Shuhan

Guo Huai led the remaining troops and trudged all the way, finally escaping to Xuanyuan Pass.

However, when he looked up at the familiar pass, his heart sank suddenly and an ominous premonition came over him.

He saw that the flag of the Wei State on Xuanyuan Pass had been quietly replaced at some point, and was replaced by the fluttering dragon flag of the Han State, which fluttered in the morning breeze, as if mocking his lateness and helplessness.

Guo Huai's heart sank instantly. It suddenly dawned on him why the Han army had not strengthened the defense in the north in ten days. It turned out that they had already expected that he would break through here and set up this trap.

“Hahahaha~”

He smiled bitterly, and that smile was full of bitterness and self-mockery.

He looked around at the remnants of his own troops, hundreds of them, all in tattered clothes, pale and thin, their eyes full of fatigue and despair.

They were the last warriors of the Wei State, but they were also the victims of this war.

The gate of Xuanyuan Pass was wide open, and the Han army poured out like a tide. Their armor gleamed coldly in the sun and their morale was high, forming a sharp contrast with the defeated Wei army.

An inexplicable sadness welled up in Guo Huai's heart. He knew very well that he had no way out and the Wei Kingdom might really have come to an end.

At this moment, the sound of hurried horse hooves came from behind. The pursuing Han army, led by Guan Ping, had already arrived outside Xuanyuan Pass.

Guan Ping, the famous general of the Han Dynasty, rode a Ferghana horse and held a Green Dragon Crescent Blade in his hand. He looked heroic and awe-inspiring.

His eyes revealed an unquestionable firmness and determination, as if Guo Huai's fate had already been determined.

Guan Ping pulled the reins of his horse, pointed his Green Dragon Crescent Blade at Guo Huai, and said in a loud voice, "General Guo, you have nowhere to escape. You have been loyal to the State of Wei. Surrender now!"

Although there was a hint of regret in his tone, it was more of respect for Guo Huai.

In Guan Ping's heart, Guo Huai is an admirable opponent. His loyalty and bravery make people look at him with admiration even as an enemy.

Hearing this, Guo Huai let out a long sigh.

His eyes were deep and complex, showing both helplessness towards the current situation and despair towards the future.

His face was haggard, his beard was unkempt, and his battle robe was covered with traces of battle, making him look particularly weathered.

He knew very well that he was deeply indebted to Cao Wei. From an ordinary soldier to where he is today, every step was condensed with sweat and hard work.

However, the State of Wei was now in a precarious situation and unable to recover.

An inexplicable sadness welled up in Guo Huai's heart. He seemed to see the future of Wei State, which was dark and hopeless.

He remembered his previous oath to defend the territory and expand the borders for the State of Wei and to shed his last drop of blood for the State of Wei.

However, now, he could only watch as the Wei Kingdom fell into the hands of the Han army bit by bit.

Seeing this, Guan Ping advised again: "General Guo, why are you so stubborn? The Wei Kingdom is doomed. If you surrender to the Han Kingdom, you may be able to save your life. Why sacrifice yourself for a country that has already perished?"

His tone was full of sincerity, hoping that Guo Huai would change his mind.

However, Guo Huai just shook his head, with a determined light flashing in his eyes.

He knew very well that his fate was already determined, and whether he surrendered or not could not change the fate of the Wei State.

He would rather die than become a prisoner of the Han Dynasty, and he was unwilling to see his comrades and compatriots humiliated under the iron hoof of the Han army.

Guo Huai took a deep breath and straightened his spine. Although his voice was hoarse, it was full of strength: "I am a general of Wei. How can I live in seclusion? My life and death have long been tied to Wei. If Wei perishes, I will perish too!"

After saying that, he suddenly drew out the long sword from his waist, and with a flash of sword light, he slashed towards his neck.

Guan Ping was shocked when he saw this. He wanted to stop it, but it was too late.

Guo Huai's body trembled violently, and blood gushed out like a fountain, staining his battle robe red and the land in front of Xuanyuan Pass red.

There was a glimmer of relief and relief in his eyes, as if he had finally gotten rid of the troubles and constraints of the world.

Seeing this, the remnants of the Wei army cried out in grief, tears welling up in their eyes, moved by Guo Huai's bravery and loyalty.

They knew that Guo Huai's death meant that the last hope of Wei State had been shattered, and they could only watch helplessly as the Han army stepped across their land and took away their homes.

Guan Ping silently put away his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, his eyes full of admiration and regret.

He knew very well that Guo Huai was a true hero who remained steadfast in his beliefs and loyalty even in desperate situations.

He bowed deeply to Guo Huai's body, and then ordered the Han army to continue advancing to welcome the victory that belonged to them.

