Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The scouts raced to the tower, where Zhang Xiu was already waiting. Upon seeing the lead scout, Zhang Xiu quickly stepped forward, his eyes filled with eager anticipation. He asked, "What's going on outside the city? You've just come from outside, so you must have gained something. Report it to me quickly."

Seeing this, the scout excitedly knelt down before Zhang Xiu with a thud. His voice trembling with excitement, he said, "Young Master, these are not enemy troops, not enemy troops. They are the army of General Shenwei Tian, ​​who has come here specifically to pay a visit to you."

Zhang Xiu was immediately overwhelmed with emotion upon hearing this. He rushed forward, grasped the scout's hand tightly, and said with a glint of surprise in his eyes, "General Shenwei Tian? General Ma is here? Is it really him?"

The scouts quickly responded, "Young Master, how dare we deceive you? It truly is the mighty General Tian. We witnessed it with our own eyes. General Tian was originally en route to attack Yuan Shu in Huainan. Since his army was passing quite close to Wancheng, he changed his route to come pay a visit to you. We were even personally met by General Tian. He asked us to pass on his message and even gifted us with wine and meat. His army is now stationed twenty miles outside Wancheng, awaiting your arrival."

Zhang Xiu was so excited that he almost danced with joy. He turned to Jia Xu, who had been silent beside him, and said, "Mr. Wenhe, General Tian is here, General Ma is here to see me!" He was so excited that his blood was boiling, as if he had already seen the scene of meeting Ma Chao.

Jia Xu twirled his beard lightly, a look of deep thought on his face. He spoke slowly, "Young Master, please don't be impulsive. Suppress your excitement and let me ask them first. Such a coincidence is unheard of in this world. How could General Ma Chao come here so easily? Moreover, Young Master is now entrusted with the important task of commanding Wancheng. How could he leave so easily? This is simply unreasonable."

Zhang Xiu, still somewhat unconcerned, said with a touch of discontent, "Mr. Wenhe, this scout is a veteran in the army, loyal and reliable. How could he lie? Besides, since General Tian has arrived, I should go and pay him a visit. What's there to hesitate about?"

Jia Xu, however, remained serious and pondered, "Young Master, that's not the way to put it. Coincidence often hides hidden secrets. We should be cautious." Zhang Xiu hesitated for a moment, and Jia Xu turned to the scout and asked, "Is it really General Ma Chao?" The scout replied without hesitation, "Yes, it is General Ma Chao."

Jia Xu frowned slightly, his eyes fixed on the scout like lightning, and continued to question: "You said you saw General Ma Chao, so tell me, who was with General Ma Chao?"

The scout clasped his fists and replied calmly, "Sir, General Tian is accompanied by General Zhang Liao, and there is also a scholar-like figure who is said to be Mr. Xu Shu. I saw it clearly."

Jia Xu then asked, "What about Ma Chao's army banner? Is there anything special about it?"

The scout quickly replied, "Sir, the army's flag is distinctive. It's a large flag with the Chinese character '马' on it. The character '马' is powerful and majestic, surrounded by cloud patterns. It looks very majestic. It's definitely not a fake."

Jia Xu's eyes glared. "Did General Ma Chao have any instructions for you to pass on to the young master?"

The scout briefly recalled and said, "General Tian said that he and the young master have a deep affection for each other and haven't seen each other for a long time. He was passing by this time and came to talk about old times and discuss important matters with the young master. He also said that Wancheng is a place with outstanding people and beautiful scenery, and he has long wanted to visit."

Jia Xu then asked, "What about Ma Chao's army's armaments? What does it look like?"

The scout responded, "The army is well-equipped, and the soldiers are all in high spirits. Their armor gleams in the sunlight, their spears form a forest, and their bows are fully strung. It's clear they are an elite force, with no signs of disorganization at all."

Jia Xu's eyes were sharp as he pressed on, "Then what kind of baggage and supplies does the army have?"

The scout thought without hesitation: "There are food carts, but not many. I guess the general is traveling light, and the baggage may be behind."

Zhang Xiu was full of excitement and kept saying, "That's right, that's right. Wenyuan and Mr. Yuanzhi are here too, how can this be true?" After that, he excitedly rushed downstairs with his personal guards, shouting as he ran, "Open the city gate quickly, I want to meet the general, don't block my journey, don't delay my business." He walked like flying, rushing down the city wall in a hurry, and his shouts echoed in the corridor.

Hearing Zhang Xiu's cries, the defenders at the city gate dared not delay even a moment. They sprang into action, several men working together to push the capstan. With a dull creaking sound, the gate slowly rose, and the heavy city gate opened with a resounding roar. Zhang Xiu, unable to contain his excitement, led his guards and charged forward like an arrow from a bow.

Seeing this, Jia Xu was extremely anxious. He slapped his forehead and said regretfully, "Oh, no! This young master is so credulous. If he encounters an ambush, won't Wancheng be in danger?" He did not dare to hesitate at all. He immediately sent the brave general Hu Che'er to lead the cavalry to meet the young master, and hurried to where Zhang Ji was to inform him of this matter.

