Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Liu Bei watched Lü Bu's receding figure, his heart a whirlwind of emotions. He tried to maintain composure, yet a flicker of barely concealed worry flickered in his eyes. He knew that things had completely deviated from his expectations, completely out of his control. Originally, he had intended to weaken Ma Chao's military power and bring his generals under his command to the imperial court, but he had never imagined that the ultimate outcome would be Ma Chao's death. And judging by the current situation, it seemed difficult to win over Ma Chao's generals.

Liu Bei couldn't bear to watch these talented generals. They had just made great contributions to the imperial court in Liang Province. How could such brave men be so easily wiped out? After pondering for a long time, Liu Bei couldn't help but speak: "Your Majesty, although things have deviated from our original intention, I still want to recruit them. After all, I have a friendship with Ma Chao's generals, so it is best to persuade them to surrender if possible."

The emperor was exhausted and once again annoyed. It was already midnight. He waved his hand and said, "All ministers, please withdraw. Uncle, this matter is up to you. But I have only one request: Either make them serve me, or kill them where they are. Remember, if you don't remove the grass at its roots, it will grow again in the spring breeze. If they don't surrender today, they must be destroyed. Otherwise, they will return to Xiliang and become a serious threat in the future."

Liu Bei then asked, "What should be done with Lu Wan, Dian Wei, and Li Tong? Will you allow me to take them back with me?" The emperor inquired, "How do you plan to arrange their placement?" Liu Bei replied, "Lu Wan's status is special; we will allow her to return to the Lu residence. We will also place Dian Wei and Li Tong in the Lu residence. Since they are in Chang'an, I don't think they will cause any trouble." The emperor, feeling less interested, waved his hand and said, "Forget it. Let your uncle make the final decision."

Liu Bei left the palace, his heart brimming with worry, his steps hurried. The battlefield situation was uncertain, the outcome hanging in the balance; the slightest misstep could mean total loss. He knew every second was precious, and dared not waste even a moment.

Looking up and seeing Jian Yong standing by not far away, Liu Bei immediately waved him over and ordered solemnly: "Jian Yong, you will immediately lead a team of soldiers to escort Lu Wan and the injured Dian Wei and Li Tong to Lu's mansion. Be sure to be careful. When you arrive at the mansion, immediately ask the best medical officer in the city to treat them. There must not be any mistakes!" After receiving the order, Jian Yong quickly organized the soldiers and carefully escorted the three away.

After making all the necessary arrangements, Liu Bei mounted his horse and hurried anxiously toward the battlefield outside Chang'an. Along the way, the sound of hooves clattered, stirring up clouds of dust. Visions of the bloodbath resurfaced in Liu Bei's mind, his brow furrowed as he silently prayed that the situation wouldn't get too dire.

Lü Bu galloped onto the battlefield, the first to arrive. Clad in chain mail and wielding his painted halberd, his Red Hare neighing incessantly, he led his elite army into the battlefield like a surging black tide. In an instant, yellow sand filled the air, and the cries of battle were so deafening that they stung the ears.

On the battlefield, Ma Chao's generals Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Gan Ning were locked in a fierce battle with Liu Bei's Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. Guan Yu's face was as red as a date, his eyes wide with anger as he wielded his Green Dragon Crescent Blade with a ferocious swiftness, the blade flashing and chilling. Zhang Fei, with his leopard-like head and rounded eyes, roared like thunder, his Zhangba Snake Spear impenetrable, each thrust packed with immense force. Zhang Liao was steady and resolute, Xu Huang was brave and resolute, and Gan Ning was agile and versatile. The three worked in perfect harmony, matching Guan and Zhang's strength to a point where they were evenly matched.

Lü Bu, observing the chaotic scene, was consumed with anxiety, knowing that if this continued, casualties would only mount. He suddenly shouted, his voice resounding like a bell: "Stop!" He clamped his legs against his Red Hare and, like a flash of red lightning, charged into the heart of the battle. He swung his Fang Tian Hua Ji rapidly, its shadows etched in sharp arcs, forcing the others to retreat and separate.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei breathed a sigh of relief when they saw Lü Bu intervene. Guan Yu calmly lowered his Green Dragon Crescent Blade and glanced at Zhang Fei. Zhang Fei understood and shouted at the top of his voice, "Hmph, for Lü Bu's sake, we'll hold our ground!" He quickly directed his men to steady their position and regroup.

Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Gan Ning, though all highly skilled in martial arts and commanding the troops with brilliance, were already finding it difficult to withstand the fierce adversaries Guan Yu and Zhang Fei. The battle was raging, and while their troops were exceptionally skilled, Liu Bei's superior numbers and strength gradually became apparent, overwhelming them. Seeing Marquis Wen Lü Bu charging forward at the head of a mighty force, they knew they had no chance of victory in a head-on confrontation.

However, their hearts were filled with worry about Ma Chao. With their commander's fate hanging in the balance, how could they easily retreat? After a brief discussion, the three generals quickly regrouped, boosting the soldiers' morale and planning another charge, hoping to carve out a bloody path and uncover Ma Chao's situation.

At this moment, before Liu Bei could take any action, Lu Bu had already arrived in front of the battle formation on his Red Hare, which could travel a thousand miles a day, and shouted loudly: "Stop attacking! Wenyuan, come out and answer!" His voice was loud and powerful, resounding throughout the battlefield like a bell. For a moment, the shouting and killing sounds were all stopped.

