Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Xu Huang's eyes widened, as if overwhelmed by a deep injustice. His face was filled with innocence, as if he were the one who had suffered the most profound humiliation. Then, he simply slumped to the ground, the sound standing out in the quiet and tense court. Then, without restraint, he burst into tears, the piercing sound piercing everyone's eardrums.

"Ah, what is my purpose in coming to your court? Humph, am I disturbing your leisure and elegance in this magnificent place? Ruining the wonderful mood of you nobles? But why don't you think about it? We are fighting desperately on the front lines where the war is raging, licking blood on the edge of a knife, and struggling to even get a full meal, while you are enjoying wealth and glory here. Now I am just here to seek justice, but I have become a thorn in your eyes and a thorn in your flesh, and you only think that I have ruined your good mood."

Emperor Liu Bian felt as if his head had been struck by a sledgehammer, a sharp pain surging through him. Resignedly, he slowly raised his hand and rubbed it against his forehead, desperately trying to soothe the agonizing pain and discomfort. After a long pause, he swallowed back the rage that threatened to burst forth, and through gritted teeth, he spoke: "If you have any demands, speak now, and do not delay any further. If not, depart immediately, and do not continue to harass us. Hasten the delivery of the provisions to General Ma Chao, and do not delay the battle on the front lines. If you continue to shout and yell without restraint, I will show no mercy and will expel you from the court. I will no longer tolerate your nonsense and wanton behavior."

Though the emperor was utterly enraged by Xu Huang's actions, a wisp of rationality, like a thin thread, barely maintained his composure. He knew the current situation was precarious, and Ma Chao's presence on the front lines was crucial to his ability to secure his throne and maintain the Han dynasty. If Xu Huang's provisions weren't delivered on time, Ma Chao would inevitably grow disgruntled, holding back on the Yangzhou campaign and perhaps even using it as an excuse to shirk responsibility. So, even though Xu Huang, like a fierce, shrewd woman in the streets, was now throwing a tantrum in this solemn and sacred court, the emperor could only silently endure, swallowing his anger.

Xu Huang gradually stopped crying, sniffed, and spoke in a voice still tinged with tears, "Your Majesty, I have come here with no unreasonable demands. I simply want to report to you truthfully that the land of Xiliang is now in flames, and the Xiongnu cavalry are trampling everywhere. The people are displaced, the fields are barren, and it is truly difficult to supply the army with food and fodder. I have worked very hard to escort this small amount of food and fodder here, but it is only barely enough. As for the food and fodder needed for the subsequent campaign in Yangzhou, I still have to rely on you in Chang'an to find a way to raise it for us. Your Majesty, think about it, if we are forced to fight on the front lines on an empty stomach, how can we win this war?"

Emperor Liu Bian rubbed his head, aching from Xu Huang's crying, furrowing his brows and speaking impatiently, "If you have a request, just raise it directly. Why make such a scene in the court? Look at how disrespectful this is! It's a complete waste of time." He then turned to Xun Yu in a rather irritated tone, "My Lord, look, at all costs, we must gather as much food and fodder as possible for Ma Chao's army. We simply cannot let those soldiers on the front lines, who risk their lives for their country, go hungry."

Xun Yu's face was etched with hesitation. He was about to say that there was no food or fodder available, but the emperor quickly stopped him with a look. Reluctantly, Xun Yu obeyed, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty. I will do my utmost in Chang'an to gather food and fodder for Ma Chao's army."

The emperor then turned to Xu Huang and said, "General Xu Huang, you have heard everything. Why don't you escort the food and grass over quickly and don't delay the military intelligence. If you don't escort the food and grass over in time, General Ma Chao's army will probably really starve. As for the subsequent supply of food and grass, I will give you my full support, so go with peace of mind." The emperor's words were sincere and high-sounding.

Although Xu Huang was skeptical of the emperor's promise, he had achieved his main purpose. So, with his tearful face, he approached Xun Yu, grabbed his sleeve, and said, "Lord, you've been to Xiliang before, so you know our general well. We have a deep friendship. You must make the matter of raising food and fodder a top priority. The army's hunger depends entirely on you."

Xun Yu felt a splitting headache and said with a wry smile, "Okay, okay, Xu Huang, Gongming, I'll do my best. That's all I have to do."

Xu Huang, however, refused to give in, repeatedly emphasizing, "Lord, this is not just about doing our best. We must supply the army with food and fodder. Otherwise, the consequences will be disastrous."

Xun Yu was annoyed by his pestering and could only nod repeatedly: "Okay, okay."

Seeing this, the emperor waved his hand and said, "Since that's the case, General Xu Huang, please go down and get some food and wine. After eating, you can quickly escort the food and fodder and lead the army forward."

Zhao Yun had been kneeling nearby, witnessing this farce, speechless. He knew full well that Xu Huang's crime of causing trouble in the palace would not be pursued at this point. After all, Ma Chao's army was away, facing Yuan Shu's. If Xu Huang's situation were handled improperly, causing Ma Chao's displeasure, the consequences would be unbearable for the court. Therefore, the emperor had no choice but to settle the matter peacefully, making a major issue minor and then nothing more.

