Chapter 258: The Upheaval of the Ma Family

Under the moonlight, Ma Xuan was still in hot pursuit.

Now he deeply regretted the slap he had given Ma Han during the day.

"Ruyue, Han'er's temperament is truly as simple as yours was back then," Ma Xuan sighed softly.

He was lost in memory when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a horse by the side of the road, with a white figure sitting on it, back turned to him.

As he drew closer, he saw a flash of white at the horse's tail; closer still, he confirmed it was Ma Han's horse.

He was instantly overjoyed and called out, "Han'er, it was Father's mistake. As soon as we return, Father will send men to find Yan Wang."

As he spoke, he spurred his horse to catch up.

Seeing the person on the horse did not speak, Ma Xuan assumed Ma Han was still angry.

He grabbed Ma Han's arm and smiled, "Han'er, come back with Father."

"Ma Han" turned his face at this moment, a strange smile hanging on his face.

Ma Xuan saw clearly and was terrified to the point of death; before he could recover, he felt a pain in his chest.

A dagger was viciously plunged into his heart.

"You..." Ma Xuan only managed to say one word before falling from his horse.

The accompanying guards were shocked at the sight and immediately drew their blades.

Just then, a sound of piercing through the air rang out.

Dozens of arrows flew out from the woods on both sides of the road.

Amidst screams, more than ten Ma Family guards fell from their horses one after another.

When everything returned to dead silence, dozens of figures in black emerged from the woods.

Confirming Ma Xuan was dead, one said, "Immediately send the news back to the Dou Family; Ma Chong can head to Xian City to take over the Ma Family."

Then he looked toward the direction Ma Han had fled and ordered his men to pursue.

Ma Han's shoe had fallen off.

But he could not care at all; now he only wanted to save his life.

At the same time, he could not fathom why there would be men in black wanting to kill him in this remote village.

Running blindly for over ten miles, his stamina was gradually exhausted.

Suddenly hearing the sound of gurgling water, he looked ahead and felt instant despair.

Under the moonlight, a river several miles wide lay before him.

"Jin River!" Ma Han's voice carried despair.

This was the largest river in the North Territory, flowing from west to east, cutting through Qinzhou, Yongzhou, and Jinzhou to reach the sea in the far east.

The river was yellow and turbulent; no individual could possibly swim across it.

While he hesitated, the men in black had already caught up.

They surrounded Ma Han in an arc.

"Who on earth are you!" Ma Han asked.

He had nowhere left to retreat, and before dying, he only wanted to know who was trying to kill him.

But the men in black seemed unwilling to answer him.

They raised their arms simultaneously, and the *whoosh-whoosh* sound of arrows piercing the air rang out.

Ma Han felt a sharp pain all over his body, tilted backward, and fell into the water.

The men in black immediately stepped forward and fired arrows into the water repeatedly.

Seeing the river rolling and nothing visible, they turned and left.

The next day.

The corpses of Ma Xuan and his guards were discovered.

The news reached Xian City, and the Ma Family clan was deeply shaken.

Further news arrived that Ma Han had also died at the hands of bandits.

Ma Xuan was the Head of the Family of the Ma Family.

After his death, Ma Han, this legitimate son, should have inherited his position.

Now that Ma Han had also disappeared, the Ma Family was suddenly left without a leader.

"It is said that Ma Han defected to Yan Wang, so he might not be dead. We should immediately send men to Yanzhou to investigate," said an elder of the clan in the Ma Family mansion.

"Currently, the Liang troops of Western Jin are aggressive. The Ma Family cannot go a day without a head. If Ma Han is still alive, that is fine, but what if he is dead?" another person said.

"Everyone seems to have forgotten one person. The Head of the Family's eldest son, Ma Chong, is currently still in Jinling. If the young master has truly met with misfortune, he should be the one to continue the Ma Family," one person suddenly spoke up.

"In that case, send one team to Yanzhou to find the young master, and another team to Jinling to invite Ma Chong back to temporarily lead the Ma Family. If the young master is found, let him return to inherit the position of clan leader."