Jia Xu hurried to Zhang Xiu's residence. Zhang Ji, meanwhile, was recuperating in the city lord's residence, his injuries limiting his mobility. Upon hearing the news Jia Xu brought, Zhang Ji was horrified and heartbroken. A massive army was approaching the city, yet Zhang Xiu, whom he had always considered his heir, had blindly trusted the scouts' words and had rashly led his personal guards out of the city without first investigating the situation. Zhang Ji knew that if Zhang Xiu were ambushed, all his hopes would be shattered, and the future of Wancheng would be in jeopardy.

Zhang Ji was extremely anxious and shouted, "Quick, quick, quick, bring me my armor! I need to go and rescue Xiu'er." Jia Xu tried to persuade him, "My lord, please don't be so anxious. I've already sent Hu Che'er with the cavalry to rescue them. Judging from what the scouts said and did, it seems it really is Ma Chao. I'm only coming to ask for your instructions as a precaution."

Zhang Ji forced himself to rise despite his illness and had armor quickly brought to him. As he struggled to don it, he spoke anxiously, "That being said, Xiu'er is my hope. I've been seriously ill for days and fear I won't live long. I've always counted on Xiu'er to shoulder the responsibility of Wancheng and handle the affairs after my death. If anything were to happen to her, my lineage would be extinct. How could I not be anxious?" He fiddled with his armor anxiously, but his frail body made his movements clumsy, and he couldn't help but cough. Jia Xu, watching from the side, felt helpless. Zhang Ji's health was so poor, and Zhang Xiu had rashly left the city. If Zhang Ji wasn't sent to stabilize the situation, if anything unexpected happened, he wouldn't be able to control the troops in the city or deal with the complex situation outside.

After finally donning his armor, Zhang Ji hurried out of the bedroom, calling out, "Bring me my broadsword." A servant hurriedly brought the heavy sword forward. Zhang Ji reached for it, only to discover that the sword, so comfortable in his hands, now weighed over a thousand pounds. Resignedly, Zhang Ji waved his hand, "Forget it." He tossed the sword to the servant, grabbed his sword, and hurriedly shouted, "Prepare the horses! Prepare the horses! Hurry to the top of the city!" Then, he and Jia Xu hurried anxiously toward the city walls.

In the backyard, Zou was struck by lightning upon hearing the news, her face pale with shock. With light, lotus-like steps, she hurried to the gate of the mansion, her eyes fixed on Zhang Ji's departing figure, filled with fear and worry. Her heart felt as if it were being gripped by an invisible hand. She could only silently pray for Zhang Xiu. Each prayer was like a hammer, hammering down on her panicked heart, hoping that Zhang Xiu would be safe.

Zou was once a gentle and delicate woman in the prosperous city of Luoyang, living a peaceful, if modest, life in that prosperous city. However, fate twisted her fate. During the war, she suffered a devastating blow. Abducted by Zhang Ji amidst the chaos, she was plunged into an endless darkness. Zhang Ji, a burly, untamed man from the northwest, exuded a savage aura. When Zou first met him, fear washed over her like a tide. But under his coercive power, like a withered flower in the wind, she yielded helplessly and married him with tears in her eyes. From then on, her days were like a descent into the abyss of winter, filled with sorrow. Every night she spent in tears, her crystal tears soaking her pillow like a silent lament. Yet, in Zhang Ji's presence, she had to force a smile, carefully serving this rough man of humble origins, who showed no compassion for women. Every action was filled with helplessness and heartache.

However, Zhang Xiu's appearance was like a ray of sunshine, piercing the thick haze that had enveloped Zou's heart. Her eyes fell on Zhang Xiu upon their first meeting, and she could not move them away. This young man, nominally her nephew but actually of similar age, was like a magnet, drawing her in. Zhang Xiu was young and handsome, his features as sharp as a knife's blade, his sword-like brows and eyes radiating a heroic spirit. His posture was as straight as a pine tree, and he exuded an air of extraordinary heroism. He was also courteous and considerate to Zou, his every glance and gesture expressing respect. Whether in daily greetings or casual encounters, Zhang Xiu treated her with unwavering courtesy and respect, his gentle demeanor like a spring breeze, a warmth Zou had longed for. Furthermore, Zhang Ji had already stated that he would one day pass on his legacy to him, which instilled in Zou even greater expectations of him. In her heart, she still harbored a deep fear of Zhang Ji, a dread that ran deep, like a mouse encountering a cat. But Zhang Xiu gave her hope for a stable second half of her life, as if as long as Zhang Xiu was there, she could be freed from this endless sea of ​​suffering.

Whenever she was with Zhang Xiu, Zou could always sense the fiery gaze he occasionally cast upon her. It was like a burning flame, brimming with uncontrollable emotion, instantly igniting her heart and sending it throbbing with emotion. She felt her heart flutter like a fawn within her chest. But Zhang Xiu was a man of great respect and filial piety. His rationality restrained his inner feelings, and he never overstepped the bounds. He remained respectful to Zou, his words and actions steadfastly adhering to ethical principles. Zou could only bury her throbbing feelings deep within her heart, like a precious seed hidden deep in the soil, afraid to let it sprout, afraid to express it easily. And now, the news that Zhang Xiu was in danger was like a sharp knife, piercing Zou's heart. She was consumed with anxiety, like an ant on the hot pan, yet powerless to do anything. She could only stand outside the mansion, looking in the direction where Zhang Xiu left, praying silently, hoping that Zhang Xiu was safe and sound. Otherwise, she really didn't know where her future would go. It would be a dark abyss even more terrifying than the current one.