Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Turning our attention slowly back to Ma Chao, we see him personally leading his army, braving the wind and rain, exhausted and dusty. First, they successfully crossed Xinye, a strategically important city, then passed through Yiyang without stopping, and then continued on through Zaoyang. After many days of arduous marching, they finally arrived at Pingyu County in Runan Commandery.

At that time, the situation across the country was complex, with various factions intertwined and in constant conflict. While Runan County appeared to have not yet been overtly seized by Yuan Shu, beneath the calm lay a turbulent undercurrent. The prefect, Sun Xiang, a self-proclaimed retainer of the Yuan family, had secretly pledged his allegiance to Yuan Shu. Like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows, he waited for the right moment to openly defect and champion Yuan Shu's ambitions.

Turning our attention to Yuan Shu's sphere of influence, his arrogance was unparalleled, stirring up a turbulent period. Not only did Yuan Shu firmly control the fertile Lujiang and Jiujiang Commanderies, but even Zhu Hao of Yuzhang Commandery, tempted by the prospect of profit, secretly colluded with him, willingly obeying Yuan Shu's orders and becoming his accomplice within Yuzhang. Wherever Yuan Shu's army advanced, the defenders of numerous counties and prefectures fled, unable to resist or fight back, as if enveloped in a cloud of fear. Danyang Commandery in Yangzhou was no exception, falling to Yuan Shu. Danyang Commandery had long been renowned for its sturdy people. Tao Qian had meticulously trained there, forging the renowned Danyang elite. Now, with this formidable military force under Yuan Shu's wing, it strengthened his power and provided a powerful impetus for his expansion.

As a result, the entire Yangzhou region became precarious, like a crumbling building in a raging storm. At this point, only Wu and Kuaiji counties remained in Yangzhou, yet to be fully controlled by Yuan Shu. Wu was held by Xu Gong and Wang Lang, each with their own agenda and independent governance, resulting in a complex internal situation and numerous conflicts. Kuaiji, meanwhile, had recently been captured by Sun Ce's army. While this marked a period of stability, it also faced the arduous task of rebuilding. The remaining counties had either been ruthlessly crushed by Yuan Shu's cavalry, becoming part of his ambitions for hegemony, or, like Zhu Hao of Yuzhang, had secretly pledged allegiance to Yuan Shu and become his pawns.

Amidst this chaos, Liu Yao persevered in Yuzhang County, a lone beacon of hope, attempting to hold out a bulwark against Yuan Shu's relentless onslaught. However, Yuan Shu's assault was unstoppable, and Yuzhang County crumbled under its immense pressure. Zhu Hao's covert collusion with Yuan Shu to surrender further escalated Yuzhang's precarious situation, seemingly on the brink of collapse. Panic gripped the city, rumors swirled, and the defenders' morale plummeted, wondering how much longer they could hold out in this bitter struggle.

At this crucial moment, Liu Yao, with his wisdom and keen insight, finally saw through Zhu Hao's hideous nature. He knew that if this malignant tumor of Zhu Hao was not eliminated promptly, Yuzhang County would fall. So, Liu Yao decisively ordered Zhu Hao's public beheading. This act, like a flash of lightning piercing the darkness, instantly boosted the morale of the Yuzhang County defenders. Under Liu Yao's leadership, they regrouped their forces and, in a precarious situation, barely withstood wave after wave of Yuan Shu's fierce attacks, preserving a glimmer of hope for the resistance forces in the Yangzhou region.

Even so, the situation in Yangzhou remained extremely unfavorable for Ma Chao and his companions. The intertwining forces of various factions formed a complex web, trapping Ma Chao and his companions. The road ahead was thorny and thorny, and every step was filled with difficulties and obstacles. The journey ahead was still full of unknowns and challenges.

Ma Chao and his entourage traveled day and night, finally arriving at Pingyu County. However, the army's advance came to an abrupt halt. Sun Xiang, the governor of Runan County, feigned neutrality and offered high-sounding words of loyalty to the court, but secretly, he had already groveled and surrendered to Yuan Shu, becoming his complete lackey.

Ma Chao led an army of righteous men, confident they could cross the border smoothly and continue their work to uphold the Han Dynasty. However, the Pingyu County defenders, acting as if they were facing a formidable enemy, tightly shut the city gates and, with a firm and resolute attitude, sternly refused entry.

Ma Chao's army's banners fluttered in the wind, like a giant black dragon, winding and galloping from afar. The walls of Pingyu County towered into the clouds, the tightly closed gates like a cold, merciless maw, separating the inner and outer worlds. At that moment, the air was filled with a suffocating, oppressive atmosphere, like the dead silence before a storm. Atop the city walls, the commander's face was as stern as steel, his expression solemn. He gazed at the distant, gradually recognizing Ma Chao's army amidst the rising dust, his mind a tangled mess as he pondered a strategy.

"General, it seems that Ma Chao's army is so aggressive, it's obvious that they are planning to pass through our territory. What should we do?" The deputy general beside him was extremely anxious, with a hint of panic in his voice that was hard to conceal.

