Shuhan

Langshan, a natural barrier consisting of five mountains and thirty-six peaks, is like a magnificent ink painting, stretching between heaven and earth.

Its mountains are stacked up one after another, with strange peaks standing in rows, rugged and steep, shaped like wolf teeth, piercing the sky.

This mountain has some stories.

Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty suffered from many illnesses in his later years. He suspected that people around him used witchcraft to harm him. This matter involved the empress, the crown prince, the princesses and other relatives. The crown prince Liu Ju committed suicide and his grandson fled far away to the mountain, hence the name.

"Lang" is homophonic with "lang", so this mountain is also called Langshan.

Because the mountain is high and the dangerous peaks are scattered like wolf teeth, it is also called Langya Mountain.

In early winter, snowflakes fly like feathers scattered from the sky, gently covering every inch of rock on Langshan Mountain, covering it with a pure white coat of snow, adding a bit of mystery and solemnity.

In this snow-covered area, there is a mountain village hidden at the foot of Lotus Peak, the highest peak of Langshan Mountain.

The village is built on the mountain, using natural rock walls and steep terrain as barriers, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.

There are more than a thousand bandits gathered in the mountain stronghold. Some of them were displaced due to the war, some were charged with crimes due to the tricks of fate, and most of them were ordinary people seeking a glimmer of hope for survival in this troubled world.

Among them, there are some farmers who used to work in the fields, scholars in the town, and even constables who used to work for the government. However, for various reasons, they now gather here and become "bandits" in the eyes of the world.

The village chief, Chen Chun, was a middle-aged man with a burly build and a resolute face. He was a native of Zhuo County. When he was young, he killed a local bully on impulse and since then he had to become a bandit because of the murder.

His eyes were filled with the depth of vicissitudes of life and an unyielding pride.

Chen Chun is surrounded by a group of men who have also committed murder or are dissatisfied with the status quo. They follow Chen Chun and seek a place of their own in this chaotic world.

However, as the war in Youzhou subsided, the iron hoof of the Han Dynasty crushed the disputes on this land, and life in the mountain village became increasingly difficult.

He went down the mountain to rob several times, but suffered heavy losses due to the tight defense of the Han army and returned empty-handed.

The food, fodder and clothing in the mountain village were becoming increasingly scarce. The cold winter wind penetrated the simple houses, making people shiver.

Hunger and cold were like two invisible hands, tightly strangling the village's throat.

In such a predicament, differences also emerged within the village.

Some old and weak bandits or those who cared about their country and their families began to think about being recruited by the Han Kingdom.

They believed that instead of lingering in the mountains, it would be better to surrender to the court, and perhaps they could get a government position and keep their families safe.

Others insisted that once they were recruited, they would lose their freedom and would be more likely to become pawns in the hands of the imperial court and be sacrificed at any time.

Chen Chun sat in the main hall of the village, his brows furrowed and his eyes flashing with complex emotions.

Although the fire beside him was burning brightly, it seemed unable to dispel the coldness in his heart.

As the village leader, every decision I make will affect the fate of everyone in the village.

He recalled that his original intention of becoming a bandit was to protect his family from being bullied, but now, he had to make those who followed him face such a difficult choice.

"Chief, we can't hesitate any longer. Our brothers are almost freezing to death." Deputy chief Li Dashan, a burly, dark-skinned man, said impatiently.

He rubbed his hands constantly, trying to dispel the cold, his eyes full of worry about the future.

Chen Chun was silent for a moment, and finally spoke: "Dashan, you are right, but the matter of recruiting is no small matter and needs to be considered carefully. We cannot just seek temporary warmth and ignore long-term safety."

At this time, a thin bandit who looked like a scholar stood up. His name was Lin Wenyuan. He was a private school teacher in the town and fled here because of the war.

"Chief, although I don't know martial arts, I have read a few years of books and know that many outlaws in history eventually surrendered to the imperial court. Some had a good ending, while others were brutally punished. We need to find a way to preserve the stronghold and give our brothers a way out."

Chen Chun's eyes gleamed when he heard this. He stood up, looked around, and said slowly: "Brothers, although we are ruffians, we must have backbone. I will consider the matter of recruiting you, but before that, we must first solve the current dilemma. Tomorrow, I will personally lead the team down the mountain to find supplies. At the same time, we must also find out the attitude of the Han Kingdom towards the mountain stronghold before making any plans."

The afterglow of the setting sun slanted onto the bluestone slabs outside the meeting hall, lengthening the sounds of the departing footsteps.

Only after the last figure disappeared at the end of the corridor did Chen Chun slowly walk into his inner room.

As the leader of Langya Village, his residence is naturally the most luxurious place in the village. It not only demonstrates his status, but also hides the spoils of his conquests over the years.

