Shuhan

Luoyang, which was captured by the Han army, seemed to have experienced a long nightmare and finally ushered in the dawn.

After a day and a night of rectification, the ancient capital gradually calmed down from the noise of war.

Some of the rebel soldiers in the city, seeing that the situation was hopeless, took off their armor and surrendered; others stubbornly resisted, but eventually fell in a pool of blood, unable to stir up any more trouble.

On both sides of the street, between the ruins, the smoke of gunpowder had not yet completely dissipated, and the air was filled with a heavy smell mixed with the smell of blood and dust.

The sunlight shines through the sparse clouds and onto this city that has experienced many vicissitudes of life, bringing a long-lost warmth to this land.

However, for the people of Luoyang, this warmth is mixed with complex emotions.

Some of them cheered and celebrated that they had finally escaped from the rule of Wei and returned to the embrace of Han; others looked worried, fearing that the trauma brought by the war would be difficult to heal and that their future life would be full of unknowns.

After everything was settled, Liu Chan rode on a huge dragon chariot and slowly entered Luoyang from the south gate.

The dragon chariot was magnificent and golden, with carved dragons and painted phoenixes, demonstrating the majesty and dignity of the Han emperor.

The chariot was pulled by four horses. The sound of horse hooves was sonorous and powerful, as if playing a victory song for Liu Chan's return.

At the south gate, a group of surrendered generals and ministers of Wei State were already kneeling.

Their clothes were disheveled, their faces were haggard, and their eyes were full of fear and anxiety.

The former majesty is now gone. They know that their fate will be in the hands of Liu Chan from now on, and life and death, honor and disgrace, all depend on his thoughts.

On both sides of the road, the people of Luoyang were kneeling densely.

Some of them were in rags, some were in tears, and some had young faces full of longing for the future.

They lowered their heads and put their hands on the ground, expressing their awe and submission to the Emperor of Han in this way.

In their hearts, Han is their motherland, their roots, and the place they yearn for.

Now that the Wei Kingdom has been destroyed and the world has returned to the hands of the Han Dynasty, they seem to have seen the dawn of hope.

Liu Chan sat upright on the dragon chariot, his eyes deep and firm.

He was wearing a dragon robe and a crown on his head, and his majesty revealed an indescribable vicissitudes of life.

His face was a little thin, but his eyes were unusually bright, as if he could see into people's hearts.

He knew very well what this moment meant to the big man, and he also knew how heavy the responsibility on his shoulders was.

When the dragon chariot slowly passed through the south gate and entered Luoyang City, an indescribable emotion surged in Liu Chan's heart.

He felt both relieved and heavy.

He was glad that he had finally led the Han army to recapture Luoyang, allowing the flag of the Han Dynasty to fly again over this land; yet he was also saddened by the destruction and casualties brought by the war.

He secretly vowed to make the Han Dynasty rise again and let the people live a peaceful and prosperous life.

After entering Luoyang, Liu Chan drove directly to the imperial city without stopping for a moment.

The imperial city is majestic and magnificent, and it is the residence of the emperor of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Chan's dragon chariot stopped in front of the imperial city. He slowly got off the chariot and walked into the imperial city on the red carpet.

The Taiji Hall is one of the most magnificent buildings in the imperial city. It is towering into the clouds and magnificent.

When Liu Chan entered the Taiji Hall, the ministers had been waiting for a long time. Some of them were wearing court robes, some were wearing armor, and all of them looked solemn and respectful.

Liu Chan walked up to the dragon throne, sat upright, glanced at his ministers, and a sense of mission surged in his heart.

"My dear ministers," Liu Chan said, his voice steady and powerful.
"I led the Han army through untold hardships and finally recovered Luoyang. This is the glory of the Han Dynasty and the credit of you all. However, I know very well that although the Wei Kingdom has fallen, the remnants have not been eliminated. Cao Rui, that evil creature, escaped from Luoyang and his whereabouts are still unknown. As long as he is not dead, I will not be able to rest in peace."

Speaking of Cao Rui, a hint of anger flashed in Liu Chan's eyes.

Cao Rui was the last king of the Wei Kingdom. He fled in panic when Luoyang fell and his whereabouts are now unknown.

Liu Chan knew very well that as long as Cao Rui was alive, it might become an excuse for the rebel army in Wei to start a rebellion.

By then, there will be constant unrest in Wei, and the Han Dynasty will be difficult to maintain stable.

Upon hearing this, all the ministers looked worried.

They were well aware of the threat posed by Cao Rui and Liu Chan's concerns.

However, at this moment, they were powerless to do anything.

We can only hope that Liu Chan can find Cao Rui's whereabouts as soon as possible and eliminate him completely.

Liu Chan was silent for a moment, and then continued, "I know that all of you have made great contributions to the Han Dynasty. However, the world is not peaceful now. I hope that you can continue to work together and make common cause. Only if we unite as one can the Han Dynasty rise again and let the people live and work in peace and contentment."

