Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

After delivering the supplies, Yuan Yin returned to Zhang Xun's camp. The atmosphere inside was gloomy. Zhang Xun sat at his desk, frowning as he looked at the empty inventory list. Seeing Yuan Yin enter, he couldn't help but complain, "Those food, fodder, and weapons are all our wealth accumulated over a long time. It's such a shame to just give them away to Ma Chao and his men!"

As a brother of Yuan Shu, Yuan Yin felt a sense of privilege and took a much more hawkish stance towards Zhang Xun than he had in Ma Chao's camp. He snorted, his face thick with disdain, and reprimanded, "How can a battlefield warrior like you understand the ingenuity of your brother's strategy? Sending these supplies will only create suspicion and resentment between Ma Chao and the imperial court. Once they start to unravel, we'll be able to reap the benefits, and we'll gain far more than just these supplies."

When Zhang Xun heard such a scolding, he was not angry at all. Instead, he smiled and immediately stood up, bowed and said flatteringly: "Mr. Yuan is absolutely right. I am short-sighted and only see the loss in front of me. Mr. Yuan and my lord are extremely wise and far-sighted. How can I compare with them? I just look forward to seeing that guy Ma Chao being punished by the court as soon as possible, so that we can vent our anger." As he said this, he took a step forward and brought a chair for Yuan Yin, with a very attentive look on his face.

Seeing this, Yuan Yin nodded in satisfaction, sat down, picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and continued, "Next, we just need to keep our troops in place and keep a close eye on Ma Chao's movements. The imperial court will certainly not let this go if they learn of this. Ma Chao is already busy with his own affairs, so how could he have the energy to fight us? During this period, you must strengthen the defense of the camp and not let your guard down. Don't let Ma Chao take advantage of any loopholes."

Zhang Xun nodded quickly and said, "Don't worry, Lord Yuan. I have deployed heavy troops to guard every checkpoint and patrol day and night. If Ma Chao dares to come, he will never return. However, this waiting period is truly agonizing. I sincerely hope that this matter can be resolved soon."

Yuan Yin put down the teacup, leaned back in the chair, closed his eyes and rested, looking confident: "Why are you in such a hurry? Haste makes waste. Be patient, the real show has just begun." After that, the tent fell into a brief silence, with only the candlelight swaying gently, as if foreshadowing the upcoming changes.

At dusk, a scout rushed into the camp, knelt on one knee, and reported urgently, "Generals, there's a great deal of activity and jubilation over at Ma Chao's camp. They're slaughtering cattle and sheep, and the soldiers are sitting in a circle, their faces beaming with satisfaction, filled with laughter and chatter. It's like a grand festival."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yin was stunned for a moment, then his lips curled up in a burst of unbridled contempt. "Hmph, look at this Ma Chao, just as I expected. After getting a few supplies, he acted like a starving beast that finally saw food, eager to devour it. This behavior is absolutely stupid. These supplies are just bait, but they've completely lost their minds, throwing away even the most basic vigilance, completely paralyzed."

Zhang Xun laughed heartily, his expression growing more mocking, as if he were watching a group of farcical actors. "They're just humble folk from Xiliang, born into humble circumstances and with limited experience. They've never seen the real world. They're used to living in poverty, and now that they've gotten this little benefit, they've become unbridled and completely undisciplined. Our Yuan family, with three officials for four generations, is a prestigious clan with a deep foundation and immense power. How can they even begin to compare? In our eyes, they're nothing more than a bunch of unremarkable clowns, not worth mentioning at all."

Yuan Yin nodded slightly, his expression filled with complacency and arrogance, a sinister glint in his eyes. "That's right. They thought they could rest easy with these few supplies, but they didn't realize that this was precisely the beginning of their own downfall. The imperial court's majesty cannot be challenged. Once this matter is discovered, the wrath of the emperor will descend, and even Ma Chao, with his extraordinary abilities, will find it difficult to withstand it. We can only sit back and wait for good news, watching how he struggles amidst these crises and ultimately meets his downfall."

Zhang Xun quickly echoed his words, a flattering smile plastered across his face. "Mr. Yuan's words are absolutely true; they speak to me like a revelation. In my opinion, Ma Chao is doomed this time; his downfall is only a matter of time. Once the imperial court has dealt with him, we will seize the opportunity and strike with lightning speed. We will surely pacify Runan in one fell swoop, achieving unparalleled feats. Then, our lord will surely reward us handsomely."

As he spoke, Zhang Xun's eyes rolled, and an idea suddenly popped up in his mind, and the smile on his face became even wider: "Mr. Yuan, since Ma Chao and his men are so lax, there is nothing to be afraid of. I have specially prepared generous gifts tonight, as well as fine wine and delicacies that I have collected for many years. You have come back from a long journey and have worked hard all the way. This is a good opportunity to relax." Yuan Yin was already dazzled by the illusion of victory, and could not withstand Zhang Xun's repeated persuasion. Thinking that Ma Chao's camp was not to be feared, he readily agreed.

As night fell, the tents were brightly lit. Zhang Xun respectfully presented Yuan Yin with gifts, a treasure trove of rare and valuable items. The two men then sat opposite each other, a table laden with delicious food and wine. Zhang Xun urged him to drink, his words earnestly: "Mr. Yuan, this glass of wine is for you. Thank you for your valuable advice and contributions." Yuan Yin, lost in the compliments, drank one glass after another.

