Shuhan

Emperor Cao Rui sat upright on the dragon throne with a solemn expression and deep eyes, as if he could penetrate time and space and see the direction of the future.

Beside him stood several important officials - Shangshu Ling Chen Qun, imperial tutor Zheng Cheng, Prince of Yan Cao Yu and counselor Gao Tanglong.

Inside the inner hall, the flickering candlelight illuminated the seriousness and tension on everyone's faces.

Cao Rui coughed lightly, breaking the silence in the hall, and said, "My dear ministers, I have summoned you again today to discuss whether to support Yecheng. I hope you can speak freely and share my worries."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qun took a step forward, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I think Luoyang is the foundation of the country. Although there are 100,000 troops within the eight passes, the Han army in Hongnong County and Zhiguan is eyeing us covetously. Once the army is mobilized, Luoyang will be empty and the consequences will be disastrous. Therefore, I suggest that we focus on protecting Luoyang and not easily mobilize troops to support Yecheng."

Chen Qun's words were steady and powerful, revealing his deep concern for the safety of the country. His face was stern, and his eyes revealed determination and persistence, as if he wanted to convince everyone with his words.

However, Zheng Cheng disagreed.

He stepped forward, stood shoulder to shoulder with Chen Qun, and said to Cao Rui: "Your Majesty, if Yecheng is lost, Jizhou will not be protected, and Henei, without the danger of mountains and rivers, will be conquered by the Han army. By then, the Han army will march straight to Luoyang, and the country will be in danger. I think we must send troops to support Yecheng and keep the enemy out of Luoyang, so as to protect the safety of the country."

Zheng Cheng's words were passionate and generous.

His face was firm and his eyes sparkled with wisdom, as if he wanted to use his wisdom to point out a clear path for the country.

Upon hearing this, Cao Rui frowned and fell into deep thought.

He knew very well that what the two ministers said made sense, but the safety of the country depended on him, so he had to make a wise decision.

So he turned his attention to Prince of Yan, Cao Yu, hoping that this prince of the royal family could give some advice.

However, Cao Yu hesitated and could not come up with a plan for a long time.

His face looked somewhat embarrassed and nervous, his eyes revealing confusion and helplessness.

When Cao Rui saw this, he couldn't help feeling disappointed.

He sighed and turned to look at Gao Tanglong, hoping that this strategist could give him some inspiration.

Gao Tanglong stepped forward, bowed to Cao Rui, and said, "Your Majesty, why don't you adopt the strategy of Duke Zheng and Duke Chen? The soldiers in Luoyang cannot be mobilized, but the soldiers in Qingzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou can be mobilized. In this way, we can support Yecheng and keep Luoyang safe."

Gao Tanglong's words were like a stream of clear spring water, instantly extinguishing the tense atmosphere in the hall.

When Cao Rui heard this, his eyes lit up, as if he saw hope of solving the problem.

However, Chen Qun immediately refuted, "Qingzhou is now also under attack by the Han army. If it were not for the loyalty of the nobles, it would have been conquered by the Han army long ago. Yuzhou must prevent the Han army from coming from the south, and troops cannot be sent to it. As for Yanzhou, although troops can be sent, they must prevent Zhao Yun's troops from coming south from Qinghe. In fact, even if troops are sent, not many can be sent."

Chen Qun's words were like a bucket of cold water, instantly extinguishing the hope in Cao Rui's heart.

His expression became solemn again, as if he was lost in deep thought.

At this time, Gao Tanglong spoke again: "Your Majesty, I think that although the number of troops to be dispatched is limited, it is better than having no troops at all. Although the land of Yanzhou needs to be guarded against Zhao Yun's troops, some of the prefecture and county troops can be dispatched to Yecheng for support. In this way, we can show the determination of our Wei State and give confidence to the defenders of Yecheng. As for Qingzhou and Yuzhou, we can strengthen our vigilance to prevent the Han army from taking the opportunity to attack."

Gao Tanglong's words were like a beacon, pointing the way for Cao Rui.

He nodded, indicating that he agreed with Gao Tanglong's opinion.

Cao Rui said, "Then we will recruit 20,000 soldiers from Yanzhou and have them go to Yecheng to provide support. This matter cannot be delayed, and I hope you will handle it quickly."

After hearing this, everyone took the order and left.

Although Chen Qun still had doubts in his heart, he did not dare to disobey the imperial order; Zheng Cheng looked happy, as if he saw hope of relieving the siege of Yecheng; Yan Wang Cao Yu seemed a little embarrassed and disappointed, as he did not play a big role in this decision-making; and Gao Tanglong smiled, as if he was satisfied with his strategy.

the other side.

Yanzhou.

Since the conscription order was issued in Luoyang, it has fallen into unprecedented turmoil.

This was not the first time that Yanzhou had been mobilized, but the scale of this conscription and the toughness of the means were far beyond the past.

