Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

However, even after Zhang Liao's army had settled in, he couldn't find peace. He paced back and forth within the tent, his brow knitted into a knot, his uneasiness growing stronger. Finally, unable to sit still any longer, he strode out of the camp.

The air outside was oppressive, like a heavy, wet cloth pressing against his chest. Zhang Liao walked slowly, his eyes scanning his surroundings warily. Everything seemed peaceful, yet he felt a sense of strangeness everywhere. Even the swaying grass and trees looked like hidden ambushes to him.

Back at the camp, Zhang Liao approached Xu Huang and Gan Ning and said gravely, "You two, I've always felt this place was eerie. Something's not right about it." Xu Huang waved his hand nonchalantly, saying with a smile, "Wenyuan, you're just overthinking it. We just arrived. What could possibly happen?" Gan Ning chimed in, "True. Perhaps you're just too tired from the journey and are overthinking it."

But Zhang Liao's heart remained tense. He ignored their pleas, leaped onto his horse, whipped his whip, and galloped to a high point. Gazing into the distance, his face instantly turned pale. He saw that his own camp was faintly surrounded by Liu Bei's forces. If anything were to happen, there would be no way to escape.

Zhang Liao was extremely anxious and immediately rode back. When he saw Xu Huang and Gan Ning, his voice unconsciously became hurried: "You two, we are surrounded! Liu Bei's camp has surrounded us tightly. If anything goes wrong, we will be unable to escape!" When Xu Huang and Gan Ning heard this, the smiles on their faces disappeared instantly, replaced by solemnity and shock. The atmosphere in the tent suddenly dropped to freezing point.

Just then, a message arrived from outside the camp: Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were arriving for a visit. Xu Huang glanced at Zhang Liao, whose expression remained stern, and offered his advice, "Wenyuan, perhaps, as I said, you're overthinking things. The camp must have been arranged this way because the Emperor perceives a close relationship between our lord and Envoy Liu. We've just returned victorious from such a significant military victory. Even if the Emperor truly harbored ulterior motives, how could Liu Bei do something so utterly outrageous?"

Gan Ning nodded in agreement. "Yes, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei are both renowned for their loyalty and righteousness. Their personal visit shows they harbor no ill intentions. It seems you've been worrying too much."

Zhang Liao frowned slightly, and after a moment's contemplation, he said, "That being said, I'm still feeling restless and uneasy. I can't quite find peace."

Xu Huang continued, "Wenyuan, the two of us are old acquaintances of Guan Yu, and we have a pretty good personal relationship. Now that they're here, we can take this opportunity to test them a little, perhaps allaying your concerns."

Gan Ning slapped his thigh and laughed heartily, "If that's the case, then why hesitate? Let's go meet them and we'll know the truth."

After the three men had made their decision, they straightened their clothes and hurried out of the camp to greet Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Thus began a meeting filled with hidden plots. The air outside the tent seemed to become increasingly solemn because of the impending confrontation.

Everyone hurried to the front of the camp to greet them. They saw Guan Yu and Zhang Fei with only a few personal guards, dressed in casual clothes, without a single piece of armor, and looking friendly. As soon as the two sides met, they exchanged warm greetings.

Guan Yu stroked his long beard and smiled as he addressed Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Gan Ning. "Wenyuan, Gongming, and Xingba, you are truly fortunate to have followed General Ma and achieved such remarkable feats. You have all worked hard and made great contributions. Just wait for the Emperor's commendation, and you will surely achieve even greater success in the future." Zhang Fei, grinning widely beside him, said, "Yes, we're all looking forward to celebrating with you all!"

Xu Huang smiled and replied, "Yunchang, Yide, you are too kind. We were merely fulfilling our duties. However, I have heard that you two followed Emperor Liu in the battles of Jizhou, achieving numerous military exploits and devoting yourselves to the Han Dynasty. You are truly heroes, and we admire you deeply!"

Afterwards, the crowd welcomed Guan Yu and Zhang Fei into the camp. Bringing with them fine wine and delicious food, they said with a smile, "Today we've come to visit old friends, and we're looking forward to getting drunk with you!" The tent was immediately filled with the aroma of wine, and the atmosphere seemed harmonious.

However, Zhang Liao remained wary. While pretending to chat and laugh with the others, he secretly observed Guan Yu and Zhang Fei's every move. He casually mentioned, "Our army has returned this time, and thanks to the Emperor's kindness, we have been arranged to camp adjacent to General Liu. However, we are new here and are not very familiar with the surrounding situation. Yunchang and Yide have been stationed here for a long time, so I hope they can provide us with guidance." He tried to elicit some information from the other party.

Guan Yu's face flushed upon hearing this. After all, they knew the emperor was planning to deal with Ma Chao, but his complexion, as red as a date, was barely noticeable. He paused, stroking his long beard, and said, "I had many conflicts with Lü Bu on the battlefields of Ji Province. We didn't get along very well, which is why our camps are so far apart. With General Ma's triumphant return, the emperor may be making these arrangements to prevent further conflict between us."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Fei's brows turned grey and he shouted in a hoarse voice, "Humph! That Lu Bu is a fickle villain! On the battlefield in Jizhou, he didn't put in any effort. Whenever there was a battle, he would cower and hide at the back, fearing that he would get hurt. How can he be a hero at all! If it weren't for the emperor, I would have gone to settle the score with him with my Zhangba Snake Spear!" After saying that, Zhang Fei slammed the table so hard that the wine cup on the table jumped up and some of the wine spilled.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao was secretly alert in his heart, but his expression remained calm. He picked up the wine glass, took a sip, and smiled to smooth things over: "Yide, don't say that. Lu Bu is a martial arts master, and he must have his own considerations on the battlefield." In fact, he knew in his heart that Zhang Fei seemed reckless, and these words might be an intentional test, or perhaps he was conveying some obscure message.

