Eastern Han Dynasty, not the Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1127 Getting Closer to Ma Yue in a Different Way

That day, Ma Chao and Zhou Yu talked in the courtyard and then into the study, from dawn until sunset, when the afterglow of the sunset painted half the sky before they finally stopped. In the evening, Dong Bai, Zhang Fubao, Zhen Mi, and Gongsun Rou returned from the back garden. Although they looked somewhat tired, a trace of worry remained between their brows, suggesting that they had noticed something while looking after the children during the day.

Seeing them enter, Ma Chao stood up and said gently, "Did you have a good time taking the children out today? Are the little ones all doing well?"

Dong Bai spoke first, his voice gentle: "The children are all very well-behaved. Each of them looks both scholarly and has the strength of someone who has practiced martial arts. It is evident how much effort Governor Zhou has put into them over the years."

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao nodded secretly, feeling even more grateful to Zhou Yu. Over the years, Gongjin had not only maintained the situation in Wu Commandery but also personally raised these children; the hardships he had endured were probably far greater than outsiders could see.

He pressed on, "And what about our Yue'er? He wasn't naughty today, was he?"

Dong Bai smiled and said, "Ma Yue is truly a tiger father like dog son. At only a few years old, he can lead a group of younger brothers to obey him. Even the servants say he has the air of a leader. He has the demeanor of a hero at such a young age. I like him very much."

A loving father's smile immediately spread across Ma Chao's face, and even the fine lines at the corners of his eyes softened a bit, probably because he was thinking of his son's mature-looking appearance.

Zhang Fubao, standing to the side, pouted, looking a little aggrieved: "Everything else is fine, but this kid is too stubborn! He's always indifferent to us, as if he doesn't see us, which makes the other kids afraid to get close to us. It was only after my two older sisters, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, smoothed things over and said a lot of things that the other kids slowly started to come closer to us."

Dong Bai gently patted her hand and advised softly, "Fu Bao, don't say too much. The children are still young and their minds are pure and straightforward. We arrived late, so it's neither reasonable nor ethical for us to force him to be close to us immediately. Besides, given our current status, we've taken on the role of his mother. We haven't done anything to gain his trust, so how can we expect him to be respectful?"

Zhen Mi nodded in agreement and looked at Ma Chao, saying, "My lord, I see that these children all have a hero complex. They keep talking about your achievements in Xiliang. Why don't you find an opportunity to show them your skills and let them see for themselves? After all, hearing others say that you are a peerless hero is not as real as seeing it with your own eyes. Perhaps in this way, our relationship with the children can be improved more quickly."

As Ma Chao listened to their chatter, a thought stirred within him. Yes, though the children were young, they already possessed their own judgment. Rather than letting them guess from a distance, it would be better to approach them directly and show them that he was not only the "peerless hero" they spoke of, but also an elder who genuinely protected them.

He looked at the women and saw the expectation in their eyes, so he nodded and said, "You are right. Tomorrow I will take them to the training ground and let them see how their fathers and uncles trained soldiers back then."

The moonlight outside the window crept into the room, illuminating the gradually relaxing brows on everyone's faces, as if even the stagnation in the air had lessened.

The next morning, as soon as the first light pierced through the window, Da Qiao and Xiao Qiao, along with Dong Bai, Zhen Mi, Zhang Fubao, and Gongsun Rou, headed towards the outskirts of Wu County. There lived the widows of Ma Chao's personal guards, mostly women from the Yue tribes, who had lived there since their husbands' deaths in battle, raising their children. Their purpose was twofold: first, to visit and comfort Ma Chao, and second, to discuss the relocation to Chang'an. Ma Chao wanted his children to return to their ancestral homeland of Xiliang, but he also feared the widows would be uneasy separated from their families and relatives, so he specifically sent them to carefully reassure them, leaving it to their own choice.

On the other side, Ma Chao and Zhou Yu finished their breakfast and walked side by side toward the children's school. The plane tree leaves on both sides of the bluestone path were still covered with morning dew, rustling softly underfoot.

“Gongjin, yesterday Dong Bai told me that the children are all well-rounded in both literature and martial arts,” Ma Chao turned to look at Zhou Yu, his eyes filled with curiosity, “How do you usually arrange their studies?”

Zhou Yu thought of the group of teenagers, and a smile involuntarily appeared on his lips, but he quickly suppressed it: "It's quite a coincidence. Yue'er has been a naughty boy since he was a child. When he was two or three years old, he loved to rummage through my desk, lying on the map and muttering to himself. The other children were about the same age, and they were all quite unruly."

He paused, then explained in detail: "From the age of four, I had them live together so they could keep each other company. After breakfast in the morning, when their minds were clear, I would teach them some classics and historical texts, so they could recognize some characters and understand some principles. When they got restless, I would change my approach and tell them about the intricacies of military strategy or the battles in Yangzhou, recounting stories of charging into battle. As they listened, their spirits would lift again."

“The afternoon sun is warm, and the children are prone to drowsiness,” Zhou Yu’s voice softened. “So let them learn some martial arts from Taishi Ci, Jiang Qin, Zhou Tai, and others, or basic horsemanship and archery, to toughen up their muscles and bones. Firstly, it will help them get some exercise, and secondly, it will help them temper their temperament, so they won’t run around and fight all day long.”

After hearing this, Ma Chao couldn't help but laugh and said, "Gongjin, isn't this too harsh? These children are still so young, yet you've been training them like this for two years."

The smile on Zhou Yu's face faded, turning into a bitter laugh, and complex emotions welled up in his eyes: "Brother, when the news of you and Bo Fu came back then, I held these children who had just learned to walk, and I had only one thought in my mind—they have lost their father, and as their uncle and teacher, I cannot let them become helpless children who can be bullied by others."

