Shuhan

The strong wind howled wildly across the empty plain, tearing at every inch of space like a ferocious beast, blowing up yellow sand all over the sky, and interweaving with the falling snow into a chaos.

The snowflakes were carried by the strong wind, sometimes spinning rapidly, sometimes falling suddenly, as if they were the most ruthless brushstrokes of nature, spreading wantonly on this vast land.

The weather is getting colder day by day, and the biting cold wind cuts the exposed skin like a sharp blade, making it unbearable.

Xingyang City, this ancient city, appears particularly lonely and tough under the attack of wind and snow.

The city walls were mottled, and frost seemed to condense between the cracks in the stones, revealing an unyielding will.

However, at this moment, Xingyang City is facing an unprecedented crisis.

Xiahou Xuan stood on the city wall, his eyes piercing through the falling snow as he gazed at the increasingly taller earthen hill outside the city.

The hill was just a small mound at first, but now it has towered into the sky, much taller than the city wall.

How can this be called a siege?

This was clearly a blow from the sky, leaving the defenders of the city with nowhere to escape.

The rain of arrows from the Han army was like dense dark clouds, covering the sky and the sun. Each arrow carried a deadly chill, piercing through the armor of the Wei army and taking away one life after another.

The Wei army soldiers struggled in the rain of arrows. Some were pierced through the heart by arrows and fell down; some, although they managed to escape, were also covered with wounds and groaned in pain.

The situation on the city wall was even more tragic. Arrows fell like raindrops, smashing the stone bricks into pieces. It became a luxury for the Wei soldiers to even stand firm.

They could only huddle behind the city walls, relying on each other with their shields and bodies, trying to find a glimmer of hope in this despair.

A trace of pain flashed across Xiahou Xuan's eyes. He knew very well that the city of Xingyang could no longer be defended.

He looked around, hoping to find a spark of hope, but what he saw were the exhausted faces of the soldiers and the blood on the ground.

Support? Where can I get support?
The main force of the Wei army had already been tied down elsewhere and was unable to take care of this place at all.

A feeling of tragedy and grandeur welled up in Xiahou Xuan's heart. He understood that as a member of the Cao and Xiahou families, he would die for his country when the city was broken.

He slowly closed his eyes, letting the cold wind rage on his face, but his heart was unusually calm.

He seemed to see himself when he was young, when he was full of vigor and determined to sacrifice his life for the country.

Now, all this is about to become a reality, but the price is too heavy.

Xiahou Xuan opened his eyes again, his gaze firm and resolute.

He turned and looked at the nobles who were still defending the city in the cold wind. Their faces were full of determination and indomitable spirit. Although they were ragged and covered with scars, they still held on to their posts.

A feeling of guilt welled up in Xiahou Xuan's heart. These soldiers could have enjoyed wealth and glory, but because of the country's crisis, they had to stand up and face the endless suffering with him.

"Everyone." Xiahou Xuan's voice sounded particularly low and powerful in the cold wind.

"I, Xiahou Xuan, have lived a life worthy of heaven and earth, and worthy of the ancestors of the Cao and Xiahou families. Today, even if the city is destroyed and I die, I will protect this Xingyang City until the last moment. Are you willing to go to hell with me?"

Upon hearing this, the soldiers straightened their backs, with determination flashing in their eyes.

They shouted in unison: "We are willing to live and die with the general!"

Xiahou Xuan nodded, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.

He knew he was not alone, and with the company of these loyal soldiers, he had nothing to fear.

He waved the sword in his hand and shouted: "Okay! Then let's fight together for the State of Wei and the people of Xingyang City until the last moment!"

As Xiahou Xuan finished speaking, the Wei army soldiers seemed to be injected with new strength.

They all stood up, picked up their weapons, and prepared for the coming battle.

Although they know that they may not have a chance of winning this battle, they are willing to fight for their beliefs and dignity.

The wind and snow were still raging, but the morale in Xingyang City was unprecedentedly high.

Xiahou Xuan stood on the city wall, his eyes as sharp as torches, as if he wanted to burn away all the wind and snow.

He gripped the sword tightly in his hand, feeling the coolness and strength coming from the hilt.

He knew that this sword would accompany him throughout this final journey.

The Han army's offensive became increasingly fierce, and the soldiers on the hill continued to pour down arrows and stones.

However, the Wei army soldiers seemed to have forgotten the pain and fear. They used their lives and blood to build an indestructible line of defense.

Every attack was resisted tenaciously by them, and every charge was repelled bravely by them.

Time seemed to stand still, and every second seemed so long and difficult.

Xiahou Xuan stood on the city wall and witnessed it all.

His heart was filled with emotion and pride. These soldiers demonstrated with their actions what true warriors and heroes are.

However, the reality is cruel.

As the Han army's offensive continued to intensify, the Wei army's defense line began to gradually collapse.

The soldiers fell one after another, and their blood dyed the snow and the city walls red.

