Shuhan

In June of the ninth year of Tianming, the sun was scorching hot, scorching every inch of land in the Hebei Plain.

The sky was azure blue without a single cloud. The sun shone directly down, illuminating the earth with a golden hue, as if even the air was burning.

In this boundless heat wave, a group of Han light cavalry swept across the Zhang River like a gust of wind. The sound of horse hooves was rapid and powerful, raising clouds of dust that covered the sky and the sun.

Wei Yan, the powerful general of the Han Dynasty, rode a tall black horse and stood at the front of the team.

He was wearing iron armor and a battle robe on his shoulders. In the sunlight, the armor shone with a cold light, and the tiger head pattern on the battle robe was lifelike, as if it was about to jump out.

His face was firm and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle's. He looked into the distance, which was a vast expanse of turbulent water that stretched as far as the eye could see.

His heart was filled with excitement and anticipation. This land was about to become another battlefield where he would make great achievements.

"I guess this must be the Dalu Marsh?" Wei Yan's voice was deep and powerful, with a hint of barely perceptible excitement.

The soldiers behind him were all in high spirits, their armor gleaming brightly in the sun, and their faces were filled with desire for victory and longing for the future.

Hearing Wei Yan's question, the sons of the Julu gentry came forward one after another. Some of them were wearing brocade clothes, while others were wearing Confucian robes, but at this moment, their faces were full of respect, and their eyes were shining with admiration for Wei Yan.

The young man of the Feng family was the first to be attacked. He was tall and slender with a handsome face. He bowed and said, "General, you are right. This place is the Dalu Lake, where the waters from the north of Zhang and the south of Li meet. The water surface is vast and it is a great wonder of Julu."

The young man of the You family followed closely behind. He was tall and strong with dark skin, and it was obvious that he had been traveling for many years.

He pointed to the northeast and said in a loud voice: "There is a salt mine in the northeast of Daluze. If we take it, we can destroy the financial resources of southern Hebei. This is a great benefit to our army!"

Upon hearing this, Wei Yan nodded, with a hint of approval in his eyes.

He was well aware of the importance of salt mines to the national economy. Controlling this was equivalent to strangling the economic lifeline of southern Hebei.

He took a deep breath, looked around, and said in a firm and powerful voice: "Attack various places in Julu, destroy the city and kill the Wei soldiers. When the follow-up Han infantry arrives, we will definitely take over this land in one fell swoop!"

Following Wei Yan's order, the light cavalry acted quickly. They divided into several teams and shot in all directions like arrows, starting to harass various places in Julu.

Wei Yan led the main force and headed straight for Dalu Lake. His heart was full of desire for victory and plans for the future.

Along the way, the people welcomed the Han army wholeheartedly. They came to the roadside, holding fruits and vegetables or wine, to express their respect to the Han army.

Their faces are filled with fatigue and suffering, but more of it is hope and longing for the future.

They knew that the dragon spirit of Wei State had been exhausted, and the world still belonged to the Han Dynasty and the emperor of the Han Dynasty!

This belief, like a spark, burns brightly in their hearts, illuminating the way forward.

Wei Yan looked at all this and felt deeply moved.

This war is not just for the fight for land and wealth, but also for the people of the world, so that they can live a peaceful and happy life.

He secretly vowed to lead the Han army to defeat the Wei army and bring peace and prosperity to the world.

As time went on, the Han army's offensive became more and more fierce.

The light cavalry led by Wei Yan were like ghosts, appearing and disappearing all over Julu, making it difficult for the Wei army to defend themselves.

They destroyed the Wei army's supply lines, attacked the Wei army's strongholds, and caused the Wei army's defense line in Julu to gradually collapse.

Wei Yan himself led by example and was always at the forefront of every battle.

His bravery and wisdom made the Han army soldiers full of admiration and trust in him.

Under his leadership, the morale of the Han army was high and its combat effectiveness increased sharply.

Finally, in less than a month, the Han army reached the city of Julu.

Wei Yan stood at the foot of the city, looking at the towering walls and closed gates, his heart filled with lofty ambitions.

He knew that victory in this battle was at hand.

With an order, the Han army launched a fierce attack.

Wei Yan led the way, holding a spear, and rushed towards the city gate. Behind him were countless brave Han soldiers, who shouted and charged, as if they were going to trample all obstacles under their feet.

The city gate was on the verge of collapse under the fierce attack of the Han army, and finally collapsed with a loud bang.

Wei Yan led the Han army soldiers into the city and fought a desperate battle with the Wei army.

The battle was extremely fierce, but the Han army gradually gained the upper hand with its high morale and strong combat effectiveness.

Julu was already in the hands of the Han army.

On the other side, the summer sun is as hot as fire, shining on the land of Anping.

In this ancient and vast land, a Xianbei cavalry led by Zhao Yun and Kebi Neng was advancing like a hurricane, unstoppable.

They came down from Anping, and wherever their iron hooves stepped, dust flew and war flags fluttered, as if they wanted to bring the entire world into their conquest.

