Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

She paused, gently parted the curtains, and stole a glance at Li Ru, who was riding outside the carriage. A helpless smile appeared on her face, and she continued, "Your uncle, Li Ru, is a shrewd and calculating man. As soon as he got the news, he felt something was amiss and didn't believe that father had really captured Ma Chao. Not long after, he personally rushed to Hanzhong and demanded a face-to-face confrontation. During the confrontation, Li Ru's eyes were sharp, and he explained Zhen Mi's identity clearly in just a few words. Father realized he had been tricked and was furious. He shouted on the spot that he would kill Zhen Mi to vent his anger."

At this point, Zhang Fubao's eyes flashed with determination. "I don't know where I got the courage from at the time, but I was determined not to let my father hurt Zhen Mi. I knew the consequences of disobeying my father would be disastrous, but I still stood up to stop him. Later, in order to protect Zhen Mi and to calm the situation, I had no choice but to follow your uncle to Xiliang. The experiences along the way are really hard to describe in words."

Seeing this, Dong Bai lovingly embraced Zhang Fubao, gently patted her shoulder, and said in a warm and soothing voice, "Don't worry, Fubao. You're so brave, traveling all the way to Xiliang to protect him. This kind of friendship is rare. I believe that as long as fate dictates, you will have the chance to meet again in the future." As she spoke, Dong Bai winked mischievously and teased, "You've done this for him, and you still say you're not interested in him? Don't lie to me."

Zhang Fubao's cheeks flushed slightly, and there was a hint of confusion in his eyes. He whispered, "I don't know if this is what you call falling in love with him. I just feel very uncomfortable when I think about my father making things difficult for him. I don't want him to suffer any injustice. When I saw him being detained by his father, I thought I must help him out of his predicament. I didn't think much about anything else."

Dong Bai held Zhang Fubao's hand affectionately, a warm smile on his face as he patiently said, "Alright, alright, don't let your imagination run wild. Xiliang isn't as scary as you worried about. Here, I'm here with you, along with the incredibly talented Sister Wenji and Brother Chao's sister, Ma Yunlu. She's straightforward and exceptionally skilled in martial arts. Madam Ma, Brother Chao's mother, is kind and easy to get along with. With us here, you can preach here with peace of mind and don't have any more worries."

Zhang Fubao nodded gently, a hint of confusion still in her eyes. She really couldn't imagine what life in Xiliang would be like, and she thought that Dong Bai's words might just be to reassure her.

Dong Bai saw through her thoughts and, with a roll of his eyes, deliberately tried to tease her with something amusing: "When you get to Xiliang, you'll be able to meet Brother Chao's two sons!" This immediately piqued Zhang Fubao's curiosity. She widened her eyes in surprise and blurted out: "Oh? You and Brother Chao already have sons? And you haven't even gotten married yet!"

Dong Bai's cheeks flushed, and she slapped Zhang Fubao's arm coquettishly, feigning annoyance and saying, "What are you thinking about in your little head! Brother Chao and I haven't even gotten married yet, so where did the children come from? These are Brother Chao's two adopted sons. It's hard to explain them to you right away. Anyway, you'll find out when you get there. These two little guys are only two or three years old, chubby and cute. I guarantee you'll like them when you see them."

Along the way, the carriage moved steadily forward, its wheels rolling, the dust it kicked up leaving a faint trail behind. Outside the window, the vast expanse of Xiliang stretched out before them, with mountains in the distance jutting out to meet the horizon. Inside, Dong Bai and Zhang Fubao chatted and joked, admiring the scenery. Li Ru rode along outside, keeping a constant eye on his surroundings. And so, the group arrived safely in Xiliang.

Upon arrival, Li Ru dared not delay and immediately went to see Ma Teng. Ma Teng sat upright in his study, his expression heavy and weary. After all, the battle in Hanzhong had been a heavy burden on his mind. Li Ru bowed respectfully and then presented Ma Teng with a clear and coherent report on the Hanzhong campaign. He detailed the reasons for the ceasefire and the hidden meanings behind Zhang Fubao's presence, earnestly expounding on the interests involved: "My lord, we have brought Zhang Fubao back this time to control the situation in Hanzhong. Zhang Lu values ​​her greatly. With her, we can seize the initiative regarding the grain route, avoid direct conflict with Hanzhong and the resulting loss of manpower, and thus ease relations with the court in Chang'an and Liu Zhang of Yizhou, thus gaining more room for maneuver for Xiliang."

Ma Teng listened to Li Ru's report, his brows furrowed and relaxed as he carefully considered the pros and cons. After Li Ru finished speaking, he nodded slightly, his expression relaxed a little, and his heart finally settled. "Well, you've thought it through very carefully. You did a good job on this matter."

Meanwhile, Dong Bai, seeing Li Ru go to meet Ma Teng, volunteered to take Zhang Fubao with him towards the backyard. Along the way, Dong Bai walked briskly, a warm smile on his face, and kept introducing Zhang Fubao to Ma Chao's family situation. "Fubao, Ma Chao's mother is very kind and amiable. You'll definitely like her when you meet her. And his family members are all very easy to get along with. Don't be nervous."

Soon, they arrived at the backyard. The fragrance of flowers wafted through the air, and several blossoming plants swayed gently in the breeze. Ma Chao's mother was sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, needle and thread in hand, intently sewing a brocade robe. Dong Bai approached and called out sweetly, "Auntie, we're here!"

