Shuhan

The Wei army moved in two directions, one was deployed on the northern border, and the other seemed to be cruising around Henei County intentionally or unintentionally, but the main elite forces were stationed outside Luoyang City and underwent rigorous training every day.

The sounds of training were deafening, and the frequent troop movements were completely different from the tranquility of the past. This abnormal behavior, like ripples suddenly appearing on a calm lake, naturally attracted the attention of the Han military commander.

The Jianjunsi, as the core intelligence agency of the Han Dynasty, has members who are all smart, capable and well-informed.

They are like sharp cheetahs, always keeping a close eye on the movements of the enemy.

In recent days, the news coming out of Hanoi County has become increasingly disturbing.

Around Wude County, the spies of the Wei State School Office appeared frequently like ghosts, their figures appeared and disappeared, and their actions were secretive. These spies were either dressed as merchants or farmers, but no matter how they disguised themselves, they could not escape the eyes of the military commander.

At first, there were only one or two spies wandering around Wude County, but as time went on, their numbers grew and their scope of activities became wider and wider.

They seemed to be looking for something, or perhaps plotting something in secret.

This increasingly serious trend made Zhou Che deeply worried.

As a secret intelligence agency under Cao Cao, the Wei State's School Affairs Office was often closely linked to the military and political decisions of the Wei State.

Now that they are active on such a large scale around Wude County, they must have some agenda.

On this day, the sun set and its afterglow cast a golden and magnificent light on the Han Palace.

Liu Chan was having dinner. His table was filled with all kinds of delicious dishes, which were colorful, fragrant and delicious, making people salivate.

There is steamed fish from the south of the Yangtze River, with tender fish meat and clear soup; there is roasted lamb from the north, with delicious meat and fragrant aroma; and there is the newly created spicy hot pot, which is steaming hot and full of spicy flavor.

Liu Chan sat at the dining table, holding jade chopsticks, slowly savoring the delicacies, his face filled with satisfaction.

Beside him, two plump and boneless beauties were serving him respectfully.

They were dressed in long gauze skirts, with graceful figures and beautiful faces. One beauty held a jade pot and gently poured wine for Liu Chan; another beauty rubbed Liu Chan's shoulders and legs.

Liu Chan enjoyed this moment of peace and comfort, as if all the troubles in the world had nothing to do with him.

It's really a happy time.

However, at this moment, a rush of footsteps broke the tranquility.

The beautiful concubine Zhou Che, dressed in black, hurried into the hall. Her face was serious and solemn, and there was a look of uneasiness in her eyes.

Zhou Che was Liu Chan's favorite concubine. She was not only extremely beautiful, but also smart and considerate.

Seeing her expression, Liu Chan was startled. He put down the jade chopsticks in his hand and asked, "Zhou Che, why are you so flustered?"

Zhou Che walked up to Liu Chan, knelt down and reported: "Your Majesty, I have something important to report. Recently, I have heard some unusual movements of the Wei army from the military headquarters. They are moving in two directions, but the main elite troops are stationed outside Luoyang City for daily training. This is really abnormal. Moreover, in Henei County, spies from the Wei Kingdom's school affairs office are active around Wude County frequently, and it seems to be getting worse. I am worried that there must be a conspiracy behind this."

When Liu Chan heard this, his brows slightly frowned. He knew very well that Zhou Che would not do anything without a purpose.

He pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you have any solid evidence?"

Zhou Che shook his head and said, "I don't have any solid evidence, but this matter concerns the safety of the country, so I dare not hide it. Moreover, I have heard that these spies seem to be spying on your majesty's whereabouts. I am worried that they want to use the same old tricks to assassinate your majesty again."

When he said this, a hint of fear flashed in Zhou Che's eyes.

She still remembered that several months ago, the Wei State sent assassins to assassinate Liu Chan, but fortunately, the Han soldiers fought to protect him and Liu Chan was spared.

