Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Only then did everyone see that it was Xu Huang. Even Pan Feng and Hu Che'er, who were fighting fiercely, immediately stopped. Everyone stood up and greeted him with smiles on their faces. Xu Huang glanced at Ma Chao and said, "Let go, let go! Stop being so fussy! I have to kowtow to the general." He straightened his clothes and quickly walked towards Ma Chao. Kneeling on one knee, he said loudly, "General Xu Huang, I greet you, general. I was delayed by the grain transport. I am late. I hope you will forgive me for my delay." Ma Chao hurried forward to help Xu Huang to his feet, laughing heartily, "No need to be so polite, Gongming. You've had a hard time traveling. Get up quickly." Xu Huang stood up, his eyes scanning everyone's faces, clasped his fists and saluted, saying, "Brothers, it's been a long time since we last met. I hope you are well." Everyone returned the greetings, and the tent was suddenly filled with the joy and excitement of a long-awaited reunion.

Ma Chao gazed at Xu Huang, his dust-covered, slightly disheveled appearance. With a look of heartache, he gently patted him, trying to shake off some of the dust. He said gently, "Gongming, you've been incredibly tired all the way to Xiliang, mobilizing troops and transporting provisions. But has everything been smooth? Why do you look so disheveled?" Upon hearing this, Xu Huang felt a surge of pressure, his head buzzing. Without a word, he plopped down on his knees, his face filled with guilt. "General, I've failed to fulfill your trust this time and have come to apologize." He knelt, his head bowed, not daring to meet Ma Chao's eyes. Seeing Xu Huang like this, Ma Chao's heart skipped a beat, wondering if something had gone terribly wrong. But seeing his beloved general blaming himself and apologizing so harshly, he could not bear it. He quickly reached out and pulled Xu Huang up, saying softly, "Gongming, come on, get up first. Everyone, go back to your seats. Let Gongming drink two cups of hot wine first to warm himself up, and then we can tell you in detail what happened."

Ma Chao led Xu Huang to his seat. A guard beside him quickly handed him a cushion, and Xu Huang, without further ado, knelt beside him. Ma Chao naturally took his own drinking utensils, filled a cup with wine, and offered it to Xu Huang. Xu Huang took it and downed three bowls in a row, seemingly trying to drown out his frustration and guilt. Ma Chao then pushed the golden, fragrant roasted leg of lamb in front of him toward Xu Huang. Xu Huang, undeterred, scooped up the leg with both hands and began to devour it. Ma Chao, smiling, gazed at Xu Huang quietly, not eager to question the details.

Xu Huang devoured the lamb leg, which Ma Chao had barely touched, like a whirlwind. He then picked up a cup of wine and drank it all in one gulp. Then, wiping his lips, he knelt again, annoyed, and said, "General, I've failed my mission. I failed to summon the reinforcements you requested, delaying your plan. I beg for severe punishment." Ma Chao's brow furrowed in confusion upon hearing this. He couldn't understand why Xu Huang's mobilization for reinforcements, which should have been only 50,000 or 60,000 troops, could have been completed without returning to Wuwei County. Ma Chao was completely baffled and asked, "Gongming, please don't be so hasty to apologize. Tell me in detail what happened."

Xu Huang followed Li Ru's instructions before leaving, speaking with an anxious expression and a touch of feigned anger, "General, it's not that Xiliang is unwilling to send reinforcements. It's simply that Xiliang is currently struggling to mobilize a large force to support the battle in Yangzhou." Seeing Ma Chao's serious expression, Xu Huang continued, "This year's snowstorms have been raging, and the grasslands are suffering from severe snowstorms. Furthermore, alien tribes have repeatedly appeared throughout Xiliang. Our lord has assembled the entire Xiliang army and is on high alert. The situation is truly worrying, with beacons blazing everywhere."

Ma Chao showed confusion on his face and murmured, "Which tribe is so bold? The Huns went through the last battle, and I haven't been able to destroy their lair yet, and they still have the energy left to invade Xiliang?" Fortunately, Li Ru had given Xu Huang careful instructions before he set out and repeatedly practiced countermeasures, otherwise Xu Huang would have been at a loss at this moment.

Xu Huang followed Li Ru's explanation and continued, "General, although the Xiongnu have suffered heavy losses, they no longer dominate the grasslands. A powerful Xianbei tribe has risen to power, poised to unify the grasslands. They are driving the Xiongnu to charge, while they themselves support the rear. We in Xiliang are simply unable to cope." As Xu Huang spoke, he deliberately displayed anxiety, and his disheveled appearance made everyone believe him. Xu Huang quietly observed their expressions, pondering his next words.

Zhang Liao's brow furrowed, his eyes filled with worry. He spoke first, "General, General Xu is absolutely right. Xiliang is our foundation. If our foundation is unstable, even if we win the battle of Yangzhou, the gains will be greater than the losses. Now that foreign tribes are rampant, the flames of war have reached our doorstep. The most urgent task is to return to rescue Xiliang."

Zhang Ren nodded slightly, his expression solemn as he echoed, "General, if Xiliang is lost, our army will be like a rootless duckweed. The combined forces of the Xianbei and Xiongnu are advancing with such force that war has engulfed all of Xiliang. The situation is extremely critical. We cannot divide our forces in Yangzhou now; we must concentrate our forces to protect our fundamental territory."

