Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Zhang Xiu, filled with worry, entered Zhang Ji's bedroom with heavy steps. Zhang Ji, lying on his sickbed, heard the noise and opened his eyes slightly. Seeing that it was Zhang Xiu, he gently gestured to Zou, the attendant beside him, to help him to his feet. Zhang Xiu stood still, still respectfully bowing to Zhang Ji and Zou, calling out, "Uncle, Aunt." Zou, though still a little uncomfortable at the address, could only return the greeting silently.

Zhang Xiu then brought an embroidery stool and waited for Zhang Ji to sit down before he slowly sat down in front of the bed. Zhang Ji forced himself to sit up and leaned against the bed with a smile on his face. He asked, "Axiu, where did you take General Ma Chao today?" Zhang Xiu sighed slightly and said, "Today I took General Ma Chao to see a doctor from Mr. Zhang Zhongjing. I didn't expect that Mr. Zhang Zhongjing would give us a good lesson. As a result, everyone is not very happy." Zhang Ji was slightly stunned and asked in confusion, "What's the matter? Mr. Zhang Zhongjing has always been easy-going. How could he be like this?" Zhang Xiu frowned and continued, "Uncle, you don't know. Mr. Zhang Zhongjing seems to have only the people in his heart and eyes. He always puts the people first in everything he does. His remarks made General Ma Chao quite unhappy. On the way back, he kept muttering that he wanted to leave in a hurry. I was also very angry at the time. I really wanted to punch him twice." Zhang Ji chuckled and scolded, "Kid, how can you treat Mr. Zhongjing like this." After that, he laughed heartily, as if the haze in his heart was dispelled a little, and his whole spirit seemed to be much better.

Seeing Zhang Ji's good mood, Zhang Xiu quickly seized the opportunity to say, "Uncle, I have an unwelcome request to discuss with you." Zhang Ji looked at Zhang Xiu leisurely, already having a plan in mind. Ever since Jia Xu's visit, he had roughly guessed Zhang Xiu's intentions, assuming he wanted to lead troops to assist Ma Chao in his campaign. However, Zhang Ji didn't point it out, simply watching Zhang Xiu quietly, waiting to see what he would say.

Zhang Xiu lowered his head, thinking over and over in his mind, trying his best to organize his words. After taking a deep breath, he raised his head and said to Zhang Ji with a sincere look, "Uncle, General Ma Chao is my old master who once led me to conquer the world. In the past, under his command, every battle and every charge made me feel unprecedented pleasure and pride, as if I were in the midst of a passionate heroic legend. And this time, when he was going on a special expedition, he took the trouble to detour to visit me. At that moment, My heart surged with emotion, uncontrollable. You know, he's in deep trouble right now, facing a severe shortage of troops. Facing a formidable foe like Yuan Shu in Huainan, I'm afraid it will be difficult to successfully complete his campaign. Uncle, our Wancheng is peaceful right now, free from the turmoil of war. A burning desire ignites within me: to march forth, to follow General Ma Chao once again, to rekindle the tacit understanding and passion we once shared on the battlefield, to join him in defeating Yuan Shu and continue our passionate camaraderie.

Zhang Ji frowned slightly, his eyes filled with deep thought and worry. He spoke slowly, "A Xiu, please calm down and think carefully. General Ma Chao is marching on the throne by the Emperor's order, but our current situation is quite delicate. We are in a semi-independent position, neither formally submitting to anyone nor receiving the Emperor's offer of amnesty. In the eyes of the Emperor, we are still Dong Jun's former subordinates. This label of traitor is like an insurmountable chasm between us. Think about it, under such circumstances, if we rashly challenge the powerful and well-established Yuan family for the sake of the imperial court, it would be like hitting a rock with an egg. How can we expect a satisfactory outcome?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiu's heart burned with anxiety, his face a mixture of eagerness and determination. He quickly rose from his embroidery stool and knelt without hesitation. His eyes reddened, and his voice trembled slightly as he spoke, "Uncle, I'm not acting out of any regard for the imperial court. To me, it's a distant and unfamiliar place. All I care about is General Ma Chao! When I was young and ignorant, new to the army, it was you who cared for me and supported me. You guided me on the battlefield, allowing me to achieve the success and glory I have today. This kindness is as heavy as a mountain, how can I not repay it? I only long to fight alongside you again. Even if the road ahead is full of thorns, I will not hesitate. I only wish to be by your side, to help him overcome them and lend him a helping hand."

Zhang Ji looked at Zhang Xiu, who knelt on the ground. His frail body was too weak to sustain excessive excitement. He could only wave his hand weakly, motioning Zhang Xiu to rise. He spoke slowly, "Think carefully. General Ma Chao is fighting for the imperial court, but his base is far away in Western Liang, with the imperial court standing in the way. Western Liang and Huainan are thousands of miles apart, and there's also the imperial court's influence. Let alone whether he can defeat Yuan Shu, even if he were to win, it would be difficult to uproot the Yuan family under the current circumstances. In that case, Wancheng would be left alone, isolated and helpless, facing Yuan Shu's retaliation. Do you have a plan to deal with it? Furthermore, look at my ailing body. I'm almost exhausted, and my days are numbered. Sooner or later, the foundation of Wancheng will be handed over to you. As the young master of Wancheng, you could establish your own faction and dominate the other vassal states. Have you never harbored the ambition to conquer the world?"

