The next morning, Ma Teng prepared a 30-man squad for Ma Chao. The squad members were fully armored, with bows and horses, looking imposing. However, Ma Chao refused them.
Ma Chao told his father that he wished to go alone, with just one horse, not only to seek weapon materials but also to temper himself and seek a breakthrough, and to travel around to gain experience.
Ma Teng could not persuade Ma Chao, so he prepared ample funds and a fine steed for Ma Chao. Ma Chao, alone with his horse, was ready to depart. Madam Ma and his younger sister Ma Yunlu had tears in their eyes, reluctant to see him go, while Ma Chao's younger brothers looked on with envy.
Just then, a clear and vast voice, like an essay, echoed: "The Great Dao travels the heavens, expanding its heart to follow its path. When the source is clear, the flow is pure, embodying the essence of all things. The Dao travels between heaven and earth to participate in transformation; its achievement travels between heaven and earth to align with virtue. The Dao is not constant; heaven and earth ultimately follow their principles. Merit is immeasurable; cultivate oneself to enter the world and save all beings. When universal light shines upon the world, disputes lessen. The road is difficult, but the pure sound remains."
Accompanying the voice, a Daoist slowly walked before everyone. The Daoist had one eye closed and one foot limped. His hair was tied in a bun but was also disheveled. His Daoist robe was too large, and he carried a treasured sword on his back and a whisk in his hand. The whisk was uneven and looked a bit unkempt, but upon closer inspection, there was an indescribable charm, as if every step and movement subtly contained the Great Dao.
Upon seeing this, Ma Teng showed no neglect. He led his wife and children forward to pay respects, cupping his hands and saying, "May I ask this True Immortal's esteemed name and purpose for coming?" The Daoist bowed, flicked his whisk, and spoke, "Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable. General, I salute you. This humble Daoist's name is Zuo Ci, courtesy name Yuanfang, known as Master Black Horn."
Ma Teng was somewhat surprised to hear this. Zuo Ci, a world-renowned sorcerer, rumored to possess immortal arts, a figure like a terrestrial immortal. He exclaimed, "So it is Immortal Master Zuo Ci! I apologize for not welcoming you sooner. May I ask what guidance the Immortal Master has for us?"
Zuo Ci looked at Ma Chao and smiled, "I have not come for anything else. This time, I am here for the Young General. In recent years, this humble Daoist has observed the stars at night. The Ziwei Star has been dim. Since this year, I have seen the Tanlang Star move greatly, shining brightly and causing the Ziwei Star to be utterly eclipsed. This truly signifies the decline of the Han Dynasty, and I fear great changes are coming to the world. The Qisha Star flickers on and off, causing other constellations to flicker with it, indicating that in the future, when Qisha breaks Tanlang, there will be some relief. However, all the constellations are already flickering, indicating that great chaos is imminent. A few days ago, the Western Po Jun Star shone brightly, surrounded by purple qi, even showing signs of spreading in all directions. In this chaotic world, a glimmer of hope suddenly appeared. This humble Daoist followed the stars, traveling thousands of miles in a few days, tracking them here. The closer I got to Western Liang, the stronger the purple qi became. Last night, upon reaching Fufeng Commandery, the purple qi was so dense it obscured all the starlight. This humble Daoist believes the Po Jun Star must be here. Traveling day and night, this humble Daoist truly witnessed this scene. Just now, when the Young General bid farewell to everyone, with his back to the sunlight, purple qi came from the east and surrounded the Young General, truly like a heavenly general descending to earth, daring not to be looked at directly. The Young General's future achievements will be extraordinary."
Ma Teng quickly stepped forward and said, "Immortal Master, you flatter him. My son is merely a young man; how could he possess such divine qualities?" Zuo Ci smiled and waved his hand, "General Ma, no, no. I am a cultivator of the Dao and am quite skilled in physiognomy. Just now, I observed the Young General's handsome face with distinct features; he must be untamed, brave, and reckless. The Young General should embody the destiny of the Po Jun Star in the heavens. The Po Jun Star rejoices before battle and is invincible in war, yet due to his reckless and impulsive nature, he can bring chaos to the world and easily implicate his family, harming his father, mother, elder brothers, younger brothers, sons, and daughters. He is one of the Heavenly Lonely Star . Throughout his life, he will be competitive and invincible in battle, but he will bring no benefit to those around him. Those close to him may die violent deaths or suffer accidents, and he himself will not have a good end."
