Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The lights were dim in the gloomy dark room. Li Ru narrowed his eyes slightly and said solemnly, "Lord Shoucheng only cares about protecting the territory and the people, safeguarding Xiliang. But you have not considered that in today's world, your Ma family's prestige in Xiliang is already at its peak. If this is your only ambition, no matter how loyal your Ma family is, no matter how much they serve the country and the people, it will be a way to death. Haven't you heard that when the birds are gone, the good bows are put away; when the cunning rabbit dies, the running dog is cooked? Moreover, the current emperor still relies heavily on the Ma family. Your Ma family's prestige has reached its peak in Xiliang and even the northwest. The people of Xiliang only know your Ma family by name, not the emperor. Moreover, if General Ma Chao performs great services for the court, how can your Ma family be treated as just a powerful family? How will the emperor reward your Ma family? We have already aroused his fear. How will you plan to achieve further great achievements and save the country from collapse in the future?"

Consider Han Xin, Marquis of Huaiyin. His military exploits were legendary. Commanding a vast army, he was unstoppable. During the Chu-Han Contention, Han Xin, with his exceptional military prowess, led vast conquests east and west, conquering vast territories for Emperor Liu Bang of Han. The Battle of the Backwaters, where he triumphed over a larger force with a small force, reverberated throughout the land. The Siege of Gaixia even forced Xiang Yu, the Overlord of Western Chu, to commit suicide at the Wujiang River. It's safe to say that without Han Xin, Emperor Liu Bang of Han would never have been able to conquer this vast empire. However, after the pacification of the Han Empire, Han Xin's achievements intimidated the emperor, and he aroused suspicion from Emperor Gaozu of Han. Liu Bang first stripped Han Xin of his military power and then demoted him to Marquis of Huaiyin. Ultimately, Han Xin was murdered by Empress Lü.

Think about it: a hero like Han Xin, who made unparalleled contributions to the Han Dynasty, ended up with such a tragic end. The Ma family's current situation is strikingly similar to Han Xin's. General Ma Chao is incredibly brave, and his Xiliang cavalry is renowned far and wide. If he continues to serve the court and achieve even greater merit, there's no guarantee he won't follow in Han Xin's footsteps. If the emperor's fear reaches its peak, the Ma family could face catastrophic destruction.

As Ma Teng listened to Li Ru's words, his face paled even further, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He had never imagined that his single-minded pursuit of protecting the country and its people would lead him into such a dangerous situation. His voice trembled as he spoke, "Sir, you are absolutely right. I, Ma, have truly never considered this. So, in your opinion, how should our Ma family cope?"

Li Ru nodded slightly, but his eyes suddenly became as deep as the abyss, as if he could see through everything in the world. His voice was low and powerful, with a strong sense of bewitching, and he slowly said: "Lord Shoucheng, now the Ma family is strong in both men and horses, and the reputation of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry is so powerful that it frightens the enemy. Moreover, it has the wholehearted support of the people of Xiliang, just like the moon surrounded by stars. Such a powerful force, how can it be satisfied with just protecting the territory and the people? The Ma family should do greater things! The world is changing, heroes are rising, and it is the time for heroes to make great plans. The Ma family has such a strong strength, if not... "To seize the opportunity and rise up would be a waste of natural resources. The Han Dynasty is now in decline, like a candle in the wind, teetering on the brink of collapse. The world is in turmoil, with various factions vying for supremacy in the Central Plains. Who can say for sure that the Ma family won't become the one to rule? Think about it, if the Ma family can seize the opportunity, march eastward, and conquer the Central Plains, then the entire world might be within their grasp. Then, the name of the Ma family will be etched in history, a legend passed down through the ages. The glory of the Ma family will shine like a brilliant star, illuminating this vast land."

Ma Teng's eyes widened in shock after hearing this, his face filled with disbelief. He had never expected Li Ru to say such a bold statement, and his heart was like a raging storm, unable to calm down for a long time. His lips trembled slightly, and he was speechless for a long time. After a long while, he finally squeezed out a few words with difficulty: "Sir, what you said is truly astonishing. I... I have never thought of it this way before."

Ma Teng was stunned by Li Ru's earth-shattering words, his face dazed, his eyes blank, as if his soul had been pulled out. After a long while, he slowly regained his composure, his voice trembling as he spoke, "Sir, I'm afraid your words are a bit exaggerated. While the Han Empire is not entirely stable right now, the Emperor has returned to the capital, Chang'an. Youzhou, Bingzhou, and Liangzhou are all under the Emperor's control, not to mention Jingzhou and Yizhou, both of which are guarded by Han royal family members. Although Liu Yao of Yangzhou is currently facing war, it's also Han territory. While there may be danger, it won't overthrow the empire. Your words, sir, are somewhat like a death wish for the Ma family."

He frowned, his face full of confusion and uneasiness, and continued, "My Ma family has been loyal for generations and has never had any improper thoughts. If it is as you said, wouldn't that mean we would be enemies with the whole world? How can we afford such consequences? Not to mention other things, just those forces, how can my Ma family easily contend with them? You need to think about this again, sir, don't let my Ma family fall into an irretrievable situation." As Ma Teng spoke, he paced back and forth anxiously in the secret room, the panic in his heart surging like a tide.

