Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The news that Ma Chao was about to return to Chang'an was like a hammer, sending panic pounding through the tranquil court. Late that night, in a secret chamber deep within the imperial palace, candlelight flickered, its dim glow casting shadowy, multifaceted silhouettes on the walls. A heavy, oppressive atmosphere permeated every inch of the air.

Emperor Liu Bian sat high on the throne, his expression as cold as ice. His eyes, like sharp arrows, swept across the faces of everyone present. He then said in a deep voice, "Ma Chao has made outstanding military achievements. He now commands a large army and his power is growing. He also has frequent exchanges with Sun Ce. I deeply fear that he may harbor rebellious thoughts and endanger the Han Dynasty. I have decided to strike first. Everyone, obey my command!"

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone knelt on one knee in an instant, their movements in unison, and responded in unison: "We obey your orders!" The sound echoed in the secret room, but it could not conceal the tension and uneasiness mixed in it.

Liu Bian fixed his gaze on Wang Yue, Lü Bu, and Zhao Yun, his eyes brimming with undeniable authority. He issued an order: "Wang Yue, Lü Bu, and Zhao Yun, I command the three of you to unite against Ma Chao. With your martial arts skills, capturing him should be a piece of cake. Ma Chao is incredibly brave, so don't underestimate him. Make sure you strike him dead and capture him alive."

Upon hearing this, Lü Bu's face flushed instantly, his once heroic features contorting slightly with discontent. He abruptly stood up, clasping his hands together until his knuckles turned white from the strain. He shouted, "Your Majesty! With my martial arts skills, it's no problem for me to take on Ma Chao alone. Why would you need the combined efforts of Hero Wang and General Zhao? That's underestimating me. I can capture Ma Chao alone and present him to Your Majesty!" Lü Bu's eyes widened at this moment, burning with a mixture of resentment and pride. In his mind, his martial arts were unrivaled, and he didn't need anyone else's help to deal with Ma Chao. This order to join forces was a humiliation.

Wang Yue, dressed in black, wore a calm expression, his brows furrowed slightly, as if he were somewhat helpless at Lü Bu's impulsiveness. He clasped his fists respectfully and said, "Fengxian, Your Majesty must have carefully considered this action. Ma Chao's strength cannot be underestimated. It would be prudent to act together."

Zhao Yun knelt on one knee, his expression still solemn and determined. He just raised his eyes slightly, and his gaze quickly swept between Lu Bu and the emperor, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

Liu Bian's brows knitted tightly together, his expression growing increasingly serious. He looked at Lü Bu and said gravely, "Fengxian, I know you're a skilled warrior. But Ma Chao is no ordinary opponent. He's a man renowned for his bravery and countless feats on the battlefield. How can he be easily defeated? It's the saying, 'Even a lion fights a rabbit with all its might.' Never underestimate any opponent, let alone one as formidable as Ma Chao. Joining forces with Wang Yue and Zhao Yun will give you a greater chance of victory and ensure a foolproof outcome. This is for the sake of our country and our people. Don't argue any further."

Lü Bu's face paled and sank as he heard this. He clenched his teeth, his cheeks puffing out. He clenched and unclenched his fists, feeling resentful, but the emperor's words were sincere and reasonable, and he couldn't argue. He could only groan and clasp his fists, saying, "I will obey your majesty's command!" Even then, a hint of stubbornness and dissatisfaction still lingered in his eyes.

Wang Yue looked respectful and clasped his fists again to accept the order: "Your Majesty, rest assured. We will do our best to live up to Your Majesty's trust." After saying this, he lowered his head slightly, with a hint of determination in his eyes.

Zhao Yun knelt on one knee and said in a firm tone: "Your Majesty, I will do my best and will not refuse even if it means death." He raised his head and looked at the emperor with a firm gaze, his face stern, like a resolute mountain.

Liu Bian then turned his gaze towards Lü Bu and continued his orders: "Fengxian, select capable officers from your command to take charge of dealing with Ma Chao's guards. Ma Chao's guards are all elite warriors. You must fight swiftly and decisively, and never give them the opportunity to resist or call for help."

Lü Bu obeyed the order, a fierce look flashing across his face. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, revealing a cruel smile: "Your Majesty, don't worry. My generals are worth ten of Ma Chao's guards. We will definitely wipe out Ma Chao's guards in one fell swoop."

Finally, Liu Bian looked at Liu Bei and said meaningfully, "Lord Xuande, I will leave the fight against Ma Chao's army in your hands, along with your two brothers. With your loyalty and talent, I believe you can stabilize the situation. I will deploy elite troops to assist you. You must suppress Ma Chao's army without fail."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei's heart sank, a flicker of struggle and pain crossing his face. He slowly lowered his head, his brow furrowed, his hands unconsciously clenching the corners of his clothes. After a moment, he raised his head, clasped his fists, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty trusts me so highly that I shall be loyal to him. However, as Ma Chao and I were once fellow students, I cannot bear to engage him in battle. I hope Your Majesty will reconsider." Liu Bei's eyes were filled with earnestness and worry, as if he were caught in a dilemma.

Liu Bian frowned slightly, a flicker of displeasure flashing across his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure and said in a gentle voice, "Lord Xuande, I am reluctant to resort to military action, but Ma Chao's power is growing and has become a threat to the imperial court. I am concerned for the stability of the Han Dynasty. But don't worry, as long as Ma Chao is willing to submit, I promise not to harm his life and will ensure his wealth and prosperity for the rest of his life."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bei felt relieved and clasped his fists again to express his gratitude: "Your Majesty is wise, and I am relieved. I will do my best to avoid too many casualties. If we can persuade Ma Chao's soldiers to surrender and recruit them for the court's use, it will be a great blessing for the Han Dynasty." At this time, although there was still a hint of worry in his expression, there was also a bit of helpless relief.

