Shuhan

On a cold winter day, the city of Luoyang was shrouded in a blanket of silver. The biting north wind whistled past, rolling up bursts of snow, like a sharp blade cutting the air, and also cutting the hearts of every Luoyang citizen.

The people in the city were in panic, and the uneasy mood was like the snowflakes in the sky, falling silently but densely and penetrating into every corner.

The Wei Emperor, Cao Rui, wearing a heavy dragon robe, stood in front of the window of the Taiji Hall, staring at the snowy scene, his eyes full of worry and anxiety.

His brows were furrowed and the corners of his mouth drooped slightly, revealing the pressure he was feeling.

Heavy snow had been falling for several days in a row, isolating the entire Luoyang city from the outside world. It also temporarily bought the Wei State a chance to breathe and stopped the Han army's tidal offensive.

However, Cao Rui knew very well that a greater crisis was hidden beneath this brief period of calm.

If the people's hearts cannot be stabilized and production cannot be restored as soon as possible, I am afraid that although the State of Wei can barely hold on this year, it will be difficult to sustain it next year.

Thinking of this, Cao Rui turned around abruptly and strode towards the center of the Taiji Hall, where a number of important officials including Zheng Cheng and Chen Qun had already gathered.

They were either standing or sitting, with different expressions, but all of them revealed solemnity and worry.

Cao Rui's eyes swept over everyone, finally settling on Chen Qun, and asked in a deep voice: "How long can the grain in Luoyang's granary last?"

Chen Qun was thin and haggard, but there was a gleam of wisdom in his eyes.

He bowed slightly and replied respectfully: "Your Majesty, there is no major problem this year. The grain stored in the granary is enough to support the spring plowing next year."

After saying this, he sighed softly, as if he was also worried about the uncertainty of the future.

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui frowned even more tightly, as he keenly caught the hidden meaning in Chen Qun's words.

"In other words, there will be problems with food and fodder next year?" His voice was low and powerful, revealing unquestionable majesty.

Chen Qun nodded, his expression becoming more serious: "Since the war, the routes for transporting grain and grass from various places to Luoyang have been almost completely interrupted. Luoyang has a large population and many soldiers, and the consumption of grain and grass is an astronomical figure. If the grain and grass problem cannot be solved as soon as possible, I am afraid..."

He didn't continue speaking, but the implication was self-evident.

A sharp light flashed in Cao Rui's eyes. He immediately realized the seriousness of the problem and did not hesitate for a moment.

"Immediately issue orders to all places to escort grain and fodder to the capital! There must be no mistakes!" His voice was so sonorous and powerful that it seemed to shatter the cold air.

However, Zheng Cheng just smiled bitterly and shook his head.

"Your Majesty, the heavy snow has blocked the roads, making it difficult to transport food. In addition, all regions are at war with the Han State, and I'm afraid they are unable to spare any more troops to escort the food and grass."

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui was silent for a moment, as if he was thinking about something.

His eyes became deep and complex, showing both helplessness towards the current situation and determination for the future.

After a moment, he slowly said, "Since food and grass can't be transported in, then we will be self-sufficient! Reclaim the land in Luoyang and grow food and grass! People come up with ideas, we can't just sit there and wait for death!"

Zheng Cheng smiled bitterly again. He knew Cao Rui's determination very well, but he also understood the cruelty of reality.

"Your Majesty, if the Han army takes advantage of this opportunity to attack, I'm afraid that the food will be lost before the autumn harvest. Moreover, the land in Luoyang is limited, and it will be difficult to produce enough food and grass to meet the demand in a short period of time."

When Cao Rui heard this, a gleam of determination flashed in his eyes.

This is a battle that concerns the life and death of the Wei State, and there is no room for retreat.

"Then we should plant while fighting, and harvest while planting! We must not only defend Luoyang, but also grow food! Pass the order, mobilize the whole city, whether it is the civilians or the soldiers, they must participate in this grain planting operation! We must let the Han army know that the land of Wei will never be conquered!"

On the other side, on a cold winter day, the biting north wind cuts through every inch of the air like a sharp blade, freezing everything between heaven and earth stiff.

The logistics supply lines became fragile due to the bad weather and continuous fighting, and food, clothing, medicine and other supplies were delayed in delivering to the front line.

After Wei Yan captured Puyang, he was like a wild horse that had broken free from its reins, and he drove his tired soldiers and horses recklessly and galloped towards Junyi.

Junyi is not only a hub where waterways converge, but also a transit station for transporting grain and fodder for the State of Wei. Its strategic position is self-evident.

Occupying this place is like strangling the throat of grain supply from the three states of Qing, Xu and Yan of Wei State to Luoyang. For the Han Dynasty, this is undoubtedly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Therefore, even though they were faced with a shortage of food and supplies and low morale, and even though attacking the city in the dead of winter would cause the army to suffer heavy losses, Wei Yan remained determined and vowed to capture this fortress that was crucial to the outcome of the battle.