Li Ru remained calm, and calmly analyzed to Ma Teng: "Lord Shoucheng, you only see the surface phenomenon, but fail to see the essence behind it. Now, when the princes came together to attack Lord Dong, the chaos in the world had already begun to appear, and various princes rose up. Although Lord Dong was ultimately defeated by them, which of these rising princes did not have different ambitions and wanted to emulate Lord Dong? Take the Yuan Shu brothers for example, it goes without saying that they relied on their family background of three generations of officials, and after defeating Dong, they quickly quarreled with the emperor. He was extremely unhappy, his rebellious intentions were obvious. The other princes were also ostensibly obedient but secretly disobeyed. Let's analyze your words carefully. Let's first discuss Gongsun Zan of Youzhou. Setting aside his true intentions, Youzhou's current situation is precarious, locked in a fierce standoff with Yuan Shao of Jizhou. Yuan Shao is determined to capture Youzhou. While Youzhou is nominally under the control of the imperial court, let alone whether the imperial court's decrees can actually be implemented, it's not certain that Youzhou will survive Yuan Shao alone. Let's talk about Bingzhou. Lu Bu of Bingzhou is a fickle man. It is undeniable that he is indeed very brave, but he has no talent for internal affairs. In the past few years when he governed Bingzhou, Bingzhou has already become a mess. Although Bingzhou is still the land of the Han Dynasty on the surface, in reality, the Huns often cause trouble. Such a situation is really not worth worrying about. Even if he wants to serve the court, not only can he not provide any substantial help to the court, but the court will also send troops to help him eliminate the Huns. This is naturally needless to say. As for my Xiliang land, Shoucheng Gong, this Everything depends on your thoughts. Let's talk about Jingzhou. Liu Biao, the governor of Jingzhou, while possessing considerable talent, was also a scholar. While renowned, he relied heavily on the power and prestige of his Han royal family, as well as his influence among the literati, to maintain his control of Jingzhou. Jingzhou is home to numerous aristocratic families. While nominally under Liu Biao's jurisdiction, it has long been controlled by aristocratic families and powerful individuals. Lord Shoucheng, are you unaware of the existence of such powerful families as the Huang, Kuai, and Cai families in Jingzhou? With these powerful families around, how could Jingzhou truly be so closely aligned with the imperial court?

Ma Teng was deeply shocked upon hearing this, filled with shock and admiration beyond words. He could not help but sigh in admiration for Li Ru, who had lived in Longxi for so long, yet seemed to have a complete and complete overview of the various princes and forces under heaven, as if he were seeing through fire.

Li Ru took a sip of tea to moisten his throat, then paused briefly before continuing, "Let's talk about Liu Yao of Yangzhou. He's a capable governor, but unfortunately, he's little more than a city defender. Under his rule, the Shanyue frequently rebel, and local tyrants and aristocratic families like Yan Baihu and Wang Lang have established their own factions. He's simply unable to suppress them. Furthermore, Yuan Shao is eyeing Yangzhou covetously. And General Ma Chao's sworn brother, Sun Ce, is also rising to prominence there. I heard he's almost on the verge of taking Kuaiji County. With Liu Yao's character and talent, how could he possibly hold on? Yangzhou would undoubtedly be in chaos."

Ma Teng swallowed hard, his eyes filled with worry, and said slowly, "Isn't there still Liu Zhang of Yizhou?"

Li Ru looked at Ma Teng with amusement, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a smile with a hint of deep meaning, and said with a smile: "The talent of Liu Zhang of Yizhou is not worth worrying about. Speaking of which, Liu Zhang's father Liu Yan was indeed a hero of the time. He built Yizhou like an iron barrel with his own efforts. If Liu Yan had not died, there might have been a turnaround. But Liu Yan is dead, and Liu Yan's most talented sons Liu Fan and Liu Dan were killed by General Ma Chao himself that day." As he spoke, Li Ru couldn't help but chuckle, and that laughter seemed to contain many complex emotions.

Ma Teng broke out in a cold sweat again, and felt his heart getting heavier.

Li Ru continued, "General Ma Chao killed Han clan members in his early years. To save Lord Dong from danger, he killed Han clan members. If someone were to bring this up, it would be a troublesome matter."

Consider Liu Zhang of Yizhou. He was weak and incompetent. While Yizhou appeared stable, it was actually plagued by internal conflict. Numerous aristocratic families operated independently, leaving the region a loose mess. Liu Zhang held a position of power, yet he was completely powerless to control the overall situation. Furthermore, Zhang Lu of Hanzhong had gradually slipped away from Yizhou's control since Liu Yan's death. Zhang Lu, who had begun his career as a member of the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, used religious tactics to seduce the people and had now established himself as a regional lord. Liu Zhang, faced with this situation, was powerless to suppress it. What support could Yizhou, with its current state, bring to the imperial court?

Lord Shoucheng, do you have a clear understanding of the current state of affairs? If the Ma family doesn't make plans soon, their future will be uncertain. The world is volatile, and the forces of power are intertwined and complex. The Ma family, caught in the middle of this turbulent world, could be plunged into irretrievable ruin if they are not careful. Whether to accept the status quo and wait for disaster to strike, or to take the initiative and create a bright future for the Ma family, all depends on Lord Shoucheng's decision."