latelenovela Chapter 271: Reasoning and Emotion
Chapter 271: Reasoning and Emotion
Wang Jie was silent for a moment, seemingly pondering Xun Yu's words. Seeing this, Xun Yu continued, "My dear brother, let me analyze the Ma family father and son. Ma Teng, while commanding a considerable amount of military power in Xiliang, possesses no ambition. He possesses the mindset of a warlord, envious of vanity and easily satisfied with small favors. His daily actions are primarily driven by a desire to assert his status and power, without any long-term plans or ambitions."
Wang Jie nodded slightly, agreeing with Xun Yu's analysis. Xun Yu continued, "Ma Chao, however, is completely different from his father. Ma Chao has the world at heart, wholeheartedly serving his country. He is filled with loyalty and passion for the Han Dynasty, eager to restore its former strength. He possesses lofty ambitions and is no ordinary man. But Ma Chao is also extremely filial, with the utmost respect for his father, Ma Teng. In his heart, his father holds a vital position, and he cannot afford to neglect Ma Teng in the slightest. Otherwise, given Ma Chao's character, he will not let it go. My dear brother, you must take this into consideration when you act."
Wang Jie's face was grave, his brows furrowed tightly as he spoke urgently, "Lord, you must reconsider this. When we entered the city today, the enthusiasm and support the people of Xiliang showed the Ma father and son was simply astonishing. Look at that scene, the people cheered and rejoiced, as if the Ma father and son were their saviors. Chang'an has just been stabilized, and although the emperor is merciful and has not held Ma Chao and his son accountable for their actions during Dong Zhuo's rebellion, they still refuse to come to Chang'an to pay homage and serve the emperor even after he has issued a clear edict. Humph, their intentions are definitely not as simple as you claim. Xiliang enjoys a clear political system and a loyal population, but if we allow them to continue unchecked, there's no guarantee they won't produce another Dong Zhuo."
Xun Yu nodded slightly, a thoughtful look on his face as he slowly spoke, "What you say is not without reason, my dear brother. However, the situation in the border region is complex right now. Without the extraordinary measures taken by our brave generals to control it, it would have already fallen into chaos. Ma Chao and his son have indeed played a vital role in maintaining order in Xiliang."
Upon hearing this, Wang Jie's eyes widened in anger, his face flushed crimson. He shouted, "But, Your Majesty! Ma Chao's meeting in Xiliang a few days ago was a sheer act of usurpation! The Emperor in Chang'an was furious upon hearing of this. How could a mere general stationed on the frontier arbitrarily convene an alliance with a foreign race? This is a gross violation of the law, and no matter how you explain it, it doesn't make sense."
Xun Yu remained silent, his brow furrowed, a look of embarrassment on his face. He lowered his eyes slightly, lost in deep thought. After a long moment, he slowly raised his head, sighed softly, and said, "This matter is indeed a difficult one. We need to think it through carefully."
Xun Yu pondered silently for a long time before slowly persuading him: "My dear brother, recalling the time in Luoyang when Master Lu Zhi made an exception and accepted Ma Chao as his disciple, the scene is still vivid in my mind. He stood in the snow at Lu's door and became famous in Luoyang City. Master Lu has always been loyal to the emperor and patriotic, and has never done anything beyond his rights. In my opinion, Master Lu would never teach someone who is considered to be ambitious and ruthless. Moreover, I have repeatedly observed Ma Chao in Xiliang. This boy cares about the people and is full of loyalty and righteousness. Now, if we oppress Xiliang just because of our groundless imagination, at this moment... How many men in this world are truly selfless? With Ma Chao protecting the Han, there's hope for its revival. You've witnessed Ma Chao's bravery firsthand, unstoppable on the battlefield, virtually unmatched. Furthermore, over the years, he hasn't sought wealth and fame, and even refused Dong Zhuo's generous rewards. While wealth and glory could easily have been within his grasp, he remained content to remain loyal, resolutely returning to Xiliang to continue fighting for the people in the borderlands. This alone demonstrates his pure character. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
Wang Jie fell into deep thought after listening to Xun Yu's words. After a long while, he nodded slightly and said, "Brother Wenruo is absolutely right. I almost made a mistake because of a momentary doubt. In this case, I will not force Ma Chao and his son to come to the court together. If one person goes, the emperor's intention will be achieved. In fact, the emperor's original intention is a well-thought-out and ingenious plan. The emperor knows that Xiliang is located on the border and its strategic position is extremely important, and Ma Teng and his son are quite prestigious in Xiliang. If the father and son are forced to come to the court together, it may provoke a change in Xiliang, but if no action is taken, Xiliang may gradually become disloyal and break away from the jurisdiction of the court. Therefore, this seemingly gentle request to come to the court is used as a test. If Ma Teng and his son If they could go to Chang'an, it would, firstly, demonstrate that Xiliang had no intention of disobeying the emperor. Secondly, it would bring them under the imperial control, allowing them to be wooed and used as powerful pawns to contain Xiliang. This would both demonstrate the imperial court's favor and authority and stabilize the situation in Xiliang to a certain extent. If neither of them went, the emperor would be certain that Xiliang was harboring rebellious intentions, and while doubling his defenses, he could also plan countermeasures in advance, either allying with neighboring forces to contain Xiliang or secretly cultivating opposition forces to ensure the court's control over the country. The emperor's strategy was truly far-sighted and brilliant.
