Shuhan

According to legend, Yecheng was the fief of Daye, the son of Nüxiu, the granddaughter of Emperor Zhuanxu, a descendant of Emperor Huangdi.

In 658 BC, Duke Huan of Qi, the leader of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn Period, first built Ye City and constructed it as a strategic location for him to dominate the Central Plains. Ye City gradually rose to prominence.

During the Warring States Period, Wei Wenhou designated it as a secondary capital. Two honest officials, Ximen Bao and Shi Qi, successively served as magistrates of Ye. They eliminated bad habits, built water conservancy projects, and vigorously developed agricultural production, making Yecheng quickly become a prosperous, easy-to-defend, and strategic location with convenient transportation.

At the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cao Cao lived in Ye, built the Three Bronze Sparrow Towers, and laid the foundation for the establishment of Cao Wei.

In the ninth year of Jian'an (204 AD), Cao Cao was named King of Wei and built the northern city of Jianye, the capital of the country. After Cao Pi replaced the Han Dynasty and moved the capital to Luoyang, he made it the northern capital.

The Wei State built large-scale state-run handicraft workshops in Yecheng and opened commercial markets specifically for trade and circulation. Yecheng quickly became one of the country's cultural and economic centers.

now.

Outside Yecheng, heavy snow was falling, and the sky and the earth were covered in silver, as if the whole world was swallowed up by the silence of winter.

Snowflakes fall like flying feathers, turning the earth into a pure white picture.

In the wind and snow, there seemed to be no other sound except the whistling wind and the occasional sound of horse hooves.

In this cold winter, even the birds have found a sheltered haven and no longer come out to look for food.

General Sima Yi, escorted by five hundred guards, slowly marched along the official road leading to Yecheng.

The guards, wearing heavy armor and holding spears, looked around vigilantly. Despite the bad weather, they remained on high alert.

Sima Yi was riding on a tall warhorse. His figure was upright, but his face was full of fatigue from days of traveling.

The cold wind blew, and his gray beard and hair fluttered in the wind. His cheeks were frozen red and felt stinging.

His eyes are deep, revealing a calmness and wisdom that comes from having experienced many vicissitudes of life.

As the team continued to move forward, the outline of Yecheng gradually emerged in the wind and snow.

As the northern capital of Wei State, Yecheng is not only geographically important, but also the political and military center.

At this moment, on the official road outside the city, Wei officials had already lined up to wait, ready to welcome this powerful general.

Leading the group was Wu Zhi, the military commander of Jizhou and the garrison commander of Yecheng. He was wearing an official uniform and his face no longer had the arrogance of the past. Instead, he looked somewhat solemn.

His hair has turned gray, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes also tell the traces of time.

When Wu Zhi saw Sima Yi's troops, he immediately went to meet them.

Although he and Sima Yi had had a fierce struggle during the reign of the previous emperor Cao Pi, times have changed and they have become old ministers who are in the same boat.

He bowed to Sima Yi and said with some emotion: "Zhongda, long time no see."

Sima Yi pulled the reins of his horse, his eyes fell on Wu Zhi, and he felt mixed emotions.

He remembered that they had fought numerous times overtly and covertly for favor in the past, but now, the former emperor had passed away and the new emperor was suspicious of these old ministers. They had to put aside their grudges and face this turbulent situation together.

"Ji Zhong, how are you?"

Sima Yi's voice was a little hoarse, but there was a firmness in his tone.

Wu Zhi sighed, his eyes revealing endless worry: "The country is in a state of decline, what can we do?"

He knew very well that Wei was now facing internal and external troubles and the situation was turbulent. As ministers, they shouldered heavy responsibilities.

Sima Yi looked at the gradually growing white hair on Wu Zhi's head and felt deeply moved.

He recalled the past events when the late Emperor Cao Pi was alive. At that time, they were young and energetic and fought endlessly for their own interests, but now, they were both in their twilight years and had to work together for the future of the country.

