Shuhan

The night was as dark as ink. On the Bagong Mountain, among the peaks, the Wei army’s camps were dotted with lights.

This night, unlike the silence and vigilance of the past, a rare sense of indulgence permeated the air.

After experiencing a tragic defeat, the soldiers of the Wei army seemed to want to use this moment of indulgence to comfort their tired hearts and scarred bodies.

In the center of the camp, a bonfire was blazing, and the firelight illuminated faces that were some young and some weathered. They sat in a circle, and in the middle were several rough large pottery jars filled with turbid wine - this was what they called "turbid wine".

Although this wine is not as good as the fine wine in the palace, it also has its own unique flavor, with a strong and heroic taste, just like the mood of the soldiers at the moment, bitter and unwilling.

The pieces of meat were casually thrown on a wooden plate beside them and simply roasted over a fire. The skin was slightly charred, but the inside remained tender and fresh.

For the soldiers who rarely eat meat on weekdays, this is undoubtedly a rare delicacy.

They tore or bit the food and swallowed it in big mouthfuls, with satisfied expressions on their faces, as if they were tasting the most precious delicacy in the world.

The aroma of meat and wine mixed together to create the most tempting scent of the night.

"Drink! We must drink until we are drunk today!" A burly general with a stubble on his face, his eyes sparkling with excitement. He raised a clay bowl high and his voice was like thunder, hurting the eardrums of those around him.

His face showed the weathering of battles, but at this moment, the toughness of a soldier was replaced by temporary relaxation, and there was a rare smile on the corner of his mouth, which was the most direct love and yearning for life.

Next to him, a young soldier, with a somewhat childish face, also imitated the adults and picked up a bowl of wine. Although his hands were shaking, his eyes were full of determination.

He took a sip carefully, and the spicy taste instantly hit his taste buds, making him frown, but then came an unprecedented pleasure.

He smiled, with the joy of growing up.

Amidst the jubilation, there were also people sitting quietly aside. Perhaps they were missing their relatives far away, or perhaps they were recalling the thrilling moments on the battlefield.

Their eyes are deep, and occasionally a hint of imperceptible sadness flashes across them.

As the night deepened and three rounds of drinks were drunk, the noise in the camp slowly faded away, leaving only the crackling of the bonfire, reflecting the smiles and tears on everyone's face.

That night, they were not just soldiers, but ordinary people with flesh and blood, emotions and righteousness.

Next to the campfire, Hu Zun was tearing a piece of lamb chop that was roasted to a golden and crispy texture. The fat was sliding down the corners of his mouth, and a sense of satisfaction was revealed in his greasy face.

The skin of this lamb chop is slightly charred, and the meat inside is tender and juicy. Every bite is an ultimate temptation to the taste buds.

He chewed with big mouthfuls, enjoying the rare peace and comfort brought by the delicious food.

However, this tranquility did not last long, as a sudden commotion broke the silence of the night.

Hu Zun's heart suddenly tightened, and the lamb chops in his hand stopped involuntarily.

He frowned and thought, "Could it be that the Han army attacked at night?"

An ominous premonition came to his mind, and he quickly threw the unfinished lamb chops aside, grabbed the ring-handled knife at his side, and rushed towards the village gate with a nimble figure.

When they arrived at the gate of the camp, they saw a group of ragged and tired-looking Wei soldiers being let into the camp by the deputy general guarding the gate.

Some of them still had scars on their bodies, obviously having just escaped from the Han army's prisoner camp.

Hu Zun's face was extremely gloomy. He widened his eyes, with murderous intent in his sharp eyes. He shouted at the deputy general guarding the gate: "Who told you to let them in?"

The deputy general was so frightened when he saw Hu Zun getting angry that he stepped forward timidly and explained, "General, calm down. These are our brothers, so we should let them in. I have carefully checked them and there are no Han soldiers among them."

