Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Chao was locked in a cell, feeling anxious like a trapped animal. He shouted at the top of his lungs, "Someone come! What's going on?" His voice echoed in the small, dim cell, revealing endless anger and anxiety.

At this moment, Pan Feng and Wu Anguo shouted anxiously from the cell not far away: "General, General, are you okay? General!"

Ma Chao quickly responded: "I'm fine! How are you guys?"

Pan Feng shouted back, "We were also tied up tightly. I don't know how we were caught!"

Wu Anguo also shouted: "Yes, General, he was fine last night, how come he became like this after waking up!"

Everyone was full of doubts and looked at each other, but they were unable to see each other because of the cells between them. They really couldn't understand why they suddenly encountered such an accident and were captured here.

In 193 AD, the third year of the Xingping reign of Emperor Liu Bian of the Han Dynasty, the world-renowned general Ma Chao endured New Year's Eve, a night that should have been a family celebration, in this cramped, dark cell. Outside, the sun was already rising. Sunlight filtered through the narrow air vents in the cell's ceiling, casting a pale shadow. Ma Chao sat quietly in the corner, his prison uniform tattered and worn, his tangled hair obscuring his sharp eyes.

"General!" Pan Feng's voice broke the silence. "We can't just wait here to die. We have to find a way out."

Wu Anguo also echoed: "Yes, but who did it to get us into this damn place?"

Ma Chao's mind raced. In the silence of his cell, he vaguely recalled a conversation he had with the innkeeper the previous night, where he had mentioned that the current magistrate of Shucheng was Lu Su, courtesy name Zijing. He recalled his time in Luoyang, when he had known Lu Su for his profound knowledge, his foresight, and his commitment to justice—a rare figure. Furthermore, the two men were old acquaintances, and their friendship was profound.

Ma Chao approached the prison bars and lowered his voice to Pan Feng and Wu Anguo, saying, "Please be patient. The magistrate of Shucheng is Lu Su. I knew him well in Luoyang. I don't think he would have imprisoned us here for no reason. There may be a misunderstanding. Let's calm down and don't panic. I'll try to communicate with him and clarify the situation. There will always be a way out."

Pan Feng and Wu Anguo were still worried when they heard this, but Ma Chao's words seemed to give them a reassurance. They gradually calmed down and waited quietly for Ma Chao to find a way to resolve the crisis.

Ma Chao slowly raised his head, his gaze piercing. He said in a deep voice, "Lu Su must have discovered our identities and set a trap while we were drunk. Now that we're here, we should make the best of it. First, we need to understand the situation, and then find a way to escape." At this moment, footsteps were heard outside the cell. The three of them instantly became alert, staring intently at the cell door...

Just as Ma Chao was conversing quietly with Pan Feng and Wu Anguo, suddenly, a loud sound of footsteps was heard outside the cell. Then, a group of yamen runners and civilians rushed in like wolves and tigers. Without saying a word, they pushed and shoved Ma Chao, trying to take him out of the cell.

Seeing this, Pan Feng and Wu Anguo were extremely anxious and shouted loudly: "What are you doing! Let the general go!" However, their shouts were of no avail, and Ma Chao was still forcibly taken away.

Despite being treated so rudely, Ma Chao managed to remain calm and composed, thinking of the impending confrontation with his old friend Lu Su. He followed the militia forward and was soon brought to the main hall.

The atmosphere in the hall was solemn and dignified. Lu Su sat high behind the official desk, his face grim. With a loud bang, he slammed the gavel and shouted, "Who are you here? Who are you and your group? Tell me your names and what is your purpose for coming here?"

As soon as Ma Chao heard the voice, he knew it was Lu Su. Seeing him feign ignorance, Ma Chao felt a mixture of emotions, unsure whether to tell the truth and acknowledge him, or just go along with the show. In a flash, Ma Chao came up with a plan and shouted, "Not guilty, not guilty! We are just ordinary merchants, drinking at the inn last night. Why are we being jailed today?"

Upon hearing this, Lu Su slammed the gavel again and said angrily: "You thief, how dare you speak so shamelessly and roar in the court! It seems that you are not convinced. Come, go to the inn and get the goods they transported. I want to make him convinced!" After receiving the order, the bailiffs hurried away immediately.

After the yamen runners left, Lu Su stood up and walked quickly down the hall. He came to Ma Chao, put on a friendly smile, bowed respectfully and said to him, "Brother Mengqi, it has been several years since we last met in Luoyang. I miss you so much."

Ma Chao was a bit uneasy about Lu Su's sudden change of attitude, and his heart was filled with confusion. He frowned slightly, his eyes scrutinizing him as he said, "Brother Zijing, your attitude is so different now. What's the reason? I just thought you had forgotten our old friendship."

