Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Chao and Ma Dai, exhausted from the journey, finally arrived at Wancheng. Zhang Liao and his men had been waiting at the city gates for a long time. Upon seeing Ma Chao appear, they immediately knelt on one knee and shouted in unison, "Welcome, lord!"

Ma Chao quickly stepped forward and helped them up one by one. His eyes swept over the soldiers who had followed him, his eyes filled with relief and concern. He looked at Zhang Liao, Zhang Ren, Xu Huang, Jiang Jiong, Jiang Xu, as well as Lu Su, Xu Shu and others, nodding in greeting. They all bowed in greeting, their eyes full of respect for Ma Chao and their determination to follow him.

After everyone entered the city and settled down for a while, Ma Chao said to everyone with a solemn face: "General Zhang Ji has been loyal and righteous all his life, protecting the country and the people, and benefiting all directions. Now that I have come to Wancheng, I must go to pay homage to him to show my respect and remembrance." Everyone nodded with solemn expressions.

The group arrived at Zhang Ji's funeral hall, where the atmosphere was solemn and dignified, with white curtains hanging low. The air was filled with sorrow. Zhang Xiu, dressed in mourning clothes, had already been waiting in the filial son's seat. When he saw Ma Chao and the others enter, tears welled up in his eyes.

Just as Ma Chao was about to kneel and perform the ritual of three bows and nine kowtows, Zhang Xiu's aide Jia Xu stepped forward and stopped him, cupping his hands and saying, "Your Majesty is of high esteem. A simple bow will suffice. Such a grand ceremony is unnecessary."

Ma Chao's expression was solemn, his gaze firm as he responded, "Wenhe, General Zhang Ji and my father's generation were old acquaintances, and he was Ah Xiu's uncle. It is only fitting that I pay my respects with great ceremony. The deceased is the greatest, and this is the respect I owe General Zhang." Without further hesitation, Ma Chao slowly knelt, solemnly performing three bows and nine kowtows. His voice was low and firm, filled with reverence for Zhang Ji: "General Zhang, Ma Chao has come to pay his respects. I will never forget your kindness and care for me in the past. May your spirit rest in peace and protect the people of Wancheng."

Zhang Xiu was deeply moved by Ma Chao's pious expression. His eyes instantly turned redder, tears welling up in them. When Ma Chao stood up and walked over to him, Zhang Xiu held Ma Chao's hand tightly, his voice trembling as he said, "Brother, you have been so kind to my uncle. I will never forget this kindness. From now on, my life belongs to you. I will go through fire and water for you, no matter what happens!"

Then, Ma Dai, Zhang Liao and other generals came forward to pay their respects in turn. Everyone's expression was extremely solemn, expressing their remembrance and respect for Zhang Ji.

After everyone finished paying their respects, Ma Chao looked around and said with a firm gaze: "Although General Zhang has left, his spirit will always be with us. We must inherit his will, protect Wancheng, and let the people live and work in peace and contentment." Everyone responded in unison, their voices firm and powerful, echoing in the mourning hall for a long time.

After the sacrifice, Ma Chao and the others went to the side hall to rest for a while. Ma Chao looked at Zhang Xiu with concern and said, "Ah Xiu, before General Zhang Ji died, did he leave any instructions for his future? When will he be buried? Why hasn't he been buried yet?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiu's eyes reddened slightly. After a pause, he replied, "Before my uncle died, he wished his soul to return to Xiliang and did not want him to be buried in a foreign land. My uncle left a letter for my eldest brother." After that, Zhang Xiu took out the letter from his arms and handed it to Ma Chao with both hands.

