Zhang Ni
Zhang Ni would lead the vanguard with few troops about 300 men and horses. He worked under Ma Zhong in quelling the Qiang tribes. Zhang Ni led his own unit at the front separate from the main army and first to arrive to the village of Tāli. The location of the village makes it difficult to attack since it was atop a high mountain. However Zhang Ni climbed the mountains and set up his own camp four to five lǐ far of Tali. The Qiang knew there was danger and built a stone gate, atop the gate they set an elevated platform and gathered many stones atop it so that they could protect themselves while crushing the enemies. Zhang Ni judged that an assault on the gate would be complicated and so he sent an interpreter to inform them: