The group arrived at Lu Zhi's house in a grand procession. Before they even stepped through the main gate, they heard bursts of laughter and cheerful voices from inside. As they entered the courtyard, they saw Zhou Yu, Sun Ce, and Ma Chao, three dashing young men.
Zhou Yu, dressed in white, was graceful and elegant. He smiled faintly, his eyes radiating confidence and composure, as if everything was under his control. Sun Ce, in a red outfit, was full of youthful vigor. He stood with his arms crossed, a hint of wildness in his brows, fully displaying the arrogance and unruliness of youth. Ma Chao, clad in a brocade robe, was awe-inspiring. He stood there, commanding respect.
Cao Cao and Yuan Shao were secretly surprised when they saw these three. They knew that these three were not only outstanding in appearance but also exceptionally talented and from prominent families. Cao Cao frowned slightly, pondering to himself, "These three are so outstanding. Even with my Cao family's deep roots, my descendants would probably find it hard to compare to them." Yuan Shao, on the other hand, widened his eyes, a look of both envy and helplessness on his face, sighing in his heart, "Indeed, talented people emerge from generation to generation. My Yuan family's juniors still need to work harder."
However, Yuan Shu's focus was different from Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. His gaze was fixed on Lu Su, his eyes sparkling with pleasant surprise and anticipation. It turned out that through a simple conversation, he learned that Lu Su's hometown was close to his own, which Yuan Shu felt was a kind of destiny. Moreover, he saw that Lu Su was a talented and promising person, and the idea of recruiting him arose in his heart. He thought to himself, "If this young man can be used by me, he will surely help me achieve a great undertaking."
Lu Su felt a bit flustered being stared at by Yuan Shu like that. He lowered his head, a hint of doubt appearing on his face, secretly wondering, "Why is Yuan Shu paying so much attention to me? Does he have some intention?"
Ma Chao looked at Cao Cao and Yuan Shao, pondering to himself, "Cao Cao is an ambitious man, skilled in stratagem, but he is too cunning; Yuan Shao, on the other hand, is outwardly strong but inwardly weak, indecisive, and incapable of achieving great things."
Sun Ce commented on Cao Cao, "Cao Cao indeed possesses great talent and strategy, and he is a formidable opponent, but he is also a bit too overbearing. As for Yuan Shao, he is merely a facade, not worth fearing."
Zhou Yu, with a faint smile, a flash of wisdom in his eyes, said softly, "Cao Cao is a hero of this era and should not be underestimated; although Yuan Shao comes from a prominent family, his vision is limited. As for Yuan Shu, he is merely a short-sighted fellow."
As for Yuan Shu, both Sun Ce and Ma Chao felt a bit disdainful, thinking he was too conceited and lacked true ability. Zhou Yu believed that Yuan Shu would not achieve great things and was not worth conspiring with.
Zhou Yu, Sun Ce, and Ma Chao were somewhat puzzled by Yuan Shu's actions. Zhou Yu frowned slightly, wondering, "Why is Yuan Shu so fond of Lu Su? Did he see something extraordinary in Lu Su?" Sun Ce pouted, saying indifferently, "Who cares? We just need to do our own thing." Ma Chao, on the other hand, had a cold expression, seemingly uninterested in any of it.
Ma Chao, Sun Ce, and Zhou Yu, these three youths, were in the prime of their lives, full of spirit and vitality. They were typical examples of 'newborn calves not fearing tigers,' possessing fearless courage and proud personalities.
Facing seniors like Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu, who came from prominent families and already held certain official positions and status in their respective fields, they showed no trace of apprehension or timidity. On the contrary, their eyes revealed a subtle hint of challenge, as if they were secretly competing in their hearts, wanting to contend with these seniors.
They did not think they were inferior to these seniors; instead, they felt they had unique advantages and potential. They were full of confidence, firmly believing that with their talent and effort, they could achieve accomplishments no less than, or even surpass, these seniors in the future. This mentality of daring to challenge authority and bravely competing with the strong was fully demonstrated in them.
Perhaps in the near future, these individuals will all become key figures who will influence the world's situation and stir up changes. Each of them exuded a unique and powerful aura, as if it were destiny's arrangement that brought them together at this moment.