In front of Xuanyuan Pass, the wind is still blowing and the flags are still fluttering.

However, things have changed. The glory of Wei has become a thing of the past, and the rise of Han has become an unstoppable trend.

With the defeat of Guo Huai, the eight passes of Luoyang, the once impregnable defense line, are now entirely in the hands of the Han State.

Luoyang, the once prosperous capital, has now become a completely isolated city, like a turtle in a jar, surrounded by enemies on all sides.

The Han army returned victoriously. The soldiers held their heads high, rode on tall horses, and held Guo Huai's head high in the air. The bloody head looked particularly dazzling in the sun.

When the head was brought into Luoyang City, the atmosphere in the city froze instantly.

The already low morale hit rock bottom. The soldiers looked at each other with fear and despair in their eyes.

In Luoyang city, people on both sides of the streets closed their doors and windows and dared not make a sound.

The once bustling market now only has a few people left, hurrying past for fear of being swallowed up by the shadow of war.

There was a depressing atmosphere in the city, as if even the air had frozen.

Wei Emperor Cao Rui was sitting in the Taiji Hall. When Guo Huai's head was presented to him, he was stunned and then a trace of grief flashed in his eyes.

He took the head with trembling hands and looked carefully at the general who was once loyal and brave, but now only this lonely head was left.

Cao Rui's eyes became moist, tears welled up in them, and he could not help but let them burst out.

He cried bitterly in the temple, his voice filled with endless sorrow and unwillingness.

However, crying is enough, but it is absolutely impossible to make Cao Rui give up resistance.

He knew very well that as the king of a country, he was responsible for the future of Wei and the safety of the people.

He cannot fall, let alone surrender.

Cao Rui wiped his tears with red eyes, looked at Chen Qun firmly, and asked in a hoarse voice: "Does the Han army seem to be running out of food?"

Chen Qun stood under the palace, feeling mixed emotions.

At this moment, the State of Wei was in a desperate situation, but in order to keep the emperor confident and to stabilize the military morale, he had to lie.

Chen Qun took a deep breath and pretended to be calm and said, "It's been a month, and the Han army's logistical supplies have begun to be intermittent. I'm afraid their food and grass will not last much longer."

When Cao Rui heard this, a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes.

He stood up, put his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in the hall, as if he had already seen the day when the Han army would retreat.

He turned around and said loudly to his ministers: "As long as we continue to persevere, the Han army will retreat. By then, you will all be meritorious officials of the Wei Dynasty, and I will reward you generously!"

However, the response from the ministers was not very enthusiastic.

Some of them lowered their heads in silence, some looked bitter, and some had hesitation and anxiety in their eyes.

People's hearts have slowly dissipated.

The war lasted too long, Wei's national strength was exhausted, the people were exhausted, and the soldiers' morale was low.

Everyone understood that continuing to resist would be futile.

Cao Rui's heart sank when he saw the reactions of his ministers.

He knew very well that the State of Wei was in a precarious situation at the moment and if he was not careful, it might be doomed.

But he couldn't show it, he had to remain calm and build confidence among his ministers and soldiers.

Cao Rui took a deep breath and tried to adjust his emotions.

He walked to the front of the temple, held the railing with both hands, and looked at the distant sky. His eyes were both determined and helpless.

He said softly: "I know that you all have doubts in your hearts. But I believe that as long as we unite as one, there will be no obstacles that we cannot overcome. Wei is our home and our roots. We must never give up easily."

After saying this, Cao Rui turned around and looked at his ministers again.

There was a gleam of determination in his eyes, as if he was ready to live and die with Luoyang City.

He said loudly: "I have made up my mind. We will continue to resist the Han army. Anyone who dares to surrender will be killed immediately!"

All the ministers were shocked when they heard this.

They knew that the emperor had made up his mind and no further persuasion would help.

Then, they all knelt on the ground and said in unison: "We obey your order."

However, although the ministers obeyed Cao Rui's orders on the surface, their hearts were filled with worry and anxiety.

Cao Rui looked at the reactions of his ministers and understood their concerns.

But what can he do?
He could only grit his teeth and persevere, hoping for a miracle to happen.

He sighed deeply, turned around and walked back into the hall.

The back figure looked lonely and determined, as if he was ready to fight fate to the end.

At this time, the city of Luoyang was still surrounded by the Han army.

The people in the city lived in fear, not knowing what would happen tomorrow.

As night fell, the city of Luoyang was silent.

Only the occasional barking of dogs and the sound of distant horse hooves broke the silence.

Cao Rui sat in the hall, looking at the night sky outside the window, his heart filled with endless thoughts.

