Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Chao, standing within the tent, his gaze firm and gentle, reached out and lifted Mori Wolf steadily to his feet, his palm touching the taut muscles of the young man's back, a physical manifestation of tension and desperate determination. His voice was steady and gentle, yet it carried an undeniable authority. He spoke slowly, "Your father, Mori Xige, died bravely for our army. He is a truly worthy hero. Since I have sincerely accepted your Jie tribe under my command, how could I bear to let a young man like you go into danger?"

Molly Wolf was filled with anger and impatience, his lips trembling slightly. Just as he was about to argue, Ma Chao reached out and firmly grasped his shoulder. Ma Chao cast his gaze at the endless rows of tents outside and said, "The optimal time for attacking the city has not yet arrived. Although the enemy appears exhausted, the city defenses remain strong and unbroken. A forced assault now would only result in unnecessary casualties. The Jie people's blood should be shed where it is truly worthwhile, not blindly thrown into this pointless charge."

Ma Chao gently patted Morel Wolf's back, his tone softening. "I understand you're hell-bent on avenging your father and eager to prove the Jie people's loyalty and bravery. However, while it's easy to show off your courage in the moment, it's truly difficult to consider the overall situation. Be patient and wait for a while. Once I find a good strategy to capture the city, I'll have you join the battle—but not now. I absolutely cannot let you risk your lives to fill this hole."

Mori Wolf's grip on the spear shaft slowly loosened at Ma Chao's words, the white marks on his knuckles from excessive force gradually fading. He gazed into Ma Chao's calm and resolute eyes, as if suddenly realizing something. He bowed his head, clasped his fists in salute, and his voice, though still a little childish, was filled with a certain solemnity: "I understand. Thank you, Your Majesty, for your consideration."

Ma Chao watched Moree Wolf's back as he turned and walked away. Though still youthful and immature, his figure had lost some of its impulsiveness and instead gained a sense of responsibility and commitment. The wind outside the tent continued to howl, and Ma Chao knew that growth often comes from patiently waiting, not from reckless rushes.

Meanwhile, Murong Xuepo, leading a vast army, arrived at the eastern edge of Ordo City with overwhelming momentum. From afar, thick smoke billowed from the city walls, and curls of fire and smoke filled the air. From within, the cries of those fighting the fire and the pitiful wails of the wounded drifted faintly. The previously earth-shaking cries of battle had gradually subsided, leaving only a sparse reverberation. Murong Xuepo suddenly reined in his horse, his brow furrowed in confusion and anger. Hadn't they already agreed to join forces to attack the city? Why had Ma Chao suddenly withdrawn his troops at this moment?

Murong Xuepo's expression shifted from gloomy to bright. Seeing this, the young general behind him, Su He, could no longer contain his passion. He urged his horse forward, clasped his fists, and loudly requested, "Your Majesty! The Han army has retreated. The city must be in chaos right now. This is the perfect opportunity for us to seize the opportunity and attack. We will surely capture Ordos City in one fell swoop! I beg Your Majesty to grant me permission to fight immediately!"

Murong Xuepo squinted his eyes and glared coldly at him. His voice was like ice in the cold winter, piercing his bones. "Wait. Why send troops?" He pointed his whip at the top of the city wall, his tone full of disdain and calculation. "If we rush in now, we will only be cleaning up this mess for Ma Chao and wasting our strength for no reason. Taking Ordo City will take time and effort. Why rush in now and show off your bravery?"

Su He's passion was instantly extinguished, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured down upon him. His face flushed red, his lips trembling, but he dared not say anything more and could only retreat back into the battle formation in disgrace.

"Pass the order down and set up camp here." Murong Xuepo decisively turned his horse around, his tone filled with authority that brooked no disobedience, "Agula."

"I'm here." The old envoy Agula responded quickly.

"Please go to Ma Chao's camp and ask him why he suddenly stopped attacking the city." Murong Xuepo's eyes swept towards Ordo City with a sinister look, a deep calculation hidden in his eyes. "Tell him that our army has arrived and we are just waiting for his order. We will immediately join forces to capture the city."

After receiving the order, Agula rode away immediately. Watching his retreating figure, Murong Xuepo's lips curled into a slow, cold smile. Was Ma Chao's retreat truly due to exhaustion, or was there some hidden agenda? Regardless, Murong Xuepo would never be fooled into being the first to charge into battle. Ordo City was a tough nut to crack; someone else had to take it first.

The wind outside the tent blew in the face with a strong smell of gunpowder. Murong Xuepo narrowed his eyes slightly, like a cunning lone wolf, patiently waiting for the situation to develop further.

On the walls of Ordo, Ulandar watched the Han army retreat like a tidal wave, then turned his head to look at the flames raging throughout the city, his heart filled with anxiety. He shouted to his guards to quickly put out the blaze, then he himself, blood-stained scimitar in hand, strode into Kobinen's golden tent.

"Father! The Han army retreated!" There was an irrepressible urgency and disbelief in Ulanda's voice.

Kobe sat at his desk, a look of dejection on his face. His fingers trembled unconsciously as he gently stroked the wolf-head scepter on the desk, a symbol of power. Hearing Ulanda's words, he suddenly raised his head, his cloudy eyes suddenly widening with shock. "What did you say? They really quit?"

"Retreat!" Wulanda nodded seriously, then his face suddenly darkened. "However, Murong Xuepo's army has arrived in the east of the city, and their camp is almost at the foot of the city."