Upon hearing this, Hu Zun snorted coldly, his tone full of distrust: "Who knows if there are any defectors among them? If any of them become spies for the Han army, the consequences will be disastrous!"

Upon hearing this, the deputy general hurriedly defended himself, "General, even if one or two of them were persuaded to rebel, it is impossible for all of them to rebel. Besides, if we don't let them in, where will the morale of the army be? They are our brothers!"

In fact, in the deputy general's mind, there was another unknown reason why he was so determined to let these people in - his brother-in-law was among them.

He knew Hu Zun's temper very well, but as things had come to this point, he could only bite the bullet and beg for mercy.

Hu Zun looked at the anxious expression of the deputy general. Although he was dissatisfied, he also knew that the matter should not be made a big deal.

He hesitated for a moment, and finally compromised. He just said sternly to the captured soldiers: "If any of you dare to betray and become spies for the Han army, I will never let you off easily! Now, you go to the barracks in the west. Without my permission, you are not allowed to leave the barracks, otherwise you will be treated as spies for the Han army!"

Upon hearing this, the captured Wei soldiers were dissatisfied but did not dare to say much.

They knew Hu Zun's reputation and were more familiar with the rules of the army.

So they could only agree silently and turn to walk towards the barracks in the west.

Hu Zun looked at their backs, feeling mixed emotions.

Although these soldiers had been captured, most of them were innocent.

However, the situation is tense now, so he has to be cautious just in case.

He sighed, turned and walked back to the campfire.

The lamb chop had already cooled down, but Hu Zun still picked it up and took a big bite.

Although the meat was no longer tender and juicy, its toughness seemed to remind him that no matter what difficulties he faced, he had to be as tenacious as this lamb chop!
Hu Zun chewed a lamb chop and looked at the night sky with a determined look.

He also believed that as long as the Wei army worked together to face difficulties, they would be able to overcome this difficulty!
At this moment, the deputy general was also feeling uneasy. He knew that letting these people in without authorization might cause Hu Zun's dissatisfaction, but he really couldn't bear to see his brother-in-law suffer outside.

He could only pray silently, hoping that there were really no spies from the Han army among these people, otherwise he would really become a sinner of the Wei army.

As the night deepened, the noise in the camp gradually died down. Only the bonfire was still crackling, reflecting the expressions on everyone's faces. Some were worried, some were angry, and some were helpless and sighing.

After several days, the Han army's offensive did not arrive as expected, which made Hu Zun feel a little confused.

He stood on the high platform of the camp, his eyes piercing through the layers of fog, gazing at the silent Han army camp in the distance.

Previously, the Han army attacked the middle camp at all costs because of its geographical advantages. Now, the defense of the upper camp is not as strong as that of the middle camp, so why are they standing still?
This is really puzzling, very puzzling.

Hu Zun frowned and decided to find the deputy general to get things done.

"What has the Han army been doing these days?" Hu Zun's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.

Seeing this, the deputy general did not dare to be negligent and quickly replied: "Prepare the army for battle and build siege equipment."

Hu Zun was stunned for a moment, his brows furrowed even tighter, and he asked, "No more?"

The deputy general nodded and said nervously, "No more."

A trace of doubt flashed across Hu Zun's eyes, and he continued to ask, "Has there been any changes in the village?"

The deputy general lowered his head, his voice filled with helplessness: "I have told the general before that soldiers often escape at night."

Hu Zun nodded, his eyes revealing a deep worry.

He asked again: "Did many escape?"

The deputy general hesitated for a moment, but finally answered truthfully: "Before, there were a few people a day, but now there are dozens of people a day."

Hearing this, Hu Zun's expression became even more gloomy.

He thought to himself, if they continue to run away like this, how can we defend the camp?
Hu Zun's eyes flashed with determination, and he snorted coldly, saying immediately: "Reorganize the soldiers in the camp and punish them collectively. If anyone in a squad flees, the whole squad will be killed."

