Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Although Han Sui's rebellion had long loomed like a dark cloud, after four months of arduous suppression, the court finally saw the dawn of victory. This victory should have been a cause for celebration throughout the court, but the subsequent issue of rewarding Dong Zhuo and the meritorious officials he recommended sparked a fierce struggle within the court.

He Jin's faction and the eunuch faction clashed endlessly over the issue of the reward, each side arguing with its own opinion. Meanwhile, He Jin's power grew rapidly, putting the power of the aristocratic families represented by Dong Zhong at risk. Under the covert instigation of the eunuch faction, the eunuch faction and Dong Zhong's faction gradually united, forming a formidable alliance.

Under these circumstances, even if He Jin's forces tried to suppress the situation, they felt powerless and unable to control it. Ultimately, thanks to the vigorous lobbying and recommendations of the eunuch faction and Dong Zhong's forces, Dong Zhuo was promoted to the title of Marquis of Huaixiang, Governor of Liang Province. To salvage the situation, He Jin's forces appointed Ma Teng, who had sworn to defend Wuwei Commandery, as Governor of Liang Province and Marquis of Huaili, and promoted Ma Chao to the rank of Yingyang General. This attempt to align the father and son against Dong Zhuo was met with vehement opposition from the eunuch faction and Dong Cheng's forces, but in reality, it was precisely what they wanted. By the time He Jin's forces realized what was happening, the rewards had already been distributed.

For a time, He Jin's forces were extremely angry at the eunuch party and Dong Chong's forces, and they wanted to eliminate them immediately to relieve their hatred.

Strongly stimulated by this incident, He Jin finally resolved to eradicate the eunuch clique, a cancer. However, the eunuch clique had colluded with generals like Dong Zhong, forming a powerful alliance. Furthermore, they also possessed military power, putting He Jin in a difficult position. Faced with this situation, he felt helpless and at a loss as to what to do.

During this difficult time, Yuan Shao proposed a proposal to He Jin, who then invited Bingzhou Governor Ding Yuan to join forces to eliminate the eunuch clique, hoping to break the current impasse. However, upon hearing this news, the eunuch clique and Dong Zhong's forces became uneasy. For their own benefit, they secretly sent a letter to Dong Zhuo, demanding that he immediately lead his troops to the capital, hoping to leverage Dong Zhuo's power to counter the threat posed by Ding Yuan.

Amidst this tense situation, not long after the imperial decree of reward arrived, the secret letter from Dong Zhong's forces also arrived. This made the already complex situation even more confusing. A greater storm seemed to be quietly approaching, and the entire court was shrouded in a haze.

After the decree of reward was issued, both Dong Zhuo and Ma Teng were quite satisfied with the rewards they received. Dong Zhuo thought this was a good opportunity to further consolidate his relationship with Ma Teng, so he sent his trusted advisor Li Ru to Wuwei to visit Ma Teng.

Li Ru, bearing Dong Zhuo's instructions, rode at full speed to Wuwei. When he met Ma Teng, his face beamed with joy. He first expressed Dong Zhuo's regards and admiration for Ma Teng, then subtly probed Ma Teng's mind. He inquired whether his son, Ma Chao, was already married or had ever considered getting engaged.

Ma Teng was indeed unaware of this matter, as Ma Chao was a reserved and shy person who had never discussed his relationship problems in detail with his family. He was also secretly speculating on Li Ru's intention in asking this question.

Li Ru, noticing Ma Teng's confusion, subtly revealed Dong Zhuo's intentions. He mentioned Dong Zhuo's granddaughter, Dong Bai, describing her as a young woman of elegant appearance and dignified character, and how Dong Zhuo doted on her. He also recounted Dong Zhuo's admiration for Ma Chao, including the time when Ma Chao and Dong Bai traveled together to Jincheng County to annihilate Han Sui's remnants.

Ma Teng's heart was stirred by Li Ru's words. He understood this was a rare opportunity for the Ma family; a marriage with a power like Dong Zhuo would greatly benefit the family's development. Furthermore, Ma Chao and Dong Bai had already interacted under Dong Zhuo's arrangement, proving that Dong Zhuo was also interested in facilitating this matter. Ma Teng's face lit up with delight, and he and Li Ru exchanged a smile. They reached a tacit understanding, but they didn't publicly mention the matter immediately, intending to wait for Li Ru's response to Dong Zhuo before further discussion.

At this critical moment, a secret letter from Dong Zhong's forces quietly reached Dong Zhuo. After receiving the news, Dong Zhuo immediately discussed it with Li Ru.

