Shuhan

The setting sun was like blood, sprinkling on the Luoyang Plain.

Qin Lang had just returned from a great victory at Zhiguan, and his heart was filled with joy of victory and longing for the future.

His armor gleamed coldly in the afterglow, and his face was covered with the dust of battle.

However, the tranquility was soon broken by the sound of hurried horse hooves.

"Eight hundred miles in a hurry! Eight hundred miles in a hurry!" A messenger dressed in black and covered in dust, riding a sweaty warhorse, broke the silence like a black lightning and rushed straight towards Qin Lang's team.

His voice was hoarse and rapid, as if every word was squeezed out from between his teeth: "General, the Han army attacked the county town, and Hongnong County Town has fallen!"

These words were like a bolt from the blue, causing Qin Lang's heart to sink.

It seemed as if everything in front of his eyes lost its color for a moment, leaving only endless darkness.

He now felt like he was eating hotpot and singing songs when he was suddenly robbed by bandits.

Hongnong County City was an important gateway for the Wei State in the Central Plains. Once it was lost, it would not only mean that tens of thousands of Wei troops might fall into the hands of the enemy, but even worse, the entire Hongnong County's defense line would collapse like a domino.

Qin Lang's face turned pale in an instant, the veins on his forehead stood out, and his hands gripping the reins trembled slightly due to excessive force.

"Are Caoyangting and Shan County still there?" Qin Lang's voice was low and powerful.

The messenger, still catching his breath, quickly replied: "It seems that Caoyang Pavilion has been captured by the Han army, but Shan County is still there."

Qin Lang clenched his teeth when he heard this.

Shan County, this ancient city located on the bank of a river, was the last and most important line of defense for Hongnong County against the Han army.

It not only concerns the territorial integrity of the Wei State, but is also a strategic location connecting the north and the south. Once lost, the entire situation in the Central Plains will undergo irreversible changes.

"The infantry should speed up their march and transfer three thousand cavalry to Shan County first!" Qin Lang's order was concise and powerful.

He quickly glanced around and his eyes finally fell on Deputy General Li Yi.

Li Yi, a burly man with a resolute face, is standing here waiting for orders.

"Li Yi, you lead three thousand cavalry and set off immediately. You must reach Shan County as quickly as possible to reinforce the defenders!" Qin Lang's voice was low and full of trust.

Li Yi's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he bowed and accepted the order: "Yes, General!"

Then he turned around and waved his hand. Three thousand cavalrymen started instantly like wild horses, raising a cloud of dust and galloping towards Shan County.

Qin Lang watched the cavalry go away, feeling mixed emotions.

He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm his heart.

In my mind, pictures flashed: the beacon fire in Hongnong County, the bloody battles of the soldiers, the expectations of the people...

All this made him more determined to defend his territory.

As night fell and the moonlight was as bright as water, Qin Lang led the remaining infantry and quickened the pace of the march.

Along the way, they crossed rolling hills and crossed turbulent rivers.

But in Qin Lang's heart, there was an unquenchable flame burning, which was the desire for victory and loyalty to the country.

At the same time, in Shan County, the lights were on, the defenders were on full alert on the city walls, and the atmosphere was extremely tense.

The Han army under the city approached silently like ghosts in the night, waiting for the right moment to launch a fatal attack.

However, at this critical moment, the deafening sound of horse hooves came from afar. It was the cavalry led by Li Yi, who appeared on the flank of the Han army like divine soldiers descended from heaven.

The battle was about to break out. Li Yi took the lead, holding a spear, rushed into the enemy camp, and was invincible.

The morale of the Wei army was greatly boosted, and they followed suit one after another. For a moment, the sound of killing shook the sky and arrows rained down.

The Han army was thrown into disarray by this sudden change and suffered defeat after defeat.

Qin Lang watched all this from a distance, feeling an indescribable excitement in his heart.

Fortunately, we arrived in time and defended Shan County.

After defending Shan County, Qin Lang's brows did not relax, but became even tighter.

He knew very well that this was just the beginning and the real battle was yet to come.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on his resolute face, reflecting a bit of indomitable spirit and determination.

He quickly summoned his generals and deployed the next step of action.

"Send people to Maojin Ferry quickly to find out the movements of the Han army, especially to confirm whether they have crossed the river from the south of Taiyang City." Qin Lang's voice was steady and powerful, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, as if they could penetrate the layers of fog and look directly into the heart of the enemy.

A scout in light armor responded and after receiving the order, he disappeared into the night in a flash.

At the same time, Qin Lang sent out several scout teams. Like ghosts in the night, they crossed the Shanmo silently and headed towards Caoyangting, Hongnong County City and other places.

These scouts are elites carefully selected by Qin Lang. They are not only agile, but also have extraordinary wisdom and keen insight.

Their mission is to bring a ray of light to Qin Lang in this chaotic battle.

As the night deepened, the lights in Shan County dimmed, but Qin Lang's tent was brightly lit.

He stood in front of the map, his eyes wandering over every inch of land, thinking about all the possibilities in his mind.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps broke the silence in the room, and a scout, covered in dust, rushed in, holding a secret letter in his hand.

