Shuhan

The north wind roared like a roaring beast on the open plain. The snow fluttered like goose feathers. The sky and the earth seemed to be covered by a thick white gauze. Everywhere you looked, there was a vast expanse of emptiness.

In this land of ice and snow, even human figures seem exceptionally scarce. However, at this moment, the earth is shaking slightly, as if foreshadowing something extraordinary to come.

On the distant horizon, a thin black line gradually emerged. It was blurry at first, like a ghost in the night, but as the distance got closer, the black line gradually became clearer, until it could be seen that it was not a black line at all, but a steel torrent composed of thousands of cavalrymen.

They were like a black tide, rolling in, majestic and unstoppable.

Zhao Yun was wearing a suit of glittering silver armor, the mottled marks on the armor recorded the glory of his countless battles.

He held a spear in his hand, the tip of which was extremely sharp and flashed coldly in the sunlight.

The wind and snow blew mercilessly on his cheeks, leaving red marks, but his eyes were as firm as torches, revealing his unyielding will and determination to win.

They had marched all the way from Yuyang to here in a hurry, and had hardly stopped for a moment.

Every minute and every second is a struggle against the cold, fatigue and limits.

What is being competed is not only the soldiers’ endurance, but also the ruthless exploitation of horsepower.

Along the way, countless war horses died of exhaustion. Their corpses lay in all directions on the snow, forming a shocking landscape.

Zhao Yun secretly estimated that as many as 20,000 war horses had died of exhaustion along the way.

If the Han Dynasty fails to win this battle, the losses it suffers will be incalculable.

At this moment, they finally arrived at the territory of Zhuo County.

Zhao Yun reined in his horse, staring at the frosted boundary marker ahead, feeling an indescribable complex emotion in his heart.

He said in a deep voice: "Rest for an hour, and then rush to Zhuo County after an hour!"

Although the voice was not loud, it revealed unquestionable majesty.

The soldiers all obeyed the order after hearing it. They opened their wool sleeping bags, which were simple but could provide them with a little warmth in the severe cold.

The soldiers did not take off their heavy armor, but lay directly on the snow, resting every second.

Their faces were filled with fatigue, but there was a gleam of determination in their eyes, as if to say: As long as there is still breath left, we will fight to the end.

After all, the rewards for this raid are generous. If successful, ennobling his wife and children might be too much, but setting up a family business would be no problem.

The auxiliary soldiers began to get busy. They lit a bonfire. The flames flickered in the wind and snow, bringing a touch of warmth to this cold world.

The exhausted war horses were dragged to the campfire, and the soldiers skillfully skinned them, cut the horse meat into small pieces, and put them into a large pot to boil.

The aroma of the broth soon filled the air, attracting eager glances from everyone.

A team of people were on guard. They held spears and patrolled the surroundings vigilantly, fearing any sudden danger.

Other soldiers were busy gathering up the horses that could no longer be ridden, either because of fatigue or injury, and could no longer move forward.

But even so, the soldiers could not bear to abandon them, and tried their best to find a place for them to stay.

Some people were feeding grass and beans to the war horses that were about to attack Zhuo County.

These war horses are their most precious companions and important weapons for them to achieve victory.

Therefore, the soldiers took extra care of them, fearing that anything might happen to them.

More people were checking weapons and equipment.

They carefully wiped their swords and guns, checked their arrows, and made sure every weapon was in best condition.

The upcoming battle will be a tough one and will not tolerate any carelessness.

Zhao Yun stood aside and watched all this silently.

His heart was filled with emotion and expectation. He knew that this battle was of great significance to the Han State. If he could win, it would greatly boost morale and lay a solid foundation for future battles.

But if it fails, the consequences will be disastrous.

He took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner turmoil.

Then he walked up to a soldier and asked softly, "How is your injury? Can you still hold on?"

Hearing this, the soldier straightened his back and said firmly: "General, don't worry, I can still fight!"

Zhao Yun nodded, a gleam of approval flashing in his eyes.

After resting for an hour, the army awakened like a sleeping dragon and was ready to go.

Zhao Yun waved his spear and shouted loudly: "Let's go!"

The voices echoed in the wind and snow, as if declaring their determination and courage to the heaven and earth.

This steel torrent set off again, rushing towards Zhuo County.

Their figures gradually faded away in the wind and snow.

Hundreds of soldiers were left behind, their task being to take care of the horses that were out of breath and unable to be ridden for a short period of time, ensuring that they received enough rest and care so that they could ride on the battlefield again in the future.

The rest of the people mounted their war horses one after another. The sounds of horse hooves and the collision of armor intertwined together, playing a passionate war song.

The ground began to shake again beneath their feet, as if it was also trembling for the coming battle.

As night fell, time quickly slipped into the late night.

The cold wind in the middle of the night was like a sharp blade, cutting through the faces of every soldier, but their eyes became more determined.

The howling wind blew the trees, making a whimpering sound like ghosts crying, which in turn covered up the sound of the cavalry's attack and made their actions more secretive.

Only when you get close can you feel the earth-shaking sound, as if thousands of troops are galloping.

