397. Ma Teng Ousted From Tianshui

If you want to read 15 Chapters ahead and more, be sure to check out my Patreon!!!

Go to https://www.patreon.com/Tang12

___________________________

Zhao Ang immediately takes Wang Yi's hand and shows her inside their secret room. When Zhao Ang managed to close the secret door, Ma Chao entered the room and the two of them came face to face. Zhao Ang immediately released his sword from the scabbard, but Ma Chao was faster using his glaive he beheaded Zhao Ang and all of this was seen by Wang Yi through the gap between the secret door.

Wang Yi seeing what happened right before her eyes through the gap in the door, wanted to let out a scream but both of her hands were immediately used by her to block her mouth, turning the scream into whimpers as tears streamed down her face.

She never expected such a thing to happen, as she had calculated everything and never considered such a scenario to happen, because she was sure that everything was perfect and no one would know about this plan except for selected people.

As Wang Yi is trying to hold her voice down, with tears still streaming down her face, and her heart was liked stabbed from many sides, Ma Chao cleaned his glaive from Ma Chao's blood by swinging it powerfully which causes the blood on the glaive splattered across the wall.

"Zhao Ang, Zhao Ang," Ma Chao said as he looked toward Zhao Ang's lifeless body and head, "You shouldn't have omitted against My Father, this is the consequence of doing so, just wait for your wife to join you."

He then continued by scanning the room, trying to see some misplaced areas or evidence of another person in the room not just Zhao Ang alone, because he was sure that there was the sound of a woman before.

"Where do you hide your wife Zhao Ang? Ah, I'm sorry I should have asked you before you died under my glaive, don't worry I will send her along with you," As Ma Chao said so, he spit on Zhao Ang's body as he hated the traitor the most.

Ma Chao began to check each area of the room, leaving no corner untouched, and when he was near the secret door, Wang Yi whose breath stopped due to nervousness was saved by a soldier who inform Ma Chao that Ma Teng called for him.

Hearing this, Ma Chao retracted his hand that almost touched the handle of the secret door, and left the room alongside the soldier, to meet with his father.

Wang Yi who see this opened the secret door from her side and scrambled toward Zhao Ang's lifeless body and head, which have left a large pool of blood but Wang Yi doesn't care as she hug the body while crying without letting out a single sound.

Inside her heart pain, anger, sadness, numbness, and all kinds of feelings were mixed up together, until they became two large feelings which were hatred and thirst for revenge, against Ma Teng and Ma Chao.

As Wang Yi's heart was filled with seeds of hatred and throat for vengeance, outside of Zhao Ang's residence both Ma Teng and Ma Chao were satisfied with the revenge they had planned for Zhao Ang.

Even though they don't get to kill Wang Yi as well, at least their plan bore fruit, "Father, I think we should leave now and defend Tianshui as best as we can, without Zhao Ang, I'm sure his men would crumble down sooner or later." said Ma Chao urging Ma Teng.

"No! We should proceed as we had planned, after killing Zhao Ang we should leave Tianshui immediately!" Ma Teng refused Ma Chao's persuasion and told his son to not deviate from their plan.

Listening to his Father's words, Ma Chao shook his head, "If we abandon Tianshui, it will leave us with only Jincheng and Wuwei as our major towns! Wudou would definitely cut off from us if we abandoned Tianshui!"

Ma Teng's eyes narrowed. "Our position is untenable here. We are surrounded and outnumbered. We must retreat while we still have the chance, especially now that Zhao Ang's men could be filled with thirst for revenge."

"But Father," Ma Chao insisted, his voice rising, "Tianshui is vital. If we lose it, Cao Cao will gain a significant advantage in Liang Province! We must hold our ground and reinforce our defenses."

Their argument continued, neither willing to yield. The atmosphere was thick with tension as both father and son clashed over the fate of their force's survival, where Ma Chao's pleas for defense were met with Ma Teng's insistence on retreat.

Unbeknownst to them, the situation in Tianshui was deteriorating rapidly. Zhao Ang's men, now emboldened and supported by Cao Ren's Army, were making significant headway.

The coordinated attack from both inside and outside of Tianshui overwhelmed Ma Teng's scattered defenses, catching his men off guard.

The once defended areas of Tianshui were falling one by one to the combined might of their enemy, especially since Ma Teng and Ma Chao weren't present to lead the defenses.

At the northern wall, Pang De was doing everything he could to hold his position. His men were fighting valiantly, but the relentless assault from Zhao Ang's and Cao Ren's troops was taking its toll as signs of the line breaking through were becoming evident.

Pang De, bloodied and battered, shouted orders to his men, urging them to hold the line. His voice was hoarse, his eyes fierce with determination. "Do not let them pass! Hold your ground!"

But the pressure was immense. The enemy forces were relentless, pushing forward with unyielding force. Pang De's men were brave and skilled, but their numbers were dwindling, and their resolve was beginning to waver under the continuous assault.

