Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Across the vast territory of the Eastern Qiang, the Ehe and Shaoge tribes are two prominent tribes. These two tribes boast a long history and play a crucial role in the development of the Qiang people. Both are powerful, each possessing its own unique culture and traditions. Their leadership is passed down through generations, each known as the Ehe or Shaoge. They shoulder the responsibility of leading the tribe and safeguarding its interests, leaving a profound mark on Qiang history.

During this massive Eastern Qiang invasion of Wuwei County, the Ehe and Shaoge tribes, two of the main groups, responded with remarkable enthusiasm. Their greed was astonishing. They not only looted and seized all manner of supplies, but also gleefully sent their troops back to their respective tribes. Furthermore, they even took food, iron pots, farm tools, and anything else they deemed useful. Their ravenous appetite seemed insatiable, and they were eager to plunder Wuwei County and take away everything they could.

Behind this greed lies the pitiful and helpless survival of the two tribes. Their tribes are incredibly poor, with scarce resources and a difficult life. Last year's snowstorm dealt them a heavy blow, leaving countless members frozen to death or starving to death in the bitter cold, shrouding the entire tribe in misery. To survive, they are forced to resort to such extreme measures, seizing the very supplies they believe could save the tribe, even though this act is frostbitten and helpless.

When the Eastern Qiang King summoned them to a meeting and informed them of Ma Chao's massacre of the Xianrong Qiang tribe, E'he and Shao Ge immediately feigned fury. E'he frowned and declared in a resounding voice, "This Ma Chao truly deserves death! We must fight him to the death and avenge our fallen people!" Shao Ge echoed his words with righteous indignation, "Indeed, we must not let the Xianrong Qiang tragedy happen to us again! We must make Ma Chao pay with blood!" But deep down, they didn't have much enthusiasm or impulse to confront Ma Chao.

The atmosphere was tense and solemn. Mi Tang, the King of the Eastern Qiang, highly praised the active response of E He and Shao Ge to the call. E He and Shao Ge stood before Mi Tang, their expressions firm and resolute, and volunteered to lead their tribe to resist Ma Chao.

"Your Majesty, we are fully aware of the threat posed by Ma Chao. We are willing to lead our tribe to the front line and fight him to the death!" E He said in a loud voice, with a determined look in his eyes.

Shao Ge also said, "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, we will go all out to completely annihilate Ma Chao!"

Mi Tang was filled with joy after hearing what the two said. He knew E He and Shao Ge's strength and determination and believed they could handle this important task.

"Good! I am deeply pleased with your courage and loyalty. I will continue to lead other tribes to fight in Wuwei. You must annihilate Ma Chao without any mistakes!" said Mi Tang, the King of Dongqiang, solemnly.

So, while E'he and Shao'ge maintained their shared hatred for the Eastern Qiang king, claiming to be on their way to resist Ma Chao, they secretly quickly gathered their troops and began methodically preparing to return to their tribe. Outside the tent, their men busily packed their belongings, while E'he and Shao'ge quietly observed, ensuring no flaws were revealed. They meticulously planned every detail, striving for a flawless operation that would leave the Eastern Qiang king completely unaware of their true intentions. On the way back to their tribe, E'he remarked to Shao'ge, "We've pulled it off so cleverly this time. The Eastern Qiang king will never suspect us." Shao'ge smiled triumphantly and said, "Of course. We want him to believe we're loyal, when in reality, we're acting solely for the good of our tribe." They knew that only by maintaining this disguise could they safely navigate the complex and volatile Eastern Qiang landscape.

E He and Shao Ge's dissatisfaction was justified. In this case, their actions might also be a form of resistance.

The snowstorm caused huge losses to all tribes, and Mi Tang's extravagant and unfair practices exacerbated the conflicts between the tribes. He made other tribes bear losses that did not belong to them, while he himself reaped the benefits. This behavior was bound to arouse public anger.

In this war against Wuwei County, other tribes fought hard to attack, but the Mi Tang tribe did not contribute and only took the benefits, which further highlighted his selfishness and incompetence.

On the surface, E He and Shao Ge appeared to be earnestly leading their troops to the Xianling Qiang territory, preparing for a fierce battle with Ma Chao. However, in reality, their meticulous planning had already enabled most of their troops to quietly and methodically embark on the journey back to their headquarters, carrying their rich spoils and various important supplies without anyone noticing. At the same time, they had also strengthened their all-around defenses at their headquarters, remaining on high alert and vigilant, fearing that Ma Chao would suddenly arrive with a large force, posing an unexpected threat and danger.

--split line--

Ma Chao led the valiant Flying Bear Army at a rapid gallop, leaving the Xianling Qiang territory far behind and soon entering the territory of Shao Ge's tribe. There, they unexpectedly encountered the tribes led by E He and Shao Ge. Ma Chao, with his heroic presence, rode the wind and broke through the enemy lines, leading the charge. Behind him, over a thousand Flying Bear soldiers appeared menacingly before E He, Shao Ge, and their companions.

Unexpectedly, however, E He and Shao Ge's troops raised the white flag and subsequently requested a conversation with Ma Chao. For a moment, the tension on the battlefield eased slightly, but the standoff between the two sides remained unchanged, and a major battle seemed imminent. The precise meaning of E He and Shao Ge's actions was a source of confusion.

Ma Chao rode on his warhorse, flanked by Pang De and Zhang Xiu. They stared sternly at E He and Shao Ge. Standing before the two armies, E He and Shao Ge spoke clearly, "General Ma Chao, if you will refrain from invading our two armies, we will provide ample supplies and guarantee unimpeded passage through our territory for you and your Flying Bear Army. But you must cooperate with us in a dramatic performance. After you charge, we will feign defeat, putting on a show for Mi Tang."

Ma Chao, Zhang Xiu, and Pang De exchanged a puzzled look, unable to fathom E He and Shao Ge's true intentions or what they were up to. Ma Chao frowned slightly, lost in thought.

At this point, Shao Ge chuckled a few times and continued, "General Ma Chao, we are also deeply dissatisfied with Mi Tang's actions. His behavior is truly unbearable for us. However, as a tribe of the Eastern Qiang, we cannot openly go against his wishes. Therefore, we hope to cooperate with you to deal with this complicated situation together."

Ma Chao's face lit up with anger after hearing Shao Ge's words. He angrily said, "If you're so dissatisfied with his actions, then why did you invade Wuwei County before? Isn't that a contradiction?"

After hearing this, E He and Shao Ge showed helpless expressions on their faces and said, "General Ma Chao, our tribe, Midang, has suffered severe damage in the snowstorm. If we do not obey the orders of the King of Eastern Qiang, our tribe will not be able to survive. We did not kill many people in this battle, but only gathered some supplies to help our tribe survive this snowstorm. We have always known that you are kind-hearted and that you can live in harmony with the Western Qiang. We in the Eastern Qiang are deeply envious of this. We hope that General Ma Chao will give our tribe a chance."

After weighing the pros and cons, Ma Chao finally agreed and accepted the suggestions of E He and Shao Ge.

Ma Chao led his troops into a seemingly fierce battle with the forces of E He and Shao Ge. In reality, E He and Shao Ge pretended to fight fiercely with Ma Chao, but were ultimately defeated. E He and Shao Ge seized the opportunity to lead their tribes back to their territory. The shouts and cries of both sides created the illusion of fierce fighting, but in reality, few casualties were incurred.

Afterwards, his troops replenished their supplies at Ehe and Shaoge. After the supplies were completed, Ma Chao did not continue his attack on the heartland tribes of the Eastern Qiang, but instead turned around and prepared to solve the difficulties facing Wuwei.