Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Time flew by, and in a flash, it was already August. The army had rested here for over ten days, during which time all post-war preparations were being worked on intensively. Construction of both the Killing Hu Terrace and the Heroic Martyrs' Monument had been successfully completed. The Killing Hu Terrace stood majestically at the heart of the once-torn battlefield within Yanmen Pass, a silent guardian guarding the frontier. The Heroic Martyrs' Monument, solemnly erected within the Yanmen County capital, was a place for the public to admire and commemorate.

Ma Chao had already made up his mind about the question of Bingzhou's ownership. On the day the monument was completed, he gathered all the soldiers, civil and military officials, and local people for a ceremony to unveil it. The scene was as solemn and dignified as the unveiling of the monument in Chang'an.

Ma Chao stood before the crowd, his expression solemn yet passionate. He gazed at the densely packed audience and began his impassioned speech: "Ladies and Gentlemen! Since ancient times, beginning with the Shang and Zhou dynasties, our borderlands have been plagued by unrest. Tribes like the Quanrong and the Xidi have repeatedly harassed us. By the time of the Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu had become a formidable threat. Fortunately, the great Han Emperor Wu of Han, with his brilliance and strategy, defeated the Xiongnu, forcing them to retreat south to graze their horses. But in recent years, the imperial court has weakened, and first the Xiongnu, then the Xianbei, have invaded our Central Plains. Is there no one in our Central Plains who can resist them? Of course not! Today, I am establishing the Killing of the Xiongnu Platform within Yanmen Pass. First, to demonstrate our glorious victory in annihilating the Xiongnu, and second, to deter the numerous tribes on the grasslands, so that they dare not again venture south!" Ma Chao's voice echoed in the air, resounding with power. The audience erupted in joy, their voices surging with excitement. Shouts of "Kill the Xiongnu! Kill the Xiongnu!" echoed incessantly.

Ma Chao raised his hand slightly, signaling silence. Then, his expression grew graver, and he spoke slowly, "However, war inevitably brings casualties. In this campaign against the rampaging Xiongnu, countless Han men have been killed or wounded, countless soldiers have shed their blood on the battlefield. They sacrificed their precious lives to defend our homeland and protect the peace of our people. Therefore, we have specially built this monument to these heroes to honor them, to commemorate their achievements, and to ensure that future generations will forever cherish the memory of these heroes!" At this point, Ma Chao's eyes revealed deep respect and sorrow. The audience was deeply moved, and many of them welled up in tears. The soldiers of the three armies straightened their backs, their expressions solemn, paying their highest respects to their fallen comrades. The people also bowed their heads in silence, their hearts filled with gratitude and grief for these heroes. For a moment, a solemn and dignified atmosphere enveloped the entire venue.

Ma Chao led the crowd in unveiling the monument to the martyrs. The red cloth slowly fell, revealing the inscriptions clearly before everyone, gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight. The crowd gathered around, admiring the names of the martyrs inscribed, their hearts filled with awe. This solemn unveiling ceremony served not only as a tribute to the martyrs but also as a hope for a future of stability on the frontier, inspiring everyone present to tirelessly strive for the prosperity and peace of the Han Dynasty.

That evening, the tents were brightly lit, and a grand banquet was underway. Ma Chao had organized this banquet to celebrate his great victory over the Xiongnu and to rally the forces of all factions. Veteran generals, resourceful advisors, and leaders of various factions were in attendance, including Gongsun Zan, Marshal Yueji of the Western Qiang, and leaders like Ehe Shaoge and Shaodang of the Eastern Qiang, as well as the Jie leader. During the battle, the Jie leaders, eager to demonstrate their strength and loyalty to Ma Chao, fought bravely and fearlessly. Seeing his outstanding performance, Ma Chao, with a look of hope in his eyes, deliberately assigned him a position below Shaodang, a move that moved the Jie leader to tears of gratitude.

At the banquet, Ma Chao occupied the main seat, displaying the demeanor of a king. To his left sat Gongsun Zan, Yue Ji, E He Shao Ge, Shao Dang, and finally the Jie leader. Gongsun Zan wore a composed expression, expressing his gratitude for participating in such a grand event despite all the hardships he had endured. Yue Ji and other Western and Eastern Qiang leaders, dressed in their ornate attire, engaged in lively conversation with the patriotic spirit of the steppe people. The Jie leader, cautious yet unable to conceal his excitement, was constantly monitoring the atmosphere.

To Ma Chao's right sat formidable generals like Pang De and Zhang Liao, their faces brimming with the joy of victory, their achievements illustrious. Wise men like Xu Shu, Lu Su, and Fa Zheng sat in the row behind Zhang Liao and his group. Further back, in that row, sat generals like Xu Huang and Zhang Xiu. The gathering of these skilled and capable generals imbued the banquet with a heroic and enthusiastic atmosphere.

At the beginning of the banquet, Ma Chao stood up, cup in hand. He surveyed the crowd with a piercing gaze and spoke passionately, "In this campaign, we have weathered countless hardships and dangers. Facing the Xiongnu cavalry, we remained undaunted and bravely advanced. The blood and sweat of everyone, spilled across every inch of Bingzhou, has earned us today's victory."