The sky was gloomy with low-hanging dark clouds, as if endless snowflakes would pour down at any time.

The ground was originally covered with a thick layer of white snow, pure and flawless, but in front of Junyi City, the snow had been dyed red with blood, turning into a shocking bloody battlefield.

Broken limbs and arms were scattered everywhere, some were buried deep in the snow, with only some white bones exposed, which was unbearable to look at.

The air was filled with a strong smell of blood and gunpowder, which was suffocating.

The offensive and defensive battle was still going on fiercely. Wei Yan, wearing iron armor and holding a long sword, stood in front of the formation. His eyes were firm and cold, as if no difficulties could stop him from moving forward.

His face was covered in dust and blood, but his eyes were like burning flames, revealing his unyielding will and determination to win.

He shouted loudly, inspiring the soldiers to move forward bravely: "Soldiers, Junyi is right in front of us. As long as we take it, we can cut off the enemy's food supplies and make Luoyang an isolated city! For the Han Dynasty and for our families, charge!"

Following Wei Yan's order, the soldiers cheered up and rushed towards the city wall regardless of everything.

Arrows rained down from the top of the city like locusts, shooting densely at the soldiers attacking the city. Wei Yan waved his long sword, slashing left and right, and shot down the flying arrows one by one.

The soldiers around him either raised their shields to block or swung their swords to cut off the arrows, but many were still hit by the arrows and fell in a pool of blood.

Siege equipment was quickly pushed forward, including ladders, battering rams, catapults, etc.

Wei Yan personally commanded the soldiers to operate these tools and launched a fierce attack on the city wall.

The defenders on the city wall were not willing to be outdone. They fought back using rolling logs, stones and other city defense tools. The two sides fought back and forth, and the battle was difficult to resolve.

In this brutal battle, every detail is filled with the meaning of a life-and-death struggle.

A young soldier, with a childish smile on his face, was already holding a spear and bravely rushing towards the top of the city wall.

His figure shuttled through the rain of arrows, sometimes rolling to avoid, sometimes waving his gun to shoot down the flying arrows.

However, just as he was about to climb to the top of the city wall, a sharp arrow pierced his chest, and he fell heavily to the ground, and his blood dyed the snow red.

When Wei Yan saw this scene, he couldn't help feeling sad.

But he knew that he couldn't waver at all at this moment.

He gritted his teeth and continued to command the soldiers to attack. His voice was hoarse, but his eyes were still firm.

He believed that as long as they persisted, victory would belong to them.

As time went on, the losses on both sides became increasingly severe.

The defenders on the city walls were exhausted, and the soldiers attacking the city suffered heavy casualties.

However, Wei Yan seemed tireless. He always stood at the forefront, inspiring the soldiers to move forward bravely.

His figure on the battlefield was like an unfallen flag, leading the soldiers to charge into battle.

Today's Junyi City has become a meat grinder.

In recent days, the battles of siege and defense have been like a silent tug-of-war, testing the will and perseverance of the soldiers on both sides.

It was the coldest time of the year, and the soldiers' hands were frozen red, as if they were dead branches eroded by the cold wind. It was difficult for them to even hold their weapons tightly, let alone swing their swords to kill the enemy in such severe cold.

Although the Han army attacking the city was wearing thick cotton clothes, it was still difficult to withstand the biting cold.

Their faces were weathered, their lips were cracked, and their eyes revealed a hint of fatigue and helplessness.

In recent days, there have been frequent deserters in the Han army. Some of them chose to flee from this Shura field because they could not endure the inhuman torture or because they despaired of victory.

However, Wei Yan, the iron-blooded general, would never tolerate this. He knew very well that at this critical moment, any slight hesitation could lead to the collapse of the entire army.

Therefore, he promulgated the most stringent military law, and any soldier who tried to escape from the battlefield would be beheaded in public.

Whenever night fell, the heart-pounding sound of swords and axes would be heard in the military camp, accompanied by the final wails of the deserters. Wei Yan used this way to announce to the entire army: escape will lead to death!
Although such brutal means were cruel, they effectively stopped the deserters' decline and allowed the Han soldiers to unite again to face this arduous battle together.

In Junyi City, the situation of the Wei army was even more difficult.

They have been defending this isolated city for many days without any news of reinforcement, and their food and supplies are becoming increasingly scarce.

The soldiers' hearts were filled with despair and fear. They knew what fate would await them once the city was broken.

Therefore, although the garrison commander repeatedly reiterated military discipline and severely punished deserters, in this hopeless situation, the situation of deserters was still more serious than that of the Han army.

Whenever it was late at night and everyone was asleep, there would always be some soldiers who took advantage of the cover of darkness to quietly slip out of the city gate and disappear into the vast night.

Although the defender was heartbroken, he could do nothing but try his best to maintain order in the city and hope that a miracle would happen.

However, the miracle did not happen.

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With the Han army's continuous attacks, the defense line of Junyi City has become shaky.

