Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

That night, bonfires blazed brightly throughout Chang'an, the aroma of wine and roasted meat wafting through the palace walls. Ma Chao and his generals toasted, the clinking of silver pots and drunken shouts echoing through the air. Li Ru chuckled against a red pillar, Jia Xu twirled his beard, chucking his entire cup. Dian Wei tilted his head back to chuckle, the liquid dripping down his curly beard and splattering in the cracks of his armor, forming ice crystals. As the waning moon sank in the west, drunken soldiers lay still clutching their wine bowls, muttering vows amid the shambles. Under the eaves of Weiyang Palace, torches flickered in the night breeze, foreshadowing the impending conflagration of a prairie fire.

At three quarters past midnight the next day, the morning mist still hung. Inside the conference hall, a side hall of the imperial palace, candles burned brightly, their tallow lamps casting a crimson glow on the dragon pattern on Ma Chao's black robe. He sat at the head of the table, his sword resting on his shoulders, his voice shrouded in chill, "Yesterday, we bestowed titles and ranks, and generously rewarded our troops. Today, we must plan our conquest for world domination. Tell me, where should we make our first move?"

Li Ruguang flicked his sleeves, unfolding a yellowed map, his fingertips pressing heavily on Guanzhong: "Since the lord has been crowned king, Chang'an is the place where the dragon rises. Although Xiliang is the foundation, its remote location on the border makes it difficult to dominate the Central Plains. Only by establishing the capital in Chang'an can we resist the old capital, intimidate the princes, and take advantage of the geographical advantages and people's support." His finger traced the winding Hangu Pass on the map. "This place resists the princes of Guandong in the east, controls the Xiliang cavalry in the west, and strangles the throat of Bashu in the south. It is the hub for conquering the world."

"Mr. Wenyou is absolutely right!" Jia Xu said in a voice that carried the sound of metal and stone. "If we return to Xiliang, we will be tying our own hands. With Chang'an as the center, we can advance to the Central Plains and retreat to defend Guanlong. Only then can we demonstrate the king's demeanor."

Ma Chao's eyes swept across the hall full of generals and ministers like lightning, and the hem of his black robe swept across the long table covered with maps: "Since this is the case, I will stay in Chang'an and observe the changes in the world!" His sword was unsheathed three inches, and the cold light made everyone hold their breath. "But we must not sit still and wait for death—" He looked at Zhang Liao, "Wenyuan, immediately reorganize the cavalry and be ready to march east through Hangu Pass at any time! Gongming, the eastern pass must be impregnable."

The generals clasped their fists and said, "We are willing to obey the orders of our lord!"

Ma Chao glanced across the sand table and said in a deep voice, "Western Liang is our base. Ling Ming alone cannot take care of both the internal and external affairs. The foreign tribes on the grassland have been coveting it for a long time, and chaos will happen sooner or later." He turned to Ma Dai, his eyes flashing with the earnestness of a brother. "My dear brother, go to Wuwei immediately to take charge. If Ling Ming encounters any difficulties, you will be his most solid support."

Ma Dai clasped his fists and stepped forward, the sound of armor colliding making a clear sound: "Don't worry, brother! I'm in the Northern Frontier, and I will never let any foreign tribes set foot in Xiliang!"

Before he finished speaking, Ma Chao suddenly raised his hand, and two young soldiers in silver armor appeared behind him. Their features bore a striking resemblance to his own, yet their airs radiated the heroic spirit of someone untouched by battle. "These are my brothers, Ma Xiu and Ma Tie." Ma Chao paused, then chuckled to himself. "During this revenge mission in Chang'an, all of the Ma family's personal guards were killed. My father was worried, so he ordered them to lead the new troops to join me in the battle."

Ma Xiu and Ma Tie stepped forward at the same time, bowed deeply to the ground and said: "I hope you generals will give me more guidance!"

Ma Chao pointed his sword at the Longyou region on the map and said in a deep voice, "Longxi is the heart of Xiliang, a place where Qiang and Hu people live together and the undercurrent is turbulent. Veterans are needed to maintain order." He turned his gaze to Dong Huang and Xu Rong, his voice becoming more serious. "The two generals will immediately lead their troops to Tianshui and Longxi. These two places are centrally located. If Xiliang is in trouble, you must rush to Wuwei to provide assistance immediately. If Guanzhong is in danger, you can also march eastward."

