Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Chao frowned, his face filled with confusion. He asked Li Ru, "Mr. Wenyou, the actions of the emperor's envoy today are truly puzzling. I wonder what their intentions are?"

Li Ru stroked his chin, shook his head slightly, and sighed. "Alas, this matter is difficult to understand, but it is not completely incomprehensible. Think about it, the current situation is nothing more than those key points closely related to Dong Gong. As everyone knows, Longxi County is where Dong Gong made his fortune and is also the location of his headquarters. Although Dong Gong has passed away, this envoy of the Emperor still holds a grudge against this place even to this day. Longxi County is the place where Dong Gong's generals rose to power. We are Dong Gong's subordinates and serve him, but the envoy of the Emperor has always labeled us as traitors. Think about it, Dong Gong controlled the court and was an enemy of the Emperor, and they labeled us as traitors. Under such circumstances, how could they easily tolerate us, Dong Gong's old subordinates?"

Xu Rong and Niu Fu listened quietly to the conversation between Li Ru and Ma Chao, and a look of displeasure slowly crossed their faces. Their expressions were filled with anger and resignation, yet they remained silent, uttering no words. Hua Xiong, a fierce and impetuous general, was instantly enraged upon hearing this. He snorted coldly and shouted, "Hmph! Lord Dong has long been gone, and now General Mengqi commands the vast land of Xiliang. He has always been extremely respectful to the imperial court. Yet, even so, they still refuse to let go of our Longxi County. What exactly do they want?" As he spoke, Hua Xiong's fury intensified. He impulsively stepped forward, raised his gleaming sword, and threatened to decapitate the emperor's envoy, seeking to quell his raging fury.

At this moment, Li Ru raised his head slightly and slowly cast his gaze towards Ma Chao's face, carefully observing his changing expression. Ma Chao's face was visibly uncomfortable, a look of conflict and hesitation. As Dong Zhuo's former chief advisor, Li Ru's prestige and wisdom were universally admired. He was fully aware of the complex intentions behind this matter, but at this delicate moment, he couldn't offer a sarcastic remark. So, he quietly passed this extremely difficult question to Ma Chao, watching him quietly, awaiting his decision. After all, Ma Chao's decision was both a reflection of his personal stance and a crucial decision regarding his future relationship with Dong Zhuo's former followers in Xiliang.

Ma Chao knew full well that, while Dong Gong's former subordinates seemed to be enjoying temporary stability, deep down they still harbored resentment towards the imperial court. However, the only reason the Xiliang troops were willing to submit to him now was due to his prestige, Dong Gong's dying instructions, and Dong Bai's unwavering affection for him. However, Ma Chao was always reluctant to clash with the emperor's envoys. After all, the country was showing signs of recovery. If his attitude caused the emperor in Chang'an to lose face, all his efforts would vanish like a fragile bubble, and the world would once again be embroiled in war, plunging into endless turmoil and chaos.

With this thought in mind, Ma Chao slowly spoke, "Everyone, please be patient." Then, turning to Zhou Yu, he said, "Gongjin, you and Wang Jie met before us in Luoyang, so we're old acquaintances. You're not one to rush or rush, so you're perfect for me to go and ask Wang Jie what he wants. Furthermore, Commander Xun is also with the delegation. Given his character, he won't let him act rashly and dishearten the border commanders."

Zhou Yu nodded in agreement and then galloped towards the delegation, ready to ask Wang Jie what he really thought. As soon as he arrived at the delegation, Zhou Yu saw Captain Li Tong and Wang Jie arguing fiercely.

The quarrel between Captain Li Tong and Wang Jie became more and more intense. Their voices echoed in the wind and snow, breaking the tranquility of the snowy land.

Li Tong's face flushed, and he spoke passionately, "Sir Wang, your behavior along the way is truly incomprehensible. We, your brothers, have traveled all this way, working tirelessly and tirelessly to escort you to Xiliang. We've endured hardships and hardships along the way, without a single complaint. But you, on arrival in Xiliang, have become a completely different person. You're nitpicking, haggling, and acting with condescending arrogance. General Ma Chao is a man of rank, yet he's always treated us with great courtesy, never once letting your disrespect irritate us. Now, after arduous journeys through this blizzard, our three thousand brothers are exhausted. General Ma Chao and the governors of Longxi County have sincerely invited us to camp within the city, with good intentions. Yet, you've adopted your airs, refusing to agree. Don't you consider how exhausted your brothers are? If you don't consider yourself, you should at least consider your brothers!"

