Shuhan

The news from Hanoi and Junyi, like a cold wind in the dark night, quietly but bitingly reached the ears of Qin Lang who was guarding Shan County.

Qin Lang had a resolute face and an unyielding pride between his brows. His beard was a little messy, which added a sense of vicissitudes.

He was wearing iron armor, with a long sword hanging from his waist. He stood on the city wall with his eyes as sharp as torches, gazing into the distance, as if he could penetrate layers of fog and look directly at the unknown battlefield.

However, at this moment, Qin Lang had a heavy worry in his heart.

The situation in Hanoi and Junyi was not optimistic. The enemy was advancing like wolves and tigers, pressing forward step by step. The bad news was like a dark cloud covering the sun, looming over his heart.

But he knew very well that as a general, he must not show the slightest sign of hesitation at this moment, otherwise the morale of the army would be disrupted.

So he chose to remain silent, keeping the news tightly in his heart and not saying a word about it.

The originally calm atmosphere in Shan County began to become tense and depressing as the Han army from Hongnong County approached.

The Han army was deployed outside the city, with flags fluttering, and the sound of horse hooves and the clashing of armor interweaving into a prelude to war, foreshadowing that a fierce battle was about to come.

Although the defenders on the city wall remained vigilant, their eyes could no longer conceal their panic and anxiety.

They looked at the densely packed enemy troops below the city, and couldn't help but feel a trace of despair in their hearts.

Qin Lang saw it and felt anxious.

He understood that morale is the soul of the army. Once morale is low, even the strongest city walls will be unable to withstand the enemy's attack.

However, the spies of the Jianjunsi were like venomous snakes that could penetrate any pore, quietly spreading the blocked news in the city.

For a time, rumors spread about the fall of Hanoi and Junyi and the enemy's imminent attack on the city. The morale, which was already low, quickly plummeted like an avalanche.

"The battle hasn't even started yet! Morale is already gone. What can we do?"

Qin Lang was secretly anxious, but on the surface he remained calm and composed.

He knew very well that at this moment he was the pillar of the entire army and must not waver in the slightest.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his inner turmoil, then slowly turned around and said loudly to the soldiers behind him: "Brothers, I know you are afraid, but please remember that behind us are the safety of countless people and the territory of the country! If we take a step back, the mountains and rivers will lose their color! Today, I, Qin Lang, swear here that if you want to take Shan County and open Hangu Pass, you have to step over my dead body!"

Qin Lang's voice was sonorous and powerful, and every word seemed to carry a thousand pounds of force, hitting the soldiers' hearts heavily.

His words were full of firmness and determination, like a sharp sword that pierced through the haze in the soldiers' hearts and allowed them to see hope again.

There was an unyielding light in his eyes, as if it could ignite the fire in everyone's heart.

The soldiers looked at Qin Lang and saw that he was tall and straight, like a towering mountain, standing tall and unshakable.

Although his face looked tired, his eyes revealed immense firmness and determination.

At this moment, they seemed to be infected by Qin Lang's courage and determination. The fear and despair in their hearts began to slowly dissipate, and were replaced by an unprecedented fighting spirit and belief.

Qin Lang was secretly relieved when he saw this.

He knew that morale, though low, was not entirely lost.

As long as the fighting spirit of the soldiers can be inspired, there is still hope of defending Shan County.

So he began to arrange the city defense, personally supervise the battle, and ensure that every detail was foolproof.

He led his soldiers to strengthen the city walls, repair loopholes, set traps, and prepare sufficient arrows and rolling logs and stones in case of emergency.

As night fell, the city of Shan County was brightly lit, and the busy figures of the soldiers looked particularly tragic under the firelight.

Qin Lang stood on the city wall, looking at the land he swore to protect with his life, and an inexplicable emotion surged in his heart.

This battle is a matter of life and death, and the future of the country.

He must give his all and not slack off at all.

"Brothers, have a good rest tonight. In the battle tomorrow, we will definitely let the Han army know how powerful we are!"

Qin Lang's voice echoed in the night sky, inspiring the hearts of every soldier like a war drum.

"The general is not afraid of death, so why should we be afraid of death?"

"The general has treated us well, and we will repay him with our lives!"

"After 18 years, I'm still a brave man. What's there to be afraid of?"

They responded one after another and morale was high.

However, Qin Lang knew in his heart that this battle would be extremely difficult.

