Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Li Ru stopped talking after he finished speaking, silently pouring tea for Ma Teng and slowly adding more water. The tea rippled slightly in the cup, as if reflecting the tense atmosphere.

He then continued, "Lord Shoucheng, please sit down, have a cup of tea, and calm your mind. Don't make such a fuss. The world is already like this." Ma Teng sat down anxiously, still filled with doubts. His brow furrowed, he spoke slowly, "But the Emperor has returned to Chang'an. Since he first rallied the princes to fight Lord Dong, the Emperor has gone from having no troops or generals to his current power. This is a testament to the Emperor's wisdom, talent, and tactics. Although, despite the current chaos in the world, if my Ma family can wholeheartedly serve the country, with my 300,000 Xiliang cavalry, wholeheartedly serving the court and suppressing the rebellious, the situation in the world may be reversed."

Li Ru chuckled, and there was a hint of sarcasm and helplessness in his laughter. He shook his head slightly and said, "Alas, Lord Shoucheng, you are still fantasizing. If it is as you think, the world will continue to be in chaos, and your Ma family can still take advantage of the situation and survive. If it is really as you say, the world will be settled, and your Ma family will be purged without a doubt. You see, you also know that you also talked about the emperor's frivolous nature, power and wisdom. If there really comes such a day, your Ma family will be in great trouble. Let's not talk about whether the merits are great or not, just say that today, the emperor is actually at odds with General Ma Chao. Just based on this "At that point, by the time the seas are at peace and the rivers are clear, your Ma family will be doomed. Add to that the killing of Han royal family members in earlier years, and this is all just sharpening the knife for the emperor. If your Ma family's 300,000 soldiers continue to join the Central Plains battlefield to fight for the Han in this form, just think about it, how many will remain? By that time, the world will be stable. Even if your Ma family feels the situation is bad and wants to fight back, if the entire world comes and the emperor uses the entire world to deal with your Ma family, what chance will your Ma family have of winning in Xiliang?"

Ma Teng sat there stunned, his face awash with shock and fear. His eyes were filled with confusion, as if, in that instant, he saw the Ma family's perilous future. His lips trembled slightly, unsure how to respond to Li Ru's words. The atmosphere in the secret room was suffocatingly heavy, and Ma Teng felt as if a huge rock was pressing down on his heart, weighing him down immensely.

Ma Teng's face was full of bitterness, and he slowly said: "Mr. Li Ru, then you say that if my Ma family continues like this, it will be doomed?" Li Ru raised his chin slightly, and said seriously: "Mr. Shoucheng, if it is according to what you think and think, the future of your Ma family is indeed worrying. But didn't I tell you just now? There is obviously a better way to go, why are you unwilling to try, so stubborn?" Ma Teng smiled helplessly and said: "I was originally just a general in the army, fortunately "I was recognized by Master Dong and was entrusted with this important task. I'm content to restore the glory of my ancestors; I truly don't have such a grand vision or heart. As for Chao'er, I've watched him grow up since childhood. As a teenager, he studied under Master Lu Zhi, and his mind was filled with the idea of ​​loyalty to the emperor and patriotism. Even after such a devastating blow, as you can see, he has never forgotten his master's teachings, always upholding the principles of loyalty to the emperor, patriotism, protecting the country and the people, and promoting the prosperity of the Han Dynasty. Even if I had different thoughts, how could I possibly influence Chao'er's opinion?"

Li Ru's eyes flashed with contempt as he spoke slowly, "Don't even mention that old scoundrel Lu Zhi. He toiled his entire life, but what did he accomplish? He and Emperor Lingdi were both determined to change the situation where the aristocratic families controlled the government, but they never achieved this wish. Just look at the various deeds that this emperor has done along the way. Lu Zhi was truly devoted to him, working day and night for him, and exhausting all his energy, but how much true respect did the emperor have for him? He mostly just used him as a tool."

Ma Teng remained silent about Li Ru's somewhat disparaging remarks about Lu Zhi. After all, in Ma Teng's mind, Lu Zhi had indeed, to a certain extent, destroyed his and Dong Zhuo's foundation. The events of those years were still vivid in his mind. Lu Zhi's actions had profoundly impacted Dong Zhuo's power and indirectly influenced Li Ru's fate. He harbored hatred for Lu Zhi, which was natural. Amidst this complex situation, Ma Teng's thoughts swirled. He was well aware of the difficulty of his position, and Li Ru's words, though harsh, forced him to reassess the situation. Ma Teng remained silent, the tangled threads of conflict within him difficult to unravel.

