kingnovel Chapter 1262 Zhang Fei's Taunts Reveal Chao's Fear
Chapter 1262 Zhang Fei's Taunts Reveal Chao's Fear
"You've all had a long and arduous journey," Ma Chao said with a smile, breaking the silence in the tent. "I know you've been working hard on the front lines, so I've brought some fine wine from Chang'an, as well as some delicacies prepared by the cooks. Tonight, let's drink until we're completely drunk!"
"it is good!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
A deafening cheer erupted from the tent, as if the fatigue and tension of the past few days were melting away in the cheers. Pang De stroked his beard and laughed heartily, Zhang Xiu rarely showed such a hearty smile, and even the usually composed Jia Xu and Fa Zheng had smiles on their lips.
The guards, having already received their orders, soon brought over dozens of jars of wine, along with platters of cooked meat and glistening roasted beef and mutton legs, which were served in a continuous stream. The moment the wine jars were opened, the rich aroma of the wine filled the tent, making everyone's throats water.
Ma Chao picked up a jar of wine and waved it at the crowd: "Come on, the first bowl is to toast our fallen brothers!"
All the generals raised their cups and poured the wine on the ground, creating a solemn atmosphere in the tent.
"The second bowl is to toast everyone's united efforts in taking Mianzhu Pass!" Ma Chao filled another bowl and drank it all in one gulp.
"Cheers!" The generals followed suit, the warmth of the wine going straight to their hearts.
The wind still howled outside the tent, but the aroma of wine and laughter inside grew stronger. Ma Chao moved among the generals, drinking heartily with Pang De as they clinked bowls, patting Zhang Xiu on the shoulder as he recounted the perilous siege, and listening attentively as he consulted Jia Xu and Fa Zheng on the battle plan. There was no barrier between lord and subordinate, only the camaraderie of brothers who had shared life and death.
After several rounds of drinks, the tent was filled with a lively atmosphere. Pang De, his face flushed, patted his chest and declared that he would be the first to climb the Luocheng wall the next day; Zhang Xiu put his arm around the shoulder of his personal guard and talked about the old days in Wancheng; even Zhang Ren relaxed and chatted with Fa Zheng about the regulations of the Chang'an Military Academy.
Looking at the lively scene before him, Ma Chao felt a surge of joy. He knew that the key to a great victory never lay solely in troop strength and strategy, but even more so in the united morale of the troops. Tonight's wine was not only a reward, but also a way to further fuel the fire of this battle-hardened army!
As the wine flowed freely and everyone was in high spirits in the tent, Ma Chao suddenly said in a loud voice, "Gentlemen, what do you think of the horses my guards rode when I arrived?"
No sooner had he finished speaking than Xu Huang couldn't contain himself and shouted in a rough voice, "Your Majesty, you're deliberately trying to envy us! When you first entered the camp, I stared at those horses—each one was sleek and shiny, with agile postures, and they ran with such spirit that their hooves seemed to fly!" After saying that, he smacked his lips, his envy undisguised, and even his armor swayed.
The surrounding generals nodded in agreement, their eyes shining. Pound stroked his chin and pondered, "Those horses are well-proportioned and have strong frames. They are clearly fine steeds capable of carrying heavy loads and running long distances. Ordinary warhorses simply cannot compare."
The generals chattered amongst themselves, craning their necks, eager to rush outside the camp for a closer look. After all, they were seasoned warriors, their passion for fine horses no less than their love for legendary weapons. And the horses ridden by Ma Chao's personal guards were clearly the finest breeds, their coats glossy as satin, their muscles sharply defined; just standing there, they exuded an untamed spirit—how could one not be captivated?
Seeing the envious looks on everyone's faces, Ma Chao couldn't help but burst into laughter, his laughter as hearty as a galloping horse in the wind. He raised his hand to quiet everyone down before slowly speaking: "Don't be so envious, everyone. To be honest, this horse is not a common breed in our Xiliang."
One sentence made everyone crane their necks, and even the half-finished wine bowls were put down on the table. Seeing this, Ma Chao deliberately paused before continuing, "West of the Western Regions Protectorate, there is a country called Dayuan, you know? A few days ago, they presented our Xiliang with three hundred warhorses, each one a thousand-mile steed with amazing speed, a top-quality breed selected from hundreds!"
