Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1183 Armored Man Suffers Torture, Dong Bai is Troubled

Zhang Liao and Gao Shun stood there, unsure whether to advance or retreat.

Soon, a series of sharp, resounding blows echoed from outside the tent. The force was considerable, and the crisp sound of armor plates colliding mingled with the blows, making it sound as if torture was truly taking place. Zhang Liao couldn't sit still any longer and leaned forward slightly. Gao Shun also frowned deeply; after all, they had grown attached to the armor, having risked their lives with it.

Just as they were getting anxious, Ma Chao walked over with a wine cup in his hand, smiling as he handed it to the two men: "Wen Yuan is sentimental and Gao Shun is loyal. They are both men of courage and integrity in my Xiliang army. How could I bear to actually use military discipline?" He pointed outside the tent, "Your armor has been with you in battle these past few days and is worn out. I'll use this as an excuse to let the brothers 'repair' it. I'll give you a new one later."

The two then realized what had happened. Even Gao Shun, who usually didn't drink, was moved by the king's gesture, took the wine cup, and drank it all in one gulp, feeling both warm and ashamed. Zhang Liao clasped his hands and said, "This humble general thanks Your Majesty for your compassion, but..."

“Sigh,” Ma Chao waved his hand, “Rules must be established, but loyalty cannot be abandoned. You guys are guarding Hulao Pass, and your armor is almost worn through. As your lord, how can I let my brothers fight with broken armor?”

As they were talking, the guards brought in two new suits of armor. The silver armor plates gleamed in the candlelight, their edges engraved with cloud patterns. They were more than twice as good as their old armor, clearly meticulously crafted.

“This…” Gao Shun touched the edge of the new armor, his voice trembling slightly.

Zhang Liao also stood up and bowed deeply to Ma Chao: "Your Majesty's kindness is beyond my ability to repay. I can only repay this favor by dying on the battlefield!"

"Alright," Zhang Xiu chimed in, patting the two on the shoulders. "You two have struck gold! The King isn't punishing you; he's just using your worn-out armor as an excuse to send you new ones! I'm so envious; I wish I'd made a little mistake too!"

The tent erupted in laughter, instantly dispelling the previous tense atmosphere. Ma Chao, looking at the scene before him, raised his cup and said, "Brothers, we live and die together. When our armor gets old, we replace it with new one; when we're tired, we rest. As long as we're of one mind, let alone Hulao Pass, even taking Ye City is no problem!"

"Cheers!" The group raised their cups and clinked them together, the wine splashing out and reflecting the candlelight in the tent, warming the air as if melting away the winter chill. Zhang Liao and Gao Shun held the new armor, feeling how heavy it was, filled with a heavy weight of affection.

The flickering candlelight inside the tent cast a warm glow on the wine cups scattered across the table. The guests clinked their cups together, a few drops of wine splashing onto the table beside them, spreading a small, dark patch. Jia Xu set down his cup, his long, slender fingers stroking his white beard. His gaze swept over the generals in the tent, and he slowly spoke: “Your Majesty, neither Lü Bu nor Chen Gong are men of the sort. Even if they leave today, they will not remain dormant. Luoyang is a crucial point in the Central Plains. If we do not send capable generals to guard it, I fear unforeseen circumstances may arise, shaking the very foundation of our army.”

Ma Chao nodded, downed the wine in his cup in one gulp, the liquid sliding down his throat with a burning force. He looked at Zhang Liao, who was holding the brand-new armor beside him, and said in a deep voice, "Wenhe is absolutely right. Zhang Liao, you released Lü Bu without permission. Although the armor has been used to take the punishment for you, military discipline cannot be violated, and I will still punish you."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Liao tightened his grip on the armor, the plates clanging together with a crisp sound. He knelt on one knee, his back ramrod straight, and declared loudly, "This humble general acknowledges his guilt and is willing to accept any punishment without uttering a single complaint!"

