Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Ma Teng stared at the crimson on the general's flag, about to be swallowed by the snow, and recalled his son's appearance in armor before going off to war—the silver spear of the silver-armored general gleaming coldly in the sunlight, the glint in his eyes sharper than the scimitars of the Qiang and Hu tribes. "Pass the order," he turned abruptly, the clash of armor startling crows from beneath the eaves. "Martial law imposed throughout the city, and all food and supplies must be stored immediately! Even if Chao'er is not here, I will make Chang'an a steel knife thrust into the throats of the princes of Guandong!"

At this time, Wei Yan, wearing a helmet and armor, also arrived at the top of the city wall. Ma Teng said, "General Wenchang, you have worked hard. Wen You and I were just discussing this. We are short of troops for the defense of Chang'an. I am sorry to trouble you, General."

The cold wind blew snow particles against Wei Yan's iron neck guard, making a slight rustling sound. He raised his hand to brush off the snow on his shoulder armor, and when he clasped his fists in salute, the chain mail made a crisp sound: "Old General, your words are sincere. Since I have received the order from the King of Liang, I will defend Chang'an to the death!"

Ma Teng gazed at the young general's resolute face, his old brows slightly relaxed, though worry still lingered in his eyes. The dancing flames from the brazier cast the three men's shadows on the mottled city wall, flickering in the darkness. Li Ru slowly unfolded the sheepskin map and traced the marked troop deployments: "The city currently has 20,000 defenders. While there's ample food and fodder, the surrounding forces..." Before he could finish his words, Wei Yan stepped forward, his rough fingers pressing firmly on the Tongguan Pass.

"If the enemy comes, Tongguan will be the first place to fight!" Wei Yan's eyes were like torches. "I have arranged for Tongguan to patrol every direction for a hundred miles every day. If there is any sign of trouble, we will know immediately." The golden spear with a tiger head on his waist swayed slightly, shining coldly in the snow.

Ma Teng stroked his beard and sighed, then patted Wei Yan on the shoulder. "With Wen Chang here, I feel at ease. But..." He gazed at the endless snowy plains outside the city and said in a low voice, "Chao'er is far away in the north, and Chang'an is isolated and helpless. We need to make long-term plans." Li Ru silently added a piece of charcoal to the brazier. Amidst the flying sparks, the figures of the three men were reflected on the swaying city walls in the wind and snow.

Another half month passed, and it was mid-November. Yuan Shao's dark banners fluttered across Youzhou, announcing the final annexation of this land. Thousands of miles away, Chang'an was similarly enveloped in a biting cold.

The snow had stopped for several days, but remnants still clung to the towering city walls, staining the "Horse" flag a mottled red and white. The soldiers defending the city, wrapped in thick cotton coats, stamped their feet on the watchtowers to ward off the cold. Icicles clinging to their spears reflected a chilling light. The usual bustle of Suzaku Street had been driven away by the cold wind. Occasionally, a few horse-drawn carriages laden with food and fodder hurried by, the sound of their wheels crunching through the ice distinctly etched in the silent streets.

The remaining snow shone a harsh, cold light in the sunlight. Ma Teng, wrapped tightly in his sable fur coat, his boots crushing the icy ridges on the steps. He sighed as he gazed at the towering city walls. Li Ru followed closely behind, gently waving a feather fan in his sleeve, but a look of worry etched in his brow: "Old lord, the military report that arrived last night..."

"No need to say, I already know." Ma Teng raised his hand to interrupt, his eyes sweeping across the frosted battlements on the city wall, "Chao'er is fighting in the north, and every inch of peace in Chang'an is dancing on the tip of a knife." Before he finished speaking, he heard the sound of armor colliding behind him. Wei Yan strode forward and said, "Why are you going to the city in person again, old lord? The wind is cold and the dew is heavy, take care of yourself."

"The snow has stopped, let's check out the city defenses." Ma Teng walked to the brazier, but the warmth couldn't dispel the gloom in his eyes. The flickering flames cast flickering shadows on the faces of the three men. Suddenly, a soldier stumbled onto the city wall and said, "Report—refugees have been spotted near Tongguan! The group stretches for miles, carrying the elderly, the weak, women, and children, and appears to be armed with escorts!"

Wei Yan clenched his spear tightly, the shaft of which made a dull sound when it struck the bricks of the city wall. "Can you detect the flag?"

