Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

After reading the document, Ma Chao remained calm and quietly passed it to Xu Shu. Xu Shu took it and, after glancing over it, his face lit up with delight. He nodded repeatedly, as if he had seen a great benefit. Ma Chao observed this and felt Xu Shu's behavior was increasingly erratic. However, his years of tacit understanding kept him calm and decided to cooperate with Xu Shu's actions to see what he was up to.

Because Lu Su had only known Xu Shu for a short time, he didn't quite understand his style of doing things, but he was also aware that Xu Shu was highly trusted by Ma Chao. Seeing this scene, although he was full of doubts, he didn't dare to interrupt.

Yuan Yin, standing aside, his gaze sharp as a needle, discreetly observed everyone's expressions. Seeing Xu Shu's expression of greed, and the subtle shifts in his gaze with Ma Chao, Yuan Yin felt a sudden sense of peace. He thought to himself that even if he failed to win over Ma Chao, if Ma Chao accepted the supplies, the court would surely become suspicious of him. Even if this rift was a success, he would have perfectly accomplished the task assigned to him by his brother, Yuan Shu.

Thinking of this, Yuan Yin straightened his back, a subtle hint of pride on his face, and said respectfully, "General Ma, Mr. Xu, you will see my brother's sincerity this time. These supplies are carefully selected and will definitely help your army. As long as you agree to suspend the offensive, these supplies will be shipped immediately."

Ma Chao looked at Xu Shu, then at Yuan Yin, and said in a deep voice: "This matter is of great importance, and we still need to discuss it. You leave first and wait for news." Although Yuan Yin was a little anxious, he could only bow and take his leave. When he left the tent, his steps were lighter.

After Yuan Yin left, the atmosphere in the tent suddenly became tense. Ma Chao looked at Xu Shu, his eyes searching. "Yuan Zhi, you're acting so strangely today. What are you planning? I'm afraid there's a conspiracy behind these supplies, Yuan Shu."

Xu Shu remained calm and unhurried, explaining, "My Lord, Mr. Lu, this is clearly Yuan Shu's strategy to sow discord. He wants to use this shipment of supplies to make the court suspicious of us, so he can reap the benefits."

Upon hearing this, Lu Su's face was filled with anxiety. He hurriedly said, "Since you, Yuanzhi, have seen that this is a divisive ploy, why did you continue to encourage the Lord to accept it? If the court becomes suspicious, wouldn't we be doomed?"

Xu Shu looked at Ma Chao and said, "My lord, think carefully. Even if we don't accept this batch of supplies, will the emperor really stop being wary of you? For so many years, we have fought everywhere, defended the country and the people, but have we ever received even the slightest bit of aid from the emperor? It is an indisputable fact that our army is short of supplies. Since the emperor is suspicious anyway, why not accept it? At least by accepting the supplies, Yuan Shu's reserves will be reduced, and our army will be strengthened with these supplies to replenish its equipment, which will be extremely beneficial to our current battle."

Lu Su was still worried, frowning and saying, "I'm afraid there's something wrong with these supplies. If there's a hidden secret, we'll be in trouble."

Xu Shu smiled softly and waved his hand. "Don't worry, Mr. Lu. We'll definitely inspect the supplies thoroughly after we receive them. Since Yuan Shu wants to use these supplies to convince the court that we're colluding with him, he definitely wouldn't mix them with poisonous substances and cause us to lose troops. If he did that, wouldn't he be exposing his own lies? He wouldn't do such a contradictory thing."

Ma Chao listened quietly. Though he still felt Xu Shu's words were a bit far-fetched, his resolute and confident expression made him think that perhaps the matter was truly harmless. Ma Chao, now a man with so much to live through, no longer prioritized the emperor's opinion. What mattered most to him was the well-being of the people. With this in mind, Ma Chao reflected on the long journey to Xiliang and the difficulty of transporting supplies, emphasizing the urgent need for reinforcements. He pondered, since not accepting the supplies would arouse suspicion, what harm could there be in accepting them, strengthening the army and providing a further guarantee for the people's well-being?

Ma Chao nodded slightly and said solemnly, "Yuanzhi's words make sense. I'll do as you say and accept these supplies. But I must assign personnel to inspect them carefully, and I won't overlook anything." Seeing Ma Chao's decision, Xu Shu and Lu Su followed suit. The trade for supplies seemed settled, but the undercurrents between the various factions were just beginning.

After receiving the promise, Yuan Yin treated it like a divine blessing. He hurried, not daring to delay even a moment, as he trotted off to gather supplies. Both sides had already agreed to a five-day truce, after which the supplies would be exchanged. As he left, his face beamed with elation, his mind reeling from the praise and commendation his brother Yuan Shu had received upon his return to camp. It felt as if he had already accomplished his mission, and that glory and status were within his grasp.

