After the revelry of that night gradually subsided, the next day, Dong Zhuo majestically beat the war drums, summoning his generals to gather and discuss the subsequent campaign plans. Ma Chao and Ma Teng, father and son, appeared in the ranks with heroic and valiant postures, their figures tall and their brows revealing determination and courage.
Now, with the defeat of Han Sui's rebel army, Dong Zhuo was implicitly recognized as the supreme authority in Western Liang. Dong Zhuo, with sharp eyes, first loudly announced that all units would immediately set out to pursue and eliminate rebel leaders such as Hou Xuan and Li Kan, vowing to completely eradicate the rebel forces in Western Liang.
Ma Chao proactively stepped forward, cupped his fists, and requested, "This humble general is willing to go and eliminate Han Sui's forces in Jincheng Commandery. Western Qiang King Che Li Ji is my sworn brother, and my presence will allow for better cooperation with him." Dong Zhuo nodded slightly, showing a look of appreciation, and readily agreed. Then, he turned to Ma Teng and earnestly encouraged him, "Ma Teng, you must fully dedicate yourself to rebuilding Wuwei Commandery. Wuwei is currently in ruins, and you must not take it lightly; proceed steadily and surely." Ma Teng respectfully accepted the order, his eyes firm.
With all matters decided, everyone's gaze then focused on the captured generals, Cheng Yin and Yang Qiu. Dong Zhuo's face was grim. Recalling the previous defeats in battle, his heart was filled with anger. He glared, his eyes wide, and sternly shouted, "These two traitors are rebellious generals! What use are they alive? They must be executed!" His generals eagerly rubbed their fists, as if impatient to execute the two on the spot.
However, at this moment, Ma Chao stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Dong Gong, please calm your anger. Although these two generals have committed errors, this humble general believes they were merely confused for a time. Now that the great war has just concluded, it is precisely the time to employ people. Why not give them a chance to atone for their mistakes?" Dong Zhuo frowned and coldly looked at Ma Chao, saying, "Ma Chao, do not plead for them. They dared to betray, and their crime is unforgivable!" Ma Chao replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Dong Gong, this humble general deeply understands their mistakes, but this humble general also believes that no one is perfect. If they are given a chance to atone for their crimes with meritorious deeds, they will surely be grateful for your magnanimity, and will serve you more loyally in the future." Dong Zhuo remained silent for a moment, pondering Ma Chao's words, feeling a bit hesitant. At this point, Ma Chao continued, "Sir, Western Liang has just been pacified, and it is not advisable to cause further bloodshed. These two generals also have some prestige in Western Liang. If they can be subdued, it will be beneficial for your future governance of Western Liang." Dong Zhuo listened, nodded slightly, and finally said, "Very well, I will do as you say. These two generals are entrusted to your discretion." Ma Chao bowed, and the two generals were immensely grateful to Ma Chao.
After everything was arranged, the generals loudly accepted their orders and went to prepare for the expedition. However, Dong Zhuo ordered Li Ru to keep Ma Teng and Ma Chao, father and son, and hosted a banquet for them.
At the banquet, Dong Zhuo said to Ma Teng, "I have already reported your achievements to the Imperial Court, and we await the Imperial Court's commendation." Upon hearing this, Ma Teng quickly stood up, cupped his hands, and bowed to thank Dong Zhuo. Dong Zhuo waved his hand and said, "Shoucheng, there's no need to be so polite." Then, he looked at Ma Chao and asked, "Ma Chao, Nephew, how old are you now?" Ma Teng replied, "My son is not yet an adult, only fourteen or fifteen." Dong Zhuo sighed, "Alas, Shoucheng, although Ma Chao is still young, I observe that he indeed possesses the demeanor of a great general. Once the Imperial Court's commendation arrives, it is time to give him a courtesy name and hold his coming-of-age ceremony early." Ma Teng said, "Dong Gong, you may not know, my eldest brother unfortunately died in battle many years ago, leaving only one son, named Ma Dai. Although Ma Dai is not as old as Ma Chao, he is the son of my eldest brother. If we hold the coming-of-age ceremony, how can we bypass the elder brother? It's better to wait a bit longer for his ceremony." Dong Zhuo said, "This matter is not difficult; let them both have their coming-of-age ceremony at the same time." Ma Teng nodded in agreement.
Subsequently, Dong Zhuo spoke gently to Ma Chao, discussing the details of the expedition. Dong Zhuo also said to Ma Chao, "I have a junior who has loved practicing martial arts since childhood. When Ma Chao goes to eliminate Han Sui's forces in Jincheng Commandery this time, why not let him join the army? You can guide him." Ma Chao assumed this was Dong Zhuo's way of promoting a junior from his family to gain experience, and he thought this was naturally not a problem, so he nodded in agreement. After all, at present, Dong Zhuo was a savior and the superior for the Ma family. Ma Teng instructed Ma Chao to ensure the safety of Dong Gong's son, and Dong Zhuo smiled slightly, but did not reveal the truth. At the banquet, host and guests enjoyed themselves, and the atmosphere was harmonious.
