Chapter 213: Iron-bending

The strong wind filled the city with sand and dust, as cold as a whip soaked in salt water, whipping unrestrainedly at the bare heart of the guards. How could any man, a man with unruly and passionate blood in his chest, be willing to let his beloved family struggle in pain in front of him?

The sun sets, and another day of stalemate is about to end.

Chen Cang's city was silent, and a long time later, a low sob or two came from a low sob. A young new soldier buried his head behind the battlements, trying his best to suppress the crying sound.

"Ma Chao, this saint bastard!" Yang Fu's tall body was still tall, and his pupils looked unusually prominent on his thin face.

Although Ma Chao's ancestors were General Fubo Ma Yuan, his mother was from Qiang. Therefore, in the eyes of Confucian scholars who regard bloodline as a ruler, Ma Chao could no longer be considered a Han person.

"Yishan, another eleven soldiers in Xiying sneaked out of the city! Did Lord Wei say what to do next?" The footsteps behind him sounded, and Jiang Xu, who was the successor, climbed to the top of the city. His voice was low and hoarse. He witnessed his mother suffering outside the city every day. As a son of man, Jiang Xu, you can imagine how he felt.

Yang Fu shook his head silently. These days, Wei Kang was just sitting in the mansion and sighing. Even the symbolic patrol of the city defense was just a hurry. What should I do if this continues?

After Zhao Yun led a light cavalry to attack Huaili, Ma Chao continued to adopt the advice of Pang Tong to divide and govern it. On the one hand, he continued to escort the captured defenders' families to the city for public display. On the other hand, he prepared generous wine and food for the soldiers and their families who escaped from the city to reunite with their relatives. In front of the battle, they let them drink happily in front of the city's former companions, the hungry people who were on the day.

This is a psychological contest, and its thrilling degree is no less than the fight between blood and fire.

For Yang Fu and Jiang Xu, the soldiers who were restrained by their families, the pain was unimaginable.

If it weren't for the great tolerance, it would be hard to imagine that they could support it.

"Hmph, as long as Yang has a breath, Ma Chao will not want to come in Chencang City." When he was about to come down to the city, Yang Fu glared at the continuous camp outside the city, and his eyes were full of anger.

Ma Chao's methods seem shameless and despicable, but they are extremely lethal. If such a long stalemate continues, the morale of the soldiers guarding the city will definitely decline day by day.

However, not everyone has the tenacious perseverance like Yang Fu and Jiang Xu.

At least Liangzhou Mu Wei Kang is not.

At the beginning of the siege, Wei Kang suddenly saw Ma Chao threatening him with hostages. He was really panicked. If the soldiers guarding the city escaped from the city one by one, wouldn’t he become a general? Fortunately, he was not loyal enough to defend Yang Fu and he left his brothers to defend the city day and night. This made Wei Kang feel a little relieved. After some days, the heavy snow would be almost closed. Ma Chao came to transport food and grass from afar, and then the reinforcements from Chang'an were about to arrive.

Reinforcements——, are there really reinforcements? Even Wei Kang himself is not sure about this.

Yuan Shao's nephew Gao Gan and Guo Yuan raised troops to rebel. Zhong Yao led the main force in Guanzhong to penetrate deep into the north of the Yellow River. He could not get back at the moment. The reason why Ma Chao suddenly broke out from Xicheng was chosen by this rare opportunity.

Just as Wei Kang was worried all day long, on November 3, Zhao Yun, who rushed back from Huaili, accidentally brought back almost all the families of the Wei family, including Wei Kang and Wei Duan's elderly parents, Wei Kang's bride and children.

"My son——, save me!"

"Yuan General——!"

When the crying of his wife, children and parents sounded heart-wrenchingly, Wei Kang collapsed.

At this time, he was no longer a Liangzhou governor, and no longer thought about the great principles. He only thought that after the Wei family could not be broken in his hands, he would be ashamed of his ancestors and ancestors.

"Order the soldiers guarding the city and open the city!" After struggling in pain, Wei Kang finally ordered weakly.

"Sir, how can this be done?" After receiving Wei Kang's order, Yang Fu, the defender guarding the city wall, immediately came to dissuade him.

"Yishan, I have no choice. The Wei family cannot be defeated by my hands!" Wei Kang's face turned red. Facing Yang Fu, who had abandoned his brothers and relatives and was determined to defend the city, he felt ashamed.

