Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

A fierce battle ensued. Inspired by Cao Ang, the Taishan commanders fought bravely, each one against ten. Cao Ang led the charge, charging into the enemy lines, his longsword wielding and crushing the enemy wherever he went. Ma Yunlu, like a flash of white lightning, weaved through the enemy lines with ease, her swordsmanship sharp and each strike striking the enemy's vital points with pinpoint accuracy.

However, Zhang He's army was larger and more prepared, completely surrounding Cao Ang and his men. As time passed, Cao Ang's casualties mounted. Watching the soldiers falling around him, Cao Ang grew anxious. He knew that if this continued, his entire army would be annihilated.

"No, we can't just sit there and wait to die!" Cao Ang shouted, "General Yunlu, Zang, let's concentrate our forces and break out in one direction!" Upon hearing this, everyone gathered together and rushed towards the south side where the enemy's defense was relatively weak.

Zang Ba, Chang Xi, Sun Guan, and other Taishan generals knew this was a matter of life and death, and they unleashed their full strength in a desperate fight. Zang Ba wielded his long sword, its blade flashing with a gleaming force, each strike carrying immense force, slashing the approaching enemy soldiers to their feet. Chang Xi, wielding his spear, thrust left and right, his tip flashing with a cold gleam, ensuring his foes' fate was sealed. Sun Guan, wielding his twin halberds, whirled through the enemy ranks like a whirlwind, leaving a trail of blood and gore in his wake. Like a pack of fierce tigers, they led the Taishan Commandery's soldiers, carving a bloody path through Zhang He's encirclement.

Just as everyone was straining their efforts, feeling the strain of their efforts, the thunderous sound of horse hooves suddenly echoed from afar. A force of Western Liang cavalrymen surged forward like a black torrent. It was Wei Yan, leading his troops to support them. Leading the charge, his long sword raised high, Wei Yan shouted, "Master, don't panic. I'm coming!" This cry resounded across the battlefield like a bell, lifting the spirits of Cao Ang and the others.

Wei Yan's Western Liang cavalry, like a sharp knife, plunged directly into Zhang He's formation. Wherever the cavalry moved, the enemy's formation was thrown into disarray. Zhang He, seeing the situation was not good, thought to himself that Wei Yan would appear mid-air. Now, his army, attacked from both sides, was thrown into chaos.

Cao Ang seized this rare opportunity and shouted, "Soldiers, reinforcements have arrived, charge out!" Upon hearing this, the army's morale was boosted, and they formed a two-pronged attack with Wei Yan's Western Liang cavalry. Under this combined attack, Zhang He's army gradually lost its resistance and began to retreat.

Zhang He was filled with frustration, having thought victory was certain, only to have Wei Yan ruin his plans. Seeing the situation unfavorable to him, he had no choice but to order a withdrawal to avoid further losses. With Zhang He's command, his army retreated like a tide, leaving behind a devastated battlefield.

Cao Ang and his men breathed a sigh of relief as they watched Zhang He's army retreat. Cao Ang rode up to Wei Yan and said gratefully, "Wen Chang, thank you for arriving just in time. Otherwise, we would be in danger today!" Wei Yan clasped his fists and said, "Sir, your words are too kind. I came to support them on Cao Gong's orders. This is my duty."

Zang Ba, Chang Xi, Sun Guan, and other Taishan generals gathered around and expressed their gratitude to Wei Yan. Wei Yan smiled and said, "You are too polite, generals. Now that we are all under Cao Gong's command, we should support each other. However, we cannot stay here for long. We should reunite with Cao Gong as soon as possible." Cao Ang nodded in agreement, and the men reorganized their troops and marched towards the State of Chen, where Cao Cao was stationed.

Wei Yan said solemnly, "My lord, you must not go through Shanyang and Jiyin counties at this time. I've seen Yuan troops on the way here." Cao Ang felt a headache when he heard this and sighed, "I didn't expect the situation to fall so quickly."

Wei Yan went on to say, "Yan Liang and Wen Chou are leading the troops to attack Jiyin County, and the military flag is clearly flying Yuan Shao's name. And in Shanyang County, it is General Ju Yi who is leading the army, and it is his name that is flying on the flag." After hearing this, everyone was filled with emotion. They did not expect that Qingzhou and Yanzhou would fall in such a short time.

But they had no time to think about it. Cao Ang quickly calmed himself down and said, "In that case, let's go through Lu and Pei, and then go to Chen to meet up with father." Everyone nodded in agreement, knowing that the most urgent thing at this moment was to meet up with Cao Cao as soon as possible.

With that, this battle-hardened army immediately set out, heading towards Lu. Though exhausted, the soldiers felt a glimmer of hope at the prospect of joining forces with Cao Cao's army. They knew that in these turbulent times, only by uniting as one could they, under Cao Cao's leadership, contend with powerful foes like Yuan Shao.

The troops advanced with difficulty on the rugged road, leaving the lands they passed through devastated, with civilians displaced and towns in ruins, all of which revealed the cruelty of war.

Cao Ang gazed upon the devastated scene before him, a wave of sadness washing over him like a tide. Warlords fought each other, the flames of war raged, and the people, like duckweed in a raging wind, were displaced and suffering unspeakably. Everywhere he looked, he saw dilapidated villages, and amidst the rubble, the eyes of ragged civilians were filled with fear and helplessness. Children, emaciated by hunger, cried amid the ruins; the elderly sat slumped on the ground, gazing at their former homes, tears streaming silently.

Cao Ang knew full well that in these troubled times, the princes, driven by selfish ambitions, scrambled for power and profit, with no regard for the lives of the people. Every war was like a merciless disaster, pushing the people deeper into the abyss. Watching these tragic scenes, Cao Ang was filled with helplessness and heartache.

