Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Upon returning to camp, Ma Chao immediately summoned his generals and advisors to his tent. Standing before them, his expression solemn yet tinged with anticipation, he recounted Li Ru's strategy in detail. Inside the tent, everyone gathered, their gazes fixed on Ma Chao. As he spoke, their expressions shifted from concentration to awe. When Ma Chao finished, a moment of silence fell within the tent, followed by a wave of sighs. Everyone marveled at Li Ru's wisdom and his exquisite grasp of human nature.

Immediately, everyone followed the plan, refraining from the usual constant and ferocious attacks. Ma Chao personally explained Li Ru's intentions to his men. When they heard that the defenders of Tianshui County were mostly former comrades, mixed emotions welled up within them. Long battles had worn them down, and knowing they were facing brothers who had once fought side by side, their resistance subsided considerably. Upon hearing this, most of the men were happy to accept the arrangement. No longer having to risk their lives against their former comrades was undoubtedly a relief, and they eagerly cooperated.

Each feint attack seemed lively, but the soldiers were eager to "work without exerting themselves." Outwardly, they brandished their weapons and charged at the enemy, but in reality, they were languid, their weapons wielding with a lack of energy. The Tianshui commandery's defenders quickly noticed their unusual reaction, but as their interactions grew, they became more attuned. Instead of becoming alarmed, they felt a warm welcome at seeing their former comrades, asking questions and chatting casually. For a moment, the battlefield resembled a farce, devoid of the tense atmosphere that should characterize war.

Time slowly passed, and gradually, the defenders grew accustomed to their peculiar "attack." Dong Huang watched helplessly, knowing full well that morale was rapidly crumbling, yet he could do nothing. His soldiers had been loyal to him for years, ever since they had accompanied Dong Zhuo to Luoyang. During these long years, their nerves had been on edge, and now, stirred by these former comrades, they felt a surge of homesickness, an emotion that was unstoppable and unstoppable.

Dong Huang watched all this unfold from within the city, his brow knitted into a knot as he paced back and forth on the city walls. The very bricks and stones beneath his feet seemed to have been etched with his feet, yet he still couldn't think of any effective way to change the situation. He tried to think of some way to boost morale, countless ideas flashing through his mind, only to dismiss them one by one. He summoned his generals for a meeting, but they all looked at each other, unsure what to do. The atmosphere in the city grew increasingly oppressive as time passed, as if a huge rock weighed heavily on everyone's heart.

Ma Chao's troops, however, continued methodically, following their plan. They periodically launched these "feints"—designed to appear offensive but actually meant to build rapport. During each feint, Ma Chao's soldiers would chant their hometown slang, their accents lingering in the air. They recounted recent events from their hometowns or reminisced about happy times spent together in Xiliang. These voices, like gentle winds, drifted gently into the defenders' ears, like invisible yet powerful hooks, luring them back to their homesickness. Ma Chao's soldiers patiently waited for the opportunity to further undermine the defenders' resolve, confident that victory was drawing near. A gentle breeze rustled across the battlefield, brushing against the flags, creating a soft rustling sound. Sunlight streamed down the ground, but without the usual austere atmosphere of battle.

Months passed quickly, and autumn had arrived. The cold wind was like a knife, cutting every corner of Chang'an. The vermilion walls of the imperial palace seemed to have lost some of their former majesty under the ravages of the autumn wind, revealing a hint of desolation.

The emperor, clad in a heavy brocade robe, felt a chill piercing his bones, yet the chill was far less intense than the anxiety within him. He paced back and forth in his imperial study, glancing toward the door from time to time, hoping for news of victory from Tianshui County. However, all he received was memorial after memorial from Ma Chao, in which he reported that the war was tense and that victory was impossible.

The emperor's mind was as clear as a mirror, knowing that Ma Chao was merely putting in the work and deliberately stalling. Normally, with Ma Chao's bravery and the fierceness of his Xiliang troops, if they had engaged in a full-scale battle, how could months have passed with no progress? Furthermore, if the battle had become difficult, he should have dispatched reinforcements from Xiliang. The current situation only showed that Ma Chao had other intentions.

The emperor paused, slowly walked to the window, and gazed out at the withered trees and flowers, his brow furrowed. He knew full well that he could do nothing about Ma Chao now. Though the imperial court held the title of legitimate power, its strength was now weakened. In this chaotic world of warring princes and the smoke of war, Ma Chao's Western Liang army was a vital force for the imperial court to intimidate the other vassals in the Central Plains. If Ma Chao were pushed too far, and if he harbored rebellious tendencies, the consequences would be disastrous. But if Ma Chao were allowed to procrastinate, what would become of the imperial court's authority? How could it possibly justify itself to the people of the land?

During this period, Yuan Shu of Huainan expanded his power like a wild horse. With a strong army and abundant food and fodder under his rule, the ambitious Yuan Shu was no longer satisfied with his current territory. He dispatched his great general Ji Ling to lead a massive army.

