Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Li Ru's words moved Gongsun Zan, and over the next few days, Gongsun Zan treated Li Ru even more cordially and respectfully, treating him with great courtesy. Whenever night fell and Li Ru returned to the inn, alone, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "I'm such a jerk! I really owe him so much." He recalled how Dong Bai had been like a little devil before they set out, constantly nagging him. And yet, he had taken on this troublesome task himself. Wasn't this just looking for trouble?

However, Li Ru calmed down and thought carefully, realizing that his idea was indeed for the long-term benefit of Ma Chao's power. If he could truly unlock the shackles in Gongsun Zan's heart through marriage, unleash his hidden desires, and reignite his fighting spirit, it would be a brilliant move. After all, Gongsun Zan, as a local lord, although he lost the battle against Yuan Shao, what a figure Yuan Shao was! The fact that Gongsun Zan could even compete with Yuan Shao was a testament to his extraordinary abilities. If Ma Chao supported him from behind, then lords like Liu Biao and Liu Zhang wouldn't even need Ma Chao to show up; Gongsun Zan alone would be able to contend with them.

This would undoubtedly greatly expand Ma Chao's sphere of influence, giving him a more advantageous position in these turbulent times. However, achieving this goal was no easy task. Not only did he need to convince Gongsun Zan, but he also had to convince Ma Chao to accept the marriage proposal. He also had to properly manage the relationships between all parties involved. Any inadvertent missteps could lead to numerous complications. Li Ru rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of his responsibility. He needed to proceed cautiously and carefully.

The situation in Bingzhou was somewhat delicate. Li Ru had a plan in mind, but he wasn't in a hurry. Gongsun Zan was also immersed in weighing the pros and cons, taking his time. However, the most anxious person was Cao Cao's envoy, Sima Yi.

This was the first time Sima Yi had undertaken such an important mission. He fully hoped that with his eloquence and strategy, he could persuade Gongsun Zan to send troops to aid Cao Cao and achieve great success. However, who could have imagined that Gongsun Zan remained unmoved by his efforts to persuade him. No matter how much Sima Yi tried to persuade him, Gongsun Zan simply politely refused.

Even more troubling for Sima Yi was the presence of the old fox Li Ru, who constantly watched him with a scrutinizing gaze. Every time Li Ru's gaze swept over him, Sima Yi felt a chill down his spine. It was as if Li Ru's eyes could see through his thoughts, leaving him with a constant sense of unease as he tried to persuade Gongsun Zan.

Sima Yi was well aware of Li Ru's formidable power. This "poisonous scholar who caused chaos in the country" was both incredibly resourceful and ruthless. Compared to him, he was still somewhat inexperienced. He had to remain vigilant in Li Ru's presence, fearing that a single mistake would reveal a flaw and allow Li Ru to seize upon him, thus compromising the mission entrusted to him by Cao Cao.

In this oppressive atmosphere, Sima Yi grew increasingly anxious. He spent every day devising new persuasion strategies, attempting to impress Gongsun Zan from various angles. But each attempt fell on deaf ears, with Gongsun Zan receiving no positive response. He began to worry: if he failed to make any further progress, how would he report back to Cao Cao, and how would he face the disappointed gazes of the crowd?

Time passed quickly, and October was almost here. Gongsun Zan remained ambivalent about whether to send troops to aid Cao Cao. Seeing this, Sima Yi finally decided not to wait any longer. Feeling helpless and frustrated, he bid farewell to Gongsun Zan. Gongsun Zan didn't try to persuade him to stay, but simply had some gifts prepared for Sima Yi to take back to Cao Cao as a courtesy to Cao Cao's envoy.

Sima Yi left, filled with disappointment. Watching him recede, Li Ru turned to Gongsun Zan and said, "General, what do you think of this envoy from Cao Cao?" Gongsun Zan snorted disapprovingly, "He's just a lobbyist, all he knows how to talk. What's so special about him? Have you seen something?"

Li Ru smiled faintly, his eyes penetrating as he spoke, "General, it seems you've underestimated this envoy. He's been here for quite some time, and while he was anxious at first, he quickly calmed down. Even when he was frustrated at the end, he remained composed and composed. And when he analyzed the situation with you, you could see how logical he was. We've discussed it extensively, and we haven't found any flaws. This proves that these views weren't simply given to him before he came. They were clearly his own carefully considered ideas. Just imagine, a young man in his twenties could have such a broad perspective and such a broad view of the situation. Given time, he's bound to be a truly remarkable individual."

Gongsun Zan listened to Li Ru's words and couldn't help but show a thoughtful expression. He slowly said, "Is it really as miraculous as you say?" Li Ru smiled confidently and said, "Why? General, you still don't believe in my control over people's hearts? Besides, if you look closely at his face, he has the eyes of an eagle and the back of a wolf. Since ancient times, people with such facial features are often ambitious and unwilling to be inferior to others. This person will definitely achieve great things in the future."

Gongsun Zan suddenly became anxious and blurted out: "Since the teacher said that this man has such great achievements, why not kill him before he gets up..." As he spoke, Gongsun Zan made a gesture of wiping his neck with his hand.

