Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Jia Xu's brow furrowed, his fingers gently tugging at his beard. His expression was filled with confusion as he slowly spoke, "My Lord, you're only concerned with accommodating the Young Master's wishes, but you haven't considered the full extent of the situation. The relationship between Zou and the Young Master is, emotionally and logically, a violation of ethical principles. The Young Master naturally finds it difficult to reconcile himself and overcome this hurdle."

Zhang Ji was furious when he heard this and shouted, "What the hell are these moral principles? Those are the things you pedantic scholars spend all day thinking about. In my opinion, if you like each other, you can be together. She's just a woman. Why bother with all this fuss and hesitation?"

As a scholar, Jia Xu, steeped in poetry and classics from a young age, naturally had a very different way of thinking than these men, who rose from humble beginnings and battled on the battlefield. Hearing Zhang Ji's blunt and crude opinion, he couldn't help but smack his lips, but he still steeled himself and continued his persuasion, "My lord, the young master's upbringing and environment were different from yours. You've spent your life in battle, deciding the outcome with force. The young master, on the other hand, is well-versed in literature and has been taught etiquette and moral principles since childhood, so naturally, he holds them in higher regard. Therefore, it's not surprising that the young master holds such a view."

Zhang Ji's anger was still lingering. He snorted coldly, "Hmph, forget it. Let's not talk about that for now. But tell me, what should we do about this situation? Are we really going to watch this bastard commit suicide? One moment he's threatening to die, and now he's clamoring to move to the military camp. Isn't this just trying to piss me off to death?"

Jia Xu shook his head slightly and patiently explained, "My lord, the young master is still young and impulsive, and has a delicate skin. Furthermore, General Ma Chao is right here. He rose to fame at a young age and was exceptionally brave. He was the young master's idol, and the young master has always held him in a special respect and awe. If this matter were to get out, the young master would undoubtedly feel humiliated and ashamed, hence the humiliating situation he has found himself in."

Zhang Ji frowned and said nonchalantly, "What's the big deal? Ma Chao is a formidable warrior on the battlefield. How could you look down on him for such a small matter?"

Jia Xu sighed softly and explained, "My lord, please don't forget that Ma Chao is Lu Zhi's disciple. He has long studied Confucianism with Lu Zhi and has been deeply influenced by Confucianism. Confucianism emphasizes ethics, propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame. It's hard to guarantee that he won't be bothered by this matter."

Zhang Xiu listened at the side, his head lowered even more, his hands unconsciously clenching the corners of his clothes, thinking to himself that he felt as if he had become the object of everyone's scorn. It was really difficult for him to face Ma Chao and the other soldiers. He wished he could find a hole in the ground to crawl into.

Zhang Ji was furious and cursed: "Damn it, this is not right, that is not right. I gave my woman to this guy, he took advantage of her, and now he blames me, saying it's all my fault? Well, since it is this woman who ruined the relationship between my uncle and nephew, Hu Chier, you go now and get me Zou's head. Since this woman caused trouble, kill her." Hu Chier looked embarrassed. He looked at Ma Chao and then at Zhang Xiu. He was afraid of Zhang Ji's majesty, but he didn't dare to act rashly. He froze in place for a while, not daring to move an inch. Seeing this, Zhang Ji was even more furious and scolded: "What, you don't even listen to me?" Hu Chier quickly responded: "As the lord commands." After that, he was ready to turn around and leave.

At this moment, Zhang Xiu hurriedly looked up and shouted, "Wait, wait, uncle! If you want to punish Ah Xiu, I'm willing to accept it. Please don't make things difficult for Aunt..." The word "Aunt" was on the tip of his tongue, but he couldn't say it. He changed his words and said, "Don't make things difficult for Zou. She's a weak woman. What can she do? She's already pitiful enough." Zhang Ji was both angry and amused at this. He cursed, "Damn it! I gave you a beautiful woman, and you're trying to get yourself into trouble, picking and choosing. I want to punish her, but you can't bear to do it. You're really driving me crazy." After saying this, he turned to look at Jia Xu, a playful smile on his face, as if waiting for him to come to the rescue. Jia Xu coughed lightly, thinking about how to resolve this increasingly difficult situation.

Jia Xu stroked his beard lightly, his expression solemn yet sincere as he addressed Zhang Xiu, "Young Master, listen to me. While our Lord's actions may conflict with conventional etiquette, they are motivated by consideration for the future of you and the Zou family, and even more so for the continuation of the Zhang family. Now that the matter is settled, if you persist in resisting, not only will your Lord be furious, but the Zou family will also be in dire straits. Your sense of justice and respect for ethics are truly commendable, but now that things have come to this, it is better to put aside your lingering feelings and accept the Zou family. Later, through virtuous conduct, you can gradually make up for this shortcoming and restore the Zhang family's prestige. This will both fulfill our Lord's wishes and protect the Zou family. It is both reasonable and sensible, and the only appropriate course of action."

