Chapter 3: Discussion on Great Momentum - Father-Son Dialogue

  Thus, Ma Chao began his own Three Kingdoms career.

  Sometimes he wonders what he really wants, in his past life he thought he lived a very simple life.

  As long as my parents and family are safe and happy, and my friends are all doing well, I also hope to meet someone who loves me and whom I love, and we can grow old together. As for work, as long as I can do something I like, it's fine, I don't need to make a lot of money, just enough is okay.

  Unfortunately, all of these are no longer possible now. After being sent here, Ma Chao has also asked himself many times what he really wants.

  Power? Maybe. If you can lead unity, it's also good, but were the ancients idiots? Of course not. Ma Chao didn't think he was stronger than Cao, Sun, and Liu. With Cao, Sun, and Liu's abilities, they could only divide the world into three parts, how could he unify the world just by coming? Ma Chao secretly shook his head, this matter of course couldn't be taken for granted.

  However, Ma Chao knew that he had many advantages over the ancients. First and foremost was his understanding of historical figures. "Romance of the Three Kingdoms" and "Records of the Three Kingdoms" were not read in vain, and there were also contributions from TV dramas and the internet.

  Ma Chao may not be very familiar with the figures of his time, but for those who left their names in history, he is generally clear about their character and abilities. He thinks this is the first major advantage of a traverser, discerning people, if one can recruit all the talents in the world to work for oneself, then what's to worry about not achieving great things?

  The second advantage is the grasp of history, but Ma Chao doesn't know how much history will change. He thinks that no matter how it changes, there will always be something unchanging, and as long as there is something unchanging, he should have some advantages.

  Ma Chao did not know that history was slowly changing just before he was born, and this butterfly caused a huge effect.

  A grasp of history is one's second advantage.

  Thirdly, Ma Chao is a man of later generations, so he naturally knows and understands more things than the ancients.

  He didn't want to know, but after thinking about it, he finally realized that he might actually have a chance to unify the world. At this point, his confidence increased significantly. Initially, he only wanted to do his own part well and then strive to be a hero.

  But now I'd rather ask for the world, and pursue the Central Plains. If there's a kingdom, then next is beauty. Kingdom and beauty, these two words always appear together. Beauty doesn't need to be said much, this is a must-have, men all understand, it's self-evident.

  Just as Ma Chao was indulging in wild fancies, he was lifted up by someone and knew it was time to eat again.

  A few months old child of course drank milk, but Liu's family had no milk, so they could only find a wet nurse for Ma Chao. The wet nurse then held Ma Chao and started breastfeeding him.

  Ma Chao wanted to protest and not drink, because he really didn't like it. But being forced into a corner, he had no choice but to drink, or else he would go hungry, and besides, his parents couldn't let that happen either, so he could only compromise. (What good fortune is this, yet there's still so much trouble, everyone despises this kid)

  After drinking, Ma Chao was put back on his own small bed. He thought whether he should learn the Han Dynasty's characters earlier. After all, the Han Dynasty's characters are not modern simplified characters. If you don't study, how can you mix in the future? But he didn't dare to show himself too extraordinary.

  After birth, Ma Chao was particularly silent. Originally in his previous life, he was also a person who liked quietness and disliked movement. After birth, every day was spent eating and sleeping, waking up to eat, eating and then sleeping again, and then eating and sleeping again. This cycle repeated itself, basically becoming like some kind of animal.

  What he wanted most in his heart was to grow up quickly and leave as soon as possible, but of course, his parents didn't know any of this.

  They also have their own ideas, Mrs. Liu thinks that her son won't be an idiot or mute, otherwise, which newborn baby doesn't cry, make trouble and move around? Mrs. Liu shed a lot of tears for this, and even once had the doctor come to examine her son.

  But Ma Chao's performance was another matter in the eyes of Ma Teng. Since hearing what Nan Hua said, Ma Teng firmly believed that Ma Chao could become an emperor. So Ma Chao's performance was normal in Ma Teng's view - after all, emperors can't be like ordinary people, can they? It's not the same, and Ma Teng was very pleased about this.

  When Ma Chao knew that his mother, Lady Liu, was going to see him, he couldn't help but make some noise in front of her and kissed her, so she could put her mind at ease. There's no happier news than a child being healthy.

  Time flies like an arrow, days and months pass like a shuttle, three years have passed in the blink of an eye. Ma Chao feels that time is really passing quickly, one day after another, it's already been three years.

