Siege of Jicheng

The Siege of Jicheng was apart of the many battles Ma Chao fought after his defeat at the Battle of Tong Pass during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms era in China.

Background

After Ma Chao's defeat at the Battle of Tong Pass. Ma Chao took the remainder of his army and fled to Lantian where he would make his final stand against Cao Cao. In a number of battles he was defeated by Cao Cao's officer Xiahou Yuan, his rival for sometime now. Ma Chao then went and gathered up troops from the Qiang tribe and others. Zhang Lu also sent troops under general Yang Ang to help him. He then decided to go conquer all counties west of Long Mountain. he succeeded in every battle he went too. The only battle where there was any decent resistance was when Ma Chao besieged Ji.

Siege

In 213 Ma Chao decided to besiege Ji, but it proved to be slightly difficult. One day in the middle of the night Ma Chao's bodyguards caught a spy named Yan Wen who wanted to get reinforcements from Xiahou Yuan. Ma Chao tried to use this man by telling him to go to the front of his army and tell the defenders that they were doomed. He lied and told them a grand force from the east is coming keep holding until they arrive. For this Ma Chao had this man executed. Finally Ma Chao capitulated Ji.

Xiahou Yuan's Reinforcements

Xiahou Yuan thought that spies had found out that Ma Chao had trouble taking Ji. So he came with a relief force to take back Ji. Of course though Ma Chao had already conquered Ji. He met Xiahou Yuan 200 outside of Ji. Xiahou Yuan's troops were outmatched so they retreated back to Chang'an. This time it was Ma Chao who came out on top.

Aftermath

Ma Chao's feat greatly impressed King Qianwan, leader of the Di tribe, and allied with Ma Chao. He gained more followers, named himself General Who Conquers The West, became the the governor of Bingzhou, and in charge of the military affairs of Liang. He had also gained some security by successfully capturing a base from which to command from. But Ma Chao's successes would not last long. Jiang Xu, Zhao Ang, Yin Feng, Li Jun, Liang Kun, Zhao Qu, and Yang Fu , and Ma Chao, Pang De, and his cousin Ma Dai went and took refuge under Zhang Lu

In Popular Culture

The Siege on Jicheng appears in ''Dynasty Warriors 5 Xtreme legends'' and is called Battle of Ji Castle.