Hearing this, everyone nodded one after another.

Half an hour later, two teams set out from Xian City.

One headed northeast toward Yanzhou, and one headed southeast toward Jinling.

Three days later.

The Ma Family team entered Yancheng to request an audience with Yan Wang.

"Ma Han?"

In the Hui Ke Tang, Zhao Xu looked at the Ma Family general before him with a puzzled expression.

Upon learning that the Ma Family had arrived, he had thought they were sent to discuss the business of Artillery.

He did not expect the general to ask about Ma Han.

"When our young master left, he said he was going to Yanzhou to defect to Your Highness. The Head of the Family encountered bandits and met with misfortune while pursuing him, so we hope Your Highness will not conceal the young master's whereabouts. The Ma Family needs him to take charge of the overall situation at this time," the general said.

"What did you say? The Prefect Ma has met with disaster?" Zhao Xu's expression changed drastically.

The commander nodded and recounted the death of Ma Xuan.

After hearing this, Zhao Xu's heart sank.

The head of the Ma Family, one of the Eight Great Influential Clans, had actually been killed on his own territory.

This was simply inconceivable. He said, "Do you truly believe it was the work of bandits?"

"Naturally, I do not believe it, but to avoid widespread panic, we can only say so. I believe the Head of the Family and the Viscount were harmed by treacherous villains. If I find out who it is, I will surely tear them limb from limb!" When the commander said this, his eyes widened like copper bells, staring fixedly at Zhao Xu.

"Do not look at this Prince like that. Xiliang has captured Jincheng, and I am currently seeking to unite with the Ma Family to resist the enemy; I would never do such a base thing." Zhao Xu's expression was solemn, and he felt like hitting someone.

After a pause, he said, "Moreover, the Viscount Ma is not here with me."

Upon hearing this, deep disappointment appeared in the commander's eyes.

After a long silence, he said, "If Your Highness has any news of the Viscount, I hope you will inform me immediately."

Zhao Xu nodded and asked, "What is your name?"

"I am Dian Zhang," the commander said.

"This Prince will post notices in Yanzhou searching for the Viscount Ma. If there is any news, I will certainly tell you," Zhao Xu said solemnly.

Come to think of it, he actually had a good impression of this Ma Han.

Remembering something, he asked, "If Ma Han cannot be found, who will preside over the Ma Family?"

"Ma Chong. He is not a legitimate son, but he is the eldest son of the Head of the Family," Dian Zhang said.

Zhao Xu had nothing left to ask.

Dian Zhang cupped his hands, turned, and left.

Zhao Xu watched Dian Zhang's retreating back, and a trace of worry welled up in his heart.

Jinzhou was in chaos, and now this matter had happened to the Ma Family.

If Ma Han was dead, then the Ma Family would be managed by this Ma Chong from now on.

But he knew absolutely nothing about this person.

After taking charge of the Ma Family, what decisions he would make, only ghosts knew.

Thinking of this, he sighed.

At present, the Prince's Personal Army did not have many soldiers capable of fighting.

If the Imperial Court issued an order, he would certainly have to cooperate with the Ma Family to attack Jinzhou.

At a time like this, a reliable member of the Ma Family was very important.

Yet, as it happened, an unpredictable Ma Family Head had emerged.

However, he also knew in his heart that even if the Ma Family did not change leadership, the extent to which they could cooperate with him was unknown.

But it would still be better than this unknown variable.

"It seems the Prince's Personal Army will likely have to fight a bloody battle against Xiliang," Zhao Xu thought to himself.

Jinzhou was right next to Yanzhou; if Jincheng was not retaken, the western side of Yanzhou would never be at peace.

He also did not want to fight on two fronts when the Northern Di invaded again.

Furthermore, there was another very important point: most of the coal in Yanzhou came from Jinzhou.

Losing this treasure land, filled with open-pit coal resources, would inevitably affect the industrial development of Yanzhou.

It was just that, if they went to war.

Although he did not fear Xiliang, the loss of troops and generals would be unavoidable.

After all, if Jinzhou turned into a quagmire of war, he would be trapped within it.