Shuhan

The news of the defeat of the Wei army in Liang County was like a gust of cold wind that instantly blew through every corner of Luoyang City and deeply penetrated Cao Rui's heart. In winter in Luoyang, the sky was gray, as if shrouded by a thick layer of haze. The cold wind was mixed with fine snowflakes, ruthlessly hitting the window frames of the palace, making a "swooshing" sound. In the palace, Cao Rui sat on the dragon throne, his face pale, his eyes revealing an anxiety and chill that was difficult to conceal. His heart was even colder than the winter wind outside the window.

Yingchuan, originally an important channel for the rear supply line of the Wei army, has now become a huge stone in Cao Rui's heart. Failure to open up Yingchuan means that the Wei army's food and supplies are difficult to transport smoothly. What's worse is that most of the families of ministers and generals in the court live here. These families are both hostages and hindrances, which makes those generals who should have gone all out have more concerns and worries.

Cao Rui knew that although these people would not immediately have other intentions, it would be extremely difficult for them to go all out in such a difficult situation. They were like time bombs that could explode at any time due to the safety of their families, so Cao Rui did not dare to employ them easily. Luoyang was already short of talents, and now without the help of these people, the situation against the Han Kingdom was even worse.

Cao Rui's eyes wandered around the empty hall, and finally fell on the Shangshu Ling Chen Qun. Chen Qun, the old minister, had a worried look on his face, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes seemed to have deepened a little. Cao Rui slowly spoke, his voice low and powerful: "Have you prepared for the spring ploughing?"

Chen Qun heard this and gave a bitter smile, which was full of helplessness and bitterness. He bowed and said slowly: "Your Majesty, the land that can be cultivated is limited, and the Han army can come to harass us at any time. Our army needs to be on guard at all times, and it is difficult for farmers to farm with peace of mind. I am afraid that even if they plant, they will not be able to harvest much food."

Cao Rui's face became even more gloomy when he heard this, and his brows were furrowed as if water could be squeezed out of them. He knew very well that food was the foundation of war, and without food, everything was empty talk. He said in a deep voice: "Grow as much as you can, and you can't just sit and wait for death."

Chen Qun nodded, but sighed in his heart. He knew very well that this was just a stopgap measure, and distant water could not quench immediate thirst. He hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "Your Majesty, there are many people in Luoyang City, and the food consumption is huge. Why not let them disperse and find their own way to survive? In this way, they can have more food for a while. Moreover, if they go to the Han army, they can also consume the Han army's food. Luoyang can hold out longer."

Cao Rui shook his head upon hearing this, with a hint of determination flashing in his eyes. He knew very well that people's hearts were the most precious resource in war. Once people's hearts were lost, it would be like losing the foundation, and the building would collapse and there would be no way to save it. He said in a deep voice: "If people leave, the hearts of the people will be gone. They are the people of my Great Wei, and they are the strong backing of my army. They can serve as civilians, prepare logistics for my army, carry food and grass, and build fortifications."

At this point, Cao Rui's eyes flashed with an imperceptible cold light, which was what he had never said in his heart. He knew very well that when food and grass were insufficient, these people might become the last line of defense of the Wei army, or even the food and grass of the Wei army. Although this idea was cruel, in this chaotic world, survival was the most fundamental rule.

Chen Qun looked at Cao Rui's determined eyes, feeling mixed emotions. He knew very well that this young emperor was carrying the entire Wei Dynasty and the lives of millions of people on his shoulders. He nodded slowly, saying nothing more, but praying silently in his heart, hoping that this war would end soon and let the people return to peace.

In the hall, the candlelight flickered, reflecting the solemn faces of the two people. Outside the window, the cold wind was still howling, and the snowflakes were falling one after another, as if to bury everything in this chaotic world. Cao Rui stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the snowflakes flying all over the sky, but his heart was burning. He knew that as the king of a country, he had to shoulder this heavy responsibility, and no matter how difficult the road ahead was, he had to grit his teeth and persevere.

He turned around and looked at Chen Qun, his eyes revealing a firmness and determination: "Chen Qing, you must immediately pass the order to organize the people to participate in the logistics work, and at the same time strengthen the city defense to ensure that Luoyang is safe. As for spring plowing, we must try every possible way, even if the harvest is small, we must persist. The country of Wei cannot be lost in our hands!"

Chen Qun was inspired when he heard this. He knew that this young emperor, though young, had extraordinary tenacity and perseverance. He bowed and said firmly, "Your Majesty, rest assured. I will do my best to serve the country and the people of Wei, and I will do my best until my death!"

