Shuhan

Under Zhao Yun's heroic command, the Han army on the battlefield of Chaoge was like a tiger descending from a mountain, unstoppable.

The war drums thundered, arrows rained down, and every war cry shook the enemy's heart.

The sunlight shone through the thick smoke, illuminating Zhao Yun's armor. His resolute face looked even more unyielding in the interweaving of light and shadow, and his eyes flashed with a determination to win.

The Han soldiers followed closely behind, their steps firm and their morale high, as if even the land beneath their feet was making way for their victory.

And in Yanzhou, far away from the battlefield, another storm was brewing quietly.

Wei Yan was leading a large army marching south from Dongwu City. Dust was flying along the way and the sound of horses' hooves was deafening. It was like a steel torrent that was determined to sweep away everything that stood in its way.

The army passed Ganling without stopping for too long and headed straight for Dongjun of Yanzhou.

At this time in Dongjun, there were frequent civil unrest and wars, and the people were suffering terribly. The Wei army was forced to be trapped in a few isolated cities, with their contact with the outside world almost completely cut off.

As soon as Wei Yan's army entered the territory of Dongjun, they felt an unusual atmosphere.

There are dilapidated villages and barren fields everywhere. Occasionally, wisps of smoke can be seen, but they are also trembling with fear, fearing that it will bring disaster.

At this moment, a seemingly disorganized team appeared in Wei Yan's sight. They were ragged, but holding a variety of weapons in their hands. The leader was wearing a slightly old but still intact armor. He had an upright figure and an extraordinary temperament between his brows, which was completely different from the refugees around him.

"Who is coming?" Wei Yan rode forward and examined this unusual "refugee" in a loud voice and with sharp eyes.

The man stepped forward, saluted, and said in a steady and powerful voice: "My name is Dasheng, a leader elected by the people of Leping. I was originally a local tyrant, but now in troubled times, I have no choice but to lead the people in rebellion. I heard that the general's heavenly soldiers were coming, so I came to join you and am willing to be the vanguard."

Wei Yan carefully looked at Da Sheng in front of him and saw that although he was living in troubled times, there was still determination and wisdom in his eyes. He couldn't help but secretly admire him in his heart.

However, when he asked about the number of the rebels, he couldn't help but frowned: "I heard that there are 100,000 rebels in Dongjun, how come there are only 1,000?"

Da Sheng smiled bitterly, a trace of helplessness and bitterness flashed across his face: "General, you don't know, the human heart is hard to predict. Although the people are dissatisfied, there are only a thousand people who are willing to take the risk and surrender with me. The rest are either waiting and watching, or afraid of the pressure from the government, and dare not act rashly. If the general can promise some benefits, perhaps more people can be moved."

Upon hearing this, Wei Yan's mouth curled up into a cold smile, and a sharp gleam flashed in his eyes: "A mob, rebelling against the superiors, is already a serious crime, and you still want to ask for benefits? I, Wei Yan, rely on iron-blooded discipline when marching and fighting, not on buying people's hearts. If you truly surrender, you will atone for your sins with merit; otherwise, you can only be cannon fodder in the siege to serve as a warning to others."

When Da Sheng heard this, his expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained his composure.

In these troubled times, the way to survive is to judge the situation.

So, he took a deep breath and said slowly: "General, what you said makes sense, but please consider that we are also forced to do this and give us a way to live. Although we are not elite soldiers, we are also brave men. We are willing to serve you and only hope to find a place to settle down in this chaotic world."

Wei Yan stared at Da Sheng and saw sincerity and determination in his firm eyes.

After a moment of silence, Wei Yan nodded slowly: "Okay, I will give you this opportunity. But you must remember that from now on, you are part of the Han army and must abide by military discipline and obey orders. If you disobey, military law will be ruthless."

Da Sheng felt relieved when he heard this and quickly thanked him: "Thank you for your magnanimity, General. We will swear to be loyal to you until death and live up to your high expectations."

With the surrender of Da Sheng, Wei Yan began to integrate this team of a thousand people. Although the number of people was small, they soon showed a different kind of combat effectiveness under his simple training.

At the same time, Wei Yan also sent scouts to go deep into the people to publicize the benevolence and justice of the Han army, trying to dispel the doubts in the hearts of those who were still on the sidelines and attract more people to join.

The sky of Dongjun is still shrouded in the dark clouds of war, but amidst the chaos and suffering, a glimmer of hope is quietly rising.

Under the unremitting propaganda and call of the Military Affairs Bureau, the ten days passed in a flash. During this period, some scattered refugee troops were attracted by this trend and slowly gathered under Wei Yan's command.

However, the number of people was still small, totaling only more than 3,000 people, far from the expected scale.

These three thousand people, with pale faces and ragged clothes, have eyes that gleam with desire for a stable life and uncertainty about the future.

Wei Yan stood on the makeshift command platform, his eyes sharp as torches as he scanned the group of newly surrendered soldiers, secretly calculating in his mind.

