Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Mi Dang fled back to his base camp in disarray. Mi Tang, heartbroken beyond words, quickly ordered the soldiers to bandage him. The soldiers at the main Xiliang camp, upon witnessing Ma Chao's earth-shattering performance, saw their morale ignite like a raging fire. They frantically chanted Ma Chao's name, wave after wave rising, their cries of "Mighty General!" resounding through the air. Their eyes were filled with reverence for Ma Chao and a thirst for victory, as if any difficulty could be easily overcome with Ma Chao by their side.

In stark contrast, the Qiang soldiers were deeply awed by Ma Chao's unparalleled bravery. Some spearmen were so startled they dropped their weapons, standing there in a daze, silently chanting "Mighty General" in their hearts, as if he were an invincible god of war descended upon the earth. Fear spread throughout them, and their confidence completely collapsed at that moment.

Ma Chao keenly sensed the rising morale and the army's resolve. With his gaze fixed on the turbulent Qiang camp ahead, a surge of heroic spirit welled up within him. He knew this was a golden opportunity, one not to be missed. With a decisive wave of his hand, he led his troops forward to seize the opportunity and charge forward.

Instantly, the Xiliang cavalry surged out from both sides like a whirlwind, the clatter of their hooves echoing across the earth, as if to shatter the entire battlefield. They converged behind Ma Chao, like a torrent of steel, charging fiercely behind Mi Tang's main formation with unparalleled momentum and determination. The Xiliang soldiers were filled with fervor, their eyes gleaming with the thirst for battle. Like tigers descending from the mountains, they seized the opportunity to attack. For a moment, their momentum was unstoppable.

Mi Tang desperately organized his troops to hold their position, attempting to withstand the ferocious onslaught, but all was in vain. Their defenses, fragile as paper, were crushed by the Xiliang army's overwhelming force. Mi Tang and his men, helpless, abandoned their armor and weapons and retreated in disarray to their tents. The battlefield was left with the cheers of victory for the Xiliang army and the sighs of defeat for the Qiang soldiers. This battle would go down in history as a glorious chapter in the history of the Xiliang army. Ma Chao, armed with only a spear, single-handedly fought seven generals, killing six and wounding one. This heroic act was forever etched in the hearts of the Qiang people. The Qiang people spread the name of Ma Chao, the mighty general, secretly believing him to be invincible.

Ever since Ma Chao's triumphant display of strength on the battlefield, the Eastern Qiang leaders seemed terrified, never again daring to mention the prospect of dispatching troops. Mi Tang solemnly instructed his soldiers to rigorously defend the camp, preventing any surprise attacks from the Western Liang troops. This continued the standoff with Ma Chao. Many leaders were puzzled by Mi Tang's actions, but he remained composed, resolutely ignoring any provocations from the Western Liang soldiers. The morale of the spearmen had completely eroded. Every day, they could only watch helplessly as the Western Liang soldiers paraded their troops around the camp, enjoying adequate food and clothing. Meanwhile, their own forces were starving, relying entirely on huddling together for warmth at night and subsisting on meager rations during the day. But Mi Tang seemed unfazed by these difficult circumstances; his only concern was stalling for time. The Qiang soldiers were suffering in this freezing cold, and naturally, the Xiliang soldiers wouldn't be either. After all, they were in Qiang territory, and their own supply lines weren't a problem for the time being. Ma Chao had been successfully held back here. By this time, the Xiongnu Chanyu, Yufuluo, should have already begun plundering Xiliang. Their presence would surely create chaos and distract Ma Chao. Furthermore, with the freezing weather, Ma Chao's army would naturally be unable to sustain losses if the situation continued.

Since that day on the battlefield, the two leaders, E He and Shao Ge, had successfully held off the formidable Ma Chao with their fearless courage and tenacious fighting, saving Mi Dang from being ruthlessly killed on the battlefield. Their status had risen significantly since their return. The arduous patrolling duties traditionally carried out by their tribesmen regarding camp security were no longer imposed on them. Furthermore, the distribution of food and fodder was given special preference, with generous supplies promised and rewarded. Furthermore, to further secure their support, Mi Tang lavished them with a host of special treatments and supreme honors, bestowing upon them precious items and granting them special decision-making authority on important matters.

