Shuhan

In the autumn of the eleventh year of Tianming, the autumn wind was blowing, bringing with it a sense of desolation and solemnity. It blew up the withered and yellow fallen leaves on the ground, swirling and falling in the air.

The scorching summer heat has long gone, leaving behind only the increasingly biting cold.

The sky was gray, as if foreshadowing the severe test that the State of Wei was about to face.

For the State of Wei, the past few months seemed to be unfavorable to the weather, and it received a series of heartbreaking news.

To the west, the Han army was looming like a dark cloud, and their troops were stationed outside Hangu Pass. The towering pass looked lonely in the autumn wind. Qin Lang, the brave defender, had been holding Hangu Pass for several months.

His face looked exhausted from the long battle, but there was an unyielding light in his eyes.

He sent people to ask for reinforcements several times. His anxious mood seemed to be eroded by the cold wind outside the pass. Every messenger asking for help seemed to carry his last hope and determination.

In the south, Guo Huai, the battle-hardened general, was chased by the Han army from Yingchuan all the way to Guangcheng Pass.

In the north, the fall of Henei County was like a heavy hammer, hitting the heart of Wei State hard.

Those once prosperous ferry crossings, such as Mengjin Ferry, have now all fallen into the hands of the Han army.

The Han army's flag fluttered over the ferry, as if mocking the Wei State's incompetence.

If there had been no boats, the Han army would have already gone downstream and headed straight for the heart of Wei.

However, as winter approaches, the river is about to freeze, and the thick ice will become a bridge for the Han army to attack.

The Wei soldiers looked at the river surface which was about to solidify, and their hearts were filled with worry and anxiety.

To the east, the loss of Dongjun made the situation even worse for the State of Wei.

Led by Zhao Yun and other Han generals, the Han army was like a tiger descending from the mountains, unstoppable.

Under his leadership, the Han army besieged Xingyang, and the once strong city was now in danger.

The defenders of Xingyang fought desperately, but facing the fierce offensive of the Han army, they seemed powerless to turn the tide.

Once Xingyang was captured, only Hulao Pass would be left to guard the last line of defense of Wei State.

However, even now, the State of Wei was besieged by the Han army in the Luoyang Basin.

That vast basin has now become a cage of the Wei State. The surrounding Han troops are like hungry wolves, staring at the prey that is about to be caught.

The soldiers of Wei were filled with despair and helplessness, but they knew that this was a life-and-death battle concerning the survival of Wei.

They must cheer up and fight for their country, their people and the beliefs in their hearts.

In Luoyang City, the king and his ministers of Wei were also extremely anxious.

The King of Wei sat on the dragon throne with a frown on his face and a look of deep worry in his eyes.

He knew very well that if he lost this battle, the State of Wei would be completely destroyed.

He looked at the ministers below, each of whose faces was filled with solemnity and worry.

They either bowed their heads in deep thought or whispered to each other, all of them were worried about the future of the Wei State.

"Your Majesty, the situation is critical now. We must come up with a solution as soon as possible." Zheng Cheng stood up. Although his voice was low, it was full of determination.

His face was old, but there was a gleam of wisdom in his eyes.

He is an old minister of the Wei State. He has experienced countless ups and downs and is now the backbone of the Wei State.

"Yes, Your Majesty, we can't just sit there and wait for death." Chen Qun also echoed.

His voice was a little hoarse, obviously caused by long-term hard work.

His face looked haggard, but his eyes revealed deep concern for the country.

The Emperor of Wei was listening to the discussions of his ministers with a lot of thoughts in his mind.

He knew that this battle was about the survival of Wei State, and he had to make the right decision. He took a deep breath and then said slowly: "My dear ministers, I know the importance of this battle. We must go all out and defend Wei State at all costs."

His voice was not loud, but it was full of strength and determination.

If they lose Luoyang, they will also lose their wealth. Now is the time to fight to the death!
So, the rulers and ministers of Wei began to discuss countermeasures. They either made suggestions or analyzed the situation, and everyone was working hard for the future of Wei.

