Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Upon seeing this, Ma Chao and the other soldiers hurried forward and helped them up one by one. Ma Chao's eyes were filled with emotion and pity. He turned to the soldiers and said in a low but powerful voice: "Look, everyone, all the people want is a stable world, land to farm, clothes to cover their bodies, and food to fill their stomachs. Now, we only lend a little help and give them some food, and they are so grateful to us. In fact, what we do is just a drop in the bucket compared to their suffering and longing. In the future, we will do our best to seek more benefits for them, protect the people here, and let them truly live a stable and peaceful life." The soldiers nodded, their expressions solemn and determined, and they all silently swore to protect the people in their hearts.

After everyone had eaten, Zhang Zhongjing immediately returned to his busy schedule. His focused expression and tired yet determined figure as he shuttled between patients left a deep impression on the soldiers.

Afterward, the generals embarked on the journey back to the City Lord's Mansion with mixed feelings. The entire journey was silent, the atmosphere heavy as a lead weight weighing on their hearts. Even Zhang Xiu, usually the most active, seemed enveloped by this oppressive atmosphere, feeling particularly heavy. His brow furrowed, his eyes lacking their usual sparkle. He quietly followed the troops forward, his thoughts clearly still lingering on the plight of the impoverished people.

Upon arriving at the City Lord's Mansion, customarily a grand banquet would have been prepared to celebrate the return of the expedition or other matters. However, at this moment, everyone was immersed in compassion for the hardships of the people and introspection, and no one had the heart to consider the banquet. The banquet, which usually symbolized joy, excitement, and celebration, seemed so out of place at this moment. Everyone simply dispersed quietly, some returning to their rooms for quiet reflection, while others attended to daily military affairs. Each heart seemed to be infused with a new strength, a strong sense of mission to do more for the people and change the status quo.

Everyone gathered in the hall. Ma Chao looked solemn and spoke first, "Axiu, I heard that thanks to the careful care of your uncle and nephew, Wancheng has been spared from the war in the past two years and is relatively stable. However, from what I saw today, the people's lives are still miserable. You are stationed in a military stronghold like Wancheng, and it is inevitable that war will break out again in the future. I don't want to add too much pressure on you, but I hope that you can do your best to protect the people and keep them safe in the midst of war." Zhang Xiu opened his lips slightly when he heard this, as if he wanted to say something but swallowed it back.

Ma Chao then turned to his officers and men, his heart overflowing with emotion. "Though this experience wasn't a true battlefield, it allowed us to witness the plight of the common people. Wancheng is but a microcosm of the entire Han Dynasty. The people in those battlegrounds must be suffering even more. Therefore, in this expedition to Yangzhou, we should minimize the killing and rely on military might to suppress the enemy. If we attack recklessly, the common people will suffer even more."

Xu Shu had been lost in thought, but now, unable to contain himself, he offered his advice, "General, your plan of using force to suppress Yuan Shu is a good one, but our army is currently lacking in strength. In my opinion, why not have General Zhang Xiu lead a group of elite cavalry to raid Yuan Shu's territory? This would relieve the pressure on our army." Ma Chao looked at Xu Shu and shook his head with a wry smile, "Mr. Yuanzhi, you've finally come up with this plan."

Zhang Xiu, standing by, perked up upon hearing this and eagerly said, "General, you should have given me instructions long ago. If you can command me, I will fight to the death, even if it means death!" Ma Chao's face was conflicted. After a long pause, he slowly said, "Ah Xiu, this is absolutely impossible. Your uncle is seriously ill and his condition is dire. If you leave Wancheng now, what will become of the city's defense and the people's livelihood?" Zhang Xiu hurriedly replied, "General, don't worry. With Mr. Wenhe here, Wancheng will definitely remain safe." Ma Chao frowned slightly and said, "Mr. Jia Xu's talent is obvious to all. But as you've said, he tends to be passive. He won't easily take on important responsibilities without pressure. The safety of the people in this city cannot be compromised."

Zhang Xiu was about to argue again, but Ma Chao raised his hand to stop him. He spoke earnestly, "Ah Xiu, I've come this time because I've been separated from you for a long time, and I've missed you deeply. I just stopped by to visit. I'm deeply pleased to see you managing Wancheng so well. Our friendship is deep, so there's no need to say more. But now that the army is away, many matters require careful consideration. We've thought over and over again along the way, and if there's nothing urgent here, we shouldn't bother you too much. After all, every day the army is idle, the cost of food and fodder is staggering. Transporting food and fodder is difficult these days. If we can reach the Yangzhou battlefield as soon as possible and strive for a quick victory, it will benefit all parties."

Xu Shu quickly advised, "General, you must not entertain such thoughts. It would be premature to attempt a quick victory before even reaching the battlefield. Furthermore, the situation is not optimistic for us heading to Yangzhou, and we don't have much of an advantage. Furthermore, we haven't received a reply from General Sun Bofu yet, and General Xu Huang's reinforcements haven't arrived yet. If we rush to the Yangzhou battlefield with only our forty thousand troops, wouldn't we be walking into a trap, as dangerous as a moth to a flame?"

