Ma Chao was greatly startled. "What do you mean by that?"
Jian Yong countered, "Does the general truly believe Old General Ma was injured by Zhang Lu's curse magic?"
Ma Chao said, "My father was struck by an arrow while attacking Chang'an. Given his physique, such a minor wound should have been nothing; he continued fighting despite the injury and captured Chang'an that very day. But that night, he began vomiting blood without end and repeatedly saw phantoms of demons and ghosts before his eyes. If that was not Zhang Lu's foul magic, who else could it have been?"
Jian Yong shook his head. "Chang'an had already fallen to the Ma clan, while Zhang Lu had retreated in defeat to Hanzhong. Why would he cast a curse at that point to harm Old General Ma? Forgive my disrespect, but even if Old General Ma met with misfortune, Zhang Lu could not reclaim Chang'an. Other than forging an irreconcilable enmity with Western Liang, what purpose would that serve?"
Ma Chao said, "Perhaps Zhang Lu bore a grudge and wished to take revenge."
Jian Yong shook his head again. "With the realm in chaos, Zhang Lu has always remained in one corner of Hanzhong, avoiding the ravages of war. This shows that he has no ambitions in the wider world and does not relish warfare. How could he possibly make mortal enemies of the powerful Western Liang Army over a private resentment?"
Ma Chao frowned. "Then in your opinion, who was responsible?"
Jian Yong said, "General, simply consider who stands to gain the most from something happening to Old General Ma Teng, and you will understand."
Ma Chao frowned and remained silent.
Jian Yong said:
"Among the heroes of the realm today, Cao Cao has already been destroyed by the Yuan Clan.