Li Ru went on to say: "This is why I advised the general not to lead the troops to Chang'an. If we lead the troops to Chang'an at this time, with the heart of the Son of Heaven, he will definitely endure this breath no matter what, and then take advantage of the situation to ask for mediation between these forces in terms of morality and other aspects, and praise General Ma Chao highly in terms of morality. At that time, General Ma Chao can only serve the Son of Heaven with more than 100,000 Xiliang Iron Cavalry and fight against the various princes in the Central Plains. Isn't this just what the Son of Heaven wants? If we keep our troops in place, let General Ma Chao see the face of the Son of Heaven and the heart of the court towards the soldiers now, so that he can clearly know that no matter how hard he tries, the Ma family will not have any good in the end. "What's more, if we don't send troops, General Ma Chao won't have the final say in the court, and there will definitely be many different opinions. When General Ma Chao sees through all this and they really want to deal with the emperor, we will seize the opportunity to send a large army to escort General Ma Chao back to Xiliang. Then we will guard the gates of Xiliang and let the various princes in the Central Plains fight. We will only need to occasionally play sides to make them feel uncomfortable and watch the various princes fighting in chaos. Once they are truly hurt and broken, we will march out of Chang'an and sweep across the world with thundering force. Then the whole world will be under the control of your Ma family."

Ma Teng was a bit disbelieving, and a bit apprehensive about making a decision. He said, "Is all this...really as you say? This matter is of grave importance, and it's hard for me to make a decision. My Ma family has been loyal for generations, and we've never had such a bold idea. If I really acted like this, I'd probably be criticized by the world. Moreover, Chao'er is deeply loyal to the emperor and patriotic, so how could I make a decision on my own? While your plan is tempting, I still have many doubts."

Ma Teng was a little bit unconvinced, and also a little panicked and unable to make a decision. He said, "Is all this really as you say? This matter is of great importance. I am in a state of confusion and it is difficult for me to make a decision. Moreover, my Ma family has been loyal for generations and has never had such a bold idea. If I really acted like this, I would probably be criticized by the world. Moreover, I have already handed over the task of the expedition to Chao'er. If Chao'er is loyal to the emperor and patriotic, what if he doesn't want to do it? Sir, have you discussed all this with Chao'er?"

Li Ru frowned slightly, with a trace of helplessness and anxiety on his face. He sighed lightly and said, "Lord Shoucheng, I have indeed told General Ma Chao about this matter. However, General Ma Chao is kind-hearted and loyal to the Han Dynasty. He failed to see through the true nature of the court today. He only wanted to repeat the glory of the Han Dynasty in the past, but he didn't know that the court today is no longer what it used to be. It's a pity that he didn't accept my opinion. As I said before, if he didn't even have to go to Chang'an, how could he be in the predicament he is in now? Lord Shoucheng, think about it carefully. The current situation in the world is complicated. Although the emperor has returned to Chang'an and seems to have a certain momentum, there are actually many contradictions within the court. The aristocratic families and the princes of all parties, which one does not have ulterior motives? Although the Ma family is loyal to the emperor and patriotic, in this chaotic world, if they don't know how to judge the situation and find a way out for themselves, they will eventually become pawns of others. . The Ma family now possesses a powerful force in Xiliang, with 300,000 Xiliang cavalrymen feared by all directions. But if they blindly obey the imperial court's orders and work for the court, what will they gain in the end? Just like Han Xin, the Marquis of Huaiyin, who had great military achievements but ended up in a tragic end. Is the Ma family going to repeat the same mistake? Lord Shoucheng, you should plan carefully for the future of the Ma family. If we act according to my plan now, we will hold our troops in place and let General Ma Chao see the true face of the emperor and the true heart of the court towards its soldiers in Chang'an. When the time is ripe, we will send a large army to escort General Ma Chao back to Xiliang and guard the gates of Xiliang. We will sit back and watch the various princes in the Central Plains quarrel, and when the time is right, we will take sides to make them restless. When they are both defeated, we will march into Chang'an with thundering force and sweep across the world. By then, the whole world will be under the control of the Ma family. This is the only chance for the Ma family to rise. Lord Shoucheng, you must consider it carefully.”

Ma Teng listened to Li Ru's words and fell into deep thought. He was extremely conflicted. On the one hand, there was the reputation of being loyal for generations, and on the other hand, there was the future of the Ma family. After a long time, Ma Teng slowly raised his head, a hint of determination in his eyes, and said: "Sir, you are right. I will plan well for the future of the Ma family. I will consider this matter carefully." Li Ru was happy to see Ma Teng waver, and continued: "Mr. Shoucheng, the situation is urgent now, and we can't hesitate too much. The fate of the Ma family depends on your thoughts. If you miss this opportunity, I am afraid there will be no chance of turning over. The Ma family's loyalty to the emperor and patriotism is known to everyone in the world. But in this troubled world, if you don't know how to protect yourself, how can you serve the people of the world? "What about seeking well-being? We're not rebelling against the imperial court, but rather seeking a path for the Ma family to survive in these troubled times. When peace is restored, the Ma family can return power to the emperor, which will be a truly remarkable story. Lord Shoucheng, what are your thoughts?" Ma Teng pondered for a moment, finally making up his mind. "Sir, your words make sense. I will follow your advice. However, this matter requires careful consideration and caution. We must not act hastily." Li Ru smiled with satisfaction and said, "Rest assured, Lord Shoucheng, I will carefully plan and ensure that nothing goes wrong."