Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Since Ma Chao launched his campaign against Tianshui, he has been unstoppable, capturing cities and strongholds. His soldiers, high in morale, charged forward courageously, striking fear into the hearts of the enemy wherever they advanced. Needless to say, Dong Bai actively cooperated. Understanding the importance of this operation, Dong Bai mobilized the resources of Longxi County to provide logistical support for Ma Chao's army. She also personally led a portion of her troops to coordinate with Ma Chao's advance towards Tianshui County.

Xu Rong, a talented general, led the Longxi army, which advanced slowly from behind. Xu Rong was a skilled military commander, meticulously planning every move to ensure a safe and orderly advance. He also focused on intelligence gathering, maintaining a thorough understanding of enemy movements. Under his command, the Longxi army advanced steadily, forming a formidable synergy with Ma Chao's forces.

After a month of arduous fighting, Ma Chao's army successfully linked up with Xu Rong's troops from Longxi County at the gates of Tianshui City. They now formed a siege around Tianshui County. Although Dong Huang's troops fought hard throughout Tianshui County, facing the dual pressure of Ma Chao and Xu Rong of Longxi, they were forced to gradually withdraw their forces and ultimately besieged Tianshui City.

Inside Tianshui County, Dong Huang was consumed by anxiety. He paced restlessly in the halls, his brow furrowed so tightly that it could pinch a fly, his expression filled with worry and fear. His eyes frequently glanced outside the city walls, as if he could peer through them into the vast mass of enemy troops. He knew his predicament was utterly perilous, trapped in Tianshui County by the armies of Ma Chao and Xu Rong, like a caged beast. Yet, he refused to surrender easily; that would mean the loss of everything: his dignity, his honor, and the promise he had made to his uncle, Dong Zhuo.

Dong Huang anxiously summoned his men to discuss countermeasures, but faced with a formidable enemy, they were all gloomy and helpless. The atmosphere in the hall was so heavy it was suffocating. Everyone was silent, their faces revealing helplessness and fear.

General Zhang Wu hesitated for a long time, and finally mustered up the courage to say: "General, now we are trapped in an isolated city and can only wait for death. It is better to break out of the siege while they are not prepared. We still have 30,000 Xiliang cavalry in our hands. Leaving here is worse than sitting here and waiting to be defeated in the end." When Zhang Wu spoke, there was a hint of eagerness and expectation in his eyes. He stared at Dong Huang, hoping that he could adopt this suggestion.

Upon hearing this, Dong Huang angrily tugged at his helmet, then anxiously tossed it aside and roared, "Breakout? Breakout! Where are we going to break out? Where in the entire northwest is there a place for us now?" His voice was filled with anger and resentment, like the roar of a wounded lion. His face flushed crimson, veins bulged on his forehead, and his eyes widened as he glared at Zhang Wu.

Zhang Wu thought for a while and said, "General, how about we lead our troops to break through all the way to the grassland in the north?" There was a hint of hesitation in Zhang Wu's eyes at this time. He knew that this suggestion might anger Dong Huang, but he really couldn't think of a better way.

Dong Huang suddenly drew his sword and angrily demanded, "What do you mean? What are we doing on the grasslands? We, the Xiliang Iron Cavalry, have guarded the frontiers for generations, fighting bloody battles against the alien tribes on the grasslands. Do you mean we go to the grasslands to become their lackeys?" His eyes burned with rage, and the sword in his hand trembled slightly, as if he would swing at Zhang Wu at any moment. His lips were tightly pursed, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly with anger.

Zhang Wu was so scared that he fell to the ground and quickly knelt down and said, "General, General, I didn't mean that. I just wanted to break out. We have nowhere to go. I just thought about it." Zhang Wu's face turned pale, his eyes were full of fear, and his body trembled slightly.

Dong Huang threw his sword to the ground in anger, the blade humming as it swayed, and he shouted, "I would rather die than be a traitor. My uncle spent most of his life fighting against foreign races in the northwest, and even my father died on the battlefield. If I do such a thing, how can I see my uncle and father after I die? Let's not talk about this anymore!" Dong Huang's eyes revealed determination and resoluteness, and his chest heaved violently, as if he was suppressing the anger in his heart.

Zhang Wu knelt, too frightened to utter a single word, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Silence fell once again in the hall. Everyone was shocked by Dong Huang's resolve, yet also deeply concerned for their future. Their faces displayed a complex mix of admiration, helplessness, and fear.

Zhao Gang trembled internally as he watched Zhang Wu suffer such a setback. His face paled slightly, and a hint of nervousness and unease lingered in his eyes. But now, he had no choice but to speak: "General, we share a common bond with Miss Dong Bai of Longxi County. General Ma Chao and Miss Dong Bai were confirmed by Lord Dong before his death. His cavalry are no different from our own Xiliang cavalry. Why not, as I said before, surrender? This will spare our men from the slaughter and loss of life. They've been trapped in Tianshui for many days, tossing and turning with you for the past two years. Why not surrender now and give them a home?" Zhao Gang spoke with a look of earnestness and hope. He looked at Dong Huang, hoping he would seriously consider his suggestion.

