Shuhan

Chapter 818: Make plans and fight to the death!
In the dead of night, the moonlight was as dark as ink, dark clouds obscured the stars, and only a few fireflies flashed occasionally, bringing a faint light to the silent battlefield.

Inside Gu County, Zhang Bao stood on the city wall, his eyes as sharp as torches, piercing through the darkness of night as he stared at the layers of Wei army tents stacked up outside.

The days of siege made the Han army soldiers in the city anxious, but Zhang Bao's heart was always burning with an inextinguishable fighting spirit.

In the past few days, he observed carefully and found that the number of Wei army's tents seemed to have decreased, and the noise of soldiers and horses was not as deafening as before.

An idea quietly sprouted in his mind - perhaps, this was a perfect opportunity to break out.

The commander of the spy army broke through the enemy's encirclement and informed Zhang Bao of the news that the Han army had crossed the south, which gave Zhang Bao a glimmer of hope.

If they could join forces with the Han army crossing the river in the north and march directly to the city of Luoyang, it would be a heavy blow to the Wei army.

At three o'clock in the morning, when the night was darkest, Zhang Bao decided to act.

He was wearing iron armor and holding a spear, standing at the city gate with a firm and decisive look in his eyes.

The three thousand elite soldiers in the city are ready for battle, their eyes gleaming with the desire for victory and the longing for freedom.

"Brothers, tonight we swear to break through the encirclement of the Wei army, meet up with our brothers in the north, and attack Luoyang together!" Zhang Bao's voice was low and powerful, like a war drum, beating the hearts of every soldier.

His appearance looked particularly heroic in the moonlight. There were a few drops of sweat on his beard, but it did not diminish his majesty in the slightest.

Following Zhang Bao's order, the city gates flew open, and three thousand elite soldiers rushed forward like wild horses, holding swords and guns, shouting, trampling the dust on the ground, forming an unstoppable torrent.

Zhang Bao led the charge, swung his spear and stabbed at the Wei army in front.

His movements were swift and accurate, and every swing of his spear resulted in the fall of a Wei soldier.

However, halfway through the rush, Zhang Bao suddenly noticed something unusual.

He looked around and found that the Wei army's encirclement was still strong and not as weak as he expected.

It turned out that the seemingly reduced number of Wei troops had simply changed the location of their camps, but not many of them had actually left.

"Oh no, we've fallen into a trap!" Zhang Bao cried out in his heart, but it was too late.

The Wei army surged in from all directions like a tide and surrounded them tightly.

Although the Han army soldiers fought bravely, they gradually fell into a bitter battle under the fierce attack of the Wei army.

Zhang Bao waved his spear and rushed left and right, trying to break through the encirclement of the Wei army.

His eyes were filled with anxiety and anger, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not change the situation before him.

The Han soldiers fell one after another, and their blood dyed the land red.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" Zhang Bao finally gave the order to retreat.

His voice was hoarse and heavy, like a death knell, beating in the hearts of every soldier.

He knew that continuing to fight would only result in more brothers dying.

Upon hearing this, the Han soldiers retreated one after another. They returned to Gu County, dragging their exhausted bodies and enduring the pain of their injuries.

Zhang Bao stood at the city gate and watched them leave, his heart filled with guilt and helplessness.

He left behind more than a thousand bodies of Han soldiers on the battlefield, which were the testimony of their heroic fighting and also the pain they could not forget.

After returning to Gu County, Zhang Bao closed the city gates and refused to leave.

He sat on the city wall, staring at the battlefield in the distance, with mixed feelings in his heart.

There was a flash of sadness and anger in his eyes, but more of it was determination and resolve.

"Brothers, although we have failed, reinforcements will surely arrive. The Wei army besieging us will become fewer and fewer. If we hold on for half a month, we will be able to achieve immortal merits. By then, it won't be a problem to ennoble our wives and children!"

Zhang Bao's voice echoed on the city wall. Although his voice was hoarse, it was full of power.

"We swear to defend Gu County and wait for reinforcements. As long as we are still alive, we will never let the Wei army set foot in Gu County!"

Upon hearing this, the Han army soldiers were encouraged.

Thinking of their families and possible wealth, they will grit their teeth and persevere no matter how hard or tiring it is!
In Luoyang City.

Cao Rui sat in the pavilion of the Imperial Garden, holding a military book in his hand, with a rare hint of comfort between his brows.

In the past few days, the rare peace in the court allowed him to temporarily forget the chaos of war and immerse himself in this moment of tranquility.

However, the good times did not last long. Within three days, an urgent military report from the front line broke the tranquility like a sudden cold wind.

A messenger in armor, covered in dust, sweat and mud, was stopped by the guards at the palace gate. He trotted all the way to the pavilion, knelt on one knee, and presented the military report with both hands. His voice was a little hoarse from the long journey: "Your Majesty, urgent news from the front line!"