The soldiers of Wei State also fought bravely on the front lines, using their flesh and blood to build an indestructible line of defense.

The battle situation at Hangu Pass in the west was stalemate. The Wei army was unable to break the deadlock, and the Han army's offensive was continuous like a tide.

Seeing that it was difficult to break through in the west, Liu Chan quickly adjusted his strategy and gathered the army in the east in Xingyang City like hundreds of rivers converging into the sea.

Xingyang, this ancient city with a long history, has now become the front line of the confrontation between the two countries.

Those guarding Xingyang were King of Yan Cao Yu and Xiahou Xuan.

Cao Yu, as a member of the royal family, has a dignified face and a kingly demeanor between his brows, but at this moment he can't hide his anxiety in his eyes.

Xiahou Xuan was a pillar of the Wei State. He had a tall stature, a handsome face, and his brows revealed the demeanor of a Confucian general.

Although Cao Yu was the supreme commander on paper, the one who was truly responsible for the specific defense and coordinating the overall situation was Xiahou Xuan.

At this moment, the atmosphere in the lobby of the government office in Xingyang City was solemn.

Xiahou Xuan sat upright at his desk, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, making rhythmic sounds, as if adding a touch of rhythm to the tense atmosphere.

Spread out in front of him was a huge map, on which were densely marked the deployment of the Han army.

Xiahou Xuan's eyes swept across the map, and every time he received a piece of information from any direction, his eyes became sharper.

The deployment of the Han army outside Xingyang City soon caught Xiahou Xuan's attention.

He carefully analyzed each piece of intelligence and quickly built a map of the Han army's offensive in his mind.

His finger moved across the map, as if he was waging a silent battle with an invisible enemy.

After a moment, Xiahou Xuan raised his head, looked at Cao Yu with a firm gaze, and said slowly: "My king, this time we have blocked all the gates of the city tightly. As long as we hold on for a few months, the Han army will surely retreat due to lack of food and grass."

Xiahou Xuan's voice was steady and powerful, as if injecting a calming force into the tense atmosphere.

However, King Yan Cao Yu did not have the calm look on his face like Xiahou Xuan.

His brows were furrowed, and his eyes revealed some worry. He immediately said: "What if Xingyang City is breached? How about we abandon Xingyang and retreat to Hulao Pass?"

There was a hint of urgency in Cao Yu's voice, and he was obviously very worried about the current situation.

Xiahou Xuan shook his head immediately after hearing this. His eyes were firm and deep, as if they could penetrate the fog of the future.

He said slowly: "As long as Xingyang is not lost, Wei will have the ability to go out of Luoyang. If Xingyang is lost, it will be like a person with his hands and feet tied up, unable to move. We can't give up Xingyang easily, it is an important barrier for us to resist the Han army."

Xiahou Xuan's words were full of firmness and determination, as if they were injecting an invisible force into Cao Yu.

Upon hearing this, Cao Yu's brows were still furrowed, but the worry in his eyes seemed to have eased a little.

He was well aware of Xiahou Xuan's wisdom and courage, and also understood the importance of Xingyang to the State of Wei.

So he had to give up and no longer mentioned the retreat to Hulao Pass.

However, he did not completely let go of his worries, but continued to ask about the city's defenses and the movements of the Han army.

Seeing this, Xiahou Xuan sighed inwardly. He knew that although Cao Yu was the King of Yan, it was difficult for him to remain completely calm in the face of the crisis at this moment.

So he patiently answered every question for Cao Yu and introduced in detail the layout of the city defense and the movements of the Han army.

His voice was calm and firm, as if he was painting a clear picture of the battle situation for Cao Yu.

As Xiahou Xuan explained, Cao Yu's brows gradually relaxed.

There was a gleam in his eyes again, as if he was full of confidence in the future battle.

He knew very well that with a wise general like Xiahou Xuan by his side, Xingyang would be able to be defended and the State of Wei would be able to survive this crisis.

