Summoning the world to be one

Chapter 631 Ma Zhi's Choice

Chapter 632: Ma Zhi's Choice

The next day, Ma Zun left Deng Jun's camp and went to Luanniao City. At the same time, in Luanniao City, Ma Zhi was also worried about the current situation. The defeat of Jucheng made his future bleak. The departure of the Mengya tribe made it even worse, so that now it can only retreat to Luanniao City.

But this Luanniao City is not easy to defend. Now I only have more than 3 horses left in my hands, and there are more than [-] Deng Jun outside the city. What's more, the battle of Lingju City will deal a great blow to the Qin Army Well, the Xiliang Qin army has been suppressing Xiliang for many years, and they are invincible. They dare not say that they are victorious in every battle, but they are rarely defeated. However, they not only lost in the first battle of Lingjucheng, but also suffered a disastrous defeat. The morale of this army was hit too much.

"Father!" At this time, Ma Zhi's second son, Ma Tai, came in. Ma Zhiyi had four sons, three of whom died young, and the eldest son, Ma Zun, was captured by Deng Jun in Lintao City. The fourth son, Ma Jing, stayed in Guzang City. Now he has only his second son, Matai, by his side.

"What's the matter?" Ma Zhi asked blankly.

Ma Tai replied: "Father, the news from the fourth brother came from Guzang City. The situation in Guzang is not good. The clan headed by Mr. Xiping is very dissatisfied with his father's defeat. Father's military power."

Hearing this, Ma Zhi's face suddenly became very gloomy. The clan with the surname Ying has always been his biggest supporter. When he leads the army to sit in Guzang on weekdays, they will not make much action, but as soon as he leaves Guzang In Zangcheng, they kept making small moves. This is why Ma Zhifang led the army south when Deng Jun had been in Xiliang for so long. A few days ago, his eldest son Ma Zun was defeated in Lintao City, and the clan with the surname Ying attacked him. But because he held the military power tightly, he didn't dare to be too blatant. Now that he was defeated again and lived in the city, it can be said that he gave them a handle to deal with him.

Although Ma Zhi is not worried that Chang'an will release his military power, after all, he has been in charge of Xiliang military power for many years, and the army is all his own, and other people can't control Xiliang's elite at all, but it has to be said that the way of the clan surnamed Ying It made him disgusted and chilled. He had paid so much for the state of Qin in Xiliang, but in the end he still couldn't be trusted.

"Did they send someone to Chang'an?" Ma Zhi asked.

Ma Tai shook his head and said: "The fourth brother did not say anything in the letter, but Mr. Xiping has been in constant contact with important people in the clan in recent days. It was calculated."

"Hmph! A group of idiots!" Ma Zhi snorted coldly. Ma Zhi had been dissatisfied with the clan of the Ying surname for a long time, but there was nothing he could do, because Ma Zhi knew very well that this was Qin's means to check and balance himself, so he kept He turned a blind eye to certain practices of the Ying clan, as long as he didn't go too far, he would bear it as long as he could, but for this time he was leading troops to fight outside, and these people still Ma Zhi was really too angry to trouble himself in the rear.

"Father, don't be angry, with the fourth brother here, they can't make trouble." Seeing this, Ma Tai quickly comforted him.

At this time, Jiang Ping, a general in the army, walked in hastily and said, "General Qi, the eldest son is outside the city and wants to enter the city!"

"What? Zun'er is back?"

"What? Brother is back?"

Hearing this, Ma Zhi and Ma Tai were very surprised. After all, Ma Zun was captured by Deng Jun in Lintao City. Among Deng Jun, Ma Zhi and Ma Tai did not believe that Ma Zun could escape in the ranks of [-] Deng Jun. In other words, Ma Zun was most likely released by Deng Jun, and Deng Jun chose to release Ma Zun at this time, which may not be that simple.

"Yes, general, the last general has already confirmed that the person outside the city is indeed the eldest son!" Jiang Ping nodded, and said with certainty that he had followed Ma Zhi for many years, and Jiang Ping also watched the brothers grow up. Yes, so Jiang Ping knew at a glance whether it was Ma Zun himself outside the city.

