Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Zhen Mi clutched Zhang Fubao's promise and the token tightly in her hands, but the worry that hung heavy within her heart like a lingering cloud, making her afraid to linger or even linger. In this turbulent world, businesspeople swear by the principle of "less is more." Furthermore, Zhang Fubao's identity shrouded in mystery, leaving the token's true value and potential benefits uncertain. Her heart was on edge, and she dared not let her guard down. Even the slightest inattention could lead her to irretrievable ruin.

At that moment, her thoughts flooded back, finally comprehending the hardships they had encountered since arriving in Hanzhong. Their arrival had been like treading into a treacherous quagmire, with repeated ambushes by the local garrison. She realized the root of all this lay in the delicate and ever-changing question of identity. Previously, in the Guandong region, she had skillfully assumed Yuan Xi's identity, relying on the Yuan family's powerful support to navigate the teeming territories of the warlords like a fish in water, encountering no obstacles. Later, crossing Guandong and arriving near Chang'an, she again relied on the reputation of Ma Chao of Xiliang and the renowned Ma family caravan, enjoying unimpeded passage, seemingly blessed by luck. However, as fate would have it, this time, a delay in information transmission prevented them from being informed of the evolving situation, leading to a significant setback and untold losses.

Zhen Mi's gaze was resolute, her decision instantly made, and she refused to hesitate. She decisively abandoned the banners of the Yuan and Ma families, choosing instead to continue her journey as a normal, unassuming merchant. Although they still faced occasional harassment from bandits and scoundrels, they were fortunately spared the hostile gazes and attacks of local troops. Thus, amidst the turbulent times of trade, she cautiously groped her way forward, like a lone boat drifting amidst raging waves, silently praying for a smooth journey ahead, allowing her to reach her destination safely.

While Zhang Lu's decree was being relayed to various regions, Zhen Mi and her group continued their journey without stopping. "Everyone, keep going! As long as we get out of Hanzhong, the situation might improve," Zhen Mi urged them, looking around warily.

However, fate had a twist. On the third day, just as they were about to leave Hanzhong and enter Yizhou, they were stopped by the guard at the pass. "Who are you? Where are you from? Where are you going?" the guard shouted. Zhen Mi stepped forward and saluted respectfully. "General, we are just an ordinary caravan, seeking to do some small business in Yizhou." The guard looked skeptical. "An ordinary caravan? Humph! I don't think that's that simple. My lord has ordered that all caravans and suspected armed groups be inspected, especially those with young generals or wounded soldiers." Zhen Mi's heart tightened, and she feigned composure. "General, we are indeed ordinary merchants, and none of the things you describe are happening." But the guard ignored her and waved his hand: "Search!" His soldiers immediately advanced and began a thorough inspection. Although Zhen Mi hoped to get away with it, facing such a thorough inspection, she could only secretly worry, unsure if she could escape danger.

The supplies and cargo they were escorting appeared normal at first glance, but the wounded hidden within the ranks were like a hidden mine waiting to explode, dragging everyone into a desperately dangerous situation. Despite the meticulous care of Hua Tuo and Zhang Fubao, the journey, braving the elements and requiring no rest, was it possible to conceal the scars inflicted by swords and knives.

The soldier in charge of the search, his sharp gaze like a hawk, scanned the crowd. Suddenly, as if he had discovered some earth-shattering secret, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "General! There are wounded men in this group!" The sound of this voice was like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves. The guarding officer's expression suddenly changed, like an enraged tiger. Without hesitation, he roared, "Be on guard!" In an instant, the soldiers at the pass surged like a tidal wave, their weapons flashing a cold light in the sunlight. In a flash, they had Zhen Mi and her group trapped at the core. The encirclement was impenetrable, like a steel cage. Everyone was trapped, unable to escape.

Zhen Mi secretly cried out in dismay. Things had come to this point, and there was no other way. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her mind, and she remembered the token Zhang Fubao had given her. She forced herself to remain calm and shouted to the guards, "Wait! I have something here that matters to you!" Then, she slowly reached into her bosom, her movements slow but trembling with nervousness. A moment later, she carefully lifted out an exquisite talisman carved from white jade and placed it in her palm. The warm, jade-like light seemed almost blinding under the gaze of the crowd.

The guard's gaze was instantly captivated by the talisman. A flicker of surprise and greed flashed across his eyes, and then his suspicions solidified: the individuals before him must be Ma Chao and his companions, the city lord's long-cherished pursuit. However, Ma Chao's reputation, like a towering mountain, instilled awe in the hearts of the people. He hesitated to act rashly, fearing the slightest mistake would bring disaster upon himself. So, his eyes shifted, a plan formed, his face still plastered with a hypocritical smile, as he spoke in a gentle voice, "You have a precious token of our Five Pecks of Rice Sect. Come closer, so I can verify its authenticity. Don't worry, if it's genuine, I'll let you pass."

