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Xu Huang who heard what Cao Cao said, gets down to his knees letting his tears out while thanking Cao Cao and also vowed that he will serve Cao Cao for the rest of his life alongside the thousands of brother around him, not knowing that Cao Cao was happy in his heart while Zhang Ji was relieved that the scheme he prepared himself alone and no one else knew about it worked like a charm, and survived from potential execution that suddenly appeared due to Xu Huang.
In the middle of the emotional display from Xu Huang, Cao Cao maintained a composed cover, secretly pleased with the success of Zhang Ji's covert scheme. Xu Huang declared his allegiance alongside his men to express their gratitude, peldging that they will repay his favor with all of their strength.
With a gesture of magnanimity, Cao Cao urged Xu Huang to rise, acknowledging his allegiance and the loyalty of his warriors. As the emotional display subsided, Cao Cao, flanked by his advisors and trusted generals, turned to Zhang Ji.
Proposing to enter Hongnong to discuss the terms of submission in the Governor's Castle, Cao Cao's request was met with an immediate agreement from Zhang Ji.
So the battle in Hongnong stooped just like that, with the leaders of both forces, once locked in a tense standoff, now rode side by side toward Hongnong, signifying the end of battle.
Cao Cao, accompanied by Xi Zhicai, Jia Kui, Xu Chu, Xiahou Dun, and Li Dian, alongside the Leopard Tiger Cavalry which was Cao Cao strongest battalion under him, while Zhang Ji was flanked by Zhang Xiu and Hu Che'er, heading together toward Hongnong.
Xu Huang also followed suit, following Cao Cao's party from behind bringing 100 of his best men alongside him to protect Cao Cao, when everyone entered Hongnong they was welcomed with the sight of the people of Hongnong hiding in their houses.
It's not their fault to be afraid as literally just several hours ago, a fierce battle was ongoing outside the city and they can only pray to ensure their livelihood and safety.
Zhang Ji ignored all of this and escorted Cao Cao toward Hongnong's Governor Castle, where when they arrived there they go toward the Main Hall, and after taking their respective seats the talk begin.
Cao Cao: "General Zhang Ji, I would like to once again say that you have picked the best decision in submitting to me and declaring your allegiance, not only reducing casualties from both side, but also potential innocent lives that could be taken."
Zhang Ji: " Thank You My Lord, I'm not worthy of the praise you just said to me, I only thought about the safety and livelihood of my self and my family, so I doesn't dare to take credit of what you just said, but I can say that it was My Lord that saved those lives because My Lord agrees to listened to me!"
Cao Cao: "Haha! Let's stop praising each other and entered our main topic, since you have pledged your allegiance to me and considering Hongnong strategic location, I grant General Zhang Ji autonomous control over Hongnong alongside you army to protect my western front."
Zhang Ji: 'Thank You My Lord! I will not disappoint you for the trust you have just put in me!"
Xi Zhicai: "General Zhang Ji, since My Lord have put such a large amount of trust in you, My Lord also have an assignment for you to do, which was to take over Tong Pass from Li Jue."
Zhang Xiu: "Taking down Tong Pass from Li Jue?! It's a suicide for us to do so! Li Jue have more army than us and Tong Pass strategic terrain could put us in a disadvantage if we doesn't have the numbers against him!"
Zhang Ji: "Silence Xiu'er! How could you talk like that to Master Xi Zhicai?! I'm sorry My Lord and Master Xi Zhicai for the rudeness of my Neohew, don't worry I will try my best to take down Tong Pass for you My Lord!"
Cao Cao: "No it's okay, I understand the concern your nephew have, which is why I will have Cao Hong and Cao Ren with 80,000 men to assist you in talking down Tong Pass."
Zhang Ji and Zhang Xiu immediately thanked Cao Cao together after hearing what Cao Cao have just said, with the 80,000 men support given by Cao Cao led by Cao Hong and Cao Ren, they was sure that they could take down Tong Pass.
Since Zhang Ji's surrender toward Cao Cao have become official, Zhang Ji brought everyone toward the Dinner hall where a banquet was held to celebrate the matter, Cao Cao and his retainers stayed at Hongnong that night due to them attending the banquet.
Several Days passed by, Cao Cao leave Hongong bringing the bulk of his army alongside him, leaving Cao Hong, Cao Ren, and Jia Kui who requested for him to join Cao Ren and Cao Hong with 80,000 men to support Zhang Ji.
What they doesn't know that, the mowmnt Cao Cao leave Hongnong alongside the bulk of his army with him, at the West side of China at Liang Province, Ma Teng and Han Sui the Co-leaders of the force under them launch an assult to Li Jue.
