Shuhan

On the north bank of the Huai River stands an indestructible fortress - Huaishui Fort.

The fortress is located by the mountains and rivers, with a unique geographical location. It is not only a natural defense barrier but also a transportation hub.

The city wall is built of huge bluestones, several meters high, with a parapet on top and a moat surrounding it, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack.

Whenever the sun sets, the afterglow shines on the fortress, adding a touch of solemnity and mystery.

The Huaishui Ferry, as an important waterway connecting the north and the south, seems particularly tense at this moment.

Dozens of boats were docked closely together with their sails lowered, like arrows ready to be shot, except that these arrows were not pointed at distant enemies, but were ready to respond to possible attacks at any time.

These boats are not only the lifeline for the fort to communicate with the outside world, but also the key to emergency evacuation and support during wartime.

However, their existence also made the defense of the fort more complicated. Once the Han army attacked by water, these boats could become a double-edged sword.

Not long ago, the fall of Shouchun City was like a thunderclap, shaking the entire Huai River Basin.

Huaishui Fort, which once served as a solid stronghold for rear support, has now become the front line facing the Han army.

The Han army was unstoppable, with strong soldiers and horses. Wherever their cavalry went, cities fell one after another.

Faced with such a powerful enemy, the defenders of Huaishui Fort did not retreat at all. They strengthened patrols on the city walls and added arrow towers and beacon towers to ensure that any disturbance could be quickly conveyed.

At the same time, the craftsmen in the castle worked overtime to make arrows, repair weapons, and prepare for the possible battle.

At this moment, the air inside the Huaishui Fort was so heavy that it seemed as if water could drip out.

Zhang Liao stood in the center of the crude meeting room, his brows furrowed and his eyes sharp as a knife as he glanced at the disheveled Sima Shi in front of him.

Sima Shi's clothes were disheveled, his hair was messy, and his face was still covered with dust and fatigue from fleeing. He was still gasping for breath, and his eyes were full of anxiety and fear.

"You mean, it was Guanqiu Jian's fault that led to Shouchun falling into the hands of the Han army?"

Zhang Liao's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, revealing his pain and dissatisfaction with the war situation.

Upon hearing this, Sima Shi's body trembled slightly, and then he nodded rapidly, with a hint of helplessness and self-blame in his eyes: "That's true, General. If it weren't for Guanqiu Jian's mistake, Shouchun could have held out for a longer time, and perhaps the situation could have turned around."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao let out a long sigh and looked through the window lattice at the distant sky that had been dyed red by the war.

Complex emotions surged in his heart: anger, regret, and deep worry about the future.

"Attacking the south from the north is as difficult as ascending to heaven. Shouchun is easy to defend but difficult to attack. However, once you attack the north from the south, the danger will no longer exist. Once Shouchun is lost, Wei will forever lose the opportunity to go south to compete for hegemony."

Seeing this, Sima Shi looked even more anxious. He took a step forward and almost grabbed Zhang Liao's sleeve: "General, it's more than just losing the opportunity to go south! Now the vast territory north of the Huai River and south of the Yellow River is about to fall into the hands of the enemy. How can our Wei State survive?"

Zhang Liao turned around, his eyes deep. He paced slowly, and each step seemed unusually heavy.

"Master Sima, do you know that this battle is not just a battle for territory, but also a battle for the hearts and morale of the people. In the battle of Shouchun, our army's morale has been crushed, and the people's hearts are unstable. If we can't quickly stabilize the situation, I'm afraid..."

He did not continue speaking, but the implication of his words was clear to everyone present.

Upon hearing this, Sima Shi's face turned even paler. He clenched his teeth, as if trying his best to suppress his inner panic.

"General, we must take action! We must regain the lost morale and revive the military's might. Otherwise, not only will our territory be in danger, but even this Huaishui Fort will become an isolated island."

Zhang Liao was silent for a moment, with a gleam of determination in his eyes.

"You are right. We cannot just sit there and wait for death. Immediately, we must strengthen the defense of the fortress. At the same time, we must send elite troops to investigate the enemy situation and look for opportunities to counterattack. In addition, we must pass down the order to appease the people. If the people are stable, the army will be stable. This is the top priority at the moment."

just
How to fight back?

Without the support of a large army, who can fight back?
But military support?

Now the Wei State is in flames all around, where can the army come to support us?
At this moment, a burst of hurried footsteps outside the hall broke the silence. A guard hurried forward and reported nervously: "General, we found a large number of boats with Han army flags upstream of the Huai River. They are so dense that they cover the water surface. On the other side, the Han army is busy building a pontoon bridge. It seems that the Han army intends to attack our fortress. The situation is critical!"

When Zhang Liao heard this, his originally calm expression froze instantly, his brows furrowed, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

He stood up suddenly, clenched his hands into fists, his veins exposed, showing his inner shock and indomitable spirit.

