Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

It was a world shrouded in snow and wind, as a group of people struggled to reach Chang'an from Wuwei, Xiliang. The biting cold wind slashed across their faces like a knife, and snowflakes fell thickly from the sky, seemingly burying the entire earth under a blanket of white.

The ranks were filled with cavalry, clad in heavy armor, standing like a steel Great Wall in the snowstorm. In the center, the angelic chariot, escorted by the Xiliang cavalry, trudged forward. Envoy Wang Jie and Lieutenant Li Tong sat in the chariot together. Li Tong frowned, complaining about the inclement weather: "This damn snowstorm, when will it stop? This road is truly too difficult to travel."

Wang Jie, however, wore a solemn expression. He peered through the curtains of the carriage at the Xiliang cavalry marching outside. He spoke slowly, "Look at Ma Chao's Xiliang cavalry. Despite facing such a harsh environment, they haven't complained a single bit. They are absolutely the elite of the elite. I must report this in detail to the Emperor. This man must be kept under strict watch in the future."

After these words fell, a brief silence fell within the carriage. Li Tong followed Wang Jie's gaze toward the cavalry outside, secretly pondering the combat effectiveness and threat posed by these Western Liang cavalry. Outside, the wind and snow continued to howl, as the resolute cavalry marched resolutely through the vast white snow toward Chang'an.

Not far away, the Lu family's mother and son's bicycle also struggled forward. They were also surrounded by the snow, yet they didn't complain. Their hearts clung to the longing to reunite with Lu Zhi, and this warm hope gave them endless courage.

On this arduous journey through the snowy wind, Lu Wan would occasionally lift the carriage curtain and quietly observe the figure standing tall and proud in the wind and snow. Surrounded by his brothers, Ma Chao remained unfazed, his spirits high, despite the harsh road and the biting wind, as if the inclement weather could not dampen his ambitions.

As a skilled archer on horseback, Ma Chao's keen intuition informed him that someone was watching him. Turning his head, he happened to meet Lu Wan's gaze. In that instant, a sweet warmth flowed through both of their hearts.

Inside the carriage, Lu Yu complained dissatisfiedly, "Sister, don't always lift the curtain to look. Aren't you cold? You've lifted it several times, and the snow has poured in. How can I not know your little tricks? This time, Brother Ma is going to Chang'an with us to see Father. We must let Father decide when the time comes. I believe Father will definitely agree to your little thing with Brother Ma." When Lu Wan heard this, her face flushed instantly, but she still argued stubbornly, "Lu Yu, I'm going to tear your mouth apart. What can happen between me and your Brother Ma?"

At this moment, Lu's mother also smiled and joked, "Ah, finally, I get to see your father. I wonder how he's doing. I'm sure if he knew about Chao'er and you, he'd approve." Lu Wan was so embarrassed by what she said that she threw herself into her mother's arms, refusing to look up. Although the journey was difficult in the wind and snow, the group felt a little more warm and hopeful for the future because of this beautiful feeling.

The dull thud of horse hooves on the snow seemed to tell the story of this difficult journey. The figures in the wind and snow gradually faded away, their stories, like the snowflakes in the sky, small but full of tenacity and strength.

During this arduous journey, fraught with wind and snow, Ma Chao thoughtfully ordered his cook to prepare delicious broth each time they pitched camp. He cared deeply about each of his companions, ensuring they were well-fed and well-watered, preserving their strength for the journey ahead. Even the 3,000 men under Li Tong, the captain of the imperial guard, received a share of the warm broth. Ma Chao treated everyone equally, showing no partiality.

Marching through such inclement weather was a truly arduous experience for the Chang'an soldiers, who served as the emperor's ceremonial guard. Chang'an had just been established, and these soldiers were of varying quality. Their physical fitness and fighting spirit were no match for the battle-hardened soldiers under Ma Chao's command. They repeatedly complained to Li Tong and Wang Jie about the difficult journey. However, it was Ma Chao's equal treatment, his lack of defensiveness, his complete lack of regard for them, treating them like brothers, that warmed the hearts of these Chang'an soldiers. Unconsciously, they grew closer to Ma Chao, as if they had found a rare source of warmth and support amidst the icy snow.

After enjoying a hearty meal and a few drinks at Ma Chao's, Lieutenant Li Tong opened the angel's tent. Wang Jie and Xun Yu were discussing matters in the tent. Upon entering, Li Tong burst into a rage, "Oh, what a delight! General Ma invited you, and you two won't go. How can we get through this day without some meat and wine?" He burped as he spoke.

Wang Jie's face instantly showed a displeased expression. He said, "There's no good banquet. If you didn't have any ulterior motives, why would you treat us to wine and meat? Besides, you're actually drinking openly during the march. It seems that Xiliang's military discipline is just so-so."

