Chapter 3

In the early morning, the rosy dawn light shone on a large river, making its waves sparkle. On both banks of the river, countless soldiers, laborers, and camp followers, dressed in simple clothes, emerged from the camp. Some washed their hands and faces, some went into the water to scrub their backs, some carried basins to rinse their clothes, and some gave water to the cattle and horses. Men and women laughed and played, showing no signs of having just suffered a defeat... Indeed, whether they won or lost was a matter for their superiors; it had nothing to do with these low-ranking soldiers, who would just have less to plunder. Why should they look gloomy?

Ma Han was among these people, stretching his body comfortably, doing squats, frog jumps, and one-armed push-ups as part of his pre-swim routine.

The Youzhou army's camp at Jieqiao was situated by the Pan River, which was several dozen yards wide. It was the transition between spring and summer, and the river was surging. There were two long bridges over the river, wide enough for four horses to pass side by side. By stationing a few hundred elite soldiers at the bridgeheads, the Jiuzhou army would find it difficult to break through.

Yesterday, the Youzhou army suffered a major defeat, and the Jiuzhou army pursued them. However, the Youzhou army managed to hold the two bridges, forcing the Jiuzhou army to retreat without success.

The bloodshed had just ended, and both armies sent wagons and laborers to the battlefield to collect the bodies of their fallen comrades, burn them, and bury them. This task would take several days to complete. During this period, there might be some friction between the scouts of the two armies, but a major battle would not break out again.

Therefore, the Youzhou army relaxed the camp regulations, allowing the soldiers and laborers to leave the camp to wash and bathe, easing the mental pressure caused by the defeat. A seasoned general like Gongsun Zan naturally understood this.

"Little brother, come down here!" Someone by the river waved to Ma Han.

Ma Han turned his head and saw it wasn't Zhao Yun, but someone he recognized, one of the thirty White Horse Volunteers who had come to the rescue yesterday. He waved back with a smile, "I'm coming."

Ma Han took off his military uniform and boots, and just as he was about to take off his camouflage pants, he felt something in the pockets. He took it out and saw it was a metal object shaped like a pocket watch. It was actually a military-grade aluminum multifunction compass with features like night vision, distance measurement, angle measurement, map distance measurement, and a magnifying glass. This gadget was quite useful in ancient times.

The other item was a pen-shaped infrared signal transmitter. It was also made of aluminum, about the size of a pen, and contained two high-energy lithium batteries that could support continuous infrared transmission for two months. Infrared light is invisible to the naked eye, but when it hits an obstacle, it forms a red dot, about the size of a penny, with a maximum range of one kilometer.

This device was intended to be used to signal success in a mission, shining on a white stone on a mountain to notify the helicopter for pickup. However, it had attracted a group of assassins.

Ma Han couldn't think of any immediate use for these items, but since they didn't cause any trouble, he put them in a cloth bag along with his pants and boots and handed them to his attendant, "Little Stone, wash the pants and clean the boots, then come down to the river with me."

Little Stone was a young boy, about twelve or thirteen years old, short and thin. He was one of the ten attendants Gongsun Zan had given to Ma Han, responsible for his daily needs. There was also a Wuhuan man in charge of the livestock, who was currently tending to the horses and sheep in the distance. Although Gongsun Zan had promised ten attendants, only two had arrived so far. As for the fields and houses in Yuyang, they were nowhere to be seen. Oh, he had seen the deeds, but he didn't know if they matched the actual properties.

As for the rewards of money, silk, wine, meat, and livestock, they had been delivered. After all, he was the highlight of this battle, and without substantial rewards, he wouldn't be able to command respect.

Ma Han was quite accustomed to having attendants. Whether he was a deputy leader of the Hongshun Hall or a jungle warlord, he always had a large group of subordinates, and having personal attendants was nothing new.

Little Stone, dressed in tattered clothes, with messy hair and a dirty face, shook his head in fear when he heard his master's call, "No, I won't go into the river."

"I'll give you fabric to make new clothes if you go in and wash up."

"Thank you, Master, but I'm fine with these... and I... I can't swim."

Ma Han laughed heartily, threw his uniform and elastic vest onto the rocks, and ran to the river in his boxers. He leaped into the water, drawing a beautiful arc, and splashed into the river with only a small splash.

Everyone who saw him cheered, "What a good swimmer!" However, more people were drawn to his strange boxers. In this era, there was no concept of boxers, not even shorts. The soldiers and laborers either wore long pants or went naked. No one had ever seen such peculiar boxers.

Even the White Horse Volunteers gathered around to ask about them. Ma Han didn't have the time to explain, so he quickly changed the subject and asked about the things he was concerned about. For example, who was the current emperor? Had Dong Zhuo entered the capital? Why did Jihou (Gongsun Zan) start a war with Yuan Shao? What were the commanders and troop numbers on Yuan Shao's side?

