Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

As the Xiliang cavalry crushed the last wisps of dusk, a treasure-laden convoy snaked its way into Longxi County. The bronze tripod and agate beads gleamed coldly in the moonlight, but none more dazzling than the blood-drenched spear in Ma Chao's hand—the same spear he had used three days earlier, poised to hold the Di leader's head, to establish his authority on the banks of the Yarlung Zangbo River.

"Give 30% of the wealth and goods to the government, and open the granaries tomorrow to provide relief." Ma Chao flicked the blood on the tip of his spear, his eyes sweeping over the newly pierced arrow holes in the city wall. "For those villages that were burned down, give each family five dou of millet and ten rolls of linen." The guards responded and left. The sound of their horses' hooves startled the crows from the city walls, which fluttered past the mottled inscriptions on the "Monument of the Heavenly Power of the Great Han Dynasty."

Longxi County was no longer in the state of dejection it had experienced three days prior. At the entrance to a bluestone alley, an old woman thrust freshly steamed wheat cakes into the arms of patrolling soldiers. In the blacksmith's shop, the clanging of hammers blazed day and night as young men scrambled to forge their ancestral swords into the standard-issue weapons of the Western Liang Army. In a teahouse, a storyteller clapped his hands, his saliva flying as he recounted how "General Shenwei" had crushed 200,000 Di people with his cavalry, prompting even refugees from neighboring Liangzhou to flock to join the army.

As the night watchman struck the third watch drum, Ma Chao ascended the city wall alone. The night wind, carrying the scent of blood, swept across his dark cloak. The lights of the distant homes twinkled, reminiscent of the scene when Dong Zhuo ruled Longxi. The elders always told of how, in his youth, Grand Tutor Dong single-handedly mediated the conflict between the Qiang and Hu tribes, wrapping his cloak around the freezing nomads. His armor had been stained by the snow of Longxi and the blood of the Hu people. Even after his rise to power, the people of Longxi still teared up when they mentioned "Master Dong."

"General, the people are eager to join the army. Even if General Dong Huang leads his troops to support Cheliji, the defense will not be vacant." Jia Xu walked up to the city wall, waving a feather fan, his wide golden sleeves brushing against the cracks in the battlements. "It is said that no one has brought such peace to Longxi since Grand Tutor Dong." Ma Chao looked at the lights of thousands of houses and suddenly thought of the monument to establish his prestige. Perhaps the so-called prestige of heaven is never the cold inscription on the monument, but the obsession that keeps the fireworks in the city forever.

Ma Chao's fingers, which were holding onto the battlements, were turning pale. "Wenhe, I've been pondering a question lately," Ma Chao suddenly said, "What exactly is the will of the people?"

Jia Xu tucked his feather fan into his sleeve, letting his wide, gold-threaded sleeves flow like flowing water. "The people's hearts are like water; if you follow the flow, it flows smoothly; if you go against it, it surges." His eyes swept over the common people working under the lanterns below the city walls—the refugees were repairing the city walls with bricks bought with Di people's treasures, while children chased soldiers carrying fodder, their laughter mingling with the sound of rammed earth.

"It's complex, yet also very straightforward." Ma Chao's Adam's apple rolled as he recalled the scene of the granary being opened to release grain three days ago. The old woman holding a clay pot and begging for porridge, her cloudy eyes reflecting the banner of the "Xiliang Ma Clan" on the granary, suddenly knelt down tremblingly and kowtowed, her white hair matted with yellow dust: "I've lived for most of my life, and this is the first time I've seen the general's grain cart arrive before the Hu people's scimitars."

"In this chaotic world, the people only seek a place to settle down." His nails dug deep into the cracks in the city wall. "In the early years, Longxi respected me, but it was only because of the legacy left by Dong Gong. But now..."

Jia Xu tapped the night sky with his feather fan: "When Lord Dong was here, he used his iron armor to protect the smoke from the cooking fires in Longxi. Now, Your Majesty has quelled the border troubles with thunderous means and gathered the refugees with benevolence. You have rekindled the hearts of the people with your blood and food."

Ma Chao was silent for a long time, then reached out to catch a falling spark. The tiny flame flickered in his palm, making the large "Ma" banner on the city wall seem to be ablaze. "Mr. Dong taught me how to defend my land, and these people..." He watched the lights of thousands of homes gradually light up, his voice suddenly becoming softer. "He taught me what it means to be in the hearts of the people."

