Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Everyone fell silent as they looked at Ma's mother's tear-stained face and resolute attitude. Although Ma Chao was anxious, he also understood his mother's painstaking efforts and could not help but hesitate.

Seeing that no one was saying anything, Ma's mother continued, "And those two children, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, have just arrived. I haven't taken good care of them yet. How can I let you leave in such a hurry?"

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu quickly stood up and bowed to Ma's mother, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Madam. We are all well."

Seeing Ma Chao's mother's insistence, Ma Teng also tried to persuade Ma Chao: "Chao'er, your mother is right. Don't be so anxious."

Ma Yunlu, Ma Xiu and Ma Tie also echoed this, expressing their hope that Ma Chao could stay and celebrate the Spring Festival before leaving.

Lu Wan also advised her mother: "Mother, you see, Brother Chao has just returned, and Auntie is so kind. We should just accept it. This will also allow Brother Chao to spend more time with his family." Seeing that everyone was saying so, and knowing that it was hard to refuse such a kind invitation, Mrs. Lu no longer insisted. She smiled and nodded and said, "Since that's the case, then we will listen to Chao'er's wishes."

Ma Chao looked at this and then that, and finally nodded and said, "If that's the case, then I'll do as Mother says. We'll set off after the Spring Festival."

Ma's mother finally smiled and said, "That's right. It's good for the family to be together."

So, everyone decided to put their plans aside for now and spend the Spring Festival in Wuwei, waiting for the arrival of spring before embarking on their journey to Chang'an. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the house became cheerful again, and everyone began to discuss various arrangements for the Spring Festival, looking forward to the upcoming reunion festival.

--split line--

The defeat of Dong Zhuo's forces, spurred by the warring factions, drastically altered the situation in the regions under Dong Zhuo's control. Local governors faced a difficult decision: some were wooed by other factions, while others chose to submit to the imperial court. Regions previously firmly controlled by Dong Zhuo with an iron fist were now thrown into chaos by the fierce fighting.

Such was the case with Hedong Commandery in Jiangdong, a region plagued by unrest and chaos. Bandits frequently appeared, wantonly disrupting the lives of the people. Although the prefect attached great importance to public security, constantly emphasizing the need for strengthened governance and training the military and militia to resist bandits, the increasingly cold weather brought Hedong Commandery into a full-scale crisis.

Ever since Liu Bao, the Left Wise King of the Xiongnu, was forced to flee in panic under Ma Chao's fierce attacks, life became increasingly difficult. Winter, in particular, was particularly difficult. Due to the military defeat, supplies were extremely scarce, making it impossible to meet the tribe's basic needs. Furthermore, the Xiongnu Chanyu Yufuluo tragically died on the battlefield, and Huochequan led the remaining troops to flee to the Xianbei. This made Liu Bao's situation on the grasslands extremely difficult. While enduring the torment of scarcity and hardship, he also had to constantly guard against harassment from neighboring tribes.

Seeing that the winter was difficult to survive, Liu Bao, with nowhere else to go, led his tribe to once again set his greedy eyes on the Han Dynasty, which was in civil strife. They intended to plunder the Han Dynasty's land to survive the harsh winter and seek a glimmer of hope for the tribe.

During this cold winter, Liu Bao led his tribe once again to target the chaotic Hedong County. He knew that the chaos in Hedong County was their opportunity. However, he also understood that this operation was fraught with challenges and dangers.

Liu Bao summoned the warriors of his tribe to discuss a plan of action. They analyzed the situation and considered various possible scenarios. Ultimately, they decided to send an elite team to infiltrate Hedong County and conduct a preliminary investigation.

Led by Liu Bao himself, the small group carefully crossed the border, avoiding Han patrols. Upon entering Hedong County, they found the situation even more chaotic than they had expected. Despite the governor's efforts to maintain law and order, bandit activity remained rampant, and the people lived in fear.

Liu Bao's team secretly operated in Hedong County, collecting intelligence and looking for opportunities to exploit. In the process, they met some people who were dissatisfied with the county governor, and these people were even willing to help them.

However, Liu Bao also knew they couldn't act rashly. Although the Han army had suffered damage in the battle with Dong Zhuo, its strength was still formidable. They had to wait for the right moment before launching an attack.

While waiting, Liu Bao kept thinking. He knew that this operation was not only for survival, but also for the future of the tribe. He had to act cautiously to ensure the success of the operation.

