During the banquet, everyone was joyous and after enjoying themselves, Dong Zhuo called Li Ru closer to discuss matters.
Dong Zhuo asked with a puzzled expression, “Wen You, during the feast, you repeatedly appeased Ma Teng and Ma Chao.
Do you think these two can be used by me? Are they worth such treatment?”
Li Ru pondered for a moment and advised Dong Zhuo, “My Lord, Ma Teng and Ma Chao are rarely seen valiant warriors.
My Lord has saved their lives, and Ma Teng is now considered My Lord’s subordinate.
My Lord, what do you think of Ma Chao?”
Dong Zhuo said, “Ma Chao is indeed valiant, peerless in the world, and I am very fond of him.”
Li Ru stroked his broken beard with a smile and said, “Exactly so, My Lord.
When Wuwei was besieged, the situation was so urgent, yet Ma Teng never lost his integrity, which shows his loyalty.
As for Ma Chao, observing his character, he is also a loyal and patriotic person.
These father and son are of noble character, and we have shown them kindness.
If we further win them over, they will surely become our capable assistants.
If they sincerely submit, wouldn't it be like adding wings for My Lord?”
Dong Zhuo was indeed extremely fond of Ma Chao’s bravery; that fondness was practically overflowing.
Dong Zhuo stroked his chin and said to Li Ru, “Wen You, then how should we win over the hearts of this father and son?
This is quite a headache for me.”
Li Ru smiled slightly, stroked his beard, and said, “My Lord, we can approach this from both public and private angles.
From a public perspective, in this suppression of the Western Liang rebellion, Ma Teng steadfastly defended Wuwei City without losing it, and Ma Chao first defeated the East Qiang and then triumphed over Han Sui’s general.
Their merits are truly outstanding.
When reporting their military achievements, we should list their contributions in detail, praise them, and recommend them to the Imperial Court.
This way, it will not only demonstrate My Lord’s magnanimity and appreciation but also make them feel My Lord’s high regard for them.”
Dong Zhuo nodded slightly, secretly thinking, “This is indeed a good method.
It can show my benevolence and make them grateful to me.”
Li Ru continued, “As for the private aspect, Ma Chao, this young man, is handsome and dashing, and he excels in both civil and military arts.
He is truly a rare talent in the world.
My Lord, Miss Dong Bai has also reached marriageable age; this young man should be a good match for her, it just depends on whether My Lord is willing to part with her.”
Upon hearing this, Dong Zhuo’s face showed a hint of difficulty, and he secretly thought, “This child, Dong Bai, ever since her father passed away, I have doted on her greatly.
I truly don’t know if she would be willing to accept this marriage.”
Li Ru seemed to have seen through Dong Zhuo’s thoughts and said, “The young lady has always preferred martial attire over feminine adornments.
Ma Chao is so handsome and skilled in martial arts; if the young lady sees him, she will surely fall for him.
Moreover, with Ma Chao’s status and talent, he is quite a suitable match for the young lady.”
Dong Zhuo laughed heartily upon hearing this and said, “Ah, that is indeed true.
This young man’s talent and appearance are truly rare in the world.
It’s just that I don’t know if this child is willing to become my grandson-in-law.”
Dong Zhuo also thought, “If I can form an alliance with Ma Teng and Ma Chao through marriage, my power in Western Liang will become even more stable, which would be greatly beneficial to me.
However, this marriage still needs careful consideration and cannot be rushed.”
Dong Zhuo then discussed further with Li Ru in detail.
Dong Zhuo said to Li Ru, “Wen You, you must write a detailed military report about the suppression of the rebellion in Western Liang and submit it to the Imperial Court.
Not only should it highlight the success of this suppression, but it should also clearly list the contributions of Ma Teng and his son Ma Chao, among others.”
Li Ru nodded in response, “My Lord, rest assured, your subordinate understands.
I will write all of these in detail in the military report, so that the Imperial Court fully understands the hardships of this suppression and their achievements.”
Subsequently, Li Ru began to draft the military report.
He meticulously described the beginning and end of the Western Liang rebellion, the intensity of the battles, and the heroic performances of Ma Teng and Ma Chao, while also attaching relevant military achievement records.
He knew the importance of this military report for Dong Zhuo and Ma Teng and Ma Chao, so he dared not be careless, striving to present every detail accurately.
After the banquet, Ma Teng, accompanied by the exceptionally valiant Ma Chao, returned to the Prefect’s Residence under the moonlight.