Looking at his resolute profile, Ma Chao's eyes flashed with a complex emotion before he said in a deep voice, "We will soon be returning to Chang'an. You and Gao Shun will stay behind to guard Luoyang. Gao Shun is steady and can defend Hulao Pass to secure the city; Zhang Wenyuan, you are quick-witted and will take charge of Luoyang's defenses, pacify the people, and reorganize the military."

He paused, his tone softening slightly, yet still carrying an undeniable authority: "Since you have made a mistake, you must make amends here on the front lines. After I return to Chang'an, I will hold a grand wedding, so you two don't need to attend the banquet—it's not too late to return to Chang'an and celebrate with me when Luoyang is secure and the border is safe."

Zhang Liao kowtowed to the ground, his voice resounding: "This humble general obeys! I will certainly live up to Your Majesty's trust and defend Luoyang!"

Gao Shun stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and replied, "This humble general will stand with Wen Yuan at the front lines and ensure the safety of Luoyang!"

A hush fell over the tent, broken only by the occasional crackling of the candle flames. Everyone knew that this punishment carried weight of responsibility, and this absence held a trust. Ma Chao raised his wine cup, offering a distant toast to the two: "Good! I await your good news in Chang'an. Cheers!"

The wine entered his throat, spicy yet carrying a hint of anticipation. The banquet continued noisily until the third watch of the night, when it finally dispersed. Zhang Liao and Gao Shun rose, holding their armor, and as they turned to leave the tent, the cold gleam of their armor mingled with the moonlight outside, reflecting the long and determined road ahead.

The wind at the end of September carried the chill of late autumn, swirling up withered leaves outside Luoyang and sweeping across the official road. Ma Chao mounted his horse, his fingertips brushing the patterns on the saddle. His gaze swept over Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu behind him, and he said in a deep voice, "Let's go, back to Chang'an."

Zhang Xiu urged his mount to follow, the iron armor clanging dully in the wind. He gazed towards Hulao Pass in the distance, where Gao Shun was stationed. The banners on the city walls fluttered in the twilight, like an insurmountable barrier. "Gao Shun is steady and reliable. I feel at ease leaving Hulao Pass to him," Zhang Xiu murmured, his tone tinged with approval.

Jia Xu stroked his beard, his gaze fixed on the outline of Luoyang. The city walls gleamed with an ancient luster in the setting sun, and scattered lights flickered in the streets and alleys, presenting a scene of tranquility. "Zhang Liao is in charge of the defenses in Luoyang. Although he is upright, he is extremely methodical. In addition, the people's hearts are gradually settling down in the city, so there should be no major problems in the short term." He paused, then changed the subject, "Over at Sishui Pass, Zhang Yan of Black Mountain is also quite brave. Having him stationed at that strategic pass is a good use of his talents."

Ma Chao nodded slightly, saying nothing more. His thoughts had already drifted to Chang'an, and his warhorse seemed to understand its master's intentions, its hooves pounding lighter. This clash with Lü Bu ultimately ended in a crushing defeat—not only shattering the foundation of Lü Bu's army's ambitions to dominate the world, but also diminishing his domineering spirit. It was likely that when the news spread, the name "King of Liang, Ma Chao" would inspire even more fear and apprehension among the warlords of the land.

But Ma Chao had no time to worry about any of that now. He tightened the reins, gazing at the setting sun, its golden-red afterglow casting a cold light on his armor. The stability of Luoyang was assured; Zhang Liao and Gao Shun each fulfilled their duties, and Zhang Yan could also play a restraining role at Sishui Pass, so he didn't need to exert much effort.

"Speed ​​up! Let's reach the next post station before nightfall!" Ma Chao shouted, cracking his whip. His warhorse neighed and charged into the night. Zhang Xiu and Jia Xu exchanged a glance and quickly spurred their horses to follow. The sound of hooves echoed on the empty road, startling birds roosting in the woods.