Although these refugee armies were called armies, they were actually just a group of people who were driven into despair by war and poverty. They had a loose organization and poor discipline and could almost be called a "mob."

Originally, they were just ordinary people in the Wei State who were suffocating under heavy taxes and endless labor. However, when the pressure of life became unbearable for them, they rose up one after another and occupied several small cities in order to protect themselves.

However, the good times did not last long. Those who proclaimed themselves leaders soon revealed their greedy nature. Not only did they fail to lead the people out of their difficulties, but they intensified their exploitation of the people under their rule, raping and looting, and committing all kinds of evil.

Through careful questioning and observation, Wei Yan gradually found out the real situation within the refugee army.

To truly subdue these refugee troops, the first thing to do is to rectify military discipline and restore order.

He immediately issued a strict order, ordering the Qinghe Camp and Youzhou Army under his command to attack Yangping and Gangcheng City respectively. At the same time, he dispatched an elite force to quickly go to Hemu to set up a dragnet to block all routes for the refugee army to escape to the south.

That day, the sky was gloomy and dark clouds hung low, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.

Wei Yan, wearing iron armor and holding a long sword, stood at the front of the team. His eyes were firm and deep, as if he could penetrate the layers of fog and look directly at the future victory.

He announced loudly: "My fellow soldiers, I, Wei Yan, swear here that I will capture these 100,000 refugee soldiers in one fell swoop and not let a single one escape! We must let them know that a real army should protect the people, not oppress them!"

As Wei Yan finished speaking, the soldiers responded in unison, their voices shaking the earth, as if even the dark clouds in the sky were shaken.

The soldiers of Qinghe Camp were all in good shape, with determination shining in their eyes. They quickly gathered and prepared to march towards Yangping.

The Youzhou army was known for their calmness. They lined up in neat rows and marched with firm steps, like an insurmountable city wall, slowly advancing towards Gangcheng City.

Wei Yan specially selected a quick response force composed of elite soldiers and generals, led by him personally. They traveled lightly and rushed towards Hemu without stopping.

After arriving at Hemu, Wei Yan quickly arranged a defense line. He personally supervised the battle to ensure that every link was foolproof.

The night grew darker and the wind was cold, but Wei Yan seemed not to feel the slightest bit of chill. His heart was burning with a raging fighting spirit.

The next morning, the dawn broke, and a ray of golden sunlight penetrated the thick clouds, like a sharp sword at dawn, breaking the silence of the night and illuminating the vast earth.

There was a faint scent of dew in the air, intertwined with the impending smell of gunpowder, foreshadowing that this day would be unusual.

The battle horn was officially sounded at this moment, resounding through the sky. The Qinghe Camp and the Youzhou Army were like two sharp swords that had been tempered through thousands of times, pointing at Yangping and Gangcheng City respectively, vowing to kill the enemy with their swords.

The soldiers of Qinghe Camp were dressed in iron armor, holding spears, with firm steps and an unyielding light flashing in their eyes.

They were like an unstoppable torrent. Wherever they went, the enemies fled in fear, losing even the courage to resist.

The leading general was tall and strong, with a handsome face and an aura of majesty that came from his brows. He raised his sword high, pointed it forward, and gave an order: "Charge!" The soldiers rushed through the enemy's defense line in an instant like wild horses. Amid the flashes of swords and shadows, the enemy's wails rose one after another.

On the other hand, the Youzhou Army was known for their calmness. They marched in formation with uniform steps, like a sophisticated war machine, invincible.

Their general was a veteran over fifty years old, with a resolute face and deep eyes, as if he could see through every subtle change on the battlefield.

He whispered to the deputy general beside him: "In this battle, we must not only win, but also win beautifully, so that the people can see our strength."

After saying this, he waved his hand, and the Youzhou army rushed towards Gangcheng City like a tide. Wherever they went, the enemies laid down their arms and surrendered, and were completely unable to resist.

At the same time, the rapid response force led by Wei Yan set up a dragnet in Hemu. Wei Yan was wearing silver armor, an iron helmet, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, as if he could see through everything.

He stood on a high ground on the river bank, overlooking the river, silently calculating the enemy's movements.

His troops were all agile and quick-witted. They hid in the grass on the river bank, waiting for the enemy to appear and then attacked as swiftly as cheetahs.

As the battle horn sounded, the refugee army began to flee in all directions, trying to escape to the south to avoid Wei Yan's encirclement and suppression.

However, they soon discovered that no matter which route they chose, they could not escape the pursuit of Wei Yan's troops.

Wei Yan commanded the battle personally. He held a long sword in his hand and moved across the battlefield like a ghost. Every time he swung his sword, it was accompanied by the enemy's wailing.

He shouted loudly: "Those who surrender will be spared, and those who resist will be killed without mercy!"

His voice pierced through the smoke and echoed across the battlefield, striking fear into the enemy's heart.

