Chapter 351: The Ma Family in Turmoil

"I am Shi Guang," the Yanzhou general said, cupping his hands. "General Dian Zhang said someone wants to kill us; why would you say that?"

"After you left, Ma Jin ordered troops from the camp to pursue and kill you, but what he did not expect was that after the news of the Young Master being alive reached Qinzhou, the hearts of the people had already begun to waver."

Dian Zhang then sneered, "This soldier went to the camp and did not go to find Ma Chang first; instead, he told me this news first. I ordered him to delay telling Ma Chang for a quarter of an hour."

"So that is how it is," Shi Guang realized. "It seems they do not want your Young Master to return."

Dian Zhang nodded with a solemn expression, "However, this is not up to him. The clan elders have already decided to welcome the Young Master back to Xian City, and we shall set off in a few days."

Shi Guang nodded, remembering there was one more thing he had not yet said before being shooed away by Ma Chong. He said, "I came here this time to inform you of one more thing: Xiliang and the Northern Di are going to form an alliance at Yin Mountain."

Upon hearing this, Dian Zhang's lips pressed tightly together.

He naturally understood the weight of this news.

It was already difficult for the Ma Family to deal with Xiliang alone.

To deal with the Northern Di and Xiliang at the same time would be simply impossible.

In that case, the support of Yan Wang would be even more necessary.

And from Yan Wang's attitude, it was very clear that he also approved of Ma Han.

Thus, Ma Han ascending to the position of Head of the Family was truly the desire of the people.

"Upon returning to Yancheng, I hope you can pass on a message for me: tell my Young Master that the clan elders all support him," Dian Zhang said.

Shi Guang nodded heavily.

At this moment, Dian Zhang said, "You will be recognized wearing this Armor. Take it off and wear ours; leave yours in the woods."

Upon hearing this, Shi Guang immediately had the Cavalry take off their Armor and put on the ones that Dian Zhang and his men had removed.

Once mounted, he cupped his hands to Dian Zhang and said, "Until we meet again."

Dian Zhang and the others also mounted their horses, "Until we meet again."

Having said that, he reined in his horse and left.

However, he did not return to Xian City, but instead went straight to a country villa east of Xian City.

"My Lord,

Yan Wang's men have arrived." After entering the courtyard, Dian Zhang said to the middle-aged Confucian scholar sitting in the pavilion reading a book.

"Oh?" The middle-aged Confucian scholar did not move his eyes from the book and asked, "What did Yan Wang's men say?"

So he repeated what Shi Guang had told him to the middle-aged Confucian scholar.

"Hmm, if Yan Wang wants to intervene in this matter, he will inevitably lend troops to Ma Han. In that way, taking back the position of Head of the Family will be even easier." The middle-aged Confucian scholar put down his book at this time and paced over to stand before Dian Zhang.

He frowned, "Yan Wang releasing the news about Xiliang and the Northern Di is also to let us clan elders weigh the pros and cons; in the end, he is still considering things for Ma Han."

"The Young Master should rightfully succeed to the position of Head of the Family," Dian Zhang said with a firm expression.

The middle-aged Confucian scholar nodded, "After letting Ma Chong and Ma Jin toss and turn for so long, it is time for the Ma Family to welcome back the true Head of the Family."

Just as he was speaking, a servant suddenly entered from outside the gate and said, "My Lord, the Head of the Family just sent a message, asking you to go to the mansion tonight to discuss the matter of welcoming back the Young Master."

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged Confucian scholar raised his eyebrows and laughed, "I didn't expect that as soon as Yan Wang's men arrived, Ma Chong and Ma Jin would be unable to sit still. It seems they must also realize that they cannot hold onto this seat, so they might as well step down early to avoid embarrassment later."

"My Lord, this matter is not right." Dian Zhang frowned deeply, "Ma Jin just ordered the pursuit and killing of the Cavalry delivering the message for Yan Wang; how could he suddenly change his mind?"

"What?" The middle-aged Confucian scholar did not yet know that Ma Jin wanted to kill Yan Wang's cavalry, and he was immediately shocked.

Dian Zhang then told him the whole story of how the soldier found him and how he had rescued Shi Guang and the others.