However, deep down, the two leaders, E'he and Shao'ge, could not rejoice. As the battle dragged on day after day, the incredibly brave warriors of their tribes were forced to languish helplessly, completely unaware of their tribes' true situation and filled with worry and anxiety. Furthermore, Ma Chao had been successfully trapped by Mi Tang, but to demonstrate their loyalty to Mi Dang, they had already sent their cherished sons as hostages to distant Xiliang. Deep down, they longed for Ma Chao to demonstrate his might and swiftly defeat Mi Dang with overwhelming superiority. Only then would their two tribes avoid unnecessary casualties. They believed that whoever became the Qiang King or ruled them made little difference; as long as their tribes could continue to thrive and their people live in peace and contentment, that was the best outcome. However, the current stalemate and complex situation filled them with worry and melancholy, making it difficult for them to truly rejoice.

In the Xiliang military camp, Ma Chao sat calmly at the main seat, while Pang De and the others were engaged in heated discussions nearby. Xu Huang and Zhang Xiu entered the tent, muttering to themselves. Xu Huang addressed Ma Chao with a hint of complaint, "General, it's all your fault. Tell me, why did you beat that Dongqiang general so hard? You frightened them like frightened rabbits, hiding in their shells and refusing to emerge." Zhang Xiu chimed in, "Yes, yes, I've scolded you till my throat is dry. It's freezing cold, and the wind's been blowing for ages, yet they haven't even dared to show their faces." The implication was that the Dongqiang were so frightened that they wouldn't dare to fight them. Ma Chao and Pang De couldn't help but laugh at their words. Xu Huang then said, "General, why don't you come up with another plan quickly? Otherwise, if we continue to be in a stalemate like this, I'm afraid we won't be able to finish this battle until the New Year."

Pang De suggested, "General, do you think we can split up our forces so we can bypass this area and attack directly into their heartland?" Ma Chao pondered for a moment and said, "Bypassing the heartland means bypassing this area. If we leave too few troops behind, we'll be easily wiped out and surrounded. But if we leave too many troops behind and send too few out to bypass them, we'll be easily surrounded and annihilated, and defeated one by one. For now, we can sit back and relax. Cheliji hasn't arrived yet. When he does, we can form a two-pronged attack. And with the E'he and Shaoge tribes defecting at the last minute, we're sure to win. Let's not take that risk for now."

While the Xiliang generals anxiously awaited news of Cheliji's dispatch, several scouts from the Xiliang army captured several suspicious Qiang people. However, no matter how they questioned them, the Qiang people remained silent, which infuriated the scouts. In a rage, they beat the Qiang people severely and then took them back to their tents.

Upon learning of this, Ma Chao became intrigued, believing it might be a rare opportunity. He ordered the Qiang people to be brought before him. When they were brought before Ma Chao, they remained silent, insisting only that they wanted to see the commander of the Western Liang army. Ma Chao smiled and said, "I am you." However, the Qiang people seemed a little skeptical.

At this time, Xu Huang and Zhang Xiu, who were standing nearby, could not help but speak up, "Just two days ago, our general displayed his prowess on the battlefield, stabbing six or seven of your Qiang generals to death in a row. How could a bunch of you fools possibly understand our general's invincibility?"

Upon hearing this, the men finally believed what they heard and relayed a crucial piece of information to Ma Chao. It turned out they were members of the Shaodang Qiang tribe. Their leader had contacted nearby smaller tribes, long oppressed by Mitang, the Eastern Qiang King. They planned to collaborate with Ma Chao, overthrowing his brutal rule. They also expressed their sincere desire to submit to Western Liang's jurisdiction, if Ma Chao, the commander of the Western Liang army, agreed. After all, they had been subjected to such brutal oppression by Mitang for so many years, leaving these smaller tribes relegated to a state of subjugation and struggle for development. They simply desired the opportunity to trade with Western Liang, as enjoyed by the Western Qiang, along with the protection and preferential treatment afforded them. Upon hearing this news, Ma Chao's thoughts began to stir.