Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Zhang Liao looked calm as he returned to his seat unhurriedly. He picked up the wine glass, bowed slightly, and said to Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, "Yunchang, Yide, to be honest, I feel really uneasy without my lord by my side. Many things were spinning in my mind, so it's inevitable that I've been delayed for some time. I hope you will forgive me." As he spoke, he raised his head and drank the wine in the glass in one gulp, trying to use the spicy taste of the alcohol to cover up his inner vigilance and uneasiness.

Upon hearing this, Guan Yu nodded slightly, still with a gentle smile on his face, and said, "Wenyuan's loyalty is admirable, but it's rare for us to get together today, so it's okay to relax occasionally." Zhang Fei waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "I just like drinking with straightforward people. Wenyuan, don't spoil our fun again!" After that, he filled himself a bowl of wine and drank it all.

The sounds of urging people to drink and laughter were heard again in the tent, but Zhang Liao's mind was not on the table at all. While dealing with everyone, he secretly paid attention to the movements around him.

Zhang Liao pondered to himself. It was still several hours before nightfall. Although Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were old friends reuniting after a long separation, the timing of their sudden arrival, accompanied by wine and food, was truly bizarre. Old friends usually arranged to meet up in advance, choosing a more convenient time. But they had just settled in, and they had arrived without warning. Was there some hidden agenda behind this?

But he quickly shook his head, trying to dispel these distracting thoughts. Ma Chao had just returned victorious, having fought with such illustrious victories along the way, making tremendous contributions to the emperor's stabilization of his regime. The court should have been rewarding him lavishly. Although the emperor harbored hostility towards Ma Chao, he wouldn't rashly attack such a meritorious official at this critical juncture, thus destroying his own country.

Since their triumphant return, Ma Chao and his companions have been filled with the joy and pride of having accomplished a great feat. For so long, they have fought bloody battles on the battlefield, risking their lives to quell rebellions for the imperial court. Their achievements are well known to everyone, from the court to the people.

In their minds, the emperor was always intelligent and cunning. Even if he was dissatisfied with them, he would not act rashly, considering their great contributions. After all, arbitrarily punishing meritorious officials would inevitably lead to public criticism. How could the emperor not understand the pros and cons? If he wanted to take action against them, he had to find an impeccable and convincing excuse. How could he just turn his back on them?

Once this idea was planted, everyone became careless.

However, they all seriously underestimated the emperor's unwavering determination to eliminate Ma Chao. Deep in the emperor's heart, Ma Chao's brilliant military achievements, his far-reaching reputation, and the ever-growing army under his command had become a force that could not be ignored. This was like a thorn in his side, making him unable to sleep or eat.

Since the emperor made such a decision, he had a set of plans that were well-connected and foolproof.

The emperor and Liu Bei secretly reached a tacit understanding, meticulously arranging the positions of both armies. Liu Bei's tents, seemingly randomly scattered, in reality subtly encircled Ma Chao and his men's camp, allowing Guan Yu and Zhang Fei to intervene at the last moment. The emperor calculated that Ma Chao and his men, brimming with pride and confidence, would relax their vigilance, and that their trust in Liu Bei and his brothers would lead them to overlook this seemingly ordinary yet veiledly murderous arrangement.

Guan Yu looked up at Zhang Liao, a subtle flicker of reluctance and conflict in his eyes. He knew Ma Chao was a brave warrior with immense merit for the court, yet now he was about to become a victim of this power struggle. But in an instant, that hint of reluctance gave way to a look of determination.

The emperor had solemnly promised his brother, Liu Bei, that he would not kill Ma Chao and would ensure that he would live out the rest of his life in comfort and comfort, a wealthy and comfortable life. Furthermore, Ma Chao now commanded a large army and held immense power. If he were allowed to develop unchecked, further upheaval at court would surely ensue, plunging the empire into turmoil.

While their plan, designed to put Zhang Liao and the others in a passive position, was hardly honorable and unmanly, Guan Yu felt it was all for the sake of peace and stability. This way, they could avert a potential crisis without resorting to war or bloodshed.

Even if Zhang Liao and Xu Huang later learned the truth and inevitably harbored resentment, Guan Yu considered this the best possible outcome. At the very least, it saved their lives, preventing them from being torn apart in the vortex of power struggles and facing a tragic end with their heads and bodies separated.

Guan Yu pondered this internally. He truly admired the abilities of Zhang Liao and Xu Huang. He had witnessed their heroic displays on the battlefield many times, their strategic planning and deployments. Even Guan Yu, a man of great pride, could not help but admire their courage and wisdom.

Guan Yu believed that if he could work with such heroes to serve the Han Dynasty, they would be able to create a prosperous era, protect the people, and ensure the prosperity of the Han Dynasty. This was far better than letting them follow Ma Chao in his fight against the imperial court and ultimately be wiped out in the flames of war.

Going to war would mean devastation, displacement, and the shattering of countless families. Working together, however, would ensure the well-being of all people and lay the foundation for the Han Dynasty's longevity. He sincerely hoped that once this crisis subsided, he would have the opportunity to persuade Zhang Liao and Xu Huang to put aside past grievances, prioritize the greater good, and join forces in the great cause of restoring the Han Dynasty.

