Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Time flies by quickly. In the blink of an eye, another year has passed quietly, and it is 197 AD, the second year of Jian'an.

The afterglow of the New Year had not yet faded, and the streets and alleys of Wuwei City were still filled with a festive atmosphere. However, the recruitment news released by Ma Chao was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves.

At dawn, in the cool morning breeze, crowds gathered around the recruitment notices posted throughout the city. Though war-worn, their faces were weary and weathered, their eyes burned with a fiery fire. A burly young man squeezed his way to the notice, eagerly scanning the words. Then, he clenched his fists and shouted, "For years, the foreigners have torn our family apart. Now is the time for revenge! I'm signing up!" His voice was firm and passionate, echoing through the crowd like a bell.

The old man on the side trembled slightly, his eyes full of satisfaction and emotion. He patted the young man on the shoulder and said, "Boy, good job! We Xiliang men should have this kind of blood! Don't worry, everyone will take care of you at home." The people around nodded in agreement, their eyes showing approval and encouragement for the young man.

Not far away, several young men gathered together, engaged in a heated discussion. One of them said, "We in Xiliang have been badly bullied by those foreign tribes. This time, we must follow the king and beat the living crap out of them!" The others echoed, their faces filled with excitement and anticipation.

At the recruitment office, a long line of people waiting to sign up stretched from one end of the street to the other. Among them were young, strong men, their postures erect, their eyes gleaming with a thirst for battle. There were also older men, weathered by the years, whose eyes held a steely resolve undimmed, for they knew full well the responsibility of protecting their homeland.

A mother brought her son to the recruitment office. With tears in her eyes, she pretended to be calm and said to her son, "Son, go and fight for honor for Xiliang. Mother will wait for your safe return." The son held his mother's hand tightly and said firmly, "Mom, don't worry, I will come back alive and drive those invaders away!" After that, he walked into the recruitment office resolutely.

The entire city of Wuwei was engulfed in a passionate atmosphere, the people's spirits rising like a surging tide. Forgetting the pain of war, they held a single conviction: to follow Ma Chao, defend Xiliang, and exact revenge on those foreigners. This united spirit seemed poised to soar to the heavens, proclaiming to the world the unyielding and resilient character of the people of Xiliang.

In this passionate atmosphere, within a single month, Ma Chao mobilized the entire land of Xiliang to respond, successfully recruiting 50,000 new soldiers. These recruits came from every corner of Xiliang, ranging from simple-minded farm children to passionate and heroic young men from the market. They were filled with love for their homeland and hatred for the alien race, and they threw themselves into the army without hesitation.

Upon receiving the news, the various tribes quickly returned to their positions and began intensive preparations. Western Qiang King Cheliji issued an order, appointing Marshal Yueji to lead 30,000 Qiang troops to immediately assemble in Wuwei. Marshal Yueji was renowned for his formidable reputation and held immense prestige within the Western Qiang army. Upon receiving the order, he immediately assembled his troops and galloped along, raising clouds of dust. The 30,000 Qiang soldiers were carefully selected warriors, skilled riders and skilled with curved swords. They marched with unwavering discipline, drawing the gazes of the common people wherever they went, both impressed by the force's impressive momentum and filled with anticipation for the coming campaign.

To fulfill his promise, the Jie leader, Mogo Jieli, gathered nearly every young and strong man in the Jie tribe. After a difficult struggle, he finally gathered a force of 50,000. Though the Jie warriors wore a hint of fatigue, their eyes shone with determination. They knew this expedition was not only to repay Ma Chao's mercy, but also for the future of the Jie tribe. Mogo Jieli, riding a black steed, led the troops, determined to prove themselves and win dignity in this battle.

As agreed, the various Eastern Qiang tribes stood in their respective territories, awaiting the arrival of Ma Chao's army. The Eastern Qiang camps stretched endlessly, stretching as far as the eye could see. The warriors intensified their training daily, honing their weapons, awaiting Ma Chao's command to join the main army and march to the grasslands for a showdown with the foreigners. The entire Western Liang region was gripped by a tense and spirited atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing, ready to sweep across the grasslands at the right moment.

On the stage, fluttering battle flags rustled in the wind, cheering the soldiers off to battle. Clad in silver armor, a phoenix-wing helmet, and a sword dangling from his waist, Ma Chao stood majestically atop the platform. Below, sixty thousand soldiers lined up in formation. Though relatively young, the twenty thousand new recruits shone with excitement and determination. The forty thousand elite soldiers stood tall, their expressions stern, exuding the aura of battle-hardened warriors.

Ma Chao's gaze was piercing as he barked out his orders, "Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Mogo Jieli!" Zhang Liao and Xu Huang, clad in heavy armor, strode onto the platform and knelt on one knee. Mogo Jieli, the Jie leader, followed closely behind, his expression slightly nervous but resolute, and he also quickly knelt.

Ma Chao looked at them and shouted, "I order the three of you to lead the vanguard! Zhang Liao and Xu Huang, you two are experienced and fearless. Moge Jieli, the Jie soldiers under your command are also fierce and valiant. As the vanguard this time, you must tear through the enemy lines like a sharp blade. There is no need to show any mercy to those Xiongnu hunters! If you encounter resistance, kill them without mercy!"

Zhang Liao clasped his fists, his eyes determined. "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will lead my troops forward bravely and show the Xiongnu the might of our army!"

