Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Madam Lu wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and said helplessly, "Master, I understand your thoughts, but you can't ignore the feelings of the children. They are still young, how can you break off this relationship just like that? Doing this will only make them suffer."

Lu Zhi was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Madam, I know this is cruel to them, but I have no choice. I must consider the future of our country and cannot sow the seeds of disaster because of a momentary weakness. If Ma Chao can be truly devoted to his country and loyal to the court, I am willing to marry Wan'er to him. I believe that when they understand my good intentions in the future, they will understand my intentions."

Mrs. Lu shook her head slightly, her face full of worry: "Master, you are too stubborn. I can't persuade you, but I really can't bear to see the children suffer. What should I do?" Lu Zhi looked at the worried look of his wife and felt a little reluctant in his heart, but he knew that his decision could not be changed, so he could only sigh again and said no more.

Back here, Ma Chao was still anxiously running around for his master, Lu Zhi's health. Once, hearing about a renowned physician, he went there without hesitation. He spared no expense, inviting the physician to treat Lu Zhi. However, Lu Zhi was becoming increasingly irritated by Ma Chao's successive invitations to the famous doctors. His face was grim, and he sternly reprimanded Ma Chao, saying, "A true man should serve the court and bring peace to the people. All you do every day is find doctors and witch doctors to treat me. I know my condition best, and even if I hold on, I won't last much longer. You don't need to bother with this. His Majesty has placed such high hopes on you! Since your arrival, he has showered you with rewards and conferred you with prestigious titles. Yet, since the beginning of spring, I haven't seen any significant results from you. You haven't offered any sound advice on governing the country, nor have you helped His Majesty by suppressing the rebels. You're constantly busy with such trivial matters. What good are you doing for the country?"

Ma Chao listened to his master's reprimand with a look of shame on his face. He hung his head, his annoyance growing stronger. He knew his master's words were for his own good and for the greater good of the country. But how could he not worry about his master's health? Ma Chao was caught in a deep dilemma and torment, unsure how to live up to his master's expectations while also fulfilling his filial duty as a disciple.

Ma Chao returned to his residence in a state of displeasure, his dejected expression shrouded in a gloom. Xu Huang, Zhang Ren, and Zhang Liao all felt pity for Ma Chao's condition. They knew Ma Chao's sincerity and filial piety, but they also felt aggrieved by the injustice he had endured.

Xu Huang was even more indignant when he said, "General, I shouldn't say this. Your master, Mr. Lu Zhi, is being far too harsh on you. Look at what he's been up to since you arrived in Beijing. Not only does he seem to have no ties to us, but he spends all day scolding you. You've done countless good things, but in his eyes, they're worthless. He spends all day making up stories and then scolding you. I, Old Xu, can't stand it. I suggest you return to Xiliang and live a carefree life, without worrying about all this mess at court."

Zhang Ren also nodded slightly, a trace of helplessness on his face. "General, what General Xu said is not without reason. You have devoted all your efforts to Master, but in return you are treated like this. It is really disheartening."

Zhang Liao remained silent, but his eyes revealed sympathy for Ma Chao.

Ma Chao listened to their words and sighed deeply. "Master, how could I not know your good intentions? He is so devoted to the court and to restoring the glory of the Han Dynasty that he takes no care of his health. As his disciple, I can see it with my own eyes and feel anxious. I don't care if he scolds me. But he is so careless about his health, and I don't know if he can hold on. How can I bear to abandon him? Besides, since I have already joined the court, I owe it to myself to serve the country faithfully. How can I give up so easily because of a momentary anger?"

After hearing Ma Chao's words, the three of them showed him even more respect. They knew that although Ma Chao felt wronged, he always stood firm in his beliefs and responsibilities.

Ma Chao's face showed a look of anguish as he slowly said, "Perhaps we should indeed prioritize national affairs and do our part for the country. Back when we were in Xiliang, we were still obsessed with Your Majesty's intentions. Now that the country is in dire straits, Your Majesty has shown such trust in us, showering us with rewards and honors, demonstrating his profound grace. At a time like this, we should step forward and serve the people of the world. Perhaps doing so will make Master feel better."

