Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Li Ru now gazed at Ma Chao, stood up, and solemnly bowed to him. He said, "General, although Lord Dong has passed away, I am deeply moved by your continued concern for Lord Dong's former subordinates in Xiliang and your incompetent nephew, Dong Huang. It is precisely because of your loyalty and righteousness that we have chosen to submit to you. However, you want to avoid casualties while also desiring to capture Tianshui County, while Dong Huang is a stubborn man who is determined to hold on to his position until his death. You have truly posed a formidable dilemma for me."

Ma Chao chuckled softly and replied, "Ah, sir, it's precisely because this problem is so difficult that I've come to consult you, a world-renowned wise counselor." Li Ru nodded slightly. After a moment's thought, he confidently said to Ma Chao, "General, this matter is both difficult and easy. It just may take some time."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao was thrilled. He stood up abruptly and said, "Oh, sir, do you have a plan? Tell me quickly. What's the harm in wasting a little time? As long as it can prevent any casualties on both sides, it's fine." Li Ru said, "General, please be patient. Let me analyze the pros and cons for you. The soldiers of Dong Huang's army in Xiliang had already followed him to Luoyang before they parted ways with him, sleeping in the open air along the way, and unknowingly, several years have passed. It was precisely because of their loyalty to Dong Huang that they were bewitched by him and followed him, and now they are fighting against the court. To put it bluntly, when it comes to loyalty, the soldiers under Dong Huang's command are absolutely loyal to Dong Huang. There is no doubt about that, right?" Ma Chao nodded and said, "Yes, it is for this reason that I have been hesitant to make up my mind to launch a strong attack."

Li Ru looked at Ma Chao with a determined gaze and continued, "Soldiers have been on the march for years, and regardless of their political stance, they have all endured immense hardships. Now they are entrenched in Tianshui County, unable to return home and burdened with the name of traitor. I wonder if the general can understand this feeling. Furthermore, the general has shown mercy everywhere. Those who are fighting against them are all former brothers, including relatives, friends, and fellow villagers. To put it bluntly, they are all comrades from the same place. The general should grasp this point and proceed from this point."

Ma Chao listened attentively and nodded slightly. Li Ru nodded slightly and continued, "General, as long as you are not afraid of wasting time, there is no need to demand that the soldiers attack constantly, keeping Dong Huang and his men on edge. This decision is wrong. It will only keep them on edge, firming their resolve to hold their ground until death. Simply launch a feint attack from time to time. Tell the soldiers that those on the other side are also their brothers. Our goal is to give them a home, a way home. Continuing to fight the imperial court in this way is futile. First, we must undermine the morale of the Tianshui defenders and make them feel homesick. Furthermore, we are not actually attacking them, and there is no deep-seated feud. By then, with frequent contact between the soldiers on both sides, the gap between them will be much smaller."

Ma Chao seemed to be thinking about something and said, "Sir, this is a great plan, but how do we arrange this feint attack? How do we get the soldiers on both sides to come into contact?" Li Ru smiled and said, "The feint attack doesn't have to be too fierce, just do it when it's enough. As for getting the soldiers on both sides to come into contact, you can 'leave' some letters, items, etc. on the battlefield so that the defenders of Tianshui County can see and pick them up. The letters can contain content about past friendships, family situations, etc. In addition, occasionally shout a few words in your hometown dialect on the edge of the battlefield to evoke their memories. Over time, they will naturally be shaken." Ma Chao's eyes flashed with light, and he expressed his approval of Li Ru's plan, and began to think about how to arrange and implement it in the future.

Discuss countermeasures

Li Ru continued, "As the soldiers on both sides become more familiar with each other, they will tend to show mercy and recall their old friendships. They will all feel homesick, which will trigger an emotional resonance. Even if Dong Huang is determined to hold on, the soldiers' performance will make him change his mind. Then, the Dong clan members will come out to persuade him, and finally give Dong Huang a way out, allowing him to face his defeat directly. I think he will agree to this matter."

Ma Chao said with some embarrassment, "It's easy to make arrangements for the soldiers, but what should we do with Dong Huang's identity? No matter how we hand him over to the court, the court will definitely not let him off." Li Ru narrowed his eyes slightly, looked at Ma Chao with a hint of amusement, and said softly, "That depends on what you think, General. Pick up a corpse in the chaos and say it's Dong Huang, and it's Dong Huang. It's nothing more than General Dong Huang returning to Longxi and becoming a wealthy man. It all depends on your mindset."

Ma Chao said, "Even though that's the case, what if the court doesn't approve?" Li Ru gently played with the teacup in his hand, and said calmly, "General, under the current situation, your prestige in Xiliang and even the northwest is growing. If you want to protect Dong Huang, you only need to be vague in the battle report submitted to the court, and just say that Dong Huang died in the chaos. The court now relies on you for a lot of matters in the northwest. As long as you handle this cleanly and efficiently, and with the cooperation of Dong's relatives, the court will not delve into it. After all, the court also needs to consider the general's ideas and the stability of the northwest region. Moreover, if the general can successfully capture Tianshui County, it will be a great achievement for the court. The court will turn a blind eye to some minor matters. General, you must understand that many times, things are up to you." After hearing this, Ma Chao fell into deep thought. He knew that this matter was of great importance and that a lot of trouble could be caused if he was not careful, but what Li Ru said was not unreasonable.

