Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

On a sunny spring day, as migrating geese flew north over the Qinling Mountains, Li Ru, draped in a dark cloak, tapped his fingertips on the gilded carriage of his maroon carriage. Behind him, five thousand Western Liang cavalrymen waved their banners, their bronze visors gleaming coldly in the setting sun. The sound of their hooves startled the wildflowers scattered across the ground, yet they maintained a deliberately relaxed pace.

"Military Advisor, the art of war says 'Speed ​​is the essence of war.' Moving so slowly..." Zhang Ren rode closer, the hilt of the ring-handled sword at his waist making a soft sound as it jolted. The surrendered general from Yizhou frowned as he gazed at the serpentine formation ahead. "If Zhang Lu is prepared, or Liu Zhang sends his troops to attack..."

Before he could finish his words, there was the crisp sound of iron hooves crushing dead leaves. Hua Xiong's black horse rushed forward, carrying a fishy wind. The burly and powerful general laughed at the top of his lungs: "General Zhang, you have too many concerns! The military advisor said the other day that we're going to perform a big show!" The Mo Dao he slung over his shoulder drew a bloody half-moon in the twilight, startling the roadside postmen and sending them scurrying behind the earthen walls.

Li Ru gently brushed the three strands of beard from under his chin, a cold glint in his eyes: "Zi Ke knows that the most exciting part of this chess game is not the flash of swords and sabers, but the stirring of human hearts." He raised his hand and pointed to the mountains in the north. "Zhang Lu occupies Hanzhong, commanding 100,000 followers of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect; Liu Zhang occupies Yizhou, secretly harboring rebellious intentions. Our army's banners obscure the sun, yet they advance slowly, like a sword hanging over their heads - every day of delay makes the sword's weight grow three times heavier."

Zhang Ren's pupils shrank slightly, as if he had grasped something. Li Ru continued, "If it's to marry the Zhen family girl in exchange for a letter of surrender from Zhang Lu, why would I need to go in person? My lord's intention is to turn Hanzhong into a springboard for advancing westward into Yizhou. Wait until Zhang Lu is restless day and night, listening to the drums and speculating on our army's movements. Only then will we offer him an olive branch, and he will consider Xiliang his only support."

As dusk deepened, Li Ru suddenly reined in the reins. The beacon towers of Hanzhong Pass were faintly visible in the distance, and a meaningful smile curved his lips. "Pass the order down. Set up camp on the Baoxia Road tonight. Have the military band play three rounds, ensuring the sentries on the Hanzhong city walls can clearly hear every beat of the 羯舞 (Jie drum)."

News of the changing situation in Chang'an reached Hanzhong like a bolt of lightning. Liu Zhang would stand daily in Zhenbei Tower, gazing at the northern sky, as if trying to penetrate the clouds to discern the dynamics between Ma Chao and the various factions. Only when secret reports arrived of the Western Liang cavalry's crushing defeat of the enemy, the emperor's death, and Cao Cao's hastily enthroned Liu Xie in Xudu, did Zhang Lu's frayed nerves finally relax.

He stroked the bronze tiger talisman on his desk, recalling his past with the Western Liang army. Ma Chao had been gravely wounded in Hanzhong, fortunately saved by Hua Tuo's miraculous healing skills. Though he had contributed only modestly to his treatment, this bond ultimately fostered a delicate harmony between the two sides. For Zhang Lu, a Western Liang victory was a talisman—Ma Chao's hold on Chang'an would both contain the imperial court and intimidate Liu Zhang in Yizhou. A defeat for Western Liang would bring the heavy weight of the emperor's retribution, and Liu Zhang's long-held covetousness of Hanzhong would leave him vulnerable to attack from both sides, forcing him to tread on thin ice in this tiny territory.

The copper clock ticked day and night at the Tianshi Mansion in Hanzhong. Zhang Lu stared at the slowly moving red flag on the sand table, his knuckles tapping the sandalwood table until fine cracks formed. Ever since hearing that Ma Chao had sent an envoy to marry Zhen Mi, he had ordered the posthouse cleaned early. He planned to lay out the ten-mile-long street with his treasured Bashu brocades when Ma Chao's envoy arrived, even draping the resting place of the Zhen family's motorcade with soft gold silk curtains. But months passed, and the expected sound of horse hooves never broke through the morning mist. Instead, he saw boxes of silk and satin being carried from the treasury to the Yuque Pavilion, Zhen Mi's temporary residence.

"Report—" The scout's urgent report startled the white doves from the eaves, "The Xiliang envoys are still three days away from Yangping Pass! The leader is... Li Ru!"

