In 222 AD, the second year of Han Zhangwu, in the winter, on the third day of the twelfth lunar month, the weather since winter had been bone-chillingly cold, and today, dark clouds covered the sky, and strong winds howled.
Just past the hour of Wei (1 PM-3 PM), the sky began to darken, and it looked as though snow might fall today; people in Chengdu hurried along, fearing their journeys would be obstructed by the wind and snow.
However, in front of the General's Residence, there was a commotion as doctors were invited in batches, even imperial physicians from the palace were among them.
It turned out that Ma Chao, the Godly Might General and one of the Five Tiger Generals, was gravely ill and beyond medical help.
Many generals of the army either came in person or sent their sons, nephews, or trusted subordinates, just to see the General one last time.
Ma Chao was drifting in and out of consciousness; his younger cousin, Ma Dai, was overseeing all matters, including receiving visitors and preparing for his passing.
On the sickbed, Ma Chao gradually awoke from his coma.
Ma Dai quickly stepped forward to prop up Ma Chao's pillow and informed him that the Emperor had sent imperial physicians for diagnosis today and bestowed various rewards, and also about the visits from various Marquis.
As he spoke, Ma Chao interrupted Ma Dai, saying, “Bo Zhan, hold on.
Today... my time is near... I only ask... one thing, can I... in this life, face... Lu Zhi... in the afterlife...?”
Tears streamed down Ma Dai's face, and he choked, unable to reply.
Amidst their silence, Ma Chao recalled the past: achieving fame in his youth, asserting his might among foreign tribes, and being revered by the Qiang as the Godly Might General.
Young and arrogant, acting recklessly, just when he was at the height of his ambition, sudden bad news arrived: his father and brothers were implicated by him and executed by Cao Cao.
To avenge his father, he raised an army to attack Cao Cao, chasing Cao Cao so closely that he had to cut off his beard and discard his robe.
He dominated Western Liang but was then defeated by Cao Cao due to internal discord.
He sought refuge with Zhang Lu, but Zhang Lu was not a wise ruler; he was incompetent and full of suspicion.
He then rebelled against Zhang Lu and defected to Liu Bei, fighting bloody battles for Liu Bei to enter Sichuan.
When Liu Bei stabilized his territory, Ma Chao fully expected to conquer Cao Cao to avenge his father, but he found that he only received high official positions and generous rewards, with no opportunity to lead troops with real power.
It turned out that Liu Bei was also full of apprehension towards him.
His father's revenge unfulfilled, his family's prosperity elusive, past events vivid in his mind, a hero at his end with ambitions unfulfilled, his chest grew increasingly stifled.
His blood surged, his eyes widened in anger, and he loudly cried out to kill Cao Cao for revenge.
After three shouts, he vomited blood and died.
......
A tickle at the tip of his nose, Ma Chao awoke from his sleep.
Opening his eyes, he saw his younger sister, Ma Yunlu, holding a chicken feather in front of him.
Ma Yunlu smiled slyly, “Big brother, you're awake!
You actually slept in the middle of the day; I'll tell Lu Zhi and he'll punish you with three hundred spear drills.”
Ma Chao felt a moment of bewilderment, only feeling the world spinning and a rush of countless memories.
“Wasn't I beyond medical help, waiting to die in bed?
Wasn't my younger sister already killed by Cao Cao along with Lu Zhi and my mother?
What is happening?”
He looked down and saw that he was still a young man, and the furnishings were still as they were in his youth.
His younger sister was still standing before him, smiling like a flower.
“What is going on?”
The surge of memories was too overwhelming, and he fainted again from a headache.
Slowly regaining consciousness, Ma Chao lay on the bed, his eyes listlessly gazing at the sunlight streaming through the window, his mind filled with countless thoughts.
“I clearly died, so how am I alive again, and still young?
What exactly happened?
Is it Zhuang Zhou dreaming of a butterfly, or a butterfly dreaming of Zhuang Zhou?
Decades of battles are vivid in my mind, so real, and now I genuinely feel the sunlight.
Where did it all go wrong?
I won't think about it anymore; living is truly good.
Since Heaven has given me a chance to start over, I have so many regrets that must not happen again.
I must change my bad habits: the pride of a warrior, the arrogance of a noble family, the aversion to literature, politics, and internal affairs.
All of this must change.
I must no longer be a reckless man who only knows personal martial prowess.
I will change my destiny, protect my family, and glorify my clan!
The ravaged Han Dynasty, the suffering common people—in this life, I will protect you!”
Just as Ma Chao was lost in thought, a hurried sound of footsteps approached.
Before he even arrived, Ma Teng's anxious voice was heard: “Ma Chao, Ma Chao, what's wrong with you? I suddenly heard you fainted?”
Hearing Ma Teng's call, Ma Chao scrambled out of bed, hurried forward, and helped Ma Teng sit down.
Before he could speak, tears welled up in his eyes.
He knelt respectfully before Ma Teng, choking out, “Lu Zhi, your son is fine; I apologize for making you worry.”
Ma Teng hastily tried to help Ma Chao up, saying gently, “Ma Chao, what is wrong with you today? What happened? Why are you so formal between father and son?”
Ma Chao evaded Ma Teng's hands reaching to help him, and said sadly, “Lu Zhi, do not stop me; let your son kneel.
Your son had a very long dream, dreaming that because of my arrogance, Lu Zhi and my brothers all died at the hands of Cao Cao.
After that, I drifted aimlessly for the rest of my life, my clan withered, and I died in depression!
When your son woke up, I felt the same pain and was heartbroken.
I am truly ashamed of Lu Zhi's kindness in raising and teaching me...”
Ma Chao knelt beside Ma Teng's seat, hugging Ma Teng's legs, weeping profusely.
Ma Teng stood up and stroked Ma Chao's head, saying tenderly, “Ma Chao, do not cry.
Fortune and misfortune are destined by Heaven.
Our family, from our ancestor Fubo General Ma Yuan, has enjoyed generations of wealth until today.
Dreams are not necessarily real.
Even if they are, it is our family's fate.
Lu Zhi has spent his life in military campaigns and has long been accustomed to life and death.
The blood on his hands is countless.
Those who kill will be killed; do not blame others.
Ma Chao, this matter is a warning to you.
You have always been competitive and highly talented in martial arts and battle formations, but you have made no progress in your studies.
Without studying, one does not know propriety.
Do not act impulsively in everything.
A good man should cultivate both martial and literary skills, becoming a well-rounded gentleman.
You must strive for this.”
Ma Chao nodded, saying, “Your son will bear Lu Zhi's teachings in mind.
From now on, I will definitely change this reckless and arrogant character and seek out famous teachers to revitalize our Ma family.”
Ma Teng then helped Ma Chao up and said, “Ma Chao, what you just said is quite strange.
It concerns the Han Dynasty and involves many Marquis in the world.
You must not mention it to anyone else; only you and I, father and son, should know.
We will slowly verify if events unfold as they did in your dream.
Now is a time of trouble; everything requires careful speech and action, lest such talk bring unnecessary calamity.
Alright, Ma Chao, let's leave it at that for now.
Although you are fine, you still need more rest.
Stop your spear practice for today.
Lu Zhi will arrange for talented and virtuous people to teach you in the coming days.”
Ma Teng, seeing that Ma Chao was fine, went to handle official business after giving his instructions.
Ma Chao again thought of that strange and long dream, with every detail vivid, and could not help but sigh with emotion, secretly vowing to change everything.