Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The sky was gloomy and a fierce battle was going on. Ma Chao led his elite troops and, after a hard-fought battle, finally succeeded in capturing the city wall.

Atop the city walls, Liu Dan, clad in heavy armor and wielding a long sword, bore a commanding presence of courage and strength. Eyes wide open, he roared, charging at Ma Chao, each strike piercing the wind as he attempted to halt Ma Chao's advance. Undeterred, Ma Chao's spear surged like a dragon emerging from the sea, clashing fiercely with Liu Dan's sword again and again, sending sparks flying. Liu Dan fought with all his might, his blows ferocious, each one bearing the weight of his mortal resolve. But Ma Chao, with his superior agility and masterful spearmanship, gradually gained the upper hand.

Finally, Ma Chao seized the opportunity and launched a fierce spear, piercing Liu Dan's chest. Liu Dan was unable to dodge and fell to the ground with a scream, his blood staining the bricks under his feet red.

Liu Dan's death caused his brother Liu Fan to lose his mind, and the army fell into chaos. Ma Chao seized the opportunity to pursue the enemy, and the morale of the soldiers was greatly boosted. The shouts of fighting shook the heavens, and they quickly defeated the enemy and successfully captured Hangu Pass.

The following is an expansion based on this paragraph:

On the raging battlefield, the outcome was clear. Liu Fan gazed upon the devastated, defeated scene, filled with despair and helplessness, knowing his path was at an end. In this crucial moment of life and death, he made the ruthless decision to surrender.

Liu Fan's hands trembled as he slowly lowered his tightly grasped weapon. The sharp blade that had accompanied him on the battlefield fell heavily to the ground with a dull thud. Seeing his commander's actions, his soldiers, though reluctant, understood that the situation was hopeless and followed his lead, discarding their weapons one by one. For a moment, the sound of clanking was incessant, and the ground was littered with discarded swords, spears, and halberds.

Fa Zheng stood in the crowd, his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with confusion and uneasiness. Although he didn't know whether Liu Fan's move was a genuine surrender or a conspiracy, in the face of such overwhelming circumstances, he had no choice but to follow him, reluctantly following behind, dropping his weapon.

As soon as the men laid down their weapons, the ferocious Xiliang soldiers swarmed over them. They swiftly and expertly bound Liu Fan, Fa Zheng, and their men, and hustled and shoved them towards Ma Chao's location. Along the way, the captives wore varying expressions: some dejected, others apprehensive, unsure of their fate.

Liu Fan shouted, "General, you are mighty. I am willing to surrender!" Seeing that his words were sincere, Ma Chao believed them to be true.

Ma Chao personally stepped forward to untie Liu Fan. As the ropes came loose, Ma Chao's attention was momentarily distracted, contemplating his next strategic move. At this crucial moment, Liu Fan's eyes suddenly flashed with ferocity. He whipped a sharp dagger from his bosom and stabbed Ma Chao with lightning speed. This thrust, swift as lightning, carried with it Liu Fan's final rage and despair.

However, at this critical moment, Pang De, ever vigilant, reacted instantly. With a roar, he launched a powerful kick, striking Liu Fan with the force of a thunderbolt. Liu Fan was sent flying backward, falling heavily to the ground. Pang De rushed forward, swung his long sword, and without hesitation, ended Liu Fan's life.

The moment Liu Fan fell to the ground, Pang De was instantly furious, with rage burning in his eyes. He roared with gritted teeth: "This villain dared to do such a despicable thing. I will cut his body into pieces and kill all these captives to relieve the hatred in the general's heart!" After that, he was about to take action.

Seeing Pang De's order to kill the other captives, the captives' reactions varied. Some were dejected, as if they had foreseen their own tragic end, with their heads hung low and silent. Others were fierce, with their eyes wide open. Liu Fan's death seemed to have ignited the passion in their hearts, making them ready to fight to the death.

At this critical moment, Ma Chao waved his hand and said, "Imprison them for now. If they are willing to surrender, they can surrender. If not, we will release them and let them return home after the battle."

Fa Zheng, upon hearing Ma Chao's words, looked at him in astonishment, his face filled with disbelief. Pang De was also very puzzled and said anxiously, "General, they were just about to attack you. How can you let them go so easily?"

Ma Chao closed his eyes in pain, sighed deeply, and said, "No matter what, they are all Han men, fighting in this meaningless battle for the desires of their generals. Think about it, in the face of power, life is nothing more than a tool driven by the desire to control power. Let them go back, their wives and children are waiting for them."

Pang De knew the general's temperament very well. Although he was unwilling, he still followed the order and ordered the soldiers to escort the prisoners away.

