Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Everyone in the hall, as if trying to persuade the emperor, said, "Your Majesty, this is all the result of years of accumulated problems. It's not your fault. You have made many achievements since you ascended the throne. You must not blame yourself for everything. You should be more harsh than harsh on yourself."

Liu Bian did not respond to this question. Instead, he said with a worried look, "The people in Xiliang are already living in such hardship before we even reach the border. I wonder how miserable their lives must be. Just thinking about it makes me feel pained."

Wang Jie, however, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, you are indeed mistaken. The people of the border region, the land of Xiliang, although located on the border and often ravaged by war, live relatively well. They seem to be better off than the people along this route." Liu Bian said, "Lord Xun previously presided over internal affairs in Xiliang. It seems your reputation for talent is well-deserved. This is all your credit." Liu Bian then said, "Regarding Xiliang, please continue. How are the army and the people?"

Wang Jie paused for a moment, then said, "Your Majesty, although the people of Xiliang have endured war, their lives have gradually stabilized under the governance of Lord Xun. The people also speak highly of him. As for the military, the Xiliang army is truly formidable. The soldiers are well-trained and disciplined. While defending Xiliang, they also actively participate in local development and live in harmony with the people."

Liu Bian nodded slightly and said thoughtfully: "It seems that the land of Xiliang is indeed unique. What is Ma Chao's prestige in Xiliang? What is the people's attitude towards him?" Wang Jie's heart tightened, knowing that the emperor was most concerned about Ma Chao's affairs. He answered cautiously: "Your Majesty, Ma Chao has a high prestige in Xiliang. The people both respect and love him. He led the Xiliang army to repeatedly make military exploits, protect the territory and the people, and he holds a very important position in the hearts of the people." After hearing this, Liu Bian's face became more solemn and he fell into deep thought.

Everyone's expressions varied after hearing Wang Jie's account. Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei also began to admire Ma Chao. Liu Bei nodded slightly, his eyes gleaming with admiration, while he pondered Ma Chao's abilities and influence. Guan Yu's expression remained stern, but a subtle flicker of recognition flashed in his eyes. Zhang Fei's eyes widened, and he scratched his head, muttering, "I didn't expect Ma Chao to be so capable."

Even Lu Zhi's opinion of Ma Chao shifted slightly. He recalled that although Ma Chao had previously disobeyed his orders and joined the fight against Dong Zhuo, he now saw that Ma Chao had, after all, fulfilled his duty as a border general, defending the country and comforting the people. Lu Zhi felt a sense of comfort, gently stroking his beard and nodding slightly, his opinion of Ma Chao shifting slightly. He understood that in these turbulent times, ensuring the safety of the people was a precious gift. Emperor Liu Bian quietly observed the crowd's reactions, mentally pondering his next move. A tense atmosphere permeated the palace, as everyone's thoughts were gripped by the unfolding events in Western Liang.

Liu Bian thought for a moment and continued, "I originally intended to summon Ma Teng and Ma Chao, father and son, to Chang'an together, but this time only Ma Chao is here to serve. However, I didn't realize that General Ma Teng, a general of his age, shouldn't be in such poor health as Ma Chao claims, as his father is too frail to travel so far." Wang Jie straightened his clothes, knelt, and said, "Your Majesty, I have something to say that I must not hesitate to speak. Even if it displeases others and causes General Ma Chao to be dissatisfied with me later, I will say it." Liu Bian knew that Wang Jie was about to launch into a critique of Xiliang, so he feigned indifference and said, "Your Majesty, you have traveled all the way here. If you have something to say, just speak it out. Why hesitate? Everyone in this palace is my trusted confidant. Speak now. I will not let it get out, even if I am wrong."

Wang Jie took a deep breath and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, when I was in Xiliang, I saw that the people lived a relatively stable life and the army was disciplined. But Ma Chao and his son did seem to be arrogant and self-centered. I don't think General Ma Teng came to Chang'an because he was weak. They have been operating in Xiliang for many years and their influence is intertwined. Ma Chao came here this time, seemingly to serve, but in fact he may have other intentions. Your Majesty must be on guard." Liu Bian frowned slightly and fell into deep thought. Everyone in the hall also had different expressions, and the atmosphere became tense for a while.

At this time, Luoyang King Liu Xie, as if revealing his true intentions, asked: "Sir, please tell me in detail. General Ma Chao is, after all, a man that the King values ​​and is about to make a big decision. You must not generalize and speculate secretly." Wang Jie was detailed. At this time, Wang Jie said with a hint of anger: "Your Majesty, the King of Luoyang, please listen to me. The Xiliang tribe is strong in men and horses. From my own observation, there are at least hundreds of thousands or even two hundred thousand people. This time, there are only 10,000 people following Ma Chao, and there are 5,000 people led by Ma Chao's sworn brother Sun Ce, a total of 15,000 people. Before arriving in Chang'an, Ma Chao split his troops into two groups. Sun Ce led the other group. This man, accompanied by 10,000 well-equipped cavalrymen, has vanished, while General Ma has only brought 5,000 men to Chang'an to report. General Ma Teng, in my opinion, is a man of vigor and strength, capable of eating two pounds of beef and drinking a jar of fine wine in one meal—far from the appearance of a frail man. Yet, he feigned illness and refused to report to Chang'an. Furthermore, they showed insufficient respect for the emperor's envoys. His generals solely followed Ma Chao's orders, oblivious to the court's concerns. Furthermore, the people's devotion to Ma Chao and his son went far beyond the bounds of what is expected of a garrison. All these signs indicate that, regardless of whether they harbored rebellious intentions, they were definitely intent on maintaining their own military might.

