Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

On the second day, Xun Yu and Zao Zhi made an appointment to visit together again. When Ma Chao learned the news, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed and excited. He hurried over and respectfully welcomed the two in with the most enthusiastic attitude.

"Mr. Wenruo, Mr. Zaozhi, I'm so honored that you're here!" Ma Chao said excitedly.

He then hastily ordered Zhang Xiu to prepare a banquet, and then he and several others went to meet Madam Lu. After some pleasantries, Zhang Xiu returned, and the banquet was already prepared. Ma Chao's face was filled with joy, one hand tightly holding Xun Yu, the other supporting Zao Zhi, and the three of them began to feast happily.

"Mr. Wenruo, Mr. Zaozhi, we must have a good drink today!" Ma Chao said with a hearty smile.

"Haha, of course." Xun Yu responded with a smile.

Ma Chao's sincerity, immense enthusiasm, and almost fawning manner made Xun Yu and Zao Zhi both amused and unable to stop laughing. However, beneath this seemingly unbearable laughter, one could also deeply sense Ma Chao's genuine sincerity and earnestness. When Zhang Xiu approached to serve him wine, Ma Chao gently waved him away. Then, Ma Chao personally picked up the wine jug and carefully sifted the wine, enthusiastically serving the two of them food.

"Come, try this dish. I remember that Mr. Wen Ruo loved this dish in Luoyang. I specially asked Zhang Xiu to ask the chef of the tavern to make it." Ma Chao introduced enthusiastically.

Although the two men teased, they were secretly moved. Xun Yu looked at Ma Chao and whispered, "Mengqi, we understand your kindness and are truly grateful." Zao Zhi nodded and said, "Yes, Mengqi, we will remember everything that happened today." Ma Chao said sincerely, "It is a great honor for me to be able to meet with you two gentlemen. Please don't say such polite words." And so, the three of them continued to eat, drink, and chat happily.

Dian Wei, Zhang Xiu and Xu Huang were seen staring at this scene in the hall. They looked at each other, and the expressions on their faces were filled with shock and astonishment, as if their eyes were about to pop out.

Xu Huang couldn't help but move closer to Dian Wei, muttering in disbelief, "Oh my goodness! I never thought that the once majestic, brave, and powerful Ma Chao, who was feared by the world, would actually have such an almost fawning appearance. This is really surprising! If I had known he was such a person, I would never have followed him even if he killed me!" Dian Wei blinked his eyes and said in a muffled voice, "Oh my god, he must have something wrong with his head. He must have taken the wrong medicine. Otherwise, how could this happen!"

At this time, Zhang Xiu did not say anything, but frowned and fell into deep thought. After a long while, he suddenly slapped his thigh and shouted very "wittily": "Hey, what do you two idiots know? General, this is called seeking talents as if they were drinking water!" When Xu Huang heard this, he immediately looked disgusted and said with a pout: "What do you mean by seeking talents as if they were drinking water? That's called seeking talents as if they were thirsty! You two are the rough guys and idiots!" Dian Wei was unhappy when he heard this. He glared and shouted angrily: "Who are you calling an idiot? You traitor, believe it or not, I can make you cry with just a wave of my big fist!" As he said that, he waved his fist as big as a casserole.

Xu Huang didn't actually know Dian Wei's true strength. Looking at Dian Wei's towering figure, as sturdy as a hill and his ferocious appearance, he wondered, unsure of his true strength. He wondered if this was the perfect opportunity to weigh in and see who would be Ma Chao's future commander. So, half-jokingly, half-seriously, Xu Huang said, "Come on, big fella, let's have a duel." Zhang Xiu, standing nearby, looked eager to see the fun unfold, and enthusiastically chided him, "Right, right, right! He should be punished. He's been relying on his size all day. He's probably just a weakling most of the time."

Upon hearing what the two men said, Dian Wei was instantly enraged and roared with anger, charging forward to deploy his troops. He took steady, powerful steps, each one seemingly shaking the ground slightly, his fists, as big as clay pots, clenched tightly. Not to be outdone, Xu Huang quickly adjusted his stance and took up his stance.