After ending Dong Zhuo's banquet, Ma Teng and Ma Chao, father and son, began to prepare for the coming-of-age ceremony for Ma Dai and Ma Chao. The coming-of-age ceremony was an ancient Han Dynasty male adulthood ritual, usually held when a man was 20 years old, but in modern society, it can be adjusted according to individual circumstances and cultural traditions.
Once all preparations were complete, Ma Teng invited Dong Zhuo to preside over the coming-of-age ceremony for Ma Dai and Ma Chao.
On the day of the coming-of-age ceremony, the venue was solemn and dignified, and all the items required for the ritual were meticulously arranged. Ma Dai and Ma Chao, dressed in ceremonial attire, stood respectfully in the center of the venue.
Dong Zhuo, dressed in magnificent clothing, walked forward with an imposing presence. His face bore a solemn expression, and a subtle hint of admiration flickered in his eyes.
Dong Zhuo first picked up the cloth cap and slowly walked towards Ma Dai, solemnly placing the cloth cap on Ma Dai's head and carefully tidying it for him. Then, he picked up the leather cap and walked towards Ma Chao, just as solemnly placing the leather cap on Ma Chao's head and carefully adjusting it.
Next, Dong Zhuo placed the 'jue bian' (a type of ceremonial cap) on Ma Dai and Ma Chao respectively, each movement appearing extremely meticulous. During the capping process, Dong Zhuo occasionally met the gaze of Ma Dai and Ma Chao, as if conveying some expectation and blessing.
After the capping was complete, Dong Zhuo stepped back, a slight smile on his face, looking at Ma Dai and Ma Chao, seemingly full of confidence in their growth and future. Ma Teng stood to the side, watching this scene, his heart filled with relief. The entire coming-of-age ceremony concluded successfully in a solemn yet warm atmosphere.
Ma Teng bestowed courtesy names upon Ma Dai and Ma Chao. Ma Dai's courtesy name was Bo Zhan. This was because Ma Dai, as the legitimate son and grandson of the Ma family, despite Ma Teng's elder brother dying young, still needed to follow tradition by using the character "Bo" to signify his legitimate lineage, while the character "Zhan" implied looking upward or forward.
The name "Bo Zhan" carries rich meaning; it can indicate a person's first rank in the family, signifying a noble and important status. At the same time, the character "Zhan" also suggests that this person has a grand vision and ambition, capable of looking to the future and pursuing higher goals.
As for Ma Chao, although he was Ma Teng's eldest son, if one considers his uncle's branch, Ma Teng's branch was not the legitimate eldest son's lineage. Therefore, Ma Chao's courtesy name was taken from "Mengqi," with "Meng" as the first character. This strictly adhered to the ancient requirements for courtesy names and also reflected the Han Dynasty's emphasis on family lineage and patriarchal system. Such an arrangement of courtesy names not only conformed to the customs of the time but also highlighted the Ma family's heritage and order.
After completing these arrangements, Dong Zhuo did not delay for a moment and immediately set off back to Longxi Commandery. At this moment, in Western Liang, those once fierce rebel leaders, after intense confrontations with Dong Zhuo, were severely weakened. Like startled birds, they were scattered across various commanderies and counties, no longer capable of stirring up significant trouble, and posed virtually no substantial threat to Dong Zhuo.
Dong Zhuo knew that this victory was of great significance. Upon returning to Longxi Commandery, he intended to meticulously plan how to maximize the gains from this victory, thereby further enhancing the Dong Clan's influence and political standing in the Imperial Court. He wanted the entire world to witness the power and undeniable presence of the Dong Clan.
For Ma Chao, Dong Zhuo left Zhang Xiu, who had fought alongside Ma Chao, and over a thousand elite Flying Bear Army soldiers. Additionally, the rebellious generals Yang Qiu and Cheng Yin were also handed over to Ma Chao. This series of arrangements was undeniably generous.
Ma Chao and Ma Teng, father and son, were deeply grateful for Dong Zhuo's actions, and they personally led their men to see Dong Zhuo off. On both sides of the road, crowds of people gathered to bid farewell, with banners fluttering and a solemn atmosphere. Ma Chao and Ma Teng stood at the forefront of the crowd, their eyes filled with respect and gratitude.
Dong Zhuo rode on a tall warhorse, looking majestic. He glanced back at Ma Chao and Ma Teng, nodded slightly in acknowledgment, then flicked his horsewhip and led his contingent further and further away. The sound of hooves echoed across the land, raising clouds of dust, and gradually disappeared into the distant horizon. Ma Chao and Ma Teng, father and son, remained standing there until Dong Zhuo's figure completely vanished, only then slowly turning to leave.