Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

At the banquet, everyone was in high spirits. Afterward, Dong Zhuo summoned Li Ru to discuss matters. With a puzzled look on his face, Dong Zhuo asked, "Wenyou, you repeatedly comforted Ma Teng and Ma Chao during the banquet. Do you think these two can be used by me? Are they worthy of such treatment?"

Li Ru pondered for a moment and then said to Dong Zhuo, "My lord, Ma Teng and Ma Chao are rare and valiant men. You saved their lives, and Ma Teng is still your subordinate. What do you think of Ma Chao?" Dong Zhuo replied, "Ma Chao is truly valiant and unrivaled. I like him very much."

Li Ru smiled, stroking his broken beard. "That's exactly right, my lord," he said. "When Wuwei was besieged, the situation was so dire, yet Ma Teng remained steadfast, demonstrating his loyalty. And Ma Chao, his son, is also a man of loyal patriotism. These father and son are both of noble character, and we owe them a debt of gratitude. If we can win them over, they will surely become our formidable allies. If they sincerely surrender, wouldn't it be like adding wings to our lord's army?"

Dong Zhuo was truly enamored with Ma Chao's bravery, his admiration evident beyond words. Dong Zhuo stroked his chin and said to Li Ru, "Wenyou, how can we win over these father and son? This is giving me quite a headache."

Li Ru smiled slightly, stroked his beard, and said, "My lord, we can address this from both a public and private perspective. For your part, during the suppression of the Xiliang rebellion, Ma Teng held onto Wuwei City, and Ma Chao defeated the Eastern Qiang before defeating General Han Sui. Their contributions are truly remarkable. When we report their achievements, we will detail their accomplishments one by one, praise them highly, and recommend them to the court. This will not only demonstrate your lord's generosity and appreciation, but also allow them to feel your regard for them."

Dong Zhuo nodded slightly and thought to himself: This is a good idea. It can not only show my kindness, but also make them grateful to me.

Li Ru continued, "Personally, Ma Chao is a handsome young man with a noble bearing and both civil and military talents. He is truly a rare talent in the world. My lord, Miss Dong Bai is also of marriageable age. This boy would be a perfect match for her. It all depends on whether you are willing to give him up."

When Dong Zhuo heard this, a look of embarrassment appeared on his face, and he thought to himself: I have always loved Dong Bai very much since her father passed away. I really don't know if she is willing to accept this marriage.

Li Ru seemed to have read Dong Zhuo's mind and said, "Young lady, you have always preferred weapons to red clothes. Ma Chao is so handsome and has such great martial arts skills. If you see him, you will definitely fall in love with him. Moreover, with Ma Chao's status and talents, he is a perfect match for you."

Dong Zhuo laughed heartily upon hearing this and said, "Ah, indeed it is so. This boy's talent and appearance are truly rare in the world. I just wonder if he would be willing to become my grandson-in-law."

Dong Zhuo thought to himself: If I can marry Ma Teng and his son, my power in Xiliang will be more secure, which will be of great benefit to me. However, this marriage needs to be carefully considered and cannot be rushed.

Dong Zhuo discussed the matter with Li Ru again. He said to Li Ru, "Wenyou, you must write a detailed military report on the suppression of the rebellion in Xiliang and submit it to the court. Not only must you highlight the achievements of the suppression, but you must also clearly list the contributions of Ma Teng, his son Ma Chao, and others."

Li Ru nodded and replied, "Rest assured, my lord. I understand. I will include all of this in detail in the military report, so that the court will fully understand the hardships of suppressing the rebellion and their achievements."

Li Ru then began writing a military report, detailing the beginning and end of the Xiliang rebellion, the intensity of the fighting, and the heroic performance of Ma Teng and his son, including relevant military exploits. Knowing the importance of this report to Dong Zhuo and Ma Teng, he spared no effort, striving to present every detail accurately.

After the banquet, Ma Teng returned to the county magistrate's mansion under the moonlight, bringing the heroic Ma Chao with him.