Upon hearing this, the deputy general showed a worried look on his face.

He hesitated for a moment, but still spoke up to advise: "General, the reinforcements have been delayed. If you use harsh laws, I'm afraid there will be unrest in the army."

When Hu Zun heard this, a hint of anger flashed in his eyes.

He suddenly pulled out the ring-handled sword from his waist, and the blade flashed coldly in the sunlight.

Hu Zun shouted: "Whoever dares to resist, whoever dares to rebel! Let them know that the blade in my hand is not sharp!"

His voice was like thunder, shaking the deputy general's heart.

Hu Zun's face became extremely ferocious at this moment, and his eyes revealed a kind of madness and determination.

The current situation does not allow him to show any mercy.

The fleeing of the soldiers made him feel an unprecedented crisis. He had to take decisive measures to stabilize the morale of the army and defend the camp.

The deputy general looked at Hu Zun's crazy appearance and felt a chill in his heart.

Hu Zun has made up his mind, and anyone's dissuasion is futile.

He could only silently carry out orders, reorganize the soldiers in the camp, and implement the strict law of collective responsibility.

. . .

In the upper camp, Wei soldiers gathered together, each with a different look on their face.

They had just heard the law of collective responsibility read out by Hu Zun's personal guards, and everyone showed displeasure on their face.

After the guard left, they gathered together and talked in low voices.

One of them had a thin face and a look of dissatisfaction in his eyes. He said, "The reinforcements we promised didn't come. We have been abandoned by the general. If we still hold on to the camp, we will die. And Hu Zun has issued a law of collective responsibility. If anyone in the squad escapes, won't we all die?"

The other man nodded after hearing this. His face was haggard and his eyes were filled with helplessness. “We absolutely cannot do this. Our lives are our own. We have sold enough lives to Hu Zun.”

At this time, a middle-aged man with a ferocious face stood up, with a crazy light in his eyes, as if he had already made a decision. He said, "Why don't we capture and kill Hu Zun and present him to the Han army? This would be a great achievement!"

As soon as the big man said this, everyone looked at each other, and no one said a word. But their eyes showed a fiery look.

There is no hope of defending the village, but if you try your best, you may be able to become rich.

Upon seeing this, the centurion slammed the table and whispered, "Done! Do you have the guts to get a scar no bigger than a bowl?"

These people looked at each other, and finally nodded.

They said: "We have the courage, but there are only a few dozen of us, so it may be difficult to accomplish anything."

The centurion's eyes flickered when he heard this. He immediately said, "I'll go and persuade Ergou, Chongba, and Third Uncle. Today, we have to hold our wealth and lives in our own hands!"

His voice was low but full of confidence and determination.

Having said that, the centurion stood up and walked towards the depths of the camp.

Ergou, Chongba, Sanshu and others are centurions in the camp. They are experienced and have strong fighting ability.

Only by convincing them can we ensure the success of the action.

When he found Ergou, Ergou was squatting on the ground, drawing on the ground with a branch in his hand.

The centurion walked up to him and whispered, "Ergou, there is a chance to become rich. Are you willing to take a chance?"

Upon hearing this, Ergou raised his head and glanced at the centurion.

There was a hint of doubt in his eyes, but then he became firm again: "Wealth? Tell me about it."

The centurion told Ergou the plan.

After Ergou heard this, he was silent for a while, and finally nodded: "Let's do it! If we defend this camp, we will die. If we don't defend it, we will die too. We might as well give it a try!"

Afterwards, the centurion found Chongba and Third Uncle.

After listening to the plan, they all expressed their willingness to join.

After guarding for several months, too many people have died and there is no hope in sight.

Now a spark ignited them all.

In this way, a rebel group consisting of dozens of Wei army soldiers was quietly formed.

Their hearts are filled with desire for wealth and persistence in survival.

This is a gamble, but they are ready and willing to risk their lives for the unknown road to wealth.

