Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Upon hearing this, the emperor nodded emphatically and declared through gritted teeth, "No leniency! We must show them the consequences of betraying the court!" A fierce look flashed in his eyes, as if he had already witnessed Ma Chao and Yuan Shu being severely punished. He turned and walked towards the throne, plopped down, and panted heavily, his anger still blazing.

At that moment, the palace was completely silent, save for the emperor's heavy breathing. The attendants lowered their heads, afraid to meet his gaze, fearing the emperor's wrath. Zhao Yun stood quietly by, pondering the situation. He knew that mishandling this matter would inevitably lead to even greater unrest. As the emperor's beloved general, he had to navigate this complex situation, resolving the emperor's concerns and maintaining the dignity of the court.

The emperor's chest heaved violently in anger, and he gasped for breath. After a long moment, he calmed down a bit, rubbing his temple with a hand. Still lingering resentment in his eyes, he spoke slowly, "Well, let them run rampant for a while. Yuan Shu needs someone right now, and Ma Chao still has some use for him. Let them collude for now. Humph, once I've dealt with Yuan Shu, I won't allow that traitor Ma Chao to continue to run wild."

The emperor stood up, a fierce glint in his eyes. He paced back and forth in the hall with his hands behind his back, his voice growing colder. "Today, he dared to collude with Yuan Shu, ignoring the rules of the court. Who knows what he might do in the future? He's not going to do anything treasonous. If we don't eliminate him soon, once he becomes powerful, it will be hard to say whether the world will be ruled by the Liu or the Ma family!"

Zhao Yun frowned slightly, clasped his fists, and said, "Your Majesty is a man of foresight. Ma Chao's actions are indeed rebellious. However, the current situation is complicated, so we must take a long-term approach to avoid alerting the enemy."

The emperor paused, looked at Zhao Yun, his expression softened slightly, and nodded. "Zilong is absolutely right. This matter cannot be rushed. Immediately, secretly arrange for personnel to closely monitor Ma Chao and Yuan Shu's every move. Report any signs of trouble to me immediately."

"I obey your command!" Zhao Yun bowed and accepted the order, but he was still worried. The situation in the world was already in chaos, and the various forces were complicated. Resolving this matter smoothly would be difficult. But he knew that he had a heavy responsibility on his shoulders and was determined to help His Majesty solve the problem and protect the Han Dynasty.

On the day of the supply delivery, Yuan Yin and his team were already in action at dawn. They seemed afraid others wouldn't know about this supply transaction, so they acted with extra fanfare. Dozens of carriages were lined up in a mighty procession, their bodies polished to a shine, and brightly colored flags adorned the shafts, rustling in the breeze. Each carriage was loaded with supplies. Grain and fodder piled high, and weapons, while not particularly good, were plentiful. Brand-new armor was neatly stacked, and beneath it lay suits of armor that was half-worn but not yet damaged. The sheer abundance of supplies was truly impressive, a sight that was simply breathtaking.

Yuan Yin rode atop his majestic horse, head held high and chest puffed out, a look of pride on his face. Surrounding him were a group of soldiers, all in high spirits, marching in unison, as if they were participating in a grand military parade. As the troops advanced, they kicked up clouds of dust, drawing the gazes of the surrounding civilians.

Ma Chao dispatched Xu Shu, along with Xu Huang and Gan Ning, to receive the supplies. Xu Shu, dressed in a plain robe and holding a feather fan, looked calm and composed. Xu Huang, his face brimming with excitement, strode ahead, his eyes flickering over the supplies as if he were beholding countless treasures. Gan Ning, on the other hand, wore a carefree expression, a cynical smile playing on his lips, the sword at his waist swaying gently with his steps.

Xu Shu walked up to Yuan Yin, bowed slightly, and said calmly, "Mr. Yuan, we are here to receive the supplies on the orders of our master." Yuan Yin laughed heartily and returned the greeting, "Mr. Xu, my brother is sincere in this transaction. These supplies are absolutely guaranteed to be of guaranteed quality and quantity. You can rest assured."

