Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Gan Ning led his Jinfan Army and set out on the return journey with Ma Chao. They chose to travel by water and take a boat.

On the river, warships cut through the waves, the banners of the Jinfan Army rustling in the wind. Ma Chao stood at the bow, gazing at the receding scenery on both sides, a flood of emotion welling up in his heart. Since leaving Liang Province, he had endured countless setbacks, but now, with Gan Ning by his side, the road ahead seemed to have taken a new direction.

As the boat sailed through the waters between Jiujiang and Lujiang counties, Ma Chao noticed that Yuan Shu's coastal water strongholds appeared heavily guarded. Patrol boats constantly came and went, and soldiers, weapons in hand, stood vigilantly on the stronghold walls. But closer inspection revealed a flaw. The patrol boats' movements were disorganized, and the soldiers' movements seemed somewhat slack. Clearly, they were undermanned, unable to maintain an efficient patrol, relying on a superficial appearance of busyness to maintain momentum.

Ma Chao turned to look at Gan Ning, and their eyes met, their understanding mutual. They both understood that such a force that was strong on the outside but weak on the inside was nothing to be feared.

In the spacious cabin, candlelight flickered as Ma Chao, Lu Su and Gan Ning sat together in a solemn and warm atmosphere.

Lu Su bowed slightly and addressed Ma Chao respectfully and calmly, "My lord, Yuan Shu has transferred a large number of troops to Yuzhang. Jiujiang and Lujiang counties in the rear are undermanned and weakly defended. In my opinion, this is a godsend opportunity."

Ma Chao nodded gently, his expression focused, his eyes gleaming with thought. "Zijing, you and I are thinking the same thing. I've noticed this all the way here."

At this moment, Gan Ning slammed the table, stood up, and said excitedly, "My lord, this opportunity cannot be missed! My Jinfan Army is good at naval warfare. If we charge directly, we will definitely defeat them!"

Lu Su raised his hand to signal Gan Ning to calm down, then looked earnestly at Ma Chao. "My lord, Xingba's words are certainly reasonable, but we need to think more broadly. I think we can adopt the strategy of besieging Wei to save Zhao, attacking Yuan Shu's rear and dispersing his forces in Yuzhang. This way, we can both relieve the danger in Yuzhang and inflict a heavy blow on Yuan Shu."

Ma Chao's eyes lit up, and after a moment's thought with a slight frown, he said, "Zi Jing, this is a brilliant plan! However, we still need to plan it in detail. Where to attack, how to deploy our forces, and how to prevent Yuan Shu's counterattack all require careful consideration."

Gan Ning also sat down, stroking his chin as he thought carefully. "Yes, we must consider all of this carefully. My Jinfan Army will be responsible for the naval assault, cutting off Yuan Shu's supply lines on the river, leaving him unable to take care of both ends."

Lu Su then added, "My lord, Xingba's Jinfan Army is holding Yuan Shu back by water. You can lead your elite troops to attack Lujiang by land. This will surely cause Yuan Shu to panic and return for support."

Ma Chao's expression showed a hint of concern as he continued, "I wonder how Xu Shu, Zhang Liao, and the others are doing in Runan County. I haven't heard from them in a while. I'm really looking forward to meeting them soon to discuss our great cause."

Lu Su and Gan Ning were both fascinated by this. Lu Su stroked his beard and said with emotion, "I've heard that Xu Yuanzhi is a man of extraordinary wisdom and Zhang Wenyuan is a leader in bravery, but I've never had the chance to meet them. If we could meet, we would surely come up with more strategies to defeat the enemy."

Gan Ning echoed the sentiment, his face full of anticipation: "Yes, my lord, I really want to meet these two heroes soon. We can drink together, discuss world affairs, and then fight side by side. It will surely be a great pleasure!"

As soon as the discussion in the cabin concluded, Ma Chao's heart was filled with excitement. The thought of soon meeting his fellow soldiers who had fought alongside him filled his heart with warmth, and his excitement was palpable. He strode to the bow and called out to Gan Ning and Lu Su, "Zi Jing, Xing Ba, today we have finalized our plans, and we are about to reunite with our old comrades. This is truly a joyous occasion. Come, join me for a drink!"

