Shuhan

The next day, just as the sky was turning pale, the midsummer sun seemed impatient to break free from the shackles of the night. It jumped out of the horizon early and cast the first ray of hot light on the earth.

Although the temperature has not yet reached scorching levels, the air is already filled with a stuffy and hot atmosphere, indicating that this will be a difficult summer.

In front of Hangu Pass, on a vast plain, the so-called "death charge formation" formed by civilians stood in scattered formation.

Most of these civilians were dressed in rags, with sallow complexions and eyes filled with a mixture of fear and despair.

They were originally ordinary people, who were swept into this brutal battle by the torrent of war and now have become cannon fodder on the battlefield.

Some people held rusty swords in their hands, which were their only weapons; some people were bare-handed and could only use their bodies to resist the enemy's rain of arrows and swords and guns.

Qin Lang, the general of the Wei army, stood at the gate of Hangu Pass, scanning the civilians below with his sharp eyes.

He was wearing armor, which gleamed with a cold luster in the sun, as if it was a reflection of his cold heart.

His face was firm and stern, with an unmistakable sneer on the corner of his mouth.

He knew very well that these civilians were not real warriors, but in this chaotic time, he could only use all available resources to win victory for his army.

"As long as you can capture a Han army camp, you can return to Luoyang and receive food, fodder and money as a reward!"

Qin Lang's voice was loud and powerful, penetrating the tranquility of the early morning and echoing in the ears of the civilians. There was a hint of temptation in his words, as if he was giving these desperate civilians a glimmer of hope.

However, he immediately changed the subject, and his tone became as cold as a knife: "If anyone dares to retreat, he will be killed without mercy!"

When the civilians heard this, they couldn't help but tremble in their hearts.

They knew that this was both an opportunity and a dead end.

If they succeed, they may still have a way to survive; but if they fail, or desert the battlefield, what awaits them will be a ruthless butcher's knife.

Behind the laborers, rows of inspection teams were standing ready.

They were dressed in black, with stern faces and sharp blades in their hands, flashing with cold light.

These inspection teams were specially arranged by Qin Lang to supervise the laborers. Their task was to ensure that the laborers could fight to the utmost.

If anyone dares to retreat a step, they will kill him without mercy.

The civilians looked at each other helplessly, with helplessness and determination flashing in their eyes. They knew that they had no way out.

So they gritted their teeth, gripped their swords tightly, and rushed towards the Han army camp not far away.

The Han army camp was located on one side of the plain. A high earthen wall was built around the camp, and the walls were filled with flags that fluttered in the wind.

Inside the camp, the Han soldiers were preparing for battle in an orderly manner. They could not help but sneer when they saw that the Wei army was actually driving the old and weak civilians to die.

In their view, these civilians were nothing but a mob and could not withstand a single blow.

However, the situation on the battlefield often changes rapidly.

Although the civilians were not professional warriors, they showed amazing fighting power at the critical moment of life and death.

They shouted, waved their swords, and rushed towards the Han army camp.

Some people rushed to the front and used their bodies to block the enemy's rain of arrows; others took the opportunity to climb up the earth wall and engaged in close combat with the Han soldiers.

The Han soldiers initially looked at these civilians with contempt, but soon discovered that they were not as easy to deal with as they had imagined.

Arrows flew towards the laborers like raindrops, but they were not afraid. They used their bodies to block the arrows and used their blood and lives to pave the way for their companions who followed.

Among the laborers, there was a young man who stood out.

He is thin, but his eyes are extremely firm.

His face was covered with dust and sweat, but there was a stubborn smile on the corner of his mouth.

He held a long sword in his hand, the tip of the sword gleaming brightly in the sunlight.

He rushed to the front, wielding a sword and engaged in a fierce battle with the Han soldiers.

Although his swordsmanship is not very sophisticated, it is full of strength and courage.

The Han soldiers were secretly surprised when they saw this.

They didn't expect these civilians to be so tenacious and fearless of death.

They began to re-examine these seemingly weak enemies, and a sense of respect welled up in their hearts.

However, mercy on the battlefield often means death.

The Han soldiers quickly put away their respect, raised their weapons again, and launched a fierce attack on the civilians.

The civilians were defeated one after another under the attack of the Han army, but they never gave up.

They supported each other, used their bodies to resist the enemy's attacks, and dyed the land red with their blood.