Li Ru stared at Ma Chao intently, took a small step forward, raised his chin slightly, and continued, "General, I have urged you not to go to Chang'an before. With the prestige you have accumulated over the years in the northwest and the powerful influence you possess, the court has no choice but to appease you. You can fully realize your ambitions in Xiliang and continue to strengthen yourself. Let the court and the Central Plains princes fight each other. When the situation becomes a mess, you can step in to clean up the mess. This is much better than working for the court at all costs and constantly worrying about being secretly guarded by the court. Look at the situation in the court now, don't you feel a little uneasy and difficult to get off the tiger's back?"

Ma Chao's brow furrowed slightly, forming a faint "川" (Chuan) shape between his eyebrows. A hint of worry flashed across his eyes, and the corners of his mouth twitched downward, revealing a hint of bitterness. He sighed softly, "I understand what you say, sir. But the situation was pressing, and pressure from all sides was mounting. If I hadn't responded to the imperial call and marched to Chang'an, the court would have been unstable, and the entire country would have been in chaos. Then, I would have given others a reason to believe I was harboring troops and defying the court. Now, as you say, I'm caught in a dilemma."

Ma Chao shook his head unconsciously, his right hand gently stroking the hilt of the sword at his waist. Li Ru shook his head slightly, put his hands behind his back, and began to pace slowly, saying as he walked, "General, you are too kind and considerate of the greater good. However, within the court, treacherous officials are in power, and various forces are intertwined like a tangled mess. General, you fight wholeheartedly for the court, risking your life on the battlefield, but the court may not fully trust you. The current attack on Tianshui County is a glaring example. General, you must complete the task assigned by the court, while also considering your old friendship with Lord Dong and not wanting to cause too many casualties on both sides. It is truly a difficult task."

Ma Chao remained silent, his head lowered, his gaze fixed on the ground, as if the answer he sought lay there. After a moment, he slowly raised his head, looked at Li Ru, and said, "Thank you for your guidance, sir. I understand. However, I will need your guidance on the road ahead." Ma Chao clasped his hands together and bowed slightly to Li Ru. Seeing this, Li Ru quickly returned the greeting with a slight bow, saying, "You are very polite, General. I will do my best to offer you advice."

After receiving Li Ru's instructions, Ma Chao felt torn between his own ideals and convictions and his own persuasion. With a complex expression, he bowed to Li Ru and prepared to depart. Li Ru looked at Ma Chao, aware that his words had stirred deep emotions within him, prompting reflection. Knowing Ma Chao's integrity and goodness, he knew that speaking too much to him at this point might have a negative impact, so he gave up trying to persuade him.

Ma Chao turned around and slowly walked out of the mansion with Xu Huang and Zhang Ren. His steps were a little heavy, and Li Ru's words kept echoing in his mind.

At this time, Xu Huang rode his horse and came up to Ma Chao's side. His eyes opened wide and his face was full of excitement. He said: "General, I think what Mr. Li Ru said is very reasonable! You see, although I am a rough man, I also understand the principles of life. Mr. Li said that a real man should act according to his own heart in the world. I agree with him. We fight hard on the battlefield, isn't it just to live happily and freely? Like now, we have to take care of this and that, afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind. How frustrating! I think in my heart, if I could make my own decisions, I would definitely do whatever I want and not care about so many twists and turns! Unlike now, I am frowning all day long, saying this and that. It makes me uncomfortable to see you."

Ma Chao heard Xu Huang's words and shook his head helplessly. The corners of his mouth twitched slightly as he said, "You, you only know how to talk nonsense. I told you to read more books and gain more knowledge, but instead you just do all kinds of fighting and killing all day long. Do you think everything in this world is as simple as you think? We live in these chaotic times, and every step must be cautious. How can we do whatever we want as you say? You always challenge others to a duel, and you fight at the slightest disagreement, without even thinking. How can you become a capable general with such recklessness?"

Xu Huang felt a little embarrassed by Ma Chao's words, his face flushing like a ripe apple. He lowered his head and muttered softly, "I'm a straightforward person. I say whatever I want to say. I know I have my shortcomings, but when my temper gets out of hand, I can't control myself. General, please don't be angry. I will definitely change and listen to you more in the future."

Zhang Ren, who was standing by, couldn't help but burst out laughing at Xu Huang's expression. He said with a smile, "General Xu, you really need to change your impatience. Otherwise, you'll suffer from this in the future!"

Xu Huang secretly glared at Zhang Ren, but he didn't dare to get angry. He could only mutter quietly, "I know, just stop laughing at me."

Ma Chao looked at the two of them and sighed slightly, his annoyance dissipating considerably. He had come here to find a good strategy, and although he still had doubts about some of Li Ru's words, he finally had a direction, and his mood became much more relaxed.

Without further delay, Ma Chao gently shook the reins. His steed, as if sensing its master's intention, raised its head and neighed, then unleashed its hooves and galloped off. Xu Huang and Zhang Ren hurriedly followed. The horses' hooves kicked up clouds of dust as they galloped towards Tianshui County. Along the way, the wind whistled in his ears, and Ma Chao's mind was constantly pondering how to implement Li Ru's strategy. Xu Huang and Zhang Ren followed closely behind him, keeping a vigilant eye. The sunlight cast long shadows on them, as if foreshadowing the new situation that was about to unfold.