Fa Zheng seemed to be hit by something at this moment, and a huge wave surged in his heart. He stared at Ma Chao in a daze, his eyes filled with complex emotions, including admiration, confusion, and deep thought.

Fa Zheng stared into Ma Chao's eyes, and from those deep eyes, he clearly saw the deep reluctance and the pain hidden deep in his heart. That pain was like the vast ocean, deep and vast, and moving.

Fa Zheng was deeply moved. He had traveled through these chaotic times for so long, but he had never encountered such a man. Ma Chao was young and promising, renowned on the battlefield, yet he wasn't blinded by power and desire. Instead, he truly cared about the people. Not only did he possess exceptional martial arts and strategic strategy, he also respected and cherished the lives of every soldier.

Even Liu Fan, a young and promising man, skilled in both civil and military affairs, fought for his own inflated desires, with far-reaching ambitions. Yet, Ma Chao's eyes betrayed no deep hatred for his enemies, but rather a pity for the casualties and the brutality of the battlefield. This kindness and compassion, so precious and rare in this chaotic world of slaughter and conflict, deeply touched Fa Zheng, as if he had seen a warm and bright ray of hope amidst the darkness.

Just as they were about to take the prisoners down, Ma Chao suddenly stopped them. He turned his gaze to Fa Zheng and said solemnly, "Fa Zheng, you are also an enemy general. You should have some prestige among the prisoners. Letting you appease them may help avoid unnecessary unrest."

Ma Chao then turned to Pang De and instructed, "Pang De, arrange for the safekeeping of Liu Fan and Liu Dan's bodies. Once we have rescued Dong Zhuo and returned to Chang'an, release Fa Zheng and the previously captured Yan Yan and Zhang Ren, and take the bodies of Liu Fan, Liu Dan, and these captives back to Yizhou."

Ma Chao's eyes were firm yet tinged with compassion, as if he were trying to bring this brutal war to a peaceful end. Fa Zheng, surprised by Ma Chao's arrangement, was taken aback for a moment before clasping his fists in acceptance, a complex expression in his eyes. Pang De, also filled with respect and obedience for Ma Chao, quickly carried out his instructions.

Ma Chao stood at Hangu Pass, his expression grave and anxious as he watched the fierce battle below. Smoke filled the air, and the cries of battle were deafening. Dong Zhuo's army was losing ground under the fierce attack, and was on the verge of collapse.

Ma Chao knew the situation was critical and urgent, leaving no time for the soldiers to rest. He acted decisively and shouted, "All soldiers, listen up! Clear the gate immediately! No time is wasted!"

At the command, the soldiers sprang into action. Ma Chao himself donned his armor, grasped his spear, and mounted his horse, leading a group of elite troops, preparing to exit the pass to aid Dong Zhuo's retreating forces. His gaze was resolute, his posture erect, and he exuded a fearless aura.

Li Ru and Xu Rong were struggling to hold on, facing an extremely difficult situation. Fortunately, Zhang Liao and Gao Shun, along with their feared Xianzhen Camp, arrived in time to support them, and they were able to stabilize the situation and prevent the camp from being instantly overrun by the enemy.

Xu Rong, always at the forefront, fought tirelessly on the front lines to resist the surging tide of Cao's coalition forces, and was already exhausted. Li Ru, a scholar with wisdom and strategy, could offer little in the fierce battle. He could only gaze nervously towards Hangu Pass, his heart in his throat, fearing that the enemy generals at Hangu Pass would lead their troops in again and attack from behind. That would be a truly disastrous situation, with both sides attacked from both sides.

Li Ru was observing anxiously when he suddenly saw the gate of Hangu Pass slowly opening. He was instantly filled with worry and quickly said to Xu Rong: "General Xu, Hangu Pass is open. I'm afraid this camp can't be defended!" Xu Rong's heart tightened when he heard it. He hurriedly withdrew from the battlefield and looked into the distance.

However, they discovered that Hangu Pass had been replaced with the flag of the Western Liang Army, with a large "Ma" clearly written on it. Then, after the gates were opened, a team of cavalry rushed out of Guanzhong like a gust of wind. From a distance, the attire of the Western Liang cavalry could be seen. A closer look revealed that many of the flags also bore the characters "Western Liang" and "Ma". Xu Rong turned to Li Ru and said, "Mr. Wenyou, please take a closer look. Could it be Jin Ma Chao from Western Liang arriving?" Li Ru also narrowed his eyes and observed carefully. The worry on his face instantly turned to surprise. He excitedly said, "It really is Jin Ma Chao, Ma Meng!"