Like Zhao Yun, Zhang Liao also chose to lead a thousand Xiliang cavalry out of the pass and charge into Ma Yi's army.

The difference is that Zhang Liao places more emphasis on teamwork. A thousand well-equipped Xiliang cavalrymen, along with the highly skilled Zhang Liao, broke through the Qiang people's central army in one go and almost reached Ma Yi's doorstep, startling Ma Yi into retreating ten miles.

Just as Ma Yi stabilized his army and prepared to launch another attack, news of the defeat of the Xiaoyuezhi reached his ears.

"How is this possible? How could this big man have so many terrifying creatures?"

When Ma Yi heard that the Little Yuezhi had suffered an even worse defeat than he had, he was truly stunned!

One fierce general is enough to change the outcome of a war, so what about two, three, or even more?

Wouldn't that mean certain death?

Most importantly, the army's food supplies have run out, and if today passes, they will have no choice but to kill horses to stave off hunger.

Without a warhorse, death is almost inevitable.

Thinking about all this, Ma Yi felt utterly hopeless and didn't know what to do next.

A Qiang nobleman approached Ma Yi with a hesitant expression.

"Great sir, if all else fails, shall we surrender? Perhaps the Han people will allow us to continue governing our people as they have in the past!"

"surrender?"

Upon hearing his subordinate's suggestion, Ma Yi hesitated.

He knew that the Han emperor was personally leading the army on this expedition to completely resolve the Qiang people problem.

Even if he chose to surrender, he could no longer stay here as a local tyrant like before. The best outcome would be to go to Luoyang as a prisoner, and he might even be beheaded by the Han army.

"Great sir, things have come to this point, we have no way out. If we continue to resist, we will only face death!"

"Yes, great man, even if the Han army won't let us stay here, it's still better than dying here!"

"Perhaps the Han army will be merciful and let us become wealthy men!"

Seeing Ma Yi hesitate, several more nobles stepped forward to persuade him.

Now, facing the two retreat routes guarded by Zhang Liao and Zhao Yun, it is impossible for them to open them up in a short period of time.

The Han army pursuing them will arrive in another day or two.

When the Han army attacks from both sides, they will all die here.

No one wants to die if there is any hope of survival.

Seeing that his subordinates were all thinking of surrendering, and considering the current situation, Ma Yi finally closed his eyes in despair and nodded.

"Surrender!"

These three words seemed to drain all of Ma Yi's strength, and he fainted on the spot after saying them.

"The great lord has ordered that we surrender to the Han army!!"

At the same time that Ma Yi fainted, several Qiang nobles immediately announced their surrender to the entire army.

Upon receiving the order, the Qiang soldiers breathed a sigh of relief, threw down their weapons, and began packing their belongings.

Upon learning that the Qiang people were preparing to surrender, the Lesser Yuezhi immediately laid down their weapons and joined forces with the Ma Yi army, awaiting the arrival of the Han army.

Two days later, Yu Jin and Xu Huang led 20,000 vanguard troops to a location 20 miles east of Ma Yi's camp.

Upon learning that the Han army had arrived, Ma Yi immediately dispatched an envoy with a surrender document he had personally written to the Han army to discuss the matter of surrender.

Upon seeing the surrender document sent by the Qiang people, Yu Jin and Xu Huang dared not make a decision and hurriedly sent someone to deliver it to the emperor, who was fifty miles away.

...

The emperor travels to the palace.

Upon seeing the surrender document delivered by the messenger, Liu Hong couldn't help but frown.

Although Ma Yi's wording in the surrender document was very sincere and humble, Liu Hong was not satisfied.

In this letter of surrender, Ma Yi only expressed his intention to submit to the Han Dynasty and pay tribute every year, while Liu Hong wanted the entire Qiang region.

Even if the Han Dynasty cannot digest and develop this place in a short time, it will never allow any more uncontrolled forces to emerge here.

Of course, what Liu Hong was most dissatisfied with was that Ma Yi surrendered way too quickly.

Liu Hong was excitedly preparing to command his army and have some fun when Ma Yi suddenly pulled this stunt, not only ruining his experience but also making all the suffering he had endured on horseback in the past few days pointless.

It's no wonder Liu Hong was in a bad mood in this situation.

At this moment, he desperately hoped that Ma Yi would be resolute and fight him to the end, so that he could then lead his army to cut off his head.

Unfortunately, Ma Yi was all ambition and no courage. He didn't even have the will to fight to the death, which made Liu Hong despise him.

Then, Liu Hong casually threw the surrender document on the ground and looked at Huangfu Song beside him.

“Reply to Ma Yi and tell him that our Han army has come to recover lost territories, not to take away subjects or demand tribute.”

If he knows what's good for him, he should write a document to return all the land south of the Qilian Mountains, east of Jincheng, and west of the Western Sea, a thousand miles away, to the Han Dynasty.

As for these nobles, I will arrange a new place for them, so they won't have to stay here!

If they refuse, then let them wash their necks clean, and when my Great Han army arrives, we'll cut off their heads!

"Here you go!!"

Huangfu Song agreed, then picked up the surrender document that Liu Hong had thrown on the ground. He then found an advisor and wrote down Liu Hong's instructions on a decree, which he then had sent to Ma Yi along with the surrender document.

At noon the next day, Huangfu Song sent someone to deliver it to Ma Yi.

Seeing the conditions proposed by the Emperor of Han, which were exactly as he had guessed, Ma Yi couldn't help but sigh deeply.

He knew that the Han emperor was after the land beneath his feet, and that he didn't care about people like them at all.

After discussing it with his subordinates, everyone agreed to the conditions proposed by Liu Hong.

After all, even if the Han emperor killed them, these lands would still become Han territory.

It is a great act of mercy that we have spared their lives and given them a place to go.

Soon, Ma Yi rewrote a letter of surrender and sent it to Liu Hong.

After reading the surrender document sent by Ma Yixin, Liu Hong smiled and looked at Huangfu Song beside him.

"Minister Huangfu, where do you think would be the most suitable place to send Ma Yi and the other Qiang nobles?"

Huangfu Song thought for a moment and then said, "Your Majesty, I think that the area north of the Han Sea is fine. Anyway, our Great Han can't control that area right now. Rather than letting a bunch of Russians occupy it, it would be better to send these Qiang people there and let the two sides fight over it!"

"Haha, very good! Your words are exactly what I wanted to hear!"

Upon hearing Huangfu Song's suggestion, Liu Hong couldn't help but burst into laughter.