Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The lengthy court proceedings finally came to a close. Within the hall, the atmosphere was subdued and oppressive. The emperor sat aloft on the dragon throne, his expression solemn and enigmatic. While he hadn't explicitly stated when the army would embark on its march, it looked as if winter had already arrived.

The generals knew clearly in their hearts that, given the current situation, the emperor would certainly not let them spend the New Year in peace and then leisurely return to lead the troops to war. Before the New Year, they would definitely have to organize their troops and set off to the extremely dangerous battlefield.

Meanwhile, after hearing the emperor's ambiguous statement, the generals all turned their gazes to Xun Yu, their eyes gleaming green. After all, during past campaigns, the generals often relied on their own food and fodder to maintain their supplies, a difficult and arduous task. Hearing the emperor's words today, they began to calculate, thinking it was time for him to contribute. After all, everyone suspected the emperor's food and fodder were running low, but even if there was a little, they had to find a way to coax some from him. So, they all looked eagerly at Xun Lingjun, thinking that this time, they had to be the first to secure food and fodder. Even if they could only squeeze a little from the emperor, it would be better than nothing; at least it would help alleviate the urgent need.

As soon as the court was over and the emperor's figure disappeared into the depths of the hall, all the important officials rushed out of the hall and surrounded Xun Yu in the blink of an eye.

Lü Bu, impatient, leaped forward, grabbed Xun Yu, and said urgently, "My Lord, you know Bingzhou is a bitterly cold land, suffering year-round from the elements. And now, even worse, the Xiongnu are rampaging across our borders, and the people are suffering terribly. The Emperor has assigned me this arduous task: to assist Youzhou in its fight against Yuan Shao in Jizhou. You know, Yuan Shao commands a vast army and numerous elite generals. His territory is vast, and he possesses abundant supplies. We have a large army and a diverse army, so how can we survive without food and fodder? You must provide me with sufficient supplies, otherwise, when we really go into battle, I'll be like a tree without roots and water without a source. How can I fight?"

Before he had finished speaking, Gongsun Zan, unwilling to be outdone, strode forward, grabbed Xun Yu's other hand, and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please don't listen to this Wen Hou's nonsense. I fought in Jizhou before, and those were fierce battles. The food and fodder I consumed was innumerable, and my family's wealth was almost empty. This time, I brought a full 10 troops all the way to Chang'an. The expenses along the way were enormous, and now the food and fodder are scarce. Look, although the others have missions, most of them are just playing supporting roles, while I am going to confront Yuan Shao's main force. If you don't provide me with sufficient food and fodder, I really can't continue this battle. I hope your Majesty will take care of it."

Liu Bei stood aside, always presenting himself as a loyal and honest person. He watched Xun Yu being dragged around by Lü Bu and Gongsun Zan, spinning him around in circles. Although he was also extremely anxious, after all, he knew the importance of food and fodder in war. However, he still opened his mouth, swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, and did not eagerly ask Xun Yu to arrange food and fodder for him like the other two did.

Xun Yu was caught in such an awkward and difficult situation that he felt a headache like a bucket. The pain was like fine needles constantly pricking his brain nerves, driving him crazy. Lu Bu and Gongsun Zan both looked anxious, holding Xun Yu's arms tightly, as if they were afraid he would escape.

Lu Bu was already of bad temper, and his face turned red at this moment. His eyes were as big as copper bells, and he shouted loudly: "Xun Yu! Don't make excuses here! We have fought for the court all over the world, risking our lives. Now we just want some food and grass to supplement our military supplies. Why are you so embarrassed? You must give me an explanation!" After saying that, he increased the strength of his hand a little more, pulling Xun Yu so hard that he staggered.

Although Gongsun Zan was not as noisy as Lu Bu, he looked extremely anxious. He frowned tightly and said urgently: "Lord Xun, you also know the difficulties we are in. In this chaotic world, various forces are eyeing us covetously. The army led by General Lu and I is responsible for guarding the territory and stabilizing the situation. Without sufficient food and grass support, the army will be in chaos. By then, let alone making achievements, I am afraid that even the court situation that has been finally established will be difficult to maintain! I hope that Lord Xun will be more understanding and raise food and grass for us as soon as possible." After that, the hand holding Xun Yu showed no sign of loosening.

Xun Yu felt his arms being clamped tightly in iron clamps, the pain unbearable. He struggled to free himself from their grasp, explaining with a helpless expression, "Please listen to me, both of you! The court has only just settled down after many setbacks, and the situation on all sides is still like a foundation that has yet to be laid. We are now in a critical stage of gradual stabilization. The amount of money and food consumed during this period is simply beyond imagination! Building city defenses, settling refugees, rewarding soldiers, and so on—which of these things doesn't require a huge investment of money and food? To be honest, the food and fodder the court currently has is extremely limited, like a stream about to dry up, barely enough to sustain basic expenses. It's not that I, Xun Yu, am deliberately shirking responsibility, generals, but it's simply difficult to meet your needs given the current situation."

