Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Sure enough, just after the Lunar New Year, although Zhang Xun's orders to arrest Ma Chao and his men were received throughout the country, they were not fully implemented. Firstly, the holiday had just arrived, and many things were busy. Secondly, Lu Su, as the magistrate of Shu County, had not publicly announced his intention to resign. During the Spring Festival, he returned home to visit his parents as usual, a commonplace act that did not arouse suspicion among his colleagues.

Lu Su simply packed a few clothes and quietly reunited with Ma Chao and the others at the dock. They chartered a boat and set off on their journey. The boat slowly left the shore and headed towards the center of the river.

From then on, whenever the ship docked at a place during the voyage, thanks to Lu Su and Yuan Shu's official status, they did not arouse suspicion from others and left Lujiang County smoothly.

Along the way, the river was wide and the boat drifted leisurely. Ma Chao and Lu Su stood at the bow, gazing at the sky and then down at the river, discussing the past and present, the state of affairs, and the joyful conversation. However, this relaxed atmosphere stood in stark contrast to that of Wu Anguo, Pan Feng, and their personal guards. They were all from the northwestern frontier, accustomed to land travel and had never experienced the bumpy ride of a boat all day. The slightest sway or turn would cause them to turn pale and vomit uncontrollably.

The boat slowly sailed along the Hangbu River, departing from Shu County. After a long journey, the group finally entered the waters of Chaohu Lake and entered the territory of Jiujiang County. From afar, Chaohu Lake resembled a vast ocean, the boundary between water and sky blurred and indistinguishable. The lake was vast and boundless, like a vast piece of blue silk spread across the earth, folds rippled by the wind, and the waves shimmered, stretching as far as the eye could see.

As far as the eye can see, distant boats are as tiny as leaves, moving slowly across the vast lake, as if they might be swallowed by the boundless waters at any moment. The winding shoreline stretches endlessly into the distance, veiled in mist, its extent unknown. The scattered islands in the lake appear particularly small against the vast expanse, only highlighting the vastness of Chaohu Lake, as if it could accommodate all things in the world, showcasing its majestic grandeur.

The original plan was to depart from Chaohu Lake, sail down the river through Danyang County, and finally reach Taihu Lake. Once across Taihu Lake, they would reach Wu County in Wu County. However, during the few days sailing on Chaohu Lake, things took a sharp turn for the worse. The guards, unable to adapt to the rough water, became limp and sick. They could barely eat, and if they managed to swallow anything, they would vomit it all out in a flash. Consequently, their spirits were low and their condition was extremely poor.

Ma Chao looked at these brothers who had shared life and death with him, and his heart was filled with pity. He knew that if he continued on his journey, his brothers would not be able to bear it. So, Ma Chao consulted Lu Su. Now that they had successfully left Lujiang County, the situation had eased a bit. Ma Chao suggested that they land on the shore first, let everyone rest a little, and then walk a part of the land. This would allow the brothers to acclimate and catch their breath. After all, even a strong man could not withstand such a tiring journey.

Lu Su knew that the land route was fraught with danger and could be jeopardized at any moment. However, when he saw the frail appearance of his guards, he felt helpless. After much deliberation, he finally agreed to Ma Chao's proposal.

Since the agreement had been finalized, they instructed the boatman to disembark upon arrival in Chao County. Just as they were about to dock, Wu Anguo and Pan Feng, both with solemn expressions, hurried up to Ma Chao and Lu Su. After exchanging glances, Pan Feng was the first to break the silence. He leaned closer to Ma Chao, lowered his voice, and said solemnly, "General, think about it, the boatman has known our whereabouts thoroughly along the way. He's seen our injuries, our horses, and our weapons, which are clearly distinguishable. He knows them all like a mirror. If he were to reveal our whereabouts, it would be a huge problem. Look at this..." As he spoke, Pan Feng slowly raised his hand and made a gesture of wiping his neck, his eyes revealing a hint of ruthlessness.

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao frowned slightly, a look of pity on his face. He shook his head and said, "The boatman has worked tirelessly to bring us here, braving the wind and waves. It's already very difficult. We've been through a lot together. If we repay their kindness with hatred and kill them just because of this little concern, it would be truly unethical. Isn't this a bit too much?"

Lu Su, standing by, stroked his beard with his hand, his eyes calm as he continued, "General Wu, General Pan, I understand your concerns, but while the situation is dire, this is not a wise move. Killing the boatman may only provide temporary peace, but it could bring more hidden dangers. If word gets out, we'll be branded as ruthless, and our future actions will undoubtedly be criticized. Furthermore, we have no definitive evidence that the boatman would betray us. Unprovoked killing is neither justified nor morally justified."