Suddenly, hurried footsteps were heard coming from the wooden ladder. Lu Su, holding a sheepskin map, sweat dripping from his forehead, said: "Your Majesty! Scouts are reporting that over the past three days, more than 2,000 refugees from Bingzhou have poured into Longxi from Xiaoguan. All we see along the way are children and girls, half-naked."

Ma Chao pounded his fingertips on the battlements, "How dare the Xiongnu's iron hooves be so rampant!" He looked at the vultures circling in the sky, his voice heavy as lead, "Although Bingzhou is not far from here, it is not close either. The people have come here with their entire families. Their homes must be in ruins."

Jia Xu flicked his folding fan, his wide, golden sleeves brushing the burnt marks marking the Bingzhou border on the map. "Your Majesty, with the force of thunder, crushed the Di people and erected a monument of prestige on the riverbank. This news has long since spread throughout the north with the caravans." His gaze was sharp as he pointed at the winding escape route on the map. "These refugees have rushed all the way here, surely believing that the Xiliang cavalry can hold up their own destiny."

The river breeze, wrapped in gravel, blew in, making the flags on the city walls rustle. Ma Chao took off his cloak and draped it over the shivering Jia Xu beside him, whispering, "In troubled times, we drift along, seeking only a handful of soil to shelter ourselves and a mouthful of warm rice." He remembered the refugees weeping over their corn porridge when the granaries were opened for grain, and dug his nails deep into his palms. "If we sit back and watch Bingzhou fall, the people will suffer the same tragic fate as they did in Longxi. I plan to send General Xu Rong with 20,000 cavalry to support Bingzhou and resist the Xiongnu."

Lu Su frowned and stroked his beard, his fingertips running across the expansion of the Xiongnu power on the map: "But if General Xu Rong divides his troops and marches north, Longxi has just experienced war and its defenses are still weak. Moreover, Xiliang is now facing an invasion by the Xianbei. Dividing the troops at this time may cause changes."

Jia Xu tapped the map with his folding fan, drawing an arc between Liangzhou and Bingzhou. "Zi Jing's words make sense. But the Xiongnu's invasion of the south this time is by no means a scattered looting operation. Judging from their offensive, they have probably already formed an alliance with the Xianbei, intending to trap Xiliang." He looked at Ma Chao, his eyes flashing. "If you can rush to Bingzhou to help, it will not only save the people, but also cut off the Xiongnu and Xianbei's support, allowing our army to switch from defense to offense."

"Showing the people of Bingzhou Xiliang's determination to resist foreign invaders is the seed that will win their hearts and minds in the future." Ma Chao's fingertips traced the scorched earth ravaged by the Xiongnu on the map. "Bingzhou produced an unparalleled brave general, Lu Bu. However, Lu Fengxian led the Wolf Riders into the pass to fight for supremacy, leaving the people of Bingzhou to the Xiongnu's iron hoofs. Such behavior is bound to lose the people's support."

Lu Su's eyes shone like cold stars in the candlelight, and the mark of Bingzhou City on the map was deeply indented by his fingernails: "My lord, you are wise! When the Xiongnu broke through the last line of defense of Bingzhou and the people were isolated and helpless, our Xiliang Iron Cavalry descended from the sky. This favor is worth more than thousands of troops! Before, my lord wanted to invite Gongsun Zan to be stationed in Bingzhou," he suddenly lowered his voice, "when our army and Gongsun Zan quell the invasion of the foreign tribes in Bingzhou, if Gongsun Zan has any rebellious intentions, our army will have the upper hand; if he is willing to join hands, it will be even more powerful."

Jia Xu gently waved his feather fan, his wide golden sleeves sweeping across the border between Youzhou and Bingzhou on the map: "Zi Jing, do you know why Gongsun Zan went south? His White Horse Volunteers, though brave, are trapped in the barren land of Youzhou, with a shortage of food and fodder. This time they entered Bingzhou, just to find a foothold." The feather fan stopped at Yanmen Pass. "And our army took the initiative to provide assistance, not only saving the danger from the foreign tribes, but also providing financial benefits. With this balance of power, even if Gongsun Zan has the ambition to dominate, it will be difficult for him to compete with our Xiliang."

Ma Chao gazed at the distant bonfires where new recruits were training. The memory of General Gongsun Zan's white horse and silver spear shone brightly in his mind, yet he always carried the simple spirit of defending his homeland and his people. "Brother Gongsun is a man of integrity. Although he lost his battle against Yuan Shao in Jizhou, he will go to Bingzhou and will certainly fight the Xiongnu with all his might." His voice suddenly softened. "If Bingzhou can be temporarily secured with his help until the foreign invaders are defeated, and if he is willing to return to Xiliang, then Bingzhou can be incorporated into our empire. With Gongsun Zan in Bingzhou, we can rest assured."

