Shuhan

Shouchun.

Inside the General's Mansion, light filtered through the carved window lattices and cast a mottled shadow on Sima Yi's body.

He was dressed in simple casual clothes and had a calm expression, as if every trace left by the years on his face contained wisdom and composure.

The military newspaper held tightly in Sima Yi's hand was densely covered with words, recording the latest battle situation and enemy situation on the front line. His eyes were as sharp as torches, carefully examining every detail, not missing any information that might affect the battle situation.

On the opposite side, Hu Zun was kneeling on the ground, still wearing his armor, obviously having hurried over from the front line.

He had dark circles under his eyes, and his eyes were full of fatigue, as if he had not slept all night. The smell of sweat on his body and the coldness of his armor intertwined, revealing that he had just experienced a tough battle or journey.

Hu Zun's face was filled with frustration and unwillingness. He whispered, "I originally wanted to use this action as a breakthrough to boost the morale of our army, but I was fooled by that military commander and didn't get any benefit at all."

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi curled up the corner of his mouth into a faint smile, which showed his understanding of Hu Zun and his calm grasp of the situation.

He comforted her softly, "It's not a big deal that we didn't gain any benefit. The key is that we didn't lose anything, and this is the best result. On the battlefield, it's hard to predict the truth. I had already predicted what would happen to you."

Hu Zun had a sad face, full of helplessness: "I wanted to take this opportunity to show off my wealth, but now I am afraid that I will become a laughing stock among the people of Shouchun."

Sima Yi shook his head, his eyes revealing a hint of depth: "Why bother about what others think? That Liu Gongsi has a military commander who is good at strategy and trickery. Don't we have a school office in Wei to compete with him? The talented people in the school office should not be underestimated either.

You and I just need to wait for good news. If the school affairs office goes smoothly, it may bring an unexpected turn for the better for our army. By then, we won't have to defend Shouchun City anymore."

At this point, Sima Yi's eyes became more profound, as if he could see through the current predicament and see the dawn of victory in the future.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the gradually darkening sky outside, with complex emotions surging in his heart: worry about the current situation and firm belief in the future.

When Hu Zun heard this, his heart seemed to be instantly ignited by a blazing flame, and he was so excited that he almost jumped up.

He stared at Sima Yi with wide eyes and expectation, and asked with a trembling voice: "Ming Gong...have you found a good way to deal with the Han Kingdom?"

Sima Yi smiled slightly and nodded gently, with a deep light flashing in his eyes, as if everything was under control.

"I do have some ideas, but they are just some gimmicks and tricks. We can't pin all our hopes on them."

Although his tone was light, it revealed an unquestionable firmness.

Upon hearing this, Hu Zun became even more curious and eager to know the specific content of this plan.

He swallowed and asked again cautiously, "General, can you tell me a little? So I can have a better idea."

Sima Yi shook his head, his eyes became unusually serious. He lowered his voice and said slowly: "This matter is of great importance. The more people know about it, the more danger there is of exposure. When the matter is accomplished, you will naturally know everything. Now, just wait patiently."

After hearing this, although Hu Zun had thousands of questions and curiosity in his mind, he also understood that what Sima Yi said was true.

He didn't dare to ask any more questions, so he had to suppress his curiosity and expectations and nodded to show his understanding.

Just then, a soft sound of footsteps broke the silence in the room, and the beautiful lady Jingshu walked in slowly with several servants, carrying exquisite wine and food.

She was wearing an elegant dress and walked lightly, like a fairy descending to earth, bringing a touch of softness to the tense atmosphere.

"General, General Hu, the wine and food are ready, please enjoy."

Jingshu's voice was gentle and pleasant. She waved her hand gently, signaling the servants to place the wine and dishes on the table one by one.

Seeing this, Sima Yi showed a rare gentle smile on his face. He waved to Hu Zun and said, "Come on, Hu Zun, let's enjoy this delicious meal first, and then go to Bagong Mountain to take turns guarding. Although the war is intense, we can't sacrifice our health."

Hu Zun felt a warm current in his heart when he heard this. He looked at the table full of delicacies, which were colorful, fragrant and delicious: tender and juicy roasted venison, fragrant stewed chicken soup, and crystal clear and delicate fish soup. Every dish was mouth-watering.

He picked up the chopsticks, picked up a piece of venison, and put it in his mouth to taste it carefully. The meat was tender and juicy, and it was full of fragrance and left a lingering aftertaste. He took another sip of the chicken soup, which was rich but not greasy, warming his heart and spleen, as if all the fatigue of the past few days had dissipated.

After three rounds of wine and five dishes, Hu Zun and Sima Yi ate and chatted, and the atmosphere gradually became relaxed. Although Sima Yi remained tight-lipped about the strategy to deal with the Han Dynasty, Hu Zun was no longer eager to ask.