Zhang Xiu remained kneeling on the ground, not rising. He respectfully replied to Zhang Ji, "Uncle, I know I'm not very talented or well-educated, and I've never dreamed of conquering the world. I stayed in Wancheng simply to fulfill my filial duty by your side, to protect Wancheng, and to continue our family line. I possess neither great talent nor the ability to rule the world, but I'm content to protect Wancheng, my legacy."

Zhang Ji sighed deeply and said earnestly, "Foolish child, how could you be so foolish? Wancheng is a war-torn place, surrounded by powerful enemies. How can it be easily defended? The warlords are constantly squabbling, and the situation is unpredictable. If you don't have the ambition to make progress, Wancheng will be like a lone boat in a storm, sooner or later it will be swallowed by the waves. When the city is captured, where will you go?"

Zhang Xiu's eyes were determined, and he said without hesitation, "Uncle, if that day ever comes, I will lead my army back to Xiliang and continue to serve General Ma Chao. Only under your command can I find inner peace and contentment. That is what my heart desires."

Zhang Ji's face was filled with confusion, his eyes revealing bewilderment. He asked softly, "Why do you only want to serve Ma Chao? There are so many warlords in the world today, and their power is complex. No matter who you choose to follow, even if you surrender to the imperial court, with your ability and prestige, you will be able to occupy a position of great importance. General Ma Chao is undoubtedly talented, but he is ultimately just a local warlord with a limited sphere of influence."

Zhang Xiu raised his head slightly, his eyes filled with determination and deep affection. He spoke slowly, "Uncle, you've been ill recently and haven't paid attention to the thoughts of our brothers in the army. Since we left Xiliang, so many years have passed. Separated by Chang'an and trapped in the heart of the Central Plains, our brothers' journey home seems far away. But their hearts have never left Xiliang. It is our roots, our homeland that we yearn for. Only returning to Xiliang can fulfill their wishes. Furthermore, General Ma Chao treats me like a brother. This kind of recognition is rare in this world. How could I expect such sincere treatment elsewhere? We are the sons of Xiliang, and our homeland is our home. If I defect to someone else, how will these old brothers who have shared life and death with me feel? What will they do?"

Zhang Xiu's words, like a key, quietly unlocked the long-forgotten door to homesickness deep within Zhang Ji's heart. He was already terminally ill, his life fading. How could he not want to return home at the end of his life, to rest his soul in peace on his native soil? Zhang Ji's eyes gradually grew distant and melancholic, his thoughts seemingly drifting back to his distant homeland of Xiliang.

Zhang Ji's eyes revealed a trace of loneliness, and he sighed softly, "Alas, like fallen leaves returning to their roots, this is the wish of so many wanderers. Ah Xiu, when I die, you must burn my body and not bury it. When you return to Xiliang, bury me in my hometown. Only then can my soul return to my homeland."

Zhang Xiu was incredulous when he heard this. He looked at Zhang Ji anxiously and said, "Uncle, do you agree that I can go help General Ma Chao?"

Zhang Ji shook his head slightly and said slowly, "You are not allowed to assist General Ma Chao right now. The current situation is chaotic. We need to wait until the situation becomes clearer before we plan to return to Xiliang. With the existing military base in Wancheng, you can lead the army back then. Even if you abandon Wancheng, you will have sufficient status and influence in Xiliang with your troops. But if you rashly send troops now and fight to the death, not to mention whether Wancheng can be held immediately, if you return to Xiliang to follow Ma Chao, what status and support will you have? You will be nothing more than a dependent."

Zhang Xiu grasped Zhang Ji's hand tightly, his face filled with concern as he said, "Uncle, please don't say such things after death. Now that you've been taking medicine, your health is improving. You will surely recover as before."

Zhang Ji gently stroked Zhang Xiu's head and said lovingly, "Fool, I know my physical condition well enough. What's there to be upset about? But you absolutely cannot go now. You must not waste our hard-earned wealth."

Zhang Xiu, however, looked serious and said solemnly, "Uncle, it's easy to add icing on the cake, but it's difficult to help someone in need. My friendship with General Ma Chao was forged through countless life-and-death battles, and it can't be measured by profit. He's in dire straits right now. If I don't help, how can I face following him in the future? How can the friendship between men be judged by power and status? Uncle, you're also a tough soldier, how could you not understand this? It must be that old fox, Mr. Wenhe, who taught you that. Mr. Wenhe is undoubtedly intelligent, but he's always calculating, unwilling to take risks, and only knows how to protect himself. How could he understand the passion and true feelings of us men on the battlefield? He's truly too selfish."

Zhang Xiu spoke incessantly. Zhang Ji, watching his nephew, knew that even if he tried to stop him, it would be difficult to change Zhang Xiu's resolve. He spoke wearily, "Ah Xiu, you have a point. I, your uncle, have little time left. This city of Wan will eventually be entrusted to you. Just act on your heart's desire and don't leave yourself with any regrets."

When Zhang Xiu heard his uncle's words, he was overjoyed. He was so grateful and excited that he could hardly contain himself. He kowtowed to Zhang Ji repeatedly, with his forehead touching the ground with a thud, expressing his inner gratitude and respect in the most sincere way.