In front of Ma Chao, a middle-aged man in his early fifties with a dark complexion sighed with emotion: "Before Dong Zhuo's rebellion, Chang'an was prosperous and prosperous. Unexpectedly, it is now in such a dilapidated state."
Ma Chao smiled and looked at the middle-aged man and said, "Father, have you ever been to Chang'an?"
It turned out that this middle-aged man's name was Han Sui.
Han Sui and Ma Teng, the father of Ma Chao, were both powerful princes in Xiliang.
Han Sui and Ma Teng were good friends and even became brothers of the opposite sex.
Before Ma Teng accepted the imperial decree and rushed to Xudu with his family, he specifically told Han Sui to take care of his eldest son Ma Chao to prevent him from being confused by others because he was too young.
Previously, Gao Gan, the governor of Bingzhou under Yuan Shao's account, sent people to contact Ma Chao, inducing Ma Chao to betray the court, organize generals to attack Chang'an, and attack Cao Cao with Yuan Shao. Ma Chao was afraid that he would not succeed, so he worshiped Han Sui as his adoptive father.
When Han Sui saw Ma Chao asking, he laughed a few times and said, "Meng Qi, even your father only knows that I have been enemies with Huangfu Song, Zhang Wen, Sun Jian, Dong Zhuo and others, and I have beaten them to flee."
"But few people know that I was once a loyal minister of the Han Dynasty, obeying the orders of General He Jin."
"It's just that General He Jin is just a butcher after all, and he doesn't understand what it means to govern a country."
"In the past, when I was in Chang'an City, I persuaded him to kill the eunuchs, but the butcher told the news to his sister, the Queen Mother He."
"The Queen Mother is just a woman, let alone what it means to govern a country."
"She knew that her mother accepted the eunuch's benefits, so she stopped the butcher's plan."
“Those who strike first will gain the upper hand, and those who strike later will suffer disaster.”
"As a result, the butcher was killed by those eunuchs, and then Dong Zhuo entered the capital and the world was in chaos."
Han Sui sighed: "Fortunately, I was wiser at the beginning. After He Jin refused to listen to my advice, I asked to return to Liangzhou, and then I established a foundation."
"After that, you and your father continued to fight against the imperial army."
"Unfortunately, we also made mistakes later."
"That was before Dong Zhuo entered the capital, we besieged Chencang, and as a result, the leader of the kingdom was killed by Huangfu Song."
"The killing of the alliance leader caused each general to have his own hidden agenda, and his strength was greatly reduced."
"If the alliance leader had not been killed and we had not fallen apart at that time, now, maybe, most of the court would be ours."
Looking at everyone, Han Sui said: "Now that we have gathered together again to work on great things, we must learn lessons and prevent the same mistakes from happening again."
All the generals replied: "General Han is right!"
"We must be united."
"We want to be a great general and establish a new dynasty!"
Han Sui laughed.
Ma Chao's face was also filled with excitement.
He had made an agreement with Yuan Shao. Once Cao Cao was captured and the world was pacified, Liangzhou would be his, and he could still serve as a general.
Looking around, Ma Chao suddenly became proud and howled.
Not long after, cavalry from all directions gathered and reported to Han Sui: "Captain, the entire city of Chang'an has been cleared, and there are no survivors."
Although Yuan Shao sent Ma Chao, who was in contact with Gao Gan, the provincial governor.
However, because Ma is super young.
In order to be able to calm the heroes, although Ma Chao was the leader, he still recommended Han Sui to be the governor and the nominal commander-in-chief.
Han Sui listened to the cavalry report, nodded, looked at Ma Chao and said: "Meng Qi, since there are no living people here, there is no point in staying. We continue to move forward, attack Tongguan and other places this morning, and then fight with Yuan Shao's army Convergence.”
Ma Chao smiled and said: "Listen to your adoptive father's arrangements!"
Han Sui nodded, got on his horse, and said loudly: "The whole army obeys the order and follows me to Tongguan immediately!"
With that said, he took the lead in heading towards Tongguan.
Tongguan.
In the handsome tent.
Sili Colonel Zhong Yao kept walking anxiously.
All the generals were also silent.
They recently received information from an unknown person that Yuan Shao had united with Ma Chao and other Guanzhong princes to prepare for a rebellion and attack Chang'an directly!
After sending a spy to infiltrate the troops of the princes in Guanzhong and confirming the authenticity of the intelligence, Sili Colonel Zhong Yao made a decisive decision and immediately led the people of Chang'an City to withdraw from Chang'an, pass through Tongguan, and retreat to Xudu.
However, in order not to alert the enemy, Zhong Yao asked his deputy Kong Xiu to lead a thousand soldiers to guard Chang'an.
Just now, Kong Xiu's soldiers rushed over and reported the news: Kong Xiu and his thousand soldiers were all killed in battle.