Wang Jie was furious at Li Tong's accusations. His eyes widened, and he sternly declared, "What do you know, you warrior? Longxi County is not a place you can enter easily. Don't you know what Longxi County is like? This is where the traitor Dong Zhuo rose to prominence. Even today, that old scoundrel Dong Zhuo is buried within Longxi. How did he treat the emperor? He was a thief who stole the country! As envoys of the emperor, if we enter without permission, wouldn't that be a blasphemy to him? We represent the emperor's majesty. How can we act so rashly?"

As the two men argued fiercely, Xun Yu, who had been silent the entire time, slowly approached. His expression was solemn, and he sighed softly. "Please refrain from arguing. The situation is complex, and we must prioritize the greater good. Captain Li, Lord Wang is acting to uphold the dignity of the Emperor, and his concerns are not unfounded. And, Lord Wang, Captain Li also cares deeply for his fellow officers. The purpose of our mission is to stabilize the situation and promote national peace and development. We must not let a momentary outburst of anger ruin the greater good. We should calm down and jointly discuss a suitable solution."

Li Tong, though still dissatisfied, remained silent after hearing Xun Yu's words. Wang Jie frowned, lost in thought. Looking at the two, Xun Yu understood that resolving this issue would require more communication and understanding.

Wang Jie's expression was resolute, and his tone was firm. "No matter what, we cannot enter Longxi City. The Emperor is still at war with Dong Huang. If we contact Dong Zhuo's former subordinates without authorization and incur the Emperor's wrath, how can we bear the consequences? If the Emperor misunderstands us, how will we cope? This matter is of grave importance and must not be taken lightly. As envoys of the Emperor, we represent his majesty and glory. We must act with caution and cannot make the slightest mistake. If a moment of negligence causes trouble for the Emperor, it will be our fault."

Captain Li Tong's anxiety subsided, a look of deep distress on his face as he spoke. "Sir Wang, Sir Wang, you've only considered the emperor's reputation, but haven't considered these three thousand soldiers. They were newly recruited in Chang'an, their qualities vary greatly, but they've worked tirelessly and have been extremely respectful to you along the way. Don't you understand that Chang'an is newly established, and the people's hearts haven't yet fully won over? If their pent-up discontent erupts over issues like treatment, how will we lead them? You call me a warrior, but have you ever considered the importance of commanding an army through force? If we were leading elite troops, I'd be fine with anything, but look at our soldiers. They've endured hardships along the way, some even caught a cold, and they've performed remarkably well. Sir Wang, please also consider the feelings of these soldiers."

Zhou Yu had indeed witnessed a remarkable spectacle. Seeing everyone's emotions ease, he laughed heartily and approached the group with a leisurely stride. He bowed and saluted, then spoke, "Brother, why are you so angry? Back in Luoyang, you were a man of extraordinary bearing and remarkable talent. Why, on this trip to Xiliang, have I seen you so arrogant, rude, and frustrated everywhere?"

Wang Jie, upon seeing it was Zhou Yu, couldn't lose his temper. After all, Zhou Yu had been known as a "child prodigy" in Luoyang, and the two had known each other before. He, too, had been moved by Zhou Yu's extraordinary talent, and they had enjoyed a pleasant conversation. He could only grudgingly say, "Ah, my dear brother Gongjin, I am honored to be here. Since I came to Xiliang, I haven't had a long conversation with you, which is truly regrettable. However, I now bear the Emperor's mission, and I must prioritize His Majesty's interests and reputation. I have indeed been rude in many ways, but I hope you will forgive me."

Zhou Yu smiled heartily and said, "Brother, you hold an important position, so I understand your actions. However, we are now outside Longxi County, and our troops are exhausted. Why don't you go with General Ma Chao into Longxi County and give the soldiers a rest? We must return to Chang'an before the New Year. If we act impulsively and cause unnecessary harm to the soldiers, delaying the emperor's summons, how can we be a minister?"

No matter how graciously Zhou Yu invited him, Wang Jie remained stubbornly unmoved. Despite Xun Yu's earnest pleas, Zhou Yu's eloquent persuasion, and Lieutenant Li Tong's frantic anxiety, Wang Jie remained unwavering.