"Who came back with Zun'er?" Ma Zhi asked.

Jiang Ping shook his head and said, "The eldest son came back alone, without anyone accompanying him, not even General Ma Ting."

"Tai'er, what do you think?" Ma Zun asked Ma Tai.

Ma Tai replied: "Father, no matter what the purpose of brother Deng Junfang's return is, the elder brother is the eldest son of the father after all, and the elder brother of the child, so he will not harm us."

Ma Zhi nodded, and said to Jiang Ping: "You personally open the city to bring Zun'er back. Once you enter the city, you will not allow him to go anywhere, just bring him to see the general!"

"Here!" Jiang Ping responded.

At this time, outside Luanniao City, Ma Zun was quietly waiting for the city gate to open, and his brain was organizing words. This time, he came back to decide the life and death of their entire family. He had to do his best. Convince my father, otherwise the Ma clan may be exterminated, but then again, if Ma Zhi really chooses to fight to the end, then as his son, he will definitely accompany him to the end.

When Ma Zuntian was fighting, the gate of Luanniao City slowly opened. Jiang Ping rode out with a few cavalrymen, came to Ma Zun, got off his horse, and said to Ma Zun with a smile: " Eldest son, are you back?"

Seeing Jiang Ping, Ma Zun smiled knowingly, and said, "Yes, I'm back. I didn't expect to come back alive. Uncle Lao Ping came to pick me up."

"What's the matter, Eldest Young Master, as long as you come back safely, the general is waiting for you, Eldest Young Master is in the future!" Jiang Ping said, and then asked someone to prepare a horse for Ma Zun, and they rode into the city. The city gate was also closed immediately.

And after Ma Zun and others entered the city, on the hillside in the distance, the figures of Li Siye and Jia Xu appeared here.

"Military Master, do you think this can be done?" Li Siye asked Jia Xu. Ma Zhi is the patriarch of the Ma family. The Ma family has served Qin for three generations. The last patriarch of the Ma family is Ma Zhi's brother Ma Sheng. He died at the hands of Deng Jun again. To be honest, Li Siye really had no idea.

Jia Xu saw the worry in Li Siye's heart, and said with a smile: "General, don't worry. Since the subordinates dare to make such a suggestion to the general, they are sure. The subordinates have already sent someone to find out. Life in Xiliang was not so easy. At the beginning, Qin State valued the power of the Ma clan and asked them to guard Xiliang. The governor of Xiliang's army seemed to have unlimited scenery, but it was like sitting on pins and needles. Xiliang, especially Gu Zang In the city, there are a large number of clans with the surname Ying, but the power in Xiliang is in the hands of outsiders, General, do you think these people can be reconciled?"

"It seems that this group of clans surnamed Ying put a lot of pressure on Ma Zhi!" Li Siye understood after hearing this.

"That's natural, otherwise the general thought why Ma Zun was captured by our army in Lintao City, and Ma Zhi would not have made any movement. You must know that he is his eldest son." Jia Xu said.

Li Siye thought about it, is it right? When Ma Zun, Ma Ting and five thousand Qiang Rangers were captured in Lintao City, Li Siye was worried that Ma Zhi would directly lead the army south to rescue his eldest son, but he did not expect Ma Zhi to remain silent. , Ma Zhicai didn't come until after his own soldiers had approached Wuwei County.

"The general really wanted more clans surnamed Ying from Guzang City, anyway, considering today's events, after the Japanese generals break into Guzang City, let's spare their lives!" Li Siye said with a smile.

When Jia Xu heard this, she also showed a very unkind smile.

"Okay, this matter is over, then I will just wait for the good news, let's go back!" Li Siye said.

"Here!" Jia Xu responded.

On the other hand, as soon as Ma Zun entered the city, he went to Ma Zhi's residence under Jiang Ping's leadership. Ma Zhi was very happy to see his eldest son come back safely.

