Chapter 508: Strategic Cooperation

"My Ma Family has never been willing to wallow in the mire with them," Ma Han said, gnashing his teeth. "What's more, the Dou Family is the murderer who killed my father."

When Ma Jin defected to Xiliang, he announced to the world that Dou Wei had colluded with him to murder his father and son.

Although Dou Wei refused to admit it, he had already concluded in his heart that Dou Wei was the murderer.

Originally, he had hoped that the Emperor Zhao Heng would uphold justice for him.

But in the end, the Imperial Court simply brushed the matter aside, claiming that Ma Jin's words were untrustworthy.

The hatred in his heart was overwhelming, yet he could only endure it in silence.

The Ma Family was no longer the Ma Family of the past; they no longer possessed the influence to make the Northwest of the Great Song tremble with a single stomp of their feet.

Furthermore, Qinzhou and Yongzhou were the foundation of the Ma Family, and he hoped the Imperial Court would help the Ma Family take them back.

But this time, during the peace negotiations, he was disappointed again.

Zhao Heng had completely ceded these two prefectures to the Northern Di.

That night, he got drunk late at night and wept bitterly; his father would not be able to rest in peace even in the afterlife.

He wanted to lead the Ma Family's troops to march out of the pass and fight, regardless of the Imperial Court's peace negotiations.

But he knew clearly that his small force was no match for the Northern Di.

The last breath of the Ma Family would also be buried by him.

Now, Yan Wang had revealed to him the banquet of the Seven Great Influential Clans, completely alienating his Ma Family.

His Ma Family could not even defend this final honor of being an influential clan.

Most importantly, just as Yan Wang said, as a member of an influential clan, he naturally knew what Dou Wei wanted to do.

His Ma Family had once dominated three prefectures, reached into Jinzhou, and even extended their tentacles toward Yanzhou; all of this was to expand the Ma Family's sphere of influence.

He was very clear that the Imperial Clan of the Great Song could no longer suppress the influential clans.

And the result of being unable to suppress them would be a chaotic war between the influential clans and the Imperial Clan, where the strongest influential clan would be born amidst the smoke of gunpowder, ascend to the throne, and establish a new dynasty.

When his father was alive, he had spoken to him about this matter several times.

It could be said that this matter was tacitly accepted by the influential clans.

The Eight Influential Clans were all preparing for the arrival of troubled times.

It was just that now, as all of this was truly about to arrive, the Ma Family had lost in advance.

Given the relationship between the Ma Family and the Dou Family, once the influential clans won, he feared his Ma Family would meet a miserable end.

"Then are you willing to wallow in the mire with this Prince!" Zhao Xu deliberately emphasized the words "wallow in the mire."

He had been observing Ma Han's expression.

In just a short moment, several emotional fluctuations appeared in Ma Han's eyes; clearly, there was intense mental activity.

"Your Highness wants to..." Ma Han was stunned for a moment; although Yan Wang's words were self-deprecating, the meaning was already very clear.

He then reacted, "To associate with Your Highness, how can that be called wallowing in the mire? It should be called having common goals and mutual interests."

"Hahaha... what a good 'common goals and mutual interests.' That's right, that is exactly what this Prince means." Zhao Xu stared into Ma Han's eyes.

Ma Han felt another tremor in his heart as he was stared at by Zhao Xu.

In an instant,

his thoughts raced.

The influential clans led by Dou Wei would certainly not accept the Ma Family.

If the troubled times truly arrived in the future, how could the weak Ma Family survive?

There seemed to be no better way than to hide under the wings of Yan Wang.

Thinking of this, he stood up, cupped his hands, and was about to say something.

Zhao Xu, however, said indifferently, "There is no need to talk about going up to mountains of blades or down into seas of fire. As the saying goes, 'everyone for me, and I for everyone.' As long as you sincerely assist this Prince, this Prince will certainly reciprocate. The Imperial Court cannot take back Qinzhou and Yongzhou, but this Prince can."