Although the atmosphere in Xingyang City was still tense at this moment, the morale of the Wei army did not drop under the coordination and appeasement of Xiahou Xuan.

They stayed at their respective posts and built an indestructible line of defense with their flesh and blood.

At the same time, in the Han army's camp, Zhao Yun, wearing silver armor, stood in front of the general's tent. His eyes passed through the layers of camps, as if he could penetrate the night and look directly at the outline of Xingyang City.

The night breeze blew, and his hair on his forehead fluttered gently, and his deep eyes flashed with wisdom and determination.

Read more latest popular novels at 6.9*shuba!

He also held a stack of intelligence in his hand, which was a detailed record of the Wei army's deployment in Xingyang City. Every line of text revealed the Wei army's cunning and tenacity.

"Xiahou Xuan was afraid of our army's gunpowder, so he blocked all four city gates..." Zhao Yun whispered to himself, his brows furrowed in the shape of a "川" character. His tone showed both surprise at the Wei army's strategy and worry about the current situation.

He looked up into the distance and saw the outline of Xingyang City looming in the night, like a sleeping giant beast waiting for its prey to arrive.

"It's probably impossible to blow up the walls of Xingyang City with gunpowder now. Xingyang City is as solid as a rock. It's hard to shake such a city with gunpowder."

At one side, Deputy General Zhang Yi was wearing iron armor and a battle robe on his shoulders. His face was resolute, but he couldn't help revealing a bit of worry.

He took a step forward and said in a low but firm voice: "General, why don't you besiege them and wait until their food and grass are exhausted? The Art of War says that the best strategy is to attack their plans, the next best is to attack their alliances, the next best is to attack their troops, and the worst is to attack their cities. By besieging a city, we may be able to defeat the enemy without fighting."

Zhao Yun shook his head slowly, a hint of helplessness and determination flashed in his eyes: "Fortresses are the lifeline of a large army. Although our army is large, the consumption is also huge. Youzhou and Jizhou have just been annexed, the people's hearts are not stable, and the output of food and grass is limited. If the siege fails for a long time, it is our army that will retreat first due to lack of food. In addition, Your Majesty intends to use troops against Luoyang in winter. Xingyang is the barrier of Luoyang. If it can be eliminated, our army will have no worries and the road to advance will be smoother."

Zhang Yi's face became more worried when he heard this. He knew very well that this battle was related to the overall situation, but he was also worried about the heavy losses that would be caused by a forced attack on the city.

"If we attack by force, our soldiers will suffer heavy casualties. This is not the best strategy!" There was a tremor in his voice, which showed his deep concern for his comrades and his deep fear of war.

Zhao Yun was silent for a moment after hearing this. He then slowly turned around and glanced at every general present. His eyes seemed to be able to see into people's hearts and give them invisible power.

"I know what you are worried about, but for the country and the people, we soldiers should die for our country. Although Xingyang is strong, people's hearts can be broken. I have made up my mind. Tomorrow morning, the whole army will be ready to go. I will personally lead the army to attack the city. With the force of thunder and lightning, I will break the city gate, behead the general, and seize the city!"

As Zhao Yun finished speaking, the atmosphere in the tent froze instantly, and every general's face was filled with determination and courage.

They knew that this Silver Spear General always kept his word, and his determination and courage would lead them through numerous difficulties and reach the other side of victory.

As the night deepened, Zhao Yun stood alone outside the camp, looking at the starry sky in deep thought. The moonlight shone on his silver armor, flickering with a cool brilliance. In his heart, there was both a longing for the future and a worry about the unknown. But more importantly, there was the indomitable fighting spirit and the firm belief in victory.

He whispered to himself: "Xiahou Xuan, although you have many clever tricks, the battle of Xingyang will be a decisive battle between you and me. Tomorrow, let the world witness who is the real hero!"

The next morning, the first light of dawn appeared in the sky, and a faint blue-purple color spread across the horizon. However, outside the city of Xingyang, the situation was tense and the atmosphere was full of fighting spirit.

