Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

In the city of Chang'an, from the emperor to the various intertwined forces, and even Ma Chao of Xiliang, everyone was like hunters waiting in formation, quietly waiting for the events to further develop, and looking forward to the day of the queen's enthronement to come soon.

During this time, although the emperor was already aware of Gongsun Zan's impending arrival, he remained hesitant to intervene in this complex and treacherous situation. Liu Bian knew that if he intervened, no matter how he initiated the dispute, the situation would inevitably spiral out of control.

Ma Chao was known for his unyielding character, and his insistence on establishing a new empress had already caused the emperor considerable concern. One reason the emperor delayed the process was to give Gongsun Zan ample time to engage in a dispute and confrontation with Ma Chao once he arrived at the court.

After all, the emperor was in a profoundly conflicted situation. If he disobeyed Ma Chao's demands regarding the empress's appointment, he would immediately face an irreconcilable conflict with the emperor, leading to a bitter dispute. But if he followed Ma Chao's wishes, how would the people of the land react? How could the emperor control Ma Chao's reckless behavior? The emperor racked his brains, seeking a compromise between these two dilemmas—a solution that would both stabilize Ma Chao and maintain his own authority and control.

During this time, Wang Yue and Shi A, the master and apprentice, had already made a conscious effort to befriend Dian Wei. Dian Wei was a man of mellow character. No matter how brave and fierce he was on the battlefield, he was ultimately kind and honest at heart, and he had no idea of ​​the two men's true intentions.

After all, the palace is full of the emperor's people. As long as they don't deliberately make things difficult for Lu Wan, Dian Wei is unwilling to have any conflict with them. After all, Lu Wan has also explained that if they don't break into the palace where Lu Wan lives by force, there is no need to be at odds with them.

So after this period of time, they got to know each other better. Wang Yue also hosted banquets for Dian Wei many times. At first, Dian Wei would refuse, but gradually, Dian Wei got used to it.

Wang Yue and Shi A knew that the emperor had been irritated for a long time because he had been unable to enter Lu Wan's palace. So after gaining such a good relationship with Dian Wei, they revealed this news to the emperor.

However, upon hearing this, the Emperor did not dare to act rashly and simply ordered them not to take any action. After all, Ma Chao's attention was entirely on Lu Wan at the moment. If the Emperor attempted to approach Lu Wan even without Dian Wei present, and Lu Wan reacted violently, perhaps even to the point of slitting her own throat with a knife, the outcome would be disastrous, and Ma Chao would likely be enraged.

The emperor was secretly anxious, hoping Gongsun Zan would arrive soon. Once he arrived, Gongsun Zan would be able to contain Ma Chao and reduce his prestige within the court. Even so, he still had to make Lu Wan his empress. This way, while Ma Chao's previous behavior had been somewhat disrespectful, the emperor's move was a concession to him morally. Furthermore, with Gongsun Zan controlling Ma Chao's power, Ma Chao's arrogance and dominance within the court would be prevented, and the court officials would not all succumb to Ma Chao's will.

Furthermore, the third level of relationship is that only when the generals under the various forces can reach a relatively balanced state can the emperor continue to control the situation in the court.

After all matters were completed, everyone was happy. Ma Chao's request had been granted, leaving him speechless. The emperor, on the other hand, did not lose face and maintained his imperial dignity. Through this process, the various factions had achieved a delicate balance, restraining each other, neither yielding to the other, yet maintaining peace.

By then, Lu Wan would have been established as empress. Thus, it would be a natural progression to send Dian Wei away, and the emperor's desire to approach Lu Wan would be as easy as water. By then, even if Lu Wan still wanted to refuse the emperor's approach, the situation would no longer allow her to do so.

The emperor complied with Ma Chao's wishes, and Ma Chao lost his reputation as a righteous man. He could only maintain his footing in the court and dare not act rashly. In addition, there were people in the court who could restrain Ma Chao and use his own power and Ma Chao's situation as a threat. In this situation, Lu Wan had no choice but to submit obediently.

If Lu Wan submitted, and later gave birth to a prince, Ma Chao would be firmly tied to the chariot of the palace struggle, unable to easily escape. This shows that every move the emperor made was a careful calculation of people's hearts, an attempt to control everyone in his grasp and consolidate his power.

During this time, Ma Chao was also quietly waiting for the empress-making incident to ferment further. After all, as a minister, he forcibly interfered with the affairs of the emperor's harem. This behavior was indeed somewhat unreasonable and could even be said to be deceiving the emperor, but Ma Chao still did it.

Firstly, he wanted to give Lu Wan an explanation, hoping that this would help Lu Wan improve her position in the palace and make the Lu family's position more stable. This would also be a way of not disappointing the deep friendship between Lu Wan and him.

Secondly, Ma Chao sensed the emperor's fear of his own region, Xiliang. He knew he had to consider Xiliang's future. If he left everything to the emperor's whims, given his temperament, he might even transfer all of Xiliang's cavalry to the Central Plains, sending them on expeditions for him. Ma Chao knew that Xiliang was a remote region, and if he rashly withdrew his forces, the people of Xiliang would suffer if war erupted along the border.