The details of the operation, including the time and location, and troop deployment, were discussed for a while until dawn broke over the horizon, marking the end of the conspiracy that would determine Ma Chao's fate. Emperor Liu Bian watched the retreating figures, silently calculating the impending game. He firmly believed that with careful planning and the support of his ministers, he could completely eliminate this potential threat from Ma Chao and stabilize the Han Dynasty. Meanwhile, Ma Chao, unsuspectingly, led a mighty cavalry force, galloping towards Chang'an, about to step into the center of the turbulent and perilous court.

Ma Chao, leading 20,000 cavalrymen, finally arrived outside Chang'an after a long journey. Even before he approached, he could see from afar a forest of magnificent canopies and fluttering flags in front of the city gate, gleaming in the sunlight. Emperor Liu Bian, clad in magnificent dragon robes and exuding a noble aura, had been waiting there, surrounded by courtiers. Seeing this, Ma Chao was deeply moved and inspired. He quickly dismounted, carefully straightened his clothes, strode forward, knelt on his knees, and spoke in a loud and respectful voice: "Your Ma Chao, I have been ordered to return to the court. Long live the Emperor!"

Liu Bian's face was full of smiles. He stepped forward personally and helped Ma Chao up with both hands. His voice seemed to be full of enthusiasm, echoing in everyone's ears: "General Ma has made great achievements in the battlefield of Yangzhou this time. He is truly a pillar of our Han Dynasty! I specially went out of the city to welcome you today to show off your unparalleled achievements and to comfort the hearts of the soldiers!" Ma Chao thanked him and stood up. When he raised his eyes, he saw the admiration in the emperor's eyes. His heart was full of glory. He secretly thought that the emperor valued him so much, and he must make more contributions to the court.

At this moment, Liu Bei steadily walked out from among the court officials. Liu Bei and Ma Chao had once been fellow students, but now, in this complex court, their relationship had become more delicate. Liu Bei stared at Ma Chao with a sharp gaze, a seemingly friendly smile on his face, and said, "My dear brother, it has been many years since we last met. You are now a young hero with a great reputation. Your return this time is like a tiger returning to the mountains, adding a burst of vigor and vitality to the court." Liu Bei paused, narrowed his eyes slightly, and sighed seemingly casually, "But this officialdom is like the vast ocean, with unpredictable waves, and people's hearts are like autumn clouds, changing constantly. I wonder if my dear brother, in this turbulent world, can still maintain the pure sincerity of the past?"

Ma Chao was startled, but soon relaxed, viewing it as a greeting and concern from his senior brother. Recalling their past friendship, and being in this highly visible situation, Ma Chao maintained a calm demeanor, neither humble nor overbearing. He bowed and spoke clearly, "Senior brother, what are you saying? From the moment Ma Chao received the Emperor's grace and donned the armor, my heart has been solely devoted to serving the court, dedicating my life to the cause. This original aspiration, as witnessed by the sun and the moon, has never wavered." Ma Chao then met Liu Bei's gaze, unflinching. Liu Bei nodded slightly, his face still lightly smiling, but the scrutiny in his eyes remained.

Liu Bian smiled and stepped forward to smooth things over. He waved his hand and said, "Alright, alright. Both of you are my indispensable and trusted ministers, and our friendship is so deep. We should be happy to meet again today. There's no need for such awkward remarks." Liu Bian's expression was kind, and his gaze swept over Liu Bei and Ma Chao one by one. He continued, "General Ma, I have already made careful arrangements for your return. Your troops will be stationed near General Liu Bei's camp. You can look after each other and work together to ensure the safety of Chang'an."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao felt no suspicion, believing it to be a normal arrangement. He saw this arrangement as a sign that the Emperor was pleased with his campaign in Yangzhou and was allowing him and Liu Bei to support each other. He had no inkling of the sinister ulterior motives behind it. With this in mind, Ma Chao immediately clasped his fists and accepted the order, his voice booming, "Your Majesty is wise! I have no objection to this arrangement!"

At that moment, Xu Huang, Gan Ning, and Zhang Liao hurried to Ma Chao's side. Xu Huang frowned and whispered to Ma Chao, "My lord, the situation in the city is unclear. If we just follow him into the city, I'm afraid there's a trap. We'll take some elite troops with us to support us from behind. If anything goes wrong, they can also help you." Gan Ning echoed, "Yes, the emperor coming out of the city to greet us with such grandeur, I find it a bit strange." Zhang Liao nodded slightly, his expression solemn, "General, we must be cautious. It's better to be safe than sorry."

Ma Chao waved his hand and smiled confidently, "Don't worry, everyone. Wu Anguo and Pan Feng are highly skilled in martial arts and are loyal to me. With them by my side, ordinary villains can't get close to me. Moreover, I have my senior brother Liu Bei. We have a deep friendship in the same sect, and he will definitely protect me in this court. Don't worry, everything will be fine."

The procession slowly advanced into the city, the streets thronged with civilians, their voices blaring with cheers of "Long live the emperor!" Ma Chao, atop his majestic horse, held his ground with pride, his heart filled with the joy of returning victoriously to the court. He could never have imagined that while he had returned triumphantly, the emperor had already been secretly plotting against him, nor could he have imagined the dangers lurking in Chang'an.