Shuhan

A moment later, the palace lanterns swayed, and the dim light gently shook in the hall, illuminating Cao Rui's slightly pale face.

He coughed twice, and the sound was particularly clear in the silent night, as if it could break the dull air.

Cao Rui slowly raised his eyes and his gaze fell on Empress Dowager Guo who was sitting beside him. A barely perceptible complex emotion flashed in his eyes.

He spoke softly, his voice carrying a hint of fatigue, yet still retaining dignity: "Queen Mother, I will leave the matters concerning the maids to you. It is late at night, please go and rest!"

When Empress Dowager Guo heard this, her heart trembled slightly.

She was wearing an elegant phoenix gown. The phoenix embroidered with gold thread sparkled brightly in the candlelight, but it could not hide the worry between her brows.

She knew very well that the emperor kept his ministers but wanted to send her away, and the meaning was obvious.

Ever since the emperor was assassinated by a palace maid that night, the atmosphere in the palace has become extremely tense. As the mistress of the harem, she was inevitably suspected by the emperor of being involved in the incident.

However, at this moment she could not show the slightest dissatisfaction or panic, and could only force herself to remain calm and slowly stand up.

She flicked her sleeves lightly, her eyes gentle but with a hint of determination that was hard to detect, and said softly: "Your Majesty, please take care of yourself. State affairs are heavy, and you must not hurt your health because of trivial matters."

After saying this, she slowly turned around and walked towards the palace door with steady steps. Her back elongated in the candlelight, looking both lonely and determined.

After Empress Dowager Guo left, the atmosphere in the palace suddenly became more solemn.

Cao Rui's gaze swept across the ministers present and finally fell on Chen Qun and Zheng Cheng.

His eyes were deep, as if they could see into people's hearts, making people dare not look directly at him. He spoke slowly, his voice low and powerful: "After the news of my assassination, how did the court and the entire army react?"

Chen Qun and Zheng Cheng looked at each other, and an indescribable complex emotion flashed in their eyes.

Chen Qun was wearing official uniform, with white hair and beard, looking mature and dignified.

He coughed lightly and carefully answered, "Your Majesty, many of them may not know about this. The court is busy with government affairs, and the transmission of news is always a little delayed."

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui frowned slightly and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.

He said in a deep voice: "Who knows about this?"

Seeing this, Zheng Cheng hurriedly stepped forward, bowed and replied: "Your Majesty, those ministers who know about this are all terrified. They are worried about your safety and the turmoil in the court."

Cao Rui sneered, and the laughter sounded particularly harsh in the silent palace. His eyes were stern, as if they could penetrate all hypocrisy and disguise: "Fearful? Humph, I'm afraid there are still people who take this opportunity to collude with the Han Kingdom and intend to sell out the country?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the hall suddenly fell silent.

Chen Qun and Zheng Cheng were both stunned, then looked at each other, with a hint of astonishment in their eyes.

The emperor's words were not groundless, he must have noticed something.

However, at this moment they did not dare to speak easily, for fear of accidentally offending the emperor.

After a moment of silence, Cao Rui slowly spoke, his voice full of determination and firmness: "I know that you may have some concerns in your heart, but this is a critical moment, and I must find out everything. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Use my assassination and serious illness as bait to lure the Han army to attack. We can ambush them all the way, and when they get deep into the enemy, we can give them a fatal blow. In this way, we may be able to open up the situation and reverse this dilemma."

At this point, a hint of ruthlessness and determination flashed in Cao Rui's eyes.

He knew very well that although this plan was risky, it was the only possible way out at the moment.

He had to gamble everything for the Wei dynasty and for the foundation of his Cao family.

Chen Qun and Zheng Cheng were both shocked when they heard this.

They knew very well that the emperor's words were true. If this plan succeeded, the Wei Dynasty might still have a chance of survival; if it failed, everything would be in vain.

They looked at each other, and there was a hint of determination in their eyes.

Chen Qun took a deep breath, bowed and replied: "Your Majesty is wise. We are willing to swear allegiance to Your Majesty until death, and will go through fire and water for the country of Wei without hesitation."

Zheng Cheng also hurriedly echoed, "Your Majesty, rest assured, we will do our best to help Your Majesty quell this chaos."

Cao Rui felt a little relieved when he heard this. He looked at the two important officials in front of him, with a glimmer of gratitude and trust in his eyes.

He knew that at this moment he could only rely on them and trust them. He nodded slowly and said in a deep voice: "Okay, I feel relieved with you here. From now on, the entire army will enter a state of combat readiness, strengthen defense, and closely monitor the movements of the Han army. At the same time, send out spies to find out if there are any traitors in the palace who are colluding with the Han State."

Chen Qun and Zheng Cheng took the order and left, and silence returned to the hall again.

Cao Rui sat alone on the dragon throne, looking deep into the distance. His heart was filled with worry and uneasiness, but he knew that he could not fall down or retreat at this moment.

