Shuhan

Yubi City is like a solitary star, embedded in the top of the mountains. It is surrounded by steep cliffs and connected to the outside world by only a winding path, as if it is the only lifeline between heaven and earth.

However, this lifeline has now become the shackles of death, binding Yubi City tightly in the abyss of despair.

At this moment, Yubi City was shrouded in a thick haze, and the air was filled with the breath of death.

The plague, this invisible killer, quietly sneaked into this closed city and spread rapidly like wildfire, claiming countless lives.

The streets were deserted, and the doors and windows of every household were closed. The occasional coughing and wailing were like the call from hell, making people feel cold.

The transportation of supplies was already extremely difficult due to the narrow mountain road, and now it has been completely interrupted.

Those once busy post stations have now become ruins and overgrown with weeds. Corpses are lying on both sides of the road. Some have turned into bones, telling of endless sorrow in the wind; others have not yet completely decayed, emitting a suffocating stench.

There was almost no human habitation within the area of ​​dozens of miles. Only in the distance, the Han army camp that besieged Yubi City was still standing, but the gates were tightly closed, as if it was also avoiding the disaster and no longer had the hustle and bustle and majesty of the past.

At this desperate moment, the gate of Yubi City suddenly opened slowly with a heavy creaking sound, breaking the deathly silence.

A team of fully armed soldiers in fine armor emerged silently like ghosts, their faces covered by thick scarves, revealing only a pair of determined and vigilant eyes. It was a silent struggle against the plague and a desire for survival.

The leader was a man of sturdy build with an indomitable will in his brows. He was none other than the defender of Yubi City - Qian Zhao.

He was wearing silver armor and a black cloak on his shoulders. Although his face was covered, his eyes seemed to be able to penetrate all darkness and search for light.

Each step he took seemed extremely heavy, not only because of the equipment on his body, but also because of the heavy responsibility in his heart.

"Brothers, we are on this journey and we are on the verge of death." Qian Zhao's voice was deep and powerful, penetrating the hearts of every soldier.
"Yubi is hit by a great epidemic, and the people in the city are suffering. If no one comes to rescue us, we will face a catastrophe. I don't know whether the messenger I sent out before successfully delivered the message from the city, but today, we are the last hope!"

When the soldiers heard this, although their faces were still covered, their eyes were burning with fighting spirit.

Qian Zhao took a deep breath and glanced at everyone, trying to read determination and faith in their eyes.

This departure might be a farewell forever, but for the jade disk and for those innocent people, he is willing to risk his life.

"Let's go!" With the order, a team of a hundred people quickly lined up and marched towards the unknown road of life and death with firm steps.

Their shadows lengthened in the afterglow of the setting sun, appearing particularly tragic and majestic.

Along the way, they had to be vigilant at all times, avoiding possible lurking enemies and being careful of the bodies of those who died of the plague to avoid infection.

The stench in the air made it difficult for them to breathe, but no one complained, and no one backed down.

They have only one belief in their hearts: in order to survive, they must move forward!
As night falls, the moonlight shines on the mountain road, adding a bit of weirdness to the dead silent night.

The soldiers lit torches to illuminate the way forward and each other's hearts.

Qian Zhao walked in the front. His eyes were sharp as torches. He looked back from time to time to check the situation of the team to make sure everyone could keep up.

"General, there is movement ahead!" A soldier suddenly stopped and reported in a low voice.

Qian Zhao immediately signaled the team to stop, and he approached cautiously. Through the sparse woods, he vaguely saw flickering fire in front of him, as if someone was moving.

"Is he an enemy or a friend?" Qian Zhao pondered in his heart, but he knew that no matter what, they could not retreat.

So he took a deep breath and shouted loudly: "Who are you? Are you the friendly troops coming to help Yubi?"

The other party responded quickly, with a hint of surprise in his voice: "But General Qian Zhao? We are here to support you!"

