Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Zhang Ren decided to let Guo Jia and his companions pass. Guo Jia naturally expressed his gratitude and exchanged pleasantries before leaving. However, Zhang Ren said, "Since you are envoys from the Emperor, I will provide you with convenience. I will dispatch 3,000 soldiers to escort the angels and ensure their safe journey."

Upon hearing this, Guo Jia understood that this so-called "escort" was actually supervision. However, he remained calm and acted openly. He did not refuse, but instead bowed and thanked him, "Thank you very much, General Zhang, for your kindness."

Zhang Ren quickly assembled 3,000 soldiers, assigned them to a capable general, and reunited with Guo Jia and his men. They continued their march towards Chang'an.

As soon as the team set off, Zhang Ren called a fast rider and ordered: "You must ride as fast as you can to Chang'an and report in detail to the lord and the military advisor that the emperor's envoy is passing through Hanzhong and is on his way to Chang'an. There must be no mistakes!" The rider took the order, jumped on his horse, and rode away in a cloud of dust.

Along the way, Guo Jia, Cao Ang, and the others accompanied the 3,000 "escort" soldiers. On the surface, things seemed peaceful, with occasional pleasantries exchanged. But secretly, the atmosphere was subtly strained. Guo Jia knew their every move was under the watchful eye of these 3,000 soldiers, and the upcoming mission in Chang'an was likely to prove even more challenging.

After setting out from Hanzhong, the journey was uneventful. During a leisurely moment on the road, Guo Jia discussed his experiences in Hanzhong with Cao Ang. Cao Ang sighed, "I see a gleam of light in the eyes of the Hanzhong people, completely unlike the hollow, confused gazes of the people in the war-torn Central Plains. And judging by their clothing alone, they seem relatively well-off."

Guo Jia showed an expression of approval and said with a smile, "Yes, young master, your observation is very careful."

Cao Ang continued, "Zhang Lu is a capable man. He has managed Hanzhong in an orderly manner, ensuring that the people under his rule have enough food to eat and enough clothes to wear. This alone shows that he has the talent to govern a region."

Upon hearing this, Guo Jia chuckled and slowly said, "Zhang Lu of Hanzhong started his career with the Five Pecks of Rice Sect, now also known as the Heavenly Master Sect. Under his rule, the common people are all believers, and the soldiers are all trained soldiers. Governing a region with religious doctrine is naturally twice as effective with half the effort. Whatever he says, the believers will support him. This is enough to show that the means by which religion can deceive people should not be underestimated. And considering all the rumors we've heard along the way, I'm afraid most of them are instigated by Zhang Lu."

Cao Ang frowned slightly, thought for a moment, and then said, "If that's the case, why would Zhang Lu do this? Could it be that he's trying to curry favor with Ma Chao, deliberately creating public opinion and boosting his reputation?"

Guo Jia's gaze was profound as he nodded, saying, "Young Master, you are absolutely right. Zhang Lu led the Heavenly Masters to surrender to Ma Chao, so naturally he must show his loyalty. By spreading these rumors and portraying Ma Chao as the chosen one, he can both please Ma Chao and, to a certain extent, consolidate his position in Hanzhong. After all, if Ma Chao truly achieves great things, he, as a supporter, will naturally benefit greatly."

Cao Ang suddenly realized something and couldn't help but sigh, "This is truly complex. It seems the world situation is far more complicated than I imagined."

Guo Jia patted Cao Ang on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, sir. As long as we understand the mystery and respond appropriately, we can find a place in this chaotic world."

Cao Ang looked calm and continued, "Well, what's there to worry about? If the people of the world can all have enough food and clothing, what difference does it make who rules the empire? I've known Ma Chao since my youth, and I know him well. Whether he was a loyal general of the Han Dynasty in the past or a local lord now, he always puts the safety of the people first. This is why, deep down, I don't want to be his enemy. If he can truly keep the people away from war and live a life of plenty, then even if he wins the empire, what harm will it do?"

Guo Jia listened quietly, without uttering a single word. He simply watched Cao Ang speak, his heart stirring. He pondered, if Ma Chao of Xiliang conquered the world, how could that compare to Cao Gong's achievement of hegemony? Even if Ma Chao governed the world well, it would still be Ma Chao's family's legacy, so how could it truly connect to Cao Ang? But if Cao Gong conquered the world, Cao Ang would most likely inherit the throne and become its ruler.

But Guo Jia's temperament prevented him from confronting Cao Ang's thoughts. He knew Cao Ang was kindhearted, concerned about the people, and his words came from the heart. While Cao Ang's generosity was commendable in these turbulent times, from the perspective of striving for world domination, it seemed a bit naive. However, directly contradicting Cao Ang at this moment would not only disrupt the harmonious atmosphere between them, but also potentially provoke resistance. Guo Jia decided to keep these thoughts to himself for now, waiting for the right moment to slowly guide Cao Ang and help him understand the stakes. After all, they were on an important mission, and their priority was to successfully complete the journey to Chang'an and pave the way for Cao Gong's great cause.

Time passed quietly, and now it was May, and the weather was gradually getting hotter. Chang'an, the ancient capital that had experienced many storms, had completely recovered its former vitality after several months of recuperation.

