Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Yan Yan and Zhang Ren had their hands tightly tied. They were captured with tired but resolute expressions, and were then brutally taken to the top of the city wall.

Ma Chao first tried to persuade Yan Yan and Zhang Ren to surrender with a sincere look, saying earnestly, "Generals, the world is in chaos right now, and the people are suffering. We are determined to uphold justice and quell this troubled time. With your talents and vision, if you surrender, it will surely benefit the people of the world. Why not give it a try?" However, Yan Yan and Zhang Ren exchanged a glance, both holding their heads high and chests puffed out with a firm gaze. Without hesitation, they shouted, "Don't even think about it! We will never side with you!" Ma Chao's face darkened instantly. Although there was still a hint of subtle admiration in his eyes, it was mostly feigned anger. He raised his voice and sternly said, "Humph! You are so stubborn! If that's the case, what's the point of keeping you around? It's better to execute you right here and there to prevent future trouble!"

Zhang Xiu, observing this from the sidelines, was terribly anxious. He hesitated, then finally stepped forward and pleaded, "General, this is absolutely unacceptable! Please reconsider! Zhang Ren and I are brothers, having trained together since childhood. We are as close as brothers. He is upright and loyal. If he surrenders, he will be of great use to you. Furthermore, you are seeking to recruit talented individuals. I don't intend to kill them, but simply want to test their loyalty."

Ma Chao, however, pretended not to hear and ignored Zhang Xiu for a moment. Instead, he continued to stare fiercely at Yan Yan and Zhang Ren, demanding, "I, Ma Chao, have treated you with courtesy and sincerely invited you. Why are you so determined and unwilling to surrender? Are I, Ma Chao, so unworthy of your following?" Yan Yan's eyes widened with righteous indignation as he shouted, "You are aiding and abetting the tyrant Dong Zhuo. He is a tyrant and has brought suffering to the people of the world. Yet, you are working for him, committing unjust acts. How can we, men of justice, associate with you and be despised by the world?"

At this point, Ma Chao said sternly, "Generals, perhaps you have misunderstood me. I, Ma Chao, fully understand the principle that 'the people are most important, the state comes second, and the emperor is least important.' What I have done is by no means to aid the tyrant, but to protect the country and its people. In these troubled times, excessive slaughter will only cause the people greater suffering. My ambition is to end the war, allowing the people to live and work in peace and contentment, and to reduce the suffering of displacement. If you two could join hands with me to bring peace to the people of this world, wouldn't that be more meaningful than simply resisting?"

Zhang Ren angrily said, "Stop pretending! I'll kill you or chop you up as you please!" Yan Yan then said, "Dong Zhuo, the old villain, is a disaster for the country and the people. You are his lackey. How can you be someone who cares about the country and the people?"

Zhang Xiu quickly pleaded, "General, they are both loyal and courageous men. They were simply confused for a moment. Please show some mercy and spare their lives."

At this time, Ma Chao snorted coldly and said, "These two injured Xu Huang and Ma Dai on the battlefield, causing losses to our army. They made such a serious mistake. If we forgive them so easily, where will the dignity of our army be?" Zhang Xiu was extremely anxious and said again, "General Ma, Brother Zhang Ren is an outstanding spearman and has outstanding military talent. If he can serve you, he will be an even greater advantage. General Yan Yan is also a veteran and experienced. I hope you will give them a chance for my sake." Zhang Xiu wanted to persuade him again, but Zhang Ren's face was determined. He said with great righteousness, "Brother, don't ask him again! A real man is born between heaven and earth. He should do what he should do and what he should not do. Why should I fear death? I only regret that I can't eliminate all the evil in this world!" Yan Yan also echoed with a righteous face, "That's right! We would rather die than surrender. You can kill us or cut us up, it's all at your discretion!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. Unexpectedly, he stepped forward and personally untied the ropes that bound the two men. He said, "You two are truly heroes of steel. I, Ma Chao, was right. I was merely testing your resolve just now, and now it seems you are both loyal and brave. However, the two armies are engaged, and I cannot let you go. Wait until I bring back Prime Minister Dong. You can stay or go, it's all up to you!"

The two generals were surprised, their faces filled with disbelief. Zhang Ren frowned and asked, "General, do you really want to let us go?"

Ma Chao threw back his head and roared with laughter, his laughter echoing across the city walls. He declared proudly, "I, Ma Chao, have always been upright and honest, and my words are as good as gold. When the battle is over, I will abide by our agreement today and let you go." He fixed the two men with a sharp gaze, and continued in a serious and solemn tone, "But in the meantime, I would like to ask you not to have any other thoughts. I have made a promise, and I will not break it. But I also hope that you will abide by our agreement now and not cause trouble for our army. Otherwise, don't blame me, Ma Chao, for turning against you!"

After hearing what Ma Chao said, Zhang Ren and Yan Yan exchanged puzzled looks.