Ma Zhi hurried forward, pulled Ma Zun back and forth to check, and found that Ma Zun was not injured, so he was relieved, and said with a smile: "It's really great to see you come back safe and sound. After your mother knows , must be happy soon!"

"Father and mother are worried, the child deserves to die, father, the child is hungry, what can I eat?" Ma Zun said.

When Ma Zhi heard this, he patted his head, kicked the guard beside him, and cursed: "Hurry up and prepare good wine and meat for the eldest son. I don't have any vision. I will raise you for nothing!"

After the personal guard took the order, he hurried down to make arrangements.

Soon, some servants brought wine and meat. After the Ma family and his sons were full of wine and food, Ma Zhi asked Ma Zun, "Zun'er, Li Siye let you come back. Is there something for you to convey? Tell me." , what exactly does he want?"

"Uh..." Ma Zun slapped his stomach, wiped his mouth, and said, "Li Siye hoped that his father would open the city and surrender. He said that what Deng Guo gave to the Sima family, our Ma family will receive. And the boy has also heard that Sima Hong, the son of Sima Shang, participated in some imperial examination in Deng Guo and won the title of the second place. Now he is a close minister of the Prince Deng, and he will definitely be an important figure when the Prince Deng ascends the throne in the future. "

"Prince and close minister, his Sima family is about to prosper, Zun'er, tell me what do you think?" Ma Zhi sighed, and then asked Ma Zun what he thought.

"Father, I think it's not unacceptable!" Ma Zun said.

"Brother, three generations of our Ma family have been favored by the Great Qin State, and don't forget that uncle died at the hands of Deng Jun." Ma Tai, who was at the side, couldn't help but said when he saw his elder brother actually persuaded his father to surrender.

"I haven't forgotten!" Ma Zun said: "But father, second brother, have you ever thought that three generations of our Ma family served Daqin and guarded Xiliang, but what did we get in the end? Our family was surnamed Ying everywhere in Xiliang. The eyes of the clan, but what about the uncle? He died fighting for the Great Qin, but after Wu An Jun was demoted and implicated by Wu An Jun, the uncle’s son was dismissed from office, and the surname Ying is so cold, is it worth our death? Besides, Now that Chang'an is at stake, our Ma family hasn't made plans yet, is it really necessary to be buried with the surname Ying?"

"But uncle's revenge?" Ma Zun said the truth, and Ma Tai couldn't refute it, but Ma Sheng's death was a hurdle that could never be avoided.

"Uncle's death was caused by Deng Jun, but at that time the two armies were fighting each other, and there is nothing wrong with it. I still have my second brother, you, my mother, and my fourth brother who will all die at the hands of Deng Jun, is it really worth it?" Ma Zun said.

What Ma Zun said made Ma Zhi and Ma Tai fall into deep thought. Yes, the three generations of my Ma family worked for the Qin State. In the end, I was nothing. Now that Guanzhong is besieged by Deng Jun, maybe one day the Qin State will disappear. , At that time, what should the Ma family do?And Ma Zun's last words are the most reasonable. If he fights Deng Jun for Ma Sheng's revenge, the final result is very likely that his whole family will die under Deng Jun's knife. Is it really worth it?
"Zun'er, is Li Siye's words credible? What if Deng Guo finally turns his back on him?" Ma Zhi asked. Obviously, Ma Zhi was already moved, but he was worried that Li Siye would not be trusted. More importantly, he was worried that what Li Siye would say It doesn't count, after all, Li Siye is just a general of Deng Guo, even if he is a general of hussars, but he is only a courtier, can he make decisions on behalf of the emperor of Deng Guo?
Ma Zun nodded and said: "My son thinks it is credible, but my father doesn't know that Deng's generals have a high degree of autonomy when they are fighting abroad, and Deng has always given preferential treatment to those who voluntarily join them. The Sima family is one of them." For example, and Li Siye is Deng Guo’s hussars general, he is deeply trusted by Deng Guo Emperor, what he says, Deng Guo Emperor will listen to.”

