Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The envoy sent by Yuan Shu was none other than his own brother, Yuan Yin. These days, Yuan Yin has been like a spinning top, juggling various factions. He's racked his brains and devoted himself to completing Yuan Shu's mission. Every negotiation, every maneuver, feels like walking a tightrope; a single misstep could lead to his downfall. The long hours and intense mental strain have left him exhausted, his eyes bloodshot, his form emaciated. But Yuan Shu, his elder brother, holds a crucial position within the Yuan family. How could Yuan Yin dare disobey his orders? Despite the frustration and torment, Yuan Yin gritted his teeth and persevered through this complex situation.

Just as Yuan Yin was about to collapse under the pressure, he finally received word that Ma Chao was willing to meet him. Instantly, a glimmer of hope rekindled in his dimmed eyes, and he felt like he had received a shot of adrenaline, instantly perking up. He knew that this meeting with Ma Chao would have a crucial impact on Yuan Shu's plans; success or failure might depend on it. If he could successfully persuade Ma Chao and achieve Yuan Shu's desired goal, all the previous hardships would be worthwhile. However, if the negotiations failed, not only would all his previous efforts be wasted, but it could also bring unforeseen crises to Yuan Shu's cause.

With such a complex and apprehensive mood, Yuan Yin began meticulously preparing. He first carefully reviewed the likely questions and his response strategies, ensuring he could answer them fluently during the negotiation. Then, he meticulously adjusted his appearance in front of the bronze mirror. He carefully smoothed the wrinkles on his clothes, placed his crown on his head properly, and wiped the dust from his boots, striving to present himself in the most perfect image before Ma Chao. With everything ready, Yuan Yin took a deep breath and walked steadily towards the tent. Each step was steady and powerful, but only he knew that his heart was pounding like thunder and his palms were sweating with nervousness.

As Yuan Yin walked towards the tent, his mind involuntarily flashed back to the moment his brother, Yuan Shu, heard about Ma Chao's attack on Runan. That day, the atmosphere in the study was heavy. Yuan Shu slammed the scroll in his hands onto the desk with a thud, his face filled with anger and disdain.

"Ma Chao? He's just a small local warlord, yet he dares to be so presumptuous in front of me!" Yuan Shu's face flushed red, his eyes burning with anger, and he paced back and forth with quick and heavy steps. "With just him, he wants to stop me from achieving my great cause?" His voice echoed in the study with unquestionable arrogance.

In reality, Yuan Shu was deeply reluctant to send envoys to negotiate peace with Ma Chao. The Yuan family, with its "four generations of three officials," held a distinguished position, and in his heart, he held himself in a position of unparalleled respect and superior status. Ma Chao, on the other hand, was merely a local warlord. Even though he had been heralded as a young talent in Luoyang, Yuan Shu still considered him a humble figure, unworthy of the upper class. This inherent sense of superiority left Yuan Shu deeply displeased with Ma Chao, let alone the idea of ​​negotiating peace with him on equal terms.

Yuan Yin kept walking, memories flooding his mind. He remembered the days when all the heroes rose up to defeat Dong Zhuo. The battlefield was thick with smoke, the cries of battle were deafening, and the coalition of warlords was determined to overthrow Dong Zhuo's brutal rule. But just when the situation seemed one-sided, Ma Chao made a move that shocked everyone: he openly sent troops to aid Dong Zhuo.

Upon hearing this news, Yuan Shu was furious, smashing his wine glass to the ground, sending the wine splattering everywhere. "Ma Chao, that traitor!" Yuan Shu's roar echoed through the tent, his face thick with anger and disbelief. "What on earth is he trying to do? The coalition forces are fighting bloody battles, and he's helping Dong Zhuo. Isn't that blatant betrayal?" That aid nearly saved Dong Zhuo's life. Had Ma Chao not intervened, Dong Zhuo might have perished at the hands of the coalition forces.

Yuan Shu saw Ma Chao's true nature clearly revealed in his actions from that moment on. Now, Ma Chao, once again, posed as a loyal Han official, campaigning extensively, seemingly serving the imperial court while in reality pursuing his own selfish interests. Yuan Shu sneered. He considered himself intelligent and shrewd, able to see through all the intrigues and schemes of the world. In his eyes, Ma Chao was a thoroughly double-dealing, treacherous villain, whose sole skill was to exploit opportunistic tactics.

Thinking of his brother's opinion of Ma Chao, Yuan Yin's brow furrowed even more. This peace negotiation was already fraught with difficulties, and coupled with Yuan Shu's prejudice against Ma Chao, the negotiations were bound to be fraught with difficulties. How he could maneuver through it all to achieve his goal was truly a thorny problem.

Yuan Yin walked with heavy steps towards the camp, frustration and resentment surging in his heart like a tide. He couldn't help but secretly criticize Yan Xiang, Yuan Shu's top strategist. If it weren't for him, why would he have to run around so tirelessly between various forces?

That day, the atmosphere in the meeting hall was so tense that it felt as if water could be squeezed out of it. Upon hearing about Ma Chao's actions in Runan, Yuan Shu flew into a rage. His face flushed crimson, veins popped on his forehead, and he fiercely kicked over the stool beside him, roaring, "Ma Chao, you dare challenge me? I'll show him how powerful the Yuan family is!" The advisors exchanged looks, daring not to breathe.

At this moment, Yan Xiang stepped forward calmly, his expression calm and his voice steady, "My lord, wait a moment, and let your anger flow. In my opinion, negotiating peace with Ma Chao at this time might be the best strategy."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Shu flew into a rage. His eyes widened as he pointed at Yan Xiang's nose and cursed, "What did you say? Peace talks? My Yuan family has been a family of three officials for four generations. How could we be afraid of a mere warlord like him? Are you scared to death by him?"

