Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Sun Ce suppressed his resentment and quickly reorganized his troops with Zhou Yu. Sun Ce barked out an order: "Men, listen carefully! Thoroughly inspect the battlefield, confiscate the enemy's weapons, provisions, and other spoils of war, and properly house the captives. No mistakes!" The soldiers obeyed in unison and set to work methodically. Zhou Yu, on the side, meticulously coordinated the troops, arranging for them to treat the wounded and ensure that everything proceeded in an orderly manner.

After finishing their duties on the battlefield, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu rode non-stop up the mountain. The path was muddy and slippery, but they ignored the rain soaking their clothes and walked at a brisk pace, eagerly anticipating their reunion with Ma Chao.

Once on land, they could see Ma Chao standing before the camp from afar. He stood tall and straight, clad in silver armor and a brocade robe that rustled in the wind and rain. Despite the hardships of the battle, he remained imposing. Sun Ce's eyes welled up, and he quickened his pace, calling out, "Brother!" Ma Chao turned, a delighted smile on his face.

Sun Ce and Zhou Yu quickly approached Ma Chao, and the three of them excitedly embraced. Sun Ce said with emotion, "Brother, this resounding victory was entirely thanks to you holding the enemy back on the mountain. This gave Gongjin and I the opportunity to defeat them in one fell swoop." Zhou Yu nodded in agreement, "Indeed, your perseverance at Baishan was crucial. Without you, this battle would not have been so successful."

Ma Chao looked at his two brothers with satisfaction and said, "When we brothers work together, we can achieve great things. This victory is our joint achievement." The three of them smiled at each other, their eyes full of joy at surviving the disaster and trust in each other.

After the battle, the camp was filled with jubilation. Soldiers cheered and ran around to tell each other about this hard-earned victory. Their faces were filled with the joy of surviving the ordeal. They hugged and high-fived each other, sharing the thrilling moments of the battle. The sound of their voices echoed for a long time.

Sun Ce, beaming, approached Ma Chao and cordially invited him, "Brother, let's go to Yuan Shu's flagship and celebrate this rare victory!" Ma Chao readily agreed, and together with Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, they headed towards the ship. Along the way, the soldiers saluted, their eyes filled with admiration and respect.

Upon boarding the main ship, a scene of opulence greeted them. Yuan Shu, known for his indulgences, had lavishly decorated the interior, with exquisite ornaments and ornate curtains, showcasing his extravagance. Sun Ce immediately ordered his men, "Hurry and prepare the feast! We must have a feast today!"

Soon, the table was filled with delicious food and wine. The generals gathered around, laughing and chatting, toasting their victory. After three rounds of drinks, a flicker of regret crossed Sun Ce's face. He sighed deeply and said, "Alas, what a pity! I had hoped to capture that old villain Yuan Shu alive, but the battlefield was so chaotic that he escaped!"

Zhou Yu put down his wine glass and said gently, "Don't worry too much, Bofu. Although Yuan Shu escaped this time, we won a great victory. We have severely damaged his main force. He will be unable to launch a counterattack in the short term."

Ma Chao also nodded in agreement: "Second brother and third brother are right. We have achieved such a great victory. There will be plenty of opportunities to deal with Yuan Shu in the future. Everyone must drink to their heart's content at today's celebration banquet!" Everyone responded and raised their glasses again. The main ship was filled with a lively and festive atmosphere again.

The atmosphere at the banquet grew increasingly lively, the aroma of wine and laughter intertwined in the air. Zu Mao and Huang Gai exchanged a glance, their understanding evident. They picked up their wine jars and walked towards Ma Chao with steady steps.

Zu Mao smiled heartily and said loudly, "General Ma, today's celebration banquet cannot be without this glass of wine!" Huang Gai also echoed, "Yes, General Ma, you and my master have a deep friendship, we all see it. Fighting side by side this time is even more exciting!"

Ma Chao quickly stood up, clasped his hands together, and replied with a smile, "You are too polite, Generals. It is my honor to fight alongside you!"

Zu Mao poured wine for Ma Chao while sighing, "When I first met General Ma, I felt his heroic spirit was extraordinary. These days, you have helped our lord, and we will always remember you."

Huang Gai raised his glass with a sincere look in his eyes: "This glass of wine is for General Ma. I hope we can work together in the future to create more brilliance!"

Ma Chao's eyes warmed slightly. He took the wine glass, clinked glasses with the two men, raised his head and drank it all in one gulp. He said, "Alright! Since you two have said this, if you need me, Ma Chao, in the future, please feel free to ask!"

The three of them looked at each other and laughed. The generals around them cast approving glances at them. Shamoke's face was flushed red, and it was obvious that he had drunk a lot. He could not contain his excitement and walked towards Ma Chao with big strides, still holding the wine glass tightly in his hand.

"Brother-in-law!" Shamoke shouted at the top of his lungs, his voice resounding even louder in the clamor of the main ship. Everyone glanced at him as he approached Ma Chao, his face a mixture of complaint and mockery. "You're such a busy man, fighting every day. It's so tiring! And yet, your own son is already born, and you haven't even met him yet. Tell me, how can this be?"

Ma Chao was stunned at first, then delighted and happy, his eyes slightly reddened. Before he could speak, Shamoke continued, "My sister was worried about you every day at home, and worked so hard to give birth to the child. And you, on the other hand, are fighting outside and haven't even seen your son."

