readytorunbook Chapter 306: Instigating a Trouble at the Martial Arts Banquet
Chapter 306: Instigating a Trouble at the Martial Arts Banquet
After all, it was the fierce Zhang Fei, his immense strength and power, like a raging lion. His reckless fighting style was truly terrifying. Each strike carried the force of thunder, seemingly capable of shattering anything in his path. Xu Huang, known for his immense strength and ferocity, was a fearless warrior on the battlefield. However, facing Zhang Fei, he gradually felt his strength was insufficient. The onslaught of the storm was too much for Xu Huang to withstand.
Xu Huang's anxiety grew with each thought, knowing he couldn't afford to lose face for his general. With this thought, a flicker of determination flashed in his eyes, and like a madman, he abandoned his defensive stance and launched a relentless offensive. He wielded his weapon with ferocious force, each blow imbued with the resolve to burn his boats and cross the river. However, it was clear to all present that Xu Huang was already losing ground. His movements, though ferocious, gradually lost their rhythm, relying solely on brute force to sustain his attack.
At that moment, Ma Chao, who was at the banquet, suddenly stood up. He stood tall, his eyes etched with anxiety and worry. He shouted, "Gongming, don't act rashly!" The voice resonated like a bell, echoing through the air. Liu Bei also stood up, his face tense, his brow furrowed, his eyes filled with concern. He said urgently, "Yide, stop it!" However, the two men seemed to be blinded by anger. One was trying to save face for his general, while the other was fuming, feeling that his elder brother had been treated unfairly and wanted to vent his anger. They were both furious, showing no signs of holding back.
At this moment, Guan Yu had been nervously watching the situation on the field. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, fixed on the two men in the field. Seeing that the two were about to exchange injuries, at the critical moment, Guan Yu leaped into the field without hesitation. His posture was nimble, like an eagle spreading its wings and soaring. Guan Yu swung his long sword, and it drew a beautiful arc in the air, precisely separating the two weapons. At the same time, Zhang Ren also rushed forward and stopped the frantic Xu Huang. Zhang Ren's face was full of seriousness, he knew that this fight could not continue.
Seeing this, Zhang Fei, his face filled with anger, called out to Guan Yu, "Second brother, why are you stopping me? Let me deal with this fellow today." His voice was thick with anger and resentment. Xu Huang, still unwilling to give in, shouted, "Come on, come on! If I'm afraid of you today, I'm not Xu Huang, Xu Gongming!" His eyes burned with a stubborn fire. Guan Yu, with a hint of reproach, said to Zhang Fei, "Third brother, in the palace, in front of the emperor, how can you be so impulsive?" Guan Yu's voice was steady and powerful, carrying an unquestionable majesty. Zhang Fei remained indignant, his anger unquenchable. He glared at Xu Huang fiercely, as if to say that this matter would not be let go.
The emperor watched the two men clashing, the situation threatening to spiral out of control and even lead to bloodshed, and he was secretly alarmed. However, the emperor, having held a high position for a long time, remained calm and composed. He immediately stood up and laughed heartily, saying, "Well, well, well, this is truly wonderful! Both generals are truly talented officers of the state, and I am very pleased." He then instructed the eunuchs, "Bring another piece of armor and give it to the two generals." Then, the emperor gently addressed the two men, "Please step forward, generals. I will pour you a cup to thank you for your hard work in the battle."
However, Zhang Fei remained indifferent. Xu Huang, seeing Zhang Fei's expression, did not move either. For a moment, the emperor was slightly embarrassed. Seeing this, Liu Bei hurriedly said, "Yide, the emperor has called you, how can you be so willful?" Zhang Fei was very unhappy and reluctantly stepped forward, took the wine cup, and drank it all. Then, he threw the wine cup into the arms of the eunuch, bowed slightly, and without even looking at the emperor, he was about to return to his seat. The emperor hurriedly said, "General Yide, please take the armor away." Zhang Fei disagreed and said angrily, "Humph, I, Zhang, have my own armor, so I don't need this reward. I didn't defeat him, so why should I ask him for anything?"
Seeing Zhang Fei's reaction, Xu Huang also silently stepped forward, drank a full cup, set it down, bowed, and returned to his seat. The emperor felt a momentary embarrassment and looked at Liu Xie, the Prince of Luoyang. Liu Xie understood and stepped forward to personally carry the two armor pieces.
Liu Xie, carrying two armor pieces, walked steadily to Zhang Fei and Xu Huang. His face was kind, his eyes gleaming with sincerity as he spoke softly, "Generals, today's competition has truly allowed everyone to witness your bravery. Your Majesty's gift of armor pieces is a testament to your respect and praise. These armor pieces are not only a reward, but also a testament to your Majesty's expectation that you two will defend our country."
Liu Xie turned to Zhang Fei and continued, "General Yide, Your Majesty is well aware of your bravery. This precious armor was specially selected for you. If you do not accept it, wouldn't it be a betrayal of Your Majesty's kindness? Moreover, your bravery, if matched with this precious armor, will surely be even more awe-inspiring on the battlefield in the future, and you will achieve even more glorious military exploits for Your Majesty and the Han Dynasty."