The battle lasted for several days, and eventually, the 100,000 refugee troops were completely surrounded and annihilated, and most of them were captured.

The battlefield was filled with smoke and flames, and there were ruins and rivers of blood everywhere.

However, behind this brutal battle, Wei Yan always remained clear and calm in his heart.

He knew that victory in the battle was only the beginning. The real challenge was how to reorganize these refugee troops and make them into real fighters instead of continuing to be troublemakers in the village.

After the war, Wei Yan did not forget his original intention.

He began to reorganize the refugee army, and the first thing he did was to enforce strict military discipline.

He stood in front of the captives, his eyes were sharp and his voice was loud: "From now on, you will no longer be refugees, but soldiers of my Han Dynasty! I ask you to abide by military discipline, obey orders, protect the people, and not oppress them!"

His voice was sonorous and powerful, and every word struck heavily on the captives' hearts.

Wei Yan made great efforts to reorganize these refugee troops.

He personally selected generals and gave them strict military training. At the same time, he also sent special instructors to teach the soldiers literacy and reading, so that they could understand what loyalty, bravery and justice are.

Thanks to his efforts, the originally chaotic refugee army gradually developed military discipline.

After resting for half a month.

The siege on Dongjun began immediately.

Following Wei Yan's order, the refugee army, which had been ready for action, surged like a tide and launched an unprecedented fierce attack on Dongwuyang City.

These former refugees have now been reorganized into an army. Although they are ragged and haggard, their eyes are shining with the desire for survival and the determination for victory.

They fought one after another, fearless of life or death, as if they wanted to transform all the suffering and injustice into the power of this moment and pour it out on this impregnable city.

Wei Yan stood on a high place, his eyes as sharp as torches, staring at the battlefield ahead.

He was wearing iron armor, a battle robe on his shoulders, and holding a long sword. He looked majestic, like a god of war.

There was no wavering on his face, only determination and calmness, as if everything was under his control.

Wei Yan knew very well that this battle was not only about military victory or defeat, but also a test of the people's hearts. He wanted to let these refugee soldiers see that if they followed him, there would be hope and a future.

Outside the city of Dongwuyang, the air was filled with the smell of gunpowder and smoke.

The gunpowder troops specially dispatched by Wei Yan were methodically placing bags of gunpowder near the city gate, preparing for the final blasting.

These gunpowders were the killer weapons carefully prepared by Wei Yan. Not only were they extremely powerful, but they could also create chaos, providing an excellent opportunity for subsequent sieges.

"Ignite!" With Wei Yan's order, the flames instantly illuminated the entire city gate. Accompanied by a deafening explosion, the city gate was blown to pieces, with rubble flying and dust flying.

The originally solid city gate became fragmented at this moment, like a shaky house that was about to collapse in the strong wind.

Seeing this, the refugee soldiers gave deafening cheers. They seemed to have seen the dawn of victory and rushed forward even harder.

Some of them held spears, some brandished swords, and some carried bows and arrows, ready to find a breakthrough in the city wall.

Their faces were filled with determination and courage, as if they wanted to turn all their anger and dissatisfaction into a charge at this moment.

The Wei army in the city had already been exhausted by the attacks of the refugee army in recent days and their morale was low.

They originally thought that with the strong city walls and sufficient food and grass, they could hold out until reinforcements arrived.

However, they never expected that the Han army would break through the city gate so quickly and with such powerful gunpowder and siege equipment.

When the Han army poured into the city like a tide, the Wei army collapsed completely.

They fled in all directions, some were killed in the streets, and some were captured.

The entire Dongwuyang City instantly fell into chaos and panic.

Wei Yan led the elite troops and advanced rapidly all the way to Huanglong, and soon occupied the entire city.

After the battle, Wei Yan stood on the city wall and overlooked the city that had been baptized by war.

He turned and looked at the soldiers around him. Their faces were also filled with fatigue and vicissitudes, but more of it was the pride of victory and the longing for the future.

Wei Yan took a deep breath and said loudly: "My fellow soldiers, although we have won the victory, the real challenge has just begun. We must reorganize these refugee troops into a real army and make them a force to protect the people and maintain peace. At the same time, we must restore order in Dongwuyang as soon as possible so that the people can live and work in peace again."

Upon hearing this, the soldiers raised their arms and shouted, their voices resounding through the sky.

In the following days, Wei Yan began to reorganize the refugee army. He personally selected generals, established military discipline, and trained soldiers.

At the same time, he also sent special officials to restore order in Dongwuyang, appease the people, and rebuild their homes.

Thanks to his efforts, the originally chaotic refugee army gradually turned into a disciplined and powerful army.

Dongwuyang has gradually recovered its vitality and vigor from a ruin devastated by war.

However, taking Dongjun was not the end for Wei Yan. He had already received news that the armies of Qing, Xu and Yu states had already gathered towards Yanzhou. They wanted to defeat Wei Yan first and then support Luoyang.

A war is inevitable! (End of this chapter)