"It has only been a short time since we captured Shouchun, and the Han army is about to attack again?"

He whispered to himself, his tone showing both surprise and reluctance.

After a moment's silence, he took a deep breath, regained his usual calmness and courage, and made up his mind.

He turned to face the generals in the hall and said in a firm and powerful voice: "From Luoyang, send fast horses to ask for help as soon as possible. Make sure to let the reinforcements know that this is urgent! The rest of you, follow me to the tower and prepare to defend the city!"

At this time, the scene in the upper reaches of the Huai River was exactly as the personal guards had described, with flags flying and countless boats of the Han army.

The sails were of different shades of color, but all were embroidered with the conspicuous Chinese character "Han". They sparkled in the morning light, like a moving steel forest, slowly approaching.

The ships come in various shapes, including long and narrow warships that are convenient for quick travel, and large and stable transport ships that are fully loaded with soldiers and supplies.

These boats were like giant dragons, quietly approaching Zhang Liao's fortress, bringing a sense of oppression that could not be underestimated.

On the other side of the river, the engineering troops of the Han army were busy working. They moved quickly and orderly. Under the sunlight, the pontoon bridge looked like a golden bond connecting the two banks, indicating that the bridge of war was about to be built.

Zhang Liao stood on the city wall, gazing at the busy scene with a sharp gaze, a complex emotion welling up in his heart.

"General, should we take the initiative and destroy their pontoon bridge?" suggested the deputy general at the side, with sparks of fighting in his eyes.

Zhang Liao hesitated for a moment and shook his head. "Don't act rashly. Since the Han army dares to act so blatantly, they must be prepared. We need to wait for the enemy to tire out, take advantage of the city wall, and hold on until help comes."

The main reason is that there are not enough troops.

And destroy the floating bridge?

Once you leave the fort, whether you can come back or not is another matter!

But within a day, the Han army showed amazing speed and efficiency. They used small and flexible boats, simple but sturdy rafts, and iron chains to connect them all, as if they were weaving a huge net on the water.

These seemingly simple structures were gradually built into a floating bridge with the tacit cooperation of the Han army soldiers.

The floating bridge is astonishingly long, spanning the wide river like a giant dragon winding its way, and its speed is jaw-dropping.

Zhang Liao stood on the high ground on the south bank, staring closely at this sudden change with his sharp eyes.

This floating bridge meant a huge strategic advantage for the Han army.

So he quickly made a decision and sent a small force equipped with rockets to attempt a long-range attack to disrupt the Han army's plan to build a pontoon bridge.

However, the rockets drew blazing trails in the air, but most of them just landed on the edge of the pontoon bridge, or were blocked by the Han army in time with shields and wet cloth, and had little effect.

Zhang Liao frowned upon seeing this, knowing that it was futile to continue such an attack. He had no choice but to order his troops to stop firing and conserve their strength. The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight penetrated the mist and shone on the river, the floating bridge had been completely built. It was stable and solid, as if it had become an unshakable bridgehead for the Han army.

Not far away, the Han army's warships also began to cruise. They were large or small, with the hulls painted dark black and the bright red word "Han" embroidered on the sails, which stood out in the morning light.

These warships shuttled across the river from time to time, protecting the pontoon bridge and providing support to the north bank. Their presence made Zhang Liao's defense line feel unprecedented pressure.

On the north bank, more and more Han soldiers began to land. They were dressed in uniform armor, holding spears and swords, and marched in unison, like a tide.

After landing, the Han army did not rush to attack, but quickly formed a battle line, with shield soldiers in the front, spear soldiers in the back, and archers on both sides. The formation was strict and the momentum was magnificent.

Such a formation was obviously a full preparation for the upcoming siege.

Zhang Liao felt heavy-hearted when he saw this.

This pontoon bridge was not only used to transport soldiers, but more importantly to transport those bulky but powerful siege equipment.

As expected, as time went by, the Han army began to slowly push those daunting weapons across the pontoon bridge: tall siege towers, heavy battering rams, and machines that could launch boulders and flames. The appearance of each siege weapon made Zhang Liao's defense line heavier.

Finally, with the sound of a deafening war drum, the Han army began their siege.

The siege tower slowly moved forward, like a moving fortress, providing a platform for the soldiers to approach the city wall; the battering ram made a deafening roar with repeated heavy blows, trying to shake the sturdy city gate; and those mechanisms, from time to time, fired boulders and flames, posing a great threat to the defenders on the city wall.

Although Zhang Liao's troops were brave, they gradually began to struggle under the fierce attack of the Han army.

Arrows rained down and soldiers kept falling, but more people stood up and defended this land with their flesh and blood.

Zhang Liao personally went into battle, holding a spear and leading the troops. His figure shuttled through the smoke and flames, and every charge inspired the soldiers to fight bravely.