Ma Chao's mother looked up at the sound, a gentle smile immediately breaking out on her face. She put down her needlework and came forward to greet them warmly. Dong Bai took Zhang Fubao in her arms and introduced her with a smile, "Auntie, this is Zhang Fubao. She's here to preach." Zhang Fubao bowed slightly and saluted respectfully, "Greetings, Madam. I hope you will forgive me for disturbing you." Ma Chao's mother quickly shook her hand and said kindly, "My dear child, don't be so reserved. From now on, treat this place as your own home."

At this moment, Ma Yunlu rushed out of the house like a gust of wind, looked at Zhang Fubao curiously, and said casually, "You are the girl who came all the way from Hanzhong. I have been waiting for you to come!" Then he put his arm around Zhang Fubao's shoulders, as familiar as if they were old friends. Zhang Fubao was a little overwhelmed by this sudden enthusiasm, but she couldn't help but be infected by Ma Yunlu's straightforwardness, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously curled up.

Several people sat down together, and a maid brought steaming hot tea. Ma's mother took Zhang Fubao in hand, asking her if the journey had been tiring. She then gave her detailed instructions on various matters concerning life in Xiliang, her words filled with care, no matter how big or small. Ma Yunlu, on the side, interjected with jokes and shared interesting stories about Xiliang, which made everyone laugh continuously.

Dong Bai wasn't idle either, explaining the layout of Zhang Fubao's home and recounting Ma Chao's childhood anecdotes, bringing Zhang Fubao to tears with laughter. Zhang Fubao gradually opened up, sharing Hanzhong's customs and unique religious practices with the group, much to their fascination. For a moment, the courtyard was filled with laughter and joy, a warm atmosphere that dispelled Zhang Fubao's initial uncertainty. She truly felt the warmth of family in this unfamiliar land.

Ma Teng sat in the main seat of the study with a solemn expression. His eyes were fixed on Li Ru. He asked again, his voice full of concern for his son: "Sir, the grain route to Hanzhong has been opened, but when will my son Ma Chao be able to return?" He frowned slightly, and his fingers tapped lightly on the table unconsciously, showing his inner anxiety.

Li Ru bowed respectfully, his expression calm, and analyzed calmly: "My lord, the situation is complicated and unpredictable when the young master goes to Yangzhou this time. The date of his return really depends on how far he can advance in Yangzhou. We might as well make the worst plan. Even if the battle is unfavorable, with Hanzhong as a support base, the young master will be able to return safely. But as far as the current situation is concerned, it may be difficult to determine the outcome for a while. You also know that the young master is a master of military strategy and has outstanding abilities. The other side is not an ordinary person either. The battle between the two sides is stalemate and it is hard to jump to conclusions." Li Ru gestured with his hands as he spoke, trying to make Ma Teng understand the situation more clearly.

After listening to this, Ma Teng sighed deeply, stood up, paced back and forth in the study, and said worriedly: "So, sir, do you mean that we can only wait here in Xiliang? Chao'er is now alone and fighting hard. He has no reinforcements to help him, and the food and grass have to be secretly transported by us in Hanzhong. If there is any mistake, the consequences will be disastrous. As a father, how can I not worry?" His eyes were full of worry, and he looked into the distance outside the window, as if he could see his son fighting on the battlefield.

Li Ru bowed slightly, his expression composed as he methodically expounded on his plan: "My Lord, we certainly cannot sit idly by and wait for death. The first and foremost priority is the supply of food and fodder. This is the lifeblood of the war. We must do everything in our power to ensure a continuous flow of food and fodder to the battlefield, without fail." He paused, a sharp glint in his eyes. "At the same time, we must continue to create the impression that Xiliang is engaged in a full-scale war. This will also distract the imperial court."

At this point, Li Ru frowned slightly, his tone becoming serious. "There are bound to be spies lurking in Xiliang. We must conduct a thorough investigation and eradicate these hidden dangers. Only by deceiving the court and making them mistakenly believe that we are deeply mired in the quagmire of war and unable to take care of ourselves can we make the court take it easy and take action against the young master."

Li Ru raised his head and looked at Ma Teng with a piercing gaze. "You see, regardless of the outcome of this battle, the Emperor will certainly not tolerate the Ma family's growing influence in Xiliang. He will take action sooner or later. By then, we will have made preparations in advance to respond calmly, no matter how the situation changes, and keep the Ma family safe and sound."

Xiliang's grain and fodder were shipped from Hanzhong, traveling day and night to Runan County. The heavily laden carts formed a long, winding line along the long road, their wheels churning and stirring up clouds of dust, like a giant, yellow-brown python weaving across the earth. The soldiers escorting the grain, clad in heavy armor, stood firm in the scorching sun and freezing wind, their eyes etched with determination. They knew full well that this grain and fodder was the lifeblood of the frontline soldiers, the key to sustaining the Xiliang army.

Thanks to this constant supply of logistical support, the morale of the Western Liang army remained high, even in Ma Chao's absence. On the battlefield, soldiers brandished spears and swords, their cries of battle resonating with the heavens, each charge brimming with unstoppable momentum. They skillfully employed tactics, flexibly responding to enemy attacks, sometimes attacking head-on, sometimes outflanking, leaving the enemy defenses elusive. Each victory bolstered the Western Liang army's prestige, drawing widespread attention, all convinced that Ma Chao was still commanding the fierce battle in Runan.

Meanwhile, Ma Chao was in Wu Commandery, thousands of miles away. He fought alongside Sun Ce, annihilating Xu Gong and then defeating Wang Lang.