Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 413 Li Ru's Vision for the World

A flicker of determination flashed across Ma Teng's eyes. He had already made an incredibly difficult decision. He slowly shed the anxious look that had lingered on his face. His lips trembled slightly, and he gritted his teeth. His expression was heavy, like a mountain. He looked around at everyone, his voice low and hoarse as he spoke: "Everyone, it's not that I, Ma Teng, don't care about the lives of my men! It's simply that the imperial court's attitude toward Xiliang is chilling. The imperial court has repeatedly been wary of us in Xiliang. Those suspicious glances are like cold arrows, shooting down those of us who are dedicated to serving our country, leaving us with no way to do so!"

His brow furrowed, his eyes filled with grief and indignation. "Look at the court today! Treacherous ministers are rampant like locusts, and warlords abound. Each of them harbors ulterior motives, calculating their own interests day and night. Where is the thought of caring for the people of the world? My Xiliang Ma family has been loyal for generations, wholeheartedly desiring to serve the country, but what is the result? My son is truly loyal, yet he has been repeatedly targeted by the emperor, suffering unwarranted grievances and hardships. This court is like rotten wood, no longer worthy of our protection."

At this point, Ma Teng took a deep breath, a look of determination flashing in his eyes. "Now, I have no other wishes, except that my son can wake up after experiencing so many setbacks. I, Ma Teng, do not aspire to conquer the world, but at least we must preserve the land of Xiliang. We must hold Xiliang, maintain peace and order on the border, prevent those foreign tribes from taking advantage, and protect the people of Xiliang from the suffering of war. That is enough."

Upon hearing this, everyone stood in a solemn row, clasped their hands, and said in unison: "Lord, we are righteous. We will swear allegiance to you, even to the death, and will not hesitate to go through fire and water!"

Xu Huang's face flushed crimson with anxiety, his eyes filled with panic. He strode forward, eagerly saying, "My Lord, if we don't send reinforcements to Young Master, how will his safety be guaranteed? Military operations are always treacherous, treading on thin ice. Every decision is a matter of life and death. How can we treat them so lightly? By acting this way, you are undoubtedly placing the General in grave danger!"

Ma Teng frowned slightly, a complex expression flashing across his eyes. Then, forcing a smile, he patted Xu Huang's shoulder and soothed him, "Gongming, Mengqi is my biological son. How could I disregard his safety? Mr. Wenyou is a man of foresight. We will follow his instructions." He glanced around at the crowd, his expression becoming serious, and his voice rising. "I would like to take this opportunity to make an announcement. Until Ma Chao returns, all important military matters in Xiliang will be decided by Mr. Wenyou. Anyone present who dares to disobey will be punished by military law!"

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines, as if a chill had shot up from the soles of their feet. Their spirits instantly perked up, and not daring to slack off for even a moment, they hurried forward to greet Li Ru, saying in unison, "We will follow Mr. Wenyou's orders." The awe in their words was palpable.

Li Ru looked relaxed, like a wise man who could control the situation in the world. He slowly walked to the center of the crowd. He stood straight, his clothes fluttering gently in the breeze, and every move exuded calmness and composure. His eyes were bright and sharp, and he slowly opened his mouth. His voice was steady and powerful, like the sound of a bell, buzzing in everyone's ears: "Today's situation may seem hasty at first glance, but it is actually the inevitable result of the development of the general trend. It is something that was destined to happen. Everyone, don't worry too much, don't panic. I am here, and I already have a plan to stabilize the country in my mind. Now, at this banquet, we are like soldiers on the battlefield. Everyone just needs to do as I say and get things done together." Upon hearing this, the generals all clasped their fists and bowed, shouting in unison: "We will obey your orders, sir!" The voice was as loud as thunder, resounding through the sky, and it was clear that everyone was full of awe for Li Ru.

Li Ru raised his hand gently, asking everyone to quiet down. Then his expression turned serious, and he said with a deep gaze, "Now, we must take a long-term view and consider the situation of the entire world. Chang'an, although it is the capital of the Han Dynasty, those people are very short-sighted and petty, and they only know how to target us in Xiliang. They sit comfortably in the court, how could they know the hard life we ​​are going through in Xiliang? We are a key border town, shouldering the heavy responsibility of defending against foreign invaders. Outsiders will never understand the hardships here."

At this point, Li Ru said to Ma Teng: "The eight generals of Xiliang are all loyal and brave soldiers. Let them set off immediately and go to the border. Spread the news everywhere that the Xiongnu will attack us again in this cold weather. This is not something I made up. We all know that the situation on the grassland is changing rapidly. The Xianbei tribe is becoming more and more powerful, and their momentum is so strong that it is impossible to stop them. This is a big problem for us to dominate the world in the future. The mobilization of the eight generals' troops this time is of great significance. It is the key to stabilizing our rear. "One step. Once we take this step, it must be successful and steady. We can't make any random moves. We must ensure that every step is flawless. Since we have the ambition to dominate the world, we must soar like a roc, reaching the sky. But if our rear is unstable, what's the point of talking about such a grand plan?" Ma Teng thought this made perfect sense. He nodded seriously and said, "Sir, your words have enlightened me. This is truly a matter of life and death for us. I will do my best to implement it."

