Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

On the city walls, Dong Huang and his men stood ready. Dong Huang's eyes revealed determination and resolve, his face devoid of any fear. He knew this was a life-or-death battle; he couldn't retreat, couldn't be afraid. He gazed at the enemy troops below, his heart filled with anger and resentment. He secretly vowed to defend Tianshui City, for his own honor, for the lives of his brothers, and for the faith they held in their hearts.

Jiang Jiong stared at the enemy troops under the city with sharp eyes. His eyes were full of vigilance and sharpness, and his brain was working rapidly, analyzing the enemy's every move. As the enemy troops gradually approached, Jiang Jiong soon noticed something was wrong. He found that although the enemy army was powerful, the attack seemed a bit hasty, especially the siege equipment was obviously insufficient. Jiang Jiong's heart moved, and he immediately said to Dong Huang: "General, the enemy's attack this time seems fierce, but in fact it is weak. They lack siege equipment and do not really want to fight us to the death. This is probably just a feint." Dong Huang frowned slightly. He carefully observed the enemy troops under the city and agreed with Jiang Jiong's judgment.

Dong Huang then ordered the defenders to remain calm and hold their ground. When Ma Chao and his men launched their attack, the defenders on the city wall only launched a token counterattack. Soldiers on both sides were hesitant, mindful of their former comrades-in-arms, unwilling to fight to the death. Arrows whistled through the air, but few casualties were reported. Soldiers on both sides prayed silently, hoping the battle would end quickly and that they could avoid further casualties.

Ma Chao soon discovered that Tianshui City was heavily fortified. Its towering, sturdy walls presented an impenetrable barrier, easily defended but difficult to attack. Lacking powerful siege equipment, a brute force attack with the equipment they had would inevitably result in unbearable casualties. However, Dong Huang's troops remained unfazed, methodically deploying their defenses. Every soldier remained steadfast in their posts, moving swiftly and methodically, without a trace of panic.

Seeing this, Ma Chao realized Dong Huang hadn't fallen for his trick. He frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then decisively decided to retreat. He ordered the troops to retreat. The clear blast of the horns echoed across the battlefield, and Ma Chao's soldiers retreated like a tidal wave. Their movements, though hurried, were orderly, demonstrating their excellent military proficiency.

Dong Huang watched Ma Chao's army retreat like a tide after the horn sounded, and he breathed a sigh of relief. A gratified smile crossed his face, and he said to Jiang Jiong beside him, "This enemy retreat demonstrates the strength of our defense. Your foresight and meticulous deployment enabled us to successfully resist the enemy attack." Dong Huang regarded Jiang Jiong with even greater admiration, praising him generously. He knew that Jiang Jiong's deployment and the bravery of his soldiers played a crucial role in this battle.

This victory further strengthened Dong Huang's resolve to hold Tianshui County. He looked at the soldiers on the city wall and shouted, "Brothers, we have successfully resisted the enemy's attack today. This is our victory. But we cannot be complacent. The enemy will surely attack again. We must continue to strengthen our defenses and hold on to our homeland." The soldiers shouted in unison, expressing their determination and courage. A resolute glint shone in Dong Huang's eyes. He knew the war was far from over, but he was confident that he could lead his soldiers to protect Tianshui County.

In contrast, the atmosphere in Ma Chao's central tent was solemn, so heavy it seemed as if water could drip from it. Ma Chao sat in the main seat, a look of resignation on his face. Xu Shu, with a look of guilt, said, "We were short on siege equipment, and my brothers, mindful of their comradeship, led to this mistake. Of course, I have unshirkable responsibility for the failed decision." Ma Chao shook his head slightly and offered a soothing words, "Yuanzhi, don't say that. In battle, victory and defeat are commonplace, and we never imagined we could achieve this with just one strike. Moreover, I believe there must be capable men in Dong Huang's army who could see through our plan. This isn't your fault; I was just too impatient." Even after hearing this, Xu Shu still looked ashamed.

The generals in the tent were all silent because their plan had failed, and the air seemed to freeze. At this time, Zhang Liao and Xu Huang entered the tent. Xu Huang shouted from a distance: "These guys, I'm watching the military. I think Mr. Xu's plan is not working. It was seen through by these guys. Wenyuan and I ambushed there early, and we were frozen all morning, and we returned empty-handed." Ma Chao scolded Xu Huang unhappily and said, "Xu Gongming, the matter of battle is not as simple as you think. The battlefield changes rapidly. How can anyone be comprehensive? In my opinion, there must be capable people on the opposite side. Besides, I agree with this plan. Mr. Yuanzhi has already taken the lack of siege equipment into consideration. It was my eagerness for quick success and fear of causing casualties that led to this small failure. Besides, it's just a small defeat. No soldiers were lost. Everyone was just testing. Why do you have so many complaints?" Xu Huang muttered, "Mr. always puts pressure on me and doesn't let me say a word to him." But seeing Ma Chao's sharp eyes, he dared not say anything more.

