front of Cao Zhen, and bowed deeply.

Cao Zhen also quickly returned the greeting, and the atmosphere between the two seemed a little awkward.

"Zi Dan, long time no see, you are still as charming as ever!" Cao Zhang finally spoke to break the silence. His voice was a little hoarse, but still full of majesty.

"Yes, sir, we haven't seen each other for many years. I didn't expect to meet here." Cao Zhen replied respectfully, but he felt mixed emotions in his heart.

He and Cao Zhang are of the same generation. Although he is an adopted son, Cao Zhang does not discriminate against him. On the contrary, he is quite caring towards him.

just
It's really embarrassing to meet each other in this situation.

He was grateful for Cao Zhang's care for him, but also felt conflicted about his current identity and position.

子文
I'm afraid he's here to persuade us to surrender? (End of this chapter)