In the distance, except for the light from the campfire, the city of Zhuojun was completely dark, like a sleeping giant, quietly waiting for an unknown fate.

Outside the city, the mountains of supplies were particularly conspicuous in the night. They were the food and supplies prepared by the Wei army to defend the city, and were also the target of Zhao Yun's attack this time.

Close, getting closer.

The earth was shaking, and thousands of troops were rushing towards them like an unstoppable torrent.

The Wei army guards seemed unaware of the approaching danger. They were either sleeping in the camp or waking up and hurriedly looking for armor and weapons, but it was too late.

The Han cavalry rushed into the camp guarding the food and grass like a tiger descending from the mountain.

Those Wei soldiers who were still sleeping were awakened by the sudden attack. They screamed in fear and tried to find a way to escape.

Those Wei soldiers who woke up but did not put on armor or pick up weapons were directly killed by the Han cavalry like pigs.

Amid the flashing of swords and the shadow of sabers, blood splattered everywhere, and the sounds of wailing and horses neighing were intertwined.

The fire spread rapidly in the camp, and mountains of food and supplies were reduced to ashes by the flames.

The firelight illuminated the sky, making the dark night as bright as day. Zhao Yun, holding a spear, led the Han cavalry to charge in the firelight.

His eyes were as firm as torches, revealing his unyielding will and determination to win.

However, when Zhao Yun led his troops to attack Zhuo County, he encountered unexpected difficulties.

The general defending the city of Zhuo County held his ground and, relying on the solid city walls and sufficient garrison forces, formed a standoff with the Han army.

Although Zhao Yun's cavalry troops were brave and good at fighting, they did not carry siege equipment and could not launch an effective attack on the city walls.

Faced with such a dilemma, Zhao Yun did not get impatient.

War is not only a contest of courage, but also a competition of wisdom and endurance.

Therefore, he decided to retreat temporarily, and after the logistic baggage was burned, he would build some siege equipment, and after the soldiers had a good rest, he would look for a suitable opportunity to attack. During the retreat, Zhao Yun led the cavalry troops to retreat into the mountains and forests. They found a secluded place to rest and recuperate.

The soldiers dismounted and sat or lay down to rest in the woods.

Their faces were filled with exhaustion and fatigue, but their eyes shone with determination.

The battle is not over yet, the real contest is yet to come.

During the rest, Zhao Yun was not idle.

He summoned his generals to discuss the subsequent battle plan.

They sat together, whispering about various possible tactics and strategies.

Zhao Yun's expression was serious and focused. He listened carefully to everyone's opinions and put forward his own views and suggestions from time to time.

After some discussion, they developed a more detailed battle plan.

They decided to use the mountains and forests as cover to make a covert approach during the day, and to launch a surprise attack at night using the darkness and terrain.

At the same time, they also sent scouts to inquire about the movements and defense status of the Wei army in order to better seize the initiative on the battlefield.

When night fell, Zhao Yun led the cavalry troops to set off again.

They shuttled through the mountains and forests like ghosts, approaching Zhuo County silently.

Under the cover of night, they successfully broke through the Wei army's defense line and launched a fierce attack on Zhuo County.

This time, they had no worries and were not bound by food and supplies.

They tore at the Wei army's defense line like a pack of mad wolves.

Under the leadership of Zhao Yun, they fought bravely and defeated the enemy with great momentum.

In the end, they successfully captured Zhuo County, winning this crucial victory for the Han State.

. . .

Hundreds of miles away.

In the deep and steep valley north of Ji County, the wind was cold and the snow was flying, as if even the sky was feeling sad for this protracted offensive and defensive battle.

The allied forces of Gongsun Yuan and Cao Zhen had been fighting in this barren land for ten consecutive days, but had not been able to make any progress in this impregnable valley.

On both sides of the valley, there were steep cliffs, and the Han army's city defense equipment was densely distributed between them. Arrow towers and crossbow platforms were scattered around, and the arrows were like rain, endless and it seemed that they would never be exhausted.

Whenever the allied soldiers tried to approach, they would be met with a dense rain of arrows. The wailing and neighing of horses intertwined and echoed between the valleys, which was terrifying.

Gongsun Yuan was wearing heavy armor, with an expression of lingering worry between his brows.

He stood on a slightly higher earth slope, looking through the flying snow, gazing at the defense line that seemed like it would never be crossed.

Beside him, Cao Zhen also had a gloomy face, and his furrowed brows revealed his inner anxiety and uneasiness.

Although the coalition forces had been brave and fearless over the past ten days, their numerical advantage was completely gone in this narrow valley, and they instead became sitting ducks for the Han army's arrows.

In the valley, the Han army's flags were fluttering and their morale was high, with no signs of food shortages. In contrast, the coalition forces suffered heavy casualties and low morale. Thousands of corpses lay scattered on the snow, a horrifying sight.

As night fell, the lights in the central army tent were bright, but it could not dispel the gloom in the two men's hearts.

Cao Zhen sat upright in the main seat, his hands clenched into fists with veins bulging, obviously trying his best to suppress his inner anger and unwillingness.