Wu Anguo clasped his fists slightly and said anxiously, "But what if this boatman betrays us for money? Then all our lives will be in jeopardy!"

Ma Chao patted Wu Anguo on the shoulder and said earnestly, "Old Wu, I understand your concerns. But we can't just kill based on speculation. How about this? We give the boatmen some money, try to persuade them with kind words, and appeal to their feelings to keep their mouths shut. I believe most people will still stick to morality."

Lu Su nodded in agreement: "That's exactly the truth. Using appeasement instead of killing can not only protect people's hearts, but also uphold morality, and won't let us fall into an unkind and unjust situation." After hearing this, Pan Feng and Wu Anguo were still worried, but seeing Ma Chao and Lu Su's firm attitude, they had no choice but to nod.

After the discussion was finalized, Lu Su called the boatman with a friendly face, took out a heavy bag of gold and silver from his bag, handed it to the boatman, and said earnestly: "We are very grateful for your hard work along the way. I hope you will accept this little gift. I hope you will keep this trip a secret and not tell anyone else." The boatmen looked at the generous reward, overjoyed, and nodded in agreement.

But Wu Anguo and Pan Feng were still worried. Their faces darkened as they stepped forward. Wu Anguo, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his eyes piercing as he coldly declared, "You'd better keep your mouths shut. If you dare leak even a single word, we won't let you go, even if you flee to the ends of the earth!" Pan Feng stood by, his arms folded across his chest, a fierce expression on his face. "Don't lose your life for a little money. You can't afford the consequences!"

The boatmen were so frightened by this sudden threat that their faces turned pale and they trembled all over. They knelt down and swore not to say anything. Seeing this, Ma Chao stepped forward to comfort them and then let the boatmen go.

It is said that since that incident, Zhang Xun has been unable to find out the whereabouts of Ma Chao and others. He was extremely anxious, so he increased the intensity of inspections everywhere and almost turned Lujiang County upside down.

The boatman of the ship that Ma Chao and his companions had been on, for some unknown reason, chose to leave during this critical moment. This unusual behavior immediately caught the attention of Zhang Xun's men, and they quickly brought him back for questioning.

At first, the boatmen, hoping for a lucky break, remained tight-lipped. But under torture from Zhang Xun's men, fear gradually eroded their resolve. Ultimately, to protect themselves, the boatmen revealed every detail of Ma Chao and his entourage, including where they boarded the ship, their route, and even their landing in Chao County.

Upon learning that Ma Chao and his men had fled Lujiang County and entered Jiujiang County, Zhang Xun immediately sent a letter to the Jiujiang prefect requesting assistance in encircling and suppressing them. However, distant water could not quench immediate thirst; this would ultimately be a matter for later. Furious, Zhang Xun directed his rage at the boatmen. After all, it was the boatmen's negligence and leaks that had allowed Ma Chao and his men to escape. Now unable to apprehend Ma Chao and his men, the boatmen became the targets of his wrath. Zhang Xun's face sank, and with a wave of his hand, he fiercely ordered his men to drag the boatmen away. The boatmen, pitifully, were swiftly and brutally murdered in Zhang Xun's rage.

Within just a few days, the situation suddenly changed. Shocking news arrived from Runan: Ma Chao had led a large army to attack Xincai. This news was like a bombshell, instantly sending a tidal wave through Zhang Xun's heart.

Zhang Xun, already furious at the group's escape, was now stretched thin. On the one hand, he knew he had to focus on the battle in Runan, where Ma Chao was leading an attack and the situation in Xincai was critical. On the other hand, he was unwilling to let go of the group that had fled to Jiujiang County. However, the situation was pressing, and he had no choice but to turn his attention once again to Runan.

However, Zhang Xun had no idea that the group he was hunting was led by Ma Chao, who he believed was stirring up trouble in Runan.

In Chao County, Ma Chao and his companions cautiously disembarked. To conceal their identities, they had no choice but to disguise themselves as a caravan on scouting. After all, their group included both armed warriors and the wounded. Without disguise, it would have been difficult to explain their appearance to others.

Lu Su was initially worried, fearing that this disguise would reveal flaws and cause unnecessary trouble. However, when he saw everyone playing their roles with ease, their every move and gesture acting like a caravan, his worries subsided.

However, no one knew that the waves of fate were about to be set off in Chao County, and a major change was quietly approaching.