Farmers of Shu Han

Chapter 1500 Breaking Wu
At the end of the first month of the seventeenth year of Yanxi, at the Xuzhou camp.

Crown Prince Liu Chen, holding the official gazette from Chang'an, sat alone in his tent, his palms slightly sweaty.

The report details the emperor's fury at the grand court assembly, during which he immediately dispatched envoys to sever the alliance between Han and Wu, using words of such intensity that they had not been seen in decades.

He looked up at the Crown Princess, Lady Feng, who was organizing documents:
"Princess, was I... too impulsive?"

"For one man's own anger, he has caused a rift between the two countries. If war breaks out, countless lives will be lost..."

Feng put down her pen, looked up at Liu Chen, chuckled softly, and said in a clear, gentle voice:

"Is Your Highness so caught up in the situation that you can't see the bigger picture?"

Seeing that the Crown Princess's expression was unchanged, as if the matter were nothing unusual, Liu Chen felt somewhat relieved.

The Crown Princess is the beloved daughter of the Grand Marshal and also possesses the qualities of the General Who Guards the East.

To put it bluntly, if I really made a mistake and went to my father to apologize, he might not be so forgiving.

But if it were the Crown Princess, the difference in prestige would be enormous...

"Could Your Highness explain in detail to me?"

The Crown Princess smiled slightly:
"Your Highness, consider this: with the fall of Wei, the joint rule of Han and Wu was merely a temporary measure. Even without Your Highness's challenge to a war, a war between the two countries was inevitable."

"Has Your Highness not heard of the alliance between Lord Deng and Sun Quan?"

Seeing that Liu Chen was still frowning, she continued:
"His Majesty is benevolent and often consults with the officials on matters of state. This sudden outburst of wrath at the grand court assembly was surely not a spur-of-the-moment decision."

"It must have been a pre-planned scheme, using His Highness's matter as a pretext."

He paused, then smiled slightly. "If His Majesty truly believed that His Highness was wrong, the decree reprimanding him should have arrived long ago. Chang'an's silence now is tantamount to acquiescence."

Liu Chen's expression relaxed slightly, and he was about to speak again when a report came from outside the tent: "Yangwu Colonel Feng Yong has arrived to escort military equipment by imperial decree!"

The couple exchanged a glance.

Madam Feng's smile deepened: "It seems that Chang'an has truly arrived at its purpose."

Liu Chen sat up straight and said, "Let him in."

The tent flap opened, and a young man of twenty-two entered, bowing to the Crown Prince.

"This humble general, Feng Yong, pays his respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince."

Seeing his brother-in-law, clad in armor, bowing solemnly to him, Liu Chen gestured:
"Get up quickly!"

"Thank you, Your Highness."

After rising, Feng Yong bowed to Feng Ying again: "Yong greets the Crown Princess..."

The Crown Princess was not as easy to talk to as Liu Chen: "Don't give me that. What are you doing here?"

Feng Yong said with a grin, "Sister, what are you saying? If you can come, why can't I?"

Seeing his expression, the Crown Princess didn't respond, but instead turned her gaze to the sword hanging on the curtain wall.

Following his elder sister's gaze, Feng Yong shuddered, immediately straightened up, and shouted:
"This humble general has been ordered by the Grand Marshal to escort military equipment here. Please inspect it, Military Advisor Feng."

Liu Chen rubbed his forehead.

Alright, one is acting on the orders of the General Who Guards the East, and the other on the orders of the Grand Marshal...

"What army..."

The Crown Princess initially intended to ask about the type of weaponry, but after glancing at Liu Chen, she suddenly changed her mind and asked:

"You came from Chang'an? How are His Majesty and the Minister?"

"All is well, all is well!"

Feng Yong nodded repeatedly:

"His Majesty and the Minister heard what His Highness said by the Huai River, so they specially sent me to the Luoyang Armory to retrieve a batch of military equipment and transport it here."

"What kind of weaponry?"

"Naturally, it's the military equipment that helped His Highness cross the Huai River."

The Crown Prince and his wife exchanged a glance, and Feng Ying looked slightly smug.