Xu Huang also hurried to smooth things over: "Yes, we all serve the court. Those misunderstandings in the past might just be coincidences. Now that we are stationed next to each other, we will see each other every day from now on. It is better to be on good terms."

Gan Ning laughed out loud, nonchalantly: "Who cares! Today we have good wine and heroes to accompany us, let's drink to our heart's content first!" After that, he raised his head and drank the wine in the glass.

Seeing this, Guan Yu also raised his glass and said, "Xingba is right. Let's not talk about those troublesome things today. Let's drink happily!" But his hand holding the glass was trembling slightly. This subtle movement was caught by Zhang Liao who had been paying attention to him.

Zhang Liao asked, trying to find out the news again: "Yunchang, from what you and Yide said, was Lu Bu really so terrible on the battlefield in Jizhou?" Guan Yu was slightly stunned when he heard this, and a hint of unnaturalness flashed in his eyes for a moment. This subtle change was keenly captured by Zhang Liao who was always paying attention to him.

In an instant, Guan Yu's expression returned to normal. He stroked his long beard and said, "Wenyuan, I know that you and Lü Bu once had a master-servant relationship. Lü Bu was your former master, so when I mention him, I am afraid that it will offend you."

Zhang Liao still harbored doubts, but after hearing Guan Yu's explanation, it seemed plausible. However, he was still troubled by Guan Yu's momentary quirk, feeling that something more was going on. While he remained composed on the surface, he secretly pondered the situation. He casually sighed a few words before raising his glass. Guan Yu also raised his glass, and their glasses clinked lightly in the air, making a crisp sound. They each took a sip, the wine sliding down their throats, but Zhang Liao had no intention of savoring it.

Xu Huang and Gan Ning, on the other hand, had no such thoughts. Xu Huang was known for his outgoing spirit, Gan Ning even more so, and seeing the atmosphere was lively, they engaged in a drinking contest with Zhang Fei. Zhang Fei abruptly stood up, grabbed the jar, and poured himself a full bowl, shouting, "Today is a rare day of revelry. Let's not go home until we're drunk!" Then, he tilted his head back and gulped down the entire bowl, the wine spilling from the corners of his mouth and soaking the front of his lapel.

Gan Ning was not to be outdone. He picked up the wine bowl and clinked it with Zhang Fei's, making a muffled "bang" sound. Then he tilted his neck back and drank it all in one gulp. At the end, he turned the bowl upside down to indicate that there was not a drop left, and laughed, "Good wine! More!" Xu Huang's face flushed red. He laughed and put his arm around Zhang Fei's shoulders. Holding the wine glass in his other hand, he shouted, "Yide, don't hide it. Today we must see who is better!" The four of them went back and forth, refusing to give in. For a while, the tent was filled with noise and calls for drinking.

Zhang Liao watched the lively scene, but he couldn't quite fit in. His gaze darted back and forth between Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Xu Huang, and Gan Ning, his mind constantly pondering the deeper meaning behind this series of events. The wine glass in his hand swayed slightly, and the wine rippled gently with it, just like his restless heart.

The more Zhang Liao thought about it, the more uneasy he felt. The wine sloshed in his cup, but he had no desire to drink any more. Taking advantage of the opportunity to go to the restroom, he hurried out of the tent and found the brothers Jiang Jiong and Jiang Xu.

As the night deepened, the surroundings were silent, broken only by the distant chatter of soldiers. Zhang Liao, his expression grave, lowered his voice, and addressed them, "Jiang Jiong, Jiang Xu, I have a feeling something is amiss. We must heighten our vigilance. Jiang Xu, you must hold the camp tightly and scrutinize anyone entering or leaving. Don't miss any suspicious signs. Report any signs of trouble immediately."

Then he looked at Jiang Jiong and said, "Jiang Jiong, select some elite cavalry and have them stand by in secret. Keep the horses well-fed and the men in armor, ready to respond to any emergency. This matter is extremely urgent and concerns the safety of our entire army. We must not take it lightly."

Jiang Jiong and Jiang Xu exchanged a glance, then bowed their hands in response, their gazes etched with determination. "Rest assured, General, we will do our utmost and will not let you down," Jiang Jiong whispered back, his voice soft but revealing undeniable determination.

After finishing his instructions, Zhang Liao took a deep breath, straightened his clothes, and pretended to be calm as he returned to the tent. The tent was still noisy. Xu Huang, Gan Ning, and Zhang Fei were still drinking, and Guan Yu watched with a smile.

As soon as Zhang Liao entered the tent, Guan Yu looked up at him and asked with a smile, "Wenyuan, I just went to the restroom. What took you so long? Did you get lost?" The tent was filled with the smell of alcohol and the candlelight flickered. Zhang Fei's face was flushed, and he was already a little drunk. Hearing Guan Yu's words, he also shouted, "That's right, that's right. We're so happy today, but you're spoiling the fun like this, Wenyuan. Why don't you just drink to your heart's content? Are you thinking my wine isn't strong enough?"