Shuhan

In the lobby of the rear general's mansion, Niu Jin sat upright on a heavy pear wood chair. He had a sturdy figure, a resolute face, and an unyielding pride between his brows.

In one hand he tightly grasped a ring-handled sword, the blade gleaming with cold light, as if reflecting the turbulent waves in his heart.

In the other hand, he held a slightly rough rag and wiped the blade carefully. Every movement seemed so focused and powerful.

"This knife is not sharp enough." Niu Jin muttered to himself, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his eyes.

He looked down at the whetstone at his feet. It was already bearing traces of time, and its uneven surface recorded the history of countless sharpening operations.

Niu Jin placed the knife on the stone and began to grind it slowly and forcefully. Every push and pull was accompanied by the crisp sound of metal and stone colliding, just like the long-suppressed resentment in his heart, looking for an outlet to release.

At this moment, Niu Jin's heart was filled with dissatisfaction and helplessness about the current situation.

In particular, his dissatisfaction with the garrison commander Guanqiu Jian, who was personally sent by His Majesty, had reached its peak.

Guanqiu Jian, a stubborn and self-righteous man, always relied on his status and power to boss his subordinates around, especially towards Niu Jin, to whom he often used humiliating words, completely disregarding Niu Jin's prestige and contributions in the army.

"Humph, why would His Majesty send such an incompetent person to guard Shouchun?"

Niu Jin pondered secretly in his heart, and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth. That smile contained both contempt for Guanqiu Jian and helplessness about his own fate.

Given Guanqiu Jian's character and ability, it would be difficult for him to defend the important city of Shouchun, and if it were lost, the consequences would be disastrous.

but now.
It has nothing to do with him anymore.

Just as Niu Jin was immersed in his thoughts, a burst of hurried footsteps interrupted his meditation. A guard hurried into the hall and reported nervously: "General, Lord Guanqiu is here again, and it seems...it seems that he wants to cause trouble for you."

Niu Jin's eyes instantly became fierce when he heard this, and his murderous intent was revealed inadvertently. He slowly stood up and clenched the ring-handled knife in his hand, and he had prepared for the worst. "Okay, let me see how he will humiliate me this time." Niu Jin thought to himself, with a cold smile on his lips, and strode towards the front yard of the mansion.

In the front yard, Guanqiu Jian was standing there arrogantly, surrounded by a group of followers, looking overbearing.

Seeing Niu Jin approaching, he raised a mocking smile: "Hey, isn't this General Niu? Why, are you still sharpening your knife here? Are you planning to attack me?"

Niu Jin had a blank expression on his face, but his eyes were as sharp as torches as he stared directly at Guanqiu Jian: "Master Guanqiu, although I am a warrior, I also know how to be loyal to the emperor and love my country. However, if someone endangers the safety of Shouchun, I will never sit idly by."

Upon hearing this, Guanqiu Jian's face changed, but then he regained his arrogant look: "Humph, what are you talking about? Are you questioning my ability? Don't forget, I have the final say here!"

Niu Jin was burning with anger, but he knew that his forbearance at this moment was for a greater counterattack.

At this moment, Guanqiu Jian's eyes suddenly became cunning. He approached Niu Jin and sneered, "I heard that there is a beauty in your house. I heard that it was given to you by Sima Zhongda. I heard that she is a beautiful girl from Silla. She is very beautiful, so I came to take her. General, you will not be reluctant to give her up, right?"

A surge of anger suddenly surged in Niu Jin's heart, but he tried hard not to flare up and just snorted coldly.

He took a deep breath and tried to make his tone sound calm: "It's just a beautiful girl. If the guard wants her, I will offer her to him."

Guanqiu Jian laughed out loud, his face full of pride: "Niu Jin, you are also a man who knows how to flatter. What's the point of following Sima Yi? Just follow me in the future! I promise that you will enjoy endless wealth and glory!"

As he said this, he hugged Niu Jin's beautiful concubine and left with a big laugh. The beautiful concubine's eyes flashed with resentment, as if she was telling of endless reluctance and helplessness.

Niu Jin felt a pain in his heart as he watched Meiji leave.