Upon hearing this, all the ministers nodded in agreement.

They were well aware of Liu Chan's ambitions and aspirations, and also fully aware of their own responsibilities and missions.

They are willing to go through fire and water for the Han Dynasty.

At this time, an old minister slowly walked out of the queue, knelt on the ground, and said in a trembling voice: "Your Majesty is wise and powerful, and you will definitely conquer the world. We are willing to swear allegiance to Your Majesty until death and contribute our own strength to the country of Han."

When Liu Chan heard this, a warm feeling surged in his heart.

I can’t be where I am today without the support and endorsement of my ministers.

He stood up, walked to the old minister, helped him up with his own hands, and said: "My dear ministers, please stand up. I know that you are all loyal ministers and generals of the Han Dynasty. As long as we work together, why worry about the Han Dynasty's failure?"

After saying this, Liu Chan turned around, walked back to the dragon throne and sat down upright.

His eyes were firm and deep, as if he had seen the future glory of the Han Dynasty.

Unifying the world is just the beginning.

The world is big, and the Han army's cavalry still has their uses.

However, his heart was still uneasy.

Cao Rui's escape was a thorn in his side and he couldn't let it go.

He knew very well that only by finding Cao Rui and killing him could he truly govern the Han Dynasty with peace of mind.

Upon seeing this, all the ministers returned to their seats.

There was silence in the Taiji Hall, with only Liu Chan's heavy breathing echoing.

They were all waiting for Liu Chan's next instructions and were worried about the future of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Chan pondered for a moment, and finally said: "Pass the order to search for Cao Rui throughout the country. No matter whether he is dead or alive, he must be brought to me. At the same time, strengthen the border defense to prevent the remnants of Wei from taking advantage of the opportunity to cause chaos."

At this time, the candlelight in the Taiji Hall flickered, shining on the magnificent beams and pillars, appearing solemn and dignified.

The ministers stood on both sides, all silent, waiting for Liu Chan to indicate the next course of action.

Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu Han, wore a crane cloak and held a feather fan, his brows revealing extraordinary wisdom and calmness.

He slowly stood up, gently waved his feather fan, and stared at Liu Chan on the dragon throne with a sharp gaze. "Your Majesty." Zhuge Liang's voice was steady, and every word was precious.

"If we want to capture Cao Rui, we must cut off his wings. The people around Cao Rui, whether they are his confidants or his minions, are the foundation of his survival. Your Majesty can issue an imperial decree to capture Cao Rui, regardless of life or death, and reward him with a thousand households. With such a heavy reward, some people will be shaken and their hearts will be disturbed. By then, the people around Cao Rui will definitely turn against him, either because of the bounty or for self-protection. Cao Rui does not need us to hunt him down, someone will come to us naturally."

After Zhuge Liang finished speaking, he gently shook the feather fan in his hand, and a gleam of wisdom flashed in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan frowned slightly, thought for a moment, then nodded with a look of approval on his face.

He knew very well that Zhuge Liang's wisdom was extraordinary. This plan could not only save the Shu army from the suffering of a long-distance raid, but also take advantage of Cao Rui's internal contradictions. It was actually a strategy that killed two birds with one stone.

"This is a great plan." Liu Chan said in a firm and powerful voice.

"So, issue an edict and let the whole world know that the capture of Cao Rui will be rewarded with a thousand households regardless of life or death. I want everyone in the world to know that the Han Dynasty will never show mercy to traitors, but will also be lenient to those who surrender."

After Liu Chan finished speaking, he glanced at the ministers, and they all showed admiration on their faces.

At this time, Fei Yi, the Shangshu Ling of Shu Han, dressed in official uniform and walking steadily, walked forward.

He had a handsome face, and his eyes revealed caution and wisdom. He cupped his hands and asked, "Your Majesty, when we destroyed Wei, countless people surrendered. How should we arrange for these people? If we don't handle them properly, there may be trouble in the future."

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan pondered for a moment and had an idea in mind.

As for those who surrender, we must demonstrate the Han Dynasty's magnanimity while preventing them from reviving.

So he slowly said, "Since he has surrendered, I will give him a lighter sentence. I want him to do three years of corvée labor to see what he does. After three years, if he behaves well, I will pardon his crime and make him submit to the Han Dynasty and become a subject of the Han Dynasty. This will not only demonstrate the benevolence of the Han Dynasty, but also prevent him from causing trouble again."

After Liu Chan finished speaking, his eyes were firm and his expression was calm.

When all the officials in the hall heard this, they all showed joy on their faces and shouted: "Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty is wise!"

The sound resounded throughout the Taiji Hall, echoing between the beams and pillars.

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Liang nodded slightly, secretly admiring Liu Chan's decisiveness and benevolence.