The bright moonlight shone across the courtyard of the County Magistrate's Mansion, casting a silver veil over everything. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves, whispering the tranquility of the night. Upon entering the mansion, they saw their mother, a gentle smile on her face, standing beneath the ancient locust tree in the courtyard, waiting for them. The locust flowers were in full bloom, their snow-white petals appearing especially delicate in the moonlight, and a delicate fragrance filled the air. Their younger sister, Ma Yunlu, ran cheerfully over, her eyes sparkling with joy, her skirt fluttering gently in the wind, like a fairy descending to earth.

Ma Teng and Ma Chao walked quickly forward. Ma Teng gently embraced his wife, his eyes filled with tenderness, his voice tinged with emotion: "I've brought Chao back. Our family is reunited. You've worked so hard all this time." Ma Chao also came to his mother's side, knelt on one knee, took her hand, and said, "Mother, I'm back." Tears welled up in his mother's eyes. She gently stroked Ma Chao's face, saying, "It's good to have you back, it's good to have you back." Just then, Ma Xiu and Ma Tie also ran over. They surrounded Ma Teng and Ma Chao, cheering joyfully. Ma Dai stood nearby, smiling as he watched this heartwarming scene. The ancient locust tree swayed gently in the night breeze, as if it too rejoiced at the family reunion. The family reunited, their laughter and joy echoing through the county magistrate's residence, a warmth of family love, a deep concern and love for each other.

Ma Chao excitedly recounted to his parents his sworn brotherhood with Sun Ce and Zhou Yu, as well as the many close friends he had made during his school years. He also mentioned Lu Wan and Cai Wenji, though he didn't specify their relationship, simply saying they were very close. Despite being exhausted, Ma Teng remained by his wife and children's side, quietly listening to their energetic recounting of anecdotes, a beaming smile on his face.

--split line--

At this time, within Luoyang, the struggle between the aristocratic families and the eunuch clique reached a fever pitch. The aristocratic families encouraged He Jin to exterminate the eunuchs, while the eunuch clique clung closely to Empress Dowager He. The two sides were at a stalemate, and the conflict between them only intensified. On the side of Empress Dowager Dong, Dong Cheng was also secretly plotting. Because of the sudden rebellion in Xiliang, the aristocratic forces on Empress Dowager Dong's side seized the opportunity to promote Dong Zhuo. It was through this maneuvering that Dong Zhuo's move to lead the army was realized. Dong Zhuo's presence also gave Empress Dowager Dong and Dong Cheng a voice in the court.

The young emperor was under constant surveillance from both sides, and Lu Zhi could only rely on Cai Yong for occasional messages. Lu Zhi had also made arrangements. He had contacted Gongsun Zan, who dispatched his brother Gongsun Xu with the White Horse Volunteers as a precaution. However, the White Horse Volunteers were too conspicuous, drawing close scrutiny from both the eunuch faction and the aristocratic families. Unwilling to reveal their presence, Lu Zhi stationed the majority of his troops outside Luoyang. Only Zhao Yun and twenty elite soldiers were stationed at Lu Zhi's residence to ensure his safety. It was precisely because the conflict between He Jin and the Ten Eunuchs intensified that the White Horse Volunteers' presence remained undiscovered. On the surface, Luoyang City appeared safe, but those with insight could already sense the impending precarious situation.

Ever since Ma Chao's return to Xiliang, Lu Wan and Cai Wenji have been consumed by longing and worry. They've tried every possible means, indirect and indirect, to learn more about Ma Chao. However, reality has been far from satisfactory. Lu Zhi's position at court has declined significantly, becoming severely marginalized. He's unable to obtain any detailed information about Ma Chao, leaving Lu Wan and Cai Wenji feeling immensely anxious and helpless.

Cai Yong, the only person who could get some information about Xiliang from He Jin's residence, could only provide fragmentary information, which was a drop in the bucket for the two women. Therefore, Lu Wan and Cai Wenji often gathered together, secretly sad, their hearts filled with worry for Ma Chao. They often prayed silently, hoping that Ma Chao would be safe and return to them soon.