Liu Xie then addressed Xu Huang, "General Gongming, His Majesty has high regard for you. This precious armor is a testament to your loyalty and bravery. If you decline, His Majesty will inevitably feel disappointed. You should share His Majesty's concerns. Accept this precious armor and continue to serve His Majesty."
Zhang Fei's expression softened slightly after hearing Liu Xie's words, but he still held a certain stubbornness. Seeing this, Liu Xie added, "General Yide, please don't be so stubborn. Today, in the palace, in the presence of the Emperor, harmony is paramount. Your Majesty's reward is a favor, and if you refuse to accept it, you risk giving others a reason to criticize you. Besides, today's banquet is a celebration. Don't let a momentary anger ruin the festive atmosphere."
Xu Huang was also touched at this moment. He lowered his head slightly, thought for a moment and said, "I appreciate your kindness, Your Majesty and the Prince. I will obey your orders."
Zhang Fei saw Xu Huang accept the armor, and although he felt reluctant, he couldn't resist any longer. He snorted and said, "Well, well, since that's the case, I, Zhang Fei, will accept the armor too."
Liu Xie was overjoyed to see the two men finally accept the armor and said quickly, "You two generals are very understanding of justice. Your Majesty will surely be pleased."
At this point, the atmosphere between the two sides eased. Seeing this, the emperor also smiled. The banquet continued, everyone was laughing and the atmosphere was harmonious. The banquet was successfully completed.
After the banquet, Ma Chao, accompanied by his personal guards and three generals, headed towards his Zhenbei General's residence. Everyone remained silent along the way, seemingly still absorbed in the intense competition at the banquet. Ma Chao stood tall and straight, his expression stern, pondering the impact of today's events on the future. His personal guards followed closely behind, vigilantly observing their surroundings.
The three brothers, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, also returned to their residence. Liu Bei's face was grave, worried about the consequences of Zhang Fei's impulsive actions today. Guan Yu remained calm, his brow slightly furrowed, as if he were lost in thought. Although Zhang Fei had received the armor, he still felt resentful and grumbled throughout the journey.
The court officials dispersed privately, each with their own thoughts. Some discussed today's competition, some speculated on the emperor's intentions, and still others considered their own interests. After the banquet, the entire capital returned to its former tranquility, but beneath this tranquility, countless undercurrents seemed to be surging.
Inside the palace, Liu Xie asked in confusion, "Brother, why are you treating Ma Chao with such courtesy today? Doesn't that mean he's treated with more respect than Emperor Liu and his brothers? It's inevitable that Emperor Liu and his three brothers might harbor resentment. Could it be that you're just trying to create an atmosphere of antagonism between them?" Liu Xie's smile faded, his expression shifting to his usual calm and wise demeanor. He said, "That's quite right, and that's one of my points. Ma Chao's recent arrival means Xiliang is temporarily safe. My courteous treatment of him will show everyone in the world my eagerness to recruit talented individuals, my broad-mindedness, and my willingness to let bygones be bygones. Furthermore, this courtesy will naturally create a rift between the court officials and Ma Chao, leading them to shun him. Since returning to Chang'an, they've returned to the imperial court and have regained their previous status, but I haven't given them any additional rewards. After all, the fact that they were able to coerce and join the rebels clearly proves their lack of ability, and their continued lust for power clearly proves their worthlessness."
Liu Xie frowned slightly and said helplessly, "Let's not talk about those court officials. They are all power-hungry people. Most of them are mediocre and have made no contribution to national affairs."
Liu Bian looked serious and continued, "And the three brothers Liu, Guan and Zhang are now loyal to me. However, you must know that they were just a few generals under Gongsun Zan before. Gongsun Zan's overall strength is indeed not as good as Ma Chao. Ma Chao has tens of thousands of cavalrymen in Xiliang, and those cavalrymen are still eyeing him covetously. Therefore, we must first stabilize his heart with high officials and generous titles. My original intention has not changed, that is, to do my best to win over the three brothers Liu, Guan and Zhang. On the one hand, let them fight against Ma Chao; on the other hand, we must also try to get rid of Gongsun Zan's influence. However, Gongsun Zan I still He will be used to control Ma Chao. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei can exert a certain degree of control over Ma Chao within Chang'an, while Gongsun Zan, in Youzhou, controls an entire province and possesses the strength to rival the Western Liang army. This balance must not be easily upset; if it is, it will inevitably backfire. Now, we must make them afraid, like a wolf being beaten with a stick. Without the support of Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, Gongsun Zan will be like a broken arm, and will not dare to act arrogantly. And Ma Chao, in turn, will not dare to act rashly because of the presence of Gongsun Zan and the Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei. Only in this way can they be used by me."
Upon hearing this, Liu Xie frowned, and asked worriedly, "Brother, isn't this a bit dangerous? Is this situation really that complicated?" Liu Bian smiled softly, his eyes revealing determination and courage. He said, "Brother, you are still too naive. The game of thrones is like playing on the edge of a knife. If we hadn't taken such risks, our country would have been occupied by Dong Zhuo long ago. When the princes fought against Dong Zhuo, wasn't the situation even more critical than it is now? My dear brother, just be a safe prince and watch me rebuild our Han Dynasty."