The commander's brows knitted into a deep, hawk-like frown, his gaze sweeping across Ma Chao's neatly arranged ranks. After a long pause, he slowly spoke, "The prefecture has already issued a clear order prohibiting all large troops from crossing the border." With that, he acted decisively, dispatching a messenger at full speed to Shouchun to deliver the message. It was truly comical that Sun Xiang, the governor of Runan County, was now leisurely and contentedly lounging in Yuan Shu's headquarters in Shouchun, like a fox clinging to a tiger.

The messenger galloped along, the dust kicked up by his horse's hooves swirling in his wake. Soon, he reached Shouchun at full speed. Meanwhile, Sun Xiang was leisurely sitting on his couch, sipping his fragrant tea. Upon hearing about Ma Chao's request to borrow the road, a subtle flicker of hesitation crossed his previously calm face. He still feigned loyalty to the court, but in reality, he had already secretly defected to Yuan Shu and become his loyal lackey. Yuan Shu had previously issued a specific order that if Ma Chao attempted to borrow the road, he must be resolutely stopped.

"Reporting to the county magistrate, Ma Chao's army has been waiting outside the city for a long time. How should we respond to them?" The messenger asked respectfully with a bow.

Sun Xiang slammed the cup down, causing some tea to spill onto the table. A fierce look flashed in his eyes, and he said viciously, "Tell them that Pingyu County will not allow us to pass through. Tell them to find another way and not linger here!"

The messenger hurried off, but Sun Xiang felt a surge of anxiety, a precarious situation. He knew Ma Chao's valor and reputation were immense, and his troops were elite. Forcibly stopping him would likely provoke a fierce battle with disastrous consequences. But Yuan Shu's orders hung like a sword over his head, terrified and unwilling to disobey. By then, Yuan Shu's army had practically seized control of Yangzhou and was locked in a fierce standoff with Liu Yao on the front lines of Yuzhang County, resulting in a stalemate. Sun Xiang, aware of the gravity of the matter, dared not delay even a moment. He quickly dispatched another messenger to the front lines of Yuzhang County to inform Yuan Shu of Ma Chao's request to pass through.

Ma Chao waited and waited outside the city, only to receive the cold refusal from the garrison commander. A surge of rage surged within him. The royal army, commanded by the emperor, was being so rudely refused passage. Sun Xiang must be hiding something sinister.

"My lord, in my opinion, Sun Xiang's actions must have been instructed by Yuan Shu. It is really too much and extremely hateful to block our army's progress so blatantly!" Xu Shu analyzed indignantly with a frown on his face.

Ma Chao clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the strain. His eyes burned with rage as he shouted, "We are obeying the Emperor's orders, shouldering the heavy responsibility of suppressing the rebels and upholding the Han Dynasty. How dare Sun Xiang be so audacious as to obstruct our army? He truly betrays his ancestors and has no regard for his own safety! Yuanzhi, you are resourceful, do you have a good plan?"

Xu Shu frowned slightly, pondering for a moment before gazing at the heavily fortified Pingyu County. He spoke slowly, "Pingyu City's walls are strong and thick, making it easy to defend but difficult to attack. However, Sun Xiang's actions are unpopular, and the city's inhabitants are unlikely to join him in resisting our forces. We can first adopt a siege strategy, cutting off their food and fodder supply. We can then send disguised troops into the city, spread rumors, expose Sun Xiang's evil deeds, and shake the morale of the soldiers and the people. This way, the city will be captured in no time."

Ma Chao agreed with what he had said and nodded solemnly. He immediately gave the order, and the army moved swiftly to surround Pingyu County. In an instant, Pingyu County seemed to be trapped in an invisible cage, completely cut off from the outside world, and fell into a desperate situation of isolation and helplessness.

When the people in the city learned that Ma Chao's army had been turned away and was under siege, they immediately became panic-stricken. In the streets and alleys, people were whispering and discussing.

"Why did County Magistrate Sun refuse General Ma Chao's request to pass through the country? He is the royal army, and he is here to fight against the rebels for the people of the world." A white-haired old man said, shaking his head worriedly.

"Alas, I heard that this County Magistrate Sun had secretly defected to Yuan Shu a long time ago. Yuan Shu asked him to stop Ma Chao, and he did it obediently. Poor innocent people like us are going to suffer again." The young man on the side was full of indignation, clenched his fists, and sighed helplessly.

As Ma Chao's strategy of encircling but not attacking gradually took effect, food supplies within Pingyu County began to run low. Fierce arguments erupted in the streets as citizens scrambled for food. Ma Chao's spies, deployed throughout the city, spread exaggerated stories of Sun Xiang's misdeeds, claiming he had betrayed the imperial court for selfish gain, with no regard for the lives of the people. Suddenly, resentment against Sun Xiang spread like wildfire, engulfing the entire county.

From atop the city walls, the Pingyu County commander watched the chaos unfold, his heart aching like an ant on a hot pan. He knew full well that continuing to resist would only lead to the entire city's people being sacrificed for Sun Xiang's selfish desires. After much agonizing, he decided to secretly send someone to contact Ma Chao, carefully expressing his willingness to surrender.