Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Chao and his companions endured perilous passages through Lujiang Commandery and Chao County, fleeing southeastward like frightened birds, every nerve on edge. Unknowingly, they entered He County. Their only hope of survival now lay in reaching Niuzhu Ferry and sailing down the river. In the two previous fierce battles sparked by their identities being exposed, while the brothers fought desperately and luckily escaped death, many were gravely wounded. The blood from their wounds had long since dried, clinging to their clothes. Every breath was accompanied by excruciating pain. The situation was dire, and there was no time to lose.

Ma Chao and Lu Su knew that entering the city for supplies was like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth, a risky undertaking. But seeing their brothers in agony, they had no other choice. After a hasty discussion, they decided to take the risk. So, carefully disguising themselves, concealing their weapons beneath their clothes and trying to appear ordinary, they cautiously infiltrated Hexian County. The city's streets were bustling with activity, and the crowds flowed endlessly. They blended in, yet remained vigilant to their surroundings.

After searching the city, they finally found a secluded residence and settled their seriously injured brothers. Ma Chao and Lu Su then split up. Ma Chao and his brothers disguised themselves as ordinary merchants, quietly moving from shop to shop, purchasing food, clothing, and other essential supplies. Lu Su, with his calmness and wit, found a medical clinic.

The clinic was filled with the rich aroma of herbs. The doctors, upon seeing the wounded, were filled with suspicion. Most of their wounds were caused by swords and knives, far from the result of ordinary accidents. As they tended to the wounded, they secretly observed Ma Chao and the others, their eyes revealing a mixture of wariness and curiosity. After Ma Chao and the others left, the medical officer, after careful consideration, felt that something was amiss and, not wanting to conceal it, quickly reported the matter to the garrison commander.

Upon hearing this, the garrison commander's expression was solemn. He immediately assembled a team of elite soldiers, armed with spears and sharp blades, mounted their warhorses, and fiercely pursued in the direction where Ma Chao and his companions had left. The sound of horse hooves was like thunder, echoing through the streets and raising a cloud of dust.

Elsewhere, Ma Chao and his companions, after much difficulty, finally found several boats at Niuzhu Ferry. The moment they saw the boats, hope ignited in their eyes. They eagerly boarded, the boatman hoisted the sails, and the boats slowly sailed toward the center of the river. Gazing at the receding riverbank, their tense nerves finally relaxed slightly, and they breathed a sigh of relief, believing they had escaped danger for the time being. The river breeze caressed their faces, bringing a hint of coolness, seemingly soothing their exhausted bodies and minds.

However, fate did not seem to let them off easily. Niuzhu Ferry was where General Zhang Ying and his navy were stationed. The Hexian garrison commander, fully aware of the gravity of the matter, immediately dispatched men on swift horses to inform Zhang Ying of Ma Chao and his men's whereabouts. Upon hearing the news, Zhang Ying's face darkened, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. He immediately issued an order, and the horn sounded throughout the camp, prompting the navy to quickly spring into action, boarding the warships. The warships lined up neatly on the river, like giant beasts poised for attack. Zhang Ying stood at the bow, clad in armor and looking majestic. With a wave of his hand, he led the navy, steer- ing their boats like arrows from a bow, in pursuit of Ma Chao and his men. The river was surging, and the warships cut through the waves, stirring up layers of foam. Thus began a perilous chase across the water.

As Ma Chao and his companions' boats neared the mouth of the Wujiang River, danger loomed like a shadow. A sharp-eyed lookout in Zhang Ying's navy spotted Ma Chao and his crew's hasty progress. Though the men on board tried to remain calm, they could not conceal their alarm. They immediately determined that something was amiss with this group and quickly reported it.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ying immediately ordered the pursuit to accelerate. As the distance closed, Ma Chao and the others also noticed something unusual. Looking back, they saw a wave of warships on the river behind them, closing in with great momentum. Ma Chao's heart sank, knowing that a fierce battle was inevitable. He immediately gripped his spear and shouted to his brothers to prepare for battle. Everyone on the boat suddenly tensed, their nerves tightening again, their eyes filled with determination.

In a flash, Zhang Ying's navy surrounded Ma Chao's ships. Standing at the bow, Zhang Ying, a stern expression, shouted, "Listen up, everyone on board! You look suspicious; you must be rebels! Surrender now and save yourself from physical pain!" Ma Chao glared at them and shouted back, "Enemy commander, stop your nonsense! We are upright and honest, and we will not tolerate your slander!" With that, Ma Chao drew his bow and fired an arrow, which, like a meteor, hurtled towards Zhang Ying's warship. Zhang Ying dodged with a deft movement, then waved his hand and issued a stern command, "Capture these rebels! Leave no one alive!"

Instantly, shouts and cries of battle shook the river's waves. Zhang Ying's navy, leveraging their superior numbers and mastery of naval warfare, launched a fierce attack. First, they unleashed a volley of arrows, a hail of arrows pelting Ma Chao's ships like locusts. Ma Chao and his men raised their shields to block the incoming fire, their arrows piercing their shields with muffled thuds. Then, the navy cast grappling hooks, attempting to snag Ma Chao's ships and draw them in for a close-quarters engagement.