He changed the subject, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes: "I specially picked out the top few dozen horses from among them, just for the brothers. Look at those horses ridden by the guards over there, with their glossy coats and strong limbs, those are the samples. Everyone gets one, no favoritism whatsoever!"
The moment the words left his mouth, the scene erupted in excitement. Forgetting their wine bowls, the seated generals jumped to their feet, some slamming their fists on the table in approval, others tugging at Ma Chao's sleeves and demanding, "Can we go choose now?" Even the most composed Zhang Ren couldn't contain himself, his eyes gleaming. The enthusiasm seemed to have dispelled even the chill outside the tent.
Seeing this, Ma Chao laughed and said, "What's the rush? I'll take you to the stables to choose, and I guarantee everyone will find one they like!"
The crowd cheered and surrounded him as they walked out, chatting and laughing all the way. Every now and then, someone would pat Ma Chao on the shoulder, saying, "Thank you, General!" or "The General understands us best!" Their gratitude and excitement were impossible to hide; even the air was filled with a joyful warmth. While those who had been assigned horses led their new steeds around the field, those who hadn't been assigned horses were so anxious they were stamping their feet, urging Ma Chao to take them to choose one quickly. The entire camp was as lively as if it were New Year's Day.
Li Ru stroked his long beard, a knowing smile on his face, and slowly said, "When Your Majesty swept across the grasslands back then, your unstoppable momentum still awes us to this day. The lords of the Central Plains may not know of this reputation, but the kingdoms of the Western Regions must have heard of it long ago. In my opinion, the fact that the Kingdom of Dayuan offered horses is not just a gesture of goodwill, but also a way of seeking protection."
Upon hearing this, Ma Chao's smile deepened, and he nodded slightly in acknowledgment. The people inside the tent then realized what was happening and burst into cheers, their gazes towards Ma Chao now filled with even greater admiration.
Just then, a soldier on guard rushed in, knelt on one knee, and reported: "Your Majesty, a large army is approaching the camp from less than ten miles away!"
The words had barely left his lips when the tent fell silent, only to erupt in an even louder clamor. The generals, having just received the fine horses bestowed upon them by Ma Chao, were eager to demonstrate their loyalty; now, unable to contain themselves any longer, they rose abruptly to volunteer for battle.
"Your Majesty, this humble general is willing to lead a cavalry unit to meet the enemy!"
"These Shu soldiers have come at the perfect time. Let them see our new warhorses!"
"Your subordinate requests permission to fight, and will surely rout them!"
Seeing the excited generals, Ma Chao waved his hand, his calm smile still on his face: "Please be patient, everyone." He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, and said loudly, "We came here to have a fair and square contest with them, so why rush things? Send down the order to prepare the troops and warhorses, and wait for them to come to us."
Seeing Ma Chao's confidence, the generals, though still unable to suppress their fighting spirit, responded in unison, "As you command!"
Ma Chao then gestured for everyone to sit down: "Come on, let's keep drinking! Plenty of meat and wine, let's get our energy back and have another good fight tomorrow!"
The lively atmosphere inside the tent quickly returned. The aroma of roasted meat mingled with the scent of wine, and the laughter and clinking of glasses among the generals filled the air, a mixture of pre-battle tension and anticipation for tomorrow's great battle. Everyone knew that with new warhorses and their king in command, victory was assured.
About half an hour later, a thunderous shout suddenly rang out outside the tent, causing the candlelight inside to flicker violently: "Pang Lingming, you defeated general, come out and face your death!"
The roar was powerful, piercing through the tents like a boulder crashing into boiling water. Pound was sipping his wine when he heard it; his hand trembled violently, spilling amber wine onto his silver armor, creating dark, mottled patterns. The muscles on his face tensed instantly, and his eyes, previously tinged with alcohol, suddenly cleared, flashing a red hue of humiliation.
The tent fell silent instantly, broken only by the soft crackling of the candle wick. Ma Chao put down his wine cup, his brow furrowed as he looked at Pang De.