The bronze candlesticks crashed to the ground, splattering wax onto Zhang Lu's cloud-embroidered boots. He stumbled, grasping at a pillar, staring at his own distorted shadow on the wall. That genius who had manipulated the allied armies of the feudal states, that sinister strategist who had once suffocated him in Hanzhong, was actually coming to meet the bride in person? Swallowing his uneasiness, his Adam's apple rolled, Zhang Lu suddenly spoke urgently, "Prepare the horses! Quickly, to Yuque Pavilion!" The night wind, swirling broken jade, swept through the corridors, startling the distant night watchman's long clappers, but it couldn't drown out the sound of his nails digging deep into his palms.

On a cold, frosty night, Zhang Lu had just taken a step outside his study when he felt the moonlight pale as paper. The soles of his boots hung in the air, a dilemma. A visit to an unmarried woman at midnight would surely give rise to gossip. If Li Ru used it as an excuse, it could lead to disaster. He spun abruptly, the candlelight casting a shadow across the screen, shaking violently. "Quickly call Miss Three and Miss Four!"

Footsteps approached from afar. Zhang Qiying and Zhang Fubao hurried over, wearing crane cloaks. Zhang Fubao rubbed his sleepy eyes and muttered, "Father, what a hassle..." Before he could finish his words, Zhang Lu grabbed his wrist. The old man's bloodshot eyes were full of panic, and the black fox fur on his cloak trembled with trembling: "Follow me to Yuque Pavilion! The Xiliang envoys will arrive soon, and the leader is Li Ru!"

"It's just a wedding procession, father, why should you..." Zhang Fubao wanted to argue, but saw his father's nails almost digging into his flesh. Zhang Lu lowered his voice, as if talking to his daughter, but also as if muttering to himself: "Have you forgotten? Back then, he single-handedly took you to Xiliang as a hostage! Now, five thousand cavalry are approaching, and Xiliang is at its peak in the battle of Chang'an..." He suddenly coughed violently, and his knuckles knocked on the pillars, making a hollow echo. "Who knows how much flesh and blood he will dig out of Hanzhong this time!"

Zhang Qiying gazed at her father's hunched back and suddenly recalled the heroic figure of her childhood. The moonlight, falling on the newly white hair at his temples, felt colder than the frost and snow on the Jade Palace. She quietly grasped her sister's hand, and the three of them, shadowed by the flickering lantern, resembled candles in the wind.

The night watchman's bell rang, and as Zhang Lu led Zhang Qiying and Zhang Fubao into the Yuque Pavilion, they nearly stumbled over the threshold. The usually dignified and reserved Hanzhong prefect was now beaming with ingratiating smiles as he personally poured freshly harvested osmanthus honey into Zhen Mi's teacup: "Young lady, try this! It's brewed by wild bees from the Daba Mountains, and it's incredibly soothing and calming." The candlelight illuminated beads of sweat on his forehead as he rambled on about buying Zhen Mi spring clothes and replacing her incense. Even the usually calm Zhen Mi was at a loss, unable to react. She could only cover her lips with her sleeve and mumble a few polite, "Thank you for your concern, prefect."

After Zhang Lu bowed and left, he suddenly grabbed his two daughters' wrists and said, "Qiying and Fubao, stay and keep Miss Zhen company. Don't let Miss Zhen feel lonely at night." The two sisters looked at each other, and Zhen Mi also frowned slightly - the three sisters often get together during the day, why did they suddenly choose this quiet time of night? Not until the sound of Zhang Lu's footsteps completely disappeared at the end of the corridor did Zhang Fubao lean close to Zhen Mi's ear and lower his voice: "Sister, don't you know? The Xiliang envoys will arrive in Hanzhong soon, and the leader is none other than Xiliang's strategist Li Ru!"

Seeing Zhen Mi blushing slightly, Zhang Fubao winked mischievously again, and suddenly clapped his hands and laughed, "But don't worry, sister! Your beloved is so powerful now! I heard that he captured Chang'an in one fell swoop, and the new emperor made him the King of Liang! Look how much he values ​​you, the chief strategist of Xiliang even sent someone to meet you." She deliberately dragged out the last word, and lightly touched Zhen Mi's flushed cheek with her fingertips, "When sister fell in love with him at first sight, her eyes were really sharp!"

Zhen Mi, embarrassed and anxious, grabbed the cushion and was about to throw it, but Zhang Qiying quickly stopped her. The three women chased each other and laughed in the warm room, their skirts fluttering. The overturned incense burner rose with wisps of green smoke, which softened the cold night outside the window.