"Report! The city of Hongnong County has been breached by the Han army, but the specific situation is still unclear." The scout's voice was slightly breathless, but there was determination in his eyes.

Qin Lang took the secret letter, read it quickly, and frowned even more tightly.

The loss of Hongnong County meant that the situation on the battlefield became more complicated and the intentions of the Han army became more unpredictable.

"Where is Cao Yangting? Any news?" Qin Lang's voice was low and urgent, as if every word carried a heavy burden.

The scout hesitated for a moment, then replied: "Caoyang Pavilion is still holding on, but...but the situation is not optimistic."

Qin Lang had an idea in mind after hearing this.

Caoyangting was not an impregnable place. The fact that it had been held until now must have been intentional by the Han army, with the purpose of luring him to go for support and thus fall into their plan of besieging the point and attacking the reinforcements.

Qin Lang's gaze passed through the curtain of the tent and looked at the endless Xiao Mountains in the distance.

Shan County, a land surrounded by mountains, has been a strategic throat between western Henan and the Wei River Plain since ancient times. The importance of its geographical location is self-evident.

He could not take any risks, and he could not let Shan County fall into the hands of the enemy.

So he spoke slowly and firmly: "Send the order to strengthen the city defense of Shan County, repair the fort, and prepare to fight the Han army."

In the following days, Shan County was busy.

The soldiers were busy reinforcing the city walls, carrying stones, and building arrow towers; the craftsmen were working day and night to forge weapons and prepare sufficient arrows and rolling logs and stones.

Qin Lang led the troops and supervised the battle personally. His figure shuttled through every corner, boosting morale and conveying the belief that they would win.

Qin Lang's appearance has also undergone subtle changes during this period.

His beard became thicker, his eyes became deeper, and his face looked a little thinner due to long-term hard work, but his determination and indomitable spirit became more and more obvious.

He often stood on the city wall, looking into the distance, silently calculating the next move in the game of chess.

"General, Cao Yangting's letter for help has arrived again." A deputy general hurried over with a letter in hand.

Qin Lang took the letter but did not open it immediately. Instead, he pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Reply to them and wait for help. I will make arrangements."

His tone was calm and firm, without the slightest wavering.

Although the deputy general was confused, when he saw Qin Lang's determined eyes, he said no more and took the order and left.

Qin Lang knows very well that war is not only a contest of courage, but also a game of wisdom.

He could not blindly rescue Cao Yangting, as that would only put himself in the encirclement of the Han army.

What he had to do was to use Shan County as a base to consolidate the defense line, while looking for the Han army's weaknesses and defeating them with one blow.

As time went by, Shan County's defense system became more and more complete. The city walls were towering into the sky, the arrow towers were densely packed, and the moat was wide and deep, like an insurmountable natural moat.

As for Cao Yangting, he had long forgotten about him.

the other side.

Caoyang Pavilion.

The Han army had besieged Caoyangting for more than half a month. Zhang Bao stood at the foot of the city, staring at the isolated city with a sharp gaze.

The autumn wind was bleak and the battle flags were fluttering in the wind, but there was no ripple in his heart.

Judging from the current situation, Qin Lang is cautious in using his troops and will not easily take the risk of seeking help, but this does not prevent him from realizing his strategic intentions.

The walls of Caoyangting were in ruins after days of artillery bombardment, and the Wei soldiers on the city walls looked tired and desperate.

Since it is impossible to attract the Wei army to come to the rescue, there is no need for Caoyang Pavilion to continue to exist.

Zhang Bao took a deep breath, turned around and said to the generals behind him: "Today, we will capture this city in one fell swoop!"

With an order, the Han soldiers rushed towards the city gate like a tide.

They held spears in their hands, carried bows and arrows on their backs, and their faces were filled with determination and fearlessness.

Zhang Bao took the lead, holding a spear, and rushed towards the city gate like a flash of lightning that cuts through the sky.

His movements were agile and swift, and every time he swung his gun, it was accompanied by the sound of wind and thunder, which was intimidating.

Seeing this, the Wei soldiers on the city wall took up their weapons and tried to resist the overwhelming attack.

However, their resistance seemed so weak under the fierce attack of the Han army. Cannon fire roared, arrows rained down, soldiers on the top of the city kept falling, and blood dyed the city wall red.

There was a cold flash in Zhang Bao's eyes. He knew very well that war was ruthless, but he couldn't help feeling a little emotional.

He wielded his gun to sweep away an enemy soldier and shouted, "Those who surrender will be spared!"

However, all he got in response was a more violent rain of arrows and more determined resistance.

The battle lasted a whole day, from dawn to sunset, and every inch of Caoyangting witnessed this brutal battle.

Finally, at dusk, the city gate was breached by the Han army, and the Wei army's defense line completely collapsed. Zhang Bao led his troops into the city, killing all the way to the center of the city.

After the battle, Zhang Bao stood on the city wall, looking at the devastated battlefield, with mixed feelings.

This victory was not easily won, but was won with the lives and blood of countless soldiers.

