Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Shamoke stared at Ma Chao, feeling a radiance surrounding him. His usual condescending attitude vanished, and he even lost the confidence to look him in the eye as an equal. Ma Chao stood there, his aura overwhelming, his every gesture exuding an extraordinary demeanor. The more Shamoke watched, the more he felt ashamed of himself, filled with awe and trepidation.

After a moment's hesitation, Shamoke mustered his courage. With a barely perceptible tremor in his voice, he spoke with a hint of uncertainty, "Sir, the Xiliang you command is more than a thousand miles away from our remote Shanyue land. Not only is the journey long, but there are also numerous mountain passes and barriers in between. Given this vast distance, we simply cannot imagine how we can be of any use to you. Sir, please be frank. Even if you are willing to help us, how can you truly provide us with assistance across this vast distance? We Shanyue are in dire straits right now, and I dare not harbor any unrealistic expectations. I only hope you can show us a way forward."

Seeing Shamoke's reserved attitude, Ma Chao let out a frank smile. He then reached out and grabbed Shamoke, his tone filled with sincerity: "Chief Shamoke, please stop calling me 'Lord'. Regardless of your status, I'm still the same Ma brother who treats you as my elder brother, and you're still my respected elder brother. Please don't be so reserved."

His eyes were sincere, filled with empathy, and he continued, "I fully understand the hardships you Shanyue have endured. For a long time, you have suffered oppression from the government, and your lives have been unbearable. Yet, even in such desperate circumstances, you Shanyue people have relied on your innate unwillingness to admit defeat to persevere and survive. For this tenacity, I, Ma Chao, admire you from the bottom of my heart."

"My visit wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision. I sincerely want to help the Shanyue people escape their predicament and move towards a better future. Think about it, the Shanyue people are all strong and brave. If they were given better opportunities for development, their potential would be immeasurable. If we join forces, we will surely accomplish great things. Big brother, please trust me just this once."

Ma Chao's "Big Brother" call made Shamoke feel incredibly comfortable. He felt a warm sensation surge through his heart. With a surge of excitement, he strode over to Ma Chao, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply. He spoke in a voice as resonant as a bell, "Excellent! Brother Ma, with your noble status, you're truly calling me Big Brother. From now on, if you need anything from me, I'll be there for you! If you need me, just ask!"

His eyes were gleaming with respect and enthusiasm as he continued, "We Shanyue people have always respected heroes. You, of your status, have condescended to this point. Even after facing so much hardship from us, you have remained true to your original aspirations, demonstrating your broad-mindedness and courage. I truly believe you are here to help us with all your heart. At your command, we Shanyue men will brave fire and water, even to the point of death! Whether it's fighting the enemy, opening up trade routes, or protecting our homeland, as long as it can bring a better life to the Shanyue and allow us to stand up straight, we will do our utmost!"

Seeing this, Ma Chao hurried forward and firmly grasped Shamoke's hands. He then turned to the terrified and bewildered Shanyue people, a gentle and approachable smile plastered on his face as he spoke loudly, "Everyone, sit down! Don't stand around. Now that everything's been said and the misunderstandings have been resolved, we should sit down calmly and discuss this matter. After all, this cooperation is a complex matter, and it can't be finalized or put into practice in a few words. We need to sit down together, deliberate, and carefully consider the most comprehensive and beneficial solution."

As he spoke, Ma Chao took the lead and pulled Shamoke to sit next to the main seat. He then raised his hand to signal everyone to sit wherever they wanted. He looked at everyone sincerely, conveying friendliness and trust. The originally tense and depressing atmosphere was instantly eased a lot. Everyone gradually relaxed and found a seat to sit down, ready to start an important discussion about the future of Shanyue.

Ma Chao was the first to break the silence, speaking with a sincere expression, "My visit to Wujun was truly a matter of chance. Originally, I had come to discuss with my sworn brother, Sun Ce, the grand plan of rescuing Yangzhou. After arriving here, I witnessed firsthand the utter corruption within the Wujun bureaucracy. Officials engaged in corruption, exploited the people, and made life miserable for them. Worse still, these officials acted independently, completely disregarding the imperial court's orders. I could no longer bear to see this chaos, and so I sought to rectify it. Coincidentally, my sworn brother, Sun Ce, had already shared this plan.

He exploited the conflict between you Shanyue and the government, claiming to be bringing his troops here to deal with the Shanyue. It was through this that I learned of the existence of the various Shanyue tribes. To be honest, at that time, my understanding of you was still limited, so I held back from expressing my opinion.

Ma Chao paused slightly, his eyes slowly swept over the crowd without changing his expression, and continued: "However, according to the official statement of the court, your Shanyue's past actions did have many problems, and were often regarded as acts of rebellion." As soon as these words came out, a hint of embarrassment flashed across the faces of all the Shanyue people, including Shamoke. Some people lowered their heads unconsciously, while others frowned slightly. The atmosphere was a little subtle for a moment.

Ma Chao's eyes were sincere, and his words were earnest. "Of course, I won't listen to one-sided accounts. As the saying goes, seeing is believing. If it weren't for the government's discrimination and excessive taxation, who would be willing to hide in these remote mountains and forests, living a life of hunger and hardship?"