The sky tonight is deep and dark, like an invisible giant mouth, swallowing up all the light and noise.

The moon was hidden and the stars were concealed. The wind was chilly and uneasy as it blew between the camps, making low howls.

In this dead silence, a team of three to four hundred people gathered quietly. They were dressed in dark robes, holding weapons that gleamed coldly, and their eyes showed both tension and determination.

Leading the group were several centurions. Although they had experienced many battles and their faces were full of traces of time, their eyes were unusually bright at this moment, flashing with excitement and anticipation for the upcoming action.

"Action!" With a low and powerful command, the group of people quickly dispersed, like ghosts in the night, quietly approaching the general's mansion.

Ten capable men were specially selected, and their task was to sneak into the general's mansion and eliminate the guards at the gate. The night became their best cover, and they took advantage of the terrain and approached silently, with agile and accurate movements, making almost no sound.

The guards were still sleeping, unaware of the impending crisis, until the cold blade scratched their necks, and everything was decided.

The door of the general's mansion was gently pushed open, as if it was a huge mouth opening in the night, and hundreds of people poured in instantly. Their footsteps seemed particularly heavy in the silent night. They shouted words to encourage themselves, trying to cover up their inner tension and anxiety.

"Come on!"

"Wealth is right before our eyes!"

"I've disliked Hu Zun for a long time. Kill him!"

These sounds intertwined together, breaking the tranquility of the night and making the entire upper camp instantly lively.

At this moment, Hu Zun was holding his beautiful concubine in his arms, immersed in dreams.

The sudden noise was like a heavy hammer, waking him up from his dream.

He sat up suddenly, his eyes still a little confused, but his years of military career helped him come to his senses quickly.

Without saying a word, he picked up the sword beside him. Although he had not fought for many days and had taken off his armor, his movements were still agile and powerful.

However, the current situation made it impossible for him to put on his armor calmly. He could only hold his sword and hurried out of the room.

As soon as he went out, Hu Zun saw the rebel soldiers pouring in like a tide, and an ominous premonition suddenly arose in his heart.

He shouted, "Are you guys planning to rebel?"

There was both majesty and confusion in his voice. He tried to intimidate these chaotic soldiers with his aura.

However, this roar did not make the soldiers retreat, but made them even more excited. They recognized the figure in front of them as the target of their operation - Hu Zun.

"It's him, capture him!" the soldiers shouted, and more than ten people immediately rushed towards Hu Zun.

Although Hu Zun was old, he was still a good soldier in the army with good martial arts. He waved his sword, and the sword light was as fast as lightning. Several people fell down in an instant.

He originally thought that such deterrence would make others retreat, but he did not expect that these chaotic soldiers seemed to be driven by some force, and they continued to advance, roaring and completely disregarding their lives.

The sound of weapons clashing resounded through the night sky, clang clang clang, each sound like a death horn.

Although Hu Zun was brave, two fists could not beat four hands, not to mention that these soldiers were already blood-thirsty. Their attacks became more and more fierce, and every swing was filled with deadly murderous intent.

Gradually, wounds appeared on Hu Zun's body, blood stained his clothes red, and his movements began to slow down.

Even so, he still gritted his teeth and persisted, with an unyielding fire burning in his eyes.

However, no matter how strong one's will is, it cannot resist the overwhelming attack.

In the end, Hu Zun was chopped into meat paste by the chaotic soldiers, and his body fell in a pool of blood. His eyes, which were once full of majesty, had now lost their luster, leaving only endless emptiness and unwillingness.

As for the beautiful concubine in his room, she naturally could not escape this disaster. She was humiliated by these mad soldiers. Her cries echoed in the night sky, but no one could save her.

At dawn, all the chaos gradually subsided.

The Han army left thousands of corpses in the middle camp, but in the upper camp, the Han army did not lose a single soldier.

The upper camp had already been breached without the Han army attacking. (End of this chapter)