Emperor of the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 358 Chang'an Falls
After listening to the deputy general's report, Zhong Yao sighed inwardly, the situation in Chang'an City is not optimistic now!Xuchang's reinforcements haven't arrived yet, but I don't know if we can hold on until the army arrives.

Although Chang'an was the capital of the Western Han Dynasty, with strong walls and deep trenches, it was impossible for Ma Chao, Han Sui and other Xiliang coalition forces to capture Chang'an in a short time.

Just when Zhong Yao was at a loss, a soldier pointed to the outside of the city and shouted: "Look! The enemy has already retreated! The enemy has retreated!"

When everyone looked around, they saw that after Ma Chao killed himself, all the troops and horses of the Xiliang Army gradually retreated. Lieutenant Zhong Yao was overjoyed and said, "My lord, now that all the enemy troops have retreated, Chang'an can be regarded as defended. It's really great."

Zhong Yao looked at the retreating Xiliang army, frowned, and said, "I'm afraid there are bombs in here; we have to guard against it! Send someone out of the city to check."

"No! I will order people to go out of the city to investigate." The deputy general led the order and left.

Zhong Yao returned to the mansion and visited Ma Lai to report!As expected, the Xiliang army was gone, so Zhong Yao felt relieved, and said to the lieutenant beside him, "Order the soldiers and civilians to go out of the city to collect firewood and water, and open the gates of the city wide to let people in and out."

"Promise!" The deputy general led the order to go, the gate of Chang'an city was opened, and the soldiers and civilians in the city took the opportunity to go out of the city to collect firewood and water. All this was learned by the Xiliang army spies and reported back to Ma Chao.

On the fifth day, someone flew to report that Ma Chao had personally led the troops to kill him. The soldiers and civilians outside the city were frightened and rushed into the city. Zhong Yao went to the city to wait and see.

Smoke and dust billowed in the distance, and there were thousands of troops under the city. The leader was Ma Chao. Zhong Yao frowned as he watched the Xiliang army come again.

After a few days, he came to attack Chang'an again. I really don't understand what Ma Chao wants to do?But it doesn't matter, Chang'an collected firewood and fetched water in the past few days, and then relied on Chang'an's city defense.

It shouldn't be a problem to persist for another ten days or so. At that time, Xuchang's reinforcements will be able to arrive in Chang'an City, and then go out of the city to fight the Xiliang Army. Therefore, Zhong Yao is not too worried.

"Pass down the order! Chang'an City hangs a sign of exemption from battle. No matter how many battles are called outside the city, you are not allowed to fight. Stay in Chang'an and wait for the prime minister's reinforcements." After Zhong Yao gave the order, he turned and left the city and went back to the mansion. He had other things to do deal with.

But it was said that Zhong Yao's younger brother, Zhong Jin, was guarding the west gate. About three o'clock, a fire broke out in the city gate.

Zhong Jin was caught off guard, and before he had time to react, Pang De cut him off his horse, killed the military academy, cut off the locks, and let Ma Chao and Han Sui's troops into the city.There was chaos in the city.

"Report!" Zhong Yao, who heard the movement, hurriedly put on a piece of clothing and went out, only to see a soldier coming in a hurry, Zhong Yao hurriedly asked, "What happened in the city?"

"My lord, the Xiliang army entered Chang'an, Lord Zhong Jin was beheaded by Pang De, Chang'an fell, please leave quickly." The soldier knelt down on one knee.

Zhong Yao was shocked when he heard this!Unexpectedly, Chang'an was captured so quickly. Zhong Yao didn't have time to care about why Chang'an fell so quickly, so he immediately abandoned the city from the east gate. Ma Chao and Han Sui won the city and rewarded the three armies.

At the banquet, Ma Chao raised his glass to Pound and said, "It is all thanks to Ling Ming's plan to win Chang'an this time! Only then can it be successful! Ling Ming will be the first to win this time! I toast you! After Xuchang is captured, Discuss merits and deeds together.”