See? As expected, there's no unspoken praise in Chang'an.

But Liu Chen was still curious about what kind of military equipment could help him cross the Huai River.
"Go and have a look."

Feng Yong led Liu Chen and his wife to a certain spot in the military camp, dismissed his attendants, and personally lifted the huge oilcloth.

Beneath the tarpaulin, thirty dark figures stood silently.

Liu Chen was stunned.

That's... a giant bronze cylinder?

It is about six feet long and four inches in diameter. The body of the tube has a bronze glow and is reinforced with seven wrought iron rings. The mouth of the tube is round like the throat of a giant beast.

Each statue is placed on a four-wheeled cannon carriage, with an ingenious structure and iron-clad axles, clearly designed for easy mobility.

“This is…” Liu Chen stepped forward, his fingertips touching the icy cold surface.

Feng Yong replied, "A tripod."

The Crown Princess also stepped forward, touched the bronze tube, and asked curiously:

"You call this a cauldron? Are there any cauldrons in the world that look like this?"

“Of course, this is called a round tripod.” Feng Yong smiled mysteriously: “It can bring peace to the world.”

"To establish a stable rule over the world?"

Such arrogance?
Seeing the two men's skeptical expressions, Feng Yong chuckled, "This is what the master said himself."

what?
Did the Grand Marshal say this himself?

Then you have to believe it.

Liu Chen looked at the thirty round cauldrons, and his gaze changed.

The Crown Princess suddenly asked, "You personally escorted this item here; it's not just to deliver military equipment, is it?"

Feng Yongzheng's expression:

"By the Grand Marshal's secret orders: First, Your Highness must personally inspect this cannon; second, it can only be used when crossing the Huai River. Your Highness will understand at that time."

“Three,” he said, looking at Liu Chen and emphasizing his words, “no one in the army except the soldiers of the Thunder Camp is allowed to approach this object.”

Hearing Feng Yong's words, Liu Chen became even more curious.

He stared into the darkness deep within the cannon muzzle, feeling uneasy, as if it were the eye of a colossal beast in the abyss.

However, Liu Chen's curiosity did not last long. In March, news of the break between Han and Wu arrived, and the standoff on the Huai River intensified.

Wu general Lü Ju commanded the Guangling navy, with warships of all sizes patrolling the river, their magnificent ships and masts forming a forest.

Taking advantage of their naval strength, Wu's army frequently sent fast ships to approach the north bank to show off their power, and arrows would often glide past the Han army's sentry posts.

Fortunately, the Han army had powerful crossbows, which prevented the Wu people from lingering for long.

In mid-March, a battle report was urgently delivered by General Zhen Dong from Jingzhou.

The urgent report contained only two words: "Attack Wu!"

Liu Chen was greatly encouraged; it had been almost half a year since he made his vow by the Huai River.

He immediately summoned his generals and ordered them to prepare to cross the Huai River.

The following day, the morning mist over the Huai River was like a veil. The gates of the Han army camp were wide open, and armored soldiers poured out like a tide, forming ranks on the north bank.

Banners covered the fields, and spears and halberds stood in stark array. Most striking were the dozens of raised structures behind the formation, tightly covered with tarpaulins, resembling lurking giant beasts.

As the morning mist dissipated, Wu's naval camp on the south bank was revealed, and Guangling Governor Lü Ju stood on the ship's deck with his sword at his side.

Seeing the Han army's formation, Lü Ju sneered: "Liu Chen, you little brat, the Huai River is now filled with my navy. Do you really dare to force your way across the Huai River?"

Before he finished speaking, a guard hurried upstairs and presented him with a letter.

Lu Jujie reads the letter:
-
General Lü, please accept this letter:
Last August, on the banks of the Huai River, Chen Zeng said to the general: "If the Wu flag is still flying over Guangling City in half a year, then the Han army will surely cross the Huai River."

Now that the time has come, I have come to keep my promise.

At noon, we met in the middle of the river.

Handwritten by Prince Chen of Han —
"A six-month period..."

Lu Ju raised an eyebrow and looked up at the north bank.

