Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Just when the Qiang soldiers and generals were in a state of extreme tension and anxiety, the Xiliang army retreated again without any warning.

Seeing this, Mi Tang felt a surge of unease surge through him. His brow furrowed, his eyes filled with doubt. He pondered the situation, and the more he pondered, the more certain he became that this was Ma Chao's plan. Ma Chao was truly not to be underestimated. His mind was incredibly meticulous. He employed a strategy of tiresome warfare, constantly harassing our troops, leaving them completely distracted, while at the same time quietly dispersing his forces and retreating. Even if we were aware of this, we wouldn't be able to dispatch troops to pursue them under the current circumstances. Such meticulous planning! Fortunately, I had already dispatched Mi Dang to ambush them, and with Ma Chao still within the ranks, I doubted that any of the Xiliang generals could match him with his bravery. Thinking this way, Mi Tang finally understood Ma Chao's plan, and his composure gradually settled.

So, he hurriedly arranged for his soldiers to send a message to the ambushed Mi Dang, and told him anxiously that Ma Chao might have sent troops to rescue Beidi County, and asked him to make comprehensive ambush preparations and not to take it lightly.

However, Mi Tang only expected Ma Chao to dispatch reinforcements, but he had no idea that Ma Chao would actually lead the troops himself. Furthermore, in the pitch darkness of the night, he dared not act rashly to investigate Ma Chao's situation, fearing he might fall into a trap. Furthermore, the Qiang soldiers had been exhausted after a long and tiring night, their physical and mental strength severely depleted. Clearly, this was not the right time to launch a battle.

Mi Tang said to the generals with a serious face: "Everyone, you see, these Xiliang soldiers have come to harass our camp again and again. This must be Ma Chao's strategy to tire out the soldiers. In my opinion, Ma Chao must have sent troops to rescue Xiliang. Generals, please go back to the camp and rest for a while, and let the Qiang soldiers have a good rest and get enough energy so that they can have enough strength to fight with me tomorrow." After hearing this, the generals felt that what Mi Tang said was very reasonable, so they slowly let down their guard and began to order the Qiang soldiers to leave some soldiers on duty to ensure the basic safety of the camp, while the others returned to the tents with heavy steps, eager to seize the time to rest.

The Qiang soldiers finally breathed a sigh of relief, but after that sigh, endless exhaustion quickly washed over them like a tide. Returning to camp, both the Qiang soldiers and their commanders were exhausted, as if every ounce of strength had been drained from their bodies. They soon lay down before snoring like exhausted beasts, quickly drifting off to sleep. The entire camp gradually fell into a deep silence, save for the few soldiers on duty who silently held their posts.

At dawn, a faint, tiny ray of light barely appeared in the sky. The Qiang soldiers left behind to guard the camp performed their duties, their bodies lazily leaning on their spears, their heads nodding like chickens pecking at rice. They strained to keep from falling into a deep sleep, but the drowsiness that clung to them was like a thorn in their flesh, inexorable. Their eyes were hazy, their consciousness hazy, and they occasionally shook their heads violently, trying to clear their minds a little.

Meanwhile, under cover of darkness, the Xiliang soldiers were quietly and cautiously approaching the village gate. Their movements were as swift as ghosts, so subtle they made not a single sound. They carefully avoided obstacles that might make noise, slowly and steadily approaching their target, their weapons tightly gripped, their eyes revealing a fierce determination. As they successfully approached the village gate, they communicated with each other through gestures and eye contact.

They seemed to have only dozed briefly, but the moment they jolted awake, they were startled to see the enemy approaching the fortress silently and silently. One spearman, before he could even raise a warning cry, was pierced by a lightning-fast arrow, plummeting from the watchtower. His companion remained slumbering, showing no sign of awakening until the muffled thud of the corpse hitting the ground jolted him awake. The surrounding soldiers, half dozing, suddenly opened their sleepy eyes and looked in. They saw the enemy already at the gate, hacking furiously. The deer horns that had once defended the gate had been quietly removed at some point, and even if they had raised the alarm, it would have been too late.

