Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Inside the tent, Ma Chao ordered his attendants to quickly serve hot tea, the steaming aroma filling the air. Ma Chao frowned, a look of worry on his face, and said to Xu Shu, "Mr. Yuanzhi, the reinforcements we had hoped for from Xiliang haven't arrived. Now we only have a little over 40,000 troops. It's probably going to be a difficult task to deal with Yuan Shu. Therefore, I'm afraid our previously formulated strategy will have to be adjusted. This time, facing Yuan Shu, I'm afraid it will be an extremely difficult and fierce battle."

Xu Shu, upon hearing this, also felt that the situation was rather thorny. He stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and then slowly said, "General, since we don't have sufficient troops, I'm afraid the method I mentioned earlier will have to be implemented now. Furthermore, General Zhang Ji has already made it clear that he wants to incorporate the forces in Wancheng under your command. With the addition of those former Xiliang troops from Wancheng, although our forces may still be slightly insufficient, we should be more confident in our response."

Ma Chao shook his head repeatedly, saying firmly, "This is absolutely impossible. Not to mention that Mr. Zhang Ji is seriously ill, Wancheng itself is under attack from all sides. Without sufficient troops to garrison and suppress it, warlords could attack at any moment. If we plunge Wancheng into war simply for our own benefit, what will become of its people? Furthermore, this is shaping up to be a fierce battle. I can't bear to see any casualties among our Xiliang soldiers. And those old men who once followed Lord Dong out of Xiliang have been away from home for so many years. How could I possibly be at peace if they were to suffer too many casualties in this battle?"

Xu Shu showed a helpless look on his face. He sighed softly and said, "General, you are so kind-hearted. You are sympathetic to the soldiers and care about the people. But in this case, how should we fight this war? The two brothers Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, relying on the reputation of the Yuan family, are among the best princes in the world. We are in such a situation now. How can we ensure victory in this battle? I understand that you are kind-hearted and care about the people of the world, but if this goes on, this war really can't be fought." After speaking, Xu Shu frowned even more tightly, as if he was lost in deep thought, and the atmosphere in the tent became more and more solemn.

The atmosphere in the tent was heavy and oppressive. Ma Chao's brow furrowed, his eyes etched with determination. "Mr. Yuanzhi, I've made up my mind. I can't stay here any longer. The battle in Yangzhou is urgent, and we'll be there soon. No matter what difficulties and obstacles lie ahead, we must face them head-on. After all, war won't end on its own just because we hesitate or ponder, and we can't just sit around and discuss things to achieve victory."

Xu Shu shook his head slightly, his expression grave yet his tone steady. "Wait a minute, General. Rushing forward impulsively at this moment is not the best strategy. General Sun Ce, your sworn brother, shares your aspirations. While he's out trying to contact his men, he must be aware of the dire situation. I suspect he'll be back soon, a day or two at most. These few days, though brief, could be crucial in turning the tide of the battle. Even if this battle is destined to be extremely difficult, this brief wait might allow us to develop a more comprehensive response plan. Why rush now?"

Ma Chao listened to Xu Shu's analysis and weighed the pros and cons in his mind. He knew Xu Shu was a man of exceptional wisdom, and his advice should not be taken lightly. After a moment's silence, he slowly exhaled, "Sir, your words are indeed quite reasonable. Therefore, we shall follow your advice and wait for the soldiers who contacted Sun Ce to return. However, we must not relax for the next two days. We must fully prepare our forces for battle and closely monitor the situation in Yangzhou so that we can react promptly to any unusual developments."

Xu Shu nodded in agreement. "General, you are wise. For the next two days, we can strengthen the camp defenses, boost morale, and allow the soldiers to recuperate. At the same time, we can send out people to investigate the enemy's strength and General Sun Ce's whereabouts to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Seeing Ma Chao's determination and his unwavering attitude, Xu Shu had no choice but to try to detain him, preventing him from acting impulsively. Xu Shu had harbored suspicions during the banquet, but the clamor and bustle of the gathering made it difficult for him to raise his doubts. After finally calming Ma Chao, he didn't dare waste a moment and hurried to Xu Huang's tent.

Xu Huang had drunk too much and was completely intoxicated, lost in a state of drunken confusion. Seeing Xu Huang's hazy face and disoriented state, Xu Shu quietly summoned Zhang Liao and laid out his doubts. Zhang Liao, sensing a serious issue, followed Xu Shu's advice and brought a basin of cold water. He gently poured the water over Xu Huang, splashing it onto his face. Xu Huang, already deep in his slumber, was suddenly startled by the chill and jumped to his feet, mumbling drowsily, "Why is it raining? It's raining! Oh no! Food! Food! Soldiers, don't let the food get wet!" His words and actions caused Xu Shu and Zhang Liao to exchange glances of surprise, then burst into laughter.

After Xu Huang saw that it was Xu Shu and Zhang Liao standing in front of him, he came to his senses and said with a frown: "Mr. Wenyuan, Yuanzhi, why are you here at this time? And you are pouring cold water on me and my face. What are you doing?" After saying this, a hint of shame and annoyance appeared on his face, and it was obvious that he was quite dissatisfied with the cold water being poured on his head.

Xu Shu, however, appeared calm and composed, responding leisurely, "I've come to you to clear up some confusion." Xu Huang, puzzled, "What confusion? I've explained everything clearly before." Xu Shu then unleashed his doubts one by one: "Why has Xiliang suddenly been involved in so much fighting? Has it really reached the point where they can't even send a single reinforcement? We both know Xiliang's strengths, and with Li Ru in charge, how could they bear to let the young master risk his life in such a dangerous place?"

