Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Undeterred, the madman continued his scathing attack, "Humph! Where were you when Dong Zhuo was in power? Now that he's dead, you're here, eloquently trying to defend him!"

Ma Chao took a deep breath, suppressing the raging anger in his heart. He slowly said, "When Dong Zhuo was alive, I repeatedly advised him to implement benevolent policies and not be so tyrannical. But he was stubborn and refused to listen to my advice, and I was helpless. Now that Dong Zhuo is gone, the past is gone. I only hope that I can find a way to bring peace to the world in the future." The arrogant man said with disdain, "You are just trying to excuse Dong Zhuo's crimes!"

Ma Chao stared at the madman with a determined gaze, and said in a resounding voice, "I have no need to excuse myself. My merits and demerits will be judged by future generations. But I, Ma Chao, swear to heaven that if I cannot ensure the people live and work in peace, I will be willing to be cut into pieces!"

Kuangsheng was slightly stunned. Looking at Ma Chao's unwavering eyes, he was speechless for a moment and didn't know how to refute.

At this time, Xu Huang said indignantly: "The general is wholeheartedly serving the people. This heart is as clear as the sun and the moon. You lunatic, stop slandering me!"

Zhang Xiu also said sternly, "We are willing to follow the general to seek the welfare of the people of the world. How can we allow you to slander us here?"

Ma Chao continued, "Two years ago, I studied in Luoyang with my teacher, Lu Zhi. He once said that the aristocratic families of today only care about their own families, not the rest of the world. In the eyes of these aristocratic families, the world actually extends from the Son of Heaven to the nobles, while the common people below are left unattended and uncared for. Whether those in power or those who prey on them, they simply don't care about the weak. I've been wondering how the people can seek a way out. The aristocratic families gather all the knowledge and talent under their command. When a talented person emerges from a humble family, they will inevitably gravitate towards the aristocratic families. Over time, this talented person will also develop into an aristocratic family, and this cycle continues. Even if the aristocratic families are defeated, there are still other aristocratic families, and the Emperor is, to be frank, the greatest of the aristocratic families. My teacher was speechless when he talked about this, and I still haven't thought of a good solution."

After hearing what Ma Chao said, the anger on Kuangsheng's face eased a little and he fell into deep thought.

Ma Chao continued, "But I will not give up my search. I must find a way to break this deadlock, to end the suffering of the people, and to free the world from the control of the aristocratic families."

Xu Huang and Zhang Xiu's eyes grew even more resolute after hearing this, and they said in unison, "General, your heart is filled with the empire. We are willing to follow you through thick and thin!"

After a moment of silence, Kuangsheng slowly spoke, "If you take this seriously, it will be a blessing for the people of the world. I only hope you won't forget our ambition today."

Ma Chao said solemnly, "I, Ma Chao, keep my word and will definitely live up to your expectations."

Kuangsheng nodded slightly and said, "That's good. I hope you can do something."

Ma Chao gazed off into the distance, as if looking into the future, and said, "In these troubled times, there must be a way to change things. I will recruit talented people, strengthen my army, and seize the opportunity to act."

Xu Huang said, "General, we will certainly provide you with all our assistance and work together for this great cause."

Zhang Xiu also said, "That's right. As long as the general gives the order, we will not refuse even if it means death."

The madman glared at him and shouted, "You three are singing the same tune here, just trying to fool me and make me believe that you are upright. Now that Dong Zhuo is dead, there is no time to confront him. If you were not Dong Zhuo's lackey, how could he willingly entrust his entire legacy to you, even letting you take care of his affairs after his death? You keep trying to argue this fact, but it's really in vain!"

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao burst into laughter in anger, and said in a loud voice like a bell: "Mad man! Stop talking nonsense here! Not to mention that I don't even know who you are. Even if you are a high-ranking official, I, Ma Chao, will not bother to fool you. Since I, Ma Chao, joined the army, I first quelled the rebellion of Han Sui in Xiliang, and then avenged the invasion of Dongqiang, and once again quelled the chaos caused by the Xiongnu in Xiliang. Except for this time to welcome back Prime Minister Dong, I led the troops to the Central Plains. I have never stopped fighting with foreign races. Regardless of the fact that I have told you so much, I actually don't want to explain anything to you. Even if I, Ma Chao, am not in a high position and have great power, I am still a leading figure in Xiliang. Why should I bother to explain in front of you? "Is Shi trying to make his presence felt? He simply wants you to return to the right path. Lord Dong is gone, and I no longer wish to judge his merits and demerits. But at least he once maintained stability in the Western Liang region. I have always disdained the internal strife among the princes. In every fight, the casualties were invariably our Han men. Look at how hard the people on the borders live, and then look at the wars among the princes, the pain and tears of the people in the Central Plains. How many good men have perished in internal strife. And when a foreign race invades the border, if he dies on the battlefield defending against the enemy, I would still respect him as a hero. Nowadays, everyone is driven by the desire for power. I am simply lamenting and stating this sad fact."