He must be strong. For the sake of the Wei dynasty and his Cao family's foundation, he must stand up and meet this unprecedented challenge.

The news that the Emperor of Wei was assassinated by a palace maid and fell into a coma spread like a gust of wind, sweeping across the entire Luoyang city in just three days.

This news was like a thunderclap, exploding in the sky above Luoyang, causing this ancient and prosperous capital to fall into unprecedented shock in an instant.

Luoyang is now shrouded in a heavy haze.

On the streets, the hustle and bustle of the past no longer exist, replaced by deathly silence and panic.

The officials of the noble families were all dressed in fine clothes, but their faces were solemn and they walked hurriedly. They either lowered their heads in deep thought or whispered to each other, discussing this sudden change.

Their eyes were filled with anxiety and worry, as if they could foresee an unprecedented storm about to hit.

In the government office, the generals gathered together. They were wearing armor and had swords on their waists. They should have looked majestic, but at this moment, they all had sullen faces and were silent.

Their hearts were filled with shock and anger. The emperor was assassinated, which was undoubtedly a huge shame for the Wei Dynasty.

They clenched their fists, their nails digging deep into their palms, but they didn't feel the slightest pain because the pain in their hearts had already overwhelmed everything.

In the market, common people were talking about it a lot. They were either standing on street corners or gathering around tea stalls, chatting in low voices.

Their faces were filled with fear and anxiety, and their eyes were flashing with fear of the unknown.

An elderly man leaned on a cane and said tremblingly: "The world has really changed. Even the emperor can be assassinated. How can we ordinary people live?"

A young man nearby heard this, smiled bitterly, and shook his head, saying, "Who knows? Maybe the Han army will invade us someday, and we will all become slaves of a conquered nation."

Peddlers were no exception. They carried their loads on their shoulders and pushed their carts, hurrying through the streets.

Their eyes were full of vigilance and alertness, as if they were ready to deal with sudden danger at any time.

A woman selling vegetables was shouting and looking around from time to time. She was filled with anxiety, worried that this turbulent situation would affect her livelihood.

In this wave of panic, many people even began to consider selling Luoyang to the Han Kingdom.

They either considered their own safety or saw the declining trend of the Wei Dynasty, and thought that joining the Han Kingdom might provide them with a way out.

In a mansion in Luoyang City, a young man from an aristocratic family dressed in a gorgeous brocade robe was sitting in the hall. He had a handsome face, but at the moment, he looked worried. He was playing with a jade pendant in his hand, and his eyes were flickering with hesitation and struggle.

His heart was full of contradictions. On the one hand, as a citizen of the Great Wei, he was deeply saddened by the assassination of the emperor; on the other hand, he was worried that the demise of the Great Wei would affect the safety of himself and his family. "Brother, what do you think we should do?" A young cousin hurried into the hall, his face full of anxiety and uneasiness.

Hearing this, the son of the noble family sighed and said slowly: "The current situation is too unpredictable. The emperor was assassinated and the court is in chaos. We, the noble family, will inevitably be affected. I heard that the power of the Han Kingdom is growing day by day. Maybe... maybe we should consider finding another way out."

Upon hearing this, the young cousin's eyes widened and he exclaimed, "Brother, are you planning to defect to the Han Kingdom? This is unacceptable! We are the people of the Great Wei, how can we betray our country?"

The son of the noble family laughed bitterly and shook his head, saying, "I know this truth, but what can we do in the current situation? Do we have to wait until the Wei Dynasty is destroyed and we are buried together with it?"

In another place in Luoyang City, an old man in coarse cloth clothes was sitting in a teahouse. His face was old, but his eyes were unusually sharp.

He listened to the discussions of people around him and thought to himself.

At this moment, he listened to people talking about surrendering to the Han Kingdom, and his heart was filled with indignation.

"Hmph! How can these cowards be worthy of being the people of the Great Wei?" The old man snorted coldly, slammed the table and stood up.

Although his voice was not loud, it was full of majesty and power.

The people around him looked sideways, and the old man looked around and said loudly: "Although the Great Wei has suffered this disaster, as long as we work together, we will be able to overcome the difficulties. Surrender to the Han Kingdom? That is a cowardly act! We must defend the Great Wei to the death and never let the Han Kingdom set foot in Luoyang!"

The old man's passionate words moved the people around him.

They looked at the old man's determined eyes and upright posture, and an inexplicable respect surged in their hearts.

However, in these turbulent times, people think differently.

Some people choose to stick to their beliefs, while others choose to find another way out.

The city of Luoyang is like a huge ship drifting in the stormy waves, which may be drawn into a deeper whirlpool at any time.

On that day, as soon as the sky began to turn pale, the Han army's vanguard command post in Wude County fell into a bustle of activity.

Military flags fluttered as soldiers moved back and forth, delivering the latest battle reports and orders.

At this moment, a fast horse rushed into the camp like an arrow. The messenger on the horse was covered in dust, and his face was full of fatigue and anxiety.

