Shuhan

Ever since Sima Yi's defeat that shocked the whole country, the land of Henei has become like a lone boat in a storm, with the people in a state of panic.

As night fell, the lights on the city walls dimmed, but they could not hide the anxiety and uneasiness in the soldiers' eyes.

In the streets and alleys, people were whispering, talking about the unknown tomorrow, and every word was loaded with worry.

And the mysterious force of the Jianjun Division, like a ghost in the dark night, quietly shuttled among the Wei officials and generals in Hanoi, weaving a web of rebellion with interests and threats.

Their figures flickered like ghosts in the dark corners of the mansion, whispering tempting promises or cold threats, causing cracks to gradually appear in the once solid wall of loyalty.

Although Cao Rui was sitting on the high dragon throne, he could still feel the chill coming from Hanoi.

He knew very well that a mere edict or a few passionate calls would not be enough to win back the hearts of the people in Hanoi.

Therefore, he adopted a helpless but realistic strategy: Cao Rui generously granted titles to those officials and generals who still stuck to their posts. This was the final affirmation of their loyalty and also a helpless arrangement for their future fate.

At the same time, he ordered their families to be secretly sent to Luoyang, ostensibly for protection but actually as hostages, as the final shackle on their loyalty.

However, such a move failed to stop the elite Han army led by Zhao Yun from sweeping in like a storm.

Under the warm spring sun, the flags of the Han army fluttered in the wind. Zhao Yun, wearing silver armor and holding a spear, stood on horseback with his eyes as sharp as torches, as if he could see through all obstacles.

His face showed both a desire for victory and indifference to the complex emotions behind this war.

With his order, the Han army rushed towards every city in Hanoi like a tide. Wherever they went, dust flew and war drums thundered.

Faced with this sudden attack, the cities along the way fell one after another without much resistance.

Some defenders, looking at the mountain-like Han army, lost the last bit of will to resist in their hearts. They chose to open the city gates and personally welcome Zhao Yun in order to seek a glimmer of hope.

At the moment of surrender, their faces were filled with helplessness, but more of it was deep worry about the safety of their families.

They knew that their families in Luoyang might have become the most innocent victims of this war.

However, those generals who tried to fight to the death for the safety of their families encountered a more tragic fate.

Some of the generals in the city were originally their comrades, but under the instigation of the spy chief, they became more terrifying than the enemy.

On a dark and windy night, these instigated generals quietly opened the city gates and let in Han spies, or created chaos in the city and caused chaos in the camp.

Those brothers who were supposed to fight side by side suddenly turned against each other and killed each other.

In such chaos, those generals who insisted on resisting were captured and tied up and escorted to the front of the Han army. Facing their former comrades, their eyes were full of confusion and anger, but more of them were helplessness towards their fate.

Zhao Yun did not slow down because of the surrender or captured generals. He had only one belief in his heart: to end the war as soon as possible and let the world return to peace as soon as possible.

Therefore, every time he captured a city, he would personally supervise the aftermath to ensure that the people were not disturbed. At the same time, he tried his best to treat the captured Wei generals with courtesy, hoping to influence them and reduce unnecessary killings.

Under such an offensive, in just half a month, the entire Hanoi fell to the Han army like dominoes, one after another.

The sky in Hanoi seems to have become brighter as a result, but behind this brightness lie the joys and sorrows of countless families.

soon.

Under Zhao Yun's powerful offensive, the territory of Henei County finally fell completely under the control of Shu Han.

At this moment, he was standing on a high hill, his eyes looking through the mountains, and he saw the surging river winding like a giant dragon, separating him from the ancient capital of Luoyang.

The sun shines on the river, making the waves sparkle, as if every ray of light is telling the vicissitudes of history and the changes in the future.

On the other side of the river, the outline of Mengjin Water Fort was looming in the morning mist, like a mirage, both near and far.

"It's only separated by a river..." Zhao Yun whispered to himself. Although his voice was soft, it was filled with unquestionable firmness.

His face was resolute, his brows revealed a hint of fatigue, but more of it was the joy of impending victory and infinite longing for the future.

His battle robe rustled in the wind, and the dust and blood on it intertwined into pictures of battles, recording the hardships and glory he had gone through.

However, the dawn of victory did not completely illuminate his way forward.

To the northwest, Zhiguan stood quietly among the mountains like an isolated fortress, where more than 10,000 Wei troops were stationed, posing a risk to their path to Luoyang.

If we attack their retreat when they are attacking Luoyang with all their might, wouldn't that be a disaster?

