Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Sima Yi stole a glance at Gongsun Zan's reaction, but he didn't seem impressed. Gongsun Zan sighed deeply and said, "To be honest, Your Excellency, I've been defending Youzhou against foreign invaders since my youth. It would be a lie to say I have no feelings for Youzhou. If you had told me this before I came to Bingzhou, I would have agreed without hesitation."

He paused, a look of reminiscence and emotion in his eyes, and continued, "But after coming to Bingzhou, and spending time with my junior brother, and seeing how generous and magnanimous he was, I felt ashamed of myself over the past decade. Back when I was defending Youzhou against the foreign invaders, I was full of youthful righteousness, and how happy I was. But in the past decade or so, I've only thought about power, fame, and fortune, participating in the civil wars between the princes, while ignoring the suffering of the people. It wasn't until I was with my junior brother that I had a glimmer of enlightenment and understood the direction of my life's struggle. The princes within the pass are just fighting among themselves. No matter who wins or loses, as my junior brother said, it's the people who suffer."

Gongsun Zan raised his head slightly, a hint of determination flashing in his eyes. "But now that I'm in Bingzhou, things are different. I've defeated the Xiongnu alongside my junior brothers, and that feeling is truly exhilarating. Honestly, I've given up on competing with the other princes. Just being able to contribute to the people here is enough."

Sima Yi was stunned, wondering, was this the kind of talk a local lord would give? In his mind, all lords were ambitious, willing to do anything to expand their territory and power. Gongsun Zan's words were completely unexpected.

Li Ru on the side was also considering secretly, staring at Gongsun Zan, trying to discern from his expression and tone how sincere and insincere his words were.

Ever since arriving in Bingzhou, Li Ru had clearly sensed Gongsun Zan's genuine gratitude and admiration for Ma Chao. He could truly sense this emotion. Yet, even so, he struggled to grasp Gongsun Zan's true intentions. After all, Gongsun Zan had once been a dominant warlord, maneuvering for years. Had he truly given up his ambitions for world domination and willingly served Ma Chao as his shepherd? This truly filled Li Ru with doubts.

Sima Yi was now anxious. If Gongsun Zan truly had no intention of sending troops to aid Cao Cao, then his current expedition would surely be in vain. After returning, how would he report back to Cao Cao, and how would he face the public's doubts? These questions raced through his mind.

Sima Yi gathered himself and decided to make another effort. Clearing his throat, he resumed his discussion of Yuan Shao's growing threat to various factions. "General Gongsun, think about it. Yuan Shao's power is growing ever larger, and so are his ambitions. This time, he's allied with Liu Biao and Yuan Yao, and three armies are marching towards Xu Du. If he defeats Cao Sikong, he'll likely turn his attention to Bingzhou. You have a long-standing grudge against Yuan Shao; how could he let you go so easily?"

Sima Yi stared intently at Gongsun Zan, trying to catch even the slightest sign of reassurance on his face. He continued, "While you are currently in Bingzhou, you can ensure the well-being of the people. However, if Yuan Shao succeeds, the world will be drastically altered. He will act ruthlessly, and I'm afraid the people of Bingzhou will not be spared. An alliance between Minister Cao and you will not only allow us to jointly resist Yuan Shao, but also provide you with an opportunity to retake Youzhou and restore our former glory. Such a golden opportunity, General, you must not miss."

Sima Yi spoke earnestly and eloquently, hoping to use his words to persuade Gongsun Zan to change his mind and send troops to help Cao Cao.

Gongsun Zan slowly shook his head and declined again, saying, "I appreciate your kindness, but I have made up my mind. I have no desire to participate in the disputes among the princes. I hope Minister Cao will understand." Sima Yi felt a pang of disappointment, and a hint of helplessness crossed his face. This mission was so arduous, and Gongsun Zan's refusal left him at a loss as to what to do.

At this moment, Li Ru smiled slightly and broke the slightly awkward silence: "Your Excellency, you might as well take a rest here for a while. You must be tired after traveling all the way." Li Ru knew in his heart that the situation could not be allowed to become completely deadlocked at this moment. Perhaps after Sima Yi rested for a few days and then made long-term plans, there might be a turning point.

Upon hearing this, Sima Yi's heart sank, realizing he couldn't let his anxiety show so easily. He took a deep breath, quickly composing himself. The resignation on his face vanished, replaced by a calm and calculating expression. He put away all traces of anxiety, his expression becoming impeccable. He bowed to Gongsun Zan and said, "In that case, I thank you, General Gongsun, for your understanding. However, I hope you can reconsider this matter. This matter concerns the national situation, and perhaps it also presents an opportunity for you."

Gongsun Zan nodded slightly without saying anything. Li Ru, seeing this, smiled and said, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about this for now. General Gongsun, why don't we have someone arrange for your envoy to rest first? We can discuss the follow-up matters later." Gongsun Zan responded, called for his servants, and took Sima Yi to the arranged accommodation.

After Sima Yi left, only Gongsun Zan and Li Ru remained in the tent. Li Ru narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "General, do you really not want to retake Youzhou and avenge our previous humiliation? I'm sure you still remember Yuan Shao's actions vividly."

