The Three Kingdoms: Hindsight is 20/20, and the Three Revivals of the Han Dynasty

Chapter 357 Killing Han Sui and Imprisoning Ma Teng, Ma Chao Takes Control of the Generals in Guanzhong (4th Update)
Scanning the crowd at the banquet, Ma Chao sneered and said in a deep voice, "Those who agree with sending troops may remain seated; those who disagree may stand up like the General Who Conquers the South and the General Who Conquers the West."

Ma Chao played a trick. If he made those who supported sending troops stand up, perhaps no one would be willing to do so; but if he made those who did not support sending troops stand up, he could use them to establish his authority.

The guests looked at each other, many hesitant. In the silence, Yang Qiu suddenly stood up and cupped his hands: "We should be loyal to the court. How can we rebel against the court? I do not approve of sending troops!"

Glancing at Yang Qiu, who seemed self-assured, Ma Chao asked, "Yang Qiu, you were captured alive by General Zuo in the past, but he released you without holding a grudge. Yet today you disagree with sending troops. Is this an act of repaying kindness with enmity?"

Yang Qiu raised his head and said, "That's not right! I was ordered by the court to resist the invading bandits. I had no complaints about being defeated and captured. Liu Bei was foolish to release me. Why should I treat him with kindness?"

“What you say makes sense!” Ma Chao was not angry. He looked at the other generals and said, “I am always fair. Since Yang Qiu is unwilling to send troops to help General Zuo, he will not get his share of the Shu brocade profits. Is there anyone else who wants to join Yang Qiu? You can all step forward. In business, it should be based on voluntariness and not be forced, but you can’t want to profit without wanting to pay the price.”

Yang Qiu snorted coldly, glanced around, and said with a hint of threat in his voice: "It would be a great mistake to offend the Minister of Works for the sake of Shu brocade. What's the use of making money if you don't have the life to spend it? Don't forget, the Minister of Works only failed in the Northern Expedition, not that he couldn't defeat Liu Bei. If he knew that you were helping Liu Bei, would you still be as carefree and happy as before in Guanzhong?"

Yang Qiu's words received support from several people, and then several more people stood up one after another.

Even so, including Ma Teng, Han Sui, and Yang Qiu, there were only ten people, while there were actually twenty-six people sitting in the seats, including Ma Chao!

Han Sui frowned and coldly glanced at Hou Xuan, Li Kan, Zhang Heng, Cheng Yi, Ma Wan, Liang Xing, and Cheng Yin. He gestured with his eyes, but the seven men all lowered their heads and pretended not to see him, which made Han Sui feel horrified.

The seven candidates had always followed Han Sui's lead without question, and Han Sui was a man who would never go back on his word. Unexpectedly, they actually agreed to send troops today? Was this to support Ma Chao?
Ma Teng and Yang Qiu also realized something was wrong at this moment. Of the thirty-six people present, only ten disagreed with sending troops!

A chill ran through the two men: Could today's banquet be a trap set by Ma Chao?
"I am the General Who Conquers the South!" Ma Teng scanned the crowd and shouted, "Are you all going to rebel?"

Han Sui subconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword and gave a wink to the guards on either side.

The guard understood and quietly retreated.

Ma Chao glanced at Han Sui's departing guards, then turned to Ma Teng, toying with the wine cup in his hand, a cold smile playing on his lips: "General Zheng Nan has misunderstood. How could we possibly rebel?"

Subsequently.

Ma Chao suddenly threw the wine cup to the ground, and a group of armored soldiers led by Pang De rushed in, Pang De carrying the head of Han Sui's guard.

Han Sui was stunned and his expression changed. He angrily rebuked, "Ma Chao, why did you kill my guards?"

Ma Chao didn't even raise his head, and said calmly, "I also want to ask, why did you kill my mother back then?"

Han Sui looked even more alarmed, gripped his sword hilt tightly, and said warily, "Your mother was killed by my subordinates, not by my orders. I have already explained this to your father. Mengqi, don't do anything reckless."