With that, Yuan Yin waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to begin the handover. Xu Shu, with a serious expression, methodically directed Xu Huang and Gan Ning to assign personnel to inventory the supplies. Xu Huang shouted at the top of his voice, directing the soldiers to move the food and fodder; Gan Ning led a team to carefully inspect weapons and armor, occasionally picking up an item, weighing it, and checking its quality.

Xu Shu stood by, his eyes keenly scrutinizing every detail, not missing a single possible problem. He knew that this seemingly simple transfer of supplies was actually a complex undertaking, crucial to the future course of events, and no carelessness was allowed.

Yuan Yin was relaxed, with a confident smile on his face. He took a few steps towards Xu Shu, his tone full of disapproval: "Mr. Xu, there is no need to be so nervous. Since my brother has agreed to deliver the supplies, it must be well prepared and there will be no mistakes. You can relax." As he spoke, he waved his hand, as if to dispel Xu Shu's overly cautious attitude.

Xu Shu's expression remained serious. He waved his feather fan calmly, looked at Yuan Yin calmly, and said slowly: "Mr. Yuan, this matter is of great importance. We are shouldering the heavy trust of our lord, so we must take it seriously and make a clear delivery to avoid unnecessary trouble in the future." His voice was steady and powerful, and his words revealed unquestionable firmness.

Yuan Yin nodded slightly. Although he still had a smile on his face, the smile was not as strong as before. He said, "In that case, I will go back and report to my lord. I hope that after you receive the supplies, we can temporarily cease fire. This is good for both sides." A hint of expectation flashed in his eyes, as if he eagerly hoped that this transaction could bring about a period of peace.

At this time, Xu Huang and Gan Ning came over. Xu Huang said casually, "As long as you supply food and fodder on time, we can be happy and idle. Who wants to fight to the death on this battlefield every day?" His voice was loud and rough.

After hearing this, Yuan Yin was slightly stunned, with a puzzled expression on his face, and asked: "Why, do you still need a continuous supply of food and grass?" He seemed to have not expected that Ma Chao's side would make such a request.

Xu Shu took over the conversation, his expression calm but with hidden meaning: "Yes, the length of our ceasefire depends on how long you supply food and grass." He stared at Yuan Yin, as if trying to see through his inner thoughts.

Yuan Yin's expression changed slightly, a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes, and he retorted: "Isn't this a bit dishonest? We didn't say that we would keep supplying food and grass." He tried to blame Xu Shu morally and save the situation a little.

Xu Shu sneered and pointed out mercilessly, "When two armies fight, you and I both know the interests involved. How could your sending of supplies this time be without any purpose? You just want to take this opportunity to achieve your own goals. Why bother talking about credit here?" Xu Shu's words were like a sharp blade, piercing Yuan Yin's vitals, leaving him speechless and unable to respond.

Yuan Yin's expression darkened. He opened his mouth, but his throat was dry, and he couldn't utter a word. He knew that Xu Shu had seen through their intentions, that the conspiracy behind this deal had been exposed. He gritted his teeth and forced a smile, "Mr. Xu, you're joking. If so, I will report this matter to my lord when I return. As for the follow-up, it will be up to both parties to discuss." With that, he hurriedly bowed and left with his men, his back a bit disheveled.

Xu Shu returned to the camp safely, laden with supplies. Ma Chao had already been waiting anxiously in his tent. Seeing Xu Shu enter, Ma Chao immediately stood up to greet him, and asked with concern, "Yuanzhi, did the transaction go smoothly? What should we do next?"

Xu Shu smiled faintly and said confidently, "Rest assured, my lord. Everything went smoothly. As for the next step, in my opinion, now is the perfect time to prepare our forces and launch an attack on Zhang Xun."

"What?" Xu Huang's eyes widened when he heard it, his face full of confusion. His eyebrows twisted into the shape of the Chinese character "川". He couldn't help but ask loudly, "Mr. Xu, didn't we just ask Yuan Shu for supplies and agreed to a ceasefire? Why are we attacking again now? How can we ask for supplies in the future?" His voice echoed in the tent, with a bit of anxiety and confusion.