This assualt was done after many deliberations was made by both Ma Teng and Han Sui alongside their council, they see the opportunity to have all of Dong Zhuo's former land that was now under Li Jue.
Another thing was that the Liang Province is rich in Horses and building materials such as stone, but the land wasn't as fertile as the lands outside of Liang Province which reduce the crops yields they have over other Province.
Of course lastly they were doing this right now because they could see that Li Jue's forces are weak after it's battle with Guo So which resulted in the death of the latter, and Zhang Ji's separation from Li Jue which further weakens Li Ju's military power.
So in the cover of the night, Ma Teng and Han Sui lead 200,000 of their men which was their full power attacking Tianshui and Anding at the same time, taking Li Jue's men by surprise as the attack comes to sudden and in the cover of the night.
Ma Teng lead 100,000 to attack Tianshui while Han Sui lead the other 100,000 men to attack Anding, they do this to distract Li Ju's main army as they need to detach into smaller group to support both town.
Han Sui lead his 100,000 men with his Eight Riders General, which consist of Cheng Yi, Cheng Yin, Hou Xuan, Li Kan, Liang Xing, Ma Wan, Yang Qiu, and Zhang Heng each was famous in the Liang Province.
Ma Teng on the other hand was accompanied by his eldest son Ma Chao, Second Son Ma Tie, Pang De, Huang Kui, Ren Yang, and Zhao Yue.
Ma Teng's eldest son Ma Chao and Second Son Ma Tue marks this as their first siege battle in their life, Ma Teng put Ma Chao and Ma Tie to lead a set of elite infantry and assigned Pang De his strongest General under them to assist the two of them.
Ma Teng was afraid that Ma Chao and Ma Tie would act rashly due to tjeir young age, even though he acknowledged the skill and might his eldest son have, it doesn't mean he will be invicible in the battlefield where everything could happen.
Also his second son doesn't have the skill and prowess of his brother, so that's why putting Pang De was the best idea he could thought off to protect two of his son.
The attack on Tianshui and Anding come fast and deadly, without any preparations Li Ju's Men guarding not town couldn't last long and in just 2 weeks both town fall, the same time for the news to reach Li Jue at Chang'An.
Li Jue was furious when he heard that Ma Teng and Han Sui launched an attack against him, knowing that time isn't at his side Li Jue immediately dispatched almost the entirety of his main army which was split in half toward Tianshui and Anding not knowing that the two town have fallen.
Li Jue doesn't lead his army and with the small amount of elite men left im Chang'An, he stayed there waiting the news of his army victory not knowing that Cao Cao's spies that was put in Chang'An to keep on Li Jue's movement sent the news of Ma Teng and Han Sui attack to Cao Ren and Zhang Ji in Hongnong.
When Cao Ren and Zhang Ji received the information, they can see that this is the perfect time for them to attack Tong Pass because the bulk of Li Jue's main army already left for Tianshui and Anding.
Due to that, Tong Pass defenders wouldn't receive reinforcement and the small amount if men left in Chang'An couldn't possibly stop them even if they were sent to assist Tong Pass.
So after preparing their supplies and their army, Cao Ren and Zhang Ji less their respective armies together toward Tong Pass where they arrived at Tong Pass in the evening, and Tong Pass Defenders seeing the arrival of these two armies immediately entered high alert.
Jia Kui as the most skilled advisor between the two Army, have created an offensive strategy for them to take some Tong Pass in the fastest way possible and also with the least casualties possible for them.
Tong Pass was geographically strategic with the Wei river becoming a natural barrier for it's defender, Jia Kui suggested for them to assign decoys and at the same time construct pontoon bridges so the two army could crossed through the river.
In the mean time, their archers will rain down Tong Pass defenders with arrows to restcut their mobility and also have a detachment of forces lead by Xiahou Dun and Hu Che'er to cross the river using makeshift boats and set camp on the other side of the bank, in case the Tong Pass defenders send a detachment to disrupt them in building the pontoon bridges.
Jia Kui strategy immediately gained support from bit Cao Ren and Zhang Ji who puts the control of the army to Jia Kui, under Jia Kui leadership Cao Ren and Zhang Ji's men began to move as what Jia Kui have in mind for his strategy, The Tong pass defenders send letters asking for reinforcement to Li Jue where when he received the letters was furious and toughest up some blood, resulting in him to faint and causing panic among his men.
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu
Age: 28 (195 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 2,462,000
Renown: 725
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,071,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 936 (+20)
VIT: 598 (+20)
AGI: 583 (+10)
INT: 587
CHR: 93
WIS: 509
WILL: 397
ATR Points: 0
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