He couldn't help but fall into deep thought: what should he do next? Although he had followed his father, Cao Cao, on numerous campaigns, attempting to carve out a niche and achieve hegemony in this chaotic world, he had witnessed only more suffering and pain along the way. Even if his father could ultimately unify the north, or even pacify the world, how many innocent people would lose their lives and homes during this protracted war?

Cao Ang was lost. He longed to end this chaotic world and bring peace to the people. But the path to this goal was difficult, filled with blood and slaughter. Wasn't there a better way to end this chaotic situation without causing so many casualties?

He looked up into the distance. The sky was covered with dark clouds, as if foreshadowing that the haze of this troubled world would be difficult to dissipate.

Zang Ba, Chang Xi, and Sun Guan, who were standing beside him, had witnessed the tragic scenes along the way and were also terrified. Seeing Cao Ang's solemn expression, they couldn't help but look at each other. Zang Ba was the first to ask, "Master Cao, what are you thinking about?"

Cao Ang sighed slightly and said, "Looking at this chaotic world, I feel really bad. When the princes fight each other, it is the people who suffer. I can't help but wonder why the world has become so chaotic."

Upon hearing this, Zang Ba's expression darkened. He said, "Master Cao, the chaos in this world didn't just happen overnight. Take us for example. Back when we were bandits in Mount Tai, we were truly driven to desperation by life."

Sun Guan chimed in, "Yes, at that time, taxes were heavy and levies were levied heavily, and the harvest from the land wasn't enough to pay the rent and taxes. My family was starving to death, and I had no other choice but to become a bandit. I originally thought that robbing the rich to help the poor would help myself and the people around me survive."

Chang Xi nodded in agreement: "That's right. We didn't want to be those despised bandits, but we couldn't live in peace, so we had no choice but to take this path. Later, we were lucky to meet a wise leader, and finally we had the opportunity to start a new life."

Cao Ang listened to their stories, feeling overwhelmed with emotion. He said, "I understand your helplessness. In these troubled times, how many people, like you, are forced to make desperate decisions just to survive? But when will this chaotic situation end?"

Zang Ba looked at Cao Ang with a determined gaze and said, "Master Cao, now that we follow the Lord, we have the opportunity to change all this. As long as the Lord can achieve great things, the world will be at peace, and the people will no longer have to suffer."

Cao Ang nodded slightly and said, "I hope so. But ending the chaos is no easy task. Along the way, I've seen so much suffering among the people, and it's truly heartbreaking. We must not only win on the battlefield, but also think about how to ensure that the people truly live a good life."

Ma Yunlu blinked his bright eyes and spoke clearly, "I don't quite understand what you're saying, but I remember that ever since Black Mountain's Zhang Yan defected to Chang'an, the local people's faces were filled with smiles. No matter what difficulties they encountered, everyone would go to Xun Lingjun for help, and I could tell that the smiles on the people's faces were genuine."

Upon hearing this, Cao Ang couldn't help but show admiration and sighed, "The King of Liang's achievements are truly great, and his care for the people is truly profound. He has enabled the people to live and work in peace and contentment. This is truly remarkable."

Cao Ang nodded slightly and continued, "When I was in Chang'an, I had the honor of discussing the Prince of Liang's thoughts with Mr. Li Ru. Mr. Li Ru told me that the Prince of Liang once said that the cancer of the world is the aristocratic families. These aristocratic families are like leeks, which can never be harvested or eradicated. They keep popping up one after another. Those in power have no regard for the lives of those below them, and they don't care about the safety of the people. They only care about power. Today you attack me, tomorrow I attack him. Behind all these disputes, it is nothing but the selfish desires of the people at work."

Zang Ba, Chang Xi, Sun Guan, and others nearby, all from humble backgrounds, deeply resonated with Cao Ang's words. Zang Ba clenched his fists, his face furious, and said, "Young Master Cao is absolutely right! Those aristocratic families abuse their power and annex land on a daily basis. The common people work hard all year, but their income is barely enough to pay rent and taxes. When disaster strikes, they suffer terribly, yet they continue to live extravagantly, completely disregarding the lives of the people."

Chang Xi also spoke excitedly, "That's right! We witnessed many evil deeds of the aristocratic families in Taishan County. To compete for profit, they colluded with each other, oppressed the people, and forced many people into desperation, turning to banditry. This world is in chaos because of these people!"

Sun Guan nodded seriously and said, "If we can eradicate the power of these aristocratic families and allow the people to live a stable life, that would be a truly great achievement. Unfortunately, these aristocratic families are deeply rooted and intertwined, making it difficult to eradicate them completely."

Cao Ang looked at the crowd with a determined gaze and said, "Although the difficulties are numerous, there are solutions. King Liang was able to ensure the people live and work in peace and contentment in his territory, so can we. As long as we follow our father, step by step, we will first strengthen our own strength, and then gradually change the world. We will start by punishing those evil families and find a living space for the people."

Ma Yunlu, listening from the side, was also deeply moved and said, "Zixiu is right. If we work together, we can definitely change all this. Although I am a woman, I am willing to fight alongside you and do something practical for the people."

After hearing Ma Yunlu's words, everyone couldn't help but look at her with admiration. Although Ma Yunlu was a woman, she had the same ambition and responsibility as a man, which made everyone present respect her.

The team continued on, the dust kicked up by the horses' hooves. Their figures seemed small yet determined on this long journey. Cao Ang sat on his horse, his thoughts drifting far away. In his mind, he seemed to see a different path for the future.