Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

After the external injuries were treated, the old man spread out a piece of paper and wrote down a few herbal remedies. He handed the prescription to Gan Ning and said helplessly, "General Gan, I have properly treated the external injuries, but the herbs here are scarce. I can only prescribe a prescription, and I need to replenish it as soon as possible."

Gan Ning smiled heartily and said, "Old man, we are very grateful for your help. I will take care of the herbs!" After that, he called a capable subordinate and whispered a few instructions to him.

This naturally posed no problem for Gan Ning, as he had long traversed the Jiang River, possessing extensive connections and numerous connections. The troops followed their orders and soon returned with a complete supply of herbs, ensuring that the injured guards could receive timely medication and recuperation.

In the clinic, the old man patiently treated the injuries of Ma Chao's guards. After everything was done, everyone returned to the ferry.

Ma Chao looked at Gan Ning sincerely and said with emotion, "Xingba, although you have temporarily humbled yourself, mistakenly being labeled a bandit by the world, and roaming the rivers and lakes, you have always remained steadfast in your principles, robbing the rich to help the poor, and showing compassion for the impoverished people. This sincerity, never forgetting your original aspirations, is truly precious. Just now at the dock, I witnessed you interacting with the people. The sincere and deep emotions you showed naturally, without any pretense, are sufficient to prove that you are truly a kind-hearted person, far more than an ordinary mortal."

Upon hearing this, Gan Ning humbly waved his hand and replied, "My Lord, please do not praise me so highly. I simply witness the chaos of this world and truly hate those who cause the people to suffer so much."

Ma Chao nodded solemnly, sighed, and said, "Indeed, in today's world, those in power are solely focused on consolidating their power and satisfying their desires. The various princes are constantly vying for power, and the aristocratic families are each vying for power and profit. But the ones who truly bear all this suffering are the innocent people at the bottom of society. Yet, Xingba, you manage to get along so harmoniously with these people, becoming one with them. This kind of friendship is truly rare and admirable."

Gan Ning shook his head slightly, his eyes full of affection, and said slowly: "Your Excellency, you don't know that it is not just them who are grateful for what I have done, I am also full of gratitude to them." After that, Gan Ning raised his hand gently, motioning Ma Chao to follow him, and led Ma Chao to a place a little further away from the pier and more remote.

Gan Ning stopped and quietly raised his arm, pointing to the piles of small graves on the hillside not far away. His voice unconsciously lowered, with a bit of sadness and emotion: "I, Gan Ning, am just a warrior. I don't know if I have any great ability to change the world. I just lead my brothers to make a living on this river. But buried in these seemingly insignificant little mounds are brothers who have shared life and death with me. Back then, they fought for our common beliefs and for the sake of surviving in this troubled world. They were willing to sacrifice their lives to give the people a glimmer of hope. And after they left, these kindhearted and simple people, far from showing any fear or disgust, instead extended a hand, helping to bury them properly, and even coming to offer paper money to express their grief during festivals. This friendship is so profound that how can I not be grateful to Gan Ning? "At this point, this man of steel and strength, who dominated the river, couldn't help but feel a little red in the eyes and his voice choked with sobs.

Ma Chao looked in the direction Gan Ning pointed and saw the hillside covered in densely packed graves, at least dozens. Seeing this scene, Ma Chao couldn't help but sigh. Gan Ning and his men had to endure such a dangerous life on the river. Thinking back to his own life, where nearly half his personal guards had been killed in just one incident, he was overwhelmed with emotion and sighed deeply, "Yes, war is truly cruel. These brave men, full of passion, were forced to die on the battlefield. Having a home is a blessing in disguise."

Upon hearing this, Gan Ning looked at Ma Chao and asked solemnly, "Sir, what are your plans for the guards who died in battle? If you don't mind, why not bury them here as well? The people here are kind, and there will be people to clean up and offer sacrifices to them in the future, so they won't become wandering ghosts."

Ma Chao's expression suddenly became solemn and serious. He said seriously, "Xingba, please find a secluded place and prepare some firewood. I want to burn these brothers here and take their ashes back with me. Only in this way can the souls of my brothers return home, and not let their spirits wander around without rest."

After Gan Ning went down to make arrangements, everything was ready. Ma Chao, along with his injured guards, stood solemnly beside the 19 fallen. Holding a torch, Ma Chao's gaze swept over the bodies of the 19 guards before him with a saddened look. His voice was firm and sorrowful: "Brothers, today's battle is merciless. You have shed your blood on the journey to protect me. I, Ma Chao, will remember your bravery and loyalty in my heart. Although these troubled times are cruel, your heroic spirits will not be in vain."

"I will take your ashes back home, so you can return to your roots and reunite with your loved ones. I will provide for your parents and take care of your wives and children. Protect me, and I will never let you down."

"When I, Ma Chao, rebuild the country, I will make the world peaceful, with no more wars and no more displacement. You can leave with peace of mind. I will definitely fulfill this ambition and revenge!" After saying that, Ma Chao slowly handed the torch to the firewood pile, and a raging fire instantly ignited.