Therefore, for Ma Chao, this incident of establishing a queen was both a test of the emperor's ability to remain tolerant and restrained in order to achieve his great cause, and an opportunity to test the emperor's character. After all, Ma Chao still cherished the ideal of restoring the glory of the Han Dynasty and hoped to save the people from the ravages of war.

In this way, the days passed, and the weather grew colder. In the blink of an eye, it was the twelfth lunar month. During this time, the court was peaceful and tranquil. Ma Chao, on the other hand, lived a secluded life, rarely appearing in public.

Outside the city, the soldiers and generals didn't let their guard down at all, especially the Western Liang cavalry, who remained vigilant and prepared for any moment. After all, the current situation was like a sword hanging over their heads, with no one knowing for sure how it would end.

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather cleared up for a rare moment, no longer as gloomy as before. The emperor sent a message to Ma Chao, informing him that Gongsun Zan had arrived from Youzhou and was to accompany him to greet him. Gongsun Zan was Lu Zhi's apprentice, and upon Lu Zhi's passing, Gongsun Zan was preoccupied with various duties in Youzhou and was unable to attend the memorial. Now, he had come specially, surely to perform a memorial ceremony for Lu Zhi.

Upon receiving the order, Ma Chao immediately convened a meeting with Xu Shu. Upon hearing this, Xu Shu frowned and said solemnly, "My lord, General Gongsun didn't come to pay his respects when Master Lu passed away, yet now, at such a crucial moment, he's suddenly leading a large army. His agenda must be to establish the empress, right?"

Ma Chao was naturally well aware of the seriousness of the situation. They both knew that neither side had taken any concrete action yet. Furthermore, Gongsun Zan had come under the pretext of offering sacrifices to his master. Under such circumstances, no rash action could be taken. Not to mention the over 40,000 Xiliang cavalry outside the city, the 300,000 Xiliang cavalry in the northwest alone was enough to intimidate the enemy, making them hesitant to act rashly.

After a moment's reflection, Ma Chao said to Xu Shu, "Well, if that's the case, let's just wait and see. Mr. Yuanzhi, please make all the necessary arrangements. Tell Xu Huang, Zhang Liao, and the others to be prepared and not to act rashly. As long as they don't make a move, we can remain in place for now."

The emperor, Liu Bei, Ma Chao, Lu Bu, and the others all left the bustling yet turbulent city of Chang'an. Outside Chang'an, Ma Chao's Xiliang troops had already set up camp, heavily guarded by over 40,000 fierce and valiant Xiliang cavalry.

These Western Liang cavalrymen stood like awe-inspiring steel sculptures, each clad in heavy armor, wielding a cold, gleaming weapon. Astride tall, sturdy warhorses, their eyes shone with sharp alertness. They stood in their respective positions, their every movement imbued with immense force. At the mere command, they would surge forth like a surging tide.

However, Ma Chao had already issued strict orders, so even though the situation was tense like a taut bowstring, ready to explode at any moment, the generals could only suppress their inner impulses, firmly suppressing their eagerness to fight. They remained entrenched in the barracks, meticulously taking every precaution, but their steps, ready to leave the camp and head for the battlefield, never faltered.

Everyone held their breath, their gaze fixed in the same direction, anxiously awaiting Gongsun Zan's arrival. Every moment of waiting felt like torture, and the air seemed filled with a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere.

Finally, a cloud of dust rose from the distant horizon, like a giant beast, obscuring the sky and the sun, galloping towards them. Gongsun Zan, leading a mighty army of a hundred thousand, appeared outside Chang'an. The clatter of their footsteps and horses' hooves blended together, rumbling across the earth like dull thunder, shaking the hearts of the people.

Gongsun Zan's face was stern, his gaze blazing. With a single command, he ordered Yan Gang to lead his troops to camp. A barracks of tents quickly sprang up nearby, facing Ma Chao's camp from afar. Even this distant standoff felt as if an invisible force was colliding fiercely in the air, instantly raising the tension to its peak.

The 100,000 Youzhou cavalrymen Gongsun Zan brought with him were no ordinary force. He had practically emptied the Youzhou empire to assemble this powerful force. Their armor gleamed with a cold metallic sheen in the sunlight, and the spears and halberds they wielded seemed poised to pierce the heavens. Each cavalryman stood tall and straight, their eyes gleaming with the determination and fierceness of an unstoppable charge.

Their arrival was like a surging flood into a previously tranquil lake, instantly shattering the seemingly stable threat that Ma Chao's Western Liang cavalry had previously wielded against Chang'an. The previously aggressive Western Liang cavalry, now oppressed by the overwhelming aura of these 100,000 Youzhou cavalry, seemed to be losing ground. The tension that had already permeated the air now grew thicker, like an impenetrable fog, weighing heavily on everyone's heart, making it almost impossible to breathe.