At this time, an old minister stood up. He had white hair and beard and a kind face. He was a veteran figure of Shu Han.

He cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty's move is truly a move of great benevolence and righteousness. For those who surrender, you not only give them lenient sentences, but also give them a chance to reform. This is truly a rare benevolent policy in the world. I believe that under the benevolence of the Han Dynasty, the people of the world will soon be united."

After the old minister finished speaking, all the officials in the hall echoed him, saying that Liu Chan's move was wise.

At this time, Zhuge Liang spoke again. He gently waved his feather fan and said slowly: "Your Majesty, although this plan is brilliant, we must be careful not to let Cao Rui do anything radical. I suggest that we strengthen the border defense to prevent Cao Rui from taking the opportunity to escape or counterattack. At the same time, we can also send spies to sneak into the counties of Luoyang to find out the whereabouts of Cao Rui and prepare to capture him."

After Zhuge Liang finished speaking, he looked directly at Liu Chan with a sharp gaze.

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan nodded.

"What the Prime Minister said is absolutely right," Liu Chan said. "I will immediately issue an order to strengthen the border defense to prevent Cao Rui from taking the opportunity to escape. At the same time, send spies to infiltrate the counties of Luoyang to find out the whereabouts of Cao Rui. I will personally supervise the battle until Cao Rui is captured."

After Liu Chan finished speaking, his eyes were firm and his expression was resolute.

Upon hearing this, all the officials in the hall showed admiration on their faces. Your Majesty not only has a benevolent heart, but also has a firm will and determination.

At this time, the atmosphere in the Taiji Hall was heated, and all the ministers offered strategies and advice on how to capture Cao Rui.

Liu Chan sat upright on the dragon throne, listening to the discussions of his ministers, and a sense of mission surged in his heart.

He knew very well that as the emperor of the Han Dynasty, he shouldered the heavy responsibility of revitalizing the Han Dynasty.

And capturing Cao Rui was just one step.

As time went by, the discussions in the Taiji Hall gradually subsided.

Liu Chan stood up, looked around at his ministers, and slowly said, "My dear ministers, the matter of capturing Cao Rui concerns the country and society of the Han Dynasty. I hope that you can work together to achieve this great cause. Only if we unite as one can we conquer the world and let the flag of the Han Dynasty fly again in every corner of the world."

After Liu Chan finished speaking, he looked at the ministers with a sharp gaze.

Upon hearing this, all the ministers nodded in agreement. They were well aware of Liu Chan's ambitions and aspirations, as well as their own responsibilities and missions.

They are willing to go through fire and water for the Han Dynasty.

Liu Chan on this side was in full swing, but Cao Rui in the distance was in a miserable situation.

At this moment, Cao Rui was like a stray dog. After escaping from Luoyang City, he wandered and fled everywhere.

He used to wear gorgeous clothes and a pearl crown on his head, but now he was dressed in rags, his hair was disheveled, his face was covered with dust, and he looked in a dishevel.

The majesty of the former Emperor of Wei is now gone, replaced by endless fear and despair.

The Han army's pursuit became increasingly urgent, like a dragnet that left him nowhere to escape.

Heavy troops were stationed at each checkpoint in Luoyang, surrounding him with an iron wall to prevent him from escaping.

Whenever he tried to break through the checkpoint, he encountered stubborn resistance and fierce pursuit from the Han army.

Arrows rained down, swords flashed, and every confrontation made him terrified and on the verge of life and death.

The thousands of people who originally followed Cao Rui have now fled, leaving only dozens of loyal guards who are still following him closely.

They were all scarred and exhausted, but their eyes revealed firm belief and indomitable will.

However, even so, their strength was too weak to withstand the fierce offensive of the Han army.

Cao Rui knew in his heart that his situation was already precarious.

If he didn't escape now, he would probably become a prisoner of the Han army.

He thought of his past glory and honor, and an endless sorrow and regret welled up in his heart.

He regretted his underestimation of the enemy and arrogance, and regretted that he did not prepare himself early, which led to his current desperate situation.

The night deepened and the wind became cold and biting.

Cao Rui and his guards hid in a desolate forest, shivering.

They didn't dare to light a fire to keep warm for fear of exposing their whereabouts.

Hunger and cold made them almost unbearable, but what was even more unbearable was the fear and despair in their hearts.

Cao Rui looked at the dark night sky in the distance, feeling an endless sense of desolation and helplessness in his heart.

He didn't know where his future lay, nor did he know how long he could hold on.

He only knew that he had to survive and escape, otherwise everything would be in vain.

However, the reality is so cruel.

The Han army's pursuit was like a ghost, leaving him nowhere to hide.

He could only continue to flee with his guards, continuing to search for a glimmer of hope in this endless darkness.

Their figures were looming in the woods, and they were as helpless as lonely ghosts.

In Cao Rui's heart, there was only endless sorrow and despair. (End of this chapter)