Kuangsheng was already somewhat convinced, but still unsure, and prepared to investigate secretly. Ma Chao didn't bother to explain too much to him, just asking him to stop pestering him. Over the next few days, Kuangsheng was in Longxi County, including the foreigners who came to mourn Dong Zhuo, and Kuangsheng was secretly inquiring.

He chatted with street vendors, asked passersby, and spoke with local elders. What he heard and saw was indeed consistent with Ma Chao's description. The people praised Ma Chao's bravery in resisting the invasion and were grateful for his contribution to maintaining peace in the area.

Kuangsheng realized his previous misunderstanding and felt extremely regretful. He straightened his clothes and, feeling guilty, went to look for Ma Chao again. Upon seeing Ma Chao, Kuangsheng bowed deeply and sincerely apologized to Ma Chao: "General Ma, I was reckless and wronged you earlier. I hope you will forgive me and not hold it against me."

Ma Chao smiled heartily and said, "It's alright, as long as you can understand the truth."

The madman sighed, "General, your heart is full of the world, and your loyalty and bravery are commendable. It is truly my fault that I was blind and failed to recognize your righteousness and broad-mindedness. From now on, I am willing to serve you with all my heart to atone for my past mistakes." Ma Chao hurriedly helped the madman up and said, "Sir, you are so kind. It would be a great honor for me to receive your sincere help."

The madman then sat up straight and began to introduce himself to Ma Chao solemnly: "My surname is Xu, my name is Shu, and my courtesy name is Yuanzhi. In my early years, I got into a fight with a fellow villager and injured him because of an impulse. Since then, I have been forced to flee to various places. In the process of wandering around, I witnessed with my own eyes the hardship of the people's lives, and the court was incompetent and did nothing. Therefore, I always have the idea of ​​finding a wise leader, eager to resolve the foolish situation in the Han officialdom and let the people live and work in peace. I have been visiting secretly and quietly observing many people who are rumored to be in power, but sadly found that they are all keen on chasing power after all. "The power of the people is lacking, and in reality, few truly care about the suffering of the people. Dong Zhuo's dethronement and enthronement of the emperor led to further chaos in the court. At the time, I was determined to assassinate Dong Zhuo, even at the cost of my own life, as a good deed for the world. However, Dong Zhuo died after a fierce battle with the allied forces of the princes. Unexpectedly, at Dong Zhuo's burial, I met the general. The general's words suddenly enlightened Xu Shu. The root of the conflicts that I had always been puzzled about turned out to be the control of the aristocratic families. I hope to follow the general and truly break the aristocratic family's control over the court and open up a clear world for the common people!"

After hearing Xu Shu's heartfelt words, Ma Chao felt a surge of pride and said, "Mr. Yuanzhi, what you said is exactly what I agree with. I, Ma Chao, will fight alongside you for justice."

Xu Shu nodded slightly and continued, "General, to break the hold of the aristocratic families, we must address the root causes. First, we must prioritize education and cultivate talent, allowing children of commoners to have a path to advancement. This will weaken the aristocratic families' monopoly on talent. Second, we must reform the tax system to reduce the burden on the people and replenish the treasury for long-term planning. Third, we must rectify the administration of officials, severely punish corruption, and ensure smooth implementation of government policies for the benefit of the people."

Ma Chao agreed and said, "Sir, what you said is absolutely right, but implementing it will surely be very difficult."

Xu Shu's eyes were determined. He said, "Don't worry, General. As long as we proceed step by step and persevere, we will surely achieve results. We can first implement some of these measures in Xiliang to set an example and attract more people with lofty ideals to join us."

Ma Chao's eyes sparkled as he spoke generously, "When it comes to charging into battle, I can boast that there are only a handful of men braver than me. When it comes to marching, fighting, and capturing cities, I can also confidently say I'm confident and certain of an unstoppable force. However, when it comes to controlling the battlefield and safeguarding domestic affairs, I'm ashamed to admit my inferiority. I'm too embarrassed to mention it to anyone, and I truly lack such confidence. It's truly a blessing for Ma Chao, and indeed for Xiliang, to have the assistance of such a talented person as Mr. Yuanzhi today. Yuanzhi."

Xu Shu felt a little embarrassed by Ma Chao's praise. He quickly waved his hand and said, "General, thank you for your praise. I really don't deserve it."