Gongsun Zan sighed softly and said, "Why, sir, you still don't believe me? From the beginning to the end, I have never had the ambition to dominate the world. In the early years, I was blinded by power. Now that I think about it, I just wanted to be the highest official in the country, bring honor to my ancestors, and make my family famous."

Gongsun Zan's eyes softened yet remained firm as he continued, "Now, after so many setbacks, I've finally come to understand myself clearly. Why would anyone need so much power in life? We should only accomplish as much as we can, and if we can truly contribute something to the people, we can leave a lasting impression."

Li Ru pondered inwardly that Gongsun Zan's expression and tone suggested he was being truthful. However, as a seasoned strategist, he knew the unpredictable nature of human nature, and that Gongsun Zan's statement might have had deeper implications.

"It is truly admirable that the general has such a broad mind. However, the current situation in the world is complex and changeable, and Yuan Shao's power is growing stronger. There is no guarantee that he will not have some plans for Bingzhou. Even if the general has no intention of fighting for hegemony, I am afraid it will be difficult for him to stay out of it." Li Ru said slowly, trying to touch Gongsun Zan's mind again from the perspective of the situation.

Gongsun Zan said, "People's hearts change. I'm deeply grateful to you for helping me without reservation and giving me a way out. I never thought that you would just give me Bingzhou, which you fought so hard for. How could I, Gongsun Zan, deserve such kindness from you? I have no other thoughts now but to protect Bingzhou for you. If you ever feel uneasy, I can simply give it to you, leaving my Gongsun clan a place to stand."

Li Ru observed Gongsun Zan carefully. He spoke with sincerity and looked genuine, not like he was pretending. His thoughts raced, and he asked, "Then, in your opinion, who will stand out among them in the future?"

Gongsun Zan pondered for a moment and said, "I'm familiar with all the princes of the world. When it comes to broad-mindedness, magnanimity, and who truly cares for the people, I'd definitely choose my junior brother. Honestly, my junior brother already has the potential to be a king. If he hadn't insisted on going to the grasslands this time, and if Yuan Shao's army hadn't attacked Cao Cao, he would have surely gained even more power."

Li Ru nodded secretly. From Gongsun Zan's words, he could feel that what Gongsun Zan said was from the heart, not deliberately pretending. This also gave Li Ru a deeper understanding of Gongsun Zan's thoughts.

Li Ru's eyes flashed, and an idea flashed through his mind like lightning. He quickly said, "General, since you also see that my king (Ma Chao) has a great chance to achieve hegemony in the future, why don't you give your all to help him, so that he can also gain the reputation of a noble family in the future."

Gongsun Zan was slightly startled and asked, "Why, sir, do you think I'm not diligent enough in defending Bingzhou?"

Li Ru quickly apologized with a smile, "No, no, General Gongsun, your reputation is far-reaching, and the name of General Baima has long been known throughout the world. How can you say that you are not diligent? However, General, you should not just stay in Bingzhou. Honestly, what does a temporary setback matter? Since you have already determined that my king will rise to prominence in the future, and you are now wholeheartedly helping him, given my king's temperament, how could he treat you unfairly in the future? You must be aware of this."

Gongsun Zan sighed lightly and said, "Well, that being said, I was once a local lord after all..." Gongsun Zan thought to himself: Not to mention whether Ma Chao will make use of me, even if he is willing to use me, so many factions and generals under his command will definitely be wary of me.

Li Ru saw through his thoughts at a glance, his lips curled up slightly as he said, "General, can't you see through it? I've come this time and from what I've observed, your daughter is also deeply in love with the king. With this relationship, the situation will be very different. If the general can form a closer relationship with our king, many problems will naturally be solved. If your daughter becomes the princess, how can she not use you? As for the generals under the king's command, with this relationship, they will definitely be respectful to you."

Gongsun Zan's heart was stirred by Li Ru's words. The relationship Li Ru mentioned was indeed something he hadn't considered deeply before. He was not unaware of his daughter's feelings for Ma Chao. If this could truly connect him closely with Ma Chao's forces, sending troops to aid Cao Cao and further collaborating with Ma Chao's faction would be a good option. However, this matter was serious, and he still needed to consider it carefully.

Gongsun Zan's heart was moved by Li Ru's words. He knew his daughter's feelings for him, considering the relationship Li Ru mentioned. But since his daughter had been the late emperor's consort, would Ma Chao mind? Gongsun Zan's face showed worry, as he slowly said, "Rou'er, alas, was once part of the imperial family. I don't know what my junior brother really feels. If I bring it up rashly, I'm afraid it would hurt our relationship."

Upon hearing this, Li Ru burst into laughter and said confidently, "If the General is so inclined, I'll take care of everything. When the time comes, I'll definitely grant you what you wish for." Li Ru pondered to himself: "General Baima's words may be pleasant, and his current loyalty may be based on gratitude for Ma Chao's generous gift of Bingzhou. But over time, who can guarantee that he won't harbor ambitions? It would be safest to use this relationship to tie him down as soon as possible."

Seeing Li Ru's firm promise, Gongsun Zan's worries were slightly relieved, but he was still a little hesitant.