Shuhan

Hangu Pass was now shrouded in flames and smoke of war. A fierce offensive and defensive battle had lasted for three days and three nights, but the outcome was still unknown.

The sky was covered with dark clouds, as if even nature was grieving over the battle. Thunder rumbled, and occasionally lightning streaked across the sky, illuminating the land ravaged by war.

Outside Hangu Pass, the Han army’s camps were connected in an endless stream with flags flying, but beneath those fluttering flags lay countless tired and anxious eyes.

Siege equipment was neatly arranged in front of the formation. The huge catapults, sharp ladders, and the terrifying gunpowder weapons were all ready to launch a new round of fierce attack on Hangu Pass.

"Fire!" With a deafening shout, the Han army's catapults started one after another. Huge stones streaked across the sky like meteors and poured indiscriminately into Hangu Pass.

Immediately afterwards, gunpowder weapons also roared, and balls of flames and thick smoke rose into the sky, illuminating the walls of Hangu Pass like daylight.

The powerful gunpowder not only blew up a corner of the city wall, but also caused great panic and casualties among the Wei army.

The Wei army soldiers who were injured or disabled by the explosion lay on the ground in a mess, with wailing and crying sounds coming one after another, and the entire Hangu Pass was in a mess.

However, the Wei army guarding the pass did not retreat.

They had already made adequate preparations, taking advantage of the geographical location and the naturally rugged terrain of Hangu Pass.

On the city wall, there are various defense equipment, including long hooks used to pull up ladders, crossbows that can throw huge stones, and densely packed arrow holes, ready to deal a fatal blow to the attacking Han army at any time.

"Brothers, hold our positions and never let the Han army set foot into Hangu Pass!" Qin Lang shouted, his voice hoarse and firm, his eyes revealing an indomitable perseverance.

He was wearing armor and holding a sword, standing on the city wall, like an unshakable mountain.

Under his leadership, the Wei soldiers regained their spirits. They either shot arrows with bows or wielded long spears, continuously inflicting casualties on the Han army that was besieging the city.

Although the Han army launched a fierce offensive, it also paid a heavy price.

With every charge, countless soldiers fell in a pool of blood.

Their faces and bodies were covered in dirt and blood, and their eyes revealed exhaustion and despair.

Some soldiers were shot by arrows from the Wei army during the charge and fell to the ground groaning in pain; some soldiers were hit by catapults and turned into a bloody mess in an instant.

"Quick, put up the ladder!" A Han army general waved the flag in his hand and shouted loudly. His face was covered with smoke and dust, but his eyes were shining with determination.

Upon hearing this, the soldiers picked up ladders and rushed towards the city wall of Hangu Pass.

However, the Wei army was already on high alert. With a wave of their long spears, they hooked down the ladders, and the Han soldiers on them fell one after another, screaming one after another.

In this fierce battle, a young Han soldier stood out.

He was tall and strong with bulging muscles. Although his face was covered with sweat, his eyes were extremely determined.

He held a long spear in his hand and rushed to the front in every charge, as if he was tireless.

However, during a charge, he was unfortunately shot in the shoulder by a crossbow arrow from the Wei army, and blood instantly dyed his battle robe red.

But he gritted his teeth, endured the pain, continued to wave the spear in his hand, and fought a desperate battle with the Wei army.

"Brother, you are injured, retreat quickly!" a Han army comrade shouted with concern.

But he shook his head and said in a hoarse voice: "No, I can't retreat! Hangu Pass must be taken. My son is still waiting for me to let him enter the Military Academy!!"

His eyes revealed a determination and resolve, as if he was ready to sacrifice his life for his country.

The Wei army on the city wall was not having an easy time either. Although they temporarily resisted the Han army's offensive by relying on the geographical advantage, they also paid a huge price.

Some soldiers were shot by Han army's arrows and fell to the ground while handling the city defense equipment; some soldiers were injured or died in close combat with the Han army.

Their faces and bodies were also covered in dirt and blood, and their eyes revealed a kind of fatigue and determination.

"General, the Han army's offensive is too fierce. We can't hold on any longer!" a Wei soldier shouted anxiously.

However, Qin Lang waved his hand calmly and said, "Don't be afraid, as long as we unite as one, we will be able to defend Hangu Pass! For our homes and our loved ones, we must fight to the end!" Although his voice was hoarse, it was full of strength and determination.

In this fierce battle, time seemed to be unusually long.

Soldiers are sacrificing their lives every minute and every second, and blood is flowing every minute and every second.

However, neither the Han army nor the Wei army chose to retreat.

For their respective beliefs and missions, they fought a desperate battle in front of Hangu Pass.

The sky gradually darkened and night fell on this land ravaged by war.

However, the fighting did not stop there.

The Han army lit torches and continued their offensive on Hangu Pass; the Wei army also lit the lights on the city walls and defended every inch of land.