Xiahou Xuan's heart was bleeding, but he was powerless and could only watch it all happen.

Finally, a deafening roar broke the silence.

The Han army on the earthen hill launched a final charge. They surged towards Xingyang City like a tide, unstoppable.

Xiahou Xuan knew that this moment had finally arrived.

He took a deep breath, straightened his back, and prepared for the final battle.

"Come on!" Xiahou Xuan roared loudly: "Let me, Xiahou Xuan, fight you to the death!"

He brandished the sword in his hand and rushed towards the enemy, as if he wanted to vent all his anger and unwillingness.

Seeing this, the soldiers also followed Xiahou Xuan and rushed out, determined to fight the enemy to the death.

The battle broke out in an instant, with the flash of swords and the sound of sabers mixed with wailing and roaring.

Xiahou Xuan led the troops and fought bravely. His sword shuttled through the enemy group like lightning, and enemies fell down wherever he went.

However, two fists are no match for four hands, and Xiahou Xuan was ultimately outnumbered.

He was seriously wounded, his battle robe was stained with blood, but he still insisted on fighting.

"General Xiahou!" a soldier exclaimed, "Go quickly! We will cover you!"

Xiahou Xuan smiled slightly when he heard this. He knew that he had no way to retreat, and there was no need to retreat any further.

He shook his head and said firmly: "No! I will live and die with Xingyang City!"

After saying that, he swung his sword again and rushed towards the enemy, as if he wanted to burn his life to the last moment.

Seeing this, the soldiers followed Xiahou Xuan's example and no longer retreated or showed fear.

They guarded this city with their lives and blood, and guarded the beliefs and dignity in their hearts.

However, they were ultimately unable to withstand the powerful offensive of the Han army.

With the collapse of the last line of defense, Xingyang City fell completely into the hands of the enemy.

Xiahou Xuan looked at the soldiers falling around him, his heart filled with grief and helplessness.

He knew that he was powerless and could only accept this cruel reality silently. He slowly knelt on the ground and plunged his sword into the snow, as if saying goodbye to this land.

"Wei State..." Xiahou Xuan murmured in a low voice: "I, Xiahou Xuan, am worthy of you..."

After saying this, he slowly closed his eyes, and his body gradually became stiff in the wind and snow.

On the other side.

In the general's mansion in Xingyang City, Prince of Yan Cao Yu hid in a remote room. He was wearing gorgeous royal robes, which should have been a symbol of his status, but at this moment it seemed out of place.

His body was shaking uncontrollably like a fallen leaf in the autumn wind, his face was pale, his forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and his eyes were filled with fear and despair.

He hugged his knees tightly, trying to find a sense of security in this last corner.

Zhao Yun walked into the general's mansion.

His armor was covered with traces of battle, but his eyes were still as sharp as an eagle, revealing his unparalleled dominance.

When he stepped into the room and saw Cao Yu's miserable appearance, he couldn't help but sneer.

Before he could open his mouth, Cao Yu suddenly knelt on the ground like a frightened bird, with his hands on the ground and his head buried low. He said in a trembling voice: "General, please spare my life. I am willing to persuade the Wei people to surrender for you!"

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Zhao Yun looked at Cao Yu in front of him and couldn't help feeling a bit of contempt in his heart.

Before he could use words or force to intimidate him, this so-called King of Yan had already been frightened out of his wits and completely lost the dignity and backbone that a member of the royal family should have.

Zhao Yun thought to himself that the Wei Emperor Cao Rui sent such a cowardly person here, obviously he knew that Xingyang City could not be defended, and he wanted to use this person to save his life, or try to gain some benefits at the last minute.

Zhao Yun's gaze stayed on Cao Yu for a moment, then slowly moved away and looked at the heavy snow outside the window.

His thoughts drifted back to the battlefield, and he remembered the brave and fearless Xiahou Xuan.

When the city was broken, Xiahou Xuan still held his post and fought to the death. His tenacity and loyalty moved Zhao Yun.

In comparison, the Cao Yu in front of him is completely different.

"Hmph, are you qualified to talk about persuading surrender?" Zhao Yun's voice was low and powerful, with a bit of disdain.

"If Emperor Cao Rui of Wei really wanted to defend Xingyang City, he should have sent warriors like Xiahou Xuan instead of cowards like you."

Hearing this, Cao Yu's body trembled even more violently. He almost cried out, but he still suppressed his fear and said in a trembling voice: "General, I... I just don't want to die. I am willing to do anything for you, just ask you to spare my life."

Zhao Yun looked at Cao Yu's humble appearance and felt an inexplicable sadness in his heart.

He knew very well that such people, even if they were alive, were nothing more than walking corpses and would be of no benefit to the overall situation.

But on second thought, perhaps he could use this person to pass some information to the Wei army, or to find out about the internal situation of the Wei state.

"Okay." Zhao Yun finally spoke.