Inside the room, a huge tiger-skin chair is eye-catching. The tiger skin is colorful and has clear textures, as if it still carries the wildness and majesty of the mountains and forests.

Next to the chair, there is a soft couch woven from the finest silk, which is soft and delicate. A few gorgeous clothes are scattered casually on the couch, exuding an air of luxury.

On the shelves around, various luxury items are arranged in an orderly manner. There are glass objects from afar, which are crystal clear and reflect charming luster in the weak light; there are also finely painted porcelains, each of which seems to be telling the craftsman's hard work and stories.

All of these were the results of Chen Chun's looting over the years, witnessing his journey from a small bandit leader to the overlord of Langya Mountain.

At this moment, in the brazier in the middle of the room, the charcoal fire was burning fiercely, making crackling sounds, dispelling the winter chill and keeping the whole room at a pleasant temperature.

Deep inside the inner room, a middle-aged woman was sitting quietly. She was wearing a brocade dress. Although she was not young anymore, she still had charm, and her eyes and eyebrows revealed a gentleness and wisdom.

Seeing Chen Chun walk in with a frown on his face, she immediately stood up and walked towards him lightly, and her hands, which had been weathered but still gentle, gently rested on his shoulders.

"What's troubling you that makes the boss so upset?" Her voice was soft and full of concern, as if it could smooth out all the wrinkles in people's hearts.

Chen Chun did not answer immediately. Instead, he held the woman tightly in his arms, his hands unconsciously stroking her back gently, as if trying to find some comfort in this warmth.

After a moment, he sighed heavily, his eyes revealing mixed emotions.

"The situation in the mountain stronghold is becoming increasingly difficult. I am wondering whether I should accept the Han Dynasty's offer of amnesty."

When the woman heard this, a barely perceptible light flashed in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.

She said softly, "Since this is the general trend, why don't you follow the trend? The wheel of history is rolling forward, and those who go against the current will eventually be crushed into dust."

Chen Chun smiled bitterly and frowned even more tightly.

"I have robbed so many people from noble families. If I am ordered to surrender this time, how can I know that I will not be punished later? Those noble families are powerful and have deep roots. How can I easily believe that they will let me go?"

The woman shook her head gently, her eyes full of understanding and determination.

"You are worrying too much, Master. I heard that the Emperor of the Han Dynasty is a wise ruler who knows the importance of stability and will never ruin the overall situation because of personal grudges.

What's more, I heard that he was quite wary of those aristocratic families. Didn't he exterminate the Fanyang Lu family before?
This is enough to show that he wants to break the monopoly of the family and seek a new balance of power. This may be the opportunity for the big boss. "At this point, she paused slightly, with a gleam of wisdom in her eyes.

"The other bandits are still waiting and watching, and have yet to surrender. If the leader can make a decision now and surrender voluntarily, he can not only avoid future disasters, but also gain the favor of the Han emperor and be reused. By then, the brothers of Langya Village will also have a decent way out and no longer have to live on the edge of a knife."

As Chen Chun listened, his mind gradually became clear, as if the dark clouds that had been hanging over his heart were blown away by a breeze.

He looked down at the woman in his arms, his eyes full of gratitude.

This woman, who once came from a noble family, ended up here because of her family's decline, but she gave him the most valuable advice and support when he needed it most.

Over the years, she has not only been his wife, but also his spiritual harbor and his only source of peace in this chaotic world.

"You're right." Chen Chun's voice was firm and powerful.

"Instead of waiting to die, it is better to take the initiative. I, Chen Chun, have lived an upright life. What should I be afraid of? Tomorrow, I will gather all the brothers to discuss the matter of surrendering to the Han Dynasty. No matter what the result is, at least we have tried our best and have no regrets."

The news that Langya Stronghold accepted the amnesty was like a message with wings, which quickly flew across thousands of mountains and rivers and finally landed steadily in front of the Emperor of the Han Dynasty.

Liu Chan was full of admiration for the Langya Stronghold, which was the first to respond to the court's call and surrender voluntarily.

He now sent an eunuch to Langya Mountain to announce the imperial decree.

"I heard that Chen Chun, the leader of Langya Mountain Stronghold, was the first to surrender, and he is truly a role model for all mountain bandits in the world. I have specially appointed Chen Chun as the military commander of the Shanzi Camp, to lead his former subordinates to conquer and surrender mountain bandits in various parts of Youzhou, in order to bring peace to the people. I have given him a set of precious armor to protect him, a precious sword to kill the treacherous, a good horse to gallop on the battlefield, and a reward of one million yuan to reward the three armies."

When the news reached Langya Mountain, Chen Chun felt an indescribable excitement and relief in his heart.

He stood on the watchtower of the mountain village, looking at the endless mountains in the distance, his eyes filled with both longing for the future and emotion for the past.

