Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Yuan Yin calmed himself down, forced himself to suppress his inner panic, forced a trace of dissatisfaction on his face, and said in a deep voice: "Is this how you treat guests? You press me step by step from the beginning, without even giving me time to exchange pleasantries. I have come from afar, originally with sincerity to discuss important matters with you, but this kind of questioning is really hard to cope with." He tried to take back the initiative in the conversation so that he would not be too passive in this negotiation.

Upon hearing this, a hint of coldness flashed in Ma Chao's eyes, and he finally spoke in a low but majestic voice: "Yuan Gonglu recklessly raised troops and conquered everywhere, causing the people to be displaced and the world to be in turmoil. Now that we are fighting on the front line, you come to talk about sincerity? I would like to hear what Yuan Shu is planning this time?" Ma Chao's eyes were like torches, staring straight at Yuan Yin, as if he wanted to see through him.

Yuan Yin's heart skipped a beat; he knew Ma Chao was not easy to fool. But at this moment, he could only bite the bullet and deal with it. He bowed slightly and said respectfully, "General Ma, please calm down. My brother sent me here because he didn't want to cause any more casualties. Now that all sides are fighting, the people are suffering, and my brother is deeply saddened. He is willing to cease fighting and make peace with the general, and jointly discuss how to stabilize the situation and restore peace to the people." As Yuan Yin spoke, he secretly glanced at the expressions of Ma Chao and others, trying to catch a sign of relaxation from their expressions.

Xu Shu lightly waved his feather fan and sneered: "Call off the fighting and make peace? That's easy to say. Yuan Shu's offensive was fierce before, and now that he sees our army coming in full force, he wants to ask for peace. This calculation is a bit too cunning." Xu Shu's words were like a sharp blade, piercing Yuan Yin's vital points.

Yuan Yin hurriedly explained: "Sir, you have misunderstood. My brother is busy with the war in Yuzhang County and is too busy to deal with it. He really doesn't want to conflict with the general again. If peace can be reached, my brother is willing to cede some cities and compensate with materials to show his sincerity." As he said, he took out the peace treaty document that had been prepared long ago from his arms and presented it with both hands.

Lu Su took the document and examined it with Xu Shu. The tent fell silent for a moment, save for the rustling of pages. Yuan Yin's heart was in his throat. He wasn't sure if this peace treaty would impress them, nor did he know what awaited him next.

Lu Su and Xu Shu quickly scanned the document. The city ceded was strategically located, and the compensation was substantial. A glance crossed their faces, each a flicker of excitement. Xu Shu nodded slightly and respectfully handed the document to Ma Chao, "My Lord, please review this. Yuan Shu's terms are indeed quite sincere."

Ma Chao did not reach out to take it. His eyes were cold and full of disdain. He said in a deep voice: "Hmph, no matter how favorable the conditions are? Yuan Gonglu ced the imperial territory privately without the court's permission. How can this be disgraceful? Does he still care about the emperor and the Han Dynasty?" Ma Chao's voice echoed in the tent, loud and clear, with unquestionable majesty.

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yin hurriedly stepped forward and explained with a bow, "General Ma, this is forced by the situation. Now the various forces are in constant conflict. If we can use this opportunity to reach a peace agreement and save the people from the suffering of war, wouldn't it be better? Besides, what's the difference between these cities being in the hands of my brother and in the hands of the general? It's all for the sake of protecting the peace." Yuan Yin tried to persuade Ma Chao from the perspective of righteousness, but beads of sweat were already oozing from his forehead.

Xu Shu gently waved his feather fan and said thoughtfully, "That being said, my lord, what you say is not without reason. Yuan Shu's actions are indeed contrary to court discipline. If we accept it lightly today, we may find it difficult to explain to the world in the future."

Lu Su frowned slightly and added, "Since Lord Yuan is so determined to seek peace, why not submit a petition to the court first and then discuss the matter? This way, you can demonstrate your sincerity and avoid any controversy."

Yuan Yin secretly thought this was not going to work. He had originally thought the generous terms would sway them, but he hadn't expected Ma Chao to be so steadfast in his principles, and Xu Shu and Lu Su to be so cautious. He gritted his teeth and decided to make one last attempt. "You are all right. However, the war is urgent now. If we delay any further, I'm afraid there will be great loss of life. My brother is willing to sign a written agreement and apologize to the court immediately once peace is reached. I hope you will understand my brother's efforts and give the people a chance to recuperate." Yuan Yin spoke earnestly, his eyes full of anticipation, awaiting a response from Ma Chao and the others.

Ma Chao looked stern and his eyes were like torches as he stared straight at Yuan Yin. He spoke word by word, "If Yuan Shu is truly sincere, he should withdraw his troops from Yuzhang County, return all the territories he had previously occupied to the court, and submit a petition to apologize. Only in this way can he demonstrate his regret, and we can consider withdrawing our troops. Otherwise, this so-called peace talk is nothing but a trick to delay time." Ma Chao's words were firm and powerful, echoing in the tent, making Yuan Yin clearly realize that Ma Chao would never be ambiguous on matters of principle.

Seeing Ma Chao's resolute attitude, Yuan Yin secretly groaned. But then he suddenly remembered Yan Xiang's earlier mention of the disagreement between the Emperor and Ma Chao over Empress Lu Wan. He thought this might be a good opportunity, so he steeled himself and spoke: "General Ma, you care so deeply about the court, but does the court truly value your kindness? The Emperor and you had a disagreement over the Empress, yet you continue to work so diligently. Have you ever considered that the Emperor might be wary of you?" As Yuan Yin spoke, he carefully observed Ma Chao's expression, trying to detect any hesitation.

