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

West of Chang'an, the national treasury stands quietly.

Inside the national treasury, rows of granaries stood in neat rows, and everything was calm and normal.

Zhang Jizheng rode his horse slowly through the granaries, his eyes focused and vigilant, not missing a single corner, carefully inspecting the national treasury for any potential safety hazards such as fire.

Outside the granary, the sounds of battle shattered the surface tranquility, making Zhang Ji uneasy.

He kept looking up to the east, his eyes filled with anxiety.

Zhang Ji knew perfectly well that the Han army was launching an unprecedentedly fierce attack on the East Gate at this moment.

This was a battle that would determine the survival of Chang'an.

Meanwhile, the Wei army, under the command of their emperor, fiercely resisted the Han army's attack.

"I wonder how the battle is going. With His Majesty in command, he should be able to hold off the Han army's offensive."

Zhang Ji pondered to himself, his brows furrowing tightly.

"If even His Majesty cannot stop them, and the Han army marches into Chang'an, then everything will be over..."

Thinking of this, Zhang couldn't help but feel guilty again.

If Chang'an falls, the Wei Kingdom will be doomed.

As a staunch supporter of Cao Wei, he and his family will also face annihilation.

Zhang felt increasingly uneasy the more he thought about it.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm himself down and suppress his anxiety, and snorted coldly:
"The walls of Chang'an are high and thick; how could the Han army possibly breach them with just its superior numbers?"

"Besides, I have more than 10,000 reserve troops available within the city, ready to reinforce me at any time in critical moments. Moreover, His Majesty is personally overseeing the operation. I do not believe that the Han army can break through my Chang'an!"

After this self-comfort and encouragement, Zhang Ji's panic subsided slightly.

So he rallied his spirits and continued inspecting the granaries.

Suddenly, a fierce battle cry erupted from the direction of the treasury gate, instantly shattering the tranquility of the national treasury.

Zhang Ji's expression changed instantly, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

The national treasury is a vital part of the country, so why are there suddenly troops attacking it?

Could it be that the Han army has already captured Chang'an?

They've even gone so far as to steal from the national treasury?

The moment this thought crossed Zhang Ji's mind, he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

"Impossible! Even if the Han army breached Chang'an, they couldn't have done it this quickly!"

"Our Wei army cannot be so easily defeated, absolutely not!"

Zhang Ji naturally comforted them, trying his best to believe in the strength of the Wei army and that they could withstand the fierce attack of the Han army.

The approaching sounds of killing seemed like a merciless mockery, making him increasingly panicked.

Zhang Ji forcibly suppressed his panic and hurriedly spurred his horse straight towards the gate.

When he arrived, the sight before him made him gasp in shock.

The gate has been breached, and the soldiers guarding the grain camp are being driven back step by step.

The attacking troops were not Han soldiers, but Wei soldiers!
Zhang Ji was completely stunned, standing there dumbfounded, unable to process what was happening for a long time.

For a moment, he thought he was seeing things.

Why are the Wei army attacking the national treasury when they are not on our side?

Until he saw an extremely familiar figure amidst the chaos of the army.

The general was riding his horse, brandishing his sword, charging wildly and slaughtering his guards.

"Zhang He?"

When Zhang recognized the military officer, he exclaimed in surprise, as if he had seen a ghost.

Zhang He, General of the Cavalry of Wei!

Why lead a troop of Wei soldiers to attack your own national treasury?
In an instant, Zhang Ji's mind was buzzing, and countless questions surged in like a tide.

After a moment of distraction.

Zhang Ji suddenly came to his senses, flew into a rage, spurred his horse forward, and shouted:
"Zhang He, have you gone mad? Are you plotting a rebellion?"

Zhang He, who was in the middle of a chaotic battle, looked up and recognized Zhang Ji at a glance.

There was not a trace of remorse.

On the contrary, a fierce glint flashed in Zhang He's eyes.

A thought surged into my mind:
Kill Zhang Ji and finish this quickly!

The thought crossed Zhang He's mind. Without uttering a word, he dragged his blood-stained blade and charged forward, smashing through the Wei soldiers in front of him and treading a blood-soaked path as he rushed toward Zhang Ji.