After hearing this, Xun Yu exclaimed excitedly, "Great! The Emperor is so wise and intelligent. There's hope for the Han Dynasty's revival!" Xun Yu pondered to himself, "While this plan was admittedly a bit ruthless, it was nonetheless a well-thought-out strategy. The Emperor, at such a young age, was capable of manipulating people's hearts to such an extent, proving his extraordinary talent." Xun Yu secretly resolved to return to the capital, no matter what. As long as the Emperor was so wise, and with his continued persuasion, the Han Dynasty's revival was certain. He envisioned a glorious resurgence of the Han Dynasty, a return to its former glory and prosperity seemingly just around the corner. In his mind, the Han Dynasty's fate was inextricably linked to the Emperor's talent. As long as the Emperor continued to display such wisdom and decisiveness, the once-mighty Han Dynasty would surely flourish once again in this land.
Xun Yu and Wang Jie agreed not to further oppress Xiliang. On his return to Chang'an, Xun Yu would accompany him. Wang Jie was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Your Excellency is a man of great talent. With your return to Chang'an, the city will surely enjoy peace and prosperity, and the people will be safe." His face was filled with joy and anticipation. Xun Yu nodded slightly, his expression solemn and resolute. He was fully aware of the heavy responsibility he shouldered and the significance of his return to Chang'an. He vowed to do his utmost to assist the emperor and contribute his full strength to the revival of the Han Dynasty.
Xun Yu then asked Wang Jie to describe the emperor's behavior in detail. This was because Xun Yu hadn't had much contact with the emperor when Dong Zhuo entered the capital, and the emperor had been hiding his abilities. Therefore, Xun Yu didn't really know the emperor very well.
Wang Jie pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Your Majesty, you may not know that the Emperor has endured countless hardships since ascending the throne. Initially, he had no one to rely on, and the government was controlled by treacherous ministers. The world was in chaos, and the situation was precarious. However, the Emperor did not give up. With extraordinary courage and wisdom, he found a way out of the predicament. The Emperor treated others with kindness and benevolence, and gradually attracted a group of loyal and righteous people. Generals Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, and Zhao Yun were all exceptionally skilled in martial arts, loyal and brave. Impressed by the Emperor's wisdom, they swore to follow him until death. There were also the two princes, Liu Bei and Gongsun Zan, who were already loyal and righteous. Seeing the Emperor's dedication to strengthening the country, they did not hesitate to help him for the future of the Han Dynasty. The Emperor, with his wisdom and charisma, brought these heroes together. They overcame countless difficulties and obstacles and finally returned to the capital Chang'an, laying a solid foundation for the stability and rejuvenation of the Han Dynasty."
Xun Yu felt refreshed by this, as if he saw hope for the Han Dynasty's future. The two engaged in a deep conversation about the emperor's actions and the Han Dynasty's future, sometimes filled with emotion, sometimes filled with longing. Time slipped by unnoticed, and after a long while, only when both were satisfied did they return to their respective homes.
Upon arriving at his residence, Xun Yu was informed by his guards that General Ma Chao had been waiting for him there for a long time. Xun Yu's heart moved slightly, and he dared not delay any longer. He quickly straightened his clothes and went to see Ma Chao with a bit of curiosity and anticipation.
Ma Chao was waiting for Xun Yu inside. Xun Yu pushed the door open and said, "General, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. It's all my fault." Ma Chao looked at Xun Yu with a teasing smile, "General Xun, you disappeared during the banquet to go to the restroom. How come you've just returned from outside?" Xun Yu glanced at Ma Chao and saw his playful smile. He knew Ma Chao had guessed something. Xun Yu calmed himself down slightly, cleared his throat and said, "Meng Qi is extremely intelligent and must have noticed something. To be honest, I had some important matters to discuss with Lord Wang, so I left the table. It was really negligence on my part to keep the general waiting for so long." Ma Chao narrowed his eyes slightly, still with a faint smile on his lips, "The important matter you mentioned, could it be related to the affairs of Xiliang?" Xun Yu was secretly surprised. This Ma Chao was indeed perceptive. He nodded slightly, "General, you are right. We are indeed discussing the affairs of Xiliang. General, today..." "I wonder what brought you here recently?" Ma Chao's smile faded, his expression growing serious. "I'm here to discuss the affairs of Xiliang. I'm well aware that the court has some concerns about Xiliang, but we are steadfastly loyal to the Han and have no second thoughts. I hope you can speak well of Xiliang in the court and avoid implicating innocent people." Xun Yu, observing Ma Chao's resolute gaze, felt a surge of admiration for the young general. "General, rest assured, I will speak impartially. As long as Xiliang remains loyal to the Han, the court will not accuse us without cause."