However, the Han army's offensive was too fierce. The siege tower was getting closer and closer, and every impact of the battering ram made the city wall shaky.

Zhang Liao knew that if he couldn't find a way to break the city quickly, it would be difficult to defend the city.

He thought quickly and ordered his soldiers to concentrate their firepower to attack the key parts of the siege equipment. At the same time, he sent elite teams to try to raid the Han army's formation from the flank and disrupt their rhythm.

A fierce offensive and defensive battle began, with both sides trying their best and risking everything to win.

Although Zhang Liao's troops were small in number, under his command, they showed amazing fighting effectiveness and tenacious will.

However, facing the Han army's huge force and advanced siege equipment, it remained unknown whether they could defend the city.

And on the other side.

In the deep palace of Luoyang, Cao Pi's funeral had just been settled, and the air was still filled with a lingering sadness and heaviness.

Inside the palace walls, the flickering candlelight illuminated Cao Rui's tired and worried face.

He was dressed in luxurious dragon robes, but looked extremely haggard. The hard work and grief of the past few days had almost made him unable to hold on.

Just as he was about to take a short break, the sound of hurried footsteps broke the silence of the night.

"Your Majesty, something bad has happened!" A guard hurried in, holding an urgent battle report in his hand, looking panicked.

Cao Rui's heart tightened and he had a bad premonition.

He forced himself to cheer up and took the battle report, but after just one glance, his face turned as pale as paper, his eyes turned black, and his body became shaky.

The eunuch Bixie at the side was quick to support Cao Rui who was about to fall, and called out anxiously: "Your Majesty, please take care of yourself!"

Cao Rui took a deep breath, managed to calm himself, and sighed, his eyes full of disappointment and helplessness: "Guanqiu Jian, he is unworthy of my trust!"

There was some sadness and reluctance in his words.

Originally, he placed high hopes on Guanqiu Jian and ordered him to guard Shouchun. He repeatedly reminded him not to act rashly and to hold the defense line firmly.

However, Guanqiu Jian acted on his own and made a risky move, which resulted in the loss of Shouchun. The situation in the south suddenly became precarious.

"Has anyone written a letter about this?"

Despite the turbulent waves in his heart, he still tried to maintain the calm and decisiveness of an emperor.

Bixie bowed his head and reported, his voice heavy: "All officials have submitted petitions, all of which say that they want to convict Guanqiu Jian and request that troops be sent immediately to aid Shouchun in an attempt to recover the lost territory."

Cao Rui closed his eyes and tapped the armrest lightly with his fingers, feeling mixed emotions.

The loss of Shouchun was not only a military failure, but also concerned the stability of the court and the royal power.

If handled improperly, it would likely trigger a series of turmoil and even threaten his throne.

He must act with caution, severely punishing those who fail to perform their duties, stabilizing the morale of the army and the people, and preventing people with ulterior motives from taking advantage of this opportunity to stir up trouble.

Cao Rui sat on the dragon throne with a furrowed brow and eyes as sharp as an eagle, as if he could penetrate all the fog.

He asked in a deep voice, "Have the Shangshu Ling Chen Qun and Wu Zhi submitted any petitions?"

Upon hearing this, the eunuch Bixie moved slightly, thought for a moment, then nodded slowly and replied, "Both of them have submitted letters, and the contents are all about Guanqiu Jian."

He paused, as if weighing his words, "They all said that Guanqiu Jian lost Shouchun and should be convicted as a punishment. At the same time, they also requested Your Majesty to send more troops to Shouchun to try to recover the lost territory, and to appoint Zhang Liao as the General of the Southern Expedition to lead all matters in the south and stabilize the border defense."

After hearing this, Cao Rui curled up his lips in a sneer and a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

He snorted coldly: "Guanqiu Jian has died on the battlefield and sacrificed his life for the country. Why do you still want to convict him? Do people who die in battle also have to bear the stigma?"

Cao Rui knew in his heart that although Guanqiu Jian was defeated, his loyalty was commendable and his death on the battlefield was an act of heroism. How could he convict him so easily?

What's more, Guanqiu Jian was the person appointed by him!

Then, his tone turned stern: "As for leading all the affairs in the south, why do we need their candidates? Our Wei State is full of talented people, how can they be summarized by just one Zhang Liao?"

There was unquestionable confidence in Cao Rui's words, but deep in his heart there were complicated emotions.

When the new king ascended the throne, the first general he sent abroad suffered a defeat, which was undoubtedly a major challenge to his authority.

Now, his ministers began to try to influence his decision, which made him feel angry and helpless.

"It is imperative to send more troops to Shouchun." Cao Rui's voice rang out in the hall, firm and powerful.

"But the choice must be decided by me."

The State of Wei was his State of Wei.

But can the people under my command really take on such an important task? (End of this chapter)