  He recalled a perspective from his previous life, which said that if you feel time passing quickly, it means you are living very happily. Because only happy and joyful times make people feel like they're fleeting fast. And when you encounter difficulties or have a particularly painful experience, you won't feel like time is passing quickly; instead, you'll feel like the days are dragging on like years.

  It seems I've been living a pretty comfortable life after all, Ma Chao looked at himself and couldn't help but shake his head with a bitter smile.

  He came to a room in the yard and knocked on the door. A sweet voice of a young woman came from inside, "Come in."

  He pushed open the door and entered the room, then closed it again.

  "Come here quickly and let mom take a good look at you."

  The woman in the house was Ma Chao's mother, Liu. At twenty years old, Liu was already a mother of two children. Just last month, Liu gave birth to another boy, whom Ma Teng named Xiū, meaning "beautiful and good".

  "Mo has come specifically to see his mother and younger brother." Ma Chao said as he walked towards Liu's bedside.

  Looking at the not yet full moon Ma Xiu and Liu Shi who was still radiating maternal glow while sitting in confinement, he felt very happy and felt very fortunate. They were his closest relatives in this life, and he would definitely protect and take good care of them!

  Liu watched as Ma Chao walked to the edge of the bed and smiled with relief. Although she already had two children, her favorite was still Ma Chao.

  It's not just because Ma Chao is her first child as a mother, but also because he has all the advantages of his parents and looks more like his mother Liu. Moreover, although Ma Chao is only three years old, he is sensible and filial, often making Liu happy.

  Ask, which parents in the world would not love such a child? Don't look at Liu's family having only two children, even if there were twenty, the one she loves most is still Ma Chao.

  "Come here, Xiaohai, let Mom give you a big hug."

  Ma Chao heard this and climbed onto the bed, leaning against his mother Liu's bosom. Liu stroked Ma Chao with one hand and gently patted him with the other, also kissing his forehead.

  Ma Chao enjoyed this feeling, his mother Liu was the most doting on him, every time she had to hold him for a short while, and he also liked to nestle in his mother's warm arms.

  Although he was already over twenty-seven years old, including his past life, Ma Chao still had a childish air about him.

  "Zi'er, I heard that your father is going to hire a tutor for you to learn reading and writing next month."

  "Yes, Mother, I also think it's time for me to study and learn. Only with knowledge can I fulfill my ambitions in the future!" Ma Chao said firmly.

  Liu looked at Ma Chao, smiling, "So our family's Chao'er has great ambitions, mother is just knowing for the first time. But mother is very happy, Chao'er, having ideas and working hard will succeed, mother will always support you!" As she said, she pulled Ma Chao tightly into her arms.

  "Son will be fine, Mother. As the saying goes, 'having ambition is not about being old', from now on, son won't bring shame to Father, Mother and our Ma family!" Ma Chao said with a clenched fist.

  "Yes, mom knows. Alright, super child, mom is tired and needs to rest, can't accompany you anymore, go play by yourself."

  "Alright, mother rest. If the brazier has no charcoal, I'll get someone to add some." Northwest in February is still very cold and can only be warmed by burning charcoal.

  Ma Chao got down from the couch and pulled up Liu's quilt before going out.

  By the fourth year of Jian Ning, in March, Ma Chao was woken up while still asleep.

  "Chao'er, Chao'er, get up. Today is your first meeting with Master, you can't be late." It was Liu's voice, and Ma Chao got up extremely unwillingly after hearing it.

  "What time is it now, Mother?"

  "It's currently the Chen hour, but it will be almost half a hour before Si hour. Mr. Cui will arrive at Si hour."

  In ancient times, Chen was from 7:00 to 9:00 in the morning, and Si was from 9:00 to 11:00. Because winter had just passed, Ma Chao still got up late, usually after Si time. Today is the first day to see Mr., no way, can only get up early.

  After washing up and dressing, Ma Chao went out of the door and headed towards his study. This study was not the one where Ma Teng had met with Zhuge Liang in the past, but rather Ma Chao's own study. After Ma Teng married Liu QI, the Liu family naturally wouldn't let their daughter live in the small house that Ma Teng had bought. Madame Liu, who was Liu QI's mother, gave Ma Teng and his wife a large mansion as a gift, so there were plenty of rooms to spare.