Chen Chun has a sturdy build and a resolute face. His skin looks dark and rough from years of wind and sun, but his eyes are as bright and deep as the stars in the night sky.

He said to himself, "If I had known this would happen, I would have returned earlier. Fortunately, the emperor has not abandoned me. I, Chen Chun, will repay the court with my life."

Immediately, Chen Chun began to reorganize the troops in the mountain stronghold, incorporating the former bandits into the newly established Shan Camp and training them strictly according to military discipline.

When the weapons and equipment sent by the Han court arrived, the entire village was in an uproar.

Those rusty swords, spears, and halberds were replaced with sophisticated equipment captured on the battlefield. Although these weapons also bore traces of past battles, for the bandits, this was undoubtedly a qualitative leap, as if overnight they had transformed from wild men in the mountains into a regular army.

Chen Chun personally supervised the distribution of equipment. Every time a weapon was issued, he would say earnestly: "This is the trust of the court in us, and it is also our responsibility to protect the people and defend our country."

After the reorganization was completed, Chen Chun decided to head towards Bailing Mountain first.

Bailing Mountain, with its steep terrain and rampant bandits, is a tough nut to crack for the bandits in Zhuo County.

Chen Chun knew very well that this journey was dangerous, but he also understood that as the leader of the Shanzi Camp, he must lead by example.

So he selected hundreds of elite warriors, equipped with new weapons, and set out on the journey.

The forests in spring are full of greenery, but they also hide dangers.

Chen Chun and his group struggled forward on the winding mountain road, and had to be careful with every step to prevent sudden attacks from bandits.

Finally, on a dark and windy night, they arrived at the foot of Bailing Mountain.

Chen Chun looked at the towering mountain and silently thought of a strategy in his mind.

The next morning, Chen Chun, alone with only one follower and carrying the sword given by the emperor, entered the heart of Bailing Mountain.

The mountain road is rugged and the forest is dense. The occasional howling of wild beasts adds a bit of eeriness.

Chen Chun's face was solemn, but his eyes were firm. He knew that the purpose of his trip was not only to conquer, but also for peace.

After some twists and turns, Chen Chun finally met the leader of Bailing Mountain Village - an old man in his fifties, with a thin figure and sharp eyes.

The old man's name was Li Biao, and he was a well-known gangster in the area. However, Chen Chun saw a hint of subtle fatigue and helplessness in his eyes.

Chen Chun got straight to the point and said sincerely: "Captain Li, I am the captain of Langya Mountain, Chen Chun. I have now surrendered to the court, and I have come to persuade you to follow this path. The court is magnanimous. As long as you are willing to surrender, the past will not be investigated, and official positions can be granted to you, so that you brothers can have a legitimate livelihood."

Li Biao was silent for a long time after hearing this. Finally, he sighed and said slowly: "Brother Chen, you are right. People like us all want to live a stable life. It's just that the world is difficult, forcing us to become bandits. If the court can really give me a way to survive, why not do it?"

In this way, Chen Chun successfully persuaded Li Biao, and more than a thousand bandits in Bailing Mountain Stronghold also surrendered.

In the following days, Chen Chun led the Shanzi Camp to either persuade the bandits to surrender or to eliminate them, sweeping across the mountain bandits in Zhuo County with tremendous force.

Wherever he went, he would personally take the lead in the charge, proving with practical actions to the former bandits that surrendering to the imperial court was their best choice.

In less than a month, the bandits in Zhuo County were almost wiped out, and the people finally ushered in the long-awaited peace.

. . .

The news of Chen Chun's victory in suppressing the bandits was soon delivered to Liu Chan.

"I am very pleased that Chen Chun has made another contribution." Liu Chan spoke slowly, his voice low and powerful.

"Pass the order down, reward his army with a million dollars, and order him to go to Guangyang County immediately to continue suppressing the rebellion of the mountain bandits and protecting the country and the people."

The matter of mountain bandits was just a small matter, and Liu Chan's thoughts were not entirely focused on Chen Chun's military achievements.

He planned to build the Guangyang Palace as a means to divide the Xianbei and strengthen central rule.

The construction of Guangyang Palace was not only for the emperor's personal enjoyment, but also a far-sighted political layout.

Liu Chan hoped to contact those Xianbei tribes through the Guangyang Palace, use both kindness and force to directly bypass the Xianbei Khan and become the Heavenly Khan of these Xianbei people.

Why can’t the Han emperor be the Khan of the grassland?

With Liu Chan's order, the construction of Guangyang Palace started quickly.

After he integrated the Xianbei people from the grassland, he accumulated grain and fodder from Youzhou and Bingzhou.

after that
Then he will go south to destroy Wei! (End of this chapter)