Li Ru and Dong Zhuo both knew that Xiliang had gradually stabilized after a difficult battle, which was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to march on the court. After a thoughtful discussion, the two reached a consensus.

They believed that Ma Chao and Ma Teng should remain in Xiliang, allowing them to continue to oversee military affairs there. This would not only stabilize the situation in Xiliang but also allow the Ma family to be used by Dong Zhuo. Furthermore, since Ma Teng was interested in marrying into Dong Zhuo's family, Dong Zhuo felt that keeping them in Xiliang was a wise move.

After Dong Zhuo understood everything, he resolutely decided to leave Ma Teng and Ma Chao in Xiliang, making them a solid support for Xiliang. Dong Zhuo led his soldiers and marched towards the court with great ambition, ready to show his strength there and realize his ambitions and aspirations.

Dong Zhuo solemnly summoned the generals tasked with eliminating the remnants of the rebellion throughout Xiliang. In front of Ma Chao and Dong Bai, Dong Zhuo mercilessly rebuked them for their previous acts of burning, killing, and looting in Xiliang. His voice reverberated through the hall like thunder, his wrath palpable to everyone present.

Dong Zhuo then announced loudly: "The court intends to summon me to the capital. This is a matter of national strategy. The important task of suppressing bandits in Xiliang will be handed over to Ma Chao. The military and political affairs of various parts of Xiliang will be entrusted to Ma Teng, the governor of Liangzhou. As for the base camp of Longxi County, everything will be decided by Dong Bai." Dong Zhuo's words were loud and clear, showing his careful arrangement of the situation in Xiliang.

To facilitate the work of Dong Bai and Ma Chao and demonstrate his absolute authority, Dong Zhuo resolutely decided to bring his family to the capital, leaving only Dong Bai and a few extended relatives behind in Liang Province. While the generals reprimanded by Dong Zhuo outwardly expressed dismay, they were actually beaming with joy. They had already plundered countless treasures throughout Western Liang, and now, without having to risk their men's lives to eliminate the remaining troublesome Western Liang forces, this was undoubtedly great news. They were all overjoyed, as if they could already see a future of prosperity and wealth beckoning them.

These generals secretly thought: taking the rich spoils of war and following Dong Zhuo to the capital, they could not only continue to enjoy wealth and glory, but also make a name for themselves in the capital. Why not? Their superficial reprimand was just a pretense. In fact, they were very satisfied with Dong Zhuo's arrangement and were full of expectations for the future.

At Dong Zhuo's command, all his generals assembled their troops, preparing to follow him into the capital. The situation in Xiliang underwent a significant shift at this moment, with Ma Chao and his son becoming the new rulers of Xiliang. All of this arrangement also plunged the people of Xiliang into deep thought.

Dong Zhuo's departing figure gradually faded from view. A complex mix of emotions permeated the land of Xiliang. People were filled with anticipation for the future, yet also harbored a subtle apprehension about the unknown. They had no idea what kind of turmoil would erupt in the capital after Dong Zhuo's arrival, nor what impact this seismic shift would have on Xiliang.

Some secretly speculated that Dong Zhuo, on his trip to the capital, might leverage his power and influence to influence the court and secure greater benefits and glory for Xiliang. They hoped that Dong Zhuo would realize his ambitions, allowing Xiliang to gain a firm foothold in these troubled times and become a regional hegemon. These people, immersed in beautiful aspirations, their faces gleaming with hope.

However, some were filled with anxiety. They feared the situation in the capital was too complex, and if Dong Zhuo were to become entangled in it, he would be unable to extricate himself, potentially bringing disaster to Xiliang. They knew the game of power was fraught with danger and uncertainty, and if Dong Zhuo fell from power, Xiliang would likely be affected as well. These people frowned, anxiously pondering the possibilities of the future.

In every corner of Xiliang, Dong Zhuo's arrival in the capital unleashed a wave of anxiety. Some worried about their own futures, some plotted the fate of their families, and still others pondered the future of Xiliang. Xiliang's fate seemed shrouded in mystery, impossible to fathom or predict.

At this moment, Dong Zhuo, accompanied by his generals and ambitions, has embarked on a journey towards the capital. He has no idea what challenges and opportunities await him there. With his departure, the story of Xiliang begins a new chapter. The people of this land will continue to forge ahead amidst the currents of fate, searching for their own destiny. Where will Xiliang head in the future? This is a question that provokes deep thought and a mystery filled with suspense.