Now that the general has made a plan, all he has to do is wait for the right opportunity.

For Sun Shangxiang, her hometown of Wujun is no longer the place full of warmth and memories.

Time flies, and those once familiar faces, those playmates with whom she spent her childhood, or the kind elders, have mostly turned to dust, dust to dust, earth to earth.

Whenever it was late at night and the moonlight shone through the window onto her lonely bed, her thoughts would involuntarily drift far away, towards the man who haunted her dreams.

It is a complex emotion, intertwined with longing, regret and unfulfilled expectations, like a sudden thunderstorm on a summer afternoon, both fierce and unpredictable.

At this moment, she was riding on a simply decorated but sturdy boat, going up the river to Jianye.

On both sides of the river, the trackers were shirtless, with sweat running down their dark backs. Every step they took seemed to be fighting against the gravity of the earth, making a dull and powerful sound.

The summer sun is scorching, and the water in the river becomes turbulent. The rolling waves seem to contain infinite power, which makes people feel awe and inspires the courage to move forward.

Along the way, the rice fields are like a green ocean, undulating with the wind, full of vitality, heralding another harvest season.

However, in this prosperous scene, Sun Shangxiang felt a little sad.

The Sun family, the once glorious royal family of Jiangzuo, is now devoid of talent, and its past glory seems to have become a thing of the past.

Sun Shangxiang knew in her heart that it would be difficult to save the family from decline with her own strength alone, but she was still willing to do her best to leave a glimmer of hope for the Sun family.

Turning around, I saw the young boy Sun Lin sitting in the corner of the deck, holding a book and reading quietly.

His face still had a bit of childishness, but his eyes had a calmness that went beyond his age.

During this period of time, after Sun Shangxiang's unremitting efforts, Sun Lin finally agreed to go to Jianye with her.

This was undoubtedly a great comfort to Sun Shangxiang.

She hoped that Sun Lin could become the new pillar of the Sun family and prevent this once prominent family from completely sinking under the shadow of national destruction.

There was no joy or sadness on Sun Lin's face, as if all the noise from the outside world had nothing to do with him.

He immersed himself in the pages of the book. Every word and every sentence seemed to plant a seed of hope in his heart.

Sun Shangxiang looked at her neighbor like this, and a complex emotion welled up in her heart, both relieved and worried.

She was glad that Sun Lin's maturity and steadiness made her see hope for the Sun family's future; but she was worried that this road to revival was destined to be bumpy, and that Sun Lin would have to bear far more than he could imagine at the moment.

The boat continued to move forward, and the waves of the river seemed to be telling the past glory and vicissitudes.

Sun Shangxiang sighed softly.

After all, she didn't have much affection for the Sun family. It was just because she was born in the Sun family, that's all.

But she also felt that she had done enough.

There's only so much you can do.

The boat quickly crossed the turbulent river and soon arrived in Jianye.

In stark contrast to the tense and depressed atmosphere of the past few days, at this moment the Jianye River is crowded with merchant ships.

These ships are of different sizes and shapes, some are as light as a swallow, and some are as steady as a mountain. They are either loaded with heavy cargo or carrying hopeful travelers, together weaving a prosperous water picture of Jianye.

The area around the ferry is bustling with hawkers shouting one after another, offering a wide variety of goods, from fresh fish and shrimp to exquisite handicrafts.

People are huddled together, and everyone's face is filled with enthusiasm and vitality for life. The business is so hot that it almost makes people forget that this place was once quiet not long ago.

The most eye-catching are the three huge "warships" beside the ferry.

They stand tall and majestic like three moving castles, with broad decks and tall masts, making them particularly eye-catching even among many ships.

Sun Lin looked at these huge ships curiously and couldn't help asking Sun Shangxiang, "Aunt, what are these ships used for? Why are they so big?"

Sun Shangxiang smiled gently, her eyes gleaming with wisdom. "Maybe it's a merchant ship transporting goods. When sailing on the river, the bigger the merchant ship, the better. It can carry more goods and withstand stronger winds and waves."

However, Sun Lin frowned, he did not completely agree with Sun Shangxiang's statement.

He thought, if it was a merchant ship, wouldn't it be stranded in a small river or stream with such a huge size? Such a ship is more suitable for sailing on the vast ocean rather than shuttling through inland waterways.

The Grand Eunuch Huang Hao had been waiting on the shore early. He was wearing a gorgeous official uniform, a tall eunuch crown on his head, and a jade pendant around his waist that symbolized his status, looking particularly noble.

However, when he saw Sun Shangxiang getting off the boat, the expression on his face instantly became extremely humble, like a respectful servant.

He walked forward quickly, bowed, and said with awe in his tone: "Madam, His Majesty has been waiting for you in the palace for a long time. I hope you will not keep His Majesty waiting for too long."