He knew that he was enduring and sacrificing for a greater goal. He clenched his fists and tried to calm himself down.

Then, he whispered to his trusted aide beside him, "Please ask the person outside to come in."

Upon hearing this, the confidant immediately agreed and turned to leave.

The person outside was naturally a spy from the Han army.

Niu Jin knew that he had reached the point where he had no choice but to rebel.

After a while, the confidant came in with a thin man in black clothes.

This man was a spy from the Han army. He had sharp eyes and light steps. One could tell at a glance that he was an expert with extraordinary skills.

Niu Jin sat on a heavy pear wood chair, his hands clenched into fists, his veins exposed, showing his inner anger.

He looked up at the spy, his eyes gleaming with determination: "The time has come, we can't wait any longer! The rise of the Han Dynasty depends on this one move. Go and inform the Han army quickly. In three days, I will lead my troops to open the east gate and welcome the army into the city."

Upon hearing this, the spy's eyes flashed, and he responded softly: "The general is brave, and the Han Dynasty is fortunate. However, Guanqiu Jian is a cunning man, and we must be on guard. If the action is exposed, I am afraid that his life will be in danger."

Niu Jin raised his lips to sneer, with a look of determination in his eyes: "Hmph, Guanqiu Jian? He is just a jumping clown, not worth mentioning! I, Niu Jin, swear to live and die with the Han Dynasty, so why should I cherish my life!" As he said that, he slammed the table so hard that the candlelight on the table flickered.

Seeing this, the spy secretly admired Niu Jin's ambition. He knew that this general was not only brave and unparalleled, but also had a heart loyal to the Han Dynasty.

So he said in a deep voice: "The general's lofty ambitions are admirable. I will set off immediately and will not let you down."

Niu Jin took out a blood letter from his bosom, on which were densely written the names of several city gate generals.

He handed the blood letter to the spy and said firmly: "Look, this is not only my determination, but also the common will of many brothers. Several city gate commanders have signed blood letters with me, vowing to overthrow the tyranny and welcome the Han army. Although Guanqiu Jian has many subordinates, they are not united, so there is no need to worry."

The spy took the blood letter and looked at each name carefully.

He nodded solemnly: "General, rest assured, I will personally hand this blood letter to Your Majesty."

Inside the Han army camp, the lights were bright, dyeing the night sky orange and yellow.

Liu Chan was wearing a dragon robe and sitting upright on the main seat. His face was calm and his eyes revealed an aura of majesty without even being angry.

Upon learning that Niu Jin wanted to surrender, he immediately gathered all the generals, and the atmosphere in the tent became solemn.

The generals filed in and saluted Liu Chan in unison, demonstrating the strict military discipline of the Han army.

Liu Chan raised his hand slightly, signaling everyone to excuse themselves, and then slowly said, "Niu Jin wants to surrender. Everyone, what do you think about this?"

His voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard throughout the tent, and every word seemed to carry a tremendous amount of power.

Ah Huinan was a burly man with a resolute face. Upon hearing this, he immediately stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, this is a God-given opportunity that must not be missed! Niu Jin is an important general in Shouchun City. If he surrenders, our army can march straight in and capture Shouchun in one fell swoop!"

Yu Jin stood aside. He was tall, with a serious face and a calm look between his brows.

He pondered for a moment, then slowly said: "I know Niu Jin. He will not be able to swallow this humiliation. From what I know about him, his surrender is definitely not a false surrender. He must be sincere in this action."

When Liu Chan heard this, he frowned slightly. He knew very well that this matter was of great importance and no mistakes could be made.

He glanced at the generals and asked in a deep voice: "Shouchun City is strong. What if this is Guanqiu Jian's conspiracy? We have to be on guard." There was a hint of worry in his voice, and it was obvious that he was extremely cautious about the matter.

Upon hearing this, all the generals looked solemn. Ah Huinan bowed again and said, "Your Majesty, although this may be a false surrender, I think Niu Jin's move is more likely to be sincere. We can first send an elite force to support and find out the truth. If it is really a false surrender, it will not be too late for us to retreat."