The court in Luoyang seemed determined to conscript every able-bodied man in the land into the army in order to deal with the increasingly severe situation on the border.

The autumn of the ninth year of Tianming should have been the harvest season, but an atmosphere of uneasiness permeated the fields of Yanzhou.

Upon hearing the news, the people fled in all directions. Some hid in the mountains and forests, while others went into exile in other places, just to avoid the seemingly endless military service.

In the village, the empty courtyards and closed doors tell of people’s fear and helplessness.

The eyes of those able-bodied men who were unfortunately captured were filled with despair and unwillingness. They were tied up like lambs to be slaughtered, waiting to be sent to an unknown battlefield.

Under the instigation of the Han State's military commander, the situation in Yanzhou became even worse.

Some dissatisfied people began to gather together, some holding hoes and some carrying farm tools on their shoulders, trying to fight against the seemingly invincible court with their meager strength.

However, these sporadic resistances were soon brutally suppressed by the soldiers of Yanzhou Prefecture. Under the iron hoofs, blood and flesh flew everywhere, and cries and pleas for mercy intertwined, forming a tragic scene.

But even so, the surviving rebels still did not give up. They accumulated strength in the dark, waiting for the next outbreak.

Time passed like a white horse, and in the blink of an eye it was late October of the ninth year of Tianming.

The footsteps of autumn quietly leave, replaced by the solemnity and coldness of winter.

In the sky, heavy snow fluttered down like catkins, dressing the earth into a world of silver.

The cold wind was so sharp that it felt like a knife cutting the face, making people shrink their necks. At this moment, the soldiers from Yanzhou were getting ready to go to Yecheng for support.

These 20,000 soldiers from the prefectures and counties are the elite troops of Yanzhou.

They were dressed in heavy armor, holding sharp weapons, marching in neat formations and with firm steps. Every soldier's face was filled with determination and resoluteness, as they knew the difficulty and importance of this journey.

The leading general was a middle-aged man in his forties. He was tall and strong, with a dignified face, and his eyes revealed a temperament that made him intimidating without even being angry.

The Yanzhou commander stood at the front of the team. He looked around at the soldiers around him, and an inexplicable sense of pride surged in his heart.

This trip to Yecheng to provide support is not only a test of his own abilities, but also a test for the entire Yanzhou state and county troops.

He took a deep breath and shouted loudly: "Soldiers! We are about to embark on a journey to Yecheng to support the front line. This journey is extremely dangerous, but I believe that as long as we unite as one, it will be just around the corner to ennoble our wives and children. Do you have confidence?"

"Yes!" The soldiers shouted in unison, their voices deafening and echoing in the open fields. Their eyes flashed with determination, as if they wanted to prove their determination with practical actions.

Following an order from the Yanzhou commander, soldiers from the Yanzhou prefecture and county began to move forward slowly.

Along the way, from time to time, some people could be seen fleeing, some carrying the elderly and children, some alone, their eyes full of fear and helplessness. Seeing this, General Li could not help but feel a pang of sadness in his heart.

This war has brought endless suffering to the people. But as a soldier, he must fulfill his duty, defend his homeland and protect the people.

He secretly vowed to end the war as soon as possible so that the people could live a peaceful life again.

Hundreds of miles away.

At this moment, the walls of Ye City were mottled and the arrow towers were broken. After months of fierce siege by the Han army, both the Wei army defending the city and the Han army that continued the siege were extremely exhausted.

Yecheng, this sturdy city, was unable to be breached even with the advantage of gunpowder by the Han army after months of artillery bombardment.

The Wei army's captives and the Jizhou aristocratic families' troops were almost completely consumed in the successive battles. If the siege continued, the Han army would inevitably damage its elite forces.

Therefore, the Han army adjusted its strategy and switched from attacking the city to besieging it, attempting to undermine the morale of the soldiers and civilians in the city from within by spreading rumors, sowing discord, and persuading them to surrender with interests, in an attempt to achieve the goal of winning without fighting.

In the sky, sparse white snow slowly fell, adding a bit of desolation to this cruel battlefield.

Outside Yecheng, Han army general Wei Yan and others received an imperial edict from the Han emperor. The edict was brief and clear: "surround the city and attack the reinforcements."

This means that the Han army not only has to surround Yecheng, but also has to ambush and annihilate any enemy reinforcements there.

Wei Yan was well aware of the importance of this battle. He knew that if he could annihilate the reinforcements in front of the soldiers and civilians of Yecheng in one fell swoop, the morale of the people in Yecheng would be extremely low, and the siege would also usher in a turning point.

Wei Yan immediately summoned all his generals and began to prepare for an ambush, encirclement and annihilation of the Yanzhou reinforcements.

