Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1320 Colluding with the Donghu to Take Advantage of the Situation

As the smoke of battle gradually dissipated over Hebei, the streets and alleys of Ye City returned to their former bustle, though the faces of the pedestrians showed more peace and less fear. Ma Chao stood on the high platform of the palace, looking down at the bustling scene on Zhuque Avenue, and felt somewhat relieved. Since conquering Ye City and pacifying the core area of ​​Hebei, he had been busy appeasing the people and reforming the bureaucracy. He was waiting for news of the complete pacification of Youzhou, and after arranging everything related to people's livelihood and agriculture, he planned to return to Chang'an to rest.

Zhou Yu, however, thought differently. These days, he often stared intently at the map in his tent, sometimes discussing matters with Jia Xu, Xu Shu, and others, his brows always carrying an irrepressible sharpness. This afternoon, he found a moment of free time and came to Ma Chao's study again, getting straight to the point: "Brother, the matter in Hebei is settled, and now is the perfect time to break the deadlock."

Ma Chao put down the dossier in his hand, looked up at him, and asked, "What brilliant idea do you have, my brother?"

Zhou Yu walked to the map and pointed heavily at the territory of Yanzhou: "Brother, please look. Cao Cao's forces in Yuzhou are already exhausted. Now our army has just conquered Hebei and our morale is high. If we immediately march south and station our main force on the border of Yanzhou, we can take advantage of Cao Cao's predicament and seize Yanzhou in one fell swoop, allowing us to directly threaten Xuchang and completely destroy the Cao family's foundation. This is a golden opportunity that must not be missed!"

His eyes gleamed, and his tone became increasingly earnest: "Brother, 'you should press on with your remaining strength to defeat the enemy.' Cao Cao is a man of great talent and ambition. If we give him a chance to catch his breath, he will surely become a major threat in the future. It would be better to take this opportunity to settle things with him and settle the score as soon as possible."

Ma Chao tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, lost in thought. Zhou Yu's words were not without reason; Cao Cao was indeed a formidable enemy. While launching a surprise attack would certainly gain the upper hand, he also remembered that Youzhou was not yet fully pacified, and the reconstruction of Hebei was only just beginning. If he rashly marched south, his rear would likely be unstable. Just as he was pondering this, a series of hurried footsteps sounded outside the tent, accompanied by a guard's report: "King Liang, urgent news from Youzhou!"

Ma Chao's heart tightened. He took the secret letter from his guard, unfolded it, and his face immediately darkened. The handwriting on the bamboo slip was hasty and hurried, clearly written in a moment of extreme urgency at the front. The situation in Youzhou had suddenly changed; Gongsun Yuan had returned and, moreover, had colluded with the Donghu tribes, launching a fierce attack on Yuyang County!

"Outrageous!" Ma Chao slammed the secret letter onto the table, causing the teacup on the table to jump and spill tea, wetting the edges of the document. He stood up, his tall figure casting a heavy shadow in the tent, his eyes blazing with anger. "Gongsun Yuan is fickle and treacherous. He fled to Liaodong after his defeat, yet now he dares to return? And the Donghu, they dare to invade our territory while our main force is in the south!"

Zhou Yu also came over to read the urgent report, his brows furrowed: "Gongsun Yuan has always been ambitious. His previous surrender to the Yuan family was not sincere. Now, he is colluding with the Donghu, clearly wanting to take advantage of the weakness of Youzhou to get a share of the spoils. But the Donghu... how dare they be so bold?"

It's worth remembering that Ma Chao's legendary exploits across the grasslands still resonate. In those years, he personally led the Xiliang cavalry across the southern and northern deserts, engaging in over a hundred battles, leaving the rebellious nomadic tribes with corpses strewn across the plains, burning cattle, sheep, and tents to the ground, creating a situation where "no nomadic horses roamed the vast grasslands." For years, even when grazing their livestock, the grassland tribes dared not approach the borders established by Ma Chao. The fact that the Donghu dared to emerge at this time clearly indicates they believed Youzhou's military strength was insufficient and wanted to take advantage of the chaos, unaware that the Yuan clan had already perished.

"You have audacity!" Ma Chao gritted his teeth and said, "It seems you've had too much peace these past few years and have forgotten the methods of Ma Chao!"

He immediately turned around and strode towards the council hall: "Summon all the generals for a meeting!"

A moment later, Jia Xu, Xu Shu, Xu Huang, Zhang Liao, Pang De, Zhang Xiu, and other important civil and military officials had gathered in the tent. Ma Chao read through the urgent report from Youzhou, and the tent immediately erupted in an uproar.

