Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Chao quickly summoned a military doctor to bandage the Qiang's wounds and hosted a banquet for them. He instructed them to wait patiently, urging them to wait until Cheliji advanced to attack the Xianling Qiang. He would then launch a full-scale attack. With a two-pronged attack, coupled with the defection of the Ehe and Shaoge tribes, and the Shaodang Qiang leading other smaller tribes to block Mi Tang's retreat, this would effectively be a four-pronged attack, certain to annihilate Mi Tang and his army, ultimately overthrowing Mi Tang's rule over the Eastern Qiang. The Qiang, thrilled by Ma Chao's high-level hospitality and hearing his detailed plan, sent half of them back, while the remaining half remained to await further information. The first to return would inform the Shaodang Qiang of Ma Chao's plan and urge them to prepare. Now that everything was ready, they simply waited for Cheliji's favorable winds to arrive, then they could launch a full-scale attack on Mi Tang, striving for a decisive victory.

They had been eagerly awaiting news of Cheriji, but nothing came. Suddenly, a serious and unexpected problem arose in the logistics unit led by Ma Dai. Ma Dai, wounded, led a group of battered and defeated soldiers to the camp in a hurry, and then entered the main camp.

After hearing the news, Ma Chao hurriedly asked them to enter the tent quickly. At this time, Ma Dai's face was all blue-gray, and he looked extremely haggard. He knelt down in front of Ma Chao and couldn't help crying. Ma Chao looked at Ma Dai, whose face was blue-gray, and couldn't help but feel angry at him for not fighting. He shouted: "Bo Zhan, it has come to this time, why are you still crying? What happened? Tell us in detail in front of everyone!" Ma Dai stopped crying and said to Ma Chao: "Brother, I really failed your trust. All the food and grass we escorted were robbed." Ma Chao said: "Get to the point!" Ma Dai continued: "I led the team escorting food and grass and just walked out of Wuwei County. Before I could walk out of the border of Xiliang, I was suddenly robbed by a group of grassland troops. Judging from their dress, they seemed to be Huns. The other party They were all extremely skilled archers and horsemen, moving with lightning speed. Upon seeing us, they launched an immediate, mounted attack without a word. Several rounds of intense arrow rain fell, inflicting heavy casualties on my troops. I attempted to lead a resistance, but the enemy were simply too numerous, ultimately plundering all our provisions. Before we could mount an effective resistance, their formation was broken. We were forced to flee, their pursuit swift and fierce. Our escape was only achieved at the cost of many of our brothers' precious lives. Ma Chao frowned and asked, "How could the Xiongnu appear in our Xiliang territory?"

Ma Dai said, "I was also deeply shocked. I was planning to seek aid from General Yang Qiu, who was stationed in Beidi County. However, before I even arrived, I encountered a messenger from General Yang Qiu begging for help. It turned out that the Xiongnu had invaded Beidi County from the territory of the Xianrong Qiang, burning, killing, and looting. General Yang Qiu was caught off guard and had no choice but to request aid from Wuwei." Ma Chao frowned and asked anxiously, "What is the current situation in Beidi County?"

Ma Dai said, "After receiving the news from Beidi County, I parted ways with the messenger and headed to Beidi Town to investigate the situation. Coincidentally, Western Qiang King Cheliji led his troops through Beidi County, intending to attack the Xianrong Qiang. This happened just in time to resolve the crisis that besieged Beidi County. Western Qiang King Cheliji and General Yang Qiu were fighting the Xiongnu. According to captured prisoners, this Xiongnu invasion of Xiliang was a two-pronged operation. One was led by the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu Yufuluo, who launched a massive attack on Xiliang from Zhangye. The other was led by the troops of Liu Bao, the Left Wise King, who is currently stationed in Beidi County."

Pang De, standing by, was startled and hurriedly said to Ma Chao, "General, if that's the case, then Xiliang is in danger! Given the current situation, should we detach troops to support Xiliang?" Ma Chao pondered for a moment before saying, "We haven't had any previous encounters with the Southern Xiongnu, yet they've appeared on Xiliang soil. They're likely reinforcements requested by Mi Tang. Otherwise, how could they have crossed the Eastern Qiang and invaded Xiliang in winter? Mi Tang is truly a cunning and formidable figure. He's playing the game of "encircling Wei to save Zhao"! He wants us to detach our troops to support the battle in Xiliang, thereby weakening our army."

