Shuhan

The autumn wind was blowing, and the flags on the city wall of Gong County were fluttering in the wind, as if foreshadowing the coming unrest and turmoil.

Sima Yi sat in front of the desk in the study, holding tightly in his hand the secret letter sent by Sima Zhao. The sealing wax on the envelope had been carefully removed, revealing the densely packed handwriting inside.

His eyes wandered between the lines, sometimes solemn, sometimes flickering, as if every word carried a heavy weight.

The letter stated that Sima Zhao launched a surprise attack on Muye, the morale of the Han army was low, and thousands of Han's elite soldiers died in a foreign land. This number shocked Sima Yi.

He knew very well that such a price would be unbearable for any force, even the prosperous Han Dynasty.

Sima Yi frowned, wondering: Was Liu Gongsi really seriously injured in the assassination attempt, to the point of being in danger of death, as the rumors said?
He closed his eyes, and the scene reported by the spy from the school office that night emerged in his mind - flames shot up into the sky, explosions were deafening, and in a secret room, several kilograms of gunpowder exploded instantly. The destructive force was enough to reduce any living being to ashes.

Could Liu Gongsi really survive that disaster?
Sima Yi's mind was full of questions, but he also understood that regardless of whether Liu Gongsi lived or died, the assassination had completely changed the direction of the situation.

He slowly opened his eyes, and his gaze passed through the window lattice and fell on the mulberry tree in the yard.

The autumn leaves are yellow, dancing in the wind, and a few have quietly fallen on the bluestone slabs. On the treetops, a touch of silver frost flickers in the morning light, indicating that winter is approaching.

Sima Yi took a deep breath of the cool air, and the uncertainty about the future in his heart became stronger.

He knew that in this chaotic world, every step had to be taken with caution, as any mistake could lead to a complete loss.

"Someone come here." Sima Yi's voice was low and powerful. Then, a personal guard in iron armor came in and stood respectfully in front of him.

"What are your orders, General?"

Sima Yi withdrew his gaze from the window and fell on the personal guard, with a look of both trust and expectation in his eyes.

"You, go to the school office quickly and pass on my order to have Zhen Xiang come to see you immediately. Tell him that if he still wants to continue to represent the Jizhou nobles and if the Han emperor is really on the verge of death, it is time for us to join forces with the Zhen family. Tell him to be prepared, and once the time is right, open the gates of Chaoge and even Yecheng to welcome us."

The personal guard received the order and was about to turn around and leave when Sima Yi called him again.

"Wait, tell him again. This matter concerns the prosperity and decline of the family. We must act with caution and not let any news leak out."

The guard nodded, and after confirming once more, he hurriedly left the room and disappeared outside the door.

Sima Yi stood up, walked to the window, looked at the mountains in the distance, with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

Cooperation with the Zhen family is both an opportunity and a challenge. The key lies in whether we can accurately grasp the fleeting opportunity.

He thought back to the days when he was young and fought side by side with the late emperor. Didn't they have the same ambitions back then, wanting to carve out a place for themselves in this troubled time?
However, times have changed, the previous emperor has passed away, the Wei Dynasty has declined, heroes have emerged across the country, and the road ahead is full of thorns.

Sima Yi gently stroked the map on the table, his fingertips sliding over the place names, thinking about the next step of the chess game in his mind.

the other side.

Yecheng.

The mansion of the Zhen family in Zhongshan stands majestically, and the ancient bricks and tiles reveal the weight of history.

It was late at night, and the moonlight was like water, sprinkling on the bluestone slabs in the mansion, creating a faint silver glow.

Clan leader Zhen Yi paced back and forth in the study, each step seeming to carry a heavy burden. His eyes changed under the dim candlelight, sometimes solemn, sometimes confused, as if he was facing an unprecedented choice.

Outside the window, the autumn breeze blows, bringing a hint of coolness and news from afar.

At this moment, a burst of brisk footsteps broke the silence in the room, and the young man Zhen Xiang hurried in, holding a sealed secret letter in his hand. The sealing wax on the envelope glowed in the candlelight, making it particularly eye-catching.

He walked up to Zhen Yi, presented the letter with both hands, and said anxiously, "Patriarch, this is Sima Yi's handwriting. Please take a look."

When Zhen Yi heard this, his eyes suddenly focused and he reached out to take the letter, his movements trembling unconsciously.

He carefully opened the envelope and unfolded the letter paper. Lines of powerful handwriting came into view. It was Sima Yi's handwriting.

Zhen Yi read word by word, his brows furrowed, his face becoming increasingly gloomy.

After a moment, he slowly exhaled a breath of foul air, as if to expel the annoyance in his heart, turned his gaze to Zhen Xiang, and asked in a low voice: "Without the imperial edict of His Majesty, how dare you return to Ye?"

Zhen Xiang immediately said, "The situation is critical. I have no choice but to come here quickly to discuss this matter with the clan leader."

Zhen Yi was silent for a moment, then he sighed and asked:
"If we rebel against Wei, will Wei still dare to employ us?"

