Siege of Jicheng
Encyclopedia
The Siege of Jicheng was a part of the campaign Ma Chao
initiated in an attempt to retake Liang Province after the coalition of warlords from Guanxi (west of Hangu Pass
) was defeated at the Battle of Tong Pass
in the winter of 211 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
period of Chinese history
.
where he would make his final stand against Cao Cao. However, Su Bo in Hejian rebelled, and Cao Cao decided to lead his main army to quell the rebellion. Thus, Ma Chao was able to recuperate, and replaced Han Sui
as the leader of the loose confederation of Liang Province warlords. This time he recruited more Qiang and Hu
soldiers , and received reinforcements form Zhang Lu of Hanzhong
. He planned to conquer all counties in Longxi, and within a year, all cities except Jicheng in the area surrendered.
. However, from the first month to the eighth month, there were no sign that any relief force were being sent, so Wei Kang sent his staff, Yan Wen, out in the middle of the night in an attempt to get help from Xiahou Yuan
, who was stationed at Chang'an. Yan Wen was caught by Ma Chao's soldiers, and Ma Chao tried to use Yan Wen by telling him to go to the front of the city and tell the defenders that they were doomed. He lied and shouted, "A grand force from the east is coming, keep holding until they arrive!" For this Ma Chao asked Yan Wei if he treasured his life, but Yan did not reply. Since Ma Chao had not been able to breach the wall for a long time, he wanted to lure Yan Wen to change allegiance, so he gave Yan Wei another chance, and asked if he knew anyone inside the city that would welcome him, but Yan still kept silent. Ma Chao was irritated and censured Yan seriously, finally Yan Wen stood up and said, " A gentleman serving a lord can die for him but not betray him, yet you desired an old man to conduct evil speeches! Am I a person who would rather live in shame?" Ma Chao executed Yan Wen in rage.
After witnessing the death of Yan Wen, Wei Kang and the Administrator of Jicheng were terrified, and hesitated to resist further. Yang Fu strongly opposed surrender, but Wei Kang still opened the city gates and let Ma Chao in. Once in, Ma Chao arrested Yang Yue, and asked Zhang Lu's general, Yang Ang
, to murder Wei Kang and the Administrator of Jicheng.
in Ruxukou
, and after he returned to the city of Ye
, he was launching the establishment of the state of Cao Wei
, so he was too occupied to send reinforcement to Jicheng, he only let Xiahou Yuan lead a relief force until the eighth month. Not knowing that Jicheng had already fallen, Xiahou met Ma Chao 200 li
outside of Jicheng, and was defeated.
Ma Chao's feat greatly impressed King Qianwan, leader of the Di tribe
, and he allied with Ma Chao. Thus, Ma Chao named himself General Who Conquers The West, became the governor of Bing Province, and placed himself in charge of the military affairs of Liang Province. He had also gained some security by successfully capturing a base from which to command from. However, Ma Chao's successes would not last long. Yang Fu contacted Jiang Xu, Zhao Ang, Yin Feng, Li Jun, Liang Kun, and Zhao Qu to rebel against Ma Chao simultaneously at the ninth month of 215. At the end, Ma Chao, Pang De
, and his cousin Ma Dai
fled Liang Province and took refuge under Zhang Lu.
Ma Chao
Ma Chao was the oldest son of Ma Teng and a military general during the late Han Dynasty and early Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. In Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, he received the nickname "Ma Chao the Splendid" due to his elaborate armour and grand skill...
initiated in an attempt to retake Liang Province after the coalition of warlords from Guanxi (west of Hangu Pass
Hangu Pass
Hangu Pass was a strategic pass in ancient China just south of the great eastern bend of the Yellow River in today's Lingbao, Henan Province...
) was defeated at the Battle of Tong Pass
Battle of Tong Pass
Battle of Tong Pass may refer to:* Battle of Tong Pass * Battle of Tong Pass * Battle of Tong Pass * Battle of Tong Pass * Battle of Tong Pass...
in the winter of 211 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms
Three Kingdoms
The Three Kingdoms period was a period in Chinese history, part of an era of disunity called the "Six Dynasties" following immediately the loss of de facto power of the Han Dynasty rulers. In a strict academic sense it refers to the period between the foundation of the state of Wei in 220 and the...
period of Chinese history
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
.
Background
Being defeated, Ma Chao took the remainder of his army and fled to LantianLantian County
Lantian County is a county of Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.-Transport:*China National Highway 312...
where he would make his final stand against Cao Cao. However, Su Bo in Hejian rebelled, and Cao Cao decided to lead his main army to quell the rebellion. Thus, Ma Chao was able to recuperate, and replaced Han Sui
Han Sui
Han Sui was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. For most of his life he was active in Liang Province and was involved in several rebellions against the Han Dynasty and against the warlord Cao Cao.-Biography:With the backing of the Qiang people who populated much of...
as the leader of the loose confederation of Liang Province warlords. This time he recruited more Qiang and Hu
Wu Hu
Wu Hu was a Chinese term for the northern non-Chinese nomadic tribes which caused the Wu Hu uprising, and established the Sixteen Kingdoms from 304 to 439 AD.-Definition:...
soldiers , and received reinforcements form Zhang Lu of Hanzhong
Hanzhong
Hanzhong is a municipality in southwest Shaanxi Province, China, occupying a historically significant valley in the mountains between the Xi'an area, home to many Chinese capitals, and the fertile but isolated Sichuan Basin...