After being dismissed with such a perfunctory gesture, Xu Huang withdrew from the court. Emperor Liu Bian continued to lazily sit on the dragon throne, his mind completely detached from the court's formalities. He narrowed his eyes slightly, pondering what he had recently heard. He thought, "It seems the rumors aren't groundless. If the Xiongnu hadn't truly invaded en masse, posing a dire situation in Xiliang, why would Ma Teng be willing to send his son, Ma Chao, with only a mere 40,000 men to confront the mighty Yuan Shu? Furthermore, reinforcements haven't arrived, and food and fodder supplies are insufficient. There's something fishy about all this."

As the emperor pondered, his thoughts deepened. He mused, "If Xiliang truly finds itself in this predicament, Ma Chao's power will undoubtedly be greatly weakened. Wouldn't this also reduce the threat he poses to me? Perhaps..." A subtle glint flickered in the emperor's eyes, and the ambition he had previously suppressed began to grow and expand, like spring grass in the rain. "Should I continue to rely on Ma Chao as much as before? Or, when he's engaged in a fierce battle with Yuan Shu and is defeated by him, could I seize the opportunity to dispatch troops, eliminate Ma Chao in one fell swoop, and bring Xiliang under my control?"

For a moment, the emperor's mind was filled with fantasies about power and territorial expansion, completely ignoring the many risks and variables hidden therein. In his eyes, the burning ambition seemed to have outlined a false blueprint of taking the whole world into his hands.

The emperor pondered this grand yet fraught with danger and uncertainty, his excitement growing uncontrollable, as if he could already envision the magnificent vision of ruling the world and uniting the four seas. However, his body mercilessly warned him, and the fatigue brought on by last night's indulgence and the side effects of the elixir surged back like a tide.

In the court, the ministers, having experienced the farce caused by Xu Huang, were now whispering among themselves. Seeing the emperor silent and immersed in his own thoughts, no one dared to speak rashly. The emperor felt increasingly weak and was eager to return to the harem to take the so-called panacea to alleviate his physical discomfort. He hastily announced the dismissal of the court.

As soon as the emperor left the court, Xun Yu hurried after him, requesting an audience. The emperor met him with an expression of impatience. Xun Yu said worriedly, "Your Majesty, our food reserves in Chang'an are limited. How can we possibly supply Ma Chao's army with enough food and fodder? Your easy agreement just now puts me in a difficult position. It's like a good cook without rice, but it's hard to cook!"

The emperor smiled and said nonchalantly: "If there is no food, then don't supply it." Xun Yu was stunned for a moment, thinking to himself: "Don't supply it? How can Your Majesty do this? You just promised Xu Huang. If you don't supply it, what if Xu Huang comes to make trouble in the palace again? What's more, if the army is hungry on the front line, how can we fight this war?" Xun Yu carefully considered his words and expressed his thoughts tactfully.

The emperor, however, laughed heartily, a laugh tinged with cunning and arrogance. "Don't look at that Xu Huang blustering and talking pathetically in court today. You've been to Western Liang before, don't you know the real situation there? Western Liang boasts an army of 300,000 men; are they pushovers? How dare the Xiongnu bully them so easily? Didn't you say they had ample food and fodder? In my opinion, Ma Chao and his son are probably just playing the victim. How could old Ma Teng bear to watch his son go hungry fighting on the front lines? He'll surely do everything he can to gather food and fodder and send it to Yangzhou. Humph, if, as I predict, the Ma family inflicts public disapproval and loses the support of the people in Western Liang, then our court will have a golden opportunity to reclaim it."

The emperor's ambitious, unscrupulous, and blatantly selfish words emanated from him, like a chilling wind whistling past, sending a chill through Xun Yu's heart. He looked up at the emperor, only to see his eyes gleam with a fiery, maddening light, filled with a greedy desire for power and territory. There was no trace of the wisdom and kindness that a ruler should have possessed.

Xun Yu sighed inwardly. He knew the emperor's mind had been completely blinded by his immense ambition, his resolve as firm as a rock, impossible to change. As a minister, though he harbored concerns and uneasiness, he felt so insignificant and powerless before the might of the emperor, unable to alter his fixed mind.

Helplessly, Xun Yu slowly lowered his head and bowed respectfully, his gesture carrying a subtle heaviness and sorrow. He silently turned and retreated with slow steps, each step seemingly burdened by an endless stream of worry and frustration. Once he was out of the emperor's sight, the empty hall held only the emperor, seated aloft on the dragon throne. His eyes were hazy, a smug smile playing on his lips. He was completely absorbed in a grand world of his own, filled with boundless ambition and delusions, oblivious to everything around him. It was as if the entire world was already within his grasp, waiting for him to wield his so-called "imperial authority" with impunity, oblivious to the immense crises and turmoil that lay beneath.