Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Yesterday's banquet, filled with the aroma of wine, saw everyone forget their worries amidst laughter and joy, immersed in a rare moment of relaxation. Today, at dawn, the hall was already brightly lit. Generals Ma Chao, Xu Shu, Lu Su, Gan Ning, Xu Huang, and others gathered there, each with a serious expression, aware that a strategic discussion that would determine the future was about to begin.

Ma Chao stood up, his posture erect, his gaze sweeping across the crowd. He was the first to break the silence, recounting his experiences along the way in detail: "Everyone, Yuan Shu's army is in a very delicate situation right now. They're hell-bent on taking Yuzhang County, and they're launching a fierce offensive, pursuing the county relentlessly, attempting to completely control it. At the same time, however, they've been forced to dispatch General Zhang Xun to lead the troops in resisting our attack in Runan County. With so many troops deployed on both fronts, their rear forces are already stretched thin. I see this as an opportunity for us to exploit."

Lu Su nodded slightly, stroking his beard. A sagacious glint shone in his eyes as he slowly offered his opinion: "I've pondered this for a long time. We might as well feign inaction, creating the illusion of recuperation and no offensive intentions. In secret, we should intensify our efforts to gather troops and stockpile food. When the time is right, we can seize their defenses and catch Yuan Shu completely off guard."

Xu Shu sat nearby, his expression solemn. After listening to the two men's words, he slowly shook his head, his tone tinged with worry. "While what you both say makes sense, this situation is far from optimistic. The Yuan family has been passed down for generations, possessing a deep and complex foundation. Yuan Shu has long resided in Huainan, leveraging the region's abundant resources. Over the years, he has recruited talented individuals and soldiers. He now boasts a vast army and commanding a vast influence. We must not be blinded by these slight advantages and become complacent."

Upon hearing this, Xu Huang stood up in a panic, waving his hands in the air. He shouted, "Military Advisor, aren't you just boosting others' morale while destroying your own prestige? I don't think Yuan Shu is very capable. We've defeated his armies many times before. Why are you so afraid of him?"

Ma Chao looked calm and composed, his gaze gentle as he addressed Xu Huang. He patiently advised, "Gongming, don't underestimate Yuan Shu. Yuan Shu's military might is an indisputable fact. Furthermore, the Yuan family, with three dukes in four generations, enjoys immense prestige and extensive connections both at court and among the people. Many of the surrounding lords have friendly relations with him and have benefited from his favors, and they will surely come to his aid at a critical moment. We must carefully consider all these factors when formulating our strategy and must not underestimate the enemy."

Ma Chao paused for a moment, a new strategy forming in his mind. He spoke again, "I propose that Brother Gan Ning lead the Jinfan Army across the river. Leveraging their exceptional naval warfare, they can intercept Yuan Shu's food supply. Food and fodder are the lifeblood of an army. If their supply is cut off, the enemy will inevitably panic and fall apart without a fight."

Xu Shu's eyes lit up with admiration, and he nodded in praise. "This is a brilliant plan! We are northerners crossing the river to fight across the country. We are not familiar with river warfare and have never been able to deal with Yuan Shu's food and fodder supplies transported by water. Now, with the help of Gan Xingba and his Jinfan Army, this problem can be easily solved. It is truly a godsend."

Everyone started a heated discussion on this. The atmosphere in the hall was lively. Everyone expressed their opinions, talked back and forth, and planned how to gain the upper hand in this chaotic conflict, win the final victory, and carve out a vast space for their own forces.

Ma Chao thought of the food supply issue, his brow furrowed, his face filled with confusion and concern. His eyes swept across everyone's faces, and he slowly asked, "We are now in Runan, and the supply of food and grass to the rear is of paramount importance. Everyone knows that the war in Xiliang is ongoing, and the transportation of food and grass has been difficult before, and the supply is often tight. Now that we are far away from Xiliang and fighting here, how will we ensure the supply of food and grass? This food and grass issue must have given you a lot of thought and headaches."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at each other in bewilderment, then simultaneously turned their gaze to the resourceful Xu Shu. Dressed in a long robe, Xu Shu looked calm and composed. He took a leisurely step forward and, with a bow, said, "My lord, there is no need to worry about this. Although wars are frequent and the situation in Xiliang is tense, the supply of food and fodder has never been interrupted, steadily supporting our battles abroad."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's eyes flickered with surprise. His curiosity was instantly piqued, and a glimmer of hope surged within him. He pressed on, "Could it be that the imperial court is finally willing to allocate food and fodder for us? We've petitioned the court for help many times before, but to no avail. Could it be that the situation has turned around now?"

Xu Shu was about to open his mouth to explain when Xu Huang, his face filled with rage, preempted him, raising his voice and shouting, "Humph, relying on the imperial court? Forget it! The imperial court can barely protect itself, and the treasury is completely empty; they can't even offer a single cent. We waited and waited for support, but nothing came of it. These days, they've been so busy vying for power and profit, how could they care less about us soldiers fighting bravely outside!"

Ma Chao nodded slightly, signaling Xu Huang to calm down. He then cast a probing gaze at Zhang Xiu and said with concern, "Ah Xiu, since it's not from the imperial court, could it be that the grain and fodder were transferred from Wancheng? Wancheng is located in the heart of the Central Plains, a battleground for military strategists. Life for the people there is already difficult. We must not withdraw too much grain and fodder from there, lest we increase the burden on the people, making their livelihoods difficult and plunging them into hardship."