As soon as he got off his horse, he stumbled into the main tent, shouting: "Emergency military information! Emergency military information!"

The commander-in-chief of the Han army's front line, the Crown Prince Liu Si of the Han Dynasty, was sitting at his desk, studying the map carefully and planning the next route of advance.

Hearing the shout, he suddenly raised his head, with a sharp light flashing in his eyes. The messenger knelt on the ground, presented a secret letter with both hands, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Highness, the news of Cao Rui's assassination... has been delivered!"

When Liu Si heard this, he was shocked and took the secret letter with trembling hands.

He quickly unfolded the letter, glanced at its contents, and his expression suddenly became solemn.

The assassination of Cao Rui was both a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Han Dynasty and a trap that concealed endless crises.

After pondering for a moment, Liu Si immediately decided to summon Han Prime Minister Zhuge Liang to discuss the matter.

He stood up, strode out of the main tent, and shouted to the messenger outside: "Quickly go and invite Prime Minister Zhuge Liang to come and discuss matters!"

Not long after, Zhuge Liang hurried over.

He was wearing a plain robe, holding a feather fan, walking steadily and with a calm demeanor.

When he walked into the main tent, he saw Liu Si's serious expression and guessed something in his mind.

Liu Si handed the secret letter to Zhuge Liang and said in a deep voice: "Prime Minister, take a look at this."

Zhuge Liang took the secret letter and read it carefully.

His brows gradually frowned and a hint of worry flashed in his eyes.

After reading the secret letter, he slowly raised his head, looked at Liu Si and said, "This matter is of great importance. If Cao Rui is assassinated, Wei will be in chaos. We must pay close attention to the situation in Luoyang to see how Wei will react. At the same time, we must inform Your Majesty of this news as soon as possible so that Your Majesty can make the final decision."

Upon hearing this, Liu Si immediately nodded in agreement.

Zhuge Liang is a man of extraordinary wisdom and it is undoubtedly the wisest choice to listen to his advice at this time.

He looked at Zhuge Liang and said firmly, "What the Prime Minister said is absolutely right. We will act according to the Prime Minister's plan. You should immediately arrange for someone to deliver the news to Yecheng and report it to my father."

Zhuge Liang took the order and left, while Liu Si continued to sit at his desk, pondering the next strategic deployment. He knew that this war was not only a test of military strength, but also a test of wisdom and determination.

Five days later, in Yecheng, it was almost dusk. The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the ancient city walls, making it look particularly desolate.

The express horse, which could travel at a speed of 800 li, passed through the city like a flash of lightning and headed straight for the temporary palace where Liu Chan, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, was.

In the palace, Liu Chan was sitting on the dragon throne, reviewing memorials. He was wearing a dragon robe and a crown, his face looked a little tired, but his eyes revealed an unquestionable majesty.

At this time, an eunuch hurried into the hall, knelt on the ground, and reported loudly: "Your Majesty, there is urgent military information from 800 miles away!"

When Liu Chan heard this, his heart tightened. He put down the pen in his hand, looked up at the eunuch, and motioned him to present the military intelligence.

The eunuch handed over the secret letter with both hands. Liu Chan took it and quickly began to read it.

When his eyes swept over the words "Wei Emperor Cao Rui was assassinated by a palace maid", a look of surprise suddenly appeared on his face.

He frowned and thought to himself: Is this news true? Is it a conspiracy of Wei?

Back then, the State of Wei had used the strategy of false surrender many times in an attempt to lure the Han army into falling for it.

Now, the news of Cao Rui's assassination came so suddenly, how could people not be suspicious?
Liu Chan pondered for a moment and decided to summon the prime minister and other ministers to discuss the matter.

He stood up and shouted to the eunuchs outside the hall: "Pass on my order, summon the prime minister and all the ministers to the palace to discuss matters immediately!"

Soon, all the ministers hurried over.

They walked into the hall and saw Liu Chan's serious expression, and they knew something big was going to happen.

Liu Chan handed the secret letter to Fei Yi and said in a deep voice: "My dear ministers, please take a look at this."

The prime minister took the secret letter and read it carefully.

All the ministers gathered around and checked it out together.

After reading the secret letter, Fei Yi raised his head, looked at Liu Chan and said, "Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. If Cao Rui is really assassinated, Wei will be in chaos. But we must also be careful that this is a conspiracy of Wei and must not act rashly."

Liu Chan nodded when he heard this. He knew very well that the decision at this time was related to the rise and fall of the Han Dynasty.

He looked at the ministers and said firmly, "What Wen Wei said is absolutely right. We must pay close attention to Wei's movements to see how they will react. We must also be fully prepared in case Wei suddenly attacks. As long as the Han army does not move, the victory will be in our hands. If we act rashly and fall into Wei's trap and the situation turns around, that would be bad."

The State of Wei is now in a desperate situation, so we must not let the situation change. (End of this chapter)