Yan Xiang, neither humble nor arrogant, bowed slightly and continued, "My lord, please calm down and allow me to explain in detail. We are currently engaged in a tense battle in Yuzhang County, and dispersing our forces is a serious taboo. If we were to engage in a full-scale war with Ma Chao again, it would be unwise to divide our forces to deal with it. I'm afraid we would be caught in a dilemma, attacked from both sides."

Yuan Shu snorted coldly. Although he didn't say anything, his expression relaxed a little, as if he was listening to him continue.

Seeing this, Yan Xiang continued, "Furthermore, Ma Chao is renowned for his bravery, and the troops under his command should not be underestimated. Furthermore, he and the Emperor have been secretly feuding over the Empress, a fact well known to everyone. He must have concerns about sending his troops now. If we can offer the right conditions, perhaps a major war can be avoided, and we might even be able to win him over as an ally and strengthen our power."

Yuan Shu frowned, looking a little shaken, but still did not express his opinion.

Yan Xiang struck while the iron was hot and brought up the crucial third point: "Let's take a step back and say, even if the peace talks fail, we can use the gift as a pretext to create a false impression in the court, misleading them into thinking Ma Chao is secretly colluding with us. This will undoubtedly sow suspicion in the court towards Ma Chao and shake their trust in him. This is a plan that kills three birds with one stone. I hope my lord will reconsider."

Yuan Shu was silent for a long time, pacing back and forth in the hall. Finally, he threw his sleeves fiercely and said, "Forget it, I'll do as you say."

Yuan Yin sighed helplessly at this thought. If it weren't for Yan Xiang's persuasion, Yuan Shu wouldn't have considered negotiating, and he wouldn't have had to work so hard. Now, the heavy responsibility of these difficult peace talks fell on his shoulders, and the future was uncertain. He could only bite the bullet and face whatever was about to happen.

Yuan Yin steadily approached the front of the camp, but he didn't see the imposing sight of swords and heavy security he'd imagined. The guards at the gate were calm, performing a simple, routine inspection before letting him pass. Inside, the silence was complete, with only the occasional clash of weapons echoing through the empty camp, adding to the solemn atmosphere.

Yuan Yin took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and quickly reviewed his prepared words and strategies. He knew that in the upcoming meeting with Ma Chao, every word could be crucial in turning the tide. A single misstep could mean not only the failure of the peace talks, but also his own life.

As he walked along the camp's corridor, the soldiers on either side stared intently at him, the outsider. Soon, Yuan Yin arrived in front of the main tent. The curtain slowly opened, and a warm breath filled his face, mixed with the faint aroma of tea and the unique aroma of fireworks within the tent.

Looking up, Ma Chao sat high in the main seat, his eyes sharp as an eagle, as if he could see through his thoughts. Xu Shu wore a calm demeanor, gently waving a feather fan, a faint smile on his face. Lu Su's face was solemn, his gaze scrutinizing and probing. Below the tent, Ma Chao's generals flanked him, each one a burly figure, their imposing presence of battle-hardened warriors. Their gazes were resolute, their weapons tightly gripped, their piercing gazes seemed to see through everything, as if they were about to rush off to the battlefield at any moment. Their overwhelming presence made Yuan Yin's heart tighten.

Yuan Yin calmed himself down, bowed respectfully, and said, "I am Yuan Yin. I have come here on the orders of my brother Yuan Shu to meet with General Ma to discuss important matters." Although his voice was steady, only he knew that his heart was beating like thunder and his palms were already full of sweat from nervousness.

Ma Chao watched Yuan Yin with interest, but he said nothing. The playful expression on his face, as if he were watching prey caught in a trap, made Yuan Yin's heart tremble. The silence in the tent was oppressive, with only the occasional crackling of the candlelight.

The scholar on the left finally broke the silence with a clear voice but with a certain majesty: "The two armies are fighting, and you have repeatedly requested to meet with my lord, but I don't know what your meaning is?" This question was like a heavy hammer, hitting Yuan Yin's heart directly.

Yuan Yin's heart tightened, and in panic, he could only subconsciously change the subject, pretending to be calm, and bowed respectfully, "Oh? May I know your name, sir?" He was calculating in his mind, thinking of taking it easy and finding out the other party's background before speaking.

Xu Shu spoke calmly and unhurriedly, "My surname is Xu, my given name is Shu, my courtesy name is Yuanzhi, and I serve as an advisor to my master. Don't worry about my status; simply answer my questions." His words were gentle, yet they carried undeniable force. With just one simple sentence, they instantly clarified the priorities of the negotiations. Yuan Yin realized, with a start, that he had unknowingly been led by Xu Shu. He secretly regretted it, but now he could only bite the bullet and ponder how to respond, perhaps salvage some measure of the situation.

At this time, Lu Su on the right also spoke, his voice low but every word clear: "Why, you have come here several times, haven't you thought of your words yet? Do you need to think about it again?" There was a hint of questioning in Lu Su's tone, making the already tense atmosphere even more depressing.

Yuan Yin's heartbeat quickened, his face turning pale and red. He opened his mouth, but found his throat too dry to make a sound. All the prepared remarks seemed to be thrown into disarray at this moment, and his mind went blank. The tent was eerily quiet, and everyone's gaze was fixed on him like a spotlight, making him feel uncomfortable. He swallowed subconsciously, his fingers unconsciously tugging at the corner of his clothes, and he thought to himself, this is not good. The beginning of this peace talk was so difficult, and the situation later would probably be even more difficult to control.