Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The two generals were incensed by Sun Ce's words. They were both proud and arrogant, and how could they tolerate being underestimated by Sun Ce? Pang De was Ma Chao's renowned general in Xiliang, while Zhang Liao was the foremost general in the Bingzhou army during Lü Bu's reign. Because their respective commanders were so dazzling, their own fame was somewhat overshadowed.

Although Sun Ce was Ma Chao's sworn brother, his arrogance left the two of them feeling deeply frustrated. Pang De was the first to speak, "Since Bofu is so arrogant, don't blame us two for joining forces." Sun Ce's heart was filled with excitement, as if a beast was roaring. He shouted, "Come on, come on, let's have a fight!" With that, the three of them immediately engaged in a battle.

On the training grounds, the weather changed dramatically as Sun Ce, spear in hand, leaped onto his horse and charged into the battle formation, stirring up a thousand layers of dust. His figure was as swift and agile as a dragon, and the spear in his hand shone with a cold light that seemed to rend the very void.

Pang De and Zhang Liao were enraged by Sun Ce's words, their eyes blazing with rage. Pang De's eyes widened in anger, and he swung his broadsword with great force, slashing at Sun Ce with fierce momentum, shouting, "Bofu, be careful!" Zhang Liao was not to be outdone, and his broadsword swung, transforming into a silver-white halo, charging directly at Sun Ce.

Sun Ce showed no fear. He clamped his legs against the horse's belly, and the steed neighed as it galloped forward. Facing the ferocious attacks of Pang De and Zhang Liao, Sun Ce swung his spear, creating a series of wisps that instantly deflected Pang De's broadsword. Then, with a swift twist, his spear, like a snake emerging from a hole, pierced Zhang Liao. Zhang Liao dodged to the side, his broadsword sweeping across, attempting to sever Sun Ce's horse's leg.

Sun Ce reacted with remarkable speed, jerking the reins and sending his steed high into the air, avoiding the fatal blow. Seizing the momentum from the leap, he thrust his spear downwards, slamming it down at Pang De. Pang De blocked with his sword, but with a resounding clang, sparks flew everywhere. The three of them instantly engaged in a fierce melee.

Pang De's broadsword weighed as heavy as a mountain, and each swing evoked a whirring sound, as if it could split mountains and crack rock. His attacks were fierce and powerful, attempting to overwhelm Sun Ce with sheer force. However, Sun Ce deftly utilized the flexibility of his spear, parrying and thrusting left and right, his spear tip like a galaxy of stars, constantly neutralizing Pang De's attacks.

Zhang Liao's swordsmanship was renowned for its swiftness and agility, its flashes like snow dazzling the eyes. He and Pang De worked in perfect harmony, one attacking first, the other supporting, attempting to distract Sun Ce. However, Sun Ce, like a fish swimming in water, effortlessly navigated the dual attacks.

Sun Ce's spearmanship was incredibly powerful, sometimes as imposing and powerful as a dragon emerging from the sea, sometimes as swift and agile as a swallow. Each of his attacks was filled with unstoppable momentum, forcing Pang De and Zhang Liao to dodge even a little.

The three men's horses galloped and neighed on the battlefield, their hooves clashing like thunder. Their figures intersected, and the sound of weapons clashing was endless, making everyone's eardrums buzz.

Pang De roared, swinging his sword at Sun Ce again. This blow contained boundless rage and power, as if to cut Sun Ce in two. A gleam of light flashed in Sun Ce's eyes, and he held his spear horizontally, blocking the blow head-on. He felt a tremendous force radiating from the spear, and his arm went numb. But he gritted his teeth and withstood the blow.

Zhang Liao seized this opportunity and attacked from the side, his blade flashing like lightning. Sun Ce remained calm, leaning forward and sweeping his spear backward, forcing Zhang Liao back.

The training grounds were a shambles, dust billowing into the air, obscuring the sun. The three men were drenched in sweat and dust, but their fighting spirit remained steadfast.

Sun Ce shouted, "Great! Come again!" He launched an attack, his spear darting like a meteor chasing the moon, aiming for Pang De's throat. Pang De quickly swung his sword to block, while Zhang Liao swung his sword at Sun Ce's back. As if he had eyes on his back, Sun Ce leaned sideways and swung his spear back to block Zhang Liao's attack.

The three of them fought back and forth, the battle was difficult to determine. Their moves became faster and more fierce, leaving the onlookers stunned and bursting into cheers from time to time.

Although Pang De and Zhang Liao were extremely brave, they had already fought for hundreds of rounds and were exhausted. Sun Ce, on the other hand, was well-rested and had a weapon lovingly crafted for him by Ma Chao, which was sturdy and sharp, giving him a considerable advantage.

As the battle continued, Pang De and Zhang Liao's movements gradually slowed down, and their breathing became rapid. But they still gritted their teeth, holding on, and refused to give in easily.

Sun Ce noticed the fatigue of the two men, but he was full of respect for these two powerful generals. He did not take the opportunity to intensify the offensive, but slowed down the pace to give the two men a chance to catch their breath.