Ok?
Could Liu Chen really dare to force his way across the Huai River in front of his own navy?
In the Han army formation, soldiers could be vaguely seen busily preparing next to the oilcloth-covered objects.

He suddenly felt uneasy, but he forced himself to suppress it and let out a sneer:
"Liu Chen, you little brat, even if you remember the six-month agreement, so what? The Huai River is a formidable barrier; how can it be crossed by child's play?"

He threw the plain silk on the ground and said to his men, "Order all ships to raise their sails, weigh anchor, and line up in the middle of the river!"

"I'd like to see what this brat has in store for him to keep his promise!"

A sudden gust of wind swept across the river, causing the banners on both banks to flutter.

Wu Jun's navy began to mobilize, with warships of all sizes leaving the water fortress and forming three lines of defense in the middle of the river.

The tower ships were positioned at the rear, the fighting ships in the middle, and light vessels such as the warships and small boats patrolled at the forefront.

It was clearly the usual tactic of "using naval forces to control the river and prevent the enemy from crossing."

Behind the earthen rampart on the north bank, Feng Ying put down her binoculars and whispered to Liu Chen:

"Use warships to patrol the river, preventing us from launching boats and rafts; use fighting ships to maintain a strong presence, ready to intercept at any time; and have warships stationed to ensure absolute safety."

"The Wu Kingdom's navy is unparalleled in the world; it is indeed quite capable."

Liu Chen put down his binoculars and asked, "Has the letter been delivered?"

"As Your Highness instructed, it was sent over at the beginning of Chenshi (7-9 AM). Now that the messenger has returned, Lü Ju should have finished reading it by now."

Liu Chen nodded, his gaze sweeping over the thirty round cauldrons covered with oilcloth in front of the formation, and said softly:
"Six months ago, when I swore an oath on this shore, I was unaware that Lord Feng had prepared such a generous gift for me. Today..."

He suddenly drew his sword, saying, "Let Lü Ju know that a promise made to the Han Dynasty is heavier than a thousand pounds."

In the midst of the battle formation, the bugles of the Han army sounded.
-
On a warship on the Huai River, a Wu army captain was leaning against the gunwale, gazing at the north bank.

He is considered a veteran of the Great Wu Navy, having previously patrolled the Yangtze River and now patrolling the Huai River, with over ten years of experience.

I have seen the Wei army attempt to build a pontoon bridge, and I have seen small groups of Han troops infiltrate, all of which were easily repelled by the Wu navy.

"Commander, what are those cloth coverings on the Han soldiers' uniforms?"

The young oarsman pointed to the north bank.

The team leader squinted at it and sneered:

"A catapult? It's just for show. Our boats are fast; how could he possibly aim accurately?"

"Wait for the general's order, and we will rush to within a hundred paces of the north bank to guard against the Han army launching their boats. At that time, the crossbowmen will be the most important thing to guard against."

Patting the hull, he said, "Our warships are as swift as the wind; those Han soldiers are just landlubbers..."

The words have not yet fallen.

Suddenly, an order came from behind.

The team leader's spirits lifted, and he immediately ordered, "Let's go!"

But then they saw the Wu navy's warships and boats rushing out of the lock like a group of sharks, heading straight for the river surface within a hundred paces of the north bank.

The hull of the warship was covered with wet leather, and the bow ram was specially covered with sheet metal.

"Order the crossbowmen to conduct a test firing."

"promise!"

At the front of the Han army, three hundred powerful crossbows with a capacity of three stones were simultaneously raised.

collapse!collapse!collapse!
The crossbow strings rang out, and arrows rained down on the river like locusts.

Upon seeing the rain of arrows approaching, the captain of the warship shouted sharply, "Raise your shields! Dodge the arrows!"

Wu Jun's naval soldiers were well-trained.

The deck soldiers raised their foreskinned wooden shields and crouched down behind the parapet.

The oarsmen increased their rowing speed, causing the boat to maneuver from side to side.

The arrows "duo duo" stuck into the ship's planks and shields, but most of them were blocked.

Only one archer peeked out to observe when he was pierced in the shoulder by a crossbow bolt and dragged into the cabin with a scream.

"Though the Han crossbows are powerful, what can they do to me?"