Seeing Zhang Xiu still wavering, Jia Xu offered further persuasion: "Young Master, think about this. A continued stalemate in this situation will only bring sorrow to those closest to you and joy to those against you. The lord has high hopes for you, and the future of the Zhang family depends entirely on you. While the Zou family incident is contrary to common sense, if you can accept it with an open mind and diligently manage it in the future, perhaps this can be transformed into a remarkable story. You and the lord are blood relatives. Why should you, in a moment of impulsiveness, damage the bond between uncle and nephew and sever the foundation of your family?" Zhang Xiu bit his lower lip, his expression shifting, his heart mired in a fierce struggle. After a long pause, he finally said hesitantly, "While your words are deeply troubling, they are not without reason." Jia Xu nodded slightly and said softly, "Young Master, this transformation has been remarkable. There's still a long road ahead, so you should slowly adjust."

Zhang Xiu frowned, his face full of worry, and he continued in a whisper: "Sir, even if I reluctantly agree to this matter, such behavior is ultimately against ethics, and I am afraid it will be difficult for people all over the world to understand and tolerate. Especially, I must never let General Ma Chao know. He holds a high position in my heart. If he finds out, how can I face him in the future, and how can I stand in front of him? Although I, Zhang Xiu, have never been a person who attaches great importance to fame in my life, this matter concerns reputation and innocence, and it is difficult for me to deal with it calmly." After saying this, Zhang Xiu looked embarrassed, his eyes full of anxiety and uneasiness, as if he could foresee all kinds of difficulties and embarrassments that might be encountered in the future.

Zhang Xiu slowly stood up, hesitantly moving closer to Zhang Ji. He whispered, "Uncle, are you saying that Ah Xiu doesn't need to commit suicide anymore?" As he spoke, Zhang Xiu's face was filled with embarrassment, his eyes evasive, not daring to meet his uncle's gaze. After a pause, he hurriedly warned, "Uncle, please keep this matter a secret for Ah Xiu. Don't spread it."

Zhang Ji raised his thick eyebrows and said loudly, "A real man should act openly and honestly when he is born in this world. If he does something, he does it. Why hide it? Are you planning to hide Zou like a shameful object in the future so that no one will ever find out?" Zhang Xiu was speechless for a moment after hearing his uncle's question and didn't know how to respond.

Seeing this, Zhang Ji waved his hand and continued, "I have some ideas that I need to think over carefully with Mr. Wenhe. You listen here carefully." After that, Zhang Ji and Jia Xu also bowed slightly. Both of them put on an appearance of listening attentively and ready for in-depth discussions. The atmosphere in the room instantly became solemn.

Zhang Ji raised his head slightly, his eyes filled with thought and determination. He reached out and slowly sorted out his somewhat chaotic thoughts. After a moment's silence, he spoke calmly and forcefully, "Mr. Wenhe, just yesterday, Ah Xiu and I had a discussion. We discussed a decision regarding our future path, which was to join Ma Chao's army and return to our homeland of Xiliang. Ah Xiu had a unique perspective. He believed that Ma Chao's forces were not yet fully assembled and his power was somewhat weak. If we could do our utmost to help him at this time, this act of timely assistance would surely demonstrate our sincerity and unwavering loyalty more than just ordinary icing on the cake."

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu's face was instantly filled with shock. His eyes widened, and without hesitation, he blurted out, "My Lord, this is absolutely unacceptable! If we proceed in this way, we will undoubtedly be trapped in a desperate situation, with no escape route. In my humble opinion, it would be best to suppress our impatience for now and wait patiently. Once the situation becomes clearer, we can then make a calm and decisive decision. This is the safest strategy."

Zhang Ji gently waved his broad palm, a gesture imbued with undeniable resolve. His face stern, he replied in a resounding voice, "After Ah Xiu laid out his thoughts, I sat alone, pondering them for a long time before a sudden realization struck me. While the icing on the cake you mentioned certainly allows for ease and smoother progress without taking excessive risks, the preciousness of this timely assistance lies precisely in its courage and commitment. Consider this: the ever-changing landscape of the battlefield values ​​the bond of brotherhood, a shared life and death. If we merely assess our position and value in Ma Chao's heart by the number of our troops and generals, we'll likely spend our entire lives unable to truly reach his heart, forever drifting like rootless duckweed outside his inner circle. Therefore, my decision is made. Since I've firmly resolved to surrender to him, I must cast aside all concerns and cease this fussing and procrastinating. Act with decisiveness and resolve."

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu's brow furrowed tightly, as if twisted into a knot. His eyes were filled with worry and confusion, clearly troubled by Zhang Ji's decision. His lips parted slightly, as if eager to pour out a thousand words, attempting to dissuade him once more. However, faced with Zhang Ji's resolute expression, he faltered, unsure how to begin to persuade his lord to change his mind.

Zhang Xiu stood aside, his chest heaving slightly, his eyes gleaming with a fiery, intense excitement. The thought of fighting alongside General Ma Chao, whom he had long admired, galloping freely across the vast battlefield, surged within him like a surging tide. The shame that had lingered so deeply within him was now swept away like a powerful gust of wind, vanishing without a trace. His face flushed slightly, and the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously. His eager expression was like a tiger about to be unleashed, waiting at the command to pounce on the battlefield filled with blood and glory, unleashing his passion and ambition, his eyes filled with anticipation for a future of battle.