The autumn wind was a bit bleak, blowing through the sparse treetops, making a whimpering sound, as if playing a prelude to the upcoming battle.

In the Han army's camp, the lights gradually went out, replaced by rows of neatly-organized troops. They were dressed in iron armor, holding spears, with firm eyes, like sharp swords about to be unsheathed, pointing directly at the ancient city of Xingyang.

At the forefront of the Han army, various advanced engineering equipment lay quietly like giant beasts. Catapults, siege vehicles, ladders, each of them exuded a cold metallic luster. They looked particularly heavy and majestic in the morning light, as if declaring the determination and strength of the Han army to Xingyang City.

Soldiers were busy moving around, some were checking equipment, some were adjusting angles, and some were carrying stones and gunpowder. Everything was ready, waiting for the order.

As a low and powerful drum beat sounded, the entire Han army camp seemed to be awakened by an invisible force.

The catapult began to turn slowly, and huge stones and pottery jars filled with gunpowder were loaded one by one. With dull firing sounds, the boulders and gunpowder cut through the sky like meteors and flew towards Xingyang City.

In an instant, explosions broke out in the city, flames shot up into the sky, smoke filled the air, and screams and exclamations intertwined together, forming a tragic picture.

Under the cover of siege equipment, the Han army soldiers rushed towards Xingyang City like a tide.

"For Your Majesty!"

"For the big man!"

"Come on!"

"Kill!"

They marched with firm steps, shouting earth-shaking slogans, the spears and swords in their hands flashing coldly in the sun, like a group of fearless warriors, vowing to break through all obstacles.

The sounds of shouting, clashing of swords, and explosions intertwined into one, shaking every inch of the air and everyone's heart.

The Wei army on the city was not willing to be outdone. They responded quickly and various city defense equipment were moved onto the city wall.

From the arrow tower, arrows rained down like raindrops in an attempt to stop the Han army's offensive; rolling logs and stones were pushed to the foot of the city in an attempt to repel the attacking enemy.

The faces of the Wei army soldiers were full of determination and resoluteness. They knew that this battle was a matter of life and death, and the future of the Wei state.

During the fierce battle between the two sides, Xingyang City seemed to have turned into a purgatory.

Fire, smoke, blood, death, all of these silently tell the cruelty of war.

The soldiers suffered heavy losses, whether it was the Han army or the Wei army, countless brave souls died at this moment.

Some fell under the enemy's swords and guns, and some were buried in the fire of the explosion, but even so, no one retreated and no one gave up.

On one side of the Han army, Zhao Yun was wearing silver armor and holding a spear. His figure was looming in the smoke, like a god of war.

His eyes were firm and cold, and every swing of his gun was accompanied by the enemy's wailing.

This battle concerns the overall situation, the future of the Han army, and the peace of the people of the world.

Therefore, he must win and must let the Han army's flag fly high over Xingyang City.

Among the Wei troops on the city wall, Xiahou Xuan was also wearing armor and holding a sword. His face was stern and his eyes revealed an unyielding will.

He commanded the Wei army soldiers to fight hard, and every swing of the sword seemed to be a fight against fate.

Xingyang City was the gateway to the State of Wei. Once it was lost, the consequences would be disastrous.

Therefore, he must defend it and let the glory of the Wei army live forever on this land.

A fierce offensive and defensive battle broke out between the two sides in Xingyang City.

The Han army relied on powerful siege equipment and brave soldiers to attack the Wei army's defense line again and again; while the Wei army relied on solid walls and tenacious will to repel the Han army's attacks again and again. The two sides fought back and forth, and the battle was extremely stalemate.

As time went on, the losses on both sides continued to increase.

The blood of the soldiers dyed the city walls red and also dyed the land red.

Some of them groaned in pain, and some shouted in despair, but even so, no one stopped fighting.

Everyone has to fight for his own survival!

Your Han Kingdom must restore the Han Dynasty.

But our Wei Kingdom also wants wealth and glory. (End of this chapter)