Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Upon hearing Ma Chao's decision, the counselors were filled with worry. They knew that while Ma Chao's move was ambitious, Xiliang had just experienced a major war and urgently needed a period of stability to recover, both in terms of manpower, food supplies, and people's livelihoods. Their priority was to pursue a more stable and long-term strategy for world domination, ensuring the long-term peace and stability of Xiliang and the people of the region they would eventually rule.

However, the generals' thoughts differed from those of the counselors. Years of battle had flown through their veins, and they were filled with passion and ambition, possessing a burning desire to achieve great things. Furthermore, the battle had left their generals and their men utterly devastated, and they were filled with a deep sense of rage.

Xu Huang was the first to speak out. He was a straightforward man who disliked beating around the bush. He shouted, "You wily counselors, stop hesitating! Your Majesty has it straight! These foreign tribes invade us year after year, burning, killing, looting, and committing all sorts of atrocities, bringing us so much pain! Now we can march upon their grasslands, just as we have done to the invaded tribes, and annihilate them without a single survivor. Let them also feel the bitterness of war!"

Zhang Liao's expression was filled with excitement. He slammed the table and echoed, "Gongming is absolutely right! We, the men of Xiliang, have never been afraid before! If we don't seize this victory and completely defeat them, we will surely suffer endless troubles in the future. We are willing to follow the king, tame the grasslands, and avenge our fallen brothers!"

Zhang Xiu also stood up, his eyes filled with determination. He spoke loudly, "Indeed! We fought bravely on the battlefield to protect our homeland. Now we have the opportunity to make those foreigners pay for their evil deeds. How can we retreat? I am willing to follow the king into battle. Even if the road ahead is filled with swords and seas of fire, I will never frown!"

Instantly, the generals responded, the atmosphere in the hall surging with excitement, their shouts seemingly reaching the rooftops, conveying a determination to never give up until their goal was achieved. In their hearts, this was not just a battle for revenge, but also a battle to defend dignity and honor.

The counselors, though still concerned by the agitated generals, knew it would be difficult to persuade Ma Chao to change his mind given the high morale. They could only ponder how to best plan for Xiliang in the next move and minimize the potential losses of this war.

Upon hearing the impassioned speeches of the crowd, Cheliji couldn't help but burst into laughter, his voice like a bell. His eyes were full of heroism, and he said loudly: "Great! My dear brother, you have such lofty ambitions, and I will do my best to help you! I am willing to send 30,000 Qiang cavalry to help you accomplish this great cause!" The hearty laughter and firm words instantly made the atmosphere in the hall more and more enthusiastic.

Seeing this, the Jie leader hurriedly clasped his fists and bowed, saying ingratiatingly, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! My Jie tribe is willing to send 20,000 soldiers to repay your grace and forgiveness! We are willing to serve your grand ambitions and hegemony!"

Jia Xu, however, had a stern expression, staring at the Jie leader with a sharp gaze. He said earnestly but with a hint of severity, "When you first invaded Western Qiang, you had more than 20,000 troops, right?"

The Jie leader's face suddenly became troubled, sweat breaking out on his forehead. He stammered, "This... this battle has caused heavy losses to our Jie tribe. These 20,000 soldiers are already the limit."

Even when Ma Chao agreed to incorporate the Qiang into the Western Qiang and the Jie, the meticulous Jia Xu had already considered this matter. Now, he continued mercilessly, "You must prepare at least 50,000 troops. Failure to do so would be a violation of the king's will, a hypocritical act. Since the king has pardoned you, he can naturally take advantage of the situation to annihilate you all!"

These words were like a hammer, sending cold sweats streaming down the Jie leader's face. Fifty thousand strong men—that would nearly kill his entire tribe! If all fifty thousand had gone to war, the Jie tribe would probably be left with only the elderly, the weak, women, and children after the Western Qiang War. With all the young and strong men wiped out, how could the tribe develop, how could it possibly survive?

Seeing the hesitation on the Jie leader's face, Cheliji frowned, his eyes piercing him like knives, and said, "What? You don't seem to agree? If so, then I, the Western Qiang, will not bother to recruit you. Let's fight another fair and square war to annihilate our clan!"

The Jie leader felt a sharp pain in his heart, as if it were being torn apart. He knew that he had no way out. He gritted his teeth, his facial muscles twitching, but finally nodded reluctantly in agreement.

At this moment, the leaders of the various Eastern Qiang tribes all stepped forward. "Your Majesty, we, the Eastern Qiang, are willing to mobilize 20,000 soldiers to follow you into battle!" Their voices were firm and powerful, filled with loyalty to Ma Chao and determination to follow him.

The Jie leader suddenly seemed to remember something and quickly interjected, "But...but, everyone, even if we, the Jie people, gather all our young and strong men, even if we can gather 50,000, how can we find so many war horses?"

Jia Xu narrowed his eyes slightly and said calmly, "It's okay. The warhorse issue is nothing to worry about."

Ma Chao also laughed heartily and said, "This time, we defeated the Xianbei and captured countless fine horses. That's why I have the confidence to go to the grasslands and fight them!"

Ma Chao turned to look at the leaders of the Eastern Qiang tribes and said with concern, "Since the Eastern Qiang have decided to merge with Western Liang, we will be one family from now on. We cannot withdraw too many troops. Otherwise, how will you recuperate after such a great battle?"