"Thank you, my lord!" Pound thanked him!Drank it all together with Ma Chao.

It turned out that the Xiliang army besieged Chang'an for ten days. Seeing that they were unable to attack for a long time, Ma Chao felt very restless and called all the generals under his tent to discuss the matter.

Pound offered a trick to Ma Chao!First, the Xiliang army that besieged Chang'an was withdrawn to confuse Zhong Yao in the city.

Pang De had long expected that Zhong Yao would not believe that the Xiliang army would withdraw, and he was worried about fraud, so he sent someone out to inquire about the situation, and then asked Ma Chao to really withdraw the army.

After Zhong Yao learned that the Xiliang army had withdrawn, he sent people out of the city to collect firewood and water to supplement what was lacking in the city. At first, Zhong Yao was still worried that this might be Ma Chao's trick, so he didn't let the soldiers and civilians in the city leave the city too far. The city is less than 30 meters away.

It's been fine for a few days!The city of Chang'an relaxed its vigilance, and these soldiers and civilians went to collect firewood and fetch water farther away from Chang'an. Pound led the disguised Xiliang army to sneak in with them.

Ma Chao also led the army to attack at this time!Knowing that the Xiliang army is coming again, these soldiers and civilians will rush towards Chang'an in a panic, and no one will search them one by one, and the Xiliang army sneaked into the city smoothly.

As soon as the third watch arrived, he set a fire in the city gate of Ximen. Ma Chao outside the city saw the fire in the city, and led his troops towards the west gate to cooperate with Pang De.

Pang De led the Xiliang army who sneaked into the city to kill the defenders, cut off the iron locks and put them on the suspension bridge, opened the city gate to welcome Ma Chao and Han Sui into the city.

"My lord! There is not much food and grass in Chang'an City, and there is not much food and grass left in our army. Chang'an is not a place to wait for a long time. It is better to take down Tongguan earlier and fight all the way to Xuchang to welcome the emperor." road.

"Okay! Tomorrow I will lead the troops to attack Tongguan. I have just arrived in Chang'an today. It is a celebration. Just drink freely today and ignore everything else! I will send troops tomorrow." Ma Chao laughed and drank it all. Reaching out to grab the flagon on the table, he added another glass to himself.

Pang De didn't quite agree with Ma Chao's statement. In his opinion, the army should take advantage of Chang'an and its morale is high, and take Tongguan in one go, so as not to have long nights and dreams. After all, no one knows what will happen after this day's delay. If the enemy reinforcements arrive, it will not be so easy to take Tongguan.

It's just that now Ma Chao is a little carried away by the victory!Although he would not be dizzy, he was still a little swayed, and it was impossible for him to send troops now.

In the city of Chang'an, when Ma Chao rewarded the three armies with a big banquet, Zhong Yao finally fled to Tongguan in embarrassment, and directly took over the defense of Tongguan, ordering to guard Tongguan tightly and wait for reinforcements.

"Report!" As soon as Zhong Yao sat down to rest, some soldiers came to report in a hurry. Zhong Yao thought that the Xiliang army had killed him, and he was shocked: "But the Xiliang army killed Tongguan?"

Seeing Zhong Yao, who jumped up and grabbed him tightly, the soldier knelt on one knee and said, "Master, it's not that the Xiliang army killed it, but, it's that there is a branch behind Tongguan. Soldiers and horses are coming towards Tongguan, and the captain ordered me to come and report!"

Zhong Yao's eyes lit up, could it be that the prime minister's reinforcements have arrived?This is so good!In this way, Chang'an can be recaptured and the Xiliang army can be defeated.

"It must be the reinforcements sent by the prime minister. Where are they now?" Zhong Yao asked hastily.

"The army is not far from Tongguan, and it should be at the pass now!" Soldier Hui reported.

"Okay! Follow me to check!" Although I guessed that the reinforcements might have arrived, I still have to confirm it before I can rest assured.

(End of this chapter)