The captain spat and yelled at the helmsman:

"Closer! Press within eighty paces, and let the Han army see the courage of the men of Jiangdong!"

The warships continued to approach, the closest of which was seventy paces from the north bank.

At this distance, if the Han army were to launch boats and rafts, their warships could easily crush them with a single charge.

If they exchange crossbow fire, the Wu army can also retaliate with ship crossbows.

Upon seeing this, Lü Ju, who was standing on the last ship, nodded slightly.

This is the battlefield rhythm he is familiar with.

Bows and crossbows clashed, and boats battled fiercely, relying on the bravery of the soldiers and their skill in maneuvering the boats.

Although the Han army's cavalry was strong, how could they possibly contend with the Wu navy on the river?

On the north bank, Feng Yong put down his monocular telescope and said to Liu Chen:

"Your Highness, the Wu army's warships are already within eighty paces, which is the optimal range for shrapnel. If they get any closer, they may risk their lives to charge ashore and disrupt the bridge construction."

Liu Chen said to Feng Yong, "The rest is up to you. You are in charge of everything."

"Here!"

"Order all camps to conduct a final check. Every single person and horse must have their ears plugged with cotton wool. No one and no horse should be missed!"

Behind the earthen ramparts on the north bank, Feng Yong personally inspected the artillery position.

The gunners all wore special leather aprons and had wet towels covering their faces.

"Artillery battalion, listen up! Switch to shotgun shells! Marker 80 paces! Target: forward-deployed warship! Full barrage!"

The orders were relayed through the ranks.

The gunners moved swiftly: the breech-clearing rod was pulled out, the propellant handler poured in the fixed shotgun powder bag, and the loader pushed in the shotgun shells sealed in thin wooden tubes.

The shotgun was two feet long and filled with a mixture of iron shot, broken porcelain, and poison. The mouth of the gun was sealed with wax.

The muzzles of the thirty round cauldrons were slowly lowered to the ground, and the copper needle on the scale was precisely set at the "eighty" mark.

He lit the flask, holding a twelve-foot-long fuse, and waited for the command.

The Han army's crossbow bolts suddenly stopped, and a strange scene unfolded between the two armies.

The Han army's side was eerily quiet.

Meanwhile, the Wu army on the water was in a state of uproar, with some even shooting arrows at the shore.

then……

boom! boom! boom! boom! boom!
It wasn't thunder, but the furious roar of thirty cannons firing simultaneously.

The cannon spewed out a tongue of orange-red flame several feet long, the cannon body recoiled violently, and the wheels plowed deep trenches in the rammed earth.

But what's even more terrifying is what's spewing from the cannon muzzle.

It wasn't a solid bullet, but a dark, spreading storm of death!

The moment the shot left the barrel, the thin wooden tube shattered, and the mixture of iron shot, broken porcelain, and poison inside burst forth like a shower of flowers.

It covers a river surface that is twenty paces wide and eighty paces deep.

The warship, located at the center of the deadly storm, was accompanied by a dense series of "plop" sounds from its deck, like raindrops hitting banana leaves, but the sounds were not evenly distributed.

In some areas, the iron sand was so dense it was like rain, while in others there were only scattered pieces of porcelain.

This is precisely the intentionally designed "non-uniform diffusion".

By deliberately distributing the ammunition unevenly, an irregular killing pattern is created, leaving the enemy with no way to escape.

The captain of the Wu navy looked down and saw dozens of tiny holes appear in the leather armor on his chest.

Iron shot pierced through the armor; before the excruciating pain even began, warm blood foam oozed from the mouth.

He looked around blankly.

The port archer was raising his shield, but it was pierced through like paper, and he and his shield were riddled with bullets.

The two oarsmen on the starboard side were swept by the storm of broken porcelain; one man's arm was severed at the elbow, and the other man's neck was pierced, with blood gushing out like a fountain.

"Retreat...retreat!" the team leader roared with all his might, but his voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz.

The warship has lost power.

The rowers were almost all killed or wounded, the helmsman was hit in the head with iron shot, and the boat spun around on the river.

Of the twenty ships that advanced, half were instantly rendered combat ineffective.

