Shuhan

The Han army's camp at the northern foot of Mang Mountain was majestic and solemn. The tents stretching for miles looked particularly solemn in the afterglow of the setting sun.

The main tent of the central army was located in the center of the camp, and the Han army flag hanging high on the top of the tent fluttered gently in the breeze.

At this moment, inside the main tent of the central army, the candlelight flickered, illuminating the scene inside the tent, making it both bright and mysterious.

Inside the tent, generals from various divisions stood on both sides with solemn expressions, and the atmosphere was tense and solemn.

Sparks from the three-legged bronze incense burner splashed onto the sheepskin map, leaving a charred gap in the word "Luoyang".

Liu Chan stroked the hilt of the jade sword at his waist, and his fingertips touched the hidden mechanism in the scabbard. It was the crossbow quiver modified by the Academy of Sciences, which was trembling slightly with his rapid breathing.

The messenger was wearing armor, boots, and covered in dust, obviously rushing from the front line.

Holding an urgent report, he walked steadily through the generals and came to the main seat. He knelt on one knee, presented the urgent report with both hands, and reported in a loud voice: "Your Majesty, urgent news from the front!"

Sitting on the main seat was the Han emperor, Liu Chan.

He was wearing a dragon robe and a crown on his head. His face was calm and his eyes revealed an unquestionable majesty.

Liu Chan was slightly startled when he heard the messenger's words, and then he reached out to take the urgent report. He slowly unfolded the paper, and saw that it was written: "The Wei army besieged Biyong, Mingtang and Cui's Fortress, the situation is critical!"

A strange look appeared on Liu Chan's face, his brows were furrowed, and a hint of doubt and uneasiness flashed in his eyes.

He thought to himself, "Zhong Hui is a descendant of a second-generation family of Cao Wei. As a subordinate of the Military Intelligence Department, why would he suddenly propose to surrender to the Han Dynasty together with the Xun family of Yingchuan and the Cui family of Qinghe? Is there some conspiracy behind this?"

Liu Chan's doubts were not groundless. As the son of Zhong Yao, a senior official of Cao Wei, Zhong Hui had lived in the vortex of power since childhood. His deep thoughts and cunning methods were incomparable to ordinary people.

However, the current situation did not allow him to think too much.

Biyong, Mingtang and Cui’s Fortress were all important strongholds of the Wei army. If such a good opportunity was missed, the consequences would be disastrous.

There may never be such a good opportunity again in the future.

At this moment, a general stepped out. It was Jiang Wei, a wise and brave general of the Han Dynasty.

He was wearing silver armor, looking heroic and majestic.

The sound of Jiang Wei's knee touching the ground awakened the emperor from his deep thoughts.

The golden thread in his black armored beast's mouth had been worn away by the wind and snow, but at this moment, as he raised his arm to point at the map, strange patterns flowed in the swaying candlelight: "Your Majesty, please look, the beacon smoke from Cui's fort is exactly consistent with what Zhong Hui said in the secret letter."

The copper buckle on his waist belt suddenly broke in half, revealing half of the Luoyang arsenal defense map in the inner secret pocket - the teeth marks on the edge of the sheepskin were clearly left by the small dog that sneaked into Luoyang a few days ago.

Jiang Wei's eyes were firm and deep, as if he could see through all the illusions.

"Besides, Your Majesty, the Wei army has been attacking the city for ten days, and both sides have suffered more than a thousand casualties. The battle was brutal. Zhong Hui's proposal to surrender to Han at this time cannot be explained by conspiracy. Moreover, if it was really a conspiracy, why would the Wei army pay such a heavy price?"

When Liu Chan heard this, his brows relaxed slightly, but the doubts in his heart did not completely dissipate.

He was well aware of Jiang Wei's wisdom and courage, and trusted his judgment.

However, the matter was of great importance and he had to proceed with caution.

So Liu Chan asked in a deep voice: "Jiang Wei, are you sure this is not a conspiracy of the Wei army?"