The fire and smoke intertwined together, illuminating the entire Hangu Pass as bright as day.

In this fierce offensive and defensive battle, both the Han army attacking the city and the Wei army guarding the pass paid a heavy price.

Their casualties were heavy. The Han army, who were blocked at Hangu Pass, looked at the indestructible city wall with helplessness and anxiety in their hearts. Although the Wei army guarding the pass temporarily resisted the offensive of the Han army, they also knew that they were in a desperate situation.

They didn't know when the battle would end, nor did they know whether they would be able to live to see the sun rise tomorrow.

Outside Hangu Pass, the autumn wind was bleak, yellow sand filled the sky, and the Han army camps stood like a forest with flags flying, looking magnificent.

On the high platform, a burly general wearing iron armor stood there. He was Zhang Bao, the great general of the Han army.

Zhang Bao's eyes were as sharp as torches as he gazed into the distance at the smoke-filled battlefield, but his face was extremely dark, as if water could drip out of it.

He snorted coldly, his voice revealing disdain and anger, and said: "This Qin Lang seems to be determined to be buried with the Wei Kingdom. He is like an ant trying to shake a tree. What else can he do but die?"

At this moment, the setting sun was like blood, sprinkling on Zhang Bao's resolute face, reflecting the coldness and determination between his brows.

He gripped the hilt of the sword tightly with both hands, his knuckles turning white from the force. Obviously, he had already made up his mind about the battle situation ahead, but he felt angry and helpless about Qin Lang's stubbornness.

At one side, the deputy general was wearing armor and had a solemn look on his face. He looked at Zhang Bao, with a hint of worry in his eyes.

He said softly: "General, there are Wei troops who have been persuaded to surrender inside Hangu Pass. When can we mobilize them to cause chaos inside the pass so that we can attack the city more smoothly?"

Although the deputy general's voice was soft, every word he said was sharp and hit the point directly.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Bao turned to look at the deputy general. A cold light flashed in his eyes, but he immediately regained his composure.

He shook his head and said firmly, "It's too early now. Hangu Pass is a natural barrier. The Wei army relies on the pass to hold on and wait for reinforcements. If we launch an internal response at this time, I'm afraid it will alert the enemy and ruin the whole thing."

As he spoke, Zhang Bao walked to the edge of the platform, put his hands behind his back, and looked at Hangu Pass in the distance.

On top of the pass, the Wei army’s flags were flying, and the soldiers were on high alert, with a murderous atmosphere.

Zhang Bao secretly thought that this battle was not only a test of the Han army's combat effectiveness, but also a test of his wisdom.

He took a deep breath and continued, "We can send out those vassal troops, Qiang and Di tribes, and the Wei army that surrendered before to practice. Let them charge in the front and consume the manpower and morale of the Wei army. When the Wei army suffers heavy casualties and becomes frightened, we will mobilize the internal support inside the pass. Only by combining internal and external forces can we break through the pass in one fell swoop."

Upon hearing this, the deputy general's eyes flashed with understanding. He nodded in agreement and was full of admiration for Zhang Bao's strategy.

Zhang Bao was not only brave and good at fighting, but also possessed extraordinary wisdom and courage. Under Zhang Bao's command, the Han army would undoubtedly win this battle.

At this time, the sky gradually darkened, and the lights in the camp gradually lit up, forming a sharp contrast with the Hangu Pass in the distance. Zhang Bao stood on the high platform, and his figure seemed even taller under the light.

He looked at the dimly lit Hangu Pass, and an inexplicable impulse and expectation surged in his heart.

He knew that this battle would be one of the most memorable in his life.

"General, Qin Lang is stubborn, but the Wei army is not monolithic." The deputy general suddenly spoke, his words revealing a keen insight into the battlefield situation.

"Why don't we take advantage of the contradictions within the Wei army to further undermine their morale?"

When Zhang Bao heard this, a hint of approval flashed in his eyes.

He turned to look at the deputy general and smiled, "You are right. There are indeed contradictions within the Wei army. We can use this to further undermine their morale. However, we need to be cautious and not alert the enemy."

As he spoke, Zhang Bao walked to the edge of the camp, looked at the dark night sky, and an inexplicable sense of pride surged in his heart.

This battle was not only a test for him personally, but also a test for the overall strength of the Han army.

He believed that with the joint efforts of the Han army soldiers, they would be able to break through Hangu Pass and make great military achievements for the Han Dynasty.

"Pass the order down, let the soldiers in each camp get ready and continue the siege tomorrow." Zhang Bao said loudly, his voice revealing firmness and determination.

"We must let the Wei army know that the dignity of the Han army cannot be violated!"

As Zhang Bao's order was passed down, loud responses suddenly rang out in the Han army camp.

The soldiers are in high spirits and are ready to face tomorrow's battle.