Yu Jin also nodded and said, "General Ah Huinan's words make sense. We can send a small force to test the waters first, and make all necessary preparations. If Niu Jin truly surrenders, we can take the opportunity to capture Shouchun in one fell swoop; if he surrenders in disguise, we can also retreat in time and avoid being put in danger."

After hearing this, Liu Chan pondered for a moment, then nodded slowly. He looked determined and solemn, and said, "Okay, let's follow your plan. Ah Huinan, you immediately select an elite force to go and support Niu Jin. Yu Jin, you are responsible for leading the army and be ready to attack at any time. This is a serious matter, so you must be careful and cautious, and there must not be any mistakes."

On the appointed day, outside Shouchun City, the sky seemed to be shrouded in endless grayness. The wind was howling and raging like a ferocious beast. Heavy snow was falling, and every snowflake was like an icy sharp blade, cutting the air and people's hearts.

The chill in the early morning was more biting than usual, as if even time had frozen in this extreme weather.

It was such a cold day, with such heavy snow, most people in the city curled up in their warm beds, unwilling to get up, and the whole world seemed to have fallen asleep.

However, in Shouchun City, a mansion had awakened early.

Niu Jin was standing in the middle of the hall at this moment. There was no sign of fear due to the weather on his face. Instead, he was burning with fighting spirit.

He was wearing heavy armor and had a sharp sword on his waist, exuding a majesty that should not be underestimated.

At this time, he was gathering his 500 personal guards. Each of these 500 men was in high spirits, and their eyes revealed their absolute trust in Niu Jin.

"Are the people at the Shouchun city gate ready?" Niu Jin's voice was deep and powerful, and every word was like a drumbeat hitting people's hearts, making people nervous involuntarily. A guard stepped forward and replied respectfully: "General, the brothers at the city gate are ready and are just waiting for your order!"

Niu Jin nodded, his eyes sharp. He knew the importance of this moment and understood that the decision he was about to make would change the fate of many people.

"Alright! Follow me to attack the garrison and capture Guanqiu Jian alive!"

His voice resounded throughout the hall, and every word was like a war drum, inspiring everyone's heart.

The five hundred personal guards responded in unison, their voices shaking the earth. They followed Niu Jin and rushed towards the garrison in the city like an unstoppable torrent.

In the heavy snow, their figures appear particularly determined.

The streets of Shouchun City were empty, with only this team of 500 people marching forward in the wind and snow. The sound of their footsteps, the clash of armor, and their breathing intertwined together to form a unique war song.

Finally, they arrived in front of the garrison. The tall gate looked particularly deserted in the wind and snow.

Niu Jin took a deep breath, raised the sword in his hand, and shouted loudly: "Charge in and kill Guanqiu Jian!"

The five hundred guards were like tigers descending from the mountains. They quickly dispersed and surrounded the entire garrison.

A fierce battle immediately broke out. Amid the flashing of swords and sabers, every action was a matter of life and death, and every breath was full of tension.

Niu Jin led the charge, wielding his sword as fast as lightning, with each swing accompanied by the enemy's wails.

Although there were a large number of guards in the garrison, they were quickly defeated under the fierce attack of Niu Jin and his personal guards.

They fled in panic, trying to find a chance of survival.

As for Niu Jin, his eyes were always fixed on one target - Guanqiu Jian, the garrison commander of Shouchun.

In the melee, Niu Jin finally found the trace of Guanqiu Jian.

At this time, Guanqiu Jian had long lost his former majesty. His clothes were disheveled, his face was pale, and his eyes were full of fear and despair.

He saw Niu Jin approaching like the god of death, and an unprecedented fear surged in his heart.

"Guanqiu Jian, your situation is hopeless, why don't you surrender!" Niu Jin's voice was like thunder, and his sword was already pointing at Guanqiu Jian's throat.

Guanqiu Jian trembled, he knew that his end was coming.

He looked around and found that he had only a few of his men left, and Niu Jin's personal guards surrounded him like an iron wall.

He sighed helplessly, slowly put down his weapon, and knelt on the ground.

"I give up..." Guanqiu Jian's voice was as thin as a thread, and his eyes were full of unwillingness and helplessness.