Some of the White Horse Volunteers could answer these questions, while others couldn't. After a conversation, combining his knowledge of the Three Kingdoms, Ma Han understood that Emperor Ling had already died, and the young emperor had also passed away. The current emperor was Emperor Xian, who was established by Dong Zhuo. This notorious warlord had already entered the capital, and the coalition against Dong Zhuo and the Battle of Hulao Pass had already taken place.

The latest news was that Dong Zhuo had been killed by Wang Yun and Lü Bu, and Luoyang was now in a state of warlord chaos. The future famous warlords were expanding their territories and building their forces, and the world had entered an era of warlord division.

Gongsun Zan controlled Youyan, and Yuan Shao had recently taken control of Jiuzhou. Their territories were adjacent, and a conflict between these two major northern powers was inevitable. Whether there was a reason to fight or not, they would find one. This war was about interests, not right or wrong.

Ma Han quickly analyzed the situation in his mind and smiled calmly. The struggle for power in this world was not much different from the territorial disputes and power struggles in his former gang, the only difference being the scale and level.

While he was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a commotion on the shore. He looked up and saw someone splashing in the river, apparently drowning. However, a tall, strong man with a blue headscarf was standing on the shore, laughing and waving a pair of boots—wait! Weren't those his boots? Then the person in the river must be...

A surge of anger rose in Ma Han. He took a deep breath, determined the direction, and dove into the water. In just a few moments, he burst out of the water, holding Little Stone high with one arm, and walked ashore step by step.

The golden morning light shone on his nearly naked body, giving it a light golden hue, making him look like a Spartan warrior.

The commotion on the shore drew many onlookers. The women and camp followers, seeing this brave and strong young man, were all wide-eyed and entranced, not even noticing that their clothes were being washed away by the water.

Ma Han's rescue was timely. Little Stone had only swallowed a few mouthfuls of water and was fine after coughing it out, but his face was pale and he looked like he wanted to cry but couldn't.

"What happened?" Ma Han looked into his eyes and asked calmly. In fact, seeing the boots, he already had a good idea, but he needed a more direct account.

Little Stone finally burst into tears, sobbing, "I was washing the boots for Master, and that soldier saw how good they were and wanted them. I didn't give them to him, so he took them by force and kicked me into the river..."

Ma Han saw that Little Stone's thin legs were limping and knew that the kick had been quite hard. Perhaps the soldier hadn't used too much force, but Little Stone's body couldn't handle it.

A shadow of anger crossed Ma Han's eyes, but he quickly stood up, his expression calm and composed, and asked, "Do you like these boots?" Ma Han's boots were heavy-duty combat boots made of Italian calf leather, with a durable sole and a hidden knife in the boot shaft. They were far superior to the rough boots of this era. After being washed, the dirt and blood were gone, and the shiny leather attracted many greedy eyes, including those of the tall, strong man.

The tall, strong man looked at the tall, muscular figure before him and involuntarily twitched his eyes. If the person washing the boots had been this young man, he might have thought twice. Now, however, he was in a bind. Not getting the boots was one thing, but giving them back after taking them would be another.

The tall, strong man's eyes darted around, and he laughed, "I am Hu Yuan, a subordinate of Du Qidu, the cavalry commander under General Feiyan. What's your name, and what's your rank in the army?"

Ma Han was a bit confused by the string of titles, and he asked Little Stone in a low voice, "What's this General Feiyan, and what's a cavalry commander and a subordinate?"

Little Stone had stopped crying and looked at his master with wide, surprised eyes, "General Feiyan is the General of the Black Mountain Army, Zhang Feiyan. Du Qidu is the commander of the left camp of the Black Mountain Army, and the subordinate is his personal guard."

So, the Black Mountain Army's Zhang Feiyan, whose real name was Chu Yan, later changed to Zhang Yan, was known for his speed and agility, hence the nickname "Feiyan." Ma Han had heard of this man, but he didn't expect him to be allied with Gongsun Zan and to have sent a nearly ten-thousand-strong Black Mountain Army to assist. He hadn't heard of Du Qidu, but a man who could command a ten-thousand-strong army, even if the Black Mountain Army was similar to the Yellow Turbans, with a mix of men, women, and children, was still a significant figure.

A personal guard of a cavalry commander was already quite arrogant.

Ma Han remained calm, "I am Ma Han, a scout captain under Jihou." He had already figured out that a "captain" was in charge of fifty men, and a scout was a reconnaissance soldier, equivalent to a platoon leader in modern terms.

Hu Yuan's eyes narrowed, realizing that Ma Han was just a small captain. If he weren't a scout captain under Jihou, he would have taken the boots and left without a word. Even so, the outcome wouldn't change, but he would need to give Ma Han a way out.

"These boots are finely crafted and unique. I'm sure my lord will be pleased to see them," Hu Yuan said, his hand on the hilt of his sword, a forced smile on his face. "I will convey your respect to my lord."

Ma Han saw through this. If Gongsun Zan or Du Qidu wanted the boots, he would have given them without hesitation. But he could see that Hu Yuan was just using them as an excuse to pressure him.

