Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

In the blink of an eye, it was mid-November. The north wind swept across the city walls of Wuwei, carrying with it a biting chill. Ma Chao stood below the city wall, gazing at the 40,000 Xiliang cavalrymen who were fully prepared for battle. Their armor gleamed coldly in the setting sun, and the troops were as disciplined as iron. Although there were only 40,000 men, they exuded a calm and collected aura that had been through countless battles.

He first summoned Hu Che'er and handed him a secret letter: "Hurry to Chang'an and deliver this letter to my father and Mr. Jia Xu, informing them that I will arrive soon and that they should make some preparations in Chang'an." Hu Che'er accepted the order, mounted his horse, and the horse's hooves kicked up a cloud of snow dust, disappearing in an instant at the end of the official road.

Then, Ma Chao walked up to the soldiers who had fought alongside him across the grasslands and said gently, "You have fought alongside me for two years, and your service has been invaluable. Now that the war is over, go back to your homes to rest and spend more time with your wives, children, and elderly parents. After spring arrives, report to General Ma Dai's command again." The soldiers responded in unison, their eyes filled with both anticipation of returning home and reluctance to part with their comrades. They bowed to Ma Chao and then dispersed in batches.

With everything arranged, Ma Chao mounted his horse, followed closely by 40,000 iron cavalry. Ma Dai and the leaders of various Xiliang tribes were already waiting outside the city. Seeing the procession set off, they all stepped forward to see them off.

"Brother, take care on your journey. With me in Xiliang, nothing will go wrong." Ma Dai grasped Ma Chao's reins, his eyes filled with reluctance.

"Don't worry, Bozhan. You'll be in charge of the military and political affairs of Xiliang and will coordinate the various tribes." Ma Chao patted his arm and glanced at everyone. "Everyone, focus on development. If you encounter any difficult issues, consult Ma Dai for coordination."

The leaders of all the tribes bowed and said, "Respectfully seeing off King Liang!"

Only Cheliji, the usually cheerful and bold King of Xiqiang, had tears in his eyes. He stepped forward and grasped Ma Chao's wrist, his voice choked with emotion: "Brother... be careful in everything you do when you get to Chang'an. The men of Xiqiang are always waiting for your command." As he spoke, a tear actually rolled down his cheek.

Ma Chao felt a warmth in his heart and smiled, "Brother, what are you doing? It's not like we're parting forever. Once I'm settled in Chang'an, I'll send someone to pick you up for a visit."

Cheriji wiped his face and chuckled twice: "Good, good! I'll wait for news from you, my worthy brother!"

Ma Chao said no more, turned his horse around, and shouted, "Let's go!"

Forty thousand cavalrymen responded in unison, their voices echoing across the plains. Their hooves pounded the snow as they slowly made their way southeast. Ma Dai, Cheliji, and the others stood still, watching the column gradually disappear into the distance until its figures vanished into the snow-covered horizon, before slowly turning back to the city.

The wind and snow were like knives, cutting painfully into their faces. The horses' hooves pounded through the snow, splashing snowflakes that rustled against their armor. Traveling in such bitter cold was usually a grueling task, but the forty thousand Xiliang cavalry behind them stood tall, their eyes burning with intense light, their bodies seemingly ablaze with fire.

Their gazes frequently drifted toward the figure in the center of the formation, surrounded by his generals—Liang King Ma Chao.

Who can forget that not long ago, this general personally led them to conquer the grasslands, uprooting the Xianbei tribes that had dominated the north for centuries, and forcing the arrogant and domineering grassland ruler to bow down and surrender? Who can forget those bloody battles at the foot of Langjuxu Mountain, where the King of Liang always charged ahead with his spear, his silver spear stained with blood like a blooming red plum blossom, tearing a bloody path through the enemy lines?

"At the King of Liang's command, we will march straight to the Xianbei royal court!"

"A million Xianbei people were wiped out in an instant. How many people throughout history have shown such courage and determination?"

The hushed discussions drifted through the wind and snow, yet carried an irrepressible excitement. These men were mostly locals from Xiliang, or Qiang warriors who had submitted to the Xiongnu. They had long witnessed the burning, killing, and looting of the nomadic tribes of the grasslands, and countless loved ones had perished under the hooves of horses. It was Ma Chao who led them to reverse their fate, plunging the invaders' knives back into their hearts; it was Ma Chao who transformed them from the bullied weak into the powerful who struck fear into the hearts of the grasslands.