Upon hearing this, Ma Han felt a shock in his heart.

Now he had no more hesitation, "Regarding this matter of snatching the bride, Your Highness, just give the orders; my Ma Family will certainly go all out."

Zhao Xu nodded slightly.

This time, he and the Ma Family were basically not allies, but it was better than being allies.

A true covenant is not a piece of paper, but the sincerity in each other's hearts.

Using contemporary terminology, it could be called a strategic partnership.

Moreover, this was also clean and efficient.

If his Ma Family had other thoughts in the future, they would have no psychological burden.

Likewise, when the time came, he would have no psychological burden when beating the Ma Family.

However, he still hoped that Ma Han was a smart man and would not stand on the wrong side.

"Your Ma Family soldiers have the armor provided by this Prince; when the time comes, you only need to hang this Prince's banner, and this Prince will acknowledge this matter," Zhao Xu added.

In this way, his Ma Family only needed to provide the men, and he would bear the risks from the Imperial Court.

"Actually, there is no need. I am willing to use this matter as a token of allegiance to show my sincerity," Ma Han said with a firm expression.

Some time ago, he had sent a million refugees to Yan Wang, and Yan Wang had fulfilled his promise to send troops to help him attack Ma Jin.

This matter was enough to show that Yan Wang was a man who kept his word.

This time, since he had chosen to defect to Yan Wang, he naturally had to show his own sincerity.

Zhao Xu smiled and waved his hand again, "If that were the case, why would this Prince have you come secretly? What this Prince wants is for the Ma Family to be in the shadows while this Prince is in the light."

Ma Han suddenly realized something and revealed a look of sudden enlightenment.

If his Ma Family's relationship with Yan Wang were made public to the world, the influential clans would certainly keep a close watch on his Ma Family.

But by hiding the relationship, they could secretly support each other and catch the enemy off guard in certain matters.

"I understand," Ma Han laughed.

Zhao Xu also smiled; everything was understood without words.

Then, he suddenly realized something; it seemed he was becoming more and more devious.

Sigh, there is no help for it; who told him his opponents were all old schemers.

Having settled this matter, Zhao Xu kept Ma Han at the mansion for a meal.

The next day, Ma Han set off to return to Sizhou.

The matter of the marriage alliance was imminent, and he needed to go back to make arrangements.

Before Ma Han left, he had Xu Ke send a person to accompany Ma Han back.

He would dispatch a ship north, and the ship would be loaded with a Hot Air Balloon.

If Ma Han could rescue Changle Junzhu, that would naturally be best.

If he could not, perhaps the Hot Air Balloon might come in handy.

Jinling, Chun Wang Mansion.

It was located on the busiest Donghua Street by the Donghua Gate of the Imperial Palace.

At this moment, it was evening, and the noble and powerful scions coming and going on Donghua Street were bustling about.

When passing by the Chun Wang Mansion, they could not help but point and gesture.

Some wore expressions of sighing, while others wore expressions of gloating.

"It is a pity that such a celestial Beauty is about to be ruined by the Northern Di," a noble scion sighed.

"Actually, there is nothing to pity; being able to secure a truce with the Northern Di, she can be considered to have performed a service for our Da Song," another person said.

The two spoke as they walked away.

Just then, two scions of powerful families passed by, and one said: "This Changle Junzhu, relying on being a Junzhu, often cheered for Yan Wang in Jingshi; hehe, now she is stunned, right? Even Yan Wang cannot save her now."

"Serves her right; what kind of damn Junzhu, she is just a bastard from a humble family who got lucky and was favored by the Imperial Concubine of Chun Wang."

"..."

The sounds of discussion were drowned out in the crowd.

The servants in front of the mansion could not hear them, and at this moment, Changle Junzhu in her boudoir could hear them even less.

She was just sitting in front of a Glass mirror, staring blankly at herself.

Her expression was as calm as usual, as if she had not been affected by the marriage alliance matter at all.

Just as she was lost in thought, the door to the boudoir was pushed open, and a noble lady walked in.