The Three Kingdoms: Rise of the Western Liang Cavalry

"Fellow countrymen!"

Qin Lie's voice was not loud, but it clearly resonated throughout the entire front-line army.

"Look ahead! That city is crying!"

"Those people were once our comrades!"

"Now, they are devils! They are beasts who have smeared the face of our Xiliang army for eternity!"

He slowly drew the ring-pommel sword from his waist; the blade reflected a cold, bloody light in the setting sun.

"I'll repeat the order one more time!"

"After entering the city, do not harm the common people or plunder any property. Anyone who disobeys this order will be executed!"

"Our swords only kill two kinds of people—the rebellious soldiers who resist, and the scum who bully the common people!"

"Raise your swords and follow me... to snatch the souls of men back from hell!"

"kill!"

There was no earth-shattering shout, only a low growl from the bottom of his heart.

Qin Lie spurred his horse and charged forward like an arrow released from a bow, heading straight for the open city gate.

"kill!"

Dianwu and his three thousand iron cavalry followed closely behind, like a black tide that instantly swept across the plains.

The thunderous hooves and the rumbling earth unleashed the pent-up anger and killing intent that had been building up for so long!

The group of soldiers at the city gate, who had just returned from their looting and were arguing over the unfair division of spoils, were instantly swallowed up by this sudden torrent of steel before they could even react.

The lance, like a dragon, pierced through the chest and armor.

The ring-shaped blade flashes like lightning, severing heads and limbs.

Qin Lie took the lead, his lance swirling like a silver whirlwind, causing men and horses to fall wherever it passed.

A burly officer from the mutinous army, who was stuffing a stolen golden goblet into his arms, grinned and raised his knife to meet Qin Lie's charge.

However, he only saw a flash of silver light, then felt a chill in his chest. Looking down, he saw that the cold spearhead had already pierced through his body.

The fierce light in his eyes quickly dimmed, and he died without understanding why a fellow soldier would raise his knife against him.

Qin Lie flicked his wrist, throwing the corpse aside, without even a trace of blood on the spear.

Without pausing, his icy gaze swept over the terrified soldiers who were now scattering in all directions, his voice as cold as the depths of hell.

"Those who surrender will not be killed; those who resist will die!"

The clash between the Xiliang cavalry and the disorganized raiding troops was a foregone conclusion, resulting in a massacre.

Moreover, Qin Lie's army came with a resolute determination to "wash away the stain."

They stormed into the city like a red-hot iron plow, ruthlessly ploughing across the already ravaged land.

Chen Wu led the vanguard infantry, and quickly advanced towards the palace according to plan.

Dianwu's cavalry broke into smaller units and, like hunting dogs, galloped along the main roads of the city, chasing after the Li Guo rebels who were still burning, killing, and looting.

Qin Lie personally led a thousand elite troops, advancing along Zhuque Avenue towards the official residences in the south of the city.

That place was where the court officials and nobles lived, and it was also the place where human tragedies were most concentrated at that time.

The streets were littered with abandoned property and corpses.

The blazing fire illuminated faces filled with despair or numbness.

Suddenly, a fierce battle and a woman's screams came from a mansion that was half engulfed in flames.

The words "Cai Mansion" could still be faintly discerned on the plaque above the gate of the mansion.

Qin Lie's heart stirred, and he suddenly waved his hand.

"Let's go take a look!"

He was surrounded by dozens of guards as he rushed into the courtyard, which was ablaze with flames.

Inside the courtyard, seven or eight guards dressed as servants, wielding swords, formed a small circle, desperately protecting an elderly man with white hair and beard and a young woman dressed in a plain dress.

Around them were more than twenty grinning Li Guo soldiers.

The servants were all wounded, and their formation was on the verge of collapse.

"You old fool, you won't listen to reason, so you'll have to suffer the consequences!"

"Just because Dong Zhuo appreciates you, does that mean you're no longer a Han official?"

"Hand over your daughter and fortune obediently, and we might even leave you a proper burial!"

The leader of the mutinous soldiers had a scar on his face and his eyes were full of greed and lust.

Despite being in dire straits, the old man still straightened his back and shouted sternly.

"I, Cai Yong, receive the Han's salary and am loyal to the Han dynasty!"

"How can I associate with traitors like you!"

"Even if I die today, I will never dishonor the Cai family!"

Cai Yong! Cai Wenji!

Qin Lie's pupils suddenly contracted.

The historical panorama and the tragedy unfolding before our eyes collided at this moment.

He saw the woman in the white dress. Although her face was covered in soot, it could not hide her unparalleled beauty and scholarly air. In her eyes, which were like autumn water, there was no panic or confusion like that of an ordinary woman, but only a deep-seated sorrow and determination.

"Release the arrows!"

Qin Lie didn't waste any words and coldly issued the order.

His personal guards were all top-notch archers, who moved at his command, and the sound of bowstrings filled the air.

Dozens of arrows, whistling sharply, flew precisely over the heads of Cai Yong, his daughter, and their servants, heading straight for the unsuspecting soldiers.

Screams erupted instantly, and the horde of soldiers fell like stalks of wheat being cut down.

The scarred leader turned around in disbelief, only to see a black suit of armor and the icy expression on the face of the young general at the head of the group.

"Is...is someone on our side?"

His last thought flashed through his mind before three arrows pierced his chest simultaneously.

Qin Lie rode forward slowly, dismounted, walked to the still-shaken Cai Yong, sheathed his sword, and calmly clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"But was it General Cai Yong, Cai Bojie, in person?"

Cai Yong supported his daughter beside him, his hands, which had seen countless bamboo slips and carved countless inscriptions, were now trembling slightly.

He looked at the young general before him, whose armor still bore traces of blood, whose face was heroic yet devoid of arrogance, and whose eyes were so deep they seemed to see right through people.

He opened his mouth, and a few words squeezed out from his dry throat.

"I am Cai Yong."

"May I ask your esteemed name, General? Why...why are you different from those bandits?"

His voice carried the weakness of someone who had survived a disaster, and a hint of disbelief and caution.

In Chang'an, a city that had become a ghost town, any face wearing Xiliang military uniform was enough to make him wary.

"I am Qin Lie, a junior, and I am honored to hold the position of Colonel of the Vanquishing Army."

Qin Lie's voice was calm and gentle, which seemed out of place against the backdrop of raging flames, yet it was like a clear spring that could soothe people's hearts.

"Cai Zhonglang has been frightened."

"The rebel soldiers of Li and Guo are causing chaos in the city and wreaking havoc on the capital. We have been ordered to come and quell the rebellion and protect the people."

"Men, quickly drape cloaks over Cai Zhonglang and the young lady, and escort them to the central army camp so that the army's medical officer can treat them."

He didn't offer many explanations; his actions spoke for themselves.

The guards immediately stepped forward, took off their cloaks, and carefully draped them over Cai Yong and Cai Wenji. Their actions were not rude at all, but rather showed a deep respect.

Cai Wenji remained silent, her clear, autumn-water-like eyes never leaving Qin Lie from the moment he appeared.

She saw his decisiveness when he ordered the arrows to be fired, his indifference when facing the corpses of the chaotic soldiers, and the heartfelt respect he showed when he turned to his father.

She also saw the soldiers behind him; their eyes were bloodshot and filled with murderous intent, but they were restrained by something more powerful—that thing was called "discipline."