He gazed at the eaves of the school in the distance, his voice lowering: "I'm not saying I'll force them to grow up and seek revenge, that's too painful. But at the very least, we must raise them to be useful people, able to protect themselves, and able to live with dignity. Otherwise, how can I face their fathers who died in battle?"

“We shouldn’t let them carry the burden of hatred, but we should at least let them live with dignity.” Zhou Yu’s fingertips trembled slightly. “Otherwise, how can I face Bo Fu in the afterlife, how can I face those brothers who followed us through thick and thin?”

Upon hearing this, Ma Chao abruptly stopped in his tracks. The morning light fell on the few strands of silver in Zhou Yu's hair, making the red marks in his eyes particularly clear. The hardships of these past years couldn't be summed up with a simple "hard work." He raised his hand and patted Zhou Yu's shoulder, the warmth of his palm seeping through the fabric. A thousand words, in the end, condensed into a deep sigh: "You did the right thing. I was presumptuous."

The school gate was right in front of him, and he could faintly hear the children's clear voices reciting their lessons, as crisp as a mountain stream, shattering the somber atmosphere of the courtyard. Zhou Yu took a deep breath and pushed open the vermilion wooden door, as if he were also pushing open the door to the children's bright future.

Inside the school, the air was filled with the gentle fragrance of sandalwood incense, mingling with the children's clear voices reciting their lessons, creating a sense of tranquility. The teacher, named Kan Ze, was a renowned scholar personally invited by Sun Ce years ago. He was not only well-versed in literature but also worldly wisdom. At this moment, he was holding a scroll, leading the children in reciting the Book of Songs. Just as the melody of "Green are your robes, deep is my longing" ended, the sound of Zhou Yu pushing open the door startled several children, who turned to look.

"Gan Xiang, what are you looking at?" Kan Ze raised an eyebrow, his voice low but authoritative.

The child named Gan Xiang shrank back and whispered, "It's Uncle Gongjin who's here, and the general who called me 'Uncle' yesterday is here too!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of children couldn't help but turn their heads, their curious gazes all fixed on the doorway. Kan Ze reluctantly put down his book and said to Zhou Yu in a deep voice, "Gongjin, you're disrupting class again." He then looked at Ma Chao, his eyes filled with inquiry, "And who is this?"

"This is my sworn brother, Ma Chao," Zhou Yu introduced with a smile. Then, changing the subject, he said half-jokingly, "Speaking of which, Meng Qi was quite the child prodigy when he was studying in Luoyang."

Ma Chao laughed and gave him a push: "Gongjin is making fun of me too."

Kan Ze, however, became interested and stroked his beard, saying, "Oh? Your Majesty was once called a child prodigy. I'd like to test you on that." As he spoke, he casually recited the Analects, "Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you." "I wonder what Your Majesty's opinion is on this saying?"

Ma Chao knew this was a good opportunity to set a good example for the children, so he said seriously, "Master's words seem simple, but they actually contain the fundamental principles of life. Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you, which means to be aware of your own shortcomings and faults; do not do to others what you would not have them do to you, which means to have a benevolent heart and to uphold the bottom line. For example, in military campaigns, if you do not want your soldiers to die unjustly, you cannot condone your subordinates to kill innocent people; for example, in dealing with people, if you do not like being suspected, you should first treat people with sincerity."

He spoke eloquently, from the Analects to Sun Tzu's Art of War, and even cited anecdotes from the Zuo Zhuan as evidence. Every sentence hit the nail on the head, and he thoroughly analyzed even the deeper meanings that Kan Ze had not mentioned. The children listened intently, forgetting their initial shyness, and stared at him with wide eyes.

Kan Ze was increasingly alarmed as he listened. After Ma Chao finished speaking, he suddenly stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed to Ma Chao, saying, "Your Majesty is not only exceptionally brave and skilled in martial arts, but also possesses such profound knowledge! I admire you greatly; you are truly a great talent!"

Ma Chao quickly returned the greeting: "Master, you flatter me. These are just some rudimentary insights. I hope the children will forgive my ignorance."

Kan Ze waved his hand and said, "How can it be considered superficial? Your Majesty can integrate the meaning of the classics with your actions; that is true learning. With someone like Your Majesty around, what the children can learn is far more practical than what this old teacher of mine teaches in books."

The children, who had originally come to watch the spectacle, had their eyes light up when they heard Ma Chao speak of the Master with such admiration.

Just moments ago they were clenching their fists in debate about whether military strategy could be adapted, but now they've all forgotten their restraint and are crowding forward, their little faces filled with admiration.

“Uncle, you’re absolutely right! If you had been here last time, you would have definitely been able to chase away that thug from the next street who tried to steal Grandma Wang’s money for vegetables!” A little girl with pigtails said, looking up at her with a gleam in her eyes.

"When I grow up, I want to be like you, both disciplined and adaptable!" Another chubby little boy clenched his fist, taking Ma Chao's words as a declaration of war.

Looking at the group of children, Ma Chao's tense expression softened, and he reached out to pat the little boy's head: "Okay, but remember, learn to protect yourself first, then talk about protecting others. When it really comes down to it, don't just rely on brute force; your brain is more useful than your fists."

The children nodded as if they understood, and their eyes showed even more admiration for Ma Chao—this was not a hero from a book, but a living example who could explain principles clearly and drive away bad guys.

Zhou Yu gazed at the scene before him, a hint of relief in his smile. Sunlight streamed through the window, falling on the children's faces and on Ma Chao's gentle features, as if even the scent of ink in the air had taken on a touch of warmth.