Despite Pang De's valiant efforts and the unwavering bravery of his soldiers, the defensive line began to falter. The relentless pressure from Zhao Ang's men, combined with the disciplined assault of Cao Ren's army, proved too much.

Cao Ren's forces, led by Zhang Ji and Cao Hong, worked in perfect tandem. Zhang Ji's infantry attacked with brutal efficiency, their formations tight and disciplined. Cao Hong's archers swooped in with their perfect sniping, breaking through weak points in the line.

Pang De fought fiercely, his Glaive flashing in the chaotic melee, but it was clear that their defense was crumbling. His men, though courageous, could not withstand the overwhelming numbers and coordinated tactics of the enemy. Slowly, the line began to break.

The moment the line shattered, Zhang Ji and Cao Hong pressed their advantage, driving deep into the heart of Pang De's defenses. Pang De, refusing to retreat, rallied his remaining men for a desperate stand. "We will not fall back!" he roared, his voice carrying over the din of battle. "Fight to the last man!"

But it was no use. The enemy surged forward, overwhelming the defenders. One by one, Pang De's soldiers fell, until finally, he found himself surrounded. Breathing heavily, he stood his ground, refusing to surrender.

Cao Hong, admiring Pang De's bravery, called out, "Pang De, lay down your arms. Your bravery is commendable, but this battle is lost. Surrender, and you will be treated with the honor you deserve!"

Pang De's eyes burned with fire, but he knew he could not win this fight. Reluctantly, he lowered his sword. "I will surrender," he said, his voice steady, "but know this my loyalty to My Lord remains unbroken!"

Cao Hong nodded, respecting his opponent's resolve. "Your loyalty does you credit Pang De! You and your surviving men will be treated fairly."

With that, Pang De was taken into custody, his men disarmed and captured. The northern wall, once filled with fierce resistance, now lay down under the control of Cao Ren's forces.

Zhang Ji and Cao Hong together surveyed the scene. "We've secured the northern wall," Zhang Ji said, satisfaction in his voice. "Ma Teng's remaining defenses were finally subdued."

Cao Hong nodded. "We must move swiftly to secure the city and we can capture both Ma Teng and Ma Chao. The battle is won, but the war is not over."

The news of their defenses collapsing soon reached Ma Teng and Ma Chao. The grim reality of their situation was undeniable, which stopped the argument the two of them had.

Ma Teng, his face drawn with worry, turned to his son. "We have no choice, Ma Chao. We must order a full retreat from Tianshui and head toward Jincheng. Our position here is untenable."

Ma Chao, his jaw clenched in frustration, nodded reluctantly. "Very well, Father. We will regroup at Jincheng and prepare for the next phase of our defense, we need to hold the line there."

As they hastily organized their forces for a retreat, Ma Teng couldn't help but lament the loss of Pang De. "Pang De's capture is a heavy blow," he said, his voice filled with sorrow. "He was a loyal and brave warrior, and now he is in the hands of our enemies."

Ma Chao placed a reassuring hand on his father's shoulder. "We will not forget General Pang De's sacrifice, Father. We will find a way to rescue him and continue our fight against Cao Cao and his army."

With that, Ma Teng and Ma Chao began their retreat, their remaining forces moving swiftly and boisterously, which attracted the attention of Cao Ren's entire army and Zhao Ang's men.

All of the commanding generals of both Cao Ren and Zhao Ang's men, do not pursue Ma Teng and Ma Chao as they had received orders previously that their target was Tianshui, even though Cao Hong and Zhang Ji lamented the loss of chance of capturing the Ma's Father and son.

Cao Ren, having received reports of the successful capture of Pang De and the retreat of Ma Teng and Ma Chao, convened a meeting with his subordinates. "We have achieved a significant victory here," he said, his tone serious.

"But we must remain vigilant. Ma Teng and Ma Chao will not give up easily. We must prepare for their next move and ensure that our position here is unassailable and consolidate My Lord's influence in Tianshui."

Everyone in the meeting nodded their head, agreeing with Cao Ren's words, and proceeded to leave the tent, while Han Sui was confused as to why they weren't approached by Zhao Ang and Wang Yi, not knowing of the tragedy that had impacted the two of them.

At Zhao Ang's residence, Wang Yi who was drowning in sadness was crying without tears, as the pain in her heart had turned numb and become hatred and thirst for vengeance, after giving a kiss on the forehead of Zhao Ang's lifeless head she stood up and leave the room with her dress full of blood, and as she leaves the room she meets with the officials and generals that wanted to inform the two of them of their winning.

____________________________

Name: Lie Fan

Title: Three Heroes Who Defeat Lu Bu

Age: 31 (198 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 825

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 936 (+20)

VIT: 598 (+20)

AGI: 583 (+10)

INT: 587

CHR: 96

WIS: 509

WILL: 397

ATR Points: 0