Niu Jin looked at Guanqiu Jian, and a complex emotion surged in his heart.

He felt both the joy of victory and uncertainty about the future.

But he knew that no matter what, the battle was over and Shouchun City would usher in a new beginning.

I just feel a little sorry for Mr. Zhongda!
The news that Guanqiu Jian was captured alive spread among the Han army like wildfire, bringing unprecedented excitement.

In the military camp, the soldiers' faces were filled with excitement, as if the horn of victory had already sounded.

Liu Chan sat in the commander's tent, tapping the table lightly with his fingers, his eyes flashing with determination and expectation.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, a chance to rewrite history.

"Yu Jin, you go and attack the city." Liu Chan's voice was not loud, but it carried unquestionable power.

He looked at Yu Jin beside him. Although the veteran's face was covered with traces of time, his eyes were burning with an inextinguishable fighting spirit.

Yu Jin nodded, said nothing more, turned around and went to prepare for the siege.

"Ahuinan, you lead the cavalry to intercept and kill the Wei army escaping from the city. Don't let a single enemy escape." Liu Chan looked at Ahuinan again.

"promise!"

After receiving the order, A Huinan immediately went to gather the cavalry and prepare to carry out this difficult task.

"The rest of you, stay put and wait for my order as a reserve." After Liu Chan finished speaking, the soldiers in the tent responded one after another. They knew that this would be a decisive battle.

As Liu Chan's order was issued, the Han army acted quickly.

The army surged towards Shouchun City like a tide, and the sounds of war drums and trumpets intertwined together, shaking the heaven and earth.

However, Sima Shi on the city wall had already made preparations. He led a group of elite soldiers and rushed towards the city gate like a tiger descending from a mountain, killing the gatekeepers who tried to open the city one by one.

The city gates were closed in panic, keeping most of the Han troops out of the city.

But even so, some Han troops took advantage of the chaos to rush into the city.

They engaged in fierce street fighting with the Wei army in the city, with swords flashing and blood flying everywhere. The siege war began, the sound of gunpowder explosions was deafening, catapults roared and threw huge stones into the city, and ladders and battering rams attacked the city walls like giant beasts.

Shouchun City was on the verge of collapse under the fierce attack, as if it would collapse at any time.

However, the Wei army did not give up easily. "Hold on, reinforcements will arrive soon!"

Under the leadership of Sima Shi, they stubbornly resisted the attack of the Han army.

The rain of arrows from the city walls shot towards the Han army like a dark cloud, causing their offensive to be frustrated again and again.

Despite this, the Han army did not retreat. They rushed to the city wall one after another, paving a road to victory with their flesh and blood.

Liu Chan watched this brutal battle from a distance, his eyes showing both anxiety and anticipation.

However, as the battle continued, he gradually realized that it would be difficult to quickly capture Shouchun City with the existing forces alone.

So he made a decisive order: "Mobilize the reserve forces to attack the city as well!"

This order was like a shot of adrenaline injected into the Han army, making their offensive even more fierce.

The reserve soldiers rushed to the city wall like a tide. They cooperated with the Han army inside the city to fight against the stubborn resistance of the Wei army.

During this fierce battle, Liu Chan's eyes never left the battlefield.

However, the battle was not smooth sailing. Although the Han army's offensive was fierce, the Wei army was no pushover either.

Under the leadership of Sima Shi, they put up a tenacious resistance, and every counterattack cost the Han army a heavy price.

The rain of arrows from the city walls reaped the lives of the Han army like the scythe of the god of death, and the street fighting in the city was even more brutal.

In this life-and-death struggle, Liu Chan felt unprecedented pressure. He knew that the victory or defeat of this battle would determine the fate of him and the entire Han army.

Therefore, he paid close attention to every detail on the battlefield, trying to find an opportunity for victory.

Finally, after a fierce attack, the Han army succeeded in breaking through a corner of the city wall. This breakthrough broke through the Wei army's defense line like a flood.

The city is about to break
But Liu Chan always felt uneasy in his heart.

so easy
On the contrary, it is a bit abnormal.

Guanqiu Jian.
Is he really a straw bag? (End of this chapter)