After three rounds of drinking, Yuan Yin's face was already flushed, his eyes blurry, and his consciousness was beginning to blur. His body swayed with laughter, his usual caution and vigilance completely gone, all precautions thrown to the wind. Meanwhile, outside the tent, the night was deep and all was silent, as if an endless crisis was hidden, waiting for these two careless people who underestimated the enemy to face the impending storm in their drunken dreams.

At dawn the next day, the sky was still dark, the thick darkness still lingering, a faint glimmer of dawn glimmering on the horizon. Ma Chao, clad in silver armor, shone with a chilling gleam in the dim morning light, resembling the image of a god of war. The Xiliang steed beneath him pawed its hooves and neighed deeply, as if it, too, was excited for the coming battle.

Behind Ma Chao, the Xiliang cavalry formed a neat formation, each man on the alert, fully armed. Their faces were etched with determination, their spears tightly gripped, their tips gleaming coldly pointed skyward, as if declaring to the heavens their unwavering resolve for victory. Their horses, clad in heavy armor, revealed only their piercing eyes and rasping nostrils. To ensure silence, each horse held a copper ring in its mouth, preventing any noise that might alert the enemy.

Ma Chao's eyes were like torches as he scanned his soldiers. He said in a deep voice, "Brothers, today is the day for us to show off our strength! Yuan Shu thought he could paralyze us with some supplies, but he didn't know that this was the beginning of their downfall. Follow me and destroy Zhang Xun's camp!" As soon as he finished speaking, he swung the spear in his hand forward, and the action was like lightning that cut through the darkness.

Xu Huang took the lead, the long axe in his hand flashing with cold light, and roared loudly: "Kill!" His voice resounded like a bell, stirring the blood of the soldiers.

Gan Ning followed closely behind, his broadsword clanging loudly, his eyes filled with ferocity and determination, as he shouted, "Let these bastards see how powerful we are!"

Led by Ma Chao, the Western Liang cavalry charged like a black torrent, charging towards Zhang Xun's camp. The clatter of their hooves was like thunder, shaking the earth as if a mighty army were charging forward. In the blink of an eye, they reached Zhang Xun's camp.

The soldiers guarding the camp were still immersed in their sleep when they were awakened by the sudden shouts of killing and the earth-shaking sound of horse hooves. They were immediately thrown into chaos. Some soldiers frantically picked up their weapons without even having time to put on their armor; others fled in all directions, completely unsure of how to respond.

Seeing this, Ma Chao sneered, "Zhang Xun, today is your death!" He then charged into the enemy camp, brandishing his spear with a flash of cold light. Wherever he went, the enemy fell. Under his leadership, the Western Liang cavalry, like a tiger among a flock of sheep, launched a violent and violent attack on Zhang Xun's camp.

Zhang Xun and Yuan Yin were still groggy from their hangover headaches when they were awakened by the deafening shouts and frantic footsteps outside. They both leaped from their couches, frantically donning their armor. Yuan Yin's face paled, his voice trembling, "What's going on? How dare Ma Chao come?" Zhang Xun was also terrified, but his instincts, honed from years of battle, helped him calm down quickly. He roared, "What's the panic? Rally the troops!"

They stumbled out of the camp, only to find it in chaos. Soldiers were fleeing in all directions, and the front line had been shattered by the Xiliang cavalry. The camp was on fire, and the smoke was so thick that it was blinding. Fortunately, the army was continuous and deep, and the troops in the rear had not yet completely fallen apart. Zhang Xun and Yuan Yin fought with all their might, shouting at the top of their lungs, and finally managed to stabilize the camp.

At this moment, Ma Chao led the charge, darting through the enemy lines like a bolt of black lightning. His silver spear flew up and down, flashing with cold light, and each thrust was accompanied by screams of agony from the enemy. Xu Huang wielded his massive axe, knocking the enemy's weapons flying and throwing them to the ground. Gan Ning, wielding his broadsword, slashed left and right, his blade flashing and piercing, striking fear into the enemy's hearts.

The Xiliang cavalry, working in close coordination, weaved in and out of the enemy lines in small groups, moving unhindered. Their unstoppable momentum threw Zhang Xun's forces into disarray. Zhang Xun watched helplessly as his men were beaten back, utterly distraught, yet unable to organize an effective counterattack.

Seeing their goal achieved, Ma Chao gave up the fight and shouted, "Retreat!" The Xiliang cavalry immediately retreated like a tide. They quickly regrouped and, before the enemy could react, had vanished into the distance. Zhang Xun's camp was left in ruins, littered with enemy corpses and scattered weapons, and wounded soldiers groaned in pain on the ground.

Zhang Xun looked at the direction where Ma Chao left, his eyes red, and he gritted his teeth and said, "Ma Chao, I will not be a human being if I don't avenge this!" Yuan Yin slumped to the ground, his face full of frustration and deep regret. He didn't expect that his underestimation of the enemy would cause the army to suffer such heavy losses.

Yuan Yin was filled with shame and anger, his face flushing red as if blood could drip out. He was consumed by anger and resentment. He stared at Ma Chao's departure, his hands clenched tightly into fists, veins bulging on the backs of his hands, as if he was about to rush over and devour Ma Chao alive.