Dong Huang's armor clanged as he clasped his fists: "I will defend Tianshui to the death and prevent the foreigners from crossing the line!" Xu Rong stroked the rusty ring-handled sword at his waist, his eyes sweeping across the map like a hawk: "Longxi and Guanzhong are mutually supportive. I will build a solid wall to protect my lord from any worries."

The candlelight flickered in the conference room, illuminating the room with the bright stars of the generals. Ma Chao slammed the table, shaking the sheepskin map slightly. "With this, Xiliang will have powerful generals guarding all four corners. This will give me the confidence to march eastward to the Central Plains!"

Ma Chao suddenly turned to Gan Ning and Lu Su and said in a deep voice: "Xingba, Zijing, you two have been with me in Jiangdong. You are all familiar with that water network area." He tapped the table with his fingertips, his eyes seemed to be icy, "Now there are two priorities - first, we must sneak into Jiangdong secretly and avoid the eyes and ears of Jingxiang. Find Zhou Gongjin and find out the real cause of Bofu's death, avoiding the forces of Jingxiang along the way. Second, find the whereabouts of the mistress, the young master, and the orphans of the personal guards, and bring them all back to Chang'an."

Lu Su stroked his beard and said seriously, "My lord, please rest assured. I will find out the culprit and bring everyone back safely." Gan Ning clapped the brocade sail bell at his waist and laughed loudly. His voice was like a loud bell, shaking the candlelight: "I will order the navy right away... uh," he caught a glimpse of Ma Chao's cold eyes and immediately lowered his voice, "Ahem, I will disguise myself as a merchant ship. If those rats from Jingxiang dare to investigate, I will knock them down with smoke!"

"Don't reveal your whereabouts!" Ma Chao suddenly pressed Gan Ning's shoulder, "The situation in Jiangdong is murky. We are like blindly walking into a chess trap. We must be careful. Xingba, you must listen to Zijing's instructions in everything and don't act rashly."

Gan Ning touched his nose and smiled, kneeling on one knee and saying, "I will obey the king's orders! If I cause any trouble, I will bring my head to you!"

Everything was settled. The flickering candlelight in the conference room illuminated the faces of the crowd, some calm, some excited. Ma Chao raised his hand to signal for everyone to calm down. His voice was filled with a hint of uneasiness that was unusual for him. "I have another extremely important matter. I wonder if anyone among you could discuss it with me privately and offer some advice?" Everyone looked at each other, bewildered, but they all bowed in unison and shouted, "Please arrange it, my lord!"

Ma Chao subconsciously touched his nose. The dry cough he cleared from his throat was particularly abrupt in the somewhat empty hall, and for some reason, it carried a hint of unspoken guilt. Waiting for everyone's attention to focus on him, he slowly spoke, "You all may not know, but on the day of the Chang'an mutiny, I was brutally besieged by the enemy and severely wounded, nearly losing my life. It was the Zhen family caravan passing through here who rescued me. After traveling many places, I finally found Hua Tuo in Hanzhong, who treated me and saved my life."

As soon as these words were spoken, a murmur of discussion erupted in the previously quiet conference hall. Xu Huang, known for his forthright nature, immediately raised his thick eyebrows and spoke loudly, "The Zhen family? Could it be the Zhen family from Jizhou, Hebei? I've heard that Yuan Shao's army relied on them for the transportation of most of its food and fodder. That's Yuan Shao's purse!" Jia Xu narrowed his eyes slightly, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest. He spoke slowly and solemnly, "Indeed, I was stationed in Wancheng with Zhang Xiu and have some knowledge of the Central Plains. Ju Su, one of Yuan Shao's subordinates, once mentioned that the Zhen family was as wealthy as a nation and had immense influence, firmly controlling the salt, iron, silk, and other trades from Youzhou to Yuzhou, with a complex commercial network."

Ma Chao nodded slightly, confirming, "It's the Zhen family." A hint of curiosity flashed in Li Ru's eyes. He gently waved his folding fan and spoke, "My lord, it's truly a blessing that the caravan rescued you. We'll find a good opportunity to reward you generously. From now on, our Xiliang region will open its doors to their caravans, allowing them to trade freely and exchange what they have. I wonder what's causing my lord's hesitation now? What's the reason?"

Ma Chao smiled awkwardly at first, then, as if making a profound decision, he sighed deeply and unburdened himself. "Well, it's a long story. Miss Zhen Mi of the Zhen family, when I was seriously injured and unconscious, she meticulously cared for me day and night. To save me, she not only disobeyed her father's orders, but also sold off her caravan's belongings, and even broke her long-standing engagement with the Yuan family. During those difficult times, she stayed with me day and night, and gradually developed feelings for me, eventually marrying me."

