Xiliang.
Since 195, Han Sui and Ma Teng have been in fierce fighting. In 196 AD, Ma Teng was defeated and fled. Ma Teng's wife and young children were killed by Han Sui. At this point, the former brothers with different surnames have become sworn enemies.
In the following year, Ma, Teng, and Han Sui fought against each other, each with his own victory or defeat. War continued in Liangzhou and people were devastated.
After two years of fighting, Han Sui was overwhelmed by Ma Teng and couldn't breathe. Ma Teng originally attacked Jincheng from Longxi City, but was defeated and retreated to Yuzhong City, and then to Dingxi City. Now he was beaten and returned to his hometown of Longxi City.
Longxi was assisted by Qiang soldiers and horses, and it was Ma Teng's base camp, so Han Sui did not dare to enter.
Just when Ma Teng was reorganizing his troops and preparing to fight again, news suddenly came from Guanzhong: Zhang Xiu's troops had entered Wuguan and were taking Guanzhong.
Ma Teng was surprised.
He still knew Zhang Xiu, the spear king of the North. When he followed Zhang Ji, this boy acted honestly and honestly. Unexpectedly, after Zhang Ji died in Rangcheng, this man seemed to have opened up the two channels of Ren and Du. He not only defeated Cao Cao twice, but also occupied Nanyang County. He can be said to be a dark horse among the princes.
"Ah Weng, I think that Zhang Xiu is very ambitious and occupying Guanzhong may be detrimental to us." Ma Chao said warily after reading the secret message sent from Guanzhong.
In 194, they joined forces with Han Sui to attack Chang'an, hoping to plunder Chang'an and intercept Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty. However, they were defeated by Li Jue and Guo Si. They suffered more than 10,000 casualties and fled back to Liangzhou. Since then, Ma Teng and Han Sui have not attacked Chang'an again, but have fallen into strife with each other.
Ma Teng shook his head and said: "Zhang Xiu has the help of Jia Xu and others to defeat Li Jue and Guo Si. How can we be his opponent? It might be possible if we join forces with Han Sui, but now -" He shook his head and sneered, "Han Sui If he kills my little boy, how can we join forces with him again?"
Ma Xiu, the second eldest son, clenched his fists and said angrily: "It doesn't matter whether Zhang Xiuzhan occupies Guanzhong or not, the old thief Han Sui harmed my mother and killed my younger siblings. I will definitely kill this thief first."
Ma Dai, who was standing next to him, agreed: "Han Sui in Liangzhou is equally ambitious. The Guanlong family in Guanzhong don't take us Xiliang people seriously. Even if Zhang Xiu takes control of Chang'an, he probably won't be able to be stable. It's better to defeat Han Sui first, and then Seek to capture Guanzhong."
Ma Teng nodded.
Zhang Xiu is also from Xiliang, so occupying Chang'an is a good thing for them, that is, they can withstand Cao Cao and Yuan Shao's military front, so that they can deal with their enemy Han Sui first.
It is also difficult to defeat Han Sui.
As the earliest and oldest warlord in Liangzhou, Han Sui's influence was far greater than that of Ma Teng. Whether it was the number of troops or the size of the territory he occupied, Ma Teng could not compare to Han Sui. This was why Ma Teng was defeated again and again. s reason.
In terms of bravery, the Ma family: Ma Teng, Ma Chao, Ma Xiu, Ma Dai, and their subordinate Pang De are all top military generals. Han Sui is no match for them; Han Sui is also very smart. He is not as good as the Ma family and his son. It's a head-to-head fight and only a food war.
Ma Teng sent troops to Jincheng, but Han Sui could not hold on and exhausted the horse army's food and grass. The horse army that he had just left the city to kill was defeated and fled; food and grass were the flaw of the Ma family and his son.
Now Han Sui has stationed troops in Xicheng, always ready to give Ma Teng a fatal blow.
Ma Teng was also on guard.
…
Dingxicheng, Han Sui's military camp.
Xiliang is in a barren area, and the limited cake is only so big. Most of the territory is in his hands, and half of it is in Ma Teng's hands, which seriously affects his ambition to dominate. If he could unify Liangzhou and control all the troops, he could, like Dong Zhuo, march into Chang'an and enjoy the affluent life of Chang'an.
But the Maartens severely hampered his progress.