Only this soldier was spared as he was sent to Tongguan by Kong Xiu to report intelligence to Zhong Yao.
According to the soldiers, Ma Chao led various princes in Guanzhong this time, with a total of 50,000 cavalry!
Wherever it goes, no chicken or dog will be left behind!
There are only three thousand soldiers in Tongguan.
Zhong Yao has sent someone to deliver an urgent message to Xudu.
However, he was also a little desperate at this time.
He knows Cao Cao's situation better than anyone else.
Almost all of Cao Cao's troops were transferred to Guandu. Facing Yuan Shao's move south, Xu Du had almost no defense force.
Even if the letter was sent to Xudu, Xun Lingjun, who was responsible for guarding Xudu, had no choice.
what to do?
Without reinforcements, how could these 3,000 soldiers alone be able to stop the 50,000 cavalry!
At this moment, a soldier's voice sounded outside: "Report, the scouts have detected a large army approaching from the direction of Wancheng!"
Zhong Yao suddenly stopped and said hurriedly: "Come in!"
The soldier walked in quickly, saluted Zhong Yao and said, "The scouts just received news that nearly 10,000 troops are approaching quickly from the direction of Wancheng!"
Zhong Yao's eyes lit up slightly.
Ten thousand troops from the direction of Wancheng?
There is no doubt that it is the Wancheng garrison!
Could it be that the unknown person who sent him intelligence and told him that Ma Chao was going to rebel was from Jingzhou?
Looking at this situation, it is almost certain.
Zhong Yao hissed.
This Jiangdong is indeed terrifying.
Actually, manpower has already been deployed among the princes in Guanzhong.
Moreover, judging from the reliability of this information, this unknown person's status among the princes in Guanzhong is not low.
Did Jiangdong already expect that Ma Chao might rebel?
Zhong Yao sighed secretly.
No wonder Jiangdong has risen so quickly.
Before, he had heard that Jiang Dong had twice taken the territory that Sikong wanted before Sikong:
A Xuzhou.
A Wancheng.
This led to the current embarrassing situation in the court.
Now it seems that it is understandable that Jiangdong can achieve this level!
Predict the enemy's opportunities step by step.
but--
Zhong Yao shook his head.
Now is not the time to lament the horror of Jiangdong.
What he has to face is how to defend Tongguan, or in other words, hold back the princes in Guanzhong as much as possible.
Zhong Yao pondered for a moment and said to all the generals: "Come out with me immediately to welcome the Wancheng army!"
A young man stood up and said: "If the troops coming from Wancheng take the opportunity to capture Tongguan——"
This young man's name was Zhang Ji, a native of Gaoling, Feng Yi. Although he came from a poor family, he was talented. At the age of sixteen, he was recommended as a maocai and served as the meritorious officer of Feng Yi County.
After Cao Cao became Sikong, he summoned him several times but failed.
Later, Zhong Yao was appointed as the captain of the Sili School to supervise Guanzhong. When he came to Chang'an, he heard about his talent and went to recruit him personally. He recruited him under his account.
Previously, Ma Teng and Han Sui were willing to accept the call from the imperial court and serve as officials. Although it was Zhong Yao who took the lead, it was Zhang Ji who acted as the lobbyist.
Zhong Yao attaches great importance to Zhang Ji.
At this moment, hearing Zhang Ji's suspicion, Zhong Yao pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said: "First of all, we and Jiangdong are still in alliance. It is not in their interests to rashly tear up the agreement because of Jiangdong's current situation."
"Secondly, now that the princes in Guanzhong are rebelling, Wancheng really comes to seize the opportunity to seize Tongguan, which is actually a good thing."
"At that time, they are the ones who have to face the princes in Guanzhong."
"Thirdly, if they really do this, they will face three enemies."
"The princes of Guanzhong, the imperial court, and Yuan Shao."
"Koto wouldn't be so stupid."
Zhang Ji nodded.
Zhong Yao then waved and led the generals to welcome him out.
What they didn't expect was that the Wancheng army did not come, but instead set up camp five miles away.
When Zhong Yao heard the scouts reporting such a situation, he immediately sent someone to inquire about the generals who sent troops to Wancheng this time.
Zhong Yao breathed a sigh of relief when he learned that the commander-in-chief was Wenpin and the commander-in-chief was Lu Bu.
Looking at Zhang Ji, Zhong Yao said: "De Rong, it seems that the troops coming from Wancheng this time are not to assist us. On the contrary, they are here to monitor us and prevent us from being defeated."
"So, they will sit back and watch."
"You rushed over immediately and tried to find a way to find Lu Bu."
After a pause, Zhong Yao smiled sinisterly and said: "Tell Lu Bu that Ma Chao has always looked down on him and threatened to kill him if he knew he was leading the army from Wancheng!"
Zhang Ji responded and rushed towards the Wancheng army station single-handedly.
(End of chapter)
