Faced with Yang Yan's shout, the Qiang soldiers in the village couldn't help but fall into deep thought.
Like Yang Yan, they had heard from their fathers since childhood that they were slaves of the wealthy and that everything they owned belonged to the wealthy.
For so many years, they have always lived like this, never having any other thoughts in the face of the oppression and beatings from the wealthy.
However, after hearing Yang Yan's words today, they couldn't help but start to think.
Yes, we are all born as human beings. I did nothing wrong, so why should I become a slave? Why should everything I have, including my life, become someone else's property?
Once this idea took hold, it spread rapidly and uncontrollably.
For a time, many Qiang soldiers found themselves harboring a growing rebellious spirit towards their own powerful leader, and this rebellion intensified.
However, having been bullied for so many years, although many Qiang soldiers had thoughts of resistance, they only thought about it and none of them dared to actually stand up.
Yang Yan, who was outside the village, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing this. He knew that this matter could not be rushed.
"Alright, brothers, think it over carefully. I'll come back tomorrow!"
With that, Yang Yan turned his horse around and headed back towards the main camp.
Watching Yang Yan's departing figure, the Qiang soldiers couldn't help but have their eyes flicker.
Having achieved their objective for the day, Yang Yan, along with Xu Huang and Yu Jin, led the army towards the main camp after returning to their ranks.
Just as Yang Yan and others were leading their army back to camp, Ma Yi's 30,000 cavalry were also stopped by 20,000 Xiliang cavalry on a plain 50 miles west of the main camp.
Upon receiving news that the Han army had dispatched troops directly to that camp, Ma Yi was overjoyed and immediately led his army over, intending to launch a surprise attack on the Han army's camp.
As a result, after running only halfway, they found a well-organized Xiliang cavalryman waiting for them ahead.
At this moment, the two sides were only a kilometer apart.
Looking at the Xiliang cavalry in front of him, Ma Yi couldn't help but frown.
He originally thought that the Han army would do everything in its power to attack that camp, but he did not expect that the Han army would send troops to block him.
Despite having the numerical advantage and with the Yuezhi forces not far behind, Ma Yi did not dare to make any rash moves.
He was unsure whether the Han army was simply sending men to obstruct him and buy time for the attack on the camp, or whether they had laid an ambush behind the 20,000 Xiliang cavalrymen, intending to eliminate him first.
If it's the former, then it's fine. I can confidently call the Yuezhi people to come as well, break through the Han army's blockade, and launch a pincer attack on the Han army.
If it's the latter, the camp should have noticed something amiss and launched an attack on the Han army's main camp.
However, no news came from the camp, and Ma Yi was unsure whether to advance or retreat.
Just as the two sides were locked in a standoff, one of Ma Yi's personal guards led a general and rushed over.
Upon seeing this general, Ma Yi's heart skipped a beat.
It turned out that this general was the same one who had previously fled Gangcha City.
"Why are you here? Is there something going on in Gangcha?"
Despite a bad feeling in his heart, Ma Yi still asked with a glimmer of hope.
The garrison commander, his face ashen, sobbed, "My...my lord, we've just lost..."
"What……?"
Upon hearing this, Ma Yi felt his mind explode, and he swayed, almost falling off his horse.
You must know that Gangcha City was his rear base. All his savings over the years and the supplies needed by his army were stored there, and his family members were also settled there.
Once Gangcha is lost, his army will never be able to be replenished, and it will soon fall apart, leaving him with nothing.
Forcing himself to steady himself, Ma Yi glared fiercely at the garrison commander: "What exactly happened? Weren't there 20,000 troops guarding that side? How come there wasn't a single word from them? They just vanished like that?"
“Great Lord, that Han cavalry force suddenly appeared behind Gangcha City.”
Moreover, they captured many of our people and used them to force our soldiers to leave the city and fight them!
Our army was no match for them and suffered a crushing defeat..."
The garrison commander also recounted the details of Gangcha's fall to Ma Yi in detail.
"I never imagined that the Han army would do something like this?" Ma Yi was shocked after hearing the garrison commander's words.
"Yes, my lord, that Han general is not only devoid of humanity, but also highly skilled in martial arts. He led only a few thousand men and yet he single-handedly routed our twenty thousand men. He's simply a demon..."
When Lü Bu was mentioned, the garrison commander of Gangcha was also terrified, his voice trembling slightly.
"Whew!"
Ma Yi slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, then asked, "How many men does the Han army have in total? Have they made any other moves?"
"That Han army numbered about 20,000. After capturing Gangcha, they left a portion to garrison the city, while the rest continued eastward. It seemed they intended to block our retreat and launch a pincer attack on us from both sides, together with the Han army in front..."
"No, we have to go back immediately and retake Gangcha, otherwise our army will be in real danger!"
After hearing the report from the garrison commander, Ma Yi immediately made a decision and ordered the army to turn around.
Currently, there is still no news from the camp, making it unlikely that he can defeat the Han army head-on.
If I cannot quickly recapture the supplies in the rear and clear the way for retreat, then I will truly become a fish on a chopping board, at the mercy of the Han army.
Despite his anxiety, Ma Yi calmly directed the evacuation.
He was also afraid that the Han army would become aware of his presence and then pursue and obstruct him.
The Xiliang cavalry opposite them saw that the Qiang people were retreating in an orderly manner, so they did not make any move, fearing that the Qiang people might ambush them on the way.
Only after Ma Yi led his army far away did the 20,000 Xiliang cavalry turn around and head towards the main camp.
Sunset.
After all the troops returned to the main camp, Liu Hong summoned all the generals to the central command tent and inquired about the day's events.
Upon learning of Yang Yan's actions outside the Qiang camp, Liu Hong couldn't help but praise him highly.
Although Yang Yan's achievements are far behind those of Lu Bu, Sun Jian, and others, he can still be considered among the top second-tier warriors.
With such a general from the Qiang ethnic group, those Qiang people will be even more devoted to the Han Dynasty.
Liu Hong then looked at Yang Yan and asked, "Minister Yang, in your opinion, will those Qiang soldiers in the camp surrender?"
"Your Majesty, I believe that those Qiang soldiers will surrender to our army, but it will take some time!"
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