Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Despite the turbulent situation outside, Lu Zhi's residence gradually returned to peace. This was because Lu Zhi was ill, and many of his disciples came to visit him.

Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, Cao Ang, and Yuan Yao came together to become Lu Zhi's disciples. Lu Zhi treated them with open arms, regardless of their aristocratic and eunuch-affiliated backgrounds. He enthusiastically engaged with them, carefully reviewed their recent work, and offered comfort. Each of them felt guilty, hesitant to speak, and offered their opinions. Lu Zhi waved his hand, saying, "Never mind," that it wasn't their decision. This attitude left them feeling both warm and helpless. They understood the complexities of the situation and their own inability to change it.

Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, Cao Ang, and Yuan Yao saw Lu Zhi's tired expression and took their leave. Lu Zhi also had mixed feelings about these young men. While he admired their talents, he was also concerned about whether their family backgrounds would allow them to follow the right path. His heart was inevitably filled with a mixture of anxiety and expectation.

Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, Cao Ang, and Yuan Yao had only been studying under Lu Zhi for a short time, and now that they had encountered such an incident, it was clear that Lu Zhi was ostracized by the aristocratic families and the eunuch clique. Although they wanted to be close to Lu Zhi, they could no longer remain as pure as before, their minds already preoccupied with so many things. Although Lu Zhi showed no signs of discontent, they could not help but feel a sense of sadness. The class divisions were already there, and the distinctions between close and distant had already been established in their young minds.

After the night of the palace coup, the original military camp was completely controlled by the children of the aristocratic families. Pang De could no longer stay there because of Lu Zhi and was squeezed out. So he simply moved in and lived in the guest room with Ma Chao, Dian Wei and others.

Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, Xun Yu, Lu Su and others were not affected. They had no grudges against each other and continued to visit Lu Zhi as usual. After expressing their concern for Lu Zhi's health, these brothers gathered in the garden.

In the garden of Lu Zhi's mansion, all the disciples gathered together. The turbulent times made everyone feel heavy-hearted, especially the phenomenon of the aristocratic families annexing each other and the eunuchs' tyranny. Everyone was still indignant.

Sun Ce angrily declared, "On the night of the coup, we dedicated ourselves to the court, yet we received no fair treatment! Especially towards Master Lu; their treatment is truly chilling!" Pang De echoed, "Indeed, if it weren't for our desperate efforts, His Majesty wouldn't even be who he is today!"

Zhou Yu lamented, "The court is truly unfair! Loyalty and righteousness are rarely rewarded. The court is dominated by tyrannical eunuchs and treacherous officials. I wonder if there is any hope for the Han Dynasty."

Xun Yu expressed deep concern, "With the aristocratic families annexing each other and powerful individuals coexisting, the imperial court's control over all parties is becoming increasingly weak. It's difficult for the imperial court to issue orders, as these aristocratic families control the promotion of officials, making it difficult for the common people to get ahead. If this continues, the world will be in chaos!"

Everyone was in deep worry and felt extremely concerned and helpless about the current situation.

Ma Chao remained silent, though he was actually feeling a bit gloomy. He stood quietly by, listening to everyone's words, his mind churning. After a while, he slowly spoke, "Everyone, don't worry too much. Although the situation is difficult, we can't give up hope. We must believe that as long as we work together, we will one day be able to change this situation." Ma Chao's voice was firm, and he looked at the crowd, a glint in his eyes. "Although we face many difficulties, we cannot be defeated by them. We must continue to work hard for the future of the Han Dynasty and for the peace of the people." After speaking, Ma Chao sighed slightly, but the gloom in his heart had not completely dissipated.

When Lu Zhi learned that they were having a small gathering, he dragged his sick and tired body, supported by Lu Wan, and walked over with a staggering gait, listening quietly to their conversation.

Lu Zhi then patiently comforted them, his face filled with kindness and concern. He said gently, "My children, although the Han Dynasty has encountered some setbacks, like a person suffering from an illness, you must not lose faith. There is always a solution to every problem in this world. The Han Dynasty has weathered many storms and possesses a profound foundation. It will not be easily overthrown. Although the new emperor, Liu Bian, is temporarily unable to rule the country, and the government is plagued by the influence of the aristocratic families and the eunuch party, he is a man who cares deeply about the people and holds great ambitions. He has a sincere heart for the Han Dynasty and a deep love for the people. We must believe that in the face of difficulties, as long as we work together and make unremitting efforts, we will surely help Your Majesty revive the government and restore the Han Dynasty to its former glory. You are all talented and ambitious young people. You must not lose heart, but remain firm in your faith and continue to forge ahead for the future of the Han Dynasty."

Lu Zhi's words were full of deep affection and expectations for the Han Dynasty, and everyone present felt his determination and persistence.

Although everyone had different thoughts and opinions, seeing Lu Zhi's current state, they were heartbroken beyond words. In just over ten days, half of his once jet-black hair had turned gray, and his once straight back had become slightly hunched.

Looking at the old man who had toiled his whole life for the Han Dynasty, how could they bear to express a different opinion from him, to deny his knowledge and make him even more heartbroken? They knew Lu Zhi's sincere heart for the Han Dynasty, so how could they bear to let him suffer any more harm?

Lu Zhi was in poor health and mentally exhausted, unable to sit for long. He encouraged the young men, expressed his expectations and trust in them, and hoped that they would contribute to the Han Dynasty. Then, supported by Lu Wan, he slowly left.

Lu Zhi knew full well that these young men were rare pillars of state. If properly guided and nurtured, they would surely shine for the Han Dynasty and become the backbone of the nation. Carrying with him his hopes for these young men and a glimmer of hope for the Han Dynasty's future, he staggered away.

The group discussed academic matters for a while, but by this point, everyone was filled with a sense of worry and anger, making it difficult to delve deeper into their studies. So, they stopped discussing further. Then, Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and the others began a duel. It's worth noting that although Dian Wei had sustained more than ten wounds that night, he had recovered remarkably quickly, his wounds now scarred and unaffected. Sun Ce dragged Dian Wei into a duel, still haunted by the bitterness of his defeat at Dian Wei's hands.

Although Sun Ce had been constantly honing his martial arts skills since his defeat by Dian Wei, he still seemed outmatched when the time came for him to actually fight Dian Wei. Ma Chao offered guidance, and Ma Chao's martial arts skills had reached peak form, even reaching a new level of understanding, which greatly benefited Sun Ce. Sun Ce deeply admired Ma Chao's generosity in teaching him.

During Sun Ce's previous duel with Dian Wei, Ma Chao had keenly noticed Sun Ce's striking style, characterized by its wide-ranging and aggressive movements, and its emphasis on ferocity. Consequently, Ma Chao unreservedly imparted his family's unique skills and his own profound insights into the martial arts to Sun Ce.

As Sun Ce's skills improved, Ma Chao realized that despite his remarkable progress, his weaponry was still lacking. This realization sparked an idea in Ma Chao: he decided to craft a unique weapon for Sun Ce, one that would better unleash his abilities.