Although the rest were not in the eye of the storm, they were also affected, with blood mist filling the deck and screams of agony filling the air.

A layer of scarlet rose to the surface of the river and spread with the waves.

The Huai River became deathly silent.

The Wu soldiers who had miraculously survived stood frozen at the bow of the ship.

Gazing at the mangled bodies of my comrades floating on the river, gazing at the blood-red waters…

Some people dropped their bows and arrows, others slowly knelt down, and when they looked at the copper pipes on the north bank that spewed flames, their eyes were filled with fear.

Someone shouted first, "Lei Gong! The Han army has summoned Lei Gong!"

Panic spread like wildfire.

On the shore, Feng Yong waved his command flag again: "Explosive shells! Target 150 paces—enemy warship group! Fire!"

The gunners moved with lightning speed.

Clean the chamber, load the propellant, insert the explosive shell, adjust the sights, and ignite—

The second volley produced a deeper, more muffled sound.

Thirty exploding shells traced arcs as they passed over the collapsing fleet of warships and struck the Wu army's fighting ship group 150 paces away.

A warship was hit directly in the superstructure.

The cast iron shell casing penetrated the wooden structure and exploded inside the compartment.

The entire ship instantly expanded and deformed from the inside, then disintegrated with a roar, sending burning wood fragments mixed with human remains flying into the air.

The shockwave swept across the deck, and the surviving soldiers were blown away like falling leaves.

Another exploding shell landed between the two warships and exploded underwater.

Huge columns of water rose up, and shockwaves traveled from underwater, causing both ships to tilt rapidly.

"Sorcery...sorcery!" More and more Wu soldiers collapsed to their knees on the deck, kowtowing towards the north bank, crying out, "God of Thunder, punish us! God of Thunder, punish us!"

Feng Yong remained expressionless, pointing his command flag towards the center of the river:
"Explosive shells, sight 250 paces—target, enemy warship main force! Fire two volleys immediately!"

This is the longest range, and also the most challenging firing technique.

The gunner pushed the copper needle on the scale to the "250" mark, increasing the muzzle elevation angle.

Load, aim, ignite—

Sixty exploding shells, like dice thrown by the Grim Reaper, traced long arcs and crashed into the main battleship where Lü Ju was located.

The first bullet landed ten paces to the port side of the main ship, and the resulting jet of water splashed across the entire deck.

The second arrow struck the midships of a multi-story ship on the right flank, and the shrapnel from the explosion swept across two decks, igniting the tung oil and arrows stored there.

The secondary explosion tore the entire ship in two.

The third one, the fourth one...

Lu Ju stood frozen on the ship's deck, watching his proud Wu navy crumble in less than a quarter of an hour.

The forward fleet was almost completely wiped out, the fighting ship group lost more than half of its strength, and the main fleet of tower ships was also severely damaged.

The river was covered with burning wreckage, floating corpses, and struggling wounded soldiers, the Huai River stained red with blood.

Meanwhile, within the Han army's ranks, the demonic behemoths summoned by the Han soldiers were loading their fourth round of ammunition.

The gunners remained calm and composed, as if the devastating salvo just now was nothing more than routine drills.

"General...General...General! Let's retreat!" The lieutenant, his face covered in soot, pleaded tremblingly.

Lu Ju stood there, pale and motionless, staring blankly at the opposite bank.

He saw the Han army's banner in the Han army formation.

A six-month agreement.

So this is what Liu Chen meant by "keeping his promise".

It's not about training a naval master, it's about summoning the god of thunder...

Could it be... that destiny truly favors the Han?

Before Lü Ju could give the order, the Wu boats on the water had already turned around and were rowing frantically toward the south bank.

Meanwhile, the Wu army on the south bank was terrified.

The soldiers, seeing the sea of ​​fire, wrecked boats, and blood in the middle of the river, and the copper pipes on the north bank that spewed flames and death every few dozen breaths, lost all will to fight.

Some veterans even dropped their swords and shields, knelt down and kowtowed, crying out, "Heaven's mandate is with the Han! Heaven's mandate is with the Han!"