As the night deepened, Shan County gradually became quiet, with only the occasional sound of patrol footsteps breaking the tranquility.

Qin Lang was still standing on the city wall, gazing into the distance. His figure was stretched very long under the moonlight, as if he had merged into this ancient city.

His heart is full of expectations and longings for the future, as well as firm belief in victory.

As long as people are alive, the outcome is uncertain.

Besides, even if you are in danger of death, what can you do?

The emperor's grace was so great that even in a dangerous situation, Qin Lang had no choice but to pay with his life.

The next day, at the beginning of the morning, a hint of paleness appeared in the sky, and the Han army camp outside Shan County was already busy.

In spring, the breeze is gentle and a little cool, but it is much warmer than the severe winter. It is a good time to attack cities and capture strongholds.

Although there had been no fighting for several months, the Han army in Hongnong County did not slack off. Instead, they took advantage of this rare period of peace to intensively prepare for the siege.

In the military camp, the furnaces were burning day and night, the blacksmiths were sweating profusely, the hammers were clanging, and sparks were flying. They were forging sharp arrows, sturdy ladders, and the terrifying siege vehicles.

The wood is carefully carved and the iron sheets are repeatedly hammered, and every process embodies the hard work and wisdom of the craftsmen.

On the other side, the gunpowder workshop was extremely busy. Pharmacists carefully weighed various raw materials, mixed and ground them, and then put them into special pottery jars. The accumulated gunpowder had piled up like a mountain, enough to shake the entire Shan County city wall.

As the first ray of sunlight penetrated the mist and illuminated the earth, the sound of war drums rang out in the Han army camp, dull and powerful, like an ancient call, awakening the blood and courage in the hearts of the soldiers.

The soldiers quickly gathered together, their armor shining coldly in the sun, their faces were filled with determination and resolve, their eyes burning with the desire for victory.

There are experienced veterans as well as fledgling recruits in the team, but at this moment, their hearts are closely connected as they face the upcoming battle together.

After the Han army finished lining up, looking down from the sky, they looked like ants slowly moving towards the county town of Shan.

At the front were those huge siege engines, which were slowly pulled by dozens of sturdy war horses, making heavy creaking sounds, like the sigh of the earth.

Following closely behind were soldiers carrying ladders and holding spears. Their steps were firm, and every step was on the dust of history.

The air was filled with a tense and solemn atmosphere. Only the sound of the war drums was as passionate and powerful as my heartbeat.

As the distance shortened, the outline of Shan County became clearer and clearer. The city walls were tall and majestic, but the Han army soldiers had no fear in their hearts. The siege vehicles slowly approached the city walls, and the ladders were quickly set up. The soldiers climbed up as nimbly as monkeys, and shouts of killing rang out, shaking the earth and the sky, as if to shake off the clouds in the sky.

"Kill! For the big man!"

The roars were the Han army’s desire for victory and also the most direct provocation to the enemy.

Their faces might be ferocious or fanatical, but more of them were filled with loyalty to the country and persistence in victory.

Sweat mixed with dirt blurred their vision but could not blur the faith in their hearts.

The Wei army on the city wall was terrified by the sudden attack, but they had no choice but to fight back.

They were wearing heavy armor, holding long spears and short blades, standing on the city walls, like an indestructible line of defense.

However, when the Han army's ladders were placed on the city walls and the deafening shouts of killing were close at hand, ripples could not help but form in their hearts.

"Keep it! You must keep it!"

Qin Lang shouted loudly, trying to boost morale.

His face was covered in dust, but his eyes revealed unquestionable determination.

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Under his leadership, the soldiers cheered up and used various city defense tools - boulders, rolling logs, and rain of arrows - to stop the attack of the Han army.

For a moment, arrows rained down from the city walls, boulders flew everywhere, and the two sides engaged in a fierce confrontation.

Among the Han army soldiers, there was a young captain named Li Xin, who was a graduate of the Military Academy. He was agile, holding a long sword, and rushed to the front.

There was an old scar on his face, a mark left by the last battle, but also a symbol of his glory.

As he climbed the ladder, he wielded his sword, cutting off the arrows thrown from the city walls, and roared, "Brothers, follow me! I will not be a human being if I don't take Shan County today!"

Li Xin's bravery inspired the surrounding soldiers, who followed suit and rushed forward regardless of the consequences.