"Yes, the world is unpredictable and ever-changing." Sima Yi sighed.

Although they had conflicts in the past, personal grudges seemed insignificant in the face of national justice.

He looked at Wu Zhi, his eyes revealing a kind of trust and expectation: "Ji Zhong, now we can only overcome the difficulties together if we work together."

Wu Zhi nodded, feeling that Sima Yi's words made sense.

He pointed to the front and said, "It's snowing hard outside. Lord Zhongda, please go into the city to discuss important matters."

After saying this, he turned around and ordered his officials to prepare to welcome Sima Yi and his party into the city.

Sima Yi nodded and signaled the team to continue moving forward.

Under the escort of the guards, they slowly entered Yecheng.

As the carriage moved forward, Sima Yi's eyes swept across the bustling streets, and he couldn't help feeling a little gratified at the prosperity of the city.

On both sides of the street, there are many shops with a wide variety of goods, from exquisite porcelain to gorgeous silk, from fresh fruits and vegetables to rare spices, to meet the needs of people from different classes. Merchants shout enthusiastically and bargain with customers, creating a lively scene.

In the tavern, the aroma of wine fills the air. People sit together in groups of three or five, tasting fine wine and delicious food, chatting and laughing; or they drink alone, immersed in their own thoughts.

These taverns are not only places for people to relax and have fun, but also centers for information exchange, where all kinds of gossip, business trends and even political trends converge and circulate.

On the streets, craftsmen demonstrated their unique skills. Some carved delicate wood carvings, some weaved exquisite baskets, and others performed thrilling acrobatics, drawing cheers from the onlookers.

These performances not only enrich the cultural life of citizens, but also reflect the prosperity and diversity of folk art.

The performances of street performers were equally splendid. They sang melodious songs or performed cheerful dances, using art to convey their love for life and their yearning for a better future.

Children were running around and playing among the crowd, with innocent smiles on their faces, adding infinite vitality and vigor to the city.

Despite frequent wars in the outside world, Yecheng seemed to be in a paradise and still maintained its prosperity and tranquility.

I just don’t know how long this prosperity and tranquility can last?

Entering the Jizhou Governor's Mansion, the grandeur and solemnity of the mansion set off Sima Yi's steady steps.

At the banquet, there were delicious food and fine wine, but it could not hide the fatigue from the long journey between his brows.

After the banquet, the guests gradually dispersed, and Sima Yi also shook off the dust from the long journey. Although his body was tired, his heart was as firm as a rock.

The tranquility at this moment is only temporary, the real storm is still waiting for him ahead.

He waved away his attendants, leaving only Wu Zhi, who sat opposite him in the inner room.

The interior was decorated in a simple yet elegant manner. The flickering candlelight stretched out the two people's shadows.

Sima Yi asked softly, "What is the situation in Jizhou?"

Wu Zhi's expression changed slightly when he heard this. He smiled bitterly and said, "It's not very stable. Among the powerful people in Jizhou, there are many who want to take advantage of the chaos and admire the imperial Han. The military spies in the Han Kingdom are instigating it. This year, there have been three small-scale rebellions."

When Sima Yi heard this, his brows furrowed, forming a deep "川" character.

His eyes sharpened.

Jizhou, as the heartland of Wei State, has also encountered such a situation. Wouldn’t the problem on the front line be even more serious?
He pondered in his heart, but asked calmly: "Is there no solution?"

Wu Zhi shook his head, his expression becoming more serious: "People's hearts are hard to predict. Even the nobles of Jizhou are wavering. It's difficult!"

There was a hint of helplessness and sigh in his voice.

The wars and defeats of recent years have seriously shaken the confidence of these people.

The problem of Jizhou, in the final analysis, lies here.

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi fell into deep thought.

He understood that in order to stabilize Jizhou, he must first stabilize people's hearts.

