So he could not do as Ma Teng had done: offer himself as a hostage and leave his son to oversee affairs in Liang Province and Guanzhong.
He had lost!
In this confrontation with Ma Teng, he had suffered an utter defeat.
After exchanging a few words with Ma Teng, Liu Xie looked at Han Sui, whose expression was gloomy, and said:
"Wenyue, I have heard that your troops are strong and your horses sturdy, and that your might shakes both Liang Province and Guanzhong. Now that the villain Yuan Shao harbors such towering ambitions..."
As soon as he finished speaking, Han Sui immediately said, "Yuan Shao is a traitor to the state, whom anyone has the right to slay. I am willing to lead troops against Bing Province!"
"Excellent!"
Liu Xie nodded in satisfaction.
"Remain in Ye City and await orders, my beloved subject. As for precisely when to march against Bing Province, I shall give you instructions in a few days."
Hearing the Son of Heaven change his form of address from "Wenyue" to "my beloved subject," just as he addressed Ma Teng, Han Sui felt a little relieved.
Ma Teng also knew that serving as a hostage alone was not enough; committing troops was what mattered most. He hurriedly said:
"Your Majesty, my eldest son, Ma Chao, also possesses valor that ten thousand men cannot withstand. He can charge into enemy lines for Your Majesty."
At this, Liu Xie's mood grew even brighter.
The "prisoner's dilemma" stratagem really did work.
All he needed to offer was the nebulous righteous authority of the Son of Heaven and a marquisate that would allow its holder to station troops in Guanzhong legitimately, and Han Sui and Ma Teng would vie to serve him.
"In that case, return to the Palace