Xu Huang also shouted back, "I will live up to my mission and pave the way for our army with the blood of the enemy!"

Mogojieli gritted his teeth and shouted, "Your Majesty, I, the Jie people, will fight to the death and live up to your trust!"

Ma Chao nodded slightly and solemnly instructed, "The responsibility of the vanguard is as heavy as Mount Tai. Not only must you attack swiftly, but you must also be aware of the enemy's traps and ambushes. If you see any movement, report it immediately. Do not rush in too quickly."

The three of them responded in unison: "We will follow the king's orders!" After that, they stood up and hurriedly walked down the platform, jumped on their horses, and galloped towards the vanguard troops.

After the vanguard troops set off, Ma Chao once again shouted, "Marshal Yueji!"

Marshal Yueji was a burly man with a long beard. Upon hearing the call, he stepped onto the platform with steady steps, knelt on one knee, and said in a booming voice: "I am here!"

Ma Chao looked at him solemnly and said, "Marshal Yueji, the 30,000 Qiang soldiers under your command are all brave and valiant. I order you to lead them as the left wing of the central army. During the march, you must always be vigilant against enemy attacks from the flanks, and maintain close communication with the vanguard. If the vanguard encounters a strong enemy attack, you must lead your troops to support them immediately and cooperate with them in the battle. You must not miss the opportunity to fight."

Marshal Yueji suddenly raised his head, with a gleam of determination in his eyes: "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I will lead the Qiang soldiers to fight to the death. With the bravery of the Qiang people, we can protect the left wing of the central army! If there is any retreat, I am willing to be punished by military law!" After that, he stood up and took the order and left.

"Hu Che'er, Hu Chi'er!"

The brothers quickly took the stage and knelt together: "We obey your orders!"

Ma Chao said, "You two are highly skilled in martial arts and familiar with the terrain of the northwest. I order you to each lead a unit of elite light cavalry as a scout force. As the army marches, you will conduct extensive reconnaissance around the main force. If you discover any enemy forces, whether small scouts or large-scale forces, you must report back immediately. Furthermore, if you encounter isolated enemy units, you can seize the opportunity to annihilate them and confuse them."

Hu Che'er and Hu Chi'er responded in unison: "Yes, sir! We will not miss any enemy movement!" Then they rushed off the stage to select soldiers.

"Niu Jin, Wang Fang!"

Niu Jin and Wang Fang strode onto the stage and knelt on one knee.

Ma Chao looked at them seriously and said, "You two will lead your troops and serve as the reserve force for the central army. The situation on the battlefield is ever-changing. If the fighting at the front becomes stalemate or the central army encounters a crisis, you must immediately lead your troops into battle, maintain your position, obey the commander's orders, coordinate with the other troops, and ensure the smooth progress of our campaign."

Niu Jin and Wang Fang responded loudly: "We will definitely fulfill our mission!"

After arranging everyone, Ma Chao looked at a fierce general in the audience and shouted loudly, "Pang De!"

Pang De strode onto the stage with a heroic demeanor and knelt on one knee: "General Pang De, I await your command, Your Majesty!"

Ma Chao showed a look of trust and said, "Lingming, you are the bravest of the three armies and possess great wisdom and strategy. I order you to join me in commanding the Central Army. The Central Army is the core of the army and determines the success or failure of this battle. You and I must constantly monitor military intelligence from all sides and coordinate the various units to ensure the orderly advance and retreat of the army and foolproof safety."

Pang De's eyes were determined as he responded loudly, "Don't worry, my king. I will stand shoulder to shoulder with you to protect the central army. If any enemy dares to attack, I will make sure they never return!"

With each command, the generals returned to their posts. The army continued its slow march, the clatter of hooves and footsteps blending like rumbling thunder. Commoners lined the streets to see them off, waving flags and chanting slogans to cheer the soldiers on. "Xiliang will win!" "Recover Bingzhou!" The cries echoed through the air.

As the army reached the city walls, Ma Chao reined in his horse and looked back toward Xiliang City, his eyes filled with reluctance and determination. He knew the journey would be arduous and the outcome uncertain, but for the future of Xiliang, and to provide a peaceful home for the people, he must give it his all. After a moment, he turned and shouted, "March!" The army surged forward like a torrent, embarking on the journey to recapture Bingzhou. The dust they kicked up, bathed in the sunlight, resembled a golden mist that lingered for a long time.

As Ma Chao led his army on a fierce march to reclaim Bingzhou, another tense atmosphere quietly enveloped Chang'an. Like a dark, oppressive cloud, the army dispatched by Yuan Shao had already reached Tongguan. A vast expanse of tents, stretching as far as the eye could see, rapidly pitched across the open fields outside Tongguan, their flags fluttering in a clamorous display of force, as if in a show of force aimed at Chang'an.

At Tongguan, the defenders watched with rapt attention the movements of Yuan Shao's army outside. Although Yuan Shao's army hadn't yet launched an attack, the sheer scale of their force loomed like a looming threat, unleashing a wave of panic within Chang'an. The city's citizens, consumed with anxiety, privately speculated on the outcome of this standoff, creating a suffocating atmosphere.

However, Li Ru, stationed in Chang'an, remained undeterred by the onslaught of Yuan Shao's army. He remained calm and methodically handled his affairs, as if the troops outside the Great Wall were merely a group of insignificant ants. Li Ru knew that he held two crucial trump cards: Yuan Tan and Yan Liang.