Li Ru said: "The eight tribes of Xiliang are stationed on the border and will not move easily. Only by keeping the rear stable can the prosperity of Xiliang be stabilized." Ma Teng agreed.

Li Ru nodded slightly, then continued excitedly, "Also, the place of Xiqiang is also very important. Go and pass on my order and ask them to come and help us. The area of ​​Baima Qiang used to be our Xiliang territory. It is the foundation and springboard for our development to the southwest. Xiqiang has a close relationship with us. We must let them serve us and consolidate our strength together. And the Protector of Qiang Zhonglang Generals in Dongqiang should not be ignored. Tell Pang Rou that now is not the time for them to recuperate. Although these people in Dongqiang have submitted to us on the surface and seem quite obedient, don't forget that it has only been a few years since the Mi Tang army attacked us. We must guard against their evil intentions. We must let them take action and manage them well, so that our rear can be stable and our hegemony can have a foundation."

Ma Teng's brow furrowed, a flicker of worry in his eyes. He took a step forward and said solemnly, "Mr. Wenyou, if we go ahead with this plan and start a war, what will become of the people? The people of Xiliang have already suffered through the ravages of war and are only just now enjoying a moment of peace. If we mobilize troops on such a large scale and spread rumors, it will inevitably cause panic among the people! They will fear renewed war and the destruction of their homes. The people are the foundation of a nation. If we lose their support, even the most ingenious strategies will be shaky and all will be in vain."

Li Ru smiled softly, a smile tinged with confidence and composure. He shook his head slightly and said, "My lord, you worry too much. As the saying goes, 'Those who forget war will be in danger, and those who love war will perish.' We, the people of Xiliang, have lived on the border for years, surviving in this war-torn and perilous environment. Our temperaments have long been as tough as steel. A comfortable life may be a blessing for ordinary people, but for us, it's like a slow-acting poison, causing us to gradually lose ourselves and forget the hardships and cruelty of battle."

He looked at Ma Teng with a piercing gaze and continued, "It's not a bad thing to keep the people of the country constantly on edge about war. This way, they'll more deeply appreciate how hard it is to live a stable life. Then, whether it's recruiting soldiers to expand our forces or collecting food and fodder to ensure military supplies, the people will actively respond, and we'll be in a perfect position. My lord, you can rest assured about this. This is what the situation requires, and it's the only way for the people to achieve our great cause together with us."

Ma Teng seemed to have just woken up from his dream. He knew full well that he was far less versed in military strategy than Li Ru. He immediately showed respect, clasped his fists, and said, "I am narrow-minded. Sir, please continue with your arrangements. I will say no more, so as not to interfere with your plans." Li Ru quickly bowed in return, "My lord, you care about the people. It is only natural for you to be concerned. My lord, please just sit still and listen to my subsequent arrangements."

Li Ru's expression became serious, and he continued, "Now that the rear has stabilized, we should focus our attention on Chang'an. If we don't add troops here, the general and the young master will only have more than 40,000 soldiers and horses outside. In this way, the supply of food and grass will be much simpler. Xu Guang, when you return to Chang'an this time, I will allocate 3,000 soldiers and horses to you to be responsible for escorting food and grass. But this is not your only responsibility. You must also bring the intelligence of Xiliang back to Chang'an and inform them of Xiliang's current critical situation. Let them know that in this cold weather, the Huns are eyeing us covetously. It is so difficult for us to transport food and grass, so we can't send reinforcements to the young master. You have to use your unscrupulous nature to turn Chang'an upside down and make Liu Bian, the bastard, restless. Let him understand that Xiliang is not a big threat to him, so "First, there's a strong chance that Liu Bian will cut off the Young Master's food supply. Only then will the real hardship begin. You must remember this. I will arrange for Pang De to open up the food supply route to Hanzhong as soon as possible. If retreat becomes necessary, you must clearly inform the General and the Young Master that we must withdraw from Hanzhong. Regardless of the situation in Yangzhou, I don't care. I only want you to ensure the Young Master's safe return at this critical moment." Upon hearing this, Xu Huang knelt down, his eyes filled with determination: "I was young and arrogant, and I served the bandits. The Young Master did not look down on me because of my humble background, nor did he disdain me because of my crude nature. He entrusted me with this important task and allowed me to lead the troops. This kindness is as heavy as Mount Tai and as deep as the ocean. I, Xu Huang, will remember it in my heart and will never forget it! Even if it means my death, I will protect the Young Master."

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