Ma Chao and Ye Feng exchanged confused glances. Had Wang Wu not explained clearly, or had something else happened?
Just as Ma Chao was about to speak, Ye Feng raised his hand, "Wait! They only said we were unknown juniors. I want to see who this person really is."
Secretly, Ye Feng had already opened the many gift packs provided by the system. With around a hundred thousand axemen and ordinary soldiers, sweeping through the opponents was effortless.
"We are just two ordinary people, happening to pass by. We ask the general to let us pass and grant us convenience."
As Ye Feng had spoken first, Ma Chao cupped his fists and spoke politely. Looking at the person opposite, who else could it be but Zhang Bao, who had fled in fear?
"I would like to let you pass, but why should I? A few words are not enough." Zhang Bao said with disdain, his voice filled with rage. "I'll give you two options: first, kneel and call me father, and I'll let you pass. Otherwise, you will all stay here today."
Ye Feng smiled without speaking, but Ma Chao, having never suffered such humiliation, coldly reprimanded, "I advise you to weigh your own head. My spear is not for show."
"Good kid, you have guts! If you were one of my men, I'd make you rich and noble. But now, hmph," Zhang Bao snorted a few times and clasped his hands together. "The heavens are dead, the yellow scarf shall rise! Brothers, charge out and let this corrupt official know our might!"
"Well, we've become corrupt officials now," Ma Chao forced a smile and teased Ye Feng, "My Lord, why don't you let your subordinate take his head and show them my skills?"
"Killing is not difficult. What's more important is these tens of thousands of people who were originally ordinary civilians, forced to become bandits. What should be done with them?" Ye Feng pondered, looking at Ma Chao, speaking slowly.
In the original Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Cao Cao's side needed enough territory and people to grow grain. Only Da Wu was sparsely populated. To settle the people, taking Dong Wu was imminent.
After taking it, who would manage it became the most crucial issue. At this moment, Ye Feng was merely testing Ma Chao. If Ma Chao disregarded human lives, he would likely be excluded from the management team.
Ma Chao pondered for a moment and said solemnly, "If my Lord had not reminded me, I would have almost forgotten. Since they are civilians, they should farm and weave like the people of Liangzhou. What if they are heinous criminals?"
Ma Chao stared at Ye Feng's face and asked cautiously. It wasn't that he was overthinking, but Ye Feng always proposed unusual perspectives.
Ye Feng chuckled, "If they are heinous criminals, they can be sent to the border to build the Great Wall. Once they have reformed, they can reunite with their families."
"If they remain unrepentant, they will be killed without mercy," Ye Feng explained slowly, choosing his words carefully. "In just a few years, the people can be made to abide by the law and refrain from evil deeds!"
"My Lord has great foresight," Ma Chao offered a well-timed compliment. He could tell that Ye Feng was very pleased with his opinion.
"You two are simply too overbearing! Who is willing to fight me?" Zhang Bao tightly gripped his long sword, having lost much of his patience with Ye Feng and Ma Chao.
"Why are you in such a hurry? I'll fight you!" Ma Chao spurred his horse forward, a cold smile on his face, "Don't be scared witless."
"Good, you young brat! I am General Zhang Bao, the Earth General. Dealing with you is more than enough. State your name, I never kill the unknown." Zhang Bao half-mounted his horse, looking arrogant. "Of course, if you change your mind now, I can spare your life."
"The Brocade General of Xiliang, Ma Chao, is here! Wretch, take my life!" Ma Chao spurred his horse forward with his legs, holding his spear and charging, "Today, you will surely not return."
Just as Zhang Bao was about to charge, he heard Ma Chao's name and his body trembled, nearly falling off his horse. Fortunately, someone steadied him, saving him from disaster.
Seeing the spear getting closer and closer, Zhang Bao simply closed his eyes and shouted, "Wait!"
According to the rules of single combat, Ma Chao instinctively stopped, his spear almost falling from his grasp.
Ma Chao cursed inwardly.
"Your grandfather's grandfather! Didn't we agree on single combat? Why did you suddenly call to stop? You almost broke my old back."
However, he maintained a composed expression, "What happened? Please, brother, inform me."
Zhang Bao looked at the polite Ma Chao and couldn't articulate anything. He simply pushed the matter aside, "I just heard you are Ma Chao, the Brocade General of Xiliang. How can I fight you? It has always been soldier against soldier, general against general. Please quickly let your Lord come."
This was a matter of life and death. Zhang Bao stubbornly tried to save face.
Ma Chao was startled, then turned to look at Ye Feng, nodding slowly and smiling.
"It has always been so. Meng Qi, let me fight the Earth General."
Ye Feng suppressed his excitement. The legendary brothers were all figures who could summon wind and rain. This was a huge gain! Moreover, he didn't recognize himself. Playing the pig to eat the tiger!
Having made up his mind, Ye Feng cautiously took a few steps forward, deliberately tethering his Wuzhui horse in place and riding a regular horse.
"You say you want to fight me? I might not be your opponent!"
Ma Chao almost spat out a mouthful of blood. Ye Feng wasn't Zhang Bao's opponent? Was he kidding? He could snatch the head of a general in a million-man army, what was this?