Lu Su quickly waved his hand and explained apologetically, "Brother Mengqi, you don't know. These yamen runners are all veterans of Shucheng County. They are extremely familiar with local affairs, but because of this, they are inevitably talkative. The city just received news that a group of thirty or forty people has arrived, and the higher-ups have ordered full alert. When you entered the city, I vaguely sensed something unusual. After you checked into the inn, I went to check it out myself and recognized you at a glance. However, there were so many people around at the time, and the arrest involved the assistance of the garrison. I was afraid that if the news leaked out and caused you unnecessary trouble, I resorted to this desperate measure, pretending not to know you and stabilizing the situation. Now I have sent the yamen runners away so that I can speak with you alone and not reveal your identity."

After hearing Lu Su's explanation, Ma Chao's doubts vanished, replaced by a deep feeling of gratitude. He gently shook Lu Su's hand and said with emotion, "Brother Zijing, I misunderstood you. I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful about my safety. I am truly grateful for your kind intentions." Ma Chao thought to himself that Lu Su's actions not only demonstrated his prudence and wisdom, but also his deep affection for his old friend.

Lu Su smiled and patted Ma Chao's hand, saying, "What are you talking about, my dear brother? We met in Luoyang in the past and have a deep friendship. How could I ignore your safety? Now that you are in danger, I will definitely help you with all my strength. But, what are you doing leading these thirty or forty people this time? Why did it cause the superiors to order them to be on alert?" Lu Su asked with a trace of worry in his eyes, and he asked with concern.

Upon hearing Lu Su's question, Ma Chao sighed deeply and spoke frankly, "Brother Zijing, to be honest, the purpose of my trip is to Wu Commandery to meet with my sworn brother, Sun Ce. Yuan Shu is acting recklessly in Yangzhou, causing great hardship for the people. Sun Ce and I have discussed a plan to defeat Yuan Shu, with the goal of rescuing Yangzhou and saving its people from their utter despair."

Upon hearing this, Lu Su frowned, his face blaming him. "Meng Qi, as the commander of an army, you should prioritize the overall interests. How could you so easily take such a risk? You are known for your intelligence and skill, both civil and military. You should be cautious in everything you do, but how could you be so careless as to allow yourself to be easily captured by the city guards, yamen runners, and civilians? This is truly unacceptable!"

Ma Chao's face was filled with shame, and he said guiltily, "Brother Zijing is right. I was indeed careless. I've been away from home for a long time, traveling a long way, and it happened to be New Year's Eve, so I was already homesick. Then I learned that this place was my brother Zhou Yu's hometown, and I heard that you were the county magistrate here. With all these pieces of information coming in, I was filled with joy and relief. For a moment, I forgot the danger I was in and relaxed my mind. This is how disaster happened. I am truly ashamed."

Lu Su shook his head helplessly and continued, "Even if you do go to the alliance, you shouldn't rush like this. Bringing only a few dozen people is too risky. Don't let your martial arts skills make you so bold and reckless that you take risks lightly. If something goes wrong, not only will you be in danger, but how will you proceed with the grand plan of attacking Yuan Shu and relieving Yangzhou? You shoulder a heavy responsibility, so you shouldn't act so recklessly."

Ma Chao nodded earnestly, saying, "Brother Zijing, what you said is absolutely true. I will definitely keep it in mind. This lesson is profound, and I will be doubly cautious in my future actions. However, for now, I hope Brother Zijing can lend a hand and help me escape quickly so that I can meet up with Sun Ce in Wujun and discuss our plans together."

Lu Su sighed deeply and said with difficulty: "Mengqi, now I am a minister of Yuan Shu. If I openly help you, won't I be branded as a traitor to Yuan Shu? You and I are both clear about the interests involved." In fact, Lu Su's words were also a test of Ma Chao, wanting to see if he was still the young man in Luoyang City who was full of passion and dedicated to serving the country and the people.

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's gaze hardened, and he spoke without hesitation, "Brother Zijing, Yuan Shu has brought disaster upon the nation and its people. His actions are intolerable. He has disregarded his position as a high-ranking official, leading to chaos and the displacement of the people. His actions are no different from those of a traitorous minister. My lifelong ambition, Ma Chao, is to eradicate these treacherous officials, restore peace and prosperity to the world, and save the people from suffering. Yuan Shu is an enemy I must slay. Why would I hesitate just because you serve under his command?"

Lu Su nodded slightly, but continued slowly, "Although I'm not in the court, I know that the emperor is trying to exclude you in various ways, both overtly and covertly. You're unhappy in the court, possessing skills but unable to realize your ambitions. So, why do you still insist on supporting the court?"

Ma Chao's expression was solemn as he spoke slowly, "Brother Zijing, the emperor's actions do sometimes displease me. But I, Ma Chao, value more than the emperor alone; I value the Han Dynasty and the people of the world. Now the Han dynasty is in decline, with warring princes separatist and fragmented. The country is already fragmented. If we fail to do our utmost for the court and allow the various factions to fight each other, only the people will suffer. I truly cannot bear to see the people suffer, so no matter how the emperor treats me, I do not want the country to be torn apart. I will do my utmost to restore peace to the world."

Lu Su heard Ma Chao's sincere words, and a trace of relief flashed in his eyes. He had already made up his mind. He knew that Ma Chao was still the passionate man with the world in his heart, and he was worthy of his trust.