Jiang Wei looked determined and answered in a sonorous tone: "Your Majesty, I am willing to guarantee with my own head that this is not a conspiracy. Although Zhong Hui is a man of deep thoughts, he has his own reasons for surrendering to Han. Moreover, if our army can take advantage of the opportunity to recover the lost territory, it will be a heavy blow to Cao Wei."

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan nodded, and the doubts in his heart finally dissipated a little.

The current situation did not allow him to hesitate any longer.

So he immediately ordered: "Liao Hua, you gather all the troops and go to Biyong to support the Yingchuan Zhong family, Xun family and Qinghe Cui family who surrendered to the Han Dynasty. Make sure they are safe and sound, and also be careful to guard against the counterattack of the Wei army."

Liao Hua was a burly man with a resolute face. He stepped out immediately upon hearing the words, bowed and said, "Yes, Your Majesty! I will definitely fulfill your mission!"

After saying this, he turned around and strode out of the main tent, ready to lead his troops to Biyong.

Liu Chan turned his gaze to Jiang Wei again and said in a deep voice: "Jiang Wei, you must gather all the troops and take advantage of the fact that the Wei army is attracted to the south of the city to attack Helu Gate, occupy Jinyong City, and then attack Jianchun Gate to capture the Luoyang Arsenal. At the same time, burn the grain and grass in Taicang and Changmang Warehouse to cut off the Wei army's food supply."

Jiang Wei looked stern, and said, "Yes, Your Majesty! I will go all out and defeat the Wei army!"

After saying this, he turned and walked out of the main tent, ready to lead the troops to carry out this difficult task.

Liu Chan watched Jiang Wei leave, feeling both anticipation and worry in his heart.

At this time, the atmosphere in the main tent of the central army was still tense and solemn.

The generals were all busy with their own things, and the soldiers ready to go to war were also getting ready outside the camp.

Liu Chan sat in the main seat, his eyes firm and deep, as if he was thinking about some important decision.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence in the tent.

A messenger hurried into the tent and knelt on one knee to report: "Your Majesty, the latest news from the front line, the Wei army seems to be making some moves and seems to be adjusting the deployment of troops."

Liu Chan was shocked when he heard this, and immediately asked, "Do you have any detailed information?"

The messenger nodded and continued, "According to the spies, the Wei army's commander, Xiahou Xian, seems to have noticed our intentions and is mobilizing troops to strengthen the defenses in the south of the city. At the same time, he has also sent out a surprise force to attempt to attack our army's food supply route."

When Liu Chan heard this, his heart tightened.

The food supply route is the lifeline of the army. Once the food supply route is cut off, the consequences will be disastrous. He immediately ordered: "Pass the order down, all armies immediately strengthen their vigilance, especially the defense of the food supply route. At the same time, send an elite force to meet the Wei army's surprise attack."

Upon hearing this, the generals immediately took orders and left.

Liu Chan sat in the main seat, feeling both anxious and determined.

This battle will be a severe test for him to capture Luoyang.

As night fell, the camp on the northern foot of Mang Mountain was brightly lit.

The busy figures of the soldiers appeared particularly agile and powerful under the lights.

Liu Chan walked out of the main tent and looked up at the starry sky, his heart full of expectations and longings for the future.

At the same time, on the other side of the Han army camp, Liao Hua had already led his troops and was ready to go.

When Liao Hua went out of the tent to deliver the message, he deliberately stepped on the icicles hanging upside down from the eaves and broke them.

The black cloak on his body fluttered like wings in the wind, revealing the densely patched lining - all traces left by the battles of all sizes over the past ten years.

When he raised the command flag with the Big Dipper on it, the soldiers of the Tiger Step Camp who were on duty suddenly roared in unison, and the sound waves made the snow on the roof of the tent slide down.

"My men!" Liao Hua glanced at the armored cavalry who were wrapping the horses' hooves with hemp cloth.

