Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Cao Hong gazed at the herd of plump and robust war horses, his mind completely focused on escorting them back to Xudu, and he had completely forgotten about his nephew Cao Ang. Guo Jia, deeply concerned, decided to return to Cao Ang to give him further instructions.

Seeing Guo Jia about to turn back, Cao Hong couldn't help but say, "Fengxiao, now that we have formed an alliance with Xiliang, our nephew is staying here, with Xiliang's jewel, Miss Ma Yunlu, carefully looking after him. What else is there to worry about? Stop worrying and hurry with me. With so many war horses, we'll have to be careful on the road."

Guo Jia frowned slightly and said, "Brother Zilian, although that's true, I'm worried about Master Cao Ang being seriously injured and far away from home. Putting aside his recovery, even though the situation in Xiliang appears stable on the surface, people's hearts are unpredictable. I should give him a few more words of advice so that he can be prepared and have a plan for dealing with any problems."

Cao Hong smiled helplessly and said, "You just think too much. Okay, if you want to go, go quickly and come back soon. I'll wait for you here. Don't delay too long and miss your trip."

Guo Jia nodded in thanks and hurried back to where Cao Ang was recuperating. Entering the room, he saw Ma Yunlu sitting by the bed, carefully wiping the sweat off Cao Ang's forehead. Seeing Guo Jia return, Cao Ang slightly raised himself and asked, "Fengxiao, why are you back again? Is there something important?"

Guo Jia stepped forward, his expression rather solemn, as if he was about to speak but hesitated. Seeing him like this, Ma Yunlu rolled his eyes at Guo Jia and said lightly, "Then you guys go ahead and talk. I'll go see if the medicine is ready over there." With that, he lightly walked out of the room.

Seeing Ma Yunlu leave, Guo Jia hurriedly took two steps and came to Cao Ang's side, saying solemnly: "Young Master, leaving you here alone is really a helpless move. You are injured now, and it is indeed inconvenient for you to travel long distances. But you must always remember your identity, you are Cao Gong's eldest son! To put it in an inappropriate way, if Cao Gong passes away a hundred years later, this huge Cao family foundation will still depend on you to manage, you must not..." Guo Jia hesitated again when he said this.

In reality, Guo Jia wasn't worried about anything else. It was simply that Cao Ang's character was too upright, completely different from the treacherous and heroic temperament of his father, Cao Cao. Cao Ang's current personality was more like that of a loyal minister and capable general, but he seemed to lack some qualities to become a powerful leader and a leader. But Guo Jia found it difficult to bring himself to say this. After all, it wasn't just a judgment on Cao Ang's character; it could also affect Cao Ang's view of himself.

Moreover, with Li Ru, the resourceful and resourceful "old fox" in Xiliang, Guo Jia was deeply concerned about leaving Cao Ang there. He feared Li Ru would brainwash Cao Ang. If Cao Ang fell under his influence, he might clash with Cao Cao on numerous policy decisions upon his return to Xudu, a potential threat to the Cao family's cause.

After a long moment of deliberation, Guo Jia finally made up his mind and said, "Young Master, you must avoid any contact with that old fox Li Ru! He is incredibly resourceful, almost a demon. I've fought him many times, and never gained any advantage from him. You must be extremely careful while you recover here. Don't be misled by his words. Think carefully about the pros and cons of everything you do."

Cao Ang nodded slightly, a gentle smile on his face, and said, "Fengxiao, I understand your concerns. Mr. Li Ru is indeed very wise, and I will handle it carefully. Don't worry, I know what I am doing and will not do anything that will harm the interests of my father and our family."

Guo Jia looked at Cao Ang's determined eyes. Although he still felt a little worried, he couldn't say anything more. He only said, "Young Master, I'm glad you understand. Rest and recover. If anything happens, please inform us as soon as possible. General Cao Hong and I will return to Xudu to report. I hope you will recover soon."

Cao Ang said, "Go back and tell my father not to worry about me. I'm doing fine here, and Miss Yunlu is taking good care of me. As soon as I recover from my injuries, I will return to Xudu and help my father."

Guo Jia responded, then glanced at Cao Ang with concern before turning and leaving. Cao Ang watched Guo Jia's retreating figure, lost in thought. He knew that his presence in Xiliang affected the Cao family's interests, and he understood that Guo Jia's concerns were not unfounded. In this complex situation, he silently warned himself to be cautious in his words and actions, to recuperate while managing the various forces in Xiliang, and to wait for the right moment to return to Cao Cao's side and contribute to the family cause...

Li Ru stood shoulder to shoulder with Ma Teng on the Chang'an city wall, the sharp wind rustling their coats. In the distance, the figures of Guo Jia and his companions gradually dwindled, eventually disappearing at the end of the road. Li Ru narrowed his eyes slightly, an elusive glint in them. He stroked his beard lightly and let out a soft laugh that drifted on the wind, carrying a hint of triumph and cunning.

Ma Teng, however, wore a solemn expression, his thick brows knitted together, as if a heavy burden weighed on his heart. He folded his arms, staring into the distance, silent, as if lost in thought.

Wei Yan, standing by, was even more discontented and pained. He clenched his fists, stepped forward, and said, "Military Advisor, you're just giving away these 20,000 fine war horses, and you're still laughing? These are all treasures of our Xiliang! We've worked so hard to raise them, and to give them to Cao Cao like this is such a shame!"

