Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

After several rounds of drinks, Zhang Song's cheeks were flushed, and his tongue was slurring. His earlier restraint had long been forgotten. Ma Chao, holding a wine cup, casually inquired about the recent situation in Yizhou. Xu Shu chimed in with encouragement, while Lu Su subtly poured more wine for him. The three of them worked together in harmony, and before long, Zhang Song had recounted the entire story of his trip.

“To be honest, Young Master Cao…” Zhang Song hiccuped, tapping his fingers haphazardly on the table, “The situation in Yizhou has been unstable for a long time! Last year, that scoundrel Li Ru instigated Zhang Ren to send troops from Hanzhong, and Liu Zhang would wake up in the middle of the night in fear, sighing all day long while holding his seal.”

He took a swig of wine, his voice suddenly rising: "Not to mention at the end of last year, that scoundrel Ma Chao slaughtered a million Xianbei people on the grasslands! When the news reached Chengdu, Liu Zhang collapsed on the spot, and didn't even have a peaceful New Year. He kept asking us 'What should we do?' A bunch of people argued and said that Ma Chao was too powerful and that we needed to find allies to restrain him, so that's why they sent me out."

A sharp glint flashed in Ma Chao's eyes, and Xu Shu chimed in at the opportune moment: "Zhang Biejia, who do you think among the warlords of the Central Plains is capable of undertaking this great task?"

"Don't even mention it!" Zhang Song slammed his hand on the table, making the wine pot rattle. "I'm going to Xiangyang to see Liu Biao first. That old man is besieged in the city by Liu Bei and can barely protect himself. How can he have the mind to care about Yizhou? If I go to Liu Bei, his subordinate Pang Tong is even uglier than me, but he has a very sharp tongue. He came up and mocked me, saying I'm 'ugly and narrow-minded, unfit for great responsibilities'!"

At this point, he was so angry that he puffed out his beard and glared at his face: "How could I tolerate it? I retorted on the spot! Who knew that Pang Tong was so popular with Liu Bei, and that brute Zhang Fei didn't say a word, just grabbed his spear and blasted me out!"

Lu Su took the wine pot, refilled his cup, and said with a smile, "Is that Prefect Zhang going to see Lord Cao?"

“That’s right!” Zhang Song downed his drink, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes. “Cao Cao held the emperor hostage to command the other lords; at least he was capable of great things. I didn’t come here just to run errands for Liu Zhang…” He lowered his voice and leaned closer, “To be honest, I’ve already drawn up a map of Western Sichuan. Whoever can make a name for themselves, I’ll give the map to them; it’s better than following that idiot Liu Zhang and waiting to die!”

Ma Chao paused, holding his cup, and exchanged glances with Xu Shu and Lu Su—Zhang Song had actually revealed his trump card.

"Prefect Zhang is certainly straightforward." Ma Chao smiled, but his tone turned somewhat serious. "I just wonder, in your eyes, does Lord Cao count as someone who 'knows his stuff'?"

Zhang Song let out a burp, patted his chest, and said, "If Cao Cao recognizes its value, this map can change my future! If he doesn't..." He narrowed his eyes, his gaze sweeping over the Xiliang cavalry outside the tent, "The world is vast, there are always heroes who recognize its value."

Ma Chao didn't reply, but simply raised his cup in acknowledgment. The wine went down his throat, carrying the sweetness of peach blossom brew, but it couldn't suppress the turmoil surging in his heart—Liu Zhang's fear, Zhang Song's ambition, and the map of Xichuan hidden in the shadows were all clearly laid out before him on the table.

The wind outside the tent still carried a chill, but the wine inside grew hotter and hotter with each sip. Zhang Song was already passed out on the table, snoring loudly, completely unaware that his heartfelt words had already revealed the true nature of Yizhou to the three people opposite him.

Xu Shu whispered, "My lord, Zhang Song and the map in his hand are a pleasant surprise."

Lu Su nodded: "Liu Zhang is incompetent, Zhang Song is disloyal, and chaos has already emerged in Yizhou, it is indeed..."