The blood-red blade gleamed with a cold light, like the scythe of death, carrying endless killing intent.

"Zhang He, are you crazy? You, you—" Seeing Zhang He rushing towards him, Zhang Ji panicked.

Almost instinctively, he drew his sword, assumed a defensive stance, and wanted to question him again.

"You're right, I intend to rebel against Wei and surrender to Han!"

Zhang He roared like thunder, the sound echoing through the air.

The blood-red blade in his hand, carrying the force of a raging storm, swept outwards, seemingly tearing everything around it apart.

Zhang Ji was greatly alarmed. Before he could react, Zhang He, alone on horseback, charged towards him like a giant tower.

The blood-red blade swept down in a mighty torrent.

Swift as lightning, powerful as a landslide.

The fierce blade strike left Zhang Ji no time to raise his sword to defend himself.

Zhang Ji cried out inwardly, but it was too late when he tried to draw his sword; his eyes were instantly filled with endless despair.

He slashed it down with a single stroke.

Zhang Ji's massive body was instantly severed in two, crashing to the ground beneath his horse.

Fresh blood gushed out like a fountain.

Kill instantly with one knife!

The more than seven hundred Wei soldiers guarding the national treasury were terrified when they saw their commander being killed.

Then, they collapsed suddenly, fleeing like frightened cattle and sheep.

More than three thousand rebel troops from Hebei were irresistible, and their wealth was poured into the national treasury.

Zhang He reined in his horse, brandished his sword, and shouted:

"Set it on fire! Burn all the grain in the granary! Don't leave a single grain behind!"

Upon receiving the order, the Hebei soldiers grabbed torches and rushed towards the various granaries like madmen, setting them ablaze.

The flames spread rapidly, engulfing everything in sight that could be ignited.

Just as the eight granaries were set ablaze, Zhang Xiong galloped in on horseback, shouting:
"Father, Wei troops are attacking from outside. It must be that Yang Fu has summoned the remaining four thousand reserve troops and is rushing here to try and save the national treasury!"

"We must leave the city immediately, form a full army, and prepare for battle."

Zhang He remained unmoved and shouted:

"Let's burn down the granary first, and then go out and fight when the enemy gets close to the granary!"

Zhang He's eyes were resolute, as if he were about to burn his bridges.

Zhang Xiong felt a chill run down his spine.

Father is going to take a gamble.

If we go out now to repel the Wei army's reinforcements, the granary might not be completely burned.

If the enemy is defeated and the Wei army storms into the national treasury, the fire can be extinguished in time to save the grain.

Even if the Wei army only manages to rescue half of the supplies, as long as the city has a continuous supply of food, the morale of the Wei army will not immediately collapse.

In this way, Cao Cao could hold out for a few more days until he could scavenge grain and supplies from Liangzhou again.

Therefore, Zhang He's first battle must ensure that all the grain and fodder in the national treasury are burned.

Not a single grain was left!
Zhang Xiong understood his father's intention and immediately shouted:

"Get moving, everyone! Set everything on fire! Burn down all the granaries!"

The soldiers from Hebei hurriedly lit torches and joined the burning of the grain.

Zhang He even personally led the soldiers, carrying torches and setting fires everywhere.

At this moment, Zhang He's eyes were filled with madness.

It seemed that he wanted to vent all his resentment on these granaries.

Finally, all one hundred granaries were set ablaze.

Looking around, the entire national treasury had been reduced to a raging inferno.

The flames, like giant dragons, were devouring everything in their path.

Thick smoke billowed, obscuring the sky and shrouding Chang'an.

"Father, Wei reinforcements have already reached the outside. If we don't fight our way out, we'll die in this sea of ​​fire!"

Zhang Xiong rode up again and shouted at Zhang He.

Zhang He tossed aside his torch, leaped onto his horse, drew his long sword, and shouted:
"Brothers of Hebei, we have no way out. Those who want to live and surrender to the Han, follow me and charge out!"

Zhang He charged forward like a god of war.

More than three thousand Hebei soldiers, driven by the will to survive and roaring like trapped beasts, followed Zhang He and charged out of the raging fire of the imperial treasury. (End of Chapter)