Like an enraged lion, Dong Huang reached for his sword from his waist, forgetting it had just been placed on the ground. He held the scabbard, a tad disheveled. His eyes widened as he shouted, "Zhao Gang, what do you mean by this? Surrender? How do you surrender? This fellow Ma Chao has now gone to Chang'an to serve. He's betrayed my uncle, and how did my uncle treat him? He's actually fighting us, serving our sworn enemy, Xiliang, and you're asking me to surrender to him today?" Dong Huang's face flushed crimson, veins bulging on his forehead, his fury threatening to set the entire hall ablaze.

Zhao Gang bowed and said anxiously, "General, Mr. Dong has passed away. These brothers are all loyal to Mr. Dong. Don't you consider your brothers?" Zhao Gang's eyes were full of anxiety and helplessness, and his voice trembled slightly.

Dong Huang laughed out of anger, and laughed like a madman, and said: "Okay, okay! Zhao Gang, if you are afraid of death, my head is here. You can cut off my head and beg for mercy to the new master. I, Dong Huang, will never let my uncle down, no matter I live or die. Surrender is absolutely impossible." Dong Huang's laughter was full of grief and determination, and his eyes revealed a firm belief.

Zhao Gang was provoked by Dong Huang's words at this time. He angrily pulled off his armor and exposed his chest. There were seven or eight scars crisscrossing on his chest. Those scars were like marks carved by time, telling of his past bloody battles and loyalty and fearlessness. Zhao Gang patted his chest vigorously and shouted, "General, look, since I followed Master Dong, I have always fought bravely and never had a second thought. How could I, Zhao Gang, be a coward? I am raising this issue today for the sake of my brothers. We have been trapped for many days. If this continues, my brothers will only die in vain. Can you bear to watch your brothers die one by one? Our battle with Ma Chao was originally a fratricide. And you see, ever since General Ma Chao started fighting us, he has shown mercy in every battle, big or small, remembering the old favor. You are not afraid of death, so how could I, Zhao Gang, be afraid of death too? It is all for the sake of my brothers." Zhao Gang's eyes burned with anger, mixed with worry and heartache for his brothers. His chest heaved violently, as if deeply hurt by Dong Huang's words, and every rise and fall seemed to vent his inner anger and helplessness. He stared at Dong Huang closely, hoping that Dong Huang would listen to his advice and make the right choice for the future of his brothers.

The atmosphere in the meeting hall was heavy and oppressive. Besides the generals who had accompanied Dong Huang from Xiliang, there were also the brothers Jiang Jiong and Jiang Xu. These brothers were natives of Tianshui County, their families quite prosperous, but oppressed by the county governor, their lives were plunged into hardship. Dong Huang had just occupied Tianshui County and killed the governor. To these brothers, Dong Huang was undoubtedly a benefactor, and they willingly served him.

Both brothers were courageous and had made numerous achievements on the battlefield. Dong Huang greatly appreciated them, promoting them and entrusting them with important tasks. Now, in this meeting room, they watched Dong Huang arguing endlessly with other generals, their hearts filled with anxiety. Jiang Xu's brow furrowed, his eyes revealing worry; Jiang Jiong pursed his lips, his face determined, as if pondering how to break the stalemate. They knew that the current situation was extremely critical and that a decision must be made quickly, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous. However, they also understood that Dong Huang's stubbornness and persistence made things even more complicated. But the brothers had made up their minds: no matter what, they would stand by Dong Huang and protect their beliefs.

Jiang Jiong then stepped forward, his eyes wide with anger, and shouted, "A true man of this world is not one to be cowardly before a battle. Ma Chao was but a mortal, and who among us here is not a commander? As the saying goes, when two meet on a narrow road, the brave prevails. Moreover, we are far from reaching our limit. We hold this fortified city of Tianshui. As long as we have a steady supply of food and fodder, we can hold out for a year or two. Why argue and sow discord among us now? As brothers, we should unite for victory. Thinking of surrender or breaking out now is foolish. General, do not fret. We are here to defend Tianshui to the death. At worst, we will all be victorious." Jiang Jiong's words resounded like a bell, resounding to the ground. His eyes were unwavering, revealing a heroic spirit ready to face death head-on, like a towering mountain, unshakable.

Jiang Xu also stood nearby, his fists clenched, his face stern. He fixed his gaze on the crowd and declared, "Brother, you are absolutely right. Now that we have resolved to follow the general, we must live and die together, and never retreat. No matter how difficult the road ahead, we must stand with the general and protect Tianshui." Jiang Xu's words were filled with power, demonstrating his unwavering resolve to stand with his brother.