This small trick wouldn't fool Ma Han, especially since Hu Yuan had beaten his attendant and taken his boots. In the army, maintaining one's authority was crucial. Once you were suppressed, you would have a hard time in the future. Ma Han, with his years of experience, knew this well.

No matter who Hu Yuan's backer was, if he dared to challenge him, he had to be prepared for the consequences.

Ma Han calmly put on his half-wet camouflage pants, fastening his belt as he said, "If Du Qidu wants these boots, it's easy. Just put them down, and I'll personally deliver them to the Black Mountain Army later. No need for you to trouble yourself."

This statement caused a stir among the onlookers. Everyone could tell that this young man wasn't going to give Hu Yuan any face. Some women even moved closer, whispering, "Young man, you can't afford to provoke this brute. Last time, several veteran soldiers were beaten by him. Give him the boots, and I'll get some leather to make you a new pair."

Ma Han smiled, "Thank you, but I've always taken from others, and no one has ever taken from me."

Hu Yuan burst into a fit of laughter, "The Black Mountain Army is the master of taking. Boy, let me tell you, I'm taking these boots, no matter what!"

"Go ask the river god for them!"

Ma Han, now wearing his pants, with his muscular upper body bare, charged over like the wind. He leaped into the air, using his full body weight to punch Hu Yuan in the face.

Hu Yuan's right hand was already on the hilt of his sword. As soon as Ma Han moved, he drew his sword and slashed at Ma Han's right shoulder, smirking, "Let's see if your punch is faster than my sword."

Ma Han was attacking from ten steps away, while Hu Yuan was intercepting from three steps away. It was obvious that Hu Yuan's sword would be faster. Indeed, Hu Yuan's sword struck Ma Han's right hand... palm.

In real combat, no one would dare to grab a sword blade. It was too dangerous, and a slight mistake could cost half a hand. No one would be crazy enough to use their hand to show off.

But Ma Han did! The sword blade was like, no, it was firmly clamped by an iron grip. Then, like an eagle diving, Ma Han's left fist, powered by his momentum, struck Hu Yuan's face solidly.

Bang! Hu Yuan's large head snapped back, and a jet of blood spurted from his mouth and nose, with several teeth flying out. His massive body was lifted off the ground, his sword flying out of his hand, and his boots were kicked off. When he landed, he staggered back, one step, two steps, three steps, four steps... until he fell into the river with a splash.

Hu Yuan's two attendants were stunned, unable to react. It wasn't until Ma Han calmly put on his boots and glanced at Hu Yuan, who was still splashing in the water, and said, "It seems Hu brother isn't a good swimmer," that they snapped out of their daze and hurriedly went to rescue him.

"Wow, this young man is so strong!"

"Ma brother has great skills!"

"Good hit, this guy deserved a beating."

The surrounding soldiers and women cheered. In the army, physical prowess was highly valued, especially among the lower-ranking officers and soldiers. The one with the stronger punch had more authority. Hu Yuan, a fierce soldier of the Black Mountain Army, known for his bravery and love of plunder, had been knocked into the river by this fair and gentle young man, and everyone cheered in delight.

At this moment, a rider galloped from the camp gate, shouting along the river, "Where is Ma Han?"

"I'm here, is it Brother Zhao?" Ma Han recognized Zhao Yun's voice and knew it must be important, so he quickly responded.

Zhao Yun rode up and called, "The lord has ordered that the Jiuzhou army's scouts are rampant. All the scouts of our unit are to ride out and patrol with the Black Mountain Army, extending the patrol range to thirty miles. Hurry up."

Ma Han immediately whistled to the stable boy, took the uniform thrown by Little Stone, and hurriedly put it on.

Zhao Yun was about to turn his horse when a gentle voice called from behind, "Zilong, wait."

Zhao Yun turned and smiled, "Xuande brother."

The speaker was a man in his thirties, dressed in a simple green short coat and wooden sandals. He had a broad face, a large forehead, large ears, and a long beard. His eyes were bright and gentle, and he was Liu Bei, the other司马 (military commander) of the auxiliary forces. If Ma Han had been there, he would have recognized him as the man who had spoken up for him in the command tent yesterday.

Liu Bei stepped forward and smiled, "This Ma Han is a young hero, almost as skilled as you, Zilong. Unfortunately, he lacks the patience of a mature man."

Zhao Yun was surprised, "What...?"

Liu Bei recounted the details of the earlier conflict, and Zhao Yun was alarmed, "Oh no! I have combined Ma Han's scout unit with the Black Mountain Army's Deng Tong unit for the patrol."

Liu Bei was puzzled, "The Black Mountain Army is mostly from Jiuzhou and familiar with the terrain. There's no problem with the two armies patrolling together."

Zhao Yun smiled bitterly, "Deng Tong and Hu Yuan are from the same hometown. I'm afraid he will seek revenge... I need to go back and reorganize the units."

"It might be too late," Liu Bei sighed, pointing to the camp gate.

The six gates of the Youzhou army camp opened, and squadrons of cavalry poured out, their banners fluttering in the wind. The hooves of thousands of horses shook the wooden bridges, and the water of the Pan River rippled