"Tonight I want to let Cao Rui know that Luoyang originally belonged to the Han Dynasty!"

He suddenly swung his sword to chop off the frozen flagpole. Amidst flying wood chips, three hundred cavalrymen rushed like a black tide towards the south of the city where flames were soaring into the sky.

Behind them, thousands of infantrymen followed closely.

On the other side, Jiang Wei had also led his troops to prepare. He rode a warhorse, held a spear, and stood in front of the team with a heroic look. He knew that the mission was more difficult and complicated, but he also believed that as long as everyone united as one and moved forward courageously, they would be able to break through the Wei army's defenses and win victory for the Han army.

"Let's go!" Jiang Wei shouted and led his troops to the south of the city like a tide.

The sound of their horses' hooves was deafening, as if a group of galloping horses were charging bravely towards the battlefield.

The next morning, as the dawn began to break, a solemn and murderous atmosphere enveloped the Biyong Temple south of Luoyang City.

After a night of reorganization, the Wei army regrouped and launched another fierce attack on Biyong.

The sound of the war drums was as loud as thunder, resounding through the sky, as if it would make this ancient land tremble.

Pushed by the Wei army, the siege equipment rumbled towards Biyong. The heavy impact sounded like the roar of a giant beast, which was terrifying.

After yesterday's siege, the walls of Biyong were in ruins, with mottled stones scattered all over the ground and cracks crisscrossing each other, like a huge spider web, tightly entangling this ancient institution of learning.

On the city wall, the defenders looked tired, but there was a determination in their eyes. They knew that this was a do-or-die battle and there was no way to retreat.

However, just as the Wei army was attacking the city, a roar suddenly came from the south, as if the earth was shaking. Liao Hua, wearing iron armor and holding a spear, led the Han army to surge like a tide.

They rode on war horses, the sound of horse hooves was like thunder, dust was flying, and they were galloping towards Biyong like an unstoppable torrent.

In Biyong, Zhong Hui and Xun Yi were so excited upon hearing the news that they could hardly control themselves.

They knew very well that the arrival of the Han army at this moment was undoubtedly a timely help.

Zhong Hui's eyes sparkled with excitement. He clenched his fists and shouted loudly: "The Han army is coming! We have hope!"

Xun Yi also showed a look of joy. He patted Zhong Hui on the shoulder and said firmly: "Now is the time for us to fight back!"

After saying that, the two men opened the gate of Kaiyong without hesitation and rushed out with hundreds of warriors.

They led the charge and bravely surrounded the Han army on both sides, trapping the Wei army in the middle.

The Wei army was suddenly thrown into chaos and at a loss.

Upon seeing this, Xiahou Xian immediately gathered his soldiers and tried to stabilize the situation.

His face was gloomy, his eyes revealed a fierce look, and he shouted loudly: "Don't panic! Hold on!"

Under his command, the Wei army soldiers quickly adjusted their formation and confronted the Han army and the Biyong defenders.

However, before Zhong Hui and Xun Yi could breathe a sigh of relief, a large number of Wei troops suddenly poured out of Luoyang City.

They were dressed in black, holding sharp blades, and appeared silently like a group of ghosts.

Obviously, they had already anticipated that the Han army would come to support and had set up an ambush here.

The leading Wei general sneered and shouted, "Humph! Want to save Biyong? That's not that easy! Today, I will catch you all in one fell swoop!"

His voice was cold and firm, full of murderous intent.

The war broke out again. The two sides fought continuously, and the shouts of killing shook the sky.

Although the Biyong defenders and the Han army fought bravely, the Wei army was large in number and had high morale, and for a time the two sides were in a stalemate.

Zhong Hui held a long sword. Although he was young, he was not small in stature. He rushed left and right on the battlefield. He was agile and his swordsmanship was sharp. Wherever he went, the Wei army fell one after another.

Zhong Hui's face was covered in blood and dust, but his eyes became more determined.

He swore to himself: "No matter what, I will defend Biyong! This is our last line of defense!"

