The Three Kingdoms: Rise of the Western Liang Cavalry

The entire hall was deathly silent, save for the scouts' suppressed sobs and the officers' heavy breathing.

All eyes instinctively turned to the young head coach who stood silently in front of the map.

Qin Lie slowly raised his head.

His face showed no grief or indignation, only an almost indifferent coldness.

But everyone who knows him knows that this is what he looks like when he's truly furious.

In those deep eyes, the dust of history and the tragedy before them overlapped and intertwined, eventually igniting a cold and resolute flame.

He knew this day would come; it was clearly written in history books.

But he never imagined that when this horrific scene actually unfolded before his eyes, it would be so suffocating.

Those cold words have now transformed into towering flames in Chang'an and the wails of countless wronged souls.

"I have said before that our entry into Meiwu was to deter Li Jue and Guo Si, so that they would not dare to indiscriminately slaughter the people."

Qin Lie's voice was soft, yet it was like a knife, scraping against everyone's eardrums.

"Now it seems I was wrong."

He gave a self-deprecating laugh, a laugh that carried a chilling undertone.

"To beasts that have lost their humanity, any deterrence is a joke."

"Instead of restraining themselves, they turned this world into their hunting ground."

He turned around, his gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping over every general in the hall.

"I know what you're thinking."

"We only have a little over ten thousand soldiers, while Li Jue and Guo Si have a hundred thousand troops and are entrenched in a fortified city. Going to Chang'an now would be like throwing an egg against a rock."

"We've finally managed to gain a foothold in Meiwu, with food and soldiers, and can safely accumulate strength. Why should we wade into this mess?"

His words resonated with most people.

Chen Wu opened his mouth, wanting to offer some advice, but swallowed his words the moment he met Qin Lie's eyes.

What a look that was!

It was no longer the calm composure of someone strategizing, nor the passionate enthusiasm of someone inspiring morale.

It was a sorrow that carried the weight of an entire era's decline, and a resolute determination to burn oneself out of the boundless darkness and carve a path to heaven.

"But I ask you," Qin Lie's voice suddenly rose, "who are we?"

"We are the Xiliang Army!"

"Our comrades, our brothers, are now in Chang'an, transformed into butchers and demons they themselves despise!"

"Our families, the elders of Liangzhou, are being scorned as traitors and beasts by the world simply because of the name 'Xiliang Army'!"

"Do you want to bear this stigma?!"

"In no mood!"

A young team leader, his eyes red, was the first to shout it out.

"Are you willing to accept this infamy?!"

"I'm not reconciled!"

More officers stood up straight, their chests heaving violently.

"very good."

Qin Lie took a deep breath, turned back to the huge map of Guanzhong, and placed his finger heavily on Chang'an City.

"Pass on my orders!"

"The entire army is ready. In one hour, we will break camp. Target—Chang'an!"

"Captain!"

Chen Wu finally couldn't hold back any longer, stepped forward, and said urgently.

"Our army still has many newly recruited soldiers, their morale is not yet stable, and our forces are vastly outnumbered. If we launch a strong attack on Chang'an at this time, I fear..."

"Who said we were going to launch a full-scale attack on Chang'an?"

Qin Lie coldly interrupted him.

"With Li Jue and Guo Si's army entering the city, their discipline must be lax, and they must be indulging in looting. This is their most chaotic and vulnerable moment."

His finger moved slowly across the map, outlining routes for attack.

"Our goal is not to conquer the city, but to rescue people, to establish our authority, and... to win hearts and minds!"

"Chen Wu, heed my command!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"You will lead your 3,000 elite troops as the vanguard, advancing rapidly along the south bank of the Wei River, sparing no expense to seize control of Changle Palace and Weiyang Palace!"

"It was a symbol of the royal family and the court, and a refuge for countless palace servants and officials' families."

"To hold that place is to preserve the last vestige of dignity for the Han Dynasty!"

"Yes, sir!"

Without further hesitation, Chen Wu readily agreed.

"Dianwu!"

"exist!"

"You will lead three thousand cavalry to patrol the outer perimeter and cut off the key roads in the east and south of the city."

"Any soldiers from the Li and Guo rebellion who leave the city, whether returning from looting or acting on orders, shall be killed without exception!"

"I want to turn Chang'an into a cage where you can only enter, but never leave!"

"Yes, sir!"

A bloodthirsty glint flashed in Dianwu's eyes.

"Zhang Heng!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"You will lead the newly formed army as the rear guard and advance steadily."

"Your task is the most important."

"After entering the city, they quickly took control of the government granaries and warehouses, opened the granaries to distribute grain, and pacified the people in the city."

"At the same time, checkpoints were set up to identify the defeated soldiers in the city."

"Those who lay down their weapons and are willing to submit shall be temporarily incorporated into the army and placed under unified custody."

"Anyone who resists or takes advantage of the chaos to commit evil will be executed without pardon!"

"I want the people of Chang'an to know that the Xiliang army isn't all made up of beasts!"

Qin Lie's voice echoed in the empty hall, carrying the sound of metal and stone, resolute and decisive.

Zhang Heng shuddered, and for the first time, a trace of color appeared on his deathly gray face.

He looked at Qin Lie as if he were looking at someone he had never met before.

He suddenly knelt on one knee, his voice hoarse but firm.

"This humble general... obeys!"

"I will certainly not fail the captain's trust!"

An hour passes in the blink of an eye.

When the drawbridge at Meiwu was lowered again, the torrent of eight thousand armored soldiers, carrying an intensely suppressed killing intent, surged eastward.

There were no rousing drums or bugles, no clamorous slogans, only the clatter of armor plates and the heavy thud of horses' hooves, like a dirge played for a dying city.

The wind blew from the direction of Chang'an, carrying an increasingly strong stench of blood and acridity.

The smell seeped into the nostrils of every soldier, like an invisible hook, stirring up the most primal violence in their hearts, yet it was firmly suppressed by an even harsher military order.

For cavalrymen marching at full speed, a hundred li (approximately 50 kilometers) is only a few hours' journey.

As dusk turned from gloom to blood red, the once magnificent city, unparalleled in the world, appeared on the horizon in a broken and tragic state.

Chang'an is burning.

The billowing black smoke and flames turned half the sky into an eerie orange-red.

Even from miles away, the piercing cries and frantic laughter could still be carried by the wind and pierce people's eardrums.

On the city wall, the flags of the defending troops could no longer be seen; only plumes of smoke rose from behind the crenellations.

The city gates were wide open, like the maw of a giant beast ready to devour its prey. Small groups of soldiers, carrying bundles and dragging women they had robbed, came and went, laughing wildly.

The human world has become a purgatory.

Qin Lie reined in his warhorse, and the cavalry formation behind him stood silently, like a forest.

Everyone's eyes turned red, and the veins on their hands gripping their weapons bulged.

What did they see?

They saw that the rioting soldiers were wearing uniforms that were no different from their own.

That humiliation hurt more than being cut by a knife.