Pang De gripped his wine cup tightly, his knuckles turning white. His Adam's apple bobbed for a long while before he finally managed to squeeze out a few words through his teeth: "It's that scoundrel Zhang Fei." He downed the remaining wine in one gulp, the liquid dripping down his chin and onto his armor with a dull thud. "In the battle a couple of days ago, this humble general... this humble general was no match for him and lost some soldiers."
Upon uttering the words "outmatched," he slammed his wine cup down on the table, scattering shards of porcelain. "This humble general has disgraced Your Majesty!" Pang De abruptly stood up, the clatter of his armor plates creating a piercing metallic sound. "That Zhang Fei is a scoundrel who has acted so arrogantly. Today, this humble general will fight him to the death. If I fail to shatter his arrogance, I will be unworthy of being a general of Xiliang!"
Having said that, he turned to lift the tent flap, but Ma Chao grabbed his hand. "Lingming, what nonsense are you spouting?" Ma Chao's voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable calmness. "Is a mere brute worth risking your life for?" He released his hand and pointed to the map on the table. "You are my right-hand man. The foundation of Xiliang still depends on you to guard it. How can you risk your life for a moment of anger?"
Pang De froze, his chest heaving violently, humiliation and resentment etched on his face. The cursing outside the tent continued, Zhang Fei's gruff voice booming from afar: "Pang Lingming cowers in fear, is he afraid to face anyone? Has he been beaten too badly by me? If he had known this would happen, why did he even bother attacking Chengdu!"
"Your Majesty!" Pang De knelt on one knee, his helmet slamming heavily on the ground. "This humble general is not acting rashly. On the battlefield, defeat is a brand. If we do not wash it away today, what will become of the prestige of my Xiliang Iron Cavalry? Would the blood of my soldiers have been shed in vain?" When he looked up, his eyes were already burning with a resolute fire. "Please grant Your Majesty's permission, this humble general will immediately muster the troops and make sure that Zhang Fei knows that there are no cowards among the men of Xiliang!"
With a slightly tipsy smile, Ma Chao looked out of the tent and said, "Have you all had enough to drink? Come with me and let's meet Zhang Fei."
As soon as the words were spoken, the generals inside the tent responded with a roar, each one rubbing their hands together in anticipation. The generals who had just been holding wine bowls suddenly stood up, the clanging of armor and the sound of sheaths being drawn mingling together, exuding a sharp, ready-to-go energy. The crowd escorted Ma Chao out of the tent, where the warhorses already prepared outside were pawing restlessly and snorting. These were all newly acquired fine steeds, their coats glossy and their spirits extraordinary.
The generals mounted their horses with swift and decisive movements. They instinctively positioned themselves around Ma Chao, whose silver armor and white horse made the entire group appear even more spirited, and even the rhythm of their hooves exuded confidence.
Outside the camp, the Shu army was already arrayed and waiting, a dark mass of silent figures, the front-line soldiers gripping their spears tightly. The two armies faced each other, clearly divided, the air thick with tension.
Suddenly, a deafening roar erupted from the Shu army ranks: "Pang Lingming, come out and let your grandpa stab you three hundred times!" Zhang Fei, wielding his eighteen-foot spear, rode on his black horse, his leopard-like head and round eyes wide open, his voice louder than a war drum, shaking the surrounding air.
A low chuckle rippled through the Xiliang army ranks, and the formation slowly parted to reveal a lone rider in the center. Silver armor gleamed coldly in the moonlight, and the white horse trotted forward with small, quick steps. The rider, a tall and imposing figure, was none other than Ma Chao. He reined in his horse, looking at the furious Zhang Fei opposite him, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Yide, long time no see. Still as fiery as ever."
Zhang Fei's face, which had been flushed red, suddenly stiffened, and his grip on the spear tightened involuntarily. He stared at the figure in silver armor on white horse, then at the neatly arrayed Xiliang army behind him. He opened his mouth, but the curse that was on the tip of his tongue got stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word for a long time. He wanted to rush up and fight, but Ma Chao's demeanor and his imposing presence made him feel inexplicably afraid.