However, this is easier said than done?
He thought for a moment, and his eyes suddenly became firm: "Perhaps next year, or the year after, Jizhou will have a war with Han. Will there be food and grass supplies by then?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Zhi smiled bitterly.

He shook his head helplessly and said, "After several conscriptions, the people of Jizhou have fled and many lands have become barren. It will be difficult to supply a large war."

Given Jizhou's current situation, it would undoubtedly be a fantasy to want to sustain a major war.

Sima Yi's heart sank when he heard this. It seemed that this battle with the Han Kingdom would be an unprecedentedly difficult battle.

War is never a simple fight on the front line, but a joint contest between the rear and the front, a competition of national strength, and a competition for resources.

If the food and logistics supply in the rear is insufficient, how can the soldiers on the front line fight for a long time, let alone win the battle, even if they have the ability to traverse the sky and the earth?

Sima Yi was well aware of this. He had a sharp gaze and had already made a plan in his mind.

"Zhongshan, Bohai, Boling, and Hejian are geographically close to Youzhou. Once a war breaks out, these four places will most likely be the first to be affected."

Sima Yi's voice was steady and powerful, and every word seemed to be carefully considered.

"Therefore, the military farming should never be carried out in these four counties. We should look further afield. The six counties of Zhao, Wei, Anping, Julu, Pingyuan, and Qinghe are the ideal choices."

When Wu Zhi heard this, his expression changed slightly, and he was obviously concerned about Sima Yi's proposal.

"However, in these six counties, most of the cultivated land is controlled by aristocratic families, and the number of people is limited, so it is difficult to use it for large-scale farming."

There was a hint of helplessness in his tone, and it was obvious that he was well aware of the power of the aristocratic families.

Sima Yi smiled gently, but that smile concealed an unquestionable determination.

"When the country is in crisis, who dares to ignore the country for the sake of one family's benefit? I, Sima Yi, will get rid of him as soon as possible!" His voice suddenly rose, and his tone revealed an irresistible majesty.

"I will temporarily seize the land and tenants of the noble families for one year. After defeating the Han army, I will return the food and fodder twice as much. Go and summon the representatives of the noble families. I will talk to them in person."

Wu Zhi looked at Sima Yi's determined eyes and couldn't help but feel a surge of respect in his heart.

It does take courage to challenge the aristocratic families.

He nodded, turned and left, but thought to himself: This time, I'm afraid those aristocratic families will face an unprecedented storm.

Soon, representatives from various aristocratic families arrived at the Governor's Mansion.

They either looked solemn or disdainful, and it was obvious that they did not buy into Sima Yi's proposal.

However, when they saw Sima Yi's stern face and determined eyes, they couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts, and their original arrogance was restrained a lot.

Sima Yi looked around at everyone and spoke slowly: "You are all the pillars of Wei State and should share the country's worries. Now that the Han army is approaching, our Wei State is in danger. If we cannot unite as one and overcome the difficulties together, I am afraid the consequences will be disastrous."

His voice was calm and powerful, and every word was like a hammer hitting everyone's heart.

"I intend to establish military farms in the six counties of Zhao, Wei, Anping, Julu, Pingyuan, and Qinghe to prepare for emergencies. However, in these six counties, most of the cultivated land is owned by aristocratic families, and the number of people is limited. Therefore, I decided to temporarily requisition the land and tenants of the aristocratic families for one year, and return the food and grass obtained double after defeating the Han army."

Sima Yi's eyes were as sharp as a knife, sweeping over everyone present one by one.

"I hope you can understand the bigger picture and put national interests first."

Everyone present looked at each other, obviously shocked by Sima Yi's proposal.

Among them, some looked embarrassed, while others lowered their heads and remained silent.

However, under this powerful pressure, no one dared to openly oppose it.

Seeing this, Sima Yi sneered in his heart.

He knew that although these people submitted to the Wei State on the surface, they each had their own little plans in mind.

