Summary of the previous chapter: With Cao Cao's return to Yecheng, Ma Xiaoquan and Lu Xian each began their final preparations...
Although Lu Xian's actions were hidden, they were not hidden from Mao Gang.
The ANBU detected Lu Xian's move, and Mao Gang would naturally not lag behind.
Mao Gang is different from Lu Xian. His purpose is just to get Hua Yuexin. As for the other people in the Ma family, Mao Gang has not messed with them too much. Furthermore, Mao Gang's apparent identity is the disciple of Lord Shangxian, although he has not done anything.
What an official, but he still held some weight among the gentry official class in Yecheng.
With such a weight, Mao Gang could actually easily sneak into the officialdom and become an official. Unfortunately, due to the constant obstruction of Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, Mao Gang was never able to truly enter the official class.
Having been Ma Xiaoquan's apprentice for so long, coupled with the failure of his uncle Mao Jie, Mao Gang naturally understood the importance of being an official, but... no matter how hard he worked, as long as Emperor Xian of Han reigned for one day, Mao Gang would
He couldn't even think of turning over.
Mao Gang hated Ma Xiaoquan very much. If it weren't for him, he would have been a high official long ago.
After thinking about it, although Mao Gang was reluctant to leave his wife, Hua Yuexin, but seeing his uncle's dejected look every day, Mao Gang temporarily shifted his focus to his career. Regarding Lu Xian's actions, Mao Gang just sealed Lu Xian's actions.
Letter, tell him that if you want to attack the Ma family, I won't care about the other people, but Hua Yuexin, you must stay with me.
...
The mantis stalks the cicada and the oriole follows behind. Mao Gang is aware of Lu Xian's actions, and Ma Xiao, the new head of the Ma family, is also aware of Mao Gang's actions.
Knowing that Mao Gang's current focus was not on this, Ma Xiao sighed with relief. Before his father Ma Xiaoquan left Yecheng, he had told him that if Mao Gang made any move, he must stop it, otherwise Mao Gang would become a
Potentially dangerous enemies.
Of course, although Mao Gang didn't make any moves this time, even so, Ma Xiao would never let Mao get through.
After receiving the news from Emperor Xian of the Han Dynasty, Ma Xiao learned that Liu Xie had already relented. If Mao Gang continued to work hard, Ma Xiao could not guarantee that Liu Xie would not jump over the wall and let Mao Gang become an official.
That night, Ma Xiao called his father's personal bodyguard Liang Long to his side and discussed countermeasures.
When Ma Xiaoquan left Yecheng, he told Ma Xiao that if you have anything to do, don't ask anyone else, just go to Liang Long.
Ma Xiao obeyed his father's words.
...
After Liang Long heard Ma Xiao's opinion, he looked at Ma Xiao with some surprise and asked, "Little master, are you sure you want to do this?"
Ma Xiao nodded: "Uncle Long, this is the best way I can think of. Although... this matter will completely put my Ma family into opposition to Liu Xie in the future, but I want to
Bet, I bet Liu Xie won’t be emperor for a few days!”
Liang Long was surprised: "Little master, about this matter...do you have to tell the master that Ma Xiaoquan is the one you are referring to?"
Ma Xiao nodded: "I will definitely say it, but this matter must be dealt with first. I think dad knows about it and will definitely agree to what I do!"
Seeing that Ma Xiao had made up his mind, Liang Long stopped refuting: "Okay, since the little master has decided that such a thing can be done, I, Diang Long, will help the little master complete the task even if I die!"
Ma Xiao nodded, his eyes instantly turned red: "Uncle Long, you are not young anymore...I don't want you to do this, either?"
Diplodocus shook his head and said: "No, my Diplodocus is today thanks to the Ma family. If it weren't for my master, I would have starved to death long ago. Little Master, I am illiterate, but I understand that my Diplodocus's
Life is given by the Ma family. No matter what the Ma family is like, I, Diplodocus, will never say too much. I will never give up to the Ma family and to you, my little master!"
Ma Xiao nodded excitedly and patted Diplodocus heavily on the shoulder: "Uncle Long, thank you for your help!"
Diplodocus waved his hand: "Little master, I have watched you grow up. Among all your brothers, I, Diplodocus, admire you the most. The second thing I admire is the Third Young Master's correctness... Today has reached this juncture.
