Shuhan

Yingchuan is currently shrouded in an unprecedented atmosphere of tension.

Xudu, the once prosperous capital, now seems particularly heavy due to the approaching war.

The sky was gray, as if even God was worried about the upcoming war.

At this moment, Guo Huai was wearing heavy armor, standing on the city wall of Xudu, his face so gloomy that it seemed as if water could drip out of it.

His brows were furrowed, and there was a hint of barely perceptible anxiety in his eyes.

Originally, he was expected to become the general who resisted the invasion of the Han army, commanded the three armies, and defended the country.

However, things are unpredictable. With Sima Yi's reinstatement and the sudden invasion of the Han army in Nanyang County, his fate seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand and he could not escape.

Now, he was forced to stay in Yingchuan and face the impending Han cavalry.

Guo Huai was in an extremely bad mood. He felt like he was trapped in a cage from which he could not escape.

He looked up at the sky, which was covered with dark clouds, as if even the sky was lamenting his fate.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner restlessness and anxiety, then turned around and looked at the representatives of the Yingchuan gentry standing behind him.

These representatives of the noble families were all dressed in gorgeous clothes and had worried looks on their faces.

Although they hold prominent positions, they seem so helpless and insignificant in the face of war.

Guo Huai's gaze swept over them one by one, and finally stopped on Chen Tai, the son of Chen Qun.

Chen Tai is young and promising, with a heroic look between his brows.

He seemed to feel Guo Huai's gaze, straightened his back slightly, and met Guo Huai's gaze.

"Now that the army is approaching, you all must concentrate on fighting the enemy." Guo Huai's voice was low and powerful.

"Food, fodder and supplies are all provided by the aristocratic families. Do you have any objections?" His eyes were like torches, scanning everyone present, as if he wanted to see through their thoughts.

The representatives of the Yingchuan gentry present looked at each other and groaned in their hearts.

Naturally, they are unwilling to spend money and food for nothing.

However, under Guo Huai's sharp gaze, they dared not reveal the slightest bit.

They knew that if anyone dared to stand up and oppose at this time, they would probably become a ghost under Guo Huai's knife immediately.

The atmosphere suddenly became extremely depressing, and the air seemed to be frozen.

Just then, Chen Tai stood up.

He took a deep breath, walked up to Guo Huai, and said with a folded hand: "In the face of national crisis, our Yingchuan Chen family will fully support the general. For food and supplies, our Chen family is willing to give everything it has."

After Chen Tai’s statement, the other families also stepped forward to express their opinions.

Although they were unwilling in their hearts, they also understood the importance of unity at this time.

So, they all expressed their willingness to contribute money and food to support Guo Huai in resisting the Han army.

Guo Huai looked at these representatives of the aristocratic families and nodded.

Although these families usually act independently, they are able to unite at critical moments.

"Thank you for your support. The Nanyang Han army is led by Guan Ping. The Han army has the advantage of gunpowder and can attack the city quickly. We must fight them in the field and win, and we can't just defend the city. Do you have any good ideas?"

As soon as the words fell, a whisper arose among the crowd.

Everyone was whispering to each other, discussing how to deal with the situation.

Guo Huai waited quietly, his eyes moving among the crowd, looking for someone who could give him advice.

At this time, an old man in a green shirt stood up. It was Liu Ye.

His hair and beard were all white, but his eyes were extremely sharp.

Liu Ye walked up to Guo Huai, bowed and said, "General, I have a plan. Would you mind listening to it?"

Guo Huai was delighted and said quickly, "I'd like to hear more details."

Liu Ye said slowly: "Although the Han army is brave, it also has its weaknesses. They have come from a long distance, so they must be short of food and grass. We can send a surprise force to bypass the Han army's rear and burn their food and grass. At the same time, we will take advantage of the terrain and fight the Han army in the front battlefield. When the Han army's food and grass are exhausted and morale is low, we will launch a general attack and defeat them in one fell swoop."

After listening to this, Guo Huai's eyes flashed with approval.

He patted Liu Ye on the shoulder and said, "This is a great plan! Let's follow your plan, sir."

As the strategy was finalized, the defense work in Yingchuan was carried out in full swing.

Guo Huai led his soldiers to train day and night in preparation for the upcoming war.

The gentry in Yingchuan also mobilized and donated money and food to support Guo Huai's war of resistance.

As time went by, the Han army was getting closer and closer.

Guo Huai stood on the city wall, looking at the smoke and dust rolling in the distance, and an unprecedented sense of ambition surged in his heart.

He knew that this battle not only concerned the survival of Yingchuan, but also his personal honor and destiny.

The war was about to break out, and the sky over Yingchuan seemed to become even heavier.

However, with the joint efforts of Guo Huai and the Yingchuan gentry, this land showed unprecedented cohesion and combat effectiveness.

They will use their flesh and blood to build an indestructible line of defense to resist the invasion of the Han army.

In the distance, the Han army had already left Nanyang.

Guan Ping inherited his father Guan Yu's bravery and wisdom, and also had a long beard like Guan Yu.