Zhang Xiu and Xu Huang also shouted anxiously, "General, even if this is the case, we must rescue Xiliang." Ma Dai was filled with anxiety, while Ma Chao was lost in deep thought. He silently analyzed that if he simply withdrew his troops to aid Xiliang, wouldn't all his previous efforts and efforts be wasted, a failure at the last moment? Furthermore, the situation within the Eastern Qiang was already unstable. The Ehe and Shaoge tribes were acting as internal supporters, and in the Eastern Qiang's rear, the Shaodang tribe led other smaller tribes in support and resistance. If he failed to succeed at this point and slay Mi Tang here, the next time he assembled his forces to attack the Eastern Qiang, he would inevitably face an even more difficult situation, exponentially more difficult. After all, as the ancient saying goes, "One push is enough, the second is weak, and the third is exhaustion." The most appropriate way now should be to try our best to quickly capture the Eastern Qiang, eliminate the Eastern Qiang King Mi Tang, and then lead the army back to Xiliang, go along Wuwei and pass through Wuwei County, and directly carry out a strict blockade deployment in Zhangye County, so as to besiege the Southern Xiongnu in the territory of Xiliang and carry out a comprehensive strangulation operation against them. Only in this way can we truly solve the difficult problems we are facing now, stabilize Xiliang, and completely quell the threat of the Eastern Qiang.

Ma Chao said to his generals, "If we return to aid Xiliang now, all our efforts will be wasted. The current situation in the Eastern Qiang is unstable, making this the perfect time. We should capture the Eastern Qiang and kill Mi Tang in one fell swoop. Then, we can return to Xiliang, passing through Wuwei and Zhangye, to blockade and strangle the Southern Xiongnu. This way, we can protect Xiliang and quell the Eastern Qiang rebellion."

Ma Chao pondered for a moment before making up his mind. "I'm determined to fight this battle. I must conquer Dongqiang before returning to aid Xiliang. But Cheliji is being held hostage by the Xiongnu Zuoxian King's forces in Beidi County, unable to join them. I intend to lead my cavalry to support Cheliji. We'll first defeat Zuoxian King's forces in Beidi County, then directly join forces with Cheliji and launch our attack."

Pang De said, "General, if you want to support Chief Cheliji, I will go, and you stay here to take charge of the overall situation." Ma Chao said, "This battle is of great importance. Only if I go can we judge the situation and launch an attack. If you go in time, it will be too troublesome to pass on the military orders. Now the King of Western Qiang has been frightened by me, and the King of Eastern Qiang, Mi Tang, has been frightened by me. If our army does not launch a general attack, he will not dare to fight easily." Pang De withdrew.

Then Ma Chao's face darkened. He said, "All officers, listen to my orders." The officers roared in agreement. "Xu Huang and Zhang Xiu, listen to my orders," Ma Chao said. Xu Huang and Zhang Xiu stepped out, bowed, and awaited Ma Chao's orders. Ma Chao said, "You two will rest today and recuperate. When night falls, Zhang Xiu will lead a force to harass the Eastern Qiang camp. Beat the war drums frequently, pretending to launch a general attack to confuse them. When they're on high alert, you can retreat. After another two hours, Xu Huang will lead a force to continue the harassment. Repeat this process, with each of you harassing the Qiang twice, until the Qiang soldiers are exhausted." The two men accepted the order.

Ma Chao continued, "Pang De, listen to my orders." Pang De's face darkened as he stepped out of the ranks. Ma Chao said, "Pang De, tonight, while Xu Huang and Zhang Xiu are harassing the Eastern Qiang, I will lead my troops and depart. You will take full control of all remaining military affairs. After the two generals have completed their attacks twice, the Qiang soldiers will be exhausted. You will lead the majority of your forces to attack the Eastern Qiang camp. The Eastern Qiang have been harassed by our army all night. As darkness turns to day, the Eastern Qiang soldiers must be exhausted after four consecutive attacks. Attack now. Don't aim for complete victory, but strike them hard, inflict pain, and deter them from any further action, thus buying time for me to rescue Beidi County." Ma Chao finished speaking, and Pang De bowed and said, "Accept my orders."

Ma Chao said to Ma Dai with a serious face, "Bozhan, I still need you to work hard. You go and have a rest first. When Xu Huang and Zhang Xiu launch the second round of harassment, you will imitate my dress, wearing a helmet and armor, riding a white horse, holding a spear in your hand, and appearing in a conspicuous position in the army, so as to confuse Mi Tang and make him think that I am still in the camp. At this moment, Mi Tang must have known that Beidi County is being looted by our Huns, and our army will certainly go to rescue it, so you must confuse him and make him mistakenly think that I am still in the army, so that he will not easily send troops to stop me." Ma Dai bowed and obeyed the order.

Ma Chao then addressed his officers, both large and small, saying, "All of you must follow your respective generals and firmly guard our camp. After I attack and defeat Liu Bao, I will join forces with the Western Qiang King, Cheliji, and then advance to encircle Mi Tang. When we begin fighting, that will be the signal for the general attack. Do you understand?" Everyone in the tent roared in agreement, "We obey the general's order!"