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui's brows frowned instantly, and the military book in his hand unconsciously slipped onto the stone table with a light "pop" sound.

He took the military newspaper, unfolded it slowly, and quickly scanned the text on it, his expression becoming more solemn.

The handwriting on the military newspaper seemed to carry the scent of war, making him seem to smell the blood on the front line.

"Zhang Bao was trapped by us in the south of Gu County and failed to break out, but the Han army has quickly crossed the river. They are huge in number and unstoppable. Luoyang is in danger of falling..."

Cao Rui read out the contents of the military report in a low voice, with a barely perceptible tremor in his voice.

His eyes became deep, as if they could penetrate the thick fog and look directly at the battlefield raging with flames.

At this time, an autumn breeze blew by, but it did not bring any warmth. Instead, it made Cao Rui feel a chill straight to his heart.

He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in the pavilion, his steps seeming a little heavy.

Although his appearance still maintained the majesty of an emperor, the wrinkles between his brows had deepened, and his eyes were flashing with anxiety and uneasiness.

"Zhang Bao, when will you ever give up..." Cao Rui muttered to himself. He knew that Zhang Bao was a fierce general in the Han army and had made great achievements on the battlefield many times.

However, this time the Wei army was more ferocious than before, and the number of Wei troops was unprecedented. He couldn't help but worry that Zhang Bao could really hold on, and he was even more worried that the troops would be attracted to Zhang Bao, and Luoyang would be in danger.

After a moment, Cao Rui opened his eyes, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes. He turned and walked towards the imperial study, and as he walked, he ordered the guards beside him: "Pass the order down, and immediately summon all civil and military officials to the palace to discuss matters. There must be no mistakes!"

In the imperial study, the flickering candlelight illuminated Cao Rui's furrowed brow and determined eyes.

He sat at his desk, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, thinking about how to respond.

After a while, civil and military officials arrived one after another. All of them looked solemn and the atmosphere was extremely tense.

Cao Rui glanced at his ministers and slowly said, "My dear ministers, urgent news has come from the front line that the Han army has quickly crossed the river in large numbers. Luoyang is in danger. I want to send troops to reinforce them. I wonder if you have any good ideas?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a civil official stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, I think we should quickly send troops to Gu County to reinforce and strengthen the defense of Luoyang City to prevent a surprise attack by the Han army."

Another general shook his head and said, "No, our army has limited manpower. If we send troops to reinforce Gu County, the defense of Luoyang City will be weakened. I suggest that we concentrate our forces to defend Luoyang until the Han army runs out of food and grass, and then they will naturally retreat without a fight."

The ministers expressed their opinions and argued endlessly. Cao Rui became more and more annoyed as he listened to their arguments.

He slammed the table and shouted angrily, "Shut up! Do you, the civil and military officials in the court, have any real plan to protect the country and repel the enemy?"

Upon hearing this, all the ministers kept silent.

In the current situation, who can guarantee anything?
All the ministers in the court were hesitant and unable to say a word. Cao Rui knew that at this time, the big court was useless and instead the small court could make decisions.

Cao Rui stood up and looked into the distance with a firm gaze, as if he could penetrate the night and see the battlefield where flames of war were raging.

However, the situation on the battlefield was much more complicated than Cao Rui had imagined.

Now, the two difficult choices were like two heavy mountains, weighing heavily on Cao Rui's heart.

He stood in front of the window of the imperial study, staring at the slightly gloomy sky outside, feeling mixed emotions.

Either reinforce the Wei army that was besieging Zhang Bao and annihilate him with lightning speed to completely eliminate the threat from this side; or concentrate superior forces to annihilate or expel the Han army that was crossing the Yellow River like a flood to ensure the safety of Luoyang City.

Each of these two choices concerns the fate of the State of Wei, and each makes it difficult for him to make a decision.

If no breakthrough was made on these two fronts, the Han army would no longer be a trapped lamb in the Luoyang Plain, but would likely become a malignant tumor blooming at the center, dealing a fatal blow to the Wei State.

Cao Rui knew very well that the decision he made at this moment would determine the future of the Wei State.

He took a deep breath, turned and walked to the center of the imperial study, and immediately decided to hold a small court session, summoning a group of close confidants to discuss the matter.

After a while, Shangshu Ling Chen Qun, Emperor's tutor Zheng Cheng, Shizhong Liu Ye and others arrived one after another. Some of them looked solemn, while others frowned, as they all knew the importance of this court meeting.

Inside the imperial study, the flickering candlelight illuminated the faces of a group of important officials from the Wei State.

Cao Rui sat at the desk, folded his hands on the table, and looked at everyone present with a deep gaze.

