Chapter 349: Acting According to the Situation

The wind chimes hanging outside the Hui Ke Tang swayed with the breeze, emitting a clear, crisp sound.

Zhao Xu seemed to see the current chaos of the Great Song Dynasty court on the faces of Ma Yuan and Mo Kuan.

Although they were ministers and generals deeply trusted by Zhao Heng, they still had to tread on thin ice.

The affair of Mo Di had left a crack in their hearts.

Under the instigation of the influential clans, Zhao Heng would even suspect this loyal general who served the country, let alone them.

From them, Zhao Xu thought of himself.

He wondered what Zhao Heng was thinking of him in his heart right now?

After pondering for a moment, he suddenly felt it did not matter.

The most heartless are those in the Imperial Clan.

In contemporary history, instances of emperors killing Imperial Princes based on mere hearsay were everywhere.

The number of Imperial Princes who wanted to commit regicide and usurp the throne could not be counted on one hand either.

Therefore, since he possessed this identity, he had to see things clearly.

Between him and the emperor, Zhao Heng, they could talk about anything, just not family affection.

It was merely huddling together for warmth in the arena of power struggles.

He needed Zhao Heng's support to sit firmly in Yanzhou as Yan Wang, justified and legitimate, and live his own little life.

At the same time, he would use his status as an Imperial Merchant to do business comfortably within the territory controlled by the Imperial Clan, and earn another sum of silver for military supplies.

Meanwhile, Zhao Heng would use him to maintain the stability of the borders, resist foreign enemies, and keep the influential clans in check, while living his own life of drunken dreams and death-like stupor.

In his view, this kind of alignment based on interests was sometimes more stable than any family affection.

Of course, if one day his interests and Zhao Heng's turned from aligned to conflicting.

Then, they would only be able to stage a scene of "benevolent father and filial son," loving and killing each other.

However, he still hoped that Zhao Heng could keep a clear head and not play such risky games.

Once this thought occurred, he said to Mo Kuan: "It was this Prince's oversight. Since that is the case, everything should be handled according to official procedure."

"It should be so."

Mo Kuan bowed to Zhao Xu.

Ma Yuan nodded slightly.

Zhao Xu smiled; he had to admit that the Great Song still had loyal ministers and good generals.

Ma Yuan and Mo Kuan supporting him in the court was truly supporting him.

Now that they were working for Zhao Heng, they were also truly working for Zhao Heng.

"Your Highness, there is one more extremely important matter for which this subordinate has come to Yancheng this time." Ma Yuan's eyes were shining slightly.

"The Prefect wants to talk about Ma Han and the Ma Family, right?" Seeing Ma Yuan so excited, he guessed it.

"Exactly." Ma Yuan's voice trembled slightly, "I wonder where Ma Han is now? Could Your Highness allow him to meet with this subordinate?"

"Of course." Zhao Xu called for Feng'er and had her send servants to bring Ma Han over.

The three of them drank tea and chatted for a while about interesting news from Jingshi.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Ma Han arrived at the Hui Ke Tang.

"Uncle!"

As soon as he entered the Hui Ke Tang, Ma Han shouted loudly, his expression excited.

Upon learning that Ma Yuan had arrived at the Prince's Mansion, he had ridden over without even having time to tidy his clothes.

"Han'er." Ma Yuan stood up, his eyes instantly moistening.

Looking at each other, the two hurried forward to grab each other's hands, weeping with joy.

After sighing with emotion for a while, Ma Yuan asked in detail about Ma Han's situation during these days.

Learning that he had met Yan Wang in Fanyang, and that Yan Wang had been sending people to protect him and had properly taken care of his food and lodging, he turned to Zhao Xu and bowed deeply, "Many thanks for Your Highness's kindness; Ma Han and this subordinate will never forget it for all eternity."

"Such a small matter is not worth mentioning," Zhao Xu said, "As for the rest, this Prince has already told Ma Han."

Ma Han nodded and said to Ma Yuan: "Uncle, this time when His Highness sent the news to Jingshi that I was still alive, was there any response?"

Hearing this, Ma Yuan sighed, "The family affairs of the Eight Great Influential Clans are not something even the Emperor can directly interfere with; Dou Wei responded to the Emperor in the same way."

