Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Chao's campaign against the Eastern Qiang couldn't have been more drastic. Winter had already arrived, and the ground was freezing cold, posing a significant challenge to Pang De, the vanguard. The bitter cold sluggishly slowed the soldiers' movements. Their breath instantly froze into frost in the icy air, and their armor seemed frozen solid, creaking with every step. The icy wind pierced the soldiers' faces like a knife, causing them to sting. Their hands and feet gradually grew numb, almost to the point of numbness. The snow and ice on the roads made marching extremely difficult. Slips and falls were a common occurrence, and horses frequently skidded on the slippery surface, slowing the advance. Furthermore, the cold weather posed a significant challenge to the supply and storage of fodder, with fodder often freezing or becoming difficult to distribute.

After entering the Eastern Qiang region and defeating two tribes, several Xiliang soldiers, perhaps driven by long-suppressed emotions or perhaps blinded by victory, disregarded military discipline and began burning, killing, and looting. Word of this quickly reached Ma Chao, whose face darkened. He immediately summoned the entire army and brought the offending Xiliang soldiers to the front of the battle formation.

Ma Chao stood before the crowd with a stern expression, his eyes gleaming with majesty and fury. He glanced at the soldiers and declared in a deep, forceful voice, "We have come to conquer the Eastern Qiang. We do so for justice, for our dignity and honor! We are a disciplined army, not a band of bandits! We cannot let impulse and greed lead us astray from our mission and responsibilities! Military discipline is our lifeblood, and no one can easily violate it!" He glanced at the trembling soldiers from Xiliang, a trace of sadness in his eyes. "You are my brothers. I don't mean to be so cruel to you, but military discipline is as strong as a rock and cannot be violated in the slightest. Today, I must execute you publicly to enforce discipline! I hope your deaths will serve as a warning to all, preventing us from making the same mistake again!" With a wave of his hand, Ma Chao's executioners drew their swords, instantly decapitating the soldiers. Tears welled in Ma Chao's eyes, but he knew this was for the future of the entire army, for greater victory. After this, the soldiers became afraid of Ma Chao's power and dared not show any complacency again.

Just after Ma Chao led his troops into Dongqiang and defeated two tribes, Mi Tang's army also arrived and set up camp with the Xiliang soldiers, forming a confrontation.

In this icy, snowy, and inhospitable weather, both the Western Liang and Qiang soldiers felt an indescribable bitterness. However, the difference was that Ma Chao had the entire Western Liang as his backup, providing him with supplies. Ma Dai, Ma Chao's cousin, had been studying under Ma Teng. Despite his youth, he was humble and eager to learn, constantly passing information between Ma Chao and Xun Yu. This helped ensure the smooth logistical supply of the Western Liang soldiers. While the Western Liang soldiers faced equally difficult times and unbearable weather, at least they had enough to eat and wear. Furthermore, Ma Chao always cherished his soldiers. Even in the most difficult situation, there were few complaints among the troops, as everyone was determined to avenge their grievances against the Eastern Qiang. This hatred, to a certain extent, served to boost morale.

The soldiers of the Eastern Qiang were drawn from various tribes. They not only had to fight in battle but also carry their own food and fodder. Under Mi Tang's rule, the Eastern Qiang were strictly divided into classes. The nobles indulged in feasting, drinking, and entertainment, enjoying the vast majority of resources, while the common people were oppressed and led a life of hardship.

The Qiang soldiers were forcibly recruited from their respective tribes. Winter was approaching, and the tribes were already facing a difficult situation with scarce resources. Therefore, the Qiang soldiers were extremely ill-prepared for food and rations. Furthermore, fighting on home soil, they could not rely on looting or other means to replenish their supplies. In this harsh, icy and snowy environment, the Qiang soldiers could only barely survive on their meager and limited supplies. Furthermore, the extravagant lifestyle of the Qiang people in Mi Tang's homeland led to extreme inequality among the Qiang soldiers, causing widespread morale to plummet throughout the Eastern Qiang camp. Most of them were forced to participate in this battle out of the tyrannical prestige amassed by King Mi Tang and a deep fear that Ma Chao would lead the Western Liang troops to seek revenge, confiscate their property, or even exterminate their clans. Their hearts were filled with helplessness and anxiety, and they faced the Western Liang troops with difficulty under such circumstances.