Ma Chao took the letter and slowly unfolded it. It read, "My dear nephew Mengqi, I am writing to you. My time is drawing to a close, and I know my life is numbered. Reflecting on my half-life of military service, I am filled with emotion. Wancheng is a beautiful city, but it lies amidst a fortress of war, making it a difficult place for long-term peace. Over the years, I have been deeply grateful for your care and concern. I now entrust my brothers from Xiliang, who have followed me for so many years, and my nephew Zhang Xiu to you. I hope you can lead them back to their homeland in Xiliang and find a safe place to settle down. As for Wancheng, I am willing to return it to the imperial court for the sake of justice. I have lived an upright life, and I wish only for the prosperity of the Xiliang lineage and the safety of my brothers. I can rest in peace in the afterlife. My dear nephew is kind and will live up to my trust."

After reading the letter, Ma Chao was filled with emotion. He looked up at the people in the hall and passed the letter to them one by one. They took the letter in turn, their expressions gradually becoming solemn and respectful as they read the content.

After everyone finished reading, Ma Chao was the first to sigh with emotion, "Although General Zhang Ji has passed away, he still couldn't let go of the brothers who followed him through thick and thin. Before his death, he still thought of returning Wancheng to the court. He followed Prime Minister Dong throughout his life in battles across the country and across the battlefields. He is truly a hero!" He paused, his eyes slowly sweeping over the crowd, and then said, "Let's discuss what should be done next."

Zhang Liao stroked his chin, pondering for a moment before saying, "General Zhang's last wish was for us to return to Xiliang and return Wancheng to the court. However, the current situation is complicated, and the journey to Xiliang is long, so there might be unexpected events along the way. In my opinion, we should first send someone to Chang'an as fast as possible to inform the court of General Zhang's intention to return Wancheng, and then make further plans."

Zhang Ren nodded in agreement and added, "Wenyuan is absolutely right. At the same time, we must begin to reorganize our troops and prepare for the long march. Before the imperial court sends troops to take over, we must also strengthen the city's defenses to prevent surrounding forces from taking advantage of the situation and invading."

Lu Su gently waved his feather fan and spoke slowly, "Besides military arrangements, appeasing the people of Wancheng is also crucial. General Zhang has governed Wancheng for many years, and the people have deep feelings for him. We need to make it known to the people that the court will treat Wancheng well, so that they can feel at ease and avoid unrest."

Xu Shu's eyes sparkled as he analyzed, "Most of the brothers who came to Wancheng from Xiliang are homesick. Hearing they're going back to Xiliang will surely boost morale. However, we can't let this slacken military discipline. At the same time, we can select some generals familiar with Xiliang's terrain and plan the marching route in advance to ensure a foolproof process."

After listening to everyone's comments, Ma Chao nodded slightly and said gently, "Everything you say makes sense, but we still need to consult Ah Xiu about future major matters. After all, this is where he's been stationed for a long time, and most of General Zhang Ji's former subordinates are his trusted confidants."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiu's eyes reddened slightly. He immediately stepped forward, knelt on his knees, clasped his hands together and raised them above his head. He said excitedly: "Ever since I followed you, I have deeply felt that you are unparalleled in benevolence and righteousness, and have extraordinary strategy. Now my uncle has entrusted us to you in his will. I am willing to follow your lead and obey your instructions in everything!" After that, he kowtowed heavily.

Zhang Xiu's kneeling acted as a signal. Behind Jia Xu, the Hu Chier brothers knelt without hesitation, shouting in unison, "Greetings, Lord!" Their voices were unison and resounding. Jia Xu followed suit, lifting his coat and kneeling in obeisance, respectfully declaring, "I wish to serve you at my service!" For a moment, the atmosphere in the tent was solemn. This bow clarified the master-servant relationship and imbued Ma Chao with a sense of responsibility and trust.

Seeing this, Ma Chao hurried forward and helped everyone up one by one. His face was filled with emotion and relief. He said, "Thank you all for your trust. I will do my best to live up to your expectations. In this case, I think we should report this to the court first and see how they arrange it. We will then make a final decision."

