Sure enough, Wei Zhongxian sent factory guards and Tian Ergeng's Jin Yiwei to search the entire capital. When they found Ma Xiaoquan's family, they did not check more because they were concerned about Ma Xiaoquan's identity.
Tian Ergeng once suggested that Wei Zhongxian forcibly check the Ma family, but Wei Zhongxian shook his head and said: "Ma Xiaoquan is not a big worry for me at the moment. The big worry for me is actually Sun Chengzong!"
Tian Ergen understood this, and after searching the entire capital, he captured several scapegoats, claiming that they were assassins sent by Sun Chengzong to harm Lord Wei.
Wei Zhongxian naturally wanted to report this matter to the emperor.
The emperor didn't believe it at first, but Wei Zhongxian intensified his efforts to persuade officials from all over the court to participate in Sun Chengzong's performance. From him accepting bribes to using an extra piece of toilet paper in the toilet, he was included in the case.
Finally, Sun Chengzong couldn't bear it anymore and resigned and returned home in October of the fifth year of Tianqi (1625).
As soon as Sun Chengzong left, there was a vacant manager in eastern Liaoning.
Zhu Youxiao was extremely anxious and asked the court officials who should block the Liaodong strategy.
Some people suggested that Yuan Chonghuan should be responsible for it. After all, he had led the men in his family to guard Ningyuan for a long time. He had outstanding military exploits and good command, so he could take on this important task.
But Wei Zhongxian disagreed. He finally got rid of Sun Chengzong, and now Yuan Chonghuan comes in. Yuan Chonghuan and Sun Chengzong are closely related. No, absolutely not.
That night, Wei Zhongxian met with Emperor Tianqi and suggested that Gao Di should take charge of Liaodong's economic strategy.
The little emperor was either studying carpentry all day long, or having sex with Ke Baba, Queen Zhang and other concubines Wu Shan. How could he know what kind of person Gao Di was? Since Wei Zhongxian said it, then there must be nothing wrong with Gao Di. Okay, let's do it.
Gao Di should be the governor of Liaodong.
Who is Gao Di? Generally speaking, he is a man who talks on paper and is timid and afraid of getting into trouble.
Ma Xiaoquan knew very well that Gaudi could not be the Liaodong manager, and he wrote to the emperor to persuade him to reconsider. Unexpectedly, Wei Zhongxian asked guest Yinyue to blow the emperor's pillow. The emperor couldn't bear the blow, so he decided to let Gaudi be the Liaodong manager.
Just when Ma Xiaoquan was depressed, a letter came from Ningyuan Ma Ruiqing. The letter briefly informed Ma Xiaoquan of the recent border developments. He also told Ma Xiaoquan that he hoped he would not worry because their Ma Jiajun had been following General Yuan Chonghuan and the war was stable.
"Yuan Chonghuan?" Ma Xiaoquan frowned, smiled bitterly, and murmured, "Although I know Yuan Chonghuan is powerful, if the data device in my body is still alive, I will know better. Alas~~ What a pity, what a pity."
But...since the emperor appointed Gao Di as the Liaodong manager, Ma Xiaoquan really needed to go to Liaodong to see the situation.
Immediately, Ma Xiaoquan wrote to ask for permission, saying that a batch of important supplies was to be sent to Liaodong, and he had to deliver it himself, hoping for the emperor's approval.
Zhu Youxiao was very happy and immediately gave Ma Xiaoquan a yellow mandarin jacket and ordered him to receive the rank of Liaodong Army Joiner. He could either transport supplies alone or go with Gao Yiyi. Ma Xiaoquan chose the former.
Before leaving, Ma Xiaoquan, in addition to Fangfang, her son, Lisa, Hua Yue and Bei Mingshuang, also took them with him. Of course, since he now had the title of joining the Liaodong Army, he did not make any publicity about bringing along his female dependents.
Wei Zhongxian learned that Ma Xiaoquan was going to the border and planned to harm Ma Xiaoquan on the way. At this time, Ke Yinyue, who became a pawn of Ma Xiaoquan, played a role.
Well, to be precise, Ke Yinyue successfully stopped Wei Zhongxian's conspiracy under Zhang Wenxiu's pillow. Although Wei Zhongxian suspected that Ke Yinyue was unstable, for him, Ma Xiaoquan was still not the target he wanted to eliminate at the moment.
...
Half a month later, Ma Xiaoquan arrived in Liaodong before Gao Di.
Since Sun Chengzong has resigned and returned home, Liaodong is currently in a state of desolation. Therefore, there are great differences among the various unified armies in terms of military strategies.
A part of the unified army believes that Nurhaci is likely to launch a large-scale offensive in recent months. At present, the Ming army cannot compete with Nurhaci's army in terms of military strength and strategy. Therefore, the wisest way is to defend strictly and fight a war of attrition with Nurhaci; another part
The Tongjun believed that although Nurhachi's army was powerful, the Ming army's Guan Ning cavalry were not that bad. How could one know who was strong and who was weak without touching them?
In the camp, Ma Xiaoquan saw Ma Ruiqing. They hadn't seen each other for several years. Ma Ruiqing, who had been beaten by the wind and frost in Liaodong, was obviously much older.
Ma Ruiqing also saw Ma Xiaoquan.
After the meeting in the evening, the two walked out of the camp and met somewhere.
Nominally, Ma Xiaoquan is the fourth son of the Ma family. In fact, Ma Xiaoquan is the first generation head of the Ma family. Ma Ruiqing also knows Ma Xiaoquan's true identity.
After a few polite words, Ma Xiaoquan asked: "I read your letter and said that you would follow General Yuan Chonghuan. Well, you made the right move."
Ma Ruiqing nodded and asked: "It's a pity that General Yuan failed to become the general manager. Instead, Gao Di wanted to be the general manager of Liaodong. What does the first generation family leader think?"
Ma Xiaoquan said disdainfully: "It's just a show, so be prepared to suffer defeat."
"Huh? If we didn't fight, why would we suffer defeat?"
Ma Xiaoquan said: "Gao Di is a coward, greedy for life and afraid of death. When he takes office, it is very likely that the achievements you have worked hard to accumulate over the years will be destroyed overnight."
"Ah? This...how is this possible?"
Ma Xiaoquan dragged his chin and said: "So I came here this time and planned to go to the secret place guarded by our family to explore and see if I can find something I want. In any case, before the Jurchen army comes in, I want to
Finish what I want."
"What are your... plans?"
Ma Xiaoquan frowned and said: "The preliminary plan is that in a few years, I will leave the capital and come here."
"Why? The capital is much more peaceful than the border here. Why did you give up your life in the capital and come to the border?"
"No, I'm not giving up, or at least, grandma will never leave the capital."
"Mother..." Ma Ruiqing took a breath and said, "Mother is in the capital, so she has a beginning and an end."
"Well, having said that, I would like to ask, what do you think?"
Ma Ruiqing thought for a while and said: "I am getting older, so I don't think I will go anywhere. I would rather die here than leave."
Ma Xiaoquan nodded: "Okay, I won't force you, and I respect your choice. By the way, I want to ask, besides you and grandma, who else knows my identity?"
Ma Ruiqing shook his head: "No more."
"Well, except for you and me alone, in front of others, I am still the fourth son of the Ma family. By the way, my second sister-in-law Qiao Yu also knows my identity."
"Eh? Then..."
"You don't have to worry, the second sister-in-law should have her own sense of proportion."