Now, they follow this hero who single-handedly rewrote the fate of Northwest China, heading towards the Central Plains. What do heavy snowstorms or long journeys matter?

Ma Chao, seemingly sensing something, reined in his horse and glanced back. Forty thousand pairs of eyes turned to him, filled with not a trace of resentment, but only burning reverence and trust, as if he were an inextinguishable beacon in the snowstorm.

He smiled slightly and waved his hand forward: "Hurry up and get to Longxi soon so the brothers can have a drink of hot wine!"

"Here!"

The response pierced the wind and snow, carrying the sound of metal and stone. The sound of hooves grew more rapid, crushing not only the accumulated snow, but also the humiliation and cowardice of the past. This fiery cavalry, following the god in their hearts, was advancing fearlessly towards a new world.

The wind and snow outside Longxi County were biting cold. Dong Huang, along with his civil and military officials, stood in the snow, their robes already covered in frost. Seeing Ma Chao's army approaching through the snow, their armor gleaming coldly in the wind and snow, he quickly stepped forward. The officials behind him bowed and shouted in unison, "Welcome, King of Liang!"

Ma Chao dismounted, snow splashing up from the horse's hooves. He reached out to help Dong Huang up, his voice steady: "Lord Dong, there's no need for such formalities. You've waited so long in this snowy weather, thank you for your hard work."

Dong Huang straightened up, a smile plastered on his face: "Serving the King of Liang, what hardship is there? The warm tent and banquet have been prepared long ago, and the charcoal fire is burning brightly, just waiting for Your Majesty to come in and warm yourself up."

Ma Chao nodded, his gaze sweeping over the soldiers lined up behind him. Though their faces were weathered, their eyes remained sharp. He instructed his guards, "Let the brothers go into their tents to rest. Give the order that there be plenty of good wine and meat, and that those not on duty tonight should relax."

"Yes!" The guard accepted the order and left. Upon hearing this, the soldiers couldn't help but cheer, their tense nerves finally relaxing, and they followed their subordinates in an orderly fashion toward the warm tent.

Just as Dong Huang was about to lead Ma Chao to the main tent, Ma Chao raised his hand to stop him. "Lord Dong, please wait a moment," Ma Chao said, his gaze fixed on the outskirts of the city not far away, where earthen mounds were faintly visible in the wind and snow. "There is something else I must do first."

Dong Huang was taken aback, then realized what he meant and quickly bowed: "Your Majesty means... the Grand Tutor's tomb?"

"Yes." Ma Chao nodded. "Since we are passing by, we should pay our respects."

Dong Huang quickly replied, "That's only right! I've already had the snow cleared from the tomb and prepared the offerings."

As they spoke, Dong Huang led the way, followed closely by Ma Chao and several key generals, trudging through ankle-deep snow toward the outskirts of the city. The wind and snow stung their faces; no one spoke, only the crunching sound of their footsteps breaking the snow.

From afar, one can see the cemetery shrouded in wind and snow. Despite the erosion of time and snow, the surrounding area is filled with pine and cypress trees, their branches covered with thick snow, indicating that people often clean and worship there, giving it a solemn atmosphere.

Ma Chao gestured to his attendants to place offerings, then stepped forward personally, brushing the fresh snow from the tombstone. His fingertips touched the cold stone surface with a slow and solemn motion. He straightened his clothes, then knelt down first. Seeing this, the generals and attendants behind him knelt down in unison, leaving a deep mark in the snow.

After bowing three times, Ma Chao rose, picked up a wine bowl, filled it himself, and then slowly poured it in front of the tomb. The wine seeped into the snow, instantly spreading a dark color, like memories seeping from the frozen earth.

"Grand Tutor," he began, his voice heavy with melancholy amidst the wind and snow, "Longxi is now secure. The land you protected back then is still here. The people can grow grain in the fields, and the children can keep warm in their houses. We no longer need to fear the hooves of foreign tribes trampling in."

He gazed at the tombstone, as if speaking to an elder he hadn't seen in a long time: "In recent years, the Central Plains have been in great turmoil, even more so than when you left. The emperor is incompetent, the court is corrupt, and the people are displaced... Perhaps your anxiety back then was justified. This Han Dynasty has truly rotted to its core."