Zhang Xiu scratched his head, smiled innocently, and said, "Brother, you're wrong about that. The food and fodder are still being transferred from Xiliang."

Ma Chao's doubts grew stronger, and his face was full of confusion. How could Xiliang still have a continuous supply of food and grass when the war was already tense?

Seeing this, Xu Shu slowly stroked his beard, gathered his thoughts, and began to explain, "Earlier, Mr. Jia Xu had many rounds of discussions with Zhang Lu of Hanzhong. I don't know how he managed to convince Zhang Lu to open a grain route. Through this hard-earned route, Xiliang's grain and fodder are continuously transported to us, overcoming the mountains and rivers. This ensures that we have no worries about food and fodder, allowing us to fight with peace of mind."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao couldn't help but sigh, "Oh, I see. It seems Zhang Lu of Hanzhong is a man of great righteousness, loyal to his emperor and patriotic, and deeply concerned about his country. In these troubled times, such actions are truly rare."

Zhang Liao couldn't help but chuckle and said, "Well, come to think of it, Zhang Lu was probably frightened by Mr. Jia Xu! If it weren't for the sheer strength of our Xiliang army, our overwhelming force, and our overwhelming intimidation, which made Zhang Lu fear us, how could he have been so easily persuaded and agreed to open up a grain route? Ultimately, it's only because of our own strength that we were able to achieve this result."

Ma Chao sighed softly and said with emotion, "Alas, Xiliang must not only defend itself against foreign invasion and safeguard the peace of its borders, but also care for our soldiers fighting abroad and ensure the supply of food and fodder. It's truly difficult to contribute to the country. Behind every grain of food and fodder is the hard work and dedication of countless people." He paused for a moment, his mind racing to the image of the people of Xiliang scrimping and saving to support the front lines. He felt a surge of emotion and responsibility. Quickly, his spirits lifted, his gaze resolute as he spoke, "Fortunately, the war is progressing in a positive direction. I've reached a consensus with Sun Ce and successfully stabilized the southeast. When the time comes, Sun Ce will raise his forces from Kuaiji County to support us. Together, we can form a pincer attack. This will greatly reduce our pressure. With this dual attack, we'll surely resolve the crisis in Yangzhou quickly. Once the fighting here is over, we can return to Xiliang to suppress the rebellion and protect our homeland."

Everyone was well aware of the twists and turns and hardships involved, and they secretly breathed a sigh of relief when Ma Chao no longer worried about food and fodder. They knew that more important battles awaited them. Only by working together and sharing a common hatred of the enemy could they live up to Xiliang's support and expectations, carve out a place for themselves in this chaotic world, and realize their ambitions.

Ma Chao's expression was resolute. He waved his hand and said loudly, "Now that our food and fodder supply is assured, we should focus on dealing with this troublesome Zhang Xun. His troops are blocking our way, hindering our advance. We must find a way to break through as soon as possible."

At this moment, Xu Shu stepped forward, bowed, and said, "My lord, I have something to inform you of. Yuan Shu has sent envoys here many times, but we have never received them. We do not know the specifics of their envoys, so I'm afraid you must come in person to meet with them."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao frowned, his eyes filled with confusion. "What could possibly be the reason he sent an envoy at this time? Yuan Shu has always been ambitious and unpredictable."

Xu Shu nodded slightly and analyzed, "In my opinion, it's nothing more than a request for peace. He's currently focused on attacking Yangzhou and is too busy to spare any time. Our troops in Runan pose a significant threat to him. He's undoubtedly a bit flustered and wants to ease the pressure through negotiations."

Ma Chao pondered for a moment, then decided that a meeting with the envoy was unnecessary. He then spoke, "We represent the imperial court, while Yuan Shu represents the aristocratic families and the feudal lords. Our positions are completely different. Now that we're at war, what's the point of meeting? We'd better seize this opportunity and win."

Lu Su stepped forward and advised, "My lord, I think it's worth a meeting. Although we have different positions, perhaps we can find out the truth from their words and find an opportunity to exploit. The battlefield situation is changing rapidly, so it is always beneficial to know more about the enemy's situation."

Xu Shu, standing aside, though he didn't agree out loud, internally he deeply agreed. He mused that with Jia Xu's strategy, a break between Xiliang and the imperial court was only a matter of time. Currently, he was fighting for the imperial court, yet gaining little practical benefit. Perhaps meeting with Yuan Shu's envoy would secure greater benefits for his side, and perhaps lay the groundwork for future developments. It was a sound strategy.

Xu Shu once again advised sincerely: "My lord, it's just a meeting with an envoy. It won't take much time. Maybe we can find out key information to help us with our next move." He spoke sincerely, his eyes full of concern and expectation.

Lu Su also nodded and added: "The more we know about the enemy, the greater our chances of victory on the battlefield. This opportunity cannot be missed."

Ma Chao looked at the two men he relied on most for his strategic thinking. Their eyes were filled with determination and expectation, and their words were full of consideration for the greater good. After a moment's reflection, Ma Chao gave up his stubbornness and sighed. "Well, since you two say so, let's meet Yuan Shu's envoy and see what he's really planning."