Early the next morning, Ma Teng sent an order to the entire army to attack the city. The war horses galloped back and forth, and arrows rained down towards the top of the city.
Running and shooting is one of the signature tactics of the Xiliang Army. The requirements for cavalry are extremely high. I dare not say that it is only one in a hundred, but it is at least one in a hundred.
The cavalrymen bent their bows and set arrows on galloping horses. They not only had to shoot far, but also accurately!
While suppressing the defenders on the city with bows and arrows, they divided their forces to fill the moat. The Xiliang army carried sandbags, wood and rocks to prepare to build a pontoon bridge.
Amidst the thundering drums and the neighing of war horses, Chang'an City was surrounded by flying dust, filling the air, as if the end was coming.
Zhong Yao, Zhang Ji and others looked solemn. Although Chang'an City was strong, the number of defenders was too small, and many people were injured by stray arrows. It was not enough to guard the city. Sooner or later, the Xiliang army would break through.
Near noon, the sound outside the city suddenly stopped, the sound of drums, horses, and fighting ceased. As the dust gradually fell, the Xiliang army was seen throwing sandbags and rocks all over the ground, and the whole team walked westward.
Zhang Ji was overjoyed and said, "It must be General Cao's reinforcements that are rushing back. They arrived just in time."
Zhong Yao also took a deep breath, stroked his beard and sighed: "God helps the Prime Minister!"
Zhong Jin cupped his fists and said, "Ma Teng retreats, but we can take advantage of the chaos to rush in and kill him. I am willing to lead the troops to join General Cao and go to pursue the enemy."
Zhong Yao frowned slightly and wanted to refuse, but then he thought about it. Zhong went into Chencang and made a big mistake. It was just a good time to pay for his crime and make meritorious service. He could wait for Cao Hong to enter the city so that he could plead for him.
At this time, the city could already see dust flying in the distance and flags waving. Reinforcements were about to arrive, so they sent two thousand troops to meet Cao Hong.
Zhong Jin was overjoyed and led his troops out of the south gate to meet Cao Hong, preparing to pursue the Xiliang army with him and kill the enemy to achieve meritorious service.
Three miles out of the city, I saw a large group of people and horses galloping in front of them. They were all Cao's soldiers, and they hurriedly urged their horses forward.
"General Cao, the last general..." Zhong Jin stood by the road and was shouting with his hands raised. When the leader approached, his face suddenly changed: "You, you are..."
"Haha, General Zhong, are you alright?" The person in charge was Ma Tie with his sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes.
Zhong Jin was stunned. Before he could react, Ma Tie had already urged his horse forward. The spear trembled and he was knocked off the horse.
"Kill!" Ma Tie yelled and led the army forward.
The two thousand Chang'an defenders behind were also dumbfounded. How could they dare to take action?
They were originally soldiers who stayed behind. They were caught off guard and could not stop the wolf-like Xiliang army. They were broken up by Ma Tie's charge and fled in all directions.
Zhong Yao and his two men were watching on the city. Suddenly they saw the chaos of people and horses in front of them. Just as they were wondering, the cavalry had already arrived at the bottom of the city and rushed straight into the city.
"No, that's Ma Ma Ma..." Zhang Ji's sharp eyes saw that under the banner with the word "Cao", it was actually Ma Tie.
He met with Ma Teng many times, first to persuade Ma Teng and Han Sui to make peace, and then went to Chencang several times to persuade Ma Teng to take office in Xuchang and honor his ancestors. He was familiar with the father and son.
Zhong Yao was shocked and hurriedly issued an order: "Quickly pull the suspension bridge and close the city gate!"
But the cavalry was extremely fast. By the time the soldiers pulled the rope and prepared to raise the suspension bridge, Ma Tie had already jumped on his horse, drew his sword, cut the rope, rushed to the city gate, and scattered the panicked defenders.
Dong dong dong——
At the same time, the retreating Xiliang army came back again. War horses galloped all over the mountains and fields, and they all rushed towards the south gate. The sound of killing was loud.
"Let's go!" Zhong Yao made a decisive decision, turned around and ran towards the east gate.
Only half of the defenders left the city and were killed. The city of Chang'an was already in vain. Even though Zhong Yao was nearly sixty years old, he ran as fast as flying.
Ma Tie rushed into the city, not caring about chasing the enemy. He led his troops to control the south gate first, and then released his troops and horses into the city. Ma Teng ordered Ma Xiu to take over the other three gates, and he led his troops straight to the palace.