“Let’s hold our positions for now,” Ma Chao interrupted him, tapping his fingertips on the table. “Since Zhang Song wants to see Cao Cao, let him go. Let’s see how this ‘discerning’ Cao Cao will treat him.”

He looked out of the tent; sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting dappled shadows on the ground, much like the current situation in Xichuan—seemingly calm, yet turbulent beneath the surface. Zhang Song was the pebble that stirred the waters; what kind of waves he would create next, no one could say for sure.

But at least for now, Ma Chao knew that another crucial piece had been added to the chessboard of conquering Yizhou.

The next day, just as dawn was breaking and the candlelight inside the tent hadn't completely died down, Zhang Song suddenly sat up abruptly from the couch, his head feeling like it was filled with a tangled mess, and he winced in pain. "Oh no, oh no!" he cried out, his drunkenness completely gone. He frantically tore open his shirt, his fingertips groping haphazardly inside his close-fitting lining.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he touched the piece of cardboard tightly sewn together with needle and thread. He pinched it between his fingertips to confirm that the topographical map was intact, then patted his chest and muttered, "Thank goodness." After straightening his robes and stepping out of the tent, he saw Ma Chao and his party packing their belongings. Saddles and horses were ready, and supplies were neatly bundled up, clearly indicating that they were preparing to continue their journey.

"Young Master Cao, please forgive my rudeness!" Zhang Song stepped forward quickly, his face showing some embarrassment. "I was quite drunk yesterday and probably said a lot of nonsense. I hope you will forgive me."

Ma Chao was bending down to check the saddle straps when he heard this. He straightened up, holding a bowl of freshly cooked rice porridge, and handed it to him. "You're too kind, Prefect Zhang. It's fine to indulge yourself occasionally when you're traveling." He smiled and said sincerely, "It is I who should apologize—I am truly sorry for using Young Master Cao Ang's name yesterday."

Zhang Song was taken aback, his hand, which had been holding the rice porridge, froze in mid-air: "Young Master, what is this...?"

“To be honest,” Ma Chao said, “I am not Cao Ang, but Zhen Jia, courtesy name Fushi. My family is engaged in some business. I am traveling with my family this time and I am afraid of causing trouble on the road, so I have used the name of Young Master Cao. I hope you will not take offense, Prefect Zhang.”

Zhang Song's eyes lit up, and he took half a step forward: "Could it be the Zhen family from Hebei? The same Zhen family that was coerced into moving to Chang'an by the authorities back then?"

Ma Chao smiled and said, "Indeed. Sir, you are indeed very knowledgeable. However, the Zhen family is a large family, and I am just a member of a collateral branch. I am not a very important person."

Zhang Song, however, was somewhat suspicious. His gaze swept over the women not far away, and he clicked his tongue: "But those women I saw yesterday, each one of them was exceptionally beautiful, practically stunning... I'm afraid..."

Ma Chao picked up the conversation, his tone calm: "These are the beauties that my Zhen family has gathered from all over the country, intending to present to the King of Liang."

Zhang Song first chuckled, with a hint of teasing, "That old Liang King certainly knows how to enjoy life, managing to gather such beauties." But as soon as he said it, he realized it was inappropriate and quickly patted Ma Chao's arm, changing his tone, "Hey, no, this job of yours... is actually quite a cushy one, isn't it? Being able to travel with such people is a blessing."

Zhang Song blinked, suddenly realizing something. Holding the warm rice porridge, the knot in his heart caused by "offending the nobles" instantly dissipated. He felt that although Zhen Jia was not an official, he had an extraordinary demeanor and was more approachable than "Cao Ang" from yesterday.

“In that case,” Zhang Song took a sip of rice porridge, the warmth flowing down his throat, “I wonder where Young Master Zhen is headed next? I still need to go to Qiao County, and if it’s on my way, I would like to trouble you for a few more days.”

Ma Chao tossed the last baggage onto the carriage and clapped his hands: "What a coincidence, we're also heading east, so we'll be traveling the same way as Zhang Biejia. It'll be more lively with company on the road."