He didn't know what the future would be like, but he knew that he had to persevere, for the sake of Wei, for the people, and for himself.

In this way, Luoyang City still held out tenaciously under the siege of the Han army.

. . .

The next day.

Another new day.

Luoyang was shrouded in a haze.

The people in the city were conscripted to work as laborers, toiling day after day on the arduous tasks of building the city, repairing it, and transporting supplies.

Their figures shuttled back and forth in the dusty streets, their clothes soaked with sweat, their faces filled with fatigue and helplessness.

The harsh punishment was like a sword hanging over their heads, making every civilian tremble with fear.

If you slack off even a little, you will be whipped or caned.

The supervisors in the city held whips in their hands and had fierce eyes. They would scold and whip the laborers who were a little slow.

The civilians were covered in wounds and resentment was accumulating in their hearts, like a volcano about to erupt.

At the same time, the Han Dynasty's secret military department was secretly stirring up trouble.

They disguised themselves as ordinary people, spread rumors, and incited emotions, making the atmosphere in Luoyang city even more tense.

For a time, there was constant chaos in the city, with small-scale riots occurring one after another.

Although the Wei army suppressed the rebellion with bloody means every time, the resentment suppressed in their hearts was as tenacious as weeds, and would grow again as soon as the spring breeze blew.

On the streets of Luoyang City, the people were pale and thin, and their eyes were filled with fear and anxiety.

They gathered together and talked in low voices, their voices revealing their despair at the current situation and confusion about the future.

An elderly man leaned on a cane and said tremblingly: "When will this day end? When can we live a stable life?"

A young woman next to her bit her lips tightly, tears glistening in her eyes, but she dared not make a sound for fear of attracting the attention of the supervisor.

The dignitaries were not immune to the panic.

Although they lived in a relatively affluent environment, the unrest in the city also made them feel uneasy.

In the mansion, they gathered together to discuss countermeasures, with worry written all over their faces.

An official in gorgeous clothes frowned and said, "The Han army has been besieging the city for a long time, and the people in the city are in panic. If it continues like this, I'm afraid..." Before he finished speaking, he shook his head, with a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

The Wei army soldiers were also uneasy.

They stood guard on the city wall, vigilantly scanning the Han army camp outside the city.

Although they were soldiers and had done their duty, they were also frustrated by the unrest in the city and the low morale.

A young soldier leaned against the city wall, looking at the distant sky, his heart full of confusion.

He whispered to his colleague beside him: "How long can we fight this battle? The people in the city can't hold on any longer."

His comrade sighed, did not answer, but silently tightened his weapons.

Outside the city, the Han army's siege had temporarily stopped.

However, this brief period of calm made people in Luoyang city think more.

They began to speculate about the Han army's intentions. Were they preparing to attack or did they have another conspiracy?

This uncertainty made the atmosphere in the city even more tense.

In a teahouse in the city, several people sat together, discussing the situation outside the city in low voices.

A middle-aged man lowered his voice and said, "The Han army stopped, I'm afraid it's a heart-breaking strategy! They want us to cause chaos and then win without fighting."

An old man next to him nodded and said worriedly: "Yes, this city has become a mess. If it continues like this, we will really be finished."

In the Han army camp, the generals were planning their next move.

They knew very well that Luoyang City was already on the verge of collapse, and just one more fire would cause this huge city to collapse completely.

A Han general sneered and said: "Luoyang City is already in our hands. We just need to wait for the right opportunity and watch them cause chaos on their own."

The night in Luoyang city seems particularly quiet.

There were almost no people on the streets.

In a private house in the city, a family of all ages sat together, the flickering candlelight illuminating their worried faces.

The child nestled in his mother's arms and asked timidly, "Mom, will we die?"

The mother bit her lip, trying to hold back tears, and whispered, "No, child. We will be fine."

But her eyes revealed a deep sense of uneasiness.

The generals of the Wei army also held an emergency meeting at night to discuss how to deal with the current situation.

They knew very well that Luoyang City was already in a precarious situation and if they were not careful, it might be doomed.

A Wei army general said in a deep voice: "We must stabilize the people's hearts in the city, otherwise, we will really be finished."

Another general nodded and added: "Yes, we must strengthen patrols to prevent Han spies from inciting riots. At the same time, we must comfort the people and let them know that we are still holding on."

However, despite the best efforts of the Wei army generals, the unrest in the city was still difficult to quell.

The resentment of the people grew like a snowball, the dignitaries were also in panic, and the morale of the Wei army soldiers was at its lowest point.

Luoyang City is now like a sinking ship, swaying in the wind and rain. (End of this chapter)