Ma Chao, filled with guilt, quickly stood up, bowed deeply to Shamoke, and said sincerely, "Brother, I'm sorry. I've been so busy with the war these days that I've really neglected my family. When I return this time, I will definitely spend more time with them."

At this time, Xu Huang came over and jokingly said, "Alas, General Ma, this is also for the greater cause, and he has no choice! However, the child is born, and my lord must make good on his sister-in-law when he returns. Now that the battle is over, I will take my sister-in-law back to Xiliang and let her enjoy a peaceful life."

Everyone burst into laughter at Xu Huang's words, and Shamoke couldn't help but join in. He was convulsed with laughter, and after finally recovering, he reached out and patted Ma Chao's shoulder, his face teasing. "Since you're so sincere, I'll let you go this time. However, there's something else I need you to do."

Ma Chao was originally immersed in the laughter of the crowd, but upon hearing this, a look of surprise suddenly appeared on his face. He hurriedly said, "Brother, just say whatever you want. As long as it is something I can do, I will definitely do it!"

Shamoke's smile faded, his expression becoming more serious. "It's like this. We didn't dare to name your newborn son rashly, so we were waiting for you, their father, to come back and make the decision. You've been away fighting for years, so you can't miss this important event in his life."

Ma Chao's eyes suddenly turned red, his heart filled with emotion and guilt. He nodded vigorously, his voice trembling slightly: "Uncle, don't worry, I will pay attention to this matter. I owe too much to my family over the years. I will carefully consider the name of this child and choose the most meaningful one, which can be regarded as making up for my negligence as a father." After that, Ma Chao raised his head and drank the wine in the glass, secretly vowing that once the war is over, he will accompany his family well.

Lu Su suddenly stopped, his face full of curiosity, and asked Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, "General Sun, General Zhou, the generals are all celebrating victory today, but I've looked around for a long time, but I can't see Gan Ning. Where is he?" Lu Su glanced around, a hint of confusion in his eyes. After all, he and Gan Ning had spent a lot of time together in the Shanyue region with Ma Chao, and this friendship made him pay special attention to Gan Ning's movements.

Upon hearing this, Shamoke turned around, scratched his head and said, "Oh, yes! Why is Brother Gan Ning gone? I was just thinking of finding him to have a few more drinks!" He was full of confusion and shouted loudly, attracting the attention of many generals around him. Only then did everyone realize that Gan Ning was indeed nowhere to be seen.

Everyone looked at each other, a flurry of discussion ensuing. Sun Ce and Zhou Yu exchanged a glance, also bewildered. Sun Ce frowned, reminiscing, "During the battle, Gan Ning and his Jinfan Battalion were so powerful, they crushed the enemy. I saw their bravery with my own eyes. How come they're gone now?"

Zhou Yu stroked his chin, thought for a moment and then said, "Logically speaking, there is no reason for him not to come to the celebration banquet. Could it be that he is dealing with some urgent military affairs?" Everyone talked at once, but no one could make a clear statement. The originally lively banquet had a mysterious atmosphere because of Gan Ning's disappearance.

Just as everyone was puzzled and discussing, a chaotic sound of footsteps approached from outside the main ship, and the hatch creaked open. A damp breeze suddenly rushed in, and everyone turned to look, only to see Gan Ning striding in with his head held high. He was drenched, his clothes clinging to his body, his hair draped across his forehead in wisps, and his armor was splattered with blood. He exuded a strong aura of murderous intent, but his eyes were bright, his spirits were high, and his steps were filled with unconcealed excitement.

Shamoke rushed over first, laughing loudly, and stretched out his large hand like a palm-leaf fan, patting Gan Ning's shoulder heavily. He shouted in a hoarse voice, "Brother Gan Ning, you finally showed up! Everyone's been looking for you. Where have you been?"

Gan Ning just smiled mysteriously and didn't answer. At this time, Sun Ce also walked forward quickly, with a bit of curiosity and concern in his eyes, and asked: "Xingba, you are covered in water and blood, what have you been doing?"

Gan Ning did not respond to Sun Ce immediately. Instead, he walked straight through the crowd and came to Ma Chao. He knelt on one knee and said loudly, "My lord, Gan Ning greets you!"

Ma Chao was slightly startled, then revealed a relieved smile. He reached out and helped him up, saying, "Xingba, get up quickly. There's no need for us to be polite. You've made an indelible contribution to today's victory. But why do you look like this?"

When Gan Ning heard Ma Chao's caring words, he waved his hand nonchalantly, with a bit of pride on his face, and grinned: "Hey, these little injuries and waterlogging are nothing! My lord, don't worry about it." As he spoke, he deliberately shook his still wet clothes, splashing some water, which attracted the attention of people around him.

Then, he puffed out his chest, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Seeing that everyone's attention was drawn to him, Gan Ning's face was full of pride, his chest puffed out high, his eyes swept over everyone's faces one by one, and he deliberately shouted in suspense: "Do you know what I have been doing? I have captured a very important person!"

These words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves. Shamoke, the most impatient of all, rushed forward, grabbed Gan Ning's arm with both hands, and shook it vigorously: "My dear brother, stop beating around the bush. Who did you catch? You're driving me crazy!"

Zu Mao also echoed: "Yes, General Gan, don't make us anxious, tell us who it is."