At this time, Xu Shu made a strange sound. He frowned slightly, his expression grave, and spoke solemnly, "General, His Majesty's favor upon us is indeed true. However, have you ever considered carefully whether His Majesty truly trusts us completely? Although His Majesty's rewards are constantly increasing, consider our current situation within the court. Among the former ministers, none of the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers are close to us. This is because His Majesty's rewards are so generous, inevitably leading them to believe we are being partial. And as for the military commanders, the Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei—Shu Huangshu is your senior brother, as is Gongsun Zan. However, both the Youzhou soldiers and the subordinates of these three generals, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei, have a subtle rift with you, and there's not a hint of harmony. Furthermore, your master is completely cold and indifferent to you. While it may seem like the Emperor is showering us with favors, in reality, he has isolated us. Now, General, we appear to be enjoying great success, yet we are completely helpless. The entire court seems to be subtly excluding us, leaving us isolated and helpless."

Ma Chao frowned slightly and said solemnly, "Whatever the Emperor's intentions, the reward he has bestowed upon us is clear before our eyes. Even if we sense something, how can we resist? If so, how can we silence the swirling voices of the world? Everyone is watching us, and we must not let baseless speculation lead us astray. Having received the Emperor's grace, we must remain loyal and fulfill our duties as subjects. We must not act in the slightest way beyond our authority."

Xu Shu listened to Ma Chao's words and shook his head slightly. He continued, "General, the emperor is plotting something. I urge you to pay close attention. This isn't a sign of the emperor's complete trust in you; it's actually a way of keeping you in check. In my opinion, you'll be faced with a task soon, and you won't be able to refuse."

Ma Chao was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke, "Even so, we must not let our master down. We cannot let His Majesty and the people of the world think we are ungrateful, nor can we become fickle and lose the trust of the world. We must be loyal and cautious, and wait and see how the situation develops before making a final decision."

Ma Chao had come to his senses by this point, but he was unwilling to believe it. After all, the emperor hadn't made his true intentions clear, and the emperor's gifts were genuine. Despite this suspicion, he preferred to believe that the emperor wasn't so narrow-minded.

Ma Chao sighed slightly, his expression complicated as he spoke, "I understand what Mr. Xu said. However, the situation is still unclear, and we must not panic based on mere speculation. Regardless of the emperor's intentions, we have already received the reward and must fulfill our duties as subjects. If we speculate and harbor doubts at this moment, we will easily give people an excuse to criticize us. We can only work diligently and serve the country, proving our loyalty and responsibility through our actions. As for the future, we will wait and see. If anything is truly arranged, we will act accordingly and must not panic."

Xu Shu, though still concerned, knew better than to discuss Ma Chao's words. He nodded slightly and said, "General, you are absolutely right. Now we can only wait and see what happens and do our part. I hope the Emperor truly believes what you think and isn't trying to contain us."

Ma Chao was silent for a moment, his gaze fixed firmly into the distance, thinking to himself: "No matter how difficult the road ahead, I, Ma Chao, will live up to my master's expectations and His Majesty's grace, and contribute my strength to the Han Dynasty. Even if the road ahead is fraught with thorns, I will not fear it."

After listening to Ma Chao and Xu Shu's conversation, the generals finally understood their current situation, and a hint of anxiety crossed their faces. They knew that if the emperor truly intended this, their current situation in Chang'an would be like walking on thin ice, with the possibility of danger at any moment.

Ma Chao observed the anxious expressions of the crowd and said calmly, "Don't worry too much. Your Majesty, if you command, we will obey. Since we are new to the service, it is understandable that the Emperor has high expectations of us. As long as we remain loyal and work wholeheartedly for the country, I believe the Emperor will eventually recognize our value."

Xu Shu nodded slightly and continued his analysis, "Actually, there's no need to worry too much about the current situation. The Emperor's actions are certainly not solely aimed at you and your mere five thousand soldiers. In my opinion, the stability of the entire northwest region and the elite strength of the Xiliang Iron Cavalry are the Emperor's true goals. I only hope that the General can maintain his sanity and not be distracted by your Master and lose his composure. The northwest is our foundation. As long as it is stable, we will be safe at court. We should use the northwest as our foundation and carefully respond to the situation at court. We must both serve the Emperor and ensure its stability. Only in this way can we maintain our foothold in this complex situation."

Several men were absorbed in analyzing the situation, pondering their response strategies. Just then, immersed in the tense atmosphere, a soldier suddenly arrived with a hurried report: "Uncle Liu and his generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei have come to pay their respects." Ma Chao's spirits were instantly jolts. Until now, due to his master's attitude, Liu Bei and Ma Chao hadn't interacted much, and their relationship had never been friendly. But now, hearing that his senior brother had arrived, Ma Chao felt a surge of excitement.

He hurriedly ordered, "Open the middle gate!" Then, he and his generals quickly went to the palace gate to greet him. Ma Chao's steps were filled with a hint of urgency. He didn't know why Liu Bei came this time, but after all, this was the first formal meeting between the two brothers.