"King Liang, this humble general is willing to lead troops to aid Youzhou!" Xu Huang stepped forward first, his hand on his sword, and volunteered. "Gongsun Yuan, that brat from the Donghu barbarians, dares to invade our territory. We will make him pay a bloody price!"

Zhang Liao also cupped his hands and said, "The Donghu have always been ambitious. This time they have colluded with Gongsun Yuan. If we don't teach them a lesson, they will surely become a great threat in the future. This humble general requests to lead the charge!"

Ma Chao raised his hand to signal everyone to calm down, his gaze falling on Pang De and Zhang Xiu. Pang De was a former general of Xiliang, brave and skilled in battle, especially familiar with grassland warfare tactics; Zhang Xiu had a well-equipped cavalry, and in addition, Zhang Xiu's spear skills were sharp and his troops were steady. Both of them were capable generals who could lead independently.

"Pang De, Zhang Xiu," Ma Chao said in a deep voice, "you two, listen to my command!"

"Your subordinate is here!" the two generals replied in unison, bowing and awaiting orders.

"You two must immediately select 50,000 elite cavalry, break camp within three days, and rush to the aid of Youzhou!" Ma Chao's voice carried an unquestionable authority. "Yuyang County is the shield of Youzhou; it must not fall into the hands of Gongsun Yuan and the Donghu!"

A fierce glint flashed in Pang De's eyes as he clasped his hands in a fist salute and said, "This humble general obeys orders! But I wonder what instructions the King of Liang has for the Donghu?"

Ma Chao's lips curled into a cold smile as he glanced at the people in the tent and slowly said, "You have followed me for many years, so you should know my temper towards foreign tribes. When I swept across the grasslands, it wasn't so that they would cheer me on from the sidelines."

He paused, then his voice suddenly turned stern: "The Donghu barbarians, taking advantage of the chaos in Youzhou, dare to raise an army to invade, and even want to raid our grasslands? They are simply courting death!"

“Killing them is only the first step.” Ma Chao stared at Pang De and Zhang Xiu, saying each word clearly, “What you need to do is more than that.”

Pang De and Zhang Xiu exchanged a glance, both understanding each other perfectly. Pang De said in a deep voice, "Rest assured, Your Majesty, I understand. We will not only drive them back to their stronghold, but also storm into the Donghu's base, burn their tents, and seize their cattle and sheep, so they will know which place is off-limits!"

Zhang Xiu also said in a deep voice: "The Donghu tribes are scattered in the mountains and grasslands north of Yuyang. I am willing to lead a light cavalry raid to strike their royal court and make them dare not move south again!"

"Good!" Ma Chao slammed his hand on the table. "You know what to do!" He walked up to the two men and said solemnly, "Remember, I don't want 'repelling,' I want 'extermination.' I want the entire grassland to know that the swords of my Xiliang army never recognize any tribe, only 'those who invade my territory, though far away, shall be punished!'"

"Furthermore," Ma Chao added, "the people of Yuyang have already suffered from the ravages of war. During the march, we must restrain our soldiers and ensure that they do not disturb the people's livelihood any further. We must expedite the allocation of provisions, and all prefectures and counties along the way must cooperate fully without any mistakes."

"Your subordinate obeys!" After receiving the order, the two generals turned around and went to muster the troops and prepare the horses. Immediately, a series of hurried footsteps sounded in the tent, and the air became tense.

After arranging the reinforcements, Ma Chao's gaze fell upon Zhang He and Chen Lin. Zhang He was a surrendered general from Hebei, familiar with the terrain of Youzhou and the temperament of Yuan Shao's former troops; Chen Lin was a sharp writer and eloquent, making them the perfect pair to go together.

“General Zhang He, Mr. Chen,” Ma Chao said, “there is something I need to trouble you both with.”

Zhang He and Chen Lin quickly stood up: "Please give your orders, Your Majesty."

"You shall set off immediately for the front lines in Youzhou and deliver a message to Yan Liang and Wen Chou for me." Ma Chao's tone softened slightly, but his eyes remained solemn. "Although they are former subordinates of the Yuan family and are currently fighting against our army, they are ultimately Han Chinese. Now that the Yuan family has been destroyed and foreign invaders are attacking, with the nation and its people at stake, we must prioritize the greater good."

Chen Lin cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty Liang is wise, I understand. However, Yan Liang and Wen Chou are both of fiery temperaments, I'm afraid..."

