Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Dong Huang looked at the two brothers, a complex mix of emotions welling up within him. He was moved by their loyalty and bravery, yet also worried about their safety and the future. His eyes reflected admiration and emotion, and he spoke in a deep voice, "Your loyalty and bravery truly move me. Since we chose to part ways with Ma Chao, there's no need to dwell on it now. Even if it means we all die together, I will never back down." Dong Huang's words exuded a firmness and resolve, like a sword unsheathed, its edge exposed.

The other generals fell into deep thought. Dong Huang's words caused them to reassess the situation. Their faces displayed a complex mix of hesitation, determination, and resignation. Though still apprehensive, they realized that since they had chosen to follow General Dong Huang, they could, as Dong Huang had said, fight to the bitter end. This desperate spirit permeated the meeting hall, filling everyone with a sense of tragic grandeur.

Everyone shouted in unison, their voices so passionate and heroic that they seemed to pierce the heavens. "Yes, at worst, it's all a fight to the death. We, the general, will be with you, even if we die before our lord, we will have no regrets." Their eyes gleamed with a resolute determination, a determination to face death head-on.

At this moment, Dong Huang seemed to have regained his sanity from his madness. His eyes gradually became clear, and looking at these loyal subordinates in front of him, a strong feeling of emotion surged in his heart. He said loudly: "Okay, okay, brothers, we will strengthen the city defense and defend Tianshui to the death." His voice was full of strength and determination, as if declaring to everyone their perseverance and indomitable spirit. Dong Huang straightened his spine, like a towering mountain, giving people firm confidence. His eyes swept across everyone's face, and he saw a resolute face. He knew that these people would join him in protecting Tianshui and for the beliefs in their hearts, at any cost.

Outside Tianshui County, Ma Chao and Xu Rong successfully reunited. Dong Bai also stood quietly beside Ma Chao, his expression revealing a hint of solemnity. Everyone gathered in the military tent to discuss the next steps in Tianshui County.

Ma Chao first looked at Dong Bai and asked, "Has the Dong clan reached an agreement? Are they willing to help persuade Dong Huang to surrender?" Dong Bai nodded slightly and said, "Third Grandfather has agreed. If the time is right, he is willing to come and personally persuade Uncle Dong Huang." Ma Chao nodded slightly and said, "Okay, then we must make preparations. Now that the enemy is at the gate, it all depends on their next move."

Ma Chao said to Xu Shu and Xu Rong, "General Xu Rong, you are a veteran commander, and your words are often wise and prudent. And Yuan Zhi is known for his wisdom. I wonder if you two have any good ideas or insights?"

Xu Rong spoke first, "We've already formed a siege around Tianshui. I wonder if the general would prefer a quick victory, or spare our brothers some casualties?" As Xu Rong spoke, he genuinely didn't want to engage Dong Zhuo's remaining forces in Tianshui and suffer heavy losses. After all, they were all under Dong Zhuo's command, good brothers who had fought side by side. Now, facing each other on the battlefield was a difficult prospect. But as a high-ranking general, he had to speak up when the commander asked.

Ma Chao also said, "A quick victory would only result in heavy casualties. Furthermore, our forces are now roughly equal to those of Tianshui County. A direct assault, not to mention the heavy losses, would be a serious challenge, not to mention the potential for success." Ma Chao's face was solemn, fully aware of the difficulty and complexity of this battle. He was torn between wanting to spare his men excessive casualties and the need to complete the mission entrusted by the Emperor. Xu Shu listened quietly, his brow furrowed slightly, lost in thought. He understood that this battle was not just a military contest, but also a psychological one. The most crucial question at this moment was how to successfully persuade Dong Huang to surrender without inflicting excessive casualties.

Xu Shu spoke up, "General, the art of war says that when attacking a city, one should surround it on three sides and leave one gate open. This is a brilliant military tactic, designed to give the enemy a glimmer of hope, forcing them to entertain a hopeless struggle and avoid desperate resistance. When we attack the city from three sides, the enemy will feel immense pressure, as if a surging tide of enemies is approaching from all three sides. The deafening cries of war and the throng of banners will instill fear in the enemy. The remaining gate, however, will be like a ray of light in the darkness, offering them hope of escape. This will create divisions within the enemy ranks, and those who are considering retreat may persuade the commander to seize the opportunity to escape, hoping to rise again later."

If Dong Huang gives in and decides to escape, we can carefully set up an ambush along his route. Plan ahead, choose advantageous terrain, and deploy elite troops. When Dong Huang and his remaining troops flee, they will be caught in a trap. We can launch a surprise attack and capture them with lightning speed. Then, members of the Dong clan can be dispatched to persuade them to surrender. This will both reduce our casualties and break the current stalemate—a truly two-pronged strategy.

