SFS Chapter 124 Brother's Letter to Ma Chao
Chapter 124 Brother's Letter to Ma Chao
The current situation in Xiliang is truly excellent. The military farming program, driven by the concerted efforts of all parties, is progressing smoothly. The farmlands are now neatly organized and vibrant. Furthermore, the military restructuring has yielded significant results, with stricter discipline, better training, and a significant boost in overall combat effectiveness. Everything is on track. Furthermore, since the establishment of the Talent Recruitment Hall, while no exceptional, eye-catching talents have yet arrived, civil servants and clerks from the lower ranks have gradually arrived. Among these individuals, Cheng Gongying and Yang Fu are particularly notable. Their arrival has undoubtedly brought new strength and wisdom to Xiliang. Their arrival has also eased the burden on Xun Yu and Zao Zhi, making their work more manageable. In short, all signs in Xiliang indicate that everything is steadily progressing in a positive direction.
During this time, the Xiliang caravans finally returned after a long journey. They not only brought back the weapons that Ma Chao had carefully crafted for Sun Ce, but also brought back important news about his sworn brother that Ma Chao had always wanted to know.
Recalling the days when Sun Ce and Zhou Yu escorted Qiao Gong back home to escape disaster, Sun Ce, with unwavering resolve, dedicated himself to his father, Sun Jian's army. With his bravery and exceptional ability, he fought tirelessly on the battlefield, achieving one brilliant victory after another. His fame now spread far and wide. Upon hearing this news, Ma Chao was overwhelmed with joy and relief, genuinely happy and proud of his sworn brother. Zhou Yu and Lu Su, two talented young men, each chose to return to their hometowns after their escort journey to immerse themselves in the ocean of knowledge. Ma Chao fully recognized their talent and potential and was grateful for their stable lives. He often wondered if it weren't for Qiao Gong's desire to escape the danger, prompting these men to leave the vortex of uncertainty and danger, he could only imagine the difficult and chaotic situation they would have faced when the chaos erupted in Luoyang.
During the journey escorting Duke Qiao, the feelings between Sun Ce and Da Qiao, and between Zhou Yu and Xiao Qiao, gradually blossomed, culminating in mutual confessions. It was a tender yet sincere bond, as beautiful and moving as a flower blossoming in spring. They agreed to propose marriage to Duke Qiao once they were a little older and the time was right. Duke Qiao was deeply pleased with the dedicated escort these two talented young men provided, and he recognized the commitment and responsibility they displayed throughout. In his eyes, the two young couples were perfectly matched, and everything seemed perfectly natural, as if orchestrated by fate.
Ma Chao was naturally overjoyed at the happy marriages of his two brothers. He had known Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao before, and he had a good understanding of their personalities and character, which made him feel reassured and assured about their future lives. However, when Ma Chao unfolded the letter from Sun Ce, his emotions became complicated. Sun Ce concluded the letter by asking about his relationship with Lu Wan and Cai Wenji, and this sentiment filled Ma Chao with an indescribable pain. Cai Wenji, the woman with whom he had once been inextricably linked, was now married, but her married life was not going well. Whenever Ma Chao thought of her, he felt a surge of pity and helplessness. While Lu Wan was now with him, Dong Bai was also there, creating a delicate and complex relationship between the three. Dong Bai and Lu Wan would often argue over trivial matters, which troubled Ma Chao greatly. Caught in the middle, he often felt torn and unsure how to reconcile and manage these relationships.
Official reports from the imperial court declared that Dong Zhuo had convicted Lu Zhi of being a traitor who had coerced the emperor into rebellion and subsequently murdered him. Meanwhile, Gongsun Zan, imprisoned by Liu Yu, prevented any further information from leaking out. Consequently, Lu Zhi's true condition remained unknown. Although Ma Teng and Ma Chao both firmly believed in Lu Zhi's character and believed he would never commit such a rebellious act, this unfavorable news left Ma Teng deeply troubled and distressed.
During the time Ma Chao welcomed Lu Zhi's family back to Xiliang, he showed a particular fondness for Lu Zhi's daughter, Lu Wan, a fact that Ma Teng's family observed. Ma Teng and his wife were both deeply fond of this intelligent woman. However, this development completely disrupted Ma Teng's plans. Long before Dong Zhuo arrived in Beijing, Li Ru and Ma Teng had agreed to a marriage between Ma Chao and Dong Bai. However, Dong Zhuo's involvement in the war put the marriage on hold. However, with Dong Zhuo's growing power and status, and given his previous favors to the Ma family, Ma Teng could not bear to disobey Dong Zhuo. Furthermore, Ma Chao had repeatedly disapproved of Dong Zhuo's favors in the court. Ma Teng wondered how the Ma family could survive in this complex situation without Dong Zhuo's connections. Deeply worried and helpless, he found himself in a dilemma.
As Madam Ma and Madam Lu grew closer, Ma Teng wanted to ask Madam Ma to sound out Madam Lu. However, Madam Lu was somewhat skeptical of Ma Teng's idea. Madam Ma felt that despite the Lu family's hardship, their former status meant that a daughter of the Lu family was more than a match for Ma Chao, even considered too high a match. Now that the Lu family was in trouble, wouldn't such an act be met with shame? However, Ma Teng also expressed his concerns. Because of Lu Zhi's family, Dong Zhuo's kindness to the Ma family, and Dong Zhuo's current power, if they disobeyed Dong Zhuo's wishes, the Ma family would have nowhere to live. Furthermore, the Lu family was now labeled a traitor. If Ma Chao insisted on marrying the Lu family's daughter, he would not only displease Dong Zhuo, but also face the consequences. Ma Teng discussed his concerns with Madam Ma, who was helpless and could only offer a brief probing. Madam Lu was a discerning woman, and she immediately discerned the hidden meaning in their words.
Mrs. Lu was now living under someone else's roof, and since the Lu family had always been known for its unyielding pride, it was only natural that she tried to dissuade her daughter. Lu Wan felt aggrieved upon hearing this, but there was nothing she could do. After all, it was all true. She could only swallow her heartache and distance herself slightly from Ma Chao. Ma Chao watched his lover drift away from him day by day, assuming it was Dong Bai who had caused a rift in Lu Wan's heart, and he didn't dwell on the details.
Because Ma Chao was extremely afraid that Lu Wan would take it personally, he unconsciously created a sense of distance between them and Dong Bai. It was this vague, unspoken sense of distance that caused each of them to secretly grieve. Dong Bai, as always, showed deep affection and concern for Ma Chao, but received no response from Ma Chao. Ma Chao desperately wanted to be close to Lu Wan, but Lu Wan, intentionally or unintentionally, created a noticeable sense of distance. Inwardly, Lu Wan was deeply distressed, practically devastated. This complex situation was incredibly agonizing for the Ma Teng family, who watched helplessly as these three young people, each mired in sadness and sorrow due to their emotional struggles, faced a constant state of sadness.
Ma Teng was filled with remorse and anguish over this matter. He hadn't expected Madam Lu to be so clever. A mere subtle allusion had already been made, yet she had keenly perceived it, leaving the three children filled with daily worry. While there's a saying that marriages are decided by parents and by matchmakers, considering Ma Chao's upbringing, Ma Teng and his companions were reluctant to impose their wishes on him. Furthermore, despite Ma Chao's current power and prestige, and his seemingly easygoing and benevolent exterior, he actually harbored a hint of stubbornness. Ma Chao appeared filial and obedient, but in reality, he was a man of strong opinions. Ma Teng and his companions worried that forcing Ma Chao might even backfire.