Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

For the past few days, Xu Huang had been living like a devil in the tribes of E He and Shao Ge. From morning till night, he indulged in the tribe's food and wine without restraint, completely disregarding the feelings of others. He ate and drank lavishly at banquets, indulging himself to the fullest, as if he wanted to stuff everything he could into his stomach.

But once the third round of drinking had passed, Xu Huang's nastier side began to show. He would shout and yell for no apparent reason, using vulgar and rude language, completely disregarding those around him. Sometimes he would even smash things, instantly shattering the tribe's hard-earned peace and tranquility, sending everyone into a state of panic and chaos. He would charge around the tent with complete disregard for his image and the feelings of others, like a wild bull out of control.

This was a difficult situation for the two leaders, E'he and Shao'ge. Faced with this situation, they were filled with helplessness and anguish. On the one hand, they had to constantly calm the growing discontent of their people. As they watched Xu Huang's actions, their anger grew, and their complaints were endless. E'he and Shao'ge had to devote considerable time and energy to patiently explaining and reassuring the people, trying to keep them calm and restrained. On the other hand, they also had to rack their brains to conceal the whereabouts of Xu Huang, the Han envoy. They feared that if word of Xu Huang's actions spread, it would arouse the suspicion of Mi Tang, the King of the Eastern Qiang, and bring unforeseen disaster to the tribe. Therefore, they carefully posted sentries and warned their people not to spread the news, striving to maintain a superficial calm. However, deep down, they were exhausted and anxious, uncertain when this situation would end, and unsure how to deal with the series of difficult problems Xu Huang presented.

E'he and Shaoge were constantly gripped by tension and anxiety. Every day, they closely watched Xiliang's every move. Every detail of the deployment of troops and the tense preparations for war struck their hearts like a hammer.

Observing Xiliang's methodical and imposing military deployment, the soldiers' high morale and vigilant preparations for the impending battle, E He and Shao Ge deeply understood the formidable strength of Xiliang's military. The neatly arrayed soldiers, the gleaming, sophisticated weapons, and the chilling, murderous aura that permeated the air all made it clear to them that they were practically helpless against such a formidable foe, powerless to resist. Their hearts were tormented, constantly fearing the tragic fate that awaited their tribe.

At the same time, their attitude toward Xu Huang also underwent a profound shift. Once, perhaps they had held him in contempt and disobedience, but now, faced with the turbulent situation and the overwhelming pressure from Xiliang, they were forced to lower their once proud heads and face Xu Huang with a posture bordering on humility. Xu Huang represented the formidable power of Xiliang, and before this nearly unstoppable force, they had no choice but to submit.

Amidst this suffocating tension, Cheng Gongying arrived with a letter from Cheliji. As Ehe and Shaoge unfolded the letter with trembling hands, a complex and heavy emotion welled up within them. Its contents struck them like a bolt from the blue. Cheliji explicitly urged Ehe, Shaoge, and their tribe to surrender to Xiliang. Cheliji offered a thorough analysis of the dire situation, emphasizing that resistance against Xiliang's ascendancy was futile and that only surrender could ensure the tribe's survival. Ehe and Shaoge's hands trembled slightly as they held the letter, their eyes filled with confusion and helplessness, unsure how to make this difficult decision.

At this moment, Xu Huang seemed to sense the inner struggle and pain of E'e He and Shao Ge. He dropped his usual arrogance and initiated a normal conversation with them. His tone became calmer, no longer condescending. He slowly conveyed Ma Chao's request to them.

Ma Chao's plan plunged E'he and Shao'ge into deeper contemplation and struggle. Ma Chao instructed them to inform the Qiang soldiers within their tribes to continue rallying under the Eastern Qiang King, but with one crucial condition: when Ma Chao and the Eastern Qiang King, Mi Tang, went to war, these Qiang soldiers must decisively defect. Xu Huang explained with great seriousness that this offered E'he, Shao'ge, and their tribe a rare opportunity and served as a token of their loyalty.

E He and Shao Ge knew they had no escape route. If they didn't follow Ma Chao's instructions, catastrophic consequences awaited them. If Ma Chao prevailed, their tribe would face the same tragic fate as the Xianling Qiang, perhaps utter annihilation or relegation to the lowest echelons of existence, their people languishing in endless suffering and humiliation.

That night, E He sat alone in his tent, the flickering candlelight illuminating his worried face. His mind replayed Xu Huang's words from the previous day, his thoughts tangled like a tangled mess. He recalled the tribe's past, its former glory and splendor, and now faced such a difficult and perilous decision. He stepped out of the tent and gazed up at the starry sky. The endless stars seemed to silently watch him, as if awaiting his final decision. He tore through a tormenting dilemma: on one hand, deep concern for the tribe's future, and on the other, a strong sense of responsibility for the fate of his people. He knew that this decision would determine the survival of the entire tribe.

Shao Ge, meanwhile, lay awake all night in his own tent, his heart filled with conflict and entanglement. He knew the weight of this decision; a single mistake could plunge the entire tribe into an abyss of no return.

E He and Shao Ge fell into deep thought, weighing the pros and cons all night long, yet unable to reach a decision. After some deliberation, they decided to feign deception to deceive the Han envoys and then observe the situation. They reasoned that if they saw the Eastern Qiang King, Mi Tang, truly defeated by Ma Chao, they wouldn't hesitate to stab him in the back at the crucial moment. However, if Ma Chao proved unable to defeat the Eastern Qiang King, they would not act rashly or seek any alliances. If Ma Chao later sought revenge, they planned to seek the Eastern Qiang King's protection.

In this way, they replied to Xu Huang, telling him that they would definitely obey Ma Chao's wishes and that they also hoped that Ma Chao would treat them fairly after the war.

Xu Huang appeared oblivious to their subtle intentions, but he spoke half-heartedly, "No matter your ultimate decision, my Xiliang army will inevitably engage in battle with the Eastern Qiang. Your decision is due to my general's compassionate nature, and he's giving you this opportunity. If you follow his instructions, your tribe will be like the Western Qiang, blessed by his protection, and you'll be able to trade with us and receive all kinds of assistance. But if you merely try to play it safe, then I will personally lead my army to confront you and teach you the price of your current vacillation."

Xu Huang's words put immense pressure on E'e He and Shao Ge. While they were still wavering, a messenger from the Shao Dang Qiang arrived. The Shao Dang Qiang were already actively contacting various tribes, seeking allies and preparing to launch a campaign against Xiliang. They would simultaneously rise up against Mi Tang's violent rule. This undoubtedly gave the two men more leverage. They once again weighed the pros and cons. Even if Ma Chao were defeated in the battle against the Eastern Qiang, it would be easy to defeat E'e He and Shao Ge. Given the Eastern Qiang king's temperament, even if Ma Chao were defeated and came to seek revenge after the battle, the Eastern Qiang king might not actually help them.

Ultimately, the two decided to surrender to Ma Chao's army. They reasoned that if they lost the bet, the worst that could happen was that they would surrender to the Western Liang tribe, and even if the Western Liang tribe was defeated, their tribe would still be able to survive; and if they won the bet, not only would they be able to reduce the war, but they could also live a happy life like the Western Qiang.

The two presented handwritten letters and tribal tokens as a token of their loyalty, promising to strike back against Mi Tang at the crucial moment as agreed. However, Xu Huang felt this was insufficient, and the two had no choice but to entrust their son to Xu Huang to be taken to Xiliang. This not only demonstrated their unwavering loyalty to Xiliang, but also provided the two with a last resort. Even if they died fighting against Mi Tang, the King of the Eastern Qiang, at least a trace of their bloodline would remain.