The Xiliang army rushed into the palace, snatching and killing her everywhere, and there was a lot of crying. Some of these soldiers were Qiang people, and they were even more cruel. When they saw the woman, they dragged them into the room in groups of three or five, laughing like jackals.
Zhang Ji took his family members out of the back door and prepared to escape through the north door. As soon as he reached the door, Ma Xiu led his troops and blocked him.
Zhang Ji said: "I made peace with Han Sui for your Majesty's sake, so as to avoid a confrontation. I also tried my best to express my merits as General Ma. I was appointed as a Tingwei and ranked as the ninth minister. How can I repay kindness with enmity?"
Ma Xiu raised his gun and cursed: "Zhang Ji is a thief. You have deceived my father and son many times, and you have the guts to talk with your heart. You still dare to talk here. If we had been to Xuchang a few years ago, we would have been dead and dismembered. The culprit is you." Villain."
Zhang Ji sighed helplessly: "The grievances have their owners, and the debts have their owners. I am willing to accept my fate. Please let the family members go."
"If the three of us, my father and my son, come to Xuchang, will Cao Cao spare my life?" Ma Xiu looked up to the sky and smiled fiercely, beckoning: "Fire the arrow!"
Without any explanation, the Xiliang army fired a volley of arrows and killed Zhang Ji and his family members. A pile of corpses fell at the gate of the city.
Ever since Sun Qian came to Chencang and analyzed the pros and cons for them, Ma Xiu felt scared every time he thought of Zhang Ji's earnest advice. If he had made a wrong step before, he might have been doomed.
When he met the instigator at this time, he was even more merciless, waving his hand and saying: "Throw it to the mass grave to feed the wolves."
In the evening, Ma Teng had captured Chang'an City, went out to pacify the people, and rewarded the three armies for their service.
In the Weiyang Palace, Ma Teng and other generals celebrated their victory. Chang'an was the capital of the Han Dynasty. Taking this capital was of great significance and everyone was excited.
Ma Xiu sighed: "Liu Qi was far away in Jingzhou, but he was able to predict the plan to take Chang'an, thanks to that set of tips."
"This is Zhou Yu's plan to seize the Lujiang River. It's not that I don't know it, but I don't care to use it!" Ma Teng raised his wine glass and snorted slightly, saying disdainfully: "Liu Qi picks up people's wisdom, how can it be righteous?"
Ma Xiu and Ma Tie looked at each other, shook their heads and laughed. This old man has the best face, and he has always been a tough talker.
Ma Tieyan said: "But if we can take Chang'an, half of Liu Qi's contribution is indispensable. This favor must be remembered."
"This is true. If Liu Qi hadn't contacted us first and personally attracted Cao Hong to send troops, how could we have succeeded?"
Ma Teng nodded seriously this time and said with emotion: "This person's ability is probably better than that of Liu Xuande, and there is hope for the revival of the Han Dynasty!"
Ma Tie also killed a lot of people in this battle. He laughed and said: "Liu Qi gave us such a big gift. If we don't repay him, I'm afraid we will be laughed at. I, the people of Xiliang, don't repay kindness. The foals at Tianshui Racecourse this year are good, so why not give him a batch of them?" ?”
"Of course!" Ma Teng nodded without thinking, "Jingzhou is most in need of war horses. From now on, our horses from Xiliang can be sent from Wuguan to Nanyang to help Liu Qi. We can go out of the Central Plains together to defeat Cao's thieves."
Speaking of Cao's soldiers, Ma Xiu put down his wine glass and reminded: "Cao Hong will return to help in a day or two, and Cao Cao will not give up. There will be a fierce battle in Chang'an. Send someone to inform your elder brother immediately and ask him to lead troops to support."
"Meng Qi is guarding Xiliang, don't leave lightly!" Ma Teng waved his hand and said with a smile: "The traitor Cao has already led his troops to Huainan, why should Cao Hong be afraid? If the traitor Cao comes in person, it will not be too late to mobilize his troops."
Ma Tieyan said: "Why not ask Han Sui to help?"
Ma Teng sneered and said: "Although Han Sui and I shook hands and made peace, they are not our own horses after all. Guanzhong was captured by my father and my son, why should we share it with outsiders?"
The two brothers thought the same thing. They broke up the banquet early and ordered the soldiers to be more vigilant and wait to fight Cao Hong.
