Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 496: Indulging in New Year's Eve and being imprisoned

Zhang Xun returned to the city, brimming with rage. Upon entering, his long-suppressed fury erupted like a volcano. His eyes blazed red, like a raging beast, as he roared, "Bring me the lieutenant commander who lost his ear!" Soon, the lieutenant commander was brought before him, bound and shackled, his face as pale as paper, his body trembling with fear. Zhang Xun, his eyes wide with anger, pointed at the lieutenant commander's nose and cursed, "You fool! If it weren't for your incompetence and your credulity towards the thieves, how could our army have suffered such a disgrace!" With that, he raised his sword and struck the lieutenant commander's head, sending it tumbling down in an instant, blood gushing out.

After beheading the lieutenant general, Zhang Xun, still furious, immediately dispatched his troops throughout Lujiang. He sternly addressed Jiujiang and Lujiang counties: "A group of thirty or forty men has infiltrated our rear. All counties must be on alert! Their intentions are unclear, their purpose unknown, but we must be vigilant against their infiltration. All checkpoints and strategic roads must be rigorously inspected. No suspicious individuals should be spared. These individuals must be identified and must not be allowed to wreak havoc on our territory!" Upon receiving the order, the troops galloped to their respective strongholds, relaying Zhang Xun's orders. Panic erupted throughout the two counties, and a rigorous manhunt for Ma Chao and his men was launched.

Ma Chao and his men, relying on their bravery and cunning, successfully slaughtered at least 300 of Zhang Xun's personal guards who had crossed the river, and then retreated with such a dashing demeanor that they seemed to disregard the overwhelming force. This battle left Zhang Xun deeply frightened, and he could only watch them leave, not daring to pursue them.

Reaching a secluded and safe spot in the distance, Ma Chao, his expression composed, shouted, "Brothers, count the casualties." Everyone sprang into action, and after a careful count, they came back with their reports. Four or five men had been injured in the fierce fighting, and six or seven had been struck by stray arrows, though fortunately, none of their injuries were too serious. A closer count revealed no one had died, a truly fortunate outcome.

Upon hearing the result, Pan Feng and Wu Anguo hurried forward, their faces filled with admiration, and they praised in unison, "General, your strategy is truly unparalleled! With only thirty or forty men, you defeated hundreds of enemy troops, and did so without a single casualty. This achievement is simply astonishing, and it has severely dampened Zhang Xun's fighting spirit. We should be truly proud of it!" Pan Feng, still not satisfied, continued, "Yes, yes. If that coward Zhang Xun hadn't been so afraid of death and fled when the situation turned badly, he would have been stabbed to death by the general today!"

After hearing this, all the guards were excited and burst into cheers and laughter, their morale reached the highest point.

Ma Chao had a confident smile on his face and said with a look of disdain: "Zhang Xun is just a third-rate general and is really not worth mentioning. But now our whereabouts have been exposed, and we can't stay here for long. Let's camp here first, and brothers, bandage your wounds quickly. I have to think carefully about how to advance next." After that, he frowned slightly and fell into deep thought.

Ma Chao pondered, knowing full well that even though his whereabouts had been exposed, the enemy's order to pursue him would likely not be relayed quickly. The most urgent matter was not to charge forward blindly without a strategy; that was definitely not a good idea. After careful consideration, Ma Chao decided to allow his men to rest and recuperate before continuing on their journey.

Passing through a market town, Ma Chao deliberately brought seven or eight personal guards with him. They first visited a pharmacy and purchased a large quantity of herbs for emergency use. While there, Ma Chao inquired with the owner about the location of the place, learning his group's whereabouts. Although their whereabouts were suspicious, their generosity earned them reliable intelligence. They then purchased three or four oxcarts, stocked them with grain and other goods, and piled them onto the carts. Disguised as ordinary merchants, they appeared to be searching for healing herbs for their injured companions, while also subtly inquiring for directions.

Upon learning that the next stop would be Shu County in Lujiang Commandery, Ma Chao couldn't help but feel intrigued. After all, Shu County was the hometown of his sworn brother Zhou Yu. The thought of setting foot in his brother's hometown filled Ma Chao with a strange feeling, anticipating the extraordinary rewards he might find in this land.

Upon arriving in Shu County, Ma Chao solemnly warned his brothers, "This is the hometown of my brother Zhou Yu. Do not commit murder. Because of Zhou Yu, we should show our love for his people." They had deliberately dressed as farmers, their weapons and armor hidden on grain carts, a fitting attire. Arriving in Shu County, they were inspected by the city guards and allowed into the city.

On New Year's Eve, the streets and alleys of Shu County were filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year, with lights and decorations everywhere, and the atmosphere was bustling. Ma Chao and his companions entered the county town. Although they had been busy all the way, the atmosphere at this moment made everyone feel much more relaxed.

Ma Chao looked at his brothers with his eyes full of concern, and said with a smile: "Brothers, you have worked hard along the way! Today is New Year's Eve. It's a rare opportunity to be in Brother Zhou Yu's hometown, so let's relax." He knew very well that his brothers had followed him through hardships and endured hardships, and they deserved to enjoy this rare peace.