Everyone nodded, except Jia Xu, who looked hesitant. After a moment's thought, he bowed and said, "My lord, I'm afraid this isn't a good idea. General Zhang Ji was once a subordinate of Prime Minister Dong. Although he later surrendered, this status is still somewhat sensitive to the court, and even carries suspicion of treason. In this situation, if we simply wait for the court's arrangements, I'm afraid there will be unexpected changes that will be disadvantageous to us."

Ma Chao frowned slightly, his eyes reflecting thoughtfully as he asked, "Wenhe's words make sense, but what should we do if we don't wait for the court's arrangements? If we return directly to Xiliang, we'll have to pass through Chang'an on the way. How can we avoid that? We still have to deal with the court, right?"

Just as everyone was lost in thought, brothers Jiang Jiong and Jiang Xu exchanged a glance, stepped forward, and Jiang Jiong clasped his fists and said, "My lord, while my brother and I were in charge of transporting grain, we always took the Hanzhong Road. This route has complex terrain, but it's well hidden and avoids Chang'an."

Upon hearing this, Jia Xu's eyes suddenly lit up, and he said eagerly, "That's great! Since this route exists, we can go directly back to Xiliang via Hanzhong, without having to go through Chang'an and avoid unnecessary complications. Firstly, our status is awkward, and passing through Chang'an is bound to cause trouble. Secondly, transporting General Zhang Ji's coffin is extremely inconvenient. If we take the Hanzhong route, we can save a lot of trouble."

Ma Chao bowed his head in thought for a moment, then weighed the pros and cons before slowly nodding. "Wenhe's plan is feasible. However, the road to Hanzhong is difficult and dangerous, so we must make thorough preparations in advance. Jiang Jiong and Jiang Xu, you two are most familiar with the Hanzhong route. From now on, you will lead the discussion with the other generals on the route and other matters, ensuring that everything goes smoothly."

Ma Chao's expression was resolute. He scanned the crowd with his gaze and announced loudly, "Since that's the case, the army should rest here for a while. Liu Biao has always coveted Wancheng, and I'm leading the army here now to intimidate him and deter him from even harboring any desire for Wancheng. As for your Majesty's ultimate plan for the disposal of Wancheng and who will manage it, that's not our concern." He paused, glanced around, and continued, "The army has traveled a long way, and the soldiers are exhausted. We can take this opportunity to rest and recuperate while we await your Majesty's next order."

Zhang Liao clasped his fists and replied, "Your Majesty, you are absolutely right. Liu Biao has always harbored ulterior motives, and with this massive army as a deterrent, I doubt he would dare act rashly. I will immediately arrange for the soldiers' rest and recuperation." Ma Chao's gaze was sharp, and he gave orders calmly and forcefully, "Since that is the case, everyone must immediately prepare for the return to Xiliang. The journey back is long and arduous, and every detail, including food and fodder supplies, marching routes, and personnel arrangements, must be carefully planned and thorough."

He paused slightly, his eyes filled with concern and worry, and continued, "Besides that, comforting the people of Wancheng is also of paramount importance. They are innocent, and our actions must not cause panic. Pass the order down; all officers and soldiers must strictly observe military discipline and not disturb the civilians. Arrange for someone to explain our movements to the people, telling them that the court will properly resettle Wancheng so they can live in peace. Do not let the people fall into panic."

Zhang Xiu then stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Brother, leave the task of comforting the people of Wancheng to me. I've been in Wancheng for many years and am quite familiar with the people. I will surely persuade them with both reason and emotion to put their minds at ease."

Jia Xu stroked his beard and nodded slightly. "My lord, you have considered everything. I will assist General Zhang in pacifying the people and make arrangements to ensure a smooth and uninterrupted return journey."

Ma Chao's face was filled with relief. He glanced at everyone in turn and said sincerely, "Alright, this is a complex matter, so I'm sorry to bother you all. Let's rest for a while in Wancheng, on the one hand to let the soldiers recuperate, and on the other hand to await the imperial decree."