Shuhan

In less than a year, the old land of Wu State seemed to have changed its appearance overnight. The wheel of history rolled forward, leaving no trace of the dust of the past.

Liu Chan personally led the imperial guards and embarked on the Northern Expedition.

Their footsteps passed through Liyang, Hefei, and finally arrived at Chengde City. The scenery along the way witnessed the changes of times and the rise and fall of the country.

The early spring sunshine gently shines on the ancient land, but it can no longer illuminate the former glory of Sun Wu.

Along the way, the towers and inscriptions that once symbolized the glory of the Wu Kingdom have either been demolished or re-carved with the imprint of the Han Dynasty. The flags on the city walls have also been replaced with the dragon and phoenix totems of the Han Dynasty, fluttering in the wind, as if announcing the arrival of a new era to the world.

Liu Chan sat on the horse with a deep look in his eyes, which showed both longing for the future and emotion for the past.

He remembered that a few months ago, this was still a hostile land. But now, after the hard work and careful governance of the Han soldiers, the land of Jiangdong has been completely integrated into the territory of the Han Dynasty and has become an inseparable part of it.

This achievement made him feel indescribable pride and satisfaction.

"Your Majesty, look at the fields. The people are busy harvesting. It is a vibrant scene. It is a blessing for our Han Dynasty!" Fei Yi beside him pointed to a green field in the distance and said to Liu Chan.

It was August, and time for harvest was almost here.

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan smiled slightly, nodded, and thought to himself: True victory is not just about expanding territory, but more importantly, it is about allowing the people of this land to live and work in peace.

He traveled here and made some contribution to the people of this era.

As the team went deeper, Liu Chan noticed that not only the cities, but also the villages and markets showed a new look.

Officials of the Han Dynasty are implementing new policies in various places, encouraging farming and reducing taxes, which has brought new life to the land that was originally abandoned due to war. The faces of the people are filled with long-lost smiles, and they are busy and full of hope, whether farming or weaving.

While stopping to rest, Liu Chan "accidentally" met an elderly man who was standing in front of his simple door. His face was full of wrinkles showing the traces of time, but his eyes sparkled with infinite longing for the future.

"Old man, what do you think of the rule of this new dynasty?" Liu Chan asked gently.

The old man bowed tremblingly and replied, "Your Majesty, I have lived to such an old age and have never seen better days than now. The children have food to eat, the fields are taken care of, and we old bones can enjoy a peaceful life. You are our lucky star!"

The officials in charge of the daily records and the propaganda officer of the Jianjunsi have already started writing furiously. After a while, the picture of the Emperor of the Han Dynasty asking the old farmer is finished. It is very lifelike. If it is accompanied by the tear-jerking description of the Jianjunsi,
I am afraid that those who see it will cry after hearing it, and those who see it will feel sad.

Your Majesty's kindness can never be repaid!
As Liu Chan and his entourage arrived in Chengde, the atmosphere in the city suddenly became tense and solemn.

People stopped on both sides of the street, their eyes filled with awe and expectation for the emperor.

Liu Chan sat on a tall horse with a solemn expression. He was well aware of the importance of this Northern Expedition and the heavy responsibility on his shoulders.

As soon as he arrived in the city, Liu Chan immediately summoned Yu Jin, Wen Pin, A Hui Nan, E Huan and other frontline generals. He wanted to understand the real situation on the front line as soon as possible so as to make the most accurate judgment.

In the makeshift military tent, Liu Chan sat at the desk, his eyes sharp as torches, scanning everyone present.

He said, "What is the military situation at the front? I want to hear it from your own mouths."

Yu Jin stepped forward and answered respectfully: "Your Majesty, although our army has not yet engaged in a large-scale battle with the Wei army, we have already taken control of the Shouchun wilderness. Our cavalry has laid a dragnet in the wilderness, and every move of the Wei army is under our surveillance."

After hearing this, Liu Chan nodded slightly, but his brows were still furrowed.

Scouts engage in combat, squeezing out intelligence space.

This is just the beginning, the real challenge is yet to come.

Wen Pin continued, "Your Majesty, the work of the Jianjun Division in persuading the enemy to surrender is progressing smoothly. Although Sima Yi has been trying to disrupt our deployment by changing our defenses, several high-ranking defectors have provided us with important intelligence. They know the internal situation of the Wei army very well, which is of great help to our strategic planning."

Liu Chan heard this, and a hint of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. He knew that intelligence was as important as military strength. With the help of these defectors, they could more accurately grasp the movements of the Wei army.