Years of fighting have made his skin bronzed by the sun and sand. Although he is still young, his brows reveal a maturity and calmness that goes beyond his age.

His eyes were deep, as if he could see into people's hearts, and seemed to hide endless fighting spirit and determination.

Since breaking through the siege of Ye County and rushing out of the Nanyang Basin, Guan Ping has been like a cheetah, keenly capturing information from all over Yingchuan.

This information is like the drifting snow in winter, fluttering down and making it hard to tell whether it is true or false.

Guan Ping sat in the tent with a map spread out on the table. He carefully examined every piece of information, sometimes with a frown on his face, sometimes with a sharp gaze.

His fingers gently slid across the map, as if looking for the path to victory.

Recalling Xu Shu's earnest words before the expedition:

"It is absolutely impossible for the Yingchuan nobles to surrender. First, we must prevent false surrenders. Second, we cannot make conquering cities our primary task, but rather we must make killing and wounding the Wei army our primary task."

Guan Ping's eyes fell on Kunyang on the map, which was an important stronghold of the Wei army and the throat leading to the hinterland of Yingchuan.

He secretly calculated in his mind how to lure the Wei army out of the fortified city, engage in a decisive battle with them in the wild, and give full play to the advantages of his cavalry.

Most of the war horses under his command were of good breeds from the Wuhuan and the Western Regions. They were fast and had amazing endurance, which gave them a considerable advantage over the Wei cavalry.

Guan Ping curled up the corner of his mouth in a sneer. He was not afraid of a field battle, but was looking forward to a head-on confrontation with the Wei army.

Just as Guan Ping was immersed in his thoughts, a scout from the front rushed in with exciting news: "Guo Huai has led a large army to Kunyang!"

A gleam of light flashed in Guan Ping's eyes. He stood up, strode out of the tent, looked at the sky in the distance that was dyed red by the setting sun, and an indescribable excitement surged in his heart.

Guo Huai, the famous general of Wei State, finally stopped hiding in the city and chose to fight him head-on.

This is exactly what Guan Ping expected.

Guan Ping returned to the tent and quickly summoned his generals to discuss countermeasures.

He stood in front of everyone, his voice loud and firm: "Now that Guo Huai has left the city, we don't need to worry about anything else. Tomorrow, we will lead the army to Kunyang to compete with Guo Huai!" Upon hearing this, the generals rubbed their hands and their morale was high.

As night fell, Guan Ping stood alone outside the camp, gazing at the starry sky, his heart calm.

He thought of his father Guan Yu and the days when they fought side by side, and his heart was filled with strength.

The next morning, Guan Ping was ready to go as the sky was just breaking. He was wearing iron armor, a battle robe on his shoulders, a blue dragon crescent blade left by his father Guan Yu hanging around his waist, and a spear in his hand that shone with cold light.

His long beard fluttered gently in the breeze, and his bronze face revealed his fortitude and determination. Under his leadership, the army, like a giant dragon, snaked out and marched towards Kunyang.

Along the way, flags were waving, and the colorful flags fluttered in the morning light, like the most beautiful clouds in the sky.

The sound of horse hooves shook the sky, and the iron hooves stepped over the ground, raising clouds of dust.

When the army arrived outside the city of Kunyang, they saw that the Wei army was already ready for battle. The dark army was like a dark cloud, covering the city of Kunyang.

Guo Huai was wearing heavy armor and standing in front of the formation with a serious expression.

His eyes were deep, as if he could see into people's hearts, and seemed to hide endless worries.

The two armies confronted each other, and the atmosphere was so tense that even the air seemed to freeze.

Guan Ping rode on a tall warhorse, his eyes sharp as torches, staring directly at Guo Huai opposite him.

Endless fighting spirit surged in his heart.

He waved the spear in his hand and shouted loudly: "Guo Huai, today is the day for you and me to fight to the death! Come on, let's see who's the winner on the battlefield!"

Hearing this, Guo Huai's eyes became stern. He drew the sword from his waist, pointed the tip of the sword at Guan Ping, and said coldly: "Guan Ping, although you are brave, you will be defeated by me today! Soldiers of the Wei army, follow me and charge!"

After saying this, he rode out first, and the Wei army followed closely behind, rushing towards the Han army like a tide.

Their steps were in unison, and the battle flags fluttered in the wind, as if they were going to swallow up the entire world.

When the two armies met, there was a flash of swords, the neighing of horses, and the flying of dust.

Guan Ping wielded his spear and shuttled across the battlefield like a whirlwind. His figure was agile and swift, and wherever he went, the Wei army fell off their horses one after another, and no one could stop him.

His spear seemed to have life, sometimes like a dragon emerging from the sea, sometimes like a tiger descending from the mountain, making the Wei army terrified.

Guo Huai was also extremely brave. He held a long sword and fought with Guan Ping to a standstill.

As the swords flashed, the two men fought back and forth, and every move was deadly.

Their battle was like a dance, graceful yet brutal, and every clash was thrilling.

However, as time went on, the battle became more intense, and Guan Ping gradually gained the upper hand with his superb martial arts and the advantages of good horses from Wuhuan and the Western Regions.

