Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The next morning, Zhang Xiu slowly awoke from a hangover daze. He ignored his own discomfort and went to his uncle's residence to pay his respects, inquiring with concern about his uncle's condition. Zhang Ji gazed upon his approaching nephew, his heart filled with genuine love and comfort. He knew his time was running out, a life of battle without a son or daughter. Yet, Zhang Xiu's companionship over the past two years had given him a genuine sense of the warmth and care of a younger generation, a joy that filled him with a deep sense of contentment, a feeling of sweetness. Whenever he saw Zhang Xiu, Zhang Ji felt a surge of relief, feeling that even in death, he would have lived without regrets. He had spent his life in the military, and while he wouldn't claim to be a true hero, he could certainly be considered a hero of his time. With Zhang Xiu as his heir, he no longer held onto his ambitions for a posthumous hegemony, instead hoping only that Zhang Xiu would establish a family, grow children, and strengthen the clan. Now that Zhang Xiu was getting older, and his own life was like a candle in the wind, ready to be extinguished at any moment, Zhang Ji had become indifferent to life and death, and his greatest concern now was Zhang Xiu's lifelong affairs.

After thinking for a moment, Zhang Ji could not help but said: "A Xiu, you are not a child anymore. I, an old uncle, probably won't be able to accompany you for a long time. Do you have a woman you like? I will arrange your lifelong event before I close my eyes. In this way, even if I meet your father in the underworld in the future, I can face him calmly without any guilt or regret." After hearing this, Zhang Xiu subconsciously looked up at Zou who was serving beside him, then quickly looked away, and then forced a smile to his uncle, saying: "Uncle, I am still young, there is no need to rush. Look at the mighty general Ma Chao, he is about the same age as me, he has such a prominent status and has not yet married, why should I rush? Uncle, please don't worry all day long. "Stop saying these discouraging words. As long as you rest assured and take care of yourself, according to Mr. Zhang Zhongjing's diagnosis, your condition will definitely improve." Zhang Ji was about to give him some more advice when Zhang Xiu seemed to be suddenly struck by an idea and said hurriedly, "Oh, uncle, I actually forgot about this yesterday. Mr. Zhang Zhongjing is now in Wancheng, and it's a good opportunity to ask him to treat General Ma Chao. You see, the general is young, but because of anger and inner sorrow, two strands of white hair have grown on his temples early. This not only undermines his heroic image as a mighty general, but if it continues like this, I'm afraid it will also affect his health. Uncle, I will go find the general and take him to Mr. Zhongjing for treatment. After the examination, I will come back to chat with you." After speaking, Zhang Xiu walked out quickly like a gust of wind.

Zhang Ji watched his nephew's hurried departure, and a warm smile welled up in his heart. He was truly pleased with this nephew. Even now in power, Zhang Xiu remained respectful to him, and his loyalty to his former master, Ma Chao, remained unwavering. This precious innocence freed Zhang Ji from all worries about the family's future, leaving him completely reassured. He smiled and said to Zou, "Hey, this kid, he's always like a reckless brat who never grows up, always acting so impulsively." His smile widened, unable to conceal his inner joy and relief.

Ever since Zou heard Zhang Ji's intention to find a wife for Zhang Xiu, her heart was filled with bitterness, nearly bringing her to tears. As Zhang Xiu stormed off, Zou's gaze drifted involuntarily into the distance, a mixture of bitterness and deep longing. Only after hearing Zhang Ji's words did she compress her chaotic thoughts and softly reply, "Yes, sir. Ah Xiu is a kindhearted child, truly devoted and devoted to you." Zhang Ji's laughter deepened, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter. Zou then brought the prepared medicine. Zhang Ji frowned slightly, but drank it all in one gulp.

Zhang Ji revealed a rare touch of tenderness. He looked at Zou and slowly said, "I know you must be somewhat unhappy that a rough man from the northwest like me forced you to marry him." Zou quickly waved her hand and said, "No, no, no, sir, I have absolutely no such intention." Zhang Ji sighed softly and said, "There's no need to hide my feelings. I'm just speaking from my heart. Don't be nervous. I can see that my time is running out, but with Xiu'er here, he will surely take good care of you, and you'll have someone to rely on for the rest of your life. You're so young, and yet you have to take care of me, a dying man. It's truly unfair to you." When Zou heard this, bitterness and sorrow instantly surged in her heart like a tide. She could no longer hold back and sobbed. Zhang Ji thought she was just worried about his health.

Zhang Ji gently patted Zou's shoulder, trying to comfort her. "Don't cry. The fate of most women in this world is beyond their control, and the same is true for you and me. I only hope that after I'm gone, you can live a peaceful life in this mansion."

Zou wiped her tears with her handkerchief and choked up, saying, "Master, please don't say such things. You are a lucky person and will get better slowly."

Zhang Ji smiled bitterly and shook his head. "You don't have to comfort me. I've long since become indifferent to matters of life and death. I'm just worried about you and Ah Xiu. Ah Xiu is a person who values ​​friendship and loyalty, but she can be a bit reckless at times. You'll have to be more careful with her when you're around."