Zhen Mi, preoccupied with defusing the immediate crisis, was oblivious to the conspiracy. As instructed, she held the token in her hand and slowly approached the general. A deathly silence reigned, the only sound being the gentle thud of her footsteps echoing across the cobblestones, each step weighing heavily on the hearts of the crowd. As she approached, the guarding officer's lips curled into a subtle sneer. A glance signaled the soldiers around him, like a well-trained pack of wolves, and they attacked in an instant. Several razor-sharp swords, tinged with a chill, came to rest on Zhen Mi's slender neck like lightning, the slightest pressure enough to cleave the delicate skin.

Meanwhile, the caravan's attendants and guards were not spared either. Before they could react, they were pinned down by the ferocious soldiers, unable to resist. Zhen Mi was shocked, enraged, ashamed, and annoyed. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she glared at the guards with wide eyes, demanding, "General, what do you mean? As a military commander, how can you be so unfaithful and go back on your word?"

The defending general laughed loudly towards the sky, and the laughter echoed in the valley, seeming particularly arrogant: "Hahahaha, Ma Chao, do you think you can still escape? You would never have thought that my lord has already ordered that anyone who shows up with the talisman must be arrested immediately! Today is the day you die!" When Zhen Mi heard this, regret surged in her heart like a surging tide. She gritted her teeth and cursed in her heart: "This silly little girl has really harmed me completely this time, pushing me into this abyss of no return. What should I do now?" But the tense situation before her left her with no choice but to wait for death and let herself be slaughtered.

The defending general completely ignored everything else, and the ecstasy in his heart surged out like a flood that broke through a dam, and he could not suppress it. He laughed out loud and said, "I actually stumbled upon such tremendous wealth, it must be God's help! Hahaha!" After that, he immediately ordered his soldiers to forcibly disarm Zhen Mi and her group.

A soldier beside him saw the opportunity and wanted to step forward to tie up Zhen Mi, who had been mistaken for Ma Chao. Seeing this, the guarding general glared at him and kicked the soldier to the ground. The soldier fell to the ground in dismay, his face full of shock and confusion, and he kept asking, "General, what do you mean?"

The guarding general immediately put on a fawning smile and said to the man who was mistaken for Ma Chao, "General Ma Chao, I have no intention of offending you. You just wait here for news from my lord. Everything is up to my lord, and I am just following his orders. During this period, you only need to stay inside the pass temporarily. I hope you don't have any bad ideas and don't make things difficult for me. Otherwise, the lives of your followers will be in danger, and none of them will survive!" Although his words seemed respectful, they contained threats, and he completely controlled the fate of Zhen Mi and her group.

Zhen Mi thought to herself that the situation was critical and she was already under someone's control. If she showed any resistance, her followers' lives would be in danger. Helplessly, she could only leave it to fate for the time being and see what means the other party would use next.

Seeing "Ma Chao" so docile and obedient, the commander's inner anxiety subsided a little. He couldn't help but secretly speculate that there must be someone or something extremely precious to Ma Chao in this group disguised as a merchant caravan, which is why he is so forbearing. So he decided to separate Ma Chao and his men from each other. He treated Ma Chao with a seemingly lenient attitude, but in fact he was keeping a close watch on him. At the same time, he kept a ruthless watch on his men, not allowing them any opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

After properly deploying, the garrison commander, anxiously awaiting his arrival, immediately dispatched capable men on swift horses, charging non-stop to Hanzhong, determined to deliver this crucial intelligence to their lord, Zhang Lu, as quickly as possible. The messenger's swift horse, like a gust of wind, galloped at breakneck speed for a day and a night before successfully reaching Hanzhong. Although Zhen Mi and her companions had set out three days earlier, they were, after all, a caravan escorting goods, hindered their mobility and unfamiliar with the roads, naturally slowing their progress. This was the reason the messenger was able to successfully arrive in just a day and a night.

Ever since Zhang Lu passed on the order to capture Ma Chao, he had been trapped in the city lord's mansion, like a trapped animal, filled with anxiety and uneasiness, constantly awaiting news. The developments on the front lines weighed heavily on his mind like a thick haze, making it difficult for him to sleep or eat.

In the entire Wudu County, only Wudu City remained, barely holding on, like a lone boat in a raging storm, precariously on the brink. The remaining cities, like sand castles swept by a flood, were easily conquered by the Western Liang army. The war between Western Liang and Hanzhong had been raging for a long time, and Zhang Lu had weathered the turmoil, having developed a certain resilience to the brutality and unpredictability of war. However, the battle reports of the past few days had been like a bolt from the blue, leaving him disoriented. The successive fall of cities filled him with shock and fear. He could not understand why the Western Liang army's offensive had suddenly intensified. Was it a change of commander, more resourceful, courageous, and ruthless? Or had they adopted new strategies and tactics, leading to a sudden increase in boldness and ruthlessness in their tactics?