However, at this time of national crisis, he must unite these forces to fight against foreign enemies together.

"I, Sima Yi, am not an unreasonable person. If you have any doubts or difficulties, please feel free to raise them. But I want to emphasize that national interests are above all else. If anyone dares to harm national interests for their own selfish interests, I will punish them severely!"

Sima Yi's voice suddenly became stern, and his eyes revealed an unquestionable determination.

Everyone present couldn't help but tremble in their hearts when they heard this.

They knew that Sima Yi would keep his word and would never show mercy.

As a result, they expressed their support for Sima Yi's proposal and promised to fully cooperate with the military farming.

of course
Sima Yi did not completely believe what these people said.

In many cases, don't look at what they say, but look at what they do.

I'm afraid if we want to succeed in cultivating land in these six counties, there will inevitably be a fight!

. . .

Ten days later.

Specific decrees were issued.

There was a turmoil in all parts of Jizhou.

In a quiet manor north of Yecheng, spies from the Han military were lurking like ghosts. They had ears and eyes everywhere and knew Wei's movements very well.

When these spies learned that Sima Yi was going to establish military farms, a cunning gleam flashed in their eyes.

This was not only an excellent opportunity to destroy Wei's war potential, but also a golden opportunity to disrupt the enemy in the rear and achieve great military exploits.

"The time has come, we must act." The spy leader whispered. Although his voice was low, it revealed unquestionable firmness.

It is not easy to disrupt Wei's military farming plan, which requires careful planning and ingenious layout.

"Those aristocratic families will never be easily slaughtered."

Another spy added, a sneer on his face.

"They hold a large amount of land and wealth in their hands, which is the foundation of Wei's rule. As long as we can incite them to rebel, Wei's military farming plan will be in trouble."

"But how to incite them?" a young spy asked.

"This requires us to plan carefully." The leader pondered for a moment and said slowly: "We need to use the aristocratic families' desire for power and wealth, as well as their fear of Sima Yi's military farming plan, to incite their emotions. At the same time, we must spread rumors among the people, create panic and chaos, and make the people resist the military farming plan."

"How should we do it?" the young spy asked.

"First, we must secretly contact those noble families who are dissatisfied with Sima Yi, provide them with support and help, and let them become our pioneers in disrupting the military farming plan."

The leader explained: "Then, we will spread rumors among the people, saying that Sima Yi's military farming plan is to plunder the people's land and property, so that the people will misunderstand and fear the military farming plan."

"In this way, the noble families and the common people will unite to oppose the military farming plan."

Another spy added: "Then we can sit back and reap the benefits."

"But wouldn't that be too risky?"

The young spy said with some concern: "After all, Sima Yi is an extremely shrewd and powerful man. It is impossible for him to be unaware of our actions."

“There are risks, but as long as we plan carefully and act quickly, we will succeed.”

The leader said firmly: "Besides, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that we cannot miss. As long as we can disrupt Wei's farming plan, it will be equivalent to a major victory on the battlefield."

So, these spies began to plan intensively.

They secretly contacted the aristocratic families who were dissatisfied with Sima Yi and incited their emotions.

At the same time, they spread rumors and panic among the people, creating chaos and unrest.

Their actions were swift and secretive, like an invisible storm quietly brewing on the land of Jizhou.

However, they did not know that Sima Yi had already noticed their actions.

He knew very well that the spies from the Han military would never sit idly by and would definitely find ways to disrupt his military farming plan.

Therefore, he had already secretly laid a tight net, waiting for these spies to fall into the trap.

A secret war is about to unfold on the land of Jizhou, and the outcome of this secret war will be directly related to the future fate and direction of the Wei and Han countries.

In this secret battle, who will be the final winner?
Is it the shrewd and capable Sima Yi?
Or is he a cunning and treacherous spy from the Han Dynasty?
Everything is still unknown... (End of this chapter)