The two looked at each other, with a determined light in their eyes. They knew that this war was not only a military contest, but also a contest of will and perseverance. As long as they had firm beliefs and unyielding perseverance in their hearts, they would be able to overcome all difficulties and protect this land that belonged to the Great Wei.

The snowstorm outside the window was still raging, but inside the hall, there was an air of unyielding determination. Cao Rui and Chen Qun, the two pillars of the Wei Dynasty, were working hand in hand to face this unprecedented crisis. They knew that only by uniting as one could they overcome the difficulties and let the flag of the Wei Dynasty fly forever on this land.

Wude County, this ancient and solid city, is still the command place of the entire Han army attacking Luoyang. The spring breeze blows over the city wall, bringing a hint of coolness, but it cannot blow away the tension and solemnity in the air. Inside the city, in the lobby of the government office, the atmosphere is heavy and solemn, as if even the air has solidified.

Prince Liu Si sat at the head of the table. Although he was young, he had already shown an extraordinary demeanor. He was dressed in a prince's robe, with a gold-embroidered edge and a jade belt around his waist, which further demonstrated his noble status. He had a delicate face, a heroic look between his eyebrows, and a firm and wise look in his eyes. As the eldest son of the Han emperor, he had been strictly taught and trained since he was a child, and he was well aware of the heavy responsibility on his shoulders. What's more, his mother was the queen, and the queen was the daughter of the famous general Zhang Fei. Such a family background made him more able to gather people's hearts on the front line and become the backbone of the Yuan Cong faction.

At the bottom, an old man with white hair and beard and a kind face sat. He was Prime Minister Zhuge Liang. He was dressed in a plain robe and holding a feather fan. He looked calm and composed, as if everything was under control. His eyes were deep and wise, revealing his insight and grasp of the general situation of the world. Beside him, a group of civil officials and military generals stood or sat, all with solemn expressions, waiting for Zhuge Liang's instructions.

At this time, Zhuge Liang gently waved the feather fan in his hand, bowed to the crown prince Liu Si, and said in a steady and powerful voice: "Your Highness, the Wei army is preparing for spring plowing, but they have not stopped training. They are trying to use farming as a cover to secretly accumulate strength. We must make plans early to avoid being passively attacked. What good ideas do you have?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the civil officials and military officers in the audience began to discuss the situation. Some advocated sending troops to attack directly to disrupt the spring ploughing plan of the Wei army; others suggested sending spies to infiltrate the Wei army to disrupt their training plan. However, Zhuge Liang shook his head and rejected all these suggestions. He knew that the Wei army was strong and if he sent troops rashly, he might fall into an ambush by the enemy; and sending spies was also very risky. Once exposed, the consequences would be disastrous.

Zhuge Liang's eyes swept over everyone and finally landed on Crown Prince Liu Si. He bowed slightly and asked, "Your Highness, what do you think?"

Liu Si was silent for a moment, as if he was thinking about something. His eyes became deep, as if he could penetrate time and space and see the future battle situation. After a moment, he slowly said: "What the Prime Minister said is very true. The Wei army is very powerful and we should not act rashly. However, we cannot sit and wait for death. I think we can do two things at the same time. On the one hand, we can stir up public opinion in Luoyang and cause divisions within the Wei army; on the other hand, we can disrupt their spring plowing so that they can't concentrate on training. At the same time, we can station strong troops at various checkpoints to prevent the Wei army from attacking and breaking through."

Zhuge Liang heard this and a hint of appreciation flashed in his eyes. He nodded and said, "Your Highness is right. This plan is both safe and effective. We will do as Your Highness says." After that, Zhuge Liang immediately ordered people to go to Luoyang to stir up public opinion. He knew very well that the power of public opinion was infinite. Once there was a disagreement within the Wei army, their combat effectiveness would be greatly reduced. At the same time, he sent an elite force to the spring ploughing area of ​​the Wei army to harass and sabotage. This force was elusive and made the Wei army hard to defend against.

After deploying these tasks, Zhuge Liang personally led a large army to station at various passes. He knew that the passes were the only way for the Wei army to break out of the siege, so they must be strictly guarded. He personally supervised the battle, boosted morale, and ensured that nothing could go wrong.

At this time, busy figures can be seen everywhere in Wude County. Civil officials and military generals each performed their duties and made full preparations for the upcoming war. The crown prince Liu Si and the prime minister Zhuge Liang were in charge of the central army, commanding with confidence. Their eyes revealed firmness and determination, as if they had seen the dawn of victory.

. . .

Time slips away quietly like fine sand through fingers, and the chill of winter seems to fade away with the north wind. Spring is approaching quietly, lightly and firmly. At the turn of winter and spring, the earth begins to wake up, and the signs of the revival of all things become more and more obvious.