Ah Huinan stepped forward with excitement and said, "Your Majesty, we have already taken down most of the fortresses outside Shouchun City. The soldiers have been attacking day and night and have achieved remarkable results. The siege equipment is also ready. Once the war begins, we plan to spend one day filling the moat and another day attacking the city. I believe that within a few days, we will be able to capture Bagong Mountain and turn Shouchun into a completely isolated city."

Ah Huinan's words made Liu Chan's eyes brighter. He seemed to have seen the moment when Shouchun City was broken and the flag of the Han Dynasty fluttering in the wind on the top of the city.

Liu Chan stood up and walked to the map to study it carefully. He ran his fingers across the map, calculating every step of attack and defense.

His heart was filled with desire for victory, but he also knew the difficulty of this war.

"Good!" Liu Chan finally spoke, his voice firm and powerful, "You have done a good job! But remember, war is not a joke, every step must be cautious. We must make sure to stay ahead of the Wei army every step of the way and catch them off guard."

One step faster, every step is faster; one step slower, every step is slower.

After hearing this, everyone present nodded in agreement.

Afterwards, Liu Chan discussed tactics and strategy with everyone in detail. He listened to everyone's opinions, sometimes thinking and sometimes nodding.

During the discussion, Liu Chan also paid special attention to the psychological state of the soldiers.

"We must let the Han soldiers know that they are fighting for the future of the Han Dynasty and for themselves." There was a hint of excitement in Liu Chan's voice.

"We want to let them know that as long as they fight hard, victory will definitely belong to us. We want to use victory to inspire them and fill them with fighting spirit."

After hearing this, everyone present expressed their agreement.

They knew that morale played a crucial role in the success or failure of a war.

Finally, Liu Chan also agreed with everyone on the specific time and route of the attack.

He required everyone to strictly follow the plan without any sloppiness or carelessness.

"This war is of vital importance to us." There was a determination gleam in Liu Chan's eyes.

"If we win, the world will be unified. If we lose, the world will be in an uncertain situation. The people of the world have suffered from the rebellion of Wei for a long time."

In the ancient and solid city of Shouchun, the air was filled with a tense and oppressive atmosphere. Upon learning that Emperor Liu Chan of the Han Dynasty was personally on the battlefield, Sima Yi, who had previously been able to remain calm and composed, could no longer conceal his inner panic.

He was wearing a plain blue shirt, pacing back and forth in the study of the General's Mansion, his steps hurried, as if every step was stepping on his heartstrings.

In the study, the candlelight flickered, reflecting on Sima Yi's slightly old but still resolute face. His eyes were sometimes solemn, sometimes flickering, revealing his inner anxiety and uneasiness. The beautiful woman Jingshu, wearing a skirt, walked lightly to his side, her watery eyes full of concern and doubt.

She had never seen Sima Yi so panicked before, and couldn't help but ask softly: "Why are you so panicked, sir? You are the general of Wei!"

Sima Yi stopped walking and sighed when he heard this. A trace of helplessness and worry flashed in his eyes. He said slowly: "The Emperor of the Han Dynasty is here in person, which means that a war is imminent. Before Liu Gongsi came, Shouchun was controlled by others. Now that he is here, the people in Shouchun are even more scattered and difficult to defend!"

After hearing this, Jing Shu hurriedly tried to comfort him, "Master, you are the general of the Great Wei, commanding an army of 100,000. How could you be afraid of that young boy? Besides, the Great Wei is behind us, and we have reinforcements. Why do you need to worry so much?"

Jingshu's voice was gentle but firm, trying to calm Sima Yi's inner panic.

However, Sima Yi stared at Jing Shu with a more intense gaze, as if he wanted to see through her heart. He said in a deep voice: "If something happens to your majesty during the battle between the two armies, whether it is because of the disunity of the people or the lack of trust of the new emperor, Shouchun will be difficult to defend, and I will be uneasy!"

Sima Yi's tone was full of helplessness and anxiety, as if he had foreseen all the possibilities in the future.

Jing Shu stared at Sima Yi, her eyes full of determination and trust. She said solemnly: "Don't worry, sir. His Majesty will be fine in the next one or two months. As for the crown prince, he is a person who can see the situation clearly. He knows that defending Shouchun is more important than anything else. As long as you hold on to the city and wait for reinforcements to arrive, you will be able to turn the danger into safety."

Sima Yi nodded slightly when he heard this, but the anxiety in his heart did not completely dissipate.

This war is arduous and complex, and the responsibility on my shoulders is heavy.

Sima Yi sighed again and said, "I hope so. But in this war, there are too many variables and no one can predict the final outcome. I can only do my best to defend this land for the Wei Dynasty."