Seeing this, Li Ru couldn't help but laugh. "Hahahahaha, General, why are you so anxious? He's now Cao Cao's envoy, serving under Cao Cao. Even if he has ambitions, they're for his master, and have nothing to do with us for now." Li Ru narrowed his eyes slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, and continued, "However, if one day he defected, or something happened to us that was disadvantageous to us, he must be eliminated as soon as possible and must not be allowed to stay. With his talent and ambition, if he became an enemy, there would be endless trouble."

Gongsun Zan's anxiety eased slightly after hearing Li Ru's words, but he still looked worried. "Sir, you're absolutely right. However, people like him are truly intimidating. If he were to become our enemy in the future, I'm afraid he would be difficult to deal with."

Li Ru shook his head gently and soothed him, "General, don't worry too much. Right now, we just need to focus on the current situation and carefully consider whether to ally with Cao Cao. As for Sima Yi, he's not causing any trouble at the moment. We just need to make good plans and deal with various possible situations."

Gongsun Zan nodded, took a deep breath, and tried to calm himself. He knew that Li Ru was right. The most urgent task was to decide the direction of the Gongsun family in this chaotic world, rather than prematurely worrying about someone who did not yet pose a direct threat.

Yet, Gongsun Zan remained uneasy. He knew that in these turbulent times, even the slightest negligence could lead to catastrophic consequences. Sima Yi had left a profound impression on him. The young man's talent and ambition were like a time bomb lurking in the shadows, a worry that filled him with a vague sense of apprehension.

Li Ru seemed to see what Gongsun Zan was thinking. He patted him on the shoulder and said, "General, success depends on human effort. As long as we seize every opportunity and make the right decisions, the Gongsun family will surely survive this chaotic world."

Sima Yi left with a sense of disappointment, a lingering unease lingering within him. The failure of his mission had already weighed heavily on his heart, and the pressure Li Ru brought far surpassed the pressure he'd felt facing Gongsun Zan, a local lord. Li Ru's gaze seemed to read his every thought, his every move scrutinized. The feeling of being on edge made him uneasy.

However, Sima Yi could never have imagined that Li Ru, a renowned "treasonous scholar" known for his ability to manipulate the political landscape during turbulent times, would harbor murderous intentions against a relatively unknown individual like him. He assumed Li Ru was using his experience and cunning tactics to pressure him in his quest to persuade Gongsun Zan. However, he hadn't anticipated that Li Ru, judging by his demonstrated talent and ambition, had foreseen a potential threat and viewed him as a hidden danger that needed to be eliminated.

Sima Yi, now preoccupied with how he would report back to Cao Cao upon his return, and how he would explain the failure of his mission. He knew Cao Cao had high hopes for the alliance with Gongsun Zan, yet he had returned empty-handed, feeling a surge of guilt and anxiety. He rode forward, the scenery passing by a blurry illusion. His mind replayed his conversations with Gongsun Zan and Li Ru, as he repeatedly pondered his own successes and losses, trying to find a way to remedy the situation.

Meanwhile, the flames of war had already raged across Yingchuan, Qiaojun, and Shangjun, thick smoke rapidly filling the land. Scorching flames lit up half the sky, while shouts and roars mingled, like a mournful song of troubled times.

Cao Cao sat in Xudu, his brow furrowed in a frown. He eagerly hoped the three envoys he had sent would bring good news, eager for all parties to lend a hand and lend him a helping hand. After all, the situation was now extremely dire. Without external support, a major battle with Yuan Shao and his allies would be nothing less than a catastrophic disaster for him.

Cao Cao knew full well that Yuan Shao, allied with Liu Biao and Yuan Yao, was advancing with a mighty force of 200,000 men, overwhelming him like a tidal wave. While his own forces were not formidable, they were inevitably stretched thin amidst the multi-pronged attack. Yingchuan, Qiaojun, and Shangjun were strategically important locations; if they were lost, the consequences would be disastrous. He was consumed with anxiety, pacing his tent relentlessly, each step weighing heavily on his heart.

"Report!" The messenger's voice was like a hammer, instantly shattering Cao Cao's tense and troubled thoughts. Xun You and Guo Jia, who had been lost in thought, suddenly perked up and asked eagerly, almost in unison, "Does the envoy have any news?"

The messenger quickly knelt on one knee and reported loudly, "The eldest son has arrived in Xudu with the reinforcements from Xiliang!"

Cao Cao's eyes flashed with surprise upon hearing this, and he and Guo Jia and the others all shared a look of delight. Cao Cao couldn't wait to say, "Come on, come on! Come out of the city with me to welcome them!" At this moment, Cao Cao considered the Xiliang reinforcements a lifeline.

Everyone hurriedly dressed and strode out of the city at great speed. Along the way, Cao Cao's steps were eager and powerful, and his anxiety instantly dissipated. He knew that the arrival of the Xiliang reinforcements would undoubtedly add a significant weight to his difficult battle.