On the south bank of the Yellow River, the river that was once blocked by thick ice is now full of life. The ice gradually melts under the warm spring sun and breaks into floating ice of different sizes. As the river flows, they collide with each other and make crisp sounds. These broken ice pieces are like swimming silver dragons, separating the north and south banks of the Yellow River again. They are also like a declaration of nature, heralding a new season and a new beginning. Occasionally, a few early-returning water birds fly over the river. They either fly low and play in the water or sing loudly, adding a bit of vitality to the thawing river.

On the ground, patches of green are quietly poking their heads out, and the grass buds seem to have gathered their strength, vying to break through the soil, wanting to see the grand view of spring. In the distance, willow trees have also sprouted, and their slender branches are gently swaying in the breeze, like a girl's hair, soft and full of vitality. However, in this spring scene, Luoyang City is like an isolated island shrouded in haze.

Luoyang, this ancient and prosperous capital, is now in an unprecedented predicament. The Han army surrounded the city like an iron barrel. The shouts and drums outside the city were one after another, shaking the people. Inside the city, all kinds of rumors spread like wildfire. Some said that the Han army was about to break into the city, some said that the food and grass in the city had run out, and some said that the reinforcements of the Wei army were nowhere in sight. These rumors were like invisible knives, cutting the fragile nerves of the people of Luoyang.

The price of grain has skyrocketed like a wild horse. People who could barely make ends meet now have no hope of having a full meal. In the streets, there are always long queues in front of the grain stores. People look pale, with anxious and helpless eyes. Some old people are too weak to stand for a long time, so they can only sit on the ground, holding a few copper coins tightly in their hands, their eyes full of despair.

As hunger spread, people began to die of starvation in Luoyang. At first, there were only one or two people, but soon it spread like a plague. Those who died of starvation, with shriveled bodies and haggard faces, were hastily buried in a mass grave outside the city on straw mats. Some of their family members cried bitterly, while others stood there numbly, with empty eyes, as if even their tears had dried up.

At this critical moment of life and death, some desperate people began to take risks and directly robbed food and grass. They either went in groups of three or five or fought alone, sneaking into granaries or the homes of wealthy families under the cover of night. However, the Wei army had been prepared for this, and they quickly moved out and suppressed these robbers one by one. On the streets, there were bursts of scolding and fighting sounds from time to time, and the air was filled with tension and fear.

Some of the suppressed people were tied to stakes for public display, while others were thrown directly into prison. Their faces were filled with humiliation and despair, and their eyes revealed their desire to survive and confusion about the future. Although the other people in the city were full of sympathy, they did not dare to express it easily. They gathered together and whispered, knowing that the situation was very bad.

"How can we live like this?" An elderly woman sighed, her face full of wrinkles, her eyes revealing endless fatigue and helplessness, "If this continues, we will all join those starving ghosts."

"Yes, yes." The people around echoed, their faces also full of worry and uneasiness.

At the same time, the Wei army encountered many difficulties in their farming outside the city. They wanted to solve the problem of food and grass by farming, but the Han army often sent people to sabotage them. Some nights, when the Wei soldiers were immersed in their dreams, there were bursts of explosions. It turned out that the spies of the Han army secretly set fire to the food and grass in the farming. The flames shot up to the sky, illuminating half of the sky. The Wei soldiers hurriedly got up to put out the fire, but it was often too late.

The effect of the military farm was extremely poor. The fertile land had now become bumpy and full of burn marks. The soldiers of the Wei army looked at this land that was once full of hope, and they were filled with frustration and helplessness. Their morale was also extremely low, and some soldiers even began to doubt the significance of this war.

"Why are we fighting here?" a young soldier asked in a low voice. His face was covered with dirt and sweat, and his eyes revealed confusion and bewilderment. "For this scorched land? Or for the endless suffering?"

The old soldier next to him was silent for a while, then slowly said: "We are fighting for our homeland, for our loved ones, and for the glory of the Wei Kingdom. Although it is difficult now, we cannot give up."

However, the old soldier's words did not make the young soldier feel much better. He lowered his head and looked at the sword in his hand, which had been polished to a shine, and his heart was filled with bitterness. He knew that this war was far from over, and he and his comrades would continue to move forward on this thorny road.

The night deepened in Luoyang. The dim street lights reflected people's tired and frightened faces. On the city wall, the Wei army soldiers were on full alert, their eyes were firm and alert, ready to deal with any emergency that might happen. However, their hearts were filled with anxiety and worry. They knew that the siege was far from over, and the fate of Luoyang City was hanging by a thread. (End of this chapter)