Hearing this, Ma Han's disappointment was written all over his face.

In that case, the Emperor would not intervene to help.

"However..." Ma Yuan looked at Zhao Xu at this moment, "The Emperor summoned me privately, implying that this matter still requires the help of Yan Wang. After all, Your Highness and my nephew have always been on good terms."

Ma Han instantly turned from sorrow to joy; the Emperor had given his tacit approval privately. At this moment, he cast his gaze toward Zhao Xu, his eyes full of expectation.

He believed that Yan Wang absolutely had the strength to help him win back the position of Head of the Family of the Ma Family.

The only question was whether Yan Wang was willing to help.

After all, Yan Wang was now in a high and powerful position on the northern border of the Great Song.

Zhao Xu smiled helplessly.

In fact, he was very clear that this matter would eventually fall on his own shoulders.

And he himself had the intention to participate in this matter.

In contemporary international affairs, there is a concept called the peripheral security environment.

That is, for a country to maintain its own security, it must first conduct a comprehensive analysis and assessment of whether the surrounding areas pose a threat to its national territory, such as military invasion, within a certain period.

Although he was not a country, he currently had his own independent fiefdom.

Therefore, after pacifying the Yuan Family and completely mastering Yanzhou, this term had been constantly surfacing in his mind.

In the battle against the Northern Di at Yanguan, the battle of Jinzhuzhizhan, and even the current matter of the Ma Family, he was maintaining his peripheral security environment.

Especially in the battle of Jinzhuzhizhan, Zhao Heng letting him send troops was in line with his own wishes.

With the surrounding areas unstable, it will inevitably consume a vast amount of Yanzhou's manpower and resources.

There is no way to even speak of developing trade.

The matter of the Ma Family follows the same logic; from the Jinzhuzhizhan, he had already seen that Ma Chong and Ma Jin harbored evil intentions.

With such a Ma Family at his side, how could he be at ease?

Moreover, the Ma Family still controls important passes in the northwest of the Great Song.

As he was thinking, Feng'er suddenly said at the doorway, "Your Highness, Director Xu has an urgent matter and requests an audience."

Zhao Xu looked toward Ma Han and the other two, not avoiding them, and let Xu Ke enter.

Before long, Xu Ke arrived at the Hui Ke Tang.

Seeing Ma Han and the other two, he was not surprised.

After all, he is in charge of intelligence, and he was perfectly clear about Ma Yuan and Mo Kuan coming to Yancheng.

He cupped his hands toward the three of them, then hurried to Zhao Xu's side and whispered a few words into his ear.

"Is the news confirmed?" Zhao Xu was startled upon hearing this.

Xu Ke nodded solemnly.

Zhao Xu frowned and signaled for Xu Ke to return first.

Seeing Zhao Xu's displeased expression, Ma Han and the other two knew that something bad must have happened.

After Xu Ke left.

Zhao Xu said slowly, "I have just received bad news: the Northern Di have invited Western Liang to form an alliance at the foot of the Yin Mountain. I fear that within these few days, Western Liang will ally with the Northern Di."

Ma Han, Ma Yuan, and Mo Kuan's expressions changed drastically upon hearing this.

The Ma Family guards the northwest of the Great Song, and dealing with Western Liang is already extremely strenuous.

If Western Liang allies with the Northern Di, it is possible that the Northern Di and Western Liang will attack the Song together.

Currently, Yanguan is guarded by Yan Wang, and Tongguan is guarded by the Imperial Army; because it is close to Yanzhou, Yan Wang can also provide support at any time.

Only if Western Liang and the Northern Di are not stupid will they certainly look for a soft persimmon to squeeze, attacking Xiao Pass in Qinzhou to invade the Great Song from Qinzhou.

"This... what should be done about this?" Ma Yuan was suddenly a bit panicked.

The Ma Family does not have Artillery; if the Northern Di and Western Liang suddenly attack with a large army, I fear they will not be able to hold Xiao Pass.

By then, the survival of the Ma Family will be at stake.

Ma Han, however, had a firm gaze as he looked toward Zhao Xu, "Your Highness, this matter cannot be delayed any longer. I beg Your Highness to lend me troops to go to Qinzhou and seize the position of Head of the Family!"