Their eyes were full of determination and resoluteness, as if they were using their lives to interpret what courage and fearlessness are.

Qin Lang stood at the pass, staring coldly at the battlefield below.

There was a cold light in his eyes, as if he was admiring a brutal massacre.

This battle was a dead end for the civilians, but a battle that he was sure to win.

He only needed to use these civilians to consume the Han army's manpower and buy time for his own army to win.

However, at this moment, the situation on the battlefield suddenly changed.

A sudden reinforcement appeared behind the civilians. Wearing Wei army uniforms and holding spears and swords, they launched a fierce attack on the Han army camp.

It turned out that it was an ambush arranged by Qin Lang in advance, and they had been waiting for the best opportunity to appear.

The Han soldiers were horrified when they saw this.

They didn't expect that the Wei army had an ambush, and they were immediately thrown into disarray.

Seeing this, the morale of the civilians was boosted. They turned around and joined the battle, launching a final charge towards the Han camp together with the Wei soldiers.

However, how could the Han army not have follow-up reinforcements?

During this moment of respite, the deafening sound of war drums rang out again in the Han army camp, accompanied by exciting trumpets, and a well-equipped and high-spirited Han army poured out of the camp like a tide.

They were clad in iron armor, holding spears, marching with firm steps, their eyes gleaming with the determination to win.

This Han army seemed like an unstoppable force, instantly rushing into the already chaotic battlefield.

The Wei army and the refugee troops who were driven to charge were instantly scattered by this sudden attack.

The refugees were poorly trained and poorly equipped. Faced with the Han cavalry, they were terrified and fled in all directions.

Some of them threw away their weapons and fled in panic; others were chased by the Han army and stumbled, screaming in pain.

Although the Wei army soldiers were relatively well-trained, they were unable to cope with the fierce attack of the Han army and retreated one after another.

On the battlefield, dust was flying, smoke was everywhere, and shouts and screams were intertwined, forming a tragic picture.

The blood-red sunset sprinkled on the battlefield, giving the land a tragic color.

Qin Lang stood at the gate of Hangu Pass, staring coldly at the battlefield below.

His face was stern, and there was a hint of ruthlessness in his eyes. He was wearing a heavy armor, and the mottled marks on the armor bore witness to his many years of fighting.

At this moment, his hands were clenched tightly on the city wall, his knuckles turned white due to the force, showing his inner tension and determination.

Seeing the miserable situation of the Wei army and the refugee troops, Qin Lang did not hesitate at all.

He knew very well that this battle was not only a military contest for him, but also a political game.

He shoulders the heavy responsibility of His Majesty and must consume the lives of these refugees in exchange for the advantage on the battlefield. After seeing most of the Wei army enter the pass.

"Close Hangu Pass!" Qin Lang ordered in a deep voice.

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

Upon hearing this, the soldiers guarding the gate immediately took action, and the heavy city gate slowly closed with a dull sound.

Those civilians and Wei soldiers who had not yet entered the pass were ruthlessly blocked outside the pass.

"Qin Lang, you beast! You will not die well!" The civilians who were imprisoned outside the pass cursed angrily.

Their eyes were filled with despair and anger, and some even picked up stones on the ground and threw them at the city wall.

However, Qin Lang just stared at them coldly, without any emotion.

In his mind, he had already started thinking about the plan for the next day.

He knew that although these civilians were weak, if they were driven onto the battlefield, they could at least consume some of the Han army's strength.

Moreover, these civilians are all from Guanzhong. Their lives are not important to Qin Lang. What is important is how to complete His Majesty's task.

"Tomorrow, send the rest of the civilians in Guanzhong to charge." Qin Lang said silently in his heart.

There was a gleam of ruthlessness in his eyes, but it was immediately replaced by helplessness.

I am just a chess piece of your majesty and must act according to your majesty's wishes.

Moreover, in this cruel war, he has seen too much life, death and separation, and his heart has long become numb.

As night fell, the smoke from the battlefield gradually dissipated, leaving only broken corpses and mottled bloodstains.

Inside Hangu Pass, Qin Lang sat alone in the study, pondering tomorrow's battle plan.

His face was tired and stern, with a complex light flashing in his eyes.

Tomorrow's battle will be even more brutal, but he has no choice.

"For Your Majesty, and for the future of Wei, I must do this." Qin Lang said silently in his heart.

His voice was low but full of determination.