----

In Chengdu, Yizhou, candlelight flickered in the conference hall like ghostly eyes. Liu Zhang slammed the secret report onto the sandalwood table, causing smoke to erupt from the bronze Boshan incense burner atop it. Huang Quan, Fei Yi, Wu Yi, Yan Yan, and other civil and military officials gathered, their gaze fixed on the bamboo slips soaked with the spy's sweat. The news that 5,000 cavalrymen of the Western Liang army were slowly advancing towards Hanzhong hung like a sharp sword over Yizhou's head.

"Ma Chao, that brat, is so brave!" Yan Yan suddenly slammed his fist and stood up. The iron armor collided with the wooden table with a dull thud, and his snow-white beard trembled with his angry shout. "The shame of Micang Mountain is still fresh in our memory! Ma Chao set an ambush and killed three thousand of my elite soldiers! Now there are only five thousand cavalrymen parading through the city. I am willing to lead my troops and crush them to the ground!" The sword at the old general's waist clanged, as if he could not wait to drink blood.

Huang Quan slowly waved his feather fan, a cold glint in his eyes. "Wait a minute, General. The battle of Chang'an is over. The old emperor has collapsed. Cao Cao has proclaimed himself emperor in Xudu, and Ma Chao has taken control of Chang'an. This is a time of drastic changes in the world." He suddenly pointed his folding fan to the north. "If our army acts rashly at this moment, it will play into his hands. Ma Chao has long wanted to annex Yizhou, but he is worried that he has no legitimate reason to do so. If we take the initiative to provoke him, won't we be handing the knife to him?"

Fei Yi stroked his beard and pondered. "Mr. Huang is absolutely right. The Xiliang army's slow march this time is clearly a bluff. If we attack rashly, Zhang Lu will turn to Ma Chao, and Yizhou will be attacked from all sides..." Before he could finish his words, a strong wind suddenly blew up from outside the hall, carrying dead leaves into the hall and blowing the candlelight flickering, just like the murky situation.

Liu Zhang's face was gloomy, and he slammed the table in dissatisfaction: "Are we just going to watch Ma Chao show off his power right under our noses? A mere 5,000 soldiers, and we are helpless?" His eyes were wide open with bloodshot, and his fists were clenched and rattling under his brocade robe.

At this time, the short and ugly Zhang Song slowly stepped forward, his voice low but every word clear: "My lord, things are different now. Ma Chao is no longer the military commander who lived in seclusion in Xiliang. Now he controls Chang'an and wields a large army. He is already a powerful lord who can influence the situation in the world." He paused, scanning the tense expressions of everyone in the hall, "To be frank, my lord, please put aside your hatred with the Ma family for the time being and send an envoy to make peace with Ma Chao. Even the emperor was defeated by him and died. Even if my Yizhou is rich, how can we compete with him head-on?"

These words of truth were like a bucket of cold water. Liu Zhang's face turned pale and he slammed the table in anger: "Shut up! Don't encourage others and destroy your own prestige! My Liu family has been managing Yizhou for many years. How could we be afraid of Ma Chao? How dare you advise me to bow to my enemy? What are you thinking? And you have always been on good terms with that traitor Fa Zheng. Could it be that you have ulterior motives? Get him out now!" Liu Zhang pointed at Zhang Song with a trembling finger, veins bulging on his forehead, and his eyes were full of anger.

Zhang Song's neck veins bulged, his face flushed purple from Liu Zhang's scolding. His pockmarked face was filled with resentment. He was about to open his mouth to retort when he felt his sleeve tighten. Turning, he saw Fei Yi's piercing gaze, and he shook his head slightly to silence him. Fei Yi's hand, hidden in his sleeve, exerted pressure, as if reminding him: arguing at this moment would only cause more trouble.

The atmosphere in the hall froze. Veteran General Yan Yan stroked his long, graying beard, a scornful smile playing on his lips. Wu Yi crossed his arms, his eyes filled with sarcasm. Even the usually composed Huang Quan lowered his eyes to conceal the playful amusement. Zhang Song felt humiliated, his chest swelled with rage, as the gazes of the crowd pierced his spine.

"How dare you, you brat!" Zhang Song growled, clenching his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. He glared at everyone, but under Fei Yi's urgent tug, he finally gritted his teeth, swung his sleeves, and turned around. The moment he stepped out of the hall, the biting night wind rushed towards him, blowing away the anger in his heart.

In the night, Zhang Song gazed at the deep northern sky and thought of his good friend Fa Zheng. Now highly valued by Ma Chao, Fa Zheng was helping him control Chang'an and maintain his military might. Then he thought of the shortsighted people in the hall who still looked down on Ma Chao, and sneered: "Just wait! When the Western Liang cavalry overruns Yizhou, you'll see if you can still smile!" He tightened his robe and walked away in the moonlight, a plan already in mind.