. He planned to conquer all counties in Longxi, and within a year, all cities except Jicheng in the area surrendered.
The siege
In 213 Ma Chao started to besiege Jicheng, but it proved to be difficult. Even the Inspector of Liang Province, Wei Kang (韋康), faced an extremely numerical disadvantage, his assistant, Yang Fu, greatly encouraged the army by taking the lead in defending the city. Yang Fu recruited scholars and clansmen numbered to around 1,000 to place under the command of his brother, Yang Yue, and he himself acted as Yang Yue's strategist. Yang Fu told Yang Yue to set up the crescent moon formation on top of the city wall to counter Ma Chao's invasion, and waited for reinforcement from Chang'anChang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
. However, from the first month to the eighth month, there were no sign that any relief force were being sent, so Wei Kang sent his staff, Yan Wen, out in the middle of the night in an attempt to get help from Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan
Xiahou Yuan was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was killed in the Battle of Mount Dingjun against Liu Bei's general Huang Zhong in 219, and was given the posthumous title of Marquis Min , literally meaning "sympathetic...
, who was stationed at Chang'an. Yan Wen was caught by Ma Chao's soldiers, and Ma Chao tried to use Yan Wen by telling him to go to the front of the city and tell the defenders that they were doomed. He lied and shouted, "A grand force from the east is coming, keep holding until they arrive!" For this Ma Chao asked Yan Wei if he treasured his life, but Yan did not reply. Since Ma Chao had not been able to breach the wall for a long time, he wanted to lure Yan Wen to change allegiance, so he gave Yan Wei another chance, and asked if he knew anyone inside the city that would welcome him, but Yan still kept silent. Ma Chao was irritated and censured Yan seriously, finally Yan Wen stood up and said, " A gentleman serving a lord can die for him but not betray him, yet you desired an old man to conduct evil speeches! Am I a person who would rather live in shame?" Ma Chao executed Yan Wen in rage.
After witnessing the death of Yan Wen, Wei Kang and the Administrator of Jicheng were terrified, and hesitated to resist further. Yang Fu strongly opposed surrender, but Wei Kang still opened the city gates and let Ma Chao in. Once in, Ma Chao arrested Yang Yue, and asked Zhang Lu's general, Yang Ang
Yang Ang
Yang Ang was a military general serving under the warlord Zhang Lu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. Yang Ang at one time followed Zhang Wei in defending Yangping Pass, and fought against the army of Cao Cao. Ignoring the advice by Yang Ren, he pursued the main army of Cao Cao...
, to murder Wei Kang and the Administrator of Jicheng.
Aftermath
At the beginning of the siege, Cao Cao was fighting Sun QuanSun Quan
Sun Quan , son of Sun Jian, formally Emperor Da of Wu, was the founder of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He ruled from 222 to 229 as King of Wu and from 229 to 252 as Emperor of Wu....
in Ruxukou
Battle of Ruxukou
The Battle of Ruxukou, also known as the Battle of Ruxu, was fought between the warlords Sun Quan and Cao Cao in 217 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. Two years earlier, Sun Quan attempted to take control of Hefei fortress, but failed due to a sudden plague and the...
, and after he returned to the city of Ye
Ye, China
Ye or Yecheng was an ancient Chinese city located in what is now Linzhang County, Hebei and the neighbouring Anyang County, Henan....
, he was launching the establishment of the state of Cao Wei
Cao Wei
Cao Wei was one of the states that competed for control of China during the Three Kingdoms period. With the capital at Luoyang, the state was established by Cao Pi in 220, based upon the foundations that his father Cao Cao laid...
, so he was too occupied to send reinforcement to Jicheng, he only let Xiahou Yuan lead a relief force until the eighth month. Not knowing that Jicheng had already fallen, Xiahou met Ma Chao 200 li
Li (unit)
The li is a traditional Chinese unit of distance, which has varied considerably over time but now has a standardized length of 500 meters or half a kilometer...
outside of Jicheng, and was defeated.
Ma Chao's feat greatly impressed King Qianwan, leader of the Di tribe
Di (ethnic group)
The Di were an ethnic group in China from the 8th century BCE to approximately the middle of the 6th century CE. Note that the character Di is used to differentiate this group from the Beidi , a generic term for "northern barbarians". They lived in areas of the present-day provinces of Gansu,...
, and he allied with Ma Chao. Thus, Ma Chao named himself General Who Conquers The West, became the governor of Bing Province, and placed himself in charge of the military affairs of Liang Province. He had also gained some security by successfully capturing a base from which to command from. However, Ma Chao's successes would not last long. Yang Fu contacted Jiang Xu, Zhao Ang, Yin Feng, Li Jun, Liang Kun, and Zhao Qu to rebel against Ma Chao simultaneously at the ninth month of 215. At the end, Ma Chao, Pang De
Pang De
Pang De was a military general during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He served different warlords during his life-span, including the Han Dynasty imperial court under Emperor Ling; the Liang Province forces led by Han Sui and Ma Teng; the Hanzhong warlord, Zhang Lu; and the...
, and his cousin Ma Dai
Ma Dai
Ma Dai was a military general of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms era of Chinese history. He previously served under his uncle, the warlord Ma Teng...
fled Liang Province and took refuge under Zhang Lu.