Gongsun Yuan sat in the guest seat, his face pale, his eyes flashing with complex emotions - both unwillingness to fail and fear of the future.

After a moment of silence, Cao Zhen finally spoke in a low and hoarse voice: "It's difficult to capture this place quickly, what can we do?"

Gongsun Yuan smiled bitterly upon hearing this. Although he felt mixed emotions, he still tried to remain calm. "Perhaps, we can change our strategy and use this valley to surround and attack the reinforcements. Since the Han army is holding out here, it must be important. If we can attract their main force to come to the rescue, we can set up an ambush outside and perhaps we can win in one battle."

When Cao Zhen heard this, his eyes lit up slightly, as if he saw a glimmer of hope, and was about to discuss the strategy in detail.

Suddenly, there was a sound of hurried footsteps outside the tent. Then, a messenger covered in snow rushed in and knelt in the middle of the tent, his voice trembling: "General, it's bad! The Han army bypassed Dai County and attacked Zhuo County by surprise. The logistics and baggage have been burned. Zhuo County... has been captured by the Han army!"

As soon as these words came out, the tent fell into a dead silence. Cao Zhen felt as if struck by lightning, his body swayed, his vision went dark, and he almost fainted.

He barely held onto the table, his knuckles turning white from exerting so much force, and an indescribable despair and anger welled up in his heart.

Gongsun Yuan was also shocked. His face turned pale in an instant and his pupils shrank suddenly, as if his throat was strangled by invisible fear.

After a moment, he finally found his voice with difficulty, and his voice was full of disbelief: "How...how is it possible? How could our retreat be cut off so easily?"

Cao Zhen took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner turmoil, but his clenched fists still revealed his uneasiness.

He looked around, his eyes finally fell on Gongsun Yuan, and said in a heavy tone: "It seems that we underestimated the wisdom and courage of the Han army. Now, the food and grass have been burned, the retreat has been cut off, and our army is in a desperate situation."

The food and grass were devoured by the raging fire, turned into ashes and scattered in the wind. The retreat was also cut off by the Han army at lightning speed. The situation of the Wei army in Youzhou became precarious in an instant.

This is not just a crisis in Youzhou. Its chain reaction is like a domino effect, and it may even spread to Jizhou, causing the entire northern border of Wei to fall under the iron hoof of the Han army. It can be seen how critical the situation is.

Cao Zhen took a deep breath, his chest heaving, as if he wanted to inhale all the heavy air, and then slowly exhaled, trying to expel the restlessness and uneasiness in his heart.

His face looked resolute and deep in the firelight, his brows were furrowed, and his eyes flashed with complex light, showing both helplessness towards the current situation and determination for the future.

"Ah~" With a long sigh, Cao Zhen finally spoke in a deep and powerful voice: "General Gongsun, what should we do about this situation?"

Gongsun Yuan's brows were also filled with worry.

He stepped forward, clasped his hands and said, "General, although the Han army has succeeded this time, they have come a long way and must be exhausted. Although Zhuo County has been captured, they may not be able to hold it for long. Why don't we return to Zhuo County, take advantage of the terrain, and conquer again, perhaps we can turn the tide."

Upon hearing this, Cao Zhen shook his head slightly, with a bitter smile flashing in his eyes.

He stroked his messy hair with his hand, his movements were somewhat helpless: "General Gongsun, although what you said makes sense, our logistics have been cut off, our food and grass have been burned, and returning to Zhuo County also means that we must withdraw from Youzhou. The food and grass reserves in Ji County are already limited. If we add our troops, how long can they last?"

Gongsun Yuan couldn't help but sigh when he heard this, his expression gloomy, "If that really happens, I'm afraid it will only last less than two months..."

When Cao Zhen heard this, his eyes narrowed and his body shook, as if he had made some important decision.

He turned around suddenly, and scanned the generals present with sharp eyes.

"Three months! We must defeat the Han army within three months, otherwise, the situation in the north of Wei will be devastating!"

His voice was firm and powerful, like a thunder, exploding in everyone's hearts.

When the generals heard this, they were all startled and had different expressions.

Some looked resolute, while others could not hide their worries.

But no matter what, the general's words are military orders and must be executed.

Seeing this, Cao Zhen felt a little relieved.

He knew very well that what the Wei army needed at this moment was not only strategic deployment, but also morale boost.

He took a deep breath and spoke again, his voice becoming gentle but firm: "Everyone, although we are in adversity, the glory of the Great Wei cannot be tarnished. As long as we unite as one and overcome the difficulties together, we will be able to overcome all difficulties!"

Gongsun Yuan was moved when he heard this, and he also took a few steps forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with Cao Zhen: "General, you are right. Although we were defeated in this battle, our morale and strength are not lost. As long as we work together, we will be able to regroup and fight the Han army again!"

If Cao Zhen withdraws from Youzhou, won’t Gongsun Yuan be finished too?

Now he can only follow Cao Zhen till the end.

Upon hearing this, all the generals responded in unison, their voices resounding through the sky, as if tearing apart this dull night.

Seeing this, Cao Zhen felt a little relieved. He knew that as long as morale was there, there was hope. (End of this chapter)