Zhen Xiang heard this, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes, he straightened his back, and said in a sonorous tone: "The situation was like this at the time, we had no choice but to do it. Besides, if we can make great achievements this time, our Zhongshan Zhen family can really become a great family that will forever dominate Jizhou."

As he spoke, his eyes sparkled with longing for the future, as if he had already seen the glory of the Zhen family in the land of Jizhou.

However, Zhen Yi was not so optimistic. He hesitated for a moment and asked again, "Is your Majesty's condition really hopeless?"

There was a hint of unwillingness in his eyes, as if he found it hard to accept the fact that the once high-spirited young emperor was about to fall.

Upon hearing this, Zhen Xiang's expression darkened, and he nodded, saying in a low voice, "It is true. The maidservant beside my aunt said that when my aunt went to see him, she saw with her own eyes that His Majesty was vomiting blood and unconscious, his face was as pale as gold paper, and I am afraid that he will not live long."

When Zhen Yi heard this, he was shocked and a hint of disbelief flashed in his eyes.

That young emperor who once ruled the world, that Majesty who once brought infinite glory to his Zhongshan Zhen clan, really came to the end of his life like this?

He asked unwillingly, "Have you asked Concubine Zhen?"

Zhen Xiang nodded again, and said firmly, "What my aunt said cannot be false."

Zhen Yi was silent. He closed his eyes and all the past events came to his mind.

The reality is so cruel. The Han emperor is about to fall, and the situation in Jizhou will undergo earth-shaking changes.

Seeing that Zhen Yi was still hesitant to speak, Zhen Xiang immediately said, "If the Emperor of the Han Dynasty dies, can the Han Kingdom of Jizhou be preserved? We have returned to Wei now, and we still have merits. If it is too late, who knows who will take away the merits."

Zhen Xiang's eyes flashed with anxiety: "We must make a decision as soon as possible. If we wait until the Han Kingdom collapses completely, it will be difficult for us to return to Wei."

As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on Zhen Yi, waiting for his response.

However, Zhen Yi fell into deep hesitation.
He understood that returning to Wei meant betrayal, betrayal of the Han emperor, betrayal of Concubine Zhen, and even more so, betrayal of the beliefs of the Zhongshan Zhen family.

But on the other hand, he also knew that if he did not return to Wei, the Zhen family would probably not be able to escape the disaster when the Han Dynasty was destroyed.

He stood in the middle of the study, his figure looking somewhat lonely in the candlelight, his heart full of contradictions and struggles.

In the study, the candlelight flickered. Zhen Xiang and Zhen Yi stood facing each other. The atmosphere was so tense that one could almost hear the sound of air tearing.

Zhen Xiang's eyes were anxious and determined. He stared at Zhen Yi, trying to persuade the hesitant patriarch.

"The Wei army defeated the Han army in Muye, and now the people of Chaoge are in a panic. If the Wei army breaks through Chaoge, our surrender will be meaningless!"

There was unquestionable determination in Zhen Xiang's words; his words were like a sharp sword, piercing Zhen Yi's heart.

Upon hearing this, Zhen Yi frowned, and a trace of pain and struggle flashed in his eyes.

This decision concerns the future of the Zhen family in Zhongshan. If you are not careful, it may be disastrous.

Outside the study, the autumn wind was blowing, blowing up fallen leaves, as if accompanying this difficult decision.

Zhen Yi's eyes flickered in the candlelight. It was as if two people were fighting in his heart. One insisted on loyalty and trustworthiness, while the other shouted for survival and the future of the family. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and tried to calm the waves in his heart.

"Oh——" Zhen Yi sighed and finally opened his eyes.

His eyes were no longer confused, but became unusually sharp, as if he had made some decision.

"In that case, you go to Chaoge, contact your old subordinates, and cooperate with the Wei army at the critical moment!" Although Zhen Yi's words were brief, they revealed a firmness that could not be changed.

Upon hearing this, Zhen Xiang's face suddenly broke into a brilliant smile. He excitedly cupped his hands and said, "I'll do it right away!"

After saying this, he turned around and was about to leave, but suddenly stopped and looked back at Zhen Yi, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. "Patriarch, you..."

He seemed to want to say something, but hesitated.

Zhen Yi looked at Zhen Xiang, a barely perceptible sadness flashing across his eyes.

He understood what Zhen Xiang wanted to say, and he also understood what his decision meant to Zhen Xiang and the Zhongshan Zhen family.

He gently patted Zhen Xiang's shoulder and said earnestly: "Go, Xiang'er. This is the fate of our Zhongshan Zhen family, and it is also a responsibility we cannot escape. Remember, no matter what happens, you must protect yourself and our family."

Zhen Xiang looked at Zhen Yi deeply, then nodded heavily, turned around and strode out of the study.

His back looked particularly tall and straight in the candlelight, as if he was shouldering the hope and future of the entire family.

Zhen Yi looked at Zhen Xiang's back, feeling mixed emotions.

He slowly walked to the window and stared out at the night sky.

The moonlight was like water, sprinkling on his face, reflecting his weather-beaten face.

