Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

A hint of surprise flashed in Ma Chao's eyes, and he became interested. He said loudly: "There are such strange people and strange things? I have never heard of it." Usually, Ma Chao thought he had a broad vision and had seen many talented people, but he did not expect to hear of such a legendary person today. He couldn't help but think to himself that it seemed that he had underestimated the heroes of the world.

Zhang Xiu quickly stepped forward, beaming, and said, "General, you see, he's just a little stronger and a little faster than most people. Compared to you, General, he's a far cry from you." Ma Chao couldn't help but laugh, "Ah Xiu, now you've learned to use Xu Huang's flattering rhetoric." Zhang Xiu, unfazed, smiled proudly, "General, I'll take that as a compliment."

Zhang Xiu then addressed Ma Chao, "General, this Hu'er has an older brother, Hu Chi'er. They are truly a remarkable pair, yet they are quite different. His brother, Hu Chi'er, can carry 700 kilograms and even sprint 500 miles. These two brothers, oddly enough, have been loyally by their uncle's side since their discovery and capture in their early years. Whether on the march or on the battlefield, they have repeatedly protected their uncle's safety, earning him numerous military honors. However, my uncle felt that both of them were somewhat reckless and straightforward, unsuitable for command, so he never gave them command. However, when these two charge into battle, each one is more desperate than the other, completely disregarding their own safety. Furthermore, their immense strength and speed make them capable of surprising the enemy on the battlefield."

Ma Chao's interest grew even higher upon hearing this. He stepped forward, patted Hu Che'er on the shoulder, and exclaimed in admiration, "Excellent, excellent! Although these two brothers are Hu people, they possess the wonderful qualities of gratitude and loyalty to their master. Even more remarkable is their indifference to fame and fortune, which is truly commendable. Ah Xiu, you must treat them well in the future and never let these loyal and righteous people feel disappointed." Zhang Xiu scratched his head, smiled innocently, and said, "Oh, General, look at what you said. No, no, no, I won't do that again."

At this time, Zhang Liao, Zhang Ren, Xu Huang and others in the army saw that there was no danger and the misunderstanding had been resolved, so they all rode over on horseback.

Seeing the others approaching, Ma Chao scanned their faces until he finally landed on Zhang Xiu. He smiled and said, "Ah Xiu, since this is just a misunderstanding, let's not waste any more time and continue on to Wancheng. I'm increasingly curious about Hu Chi'er and I really want to meet him soon." Zhang Xiu quickly nodded and replied, "Yes, yes, General, you're right. We can't waste time here. General and all my brothers, quickly follow me to Wancheng. Once we get there, we'll definitely have a feast and a good drink together."

After saying this, Zhang Xiu turned to look at Hu Che'er and said with a smile on his face, "I never thought that you two brothers are so lucky to have such special eyes on you. You and your brother Hu Chi'er will both come to the banquet tonight. This is a great honor. You must talk to your brother about it when you go back." Hu Che'er grinned at this, and his simple and honest look made everyone laugh. Seeing this, Ma Chao couldn't help but laugh, and he liked the Hu brothers even more.

Ma Chao frowned slightly and said to Zhang Xiu with a serious expression, "Ah Xiu, you should arrange for someone to go back and inform the city of the situation in advance. We must not let Wancheng fall into panic. Think about it, your uncle must be so worried if you run out so suddenly and can't see you in the city." Zhang Xiu heard this and scratched his head with shame. "Alas, General, I was inconsiderate. When I heard you were coming, I was so excited that I completely overlooked this matter."

As Zhang Xiu spoke, his eyes darted, thinking this was the perfect opportunity for Hu Che'er to showcase his unique abilities before Ma Chao. Turning to Hu Che'er, Zhang Xiu shouted, "Hu Che'er, now is the time for you to showcase your talents and let the general see what you're capable of. Run back to the city now to tell your uncle you're safe and that the general is here. Also, have them prepare the banquet quickly; we'll be there soon."

Upon receiving the order, Hu Che'er dismounted his horse. With a single swipe of his fist, he thrust his legs together and, like an arrow, sped towards the city. His limbs were slender, each stride a mighty force, stirring up a gust of wind. His speed seemed even faster than a galloping horse. Ma Chao, watching Hu Che'er's sprinting form, was stunned, and could not help but sigh to himself, "What a remarkable person! There are such people in the world, capable of such astonishing speed simply by running." Once Hu Che'er had run off, the others, without further delay, mounted their horses and galloped off towards Wancheng. The dust kicked up by the horses' hooves flew behind them, like a yellow dragon galloping off into the distance. Along the way, everyone laughed and chatted, excited for the arrival of Wancheng and the upcoming banquet.

Inside Wancheng, Zhang Xiu's uncle, Zhang Ji, dragged his sickly body to the top of the city wall, his body swaying slightly in the bitter cold wind. Jia Xu stood nearby, his face etched with concern. He picked up a thick cloak and gently draped it around Zhang Ji, trying to protect him from the chill.