  Ma Chao entered the study, slightly stunned, and found that Ma Teng was actually there. He only hesitated for a moment before recovering, just as he was about to speak, he heard Ma Teng say: "Chao'er, you're here."

  "Yes, Father, I'm here. Mother called me and told me to come see this gentleman."

  "You usually get up late, now that you're going to start reading books, from now on you should get up early in order to listen to the teacher's teachings."

  "Yes, I will obey father's orders."

  "Super kid, are you very puzzled as to why your father is waiting for you here?"

  "I really don't know."

  Ma Teng fell into deep thought, and after a while, he looked at Ma Chao and said: "Chao'er, do you know about our Ma family?"

  "Of course! My Ma family's ancestors were the Han Dynasty General Ma Yuan, who wielded a pair of golden hammers and shook the heavens!" Ma Chao said proudly.

  "Yes, think about how great our ancestors were. Unfortunately, alas, do you know what your grandfather said most often when he was alive? When your grandfather was alive, the words that always hung on his lips were: 'Teng Ah, my family's decline is entirely due to the incompetence of later generations. In fact, every generation has taken it upon themselves to revive the family, but none have succeeded. If I don't succeed in my lifetime, then you'll have to do it next. If you can't do it either, let your children do it, and believe that one day we will succeed! At that time, I can rest easy even in death!"

  Ma Teng's eyes shone with tears as he spoke, though few in number, but were still discovered by the meticulous Ma Chao.

  "Dad, you..."

  "It's nothing, I'm fine. Chao Er, just over three years ago, on the day you were born, a guest came to our house, he called himself Nan Hua, and..."

  Then Ma Teng told Ma Chao about the astrological divination that Nan Hua had said, and the fate of heaven. Before that, he was thinking whether to tell Ma Chao or not. He thought a child of three years old would not understand these things, and it would be useless to say them.

  But he thought again and felt that Ma Chao was different from other children since childhood, and he thought Ma Chao was precocious although young.

  Sometimes he secretly observes Ma Chao, thinking that Ma Chao seems to be often deep in thought, with many expressions that shouldn't appear on a child's face appearing on Ma Chao's. He has been puzzled and couldn't figure it out, finally concluding that this is the will of heaven, and can't help but say that Ma Teng is still quite imaginative.

  Ma Chao listened to Ma Teng, his face didn't show too much expression, but in his heart he was already overwhelmed. Although he had also heard and read about the ancient people's astrology and divination techniques, being actually encountered by himself was still particularly astonishing. Was he really destined for greatness? Ma Chao wasn't especially confident.

  "Before Old Nan left, he left two books and said they were for you, that they would be helpful to you in the future." Ma Teng took out the two books and placed them on the table.

  "Nan Lao originally wrote three books, but the first one on peaceful tactics has already been given away, so I'm giving you the remaining two."

  "What's going on?" Ma Chao exclaimed in surprise.

  "Really? How did you hear about it?"

  "No, nothing. The child was just curious."

  It's no wonder, Nan Hua's name sounds so familiar, it turns out to be him. Ma Chao thought to himself.

  "I miss you, but I don't know. However, Chao'er, Nan Lao said that the Han dynasty's fate is nearing its end, which means the world will be in great chaos soon. When the world is in chaos, even if one has the skills of a father, at most they can only become a regional lord, and it's also possible that things won't end well."

  But you are different, you are only three years old, and you will be the rising sun of my Ma family, illuminating the entire sky one day! As your father, I am passing on Nan Lao's book to you today, hoping that you will not disappoint Nan Lao's expectations and achieve a great empire! The unfinished business of our Ma family's ancestors will be completed by you!"

  After listening to Ma Teng's words, Ma Chao felt that this cheap old father really had self-awareness. You're just a warlord, still the failed one, it seems that none of the Three Kingdoms' lords are easy to get along with.

  Indeed, even Yuan Shu, who was considered a mediocre talent, did not achieve success solely by relying on his family's reputation of having produced three high-ranking officials in four generations. This shows that the waters of the Three Kingdoms were truly deep and profound.

  Ma Chao knelt down in front of Ma Teng, "I will not disappoint my father's expectations! I won't bring shame to the Ma family! From now on, I will definitely achieve something!"

  "Good, my son is so capable, it's a great comfort to me as his father! With such a son, what more could I ask for? Haha, haha!" Ma Teng laughed loudly and left the study.