Zhao Yun was wearing silver armor, holding a spear, and riding on a majestic war horse.

His face was handsome and resolute, and his eyes sparkled with wisdom and courage.

Beside him, Kebi Neng, the chief of the Xianbei tribe, was equally majestic. He was tall and muscular, like a moving mountain.

The two men walked side by side, leading this invincible cavalry all the way south to Qinghe County.

Qinghe County, an ancient county established in the late Qin Dynasty, was named after the Qinghe River that flows through its territory. It has been a battleground for military strategists since ancient times.

At this moment, with the arrival of Zhao Yun and Kebineng, this land is about to usher in an unprecedented change.

When Zhao Yun's army arrived at Dongwu City, a handsome young man dressed in gorgeous clothes was already waiting outside the city.

He is Cui Lin’s son, Cui Can.

Although Cui Can is young, his demeanor reveals an extraordinary temperament. His eyes show both expectations for the future and a hint of nervousness that is difficult to conceal.

Cui Can came here precisely to represent the Qinghe Cui family and to contact the Han army.

As a local aristocratic family, the Qinghe Cui family has a considerable influence.

Cui Lin, as the cousin of Cao Wei's Shangshu Cui Yan, is even more powerful. His choices can often influence the situation in Qinghe County.

Zhao Yun looked at Cui Can in front of him and thought secretly in his heart.

In order to successfully capture Qinghe County, the support of the Qinghe Cui family must be obtained.

So he asked, "Can the Cui family of Qinghe command Qinghe County?"

Cui Can was startled when he heard this.

He was well aware of the importance of this issue and understood the purpose of Zhao Yun's trip.

He bowed slightly and replied respectfully: "I can try my best to persuade the nobles of each county for the general, but I can't give orders."

His tone revealed helplessness and humility, but more of a concern for his family and the future.

Zhao Yun nodded slightly, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

Cui Can's answer was honest and wise, without exaggeration or easy promises.

He said in a deep voice: "You go and persuade them. If they don't obey within a month, my army will arrive. Let those nobles take care of themselves. Don't wait until the war breaks out, then it will be too late to regret."

When Cui Can heard this, beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

He was well aware of Zhao Yun's reputation, and he knew even more about the combat effectiveness of this Xianbei cavalry.

Zhao Yun's words were not empty words. If the nobles of Qinghe County continued to be stubborn, a devastating blow would be waiting for them.

He nodded immediately and said he would do his best.

With Cui Can's departure, Zhao Yun and Ke Bineng continued to lead the army south.

What they saw along the way was the people's warm welcome and expectations for the Han army.

These people have suffered from war and long for peace and tranquility.

They knew that the arrival of the Han army might bring them a glimmer of hope.

Zhao Yun looked at all this and felt deeply moved.

The public opinion offensive of the Jianjun Division was so terrifying. When they arrived in Wei, it was like entering Han territory.

In the following days, Cui Can traveled around, trying his best to persuade the major noble families in Qinghe County.

He used reason and emotion to explain the strength of the Han army and the future of the Qinghe Cui family.

Thanks to his efforts, some nobles began to waver and started to consider joining the Han Kingdom.

However, some nobles were stubborn and unwilling to submit to the Han army.

They secretly contacted the Wei army in an attempt to resist the attack of the Han army.

When Cui Can learned about this, he was extremely anxious.

So he found Zhao Yun again and told him the truth.

Zhao Yun thought for a moment and said, "You did a good job. We don't need to force those stubborn nobles. We just need to wait for the right time, and my army will defeat them in one fell swoop."

In late June of the ninth year of Tianming, the sky over Qinghe County was covered by thick clouds, as if foreshadowing an impending storm.

Zhao Yun was standing outside Dongwu City at this moment, his eyes staring straight at the towering Qinghe Zhang's Fortress in front of him.

Beside him were the newly recruited troops from the Qinghe Fang, Qinghe Bei, Qinghe Ji and Qinghe Cui families. They were ready to launch a fierce attack on the fortress at Zhao Yun's command.

Zhao Yun's face was cold and resolute, and his eyes revealed an unquestionable determination.

Decisive and severe measures must be taken against those disobedient nobles to serve as a warning to others.

Only in this way can we ensure complete control of Qinghe County and lay a solid foundation for the future of the Han State.

At Zhao Yun's command, the Han army rushed towards the Zhang family's fortress in Qinghe like a tide.

They held spears and broadswords, carried gunpowder on their shoulders, and walked with firm and powerful steps.

Under the personal command of Zhao Yun, the Han army quickly launched an offensive. They used gunpowder to blow up the gate of the fort, and then rushed in and engaged in a fierce hand-to-hand fight with the defenders of the Qinghe Zhang family.

Although the defenders of Qinghe Zhang were brave, they soon fell into a passive position in the face of the Han army's powerful firepower and manpower advantages.

Their defenses were broken one by one, soldiers fell one after another, and their blood dyed the ground red.