Back in Ma Chao's camp, the news erupted, and the generals erupted in excitement. The entire tent was filled with chatter, and the atmosphere was as tense as a volcano about to erupt. Zhang Liao, the usually calm and measured general, was the first to step forward. His expression was solemn, his brow furrowed with worry. He clasped his hands together and respectfully addressed Ma Chao, "My lord, this is absolutely unacceptable. Accepting these supplies would be like accusing me of colluding with Yuan Shu, a charge I could never clear even by jumping into the Yellow River. Your reputation is renowned, established through countless hardships and dangers. How can you let it be destroyed by the temporary temptation of these supplies? I fear the world will point fingers at you in the future, and this would undoubtedly be a huge obstacle to your great cause."

Zhang Ren, standing aside, also had a serious expression on his face. He nodded repeatedly and agreed, "Wenyuan is absolutely right. Your Majesty's reputation is crucial to the morale of our army and the support of the people. We have fought for years to uphold justice. If this batch of supplies were used to gain any leverage, the loss would be greater than the gain."

However, Xu Huang and Gan Ning scoffed at this, their attitudes completely different. Xu Huang, a bold and carefree person, waved his hand suddenly, let out a rough laugh, and shouted nonchalantly: "Alas, you are just overthinking it! What's delivered to your door is worth rejecting! Can reputation be eaten? We fight for the emperor, fighting everywhere and stabilizing the four directions, but what about the emperor? He hasn't even given us enough food or fodder. Now that Yuan Shu has sent us supplies, isn't this a timely help? Fill our stomachs first and then strengthen our strength. Once we are full and have enough strength, we will beat up Yuan Shu, that bastard, and let him know how powerful we are!"

Gan Ning joined in the commotion, his face plastered with a cynical yet shrewd smile as he echoed, "That's right, why worry about those rumors? The most important thing right now is to expand our armaments and strengthen our strength. With the supplies in hand, we'll be even more confident. Why should we be afraid of what others say?"

Faced with these two diametrically opposed opinions, Xu Shu remained calm and composed, once again presenting his theory with unhurried composure, attempting to persuade Zhang Liao and Zhang Ren. "Two Generals, listen carefully. The current situation is profoundly complex. The Emperor's suspicion of our lord is as deep-rooted as a stubborn disease, and it won't dissipate simply by refusing to accept these supplies. Accepting them will, on the one hand, strengthen our armaments and enhance our army's combat effectiveness, helping us maintain our foothold in these turbulent times. On the other hand, Yuan Shu's reserves will be reduced, weakening his power. This balance will be extremely beneficial to our future operations. As for our reputation, once we grow stronger and accomplish something earth-shattering, will those rumors dissipate on their own? Then, the world will witness our sincerity."

Although these words sounded a bit far-fetched and the logic was not impeccable, Zhang Liao and Zhang Ren, thinking of Xu Shu's resourcefulness and his many contributions to the army, suppressed their doubts and said nothing more.

Lu Su felt the situation was fraught with hidden dangers, and his inner unease surged like a tide. He approached Ma Chao again, his expression heavy as if bearing a heavy burden, and said anxiously, "My lord, I've pondered this matter over and over again, and the more I think about it, the more I feel it's inappropriate. Even if Yuan Zhi's words are true, the risks are incalculable. If the court were to catch us, we would be doomed. I urge you to reconsider."

Ma Chao looked at Lu Su quietly, his eyes firm and deep, like the cold stars twinkling in the night sky. He slowly spoke, "Zijing, I understand your concerns. Since Yuanzhi is so adamant about accepting the supplies, he must have had his reasons. Furthermore, with war raging in Xiliang and the situation volatile, transporting supplies is extremely difficult. Each shipment of food and fodder consumes a tremendous amount of manpower, material resources, and time, and the soldiers and civilians are suffering. This shipment of food and fodder will greatly alleviate Xiliang's urgent needs and give them a break. Although we, being here, cannot fully empathize with Xiliang's plight, we have no choice but to accept these supplies for the time being, so that our soldiers can fight with peace of mind and the people can avoid starvation."

After hearing this, Lu Su sighed helplessly and nodded slightly. Although his worries had not dissipated, looking at Ma Chao's determined eyes, he chose to believe his lord's judgment and silently hid this worry in his heart.

After the crowd dispersed, Zhang Liao and Zhang Ren's doubts remained lingering, so they privately sought out Xu Shu. Xu Shu gazed at them with a mysterious smile, as if savvy. He spoke slowly, "Generals, you may not understand this. It's precisely to instill greater suspicion in the court toward our lord that Mr. Li Ru's scheme can be implemented. This is a grand chess game, the subtleties of which are difficult to articulate at the moment. When the time is right, everything will become clear, and then you will understand the profound significance of this move."

Zhang Liao and Zhang Ren exchanged a glance, their confusion gradually dissipating, replaced by a look of sudden enlightenment. They finally grasped the hidden meaning behind Xu Shu's unusual behavior, and were filled with both anticipation and trepidation about the future.

Upon receiving Ma Chao's reply that he was willing to accept the supplies, Yuan Shu was filled with excitement. He knew that the peace talks were a divisive plot, and if executed correctly, it would disrupt the world and secure greater benefits for himself. So, he immediately issued orders for the massive preparation of supplies, eager to make the matter known to the world.