After each side set up camp, they rested briefly. Ma Chao then led his troops into battle formation, while King Mi Tang led the Qiang troops in a fierce advance. For a moment, the two sides' ranks were neatly aligned and clearly defined. At Ma Chao's subtle glance, Xu Huang immediately brandished his heavy axe and rode forward to challenge the enemy. Meanwhile, at the Qiang King's signal, the Qiang general Riyang Dacuo, without hesitation, brandished his formidable mace and charged toward the battlefield, shouting. The two met without further ado; the battle erupted in a fierce, tiger-like clash that stretched into the blink of an eye. Twenty to thirty rounds passed in the blink of an eye. Both Xu Huang and Riyang Dacuo were immensely powerful, masters of sheer force. Seeing his opponent unable to prevail, Xu Huang devised a plan. He feigned defeat, exploited a weakness, and then turned and fled. The Qiang general was not prepared for a trick and immediately rode his horse in pursuit. However, Xu Huang suddenly swung out his meteor hammer while turning around, accurately tripping the Qiang general's horse's hoof. The Qiang general fell to the ground. Xu Huang took the opportunity to turn around, raised his sword, and chopped off the spear general's head with one axe.

The Xiliang soldiers erupted in cheers, a scene that greatly galvanized another Qiang warrior, Jiaolijin. With his eyes wide open, he roared, then brandished his gleaming steel fork. Like a gust of wind, he charged forward, fiercely engaging Xu Huang. Instantly, a thrilling clash unfolded, with flashes of blade and fork clashing and the relentless clash of metal. After twenty or thirty fierce rounds, Xu Huang seized the opportunity and unleashed a powerful blow, sending Jiaolijin's weapon careening into the air. Feeling overwhelmed, Jiaolijin, realizing he was about to be defeated, turned his horse and retreated in panic. However, Xu Huang did not chase after him immediately. He just stood firmly in place and shouted provocatively at the top of his voice. His aura was like that of an invincible god of war.

The morale of the Han soldiers reached its peak at this moment. Xu Huang's dazzling presence left a lasting impression on the Qiang camp. In stark contrast, the morale of the Qiang soldiers plummeted. The two leaders, E He and Shao Ge, gazed upon the arrogant Xu Huang with a look of astonishment. They were thankful they had not offended this Han Chinese warrior during their time in their respective tribes. The Qiang King roared in rage, deeply infuriated by the low morale. Prince Mi Dang, observing this situation, challenged his father to a duel. The Qiang King admonished him to exercise caution and then sent Mi Dang out to fight Xu Huang. Prince Mi Dang was known as the bravest warrior of the Eastern Qiang, and King Mi Tang was reluctant to send him into battle so soon. However, Xu Huang's prowess had already demoralized the Qiang. Mi Tang, unwilling to see morale crumble so quickly, agreed to allow Mi Dang to challenge Xu Huang.

Xu Huang watched Prince Midang galloping towards him from afar. He was incredibly tall and imposing, his broad frame resembling a small mountain. His complexion was dark and resolute, as if slashed by an axe—hard and rigid, devoid of any softness. While his youthful features held a vibrant spirit, the harsh lines of his features were strikingly harsh. His thick, caterpillar-like eyebrows stood out. His eyes, like bells, pierced with a fierce intensity that shone with a chilling intensity. His nose was straight, but paired with his thick, chopping-board lips, he looked strangely unnatural. Clad in heavy armor and wielding a long sword, he exuded a menacing and imposing presence that was truly intimidating. The invisible pressure emanating from him filled Xu Huang with a subtle sense of alarm, and he braced himself for the challenge.

Prince Midang's eyes widened in anger, and he roared, "Who are you, the Han general, to dare to stand in my way?"

Xu Huang, holding a large axe, shouted, "I am General Xu Huang. Today I will show you how powerful I am!"

Prince Midang sneered, "Hmph, you boast so arrogantly! Just wait and see how I will chop you off your horse!"

Xu Huang laughed heartily: "Then bring your horses over, let's see who is the real strong one!"