Soon, the wine was served. Ma Chao was the first to raise his bowl, his eyes gleaming with excitement. He exclaimed, "Today we are planning something big, and we will surely achieve great things together. When we meet up with Xu Shu, Zhang Liao, and the others, we will work together to carve out a niche in this troubled world!" He then raised his head and downed the wine in his bowl in one gulp.

Gan Ning was not to be outdone. He picked up the wine bowl and said with a hearty smile: "My lord, you are right! With our brave generals and the brothers who will soon meet, no matter who Yuan Shu is, we will be no problem! Come on, drink!" After that, he also drank the wine in one gulp.

Lu Su smiled and raised his wine bowl, saying slowly: "My lord and Xingba are absolutely right. Today's plan is just the beginning. In the future, we need to work together to achieve great things. This glass of wine wishes us all the best!" After that, he also drank the wine slowly.

The three of them drank heartily at the bow, their laughter echoing across the river. As they drank more, they talked more and more, their longing and anticipation for the future growing stronger through the aroma of the wine.

The wind howled across the river, and the hoisted sails rustled in the fierce gale, as if proclaiming the aspirations of the crew. Ma Chao, Lu Su, and Gan Ning stood at the bow, gazing into the distance, their eyes filled with determination and anticipation. They knew that the Runan region ahead held not only unknown challenges but also comrades who stood shoulder to shoulder with them. As the boat cut through the waves, the waves stirred up layers of white spray, a stirring prelude to their journey into the future.

In the war-torn land of Runan County, the situation has reached a fever pitch. Three formidable generals, Xu Huang, Zhang Liao, and Zhang Ren, march side by side, their offensive unleashing a fierce, raging storm. Clad in heavy armor and wielding sharp blades, they gallop across the battlefield, striking fear into the enemy wherever they go.

Xu Shu, the military advisor, commanded the rear, his feather fan and robe in hand, calmly directing all operations. With exceptional wisdom and keen insight, he meticulously formulated a battle strategy centered on Pingyu County. Under his command, the troops moved with unwavering coordination, forcing the defenders of Runan County into retreat, leaving them powerless to fight back. In a matter of moments, the Yuan army was left in disarray, its defenses shaky, and most of Runan County was captured.

At this critical moment, Zhang Xun from Lujiang rushed to the rescue with a large army. Although Zhang Xun was prone to greed, he was not to be underestimated, possessing considerable military prowess. He consistently prioritized the training of his soldiers and rigorously enforced military regulations, ensuring his officers were well-trained and disciplined. The scale of his army, with its banners lining the sky and stretching as far as the eye could see, was truly impressive.

Upon arriving at the battlefield, Zhang Xun's army quickly deployed its troops and secured their position. Faced with such a well-organized force, even Xu Shu's resourcefulness and Zhang Liao's bravery proved unable to find a breakthrough, let alone breach the enemy's defenses. The two sides thus reached a stalemate, a tense standoff in which neither dared to take the next step.

Meanwhile, Yuan Shu's camp, hoping to break the deadlock, repeatedly sent envoys to seek an audience with Ma Chao. After all, Xu Shu and his allies had led their troops under Ma Chao's banner, and Yuan Shu saw Ma Chao as the key to resolving the conflict. Perhaps reaching some kind of agreement with him would resolve the current crisis.

However, Ma Chao was not at the residence at that time, so the envoys came again and again with high expectations, but returned disappointed again and again.

That day, upon learning that the envoy had come to seek a meeting again, Xu Shu, Xu Huang, Zhang Liao and Zhang Ren gathered in the tent to discuss countermeasures.

"Yuan Shu's envoy has been coming and going several times. We must give him an explanation." Zhang Liao frowned and spoke first.

Xu Huang nodded in agreement. "That's right. It's not a good idea to keep dragging it out. The other side might think we're scared."

Zhang Ren rubbed his chin and thought, "But Lord Ma Chao is not here. It would be inappropriate for us to make a hasty decision."

