My father-in-law Guan Yu, I persuaded Liu Bei to launch a surprise attack on Xiangyang at the beginn

Jia Xu couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief; his tense nerves finally relaxed at this moment.

Looking around, he saw that all the military officers present, without exception, breathed a sigh of relief.

The generals secretly rejoiced that their emperor had not been blinded by anger.

At this critical moment, Cao Cao miraculously regained a sliver of his sanity.

"Your Majesty is wise! We will certainly protect Your Majesty with our lives and escort you to Liangzhou!"

Jia Xu launched into a torrent of praise, while simultaneously turning back to wink at the generals, signaling them to echo his sentiments and paving the way for Cao Cao's success.

The generals understood and bowed down in unison, praising Cao Cao's wisdom, martial prowess, and decisiveness.

Cao Cao, however, had no interest in these compliments. He weakly raised his riding whip and said wearily:

"You need not waste your time flattering me. Immediately issue an order for Gongming to abandon his detachment and lead his army to retreat along the Wei River to Liangzhou."

"Issue another order to Wang Shuang, instructing him to stall for time and buy precious time for our troops, officials, and their families to retreat westward."

After calming down, Cao Cao issued several emergency edicts in succession, his tone revealing a rare decisiveness.

The ministers hurriedly accepted the order.

Cao Cao then looked back towards the east gate.

His eyes conveyed a complex mix of emotions, including anger, resentment, and helplessness.

The anger stemmed from hatred towards Xiao and Guan Yu.

The resentment stems from the regret of losing Chang'an.

"不奈" refers to the helplessness of being forced to retreat to Liangzhou.

"Ugh--"

After a long sigh, Cao Cao silently mounted his horse, gave it a sharp spur, and galloped off toward the west gate.

The Wei soldiers behind them, as if granted a pardon, swarmed and fled towards the west gate.

They jostled and pushed each other, as if afraid of being caught up by the Han army, and lest they lose this hard-won chance to escape.

...

On the east gate, Wang Shuang was still commanding several thousand Wei soldiers, struggling to hold on.

Like a lone boat in a storm, they teetered on the brink of collapse under the relentless onslaught of the Han army.

The fire at the national treasury and the rebellion of the Hebei army were like heavy blows, shattering their already dwindling fighting spirit.

Furthermore, Cao Cao transferred nearly half of his troops, making the already stretched forces at the East Gate even more desperate.

The entire defense line was now riddled with holes, and the situation was extremely precarious.

In less than half an hour, the Han army had breached the entire length of the East Gate city wall, which stretched for hundreds of paces.

Countless Han soldiers rushed to climb the city walls and engaged in fierce close combat with the Wei army.

Wang carried a long sword in both hands, running back and forth like a firefighter, doing his best to kill every Han soldier who climbed the city wall.

Unfortunately, his individual strength seemed so insignificant in the face of 100,000 Han soldiers.

Despite his superior martial arts skills, he was unable to reverse the impending collapse of the Han army, which surged like a tide, all by himself.
A scout arrived on horseback, panting as he climbed the city wall.

"Reporting to General Wang, the national treasury has been completely burned by the rebels."

"His Majesty has issued an edict to abandon Chang'an and for the entire army to retreat westward to Liangzhou. His Majesty has specifically ordered you to hold the East Gate for as long as possible to buy time for the imperial concubines, princes and relatives, and civil and military officials to retreat!"

The Wei army, which was engaged in fierce fighting on both sides, from generals to soldiers, all turned pale and were in complete chaos.

"Your Majesty...Your Majesty actually intends to abandon Chang'an?"

Wang Shuang's voice trembled as he looked incredulously toward the city.

Clearly, he couldn't believe that the emperor would abandon the capital of the Great Wei Dynasty.

Though unwilling to accept this cruel reality, it was a fact that could not be changed. Wang Shuang could only sigh deeply and shout:

"My men of Wei, listen to my command! For His Majesty's safe evacuation from Chang'an, I order you to fight to the death and not retreat a single step!"

"Even if it means fighting to the last man, you must hold the line and hold off the Han army for His Majesty!"

Wang Shuang's impassioned shouts echoed across the city walls.

However, very few Wei soldiers responded to him.

Even if these soldiers were incredibly stupid, how could they be so foolish as to still believe his deceptive words at this point?

Cao Cao has already fled, what right do you have to tell us lowly soldiers to stay here and hold out to the death?
If you, the relatives of royalty and high-ranking officials, run away, will you take us lowly soldiers with you?

of course not.

Moreover, you are fleeing to Liangzhou!

We are from Yongzhou and Guanzhong. Why should we follow you to flee to Liangzhou?

The collapse began to spread, and the morale of the Wei army was completely broken. Instead of being inspired to fight to the death by Wang Shuang, they abandoned their lines and fled towards the city like ants in a collapsed nest.

"No retreat! Anyone who dares to flee will be killed without mercy!"

Wang Shuang brandished his long sword and shouted sternly.

However, no matter how much he shouted, he could not suppress the momentum of defeat.

The shouts were so faint amidst the chaotic rout that they could not stop the soldiers' advance.

Complete collapse!

Wang Shuang had no choice but to let out a long sigh and follow the fleeing soldiers down the city wall, hurriedly escaping towards the west gate.

...

As dusk fell, Xiao He, Guan Yu, Zhao Yun, and others had already climbed the city wall at the East Gate.

From their vantage point, they looked down upon the entire city of Chang'an.

"Your Majesty, do you see? The Western Capital of the Great Han Dynasty has finally been recovered for you..."

Guan Yu bowed in the direction of Ye City, his voice filled with emotion, and his eyes glistened with tears of excitement.

His words of reflection seemed to transcend the boundaries of time and space, reaching Ye City, thousands of miles away.

The people around were also excited, and they all knew what this moment meant.

This is the glory and revival of the Han Dynasty, the final result of their years of conquest!
Chang'an and Luoyang were the two capitals of the Han Dynasty!

Like two dazzling pearls, they are inlaid on the land of China.

Although Luoyang has been recovered, as long as Chang'an is not returned to the Han Dynasty, it means that the Han Dynasty is incomplete and that Liu Bei's achievements cannot catch up with those of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu.

Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, started a rebellion after slaying a white snake, and established the Han Dynasty.

Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu revived the Han Dynasty, thus initiating the Guangwu Restoration.

Now, Emperor Liu Bei has done it. He has recovered Chang'an, and his achievements are comparable to those of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Guangwu!
The news of Chang'an's recapture will quickly spread throughout the land, and all the people and scholars of the various states will know.

At that time, the people will be thrilled and the whole country will celebrate.

At this moment, Liu Bei's prestige will reach an unprecedented peak!
His name will be listed alongside great emperors such as Emperor Gaozu of Han and Emperor Guangwu, and his name will be remembered for generations.

And he, Xiao He, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun…

These meritorious ministers who followed Liu Bei will also become wise ministers throughout the ages, comparable to Xiao He, Zhang Liang, and Chen Ping.

"Pass down my order: all generals must not slacken their efforts and must bravely pursue the enemy!"

Guan Yu suppressed his emotions and pointed his whip forward:
"We will not rest until Cao Cao is killed!" (End of Chapter)