"As for General Yuan Shu, I have always admired your reputation and talent. This time, I sincerely want to make friends with you. If you can join hands with my brother, there is no need to worry about the failure of our great cause. And why should we compromise under the suspicion of the court?" Yuan Yin's voice trembled slightly. He was nervous and expectant. He hoped that these provocative words could sow the seeds of doubt in Ma Chao's heart and change the current deadlock in the negotiations.

Xu Shu's face darkened upon hearing this. He yanked back his feather fan and shouted, "Stop your nonsense and sow discord between my master and the emperor! Our master is devoted to the Han Dynasty. You can't slander him with just a few words."

Lu Su also stood up, his eyes as sharp as a knife, looking at Yuan Yin coldly: "As Yuan Shu's envoy, you don't think about how to promote peace, but instead you are here to stir up trouble. What is your intention?"

Yuan Yin didn't respond, but instead locked his gaze on Ma Chao's face, not missing a single subtle change in his expression. The moment Ma Chao heard Lu Wan's name, his face suddenly grimaced. Although the emotion was fleeting, Yuan Yin keenly sensed it, and he secretly rejoiced, thinking he had finally found his chance.

Yuan Yin cleared his throat and spoke more earnestly, "General Ma, your loyalty to the court is evident to all, yet the Emperor has become estranged from you because of the Empress. You've fought in countless battles, risking your life for the court, and yet what have you gained? My brother, on the other hand, may not agree with the court, but his respect for you is genuine. If you join forces with my brother, you will surely forge a new path."

"General, you might as well think about it. In these troubled times, it is really difficult to remain loyal to the court while enduring the emperor's suspicion. But if you cooperate with my brother, you can not only get rid of this groundless suspicion, but also have a broader space to display your talents and achieve hegemony. With your great talent and strategy, coupled with my brother's resources and power, there is no need to worry about not being able to pacify the four directions and benefit the people of the world." Yuan Yin talked incessantly, his words full of bewitching intent, trying to pull Ma Chao completely to Yuan Shu's side.

The tent was completely silent, with only Yuan Yin's voice echoing. Xu Shu and Lu Su exchanged glances, each seeing worry in the other's eyes. Xu Shu spoke again, his tone stern: "Yuan Yin, stop using these flowery words. Your lord's loyalty to the Han Dynasty is unwavering, how can you shake that? Your divisive words will only make the path to peace negotiations more difficult."

Ma Chao took a deep breath and calmed himself down, his eyes regaining their former determination: "Yuan Yin, you don't need to persuade me anymore. I, Ma Chao, am a Han minister in life and a Han ghost in death, and I will never be shaken by a little provocation. You go back and tell Yuan Shu that if he sincerely wants peace, he should do as I say, otherwise, we will meet on the battlefield." Ma Chao's words were firm and decisive, completely shattering Yuan Yin's fantasy and bringing the peace talks to a deadlock.

Yuan Yin looked at Ma Chao's resolute attitude, knowing that winning him over would be incredibly difficult. However, he remained steadfast, forcing a smile and speaking with as much sincerity as possible: "General Ma, since peace talks are currently unattainable, could you please temporarily suspend the offensive? My brother, Yuan Shu, is willing to give us all the supplies listed in the document, except for the city itself. This is simply to give the soldiers a moment's respite and spare the people from further suffering."

Upon hearing this, Lu Su became wary. He frowned and looked at Yuan Yin, his tone questioning, "Such a frivolous gift of supplies could be a fraud. If we accept this gift, wouldn't it be misinterpreted as collusion with Yuan Shu? This matter is of grave importance, and we must consider it with caution."

Xu Shu listened quietly to Yuan Yin's words, then after a moment's reflection, understood the key point. However, he already had a plan in mind. He subtly glanced at Ma Chao, then gently shook his head to signal Lu Su not to interfere. Then he said, "Since Lord Yuan is so sincere, I'd appreciate hearing the specific list of supplies and delivery arrangements. The war is currently at a stalemate, and losses are significant on all sides. If these supplies can be properly utilized, they could help alleviate our pressing needs."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao was equally perplexed. Yuan Shu's behavior was uncharacteristic; it must be a deception. He subconsciously glanced at Xu Shu, his eyes filled with questioning and suspicion. Xu Shu met Ma Chao's gaze, nodded slightly, and with a firm look, he gestured for him to accept it. Ma Chao had worked with Xu Shu for a long time and was well aware of his exceptional intelligence. Although he was perplexed, he suppressed his doubts out of trust in him.

Ma Chao nodded slightly, staring at Yuan Yin with a sharp gaze. He said in a deep voice, "Mr. Xu's words make sense. However, let me be frank. If I discover any trickery here, or if you're using this to buy time or have other plans, don't blame me, Ma Chao, for being rude."

Yuan Yin nodded hurriedly and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as the other party was willing to talk, there would be a chance of turning the situation around: "General Ma, don't worry, my brother is absolutely sincere. I have prepared the list of materials and the transportation plan." As he said that, he took out a document from his arms and presented it with both hands.

Ma Chao then unfolded the document and examined it carefully. The tent fell silent for a moment, save for the rustling of pages. Yuan Yin stood by, anxiously awaiting their response, silently praying that the allure of these supplies would bring a change in the situation.