Under Xu Shu's relentless questioning, Xu Huang knew he could no longer conceal the truth. After a moment's hesitation, he confessed, "This was arranged by the lord, and also a plot by Mr. Li Ru. The goal was to ensure that, after the young master had suffered setbacks and hardships abroad, he would return to Xiliang and no longer serve the already shaky, collapsing imperial court." Having said this, Xu Huang felt a sense of relief. After all, this secret had weighed heavily on him. He had always worried that if Ma Chao learned the truth, he would surely punish him severely. Now that these two people knew it together, even if Ma Chao became enraged, it wouldn't be directed solely at him.

Xu Shu and Zhang Liao were horrified when they heard this. They thought to themselves, "Mr. Li Ru is truly ruthless! This scheme has put the young master in an extremely dangerous position. Furthermore, the lives of 40,000 to 50,000 soldiers hang in the balance like a candle in the wind, threatening to be extinguished at any moment. Just thinking about it sends a chill down your spine."

Zhang Xiu hurried back to Wancheng, anxiously awaiting a rest. He quickly detailed Ma Chao's difficult predicament to his bedridden uncle, Zhang Ji. Though Zhang Ji, now gravely ill and gaunt, his life fading like a candle in the wind, still shone a faint glow of his former ambition in his eyes. Upon hearing about Ma Chao's situation, he glared in anger, his voice hoarse and raging, "Damn it! These steppe barbarians are like weeds in the wilderness, inexorable. Back when Lord Dong was still alive, his crackdown on them wasn't ruthless enough. Now they're so arrogant, invading our borderlands. They truly deserve death!" A violent cough erupted from his chest.

Zhang Xiu waited until Zhang Ji's breath subsided before softly asking, "Uncle, my elder brother has a plan. He plans not to mobilize troops from Xiliang, but to rely solely on the 40,000 or so troops he currently possesses to attack and rescue Yangzhou." Upon hearing this, Zhang Ji's face, already pale from illness, grew even uglier. He sighed bitterly, "Brother, you're fine in every way except for such a crucial matter! With large swathes of Xiliang under attack, this situation is a godsend. Why bother with the mess in Yangzhou? The best policy is to return to Xiliang's aid. This way, we can also sever ties with the imperial court and free ourselves from its constraints."

Zhang Xiu's face showed resignation, and he smiled wryly in response, "Uncle, you know my elder brother's character. He values ​​loyalty and reputation above all else, and will never betray the court unless absolutely necessary." Zhang Ji was silent for a long time, then slowly spoke, "Since this is the case, Ma Chao's forces are currently depleted, and he desperately needs help. We in Wancheng cannot sit idly by. Even if it means sacrificing the foundation Wancheng has built over the years, we must provide our full support. If we succeed, regardless of the final outcome, in Ma Chao's eyes, our Wancheng faction will firmly establish itself in Xiliang, and no one will underestimate us."

Jia Xu stood quietly by, almost invisible, listening silently to the heated discussion between the uncle and nephew. He smiled bitterly to himself, feeling a dull ache in his back teeth. The uncle and nephew had clearly resolved to fight Ma Chao through thick and thin, to the bitter end. In fact, even upon hearing the news, Jia Xu had keenly sensed that things might not be as dire as they appeared, that they had already deteriorated beyond repair. After all, Ma Chao had previously crushed the Xiongnu and held a formidable position, while Xiliang, with its 300,000 cavalry, was a formidable force. Unless the Xiongnu and Xianbei leaders were utterly incompetent and foolish, their minds suddenly spinning out, how could they rashly commit their entire forces to invade Xiliang?

Moreover, Xiliang had a man as resourceful as Li Ru at its helm. If the situation was truly as dire as they claimed, Li Ru would undoubtedly have done everything in his power to have Ma Chao swiftly return to Xiliang to take charge. How could he have stood by and watched Ma Chao lead an isolated army of over 40,000 men to languish in the Central Plains? Jia Xu secretly estimated that the situation in Xiliang was far from dire. Even if war broke out, it would be merely dangerous, not as dire as the uncle and nephew described. Xiliang's actions were most likely intended to avoid sending reinforcements to the Central Plains campaign, thereby preserving its own strength. However, Jia Xu, always cautious and cautious, was unwilling to be the one to disrupt the situation. After all, this matter concerned the unity and stability of Xiliang, so he naturally kept his mouth shut.

Thinking of this, Jia Xu finally couldn't help but whispered: "My lord, young master, the current situation is still unclear. General Ma Chao's rescue of Yangzhou this time is likely to fail. Why should we rashly waste our own strength at this time?" After hearing this, Zhang Ji glanced at Jia Xu with a little displeasure, and said slowly: "Mr. Wenhe, you are so cautious. Do you want to wait until Xiliang has grown strong and our Wancheng faction will go to seek refuge? What can we do then? A real man should act decisively. I, a dying man, have a higher spirit than you." After that, he coughed again.

Zhang Xiu hurried forward and gently patted Zhang Ji's chest and back. When he was breathing more smoothly, he said, "Uncle, I will set out in the next two days to find my elder brother and tell him that we will be joining him in this expedition." Zhang Ji nodded slightly, "That's right. A helping hand in times of need is far more memorable than icing on the cake." Zhang Xiu hesitated, "But your health..." Zhang Ji forced himself to stay strong and said through gritted teeth, "What's the problem with my health? Even if I die, it's just an ordinary thing. It's a shame for a man to die on his sickbed. Don't worry about my body. I have fought and killed all my life, doing both good and evil. I have no regrets in my death. Just tell Ma Chao that we will do our best to help. Mr. Wenhe, with his character, will stay in Wancheng and protect the overall situation. If anything happens to me, you two will carefully consider whether to go or stay. Don't worry about me." Jia Xu was speechless for a moment. Although he had some thoughts in his mind, he could only silently agree. His temperament determined that he would not force himself to argue with his lord.