When Ma Chao and Zhou Yu, two individuals who had always been praised for their magnanimity and noble temperament, first met seniors like Cao Cao, Yuan Shao, and Yuan Shu, a faint sense of hostility involuntarily arose in their hearts. This hostility did not stem from narrow jealousy or malice; on the contrary, they also perceived the aura of strong individuals from these seniors.
They knew deeply that in this chaotic world, to achieve a great undertaking, one must compete with the strong. And these seniors before them were undoubtedly formidable opponents on their path forward. Although they usually possessed broad minds and refined temperaments, facing individuals who could influence their future, they still found it difficult to suppress that instinctive feeling of resistance. This subtle hostility seemed to be a premature declaration of their inner challenge to the future, and it also filled this first meeting with more variables and suspense.
The courtyard was filled with various complex emotions and subtle atmospheres; everyone had different thoughts and feelings in their hearts.
Although Lu Zhi had always been dissatisfied with aristocratic families and eunuchs, he still held a considerable appreciation for Yuan Shu, Yuan Shao, and Cao Cao. When he saw so many talented people gathered in the courtyard, his heart was filled with relief and joy, and his mood became exceptionally cheerful. So, he instructed his family to quickly set up a banquet and prepare to entertain everyone well.
Soon, the banquet was arranged, and fine wine and delicious dishes were served one by one. In this lively atmosphere, everyone was immersed in joy, and a warm atmosphere began to be created at the banquet. Everyone raised their cups, laughter and cheerful voices were continuous, and they exchanged their thoughts and insights with each other, creating a very harmonious scene. Lu Zhi looked at all of this before him, a satisfied smile on his face, his heart full of anticipation for the future.
And the four youths who accompanied their fathers, Cao Ang, Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Yao, showed a bit of youthful shyness in such an occasion. They looked at the spirited Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Ma Chao, as well as the steady and reserved Lu Su, filled with admiration, yet too shy to approach them closely.
In contrast, they were quite close to Lu Yu, who acted steadily like a young gentleman, and chatted happily with him, as if they found a sense of familiarity and security in him.
Since some people who were not Lu Zhi's closest friends, such as Yuan Shu, attended this banquet, Lu Zhi did not arrange for Lu Wan and the two Qiaos to appear. He let them play in the back garden, away from the hustle and bustle of the banquet.
Although Sun Ce and Zhou Yu had always hoped to see the two Qiaos again, in the current atmosphere, they found it difficult to express it directly. The two could only keep that anticipation hidden in their hearts, their faces inadvertently revealing a subtle hint of disappointment, a look mixed with a bit of regret and helplessness, which made Ma Chao feel sorry for them.
At the banquet, the aroma of fine wine and delicious food wafted, laughter and cheerful voices rose and fell, and a joyful atmosphere filled every corner. Yuan Shao and Cao Cao keenly seized this rare opportunity to get closer, engaging in cordial and in-depth conversations with Lu Zhi. They sincerely expressed their hope that their descendants would also have the opportunity to study under Lu Zhi, absorbing knowledge and wisdom.
Lu Zhi quietly observed Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Yuan Shu. Although he harbored some dislike for their family backgrounds, he understood even more clearly that cultivating more talented individuals for the Han Dynasty was a crucial mission. After some thought, he finally made up his mind and decided to accept Cao Ang, Yuan Tan, Yuan Xi, and Yuan Yao, these four younger generations, as his disciples as well.
At this time, Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Lu Su also expressed their desire to study under Lu Zhi. Lu Zhi was both pleased and somewhat troubled by this situation.
He was pleased by Sun Ce, Zhou Yu, and Lu Su's eagerness to learn and their recognition of him, seeing their potential and ambition. But at the same time, he also considered the practical circumstances and might need to deliberate on how to arrange their studies.
After much thought, he accepted these seven as registered disciples, hoping to instill in them from a young age the idea of loyalty to the emperor and love for the country, making them understand what an important responsibility it was to strive for the Han Dynasty's realm. In Lu Zhi's heart, he anticipated that these young lives would grow strong in the future, contributing their strength to the prosperity and stability of the Han Dynasty, becoming pillars of the nation.