Dong Bai stepped forward to offer some solace, saying, "Don't be so discouraged. While this wasn't a success, it wasn't a complete failure. This was merely a preliminary test, allowing us to better understand Uncle Dong Huang's situation. We can learn from this operation and make further plans. Victory and defeat are common in the military, so we must not be discouraged by a temporary setback." Dong Bai's words were gentle yet powerful, like a spring breeze, slightly easing the tense and oppressive atmosphere in the tent. Everyone's expressions softened slightly after hearing Dong Bai's words, and they began to reconsider their next strategy.

During this period of time, Ma Chao and others racked their brains and tried every possible way to break through the solid fortress of Tianshui City.

First, Xu Shu proposed the strategy of making a feint to the east and attacking in the west. He reasoned that sending a unit to stage a large-scale feint at the east gate would surely draw Dong Huang's attention. The main force could then quietly circle around to the west gate and launch a surprise attack, catching Dong Huang completely off guard. So, one unit beat drums and shouted with overwhelming force at the east gate, as if to storm it in one fell swoop. The soldiers charged forward, brandishing their weapons and shouting deafening slogans. Meanwhile, under cover of darkness, the main force quietly advanced towards the west gate. They advanced cautiously, refusing to make a sound, fearing detection. However, Jiang Jiong, a general in Dong Huang's army, was wary. He was constantly monitoring the movements outside the city walls. When the cries of war rose from the east gate, he was not deceived by the superficial momentum. He carefully observed his surroundings and quickly saw through Ma Chao and his men's feint to the east and attack in the west. When Ma Chao's main force arrived at the west gate, they found the city walls already well-prepared for the attack. Dong Huang's soldiers wore solemn expressions, weapons gripped tightly in their hands, their eyes revealing a fierce determination. Arrows rained down like locusts, whistling with a piercing, terrifying sound. Ma Chao and his men had no choice but to order a retreat.

Zhang Liao then suggested a surprise attack at night. He believed that the enemy was at their most vulnerable, and a surprise attack at this time would greatly increase the chances of success. So, under cover of darkness, an elite force quietly approached the city walls. Clad in black, their movements were agile, like ghosts in the night. Carrying ladders, they advanced cautiously, each step imbued with caution. But Dong Huang had anticipated this and had deployed numerous sentries and traps around the city walls. The sentries, their eyes wide open, vigilantly observing everything. The traps were filled with spikes and blades, waiting to ensnare the enemy. Before the attacking force even reached the wall, they were discovered. Suddenly, torches lit up on the walls, illuminating the night sky. Arrows and rocks rained down, and the attacking force was surrounded. The soldiers fought hard, but casualties mounted under the fierce enemy attack. After suffering some casualties, they managed to break through.

The troops then attempted to cut off Tianshui City's water and food supply, hoping to force Dong Huang out for a decisive battle. They knew that without water and food, Dong Huang would be unable to hold out. Ma Chao then dispatched his troops to search the city's water and food supply routes. After considerable effort, they finally located several possible routes. However, Dong Huang was well prepared. He had stored ample water and food within the city and fortified the passages. He firmly believed that by holding the city, he could wear down Ma Chao's army. No matter how hard Ma Chao and his men tried, they could not successfully cut off the passages.

Ma Chao and his men gazed upon the impregnable Tianshui City with growing anxiety. They knew a prolonged stalemate would be detrimental to their situation. Not only would it consume vast quantities of food and supplies, it might also attract the attention of other factions. However, faced with Dong Huang's resolute defensive strategy, they could not devise a better solution. In the central military tent, they racked their brains for a strategy to breach the city. A solemn expression crossed everyone's face, and the air was thick with tension. The battle for Tianshui City seemed to have reached a stalemate.

In reality, there was no hope. With a resolute resolve, and with the now fully equipped siege equipment, the troops within Tianshui City could eventually be conquered despite the constant depletion of their strength. After this period of respite, the construction machinery had already been fully replenished, fully equipped for a strong assault. However, the main reason for the stalemate was Ma Chao's longing for the camaraderie of his former comrades. Whenever he thought of the days he had fought side by side with Dong Huang's men on the battlefield, he was overwhelmed with emotion. The warriors on both sides were Xiliang's elite, and they should have been defending this land together, not perishing in vain in internecine warfare. Ma Chao truly hated to see these brave soldiers sacrificed in vain in this civil war. He cherished a single wish: to capture Tianshui City without bloodshed, avoiding unnecessary casualties. He knew the pain and devastation that war brings, and he did not want to see this land ravaged by war again. Therefore, he has been thinking hard about a good strategy that can achieve the goal while reducing casualties, and is struggling to find a balance in this dilemma.