When Zhang Xiu heard that Ma Chao had only arrived yesterday and was already in a hurry to leave, he was extremely anxious. He shouted, "General, my dear brother, you're leaving right after arriving, and we haven't even exchanged a few words. Isn't it just about food and fodder? Wancheng can provide it. Why are you leaving in such a hurry?"

Ma Chao sighed deeply, his expression filled with helplessness. "A Xiu, how could I not know all this? The emperor ordered us to attack Yangzhou this time. His intention is obvious. He intends to deplete our Xiliang forces. How could I not see through the mystery? But I have always believed that if I could go to war, I might be able to do my part for the people of the world. Now the fighting in Yangzhou is at a stalemate. It is a rich land, but it has caused the people to flee their homes and suffered heavy casualties. As a general, I cannot bear to see this tragic situation. So, even though I know it will be difficult, I still want to give it my all, hoping to save the people from their suffering."

Xu Shu and Zhang Xiu, both well aware of Ma Chao's upright character and his deep sense of loyalty, worked together to persuade him. Xu Shu's gaze was sincere, his words calm and methodical, as he meticulously analyzed the stakes of the current situation: "General, if we rashly advance now, our forces are already at a disadvantage, and without reinforcements, we would be marching alone deep into dangerous territory. Once surrounded by the enemy, victory would be impossible and we could be wiped out, a grave military taboo. Our only option now is to await news from Jiangdong and reinforcements from Xu Huang, then gather all our forces. Only then can we be victorious in the Battle of Yangzhou. Doing so will ensure we live up to the trust and expectations of our officers and men, and preserve the prestige of the Western Liang Army."

Zhang Xiu's eyes were slightly red, filled with reluctance and worry. He spoke with a heartfelt brotherly tone, "Brother, it's been ages since we last met. We've only been together for a day, and you're leaving so hastily. How can I bear to see you go? Besides, Wancheng is our home base. How can I be at ease if you leave so hastily? Please wait a few days, so I can show some hospitality. Let's work out a foolproof plan together, and then we can head to Yangzhou."

Ma Chao listened to their conversation, his heart torn. On the one hand, he knew the military situation was urgent and could not be delayed; on the other, he was moved by brotherly love and a balance of interests. After a long pause, he sighed and finally relented. "Never mind, never mind. I'll do as you two suggest and stay for a few days. I just hope Jiangdong won't keep us waiting too long, and that Xu Huang's troops will arrive soon, so we don't miss the opportunity to fight."

After this day, everyone was deeply moved by what they had seen and heard, and their usual enthusiasm for feasting and drinking had completely faded. Ma Chao, with a solemn expression, instructed Xu Shu, "Sir, please pay close attention to the news coming from Jiangdong and Xiliang. This is crucial to the success of our expedition to Yangzhou, and we must not slack off."

After obtaining the decoction from Zhang Zhongjing, Zhang Liao and the others noticed Ma Chao's distress and approached him for counsel. Zhang Liao spoke earnestly, "General, you've been so overwhelmed with worry lately. Now that you have this tonic, you must not let your temper get the better of you. Anxiety and worry won't help you resolve the issue; it will only harm you. It would be better for you to rest and recuperate in Wancheng for a while. Once you've calmed down, you can make plans later."

Everyone could see Ma Chao was weighed down, and they all echoed his sentiments. Zhang Xiu had wanted to arrange a banquet that evening, fulfilling his role as host, but Ma Chao and the others politely declined. Ma Chao waved his hand, saying, "Ah Xiu, we all know your intentions, but I simply have no desire to feast right now. The plight of the people I see is unbearable, and I can't enjoy my food. Let's forget about the banquet. Let's wait a couple of days to relax and discuss it."

Seeing everyone's resolute attitude, Zhang Xiu could no longer force them to stay, so he nodded silently. Everyone then turned and returned to the rooms arranged for them in the City Lord's Mansion, each lost in thought.

Zhang Xiu, gloomy and heavy-footed, made his way to the rear residence, where his uncle lived and his sickbed. He felt a mixture of emotions along the way. On the one hand, a strong desire surged within him, wanting to follow Ma Chao to the battlefields of Yangzhou and prove his prowess. On the other hand, he was acutely aware of the current state of Wancheng and its responsibilities. His uncle was gravely ill, and many of the city's affairs needed someone to oversee them. His absence would leave him with uncertainties. His brow furrowed, torn between idealism and reality, he knew no bounds. He hurried on to visit his uncle, hoping to find some guidance and comfort from his words. His brow furrowed, his mind torn. He knew his uncle was gravely ill and that he was counting on him to care for all matters of Wanzhou. He was unsure how his uncle would react if he proposed to accompany Ma Chao to Yangzhou.

He feared his uncle's condition would worsen, and he also feared his uncle would disapprove, thwarting his desire to serve the people of the land and fight on the battlefield. But if he went without telling his uncle, he would feel guilty. After all, his uncle had been so kind to him, and Wancheng couldn't do without his uncle's presence. The more Zhang Xiu thought about it, the more worried he became. This matter weighed heavily on his heart, weighing heavily on his heart. Even his steps seemed to slow down. He wondered how he would approach his uncle when he saw him later.