The middle-aged Confucian scholar's eyes wandered incessantly; by doing this, Ma Jin was humiliating Yan Wang.

"My Lord, in this subordinate's opinion, you had best set off for Sizhou now to prevent any unforeseen changes." Dian Zhang's expression was solemn.

This middle-aged Confucian scholar was the Prefect of Sizhou, Ma Yue, and like Ma Jin, he was a cousin of Ma Xuan.

The Ma Family had three Prefects in one clan.

Ma Xuan was the Prefect of Qinzhou, Ma Jin was the Prefect of Yongzhou, and Ma Yue was the Prefect of Sizhou.

The three of them held the greatest power in the Ma Family, among whom Ma Jin also served as the Military General of the Ma Family, with power second only to Ma Xuan.

After Ma Chong returned to the Ma Family, Ma Jin had tried several times to move against him, as he was Ma Xuan's trusted aide in the military.

But because Ma Yue protected him, he did not succeed.

Although he knew that Ma Yue also wanted to use him to contend with Ma Jin in the military,

he still felt grateful to Ma Yue.

Usually, Ma Yue stayed in Sizhou, but after the news that Ma Han was alive reached them,

he came to Xian City to discuss the matter of welcoming back Ma Han with the other clan elders.

"Hahaha, are you implying that Ma Jin wants to do something detrimental to us clan elders?" Ma Yue suddenly laughed.

It was different from what Dian Zhang thought.

Ma Yue only thought that Ma Jin did not like Yan Wang intervening in this matter.

He likewise did not like Yan Wang intervening in the Ma Family's affairs.

However, because he supported Ma Han and his interests were aligned with Yan Wang's, he did not hate him as much as Ma Jin did.

After all, Ma Han was detrimental to Ma Jin.

As for what Dian Zhang was thinking, he felt it was impossible.

He believed that Dian Zhang was only speculating this way out of his hatred for Ma Jin.

After all, harming clan elders was equivalent to betraying the clan.

"If this subordinate may speak bluntly, it is not impossible," Dian Zhang said.

He even suspected that Ma Xuan's death was Ma Jin's doing.

As Ma Xuan's most trusted general, he clearly knew the conflict between Ma Xuan and Ma Jin.

"Alright, there is no need to say any more." Ma Yue waved his hand, "You are overthinking it. Back then, I, Ma Xuan, and Ma Jin all swore in the ancestral hall that we would never do anything to harm the Ma Family, otherwise we would die without a burial place. Ma Jin covets the power of the Ma Family, but he would not be so insane as to do this. For now, welcoming back Ma Han is the priority; let us see what he says tonight."

"This..." Dian Zhang wanted to say more, but seeing Ma Yue's solemn expression, he swallowed his words.

Then he took his leave and turned to depart.

As the figure of Dian Zhang disappeared, Ma Yue suddenly clapped his hands.

At this moment, a general walked in, "Lord Prefect."

"Tonight, take some skilled men and accompany me to the Ma Family residence," Ma Yue said.

Although he did not believe Ma Jin would do such a thing, Dian Zhang had pointed it out, and deep down, he felt somewhat uneasy.

However, he was still unwilling to believe it.

After all, if this were to happen, the Ma Family would fall into civil war, and it would be the strength of the Ma Family that was depleted.

That night.

The Ma Family residence was brightly lit, with twelve Ma Family elders and dozens of family descendants gathered at the Ma Family residence.

Ma Chong had long since ordered a banquet to be set up.

Songs and dances began, music played, and the Ma Family residence suddenly became boisterous.

At this time, Ma Chong sat in the main seat, and Ma Jin sat just below Ma Chong.

After exchanging toasts, an elder said, "Head of the Family, you summoned us here today saying it was to discuss welcoming back Ma Han; I wonder what arrangements the Head of the Family has?"

Ma Chong and Ma Jin exchanged a glance; all the elders who should have come had arrived.

Now, soldiers were already lying in ambush in the rooms surrounding the courtyard; with just a single order, they could rush out and hack these elders into mincemeat.

However, this was the final trump card; for now, it would be best if these elders could be made to abandon Ma Han.