Lu Su shook his head slightly, a gentle smile on his face, and explained patiently: "Gongming, you don't know. We asked for supplies just to stabilize Yuan Shu and let him relax his vigilance. Now he thinks that we will abide by the agreement and temporarily cease fire after taking the supplies, and he will definitely not be on guard against us. We took this opportunity to launch a sudden attack and catch him off guard. This is the surprise attack in the art of war. The way to use troops is to combine the real and the fake. We cannot stick to superficial agreements, but need to consider the overall situation and strategic level." As Lu Su spoke, he pointed to the military map in the tent, pointed out the location of Zhang Xun's camp, and drew several lines to indicate the attack route, trying to make Xu Huang understand their strategic intentions more intuitively.

Xu Huang scratched his head and suddenly realized, "So that's how it is! Gentlemen are so wise. I just can't wrap my head around it for a while." He smiled naively, his face full of admiration for Xu Shu and Lu Su, and at the same time touched the back of his head with a little embarrassment.

Ma Chao looked at Xu Huang, shook his head slightly, but with a hint of expectation in his eyes, he said earnestly, "Gongming, you are a brave warrior, a rare and powerful general in our army. But marching and fighting requires more than just force; you also need to understand strategy. You should read more and study military books and strategies to improve your wisdom and strategy. Only then will you be able to adapt to changes on the battlefield and remain invincible."

Upon hearing this, Xu Huang immediately bowed and said sincerely, "My lord, I will remember your teachings in my heart. I will study hard in the future and live up to your expectations."

Ma Chao nodded slightly, a flicker of approval in his eyes. "Yuanzhi and Zijing are absolutely right. This time we must fight a swift and decisive battle, to intimidate Zhang Xun and dampen Yuan Shu's arrogance. Pass the order down; the entire army must immediately assemble and march towards Zhang Xun's camp tomorrow morning!"

"Yes!" Everyone responded in unison, their voices echoing throughout the tent.

Xu Huang interjected with a sly smile on his face, and said enthusiastically: "My lord, gentlemen, why don't we let the soldiers cook some delicious food tonight, kill cattle and sheep, and let everyone have a good meal. We will create an atmosphere of looseness on the outside and tension on the inside, so that Zhang Xun's army will think that after we get the supplies, they will forget themselves, indulge in comfort, and relax their vigilance. Tomorrow, when they are still asleep, we will descend like gods from the sky and attack Huanglong directly!" As he spoke, he waved his arms, as if he had already seen the scene of the enemy army being defeated.

Ma Chao's eyes lit up after hearing this, and he nodded in praise, saying, "Gongming, this is a brilliant plan! It not only allows the soldiers to have a good meal and recuperate, but also confuses the enemy. It's like killing two birds with one stone. Very good, very good, you've already used your brain after just saying it. Not bad."

Xu Shu also stroked his beard, his face appreciative. "Very good, Xu Huang's idea complements our strategy perfectly. This evening's feast will serve as a pre-battle reward for the soldiers, and also as a smokescreen to confuse the enemy. Send the word down, have the cooks prepare more ingredients, and ensure the soldiers enjoy a hearty meal. But also, secretly remind the commanders of each battalion not to let their guard down. The entire army must remain on alert and ready for battle at any time."

Lu Su added, "To make this illusion more convincing, we can also arrange for some soldiers to drink and have fun around the camp, talking and laughing loudly, deliberately letting the enemy scouts hear and see. But all actions must be carried out secretly and in an orderly manner, without revealing any flaws."

Everyone contributed their thoughts, further refining the battle plan. Xu Huang beamed with pride, his recognition invigorating him. He immediately followed orders and personally headed to the kitchen, directing the soldiers to prepare a sumptuous dinner. He then went to each battalion to relay orders, ensuring every soldier was aware of tonight's mission and tomorrow's battle plan.