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

The afterglow of the setting sun, like embers that have burned out, gradually lost its light and slowly sank westward.

Then, night fell.

Outside Xianqin City, shouts of battle and the clashing of weapons filled the air for an entire day.

After a day of fierce attacks, the Wei army finally began to slowly recede, like a surging but ultimately weak tide.

"Wei the dog has finally retreated."

Ma Chao let out a long sigh of relief, his tense nerves relaxing slightly at that moment.

He slowly turned around, his gaze passing over the dilapidated and scarred city wall before him, and looking towards the direction of Jieting.

"Shi Zai, Shi Zai, I have done my best and delayed for you for three days. Have you still not taken Jieting?"

Ma Chao muttered to himself.

Forty thousand Wei troops, like dark clouds pressing down on the city, besieged Xianqin City.

Cao Pi was extremely anxious to save Jieting and urged the Wei army to launch a relentless attack day and night.

Xianqin City was not a fortified city to begin with. Its walls had been riddled with holes and were on the verge of collapse after repeated fierce attacks by the Wei army.

The Han army arrived in haste with only 10,000 troops. Faced with such a disparity in troop strength, the battle was naturally extremely difficult.

Ma Chao was well aware of the severity of the situation, and he could only do his utmost to inspire his soldiers, boost morale, and direct the defense.

Under his leadership, the Han soldiers fought with all their might, building an unbreakable defensive line with their own flesh and blood.

However, by this point in the battle, the soldiers had suffered considerable casualties, and their mental and physical strength had reached their limits.

Ma Chao looked at everything before him with worry in his eyes.

He wasn't sure if he could hold out when the Wei army surged in like a tidal wave again at this time tomorrow.

He wasn't entirely sure whether Xianqin City could be defended.

"Send word: eat quickly, and let the soldiers get some sleep as soon as possible so they can be fully rested and ready for battle again!"

Ma Chao had no choice but to give this order.

Upon receiving the order, Ma Chao collapsed to the ground, exhausted, as if all his strength had been drained.

He took the wheat cake handed to him by his guard and began to devour it.

Although the Wei army has retreated for the time being, this is only temporary.

Given Cao Pi's eagerness to save Jieting, the Wei army will surely launch a counterattack soon, and once again launch a more intense attack on Xianqin City.

All Ma Chao could do was try to let his soldiers rest and recover some strength during this brief respite.

"General, a great victory at Jieting! A great victory at Jieting!"

Suddenly, a man holding a silk scroll aloft excitedly climbed up the city wall.

"General Deng has delivered a report of victory! He captured Maijishan yesterday and killed Wang Shuang!"

The soldiers, panting heavily, cried out, their faces beaming with barely suppressed joy.

Upon hearing this unexpected news of victory, Ma Chao jumped up excitedly, snatched the report, and unfolded it with trembling hands.

Maijishan has fallen, Wang Shuang has been executed, and Jieting has been recovered…

It was written clearly in black and white on white paper.

The weariness on Ma Chao's face vanished in an instant, replaced by extreme joy.

"Shi Zai, Shi Zai, you truly deserve to be the Grand Marshal's disciple, well done!"

Ma Chao excitedly praised the victory, held up the report, and laughed loudly.

The exhausted Han soldiers on the city wall were instantly energized upon hearing the news of the recapture of Jieting.

The weariness on everyone's faces was replaced by surprise and excitement.

Cheers and shouts of joy rang out over the city walls of Xianqin.

The Han soldiers brandished their weapons, embraced each other, and cheered loudly.

"Now that Jieting has been recaptured, there's no need for me to waste my time here with that brat Cao Pi. It's time to go!"

Ma Chao stopped laughing and shouted:
"By my order, abandon Xianqin City and return to Jieting!"

When the order was given, the Han soldiers all breathed a sigh of relief.

At that moment, ten thousand Han soldiers abandoned Xianqin City and, under the cover of night, headed towards Jieting.

The family is gone and the house is empty!

outside the city.

As sparks flew, the Wei army deployed its various camps and began to array themselves before the city once more.

Another siege is about to begin. Unfortunately, they are unaware that the Han army inside the city has already quietly left.

Chinese army.

Cao Pi, seated high on his horse, had a deep frown and a solemn expression.

Three days ago, Jiang Wei, who had escaped from Jieting, brought back the terrible news that Wang Shuang had moved his troops to Maijishan, the water supply had been cut off, and the situation was critical.

Cao Pi was greatly shocked.

He never expected that Wang Shuang would make such a foolish decision.

Cao Pi then flew into a rage.

just.

Despite his anger, he could not ignore the consequences of the fall of Jieting.

Therefore, Cao Pi immediately urged his army to march towards Jieting.

Who wants to.

Ma Chao, however, led 10,000 Han soldiers to seize Xianqin City first, blocking his way.

Cao Pi had no choice but to urge his 40,000 Wei troops to launch an all-out attack on Xianqin City.

just.

Despite three days of relentless attacks, Xianqin City remained unconquered.

Cao Pi understood that the longer they delayed, the greater the risk of Jieting falling.

Therefore, he had no choice but to order a night battle, sparing no effort on the soldiers' physical strength.

"By imperial decree, the army shall launch another fierce attack!"

"Before dawn, I will surely witness the battle flag of my Great Wei being planted on the city wall of Xianqin."

Cao Pi issued a stern order.

The decree was issued swiftly, like a gust of wind.

In an instant, the sound of war drums shook the heavens and the earth like thunder, as if it would shatter the entire world.

Although the Wei army had not rested for long, under the urging of their officers, they once again launched a massive attack on Xianqin City like a surging tide.

Cao Pi gripped the horsewhip tightly in his hand, his mind made up, and his eyes revealed a resolute determination.

He had secretly made up his mind tonight to completely destroy Xianqin City at all costs.

Even if all the soldiers in the army are wiped out, we must capture Xianqin.

Something unexpected happened to Cao Pi without warning.

The Wei army's siege was surprisingly successful.

To be more precise, the Wei army encountered absolutely no resistance!

When the Wei army surged towards the city wall like a tidal wave, not a single Han soldier could be seen on the wall.

The Han army seemed to have vanished into thin air, disappearing without a trace.

The Wei army easily stormed the city walls without losing a single soldier.

The city gates slowly opened, and the Wei army poured into the city like a flood.

In a short while, Xianqin City was captured!
The speed was so fast that it left the entire Wei army speechless.

Cao Pi stared wide-eyed at the "Wei" banner rising atop Xianqin City, his face a mixture of surprise and bewilderment.

Cheers erupted.

All the generals on both sides were invigorated and shouted excitedly, while the Wei soldiers also let out a deafening cheer.

"Your Majesty, our army is now unimpeded and ready to relieve Jieting!"

Cheng Gongying was also overjoyed and shouted excitedly.

Cao Pi laughed heartily, raised his whip, and shouted:
"Pass down the order: the entire army shall set off immediately and head straight for Jieting!"

The words have not yet fallen.

A rider galloped up, hurriedly went up the city wall, and knelt down before Cao Pi's horse.

"Your Majesty, an urgent report has arrived from the north!"

"Jieting has fallen, our entire army has been wiped out, and General Zhen Dong has been killed by the enemy!"

Cao Pi's whip hung suspended in mid-air, as if time had frozen at that moment. (End of Chapter)