Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Zhang Liao, Xu Huang, and Gan Ning led the remaining troops, riding non-stop, their hearts consumed by the flames of hatred. They fled without looking back, only stopping exhausted when they were sure there were no more pursuers.

As they recovered and counted their men, the sight before them made their hearts sink. The mighty 20,000 Xiliang cavalrymen who had set out had now dwindled to fewer than 10,000. The soldiers were covered in dust and tattered clothing, many still wounded. Blood had left horrifying streaks on the parched earth. Recalling the brutal battle of last night, the cries of killing and the clashing of weapons still rang in their ears. With each fallen brother, their anger and grief intensified.

Several people sat in a circle, solemnly discussing their next move. Zhang Liao, his brow furrowed, spoke first, "We are severely weakened now. Chang'an must be heavily guarded. Forcing our way in is undoubtedly a dead end." Xu Huang pounded the ground hard, gritting his teeth and saying, "I simply cannot let those bastards go! We must avenge our lord!" Gan Ning's eyes flickered, and after a moment's contemplation, he said, "In my opinion, we should first go to Zhang Lu's territory in Hanzhong and use it to return to Xiliang. Xiliang is our foundation. Only by returning and gathering our old troops can we have enough strength for revenge."

Zhang Liao and Xu Huang exchanged a glance and nodded in agreement. Zhang Liao sighed, "This is the only way. However, I find it difficult to tell everyone about our lord's tragic death." A heavy heart weighed on the three men. The thought of facing the grief and anger of the people of Xiliang upon learning of Ma Chao's death weighed heavily on their hearts. But the desire for revenge, like an unquenchable fire, burned brightly within them, sustaining them as they pressed on.

After a brief rest, they regrouped their remaining forces and marched towards Hanzhong. Along the way, the soldiers remained silent, their eyes etched with determination and resolve. They knew the journey would be difficult and arduous, but to avenge Ma Chao and seek justice for their fallen brothers, they would not retreat, even if the path ahead was filled with danger.

Even before daybreak, the palace was bustling with activity, eunuchs clutching lanterns hurried along the palace roads. Uncharacteristically, the emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, a stern expression on his face, his sharp gaze scanning the empty halls as he awaited the start of the court session, eager to learn the outcome of the Ma Chao rebellion.

Elsewhere, Lü Bu stood before a mirror, carefully examining his appearance. After confirming there were no flaws, he turned to look at the forged "Ma Chao head" in the brocade box beside him. He took a deep breath, closed the box with his own hands, and strode out of the room.

Outside the palace gates, Lü Bu mounted his Red Hare, his personal guards behind him carrying a brocade box containing a fake head, and they galloped towards the palace. On the streets, the common people had not yet awakened from their sleep; only the sound of their horses' hooves echoed in the silence.

In the court, ministers arrived one after another, whispering and discussing. The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his brow furrowed, his eyes revealing a hint of anxiety. Finally, Lü Bu strode into the court, holding the brocade box in both hands. He glanced triumphantly at Liu Bei standing nearby and shouted, "Your servant, Lü Bu, has fulfilled your mission and has slain the traitor Ma Chao!" Liu Bei, though grimacing, remained calm and observed the events silently.

The ministers fell silent instantly, their eyes fixed on the brocade box in Lü Bu's hand. The emperor sat up straight and said in a deep voice, "Open it and present it to me."

Lü Bu slowly opened the brocade box and held the fake head high. Two eunuchs quickly stepped forward, took the box, and carefully presented it to the emperor. The emperor looked at the "head" and his brows furrowed even deeper, a subtle hint of doubt flashing across his face.

The emperor stared at the "Ma Chao head" before him, a wave of indescribable doubt welling up in his heart, his brows knitted into a deep frown. Although the head bore some resemblance to Ma Chao, the emperor felt something was amiss, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

In this moment of silence, Wang Yun, his face filled with righteous indignation, quickly stepped out, clasped his hands together, and bowed respectfully to the emperor. He then spoke loudly, "Your Majesty, the body of the traitor Ma Chao has been soaked in the river water all night, so it's normal for it to have changed slightly." He then changed the subject, suddenly leaning sideways, pointing his finger at Liu Bei, and said in a stern voice, "But the truly outrageous thing is that Liu Bei, as a minister, completely disregarded Your Majesty's orders! Yesterday on the battlefield, he openly released Ma Chao's former subordinates, allowing these rebels to escape. His heart is mortal, and his crime deserves punishment!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the court erupted in an uproar, with ministers whispering and discussing the matter. Some looked surprised, unable to believe Liu Bei was so bold; others looked thoughtful, as if considering the truth of Wang Yun's words; and still others secretly studied the emperor's face, trying to glimpse a hint of his divine will.

Liu Bei looked calm. He took a step forward calmly and said with a bow, "Sir Wang, please don't speak carelessly. What happened yesterday was not as simple as you said." Before Liu Bei could continue, Wang Yun jumped out and interrupted, "Liu Bei, the evidence is irrefutable. Do you still want to quibble? Disobeying the imperial order and letting the traitor go is a serious crime. You must give an explanation to His Majesty today!" The two of them were at loggerheads in the court. The atmosphere was tense and everyone held their breath, waiting for the emperor's decision.