He turned to the deputy general beside him and said, "Count the results of the battle, comfort the wounded, and we must restore order as soon as possible."

The deputy general took the order and left, and soon brought back the battle report: the city of Hongnong County and Caoyang Pavilion were captured, and nearly 10,000 Wei soldiers were killed in this battle, and more than 23,000 were captured.

Zhang Bao nodded after hearing this.

As a result, the Wei army's military strength in the Hongnong direction has been greatly weakened.

He had killed and captured tens of thousands of enemies, and had made considerable progress along the way.

As night fell, Zhang Bao sat alone in his tent, with maps and battle reports on the table.

He stared at Shan County on the map and thought to himself, "Qin Lang, Qin Lang, although you are cautious, Shan County will be taken by me sooner or later."

In the following days, Zhang Bao began to reorganize the army and appease the people.

War is not just a contest of military strength, but also a battle for people's hearts and minds.

He sent envoys to various places to publicize the Han army's benevolent policies and justice and to win more support from the people.

At the same time, he also strengthened the training of the army to prepare for the next more difficult battle.

The autumn wind is getting cooler, and the rice in the fields is gradually ripening.

Zhang Bao stood on the ridge of the field, looking at the golden waves of rice, feeling an inexplicable emotion in his heart.

After the autumn harvest, it is the best time to send troops again.

By then, he will lead a large army and march straight to Shan County to engage in a real battle with Qin Lang.

During the days of waiting, Zhang Bao was not idle.

He personally went deep into the people's lives to understand their sufferings and needs and worked hard to improve their living conditions.

His actions won wide praise and support from the people, and also laid a solid popular foundation for his future wars.

Hundreds of miles away.

In Luoyang City, the autumn wind brought a bit of coolness, rolling up the fallen leaves all over the ground. They rolled and danced on the empty streets, and finally returned to dust.

Inside the palace, the atmosphere was so heavy that water could almost turn into ice.

Cao Rui, the Emperor of Wei, sat upright on the dragon throne, his brows furrowed and his face pale, as if he had aged a lot overnight.

His hands were tightly gripping the armrests, his knuckles turning white from the force, revealing his inner uneasiness and anxiety.

Inside the hall, civil and military officials stood on both sides, all with their heads bowed and silent. The atmosphere was so depressing that it was suffocating.

Following the sound of hurried footsteps, a scout in armor hurriedly walked into the hall, holding a secret letter in his hand, and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, the latest battle report!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui's body trembled slightly. He quickly reached out to take the battle report, unfolded it, and his face instantly became even uglier.

The Han attacked the Wei from all sides, and the armies from the east, south, west and north all achieved considerable victories. The Wei territory was eroded, the army suffered heavy losses, and morale was low.

This was not just a failure on the battlefield, but also a heavy blow to the destiny of the Wei State.

"This..." Cao Rui's voice trembled a little. He looked up at the dome of the hall, and a trace of confusion and helplessness flashed in his eyes.

This war was not just a contest between two countries, but also a life-and-death battle concerning the survival of the Wei State.

If he cannot turn the tide of the war as soon as possible, Cao Rui may really become a king who loses his country and be infamous for eternity.

When Cao Rui asked for a plan to defeat the enemy, the ministers remained silent.

Cao Rui, who was so angry, had to adjourn the court.

Cao Rui just sat down after returning to the side hall of Taiji Hall.

"Your Majesty, General Sima Yi has a secret letter to present."

At this time, an eunuch stepped forward cautiously and presented a sealed letter with both hands.

Cao Rui seemed to have grasped a life-saving straw. He quickly opened the letter and read it carefully.

Sima Yi's strategy is his only hope at the moment.

In the letter, Sima Yi analyzed the current war situation in detail and proposed a bold and risky plan - concentrate troops, raid the main force of the Han Dynasty, and strive to decide the outcome of the battle in one go.

This plan is extremely risky, but if successful, it will completely reverse the situation of the war and buy Wei a chance to catch its breath.

After reading the letter, Cao Rui was silent for a long time, and finally spoke slowly: "What do you think of Sima Yi's strategy?"

Inside the hall, officials looked at each other, and no one dared to speak easily.

At this time, Zheng Cheng stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, Sima Yi's plan is risky, but at this critical moment of life and death, we have no choice. Only by giving it a try can we have a glimmer of hope."

Cao Rui took a deep breath and his eyes became firm: "Okay! Let's follow Sima Yi's plan. Pass the order down and immediately mobilize the troops to prepare for a surprise attack on the main force of the Han Kingdom."

In the following days, Luoyang was busy. The army was gathering in full swing, and food, fodder, weapons and other supplies were also transported continuously.

Cao Rui would personally supervise the battle every day. He would move around the military camp, boosting morale, checking equipment, and ensuring everything was ready.

However, as the war progressed, the pressure in Cao Rui's heart grew.

He often sat alone in the imperial study, staring at the battlefield layout on the map, his heart full of worries.

This war not only concerns his throne, but also the life and death of millions of people in the Wei State.

He could not fail, nor could he let the State of Wei perish in his hands. (End of this chapter)