Quickly recalling all the sad events of his life, Ma Chao finally managed to suppress a smile and feigned a look of worry.
"My Lord, this absolutely cannot be done. Who knows what tricks he has up his sleeve."
His acting was quite poor, Ye Feng commented inwardly, but at this moment, Zhang Bao was completely immersed in the joy of venting his anger and paid no attention to it.
"Dare you fight, come out and battle!" Zhang Bao commanded, "I never expected to encounter a coward today."
The million-strong army behind Zhang Bao burst into laughter, and the crowd shouted in unison, "Coward, coward!"
This insult made Ma Chao's blood boil, but Ye Feng seemed oblivious. He urged his horse forward a few steps, dragging his feet until he reached Zhang Bao, looking up with a subservient expression.
"I don't have much skill. Go easy on me, otherwise, otherwise, I won't fight you."
His voice was barely a whisper. Zhang Bao laughed heartily, pointing at Ye Feng, "Don't worry, I will definitely go easy on you." However, his face was extremely menacing.
"Take my life!" Zhang Bao thrust his sword straight. Ye Feng sneered. After pretending to be a coward for so long, it was time to collect some interest.
Zhang Bao was full of pride, but the next moment, his smile froze on his face. When the Overlord's Halberd appeared, Zhang Bao recognized who it was.
Who could have known that the one sealed as the King of Chu was just a young man? There was no point in fighting.
He would likely be defeated in less than one move.
To save face, Zhang Bao chose to fall from his horse himself.
Before the Overlord's Halberd could reach him, his body swayed and he plummeted straight down.
When he got up, he lightly patted the dust off his clothes, looking calm and composed.
"This general's headache suddenly flared up, causing me to fall from my horse. I am unable to fight today. Please, King of Chu, forgive me!"
Seeing that Zhang Bao recognized him, Ye Feng had no choice but to put away the Overlord's Halberd and whistle. The Wuzhui horse galloped from afar. Mounting the horse, Zhang Bao hurried to Ye Feng's side.
Ye Feng gently patted Zhang Bao's shoulder and whispered in his ear, "Fortunately, you surrendered quickly. Otherwise, you would have nowhere to be buried."
Zhang Bao looked into the distance, only to see dust and commotion in the dense forest, the ground vibrating, as if a large army was rushing over.
"Could it be true?" Ma Chao wondered, asking himself. Had the large army they spoke of already arrived?
As soon as he had this thought, Ma Chao dismissed it. The army was far away, how could they have arrived so quickly?
Ma Chao had just breathed a sigh of relief when he saw figures appearing on the hillside. Several leading generals leaped down, shouting, "My Lord, I am here to assist you."
Yu Huatian spurred his horse forward, completely disregarding Zhang Bao, whose face had turned ashen.
"My Lord," Yu Huatian glanced at Zhang Bao, "My Lord, he is the one who intended to harm you. Leave him to me."
Yu Huatian took a few steps forward, but Ye Feng stopped him, "Wait, I still have a few words to ask him."
Although Zhang Bao had lost most of his temper, he still retained a shred of dignity. He stood upright and said, "A scholar can be killed but not humiliated. Today, I have been defeated by the King of Chu. You can kill or quarter me as you please. However, I beg the King of Chu to show leniency to my brothers. If any wish to seek my elder brother, let them go. If any wish to return home, please do not obstruct them!"
This speech actually made Ye Feng look at Zhang Bao with a new appreciation. He said solemnly, "The Son of Heaven has his way of dying, and the dukes and marquises have their way of dying. Please, Earth General, choose one."
Zhang Bao tidied his clothes and then rearranged them, smiling faintly, "Poisoned wine, white silk, or killed by the Overlord's Halberd. Do not let others stain their hands!"
Ye Feng chuckled, playfully saying, "However, there is no poisoned wine or white silk now, and the Overlord's Halberd will not be used today."
Zhang Bao's heart trembled. Could it be that he would not die? He asked with delight, "Please, King of Chu, tell me what you want. Do you intend to let a tiger return to the mountains?"
"Earth General, please sit. Let me first ask you, did you burn, kill, and plunder ordinary civilians after entering Luoyang!"
"No," Zhang Bao believed he had done nothing wrong in this regard. Primarily, they also relied on the civilians as their base.
"Good. In that case, you are the same kind of person as me. Regarding the decisive battle at Peach Blossom Mountain in the future, what are your intentions, General?" Ye Feng said with a smile, leading his horse with one hand and gripping the Overlord's Halberd with the other.
"The decisive battle at Peach Blossom Mountain?" Zhang Bao frowned and pondered for a long time before he remembered such an event. It seemed to have been planned by Zuo Ci.
"Nonsense! I am willing to lead my brothers to be self-sufficient and not to offend the King of Chu in the autumn!" Zhang Bao declared earnestly.
Just then, Diao Chan, dressed in military attire, arrived gracefully. She gently wiped the sweat from Ye Feng's forehead, causing Zhang Bao's eyes to widen.
"If I could have such a beauty, I would die content!"