Zhang Liao felt a wave of embarrassment as he watched his former master, Lü Bu, call upon him before the battle line. But he knew he had acted with integrity and a clear conscience, so he rode his horse to the front without hesitation. Fearing Zhang Liao might be in danger, Xu Huang and Gan Ning followed closely, one on each side. The three of them approached the battle line side by side.

Zhang Liao raised his hand in greeting, his expression calm and composed. He said, "General Lu, are you here today to try and stop us?" Looking at Zhang Liao, Lü Bu recalled the past, when Zhang Liao was still his subordinate, yet now he seemed so distant. He couldn't help but sigh, and said meaningfully, "Wenyuan, you look even more impressive today than before. I guess you're enjoying life under Ma Chao. You don't even feel the slightest bit of guilt meeting your former master."

Zhang Liao looked calm and responded neither humbly nor arrogantly: "General Lu, we both know what happened in the past. Why mention it again? I am indeed at ease under my lord's command. I, Zhang Liao, will do my best to honor my lord. Today, we each serve our own master. I hope General Lu will not stop me." After saying this, he looked at Lu Bu with a firm gaze, without any intention of retreating, and exuded an inviolable aura.

A teasing smile appeared on Lu Bu's lips, and he said slowly: "Wenyuan, you have always been meticulous and resourceful. I have come all the way from Chang'an, and you can't guess what the outcome will be?" As soon as these words came out, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Gan Ning's hearts suddenly tightened.

Xu Huang was so anxious that he couldn't help but shout, "Lü Bu! Stop trying to hide this. Since you've come all the way from Chang'an, tell me what's become of my lord."

Lü Bu threw back his head and roared with laughter, the sound echoing across the battlefield with a particularly harsh tone. "Ma Chao was a splendid hero, yet I never imagined he would go mad and perverse over a woman. At the Emperor's celebration banquet, all because of Empress Lu Wan'er, he dared to attack the Emperor and attempted to assassinate him. Now, Ma Chao has been slain by us. You old subordinates, surrender quickly and refrain from any further futile resistance."

Hearing what Lu Bu said, Zhang Liao, Xu Huang and Gan Ning were shocked and stood there in a daze.

Zhang Liao was the first to come back to his senses. His brows twisted into the shape of a "川" character and he shouted sternly: "Lu Bu, don't lie to me! My lord Ma Chao is an unparalleled martial artist and has few rivals in the world. How could he die in your hands so easily? You just want to use such lies to disrupt the morale of my army and force us to surrender!" After that, he suddenly drew out his sword, the blade flashed with a cold light, and pointed it at Lu Bu, his eyes full of anger and questioning.

Xu Huang's face flushed crimson, like a ripe tomato, veins bulging on his forehead. He slammed his axe into the ground, creating a small dent. He roared, "Lü Bu, do you take me for three-year-olds? I've followed my lord for years and know his abilities well. If you can't produce any concrete evidence, don't even think you'll convince us today. I'll chop you, this bastard, into pieces!" His voice was like thunder, piercing the ears of the surrounding soldiers.

Gan Ning's eyes instantly bloodshot, like an enraged beast. He swiftly unhooked the bow from his back, nocked an arrow, and aimed it straight at Lü Bu's throat. The bowstring, stretched into a full moon, creaked. His eyes widened as he roared, "Lü Bu, if you dare to lie again, I'll send you flying with this arrow! How could my lord, a man of unparalleled bravery, fall so easily to your clutches? If you don't explain yourself today, I, Gan Ning, will fight you to the death, even at the cost of my own life!" His rage seemed to freeze the air around him, thick with the smell of gunpowder.

Guan Yu and Zhang Fei were both stunned by Lü Bu's words, their eyes filled with disbelief. Guan Yu's hand, which had been stroking his long beard, paused mid-air. His eyes widened, his brow knitted into a knot. He said in a deep voice, "How could such a thing happen? Big Brother only said he wanted to weaken Ma Chao's military power. How could it have escalated to this point? Ma Chao actually ended up dead!" His tone was filled with shock and confusion.

Zhang Fei widened his eyes and opened his mouth wide, almost dropping the Zhangba Snake Spear in his hand. He stamped his feet in anxiety and shouted at the top of his voice: "How is this possible? That's not what big brother said at the beginning! Ma Chao is a martial arts master and a hero. I, Zhang Fei, have always admired him. How could he..." His face was full of anxiety and anger, and veins bulged on his forehead. It was obvious that he could not accept this cruel fact.

The two exchanged glances, seeing the same shock and bewilderment in each other's eyes. They had always admired Ma Chao, and his bravery and generosity had left a deep impression on them in their past battles and interactions, inevitably fostering a sense of closeness. Now, Ma Chao's sudden death was too shocking a result for them to process, feeling that events had far exceeded their imagination.

Lü Bu was uninhibited, throwing back his head and laughing heartily. His laughter was unbridled and resounding across the battlefield. "Speaking of Ma Chao's abilities, we were on par with each other back then. But he absolutely shouldn't have dared to be so presumptuous in front of the Emperor. Hey, if it were just me, I might not be able to do anything to him. But what if we were joined by Wang Yue, the leader of the palace guards, and Zhao Yun, the general who protects the Emperor? With the three of us joining forces, even if Ma Chao had nine lives, it would be useless!" As Lü Bu spoke, he proudly brandished the Fang Tian Hua Ji in his hand. He looked so arrogant, as if he was showing off his illustrious military exploits to everyone. The Red Hare seemed to sense his master's arrogance, neighing with its head raised and its front hooves raised high, splashing a cloud of dust.