However, the success of this strategy hinges on Dong Huang's decision. If Dong Huang is determined to defend Tianshui City to the death, there will be no retreat. He may consider escape a cowardly act, preferring to perish with the city rather than abandon it. In this case, we have no choice but to fight hard. However, such a fight will inevitably result in heavy casualties, an outcome none of us want. Therefore, we must carefully observe Dong Huang's movements and judge his intentions in order to make the most prudent decision.

Xu Shu's words were calm and wise, his eyes gleaming with deep thought. Ma Chao nodded slightly, lost in thought. This strategy was certainly feasible, but it also carried risks. If Dong Huang refused to fall for it and continued to defend the city, they would be faced with a difficult siege. And if Dong Huang chose to escape, they would need to accurately predict his escape route, otherwise the ambush would be useless.

Dong Bai listened quietly, pondering the pros and cons of this strategy. She knew her uncle Dong Huang was stubborn and wouldn't easily choose to escape. But if there was a glimmer of hope, perhaps he would make a different choice for the sake of his men's lives. Xu Rong frowned. As a veteran commander, he was more focused on the actual combat situation. The strategy of surrounding three sides and leaving one side open was feasible in theory, but in practice, many factors needed to be considered, such as the enemy's reaction and the impact of terrain.

A brief silence fell within the military tent as everyone weighed the feasibility of this strategy. They knew that no matter which method they chose, they would face enormous challenges. However, to minimize casualties and end this battle as quickly as possible, they had to make a decision.

After hearing Xu Shu's plan, everyone agreed it was feasible. Ma Chao glanced at them and said solemnly, "Everyone should rest early today. Tomorrow, we will follow Mr. Xu's plan. General Xu Rong will lead his troops to attack the west gate, while Bai Er and I will attack the south gate. Mr. Xu Shu and Zhang Ren will lead our troops to attack the east gate. Zhang Liao and Xu Huang will set up an ambush outside the north gate in advance, choosing a favorable location." Everyone agreed and prepared to go down to rest.

Xu Shu still had a worried look on his face at this time. He frowned slightly and said to Ma Chao, "General, I still have a little worry. Our army has just arrived, and we are going to attack the city like this. I am afraid that the siege equipment is insufficient. If Dong Huang insists on defending the city, it will dampen the morale of our army, which will be bad." Ma Chao nodded slightly, and after pondering for a moment, he said, "Let's give it a try now. After all, we don't know Dong Huang's intentions, and Dong Huang doesn't know our intentions. Moreover, this feint attack is mainly to test Dong Huang's reaction. If we can elicit his next move, we can also respond flexibly. Even if the siege equipment is insufficient, we can take this opportunity to observe the enemy's defensive deployment and prepare for subsequent operations." After hearing this, Xu Shu sighed slightly. He was still uneasy, but he also knew that there was no other way at this time. He could only hope that tomorrow's battle would go smoothly.

The next morning, the first light of dawn gently cast a thin ray across the land outside Tianshui City, but it failed to dispel the tense atmosphere that threatened to spread. Outside Tianshui City, war drums vibrated violently like thunder, the roar piercing the clouds, and the shouts of killing shook the earth, threatening to shake the entire world.

Following yesterday's deployment, General Xu Rong led his troops toward the west gate. The soldiers surged forward like a surging tide, their steps firm and powerful, each step imbued with a resolute resolve. While their faces displayed the resolute determination of following orders, their eyes occasionally flickered with complex emotions. After all, they were about to face their former comrades, and their past friendships inevitably weighed on their minds.

At the same time, Ma Chao and Dong Bai also led their troops to attack the South Gate. Ma Chao, atop his towering warhorse, wore a stern expression, his gaze fixed on the city wall. Dong Bai sat quietly on his horse, a hint of worry in his eyes. The soldiers behind them advanced with unwavering determination, yet without a hint of nervousness. Their weapons were tightly gripped, yet their inner struggles were palpable. They knew full well that many of the enemy troops were former comrades who had fought side by side, yet now faced each other in battle.

Xu Shu and Zhang Ren also led their troops toward the east gate. Their ranks were orderly and orderly, their expressions solemn and dignified. Although they understood that military orders were as heavy as a mountain and must be obeyed, the ties of comradeship could not be erased from their hearts. They gazed at the city wall ahead and sighed silently.

Despite the grand scale of the attack, the troops were clearly short on siege equipment. While the attack appeared imposing, it lacked the conviction to fight to the death. Many soldiers felt a pang of resentment, silently praying for a swift and peaceful conclusion to the battle, hoping they wouldn't have to face their former comrades in a life-or-death struggle. However, they also knew that in these turbulent times, fate was often beyond their control, so they could only obey orders and continue on their journey.