The Three Kingdoms: The Oath of the Peach Garden, the Rise of the Han Dynasty

The city gates of Qian County were opened wide to welcome Liu Bei.

The defending general, Zhao Chang, stumbled out of the city gate, his armor still covered with dried, blackened blood scabs.

He knelt down three steps in front of Liu Bei's horse, clasping his hands together and raising them above his head.

These people from Xiliang even have voices that sound more like those from Xiliang:

"This humble general, Zhao Chang, pays his respects to General Liu! If the general had not come soon, I fear that I and these four thousand brothers would have perished here today."

Liu Bei dismounted and helped him up with both hands:

"Lieutenant Zhao, please rise. Your ability to hold out with four thousand exhausted soldiers for half a month and resist more than ten thousand rebel troops is already a great achievement. I will immediately submit a memorial to the court to commend your merit."

"Thank you, General! Thank you, General!" Zhao Chang was overjoyed and repeatedly clasped his hands in gratitude.

He held out for half a month and sent thirteen messages pleading for help, but not a single soldier came. He had even made up his mind to open the city gates and surrender!

Unexpectedly, not only did I escape with my life, but I also turned misfortune into a blessing!

Thank goodness! If it had been just one day later, he would have had to face these four inhuman creatures!

Liu Bei's expression was gentle: "Colonel Zhao has defended the city for half a month, which is already a great achievement. However, does the Colonel know how Liangzhou is doing?"

He was no longer content with how many enemies he had defeated; he was only worried about the people suffering from the rebellion in Liangzhou!

Zhao Chang was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stood up straight, his back straight for the first time in half a month.

He led Liu Bei and the others into the county government office, took out a sheepskin map and several military intelligence books from his bosom, and presented them with both hands:

"This is the intelligence on the rebels that I have collected these days, as well as the defense situation of various counties in Liangzhou. Perhaps it can be of some help to the general."

Li Chang took the map, unfolded it by the lamplight on the table, and his brows furrowed more and more as he scanned it.

He will take out the map he has redrawn. The original map was mainly south at the top, north at the bottom, east on the left, and west on the right, while Li Chang was used to seeing north at the top, south at the bottom, west on the left, and east on the right.

Then, according to the proportions I remembered, I added legends, annotations, and a scale.

There's really no other way but to use contour lines.

The map was spread out on the table, and everyone was beckoned to gather around.

When Liu Bei saw the map and then looked at Li Chang across from him, he was instantly moved, and his eyes welled up with tears!

My fourth brother actually drew the map upside down so that I could see it properly!

Li Chang was still unaware, focused solely on faking his escape.

"While the important figures in the imperial court were bickering, the situation in Liangzhou had deteriorated to the extreme."

He moved his finger across the map, from Sili to Liangzhou, stopping at the four prefectures of Liangzhou with wreaths:

"Bei Gong Boyu, along with Han Sui and Bian Zhang, has already massacred Leng Zheng, the Protector of the Qiang, and Geng Bi, the Governor of Liangzhou."

Now, most of the four prefectures of Longxi, Hanyang, Anding, and Beidi have fallen into the hands of the rebels.

With the governors of each prefecture either dead or having fled, the entire Liangzhou region was practically devoid of any intact Han military organization.

The tent was deathly silent.

Li Chang tapped a point on the map heavily with his finger:

"The main force of the rebels is currently besieging Ji County, the seat of Hanyang Commandery."

Once breached, the entire Hanyang Commandery will fall completely.

The rebels, with their superior cavalry, could take advantage of the high ground and launch a direct assault on the Guanzhong Plain, thus threatening Chang'an!

Liu Bei and the others looked solemn.

If one hadn't seen it with their own eyes, no one would believe that the situation in Liangzhou had deteriorated to this extent.

In fact, he confirmed the specific details through Zhao Chang's intelligence.

Zhao Chang was so shocked that he stared in disbelief before finally snapping out of his daze at the map.

He hadn't expected that Li Chang could deduce the situation so clearly based solely on maps and intelligence!