Gan Ning received the order and quickly set his men to work. They carefully selected a spot on a high, relatively secluded hill with a wide view. They divided the work among themselves: one group went to the nearby forests to gather dry firewood, while another group neatly stacked the wood to create a massive pile. They knew full well that this pile would hold the final dignity and fate of Ma Chao's personal guards.

To make the pile more stable and allow the flames to burn more fully, the tribesmen carefully staggered the wood, leaving some space in between to allow air to circulate. During the construction process, everyone was solemn and silent, with only the occasional sound of wood colliding, which was particularly clear in the silent atmosphere.

With all preparations complete, Ma Chao, accompanied by his wounded guards, slowly and with heavy steps, approached the pyre and stood solemnly beside the remains of the 19 fallen guards. Holding a torch, Ma Chao's gaze swept over the 19 bodies before him one by one, each one filled with endless grief and reluctance. His voice was firm and sorrowful, as if bursting from the depths of his chest: "Brothers, today's battle is merciless. You have shed your blood on the march to protect me. I, Ma Chao, will remember your bravery and loyalty in my heart. Although these troubled times are cruel, your heroic spirits will never be in vain."

"I will take your ashes back home, so you can return to your roots and reunite with your loved ones. I will treat your parents as my dearest relatives and provide for them with all my heart. I will treat your wives and children as my own and care for them with all my heart. You protected me with your lives, and I will spend the rest of my life fulfilling your trust."

"When I, Ma Chao, have conquered all obstacles and rebuilt the country, I will restore peace to the world. There will be no more wars and chaos, and no more displacement of the people. You can leave in peace. I will pursue this revenge and this ambition to the end!"

With that, Ma Chao slowly passed the torch toward the pile of firewood. Instantly, flames spread rapidly along the dry wood, blazing up into the sky, their scorching heat overwhelming the enemy. The flames danced wildly in the wind, as if the unyielding souls of the guards were ablaze.

The raging fire licked the firewood mercilessly, making a crackling sound, a tragic song of flames and wood. Burning was destined to be a long process, and Ma Chao and his injured guards stood solemnly before the blazing fire like statues, allowing the blazing heat to hit them, burning their faces red, but no one moved an inch.

In this atmosphere of intertwined silence and intense heat, someone, unknowingly, began to sing, but a Xiliang ballad slowly spilled from everyone's lips. The song began low and mournful, like a sob emanating from the distant land of Xiliang, expressing endless longing and sorrow. As the melody progressed, the voices rose, as if proclaiming unyielding perseverance and resilience to this chaotic world.

This song, imbued with the unique boldness and ruggedness of Xiliang, drifted across the land, echoing against the dancing flames. Every note carried the guards' reluctance and longing for their fallen brothers; every line was imbued with their attachment to their homeland and their hopes for the future. Even amidst this cruel and chaotic world, facing the separation of life and death, they persevered with this powerful song, upholding their inner faith and friendship.

Meanwhile, Gan Ning and his followers stood in silence not far away, watching this scene unfold. Their eyes were filled with respect and emotion, moved by the profound bond between Ma Chao and his personal guards. Illuminated by the firelight, everyone was immersed in a solemn atmosphere, silently praying for the fallen hero.

Gan Ning and his men spoke in low voices. His expression was solemn as he slowly scanned the crowd. He spoke in a deep voice, "Brothers, since leading you to join the army, we've traveled extensively. First, we joined Liu Yan in Yizhou, and then we followed Liu Biao to Jingzhou. But along the way, all we've seen and heard is the wealthy and powerful oppressing the common people. Those in power, obsessed with power, fight tooth and nail for it, caring nothing for the lives of the people. Whether they're from the wealthy and powerful families or the various powerful individuals, how many truly show compassion for the common people? People like us, from ordinary backgrounds, have seen so much that it's chilling to our hearts."

He paused briefly, his eyes filled with admiration, and continued, "But this Xiliang Jin Ma Chao truly lives up to his reputation. You see, he treats his soldiers like brothers. Today, when his own guards died in battle, the grief in his eyes was genuine. He's determined to bring his brothers' ashes back home, promising to support their parents and care for their wives and children. Such love and righteousness are rare in this world."

"Also, his regard for the people comes from the heart. Along the way, seeing the people suffering, his expression was filled with pity. He knew full well the hardships faced by the people in these troubled times, and he harbored a lofty ambition to restore order and peace to the people. We've followed many men before, but it's rare to find someone like Ma Chao."

After hearing Gan Ning's words, the tribesmen immediately echoed him.

A young soldier said excitedly, "Brother, you're absolutely right! I used to think those high-ranking generals didn't take us soldiers seriously, but General Ma Chao's love for his personal guards is truly touching."

An older member of the army nodded in agreement. "Yes, and I've seen General Ma's eyes full of concern when he looks at the people. Unlike those high-ranking officials who only care about their own interests. Following a man like him might really make a difference in these troubled times!"