Chapter 287: The Big Picture (Wishing everyone a Happy New Year!)

In the gloomy night, one could not see their own fingers, save for the candle inside the room flickering and emitting a faint light.

Zhao Xu looked steadily at Ma Han, "How do you want this Prince to help you?"

"Please, Your Highness, lend me troops to head to Qinzhou. As long as the Ma Family knows I am still alive, Ma Chong has no right to inherit the position of Head of the Family," Ma Han said sternly.

This time, when he and his father were ambushed, the greatest beneficiaries were Ma Chong and Ma Jin.

While recovering from his injuries, he had asked Mu Qingwen to inquire about the changes in the Ma Family, and after she told him the news.

He could not help but associate it with the two of them.

If he could reclaim the position of Head of the Family, he would certainly interrogate the two of them and get to the bottom of the matter.

"Naive!" Zhao Xu rebuked angrily upon hearing this.

Ma Han froze for a moment, his expression dejected, "Your Highness does not wish to lend me troops? If so, I, Ma Han, shall leave. Even if I must spill blood three feet deep, I will avenge my father."

He had always harbored deep guilt over his father's death.

If it were not for his own impulsiveness, those treacherous people would not have been able to seize this opportunity to murder them both.

Moreover, although he and his father often quarreled, he knew in his heart how much his father cherished him.

Every time he thought of his father during this period, he was almost overcome with grief.

He did not even heed the dissuasion of the woman he loved.

He still traveled alone from Sizhou to Yanzhou.

After blending into the ranks of the people of Jinzhou, he arrived at Yancheng.

When he thought it over and dared not enter, he knew Ma Chong and Ma Jin would inevitably have planted eyes and ears in Yancheng.

Once he appeared, he would certainly be exposed.

After suffering like this for several days, he had intended to risk entering the city when suddenly Yan Wang set off for Fanyang.

He then rushed to Fanyang day and night, working as a laborer at the Pier, waiting for an opportunity.

Unexpectedly, now that he had seen Yan Wang, his burning passion had turned into cold water in a frozen pool.

Yan Wang seemed unwilling to help him.

Thinking that he had even quarreled with his father because of Yan Wang, his heart grew even colder, and he turned to leave.

"This Prince calling you naive is not wrong at all. At a time when Xiliang is invading our borders, if this Prince were to lend you troops, before Xiliang is even pacified, Yanzhou would have to fight a bloody battle with your Ma Family. Wouldn't that cause pain to our kin and joy to our enemies?" Zhao Xu's voice did not soften; instead, it became even more severe.

Ma Han froze for a moment; he had been swayed by the belief in revenge and had completely failed to consider the current chaotic situation.

Even if he appeared now, Ma Chong and Ma Jin would certainly not willingly hand over the authority of the Ma Family.

If he were to bring Yan Wang's troops there at this time, the two sides would inevitably clash.

That would only make Xiliang laugh at them.

Turning back, he bowed to Zhao Xu, "I was reckless. I only hope Your Highness can point out the way through this maze."

Zhao Xu pondered for a moment and said, "Wait until we reclaim Jinzhou; this Prince will naturally uphold justice for you."

In his view, Ma Han could not show himself yet.

Otherwise, Ma Chong and Ma Jin would surely find ways to kill Ma Han upon receiving the news.

They might even risk a battle with Yanzhou.

After all, once Ma Han returned to Qinzhou, he would be a serious threat to them.

Furthermore, after Ma Chong and Ma Jin took control of the Ma Family, they would certainly install their own people and purge dissenters.

Ma Han returning would be of no use.

It would be better to wait until Jinzhou was reclaimed before announcing that Ma Han was still alive.

In this way, they could divide the Ma Family and find an opportunity for Ma Han to return, breaking this deadlock in the northwest of Da Song.

Once he thought of this, he spoke a few more details to Ma Han.

He also shared his suspicion that the Dou Family was setting a trap in the northwest of Da Song.

"Your Highness is indeed far-sighted; I was reckless. But will Ma Chong and Ma Jin really help Your Highness attack Jinzhou?" Ma Han still expressed doubt about this point.

