Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

The group arrived at Lu Zhi's house in a mighty procession. Before they even stepped through the gate, they heard bursts of laughter and chatter coming from inside. When they entered the courtyard, they saw three heroic young men: Zhou Yu, Sun Ce, and Ma Chao.

Zhou Yu, dressed in white, is elegant and graceful. He smiles, his eyes revealing confidence and composure, as if everything is under control. Sun Ce, dressed in red, is a dashing figure. He folds his arms across his chest, a hint of unruly brow, revealing the youth's arrogance and uninhibited nature. Ma Chao, clad in a brocade robe, is majestic and imposing. He stands there, forcing no one to underestimate him.

Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were secretly amazed when they saw these three men. They knew that they were not only outstanding in appearance, but also talented and came from distinguished families. Cao Cao frowned slightly, thinking to himself, "These three are so outstanding! Even if my Cao family has a deep foundation, my descendants probably won't be able to compare with them." Yuan Shao's eyes widened, his face showing a mixture of envy and helplessness. He sighed, "It's true that every generation has talented people. The younger generation of my Yuan family still needs to work hard."

However, Yuan Shu's focus differed from Cao Cao's and Yuan Shao's. His gaze fixed on Lu Su, a twinkle of surprise and anticipation. Having learned from a brief conversation that Lu Su's hometown was near his own, Yuan Shu felt it was fate. Furthermore, he saw Lu Su as a man of talent and potential, and the idea of ​​recruiting him surged within him. He thought to himself, "If I can use this young man, he will surely help me achieve great things."

Lu Su felt a little flustered at Yuan Shu's stare. He lowered his head, a trace of confusion on his face, and wondered to himself, "Why is Yuan Shu so focused on me? Does he have some ulterior motive?"

Ma Chao looked at Cao Cao and Yuan Shao and thought to himself, "Cao Cao is ambitious and a master of political strategy, but he's too cunning. Yuan Shao, on the other hand, is weak and indecisive, and will never accomplish anything great."

Sun Ce commented on Cao Cao: "Cao Cao is indeed a man of great talent and strategy, and a formidable opponent, but he is also a bit too overbearing. As for Yuan Shao, he is just a showpiece and not to be feared."

Zhou Yu smiled, a glint of wisdom in his eyes, and said softly, "Cao Cao is a contemporary hero and should not be underestimated. Yuan Shao may have a distinguished family background, but his vision is limited. As for Yuan Shu, he is merely short-sighted."

As for Yuan Shu, Sun Ce and Ma Chao were somewhat disdainful, believing him to be too conceited and lacking any real ability. Zhou Yu, on the other hand, believed that Yuan Shu would never achieve great things and was not worth cooperating with.

Zhou Yu, Sun Ce, and Ma Chao were puzzled by Yuan Shu's actions. Zhou Yu frowned slightly, wondering, "Why is Yuan Shu so fond of Lu Su? Could it be that he sees something extraordinary in him?" Sun Ce curled his lips and said disapprovingly, "Who cares? We just need to do our best." Ma Chao, on the other hand, looked indifferent, seemingly uninterested in all this.

Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and Zhou Yu, three young men, are full of youthful vigor and vitality. They are the epitome of the fearless, brave and arrogant.

Facing Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu, who came from prominent families and held high positions in their respective fields, they showed no sign of restraint or timidity. On the contrary, their eyes revealed a subtle challenge, as if they were secretly competing with these predecessors, hoping to outdo them.

They don't consider themselves inferior to their predecessors; rather, they believe they possess unique advantages and potential. They are brimming with confidence, convinced that through their talent and hard work, they can achieve as much as, or even surpass, their predecessors in the future. This courage to challenge authority and compete with the strongest is fully embodied in them.

Perhaps in the near future, these individuals would become key figures influencing world affairs and stirring up the world's changing landscape. Each of them exuded a unique and powerful aura, as if fate had brought them together at this moment.

When Ma Chao and Zhou Yu, both renowned for their magnanimity and generosity, first met Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and other senior figures, they couldn't help but feel a subtle hostility. This hostility wasn't born of petty jealousy or malice; rather, they saw in these seniors the aura of strength.

They knew that in these turbulent times, to achieve greatness, they must compete with the powerful. And these veterans before them were undoubtedly formidable opponents on their path. Despite their typically broad minds and elegant demeanors, they couldn't suppress a hint of instinctive resistance when faced with those who could influence their futures. This subtle hostility, like a premonition of the challenges ahead, filled this first encounter with even greater uncertainty and suspense.

The yard was filled with various complex emotions and subtle atmosphere, and everyone had different thoughts and feelings in their hearts.

Although Lu Zhi had always harbored discontent with aristocratic families and eunuchs, he still held a deep admiration for Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao, and Cao Cao. Seeing so many talented people gathered in the courtyard, he was overwhelmed with joy and delight, and his mood became exceptionally cheerful. He then ordered his family to quickly prepare a banquet and entertain everyone.

Soon, the banquet was set up, and the wine and delicacies were served one by one. In this lively atmosphere, everyone was immersed in joy, and began to create a lively atmosphere at the banquet. Everyone toasted each other, laughed and talked, and exchanged their thoughts and opinions. The scene was very harmonious. Lu Zhi looked at all this, his face filled with satisfaction, and his heart was full of anticipation for the future.

The four young men who had come with their fathers, Cao Ang, Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Yao, still displayed a certain youthful reserve in such an occasion. They admired the high-spirited figures of Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Ma Chao, and the calm and reserved Lu Su, yet were too shy to get too close.

On the contrary, they were quite close to Lu Yu, who acted calmly and like a little gentleman. They were very happy to talk with him, as if they had found a sense of intimacy and security with him.

Since Yuan Shu and other people who were not Lu Zhi's closest friends were present at the banquet, Lu Zhi did not arrange for Lu Wan and the two Qiao sisters to appear. He let them play in the garden at the back, away from the hustle and bustle of the banquet.

Although Sun Ce and Zhou Yu had been longing to see Xiao Qiao and Da Qiao again, they couldn't express it directly in the current atmosphere. They could only hide their anticipation in their hearts, and a subtle look of disappointment inadvertently appeared on their faces. That expression was mixed with a hint of regret and helplessness, which made Ma Chao feel sorry for them.

At the banquet, the aroma of fine wine and delicious food wafted through the air, laughter echoed, and a joyful atmosphere permeated every corner. Yuan Shao and Cao Cao keenly seized this rare opportunity to connect with Lu Zhi and engaged in a cordial and in-depth conversation. They earnestly expressed their hope that their own descendants would also have the opportunity to study under Lu Zhi and absorb his knowledge and wisdom.

Lu Zhi quietly observed Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Yuan Shu. Although he harbored some dislike for their family backgrounds, he understood the crucial importance of cultivating more talent for the Han Dynasty. After some reflection, he finally made up his mind to include Cao Ang, Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Yao as his disciples.

At this time, Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Lu Su also expressed their desire to study under Lu Zhi. Faced with this situation, Lu Zhi felt both relieved and a little embarrassed.

He was pleased with Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Lu Su's eagerness to learn and their recognition of him, and saw their potential and ambition. But at the same time, he also took into account the actual situation and might need to consider how to arrange their studies.

After careful consideration, he accepted these seven as his registered disciples, hoping to instill in them from an early age the values ​​of loyalty to the emperor and patriotism, and to teach them the importance of striving for the Han Dynasty. Lu Zhi hoped that these young men would thrive in the future, contribute to the prosperity and stability of the Han Dynasty, and become pillars of the nation.