Upon hearing this, Ma Teng frowned deeply and said unhappily, "Immortal Master, such words are quite unreasonable. Though my Ma Chao's nature is strong, he is sincere and genuine, with a chivalrous heart..." Zuo Ci interrupted Ma Teng, "General, do not be anxious. You are eager to protect your son. Please let this humble Daoist finish. Originally, the Young General's physiognomy was indeed as I described, but upon closer observation just now, the Young General's eyes are clear. Despite all the harsh words this humble Daoist spoke, the Young General did not get angry, nor did he show even a hint of displeasure. This is enough to prove the Young General's steady temperament and his capacity to tolerate others. The purple qi surrounding the Young General even faintly causes purple light to flow around the General and your esteemed family members. Furthermore, the celestial phenomena show that the Po Jun Star in the heavens is surrounded by purple qi, spreading around it. From this, this humble Daoist deduces that besides the Young General's Po Jun destiny, he also possesses the appearance of Ziwei, which is truly the most noble destiny. His future achievements are immeasurable. In the future, the one who brings peace to the world is very likely to be the Young General. As for the General, you originally had the appearance of a violent death. If observed by physiognomy, the General would die in his prime. It is precisely because of the purple light surrounding you that you will surely turn misfortune into auspiciousness and in the future attain a high position, enjoying glory and wealth."
Ma Teng's anger turned to joy, and he cupped his hands, saying, "I am but a mortal, with common eyes. I did not understand the Immortal Master's meaning and rudely interrupted your words. My apologies, my apologies. Please, let us go to the living room to speak." Ma Teng welcomed Zuo Ci into the mansion, and Ma Chao and the others accompanied them to the study to talk. Ma Tie whispered to Ma Chao, "Big Brother, I think this old Daoist is being mysterious. Is he trying to scare us?" Ma Chao slapped Ma Tie on the head, "Second Brother, how can you speak such nonsense? I think the Immortal Master's words are well-reasoned and supported by evidence. How can you casually speculate and blaspheme?" Ma Tie, slightly unconvinced, shuffled along with them into the living room.
In the living room, Zuo Ci and Ma Teng sat down as host and guest, with Ma Chao accompanying them at the lower seat, and the other brothers, including Ma Tie, standing behind their elder brother.
Zuo Ci looked directly at Ma Chao and asked, "May I ask, Young General, what is your ambition?" Ma Chao replied, "I wish to use my strength to protect the nation and its people above, and bring peace to the common folk below."
Zuo Ci then asked, "May I ask, Young General, in this chaotic world, how will you protect the nation and bring peace to the people?" Ma Chao said, "I will seek out renowned officials and capable generals. Capable generals will train armies, traverse the world to suppress disloyal subjects, and station troops at the borders to resist foreign invaders. Renowned officials will serve in the imperial court, assisting the emperor, and also manage local affairs, governing the people."
Zuo Ci said, "How does one act as a ruler?" "Employing the worthy, being clear in rewards and punishments, dedicating efforts to people's livelihoods, developing the economy, strengthening military preparedness, and promoting the virtuous," Ma Chao said. "More importantly, one must prioritize the nation, dare to try new things, and confront one's own mistakes."
Zuo Ci smiled and asked again, "In this chaotic world, human lives are like weeds, the imperial court is weak, and the people suffer greatly. Generals hold their own power. Between the emperor of the court and the common people, which is more important?" Ma Chao pondered for a moment and said, "The Son of Heaven is revered, but the people are paramount. During the Zhou Dynasty, the Son of Heaven was weak, and the Marquis fought amongst themselves, leading to a decline in the population. Emperor Qin unified the world but did not prioritize the people, imposing heavy labor and engaging in excessive military campaigns, leading the people to rebel against the tyrannical Qin. Later, the Han Son of Heaven took the throne and allowed the people to recuperate, slowly leading to a sufficient population. How many kings, marquises, generals, and ministers are there? Those who wield weapons are all the strong young men among the common people. This clearly shows that the people are the fundamental basis for the nation's stability."