“It’s alright,” Ma Chao interrupted him. “You just need to tell them that the past grievances were all internal conflicts and are not deep-seated hatreds. Now that Gongsun Yuan is colluding with the Donghu, he wants to hand over Youzhou to foreign invaders. If they still have any backbone, they should put aside their prejudices and join forces with our army to repel the enemy.”

He paused, then emphasized, "Tell them that as long as they are willing to fight side by side and repel the foreign invaders, I, Ma Chao, will forgive and forget everything that happened in the past. If they wish to surrender after the war, I will treat them with courtesy; if they wish to retire and return to their fields, I will provide them with travel expenses and ensure their lifelong peace."

Zhang He's heart stirred slightly. He was originally a general of the Yuan family, and although he was treated with courtesy after surrendering to Ma Chao, he was still somewhat uneasy. Now, seeing Ma Chao's magnanimity towards Yan Liang and Wen Chou, he couldn't help but feel even more respect for this King of Liang. He clasped his hands and said, "King of Liang has a broad mind. This humble general will certainly convey the message and persuade them to prioritize their country and family."

“Alright.” Ma Chao nodded. “Be careful on your journey. If you encounter any of Gongsun Yuan’s scattered troops, avoid them for now and make sure you reach the front line safely.”

The two men acknowledged the order and withdrew, leaving only Ma Chao, Zhou Yu, and a few key strategists in the tent. Jia Xu stroked his beard and slowly spoke: "King of Liang, the war in Youzhou has suddenly broken out. What about the direction of Yanzhou?"

Ma Chao said, "It's alright. Gongsun Zan alone suppressed the Donghu Wuhuan and Gongsun Yuan back then, preventing them from taking an inch into Youzhou. Now, there is Xu Rong, the Flying General Lü Bu, plus Pang De, Zhang Xiu, Yan Liang, and Wen Chou. If they understand the greater good, they will also be two fierce generals. Donghu and Gongsun Yuan are nothing to worry about."

With the arrangements made, the generals dispersed, leaving only Ma Chao and Zhou Yu inside the tent. The last rays of the setting sun streamed through the window, casting long shadows of the two men. Zhou Yu looked at Ma Chao's tense profile and said softly, "Brother, you've endured countless battles these past years; you've worked hard."

Ma Chao gave a bitter smile: "In this chaotic world, who can truly live in peace? I only hope to pacify the world as soon as possible, so that the people can live a few good days and no longer suffer from this war." He looked to the north, his gaze deep, "The Donghu's antics and Gongsun Yuan's rebellion are nothing but minor ailments. The real battles are yet to come."

Zhou Yu walked to his side and stood shoulder to shoulder with him: "Brother, rest assured, no matter how difficult it is, I will be with you."

As night deepened, the lights of the Prince's mansion lit up one by one, illuminating the map spread out inside the tent. Youzhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jingzhou… each place name seemed to come alive under the lamplight, transforming into a battlefield engulfed in flames. Ma Chao knew that the pacification of Hebei was only the beginning; to truly bring peace to the world, he still had a long way to go.

Three days later, Pang De and Zhang Xiu's 50,000-strong army had assembled outside the city. Banners fluttered, armor gleamed, and the soldiers' faces were grim, awaiting only the order to rush to the front lines. Ma Chao personally came to the drill ground to see them off. Looking at the fully equipped army, he shouted, "Brothers, the Donghu barbarians have invaded our territory and killed our compatriots! This hatred is irreconcilable! I order you to march north immediately, wipe out the enemy, and protect our people! Remember, you are the iron cavalry of Xiliang, the backbone of the Han people. Do not tarnish the reputation of our army!"

"Sweep away the enemy! Protect our people!" Fifty thousand soldiers shouted in unison, their voices shaking the heavens and even causing the clouds in the sky to scatter.

Pang De and Zhang Xiu leaped onto their warhorses and clasped their hands in greeting to Ma Chao: "Please, King of Liang, await good news!" With that, the two turned their horses around and gave an order, and the army marched north like a surging torrent, billowing dust that blotted out the sky.

Almost simultaneously, Zhang He and Chen Lin, accompanied by several personal guards, also embarked on their journey to the front lines in Youzhou. Their carriages and horses were not fast, but every step they took was exceptionally resolute—they carried not only Ma Chao's entrustment, but also the hope of resolving the civil war and jointly resisting foreign aggression.

Ma Chao stood atop the city wall, gazing at the northward-bound army and chariots, motionless for a long time. The wind whipped his battle robes, making a rustling sound, as if telling of an impending bloody battle. He knew that once the smoke of war ignited in Youzhou, it would not be easily extinguished, but he also believed that as long as his soldiers were of one mind and the people were loyal, he could weather any storm.