However, upon sensing the enemy's approach, the Qiang soldiers panicked. But they quickly mustered their courage, straightened their spears, and attempted to resist, roaring with deafening fury, desperately trying to stop the Xiliang soldiers' advance. Some of them bravely rushed forward to engage the Xiliang soldiers in a fierce battle, their hearts filled with fear, yet they displayed a tenacious fighting spirit. However, under the Xiliang soldiers' ferocious attack, their resistance seemed powerless, and the Xiliang soldiers, like a surging flood, madly poured into the camp.

Qiang King Mi Tang and the Qiang leaders were suddenly awakened from their sleep by the deafening cries of slaughter. Awoken by a start, Mi Tang, who hadn't even removed his armor in his sleep, hastily swung his scimitar at his waist and rushed out, only to be met with a one-sided bloodbath. Shocked and enraged by the horrific scene, Mi Tang quickly organized his troops to put up a fierce resistance. Some soldiers were mercilessly shot as they emerged from their tents; others were even set ablaze before they could even leave, the flames spreading instantly into the sky. Some Qiang soldiers, still in panic, regained their composure at their leader's call, gripping their spears tightly and attempting to stop the enemy's ferocious charge. Some bravely charged the Xiliang soldiers, roaring with fervent fury, hoping to buy their comrades more time. Others, relying on the obstacles within the stockade, maneuvered and maneuvered around the enemy. However, the Xiliang soldiers were outnumbered and their attack was fierce, making the Qiang soldiers' resistance seem powerless. Amidst the chaos, a young spearman, his eyes wide with fear, mustered immense courage, raised his spear, and lunged at the charging Xiliang soldiers. Though his movements were a little clumsy, his bravery was truly admirable. Unfortunately, he was quickly struck down by a Xiliang soldier's sword, but even as he fell, he clung to his spear in a final struggle. Mi Tang watched his soldiers fall before him, heartbroken, but he knew he could not retreat now. He must lead his men in a resolute resistance for their own survival. He brandished his scimitar and slashed at the enemy continuously, and gradually more wounds appeared on his body, but he ignored them all and continued to fight bravely.

Generals Pang De, Xu Huang, and Zhang Xiu led their troops through the Qiang camp, throwing torches into the Qiang tents, setting them ablaze. The Qiang leaders had already joined the battle, and the Qiang soldiers, under the orders and guidance of their respective leaders, fought with all their might, despite being extremely exhausted.

As Pang De fought bravely, he keenly perceived that the Qiang soldiers, under the command of their leaders, had gradually formed an effective resistance system. He knew that, given the current situation, continuing to fight would likely result in unnecessary losses for his army. A flicker of determination crossed his stern face, his eyes radiating resoluteness and resolve. He decisively decided not to continue the fight and quickly ordered his Xiliang warriors to halt further attacks.

Elsewhere, Mi Tang watched helplessly as his Qiang soldiers fell under the enemy's onslaught, their blood spilling onto the ground, staining it crimson. He was filled with grief and pain, yet he could only watch helplessly, unable to stop the enemy's slaughter of his own soldiers. His eyes were red with rage, his fists clenched tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms.

After Pang De mercilessly slaughtered the Qiang soldiers, he led the Xiliang warriors out of the Qiang camp without hesitation, heading back towards the Xiliang camp. Mi Tang watched Pang De and his men retreat, his heart filled with helplessness and sorrow. He longed to pursue them, inflict a crushing defeat on the enemy, and avenge the fallen soldiers. However, he knew his strength was insufficient. His army had been severely damaged, and he was unable to organize an effective pursuit. He could only stand there, watching the retreating enemy, his heart filled with helplessness and pain. A deep sense of powerlessness overwhelmed him like a tide, leaving him feeling extremely frustrated and hopeless.