Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

After enduring numerous hardships and dangers from Lujiang County, Ma Chao and his entourage finally approached Chao County by boat. The river was shrouded in mist, and the distant outline of Chao County loomed in the haze. While seemingly peaceful, it seemed to harbor endless dangers. To conceal their presence, they continued to disguise themselves as members of the Zhen family's caravan. The Zhen family was a giant in the trade between the north and the south, their caravans frequently traveling across the land, their scale and reputation far and wide.

Ma Chao and his companions infiltrated the group, hoping to slip through Chao County with this disguise. However, fate shifted against them. The Chao County garrison commander had dealt with the Zhen family caravans many times before and was well-versed in their methods, personnel, and even the details of their flags. That day, as Ma Chao and his companions reached the Chao County border, the commander spotted this so-called "caravan" from afar and became suspicious. Though dressed in merchant attire, their every gesture and demeanor betrayed a heroic spirit unlike that of ordinary merchants, radiating the unyielding aura of battle-hardened warriors. The Zhen family banners they flew, however, were, to the commander's keen eye, markedly different from the authentic Zhen family banners he remembered.

Alarm bells rang in the commander's heart. He acted decisively, leading a squadron of heavily armed soldiers on horseback, galloping towards them at lightning speed. The clatter of hooves rolled like thunder on the silent road, and in the blink of an eye, they were right in front of Ma Chao and his companions. "Your caravan looks suspicious! Halt immediately and allow me to conduct a thorough inspection!" The commander's voice was stern. With a single command, the soldiers, like wolves and tigers, quickly formed a fan-shaped formation and surrounded Ma Chao and his companions.

Ma Chao and the others secretly thought it was not good, but years of fighting had conditioned them to remain calm and composed in the face of adversity. Pan Fengqiang forced a smile, stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said, "General, we are just an ordinary caravan of the Zhen family. We are in a hurry to deliver goods. Given our tight schedule, could you please give us some convenience..." The guarding officer snorted coldly, his eyes filled with disdain and suspicion. "Hmph, ordinary? I've had frequent dealings with the Zhen family caravan, and your behavior is completely different from the ones I know. Cut the crap and tell us the truth. What are your origins?" The guarding officer's sharp eyes swept across everyone's faces, trying to find flaws in their expressions.

The atmosphere instantly plummeted to a freezing point, tensions rising between the two sides, ready for a clash. Lu Su, his heart swirling with worry, subtly gave Ma Chao a look filled with caution and suggestion, signaling him to act accordingly. Ma Chao nodded slightly, his gaze steady and resolute. His right hand unconsciously reached for the hilt of the sword at his waist, his fingers gently resting on the cold scabbard, ready to draw his sword and meet the enemy at any moment.

At this moment, a soldier, eager to make a name for himself, suddenly reached out to tug at the curtain covering the caravan's cargo without the commander's permission. Wu Anguo, ever vigilant of his surroundings, saw this and instinctively reached out to stop them. The soldier, caught off guard, was shoved, losing his balance. He stumbled a few steps, and fell to the ground with a thud. "How dare you resist inspection! You're openly defying the imperial army! Are you rebelling?" The commander, enraged, drew his sword with a swish, pointing the gleaming tip at Ma Chao and his men, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

"General, this is a misunderstanding! This guy acted rashly and frightened us. Please forgive me!" Lu Su hurried forward, bowing and trying to ease the extremely tense atmosphere with words. However, the garrison commander had already determined that this group of people were not legitimate and would not listen to Lu Su's explanation. "Stop talking nonsense and follow me back to camp. If you don't explain your true identities, don't blame me for military punishment!" The garrison commander spoke sternly, waving his long sword in the air, making a whistling sound.

Ma Chao saw the situation was dire, knowing there was no chance of a peaceful resolution, no room for maneuver. He quickly glanced at his comrades and said in a low, firm voice, "Brothers, prepare for action! The brave prevail in a narrow road, fighting their way through!" Without hesitation, the men drew their weapons. Despite being exhausted and drained from nearly ten days of tossing and turning on the ship, they were all battle-hardened warriors, highly skilled in martial arts. In this desperate attempt to escape, they unleashed a powerful fighting force, their eyes gleaming with fearless determination.

Ma Chao, swift as lightning, like a swift black gust of wind, charged the defender first. His sword flashed with a cold gleam, like a streak of lightning, bearing down on the defender's throat. The defender hurriedly raised his sword to block. With a resounding clang, sparks flew, like a dazzling display of fireworks in the night sky. The two exchanged blows, each one sharp and deadly. Ma Chao's sword was fierce, each stroke imbued with immense force. The defender, not to be outdone, drew on his vast combat experience to deftly neutralize Ma Chao's attacks while waiting for an opportunity to strike back.

Pan Feng, Wu Anguo, and the others, unwilling to be outdone, engaged the soldiers like tigers descending from the mountains. Pan Feng wielded his massive battle axe, each blow a powerful force that seemed to echo through the air. Wherever the axe struck, a flash of cold light shone, and the soldiers dodged, fearing a direct confrontation. Wu Anguo wielded a heavy hammer, each swing sending dust flying from the ground. The impact of the hammer's powerful blows numbed the soldiers' arms, cracked their knuckles, and nearly lost their grip on their weapons.

