Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

There was a hint of doubt in Ma Teng's eyes. He knew very well that the deployment of troops was related to the success or failure of the entire plan and the development of the future situation. Therefore, he was extremely cautious about this matter and hoped that Li Ru could give a more comprehensive answer.

Li Ru's lips curled up slightly as he smiled softly, "My lord, rest assured. How could these 4 troops remain idle here? Originally, we had to hastily assemble a 10-man army, and the deployment of troops, horses, and food was already a bit tight. Now, supplying food to only 6 troops is much easier. This arrangement is also to ensure that the food supply can be smoother and there will be no shortages."

Upon hearing this, Ma Teng nodded slightly, feeling that what Li Ru said made sense, and immediately agreed to this arrangement.

Li Ru, upon seeing this, said solemnly, "My Lord, I have already discussed some matters with you last night. After the Young Master returns from Chang'an, our first priority will be to secure the gateway to Xiliang. We must firmly hold this northwest region, observing the chaotic situation of the Central Plains princes rising up and fighting against each other from the sidelines. However, we are not determined to defend the city and remain motionless. Take the current arrangement, for example, as an example. This is actually a test for Hanzhong."

At this point, Li Ru's eyes flashed, and his tone became slightly excited. "After the young master returns, we can go all out and try our best to capture Hanzhong. By then, Xiliang in the northwest will be connected to Hanzhong, and counties like Tianshui and Wudu will all be in our hands. In this way, the entire northwest will belong to Xiliang. This is the whole picture of my plan."

Li Ru paused for a moment, frowning slightly, and continued, "However, before that, sending troops from Longxi alone to attack Wudu and Yinping County would likely be very difficult. After all, Hanzhong is strategically located and has always been easy to defend but difficult to attack. If we only send troops from Longxi, we'll probably struggle mightily during the attack."

At this point, Li Ru changed the subject, his expression becoming confident again. "As for the remaining 4 troops, they will be led by General Pang De, who will take the route through Jincheng County and attack the Shaodang Qiang. Furthermore, my lord, don't forget that Cheliji of the Western Qiang region, the King of Western Qiang, and my young master are sworn brothers. The King of Western Qiang can then send troops to aid these 4 troops, first defeating the Shaodang Qiang and then conquering the Baima Qiang. Once we secure both the Shaodang Qiang and the Baima Qiang, the entire Hanzhong region will be exposed to our military might. This way, no matter when we launch our offensive, or what strategy we adopt, we will have the advantage of both time and terrain under our control."

Upon hearing Li Ru's detailed and ingenious plan, Ma Teng and the other generals present expressed surprise, then deep admiration. Li Ru was truly thoughtful, calculating every detail and situation with such precision. His plan wasn't just about solving the immediate challenges; it also laid out the initial plan and outline for future global domination.

At this moment, Ma Teng was convinced by Li Ru from the bottom of his heart. He praised sincerely: "Sir, you are really a god! Before leaving Longxi, you seem to know everything about the world. You have already perfected various strategic arrangements in your mind so well. I am really impressed by you!" When the generals in the hall heard what Ma Teng said, they nodded in agreement. They bowed one by one and looked at Li Ru with admiration on their faces to express their admiration for his strategy.

Li Ru, upon seeing this, simply waved his hand gently, and said modestly, "My Lord, you are too kind. These are merely some small plans for this small part of the northwest. It's nothing to be proud of. It's just a small test run. Once we have firmly established our foothold in the northwest and successfully captured Hanzhong, we can then plan a more ambitious strategy based on the evolving situation."

At this point, Li Ru's eyes gleamed, and his voice rose slightly as he spoke with longing: "If we march southwest, we can take Yizhou. Yizhou is the Land of Abundance, the birthplace of Emperor Gaozu's revival. It's rich in resources and is considered the granary of the world. If we can capture it, our foundation will be even stronger. And to the northeast, we can send troops to attack the remaining Southern Xiongnu. After successfully taking over the Southern Xiongnu territory, we can join forces with the Eastern Qiang troops and march together to Bingzhou. Once Bingzhou is taken, the entire northwest will be under our control."