Now that the Wei army has made such a move again, how can she not worry?
After hearing this, Liu Chan looked solemn. He stood up and paced back and forth, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

The State of Wei had always been eyeing the Han Dynasty, wanting to get rid of it as soon as possible.

Now that they are training their main forces outside Luoyang City in such a high-profile manner and sending spies into Henei County, they must have some plans.

Moreover, the assassination tactics Zhou Che mentioned also left him with lingering fears.

He stopped, looked at Zhou Che, and said, "Your analysis is reasonable. The Wei army must have a conspiracy behind this move. But as the ruler of the Han Dynasty, how can I be easily frightened by them? I want to go and check it out myself to see who is behind this."

Zhou Che was shocked when she heard this. She quickly advised: "Your Majesty, you must not do this! This journey is extremely dangerous. If something goes wrong, where will the Han Dynasty go?"

Liu Chan waved his hand and said, "I have made up my mind, no need to say more. As the ruler of the Han Dynasty, I should lead by example and think about the country and the people of the Han Dynasty. Moreover, I have you by my side to protect me, so what do I have to fear?"

Seeing that his advice not only failed to change Liu Chan's mind, but instead seemed to arouse a trace of rebellious psychology in him, Zhou Che's heart tightened, and he quickly adjusted his strategy, saying softly:

"Your Majesty, wasn't your previous strategic deployment to surround Luoyang, cut off its food supply, and wait for it to collapse without a fight?
The trick of this plan is to proceed step by step and wait for the right moment. As long as your majesty is safe and sound, Wei will be the lamb to be slaughtered, and death is only a matter of time.

But if Your Majesty takes the risk personally, the situation will easily get out of control, and if there is a mistake, all previous efforts will be wasted."

As Zhou Che spoke, he observed Liu Chan's expression. He saw that his brows were slightly frowned and there was a hint of hesitation in his eyes.

She knew that her words had touched the string in Liu Chan's heart.

Liu Chan thought of the previous assassination attempt, and the thrilling scenes seemed to appear before his eyes again. He couldn't help but sigh softly, and his expression became solemn.

"You are right. I really shouldn't act rashly." Liu Chan spoke slowly, his voice containing a hint of fatigue, but more of determination.

"It seems that Cao Rui did not send an elite force to attack us, but deliberately wanted to assassinate me. He thought that this would disrupt my deployment. Humph, what wishful thinking!"

At this point, a cold light flashed in Liu Chan's eyes, and he clenched his fists tightly, as if he wanted to vent all the anger and unwillingness in his heart.

Zhou Che felt warm at heart when she saw this. She knew that Liu Chan was not discouraged by his previous failure, but instead became more determined.

"Your Majesty is wise. Since Cao Rui has this conspiracy, Wude County is no longer a safe place." Zhou Che took the opportunity to speak out, his tone full of concern.

"I think that Your Majesty should leave this place as soon as possible and return to Yecheng. Yecheng can now be said to be the heartland of the Han Dynasty. The noble families have been purged several times and are loyal. Your Majesty will have no worries about safety if he stays there."

Liu Chan heard this, thought for a moment, and nodded. He knew very well that Zhou Che's words made sense, and as the leader of the Han Dynasty, he could not take risks easily.

Moreover, Yecheng is one of the most fortified cities in the world with tight defenses, and is indeed a safe place.

Thinking of this, he felt a little relieved, and there was a little more approval in his eyes when he looked at Zhou Che.

"Okay, as you say, I will set off and return to Yecheng immediately." Liu Chan gave the order decisively, his tone full of determination.

"I want to see what tricks Cao Rui can come up with!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Che felt relieved and finally put his mind at ease.

At this time, the night was deep, and the moonlight sprinkled on the earth like water, adding a bit of mystery and peace to this quiet night.

Liu Chan and Zhou Che walked out of the palace side by side, only to see that the lights outside the palace were on and the guards were standing guard all around in high spirits.

When they saw Liu Chan and Zhou Che coming out, they all saluted and saluted.

Liu Chan nodded slightly, looking calm. He was wearing a gorgeous dragon robe and a golden crown, looking majestic and solemn.