He knew very well that his fate was closely linked to the fate of the State of Wei, and no matter how many difficulties and obstacles lay ahead, he must move forward courageously.

When it was late at night and everyone was asleep, Qin Lang walked out of the study and came to the city wall.

He looked towards the outside of the pass, and a strange feeling welled up in his heart. Those civilians who were locked up outside the pass didn't know where to settle down and what would be their fate?

Qin Lang didn't know and didn't want to think about it.

He only knew that he had to complete His Majesty's mission, no matter what the cost.

The moonlight sprinkled on the city wall, illuminating Qin Lang's lonely figure.

There was a firm gleam in his eyes, as if he was announcing his determination to the world.

However, deep in his heart, there was an unspeakable pain and helplessness.

He knew he was doing a cruel thing, but he could not change the fact.

He could only endure the pain and helplessness silently and continue on the road of war.

For three consecutive days, civilians were sent from Hangu Pass to carry out the so-called "death charge."

However, this was not a charge at all, it was simply a naked attempt to commit suicide.

Every morning, when the first ray of sunlight shone on the fields in front of Hangu Pass, a group of ragged, pale and skinny civilians were driven and staggered towards the Han army's camp.

On the first day, the Han army remained highly vigilant against these civilians.

They were dressed in iron armor, holding spears, and ready for battle.

As the civilians approached tremblingly, Zhang Bao gave an order and arrows flew out like raindrops.

The civilians were shot by arrows and fell down one after another, and their blood dyed the ground red. Those civilians who were lucky enough to survive were also killed one by one by the Han soldiers like cutting wheat.

On the battlefield, wailing and screaming sounds came one after another, which was terrifying.

The next day, civilians were sent out from Hangu Pass again.

This time, the Han army did not immediately send out troops to annihilate them.

They seemed to see through the Wei army's strategy and knew that these civilians were just abandoned pawns of Wei and were used to consume the Han army's manpower.

Therefore, the Han army chose to surround but not attack. They formed a circle with their soldiers, trapped the civilians in the middle, and then began to persuade them to surrender.

"My fellow villagers, you are originally the people of Wei State. Why are you driven here to die? The Han State welcomes you to join us. As long as we surrender, we can get land to cultivate and live a stable life." Zhang Bao shouted loudly. His voice penetrated the noise of the battlefield and reached the ears of every civilian.

Hearing this, the civilians all looked up.

The Han army general was tall and strong, with a resolute face and eyes flashing with sincerity and determination.

Behind him were rows of Han soldiers ready to go, all of them in high spirits and with high morale.

The civilians couldn't help but feel an inexplicable sense of emotion.

They were abandoned children of the Wei State and were driven here to die, but now someone is willing to accept them and give them a chance to live.

However, the civilians were also filled with doubts and fears.

They didn't know whether the Han army's words were credible, and they didn't know what fate would await them after surrendering.

They looked at each other, hesitant.

At this time, an elderly civilian stood up. He was wearing ragged clothes, had gray hair, and his eyes were shining with determination.

He slowly walked to the Han general, knelt on the ground, and said loudly: "General, we are originally the people of Wei, but were driven here to die. Now that there is a way to survive, we are willing to surrender to Han, just to have a chance to live."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Bao showed a relieved smile on his face.

He reached out his hand to help the elderly civilian stand up, and said loudly: "Fellow villagers, you can surrender without worry! The Han Kingdom will definitely treat you well!"

Led by the elderly laborers, more and more laborers chose to surrender.

They dropped their weapons, knelt on the ground and surrendered to the Han army.

Upon seeing this, the Han soldiers stepped forward to help them up and took them into the camp to settle them down.

On the third day, civilians were sent out from Hangu Pass again.

However, this time, the civilians stopped before they reached the Han army camp.

They looked at their companions who had surrendered in front of them, their hearts filled with envy and expectation.

They knew that they no longer had to die, and as long as they surrendered to the Han Kingdom, they would have a way to survive.

Seeing this, Zhang Bao couldn't help but feel a surge of joy of victory in his heart.

He knew that these laborers were not only the labor force for reclaiming the land for the Han State, but also a weapon of public opinion.

They were originally abandoned children of Wei State, driven here to die, but now they have surrendered to Han State.

Just imagine, if these civilians returned to Luoyang and told their relatives in Luoyang about their experiences, what a sensation it would cause?
People's hearts and minds.

If you rebel against Wei, you will no longer be popular among the people! (End of this chapter)