Upon hearing this, Sun Shangxiang nodded slightly.

In fact, her heart was full of anticipation, and she couldn't wait to meet the Han emperor, her sweetheart.

When Sun Lin heard that he would be able to see the emperor soon, his eyes suddenly lit up, filled with excitement and curiosity.

Of course, there seems to be other meanings involved.

He immediately said to Sun Shangxiang, "Aunt, I spoke outrageously in front of the royal family last time. If I want to revive the Sun family this time, I must go to His Majesty and express my stance. Please take me with you, aunt."

Sun Shangxiang turned to look at Sun Lin, a hint of relief flashing in her eyes.

She knew that Sun Lin was no longer the ignorant boy, and he finally began to consider the Sun family.

She nodded slightly and said to Huang Hao, "Grand Eunuch, how about this? Let my neighbor go with me to see His Majesty."

Huang Hao couldn't help but ponder in his heart when he heard this.

He knew very well that Sun Shangxiang held a special position in Liu Chan's heart, so he did not dare to neglect her in the slightest.

Thinking of this, Huang Hao immediately nodded and said, "There is nothing wrong with that. Madam, go with this young man to meet His Majesty! His Majesty will definitely be very happy."

As he spoke, Huang Hao led Sun Shangxiang and Sun Lin towards the palace.

Finally, they arrived at the gate of the palace.

Huang Hao stopped and turned to Sun Shangxiang and Sun Lin and said, "Madam, Sir, please follow me. His Majesty has been waiting in the palace for a long time."

As he spoke, he pushed open the door and led the two of them into the hall.

The hall is magnificent and majestic.

Liu Chan sat on the high dragon throne, wearing a dragon robe and a crown on his head, looking majestic and solemn.

His eyes were as sharp as an eagle's, as if he could see into people's hearts.

However, when his eyes fell on Sun Shangxiang, they became soft and warm. He stood up, walked towards Sun Shangxiang and Sun Lin with a smile, and said in a kind tone: "Madam, you are finally here."

Sun Shangxiang walked forward slowly, and Liu Chan stood up from the dragon throne. He embraced Sun Shangxiang, and the two of them were affectionate in front of Sun Lin, as if everything in the world had stopped and only the two of them were left.

However, after a moment, Liu Chan's gaze finally turned to Sun Lin with a bit of scrutiny and expectation.

"So, you finally figured it out and are willing to work for me?"

Sun Lin's heart was beating violently, he knew very well that his determination at this moment would determine his fate.

He immediately stepped forward, knelt before Liu Chan, and said in a firm voice: "I am willing to serve your majesty!"

However, where no one could see, his fingers had already quietly touched the hilt of the Yuchang sword hidden in his sleeve.

This sword is his last resort and his last dignity.

Who says there are no brave men in Jiangdong?
He is the first, but definitely not the last!
"Okay, okay, okay!" Liu Chan said okay repeatedly, with a wider smile on his face.

However, he did not notice anything unusual about Sun Lin.

At this moment, Sun Lin suddenly stabbed.

His eyes flashed with determination, and his voice was as cold as ice: "Tyrant, if you, a traitor, don't die, how can the world be at peace? Come and die!"

The Yuchang sword pierced Liu Chan's chest like a flash of lightning, so fast that it caught people off guard.

At this critical moment, Huang Hao, the eunuch beside Liu Chan, suddenly rushed over and blocked the sword with his body.

"Be careful, Your Majesty!"

"Puchi!" The tip of the sword pierced Huang Hao's chest, and blood gushed out.

A look of pain appeared on Huang Hao's face, but he still hugged Sun Lin tightly, preventing him from making any further movements.

"You..." Liu Chan looked at the scene in astonishment. He did not expect that Sun Lin would suddenly attack.

He glared at Sun Lin, his voice as cold as ice: "How dare you, a traitor, to assassinate me!"

Sun Shangxiang was also stunned. She didn't expect Sun Lin to be so decisive.

She wanted to step forward to stop it, but it was too late.

She could only watch Huang Hao fall to the ground, the fire of life gradually extinguished.

"Nephew, why are you doing this?" She called Sun Lin's name sadly, but Sun Lin could no longer hear her.

There was only determination and hatred in his heart. He wanted to avenge the Sun family and overthrow the rule of this tyrant.

However, the reality is cruel.

After the failed stabbing, the surrounding guards had completely controlled him.

He didn't have a second chance.

Liu Chan's eyes were cold, but he laughed out loud.

“Hahahaha~”

Just as Jing Ke assassinated the King of Qin, which led to the premature destruction of the State of Yan.

Sun Lin's assassination of the emperor undoubtedly gave Liu Chan a better opportunity and excuse to clean up and unify the old territories of the Wu Kingdom!

Too much benevolence and righteousness is not good either.

Sometimes, violence can solve problems. (End of this chapter)