The leaders of the three major Dongqiang tribes, E'he, Shao Ge and Shao Dang, patted their chests and promised proudly: "One tribe will send at least 5,000 people!" The leaders of other small Dongqiang tribes also expressed their opinions. Some said they could send 1,000, and some said they could send 2,000. A rough calculation showed that the number exceeded 20,000.

For a moment, the passion of everyone in the hall was completely ignited, and their determination to conquer the grassland became more and more firm.

Ma Wan, Liang Xing, Cheng Yi and other generals who had followed Ma Chao wholeheartedly since their early years, suddenly became excited and their eyes ignited with fighting spirit when they heard that Ma Chao wanted to lead an army to conquer the grassland.

Ma Wan took the first step forward, his posture was agile, his hands clasped together, and he said in a voice like thunder: "My king! I have followed you for many years and experienced countless battles. Now I heard that you are going to conquer the grassland. I am willing to lead my troops and be the vanguard to rush to the front! Let those foreign tribes on the grassland see how powerful we, the men of Xiliang, are!" His eyes revealed eagerness and desire, as if he was about to rush to the battlefield in the next second.

Immediately afterwards, Liang Xing also stepped forward quickly, knelt on one knee, and said with a determined face: "My king, since I followed you, I have sworn to serve you with my life! This expedition to the grassland is the time for me to make achievements. I hope that the king will grant me permission to go with you. I will definitely kill him without leaving a single piece of armor!" He clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turned white, showing his inner excitement.

Cheng Yi was not willing to be outdone. He took a step forward and said loudly: "My king, I am willing to follow you across the grasslands. Even if there are mountains of swords and seas of fire ahead, I will never complain! The soldiers under my command are just like me. They hate those alien races to the core. They will surely fight bravely on the battlefield and bring honor to Xiliang!" His voice was passionate, with a momentum of being ready to die.

However, Ma Chao looked at these loyal old brothers with eyes filled with gratitude and trust, yet with a serious expression, he said, "You have been in Xiliang for a long time, and you are very familiar with every plant and tree in this land. You also shoulder the responsibility of defending this land. Not to mention the current unstable situation in the Western Regions, Jiuquan County alone is of paramount importance, like the throat of Xiliang. We cannot afford to lose it."

Ma Chao paused briefly, his gaze fixed on Liang Xing. He asked, "Liang Xing, with the Xianbei's massive attack on Xiliang, during this turbulent time, are there any unusual activity in Shache, Khotan, and other kingdoms?"

Liang Xing quickly clasped his fists and replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, as far as I know, there is nothing unusual happening among the tribes at the moment."

Ma Chao nodded slightly and said, "Alright. Even though there are no unusual movements at the moment, we must not let our guard down. You must remain here and ensure the safety of the rear. If something were to happen in the rear, wouldn't we be left with nothing to worry about if we were to march on the grasslands? The safety of Xiliang depends on you."

After hearing Ma Chao's words, the generals, though eager to conquer the grasslands, knew he was right. They shouldered the heavy responsibility of protecting Xiliang. So, they all responded in unison, "We will obey the king's orders! We will firmly defend Xiliang and live up to his trust!"

At the banquet, although Ma Chao's arrangements with some generals had temporarily dampened everyone's desire to fight, the atmosphere heated up again as the wine flowed, with conversations about past battles and future prospects. Generals recounted thrilling moments on the battlefield, drawing amazement and laughter from the crowd; others boldly envisioned the grandeur of their grassland conquests, as if victory were already within reach. The counselors, too, temporarily set aside their worries and joined the crowd in toasting to the future of Xiliang. For a moment, the banquet hall was filled with laughter and joy, the clinking of glasses and the cacophony of conversation mingling, a sense of high spirits.

This joyful atmosphere lasted until late at night, when the crowd, somewhat tipsy, gradually dispersed. Ma Chao returned to his study, where the flickering candlelight illuminated his resolute face. He frowned slightly, lost in thought for a moment, then slowly sat down at his desk, picked up his brush, and dipped it in ink.

Ma Chao's mind conjured up the faces of the beauties of Chang'an, their every smile and frown as if right before his eyes. Filled with longing and guilt, he wrote down affectionate greetings to them and their parents. His brushstrokes were filled with care and concern, as if he wanted to convey this deep affection to Chang'an through his writing.

Ma Chao's expression then grew serious, as he pondered the crucial decision he was about to make. In his letter, he detailed his intention to invade the grasslands, writing with conviction and force, demonstrating his resolve to Chang'an. He also specifically mentioned informing the women that they would wait until his triumphant return before concluding the marriage ceremony.

After writing this, Ma Chao paused, took a deep breath, and then solemnly wrote down his instructions to Li Ru, urging him to defend Chang'an at all costs. He was well aware of Chang'an's importance; it was the foundation for Xiliang's stable development and could not be lost. In the letter, he emphasized Chang'an's strategic significance and the necessity of holding on to it under the current circumstances. His sincere words expressed his hope that Li Ru would understand his instructions and do his utmost to protect Chang'an.

After the ink dried, Ma Chao carefully folded the letter and summoned the messenger, repeatedly urging him to deliver it safely and swiftly to Chang'an. Watching the messenger's departing back, Ma Chao's gaze was determined and filled with anticipation. He knew that a difficult but profoundly meaningful journey was about to begin.