"The two generals are indeed very brave. I admire you!" Sun Ce said loudly.

Pang De responded with a gasp, "Bofu is a skilled warrior. Although the outcome of today's battle remains undecided, we have done our best."

Zhang Liao also said, "It was worth the trip to fight General Sun."

Although all three were exhausted, they remained deadlocked and no one was willing to give in.

Generals Cheng Pu, Huang Gai, Han Dang, and Zu Mao watched the battle from the sidelines, deeply worried about Sun Ce's fate. Anxious, they hurried to the banquet and pleaded with Ma Chao, "General Tian, ​​Bo Fu and those two generals have been engaged in a fierce battle for a long time, and I'm afraid something might happen. Please, General Tian, ​​intervene. The three of them have been engaged in a fierce battle for quite some time, and if any of them were injured, it would be the very outcome we wanted at this grand banquet."

Ma Chao listened, deeply convinced, and nodded solemnly. He immediately called for his mount, Aurora, and took the famous Tiger-Headed Golden Spear. Ma Chao tapped the horse's belly, and Aurora shot out like an arrow, truly darting into the battle array like a bolt of light.

Ma Chao arrived at the battle array with lightning speed. He first deflected Sun Ce's fierce sweep with a swift swipe of his spear, then deftly intercepted the fierce attacks of Zhang Liao and Pang De, instantly separating the three. He shouted, "Don't fight! You three are my trusted confidants. If you injure even one of them, I'll regret it. Today is merely a sparring match. Don't let your tempers get in the way."

Ma Chao's voice was like a resounding bell, his words carrying undeniable authority. Hearing this, the three men sheathed their weapons and panted as they looked at Ma Chao. Sun Ce's eyes still clung to the battle, and Zhang Liao and Pang De also looked reluctant to fight. However, knowing Ma Chao's intentions, they gave up. Only then did the tension on the training grounds gradually ease.

Everyone dismounted, and Ma Chao strode forward with great speed. Without hesitation, he extended his arms and embraced several people with an extremely warm gesture, heading towards the banquet. His eyes were gleaming like the stars in the night sky, and he boldly called out to the generals who had just participated in the battle, saying enthusiastically, "Come, come, come to the banquet, and let us drink together." The generals responded with a roaring response, a voice like rolling thunder, deafening and magnificent.

Ma Chao ordered everyone to fill their cups high. Steadily raising his glass, he began by saying, "Cheers to all the generals for their remarkable performance today. Let us drink this cup to the full. You all are the backbone of Xiliang and our loyal and devoted ministers." Without hesitation, Ma Chao raised his head and drank the entire cup in one gulp. His bold and unrestrained demeanor captivated everyone, as if one could sense the surging passion and ambition within him. Seeing this, the other generals, moved by his magnanimity, also lifted their glasses and drank the entire cup in one gulp, displaying their own unrestrained generosity.

Ma Chao went on to say, "Although the three of you haven't decided the winner, Bofu was able to fight two of us alone, which shows his extraordinary bravery and outstanding ability. I will give this horse to Bofu. Do you two have any objection?" Pang De hurriedly bowed and said, "General, you are wise. How could I not know that? What's more, Bofu's bravery may indeed be slightly better than the two of us in a one-on-one duel. I have no objection." After saying that, Pang De and Zhang Liao bowed respectfully and clasped their fists, their expressions full of respect for Ma Chao's decision.

Ma Chao laughed heartily in a clear and heroic voice, and said, "Today, all the generals are participating in the competition. I see that your armors are damaged due to many battles. Let's drink to our heart's content first, and then we will go to the city lord's mansion to get a new set of armor." Upon hearing this, the generals were so excited that they couldn't control themselves. They bowed down and thanked him one after another, and their gratitude was beyond words.

Ma Chao ordered everyone to leave and drink to their heart's content. He then left Sun Ce, Pang De, and Zhang Liao behind and said, "You three are all my trusted confidants and brothers. Do not harbor any grudges because of a brief competition... Come, give each of you a brocade robe that my mother hand-sewn." The three generals trembled with emotion, tears welling in their eyes as they bowed in gratitude again. Their eyes were filled with gratitude and loyalty to Ma Chao, their fiery gazes igniting everything.

Sun Ce summoned Pan Feng and Wu Anguo to his side again, and said earnestly, "I've noticed during the battle that both of you possess immense strength. However, your weapons are somewhat inconvenient when moving on horseback, which puts you at a disadvantage. But I'm deeply impressed by your bravery. You must know that on a battlefield, the general is the soul of the soldiers, and the flag represents the general. You both possess the ability to carry the flag. Would you be willing to serve as my personal attendants, protecting me during battle?"

Upon hearing this, the two were thrilled and hurriedly bowed their hands in thanks, saying in a resounding voice, "Thank you for your appreciation, General. We are willing to serve you wholeheartedly!"

The flag guard camp and the personal guard are both matters that the generals attach great importance to, which shows how much Sun Ce values ​​and trusts Pan Feng and Wu Anguo.