He took a deep breath, the wind and snow filling his lungs with a biting chill, but his eyes became even clearer: "Since the Liu family cannot bring peace to the people of the world, then I will take on this burden. I will let the Xiliang cavalry sweep across the Central Plains, not to win any title, but so that more people can be like the people of Longxi, with land to cultivate and houses to live in, and no longer have to fear the flames of war."

He then changed the subject, his tone softening: "A couple of years ago, a powerful tribe emerged on the grasslands and dared to invade my Xiliang. I led my brothers into the grasslands and defeated them. The grasslands will be peaceful for at least several decades. Bai'er has been waiting for me in Chang'an. This time when I go back, I will marry her."

At this point, he chuckled self-deprecatingly, with a touch of youthful candor: "But as you know, Grand Tutor, I may be too greedy, and she's not the only woman I care about. But please rest assured, I will treat them well and will not let them down."

Finally, his voice lowered, filled with undisguised gratitude: "I still want to thank you. Back then, I was just a greenhorn with nothing but strength. It was you who saw my potential, gave me a chance, and taught me what responsibility and protection are. I will remember this kindness for the rest of my life."

As she finished speaking, tears welled up in the corners of her eyes, mingling with the falling snowflakes and melting into fine lines on her cheeks.

The generals around the tomb had already silently cleared the snow away. Seeing this, Dong Huang stepped forward and said gently, "Your Majesty, it's freezing cold. You've been standing here for a long time. Grand Tutor Xinyi must know. With such a heavy snowfall, if he were alive, he would surely be distressed for you. Come back to camp with us."

Ma Chao gazed at the tombstone, stood there for a moment, and then slowly nodded: "Let's go."

As he turned, the wind and snow still stung his face, but seemed to have lessened the chill. He knew that some of the marks of the past were not shackles, but rather the strength that propelled him forward. The generals followed closely behind, trudging through the snow back to camp, leaving the pine and cypress forest standing silently in the wind and snow, guarding a long-forgotten past and witnessing a new beginning.

The warmth of the banquet had not yet dissipated, and the snow outside the tent was already half a foot thick. When Ma Chao got up in the morning, Dong Huang was waiting outside the tent with several county officials, holding a thick stack of documents, all of which were details of the internal affairs of Longxi.

"Your Majesty, here are the household registers, land registers, and this year's tax accounts that you requested. They have all been checked three times." Dong Huang handed over the documents, his tone earnest. "You've only rested for one day. Why rush to leave? Stay a few more days so that your subordinates can fulfill their duties as hosts and give the brothers a breather."

Ma Chao took the document, flipped through a few pages, and closed it. His gaze fell on the fully equipped cavalry outside the tent, and he said in a deep voice, "The people have just caught their breath and cannot be tormented by corvée labor again. Taxes will be reduced by 30%, and corvée labor will be suspended for six months, so that they can cultivate the spring fields in peace. This is a strict order, and you must keep a close eye on it."

Dong Huang quickly agreed, "I've noted it down. But what about Chang'an..."

“The situation in Chang’an is more urgent.” Ma Chao interrupted him, mounted his horse, and his iron boots made a dull sound as they pounded in the snow. “After I leave, if any tribes dare to take advantage of the situation to cause trouble, do not ask for permission, just fight them back. Remember, what the people want is stability, not empty talk.”

Dong Huang wanted to persuade him further, but seeing that Ma Chao had already raised his whip to signal departure, he could only lead his officials to kneel down and see him off: "Respectfully seeing off Your Majesty! Your subordinates will certainly not fail in your trust!"

Hooves pounded the snow, and the iron cavalry surged eastward like a black torrent. Ma Chao glanced back at the city walls of Longxi, where the garrison was waving goodbye, and a small number of people had gathered below, bowing in the direction of the procession. He reined in his horse, bowed slightly in that direction, then turned his horse around and never looked back.

The wind whipped snowflakes against his face, and Ma Chao pulled his cloak tighter. He knew that Dong Huang could maintain the stability of Longxi, but the chaos in the Central Plains still awaited him to tear a hole in the ice. Behind him, his iron cavalry trampled across the snow-covered plain, leaving deep hoofprints, like a vow etched into the frozen earth—the wounds of this world must be mended, and even if it means traversing wind and snow, they cannot stop.