His face looked a little tired, but his eyes revealed firmness and determination.

"My dear ministers," Cao Rui spoke slowly, his voice steady and powerful.

"Now our Wei State is facing a dilemma. Zhang Bao's troops have been attacking us for a long time and have not been defeated. The Han army has crossed the Yellow River and is threatening Luoyang. I would like to summon you to come and discuss countermeasures."

Upon hearing this, Shangshu Ling Chen Qun bowed slightly. His face was gaunt and his beard was slightly gray, but his eyes revealed wisdom and calmness.

He coughed lightly and said slowly: "Your Majesty, I think that although Zhang Bao's troops are brave, they are now besieged and their morale is low. If our army reinforces them at this time, we will be able to quickly annihilate them. In this way, we can eliminate the threat to one side and then concentrate our forces to deal with the Han army."

The imperial teacher Zheng Cheng shook his head. His face looked old, but there was a cunning gleam in his eyes.

He stroked his long beard and said slowly, "Your Majesty, I think it's not possible. Although Zhang Bao's troops are trapped, the power of the Han army cannot be underestimated. If our army sends troops to reinforce Zhang Bao, the strength of the troops in Luoyang City will be weakened. If the Han army takes the opportunity to attack at this time, Luoyang will be in danger. I think we should concentrate our forces to deal with the Han army first and ensure that they cannot gain a foothold in the Luoyang Plain."

The attendant Liu Ye pondered for a moment. He had a handsome face, but his eyes revealed depth and worry.

He said slowly: "Your Majesty, I think both of these strategies have their merits, but they also have risks. Reinforcing Zhang Bao can quickly resolve the threat on one side, but we may also be surrounded by the Han army; concentrating our forces to deal with the Han army can ensure the safety of Luoyang, but if Zhang Bao's troops are rescued by the Han army, our army will also be in a dilemma."

As Cao Rui listened to the arguments of his ministers, he became increasingly annoyed.

He stood up and paced back and forth in the imperial study, with his hands behind his back and a frown on his face.

His heart was full of contradictions and struggles, and every choice seemed to carry endless unknowns and risks.

Suddenly, he stopped, turned around and looked at his ministers, with a hint of determination in his eyes.

He said slowly: "My dear ministers, I have made up my mind. Our army will be divided into two groups. One group will reinforce the Wei army that is besieging Zhang Bao and strive to annihilate it in the shortest possible time; the other group will concentrate its superior forces to deal with the Han army that has crossed the Yellow River. I know that this strategy is extremely risky, but I believe that as long as our army is united, we will be able to overcome the danger."

All the ministers were shocked when they heard this.

They knew that Cao Rui's decision meant that Wei would face pressure from two sides at the same time, and if they were not careful, they might fall into an irretrievable situation.

"Your Majesty, this strategy is too risky." Chen Qun spoke first, his voice steady and worried.

"Our army has limited manpower. If we attack from both sides, we may not be able to cope with emergencies. If one side fails, it will affect the overall situation."

Zheng Cheng also shook his head. His face was old but his eyes were sharp. "Your Majesty, although Zhang Bao's troops are under siege, they still have fighting power. The Han army has crossed the river and their morale is high. If our army disperses its forces, it may be difficult to resist the attacks from both sides. I think we should concentrate our forces to defeat one first and then attack the other."

Liu Ye pondered for a moment, his eyes sparkling with wisdom under the candlelight.

He spoke slowly: "Your Majesty, what Minister Chen and Imperial Tutor Zheng said is absolutely right. Attacking from two fronts is indeed quite risky. However, I have a plan that may be able to resolve this situation."

Cao Rui was cheered up when he heard this. He looked at Liu Ye with sharp eyes and said, "Oh? What's your brilliant plan, Minister? Tell me quickly."

Liu Ye walked to the map, and gently traced the defense lines of the Wei and Han armies with his fingers, and slowly said: "Your Majesty, we can pretend to concentrate our forces to deal with the Han army crossing the river, and make a gesture of going all out. In fact, our real goal is to lure out Zhang Bao."

He paused and continued, "Zhang Bao will definitely take the opportunity to break out and join the Han army in the north when he sees that the main force of our army seems to have turned to the Han army. At this time, we have set up an ambush on the way, and we will annihilate Zhang Bao as soon as he emerges. In this way, we can eliminate the threat of Zhang Bao's troops and concentrate our forces to deal with the Han army crossing the river."

When Cao Rui listened to Liu Ye's plan, a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.

He pondered for a moment, then nodded slowly: "This is a brilliant plan! It can not only lure out Zhang Bao, but also keep our troops concentrated. This plan, Minister, really kills two birds with one stone."

What Cao Rui wants now is someone who can make decisions!
(End of this chapter)