He glanced at Liu Bei, then at Li Chang, and felt even more that this army was unfathomable.

After Li Chang marked the various territories, everyone had a clear impression in their minds!

At this moment, Zhao Chang looked worried and reminded him:

"General, strategist, there is one more thing we must be wary of."

I have been stationed in Qian County for many years. This place is inhabited by both Han and Qiang people, and there are at least several thousand Qiang people in the city.

There are often frictions between them, and now that the rebel army is at the city gates, it is hard to guarantee that they will not cooperate from within and without.

In my humble opinion, it would be better to... slaughter all the Qiang people in the city to prevent future troubles.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei frowned: "I think that makes sense!"

"No way," Li Chang immediately interrupted them, firmly refusing.

"Indiscriminate killing of innocent people will only force all Qiang people to side with the rebels."

However, the Qiang people are by nature fearful of power and do not appreciate virtue; they only submit to the strong, not to education.

He turned to Zhao Yun: "Perfect timing. Zilong killed Li Wen with a single spear thrust today, and you all witnessed it. This news has probably spread throughout the city by now."

Zhao Yun nodded slightly, his expression unchanged, as if he were merely confirming a trivial matter.

Li Chang continued:

"Spread the word. Post notices throughout the city, let the prisoners shout it out, and let the garrison tell the story!"

The enemy commander, Li Wen, was killed by Zhao Zilong with a single spear thrust!

Let Zilong lead the team around the city again, with white horses and silver spears, armor still on and soldiers not hidden!

"Let all the Qiang and Hu people see clearly, the person who killed Li Wen is right here!"

Zhao Chang was stunned: "That's it?"

"That's not enough," Li Changdao said.

"Tell the Qiang and Hu people in the city that Zilong is recruiting Qiang and Hu cavalry. Those who wish to come will be forgiven for their past actions and will share the same food and provisions as the Han army."

"Whoever can withstand one spear thrust from Zilong can be promoted to platoon leader without regard to rank! Whoever can withstand ten spear thrusts can be promoted to captain! Whoever can withstand fifty spear thrusts can be promoted to military commander!"

Zhao Chang's breathing became heavy! He looked at Zhao Yun as if he had seen a treasure!

If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes and knew my own limitations, I really would have liked to have a go at Zhao Yun!

Upon hearing this, Jian Yong couldn't help but interject:

"Strategist, isn't this too hasty? They just finished a battle..."

"The sooner the better. All the Qiang people in the city are afraid that we will settle scores with them later."

The more open and honest we are, the more we can intimidate them. Recruiting them later, once they've realized what's happening, will be less effective than recruiting them now.

He turned to Liu Bei: "What do you think, brother?"

Liu Bei pondered for a moment, then shifted his gaze from the map to Zhao Yun: "This is an open strategy; I think it's a good plan!"

Zhao Yun clasped his hands in a fist salute: "Very well, my lord, strategist, I'll leave the reins to Zilong!"

"Alright," Liu Bei decided, "Let's do as my fourth brother says."

The news spread faster than the bad news.

Li Wen died; he was stabbed to death by a young general surnamed Zhao.

At first, nobody believed it.

But soon after, the prisoners were brought into the city, and the vivid stories of the garrison soldiers they had witnessed were told in the taverns and streets.

Some say that the young general in white robes charged into the midst of the army and killed Li Wen with a single spear thrust, leaving the surrounding rebel soldiers so frightened that they could barely hold their swords.

The story spread that some people said the gun was crackling with lightning, and that with one shot, Li Wen and his horse were burned to ashes.

By the end, Zhao Yun was no longer human; he was a divine general descended from heaven, his spear flashing like a dragon!

When Zhao Yun actually appeared on the street riding a white horse and carrying a silver spear, all the noise disappeared.

He simply rode slowly through the long street, the cavalry formation behind him in neat rows, their hooves clattering on the bluestone slabs.

dong dong dong dong!

All the turmoil seemed to have been forcibly suppressed.

Recruitment notices were posted all over the city.

A different voice came from the Qiang tribe.