After hearing this, Shamoke nodded repeatedly, his face full of agreement. He said with emotion, "My dear brother, your words really hit the nail on the head. We Shanyue people, who isn't a down-to-earth and honest man? But the government is so oppressive that it's forced us into a desperate situation and forced us to hide in the mountains."

Ma Chao raised his hand, offering a soothing whisper, "Brother, there's no need to elaborate. I understand all this. Let me explain." He paused briefly, gathering his thoughts, and continued, "Even if I remain in Wu County, I won't rule here for long. Even if I successfully capture Wu County, my sworn brother Sun Ce will likely still control it. For me, this is a matter of the moment, but for you, the Shanyue, it concerns their long-term future. Kuaiji County has now fallen into Sun Ce's hands. Given his strength, Wu County will sooner or later fall under his control, regardless of your cooperation. At that point, the majority of your Shanyue forces will be under his rule. If this isn't handled properly, conflict is inevitable. Therefore, the reason we sit down to discuss cooperation now is to find a suitable solution that allows both sides to coexist harmoniously. Finding a balance that allows you to be used by him and realize your value while also allowing you to live a stable life as tax-paying citizens is crucial."

Shamoke frowned slightly, his expression showing a hint of worry, and he slowly said, "Brother Ma Chao, I believe what you say from the bottom of my heart, but although Sun Ce is brave and good at fighting, and has a great reputation, his personality is really hard to understand.

On a normal day, his uninhibited and unrestrained character, coupled with his enthusiastic approach to friendship, draws one to him. However, once he's involved in a war or someone crosses his line, he becomes ruthless and merciless. On the battlefield, he's like a god of war, fearless and valiant, charging headfirst into battle without flinching. However, this can also lead to his sometimes overly decisive actions, lacking leeway for maneuver.

I've also heard that he's incredibly stubborn about what he believes in, and it's hard to dissuade others. We Shanyue people have been rooted in these mountains for a long time, with our own rules and ways of life. I'm afraid of a conflict with his strong character, and then I wouldn't be able to explain myself even if I was right."

Ma Chao's expression was solemn, his eyes as deep as the sea. He spoke slowly, his tone filled with unquestionable determination: "Sun Ce and I have a fundamental disagreement on how to deal with the Shanyue. This disagreement is like a chasm between us. It is precisely because of this that I resolutely embarked on this journey to the Shanyue, just to clear away the fog and see the true situation of the Shanyue.

Many people believe that the Shanyue people are brave and valiant, and that if they want peace and stability, they must submit. They hold a simplistic and crude view, believing that only by fighting violence with violence, by first beating them back step by step until they are convinced and convinced, by inflicting deep, unforgettable pain, can they completely eradicate their so-called "disloyalty" and gain superficial obedience.

But in my opinion, this is shortsighted. True, lasting peace and stability cannot be achieved through repression. If we want the Shanyue to sincerely submit, we must set aside our prejudices and treat you with empathy, as family connected by blood, as one and the same. We must take a long-term perspective, deeply understand your needs, and precisely address the challenges you face in life, completely eliminating the root causes of your suffering, so that every Shanyue citizen can live and work in peace and contentment on this land, enjoying the tranquility of a prosperous and peaceful era.

We cannot treat you differently based on your region or customs. It would be unwise to be on guard against you simply because you are Shanyue people. All the people of the world, regardless of where they live, are Han Chinese, belonging to the same nation. All we desire is a stable life, adequate food and clothing. Unless driven to despair by poverty and left with no other options, who would willingly abandon a stable life, take up arms, and plunge into the midst of swords and sabers, struggling on the brink of life and death?

What we need now is a completely new framework. We must not only end the current conflict but also lay the foundation for decades, even centuries, of peace and stability. This requires us to embrace the Shanyue with an open and inclusive mindset, and work together with equality and mutual assistance. Only in this way can we unite the forces of all parties and achieve true unification, ensuring that prosperity and tranquility permeate the Han territory and that every citizen can share in the blessings of a prosperous era under the same blue sky.

Shamoke looked sincere, his eyes filled with worry and expectation. He stared intently at Ma Chao and said earnestly, "Brother Ma Chao, let's be frank. Honestly, if you, Ma Chao, could take charge of Yangzhou, based on your heartfelt words just now, the entire Shanyue people would submit wholeheartedly, without a second thought. I firmly believe that with your character and abilities, you will lead us Shanyue people out of our predicament and towards a prosperous and stable life."

But Brother Ma Chao, your roots are in the northwest, thousands of miles away. While you've pledged such beautiful visions today, it's not certain you'll be the one ruling this region in the future. Whether your promises can be fulfilled is uncertain. If the situation changes, even if we seek your help, the distance is too great, and even with your enthusiasm, I'm afraid it won't be possible to lend a hand immediately.

You know, this concerns the future of our Shanyue clan, the life and death, prosperity and disgrace of countless members. As the leader, I shoulder the heavy responsibility of the entire clan. I dare not slack off in the slightest, let alone risk or gamble with the clan's future. Therefore, I must proceed with extreme caution in this matter. I hope you can understand my difficulties and my hard work."