Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

In the spring of 188, Ma Chao went to Qiang land to seek meteorite iron. On the way, he met the Western Qiang prince Cheliji and caught up with the Western Qiang civil strife. He helped Cheliji become the king of Western Qiang and obtained the Horse King Aurora and the tiger-headed gold-dipped spear made of meteorite iron.

In the summer, Ma Chao rushed back to Wuwei, Ma Teng's base camp, to suppress the horse bandits and the rebellion of small tribes. At the same time, he suggested to Ma Teng to form a caravan. Ma Teng adopted Ma Chao's suggestion. The establishment of the caravan not only promoted trade between Wuwei and other places, but also brought more business opportunities and employment opportunities to local people.

By the late autumn of 188, with the development of the economy, the people's livelihood in Wuwei had improved significantly. People's lives gradually became richer, and the city became more prosperous.

In terms of external judgment, Ma Chao relied on his bravery and wisdom to successfully quell rebellions and provocations in the surrounding areas many times. His reputation became increasingly famous and he became the patron saint of the Wuwei area.

However, the good times did not last long. Some forces in the court became concerned about the rise of Ma Teng and his son, and they began to secretly plot against the Ma family.

Meanwhile, thanks to Ma Chao and Cheliji's relationship, the caravans improved the lives of the people in Western Qiang, and the Qiang rebels were quietly planning new actions. They were dissatisfied with Ma Chao's friendship with Cheliji and attempted to stir up trouble again.

In late autumn, Ma Chao received a letter from Han Shuo. After Han Shuo's persistent recommendation, Lu Zhi finally reluctantly agreed to meet the son of the Xiliang warlord family. It should be noted that due to Ma Teng's series of strange actions, Lu Zhi was actually extremely reluctant.

Prior to this, Ma Teng's actions had irritated Lu Zhi. Ma Teng's actions in the Western Liang region, as well as his military and political strategies, had left Lu Zhi with reservations about him. He worried whether the son of this Western Liang warlord would inherit his father's style and whether he truly possessed the potential to become an outstanding general or statesman.

However, Han Shuo's praise and recommendation of Ma Chao piqued Lu Zhi's curiosity. What kind of person could have garnered such persistent Han Shuo's recommendation? With these mixed feelings, Lu Zhi decided to meet Ma Chao in person to see what made him so special.

Ma Chao was overwhelmed with excitement upon receiving Lu Zhi's summons. Unable to conceal his excitement, he quickly bid farewell to his family. Filled with anticipation and longing, he resolutely set out for the capital.

--split line--

Meanwhile, outside Wuwei, three legendary figures—Zuo Ci, Nanhua Laoxian, and Yu Ji—were engaged in a thrilling duel. Nanhua Laoxian, the voice of Heaven, advocated conformity to the Way of Heaven, believing that everything should proceed according to established laws. Meanwhile, Yu Ji and Zuo Ci, sympathetic to the suffering endured by humanity, yearned to alter the course and tribulations of the Three Kingdoms and the Southern and Northern Dynasties.

The main purpose of Nanhua Elder's arrival this time was to deal with Ma Chao, an anomaly. As a reborn being, he knew too much of the secrets of heaven, which would have a significant impact on the overall situation and might even interfere with the correct course of history.

Zuo Ci was well aware of the identity and strength of the Nanhua Immortal, and knew that he alone could not contend with him. Therefore, they specifically found Yu Ji to fight against this powerful opponent together.

In this fierce duel, the Immortal Nanhua unleashes mysterious and powerful magic, instantly shifting the landscape and shaking the heavens and earth. Yu Ji employs his unique skills to attempt to neutralize the Immortal Nanhua's attack. Zuo Ci, relying on his profound Taoism and wondrous magic, engages the Immortal Nanhua in a life-and-death contest.

The confrontation between the Nanhua Old Immortal and Zuo Ci and Yu Ji was extremely fierce. Both sides used all their skills and it was difficult to determine the winner for a while. It was almost equal and no one could completely defeat the other.

After a protracted struggle, Nanhua Elder, Yu Ji, and Zuo Ci, all three wounded and on the verge of collapse, were forced to yield. Nanhua Elder erased Ma Chao's memories of his past life and the influence of his rebirth on those around him, eliminating his potential influence on the course of history. Yu Ji and Zuo Ci reluctantly accepted this decision to save Ma Chao's life, but they insisted on preserving Ma Chao's reborn personality. All their previous efforts and preparations were wasted, and history was left to take its course.