……

At the beginning of the hour of Wei (1-3 PM), Han army engineers erected a pontoon bridge under the cover of artillery fire.

The river crossing went surprisingly smoothly.

Apart from a few generals and their personal guards who fought desperately, the rest of the Wu army on the south bank either surrendered or fled.

The Han army occupied the beachhead and established a fortified camp.

The surrendered soldiers knelt along the riverbank, trembling, all saying, "We beg to surrender the army of Heaven..."

That night, Liu Chen patrolled the camp and saw Feng Yong wiping the round tripod.

His expression was one of utter focus.

Looking at the thirty round tripods arranged in a row, and then at Feng Yong, Liu Chen felt a chill creep into his heart.

Establishing dominance over the world...

So this is what it means to establish a dynasty.

“Ah Shun,” Liu Chen’s voice was slightly hoarse, “this thing… is too terrifying.”

Feng Yong looked up: "Is Your Highness afraid?"

“I fear that one day this thing will be aimed at the people of the Han Dynasty.”

Feng Yong stopped what he was doing and remained silent for a long time:
"As the lord said: The power of cannons can break through strong cities, shatter giant ships, and make the masses flee in terror, but there is one thing that cannon fire cannot destroy."

"What?"

"The human heart."

Feng Yong's voice was calm:

"In the past, Dong Zhuo occupied Luoyang and his army was the most elite in the world. In the end, he died under Lü Bu's halberd."

"Yuan Shao occupied Hebei with a million armored soldiers, but his defeat at Guandu led to the complete loss of his power base."

"Why is this? It is not because the weapons are inferior or the equipment is weak, but because the people's hearts are divided."

He pointed towards the Huai River outside the tent:
"Today I defeated the Wu army with cannons, and the Wu soldiers all said, 'The Han have received divine assistance.'"

"But if Your Highness were to inherit the throne one day and impose a harsh and oppressive government on the people, even with a thousand cannons, could you stop the people from rising up in rebellion? Could you prevent heroes from rising up together?"

Liu Chen remained silent.

Feng Yong continued, “The master often admonishes: Firearms are like a craftsman’s hammer; they can be used to forge plows and hoes to cultivate wasteland, or to forge swords and knives to injure people.”

"The application of good and evil lies not in the hammer, but in the hand that holds the hammer; the order or chaos of the world lies not in the tools, but in the heart that holds the tools."

He bowed deeply and said, "Your Highness's reflection on this matter after witnessing the power of cannons today shows that your benevolence has not been extinguished."

“If one remembers this moment in the future and recalls the ancient saying that ‘he who wins the hearts of the people wins the world,’ then the killings committed today may be exchanged for peace in the future.”

Liu Chen slowly got up, walked to the tent entrance, and looked towards the south bank of the Huai River. He saw lights gradually appearing, which was the newly established camp of the Han army.

“Ah Shun,” he suddenly said, “when the world is unified, I will advise my father to follow the example of the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, to reduce taxes and levies, and to allow the people to rest.”

"good."

"Back then, these round tripods..."

“It can be displayed on the walls of Chang’an,” Feng Yong interjected, “to warn officials throughout the land: war can quell chaos, but benevolent governance can bring peace to Chang’an.”

Liu Chen turned around, his eyes reflecting the candlelight: "If I forget this vow one day..."

“The wronged souls of today’s Huai River,” Feng Yong said in a soft but firm voice, “will be the remonstrating officials of Chang’an tomorrow, and the people who rise up in rebellion the day after.”

Their eyes met, and they remained silent.

After a long silence, Liu Chen nodded emphatically: "Good."

After the Battle of Huai River, the gateway to Guangling was wide open.

Lü Ju rallied his remaining troops and retreated to defend the isolated city, but the morale of his army had collapsed, and the city fell two days later.

Lü Ju committed suicide, leaving behind the words: "It is not a fault of our fighting skills, but that our weapons are inferior to those of our opponents."

postscript:

Years later, Liu Chen succeeded to the throne and changed the era name to "Tai'an".

The enthronement edict specifically stated: "Weapons are instruments of misfortune, and even a sage uses them only as a last resort."