Though not a martial artist, Lu Su's years of strategic experience had given him keen observation skills on the battlefield. He remained calm, commanding his men from the sidelines, seeking an opportunity to break through. His eagle-like gaze, keenly observing the battlefield, revealed that the soldiers on the eastern side were relatively weakly defended, with a slight gap in coordination. "Lord, charge eastward! Concentrate our forces and create a breach there!" Lu Su shouted, his voice firm and powerful, resonating clearly over the clamor of fierce battle.

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao feinted his sword, skillfully forcing the defenders to retreat. He then shouted, "Brothers, follow me eastward! Don't panic, follow me and break through the encirclement!" The men immediately understood his intention and quickly concentrated their forces, charging eastward with all their might. Like a sharp knife, they tore a hole in the encirclement. The soldiers tried to stop them, but they were powerless against the fierce attack of Ma Chao and his men.

The defending commander was enraged by this, his face livid. He brandished his sword and shouted at his soldiers to give chase: "Don't let them get away! Don't let any of them go! Make sure to capture these suspicious individuals!" Urged on by the commander, the soldiers swarmed in the direction of Ma Chao and his men's escape, their shouts and cries shaking the surrounding trees.

Ma Chao and his men fought and retreated, but fortunately they had discovered the situation early and had not yet entered the city. In the open area outside the city, they had greater mobility, which provided them with a certain advantage in breaking out. After a thrilling and bitter battle, they finally succeeded in breaking free from the pursuing soldiers.

They ran for several miles in one breath, stopping only when they were sure no one was pursuing them. By this point, everyone was panting, their clothes soaked with sweat, mixed with the blood on their bodies, looking utterly miserable. But fortunately, no one was injured, which was undoubtedly a blessing in disguise.

"It was so close, we almost got defeated in Chao County. The defending general was too smart, and we almost got wiped out." Pan Feng supported his knees with his hands, breathing heavily, and said with lingering fear.

Ma Chao's face was solemn, his eyes revealing determination. He said, "We can't stay here for long. Let's quickly find a secluded place to rest and then find a way to continue our journey. This lesson tells us that we must be more cautious in the future. A single mistake can lead to eternal damnation."

Lu Su nodded in agreement and said with a worried look, "My lord, you are absolutely right. Although we managed to escape this time, our identities have been exposed. I'm afraid Jiujiang County is full of thorns and will become increasingly difficult to navigate. We must find another way, replan our itinerary, and change our disguises. We must not give the enemy another opportunity to exploit our position."

Ma Chao and his companions sought temporary refuge in a nearby forest. The forest was serene and deep, with the occasional chirping of birds adding to the tense atmosphere. They briefly tended to their wounds and ate some of the rations they had brought with them to replenish their energy. A heavy atmosphere permeated the forest, and everyone's faces expressed fatigue and vigilance.

In the forest, Ma Chao sat with the others to discuss their next itinerary. "Now that our identities have been exposed, we definitely can't travel the main roads through Jiujiang County. The enemy's eyes and ears are everywhere," Wu Anguo said with a frown, worried.

Ma Chao pondered for a moment, then said with a determined look, "No matter what, we must continue on our journey. The main road is dangerous, so we should take the smaller paths, preferably secluded mountain trails, to avoid Yuan Shu's eyes. While the journey will be more difficult, it's better than being chased and blocked by the enemy on the main road."

Lu Su added, "We also need to reconsider our disguise. We can no longer use the name of the Zhen family caravan. We need to come up with a completely new identity and find an excuse that won't easily arouse suspicion."

Everyone nodded, thinking that Ma Chao and Lu Su's proposal was very appropriate. After some discussion, they decided to disguise themselves as herbalists going to the mountains to collect herbs. This would not only fit in with their behavior of taking a small path, but also explain the luggage and tools they were carrying.

After a short rest, night gradually fell, shrouding the forest in darkness. Taking advantage of the cover of night, they cautiously left the forest and embarked on a new journey. Moonlight filtered through the mottled leaves, casting eerie shadows on the ground. They moved silently along the mountain path, their footsteps remarkably clear in the stillness of the night.

Along the way, they avoided towns and chose to walk on paths rarely traveled. The road was rugged and difficult, sometimes climbing steep slopes and sometimes wading through turbulent streams. But everyone worked together, supporting each other, and there was no complaint.

After several days of arduous trekking, they finally edged out of the dangerous area of ​​Chao County. Although Ma Chao and his men had managed to escape the Chao County garrison, their whereabouts had been exposed, and they were like frightened birds, their situation becoming increasingly difficult. Along the way, they dared not approach any towns, forcing them to traverse desolate paths. Unable to enter a city for supplies, their supplies gradually ran low, and they were exhausted.

Ma Chao and Lu Su knew that if this continued, the army would collapse without a fight. They conferred privately. Ma Chao, his expression grave, gazed at the distant mountain ranges and spoke first: "Zijing, the land route is now fraught with danger. We have difficulty obtaining supplies. We may not be able to sustain this." Lu Su nodded slightly, his eyes deep, stroking his beard in thought for a moment. "My lord, you are absolutely right. The land route is under close scrutiny. We are restricted at every turn. In my opinion, switching to the sea route may offer a glimmer of hope."