They knew that under the leadership of Zhang Bao, the Han army would be able to break through Hangu Pass and bring glory to the Han Dynasty.

The siege continued for another five days and five nights. Inside and outside Hangu Pass, the smoke of war was like thick dark clouds, covering the sky and the sun.

On the city wall, the flags of the Wei army fluttered in the strong wind, and the sound was particularly harsh in this silent and tense battlefield.

Inside Hangu Pass, the morale of the Wei army had fallen to its lowest point. The soldiers' eyes were filled with fatigue and despair, and their steps were heavy, as if every step was walking on the edge of a knife.

Commander Qin Lang, the once majestic general, now looked haggard.

He had not taken off his armor for several days, and his face under the iron helmet was covered with sweat and dust and was unrecognizable. Only his eyes still sparkled with determination.

The bloodstains on his armor bore witness to the fierce battles of the past few days. Every swing of the sword and every charge seemed to have exhausted all his strength.

The reinforcements from Luoyang were delayed in arriving, which made Qin Lang feel anxious.

He stood on the city wall, looking into the distance, hoping to see reinforcements, but all he saw was endless war and barren land.

It was not until now that Qin Lang received news from all sides that the Han army was attacking from all sides and there were no extra reinforcements from Luoyang.

This news was like a bolt from the blue, and Qin Lang's heart sank to the bottom.

Without support, Qin Lang could only try his best to defend Hangu Pass.

He knew very well that if Hangu Pass was lost, the consequences would be disastrous.

He turned around and said to the generals on his left and right: "Give rewards to the soldiers, send wine and meat, and keep up the morale."

Although his voice was hoarse, it was full of determination. He knew that morale was more important than anything else for the Wei army at this moment.

However, the grain and fodder officer walked forward with a wry smile, his face full of helplessness and bitterness.

He bowed and whispered to Qin Lang: "General, the wine and meat are long gone, even the food and grass must be saved."

After saying this, he glanced at Qin Lang secretly, fearing that this usually majestic general would get angry.

Qin Lang's heart sank when he heard this.

The lack of food and fodder was undoubtedly a fatal blow to morale.

He sighed deeply, his voice full of helplessness and sadness.

He raised his head and looked at the sky, as if seeking guidance from heaven.

After a moment, he lowered his head and said to the grain and fodder officer: "Please give the soldiers some hard time! Tell them that as long as they hold the Hangu Pass, I will not treat them unfairly."

The grain and fodder officer took the order and left, while Qin Lang continued to stand on the city wall, staring at the battlefield in the distance.

His heart was filled with anxiety and uneasiness. He didn't know how long he could hold on, nor how long the Wei army could hold Hangu Pass.

But at this moment, he could only do his best to protect this land and these soldiers.

At this moment, a burst of noise broke the tranquility inside Hangu Pass.

Qin Lang's heart tightened, he turned around quickly, and saw a group of Wei soldiers running in panic, their faces full of fear and despair.

Qin Lang's heart sank. He knew that something had happened.

It turned out that inside Hangu Pass, the Wei army, which had been instigated by the Han army, had already begun to take action.

They took advantage of the low morale of the Wei army and secretly launched a rebellion.

These rebels, holding weapons and with madness flashing in their eyes, shouted and rushed towards the Wei army's camp, attempting to destroy the Wei army's defense line in one fell swoop.

Qin Lang was furious when he saw this. He clenched his sword and shouted, "Soldiers, don't panic! Follow me to kill the enemy!"

After saying that, he leaped off the city wall and rushed towards the rebels.

His figure was like a flash of lightning, rushing into the rebel camp in an instant.

When the Wei army soldiers saw Qin Lang being so brave, the fire of hope was ignited in their hearts.

They picked up their weapons and followed Qin Lang to charge towards the rebels.

For a moment, the shouts and cries of killing were deafening inside Hangu Pass, and the smell of blood filled the air.

Qin Lang charged left and right among the rebels. His swordsmanship was superb, and every time he swung his sword he could cut off a rebel's head.

His figure shuttled freely among the rebels, like a god of death, reaping the lives of the rebels. However, the number of rebels was too large, and although Qin Lang was extremely brave, he gradually felt powerless.

At this moment, a rebel general seized the opportunity and took advantage of Qin Lang's unpreparedness to slash at his back with a knife.

Qin Lang felt a chill on his back, and blood instantly dyed his armor red.

But he gritted his teeth, endured the severe pain, turned around and killed the rebel general with one sword.

Qin Lang's heroic act inspired the fighting spirit of the Wei army soldiers. They shouted and rushed towards the rebels, fighting a desperate battle with them.

At this moment, outside Hangu Pass, the Han army actually began to attack the city!

The inside should be in harmony with the outside.

Hangu Pass.
Danger! (End of this chapter)