Dian Wei launched the first attack. He took a sudden step forward and launched his fist, as big as a clay pot, towards Xu Huang like a cannonball. Xu Huang quickly dodged to the side, but the wind from the fist still stung his cheek. Zhang Xiu shouted excitedly, "Beat him, beat him!" Xu Huang shouted in frustration, "Big guy, if you really have what it takes, fight us both!"

Dian Wei ignored all this and lunged directly at Xu Huang, who quickly engaged him. However, Zhang Xiu soon joined the fray, and the two of them joined Dian Wei. Even so, they were completely outmatched by Dian Wei, forcing them to retreat in a desperate struggle. Each of Dian Wei's attacks left them flustered and distraught. The surroundings were filled with dust, and the scene was bustling with activity and excitement.

Ma Chao leisurely approached the hall and first steadily caught Zhang Xiu, who had been thrown by Dian Wei. Having caught him, he quickly blocked Dian Wei's fist as it was about to strike Xu Huang. Dian Wei's powerful blow, with a force that must have been at least a thousand pounds, was surprisingly easily captured by Ma Chao. After Ma Chao grabbed Dian Wei's arm, Dian Wei struggled mightily, but he couldn't bring his fist down.

Xu Huang's hair was a little disheveled, his face flushed, his eyes wide open, and he was breathing heavily, like a calf unwilling to give in. He stood aside, wiped the dust from the corners of his mouth, and looked at Dian Wei angrily, muttering, "Hmph, you're still so arrogant."

Zhang Xiu looked excited. He straightened his crooked clothes, a sly smile on his lips, and shouted, "General, beat this big guy up for me. He lets him bully me all day long by relying on his bravery." After shouting, he made a face at Dian Wei.

Dian Wei, on the other hand, stood like a tower of steel, brimming with power. His muscles were taut, his full beard trembling, and his large, copper-bell-like eyes were filled with resentment and anger. He struggled to break free from Ma Chao's grasp, growling furiously, "Let me go! I want another fight!" The two men shouted at Dian Wei, "Big man, if you're capable, you'll only be truly capable if you knock the general down!" Dian Wei was furious, howling, but he was powerless under Ma Chao's control.

Dian Wei, feeling he couldn't break free from Ma Chao's grasp, summoned all his brute strength once more, determined to engage Ma Chao in a duel. Ma Chao, relying on his exceptional agility, dodged Dian Wei's powerful blows with ghostly agility, preventing him from even reaching the edge of his clothes. Suddenly, Ma Chao cleverly executed a move, sending Dian Wei sprawling and falling flat on his face. Dian Wei wanted to continue fighting, but Ma Chao waved his hand and said with a smile: "Okay, okay, stop making trouble, otherwise everyone will laugh at us." Dian Wei immediately responded: "No, I won't accept it if you throw me down." Ma Chao teased: "If you keep making trouble like this, don't think about eating tonight." When Dian Wei heard this, he hurriedly stopped his hand and muttered: "No, I have to eat." This scene immediately caused everyone to burst into laughter.

Ma Chao first gently patted the dust on his hands, which was actually not there, then slowly put down the slightly lifted corner of his clothes, and then walked calmly to the front of the hall with a faint smile on his face. He said, "Excuse me, gentlemen." Xun Yu smiled warmly, waved his hand and said, "Haha, it's okay, it's okay." Zao Zhi on the side also smiled and said, "Yes, it's really nothing, General Mengqi, don't mind it." Xun Yu then said with emotion, "It's okay, Mengqi, you and your generals are all highly skilled in martial arts, which is obvious to all, and you can play together so unscrupulously. It's really rare. This shows that you get along very well." Zao Zhi also nodded and agreed, "Indeed, this kind of friendship is really enviable."

The banquet was filled with joy and drinking. Seeing this, Ma Chao skillfully redirected the conversation to his desire for Xun Yu and Zao Zhi to travel to Xiliang to assist him, expressing his desire for them to help him achieve his goals. However, Xun Yu and Zao Zhi simply exchanged a smile and didn't respond. Ma Chao could only smile along, but he was deeply troubled, wondering how he could bring these two talented individuals to Xiliang to fight alongside him and build a better future.