Xun Yu spoke with a wry smile, one that betrayed endless bitterness and helplessness. He silently groaned, wondering, "What shall I do?" Faced with this utterly thorny situation, he felt like a boatman lost in the fog, completely lost as to how to resolve it. Both Lü Bu and Gongsun Zan were men of temperament, commanding large armies. If this request for food and fodder wasn't handled properly, it could lead to unforeseen consequences. This was truly troubling!

Liu Bei stood aside, sighing inwardly. Seeing Lü Bu and Gongsun Zan desperately requesting food and fodder, he felt helpless. The words that had been on his lips were now even harder to bring out. With these two men acting like this, and the situation already so chaotic, how could he possibly get involved in asking Xun Yu for food and fodder?

Liu Bei frowned slightly, his gaze slowly shifting to Ma Chao, who was standing not far away. Ma Chao also had a serious expression on his face, likely worried about the food and fodder issue. What kind of situation was this? Everyone was eagerly hoping that Xun Yu would allocate sufficient food and fodder. But in the current situation, Xun Yu was clearly struggling, and a frown was on his face.

Liu Bei pondered inwardly: his expedition was imminent, and the army was about to begin. Without sufficient food and fodder, the battle would be lost before it even began. However, given the current situation, if he pressed for it, it would appear he was disregarding the greater good, and he also feared provoking Xun Yu, potentially causing unnecessary resentment and conflict. But if he didn't fight for it, what would become of the soldiers? Would they have to go to war hungry?

He frowned and paced back and forth, trying to come up with a solution that would satisfy both parties. However, no matter how much he thought about it, he still found it extremely difficult to solve. For a moment, he was in a dilemma, not knowing what to do.

Ma Chao stood quietly by, watching Lü Bu and Gongsun Zan eagerly begging Xun Yu for food and fodder. A hint of a sneer crept into his lips. He thought to himself, "Humph, these two really don't want to suffer any loss. Even in such a difficult situation, they're still only concerned with their own interests, fighting tooth and nail for it."

He looked up at Xun Yu, and saw that the embarrassment on his face didn't seem fake. After all, the food shortage was obvious to anyone with a discerning eye. Yet, the emperor had issued such an order, ordering everyone to come to Xun Yu for food. What was his intention? Ma Chao was filled with confusion.

Looking at the crowd present, each one had their own thoughts and calculations. Lü Bu and Gongsun Zan, desperate to ensure sufficient food and fodder for their own armies, completely disregarded Xun Yu's difficulties and pressed him relentlessly. Liu Bei remained silent, but his furrowed brow betrayed his turmoil and helplessness. And he, too, was caught in this vortex.

Ma Chao couldn't help but sigh inwardly. It seemed like being a loyal minister to the Han Dynasty wasn't easy. Never mind. Now that he'd reached this point and decided to serve the Han Dynasty, why would he continue to pressure Xun Yu for what was likely already a limited supply of food? While the emperor's previous actions had made him somewhat uncomfortable, and he might even have inadvertently offended him, so what? What was a little loss now? He could just consider it a matter of ensuring that the people of this world could soon live a stable life.

As he thought about this, Ma Chao's mind finally understood. He narrowed his eyes slightly, the coldness and scrutiny that had once lingered there now gradually giving way to a hint of relief. He took a deep breath, slowly raised his hands, and solemnly bowed to Xun Yu.

His face was calm, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, outlining a faint arc. That smile revealed a sense of carefreeness, but also seemed to hide a hint of helplessness. The few strands of hair on his forehead swayed gently with his movements, as if also expressing the complex emotions in his heart at the moment.

"Sir Xun," Ma Chao's voice was low and powerful, with a special calmness, "I have seen through what happened today. How could I not know the difficulties you are facing?" As he spoke, he bowed slightly to show his respect.

As he spoke, Ma Chao's gaze remained calmly fixed on Xun Yu. His eyes were free of the doubt and turmoil that had characterized them before, replaced by a sense of composure. His shoulders relaxed, no longer tense as before, and his entire demeanor seemed remarkably composed.

After a pause, Ma Chao spoke again, his voice neither hurried nor slow: "I will not bother you any further, and will take my leave now. I wish you all the best in the future, and take care of yourself." After saying that, he slowly put down his hands, and when he turned around, his sleeves fluttered gently in the wind.

Ma Chao took his first step, his steps steady and resolute, each one a testament to his resolve. He didn't look back, his straight back like a javelin, gradually disappearing from view, leaving behind only a faint air of ease and relief.