"Sir, have you forgotten Mr. Wenhe's message before leaving? This city opening order is good, and you can't bear the eternal infamy." Yang Fu's hand holding the knife trembled slightly. He did not expect that the city that he had been holding for many days would be given up, and the reason for giving up seemed so ridiculous in his opinion.

"Stop, Yishan, you have your reasons, but I also have my difficulties. In fact, after the city is dedicated, your brothers, mother and son can be reunited. Isn't that good? As for the infamous reputation in history, I will take it!" Wei Kang's lips touched, and he sighed with a wry smile.

Hearing Wei Kang's answer, Yang Fu couldn't help but hold the sword in his hand tightly. He looked like a beast imprisoned on his arms: "Hmph, I can't stop you from surrendering. But I, Yang Fusheng, are a man of the great man, and die, are the ghost of the great man. If a horse thief wants to enter the city, unless - unless stepping over me!"

After this, Yang Fu shouted and led the clans who followed him to the most steepest East City Tower in Chencang City. Wei Kang was the governor of Liangzhou appointed by the imperial court. His official position was much higher than his subordinate. After all, the soldiers who obeyed Wei Kang's orders in Chencang City had to account for the majority. Yang Fu could do nothing except to fight to the death.

"Yishan, why bother--!" Wei Kang looked at Yang Fu's back as he gradually moved away, shook his head helplessly and sighed.

On the morning of November 18, the ninth year of Jian'an, the birds and beasts dispersed. Chen Cang, who was once as solid as a rock, changed because of Wei Kang's decision. The once solid city gate made a loud "creak" sound, and then slowly opened. Wei Kang, who was dejected, led a group of guards to Ma Chao's army, who had been waiting for a long time.

Outside the city, Ma Chao, Pang Tong and Zhao Yun received the news that Wei Kang asked for surrender early. Twenty thousand soldiers were neatly lined up in a mighty queue, with shiny swords and guns, majestic horns and war horses that were neighing. Everything was showing an invincible aura.

"Mr. Wei, I, Ma Chao, have been waiting for you under the city for a long time!" Ma Chao was so energetic. Although this battle of soldiers without bloodshed was not very satisfying, the result was surprisingly good. The ability of Pang Tong, the military advisor, really made Ma Chao, who believed in martial arts, admired him very much.

"Hmph, General Ma's method is very impressed by Wei. I hope that the general will treat these soldiers and their families who have followed me well, because he has not yet achieved his war." Wei Kang stammered, and the shame of surrender made him feel disgraceful.

Hearing Wei Kang's words, Pang Tong stepped forward and said, "Don't worry about this. We will treat any soldiers who voluntarily give up resistance well. As for those who are still in the city who still want to resist to the end, we can't blame us for being ruthless."

Accompanied by Pang Tong's words, the Xiliang cavalry, who had already sharpened their swords and shook their swords, rushed in from the open city gate.

The final battle began at the Chen Cangdong City Tower.

Yang Fu and Jiang Xu led more than a thousand tribes to defend themselves by danger. They raised the embroidered Han military flag on the high city tower, and they had put life and death aside.

"The whole army enters the city!" Chen Cangcheng was broken amid Ma Chao's cheers.

On the city tower, the soldiers of Xiliang who were eager to make contributions went up the city steps like ants. Every time they went forward, they had to suffer huge casualties. Yang Fu's soldiers used favorable terrain to block the passes leading to the city tower. One by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one, one by one,

After an hour of fierce attack, more than 2,000 soldiers in Xiliang were killed or injured. The Wei and Qu, who led the charge, were nine out of ten. Similarly, Yang Fu's side suffered a considerable loss, with nearly 300 tribes losing their lives.

"Yang Fu is abominable!" Witnessing the unfavorable war, Ma Chao, who had just entered the city, spat fiercely, with a smile on his face.

"General, the enemy has occupied the dangerous place of the city tower, and it is difficult for us to attack. It is better to bring Yang Fu's relatives here and force them to surrender!" A captain who was caught in an arrow retreated dejectedly and suggested.

"Hmph, a brainless guy. If what you said is useful, Yang Fu would have surrendered long ago! You cowards will attack me. If you don't catch Yang Fu, don't come back to see me." After that, Ma Chao took a few steps closer to the front, and glanced at the high city tower with sharp eyes.

Yang Fu knew that continuing to resist would be a dead end, but he still insisted on his determination. This integrity made Ma Chao, Zhao Yun and others feel deeply moved. In fact, as a general, he wanted to have a vigorous opponent on the battlefield, rather than a coward like Wei Kang who bowed his knees at the moment.