Zhou Che was dressed in black, with a graceful figure and a beautiful face, like the brightest star in the night sky.

The two walked side by side, as if they were a perfect match made in heaven.

Three days later, the Han emperor's ceremonial procession from Wude County moved to Yecheng.

The news of Liu Chan's retreat to Yecheng spread quickly to every corner of Luoyang City like a gust of wind.

This news was like a thunderclap, instantly causing huge waves in the originally peaceful Luoyang City.

Cao Rui, the Emperor of Wei, was sitting on the throne in the Luoyang Palace at this moment, reviewing a mountain of memorials. Upon hearing the news, the pen in his hand trembled violently, and a drop of ink splashed onto the white rice paper, like a firework suddenly blooming in the dark night, which was particularly dazzling.

Cao Rui's face turned pale in an instant, as if it were a piece of white paper, completely bloodless.

There was a flash of astonishment in his eyes, and then they became empty and confused. He seemed as if his soul had been sucked out and he was in a daze.

His carefully planned decapitation tactics, like a carefully constructed sand castle, collapsed in the wave of Liu Chan's retreat.

He originally planned to kill Liu Chan in one fell swoop through a surprise attack, thus reversing the situation between Han and Wei and allowing Wei to regain the upper hand. However, he never expected that Liu Gongsi would be so decisive that he did not give him this opportunity and directly chose to retreat.

Cao Rui gripped the armrests of the throne tightly with both hands, his knuckles turned white from the force, revealing his extreme inner anxiety.

Liu Chan's retreat was undoubtedly a heavy blow to the situation in Luoyang.

He closed his eyes and tried to calm himself down, but the anxiety in his heart surged like a tide, making it difficult for him to calm down.

At this time, the eunuch Bixie was standing aside, but he did not notice the subtle change in the emperor's mood.

His face was filled with joy, as if he had seen the dawn of victory, and he said excitedly: "Your Majesty, when Liu Gongsi saw Your Majesty retreating, it proved that he was guilty. Once he withdraws, the morale of the Han army will surely drop. This is a great opportunity for us to turn the situation around!"

However, Cao Rui shook his head, his eyes revealing a hint of helplessness and bitterness. He took a deep breath and said in a deep voice: "Bi Xie, you only see the surface phenomenon. Although Liu Gongsi has withdrawn, the Han army is still surrounding our Luoyang! The current situation is much more complicated than you think."

Bixie was stunned when he heard this, and then he looked a little embarrassed. It was obvious that he did not fully understand the emperor's worries.

Cao Rui continued, "The decapitation tactic is no longer feasible. We can only rely on opening up the food supply route. Food is the lifeblood of the army. Once the food supply route is cut off, our army will be in dire straits."

There was a flash of determination in his eyes, as if he had made up his mind.

Then Cao Rui stood up, walked to the window of the palace and stared into the distance.

The sky outside the window was gray, as if covered by a thick layer of haze.

On the distant city wall, flags fluttered in the wind, as if telling of the cruelty and ruthlessness of war.

An inexplicable melancholy welled up in Cao Rui's heart.

This war has lasted for too long, and Wei's national strength has been almost exhausted.

If the situation is not reversed quickly, the State of Wei might really be on the decline.

Even to destruction.

He clenched his fists, digging his nails deep into his palms, but he didn't feel any pain.

He had only one thought in his mind: to save the State of Wei at all costs!
Thinking of this, he turned around abruptly and said to Pixie: "Pass the order and let the elite troops in Luoyang go south to reinforce Guo Huai. We must take back Yingchuan! Yingchuan is the granary of Wei. Once it is lost, the consequences will be disastrous."

Upon hearing this, Bixie responded and then turned and left.

However, Luoyang today is like a sieve, and news penetrates every corner like flowing water.

As soon as the Wei army sent out its troops, the military commander of the Han army was like a shark smelling blood, and quickly captured any clues of the Wei army's southward advance.

The news spread like wildfire in the Han army camp in an instant, attracting the attention of the soldiers and secretly speculating about the upcoming war.