Where you can stand in the Han Dynasty in the future depends on your life-threatening struggle today.

Xun Yi was commanding the battle from the side. He held a command flag and constantly mobilized troops to support various battlefields.

His voice was hoarse and firm, and every command was accurate.

The situation is extremely critical at the moment. If we are not careful, we may lose everything.

Liao Hua was even more brave. He led the cavalry to charge the Wei army on the battlefield.

His spear was as sharp as a dragon emerging from the sea. Every time he swung it, it could take the life of a Wei soldier.

His armor was stained with blood, but his eyes became more ferocious.

Liao Hua shouted loudly: "Brothers! Charge! For His Majesty! For wealth! For women!"

Under his encouragement, the Han soldiers were in high spirits and fought bravely against the enemy.

They cooperated with the Biyong defenders to form a powerful fighting force.

However, the Wei army was not willing to be outdone. Relying on their numerical advantage, they continued to launch fierce attacks on the Han army and the Biyong defenders.

The battlefield was filled with smoke and flames.

The soldiers on both sides fought back and forth, and the battle was difficult to determine.

The blood dyed the ground red and corpses piled up like mountains.

The air was filled with the pungent smell of blood and gunpowder, which almost suffocated people.

Zhong Hui moved freely on the battlefield, his heart filled with anxiety.

The Wei army received a steady stream of reinforcements, while the Han army and the Biyong defenders were limited in number. If this continued, sooner or later they would be exhausted by the Wei army and defeated.

He looked up at the sky and saw that it was gradually getting darker and night was about to fall.

An inexplicable fear and uneasiness surged in his heart.

Xun Yi also realized the seriousness of the situation.

He frowned and his eyes revealed worry.

This is a matter of life and death, and we must come up with a solution to break the deadlock.

He looked around and saw that although the Han army and the Biyong defenders fought bravely, they were obviously exhausted. On the other hand, the Wei army fought more bravely and their morale was high.

Liao Hua also felt the pressure.

As a general of the Han army, he must step forward and lead the soldiers out of the siege.

He waved the spear in his hand and shouted loudly: "Brothers! Don't be afraid! Follow me!"

After saying that, he led the cavalry towards the weakest point of the Wei army.

Under his leadership, the Han soldiers bravely advanced forward.

They fought a desperate battle with the Wei army.

However, the Wei army did not retreat. They held their positions tightly with tenacious perseverance and firm belief.

Time passed, and before we knew it, it was night.

On the battlefield, flames shot up into the sky, illuminating the entire sky.

The soldiers of both sides continued to fight in the darkness, their figures flickering in the firelight, like a group of dancing ghosts.

Zhong Hui groped forward in the darkness, his heart filled with confusion and fear.

The situation at this moment is beyond my control.

He didn't know what would happen in the future, nor did he know whether he could walk out of the battlefield alive. He could only hold the sword tightly in his hand and continue to fight the Wei army to the end.

Xun Yi was also in trouble.

He kept looking for a breakthrough in the darkness, trying to break the encirclement of the Wei army.

However, the Wei army's defense was extremely tight, and he failed in his repeated attempts. He could not help but feel frustrated, but he did not give up, but continued to command his soldiers to fight firmly.

Liao Hua was even more brave in the dark.

Relying on his keen intuition and extraordinary martial arts, he charged left and right on the battlefield.

His spear drew beautiful arcs in the darkness, and every swing could take the life of a Wei soldier.

His figure looked particularly agile and heroic in the firelight.

However, despite the best efforts of the Han army and the Biyong defenders, the Wei army gradually gained the upper hand with its numerical advantage and tenacious perseverance.

Their offensive became increasingly fierce, leaving the Han army and the Biyong defenders almost breathless.

Just when Liao Hua, Zhong Hui and Xun Yi were in desperate situation, fire flashed in the west and north of Luoyang City.

It was bright red, almost turning the night into day. (End of this chapter)