He decreed that three types of cannons in the world be melted down to make agricultural implements and bells and tripods.

A minister advised, "Military preparedness should not be neglected."

The Emperor replied, "I have the people's hearts as my armor and benevolence and righteousness as my weapons. What is there to fear?"
-
Han Dynasty New Records: The Annals of the Pacification of Wu

Crown Prince Chen broke through the Huai River and joined forces with General Zhang Bao of Anhan at the foot of Shouchun City.

Shi Bao had been besieging the city for half a month when he heard that Chen had arrived. He went out of the camp for ten miles to welcome him.

The two armies joined forces, their banners covering the fields.

Chen ordered the cannons to be positioned at the north gate and fired three test shots.

The cannon fire roared like an earthworm turning over, the city walls trembled, and bricks and stones fell.

Wu Jun and his men were all ashen-faced, saying, "We have heard of the Thunder God of the Huai River before, and now we have seen him in person! This is something that no human can resist."

They then surrendered.

After General Guan of the Eastern Garrison pacified Jingzhou, he returned to Chang'an. General Jiang Wei of the Southern Garrison then led 70,000 troops by land and water down the Yangtze River.

Upon reaching Xiakou, Wu general Zhu Ji defended the strategic location, following the old methods employed by Lu Kang.

Seven iron chains, as thick as a human arm, were set up on the river surface; countless iron spikes were secretly placed underwater, with the sharp points pointing upwards, so that boats would break upon contact.

Wei summoned his generals for a discussion.

Naval Commander Wang Jun offered a plan:
It can be made into a large wooden raft, about a hundred paces in size, with straw figures covered in armor and holding staffs on it, so that those skilled in swimming can ride it first.

When an iron awl encounters a raft, it will inevitably attach itself to it, and it can be completely pulled out.

They made a torch, ten zhang long and several tens of zhang in circumference, and poured it with strong oil. When it came into contact with an iron lock, it ignited and melted it.

Wei followed this.

Within ten days, thirty rafts and one hundred torches were built.

Jun personally led his men on rafts to the front, and they successfully pulled out all the iron spikes.

The boat then lit torches to burn the locks, flames soared into the sky, the iron locks melted completely, and the river surface became clear.

Upon seeing this, Zhu Ji exclaimed, "The ingenuity of the Han people has reached such a level!"

Knowing he could not hold out, he fled to Wuchang in the dead of night.

Xiakou was subsequently captured.

Chen marched south from Shouchun and besieged Hefei.

At that time, Wu's elite troops were all lost at the Huai River and Xiakou, and the garrison at Hefei numbered no more than ten thousand, most of whom were newly recruited.

Chen ordered the artillery to bombard the city day and night, and also had the surrendered generals shout from below the city walls, saying, "The Han army is aided by the Thunder God; those who resist will all be reduced to dust."

Wu's general in Hefei had no intention of fighting, and surrendered the city on the third day.

In May, Wei broke through Xiakou, Chen captured Hefei, and the two armies met at the foot of Wuchang.

Sun Jun dispatched 50,000 troops from Jianye to reinforce the city and personally supervised the battle on the river.

However, the Wu soldiers turned pale at the mention of cannon fire, becoming fearful even before the battle began.

On the sixth day, the Han army advanced by both land and water.

Wang Jun used torch boats to burn the river defenses, and Wei led his infantry to the south bank.

Chen personally directed the artillery to bombard the Wuchang water gate, causing the city wall to collapse.

Seeing that all was lost, Sun Jun let his hair down and went barefoot to the ship's tower. Looking east towards Jianye, he wept and said, "I have failed the late emperor!"

He then threw himself into the river and died; his body was carried eastward by the waves.

When news of the defeat at Wuchang reached Jianye, the entire court was in shock.

Sun Liang, the ruler of Wu, summoned his ministers for a discussion, and they all said, "The Han army has weapons of heavenly thunder, which are beyond human strength to defeat. We request to surrender."

Princess Quan sternly rebuked:
"Jiangdong still has 100,000 armored soldiers, and the natural barrier of the Yangtze River remains. Why are you so quick to surrender?"