Zhang Song raised an eyebrow again, asking with a hint of inquiry, "If you say you're searching for beauties for the King of Liang, why are you heading to Qiao County instead? That's Cao Cao's territory. This route doesn't make sense."

Ma Chao reached out and put his arm around Zhang Song's shoulder, his tone becoming familiar: "Brother Yongnian, don't you know? My Liang King has a younger sister, the eldest daughter of the Ma family, Ma Yunlu, who is currently with Young Master Cao Ang in Xiliang. A few days ago, when Cao Cao was in trouble, Young Master Cao returned to the Central Plains, and the eldest daughter led the Xiliang cavalry to help him."

Zhang Song suddenly realized, slapping his thigh repeatedly: "Oh! That's it! I've long heard that the Prince of Liang's sister has a fiery temper and is deeply in love with Young Master Cao. Tsk tsk, to be honest, this Miss Ma is really..." He clicked his tongue, with a hint of old-fashioned Confucian disdain, "...to follow her future husband into the military camp and show her face in public before even getting married, it's really a bit..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly noticed that Ma Chao's hand on his shoulder tightened. When he looked up, he met Ma Chao's half-smiling eyes, which held an indescribable meaning. This made him swallow back the rest of his words, "shameless."

Ma Chao was already furious, wanting nothing more than to pound this loose-tongued fellow into the ground. But then he thought, the other party had no idea that he was the King of Liang, let alone that Ma Yunlu was his younger sister. This nonsense seemed rather ridiculous. He suppressed his anger and instead found it amusing, a genuine smile appearing on his face: "Brother Yongnian is joking. That's precisely why we dared to use the name of Young Master Cao—after all, having this connection would reduce the number of questions we face on the road."

He released his grip, straightened his clothes, and continued, "Besides, given my status, how could I possibly meet the Prince of Liang directly? Naturally, I should first go to see the Prince of Liang's sister and have her present these beauties on my behalf. In this way, I can both fulfill my Zhen family's duty and gain access to the Prince of Liang's sister's connections. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Zhang Song nodded repeatedly, a knowing sly smile spreading across his face. He pointed at Ma Chao and said, "You little rascal, don't let your merchant background fool you, you're full of shrewd calculations! No wonder people say 'nine out of ten merchants are cunning,' they're right."

Ma Chao wasn't annoyed; he simply returned a meaningful smile. The two exchanged a glance, both revealing a tacit understanding, as if they had truly become fellow "opportunists."

As the group reached a mountain valley, Ma Chao reined in his horse and, gazing at the rolling hills in the distance, casually asked Zhang Song, "Brother Yongnian, since you wish to find another wise ruler, why not consider joining the Liang King? He is currently at the height of his power, controlling the grasslands and Guanzhong, and is in dire need of capable men."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Song shrank back as if burned, waving his hands repeatedly: "Forget it, forget it, I dare not touch that King Liang." He lowered his voice, his tone tinged with fear, "Everyone says he is of barbarian origin from Xiliang, and his murderous aura is extremely strong! Killing without blinking an eye is the least of his worries. It is rumored that he even eats human flesh. Anyone who dares to say a disrespectful word in front of him will be devoured alive on the spot! I want to live a few more years, so I dare not provoke him."

Ma Chao chuckled inwardly, surprised that the people of Yizhou had demonized him so much, portraying him as a cannibalistic monster. He suppressed his laughter and said calmly, "Brother Yongnian, you've probably heard some misinformation. In our Xiliang army, General Zhang Ren and Master Fazheng are both from Yizhou, and they now hold high positions in the army. The King of Liang treats them very well."

Zhang Song inwardly cursed himself. How much had he drunk yesterday? He had even revealed his ulterior motives for this trip, and the other party had mentioned Zhang Ren and Fa Zheng, clearly recognizing them as well. His mind raced as he thought, "Hmph, I've dealt with these two in my younger days. I really don't know what kind of spell they've cast on me, that they're so devoted to Xiliang and are even helping outsiders attack Yizhou."