At dusk, the afterglow of the setting sun sprinkled on the blood-stained battlefield, adding a touch of tragic color to this brutal battle.

The Han army launched the last wave of offensive today. They rushed towards the city wall like mad beasts, regardless of everything.

Although the Wei army soldiers fought desperately, they were ultimately unable to hold this last line of defense under the Han army's overwhelming offensive.

With a deafening roar, the gate of Junyi City was knocked open by the Han army's battering rams, and Han soldiers poured into the city like a tide.

The Wei army soldiers panicked and retreated one after another, their eyes filled with fear and despair.

Seeing this, the general was filled with grief, for he knew that the city had been completely lost. He waved his sword, trying to stop the soldiers from fleeing, but it was too late.

Amid the cheers of the Han army, Junyi City finally welcomed its new owner.

Wei Yan rode his warhorse and slowly entered the city, his eyes revealing a hint of fatigue and relief.

He knew that although the battle was difficult, it would eventually be won.

However, when he saw the panicked Wei soldiers in the city, he couldn't help but feel a trace of pity in his heart.

War is always so cruel. It causes countless people to lose their lives, their homes, and their hope for the future.

Wei Yan took a deep breath and suppressed his emotions.

He understood that he had more important tasks waiting to be accomplished.

He must reorganize the army as quickly as possible, restore order, and prepare for the next battle.

Because in this chaotic world, only by constantly fighting can we survive.

In troubled times, the more compassionate you are, the more likely you are to become the object of pity.

The news of the fall of Junyi City was like a cold wind in winter, quickly sweeping across every inch of land in Qingxu States.

This news not only brought shock, but also caused ripples in the hearts of the soldiers.

A few months ago, in order to prepare for the upcoming war, the two states of Qing and Xu tried their best to recruit troops and horses, drawing elite men from various counties to form a huge army.

They should have arrived in Junyi a month ago, when the autumn weather was nice and morale was high, to fight the Han army.

However, things don't always work as planned. A sudden heavy snowfall, like an invisible hand, trapped the army firmly in place.

The snow fell so heavily and so quickly that it seemed to cover the entire world in silver.

The roads were blocked and the transportation of food and fodder was difficult. The soldiers could only hide in simple tents, listening to the howling of wind and snow outside, their hearts filled with helplessness and anxiety.

They looked at the thick snow outside the window and knew in their hearts that this heavy snow not only slowed down their marching speed, but also invisibly eroded their morale and fighting spirit.

Finally, when the heavy snow stopped and the road became clear, they set out on their journey again.

However, when they arrived in Chenliu exhausted, they learned the sad news that Junyi City had fallen.

At that moment, the soldiers' emotions were extremely complicated.

Some of them were shocked, some were angry, but more were confused and helpless.

Tens of thousands of troops were trapped in Chenliu and faced unprecedented difficulties.

Outside Chenliu City, tens of thousands of soldiers were stationed in the snow-covered wilderness. Their tents were densely packed together, like a small city.

However, behind this seemingly spectacular scene, endless troubles are hidden.

The eating, drinking, defecating and urinating of tens of thousands of people has become a thorny problem.

Although the food and fodder were barely sufficient, ensuring that the soldiers were well fed and warmly clothed in this cold winter was a huge challenge.

The soldiers sat around the campfire, warming themselves by the fire and eating dry food, their faces filled with fatigue and helplessness.

What worries the generals even more is the low morale.

Days of marching and waiting, coupled with the blow of the fall of Junyi City, filled the soldiers' hearts with gloom.

They began to doubt whether this war was really meaningful and whether they could really defeat the powerful Han army.

The rumors about the spy chief spread rapidly in the army like a plague.

Some say the Han army was unstoppable, some say the generals were incompetent, and some say the war was a mistake from the beginning.

These rumors were like an invisible knife, cutting through the soldiers' confidence and unity.

Deserters began to appear, just a few at first, but soon spread like an epidemic.

They quietly left the barracks under the cover of night and disappeared into the vast night. Although the generals punished them severely, they seemed unable to curb this momentum.

The general leading the army was a middle-aged man with a burly figure and a resolute face.

He stood in front of the tent, looking at the vast snowfield in the distance, his heart full of confusion.

He was well aware that he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, but faced with the current difficulties, he felt unprecedented powerlessness.

He tried to inspire the soldiers with a firm tone, but even he couldn't fully believe his own words.

In this way, the two sides formed a standoff in the winter.

On one side was the Qing-Xu coalition forces with low morale and rumors everywhere, and on the other side was the Han army with high morale and confidence of victory.

The news of the fall of Junyi City was like an invisible shackle that firmly bound the hands and feet of the Qing-Xu coalition forces.

They knew that in order to break the deadlock, they must find a new breakthrough and rekindle the soldiers' fighting spirit and confidence.

However, this is easier said than done?
In this cold winter day, they can only wait silently, waiting for the judgment of fate.

Since you are a general of Wei, you must be loyal to your country.

At least
We have to make it look good, right? (End of this chapter)