Although the Wei troops were trapped like turtles in a jar and their logistical supply lines were cleverly cut off by Zhao Yun, their defeat was only a matter of time, but Zhao Yun did not take it lightly.

He knew very well that a trapped beast would still fight, and the Wei army might make unexpected moves in order to survive.

Therefore, Zhao Yun left 3,000 elite soldiers in Zhi County. Like falcons, they always monitored the movements at Zhi Pass to prevent the Wei army from breaking through and heading south, thus disturbing the peace in Henei.

These three thousand soldiers were all agile and sharp-eyed. Their existence was like an invisible chain that tightly bound the hands and feet of the Wei army.

At the same time, Zhao Yun sent a clever messenger, carrying his handwritten letter, to Hedong through many dangers.

The messenger was dressed in night clothes, had a stern face, and moved quickly and secretly, like a ghost in the night.

His mission was to urge the friendly forces in Hedong to strengthen the siege of Zhiguan to ensure that nothing could go wrong.

After everything was arranged, Zhao Yun focused all his energy on the Yellow River ferry.

There are three important ferry crossings from Hanoi to Luoyang, Pingyinjin, Mengjin and Wushejin. They are like three gateways connecting the destinies of the two places.

Pingyinjin is also known as Baihe Ferry and Baipo Ferry.

The Comprehensive Geography says, "Pingyinjin is 50 miles away from Luoyang County, and it is the Baipo Ferry."
The river here is narrow, the water is deep and calm, and it is a strategic location.

The Zuo Zhuan states: In the spring of the 519rd year of Duke Zhao of Lu ( BC), the Jin army was in Pingyin.
The "Mengjin County Chronicle" says: "Pingyin Ferry, so it was named after the town. In the third year of the reign of Qin II, Sima Qiongfang, a general of Zhao, wanted to cross the river to enter the pass, so Pei Gong attacked Pingyin in the north and cut off the river. Chen Ping fled from Chu and surrendered to the King of Han, who ordered him to supervise the generals to cross the Pingyin Ferry in the south.

It is possible to cross the river from Pingyinjin, but the river channel is the narrowest there.

Mengjin has become the most convenient channel due to its geographical advantages.

Mengjin has been famous since ancient times: King Wu replaced King Zhou and boarded a boat. Waves rose in Yanghou and a strong wind blew against the current. King Wu held the yellow axe and waved it. The wind and waves were gone and a white fish entered the boat. He cooked it to inform the heavens and signed an alliance with 800 princes, so it was named Mengjin.

According to the "Records of the Grand Historian", King Wu of Zhou led his troops to cross the river here to attack King Zhou of Shang, and marched into Chaoge, where he won the victory.

In 24 AD, Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, appointed Feng Yi as General Mengjin and stationed troops on the river to resist Zhu Yu, King of Luoyang, in order to realize his strategy of gaining a foothold in Henei and advancing to Chang'an.

During the reign of Emperor Ling, Mengjin Ferry was listed as one of the eight passes surrounding Luoyang.

Zhao Yun knew very well that Mengjin was the key to quickly taking Luoyang.

Standing at the Mengjin ferry, Zhao Yun gazed at the Yellow River flowing eastward, with complex emotions surging in his heart.

The river water hit the shore, making a deafening sound, as if nature was cheering him on. He took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with wisdom, and began to think about how to take over the ferry at the lowest cost.

"General, the terrain at the Mengjin ferry is complex, and the Wei army must be heavily guarding it. What should we do?" The deputy general at the side asked in a low voice with a hint of worry on his face.

Zhao Yun smiled slightly, with a sly look in his eyes: "As the Art of War says, if you know yourself and your enemy, you can fight a hundred battles without danger. We must first understand the deployment of the Wei army, and then formulate a countermeasure."

As he said this, he turned and looked at the scout behind him, "You, quickly go and investigate the Wei army's deployment at the Mengjin Ferry, and make sure it is detailed."

The scout took the order and left, his figure quickly disappearing in the vast crowd.

Zhao Yun continued to stand at the ferry, looking at the distant skyline, silently planning the upcoming battle in his mind.

His eyes were sometimes solemn and sometimes bright, as if he was having an intense conversation with another self deep in his heart.

As night fell, the scouts brought back detailed information about the Wei army's deployment.

Zhao Yun studied the map carefully; every mark and every route were deeply imprinted in his mind.

"Tomorrow morning, we will split our troops into two groups. One group will feint to attack Pingyinjin to attract the attention of the Wei army. The other group will attack Mengjin with its main force. We must win the battle in one go."