Li Ru slowly turned his head and glanced at Wei Yan with a faint smile in his eyes. He said, "Wen Chang, you only see these war horses in front of you, but you don't see the bigger picture behind them. Cao Cao's power is growing. If we don't form an alliance with him, he may become a great enemy of our Xiliang in the future. These 20,000 war horses are just bargaining chips for the alliance."

Wei Yan frowned, still a little confused. He muttered, "But these 20,000 war horses are too many. War horses are precious. If we give so many to Cao Cao at once, won't our strength be affected?"

Li Ru patted Wei Yan's shoulder lightly, a confident smile on his face as he teased, "Haha, Wen Chang, you're still a little naive. We only gave Cao Cao 20,000 war horses, but think about it, Cao Cao left his most precious things in our Xiliang."

Ma Teng was moved when he heard this and immediately interrupted, "Are you talking about Cao Ang?"

Li Ru couldn't help but burst into laughter, his laughter echoing across the tower, as if a long-suppressed joy was suddenly released. He laughed for a long time before recovering and saying, "My Lord, my old Lord! Wen Chang, you are all only focused on the short-term benefits. Cao Ang is a child of integrity, with a heart for the world. Judging from his daily words and deeds, he has no ambition to dominate the world. At the banquet that day, after some indirect inquiries, I already figured out his thoughts, and he admires our King of Liang to the extreme. Now that that little fox Guo Jia is gone, Cao Ang will remain with us, and it will be beyond his control."

Wei Yan frowned slightly, looking puzzled, and asked, "Military Advisor, what do you mean..."

Li Ru's eyes flashed with cunning, and he lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "Duke Shoucheng, Wenchang, think about it, Cao Ang is Cao Cao's eldest son. If Cao Cao dies a hundred years later, who will inherit the family business?"

Wei Yan said without hesitation: "Of course it's Cao Ang. He is undoubtedly the first choice."

Li Ru smiled faintly and continued quietly, "That's not all. If Cao Ang had married the eldest daughter of our Xiliang, the situation would have been very different. With our Xiliang as his staunch support, he would have been the only candidate, the only one, to inherit Cao Cao's family business. Who could possibly compete with him? Then, he and our Xiliang would be as close as family, with a close relationship. Moreover, I've already figured out his ambitions, and they're surprisingly similar to those of the king back then. Both of them hope for a stable country, for the people to have food and clothing, and for protection from foreign invasions. Just think about it, because of this character, the king suffered so much that he developed the desire to dominate. Now that we Xiliang are his backing, supporting him in everything he does, how could he possibly face setbacks?"

At this point, Li Ru paused, his eyes gleaming with ambition. He continued, "When the time is right, if Your Majesty has a foundation for unifying the world and the people are all on Your Majesty's side, then even if Cao Ang simply changes his banner, it won't be impossible. In this way, we in Xiliang can seize the Cao family's foundation without bloodshed."

Ma Teng and Wei Yan were both stunned beyond words by Li Ru's plan. At first, their expressions froze, as if time had stood still. Then, an irrepressible joy and excitement gradually welled up on their faces.

Ma Teng's eyes lit up as he gripped Li Ru's arm tightly, his voice trembling with excitement. "Li Ru, your plan is a stroke of genius! If this plan works, Xiliang will surely achieve hegemony! Cao Ang, Cao Cao's eldest son, will be greatly favored if he marries Yun Lu and has Xiliang's full support!"

Wei Yan's face was also filled with excitement. He rubbed his hands and said, "Military Advisor, your brain is really quick! Such a brilliant plan is simply heaven's help to our Xiliang! With Cao Ang's relationship, our status among the princes will surely be greatly enhanced in the future. Maybe we can really realize our ambition of unifying the world!"

Li Ru saw this and smiled with satisfaction. He said, "If you two can agree to this plan, then we are halfway to success. Cao Ang and Miss Yunlu are now in love with each other. This is a perfect opportunity. As long as we skillfully guide them and let their feelings grow deeper, this marriage will naturally come to fruition."

Ma Teng's face flushed with excitement, and he asked anxiously, "What should we do next?"

A sly glint flashed in Li Ru's eyes as he spoke slowly, "Aren't we about to send a large army to help Cao Cao break the siege of Hangu Pass? This is a golden opportunity. We must put on a good show in front of Cao Ang, showcasing the soldiers' reluctance to part. Let him see that our Xiliang troops are not being sent out of self-interest, but out of a genuine desire to form an alliance and fight against Yuan Shao."

He paused briefly before continuing, "When Cao Ang's injuries have improved a bit, have Yunlu stay with him more often. Arrange for them to get to know the people living near the Black Mountain Army more closely. If they encounter any problems, have Cao Ang and Yunlu consult Xun Yu to resolve them. This way, Cao Ang will clearly see what life was like for the people before they arrived under our rule, and the tremendous changes that have taken place since their arrival. Only then will he gradually come to believe that the King of Liang is someone who truly cares about the people, and will he develop a sense of identity with our Xiliang."

Wei Yan nodded repeatedly as he listened, unable to help but praise him, "Military Advisor, this is a brilliant plan! This way, we can show Cao Ang our sincerity in sending troops to Xiliang, and at the same time, through the people's concerns, we can make him respect the King of Liang. It really kills two birds with one stone!"