Ma Chao's fingertips rolled heavily over the outline of Youzhou on the map, leaving fine wrinkles on the parchment. Dusk slanted in through the arrow windows, casting a sharp light on his wristband. "Gongsun Zan ruled Youzhou for over a decade. The sound of the White Horse Volunteers' hooves could silence a child's tears. If one day we march on Youzhou, all he needs to do is raise his arm and call..." His words trailed off, leaving only the night wind, carrying the lingering strains of the Qiang flute, crashing onto the city wall.

Ma Chao turned to Lu Su and Jia Xu and said solemnly, "Gentlemen, immediately order local officials to open granaries and release grain, and vacate vacant military camps and temples to house the refugees from Bingzhou. Priority will be given to the elderly, the weak, women, and children in the provision of cotton-padded clothes and medicinal materials. The young and strong will be incorporated into the labor teams to build the city walls, and millet will be distributed according to their work."

His fingers slashed heavily over the sheepskin map on the table, the candlelight dancing on Jia Xu's feather fan: "Zijing, quickly send a secret message to Zhang Lu in Hanzhong. Have him select 5,000 trained soldiers and have them rush here day and night, carrying farming tools and seeds. The trained soldiers must not only help the people reclaim wasteland and build houses, but also preach the doctrine to the refugees, and most importantly, build momentum for Xiliang."

At this point, Ma Chao suddenly drew the short blade from his waist. With a flash of cold light, it cut through the candle wick on the desk, sending sparks flying onto the "Chang'an" sign: "And the most important thing—order Zhang Lu to mobilize all his secret agents to spread the news that I have annihilated the entire Di tribe in Longxi and erected a monument to intimidate Xiangxiong throughout Xuchang, Jiangdong, and Jingzhou." His voice was shrouded in chill. "We must let the princes of the Central Plains know that the Western Liang cavalry can not only sweep across the border, but can also return to Chang'an in an instant. Anyone who dares to have evil intentions while I am defending against foreign invaders will learn from the fate of the Di people!"

Lu Su immediately unfolded the bamboo slips to record the event, while Jia Xu nodded, gently shaking his feather fan: "This is a plan that kills three birds with one stone. It can comfort the refugees, spread the doctrine, and deter the enemy with war."

Ma Chao's eyes were like torches, and he said in a deep voice, "The war in Xiliang is raging. We cannot delay for a moment. Tomorrow, we will assign 20,000 cavalry to General Xu Rong and send them to Bingzhou overnight. As for our main forces, we will immediately prepare and vow to eliminate the border troubles and relieve the crisis in Xiliang!"

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu and Lu Su bowed solemnly and said, "Your Majesty is wise! This trip will surely enhance our country's prestige and stabilize our territory."

At dawn the next day, as the first rays of morning light pierced the clouds, flags fluttered across the parade ground. Elite cavalrymen lined up in formation, the clatter of horses pawing the ground and the rustling of armor plates mingling into a stirring war song. Clad in black armor and holding a golden tiger-head spear, Ma Chao stood atop the command platform. His voice resonated like a bell: "Xu Rong, listen to my orders! You are to lead 20,000 cavalrymen north overnight to aid Bingzhou. You must protect the people and promote the might of our Xiliang army!"

"I obey your command!" Xu Rong clasped his fists in agreement and turned to review his troops. The sound of horses' hooves clattered and dust flew up in the air.

Meanwhile, Ma Chao's main army, led by him, had also assembled. As the army set out, civilians along the route, carrying their elderly and children, carrying pots and rice, spontaneously came to see them off. Elderly men trembled as they pressed hard-boiled eggs into the soldiers' hands, children cheered and waved small flags, and young and strong men rushed to help carry supplies.

A white-haired old woman stopped Ma Chao's horse and said tearfully, "General, please take care of yourself! General Dong Zhuo protected us back then, and now we all depend on you!"

Ma Chao dismounted and respectfully took the water bag from the old woman's hand. He said in a deep voice, "Don't worry, old lady! With me, Ma Chao, here, I will never let the people of Xiliang suffer any injustice!"

Under the rising sun, the army marched forward in a mighty procession. The sound of horse hooves, trumpets, and the cheers of the people blended together, echoing for a long time across the vast plain. The "Great Han Heavenly Power Monument" stood quietly by the river, witnessing these tragic and inspiring scenes, as if silently blessing this righteous army with victory and immediate success.