Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Mi Tang's furious expression, like a lion out of control, his ferocious face and eyes blazing with rage, startled all the leaders present. Under this furious pressure, they dared not disobey Mi Tang's orders. They gritted their teeth and reluctantly assembled their forces. With trepidation, they embarked on a journey with Mi Tang to defeat and engage the Western Liang army.

Meanwhile, Pang De returned triumphantly with his victorious troops. The soldiers were overjoyed on their return journey, their faces brimming with the joy and pride of victory. They had long been dwarfed by Ma Chao's brilliant achievements, a lingering sense of insecurity, habitually overshadowed by his brilliance. While this victory was based on Ma Chao's strategy, it was also inseparable from the dedicated efforts of his men. Pang De, fully aware of this, boldly ordered the slaughter of cattle and sheep, and the generous reward of the generals and the army. For a moment, the soldiers beamed with joy, immersed in the atmosphere of victory celebration. The camp was filled with laughter and hope, and with confidence and anticipation for future battles.

Mi Tang led his army in a rage and hurried over. At this time, the soldiers of Xiliang had just eaten and drunk enough and rested up. When they saw Mi Tang's army coming, they immediately lined up to fight.

The Qiang soldiers looked at the strict military formation of the Xiliang army and the high spirits of the Xiliang soldiers, some even with rosy cheeks from eating. They saw the high morale displayed by the Xiliang army, and then recalled the various setbacks and successive failures they had encountered, and their morale could not help but drop.

At this moment, Xu Huang was the first to ride out, axe in hand, challenging the Qiang camp to battle. However, Mi Tang's forces lacked any particularly valiant generals capable of confronting him. With his eyes wide open, Mi Tang roared at the leaders behind him, "Is there no one who dares to fight? Where has your usual prestige gone?" The generals looked at each other in fear.

Mi Tang didn't want to waste time, and without hesitation, he ordered the charge. A chaotic battle ensued between the two armies. The Xiliang army, in terms of equipment, morale, and spirit, proved no match for Mi Tang's Qiang soldiers. In the fierce clash, the Qiang soldiers were clearly at a significant disadvantage, and the situation became critical. Mi Tang, in the battle formation, tried his best to encourage his soldiers, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Come on! Show your courage and strength! We cannot be afraid!" However, no matter how desperately he called out, no matter how hard he tried to motivate them, the Qiang soldiers seemed drained of their energy. Their morale was extremely low, and their faces were filled with frustration and fear.

The leaders were desperately directing the battle, shouting tactical orders at the top of their lungs, trying to organize their soldiers into an effective defense to withstand the ferocious onslaught of the Western Liang army. Unfortunately, facing the overwhelming force of the Western Liang army, the Qiang soldiers, despite their best efforts, were clearly overwhelmed and unable to withstand the onslaught. They were defeated step by step, their formation in disarray.

Mi Tang watched the chaotic and collapsing situation unfold before him, his heart consumed by an endless anxiety that burned like a raging fire. His eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets, filled with not only resentment but also deep helplessness. His face darkened, veins bulging on his forehead. His hands clenched into fists, his nails digging into his flesh. But at this point, the battle was at a stalemate. The Qiang soldiers were clearly at a disadvantage in every way. Continuing to fight would only lead to further casualties. With no other choice, Mi Tang, despite his reluctance and reluctance, had no choice but to retreat.

The battle ended at the tragic cost of thousands of Qiang soldiers' lives, and Mi Tang retreated in panic with his remaining troops. The retreating troops were in disarray, their armor and weapons discarded, leaving a scene of devastation. Mi Tang, perched on his horse, gazed back at the battlefield, which had only just been filled with smoke and blood, and a wave of bitterness and pain washed over him, a deep sense of defeat and self-blame. He felt as if he had suddenly aged, his entire being shrouded in an endless haze. The heavy blow and the resentment that lingered within him led him to fall ill upon his return, weakened both physically and mentally.

After Mi Tang fell ill, the Qiang leaders, faced with such an unfavorable situation, had no choice but to defend their camp. Their expressions were solemn, filled with worry and anxiety. Now leaderless, they knew they could not act rashly and could only carefully guard their camp to prevent any enemy attacks.

--split line--

Ma Chao led his brave army and, after successfully defeating Mi Dang's ambush, they had a smooth journey. They marched like the wind and finally arrived in Beidi County.

Upon arriving in Beidi County, Ma Chao decided to rest briefly in a secluded location to allow his men to recuperate and regain strength for the upcoming challenge. During this rest period, he decisively dispatched his astute scouts to gather detailed information on the current situation in Beidi County. Accurate intelligence was crucial, as the situation was unpredictable.

The situation in Beidi County was dire. After the Xiongnu's brutal slaughter, slaughter, and looting, the land was left devastated, with ruins and the weeping of the people everywhere. Beidi County was already on the brink of collapse, nearly reaching its end. Fortunately, the Western Qiang King, Cheliji, arrived at the right time with his army. Cheliji's appearance was like a ray of light in the darkness, preventing the land from falling completely and bringing a glimmer of hope to Beidi County.

During this period, Liu Bao, the Left Wise King of the Xiongnu, was engaged in a fierce battle with Cheliji. They engaged in two brutal encounters, neither of which Liu Bao gained any substantial advantage. Cheliji's tenacious resistance and brilliant tactics proved a formidable challenge for Liu Bao. After careful consideration, Liu Bao decided against direct confrontation with Cheliji and instead adopted the traditional Xiongnu style of warfare: swift and unrestrained movement. He fully exploited the Xiongnu's superior mobility, maneuvering swiftly across the battlefield.

Faced with Liu Bao's cunning tactics, Cheliji seemed helpless. Every time Cheliji attempted to encircle or pursue Liu Bao, Liu Bao deftly evaded him, leaving Cheliji repeatedly empty-handed. This situation left Cheliji passive and anxious, desperate to find a way to break the stalemate. Liu Bao, on the other hand, exploited this distraction, constantly seeking new opportunities and chances.

Ma Chao was deeply troubled by Liu Bao's highly flexible tactics, recalling his own past experience in the Eastern Qiang region, when he had employed similar tactics. Furthermore, the Xiongnu were known for their brutality and ferocious character, and in Beidi County, they acted with impunity and recklessness. Ma Chao was lost in thought, agonizing over how to forge a close alliance with Cheliji and thereby encircle the Xiongnu Left Wise King. He knew the Xiongnu's tactics well. If he failed to seize this opportunity to decisively defeat them and allowed them to continue their rampage in Beidi County, the chaos would likely persist, and it was unclear when Beidi County would finally be stabilized and its former peace and tranquility would return.

Ma Chao sank into deep thought for a long time. After a long while, his mind gradually became clear, and a firm plan emerged. He then sent a message to Cheliji, instructing him to divide his forces and strictly guard the passes at the Autumnal Equinox, continuing the encirclement operation. He also instructed Yang Qiu to disperse the local soldiers of Beidi County to the various villages. He also instructed each village to gather wood and pile it into large bonfires. If they detected any Xiongnu movement, they would immediately light the bonfires. This would gradually pinpoint the Xiongnu's location and further narrow the encirclement. Ma Chao himself planned to remain a surprise force, concealing his presence for the time being. After all, his cavalry was capable of arriving quickly to support the enemy and, once they had completely held the Xiongnu at bay, play a crucial role in determining the final outcome.