Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Liu Bei stood atop the city wall, his eyes narrowed as he followed the retreating Ma Chao and the retreating army. The sunlight shone on his face, framing a solemn yet slightly relieved expression. He looked at Ma Chao, what a spirited young general! His physique was as nimble as an eagle spreading its wings, ready to take flight. The steed he steed was even more majestic, its fur glistening in the sun. As it galloped, its hooves blazed with wind, as if it could crush any obstacle in the world. And around Ma Chao stood those fierce and valiant soldiers, each of them solemn, their eyes gleaming with a thirst for battle and a firm belief in victory.

At that moment, Liu Bei seemed to see the light of hope for the Han Dynasty's future. That light, gleaming on this motivated army, made him feel that the Han Dynasty's previously vague future seemed much clearer. However, when his eyes inadvertently fell on the striking white hair at Ma Chao's temple, the sense of relief that had just surged in his heart was instantly replaced by worry.

That strand of white hair glared in the sunlight, like a scar left on Ma Chao by the passage of time, or perhaps a heavy mark left upon him by the hardships of life. Liu Bei couldn't help but wonder: Why would the emperor, such a patriotic and dedicated general, repeatedly put Ma Chao in such difficult situations? If this continued, the future of the Han Dynasty would remain as uncertain as the mountains shrouded in mist. As he thought about it, Liu Bei's brow furrowed further, his eyes filled with worry and helplessness. He could only silently pray for Ma Chao and the army, hoping they would return safely and bring further glory to the Han Dynasty.

Liu Bei frowned slightly, slowly gathering the turbulent emotions he had just felt when bidding farewell to Ma Chao. He looked into the distance. The dust raised by the army had gradually dissipated, and Ma Chao's figure had completely disappeared into the unknown journey. Taking a deep breath, Liu Bei turned and walked with a slightly heavy step to the top of the city wall.

At that moment, the emperor stood on the city wall, his hands behind his back, surveying the scene from above. His expression was unfathomable and profound. Liu Bei stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and then spoke, "Your Majesty, Meng Qi has already led his army to battle. I will take my leave now. We should march immediately." He looked up at the emperor, his eyes etched with a hint of anxiety. "If we delay any longer, the weather will grow colder, which will be very disadvantageous for marching and fighting."

The emperor waved his hand calmly, narrowed his eyes slightly, and said slowly, "Uncle, don't worry. Marquis Wen Lu Bu hasn't set out yet. You must wait until his Bingzhou army leaves before you can set out."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei was taken aback, a look of confusion on his face. Puzzled, he asked, "Your Majesty, what does this mean? Why wait for him? Every day we wait will waste our army's food and fodder, which will be of no benefit to our expedition." As he spoke, Liu Bei frowned slightly, wondering what the emperor was thinking.

The emperor's expression instantly grew serious after hearing Liu Bei's words. He turned to face Liu Bei directly, his gaze fixed firmly in his eyes. He spoke gravely, "Uncle, listen carefully. Of these three factions, Gongsun Zan has already departed, and Ma Chao has just departed. The most powerful force near Chang'an is Marquis Wen Lü Bu." The emperor paused, a subtle glint of fear in his eyes. "You are well aware of Lü Bu's past actions. He is capricious and erratic, making him a formidable opponent. If you leave rashly, Chang'an will be threatened by his might, and I will be deeply uneasy."

Liu Bei suddenly sighed helplessly in his heart, and he thought secretly: "This emperor has never shown any consideration for the generals under his command. To put it bluntly, isn't he still on guard against Lu Bu everywhere? These generals he relies on are all on guard against by him when they are on the march outside. Why can't he be open and trust them without reservation? He still wants to use this method to restrict Lu Bu and force Lu Bu to go to the expedition as soon as possible. Alas..." Liu Bei lowered his head slightly, a trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but his face still maintained a respectful look.

He knew in his heart that although he found it difficult to agree with the emperor's behavior, he could not completely ignore the emperor's concerns.

On the city wall, the breeze was blowing gently. Liu Bei stood beside the emperor. Although he had many thoughts about the expedition in his mind, he still maintained a respectful expression.

The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. After a moment, he slowly said, "Uncle, the current situation does not allow for any delay. During the court meeting tomorrow, I will specially arrange for people to urge you and Marquis Wen Lu Bu in front of all the civil and military officials in the court. You must both set out together and rush to your respective battlefields." As the emperor spoke, he turned his head slightly to look at Liu Bei, his eyes revealing unquestionable majesty.

Liu Bei hurriedly bowed and responded, "Your Majesty is wise, and I will obey your orders. But this Lu Bu has always acted a little..." Liu Bei was about to say something but stopped himself. Thinking of Lu Bu's fickle nature, he couldn't help but worry about whether this expedition would be successful.