Though outnumbered, Ma Chao's men were all valiant and fearless. Ma Chao led the charge, his spear wielding like a dragon and snake, deflecting a barrage of arrows and, seizing the right moment, stabbing the approaching enemy. His personal guards, fighting ten to one, surrounded Ma Chao and engaged the enemy in a desperate struggle. However, the disparity in power, coupled with the limitations of fighting on a ship, gradually left Ma Chao and his men at a disadvantage. In the fierce battle, a dozen personal guards, protecting Ma Chao and bravely fending off the incoming enemy forces, were ultimately outnumbered and felled one after another after being stabbed multiple times.

Seeing his brothers fall, Ma Chao was heartbroken, his eyes instantly bloodshot. With a roar of rage, he charged at the enemy, brandishing his spear with such force that for a moment, the enemy could barely get close. However, Zhang Ying's naval offensive intensified, and more and more enemy troops swarmed onto Ma Chao's ships. The two sides engaged in a brutal melee, and the situation became increasingly unfavorable for Ma Chao and his men.

Ma Chao's eyes, wide with rage, seemed to spit fire as he anxiously grabbed his bow and arrow. His hands trembled slightly with anger and impatience, yet with unwavering determination, he quickly drew the string to full length. In an instant, the arrow shot out like a meteor, carrying with it a blaze of fury and determination, hurtling straight towards Zhang Ying's generals. A few screams were heard, and several enemy generals fell into the water, splashing down.

However, the opposing navy was well-trained and powerful, and was by no means something Ma Chao's thirty or forty men could easily resist. They surged forward like a tide, one wave after another, their offensive unabated.

Ma Chao stared at the ferocious, endless enemy force, a wave of despair welling up in his heart. On the vast river, surrounded by enemies on all sides, his own force was outnumbered and seemed hopeless. He instinctively turned and shouted to the boatman, "Where are we?" The boatman, terrified, was as pale as paper, his whole body trembling violently, his lips quivering as he spoke incoherently, "This...this is the mouth of the Wu River..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Su's expression instantly grew as heavy as steel. He slowly raised his head, gazed at the gray sky, and sighed deeply, "This is the burial place of the former Overlord Xiang Yu. Think of that Overlord, with his strength as great as mountains and his courage as unrivaled, what a hero he was, dominating the world and yet, in the end, he committed suicide here. Are we, too, to perish here, following in his footsteps?"

Ma Chao was stunned for a moment, then he threw his head back and burst into laughter. His laughter echoed across the river, filled with sadness and heroism. "Think of me, Ma Chao. I've fought on the battlefield my whole life, wanting nothing more than to uphold the Han Dynasty, save the people from dire straits, and restore peace to the world. I never imagined I'd be trapped in this desperate situation today. Nothing more, nothing more! If I die here today, I'll be sharing the grave with the Overlord! Brothers!" Ma Chao turned his head abruptly, his gaze piercing those around him as he roared, "Even if I die today, I'll die a glorious death. Let these rats know how powerful we are and make them pay for their actions today!"

At this crucial moment, a matter of life and death, shouts of killing suddenly rang out from the distant river. Everyone looked in astonishment and saw a fleet of ships approaching like a gust of wind. The ships were made of brocade sails, which sparkled in the sunlight with a dazzling brilliance.

Even from the boat's distance, the song drifted in, like a strange, fervent breeze, instantly spreading across the tense and oppressive river. "The waves of the Ba River tumble, and my brothers' resolve is as strong as steel. With a single wave of the broadsword, even the gods and ghosts tremble; the sons of Bashu venture forth into the vast expanse." The song, with its thick Bashu accent, was bold and unrestrained, its pitch high and passionate, yet tinged with a simple charm, as if imbuing it with the lofty sentiments and aspirations of the Bashan and Shu rivers. Each note, like a powerful drumbeat, pounded the crowd's eardrums and their tense hearts.

The leading man stood proudly at the bow, like a towering mountain, giving people a sense of towering dominance. His broad chest was exposed, and his bronze skin gleamed with a healthy luster in the sunlight, as if cast from steel. His thick chest hair spread out unrestrained, like a black jungle, highlighting his heroic and unrestrained character. He held a majestic broadsword, the blade reflecting a cold light in the sunlight, as if to shatter the haze between heaven and earth. The broad blade and thick back of the broadsword added a touch of majesty. The man had thick eyebrows and large eyes, and his gaze was like a torch, as if he could see through everything. His eyes revealed an innate dominance and perseverance, as if any difficulties were not worth mentioning in his presence.

His brothers, surrounded by him, were equally heroic. They were clad in vibrant, eye-catching brocade garments, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight. The brocade fabric was embroidered with exquisite designs, depicting eagles soaring or tigers roaring and charging, each one showcasing their bravery and heroism. Their heads were crowned with vibrant feathers, gently swaying in the river breeze, adding a touch of agility and uninhibited spirit. Some of these feathers were pure white, others fiery red, as if condensing the vibrant colors of the sky onto their heads.

The sailors were also in high spirits, their movements deftly maneuvering the ships, their gazes focused and determined. Their brocade robes, though not as ornate as those of their brothers, were equally clean and tidy, adorned with feathers, and exuding a unique spirit. They joined in unison with the heroic song, their coordinated movements echoing the passionate singing. It was as if the entire fleet was united by a powerful force, like a sharp sword, speeding towards the battlefield.