Zhang Kai, the patriarch of the Qinghe Zhang family, was standing at the highest point of the fort, witnessing all this happening.

His eyes were filled with despair and anger, but he also understood that everything was irreversible.

With the fall of the last batch of defenders, the Qinghe Zhang family's fortress was finally breached by the Han army.

Zhao Yun led the soldiers into the fortress and began a brutal purge.

Following Zhao Yun's orders, they killed all the male members of the Zhang family in Qinghe, leaving no one alive, not even the babies.

The women were forced to become military prostitutes, suffering endless humiliation and torture.

The land and property of the Zhang family in Qinghe were all confiscated and became the property of the Han State.

Zhao Yun stood at the highest point of the fort, overlooking everything below.

The ancient well has no waves.

With the demise of the Zhang family of Qinghe, the remaining gentry in Qinghe County suddenly felt unprecedented fear and shock.

They witnessed the strength of the Han army and Zhao Yun's decisiveness, and knew that if they did not obey, they would face the same fate.

As a result, they expressed their willingness to submit to the Han Dynasty and accept its rule.

In the following days, Zhao Yun led the Han army to continue to clear out and reorganize Qinghe County.

They went deep into the countryside, pacified the people, restored production, and at the same time strengthened supervision and constraints on the gentry.

Under Zhao Yun's iron-fisted rule, Qinghe County gradually restored order and stability.

a long distance away.

Inside the Luoyang Imperial Palace, the summer sun shone through the clouds, dappled onto the bluestone slabs, but it could not dispel the haze that shrouded the palace.

The Wei Emperor Cao Rui was sitting on the dragon throne at this moment, his face was ashen and his eyes were red, like an enraged beast.

His hands were clenched into fists, his knuckles turning white from excessive force, revealing an unmistakable anger and despair.

Every day, corpses were quietly carried out of the palace. They were palace maids and eunuchs killed by Cao Rui to vent his anger.

Their blood dyed the stone pavement in the palace red, and also dyed Cao Rui's heart red.

There was a kind of crazy paranoia in his eyes, as if he wanted to blame all the misfortunes and setbacks on these innocent lives.

The land of northern Ji has now been occupied by the Han State, and the iron hooves of the Han army are gradually approaching the heartland of the Wei State.

The counties in southern Hebei were breached by the Han army at an astonishing speed, and the situation was precarious.

Cao Zhen in Yecheng, facing the powerful attack of the Han army, chose to defend himself and did not dare to fight a decisive battle with the Han army.

This negative attitude made Cao Rui feel extremely angry and disappointed. He seemed to see the future of Wei State heading towards destruction step by step.

Although it was midsummer, Cao Rui's heart was cold.

His ministers left him one after another, some chose to surrender to the Han Kingdom, and some secretly planned rebellion.

His empire, the once glorious Wei Kingdom, is now crumbling like a collapsing building.

Cao Rui's eyes swept across the palace. The palace maids and eunuchs who used to be respectful to him now looked at him with a hint of mockery in addition to fear.

They all seemed to be silently thinking the same question in their hearts: "Da Wei is finished, he is finished!"

An unprecedented despair surged in Cao Rui's heart.

He recalled his ambitions when he first ascended the throne, when he vowed to restore the glory of the Wei Kingdom and make all the people of the world submit to him.

However, the reality is so cruel, his empire is collapsing step by step, and his dreams are gradually turning into bubbles.

He stood up suddenly and slammed his hands heavily on the armrests of the dragon throne, making a deafening noise.

His voice became hoarse with anger: "Why? Why did it turn out like this? I am the emperor of Wei, I want to save this country!"

However, the only responses he got were the echoes from the palace and the frightened gazes of the palace maids and eunuchs.

They all knew that Cao Rui had fallen into madness at this moment and any dissuasion would be futile.

Cao Rui began to pace back and forth in the palace, his thoughts confused and complicated.

He was thinking about how to save the situation and how to restore the glory of the Wei State.

However, every time he thought of a solution, it would be shattered by another more cruel reality.

He seemed to be stuck in an unsolvable cycle, unable to extricate himself.

At this moment, an eunuch hurried into the palace and knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, there is an urgent military situation!"

Cao Rui suddenly stopped and stared at the eunuch with a sharp gaze: "Speak!"

The eunuch said in a trembling voice: "The Han army has broken through the last line of defense in southern Hebei and is approaching Yecheng!"

Cao Rui was struck by lightning when he heard this. His body swayed slightly and he almost fell to the ground.

He stared at the eunuch, as if he wanted to eat him alive: "What did you say? Say it again!"

The eunuch did not dare to look Cao Rui in the eye, and lowered his head and repeated what he had just said.

Cao Rui laughed out of anger when he heard this: "Good! Good! Good! I want to see how powerful this Han army is!"

The Han army advanced so quickly that it must have been because those nobles surrendered one by one.

If Yecheng is captured, the Han army will head straight for Luoyang.

In the current situation, who dares to fight, who can save our country? (End of this chapter)