He used his advantage in food and grass to defeat them steadily, but he could not kill them all. After all, the bravery of the Ma family and his son was not something that could be boasted; Han Sui could not read a single word, and he did not have the nobles who helped him to provide him with supplies. His strategic talents made him unable to defeat the Ma family and his son.
"These hateful nobles!"
This was not just the first time Han Sui scolded him.
Now Ma Teng and his son have been forced into Longxi City by him and dare not come out, but he cannot attack them either, so they can only remain in a stalemate.
At this time, news came from Guanzhong: Zhang Xiubing had entered Wuguan and was attacking Guanzhong.
Han Sui was shocked.
How could a young kid like Zhang Xiu want to conquer Guanzhong?
What a wishful thinking!
The news of Wei Yan's killing of Guo Si has not yet been transmitted, so Han Sui dismissed it with a sneer; he had fought against Guo Si and Li Jue. Their martial arts were not particularly outstanding, but they were still very good at leading troops in battle. Yes, at least he and Ma Teng have never fought together.
At that time, Zhang Ji was mediocre, and his subordinates were even worse. Dong Zhuo also worked under Dong Zhuo, but he never took Zhang Ji seriously. Now Zhang Ji died in Rangcheng, and his nephew Zhang Xiu took over. The military power is probably even worse than that of Zhang Ji.
As for defeating Cao Cao, he just dismissed it as a rumor.
Can Zhang Xiu defeat Cao Cao?
joke!
Anyway, Han Sui didn't believe it. Cao Cao had so many powerful generals and advisers, could he still be unable to defeat a small Zhang Xiu?
Still keeping the secret letter aside, he sneered: "With Li Jue and Guo Si in Chang'an, Zhang Xiu is just wishful thinking to defeat them."
Now he has no intention to care about Zhang Xiu's affairs. The Ma Teng and his son in Longxi City opposite are his innermost worries. Only by solving the Ma and his son, he can march into Chang'an and separatist power.
…
After six days of trekking, Zhang Xiu finally arrived at Chang'an City.
Standing under the tall Chang'an City, he had the illusion that he was still in the future, but just came to Xi'an for tourism. The Chang'an City in front of you is the capital of the Western Han Dynasty. It is naturally very tall and majestic in construction. Compared with other cities, you can clearly see the huge difference.
Chang'an City is surrounded by rammed earth walls, which are trapezoidal, narrow at the top and wide at the bottom. The base is 16 meters wide and the city is about 10 meters high. A trench was dug outside the city and turrets were set up around it. There were twelve gates in the whole city, three gates on each side.
Standing under such a magnificent building, Zhang Xiu marveled at the labor wisdom of the ancients.
Jia Xu came to greet him: "My lord, Guo Si has been beheaded by General Wei, and Li Jue is now besieged in Chiyang City and engaged in a battle between trapped beasts."
Gan Ning and Ji Ling, who were behind Zhang Xiu, finally relaxed when they heard that Li Jue was still alive.
They were infantrymen and could not run as fast as Wei Yan, so they could only act in a hurry. On the way, they heard that Wei Yan had killed Guo Si, and when they continued to pursue Li Jue, they were as anxious as ants on a hot pot, deeply afraid of Li Jue. Jue was killed.
It's fine now, Li Jue's head is still on his neck.
Zhang Xiu nodded: "Let Wei Yan withdraw and let Gan Ning and Ji Ling bring the infantry over. Our trebuchets should also take action."
Gan Ning and Ji Ling couldn't wait any longer and immediately came out and clasped their fists: "General, I will obey your order!"
Zhang Xiu said: "Remember, there is only one missing person in the circle, so leave the west gate free for me."
In ancient times, the strategy of siege troops focused on surrounding three and missing one. Just like the saying on the battlefield in later generations, "Hand your gun but don't kill", which means to give others a way to survive, so that it will be easier to attack the city.
But Zhang Xiu's purpose was to let Li Jue hold on for a while and then flee west, so that he could chase them all the way and smash the gentry manors outside the city.
"Lord!" Gan Ning was anxious, "We have a trebuchet in hand, so there is no need to surround us. Lord, don't worry. If Chiyang City is not taken down within three days, I, Gan Ning, will come to see you."
Ji Ling immediately echoed: "Me too!"