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Zhao Yun's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, full of unquestionable firmness.

The soldiers responded in unison, their morale high.

They knew that following Zhao Yun meant following victory.

In the darkness of the night, their figures are like sharp arrows, ready to be shot.

The next morning, when the first ray of sunlight penetrated the mist and illuminated the Yellow River ferry, the Shu Han army led by Zhao Yun was ready to go.

He was wearing iron armor, holding a spear, standing in front of the formation, like a god of war.

His eyes swept over every soldier, it was a silent encouragement and a silent promise.

"Let's go!" With the order given, the Shu Han army rushed towards the Mengjin ferry like a tide.

The battle horn echoed over the Yellow River, shaking the earth.

Zhao Yun took the lead, wielding his spear, and was invincible.

His figure shuttled across the battlefield like a flash of lightning, and wherever he went, the Wei army retreated.

The Han army rushed down the mountain like a tiger and quickly captured the ferry. The Wei army retreated, leaving a mess behind.

In the post-war chaos, the soldiers under Zhao Yun escorted a group of ragged and panic-looking people towards the camp.

Among these people were many sons of high-ranking officials of the Wei State and their families. They originally thought that they could escape to Luoyang via the retreat route in Hanoi, but they did not expect to be captured by the Han army there.

Zhao Yun swept his cold eyes over these people, without a trace of pity in his heart.

War is ruthless. Being kind to the enemy is being cruel to yourself.

Therefore, he decisively ordered that all their property be confiscated, the men be made laborers, and the women be sent to the Jiaofangsi to be screened and trained, so that perhaps one day they could be presented to the emperor of the Han Dynasty to demonstrate the power of the Han Dynasty.

After dealing with these trivial matters, Zhao Yun turned his attention to the south bank of the Yellow River, where was the Mengjin South Ferry, his next target.

However, a serious problem lay before him - without boats, how could the army cross the river?

His brows were furrowed and a hint of anxiety flashed in his eyes.

Crossing the river is a very important matter. Without boats, the army would be like a giant with its hands and feet tied, unable to move.

"General, what should we do?" the deputy general at the side asked anxiously, with a worried look on his face.

Zhao Yun was silent for a moment, then said decisively: "Search! Search the entire river bank. Don't let even a small boat escape!"

So the Han army soldiers dispersed and searched carefully along the river bank.

However, after a month, they only found more than ten small boats, which was far from meeting the needs of the army crossing the river.

It turned out that the State of Wei had foreseen this and had towed all the boats along the river to the north bank in advance, and some were even burned to prevent the Han army from crossing the river.

Zhao Yun stood on the river bank, looking at the dozen or so lonely small boats, feeling helpless and angry.

If the army cannot find ships as soon as possible, it will be trapped here and unable to advance further.

His brows were furrowed and his eyes were deep, as if he was thinking about something.

"General, why don't we mobilize ships from other counties?" suggested the deputy general.

Zhao Yun nodded, but he knew in his heart that this would not be an easy task.

He immediately sent people to Henei, Dongjun, Weijun and other places to request the mobilization of ships.

However, as time went by, by the end of March of the eleventh year of Tianming, only more than fifty ships were found, which was still a drop in the bucket for the army to cross the river.

Just when Zhao Yun was getting extremely worried about this matter, even worse news came - the Wei army's navy came up on boats and actually burned all the ships that the Han army had worked so hard to collect!
This news was like a bolt from the blue, shocking Zhao Yun's heart.

He looked at the blazing flames, his heart filled with anger and unwillingness.

"Damn Wei army, so cunning!" Zhao Yun said gritting his teeth, the muscles on his face trembling slightly with anger.

If the army cannot find a way to cross the river as soon as possible, it will be in a passive position.

"General, what should we do?" There was a slight tremor in the deputy general's voice, and he was obviously shocked by the predicament before him.

Zhao Yun took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner anger and anxiety.

As a general, he must remain calm and rational.

He looked into the distance, his eyes penetrating through layers of fog, as if he could see the distant south.

"Unless we wait until the river freezes over, we will have no choice but to capture Hongnong, breach Hangu Pass, and transfer large ships from Fenglingdu. Alternatively, we can build ships on the spot."

But no matter which method is used, it is probably impossible to go south to attack Luoyang in the short term.

He had vowed to reach Luoyang in January, but was blocked on the north bank by the Yellow River.

For now, all we can do is wait. (End of this chapter)