Zhang Ji, however, had no intention of caring about these things. He said to Jia Xu with an anxious look on his face, "Mr. Wenhe, I wonder how Ah Xiu is doing now? He is usually calm and composed, and has the talent of a great general. I wanted to entrust the family business to him, but who would have thought that the arrival of Ma Chao would make him lose his composure. He left the city in a hurry without any preparation, not even with his soldiers. His reckless character really makes me worried. How can I feel at ease if I leave in half a year?" Jia Xu shook his head slightly, and said softly, "My lord, the young master has been mature and prudent since he came to Wancheng. This time, it may be that he has a deep relationship with Ma Chao, and he is so impulsive because of their old friendship. It is precisely because he has such a loyal and righteous character that you can entrust the family business to him with more confidence." When Zhang Ji heard this, he thought of his nephew's usual performance, and he was quite satisfied with him. A smile appeared on his face. But the smile was fleeting and was soon covered by deep worry.

At this moment, Hu Chi'er, who was standing by, suddenly saw a man running towards them from a distance. He hurriedly said to Zhang Ji, "My lord, look! It's my brother Hu Che'er. He is running towards us from afar and must have brought news about the young master." Upon hearing this, Zhang Ji hurriedly looked into the distance, his face becoming increasingly solemn. He said to Jia Xu, "Mr. Wenhe, has something bad happened? Why is Hu Che'er running back alone? Could it be that Ah Xiu has fallen into the enemy's formation? What should we do?" As Zhang Ji spoke, his mind became confused and his body began to tremble slightly. Jia Xu remained calm. He slowly said, "My lord, you know Hu Che'er's character. If the young master was really trapped in the formation, this guy would risk his life to save the young master even if he had only his last breath left. Since he can return alone, it means the young master should be safe. He will be here soon. My lord, don't be impatient and listen to what Hu Che'er says."

Hu Che'er rushed all the way to the top of the city wall. Before he could even stand, Zhang Ji rushed forward with an anxious look on his face, saying urgently, "Hu Che'er, how is the young master? Why did you come back alone?" Hu Che'er was panting from the long run, his chest heaving violently. He said, "Master... Master, don't worry. The young master... The young master is with General Ma Chao now. They are... rushing to the city together. The young master said he would invite the general to the city as a guest. You and Mr. Wenhe don't have to worry." Jia Xu hurried forward to support Zhang Ji and said, "Master, since the young master is fine, you can rest assured." Then, he turned to Hu Che'er and said, "Tell me slowly, is there any other news?"

Hu Che'er took a breath and continued, "The young master said he would arrange a banquet in the city. General Tian and his entourage will be visiting soon. They will be here in a moment. If you have any questions, please ask the young master." Jia Xu supported Zhang Ji and said softly, "My lord, since the young master is fine, please go down the city wall and return home to rest. I will take care of things here."

Zhang Ji, however, looked cautious and quickly waved his hand, saying, "No, no, no, Mr. Wenhe, you and I will wait together at the city gate." Then, he instructed Hu Chier, "Let your brothers rest for a while, and go back to the mansion and tell them to set up the banquet quickly and make sure to entertain the guests well." After receiving the order, Hu Chier left.

In fact, Jia Xu did not want to be in the spotlight. He originally thought that after persuading Zhang Ji to go back, he would find a reason to leave and leave this place to the young master. Why should he show up in front of everyone? Seeing Zhang Ji's persistence, Jia Xu tried to persuade him, "General, your health... you should return home. The young master is here." Zhang Ji, now holding himself up, said solemnly, "Mr. Wenhe, that being said, we must not underestimate this Xiliang Jin Ma Chao. Back when he was under Lord Dong's command, he already distinguished himself, even surpassing all the other Xiliang generals. Back then, I was just an ordinary general under Lord Dong, yet he was deeply favored by him. This shows that his ability far surpasses mine, perhaps ten or even a hundred times greater. Although we now occupy Wancheng, the heart of the Central Plains, this place is surrounded by wars. It may seem stable, but it is actually full of dangers. My health is about to collapse, and I will rely on Xiu'er to manage this foundation in the future. Therefore, we must not be careless in receiving Ma Chao this time."

Zhang Ji looked into the distance and said slowly, "Since Ah Xiu and Ma Chao are good friends and have a bond of kinship, even if Xiu'er can't gain a foothold in Wancheng in the future, she can at least retreat to Xiliang and serve Ma Chao. This is also a way out. Look at this Central Plains land. On the surface, it is prosperous, with a bustling traffic and a bustling atmosphere. But in reality, it is full of hidden dangers. The forces of all parties are complicated and surrounded by powerful enemies. We are like a lone sheep among wolves. I'm afraid it will be difficult to hold Wancheng for long."

Jia Xu listened silently from the side. How could he not know the deep love for his son hidden behind Zhang Ji's words? He had actually held the same view for a long time, but had never expressed it out loud. Jia Xu knew that the Central Plains seemed to be a prosperous and desirable paradise, but in reality it was a dangerous place full of dangers. The Xiliang soldiers they led had been away from their homeland for a long time, and the strong homesickness in their hearts grew like weeds. Wancheng was originally a place of conquest. Without the leadership of someone with great ambition and the ability to expand the territory, it would be difficult to hold it for long. Jia Xu pretended to be silent, but in his heart he was thinking about his response.