Xu Shu gently waved his feather fan, his expression calm. "You are all right. I have received news that Lord Ma Chao will be returning soon. In my opinion, we should keep the envoys at bay for now and make any decisions after Lord Ma Chao returns. Lord Ma Chao is extremely insightful and will surely handle this matter appropriately."

Everyone agreed and decided to treat the envoy with courtesy, delaying the envoy and waiting for Ma Chao's return. The two camps continued to face each other across the battlefield, and the battle situation fell into a deeper stalemate during the waiting. Everyone was eagerly waiting for Ma Chao's return to break the stalemate.

Ma Chao and his crew slowly sailed out of Lujiang County's waters and landed. As soon as he set foot on solid ground, Ma Chao was eager to reunite with Xu Shu and his men. Along the way, he was filled with anticipation for the reunion, his pace hurried, his mind preoccupied with the situation in Runan County and the brothers he had fought alongside.

Finally, everyone reunited in the main camp. Xu Shu, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Zhang Ren, and the others were delighted to see Ma Chao return, but seeing how exhausted he looked from all the travel, they couldn't help but feel a little distressed.

Zhang Liao quickly stepped forward, shook Ma Chao's hand, and said with emotion, "My lord, you are finally back! You must have had a hard journey."

Ma Chao smiled and waved his hand: "It's not hard. It's all worth it to be able to meet with you all."

Xu Shu then began to report on the battle's progress. "My Lord, since you left, we have followed our established strategy, launching an offensive centered on Pingyu County. We have already captured most of Runan County. Although Zhang Xun led a large army to reinforce us, creating a temporary standoff, our morale is high and our position is secure."

Hearing this, Ma Chao nodded with satisfaction: "Thank you all for your hard work. This victory is all thanks to everyone's concerted efforts."

At this time, Zhang Ren said with admiration: "My lord, we have also heard about your glorious deeds in Wujun. You defeated the enemy with a small force and crushed the enemy. It is truly amazing!"

Everyone agreed and admired Ma Chao's bravery and wisdom.

Ma Chao smiled modestly and said, "I've brought two talented people with me this time." He introduced Gan Ning and Lu Su to the crowd, "This one is Gan Ning, Gan Xingba. His Jinfan Army crisscrosses the Yangtze River with unparalleled bravery. This one is Lu Su, Lu Zijing. He is resourceful and has the talent to rule the world."

Upon hearing this, Gan Ning and Lu Su strode forward. Gan Ning, a burly figure, walked with a swift gait, his sartorial attire accentuating his boldness and uninhibited spirit. Lu Su, on the other hand, was refined and elegant, his demeanor revealing a calm and composed demeanor. They approached Xu Shu, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, Zhang Ren, and the others in turn, bowing solemnly.

Xu Shu's eyes flashed with surprise. He quickly stepped forward, tightly grasped Lu Su's hands, and said with a smile, "I have long admired your name, Mr. Lu. It is truly a great honor to meet you today! Mr. Lu is a man of great talent. In the future, he will surely provide advice to our army and achieve great things."

Zhang Liao's face was also filled with enthusiasm. He patted Gan Ning's shoulder vigorously and said with a hearty laugh, "Mr. Gan, your Jinfan Army is renowned far and wide. Seeing you today, I can see you are truly a hero! From now on, we will fight side by side and I guarantee you will intimidate the enemy!"

Gan Ning burst into laughter, clapped his hands in response, and exclaimed, "General Zhang, you're too kind! I heard about your achievements on the way here. With Pingyu County as your center, you've crushed the enemy army. Such military talent and bravery truly impress me, Gan Ning!"

Lu Su smiled and nodded to the crowd, saying gently, "I've long heard that you generals are both wise and brave. Seeing you today, I can see that your reputation is truly well-deserved. Mr. Xu is a man of extraordinary strategy and excellent command; you generals are unstoppable in the charge and battle. It is truly a privilege for me to work with you all."

Xu Huang and Zhang Ren also came over and greeted Gan Ning and Lu Su. Their words were full of appreciation and welcome for the two men, and the tent suddenly became very lively.