In order to ensure the realization of this agreement, the three finally reached a consensus and made this decision together. They understood that the direction of history should be determined by the people themselves, rather than being swayed by external forces.

After implementing this decision, the three men fell one after another, and the world seemed to have put an end to this legendary confrontation.

Meanwhile, Ma Chao, still eagerly anticipating his meeting with Lu Zhi, remains oblivious to the fierce battle unfolding in the distance. His fate is about to change, his memories of his past life erased, forcing him to face the challenges of the future with a fresh attitude. Ma Teng and the others' memories of Ma Chao's rebirth are also completely erased. It's as if everything has returned to square one, nothing has changed, time has simply flown by again, yet everything seems different. Ma Chao's character is no longer stubborn and competitive, but instead optimistic and open-minded, with a global vision. The future holds a lot of uncertainty.

The wheel of history continues to roll forward, and everyone is waiting to see how the world will write the future chapter.

--split line--

As he left Wuwei, Ma Chao looked back fondly at the land. Under his meticulous governance, Wuwei had prospered, its people living and working in peace and contentment. However, he knew that other areas remained desolate, with a mixture of foreigners and a worrying security situation. He secretly resolved to dedicate his utmost efforts to maintaining peace in the land.

Ma Chao suddenly felt like something was missing, but he couldn't place it. Nothing was wrong; he was still the same 13-year-old boy from Xiliang, full of hope and longing for the future. Unable to figure it out, he stopped dwelling on it and continued on his journey with all his heart.

After a long and tiring journey to Fufeng, Ma Chao stumbled upon a fierce clash between a vicious band of horse thieves and local militiamen. Suddenly, the cries of battle and the clatter of horse hooves resounded through the air. Without hesitation, Ma Chao plunged into the conflict. His lightning-fast movements and swift spearmanship displayed his exceptional martial prowess and fearless spirit. His valiant fighting gradually defeated the bandits, ultimately leading to their annihilation.

After this fierce battle, Ma Chao met Pang De, the leader of the militia. Pang De, despite his youth, was impressed by Ma Chao's determination and confidence. Through their conversation, Pang De was pleasantly surprised to discover Ma Chao's ambition, wisdom, and courage, possessing exceptional insight and foresight. He firmly believed that he was a wise leader worthy of following.

After the battle, Pang De took the initiative to express his intention to follow Ma Chao. Ma Chao was inexplicably kind to Pang De and readily agreed. He keenly discovered that Pang De was a rare general.

The two continued their journey to the capital, sleeping in the open air and eating their fill, yet never forgetting to exchange martial arts and discuss military tactics. Their mutual learning deepened their friendship.

By the time Ma Chao and Pang De arrived at the capital, exhausted and tireless, the harsh winter weather had already set in. One day, heavy snow fell, the sky and earth were a blanket of white, and Ma Chao finally arrived at Lu Zhi's door.

Perhaps Lu Zhi had some prejudice against him, or perhaps it was a test for him that led him not to see him, but Ma Chao did not leave. He stood firmly in front of Lu Zhi's door, letting the heavy snow fall, as unwavering as a statue.

This scene constitutes the beautiful scene of "Standing in the Snow at Lumen", which makes people feel moved by his persistence and sincerity. As time passes, Ma Chao's figure standing firm in the snow seems to convey his determination and sincerity to Lu Zhi.

Finally, Lu Zhi was moved by Ma Chao's persistence. He opened the door, a flicker of satisfaction and admiration in his eyes. Lu Zhi began to test Ma Chao, asking a series of complex and in-depth questions covering a wide range of topics, including martial arts, military strategy, and statecraft.

Ma Chao displayed his vast knowledge and exceptional intelligence, his answers were clear and his thinking was quick. He not only possessed a profound understanding of martial arts, but also had a unique understanding of the application of military tactics.

The more Lu Zhi listened, the more satisfied he became. He saw Ma Chao's true strength and potential. Finally, he smiled with satisfaction and decided to officially accept Ma Chao as his apprentice.