Li Ru paused for a moment, narrowed his eyes slightly, as if he had already seen the future trend of the world, and continued: "When that time really comes, it is estimated that the struggle between the princes in Youzhou and Jizhou will have come to an end. By then, whether we choose to send troops to Chang'an and attack Huanglong directly, or to march to Youzhou first and expand our sphere of influence, that will no longer be a problem. After all, the entire horse-producing area of ​​the Han Dynasty will be under the control of Xiliang. We have strong soldiers and horses, sufficient food and grass, and such a strong strength. Who among the princes of the world can compete with us? At that time, we can just watch the princes of the world fight each other. When they fight fiercely, both sides are injured in the fight, and the situation is in chaos, we will send troops to clean up the mess and stabilize the situation. In this way, the great cause of the ages will be accomplished naturally!"

Li Ru's words were like a raging fire, instantly igniting the latent ambitions in the hearts of all the generals in the hall. Everyone's blood boiled in their hearts because of the grand blueprint and exquisite strategies he described, as if they had already seen the glorious scene of the Western Liang cavalry dominating the world and achieving hegemony.

Ma Teng was filled with excitement. Even after racking his brains yesterday to comprehend the complex situation, he remained completely bewildered and unable to grasp the underlying principles. However, now, after Li Ru's meticulous and insightful analysis, he suddenly felt that the success that had once seemed so far-fetched and elusive was now truly within reach. Instantly, the melancholy that had been lingering in his heart seemed to be blown away by a gentle breeze, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Ma Teng strode forward and shook Li Ru's hand tightly. His eyes were filled with excitement and admiration, and his voice trembled slightly with excitement. He said, "Sir, you are truly a man of great talent! Your words have truly opened my eyes, like the sun shining through the clouds. I can instantly see the direction of this situation. Sir, you are as important to my Ma family as Jiang Shang was to King Wen and King Wu in the Zhou Dynasty! When Chao'er returns, I will definitely appoint you as my military advisor, letting you take charge of all military affairs and be fully responsible for all military planning. Sir, your talent and strategy, I am deeply convinced and admire you immensely!"

Li Ru, upon hearing Ma Teng's praise, simply smiled, his expression remaining calm and composed. He said, "My lord, you are too kind. In that case, all the generals will follow the orders I have just given you." He then turned to look at Ma Teng and continued, "My lord, now you can rest easy, right?"

When Ma Teng heard this, a smile that had not appeared for a long time appeared on his face. There was a sense of relief in that smile, and it was obvious that most of the heavy pressure in his heart had been eliminated.

But at this moment, Li Ru changed the subject, his expression becoming slightly serious, and said: "My lord, there is something else that needs your immediate decision."

Ma Teng couldn't help but show surprise, his eyes widened, and he asked in confusion, "Oh? Sir, your arrangements are already so thorough, is there anything else that must be arranged by me? I hope you can tell me clearly."

Li Ru looked solemn and serious, his eyes fixed on Ma Teng. He said in a steady and serious tone, "My Lord, this is no ordinary matter. You are the only one who can make the final decision."

Seeing Li Ru's expression, Ma Teng's face froze, and he responded firmly, "Sir, please speak freely. No matter what you mention, or what difficulties you encounter, I, Ma Teng, will do my best to help you. No question about it!"

Li Ru nodded slightly and slowly said, "My Lord, please listen to me carefully. When Master Dong was still alive, there was a matter. According to Master Dong's order, I once discussed with you, General, the marriage between Miss Dong Bai and the young master. Originally, this marriage was already under discussion and preparation, but who could have imagined that because of Master Dong's sudden passing, many matters suddenly lost their focus, and the matter was slightly delayed."

At this point, Li Ru sighed softly and continued, "Then, news came that the young master had an emotional entanglement with Lu Zhi's daughter Lu Wan. This made the situation even more complicated. Miss Dong Bai, caught in the middle of it, naturally suffered a lot of grievances. But even so, we in the Dong family have never had any complaints or expressed the slightest dissatisfaction from beginning to end."

Li Ru glanced at everyone and continued with a sincere expression, "We've been so patient and refrained from speaking out because we value the young master's character. Furthermore, your Ma family has always valued promises, and keeping them is a tradition known to all. Therefore, even when Miss Dong Bai later understood the greater good and made concessions, willing to accompany the young master along with the daughter of the Lu family, the officers and men of Longxi still didn't express any dissatisfaction with this matter. Everything we did was for the greater good."