The emperor stared at Liu Bei with a sharp gaze and said in a deep voice, "Uncle, I will listen to your explanation. Please tell me in detail. If there is even a trace of falsehood in anything, please do not blame me for not remembering our friendship."

Liu Bei, with a sincere expression, bowed again and spoke with dignity, "Your Majesty, my loyalty is evident to all. When I reduced Ma Chao's military power, it was to maintain the stability of the court and consolidate the Han dynasty, and I had no intention of harming him. I did not expect the situation to spiral out of control, leading to Ma Chao's death. I am deeply saddened. As for the former Xiliang people, they followed Ma Chao in his campaigns and rendered great service to the court. Not only have they received no reward, but they are facing the tragic annihilation of their entire clan. I cannot bear to see this tragedy unfold, so I intervened."

The emperor listened to Liu Bei's explanation, his heart aching with anger. While Liu Bei's loyalty to the Han was undeniable, his incessant self-willed actions, often defying his own wishes, were truly embarrassing. However, the emperor also understood the complex situation in Chang'an. He needed Liu Bei to provide a check and balance at court, ensuring both men remained obedient and refrained from any rash actions. Furthermore, Ma Chao's death would undoubtedly resonate with the Western Liang forces, leading to a subsequent counterattack, which would require the combined efforts of Liu Bei and Lu Bu to withstand.

Thinking of this, the emperor suppressed his anger and snorted coldly, "Uncle, your loyalty is commendable, but you have committed a grave error by disobeying my orders. I will note this matter for now and will make a decision later." He then turned his gaze to Lü Bu and asked, "Marquis Wen, you said that Ma Chao was beheaded. Do you have solid evidence? This head..." The emperor pointed to the fake head before him, "I look at it and it seems a little strange."

Lü Bu's heart tightened, but he forced himself to remain calm. He stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, it is absolutely true! The battlefield was in chaos, and I had a hard time cutting off Ma Chao's head. It was soaked in the river, so its appearance may have changed a bit, but it is undoubtedly Ma Chao."

Wang Yun, upon seeing this, quickly echoed, "Your Majesty, General Lü Bu is unparalleled in his bravery. How could he possibly deceive you? Ma Chao's conspiracy to rebel is true, and he deserves his punishment. Now that he has been executed, the most urgent task is to appease his former subordinates in Xiliang to prevent them from causing further trouble."

At this point, the ministers in the court began to debate again. Some supported Lü Bu and Wang Yun, advocating for severe punishment of the former Xiliang forces to prevent future trouble. Others agreed with Liu Bei, believing that the former Xiliang forces had made contributions and should not be exterminated, but should be appeased and persuaded to surrender. For a moment, the court was in turmoil. The emperor sat on the dragon throne, his brow furrowing as he gazed at the chaotic gathering of ministers below, secretly pondering how to balance the pros and cons to stabilize this precarious situation.

The emperor sat high atop the dragon throne, his expression solemn, his presence emanating an awe-inspiring aura. His brow furrowed, a hint of worry etched in his deep eyes. After a long silence, he slowly turned his head to look at Wang Jie, who stood beside him. His voice was low but forceful: "Wang Jie, I command you to immediately draft a detailed document, meticulously describing the entire process of Ma Chao's rebellion and Lü Bu's execution. The writing must be detailed and vivid, with no detail overlooked, striving to recreate the true scene of the battlefield. Once completed, swiftly disseminate it throughout the land, ensuring that all people know the truth and demonstrate the unparalleled might of the Han Dynasty." Wang Jie's heart trembled upon hearing this, and he quickly knelt and kowtowed. He accepted the order and hurriedly retreated, disappearing into the palace corridor, not daring to delay even a moment.

The emperor turned his gaze to His Highness Liu Bei and Lu Bu, his expression as cold as ice, and his tone was filled with unquestionable majesty: "Now that Ma Chao is dead, Xiliang will certainly not give up, and a great chaos is probably inevitable. You two are my trusted ministers, and you shoulder the heavy responsibility of defending our country. You must strengthen your vigilance, be ready for battle at all times, and don't slack off in the slightest." Liu Bei and Lu Bu looked at each other, understood each other, and then clasped their hands together, stood upright, and responded in unison: "We will do our best to live up to Your Majesty's trust!" The voices were loud and echoed in the court for a long time.

At this moment, Liu Bei stepped forward, bowed slightly, his face filled with worry. "Your Majesty, Ma Chao's sudden death was without warning. The soldiers of Xiliang are filled with righteous indignation and rage. They will undoubtedly raise an army to avenge their lord. Furthermore, General Lü Bu's sworn brother, Sun Ce, now dominates Yangzhou, commanding a powerful army and a formidable force. He and Ma Chao had a close personal relationship, and upon hearing of Ma Chao's death, he will undoubtedly take action, mindful of their brotherly bond."

Upon hearing this, the emperor's expression changed slightly, a hint of obvious worry flickering in his once deep eyes. He narrowed his eyes slightly, pondered for a moment, then suddenly raised his voice and issued a decisive order: "Hurry and convey my decree! Order my clan member Liu Biao to immediately mobilize his troops for battle, train his soldiers day and night, and reinforce the city's defenses. Keep a close eye on every move in Yangzhou, and report any signs of trouble immediately. We must be fully prepared to resist any possible attack from Sun Ce!" With these words, the eunuchs, receiving the decree, trotted out of the court to deliver the emperor's orders.