This was the strategy Liu Bei and Guan Yu had discussed repeatedly in their tent, pondering over and over again before finally deciding on to delay Zhang Liao. They knew that both Zhang Liao and Xu Huang were rare generals, possessing both strategic and martial prowess, and held high prestige within the army.

Given the current situation, if no action was taken and the situation was allowed to develop, once a conflict broke out, Zhang Liao and Xu Huang, given their loyalty to Ma Chao, would undoubtedly have thrown themselves into battle without hesitation. However, facing the court's meticulously laid trap, they had no chance of success and would ultimately have lost their lives in vain.

Liu Bei and Guan Yu understood that this strategy was somewhat forced, and might even cause Zhang Liao and Xu Huang to be temporarily baffled and resentful upon learning the truth. However, it was the only way to buy time and slowly turn the tide. Once the dust settled and the facts became clear, they might understand their painstaking efforts. Even if resentment lingered, it was preferable to perishing on the battlefield and ending up completely wiped out.

Ma Chao was completely unaware of the quietly unfolding conspiracy against him. At that moment, he was in the capital, deeply moved by the grand ceremony commemorating the emperor's triumphal return. The people lined the streets, cheering like a surging wave, one after another, their enthusiasm threatening to overwhelm him.

Watching the grand spectacle before him, Ma Chao's heart surged with emotion, his thoughts racing. He secretly considered that once he had seen the Emperor, he would definitely offer his advice. He considered whether to request permission to return to Xiliang, where, with his familiarity with the border, he could quickly gather troops and eliminate the persistent threat, restoring peace to the people of Xiliang; or he could discuss with the Emperor his views on Yuan Shao and strategies for dealing with him.

Ma Chao saw the situation clearly. Yuan Shu had been defeated, and the once dominant faction had crumbled. While Yuan Shao still held vast territories, he was now isolated and powerless, unable to stir up any major disturbances. If he could inflict another fatal blow, completely crushing Yuan Shao, there would be no more major wars, and the people would live and work in peace. This would fulfill the earnest wishes of his mentor, Lu Zhi. As a student under Lu Zhi, he had often taught him to care for the world and the people, and now was the time to put those teachings into practice.

The emperor, displaying a warm and cordial attitude, had already dispatched orders for all civil and military officials to gather at the palace for a grand celebration. Upon Ma Chao's arrival, the emperor lavishly rewarded Ma Chao and his fellow meritorious officials in front of the entire court. He spoke earnestly, praising Ma Chao's bravery on the battlefield and his exceptional command, calling him a pillar of the court and a cornerstone of the nation. His words, filled with praise and affection, warmed the hearts of Ma Chao and his men, deeply appreciating the emperor's immense grace.

After conferring the rewards, the emperor smiled and ordered a banquet. Suddenly, the palace was ablaze with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the sound of stringed instruments filled the air. Table after table was filled with delicacies, and civil and military officials took their seats to celebrate the glorious victory of the Battle of Yangzhou. Everyone toasted each other, laughing and chatting incessantly. On the surface, the scene was one of joy and peace. However, no one noticed that beneath this bustling scene, undercurrents were quietly surging.

At the celebratory banquet held in his honor, the palace was ablaze with lights, the aroma of wine and delicacies permeating every inch of the air. Civil and military officials clinked glasses, laughter rang out, and the grandeur and excitement of the banquet were evident everywhere.

Ma Chao sat at the banquet, his mind preoccupied with the state of affairs. Just then, the emperor approached him, wine cup in hand, a warm smile on his face, and steady steps. Ma Chao immediately stood and bowed respectfully. The emperor patted him on the shoulder, indicating no need for formalities, then raised his glass in a toast.

Seeing the emperor's unusual behavior, Ma Chao didn't think much of it and drank the wine in one gulp. Taking advantage of this moment, he finally couldn't suppress his doubts and asked the emperor, "Your Majesty, with the great victory in Yangzhou, the situation in the country is becoming clearer. I wonder what the court will do next? What arrangements will be made for the war in Jizhou?"

The emperor smiled broadly, looking at Ma Chao gently. He spoke slowly, "Yuan Shao has already sent envoys to negotiate peace, demonstrating his willingness to obey the imperial orders. Since he has surrendered, why bother waging war if we can avoid conflict? After all, every war brings suffering to the people."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao felt a little puzzled. Previously, Yuan Shao had been maintaining his own army in Jizhou, maintaining a subtle standoff with the imperial court. His attitude had now changed so swiftly, a truly puzzling change. But since the emperor had spoken, he could not question it further. After all, he was solely concerned with the well-being of the people. As long as the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, all else could be put aside.

Ma Chao then saluted the emperor again and pleaded earnestly, "Your Majesty, since the court will not mobilize troops in Jizhou for the time being, I earnestly request to return to Xiliang. Western Liang is currently being invaded by foreign tribes, and the war has been ongoing for a long time, leaving the people in dire straits. I am willing to go to Xiliang to resolve this threat, relieve the court's worries, and bring benefits to the people."

The emperor wore a faint smile, saying nothing, yet his gaze slowly turned toward Liu Bei, seemingly filled with deep meaning. In that instant, the boisterous voices at the banquet seemed to fade into a distant, indistinct state beneath his silent gaze. The emperor's gaze was like a deep, tranquil lake, calm on the surface but surging beneath. The complex meaning contained within was truly elusive.