"This Prince naturally does not count on them, but a facade of hypocrisy must be maintained. Whether they hesitate and watch this Prince fight during the war, or engage in some petty tricks behind the scenes, it is still better than exposing you now and causing them to go hysterical, is it not?" Zhao Xu said.

"Your Highness is absolutely right. From now on, Ma Han will strictly follow Your Highness's instructions," Ma Han bowed again.

Zhao Xu nodded and continued, "For now, you stay in Fanyang and do not go to Yan Commandery. Ma Jin has left quite a few eyes and ears in Yancheng."

"Your Highness knows?" Ma Han asked in surprise.

"You underestimate this Prince too much. In this Prince's territory, can such a small matter be hidden from me?" Zhao Xu laughed.

The Flame Guard had been growing and becoming increasingly professional.

They had a clear grasp of every movement in Yanzhou.

He even knew who had visited the homes of Liu Fu and Chang Wei yesterday.

This was the caution required of a ruler.

Even if one trusts them, there are some things one must know.

Aside from Yanzhou.

The reach of the Flame Guard had also extended to Jingshi.

For now, they were only gathering intelligence under the guise of a business firm, but in a while, a hotpot restaurant belonging to the Flame Guard would open in Jingshi.

And after the incident in the Ma Family, the Flame Guard had also sent a group of people there to secretly investigate the assassination of the Ma father and son.

At the same time, they were relaying the movements of the Ma Family to him at all times.

Having given Ma Han a sense of reassurance, Zhao Xu ordered Xu Lie to take Ma Han to the Fanyang military camp under the cover of night.

This place had now become the barracks for the Prince's Personal Army in Fanyang.

There were five thousand soldiers stationed there.

To him, that was the safest place for Ma Han.

……

Xian City.

Jade Flower Pavilion.

Ma Chong was drinking heavily in the most luxurious Heaven-grade room.

At this moment, he was surrounded by beautiful women, pushing cups and exchanging toasts, having a wonderful time.

But just then, as if remembering something, his expression suddenly turned gloomy; he shoved the woman in his arms away violently and shouted, "All of you, get out!"

The women were startled and let out cries of alarm, but each of them, their faces pale with fright, retreated from the room.

Who now did not know that this eldest son of the Ma Family, Ma Chong, had inherited the position of Head of the Family?

To offend him was to seek death.

"What is the matter, my worthy nephew? Why such great anger? Is it that these few women are not to your liking? Another day, I shall find you some better ones." A voice suddenly sounded outside the door, and Ma Jin appeared at the threshold.

Hearing the voice, Ma Chong turned his anger into a smile; he beckoned for Ma Jin to sit down and sighed, "It is just that thinking of how Ma Han is nowhere to be seen alive and his corpse is nowhere to be found makes me slightly unhappy. If he were still alive, it would truly be disadvantageous for me and you, Uncle."

Ma Jin sat down before Ma Chong, picked up the wine pot, poured himself a cup of Wine, and said indifferently, "Even if he is alive, what can he do? Ma Han is dead; we say he is dead, so he is dead. Even if he is alive, he is as good as dead."

Ma Chong frowned, "But didn't you also say, Uncle, that if he were to fall into the hands of someone with ulterior motives, such as Yan Wang, it would be very troublesome?"

Ma Jin picked up the wine cup and took a light sip, "That is naturally so. However, if Yan Wang had the strength, he could naturally meddle in this business, but if he lacks the strength, he will not be able to meddle even if he wants to. Of course, if he is alive, it is best to kill him."

Draining the Wine in one gulp, he said, "In less than a month, the Ma Family will march with Yan Wang to Jinzhou; this is an opportunity to ensure Yan Wang can never turn things around."

Ma Chong nodded; this was also what the Dou Family required him and Ma Jin to do.

"Do not worry about this matter. I have already dispatched an envoy to Western Liang to see Cui Yan; he will introduce the envoy to the Emperor of Western Liang. I believe he will certainly be interested in our plan." Ma Jin's mouth curled upward, and he sneered coldly.

Ma Chong gave an "Oh," feeling displeased in his heart.

Although he had come to Xian City and inherited the position of Head of the Family.

It was a far cry from what he had expected before his arrival.

Ma Jin held almost sole power over the Ma Family, and he was nothing more than a puppet.

This made him feel exceptionally resentful.