The Three Kingdoms: Rise of the Western Liang Cavalry

The two armies met and stopped in front of the ten-mile pavilion.

Invisible electric sparks seemed to be crisscrossing in the air, a collision of the auras of two top-tier military powers.

Lu Bu's gaze swept over everyone else and landed directly on Qin Lie.

He wanted to see what kind of person dared to ask, "Why would a tiger willingly confine itself to a cage?"

He was a very young man, much younger than he had imagined.

His face wasn't exactly handsome, but his features were well-defined, and his eyes were as deep as an ancient pool, revealing no emotion, yet exuding an undeniable calmness and confidence.

Contrary to expectations of tension, Qin Lie dismounted swiftly and cleanly.

He handed the reins to his personal guard and walked forward alone for more than ten steps until he was no more than three zhang away from Lü Bu.

"Qin Lie, welcome Marquis Wen."

His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly, carrying a natural sense of friendliness and respect.

Lu Bu's tiger-like eyes narrowed slightly. He could not sense any hostility, nor could he see any arrogance of a superior towards a subordinate.

What he saw was an equal and heartfelt welcome.

It was a strange feeling; since he left Bingzhou, no one had ever looked at him that way again.

He hesitated for a moment, then dismounted, handed the halberd to Gao Shun behind him, and strode forward to meet him.

"You're Qin Lie?"

Lü Bu's voice was as powerful as a bell.

"That's me."

Qin Lie smiled and nodded.

"The fertile land of Guanzhong and the fine horses of Liangzhou are ready for a feast, awaiting the arrival of heroes."

Lu Bu stared at him, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into loud laughter, a hearty laugh that shook the yellow leaves in the forest to fall in a flurry.

"Well done! Qin Lie is truly remarkable!"

"I, Lü Bu, have roamed the world and seen countless people, but I have never seen anyone with your magnanimity!"

He stretched out his large, fan-like hand.

"You treated me with the respect due to a national hero; I, Lü Bu, will repay you with my life!"

Qin Lie reached out and shook his hand firmly.

Two hands, one steady and powerful, the other fierce and unparalleled, clasped together, mark the beginning of a new era.

The oath at Meiwu was solemn and dignified.

There were no complicated formalities, only a large bronze cauldron filled with strong liquor.

Qin Lie and Lü Bu stood side by side, each cutting their fingertips and dripping their blood into the wine.

"Under Heaven and Earth, today I, Qin Lie, swear brotherhood with Lü Bu, Lü Fengxian."

"We do not ask to be born on the same day, in the same month, in the same year, but we ask to die on the same day, in the same month, in the same year."

"From this day forward, we shall share both good times and bad. If I break this oath, may I be punished by both heaven and man!"

"I, Lü Bu, swear to join forces with my brother Qin to accomplish great things, sweep away the chaos of the world, and restore peace and order to the land!"

"If you harbor any disloyalty, may I die pierced by a thousand arrows!"

The two men picked up their wine bowls, drank them down in one gulp, and then smashed the bowls on the ground.

Amidst the crisp sound of shattering, a brand-new military alliance, powerful enough to shake the world, was officially established.

After the oath was made, Qin Lie immediately fulfilled his promise and submitted a memorial to the court, requesting that Lü Bu be appointed as General of the Cavalry, with the same rank as the Three Dukes, and above the Three Excellencies.

The organization of the Bingzhou Wolf Cavalry, along with Gao Shun's Trapped Camp, remained unchanged and were still under the full command of Lü Bu.

Qin Lie entrusted him with full authority over the defense of Hangu Pass and allocated enough provisions and military equipment to last for half a year.

This unwavering trust was far more compelling to Lü Bu than any official position.

Looking at the mountains of millet and beef and mutton, and at the joyful faces of his soldiers as they received their new uniforms and pay, the hardest ice in his heart finally melted completely.

For the first time, he felt that he was not a tool, but a partner who was truly needed and respected.

Lu Bu's addition greatly increased Qin Lie's strength.

His forces quickly reached 40,000, including 20,000 elite cavalry—a mixed legion of 10,000 Bingzhou wolf cavalry, 10,000 Xiliang iron cavalry, and Qiang and Hu cavalry.

This power is enough to crush any opponent in Guanzhong.

Qin Lie has become the undisputed ruler of Guanzhong.

When the news reached Chang'an, Li Jue and Guo Si were struck dumb.

"Lü Bu...Lü Bu surrendered to Qin Lie?"

Li Jue paced back and forth in the main hall, his face contorted with shock and rage.

"How dare he! How dare he!"

Guo Si's face was also ashen.

"This fickle and unpredictable creature cannot be trusted."

"But now that he has joined forces with Qin Lie, we are in grave danger!"

"Qin Lie was already a formidable opponent, and now with Lü Bu by his side, he's even more powerful. The strategically important Hangu Pass is now in his grasp, and we're trapped and doomed in Chang'an!"

Fear is the best breeding ground for suspicion.

The continuous food shortages and defeats had already shaken the morale of this once elite Xiliang army. Now, the immense external pressure has caused the internal rifts to widen rapidly.

Li Jue looked at the worried Guo Si, a sinister glint flashing in his eyes.

He recalled that a few days ago, Guo Si had sent someone to contact Qin Liejun to discuss exchanging grain. Although the deal ultimately fell through, the seed of doubt had already been planted.

"Ado (Guo Si's courtesy name), don't panic."

Li Jue suddenly put on a smiling face and patted Guo Si on the shoulder affectionately.

There's always a way out.

"We're brothers, we fought our way out of Xiliang, what storms haven't we weathered?"

"Tonight, I have prepared a banquet. Let the two of us discuss this carefully, and we will surely come up with a plan to defeat the enemy."

Guo Si had no suspicions and went to the banquet that night as agreed.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, Li Jue frequently raised his glass, his words filled with brotherly affection.

Guo Si felt a little relieved and was about to raise his cup in return when a sudden, sharp pain shot through his abdomen.

With a "whoosh," he spat out a mouthful of black blood, splattering it all over the wine table in front of him.

"Li Jue! You...you poisoned me!"

Guo Si was both shocked and furious. He pointed at Li Jue, his eyes blazing with rage.

Seeing that his attack had missed, Li Jue decided to abandon all pretense and grin maliciously.

"Guo Aduo, don't blame me for being ruthless."

"You secretly colluded with Qin Lie, intending to betray me; how could I tolerate you!"

"Today, it's either you or me who dies!"

At his command, the armored soldiers outside the tent swarmed in.

Guo Si's personal guards were no ordinary men either; they immediately drew their swords to protect their master.

A bloody battle suddenly erupted right there in the command tent.

Although Guo Si was poisoned, he was a fierce general after all. With the desperate protection of his personal guards, he managed to fight his way out and escape back to his camp.

Once the fire of hatred is ignited, it can never be extinguished.

The next day, the entire city of Chang'an was turned into a battlefield.

Li Jue's army and Guo Si's army, two armies from the same Xiliang region, engaged in a fierce battle in the streets and alleys of Chang'an.

Former comrades, now mortal enemies, swords drawn, blood flowing like rivers.

The cries of the people, the roars of the soldiers, and the clanging of metal all blended into a tragic song of the end times.

Chang'an, the ancient capital, once again plunged into a hell of war and bloodshed after Dong Zhuo.

The news was quickly relayed to Mei Wu, to Qin Lie's command tent.

"My lord, the time has come!"

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Jia Xu's perpetually half-closed eyes.