Guan Ping was stationed in Liang County at this time.

He is of sturdy build, with a resolute face, and an indomitable heroic spirit between his brows.

When the news came that the Wei army was marching south, he was sitting in the tent, holding a military book and reading it carefully.

Hearing this, he suddenly raised his head, a sharp light flashed in his eyes, and then he shouted in a deep voice: "Pass the order, the whole army is ready to fight!"

His voice was firm and powerful, as if it could penetrate the clouds and reach the hearts of every soldier.

Upon hearing the order, the soldiers became excited and took quick action.

Some of them were checking their weapons, some were preparing their armor, and some were busy carrying food and fodder. The entire camp was busy and orderly.

Guan Ping walked out of the tent and looked at the busy soldiers, feeling an inexplicable sense of pride in his heart.

This battle was crucial for the Han army.

If they can successfully resist the attack of the Wei army, it will not only boost the morale of the army, but also further consolidate the Han army's advantage in Luoyang.

And be able to turn advantages into winning advantages.

Thinking of this, he clenched his fists, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.

A few days later, the Wei army arrived as promised.

They rushed towards Liang County like a raging torrent, unstoppable.

However, when they arrived at the city of Liang County, they were surprised to find that the Han army had already been on high alert and the strong castle and fortress were well defended.

The towering city wall was like an indestructible barrier, keeping the Wei army out.

The generals of the Wei army looked at the indestructible city wall and couldn't help feeling an inexplicable irritation in their hearts.

He originally thought that with the bravery and surprise attack of the Wei army, he would be able to capture Liang County in one fell swoop, kill Guan Ping, and thus reverse the situation.

However, it now seems that all this was just his wishful thinking.

"Attack!" Guo Huai gritted his teeth and waved the flag in his hand violently.

In an instant, the Wei army rushed towards the city wall like a tide, and the shouts of killing shook the sky and the earth.

Some of them held ladders in their hands, while others carried ladders on their shoulders, and they all climbed up the city wall.

However, the Han army had already made preparations, holding bows and arrows, and waiting in battle array. When the Wei army approached, they shot arrows one after another, and the arrows rained down, hitting the Wei army and falling to the ground one after another.

Seeing this, Guo Huai couldn't help but feel a surge of anger in his heart.

He suddenly drew his sword and shouted, "Soldiers, don't be afraid! Charge! We must capture this city!"

His voice was hoarse and powerful, as if it could penetrate the smoke of the battlefield and reach the hearts of every soldier.

However, although the Wei army soldiers fought bravely, the Han army's defense was as strong as a solid wall of iron and steel, and was indestructible.

They charged again and again, but were repelled by the Han army again and again.

The mountains of Wei army corpses piled up under the city wall seemed to tell of the fierceness and cruelty of the battle.

After several days, the Wei army still could not capture Liang County.

Their morale had reached its lowest point, but the Han army still held the city without any intention of slacking off.

Looking at the indestructible city walls and the high-spirited Han army, Guo Huai couldn't help feeling a surge of inexplicable despair in his heart.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.

However, the restlessness and anxiety in his heart grew like weeds, making it difficult for him to calm down.

He knew that if things continued like this, the Wei army would probably be completely wiped out.

At this time, a messenger came running over and reported in a panic: "General, there is very little food and grass left! If this continues, I'm afraid we really won't be able to hold on!"

Hearing this, Guo Huai couldn't help but feel an inexplicable bitterness in his heart.

Food and grass are the lifeblood of the army. Once food and grass are cut off, the army will be in dire straits.

He gritted his teeth and said in a deep voice: "Pass the order, the whole army retreat! As long as there is green mountains, there will be no shortage of firewood!"

When the Wei army soldiers heard this, although they felt a little unwilling, they also knew that this was the only option at the moment.

They packed up their bags and prepared to retreat.

As a result, the Wei army's strategy of breaking through and opening up the food route was easily blocked by the Han State.

The so-called strategy ended in failure! (End of this chapter)