Zhang Xiu also stood up with a serious expression: "Brother, what you brothers said makes sense. We can't just sit and watch Xiliang fall into despair. Although the enemy in Yangzhou is also difficult, the safety of Xiliang is related to the life and death of our army. Let's eliminate the crisis in Xiliang first, and it won't be too late to attack Yangzhou later." Everyone spoke one after another, and they all persuaded Ma Chao earnestly to change their plan and focus on dealing with the crisis in Xiliang first. The atmosphere in the tent became more and more solemn because of everyone's persuasion. Everyone's eyes were focused on Ma Chao, waiting for his decision.

Inside the tent, everyone was speaking out, the atmosphere intense. Xu Shu, however, stood alone, his brow furrowed slightly, his eyes deep and focused, as if the surrounding clamor was oblivious to him. He kept replaying Xu Huang's words in his mind, a cloud of doubts rising within him, a feeling that something about this matter didn't make sense. While Xu Huang's words were sincere and his demeanor realistic, there seemed to be a hidden meaning in the details, and it was hard to discern what had gone wrong.

As for Jia Xu, who had accompanied Zhang Xiu to the banquet, he now acted indifferent and indifferent. A faint, playful smile played on his lips, and his eyes flickered between Xu Huang and Ma Chao. He had clearly seen through Xu Huang's performance, understanding that it was all a carefully choreographed stunt. However, Jia Xu made no effort to point it out. Instead, he folded his arms, watching the drama unfold with amusement, as if awaiting a more exciting twist.

Ma Chao stood in the center of the tent, his heart like a storm-wracked sea, unable to calm down for a long time. He knew the decision before him was a matter of life and death; a wrong move would mean eternal damnation.

The situation in Xiliang was undoubtedly dire, with foreign invasions causing strife along the border. However, Ma Chao had a clear understanding of Xiliang's overall strength. The Xiliang cavalry was renowned throughout the land, and while reinforcements to their 300,000-man cavalry were difficult to withdraw due to regional security, their stronghold was not easily breached. Generals like Pang De, known for their loyalty and ability, garrisoned Xiliang. Pang De, with his lion-like courage, would undoubtedly play a crucial role in the defensive battle. Furthermore, Li Ru's foresight, his pre-emptive planning and response strategies would ensure that Xiliang would remain defenseless.

Ma Chao also placed his full trust in Xu Huang. He knew Xu Huang wouldn't mess up his assignment without a clear reason, and that the difficulties he described must have hidden reasons. This trust stemmed not only from their years of fighting side by side, but also from his understanding of Xu Huang's character.

On the other hand, although Yangzhou was a difficult capture, its success would hold immense strategic significance. Abandoning it now would mean all previous preparations and sacrifices would be wasted. After weighing the pros and cons, Ma Chao made the difficult decision to remain and capture Yangzhou.

Ma Chao's expression was solemn, and his gaze swept across the crowd with determination. He slowly spoke, "Everyone, I know the situation in Xiliang is critical, but I also have a duty to save Yangzhou. Yangzhou is a land of many people, and now they are caught in the flames of war, and their lives are in turmoil. As heroes, how can we stand by and watch the people suffer? This is a matter of great justice, and I, Ma Chao, will never betray it."

He paused, then continued, "Furthermore, the court is currently in turmoil. Losing Yangzhou would be like a corner of a building collapsing, triggering a chain reaction and plunging the world into further chaos. Although I am the ruler of Xiliang, I also care about the people of the world and the stability of the court. If I only seek to protect Xiliang's temporary peace and abandon Yangzhou, how is that any different from a bandit in troubled times?"

"Mr. Li Ru is extremely wise, and General Pang De is extremely loyal and brave. I believe that even if they face the combined forces of Xianbei and Xiongnu, they can hold on to Xiliang and buy time for us. And if we can successfully repel the enemy and restore peace in Yangzhou, we can raise a flag of justice and hope in this troubled times, allowing the people to return to peace and the court to gradually stabilize its foundation. This is a long-term plan. Although there are difficulties and obstacles, I have made up my mind to rescue Yangzhou. Even if there are thousands of difficulties and dangers, I will never retreat!" Ma Chao's voice was loud and clear, echoing in the tent, demonstrating his unwavering determination.

Xu Huang saw that Ma Chao was in a bad mood and quickly changed the subject, saying, "Although the reinforcements didn't arrive as expected, Mr. Li Ru, despite being in such a difficult and precarious situation, still managed to deploy 5,000 soldiers for us and even arranged for me to escort the army."

Ma Chao's emotions were mixed, his face a mixture of guilt and gratitude. "Ah, think about how hard it has been for my father and the millions of people in Xiliang. In such difficult times, they themselves face numerous difficulties, yet they still care about the food and clothing of those of us fighting outside, working hard to prepare food and fodder for us so that we don't go into battle hungry."

Ma Chao clenched his fists, his eyes flashing with determination, "Now that we have received such a favor, how can we retreat? Even if Yangzhou is short of troops at the moment, we must fight with all our might. We must not let your hard work and the sacrifices of the people of Xiliang go to waste. We must be determined to die, for the peace of Yangzhou, and to live up to the expectations behind us, we must move forward bravely and fight to the last moment!" After he finished speaking, the atmosphere in the tent became solemn in an instant. All the generals felt the heavy responsibility and firm belief from Ma Chao's words, and they all silently gripped their weapons, ready to meet the upcoming challenge.