Ma Zhi thought for a while, gritted his teeth, and said, "Well, since Daqin is beyond salvation, we also have to make plans for the Ma family. Although our Ma family has been favored by Daqin for three generations, our Ma family has also paid for Daqin." It’s a lot, so I can’t say I’m in debt, Zun’er, you go to see Li Siye immediately, and say that you agreed for your father, I hope he can do what he said.”

Ma Zun nodded and said, "Of course, but father, we still have one more thing to do."

"What's the matter?" Ma Zhi asked.

"Natou name certificate!" Ma Zun said: "After the Sima family surrendered, in addition to surrendering military power, they also surrendered the Naifeng and Pingni tribes for Deng Guo, so we must do something."

"What you said is very reasonable, so what do you say?" Ma Zhi nodded and said, if he just surrendered, he might get preferential treatment, but it would be difficult to develop further, but with the certificate of surrender, he would not same.

"First, my father immediately sent someone to contact the Mengya tribe, saying that my father had decided to submit to Deng, and let them join. Now, most of the Qiang tribes in the eight counties of Xiliang have surrendered to Deng. As long as the Mengya tribe is not Idiots will know what to do." Ma Zun said.

"Okay, the only thing is to send people to the Mengya tribe. It shouldn't be difficult." Ma Zhi nodded and said, after Ling Jucheng was defeated, the Mengya tribe realized that they could no longer fight against Deng Jun, so they took the initiative to withdraw their troops , Now it is not difficult for them to submit to Deng Guo.

"Secondly, it is the Ying clan in Guzang City. Let the second younger brother lead an army back to Guzang to control all the Ying clan. This is to protect the mother and fourth brother. After all, once the father surrenders to Deng When the news from the country reaches Guzang, there is no guarantee that the clans surnamed Ying will not jump over the wall in a hurry and take risks, and secondly, it is also to wipe out all the clans surnamed Ying." Ma Zun continued.

"Hiss..." Ma Zhi and Ma Tai couldn't help but gasped. Ma Zun was a trick. You must know that when Qin entered the customs, he only brought the royal family and some important officials with him. All the clans stayed in Guzang. If all the Ying clans in Guzang City were wiped out, [-]% of the power of the Ying clan would be lost at once.

"Zun'er, although the surname Ying is not benevolent, isn't it too nostalgic for us to do this?" Ma Zhi hesitated. After all, he had been a general of the Qin State for decades, but now he wanted to attack the surname Ying. Not open.

"Father, this matter must not be a woman's benevolence. If Deng Jun knows that his father has moved a heart of compassion, he may have thoughts about our Ma family!" Ma Zun persuaded.

Ma Zhi struggled for a while, and finally made up his mind and said: "Okay, I'll listen to you, Tai'er, you will gather [-] elites and return to Guzang quickly, and control all the clans surnamed Ying, and don't let anyone go! "

Ma Tai nodded and said, "Don't worry, father. The child knows how to do it!"

"Zun'er, there is one more thing, what will happen to your two cousins ​​after we surrender?" Ma Zhi said.

In addition to Ma Zhi's lineage, Ma's family also had Ma Sheng's lineage, and they all went to Chang'an with Ma Sheng. Once the news of his surrender came back to Chang'an, Ma Sheng's heirs might be in trouble.

Ma Zun sighed, and said: "Father, there is no other way. We can't just look at the Ma family as the last one, right? As for the two elder brothers, my father can send someone to send a letter to them. As for how they choose, it is not up to us to control them." It's gone."

As the so-called dead friends never die poor, in order to keep his family, Ma Zun didn't care so much at this time, so he could only let Ma Zhi send someone to deliver a message to them. Fortunately, if the speed is fast enough, Ma Zhi's The letter should reach Chang'an sooner than the news of the surrender. Ma Sheng's two sons still have a chance to escape, but if they choose to die for Qin, there is no way.

"Oh... that's the only way to do it for now, I'm just a little sorry for my brother!" Ma Zhi said with a sigh.

"Father, we are also thinking about the Ma family. My son believes that uncle's spirit in heaven will not blame us." Ma Zun said in relief.

"I hope so!" Ma Zhi sighed.

(End of this chapter)