Liu Xie frowned slightly, his expression grave, and turned to look at Liu Bian. Liu Bian's face was gloomy, his eyes deep, as if he was pondering a response. Everyone in the hall fell silent, the atmosphere tense and oppressive. Lu Zhi stroked his beard, deep in thought, Liu Bei had a solemn expression, Guan Yu remained silent, and Zhang Fei's eyes widened, his face filled with anger. After a moment's silence, Liu Bian slowly said, "This matter is of no small importance. What advice do you have?" Everyone looked at each other, unsure how to respond. Liu Bian looked at them, his worry growing even deeper. He knew that if the matter of Ma Chao and his son was not properly handled, it would pose a great threat to the court.

Liu Bian's purpose in making these arrangements was to dissatisfy Lu Zhi, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei with Ma Chao and his son's behavior in Xiliang. The current situation had indeed achieved this goal perfectly. As a result, Lu Zhi and Liu Bei's impression of Ma Chao was once again refreshed, and their impression of him was no longer as favorable as before.

At this moment, Lu Zhi frowned slightly, stroked his beard, and said solemnly with a bow, "Your Majesty, I believe that the actions of Ma Chao and his son in Xiliang are truly worrying. Ma Teng's absence from court due to illness is a great disrespect to Your Majesty. Moreover, considering the strength of his tribe, if he harbors evil intentions, he will surely become a great threat to the court. Your Majesty, although I have taught Ma Chao in the past, his current actions in Xiliang are truly my fault. If this son dares to harbor evil thoughts that endanger the country, I will put justice first. Even if he was once my student, I will be ruthless and kill my own relatives for the sake of justice! To protect the Han Dynasty, I will not hesitate to die!"

Liu Bei's expression was solemn, his eyes piercing as he spoke seriously, "Your Majesty, although all signs now point to Ma Chao's aggression, in these troubled times, this matter must be handled with caution. We must not act rashly based on mere speculation, lest we cause greater disaster. However, if Ma Chao truly harbors rebellious intentions, the three of us brothers will lead a righteous army to defeat him! To protect the Han Dynasty for Your Majesty, we, your servants, will sacrifice our lives!"

Seeing that the situation was almost ready, Liu Bian couldn't help but feel secretly happy. He knew that his carefully planned strategy had once again been successfully implemented. No matter how the situation developed, at this moment, he had successfully planted a sharp thorn in the hearts of Lu Zhi and the three brothers Liu, Guan, and Zhang.

Liu Bian narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression solemn and deep. He spoke slowly, "My Lords, I have carefully observed Ma Chao's actions in Xiliang. His suspicions of self-reliance and arrogance have become increasingly apparent. He commands a large army, his influence in Xiliang is growing, and his actions are characterized by boldness and decisiveness. I have repeatedly considered his character and believe that he is highly likely to pursue his own interests at all costs. Such a person is truly capable of causing chaos and unrest. I worry that if he is corrupted by power, he will become a huge threat to the Han Dynasty."

Liu Bian paused for a moment, his eyes swept over Lu Zhi, Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in turn, and then he said: "Master Lu, the emperor's uncle and the two generals Guan and Zhang, you are all my trusted ministers. You should carefully plan a good strategy for me to deal with this potential huge threat. I am well aware that with your character and loyalty, you will never watch Ma Chao go astray. I hope that you can be of one mind with me and jointly safeguard the peace and stability of our Han Dynasty." Liu Bian's words were loud and clear, full of deep worry and high vigilance about the future situation, which also made everyone more vigilant against Ma Chao, and the thorn in their hearts was pierced deeper and stronger.

Everyone was thinking secretly, their faces solemn. The atmosphere in the hall was heavy, as if even the air had become stagnant. At this moment, Liu Bian played the good guy again, laughing heartily, breaking the oppressive atmosphere. He said, "But it is also possible that I and the others are worrying too much. The fact that General Ma Chao was able to go to Chang'an to serve under such circumstances proves that his character is not as bad as we thought. Now that the world is still unsettled, it is time to use people. Our concerns also highlight General Ma Chao's talents. As long as General Ma Chao can be loyal to the court and the country, I will not care about any extraordinary things. High positions and generous titles are definitely not empty talk. We should not misunderstand General Ma Chao's patriotism based on our own speculation."

Liu Bian's words seemed to be both a way of comforting the crowd and a way of giving Ma Chao a chance. He knew that in this turbulent time, he couldn't easily make enemies, and if he could recruit Ma Chao, it would be a great help.

The emperor repeated the same repetitive words, and everyone's thoughts were tossed back and forth by him. Those seemingly contradictory yet profound words were like layers of fog, difficult to grasp. Everyone's expressions varied: some were lost in thought, some frowned slightly, and some looked thoughtful.

The emperor watched the crowd's performance, a surge of pride building within him. He prided himself on being able to manipulate others to his will. He knew the game of power required wisdom and cunning, and he considered himself uniquely gifted in this area. He raised his chin slightly, a hint of triumph in his eyes, as if the entire world was under his control. However, he also understood that this was only a long game, and countless challenges lay ahead. He must remain vigilant, wielding his wisdom and strategic cunning to maintain his rule in these turbulent times and realize his grand ambitions.