As soon as these words left his mouth, Li Ru, who had been maintaining a somewhat composed demeanor, suddenly lost his composure and took a half-step back, as if fearing this matter would somehow get dragged into his life. Xu Huang grinned heartlessly, "My lord, now that you've been crowned king, why wouldn't you take another princess? It's perfect for adding to the festive mood!" Before he could finish, Zhang Liao, standing beside him, subtly tugged at the corner of his clothes, giving him a warning look.

After all, everyone knew that, while Ma Chao and Dong Bai hadn't officially married yet, after the false news of Ma Chao's death spread, Dong Bai immediately assumed the role of widow and, despite everyone's dissuasion, spearheaded a campaign to avenge Ma Chao. The entire Ma family had long tacitly accepted Dong Bai's status as the future princess. Now, before the wedding date had even arrived, the lord's confidantes were constantly emerging. Even if Dong Bai remained silent, her heart was filled with turmoil. Anyone who spoke out would likely be implicated and rebuked by Dong Bai.

Ma Chao looked around and saw that everyone had different expressions - Li Ru seemed to be weighing his words, Jia Xu had quietly put his hands back into his sleeves, and Xu Huang was held tightly by the corner of his clothes by Zhang Liao, not daring to say a word. He suddenly slammed the sword at his waist on the table and said with some shame and anger: "Miss Zhen has dared the world to condemn her! She strictly separated men and women, and put aside the honor and disgrace of the family. She personally brewed and changed medicine for me, and spent all her private funds to hire famous doctors for me. If she hadn't risked her life to protect me, I, Ma Chao, would have been crushed to ashes! Do you want me to be ungrateful for such a kindness?"

Before he finished speaking, he had already strode down the steps, the hem of his robe sweeping across the map. The sound of his iron boots treading on the blue bricks startled the guards outside the hall, who instinctively grasped the hilts of their swords. "Wenyou, Yuanzhi, Wenhe, Zijing!" Ma Chao stopped in front of each of them in turn, his armor clasping as he clasped his fists. "This is a matter of great importance, and it requires the gentlemen to understand it!"

Lu Su took the lead and took half a step forward, his dark brocade robe fluttering slightly in the breeze. "My lord, the trip to Jiangdong is related to the cause of Sun Ce's death and the whereabouts of the young master. It is of great significance..." Before he finished speaking, Ma Chao raised his hand to interrupt: "Of course I understand." He turned to Xu Shu, his eyes seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts: "Yuanzhi?"

Xu Shu's Adam's apple rolled, and the hand holding the feather fan trembled slightly. "My lord, the Zhen and Yuan families have been married for a long time. If we intervene rashly, there may be trouble. And Miss Dong is now in charge of the rear army..." He stopped talking abruptly because he saw Ma Chao's unfriendly look.

Jia Xu had long since retreated into the shadows, his bony fingers stroking the jade pendant at his waist, as if the dispute in the hall had nothing to do with him. Li Ru, however, was forced to step back by Ma Chao's scorching gaze, his folding fan snapping shut. "Excuse me...where is Miss Zhen now?" He regretted the moment he said that—was he jumping into a fire pit?

As soon as Li Ru finished speaking, Ma Chao's eyes suddenly lit up. He strode forward and pressed his shoulder hard, a hearty laugh spreading across his face: "The one who understands me is Wen He!" He turned abruptly, his black robe sweeping the map on the table, and his fingertips pointed at Lu Su, Xu Shu, and Jia Xu in turn: "Look! This is the strategist who can make decisions on major issues! You guys, one is pushing for the important affairs of Jiangdong, the other is pulling the people's hearts in Chang'an, and Wen He is hiding faster than a rabbit!" The ending tone was full of deliberate sarcasm, which frightened the guards outside the palace and made them hold their breath unconsciously.

Lu Su and the others exchanged glances, a knowing smile playing across their faces. Xu Shu bowed and stepped back half a step. Jia Xu twirled his beard and chuckled softly, "Since that's the case, I'll let Mr. Wenyou unleash his wisdom." His words were filled with gloating. Only Li Ru froze in his place, caught between a rock and a hard place. Suddenly, he felt a chill on the back of his neck—his lord's hand on his shoulder was clearly hotter than his armor.