Guan Ping seized the opportunity and led the elite cavalry to launch a fierce charge against the Wei army.

They were like sharp blades, cutting through the Wei army's formation.

Although the Wei army was brave, the Han cavalry, led by Guan Ping, was like a whirlwind and invincible.

The Wei army could not hold out and began to lose ground, with morale dropping to its lowest point.

Guo Huai was very anxious when he saw this. He tried his best to save the situation.

However, Guan Ping did not give him any chance.

He pointed his gun at Guo Huai and shouted, "Guo Huai, today is your end!"

After saying this, he spurred his horse forward, his spear wielding like a dragon and with the sound of a sharp wind, he went straight for Guo Huai's head.

Guo Huai was unable to dodge and was stabbed in the shoulder.

The blood instantly dyed his battle robe red, and he screamed in pain and fell off his horse.

Fortunately, his personal soldiers helped him onto his warhorse and rode away, but he was shot by Guan Ping in the back and could only escape while lying on the horse.

When the Wei army saw that their commander was injured, their morale dropped greatly and they all fled.

They fled in all directions like a flock of frightened sheep, and the scene was in chaos.

Guan Ping took advantage of the victory to pursue the enemy. He wielded a spear and led the Shu Han army to rush towards the Wei army like a tide.

The Wei army was unable to resist and had to retreat into the city of Kunyang, closing the city gates tightly and not daring to fight again.

Outside Kunyang City, the Han army cheered loudly.

That night.

In Kunyang City, the atmosphere was so heavy that water could almost turn into ice.

Every corner of the city was filled with the smoke of war, as if even the air was filled with the smell of iron and blood.

Guo Huai was lying on a simple bed at this moment, and the military doctor was carefully removing the arrow from his back.

The arrow was deeply embedded in his muscles, and every movement brought piercing pain, but Guo Huai just gritted his teeth, his face was pale, sweat was pouring down, but he didn't say a word.

The military doctor's technique was skillful and quick, but even so, he could not completely cover up the blood gushing out of Guo Huai's wound.

The blood flowed like a flood that broke through the dam, staining the bed and the military doctor's hands red.

However, Guo Huai's eyes remained firm, as if he had gotten used to the pain and was more concerned about the situation on the battlefield and the safety of the soldiers.

Finally, the arrowhead was successfully removed and the military doctor quickly bandaged Guo Huai's wound.

Guo Huai then slowly looked at everyone. Although his voice was weak, it was full of majesty: "How many casualties did our army suffer?"

His eyes revealed deep concern and worry, as if the life and death of every soldier touched his heart.

Chen Tai's face was also covered in dust at this moment, and there was a look of pain in his eyes.

He said in a deep voice: "Only 20,000 people entered the city. The remaining 30,000 people were scattered in the field battle and no one knows where they fled to."

Chen Tai's words were full of helplessness and regret. He was well aware of the cruelty of the battle and knew that those missing soldiers might never come back.

Hearing this, Guo Huai was silent for a moment.

His eyes became deep and complex, as if he was recalling every moment on the battlefield.

He sighed, his voice filled with endless fatigue and self-blame: "I didn't expect the Han army to be so brave. It's hard for us to defeat them in a field battle, and it's also hard to defend the city. This is my fault, and I will write a letter to apologize."

Guo Huai's words were full of helplessness and tragedy. He knew very well that he had an unshirkable responsibility for the failure of this battle.

However, as a battle-hardened general, Guo Huai did not wallow in self-blame.

He quickly cheered up and looked at Chen Tai with a firm gaze: "It's just that Yingchuan still needs to be defended, but it will be much more difficult."

Guo Huai's words revealed his firm determination and unyielding will. He was well aware of the importance of Yingchuan and the heavy responsibility on his shoulders.

Chen Tai also frowned at the side. He was well aware of Guo Huai's difficulties and how serious the current situation was.

After thinking for a moment, he slowly said, "Now, we can only retreat. We should stretch the Han army's logistics supply line, and then find an opportunity to cut off their food supply. Maybe we can force the Han army to retreat."

Chen Tai's words revealed helplessness.

Originally, following Liu Ye's plan was the safest, but Guo Huai wanted to give it a try with the Han army, and if he tried now, he would die.

He knew very well that under the current situation, confronting the Han army head-on would undoubtedly be like hitting a rock with an egg. Only by adopting flexible and changeable tactics could he find a glimmer of hope.

After listening to Chen Tai's suggestion, Guo Huai nodded, with a hint of approval in his eyes.

He was well aware of Chen Tai's wisdom and talents, and trusted his judgment.

Guo Huai said in a deep voice: "For now, this is the only solution. Pass the order down and prepare for retreat immediately. Make sure the soldiers are safe."

As Guo Huai's order was issued, Kunyang City suddenly became busy.

The soldiers quickly packed up and prepared to retreat.

Guo Huai lay on the bed, looking quietly at the beams.

Although the battle was lost, it does not mean that everything is over.

On the contrary, this is just a new beginning.

The outcome is still unknown!

He still has a chance! (End of this chapter)