A few days ago, Chang'an was abuzz with activity. Ma Chao's battle report, like a pebble dropped into a calm lake, stirred ripples. A messenger galloped, delivering the report to the crowd. In it, Ma Chao detailed the battle progress of his army in Bingzhou. The army had advanced with unstoppable force, successfully capturing Shuofang and Wuyuan counties. The next step was to capture Yanmen County, thereby firmly locking down Huochuquan and Midang within Bingzhou.

Along with the battle report, nearly 30,000 high-quality war horses arrived in Chang'an. Ma Chao's army had captured countless horses during the war with the Xianbei, and this conquest of Bingzhou was proceeding smoothly. For years, the people of Bingzhou had suffered from foreign invasions, but Ma Chao had repeatedly defeated them. The people of Shuofang and Wuyuan counties were particularly excited after his recent annihilation of the invading enemy. The people were filled with gratitude at Ma Chao's arrival, donating their remaining rations to reward the troops and even praying that he would govern Bingzhou and provide them with support. As a result, Ma Chao conquered two counties in just a few months. Shuofang and Wuyuan counties were both naturally rich horse breeding grounds, with abundant warhorse resources, which was why he sent 30,000 warhorses to Chang'an at once.

Upon receiving the battle report and the war horses, Jia Xu quickly arranged for their arrival. While Jia Xu knew Ma Chao's decisions at the front were somewhat difficult to reverse, he understood that since they were irreversible, he fully supported them. He immediately wrote a heartfelt reply to Ma Chao, urging him to focus on the campaign and not worry about matters at home, saying he would take care of everything in Chang'an. Jia Xu understood that stability at home was crucial for Ma Chao's battles at the front. Only by ensuring Ma Chao's peace of mind could he unleash his prowess on the battlefield, expand Xiliang's territory, and achieve hegemony. Meanwhile, Chang'an, buoyed by the news of victory, felt a surge of excitement and anticipation, as if foreseeing a brighter future for Xiliang.

Not only that, Wen Chou's army outside Tongguan retreated, and it was heard that they turned to attack Hanguguan. It can be said that these two things were double happiness, and the whole Chang'an was filled with a relaxed atmosphere.

Jia Xu was relieved of his worries and was content to be a hands-off boss, no longer concerned about the war. Every day, he would sit leisurely in the courtyard, sipping tea and enjoying this rare leisure time.

Under his "hands-off" rule, Chang'an flourished. The 300,000 women and children brought by Zhang Yan's Black Mountain Army were all comfortably accommodated. Li Ru, however, had a subtle tactic: he quietly suggested that if anyone encountered any difficulties, they should seek the advice of Xun Yu. Although Xun Yu ostensibly held no official position, he actually performed duties similar to those of the Chang'an Magistrate.

Xun Yu was a man of unwavering integrity, always stern with the people of Xiliang. However, he ultimately hated the suffering of the people. Whenever they came to him for help, he diligently and diligently addressed them, never hesitating. Behind the scenes, Ma Yunlu often assisted Xun Yu on behalf of Ma Teng. Ma Yunlu was forthright and efficient, perfectly executing any order Xun Yu issued. It was thanks to Xun Yu's meticulous management and Ma Yunlu's active assistance that Chang'an achieved its current prosperity and stability.

In the streets and alleys, civilians lived and worked in peace and contentment, children played and laughed, and the cries of vendors echoed. The markets were filled with a dazzling array of goods, and pedestrians thronged shoulder to shoulder, creating a bustling scene. Atop the city walls, soldiers patrolled vigilantly, safeguarding the city's tranquility. In the distance, the wheat fields billowed, heralding another bountiful harvest. Chang'an, it seemed, had found its own tranquility and prosperity amidst this chaotic world.

Zhang Ren's messenger rushed to Chang'an and went straight to Wei Yan, reporting anxiously: "General Wei, big news! The emperor has sent an envoy passing through Hanzhong, and he will arrive in Chang'an in a few days!" Upon hearing this, Wei Yan did not dare to delay at all and immediately went to where Li Ru was.

At this moment, Li Ru was leisurely fishing by a quiet lake west of the city. Beside him, a boy was intently brewing tea. The lingering fragrance of tea wafted through the air. Li Ru looked content, as if he were detached from the world.

Wei Yan hurried over, knelt on one knee, clasped his fists and said, "Military Advisor, there is urgent military information! General Zhang Ren sent someone to report that the emperor's envoy will arrive in Chang'an soon." Li Ru turned his head slightly when he heard it, and a playful smile appeared on his face.

Wei Yan looked puzzled and couldn't help asking, "Military Advisor, what exactly do you think the Son of Heaven is planning?" Li Ru gently put down his fishing rod, picked up a teacup beside him, took a sip, and smiled, "What do you mean by 'the Son of Heaven's plan'? To put it bluntly, this is clearly Cao Cao's intention. Didn't you see that Yuan Shao's army has stopped besieging Tongguan and turned to besieging Hanguguan? It seems Cao Cao can't sit still. The envoys came here for two reasons: either to form an alliance with us, or to get us to send troops to fight Yuan Shao together."

Wei Yan pondered for a moment and said, "Military Advisor, you're absolutely right. So, how should we respond?" A sly glint flashed in Li Ru's eyes. He put down his teacup, picked up his fishing rod again, and stared at the float on the lake as he slowly said, "No rush. Let's wait until they arrive. Let's see what tricks they have in store before we make a decision." Wei Yan accepted the order, stood up, and gazed into the distance, as if he had already seen the impending event. Li Ru, on the other hand, continued fishing leisurely, as if everything was under control.