What else can I do except try my best?
Seeing this, Jing Shu walked gently to Sima Yi's side and handed him a cup of hot tea. She said softly, "Master, you have worked hard. Have a cup of tea and take a rest. No matter what the result is, I will always be by your side to support you."

Her voice was gentle and firm, like a warm current flowing into Sima Yi's heart.

Sima Yi took the teacup and took a sip. The warm tea seemed to take away a bit of his anxiety and uneasiness.

However, we must find a way to defend Shouchun and deal with the Han army.

There is no use just waiting.

Reinforcements?

There would be no way we could rely on reinforcements.

In Shouchun City, people were in panic. The spies of the Secret Service were moving in the dark like ghosts, trying to undermine the city's defenses.

In the past few days, Sima Yi has sent troops to suppress the rebellion several times, but the internal turmoil is still like an undercurrent, making it difficult for him to defend the city with peace of mind.

In the study of the General's Mansion, the flickering candlelight illuminated Sima Yi's slightly aged but still resolute face. His eyes were sometimes solemn, sometimes flickering, revealing his inner anxiety and uneasiness.

Jingshu, a beautiful lady in a ruqun, stood beside him. Her eyes were as sharp as a knife, as if she could see into people's hearts.

"Master, the people in this city are in turmoil. We must take decisive measures." Jingshu's tone was filled with murderous intent. She knew very well that at this critical moment, a conciliatory policy was no longer useful.

Sima Yi sighed when he heard this. He knew that Jing Shu was right. He said slowly, "You are right. It is time to use some extraordinary measures. We cannot let the spies of the Jianjun Division continue to mess with us."

Seeing this, Jing Shu's eyes became sharper. She continued, "Master, we should arrest those who were instigated by the Jianjun Division and execute them in the East Market to serve as a warning to others. This will not only boost morale, but also eliminate the evil."

After hearing this, Sima Yi was silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

Wei Jun actually already had some information about the people who had been instigated to rebel, and he originally planned to use these people to obtain more intelligence about the Spy Army Division.

But at this moment, facing the unrest in the city, he had to reconsider.

Finally, he made up his mind and said, "Jingshu is right. Let's kill these people to shock those people in the city. At the critical moment, we have to use the critical method. If it weren't for the need to use civilians and militia, to be honest, I would have wanted to drive all the people of Shouchun out."

His tone revealed helplessness and determination. He knew very well what consequences this decision would bring, but at this moment, he had to consider the overall situation.

After hearing this, Jingshu smiled slightly, and her smile revealed a hint of coldness and determination.

This decision was cruel, but necessary.

Jing Shu said: "Master, rest assured, I will personally supervise the execution of this matter. I want to let those evil people know that there is only one outcome for betraying the Wei Dynasty - that is death!"

In the next few days, Shouchun City was filled with a bloody atmosphere.

Those who were instigated by the spy army were arrested one by one and then beheaded in the East Market. Their blood dyed the ground red and also frightened those who had evil intentions in the city.

The people and soldiers in the city were filled with fear and anxiety when they saw these cruel scenes.

This war has reached a life-and-death moment.

. . .

In Shouchun City, Sima Yi's move of using spies from the Secret Service to eliminate dissidents and shock the people spread quickly like fire in the wind.

The news spread quickly and eventually reached the ears of Liu Chan, the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.

When Liu Chan heard this, a faint smile appeared on his lips and a playful light flashed in his eyes.

He shook his head slightly and said, "The war hasn't even begun yet, but Sima Yi has already started to feel fearful. Since he wants to play with people's hearts, I will play this game with him."

After saying this, Liu Chan immediately summoned Huo Yi.

He said to Huo Yi with a serious look, "Huo Yi, you go to Shouchun City quickly and order our spies to spread the news. They will say that Sima Yi is purging the spies on the surface, but in fact he is killing all those who disobey him. He is taking the opportunity to purge dissidents and plot to become the King of Shouchun. As for the rumors, the more outrageous the better, as long as they can stir up people's hearts and give Sima Yi a headache."

When Huo Yi heard this, a glimmer of understanding flashed in his eyes.

He knew the purpose of His Majesty's move, which was to create chaos behind enemy lines and shake Sima Yi's foundation. He nodded, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, rest assured, I will do it properly and make Sima Yi very anxious."

Liu Chan nodded with satisfaction and waved his hand to signal Huo Yi to leave. He thought to himself: "Sima Yi, Sima Yi, you want to play with people's hearts? Then I will play with you to the end. Let's see who will have the last laugh in this game." (End of this chapter)