Finally, one cold night, Liu Bao's troops discovered a weakness in the Han army. Taking advantage of the darkness, they launched a surprise attack. The Han army was caught off guard and was struck flat-footed. Liu Bao's tribe successfully seized a batch of supplies, easing their plight.

However, Liu Bao was not satisfied. He knew this was just the beginning. They had to continue to move in order to survive in this chaotic world. Under his leadership, the tribesmen continued to operate in Hedong County, causing trouble for the Han army.

The Hedong prefect, facing increasing pressure from Liu Bao's constant harassment, knew that if the situation wasn't resolved quickly, Hedong would descend into even greater chaos. So, he decided to request support from the imperial court, hoping to receive more troops to quell the unrest.

The noble families of Hedong County were terrified. Faced with the Xiongnu's rampage, they exerted immense pressure on the governor to devise a swift strategy to repel the enemy, while also actively organizing their own clansmen to resist the invasion. The Hedong Wei clan, the largest of the clans, was already on high alert. The head of the Wei clan, with a solemn expression, sternly urged all family members to restrain themselves and refrain from wandering outside, lest any danger arise. The clan's men and numerous servants took up arms, their gazes determined, and they vowed to defend the family's dignity and safety to the death.

Cai Wenji and her maid were imprisoned in a small courtyard. To Cai Wenji, this confinement seemed insignificant. What difference could the chaos and chaos outside make? Her husband, Wei Zhongdao, had passed away six months earlier. Since their marriage, they had been like strangers, devoid of warmth and love. She was like a lonely flower in this vast courtyard, unattended and unloved.

Every quiet night, Cai Wenji could only stay alone in her empty room, gazing at the cold moon outside the window, her heart filled with endless desolation and loneliness. She had lost the companionship of her lover and had no close friends to confide in. In this cold and indifferent Wei family, she felt no warmth or care.

And Ma Chao, that heroic figure, had somehow found his way into her heart. Perhaps it was his magnanimity, perhaps his fearlessness, that brought Cai Wenji a sense of solace in this desolate world. And so, drawing on the vague yet profound impression in her memory, she painstakingly painted a portrait of Ma Chao.

She framed the portrait and hung it in her boudoir. Whenever she was alone, she would gaze at it in a daze. The image of Ma Chao seemed to be the only light in her dark life, the source of her spiritual sustenance. She found solace in the portrait, imagining that one day she would escape this suffocating existence and connect with the hero in her heart. Even a moment of fantasy brought her a sense of warmth in this cold world.

After experiencing the pain of losing his son, the head of the Wei family felt as if his once robust body had been drained of its vitality. After all, time is unforgiving, and as he aged, his health deteriorated. Every day, he sat alone in his study, his expression gloomy, recalling every detail of his youngest son, Wei Zhongdao's life. Those days, once filled with laughter and joy, were now filled only with sorrow and longing.

Wei Zhongdao's elder brother, Wei Ji, a prominent figure of the Wei family, was well aware of the dire situation the family now faced. He stood tall and straight, his expression radiating determination and resolve. To protect the family, he toiled day and night, organizing the servants' drills. His serious demeanor inspired awe in the crowd. He rarely returned to the inner chambers, completely immersed in the family's defense.

Wei Ji's wife saw it all, and it hurt her heart. Every day, she watched her husband hurried away, her heart filled with worry. She knew the heavy responsibility her husband shouldered in this critical moment, so she could only quietly manage the household affairs and ensure that he had no worries.

Only during Wei Ji's rare moments of rest would she bring their son to his side. Wei Ji cherished his son dearly, fully aware that everything he did was not only for the immediate safety of the family, but also for his son's future. He would hold his son on his lap, his gaze filled with tenderness and expectation, patiently teaching him the principles of life and family responsibilities. Sharing these fleeting yet precious moments of family happiness with his wife and child, Wei Ji's solemn expression would temporarily fade, revealing a gentle smile.

As they left, Wei Ji said solemnly to his wife, "If this Hedong County cannot be conquered, Madam, you must keep our son alive no matter what." With tears in her eyes, his wife nodded firmly and replied, "Husband, why has it come to this?"

Wei Ji held his wife's hand tightly, his eyes filled with reluctance and determination: "If you really reach that desperate situation, don't worry about anything else, take your son and escape quickly to find a peaceful place."