The emperor seemed to see through Liu Bei's thoughts and gently waved his hand, saying, "Uncle, please don't be anxious. Don't easily object or push too hard. I know Lü Bu's temperament very well. He always cares about gains and losses. I will make arrangements for this expedition."

The emperor paused, his expression growing serious. He continued, "Even if he requests food and supplies at court, I will ensure they are met. After all, Gongsun Zan has left, Ma Chao has already set out, and Lü Bu's Bingzhou Legion is formidable. It would be crucial to the success of this campaign if he could depart as soon as possible and serve the Han alongside you."

Liu Bei listened to the emperor's words and sighed inwardly. While the emperor seemed thoughtful, he always manipulated his generals with tactics rather than genuine care. But outwardly, he remained respectful and bowed again, saying, "Your Majesty's thoughts are profound, and I understand. I only hope that everything goes smoothly at court tomorrow, so that I can swiftly accept orders and march forth to fulfill Your Majesty's trust."

The emperor nodded slightly and said, "Well, uncle, rest assured. I have my own arrangements. After tomorrow's court meeting, you will set off quickly to quell this chaotic world for the Han Dynasty and restore its glory."

With that, the emperor cast his gaze into the distance, his eyes filled with calculations about the current state of affairs and a faint worry about the unknown outcome of the war. Liu Bei stood silently by, awaiting the emperor's next instructions, his heart growing heavier with worry about the upcoming court meeting and the upcoming expedition.

For a long while, the tower was completely silent, the only sound being the gentle breeze that fluttered the sleeves of clothes. The emperor stood with his hands behind his back, his brows slightly furrowed, a complex expression in his eyes. After a long pause, he turned his head quietly, looked at Liu Bei beside him, and slowly said:

"Uncle, tell me, this Ma Chao...what should I do?" The emperor's voice was a little helpless, and seemed to hide a hint of subtle ruthlessness. "This boy has become more and more presumptuous in recent days. He acts as if he has no etiquette like a subject, and often makes me unhappy." At this point, the emperor narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he remembered Ma Chao's previous actions, and his dissatisfaction in his heart became stronger.

"But I have to remember that his Xiliang Iron Cavalry are all extremely brave and are indeed a powerful force on the battlefield. If they can be used by me, it will be of great help to the situation in the world and to my grand plans." As the emperor spoke, he paced lightly, and his footsteps landed on the bluestone slabs on the city wall, making a dull sound, as if echoing his tangled mood at the moment.

After a pause, the emperor stopped and stared at Liu Bei, with a thoughtful gleam in his eyes, and then said: "Uncle, think about it, he needs to transport food and grass from Xiliang for this expedition. Can we do something about this? If we can use this to control him and make him obedient, it would be a good idea." The corners of the emperor's mouth rose slightly, as if he had thought of a brilliant idea, but there was a chilling coldness in that smile.

"But if Ma Chao is truly unfit for my use, hmph..." The Emperor snorted coldly, a ruthless look flashing across his eyes. "Then let him disappear forever. Keeping him around is a nuisance. After all, his army is too threatening, and the Ma family's prestige in Xiliang is too high. I will never allow anyone to ruin my plans!"

Liu Bei listened quietly, initially only frowning slightly, wondering why the emperor had such thoughts. But when he heard the emperor utter those last harsh words, he was shocked, his face turned pale, his eyes widened, and he looked at the emperor in disbelief.

"Your Majesty, this cannot happen!" Liu Bei said anxiously, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. He hurried forward, bowed with both hands, and continued to explain earnestly:

"Your Majesty, although Ma Chao may have been slightly disrespectful in some of his actions, consider this: he is, after all, a loyal and capable general! Over the years, he has fought bravely for the Han Dynasty, his achievements on the battlefields undeniable. Now, our nation is in dire straits, plagued by internal troubles and powerful enemies abroad. This is a time when we need capable and courageous generals like Ma Chao to contribute to the nation's well-being. How can we attack him without reason?"

As Liu Bei spoke, he shook his head slightly, his eyes filled with anxiety and worry. "What's more, the Western Liang Iron Cavalry all follow Ma Chao's lead. If Your Majesty treats Ma Chao poorly, I'm afraid the Western Liang Iron Cavalry will also feel resentful. Not only will they be unable to serve Your Majesty, but they may even cause chaos. I urge Your Majesty to think twice before acting. Do not act in a moment of anger and do something that will harm the overall situation!"

After Liu Bei finished speaking, he bent down deeply and performed a great salute. Beads of sweat even appeared on his forehead. He just hoped that the emperor would listen to his advice and retract the dangerous idea.