The soldier knelt on one knee, and ice chips fell off his armor: "Reporting to the general! Before we get close, we can see the flags of the refugee team looming, and sentries are everywhere, and the security is very strict!" Before he finished speaking, Wei Yan took a step forward: "How many troops are there?"

"Their ranks stretch for miles!" The soldier raised his hand and pointed to the west. "The old, weak, women, and children are mixed in with them. There must be two or three hundred thousand of them, but those holding spears and wearing armor are probably tens of thousands!" The cold wind blew the snow past everyone's ears, and the flames in the brazier suddenly flickered. Li Ru's feather fan hung in the air, and surprise flashed in his eyes: "Three hundred thousand people are traveling with their families, but there are tens of thousands of young and strong armed men... They are definitely not ordinary refugees!"

Ma Teng's knuckles were clenched white, and cold sweat was already seeping out from his palms beneath his sable coat. "Pass the order!" His voice suddenly rose, startling the crows from under the eaves. "Triple the number of garrisons at all city gates, and prepare rolling logs and rocks in the arrow towers! Wenchang, you must immediately gather 5,000 elite troops and follow me to investigate!"

Wei Yan responded with a roar, his broadsword stirring up a sharp gust of wind as he turned. Li Ru suddenly stopped Ma Teng and said, "Wait a minute, my lord! If these tens of thousands of people are truly enemy forces, leaving the city now would be like walking into a tiger's mouth. If they are friendly forces..." He glanced meaningfully to the west, "The Xiliang Iron Cavalry is far away in the north. Who else could have such a large force?"

Ma Teng calmed down, his Adam's apple moving slightly as he spoke in a deep voice, "Let's wait and see. They've brought the elderly and the weak with them, so they must have some agenda." His bony fingers tapped the city wall, making a dull sound. "If they were truly ordinary refugees, why would they send a hundred thousand soldiers to escort them? If they were the enemy, why would they bring their families and expose their whereabouts? Wen You, what do you think?"

Li Ru's eyes gleamed. "My old lord is absolutely right. A force of this size has a well-organized approach to advance and retreat; it's definitely not a mob. They might be using the elderly, the weak, women, and children as bait to test our strength, or perhaps they have other motives, hoping to find a place to stay in Chang'an." He paused, his gaze sweeping across the soldiers on the city wall, who were bracing for battle. "But no matter what, the gates of Chang'an must not be opened lightly. We can first send someone to deliver food and clothing to test their resolve."

Wei Yan gripped his sword tightly and said in a deep voice, "I am willing to lead a group of troops to set up an ambush outside the city. If they dare to make any unusual moves, they will never return!"

Ma Teng raised his hand to signal for peace, his aged face growing graver in the cold wind. "Don't act rashly. With Chao'er gone, Chang'an is undermanned. Every step must be taken with caution. Pass the order down; the city guards must remain vigilant and closely monitor the movements of the refugees. This snowfall is strange; the people who have arrived are likely more serious than usual."

As dusk darkened the sky, cavalrymen from Tongguan arrived with urgent news, their hooves crushing the half-melted ice. The commander's letter was scribbled with inscriptions: "The refugee leader wishes to set up camp ten miles from Tongguan and invites the officials in charge in Chang'an to discuss matters in person." Li Ru's fingertips traced the yellowed letter, and he chuckled softly: "Old lord, you've finally arrived."

Ma Teng gazed at the long line of torches lit below the city wall, his brow furrowed even deeper. "I wonder if this is a Hongmen Banquet or a letter of surrender. In that case, I'll go meet him." He turned to don his armor, but was stopped by a clear shout—Ma Yunlu and Dong Bai stood at the steps, helmets and armor in full armor. The Qilin patterns on their black iron wrist guards flickered with a cold light. Behind them stood twelve female guards, crossbows in hand, their arrows gleaming coldly in the twilight.

"Father, don't take any risks!" Ma Yunlu took off his helmet, his long hair disheveled but still full of heroic spirit. "Before leaving, my eldest brother entrusted Chang'an to you. If anything happens to you, how can I explain to him?" She unfolded a map and her fingertips traced the area ten miles from Tongguan: "That place is open and flat, with no hidden dangers. Sister Bai'er and I will take the female guards to escort Mr. Wenyou. This will show our sincerity and protect ourselves."