Now, I won’t hide it anymore... Little master, you asked me to do this, and I, Diplodocus, agreed, and I also know that this matter is likely to go away forever, so I
I have an idea..."
Ma Xiao nodded: "Uncle Long, tell me!"
Liang Long did not answer quickly, but first took out a piece of yellowed letter paper from his arms and handed it to Ma Xiao, saying: "This is a copybook that the owner once wrote casually. I can't read, but I think it is very important.
, I have kept it ever since. I asked Zhuzhu Diplodocus’s wife to identify the words on this copybook for me. In order to prevent Zhuzhu from noticing, I asked about a word every few days, and I kept asking like this.
After seven years of studying, I finally asked about all the words on it. Zhuzhu didn’t know about this, she thought I wanted to learn to read, haha..."
Ma Xiao straightened the copybook out of curiosity, unfolded it and took a look, and immediately felt chills all over his body.
"Uncle Long, are you...are you sure you understand the meaning of my father's copybook?"
Liang Long nodded heavily: "I didn't understand it at first, but in the past seven years, I have thought a lot. The Ma family has given me a lot, but I have never given anything in return. I, Diang Long, feel guilty towards the Ma family.
I will never be able to pay it off in my lifetime..."
Ma Xiao shook his head: "Uncle Long, please don't say that."
"No, no, no," Liang Long shook his head, "Little Master, do you understand what it means to be a master of great power?"
Ma Xiao was stunned for a moment, then nodded.
"Although I, Diplodocus, am illiterate, I also understand... Little Master, there is another saying, one dynasty is the emperor and the other is the courtier. Do you know that?"
Ma Xiao said nothing.
Liang Long continued: "Little master, I know what you are thinking. Counting the years, there were four of us who followed the master at the beginning. I, Zhang Gong, Yang Hu, and Ding Yi, now we are all
We are old, and our children have grown up... Little master, if the master is gone one day, are you sure you can suppress us four old guys?"
Ma Xiao frowned slightly and shook his head gently.
"So... little master, taking this opportunity, I hope..."
Liang Long shook his head: "No, I want to say it! Little master, since I, Diang Long, have promised to do what you said, I will definitely do it. Regardless of success or failure, I will definitely fulfill my promise to the Ma family.
! It’s just my idea, you must agree to it!"
Ma Xiao sighed: "Uncle Long, why are you doing this?"
Liang Long smiled and patted Ma Xiao on the shoulder: "Little master, do you know why I admire you? Because of your stability and kindness, but... this is a troubled world, and troubled times have their own troubled times."
As a rule, if one day you stop being the head of the Ma family, I hope you will give the title of head of the Ma family to the third young master!"
"Huh?" Ma Xiao was stunned for a moment, "Why did Uncle Long say that?"
Liang Long chuckled: "Little master, actually... you must also know that your kindness is actually not suitable for the future development of the Ma family, right?"
Ma Xiao nodded and did not deny it.
"Okay, I won't say anything more. I just hope that after I die, the little master will help me take good care of Zhuzhu and my children. I will be satisfied!"
Ma Xiao didn't speak, but his expression already acquiesced to Liang Long's persistence.
"Little Master, I don't have any other instructions. I'm going down, haha... Little Master, please wait patiently for our... oh, news of my death." Liang Long said, looking deeply at Ma Xiao.
He bowed and left.
Looking at Diplodocus' already slightly hunched back, tears flowed from the corners of Ma Xiao's eyes.
...
The next day, Ma Xiao met with Cao Pi, the crown prince of Wei.
Because of what happened on Ma Zheng's wedding day, Cao Pi has always been worried about Ma Xiao. Now that Ma Xiao came to visit him, Cao Pi was not only surprised, but also a lot puzzled.
Logically speaking, Ma Xiao should avoid him, so why did he come suddenly?
When he saw Ma Xiao, Cao Pi didn't speak, he just stared at Ma Xiao.
Ma Xiao bowed to Cao Pi very politely and said, "Prince, I must be a little confused about my arrival today, right?"
Cao Pi didn't pretend, he simply nodded and admitted.
"Haha..." Ma Xiao smiled slightly, "I came here today because I want to make a deal with the prince."
"Deal?" Cao Pi was nervous. He and Ma Xiao had no conflict of interest. How could this deal be discussed?