Ma Chao stood up, pulled back his brocade robe to reveal his armor, and sneered, "What a coincidence. I didn't kill your guards either." He then turned to Pang De and said, "Pang De, you are a subordinate of the General Who Conquers the South. Your actions today have nothing to do with me." Just as Han Sui was puzzled by Ma Chao's words, Pang De directly swung his sword at Han Sui, shouting, "By order of the General Who Conquers the South, I am avenging my wife!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Ma Teng and Han Sui's expressions changed drastically.

“Pang De! When did I give such an order?” Ma Teng was both anxious and angry. He scolded Pang De while explaining to Han Sui, “Wen Yue, I had no such intention!”

Suddenly, a stray arrow struck Ma Teng's right arm. Pang De roared in anger, "That traitor Han Sui dares to wound the General Who Conquers the South with a sneak arrow!"

Han Sui was so angry that his face turned green. Although the arrow was shot from behind Han Sui, it was not shot by Han Sui's personal guard.

But right now, Pang De was just shouting a slogan and wouldn't let Han Sui explain. He kept swinging his sword, not giving Han Sui a chance to explain.

Ma Teng, who had been hit by an arrow, was also consumed by anger and cursed Han Sui: "Han Sui, you stupid donkey!"

The banquet immediately descended into chaos. Yang Qiu and several others who disagreed with sending troops tried to flee, but were stopped by Hou Xuan and others.

"Hou Xuan, you and I are old friends, how dare you stop me?" Yang Qiu was both anxious and angry, not expecting that Ma Chao would actually dare to play the Hongmen Banquet.

Hou Xuan sneered: "Blocking someone's path to wealth is like killing their parents. Cao Cao ruined our profits from salt and iron, while General Zuo promised us profits from Shu brocade. There's no need to consider who to support or oppose. Not only do you not support him, but you've also instigated others to oppose him as well. You blocked my path to wealth first, so don't blame me for stopping you."

Although Yang Qiu was quite brave and strong, he was unable to withstand the attack from Hou Xuan and his men. In just a moment, Yang Qiu was killed by Hou Xuan with a single blow.

Those who were misled by Yang Qiu and did not agree to send troops were also surrounded and killed one after another. Soon, only Ma Teng and Han Sui, who did not agree to send troops, were left standing at the banquet.

"General Who Conquers the West, when you launched your mutiny and killed Bian Zhang, Beigong Boyu, and Li Wenhou, did you ever think of today?" Ma Chao looked at Han Sui with a mocking expression, his anger rising. "Even when your men killed my mother, did you ever think of today? Those who break faith and betray trust will be abandoned by everyone. I'm sure you understand this better than I do."

Seeing Ma Chao's confident victory, Han Sui was filled with resentment: "Today I've failed! Ma Chao, don't think you'll get away with this. Even if you join Liu Bei, what then? Who knows if Liu Bei won't discard you after you've served your purpose?"

Han Sui then looked at Hou Xuan, Li Kan, Zhang Heng, Cheng Yi, Ma Wan, Liang Xing, Cheng Yin and others, and said with resentment, "You have betrayed me today, and you will surely be betrayed by Liu Bei in the future. I will be waiting for you on the road to the Yellow Springs."

Seeing that Han Sui was still trying to incite others even on his deathbed, Ma Chao didn't tolerate it and directly stepped forward and killed Han Sui with a single blow. Afterwards, he said to the candidates, "Rest assured, everyone. General Zuo is a descendant of the Han Dynasty and has always had the ambition to restore the Han Dynasty. Now he has risen to power in Hebei. In terms of character and ambition, he is just like Emperor Guangwu of the past. We have helped General Zuo today, how could he forget our contributions?"

After taking Han Sui's seal as General Who Conquers the West, Ma Chao hung it on his waist. He then turned to Ma Teng, took the seal as General Who Conquers the South from Ma Teng's waist, and said, "Father, you are getting old. From now on, I will be in charge of the troops in Guanzhong."

(End of this chapter)