Li Ru tapped the map lightly and said, "Miss Yunlu's words make sense. Since the other party dared to invite us, they must not want to break up the relationship." He looked at Ma Teng with a meaningful look, "If we send a large army, it will only create resentment; using women to deal with them can help us find out their true strength."

Ma Teng pinched the jade pendant at his waist, remembering Ma Chao's resolute gaze as they set out on the expedition. Outside the city, the wind and snow picked up again, flickering the lights of the refugee camp in the distance. "Okay!" He suddenly took off his cloak and draped it over Li Ru's shoulders. "Remember, if you can't reach an agreement, retreat, don't fight." He then instructed the two women, "Make sure to protect Mr. Wenyou."

As dusk soaked the snowy plain, the red embroidered flags of Dong Bai and Ma Yunlu pierced the cold wind, and five hundred female guards, like red dragons, escorted Li Ru's carriage towards Tongguan.

At the same time, in a tent ten miles outside Tongguan, Du Xiong threw a whole bundle of dry firewood into the fire. Sparks rose and illuminated Zhang Yan's furrowed brows: "General, if Chang'an refuses to show up..."

"They will come." Zhang Yan turned the broken blade in his palm half a circle, reflecting the dancing flames. "Ma Chao can even tolerate the Tianshi Dao, so how could he refuse to let 300,000 people crying for food outside the city?" The old strategist put his frozen fingers close to the fire, his knuckles tinged with blue-gray: "But if Chang'an pretends to agree and sets an ambush..."

"If there really is an ambush, our 300,000 men will be the best shield!" Zhang Yan suddenly stood up, and the sound of armor clashing startled the sentries outside the tent, who tightened their bows. He looked toward the looming city walls in the direction of Chang'an, his Adam's apple rolling: "Yuan Tan's 50,000-man army will sooner or later arrive at the city. Chang'an is undermanned, and our surrender with 100,000 young and strong men is a godsend for them!"

Du Xiong looked at Zhang Yan's resolute face, his throat rolling: "General, what if Chang'an..."

"Go!" Zhang Yan turned abruptly, ice chips falling from his armor. "Count all the dry firewood and give priority to women and children!" He strode to the tent entrance and lifted the heavy cowhide curtain. The wind and snow, carrying the cries of children, rushed towards him. In the distance, the tents of refugees were faintly visible in the snow. "Tell the old and weak, if they can hold on for a few days, there will be plenty of corn in the granary in Chang'an!"

The old strategist hesitated to speak, but Zhang Yan had already clenched the broken blade at his waist. "Three hundred thousand lives are staked on this gamble. If we can't even light a fire to keep warm, how can we convince Ma Chao to trust us?" He glanced at the tattered military flag hanging in the tent and suddenly sneered, "Yuan Tan's army is a sword hanging over Chang'an, and we..." Before he finished speaking, cheers rose from outside the tent. Du Xiong was directing his soldiers to distribute firewood, and the dancing flames illuminated the smiling faces of the refugees, covered in chilblains.

Zhang Yan watched this scene, his grip on the broken blade gradually loosening. The wind and snow intensified, but it couldn't dispel the warmth rising from the tent. He knew that this life-or-death surrender had now taken the heaviest first step.

Inside the tent, the old counselor's brow was knitted into a knot, and several generals' knuckles turned white as they gripped their sword hilts. A chilling wind blew snowflakes through the cracks, freezing everyone's worries into frost. Suddenly, Zhang Yan threw back his head and burst into laughter, shaking the icicles off his head. "Why are you all so miserable? You've staked your lives on Chang'an, and yet you're afraid of tomorrow?"

He strode over to the table, grabbed a half-filled pot of cold wine, and drank it down. The wine mixed with blood dripped down the corners of his mouth. "Even if the person in charge of Chang'an rushed all night, the earliest they would arrive would be dawn tomorrow." He slammed the pot heavily on the table, and the splashing wine left a dark mark on the sheepskin map. "Instead of worrying here, it's better to conserve your energy!"

Du Xiong watched the fire flickering in his lord's eyes, his tense shoulders relaxing slightly. Zhang Yan patted his armor, his smile undiminished. "Go and pass the word on. Each battalion will take turns on duty. The rest of you, wrap yourself up tight and get a good night's sleep. When daybreak arrives, we must show those from Chang'an that the men of the Black Mountain Army can handle a sword while standing, but they're willing to risk their lives while lying down!"