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The results were almost immediate, work progressed more efficiently, corruption rates dropped, and the Ma Clan's treasury began to grow. The morale of the army, which had been languishing under the weight of Cao Cao's oppressive policies, also saw a significant boost as resources were redirected toward their training and equipment.
Now, inside the grand hall of Wuwei's Governor Castle, Ma Teng and Ma Chao sat side by side, listening intently to the reports of their advisors. The room was filled with the Ma Clan's most trusted officials, all of whom had played a role in implementing the recent changes.
The atmosphere was one of cautious optimism, a stark contrast to the despair that had gripped the clan just a few months earlier.
"The four way rotation system has been implemented across all major farming regions within our domain, my lord," one of the advisors reported, his voice steady but tinged with pride. "While the results are not as dramatic as those in Lie Fan's territories as Young Lord Ma Chao had explained, we have seen a marked increase in crop yields. The farmers are still adapting to the new system, but their enthusiasm is growing as they see the benefits."
Ma Chao nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Good. Continue to monitor the progress and provide the farmers with whatever support they need. We cannot afford any setbacks in our agricultural output."
Another advisor stepped forward, holding a scroll filled with figures and statistics. "The cleansing of the bureaucracy has been largely successful," he began. "We have removed over two dozen corrupt officials and replaced them with individuals who have demonstrated both competence and integrity. As a result, our administrative efficiency has improved significantly, and our expenditures have decreased by nearly twenty percent. At the same time, our income has increased due to reduced corruption and improved tax collection."
Ma Teng leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he absorbed the information. "And what of the army?" he asked, his voice low but commanding. "How have these changes affected our soldiers?"
The advisor nodded, clearly prepared for the question. "The morale of the army has improved considerably, my lord," he replied. "With the additional resources now available, we have been able to provide better training, equipment, and rations for our troops. Recruitment has also increased, as more young men inside my lord's domain are willing to join our ranks now that they see a future for the Ma Clan."
Ma Teng exchanged a glance with Ma Chao, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It seems your visit to Xiapi has borne very large fruit for us, Mengqi," he said, his tone filled with quiet satisfaction. "Lie Fan's advice has proven invaluable."
Ma Chao nodded, his expression one of determination. "Yes, Father. But we must remember that this is only the beginning. Cao Cao will not sit idly by when he realize we are strengthening our position in secret. We must remain vigilant and continue to prepare for the inevitable conflict."
Ma Teng's smile faded, replaced by a look of grim resolve. "You are right. Cao Cao is a cunning and ruthless adversary. We cannot afford to let our guard down."
As the meeting continued, the advisors presented further reports on the state of the Ma Clan's domain. The improvements in agriculture, administration, and military readiness were undeniable, but there were still challenges to be addressed.
The land in Liang Province was not as fertile as that in other regions, and the Ma Clan's resources were still limited compared to those of Cao Cao. However, the progress they had made was undeniable, and it had given them a renewed sense of hope and purpose.
Once the meeting concluded, Ma Teng and Ma Chao remained in the grand hall, discussing their next steps. "We must continue to strengthen our alliance with Lie Fan," Ma Teng said, his voice low but firm. "His support will be crucial in our fight against Cao Cao."
Ma Chao nodded in agreement. "I will ensure that our ties with Lie Fan remain strong, Father. But we must also be cautious. Lie Fan agreed to our alliance with his conditions of his own, and is not without his own ambitions with the terms I have agreed upon in exchange for the knowledge we gain. We must ensure that we do not become mere pawns in his game."
Ma Teng's expression darkened at the mention of pawns, but he quickly masked his concern. "You are right. We must tread carefully. But for now, our focus must be on preparing for the battle ahead. Cao Cao will not wait forever, and we must be ready when the time comes."
As the sun set over Wuwei, casting long shadows across the city, the Ma Clan continued their preparations. The changes they had implemented were already bearing fruit, but the road ahead was fraught with challenges.
Cao Cao's grip on the region was strong, and breaking free from his control would not be easy. But with the knowledge and support they had gained from Lie Fan, Ma Teng and Ma Chao were determined to fight for their clan's future.
The Ma Clan's efforts to strengthen their position in Liang Province had not gone unnoticed, though thanks to the meticulous work of the Oriole agents, their activities remained hidden from the prying eyes of Han Sui and Cao Cao.
The changes in policies, the increase in agricultural output, and the cleansing of the bureaucracy had all been carried out with a level of secrecy that was almost miraculous.
Ma Teng and Ma Chao believed they were operating under the radar, their preparations for a future confrontation with Cao Cao shielded from external scrutiny.
What they didn't realize was that their success in maintaining this secrecy was largely due to the efforts of Lie Fan's network of spies, who worked tirelessly to ensure that no word of their activities reached their enemies.