The bright moonlight illuminated the courtyard of the Prefect’s Residence, casting a silver veil over everything.
A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, as if whispering the tranquility of the night.
As they stepped into the residence, they saw their mother, with a gentle smile, standing under the ancient locust tree in the courtyard, waiting for them.
The locust blossoms were in full bloom, their snow-white petals appearing exceptionally soft under the moonlight, and a faint, elegant fragrance permeated the air.
Their sister, Ma Yunlu, ran over joyfully, her eyes sparkling with delight, her skirt gently fluttering in the wind, like a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world.
Ma Teng and Ma Chao quickly walked forward.
Ma Teng gently embraced his wife, his eyes full of tenderness, his voice tinged with emotion, “I’ve brought Ma Chao back; our family is reunited.
You’ve worked hard during this time.”
Ma Chao also came to his mother’s side, knelt on one knee, and held his mother’s hand, saying, “Mother, your son has returned.”
Tears welled up in his mother’s eyes as she gently stroked Ma Chao’s face, saying, “It’s good that you’re back, it’s good that you’re back.”
At this moment, Ma Xiu and Ma Tie also ran over, circling Ma Teng and Ma Chao, cheering with joy.
Ma Dai stood aside, smiling as he watched this heartwarming scene.
The ancient locust tree swayed gently in the night breeze, as if also happy for the family’s reunion.
The family gathered together, their laughter echoing through the Prefect’s Residence—the warmth of kinship, the deep concern and love for one another.
Ma Chao excitedly recounted to his parents the process of him becoming sworn brothers with Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, as well as the group of good friends he met during his studies.
In his narration, he also mentioned Lu Wan and Cai Wenji, though he did not explicitly state the relationship between them, only saying that they were very close.
Despite being utterly exhausted, Ma Teng insisted on staying by his wife and son’s side, quietly listening to their vibrant tales of various interesting events, his face beaming with a happy smile.
—Dividing line—
At this time, within Luoyang City, the struggle between the aristocratic families and the eunuch faction had entered a white-hot stage.
The aristocratic families were inciting He Jin to exterminate the eunuchs, while the eunuch faction clung tightly to Empress Dowager He.
The two sides were in a stalemate, their conflicts intensifying daily.
On Grand Empress Dowager Dong’s side, Dong Cheng was also secretly plotting.
Because of the sudden rebellion in Western Liang, the aristocratic forces on Grand Empress Dowager Dong’s side took the opportunity to recommend Dong Zhuo.
It was precisely through this maneuvering that the measure of Dong Zhuo leading troops was realized, and Dong Zhuo leading troops outside also gave Grand Empress Dowager Dong and Dong Cheng a voice in the Imperial Court.
The Little Emperor was constantly watched closely by both sides, and Lu Zhi could only rely on Cai Yong to occasionally pass on some messages.
Lu Zhi also had arrangements; he had contacted Gongsun Zan, who dispatched his younger brother Gongsun Xu to lead the White Horse General as a precaution.
However, the White Horse General was too conspicuous, and both the eunuch faction and the aristocratic families watched them extremely closely.
Lu Zhi did not dare to rashly expose the existence of the White Horse General, and could only have the majority of the troops secretly stationed outside Luoyang City.
Only Zhao Yun, with twenty elites, entered Lu Zhi’s residence to ensure Lu Zhi’s safety.
It was precisely because the struggle between He Jin and the Ten Attendants became increasingly fierce that the existence of the White Horse General was not discovered.
On the surface, Luoyang City seemed safe and sound at this moment, but for those with foresight, it was already clear that Luoyang City was about to face a tumultuous period.
Ever since Ma Chao returned to Western Liang, Lu Wan and Cai Wenji had been consumed by deep longing and worry.
They tried every possible method, subtly inquiring about Ma Chao’s news from various angles.
However, reality was not as they wished; Lu Zhi’s position in the Imperial Court had greatly declined, and he was severely marginalized, unable to obtain detailed information about Ma Chao, which made Lu Wan and Cai Wenji feel incredibly anxious and helpless.
And Cai Yong, the only one who could get some information about Western Liang from He Jin’s residence, could only provide fragmented news, which was merely a drop in the bucket for the two girls.
Thus, Lu Wan and Cai Wenji often gathered together, secretly grieving, their hearts filled with worry for Ma Chao.
They often silently prayed, hoping that Ma Chao would be safe and return to them soon.