The wind whistled past his ears, carrying the scent of grass and trees from the distant mountains. Ma Chao's figure stretched longer in the twilight; he had only one goal—Chang'an. More important matters awaited him there. As for the stability of Luoyang and the fear of the world, he left them behind for the time being, the dust kicked up by his horse's hooves gradually settling in the wind on his return journey.

The autumn colors were more pronounced in Chang'an than in Luoyang. Dong Bai stood by the window, watching the paulownia leaves falling in the courtyard, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the carved patterns on the window frame. On the table lay the wedding gift list, the booklet bound with red silk and gold thread, every item clearly marked—from the guest list to the menu, from the ceremonial procession to the decorations of the bridal chamber, everything meticulously planned, revealing the solemnity of the upcoming joyous occasion.

The good news arrived in Chang'an three days ago. The dust kicked up by the fast horses hadn't even settled yet when Dong Bai's long-held anxiety finally subsided. Gazing in the direction the messenger had gone, she could almost see Ma Chao leading his troops through Tongguan Pass, and a smile unconsciously crept onto her lips. But this relief didn't last long; two things clouded her mind like dark clouds.

"Madam, Mr. Li Ru has arrived." The maid's voice interrupted Dong Bai's thoughts.

When Li Ru pushed open the door, he saw Dong Bai frowning at a list. As he approached, he saw the words "Liu Biao" written on the paper. He stroked his beard and cut to the chase: "Bai'er, are you troubled by the placement of Liu Biao?"

Dong Bai sighed and nodded: "Originally, my husband said he would hand him over to Liu Bei for disposal, but things changed in Xiangyang. Now that he has been brought back to Chang'an, he can't be kept locked up in the post station forever. After all, he is a member of the Han imperial family and the former governor of Jingzhou. If he fails to observe proper etiquette, it will inevitably cause criticism."

A glint of shrewdness flashed in Li Ru's eyes. He bent down and picked up a map of Chang'an from the table, pointing to a residence in the west of the city: "Bai'er, please look. That residence was originally the former residence of a vice minister of the previous dynasty. It's not large, but it's elegant and secluded, not too far from the city center. We can send some people to guard the outside of the walls, and the courtyard will be fully equipped with servants and supplies. However, we won't allow him to come and go as he pleases—ostensibly for resettlement, but in reality, it's house arrest. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Dong Bai looked in the direction he was pointing, and the sorrow in his eyes gradually faded: "Uncle means..."

“Although Liu Biao is a member of the imperial clan, he has long lost his real power,” Li Ru said calmly, yet with an undeniable certainty. “Keeping him in his residence preserves his dignity and cuts off any possibility of him colluding with the outside world. More importantly,” he changed the subject, a calculating glint in his eyes, “if he were to clash with Liu Bei in the future, this man would be a useful pawn. Liu Bei has occupied Jingzhou, but nominally it was ultimately obtained from Liu Biao. When the time comes for a confrontation, revealing Liu Biao will inevitably give Liu Bei, no matter how eloquent he is, the impression of ‘usurping power,’ and his momentum will be somewhat diminished.”

After listening, Dong Bai's brows relaxed completely: "Uncle is indeed thoughtful. We'll do as you say." She picked up her pen and added a line next to the gift list, instructing the maid, "Prepare some decent clothes and utensils and send them to that residence in the west of the city. Tell the steward to make sure Mr. Liu is 'comfortable'."

The maidservant acknowledged and withdrew. Li Ru looked at the flowing handwriting under Dong Bai's pen and smiled, "You don't need to worry. The wedding will proceed as planned. Once the Prince of Liang returns, everything will be settled."

Dong Bai looked out the window. The autumn sun pierced through the clouds, casting dappled shadows on the ground. She gently stroked the gift list, silently thinking: "When you return, all these trivial worries will have found their place." The sycamore leaves in the courtyard were still falling softly, yet they seemed to carry a touch of joy, foreshadowing that the wedding would finally arrive as scheduled, grand and perfect.