Chapter 271: Ma Teng and Han Sui

The bitterly cold land of Xiliang had seen Ma Teng and Han Sui rise to power after Dong Zhuo's downfall, both stepping into the vacuum left by his absence. However, as the saying goes, "One mountain cannot house two tigers." Once Dong Zhuo was gone, the two former comrades immediately turned against each other, openly clashing with their armies across Xiliang.

Compared to Ma Teng, Han Sui had more troops, more capable generals, and superior strategies. However, Ma Teng had his own advantages. As a descendant of Ma Yuan and fighting on his home turf, with the Qiang people as his allies, he wasn't easily defeated. Although he often fell prey to minor schemes, losing a few hundred or even a thousand soldiers here and there, the plentiful Qiang forces meant that such losses barely affected him.

In short, ever since Dong Zhuo's death, these two had been locked in an endless struggle, their battles turning the land into a chaotic wasteland. Unlike the constant scheming seen in the Central Plains, these two valued brute strength above all else. Though Han Sui was known as "Nine Curves" in Xiliang, renowned for his cunning plans that often frustrated Ma Teng, he was still ultimately a novice in the grand scheme of things.

Recently, both Ma Teng and Han Sui received news of an imperial envoy's impending arrival. Regardless of their personal feelings, they had to cease fighting and await the envoy.

Ma Teng, along with his son and a contingent of elite soldiers, met with Han Sui in Jincheng to await the arrival of the envoy.

However, as soon as they met, the two immediately began exchanging insults, and before long, they resorted to the usual Xiliang practice of settling matters with their fists. This time, however, both sides were relatively restrained compared to their previous deadly encounters. After all, with the imperial envoy arriving soon, it would be improper to engage in a life-or-death struggle without first cleansing themselves and offering incense in prayer. Killing each other now would be tantamount to disrespecting the emperor.

"Yan Xing, this time, I'm going to kill you!" Ma Chao threw down his helmet, mounted his horse, and glared furiously at Yan Xing, who stood behind Han Sui. The humiliation from a year ago still burned within him, and this time, he was determined to settle the score. During their last encounter, he had narrowly escaped death at Yan Xing's hands.

"Come at me again, and you're dead!" Yan Xing sneered, gripping his spear. "This time, I won't hold back!"

"Who asked you to hold back? Prepare to die, Yan Xing!" Ma Chao's eyes blazed with fury as he spurred his horse forward, charging at Yan Xing.

"Report! The imperial envoy has entered Jincheng!" A messenger rushed in, interrupting Ma Chao's charge. The news also brought relief to Ma Teng, who had been worried about his son. While he didn't mind the loss of other soldiers, Ma Chao was his eldest son and the one in whom he had placed the most hope. He couldn't allow him to fight Yan Xing again, especially since, a year ago, Yan Xing had nearly broken Ma Chao's neck with a single strike.

"Mengqi, stand down," Ma Teng commanded.

"Yanming, calm your temper. What's the point of quarreling with a child?" Han Sui also intervened, hoping to prevent further escalation.

"You! Let me go, Lingming! I'm going to kill that bastard!" Ma Chao, who had been dragged back by Pang De, was enraged by Han Sui's words. He struggled to break free, determined to finish Yan Xing.

Yan Xing glanced coldly at Ma Chao, his eyes filled with disdain. If he hadn't been just a junior officer with a newly issued spear a year ago, Ma Chao wouldn't be standing here today.

Ma Chao's anger only intensified, but Pang De, who was as strong as Ma Chao and older by a few years, easily restrained him.

Pang De knew that although Ma Chao wouldn't be in serious danger against Yan Xing, he didn't want the young warrior to risk exposing his true strength. At seventeen, Ma Chao was already at the peak of the Qi-refining level, only a step away from breaking through. Compared to Yan Xing, who was in his twenties and had likely reached his peak, Ma Chao had far greater potential. Pang De believed that within three years, Ma Chao could become a formidable expert, and there was no need to reveal their trump card prematurely.

"Haha, Shoucheng, it seems your son needs more discipline. How disgraceful, behaving without respect for his elders. I thought your family was descended from General Fubo, but where's the Han family's sense of decorum?" Han Sui taunted, clearly unimpressed by Ma Chao's actions.

"Chao'er, stand down!" Ma Teng commanded angrily.

"Father!" Ma Chao protested, glaring at Ma Teng.

"Stand down! Lingming, make sure he stays in line!" Ma Teng glared back at his son.

Soon after, a man claiming to be the emperor's envoy arrived, prompting both Han Sui and Ma Teng to rise in welcome. However, when they saw the envoy, they were shocked. The man's clothes were tattered, his face gaunt, and his eyes vacant.

This was, of course, the appearance carefully chosen by Jia Xu. Only someone in such dire straits could convincingly portray the emperor's desperate situation and make it clear that the emperor was grasping at straws.

"Why has the imperial envoy come…" Han Sui began, frowning.

The envoy, with his hollow eyes, weakly reached into his robes and pulled out a tattered imperial edict, handing it to Han Sui with a withered hand. Ma Teng grabbed the other half.

"Both of you… I haven't eaten in days…" The envoy seemed too weak to even read the decree aloud.

"Hurry, prepare a feast for the envoy," Ma Teng ordered, pointing to a nearby room. "The banquet is ready."

The envoy feebly returned the salute and staggered toward the inner room, leaving Han Sui and Ma Teng staring at each other.

"It seems the emperor isn't living well," Ma Teng sighed after the envoy was out of earshot.

"I think we should open the edict first," Han Sui replied. He didn't care about the emperor's fate; as long as he was living well, that was all that mattered. To him, the emperor was only useful if he could offer benefits. Otherwise, he was irrelevant.

Together, Ma Teng and Han Sui unrolled the imperial decree.

"Now that the Han Dynasty is in decline and the court has fallen into the hands of traitors… Upon hearing of the virtuous and loyal Ma Teng, descendant of General Fubo, and his meritorious service in defeating rebels, I hereby bestow upon him the title of General Who Conquers the West. As for the wise and resourceful Han Sui of Jincheng, who has successfully mediated between the Han and Qiang people, I grant the title of General Who Guards the West. Both are summoned to the capital to assist the emperor!"

In short, the emperor needed their protection and was offering them titles in exchange for their assistance. It was that simple.

Upon reading the decree, Ma Teng immediately knelt, tears streaming from his eyes. "My Ma family has been loyal for generations. Upon hearing of the emperor's plight, I am deeply moved and swear to serve to the death!"

Han Sui smirked, but seeing Ma Teng's display, he had no choice but to kneel as well, swearing his allegiance.

"Wenyue, since we are both willing to serve the Han Dynasty, why not swear brotherhood and end this senseless conflict? The Qiang and Han are all brothers, after all," Ma Teng suggested, his eyes red with emotion as he looked at Han Sui.

"Very well. Since we are both dedicated to serving the Han Dynasty, we should be brothers. This endless war has shed enough unnecessary blood. Let us put an end to it!" Han Sui replied, seemingly moved by Ma Teng's words. "Together, we will restore the Han Dynasty!"

"Agreed!" Ma Teng laughed heartily. "Let us burn incense and swear brotherhood, then march on Yongzhou, defeat Li Jue and Guo Si, and save the Han Dynasty!"