"We must not only let the Xiongnu know the might of our Han men, but also let everyone in the world know our resolve to defend our country." Ma Chao paused, a glint of determination in his eyes. "From now on, we must continue to protect the borders, ensure the people live and work in peace, and ensure the enduring strength of our Han dynasty."

With that, Ma Chao drained the wine from his cup. The other generals followed suit, quaffing their wine and shouting, "Die for the King of Liang! Protect the Han!" Their voices echoed through the tents for a long time.

Ma Chao smiled and waved his hand, signaling everyone to take a seat. He then walked down the platform alone, and the guards behind him hurriedly followed, refilling Ma Chao's glass. Ma Chao, holding the glass, walked directly to Gongsun Zan and said sincerely, "This second glass of wine is for my senior brother."

Seeing this, Gongsun Zan hurriedly stood up, and the generals and staff behind him followed suit. At this time, a handsome young general picked up the wine glass and swiftly rushed to pour wine for Gongsun Zan. Ma Chao couldn't help but feel a little surprised. He looked up and realized that it was Gongsun Zan's daughter, once the concubine of the previous emperor. She glanced at Ma Chao secretly, then quietly hid behind the crowd.

Ma Chao didn't take this to heart. Smiling, he said to Gongsun Zan, "Brother, we were fellow disciples in the past, and our friendship is deep. It's truly a joy to be able to fight side by side again today and defeat the Xiongnu!" Gongsun Zan, his face filled with gratitude, quickly said, "Without your generosity, Prince of Liang, how could I, Gongsun Zan, be where I am today?" Ma Chao frowned slightly, feigning displeasure. "Call me Prince of Liang again? Senior brother, that's being too formal." Gongsun Zan quickly corrected himself, saying, "Junior brother." Ma Chao then smiled and drank a cup with Gongsun Zan. After gulping it down, he said, "Brother, I've thought deeply. This country can't afford to be without a ruler, and this land can't afford to be without a master for a single day. Look at Bingzhou. Why has it been repeatedly plundered by the Xiongnu? The root cause is the lack of a capable marshal to guard it. And after much deliberation, I think you're the perfect choice."

Upon hearing this, Gongsun Zan quickly declined, saying, "Junior brother, this Bingzhou was conquered through your hard work. I am content to have a place to stay." Ma Chao waved his hand and said seriously, "No, no, senior brother. You are known as the White Horse General, and your reputation spreads far and wide. With you here, you will surely protect the peace of Bingzhou. I will immediately write a letter to Xudu, requesting that the Emperor appoint you as the Governor of Bingzhou. I will leave this Bingzhou to you, brother."

Gongsun Zan was stunned upon hearing this. He hadn't expected Ma Chao to be so generous as to give up the entire Bingzhou province. Remember, back when he only held Youzhou, various factions fought fiercely for territory. Ma Chao's actions were truly beyond his expectations. Gongsun Zan froze in shock, while his daughter, standing behind him, her eyes gleaming with delight, thought to herself: "Have I ever seen such a generous and magnanimous man?"

Ma Chao did not give them a chance to be stunned. He immediately raised his voice and said to everyone: "Everyone! Let us raise this second glass of wine together to congratulate the future Governor of Bingzhou!" Everyone quickly stood up and said in unison: "Congratulations to General Gongsun, the Governor of Bingzhou, and General Baima for their unparalleled reputation!" For a moment, the atmosphere in the tent was extremely warm, and the cheers of the people seemed to be about to lift the roof of the tent off.

Ma Chao raised his head and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp, then looked at Gongsun Zan with a determined gaze. Gongsun Zan looked hesitant. After all, as a local lord in the past, how could he not understand the importance of territory to the development of power? Ma Chao's generosity was truly too great, far beyond his expectations.

Seeing this, Ma Chao deliberately provoked him, "What's the matter? Brother, are you afraid to take on this important task?" Gongsun Zan was startled by this, and his daughter stamped her feet anxiously behind him. Gongsun Zan gritted his teeth and said with determination, "Okay! Then I'll take it!" After saying this, he also raised his head and drank the wine in one gulp.

Seeing her father's agreement, Gongsun Zan's daughter hurried forward, first picking up the wine jug and gently and skillfully filling Ma Chao's glass with wine. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something, but she kept silent. Then, she turned around and filled her father Gongsun Zan's glass with wine.

Ma Chao didn't ask anyone to sit down again. Instead, he spoke loudly and solemnly, "This third cup of wine is of great significance. Our army has been resting here for quite some time now. I have decided to let the troops rest for another day tomorrow. The day after tomorrow, you will follow me out of Yanmen Pass and onto the grasslands. This time, we must thoroughly annihilate those foreign tribes. The mere sound of our Han cavalry's hooves will terrify them, and they will never dare to graze freely on this grassland again, nor will they dare to covet our great Han borders again!"

Gongsun Zan, only then realizing Ma Chao's grandiose plans, was stunned. Gongsun Zan's daughter, even more so, was completely captivated by Ma Chao, her eyes practically filled with stars and adoration. The generals below, upon hearing Ma Chao's words, were thrilled, shouting, "Mighty King! Mighty King!" The roars shook the night sky, seemingly shattering it. Morale within the camp reached a fever pitch. Everyone, smitten by Ma Chao's ambition, was eager to join him on the march, show their prowess on the grasslands, and bring glory to the Han.