Bitterness instantly washed over Kobe's face. He slammed his fist on the table and gritted his teeth, "You, Murong Xuepo... You're truly determined to kill us! He and Ma Chao must have been secretly colluding with each other for a long time!"

Wulanda was so angry that veins popped on his forehead. He yanked out the scimitar from his waist with a swish. The flash of the blade illuminated the blazing fury in his eyes. "This despicable villain who betrayed his master for fame and fortune! How dare he openly disobey the teachings of Changshengtian! Father, they have just arrived and are setting up camp. Their defenses must be lax. Why don't I lead my elite troops to charge out and fight them to the death? Let them know the tragic fate of traitors!"

"Stupid!" Kobe Bryant shouted, his chest heaving violently, clearly furious. "Do you know how many scattered tribes Murong Xuepo has annexed? His forces far outnumber ours. If we rush into battle now, it would be like throwing an egg against a rock, a waste of our lives!"

Just as Kobe Bryant finished speaking, the curtain was suddenly thrown open. Left Xian Wang Tarim came in, covered in dust and with a heavy face. His voice was a little hoarse and helpless: "Your Majesty, in this battle just now, our army has suffered more than two thousand casualties."

Kobe's eyes widened suddenly, his dim pupils filled with shock and disbelief: "Two thousand? What about the Han army? How many casualties did they suffer?"

Tarim lowered his head, his expression gloomy. "According to a rough estimate, the Han army probably lost over a thousand men."

"How ridiculous!" Kobe Bryant slammed his fist and stood up, slamming his staff to the ground with a dull thud. "As the defenders of the city, why do we suffer more casualties than the Han army attacking the city?"

Tarim sighed helplessly, his voice filled with powerlessness and sorrow. "My king, our city walls are already low, full of cracks and gaps. There are simply too many places to climb. Furthermore, the Han people are experts in siege warfare, with their mastery of ladders, arrow formations, and other siege tactics. But us Xianbei warriors are only skilled in horseback archery and field combat. Defending a city is simply not our forte."

Wulanda still refused to give up. He took a step forward and said anxiously, "Father, since we can't attack Murong Xuepo, why don't we leave the city and fight the Han army to the death? Even if we die on the battlefield, it's better than waiting to die in this city!"

Kobe seemed deeply moved by Ulanda's words, a flash of bloodthirsty madness suddenly flashing in his dim eyes. He gripped the scepter tightly, his knuckles turning white from the strain. "A fight to the death? Have you forgotten the formidable power of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry? When will we ever defeat them in a field battle?"

He took a deep breath, his voice hoarse yet filled with an undeniable ruthlessness: "Pass the order down, the entire army, put out the fire with all your strength, and reinforce the city defenses at the same time! We must fight them to the bitter end! Even if it means sacrificing our lives, we must fight them to the bitter end!"

"But, father, our casualties are too heavy..." Ulanda said anxiously.

"Big?" A flicker of determination flashed in Kobe's eyes, like a trapped beast fighting to the bitter end. "We can afford to trade two for one! There are still 100,000 women and children in the city. If all the men die in battle, let the women and children go! I want to show Changshengtian that even if we fight to the last man, we Xianbei will never bow down to the Han army!"

He paused briefly, his hawk-like gaze sweeping over everyone in the tent, his whole being consumed by a frenzy of destruction. "Murong Xuepo wants to reap the benefits? Want to dominate the grasslands in the future? I'm going to make him realize that this Ordo City is a tough nut to crack! Even if he does manage to capture it, he'll have to pay a heavy price!"

After saying this, Kobe suddenly erupted in a desolate and unbridled laugh that echoed for a long time above the tent, carrying with it a resolute determination to fight to the death. The surrounding tribesmen were stunned, stopping what they were doing and staring at their leader in amazement, their eyes filled with both fear and the tragic grandeur of this determination.

"I, Kobe, have roamed the grasslands, leading the Xianbei tribe to rise. I've roamed this land for twenty or thirty years, and I've never failed to live up to Changshengtian's teachings!" He abruptly drew the scimitar from his waist. The blade gleamed with a cold, chilling light in the sunlight, as if declaring his unyielding spirit to heaven and earth. "I achieved the subjugation of the tribes through my iron-blooded slaughter, not through treacherous and despicable betrayal!"

He slowly surveyed the tribesmen around him, his gaze sweeping across each face, some frightened and some determined. His voice suddenly rose, carrying a force that pierced the heavens: "There's no turning back from what's happening today! We will remain here, living and dying with this city. Fight to the bitter end! Every soldier, every woman, every child, every old man, will fight with me until the very end!"

"This proves to Changshengtian that we, the descendants of the Xianbei, are not cowards who cowardice!" He pointed the scimitar in his hand high in the direction of Ordo City, his eyes burning with rage, as if he wanted to burn all enemies to ashes. "Let us die here! Changshengtian is above, and Langjuxu Mountain is my witness. Even if Murong Xuepo can eventually annihilate the Han army and occupy the grasslands, he will be forever nailed to the pillar of shame and bear the stigma of a traitor!"

A deathly silence fell within the tent, as if time had frozen in that moment. Only the faint sounds of firefighting and the wails of the wounded could be heard from outside, interweaving like a desperate yet tragic war song. Kobe Bryant held onto his scepter, his hunched back appearing particularly sinister and lonely in the flickering candlelight. He knew deep down that he was a trapped beast, his only hope being to drag his enemies along with him into the endless abyss.