"Meng Qi, why not use fire?" Pang Tong's voice sounded behind him.

The ideal of a strategist is to use the best strategy to achieve the greatest effect. When the city tower guarded by Yang Fu blocked the way forward, Pang Tong thought of using a fire attack strategy.

Fire will kill Wu everything, including the city tower with carved beams and painted buildings, and everyone in the city tower.

Yang Fu could block the Xiliang soldiers rushing forward, but he could not block the blazing fire.

In late autumn, dry firewood and poplar trunks used to attract fire were everywhere in Chencang City. When the soldiers of Xiliang lit the fire-attracting objects piled around the city tower, Yang Fu knew that everything was about to end.

"Boyi, take everyone away!" Yang Fu leaned on the ground with a knife and gasped at Jiang Xu.

"Yishan, what are you saying? We are brothers who share life and death, live and die together!" Jiang Xu hissed. The armor on his body was already torn and his sword was already dull.

"Okay, live and die together, die together. Even if I, Yang Fu, die, my soul will not be dispersed. I, Yang Fu, will protect the world of the great man!" Yang Fu's voice echoed in the empty buildings with the strong wind.

When Pang Tong vaguely heard Yang Fu's last words, he felt a move in his heart. It was a pity that a hero like Yang Fu would die like this.

Thinking of this, he walked to the upper wind and shouted to the building: "Yang Fu, you claim to be a Han minister, but you don't know that this world is the world of the people, the world of the people, not the world of his family of Liu. Now that the Han Dynasty is in decline, the heroes are rising, our Lord Gao Chong has joined forces with all the heroes of Xiliang, and all the soldiers are invincible. You are blocking the chariot with your mantis arm, and even if you die, you cannot save the defeat."

"Pang Tong, you have a plan to be poisonous, I am unwilling to accept it-!"

The fire was raging, and the beams surrounded by two or three people were burning and slamming. Yang Fu and others could no longer get out.

This burning fire lasted for three hours. Among the soldiers who followed Yang Fu to guard the city tower, except for about 400 people on the outer edge who escaped from the sea of ​​fire by chance, Yang Fu, Jiang Xu and more than 200 people in the middle of the city tower were burned to death. When the fire scene was cleared later, the tangled bodies were beyond recognition and could not tell who was who came.

——.

The news of Chen Cang's fall soon reached Chang'an. The left-behind officials did not dare to neglect them. They hurriedly reported the news to Zhong Yao, the governor of Yongzhou and the captain of the Sili School. Zhong Yao, who had just achieved the huge results of beheading a high-ranking official, was shocked. Chen Cang was in a mistake. The gateway to Guanzhong was wide open, and the iron hoof of Xiliang could approach Chang'an without any stop.

In panic, Zhong Yao, while the supervisor traveled back to Chang'an day and night, urgently asked Cao Cao, the prime minister of Xudu, to reinforce.

On November 25, Cao Cao appointed Zhang He as the general of the Western Expedition, Jia Xu as the army, and also served as the minister. He led 10,000 elite troops to pass Hangu Pass to help Zhong Yao resist Ma Chao's sharp offensive. After Xiahou Yuan's death, Zhang He gained more trust from Cao Cao with his ability. As Guo Jia's condition worsened at the beginning of the year, Jia Xu transferred back to Xudu to plan to eliminate the high-ranking officials. Guo Yuan's war is now in a hurry due to the urgent matter of Yongliang, Cao Cao had to give up again.

At the same time, he was extremely angry and ordered the guards to immediately arrest Ma Teng's family, who lived in the suburbs of Xudu, to take care of him. Three days later, Ma Teng, Ma Xiu, Ma Tie and others were beheaded in Xudu East City.

Ma Teng, who originally wanted to gain a reputation for his old age, was in a different place because of his son Ma Chao's eastern expedition. Although he had declared that he had broken away from the father-son relationship with Ma Chao, he ordered that he be killed by Cao Cao, who was powerful and powerful, and he was himself.

Ma Teng didn't understand that in this chaotic world where the strong prey on the weak, there was no so-called way to survive. If you want to survive, you must move forward bravely and never retreat. The invariable aging has caused the once powerful heroes to lose the motivation to move forward. Ma Teng, Yuan Shao, Liu Biao, Zhang Lu and others, isn't it?

The news of Ma Chao's capture of Chen Cang reached Nanzheng, and Zhang Lu, who had always been in a closed-door manner, began to sleep and eat.
Chapter completed!