The Oriole agents in Liang Province had been tasked with a dual mission, to keep an eye on the Ma Clan's activities and to ensure that their preparations remained hidden from Han Sui and Cao Cao.
This was no small feat, given the scale of the changes being implemented. The agents moved with precision and stealth, intercepting messengers, silencing potential informants, and spreading disinformation to mislead anyone who might be curious about the Ma Clan's sudden surge in productivity and efficiency.
Their work was so effective that even Han Sui, who had long been a rival of the Ma Clan and had his own network of spies, remained unaware of what was happening in Wuwei.
Cao Cao, meanwhile, was preoccupied with his own plans. His focus was on Yi Province, where he hoped to expand his influence by first offering an alliance to Liu Zhang and then striking when the time was right.
However, his efforts had been stymied by the cunning maneuvers of Fa Zheng, Zhang Song, and Meng Da, three of Liu Zhang's advisors who had secretly pledged their loyalty to Lie Fan.
These men, though ostensibly serving Liu Zhang, were working behind the scenes to thwart Cao Cao's plans and prepare Yi Province for eventual integration into Lie Fan's domain. Their efforts had been so effective that Cao Cao's diplomatic overtures had made little progress, and his plans to lower Liu Zhang's guard had been repeatedly foiled.
In Luoyang, Cao Cao sat in his war room, surrounded by his most trusted advisors: Xun Yu, Guo Jia, Xi Zhicai, Cheng Yu, Jia Kui, Tian Feng, and Xu You. The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with frustration and unease.
Cao Cao's usual composure was fraying at the edges, his patience worn thin by the lack of progress in Yi Province. Reports of increased patrols and military training in Liu Zhang's territory had reached his ears, and it was clear that his plan to infiltrate and weaken Yi Province from within was not working as intended.
"This is unacceptable," Cao Cao said, his voice low but filled with barely contained anger. "We have been playing this game of diplomacy for months, and yet Liu Zhang's defenses grow stronger by the day. Fa Zheng, Zhang Song, and Meng Da are clearly behind this. They are too clever by half, and they are undermining our efforts at every turn."
Xun Yu, as the leader and best orator amongst Cao Cao's advisors, stepped forward. "My lord, it is clear that our current strategy is not working. We must consider a different approach. If we continue down this path, we risk losing the initiative entirely."
Guo Jia, leaning casually against a table, nodded in agreement. "Master Xun Yu is right. We cannot afford to waste any more time on diplomacy. Liu Zhang may not be a talented man, but his advisors are another matter entirely. They are the ones calling the shots, and they are not going to fall for our tricks."
Cao Cao's eyes narrowed as he considered their words. "Then what do you suggest? If we attack Yi Province head on, we risk leaving ourselves vulnerable to an attack from Lie Fan. He has been quiet for too long, and I do not trust him to stay that way. A two front war is the last thing we need."
Xi Zhicai, who had been quietly observing the discussion, spoke up. "My lord, perhaps we should focus on consolidating our position here in the north before turning our attention to Yi Province. The Ma Clan has been unusually quiet, and that concerns me. If they are planning something, we cannot afford to ignore it."
Cao Cao's expression darkened at the mention of the Ma Clan. "The Ma Clan? What could they possibly be planning? Ma Teng and Ma Chao have been subdued since their last defeat. They are no threat to us."
Tian Feng, who had been silent until now, shook his head. "With all due respect, my lord, we should not underestimate them. The Ma Clan has a history of resilience, and they have not been idle. Our spies have reported increased activity in Liang Province, though the details remain unclear. It would be unwise to dismiss them outright."
Cao Cao leaned back in his chair, his mind racing as he weighed his options. The situation was more complicated than he had anticipated, and the stakes were higher than ever.
Attacking Yi Province now would be risky, but so would delaying any further. Lie Fan's growing influence in the south was a constant threat, and Cao Cao knew that he could not afford to let his guard down.
"Very well," he said at last, his voice firm. "We will postpone our plans for Yi Province and focus on consolidating our position here. Xun Yu, I want you to oversee the strengthening of our defenses in the north. Guo Jia, you will work with Xi Zhicai to gather more intelligence on the Ma Clan. I want to know exactly what they are up to. The rest of you, continue to monitor Lie Fan's movements. We cannot afford any surprises."
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Name: Lie Fan
Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains
Age: 33 (200 AD)
Level: 16
Next Level: 462,000
Renown: 1325
Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)
SP: 1,121,700
ATTRIBUTE POINTS
STR: 951 (+20)
VIT: 613 (+20)
AGI: 598 (+10)
INT: 617
CHR: 96
WIS: 519
WILL: 407
ATR Points: 0