"I will spare your life for now, but you must remember that your life is now in my hands. I will bring you to see the Emperor of the Han Dynasty. As for your future, it depends on how much valuable information you can provide."

Upon hearing this, Cao Yu felt as if he had been pardoned. He kowtowed repeatedly to express his gratitude: "Thank you very much, General. Thank you very much for not killing me. I will tell you everything I know."

Looking at Cao Yu's servile appearance, Zhao Yun became more convinced of his opinion of him.

He turned around and strode out of the room, leaving Cao Yu alone there to continue trembling.

Hundreds of miles away.

In the winter in Hanoi County, the sky seems to be weighed down by thick leaden clouds, hanging heavily over this ancient land.

Outside Wude City, the north bank of the river was covered in silver. Snowflakes were like flying feathers, fluttering and silently covering every inch of space.

The cold wind was like a knife, sharp and biting, and the river wind was howling even more loudly, with a kind of raging madness, as if it wanted to freeze everything between heaven and earth.

In this vast white world, Liu Chan was wearing a luxurious sable fur coat, the delicate fur swaying gently in the cold wind, protecting him from the biting cold.

Although his steps were slow, they revealed a calmness and determination that could not be ignored.

Liu Chan's face was slightly pale, with a hint of sadness between his brows. It was his worry about the people of the world and his deep thinking about the current situation.

His eyes were deep, as if they could see into the abyss of human hearts. At this moment, he was staring at the frozen river surface, with both expectation and anxiety in his eyes.

"When can we leave the river?" Liu Chan's voice was particularly clear in the cold wind, but it also had a barely perceptible tremor.

This is not just an inquiry into the time of passage, but also a worry and expectation about the future war situation.

Beside him, a guide in coarse cloth heard the words, stepped forward quickly and bowed respectfully. His face was covered with the frost of time, but his eyes revealed a kind of determination and loyalty.

"Your Majesty, it will take at least a month for the ice to become solid enough for people to walk on. If it takes a month and a half, even carriages will be able to pass through. This winter, there is a lot of snow, so the time may be slightly earlier, but to be safe, we still need to wait patiently."

Upon hearing this, Liu Chan nodded slightly, his eyes never leaving the frozen river surface, as if he was thinking about something.

The news that Xingyang had been captured was like a thunderclap in winter, shaking the entire Henei County.

The battle report sent by Zhao Yun was concise and to the point, but it revealed the subtle changes in the war situation between Han and Wei.

The Wei army was blocked within the eight passes of Luoyang, running out of food and grass and with low morale. This was the perfect opportunity for the Han to recapture Luoyang in one fell swoop.

Complex emotions surged in Liu Chan's heart, including a desire for victory and aversion to war.

War brings not only the expansion of territory, but also the loss of countless lives and broken families.

The people of Luoyang, also the people of his Han Dynasty, are suffering from the war and are waiting for redemption.

"Pass the order down." Liu Chan's voice was low and powerful, and every word seemed to carry a thousand pounds of weight.

"Let the army in Hanoi intensify its training and be ready to cross the river and attack Luoyang at any time! We must end this war as quickly as possible and at the lowest cost, so that the people of Luoyang can return to peace as soon as possible."

Following Liu Chan's order, the messengers around him acted quickly. Their figures drew firm tracks in the snow, conveying the order to every corner.

The army of Hanoi, those warriors dressed in iron armor and holding spears, moved at the command, and the training ground was suddenly filled with deafening shouts and the clinking of weapons.

Liu Chan stood there, looking at the enthusiastic training scene, feeling inexplicably moved.

These warriors were willing to sacrifice their lives and shed their blood for the Han Dynasty and the people of the world. He deeply admired their loyalty and courage.

However, Liu Chan also knew that war was no joke and every step had to be taken with caution.

He recalled the several discussions with Zhuge Liang, every detail regarding strategic deployment and troop deployment was crucial.

They planned to cut off the food supply to force the Wei army in Luoyang to collapse without a fight, but if they could win the battle in one go, it would undoubtedly reduce more casualties.

Liu Chan's thoughts drifted away in the cold wind. He seemed to see a scene one day in the future when the people in Luoyang city cheered and welcomed the Han army.

At that moment, he will be the hero in their hearts, the Han emperor who will lead them out of war and embrace peace.

But before that, he still has a long way to go and many difficulties to overcome.

"Your Majesty, it's freezing cold, you should go back to your tent and rest." The personal guard beside him saw Liu Chan standing still for a long time and couldn't help but remind him.

Liu Chan came back to his senses and smiled slightly. That smile showed both his longing for the future and his determination for the present.

"It's okay. I'll stand here for a while. If you feel cold, you can go back first."

The guards felt warm in their hearts when they heard this.

This young emperor not only possessed extraordinary wisdom and courage, but also had a heart that cared for his soldiers and the people.

Such an emperor is worthy of their following until death.

The world should be returned to the Liu family! (End of this chapter)