Hearing this, Qian Zhao felt an indescribable excitement in his heart.

They are finally not fighting alone!

He quickly ordered the soldiers to get ready and revealed his identity to the other side. After confirming that everything was correct, both sides finally reunited.

And at this time.

The ground seemed to be shaken by an invisible force, and the slight tremor went through the soles of the shoes and reached everyone's heart. Although the soldiers under Qian Zhao's command had experienced many storms on weekdays, they couldn't help but show fear at this moment, with trembling voices: "Could it be... Is it the earth dragon rolling?"

Qian Zhao, however, caught a hint of something unusual in this sudden vibration.

His eyes suddenly became solemn. His years of military career had made him extremely sensitive to every subtle change on the battlefield.

This is by no means a force of nature, but the roar of thousands of horses galloping, and it is a sign of an approaching army.

He quickly looked around, and his eyes finally fell on the general of the Wei army who was accompanying him. There was a hint of anxiety and confusion in his tone: "Did your majesty secretly send cavalry to support us?"

The general looked confused, obviously unprepared for this sudden change. He shook his head and said with some uncertainty in his voice: "Your Majesty only sent my 3,000 infantry and did not mention any cavalry."

The general's words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the last glimmer of hope in everyone's hearts.

Upon hearing this, Qian Zhao's expression suddenly changed, like a sky covered with dark clouds, foreshadowing a coming storm.

He knew very well that in this desolate place, apart from his own isolated army, the nearest main force of the Wei army was a hundred miles away.

If it wasn't reinforcements, then this force... He didn't dare to think about it anymore, and he already had the worst premonition in his heart.

"Since they are not reinforcements, they must be Guan Ping's slave army!"

"Something bad has happened. Let's form a formation to fight the enemy!"

With the order given, Qian Zhao's figure stood firmly in front of the formation like an unshakable mountain.

His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, scanning every soldier. It was a silent encouragement and also a silent command.

The soldiers seemed to have found their backbone in his eyes. Their originally panicked emotions gradually calmed down, replaced by a firm will to fight.

They acted quickly and arranged themselves in an orderly manner according to the formations they had trained in daily life, with spears like a forest and shields like a wall, ready to meet the coming storm.

At this time, a black cloud began to surge in the distant sky. It was not a real cloud, but thousands of cavalrymen, surging like a tide.

They were shouting in an incomprehensible language, a roar from a foreign land, full of wildness and cruelty.

That was Guan Ping's slave army, an elite division composed of warriors from various ethnic groups. They were known for their strong combat capabilities and were the sharpest blade under Guan Ping's command.

As the distance shortened, the air between the two armies seemed to be compressed to the extreme, becoming so tense that it was almost suffocating.

Qian Zhao took a deep breath, his eyes sharp. He knew very well that running away was useless at this moment. How could a man run faster than a horse?
Only by fighting can there be a glimmer of hope.

He shouted loudly: "Brothers, today's battle is about life and death, about our country! Although we are few, our courage is no less than others! Only by fighting to the death can we have a chance of survival!"

The soldiers heard this, not knowing whether to encourage themselves or out of fear, they shouted at the top of their lungs:
"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

"Fight to the death!"

Finally, the two armies collided completely on the plain, like two irreconcilable forces.

The sound of horse hooves, the clashing of weapons, and shouts intertwined together.

The warriors of the Nuer Army rode on their steeds, like flames in a strong wind, trying to break through the Wei Army's defenses with their speed and strength; while the Wei Army soldiers were like rocks, holding their positions and resisting the attacks again and again with spears and shields.

The battle lasted for two hours and both sides suffered heavy casualties.

But in the end, relying on their indomitable will and tight formation, the Wei army led by Qian Zhao successfully resisted the fierce attack of the Nuer army and held their position.

However, he only blocked the first wave of attacks from the Han army.

The second wave of the Han army's attack has arrived! (End of this chapter)