Some soldiers were shot by arrows, but they still gritted their teeth and persisted; some soldiers were hit by huge rocks, but they still held on to their weapons tightly and refused to fall down.

The blood dyed the city walls red, and also dyed their battle robes red, but they had only one thought in their hearts - victory!
Although the Wei army on the city tried their best, they gradually became overwhelmed by the fierce attack of the Han army.

Gaps began to appear in their defenses and the morale of the soldiers began to decline.

Whenever a Han soldier climbed onto the city wall, it would cause a panic, and the Wei soldiers would begin to retreat, with some even dropping their weapons and choosing to flee.

However, at this critical moment, Qin Lang stepped forward, holding a long sword, and personally went into battle to kill the enemy. While beheading the Han soldiers who rushed up, he shouted loudly: "Warriors, we have homes and loved ones behind us! If we let the Han army succeed, we will not be able to face our fellow countrymen!"

His voice was hoarse and powerful, as if it carried some kind of magic, which made the originally shaken Wei army soldiers cheer up again.

However, the Han army's offensive was like a storm, fierce and continuous, as if it was going to completely swallow up the ancient city of Shan County.

They knew the defense of Shan County very well, and they accurately captured and exploited every line of defense and every weakness.

This is not only because the Han army has an excellent intelligence system, but also because inside this city, there are civilians and some soldiers who have been secretly bribed by the Han military commander. They are like poisonous snakes lurking in the dark, ready to give the Wei army a fatal blow at any time.

Qin Lang, as the defender of Shan County, had already noticed these potential threats and suppressed them with tremendous force.

But even so, these internal turmoils had an immeasurable impact on morale.

The soldiers' hearts were filled with doubts and anxieties. They began to doubt everyone around them. This lack of trust was undoubtedly fatal for an army.

What's worse, the Han army's gunpowder weapons demonstrated unprecedented power.

Those seemingly indestructible iron city gates collapsed under the repeated bombardment of hundreds of kilograms of gunpowder, as if they were turned into ruins with a light touch of the hand of God.

The arrows of the Han army were like dense raindrops, with a range so long that it was astonishing.

The gunpowder carried in the catapults blew the Wei army's defense line into pieces. Every explosion was accompanied by the soldiers' wailing and despair.

In the clash of swords and spears, the Wei army was even more unable to match the elite Han army.

The Han soldiers were well-trained and highly skilled in martial arts. Every charge they made was like a sharp blade, cutting through the Wei army's defenses.

When the last barrier of the city wall was breached, the Wei army completely lost its cover and could only engage in hand-to-hand combat with the Han army.

On the battlefield, blood and gun smoke intertwined to form a tragic picture.

The faces of the Wei army soldiers were filled with fatigue and fear. Their eyes flashed with the desire to survive, but more of it was helplessness about the impending fate.

Qin Lang stood on the city wall, looking at all this, his heart filled with bitterness.

It has been less than a year since he took over the defense of Shan County. Is he going to witness the fall of this city with his own eyes?

As time went on, the pressure on the Han army increased, and the Wei army's defense line began to crumble.

Finally, at a certain moment, the overwhelmed Wei army seemed to be defeated by an invisible force, and they began to flee in all directions, trying to escape this place of death.

Seeing this, Qin Lang knew that the situation was hopeless and it would be futile to continue insisting.

He took a deep breath, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes, and he immediately ordered a retreat and fled out of the city.

On the way of escape, the scene of the fall of Shan County kept echoing in Qin Lang's mind.

He knew very well what the fall of Shan County meant to the entire war situation.

But he also understood that he couldn't just give up.

Hangu Pass, that was his last hope.

As long as Hangu Pass can be defended, the Han army from Hongnong will not be able to advance directly, and Luoyang's defense line can be preserved.

Qin Lang fled on his warhorse, while silently thinking about his next plan in his mind.

His face was covered in dust and sweat, but his eyes were extremely determined.

He still had a tough battle to fight, and he had to win this battle.

When Qin Lang led the remnants of his troops to escape to Hangu Pass, it was already dark.

He looked at the towering pass and felt an inexplicable sense of pride in his heart.

This was the burial place of many heroes, and now, he will also fight a desperate battle with the Han army here.

Victory or defeat, life or death, is still unknown.

But no matter what, the person is locked up.

If Hangu Pass was lost, how could he have the face to meet His Majesty?

Even if I die, I will die in Hangu Pass! (End of this chapter)