The celebration banquet lasted deep into the night. Once Ma Chao arrived as an unexpected main character, the atmosphere grew even hotter.
Though it was their first meeting, Ma Chao behaved as if he were among old friends. At the table, he spoke nonstop, enthusiastically recounting to Liu Bei how Zhang He had been captured.
To Liu Bei, Ma Chao used the most complicated language possible to explain the simplest outcome.
Zhang He had been worn down alive.
After retreating from Jieting and losing Chencang, Zhang He's baggage train was gone. The shortage of supplies slowly but inevitably surfaced. Ma Chao then led Qiang cavalry in relentless pursuit. Zhang He had no choice but to flee, and whatever food he had came only from desperate plundering along the way.
One chased. One fled.
From Yong County to Duyang, then to Yinmi, then to Chungou, and onward to Linjing. They nearly ran all the way to Yuezhi City. In the end, Zhang He ran out of grain and was captured.
Ma Chao himself had not fared much better. One only had to look at the savage way he tore into roasted meat to know what kind of month he had endured.
Liu Bei gestured for a guard and gave a quiet order.
"Send food to Zhang He as well. Treat him properly."
Watching the guard leave, Liu Bei relaxed and personally poured Ma Chao a cup of wine.
Ma Chao was so startled he froze. One hand clutched the wine cup, unsure whether to drink. The other still held half a roasted chicken, reluctant to let go.
Remembering Jian Yong's earlier advice, Ma Chao searched his mind and finally said,
"Chang'an is a mighty city. My lord captured it in mere days. Such divine might is beyond compare."
He meant it sincerely. For the Qiang and Hu, siege warfare had always been a nightmare. Even the former hundred-thousand alliance against Cao Cao had avoided Chang'an and instead confronted him at Tong Pass.
Liu Bei smiled and raised his cup in response. The two drank together.
At the same time, Liu Bei could not help but think about whether Zhang Fei and Pang Tong were proceeding smoothly in Hedong.
For Guanzhong, Hedong was a vulnerable flank that could not be ignored. Yet its terrain was not critical, so few regimes ever invested real effort there. Even the Hedong troops had once been part of the alliance at Tong Pass. After defeat, they nominally surrendered to Cao Cao.
Now that Liu Bei aimed to truly govern Guanzhong, Hedong had to be addressed properly.
"I heard my lord also captured Xiahou Yuan?" Ma Chao asked with admiration.
Liu Bei shook his head.
"His subordinates wished to surrender, so they bound him themselves."
"I have already written to Cao Cao. I intend to exchange Xiahou Yuan for the warriors of Yi Province."
"Yi Province warriors?" Ma Chao was confused.
Liu Bei sighed and explained how, years ago, Liu Zhang had sent soldiers to Cao Cao, and how their parents still waited in Chengdu, longing for their sons' return.
That simple story silenced Ma Chao for a long time.
At last, the man who had endured a month of brutal pursuit and near starvation, yet still radiated heroic presence, knelt heavily to the ground.
"I beg my lord to save my father."
Before Tong Pass, Ma Chao had received several letters from Liu Bei. At the time, ambition burned in his chest. He wanted the world to know the name Ma Chao. The only advice he followed was refusing to formally adopt Han Sui as his father.
Reality taught him otherwise.
The alliance collapsed overnight. Everyone fled west in panic. Each man had his own designs.
Later, Jian Yong arrived. Learned, eloquent, gentle yet persuasive. Using Lü Bu as an example, he showed Ma Chao exactly where blind valor led.
A man might abandon his father, but he could never escape the charge of unfilial conduct.
Now Ma Chao had found the best solution.
Let Liu Bei act.
Liu Bei and Jian Yong exchanged a glance and smiled. Ma Chao was a blade. Used well, he cut the enemy. Used poorly, he cut himself. Fortunately, the blade had now been honed to just the right edge.
Ma Chao had allegiance, achievements, and momentum. Han Sui was gone. Yong and Liang were secure. Cao Cao had every reason not to kill Ma Teng. With hostages to exchange, Ma Teng's life was safe.
That alone was enough.
Liu Bei's expression softened further.
"Mengqi, rise. You have rendered great merit. This matter is my responsibility."
Ma Chao finally relaxed. He glanced at Jian Yong and saw him raise a thumb in approval. Joy flickered in Ma Chao's chest. The weight in his heart dissolved completely.
Soon after returning, Ma Chao received a new assignment.
Horse breeding.
Eight hundred li of Qin Plain held rich grasslands. Near the city lay fertile fields. Farther out stretched excellent pastures. The Qiang and Hu understood horses. Liu Bei ordered Ma Chao to select skilled breeders and establish a new stud farm. Officials would later formalize the methods and regulations.
Days later, Zhang Fei and Pang Tong returned, bringing with them the families of Hedong's generals.
Facing Liu Bei's army, those generals swore loyalty, claiming their submission to Cao Cao had been nothing but pretense.
Zhang Fei believed them, then made one simple demand.
Leave their wives in Chang'an as hostages.
One troublemaker was executed with thunderous force. After that, everything proceeded smoothly.
Liu Bei disliked such methods, but against mountain bandits turned warlords, no better option existed.
In the end, it came down to manpower.
From Gong'an onward, talent had been cultivated nonstop, but expansion outpaced training. A fortunate frustration.
By late April, Liu Bei and his circle remained in Chang'an's government hall, treating the viewing of the Light Screen as the best diversion amid war.
Ma Chao sat among them for the first time, eyes full of wonder. Liu Bei's camp truly overflowed with talent. Naturally, that included himself.
But what exactly were they waiting for?
Why did everyone look at him after watching Strategist Zhuge?
Ma Chao was utterly confused.
…
Chang'an City, November.
After sending Li Jing away, Li Shimin felt a trace of tension.
He did not fear Tuyuhun. Rabble who did not know death. With maps, gunpowder, and fierce generals, Li Shimin could not imagine how they would survive.
Yet he knew this.
Compared to the Light Screen history, the defeat of Jieli differed by only half a year. That was acceptable.
But the Tuyuhun campaign had been dragged forward nearly five years.
After this battle, Great Tang would walk a road entirely different from recorded history.
It was already the eleventh lunar month, yet no snow fell.
Li Shimin's thoughts leapt instantly to later generations and climate.
Then to the greatest beneficiary of such conditions.
"Tibet…"