Yan Yan stepped forward and said, "General Ma's generosity is surprising. But the situation on the battlefield is so volatile. Who can guarantee that the general won't change his mind mid-battle?"

Ma Chao crossed his arms and confidently replied, "My reputation is well known to everyone in the army. How could I let a sudden change ruin my reputation? As long as you two stay in line, I will not go back on my word."

Zhang Ren pondered for a moment and said, "Since the general is so sincere, we must act with caution. But if the general breaks his promise, we will never surrender, even if it costs us our lives."

Ma Chao nodded slightly and said, "Okay! That's it for now. I hope we can all abide by our agreement."

Afterwards, Ma Chao arranged for them to rest temporarily in one of the army's tents. However, Yan Yan and Zhang Ren still had doubts in their hearts and discussed their next strategy in low voices in the tent.

Yan Yan said worriedly, "I don't know if what Ma Chao said is true or not. We need to be careful and vigilant."

Zhang Ren clenched his fists and said, "Not bad. Let's see what he does next."

Ma Chao hadn't even deployed a large number of troops to guard the two generals' camp. Pang De, perplexed, hurried to Ma Chao and said, "General, why are you acting like this? If these two men are treacherous and want to escape, your lack of defense will only play into their hands."

Ma Chao, however, remained composed and spoke slowly, "Pang De, these two are quite resourceful. The fact that they were able to force us to this point is a testament to their extraordinary abilities. We each serve our own masters, but we both truly admire their abilities. Furthermore, they would rather die than surrender, a testament to their loyalty. I have treated them with sincerity, and I doubt they would betray me."

Pang De looked worried and continued to advise: "General, although that is true, what if the two of them escape?"

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao threw back his head and burst into laughter, his voice shaking the heavens. "Don't worry, Pang De! If these two are truly such dishonest people, I can capture and kill them once, and I can capture them a second time. If they truly commit such an unjust act, then killing them will not be a pity. I, Ma Chao, trust my judgment, and I am willing to take this gamble."

The following is a re-written content for you:

Ma Chao went to the camp to check on the injuries of Xu Huang and Ma Dai. As soon as he entered the tent, Ma Dai saw Ma Chao coming and struggled to stand up to salute. Ma Chao hurriedly stepped forward with a smile to comfort him, saying, "Xu Huang, Ma Dai, you two should take good care of your injuries and don't move around." Then, Ma Chao said with admiration, "On this battlefield, you two performed exceptionally bravely. Xu Huang, you charged at the front with great momentum. Although you were injured by the enemy general, you did not lose your dignity at all. Your bravery in killing the enemy is admirable. Ma Dai, you are young and fearless. You followed closely behind and cooperated with Xu Huang in the battle. You were also agile and brave." Ma Chao's praise made Ma Dai feel a little embarrassed.

Xu Huang boasted, "If you hadn't caught me off guard and severely injured me, I could have captured both of them alive. Even though I'm injured, I could still have severed the enemy general's horse's legs and captured him." Ma Chao smiled and shook his head, saying, "Gongming is brave and fearless, of course. But on the battlefield, things change rapidly. Don't underestimate your opponent."

Ma Chao then addressed the two generals, "I see those two enemy generals are loyal and righteous, and I cannot bear to kill them. I hope you don't harbor any grudges." Ma Dai's youthful face was filled with determination as he declared, "I have the utmost respect for you, brother. What you do has its reasons, and I will obey you in all matters." Xu Huang also smiled, "It must be said, these two are truly capable. This is the first time I've seen a general suffer such a defeat at the hands of others. If it weren't for Miss Dong Bai's timely breakthrough, victory would have been difficult for us." Ma Chao sighed, "This battle was indeed difficult, but our soldiers are all brave and fearless, which is why we have achieved this victory. You two should just focus on recuperating. Once you have recovered, join me on the battlefield again."

After Ma Chao had made all the necessary arrangements, he hurried over to discuss the next steps of the campaign with Dong Bai. Ma Chao's face was solemn as he said, "We should continue our march towards Hangu Pass in the direction of Luoyang. We must clear all obstacles on the way for the Prime Minister's return."

Dong Bai frowned slightly and said worriedly, "However, Xu Huang and Ma Dai's injuries haven't healed yet, and it's inconvenient for me to visit them in person. Should they rest for a few days before making any plans?"

Ma Chao's eyes were determined, and he replied anxiously, "Speed ​​is of the essence in war. I haven't received any news of Prime Minister Dong's safe return yet, and I am always worried and can't let go."

Dong Bai looked at Ma Chao with eyes full of emotion, and said softly: "Ma Chao, haha, you are wholeheartedly for my grandfather and our Dong family. I, Dong Bai, will always remember this friendship in my heart." As she spoke, Dong Bai was deeply moved, her body softened, and she threw herself into Ma Chao's arms.

Ma Chao was stunned at first, then he hugged Dong Bai tightly and comforted her softly, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."