The Three Kingdoms: Rise of the Western Liang Cavalry

"By connecting Guanzhong and Liangzhou, we can advance to conquer the Central Plains or retreat to defend Guanzhong and Longxi, thus securing an invincible position."

"Pacify Guanzhong, and establish contact with Liangzhou..."

Qin Lie repeated these eight words in a low voice, his eyes shining brightly.

This was exactly what he was thinking, yet Cai Yong articulated it with such clarity and grand vision.

This great scholar possessed not only profound knowledge but also deep wisdom that allowed him to see through the ways of the world.

Historically, he may have been just a tragic figure among scholars, but at this moment, in this small council chamber, he displays the demeanor of a top strategist.

"Mr. Bojie's words resonate deeply with me!"

Qin Lie suddenly stood up and bowed deeply to Cai Yong.

"Only today does Qin Lie truly understand the meaning of 'a single conversation with a wise man is worth more than ten years of study.'"

He straightened up, his gaze sweeping over everyone without the slightest hesitation; his decisiveness filled the entire space.

"I propose that Mr. Bojie be appointed as Military Advisor and Chief Military Officer, overseeing all matters concerning civil administration, finances, and laws in Guanzhong!"

"All matters concerning the pacification of the people, the restoration of agriculture and sericulture, and the formulation of tax policies are decided by your single word!"

Military Advisor!

These words shocked everyone present.

This was not an official position in the imperial court, but rather an imitation of the former general Huo Guang who established his own government and appointed officials. These were truly trusted and important ministers with immense power.

Qin Lie's move was tantamount to handing over the entire rear and the lifeline of this army to Cai Yong without reservation.

Cai Yong was startled. He looked into Qin Lie's clear and trusting eyes, his lips moved, and finally he let out a long sigh and bowed again.

"Yong, how dare I not give my all, even to the death!"

"Chen Wu!"

Qin Lie turned to his trusted confidants.

"Your subordinate is here!"

"I hereby appoint you as my messenger, carrying my personal letter and the tiger tally, and send you immediately westward to Liangzhou!"

Qin Lie's voice was resolute.

"Contact my Qin clan members, visit all the generals of Xiliang, and tell them that I, Qin Lie, have prepared a land in Guanzhong for all my brothers in Liangzhou, a land where they can settle down, make a living, and regain their glory!"

"Those who wish to come, I will welcome them warmly; those who do not wish to come, there is no need to force them."

"The journey ahead is fraught with peril; proceed with extreme caution!"

"Rest assured, Captain, Wu will not fail in his mission!"

Chen Wu knelt on one knee and solemnly accepted the order.

"Ma Dai!"

Qin Lie called out again.

A young general with a lithe build and handsome features stepped forward. He was one of the officers who had joined Zhang Ji's service and was also Ma Teng's cousin.

"Your subordinate is here!"

"I hereby order you to lead your 3,000 cavalrymen to set out immediately, to wipe out the remnants of Li and Guo's forces and bandits in the counties surrounding Meiwu, and to persuade local officials to surrender."

"I want only one voice to be heard in this Guanzhong region in the shortest amount of time!"

A hint of excitement flashed in Ma Dai's eyes as he shouted.

"Yes, sir!"

Finally, Qin Lie's gaze fell on Zhang Ji.

"General Zhang."

"exist."

"The matter of Chang'an still needs to be considered carefully."

"Next, we will have to rely on you, General, to reorganize the army, prepare for war, and reform military discipline."

Qin Lie's tone became exceptionally solemn.

"Our Xiliang Iron Cavalry, renowned throughout the world, relies not on plunder and slaughter, but on the illustrious victories achieved under our hooves, and the glory of guarding the borders of the Han Dynasty!"

Qin Lie's voice suddenly rose, like metal striking stone, resounding loudly.

His gaze was intense, fixed on Zhang Ji's tiger-like eyes, which were slightly reddened with excitement.

"Now, this glory is tarnished, regarded as a jackal by the people of Chang'an, and condemned as a traitor by the feudal lords of the world."

"I will wash away this shame with my own hands!"

"And this requires the general and me to work together to rebuild the military spirit!"

Qin Lie walked up to Zhang Ji, placed his hands on Zhang Ji's shoulders, and said, word by word.

"From this day forward, new laws will be enacted to strictly enforce military discipline."

"Anyone who indiscriminately kills the innocent shall be executed!"

"Anyone who commits adultery or plunder shall be executed!"

"Anyone who deserts in the face of battle shall be executed!"

"I want the world to see that the men of Xiliang not only know how to kill the enemy, but also how to defend!"

"We are soldiers, not bandits!"

Zhang Ji's burly body trembled violently. He looked at the young yet exceptionally resolute face before him, and into those unfathomable eyes, as if he were seeing a future that the Xiliang Army had never known before.

He spent half his life on the battlefield, rising from an ordinary officer under Dong Zhuo to a general with a large army. All he saw and heard was the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak.

Has anyone ever spoken to him about "honor" and "protection"?

The veteran general slowly and solemnly knelt down on one knee, his rough palm slamming heavily onto his breastplate, producing a dull thud.

"This humble general is willing to follow the captain and rebuild the spirit of the army!"

The night was as dark as ink, and the lights in the council chamber were the only bright spot in Meiwu.

Two swift horses, one to the east and one to the west, sped away into the deep night.

With Qin Lie's handwritten letter and the tiger tally in his heart, Chen Wu headed towards his desolate and vast homeland—Liangzhou.

Meanwhile, Ma Dai, leading three thousand thunderous cavalry, charged towards the corners around Mei Wu that were still struggling to survive in the darkness.

Qin Lie's order was like a boulder thrown into stagnant water, creating ripples across the devastated land of Guanzhong.

Ma Dai's cavalry, like an incredibly sharp comb, cleaned up the remnants of Li Guo's forces and the bandits roaming the mountains of Jingzhao and Fufeng counties in just one month.

Unlike the previous sight of the Xiliang army passing through like locusts, this army was disciplined and did not commit any offenses.

They not only eradicated bandits but also pacified the local area.

For those local officials who were trembling with fear, Ma Dai brought not a butcher's knife, but Qin Lie's letter of appointment and a proclamation to reassure the people personally drafted by Cai Yong.

Thus, a strange yet reassuring scene unfolded in the Guanzhong Plain.

The county garrison, who were cursing the "Xiliang bandits" from the city walls yesterday, are now repairing the city walls and registering households under Qin Lie's banner.

When the displaced people received their first relief food, their eyes were filled with disbelief.

When they saw those once fierce Liangzhou soldiers now helping them repair irrigation ditches, bury corpses, and prevent epidemics in the fields, the deep-seated fear in their hearts gradually transformed into the relief and hope of surviving a catastrophe.

The smoke from cooking fires outside Chang'an grew thicker day by day.

In the fields, the simple songs of farmers began to rise again.

Amidst the ruins, a new order is quietly being established.

The name "Qin Xiaowei" began to replace "Dong Zhuo" and "Li Jue" as the title used by the people of Guanzhong, a title that carried both a sense of awe and anticipation.

With Guanzhong gradually stabilizing, the affairs of Liangzhou became of paramount importance.

Seven days later, a high platform was built outside Meiwu City, on the banks of the Wei River.

Qin Lie, clad in black armor, and Dian Wu, wearing his signature wolf-skin cloak, stood side by side on the high platform.

Below the stage were Qin Lie's elite soldiers and the Qiang warriors brought by Dian Wu. The black of the Han army and the colorful of the Qiang people were intertwined, clearly separated yet strangely harmonious.