Li Tong stiffened his neck and said, "Master Wang, you are wrong. It's freezing cold now, and we are all working for the Emperor. Our brothers are already feeling a bit overwhelmed. General Ma specifically ordered us to drink some strong liquor to prevent freezing. My good intentions have been ignored by you."

Wang Jie said worriedly, "Let's not even talk about treating you to a drink. Just this bowl of broth alone has already made our soldiers from Chang'an grateful. He's showing such kindness, so he must have some ulterior motive."

Xun Yu advised, "My dear brother, you may have misjudged General Ma Chao. Meng Qi has always loved his soldiers like his own sons, treating them like brothers. The journey is truly difficult now, but his willingness to brave the snow and wind to accompany us into Chang'an speaks volumes about his integrity."

Wang Jie remained silent, yet a lingering suspicion lingered within him. His brow furrowed slightly, his eyes betraying doubt and uneasiness. Ma Chao's attentiveness seemed to him excessive, leading him to suspect a hidden agenda. However, Xun Yu's words also plunged him into deep thought. He knew Xun Yu was a man of wisdom and a keen judge of character. Had he truly misjudged Ma Chao? But his doubts lingered, and he resolved to pay closer attention to Ma Chao's every move during the remainder of his journey.

After a heavy snowfall, the world was blanketed in a blanket of silver. The thick snow blanketed the roads, making every step a pit of softness, making progress difficult. The bitter wind pierced the face like a knife, and icy snowflakes drifted down, blurring the view. In this difficult environment, the people advanced, their steps heavy and sluggish, each step requiring immense effort, until gradually, they began to tire. Yet, the people refused to give up. With unwavering perseverance and an indomitable spirit, they persevered, advancing step by step towards Longxi County.

Finally, through everyone's concerted efforts and unwavering dedication, they arrived in Longxi County. Dong Bai, upon hearing the news, was overjoyed, her joy evident in every possible way. She had arrived outside the city early, eager as a bird ready to take flight. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and a beaming smile, as charming as a flower in full bloom in spring, filled her face. She gazed endlessly into the distance, eager for that familiar figure to appear within her sight.

At this moment, the soldiers and generals of Longxi County lined the road in neat rows, as if awaiting inspection. Hua Xiong stood straight, his eyes narrowed slightly, and he gazed thoughtfully into the distance. After a moment, he turned to Xu Rong and whispered, "General Xu, look, now that our lord has passed away, we are under the command of Miss Dong Bai. But Miss Dong Bai's heart is completely devoted to Ma Chao. Back then, I met Ma Chao on the battlefield, and I still remember his bravery. He wielded his silver spear and white horse, darting through the enemy ranks like a flash of lightning. He was truly awe-inspiring." As he spoke, a hint of admiration flashed in Hua Xiong's eyes.

Xu Rong nodded slightly, his eyes filled with reminiscence, and responded: "General Hua is absolutely right. I also remember the confrontation with Ma Chao at that time. His momentum was like a tiger descending from the mountain, unstoppable. Now if we can be appreciated by Ma Chao, it would be a great blessing for us. With his help, we will surely make a name for ourselves in this troubled time, avenge our lord, and restore our prestige." Xu Rong tightly gripped the sword at his waist with a determined look.

Meanwhile, Li Ru was lost in thought. He knew it was not a good time to go to Chang'an, and he was filled with worry.

At this time, the world was in turmoil and unrest. Warlords across the country were like wild horses, gathering their own armies and seizing their own territories, hoping to achieve hegemony in this chaotic world. The powerful families, to protect their own interests, secretly and relentlessly supported these local armed forces. They provided money, food, and supplies, or sent their children to join the warlords' ranks to consolidate their position and influence. With the support of the powerful families, the ambitions of the warlords grew. No longer content with their current territory, they continued to expand their sphere of influence, engaging in endless conflicts with each other.

During the war between the feudal lords and Dong Zhuo, the emperor temporarily gained a say in Chang'an, barely maintaining his position and gaining a degree of influence. However, each of the feudal lords employed their private armies to the utmost. They fought independently, each harboring ulterior motives. Some princes, vying for territory, engaged in armed conflict with other princes; others secretly colluded with Dong Zhuo for personal gain. Amidst the chaos of this war, each lord desperately sought to expand their power and build their own impregnable private armies. Each lord developed their own independent armies, exercising their own power and ruling their own territories. They ignored the orders of the imperial court in Chang'an, making it completely incapable of governing them.

Under such circumstances, if we rashly enter Chang'an at this time, we will surely face a flood and beast that is even more ferocious than when Dong Gong was alive.

He looked at the excited Hua Xiong and the expectant crowd, sighed slightly, and secretly calculated the future situation in his heart.

The joy in her heart made Dong Bai's heart beat faster involuntarily, as if it was about to jump out of her chest. She couldn't wait to meet those who had come through such a difficult journey and share the joy of reunion with them.