"Han was set to win, but it was ruined because of an assassination..." Zhen Yi murmured to himself in a low voice, his voice revealing endless regret and helplessness.

He thought of the sudden assassination and the young emperor who was once full of vigor and vitality, and an inexplicable sadness welled up in his heart.

However, as the patriarch of the Zhongshan Zhen family, he knew that he could not dwell on the grief of the past.

He must consider the future of his family and work hard for the prosperity of the Zhen clan.

"To their family, promises and loyalty are all empty." Zhen Yi smiled bitterly, his eyes revealing an insight into the fickleness of the world.

"The most important thing is to survive and make the Zhongshan Zhen family more prosperous."

In this troubled time, only the strong can survive.

For the survival and prosperity of his family, he had no choice but to betray the Han Kingdom and surrender to the Wei Kingdom.

Although this decision made him feel some pressure, compared with the future of his family, these pressures seemed insignificant.

Zhen Yi took a deep breath, as if he wanted to absorb all his worries and sorrows into his chest and turn them into strength.

He turned back to his desk, sat down, picked up his pen and began to write a letter.

His movements were skillful and powerful, as if he was writing the future of the Zhen family in Zhongshan.

Now that the decision has been made to rebel against the Han Dynasty, all the forces of the Zhongshan Zhen family must be mobilized!

As the night deepened, the candlelight in the study was still flickering.

Zhen Yi's figure looked particularly lonely and determined under the candlelight.

He knew that his choice might be accused of betrayal by future generations, but he understood that only in this way could the Zhongshan Zhen family survive and prosper in this chaotic world.

Because this is the way for the family to survive.

In the ancient city of Chaoge, the cold winter wind pierced through the eaves and corners of the palace like a sharp blade, bringing up bursts of low whistles.

Inside the palace, the candlelight flickered, stretching Liu Chan's figure to appear longer and shorter. His face looked particularly solemn in the interweaving of light and shadow.

Since the assassination attempt, Liu Chan's health has improved greatly after Hua Tuo's careful treatment. His once pale face now has some color, but his occasional frown reveals a hint of imperceptible weakness.

He was wearing a dragon robe and sitting upright on the dragon throne. His hands rested lightly on the armrests, his fingertips tapping unconsciously, a habit he had when thinking.

"Your Majesty, there is news of Muye's defeat... and Zhen Xiang, who went to Yecheng without permission and returned..."

Grand eunuch Huang Hao carefully presented two urgent reports with a slight tremor in his voice, as if even he could feel the heavy weight behind the two pieces of news.

Liu Chan took the urgent report and his eyes first swept over the four words "Muye was defeated", and a barely perceptible coldness flashed in his eyes.

This defeat was actually part of his careful planning.

In the Muye area, he did not send the elite Han army, but used a team composed of surrendered Wei troops as bait.

In Liu Chan's eyes, those surrendered soldiers were nothing more than pawns to consume the enemy's strength. The death of thousands of them was just a drop in the bucket for him and would not shake the foundation of the Han Dynasty at all.

He already had a bigger chess game in his mind.

Then, Liu Chan's eyes fell on the report about Zhen Xiang, and a sneer appeared on the corner of his mouth.

The Zhongshan Zhen family, a family with deep roots in Jizhou, has always been a major concern for him.

This time, he deliberately spread false news to trick Zhen Xiang into thinking that there was an opportunity. Unexpectedly, Zhen Xiang could not hold back and revealed his true colors.

Liu Chan secretly calculated that the demise of the Zhen family of Zhongshan was imminent.

Jizhou, this fertile land, will eventually belong entirely to the Han Dynasty, rather than to any aristocratic family.

"Ma Su, Huang Chong." Liu Chan's voice was deep and powerful, breaking the silence in the room.

Two men came out in response. Ma Su had a tall and straight figure, and his brows showed the calmness of a wise man; Huang Chong was much younger.

"Do you two know that the defeat at Muye was actually the result of my planning?" Liu Chan spoke slowly, his eyes like torches, scanning the two of them.

When Ma Su heard this, a hint of sudden enlightenment flashed in his eyes, while Huang Chong was slightly stunned, and then showed admiration.

"Your Majesty has foresight and foresight that is beyond our reach." Ma Su bowed, his tone full of respect.

Liu Chan nodded slightly and continued, "The matter of the Zhen statue was also done intentionally by me. The Zhen family of Zhongshan is too powerful to be eliminated. If we can take this opportunity to get rid of them, Jizhou will no longer have to worry about the future. I have made up my mind. If Sima Yi falls into the trap, we will capture him alive, and when the river freezes in winter, we will pass through Mengjin and take Luoyang directly!"

As soon as these words were spoken, Ma Su and Huang Chong's expressions froze, with excitement and determination flashing in their eyes.

They knew that this would be a decisive battle that would determine the future fate of the Han Dynasty, and their fate would be closely linked to it.

Liu Chan stood up, walked to the window, looked at the heavy snow outside, and felt unprecedented ambition and passion in his heart.

The world has been in chaos for so many years, it is time for me to unify it! (End of this chapter)