Chapter 912: Keep Striving, Ma Chao

"Let's not even talk about whether what you say is true or not. Even if it is true, what qualifications does the Ma family have to stand on equal footing with my lord? Don't overestimate yourself." Fa Zheng shook his finger, stating the obvious—there were always people who couldn't see their true place.

Ma Chao was stunned for a moment, then slowly nodded and said, "You're right. I’ve been reckless. The Ma family indeed doesn’t have the qualifications to stand on equal terms with Liu Xuande, nor even with Cao Cao. The Ma family has overestimated itself, and this is the root of our family’s troubles!"

"Exactly, that's the root of your family's troubles," Fa Zheng agreed with a nod, followed by a bitter smile. "Besides, I was only speaking out of boredom. Do you think I have anything left to pursue?"

This statement left Ma Chao momentarily speechless. After silently repeating Fa Zheng’s words, he finally nodded. It was true—Fa Zheng had nothing left to pursue.

If Fa Zheng truly wanted to marry into the Wang family, all he had to do was ask. The Wang family, even at the risk of offending the Ma family, would gladly offer their daughter, and that daughter would certainly be well-behaved. But such a weak family like the Wang family was hardly worth Fa Zheng's trouble. At most, Fa Zheng might pity the girl for her lack of spirit and unfortunate fate. That’s why he chose to say nothing and do nothing, sparing the Wang family some dignity.

As for the issue of pride, at the age of nearly thirty, with the rank of marquis, who had ever dared to undermine Fa Zheng's pride? The Wang family? A joke! Anyone aware of the situation knew that the Wang family had been blind to begin with!

"Moreover, you and I both know that whatever I do doesn’t really matter in terms of whether you become our enemy or not. The real decision lies with your Ma family, not me. My personal grievances don’t have much impact on the situation," Fa Zheng said calmly.

Ma Chao had to admit this was true. If the Ma family chose to side with Liu Bei, Fa Zheng wouldn’t let personal feelings interfere with his duties. Even if there was lingering bitterness, it would only manifest in minor annoyances against the Ma family elsewhere. When it came to matters of public duty, Fa Zheng wouldn’t go too far.

If the Ma family joined Liu Bei’s forces, any potential conflict between the Ma family and the Fa family wouldn’t mean much. Liu Bei's advisors and generals weren’t all best friends; they had their own factions. The key was that any disputes would be managed to ensure they didn’t spiral out of control.

"It seems you understand. I’m just looking for a way to pass the time. The Wang family is too weak, and I can’t bring myself to target random, unrelated people. But targeting you? That’s something I can do with a clear conscience." Fa Zheng spoke these words with a tone of absolute certainty, which only fueled Ma Chao’s inner fire.

"Aren’t you afraid of bringing trouble upon yourself?" Ma Chao, having forgotten his original purpose, stared at Fa Zheng and asked sharply.

"Let’s be clear: I have no close family. I’m all alone, so there’s no pressure from any relatives," Fa Zheng said casually, shrugging. "And besides, can you really bring trouble to me? Sure, you might be stronger in battle, but right now, the important part isn’t strength—it's up here." He pointed to his head.

What Fa Zheng didn’t know was that after his rise to power, distant relatives from his homeland had already begun traveling to Mount Tai to seek refuge with him. It’s the old saying: 'In poverty, no one asks; in wealth, even distant relatives come to visit.'

Ma Chao felt the urge to kill Fa Zheng on the spot, but he suppressed it. If he killed Fa Zheng, the Ma family would become a relic of history under both Cao Cao and Liu Bei.

"You don’t need to be so angry. The good thing about me is that I separate public matters from personal ones. Your Ma family still holds some value, so you don’t need to worry about me doing anything truly drastic," Fa Zheng said with a sly smile, a smile that sent a chill down Ma Chao’s spine.

"Enough of this. I’ll offer your Ma family a solution to your current predicament. What can you offer me in return?" Fa Zheng asked after gathering his thoughts. By this point, most of his frustration had dissipated after teasing Ma Chao for so long.

Originally, misplaced anger would only continue if the target fought back successfully, or even embarrassed the aggressor. But with Fa Zheng’s relentless targeting and Ma Chao unable to resist or retaliate, there was no satisfaction left for Fa Zheng.

"I... I don’t know what I can offer you," Ma Chao admitted, unsure of what to say. What could he possibly offer Fa Zheng?

"It seems you don’t have anything," Fa Zheng said, shaking his head as if this was exactly what he expected. Waving his hand dismissively, he added, "I was just asking casually. You don’t need to worry. Even I don’t know what I want. Besides, your family’s predicament is actually quite easy to solve."

"How?" Ma Chao asked eagerly, forgetting all the tension from before. His concern for his family overshadowed everything else.

"It’s simple. The Qiang people respect strength, so all you need to do is show them what true strength looks like," Fa Zheng said plainly.

"That's your plan? If my family could do that, we’d have unified Yong and Liang provinces a long time ago," Ma Chao retorted angrily, clearly dissatisfied with the answer.

"Before the Qiang revolt, they will gather. When that happens, petition the Emperor to let you handle it. Go alone and defeat all the warriors from the hundreds of Qiang tribes. If you can do that, it’ll be enough," Fa Zheng said nonchalantly.

"Uh..." Ma Chao was left speechless.

"Then, lead your three thousand bravest men and fight against the fiercest ten thousand Qiang warriors. If you can win decisively, the Qiang will naturally submit to you. Just do these two things," Fa Zheng said, staring calmly at Ma Chao.

Fa Zheng had carefully analyzed the makeup of the Qiang people. If Ma Chao could accomplish these two tasks, his half-Qiang heritage would make him the new Qiang king—or at least a king in all but name, the true uncrowned leader of the Qiang!

"The second task is difficult, but possible. As for the first, it’s almost impossible. When you defeat the first Qiang warrior, the second one will step up, then two more, then more still. Defeating them all is nearly impossible," Ma Chao said with a bitter smile. If the Qiang were indeed planning an invasion, the real Qiang warriors, the ones guarding their altars, would certainly appear.

"Whether it’s possible or not is none of my concern," Fa Zheng said indifferently. "I’ve given you the solution, General Ma."

Ma Chao clasped his fists in thanks. Reflecting on his family’s current crisis, he realized this might be the only solution. To truly command the Qiang, he would need to become their uncrowned king. Without the strength to back it up, any other plan would be futile.

As Ma Chao was about to leave, he hesitated for a moment before speaking. "I will remember this day. Someday, I will repay you."

"Do as you like," Fa Zheng waved dismissively, not taking it to heart.

Watching Ma Chao’s figure disappear into the distance, Fa Zheng let out a bitter smile. Standing so high up was indeed dull. He had chosen the Ma family as the target of his anger because of their strength, giving him a challenge to focus on.

But now, after pushing so hard and looking back, he realized everything he once chased had already become fleeting memories. The targets he once pursued had disappeared into the distance, beyond even his sight.

"How boring. Ma Chao, I hope you can succeed. There’s nothing left in the Ma family to deal with, and I can’t even muster the strength to be angry anymore. I used to think the Ma family was powerful and exciting, but now… it’s just dull," Fa Zheng thought to himself.

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