Wherever they went, smoke and dust obscured the sky, and the clatter of horses' hooves was deafening like thunder. The army swept through like a gust of wind, terrifying the governors of every county they passed. Some, seeing the overwhelming force of Yuan Shu's army, realized they could not resist and, to protect themselves, opened their gates and surrendered. After Yuan Shu's army entered the city, they plundered all the food and supplies to bolster his military buildup. Smaller cities were trampled under Yuan Shu's assault, leaving the people displaced and their cries deafening. The crops in the fields were trampled, and once-peaceful villages were engulfed in flames, shattered. But Yuan Shu remained unfazed. He saw these as the foundation of his hegemony.

In Ji Province, Yuan Shao was also enjoying a period of prosperity. Taking advantage of the conflict between various factions, he aggressively expanded his territory. With counsel from his advisor Xu You, he led his generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou in the front lines. Yuan Shao first annexed several weaker counties in the surrounding area, pocketing their populations, wealth, and food. He then set his sights on the fertile land bordering Gongsun Zan.

Yuan Shao's army surged out of Jizhou City like a tide, their ranks neatly arrayed, their banners flying. Their march stretched for miles, like a winding dragon. Upon reaching the border, they engaged in a minor skirmish with Gongsun Zan's forces. Yuan Shao's troops, with their superior equipment and ample manpower, initially gained the upper hand. Gongsun Zan's defenders fought desperately, but gradually began to struggle against Yuan Shao's fierce offensive.

News of the events spread like wildfire to Chang'an, piling up the emperor's desk. The emperor's brow knitted together as he read the reports. He knew he was powerless to stop the expansionist actions of these vassal states. Chang'an, despite its magnificent palaces, lacked the military might to halt the ambitions of Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu.

Yuan Shu now set his sights on Liu Yao, a relative of the Han dynasty. Yuan Shu was ambitious, and as he gazed upon the lands Liu Yao held, his eyes filled with greed. Within his tent, his advisors discussed various strategies, each plotting to bring Liu Yao's lands under Yuan Shu's control as quickly as possible.

Yuan Shu's army stood ready for battle, their armor gleaming, their weapons gleaming with a cold gleam. Like hungry wolves, they pounced on their prey. Upon learning of Yuan Shu's ambitions, Liu Yao was filled with fear and unease. He knew his own strength was no match for Yuan Shu, but as a relative of the Han dynasty, he could not surrender easily. So, Liu Yao urgently summoned his men to discuss countermeasures. They looked at each other in bewilderment, all feeling a bleak future.

At this time, the entire world was a chaotic chessboard. Warlords fought each other for territory and power, and the flames of war raged. Yuan Shao continued to expand his empire in Ji Province, and friction with Gongsun Zan intensified. Tensions ran high, and a large-scale war threatened at any moment. Cao Cao, resting in Yan Province, watched the situation around him with a fierce eye, awaiting the opportunity to launch his grand plan. Warlords like Liu Biao of Jing Province and Liu Zhang of Yi Province also defended their respective territories, vigilantly guarding against surrounding threats.

In the palace of Chang'an, the emperor, dressed in a black robe embroidered with dragons, stood by the window with his hands behind his back. The sky outside was somewhat gloomy, reflecting the emperor's current state of mind. His gaze was somewhat empty as he gazed into the distance, his mind filled with news about Sun Ce.

Sun Ce, the man sworn in sworn brotherhood with Ma Chao, now rose like a rising star, radiating brilliantly across Jiangdong. Upon hearing that he had already seized most of Kuaiji County, the emperor's anxiety spread like wild weeds.

Kuaiji County, once a source of tax revenue for the imperial court and a vital part of the Han Dynasty's territory, now fell into the hands of Sun Ce. The emperor was well aware of the enormous danger hidden behind this. Sun Ce's army moved unimpeded across Jiangdong, leaving counties and prefectures to change hands wherever they went. His soldiers were highly motivated, and many among the people even supported him.

The emperor paced back and forth in the palace, his steps heavy. He pondered Sun Ce's rapid rise to power. What kind of momentum was that? He worried that Sun Ce, like other ambitious princes, would no longer respect the imperial court. Once Sun Ce had established his position and power, would he act recklessly like Yuan Shu, ignoring the imperial edicts? Or would he join forces with Ma Chao, forming an even more powerful force capable of threatening the imperial court?

The mountain of memorials piled high on the desk beside the emperor seemed to silently convey the gravity of the situation. Every word of those reports on Sun Ce's campaigns pierced the emperor's heart like a sharp sword. He picked up a report and perused its contents again, his brow furrowing even deeper. "Sun Ce, with a small force, has triumphed over a larger one, capturing several cities in quick succession. Now, the rich lands of Kuaiji County are his," the emperor read softly, his tone thick with worry.

He imagined Sun Ce's high-spirited self in Kuaiji County, and his heart grew increasingly uneasy. The candlelight in the palace flickered, as if trembling with fear at the precarious situation of the Han Dynasty. The emperor sighed deeply, knowing he was powerless to stop Sun Ce's rise, and could only watch helplessly as the situation spiraled out of control. In this chaotic world, he felt like a lone boat on the ocean, vulnerable to being submerged by the surging waves at any moment. Sun Ce's rise was undoubtedly another impending storm, filling the emperor's heart with unspeakable sorrow and fear within the depths of his palace.