His face was solemn, his eyes were like torches, scanning every general under his command. His voice was low and powerful: "Everyone, the emperor has ordered to surround the point and attack the reinforcements. We must set up a dragnet here to prevent the reinforcements from Yanzhou from coming back. This battle concerns the rise and fall of our Han Dynasty, and we must go all out and not make any mistakes!"

All the generals received the order and got busy. Some were responsible for scouting the enemy, some were responsible for setting traps, and some were busy deploying troops. Wei Yan personally led the army and set up ambushes at important passes and traffic arteries around Yecheng, waiting for the Yanzhou reinforcements to arrive and then capture them all.

As time went by, the atmosphere outside Yecheng became increasingly tense.

The Han army soldiers were ready for battle, with a determined look in their eyes, as if they wanted to use this victory to prove their loyalty and bravery. The Wei army and the people in the city were also paying close attention to the movements outside the city, their hearts filled with anxiety and uneasiness.

Finally, on a snowy night, the vanguard of the Yanzhou reinforcements quietly arrived near Yecheng. They advanced cautiously, trying to avoid the reconnaissance of the Han army.

However, all their actions were under the control of the Han army. When Wei Yan got the news, he immediately ordered the whole army to attack.

In the cover of night, the Han army rushed towards the Yanzhou reinforcements like a tiger descending from a mountain.

Clang clang~
Shouts of killing and the clash of weapons resounded through the sky, and the flames cast patches of blood red on the snow. Wei Yan led the troops, holding a spear and bravely leading the way. Wherever he went, the enemy troops retreated. His figure was looming in the flames, like an invincible god of war.

After a fierce battle, the Yanzhou reinforcements were completely defeated by the Han army.

Their generals were captured and their soldiers fled in all directions.

The Han army soldiers pursued the enemy and drove them dozens of miles away.

This ambush was a brilliant victory, which not only dealt a heavy blow to the morale of the Yanzhou reinforcements, but also made the Wei army and the people in Yecheng feel unprecedented despair.

After the battle, Wei Yan stood on the snow, looking at the gradually disappearing fire in the distance, with a complex emotion in his heart.

He was pleased with the victory, but also worried about the upcoming siege. He knew that although the Yanzhou reinforcements were annihilated, Yecheng was still as strong as before, and the siege would still be difficult.

However, he had no intention of retreating, but instead became more determined to win.

He turned to the generals beside him and said, "Although we have won this battle, we must not slack off. We must continue to strengthen the siege and look for opportunities to break the city. I believe that as long as we unite as one, there will be no difficulties that we cannot overcome. The glory of the Han Dynasty is in our hands!"

The generals nodded one after another, their eyes full of determination and confidence.

Under the leadership of Wei Yan, the Han army soldiers once again engaged in a tense siege battle.

They believed that as long as they persisted, they would be able to capture Yecheng and make great contributions to the revival of the Han Dynasty.

now.

The atmosphere in Yecheng was suffocatingly heavy.

The news that the Yanzhou reinforcements were ambushed by the Han army and returned in defeat was like a huge rock thrown into the already turbulent lake of my heart, causing ripples.

The military and civilians in the city, whether soldiers or civilians, have lost the luster of the past in their eyes, and are replaced by deep despair and helplessness.

The cold winter wind whistled over the city walls, bringing with it a biting chill, as if even the wind was mocking the fate of this lonely city.

Snowflakes danced in the air and slowly fell, dressing the ancient city in silver, but they could not cover up the breath of death that permeated the city.

The faces of the soldiers and civilians were filled with confusion and loss; their eyes were empty, as if they had lost their souls.

Cao Zhen was standing on the city wall at the moment, staring into the distance, his face stern, his brows furrowed, his eyes flashing with an unyielding light.

At this moment, Yecheng has reached a critical moment of life and death.

The failure of the reinforcements not only shattered the last ray of hope in the city, but also brought morale to the bottom.

Cao Zhen took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. He turned to the soldiers beside him and said, "Soldiers, I know you are filled with despair at the moment, but I want to tell you that we have not lost yet! As long as we still have a breath left, we must not give up hope!"

His voice was firm and powerful, trying to awaken the fighting spirit in the soldiers' hearts.

He went on to say: "I have sent people to ask for help, and I believe that new reinforcements will arrive soon."

At the same time, Cao Zhen ordered the remaining meat and liquor in the city to be distributed to everyone, hoping that these would allow everyone to temporarily forget the cold and fear and restore some morale. "

As he spoke, he waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to go and collect the distributed supplies.

However, despite Cao Zhen's efforts, the soldiers' response was unusually cold.

They took the supplies mechanically, without any joy on their faces.

Some people even just stood there silently without moving at all.

Cao Zhen's heart sank. He realized that relying solely on material incentives was far from enough. What was more important was to rekindle the fire of hope in the hearts of the soldiers.

Otherwise, Yecheng will be undefendable. (End of this chapter)