Zou nodded slightly: "Master, don't worry, I will do my best. But I am a weak woman, and there is really only so much I can do."

"I'm grateful for your kindness." Zhang Ji's eyes were somewhat hollow, as if lost in memories. "I've fought all my life and witnessed countless deaths and separations, but in these final moments, I'm nostalgic for the tranquility of this courtyard. If there's an afterlife, I'd like to be born in a peaceful and prosperous era, to be an ordinary person. Perhaps then we can have a different fate."

Zou listened to Zhang Ji's words with mixed feelings in her heart, and just sobbed silently.

Zhang Ji was silent for a moment, then continued, "After I leave, everything in this mansion will be inherited by Ah Xiu. He will definitely respect you. If you have any difficulties, you can tell him. He will not stand idly by."

Zou replied softly, "Yes, sir. I will follow your instructions."

As they were talking, Jia Xu arrived at the back house, asking for an audience. Zou took the opportunity to leave. When Jia Xu entered, Zhang Ji, despite his frail condition, remained respectful of a man of such wisdom and wisdom. Half-lying down, he said, "Mr. Wenhe is here. I'm sorry, Zhang Ji, I'm ill and can't get up to greet him." Jia Xu said, "What are you talking about, General? It's truly remarkable to have your protection and find a place to live in these troubled times. I'm grateful for your kindness." Zhang Ji said, "Well, Mr. Wenhe, there's no need for us to be so polite. Tell me, what brings you here?"

Jia Xu said, "My lord, what will be the future of Wancheng? To be frank, your health is so poor that you rely entirely on the young master. However, Wancheng cannot be held for long. The young master is more capable of defending the status quo than advancing. The chaos in the Central Plains will surely have a decisive outcome, and our Wancheng is a key city in the Central Plains, a battleground for military strategists. I'm afraid it will be difficult to hold on for long."

Zhang Ji frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and said, "Mr. Wenhe's words are not without reason. Ah Xiu is not the type to fight for world domination. My uncle and nephew are both capable generals, but not powerful leaders. However, I think if I leave, Ah Xiu will have a strong army at his disposal. If the situation truly becomes clear, and he chooses a master to serve, I think he can ensure his future wealth and glory. At the very least, he can become a wealthy man. I think it shouldn't be difficult."

Jia Xu's gaze was profound as he spoke slowly, "My lord, I wonder who this young master should submit to in order to maintain his wealth and prestige? Perhaps even better, to be granted a title of nobility and a military officer, bringing honor to the family."

Zhang Ji didn't think too deeply about it. He said to Jia Xu, "Mr. Wenhe, I have always admired your talent. To be honest, you served under me because of the situation at the time. It was a waste of your talent. If I am gone in the future, Ah Xiu will need your care. If you have any ideas, please tell me. I hope you will be able to give me some advice."

Jia Xu bowed slightly and said in a deep voice, "My lord, you are too kind. Judging from the current situation, the princes are squabbling among themselves, but the most powerful are the Yuan brothers. Their family background is profound, they have many soldiers and generals, and they dominate Hebei and Huainan. Both of them have the potential to dominate the world."

Zhang Ji frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then said, "Yuan Shao, with three generations of officials, is a prominent family. If Ah Xiu joins him, relying on the Yuan family's influence, she might really be able to obtain a government position, and wealth and glory would be a given. However, I've heard that Yuan Shao is indecisive and has many advisers under his command, so I'm afraid there will be a lot of intrigue. Ah Xiu is a straightforward person, and I'm afraid he won't be able to handle the complicated interpersonal relationships there, and will be schemed against."

Jia Xu nodded in agreement. "Your Majesty, what you say is absolutely true. Yuan Shao has great ambitions, but he struggles to make up his mind. His advisors harbor their own motives and are constantly fighting against each other. If the young master were to place himself in such a position, without sufficient political skills, he would likely struggle to gain a foothold. On the other hand, the Yuan family is well-established and possesses a strong military. If we can gain a foothold under them, it is a good option. However, this process will likely be full of twists and turns."

Zhang Ji continued, "Yuan Shu was incredibly narrow-minded, completely lacking in tolerance for others. He always held himself in high esteem, his egocentric nature clearly revealed. While he commanded a considerable army and numerous generals, seemingly possessing the resources to dominate the world, his narrow-mindedness was a fatal flaw that prevented many talented individuals from remaining under his command for long. These talented individuals yearned to be recognized and valued by a wise leader, but Yuan Shu often suppressed them out of jealousy and suspicion, causing internal disunity and a failure to foster strong cohesion and unity."

His vainglory led him to blindly pursue vanity and power, disregarding his own strength and the actual situation, rashly launching wars and expanding. This lack of strategic vision and calm planning inevitably triggered a series of chain reactions, such as insufficient food and fodder, exhausted troops, and numerous enemies with other princes. In the long run, even if he initially had a large army and a strong general, his strength would gradually be weakened by constant internal friction and external threats.