Wuwei is located in Liangzhou, on the northwestern border of the Han Dynasty, and is a place where Han and Qiang people live together.

Now the Western Qiang are causing trouble and have broken into the territory of the Han Dynasty, burning, killing and looting everywhere. Those villages and towns without city walls as defenses have suffered a great disaster, with rivers of blood and nine out of ten houses empty.

Although General Duan Jiong, who had broken through the Qiang, was confronting most of the Qiang people ahead, there were still sporadic small groups of Qiang cavalry wandering around the border countryside.

Yellow sand stretches endlessly, crows circle overhead, and wild dogs roam freely.

Corpses with exposed white bones, gnawing on them, could be seen everywhere along the roadside, but judging from their clothing, they were undoubtedly Han Chinese.

"This is Xiliang...!"

Gazing at the thick smoke rising from a village not far to the northwest, Jia Xu's eyes revealed a hint of resentment. He then sighed softly and headed towards Luoyang with a helpless expression.

Jia Xu came from a poor family, but he was intelligent, quick-witted, and deep-thinking. After he came of age, he began to travel around to study, hoping to find a way to improve his life, but he could never find a way.

Now that he heard that the emperor had issued an edict allowing students from all over the country to travel to Luoyang for examinations, Jia Xu thought his opportunity had come, so he set off alone for Luoyang.

Jia Xu, who is just over twenty years old, also has the passion of a young man and hopes to put his knowledge to use, let the world see his talent, gain the emperor's favor and be admired by the people.

Most importantly, he didn't want to see the white bones by the roadside anymore; he wanted the crows in the sky, the wild dogs by the roadside, and those evil Qiang people.

Jia Xu turned his head to look back, then quickened his pace and headed east. He could tell that the village had just been looted, and he had to leave as soon as possible to avoid any mishaps.

Unfortunately, it seems that fate always likes to play tricks on people. Not long after Jia Xu walked, he felt the ground shaking beneath his feet. He stopped and looked back, a helpless bitter smile on his face.

A cloud of dust rose not far behind, and a troop of cavalry appeared in Jia Xu's sight. Judging from their clothing, they were undoubtedly Qiang people.

Jia Xu stood calmly in place, choosing not to run away. The area was open and there was nowhere to hide, so even if he ran, he couldn't get very far.

Soon the cavalrymen arrived and surrounded Jia Xu. Surprisingly, the Qiang cavalrymen did not rush to attack, because they found that the Han man in front of them did not show any fear or apprehension. This made them want to tease him.

Looking at the Qiang cavalrymen circling around him and the heads hanging on their horses, Jia Xu's narrow eyes fixed on the leader of the Qiang cavalrymen who was watching the show from the side.

Jia Xu narrowed his eyes and shouted in a deep voice, "Duan Jiong, the General Who Destroyed the Qiang of the Great Han, is my maternal grandfather. If you harm my life, when the royal army marches west, I will make sure you die without a burial place, leaving not a single chicken or dog alive!!"

Even though Jia Xu was a master strategist, he had no better way to escape this situation. He could only bring up Duan Jiong, whom the Qiang people considered a butcher, hoping that they would be wary of him.

Upon hearing Duan Jiong's name, the Qiang cavalrymen reined in their horses and looked at their leader.

"Are you Duan the Butcher's grandson?" The Qiang leader rode forward on horseback, looked at Jia Xu, and then sneered, "You Han people have just changed emperors, and the court is busy with internal strife. Duan Jiong is now in a precarious situation himself. Do you think we are afraid of him?"

"So what? My new emperor of the Han Dynasty is wise and mighty, possessing the spirit of Emperor Wu of Han. How could he possibly cut off his own arm? You mere Western Rong can be wiped out with a single edict!!"

Seeing Jia Xu's completely fearless demeanor, the Qiang leader couldn't help but frown.

"Take him away!"

The Qiang leader waved his hand, preparing to take Jia Xu back. If he really was Duan Jiong's grandson, then they could negotiate some terms with Duan Jiong. Although Duan Jiong was known as a butcher among the Qiang people, he still valued his family.

Furthermore, even if the person before them is not Duan Jiong's grandson, his courage is far beyond that of ordinary Han people, and it would still be helpful to them if they could be persuaded to surrender.

So Jia Xu was bound by the Qiang cavalry and headed west.

After traveling all day, as darkness approached, the Qiang cavalry found a dilapidated village as a temporary resting place. Looking at the two Qiang men beside him who were already drowsy, and then at the horses not far away, Jia Xu pondered how to escape.

It was already late at night, and the weather in the northwest was especially cold. The Qiang cavalrymen found shelter from the wind and fell fast asleep. The two Qiang men responsible for guarding Jia Xu decided to take turns keeping watch, otherwise the night would be too difficult to endure.

Seeing that there was only one person left beside him, and that he was dozing off from time to time, Jia Xu knew that his opportunity had come. Because Jia Xu was dressed as a scholar, the Qiang people did not tie his hands and feet.

Seeing the guard's dazed appearance, Jia Xu secretly pulled out a dagger from his sleeve. Unlike other scholars, Jia Xu did not like to carry a long sword at his waist. In Xiliang, a place where the strong prey on the weak, having a weapon meant that you had the ability to resist. If something happened, you would probably be killed immediately. Therefore, Jia Xu always appeared to be weak and helpless, but in reality, he always kept a weapon on his person.

Scholars and students in the late Han Dynasty did not only study the classics like in later generations. Most of them also practiced physical skills. Jia Xu was no exception. Jia Xu tiptoed closer to the drowsy Qiang man, his eyes flashing coldly as he stared intently at the Qiang man's heart on his back.

Just as the Qiang man was dozing off, Jia Xu suddenly lunged forward, then reached out his right hand to cover the Qiang man's mouth and nose, while his left hand swiftly and accurately pierced the Qiang man's back and struck his heart. With a twist of his left hand, a spurt of blood instantly gushed out.

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