"In the past, Xiang Yu was able to break through the siege at Gaixia and kill generals; if Your Majesty were to personally command the six armies, there might not be no hope!"

They wanted to force Sun Liang to defend the city to the death.

Sun Jun's cousin, Sun Chen, a general of the Imperial Guard, had long harbored rebellious intentions. That night, he led armored soldiers into the palace, killed Princess Quan at the foot of the steps, and beheaded her as a warning to the public.

Then, taking Sun Liang and the Imperial Seal of the State, they opened the gates of Jianye and surrendered.

Lin prostrated himself before the imperial seal, weeping as he reported to Chen:
"The wicked minister Sun Chen executed the bewitching woman who misled the emperor and surrendered the city. I beg Your Highness to consider the young age of the Wu ruler and preserve the ancestral rites of the Sun family."

Chen received the imperial seal and ordered Sun Liang to be helped up. He said gently, "Do not worry, the Han will surely treat you well."

An envoy was dispatched immediately to report to Chang'an.

Before the envoy arrived, an imperial edict from Chang'an was delivered first.

Attendant Huang Hu arrived in Jianye with the emperor's edict and proclaimed it before the army:

“I once issued an edict to the three armies: ‘After we destroy Wu, we shall reward the soldiers on the walls of Jianye.’”

"Now that the Jiangnan region is pacified, but I reside in Chang'an, which is far away due to the mountains and rivers, I hereby appoint Crown Prince Chen to distribute the rewards on my behalf, as if I were there in person."

Chen Bei bowed to the imperial edict, weeping, and said, "Your subject will respectfully obey Your Majesty's command."

On the third day of the seventh month, I climbed the south gate tower of Jianye.

The sky was clear and the river flowed like a ribbon.

Below, the Han army was arrayed for twenty li, their black armor gleaming in the sun, their banners reaching the clouds.

Chen ordered an incense table to be set up, and the emperor bowed twice facing west towards Chang'an before announcing the rewards.
Those who kill generals and capture flags will be promoted one rank; those who are the first to charge into battle will be rewarded with 100,000 coins; those who burn ships in naval battles will be given 100 bolts of silk; and artisans in the firearms camp will be exempt from taxes for three years.

Furthermore, a special decree was issued: the sons of those who died in battle, aged fifteen and above, would all be appointed as Imperial Guards; those who were wounded or disabled would be provided with land and houses by the prefectures and counties, and would be exempt from military service for life.

After the announcement, he personally carried the golden goblet and slowly descended from the city tower.

From General Jiang Wei, who guards the south, to General Zhang Bao, who pacifies the north, down to every ten or so soldiers, each soldier personally poured a cup of imperial wine.

An old soldier, limping, stepped forward to receive the gift. Seeing that his wounds were still fresh, Chen untied his jade belt and bestowed it upon him, saying:

"A brave man grieves for his country; this belt should accompany him back home, for seeing it is like seeing his orphan."

The entire army was moved to tears, and the shouts of "Long live the Emperor!" echoed throughout the Jiangnan region.

The elders of Jiangdong, watching from the roadside, all whispered among themselves, "The Crown Prince of Han is so benevolent; he is truly ordained by Heaven."

The historian "Wind's Illusion Lizard" said:

The Sun family ruled Jiangdong for over fifty years, possessing the natural defenses of the Jiangdong region and the foundation laid by three generations. Yet, their rule collapsed in a single day. Why?

Looking at their final days: Sun Jun seized power and lost the hearts of the people; Princess Quan interfered in politics and disrupted the court; veteran generals either died or surrendered; and new soldiers were terrified at the mere sound of cannons.

Moreover, Feng Yong's weapon-making skills are divine, and the Han army wields the power of heavenly thunder; they are truly invincible.

Most lamentable of all, Sun Chen executed the princess and surrendered the city, ostensibly to "purge the emperor's inner circle," but in reality, he sought credit and self-preservation.

The fall of Wu was not due to the strength of Han, but to its internal corruption and decay.

Alas, governing a country depends on virtue, not on strategic location; defending a city depends on the hearts of the people, not on military strength. The story of Sun Quan and Wu Wu serves as a lesson for future generations.