They found an inn. As soon as they entered, Ma Chao loudly ordered the waiter: "Bring out good wine and good meat! Let's celebrate today!" When the brothers heard this, their faces were filled with happy smiles, and the fatigue of the past few days seemed to be swept away.

Everyone sat together, clinking glasses and laughing. Ma Chao, while serving food to his brothers, said, "Brothers, this year has been tough for everyone. You've followed me everywhere, through life and death. Today, on this reunion night, let's eat and drink well and forget about our worries." The brothers nodded and raised their glasses in response, "Thank you, General! I wish you all the best in the new year!"

After three rounds of drinks, Ma Chao looked at his slightly tipsy brothers and said earnestly: "Although we are in a foreign land, as long as we brothers are united, wherever we go is home. In the days to come, we will continue to fight side by side, share happiness and difficulties together!" The brothers shouted in unison, and their voices echoed in the inn, full of expectations and determination for the future.

As Ma Chao drank heavily, he looked around the prosperous and orderly Shucheng, curious about who was in charge of such a well-governed city. He beckoned over the innkeeper and asked with a smile, "Waiter, your Shucheng is governed so well. Who is the county magistrate? He seems quite capable."

Upon hearing this, the waiter's face lit up with enthusiasm and pride, and he hurriedly said, "Sir, the magistrate of Shucheng is Lord Lu Su! Lord Lu comes from a prominent family in the eastern city of Linhuai. His family owns extensive land and is known for his generosity and generosity. I heard that in his early years, seeing the world on the verge of chaos, he abandoned his family affairs, gave away his wealth, recruited able-bodied men, and trained soldiers, earning him the respect of his fellow villagers. Later, he was summoned to serve as the magistrate of Shucheng, and he has made this place ever better. Everyone is grateful and admires him from the bottom of their hearts!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao was slightly startled, and then he sighed, "It turns out to be Lu Su, an old friend from Luoyang." His thoughts instantly drifted back to the past years in Luoyang, and the time he spent with Lu Su emerged before his eyes one by one, his heart full of nostalgia.

Ma Chao couldn't help feeling a little sad. In the lively atmosphere of New Year's Eve, he gradually let down his guard and drank happily with his brothers. After a few glasses of wine, his cheeks were flushed.

He looked up and saw Pan Feng and Wu Anguo still wary, remaining vigilant despite the celebration. Touched, Ma Chao personally took up his wine cup, approached them, and said sincerely, "Brothers, today is New Year's Eve, and it's a rare opportunity to be in Shucheng. Let's relax a little. I've witnessed your loyalty along the way. Now that we're in Brother Zhou Yu's hometown, we're perfectly safe. Don't be so tense any longer."

Pan Feng and Wu Anguo looked at Ma Chao, their eyes filled with admiration and gratitude. Back then, they were defeated generals, and it was Ma Chao who rescued them. Since then, they've treated each other like brothers. Seeing Ma Chao's earnestness, they no longer hesitated, accepting the wine cup and chugging it down in one gulp.

Under Ma Chao's persuasion, Pan Feng and Wu Anguo gradually relaxed and joined the others in the joyful atmosphere. Before long, they were both drunk, their faces filled with rare joy.

As the drinking got underway, someone started the song, but amidst the vibrant atmosphere of New Year's Eve, everyone spontaneously broke into the uniquely Xiliang dialect. The sound, carrying the desolation of a lone smoke rising from the desert and the grandeur of a setting sun over a vast river, drifted out in a long, melodious melody. At first, only a few people sang, but soon everyone joined in.

Their voices intertwined, seeming to capture the vast grasslands of Xiliang, the biting sandstorms, and the years of war and battle. Everyone seemed to be in a frenzy, singing at the top of their lungs. Their voices expressed longing for home, regrets about the battles, and hopes for the future.

As they sang, tears welled up in some people's eyes, streaming down their cheeks and soaking their clothes. Perhaps, amidst the song, they remembered their distant loved ones, their fallen comrades. Gradually, overwhelmed with emotion and a touch of drunkenness, some fell into a deep sleep, tears streaming down their faces. In this foreign inn, amidst the singing on New Year's Eve, they drifted off to sleep.

Ma Chao felt as if his head had been struck by a sledgehammer, the excruciating pain of a hangover surging through his consciousness like a tide. His eyelids felt like they weighed a thousand pounds, and with great effort, he barely managed to pry them open. His vision was blurry at first, and everything around him seemed shrouded in a thick mist, making it difficult to discern.

His throat was so dry it felt like smoking, and every time he swallowed, it was accompanied by a sharp pain. His head felt like a herd of wild horses were galloping wildly, buzzing and making his thoughts chaotic, making it impossible to concentrate.

Finally, his vision cleared, and Ma Chao realized with shock that he was bound so tightly that he couldn't even move a finger. He subconsciously tried to struggle to get up, but found his body limp and powerless. The ropes seemed alive, tightening the more he struggled, and the roughness of the ropes cut his skin painfully.

He struggled to turn his head, looking around. He was in the cell, but the familiar figures of his guards were nowhere to be seen. The comrades who had shared New Year's Eve with him, drinking and singing, were now gone without a trace. The room was empty, the silence eerie. Ma Chao's heart sank, filled with confusion and unease. What had happened? Where had his guards gone? Who had attacked him? A series of questions exploded in his chaotic mind, but he had no clue.

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