Zhang Lang asked puzzledly: "The Ma family and the Cai family both belong to the Jingzhou clan, why does the Cai family only have more than 10,000 acres of land, but the Ma family has so much land?" ”

Ma Xuan hugged his fists and said: "Our Ma family is different from the Cai family. Since the beginning of their ancestors, the Cai family has slowly devoted their energy to doing business, and although the Cai family does not have much land today, all kinds of businesses are all over the world. Our Ma family is not good at business, so we have to guard the land. ”

Zhang Lang nodded.

Zhuge Liang said to Zhang Lang: "The land owned by the Ma family is very different from the other three. The total land owned by the Kuai, Wang and Xiao families is more than one million mu, of which the Kuai family owns 500,000 mu of land. In addition, the Ma family will sell land in exchange for money to help the victims every time there is a disaster, so the land owned by the Ma family has decreased year by year, and now it has been reduced by more than half compared with the heyday of the year. ”

Ma Xuan said with a look of shame: "If you are not good at governing your family, you are ashamed of your ancestors!" ”

Zhang Lang smiled and said, "Mr. Ma is worthy of the ancestors!" I think the ancestors of the Ma family should be proud to have such descendants! ”

Ma Xuan was relieved in his heart, and hugged his fists and said, "Thank you for the general's praise." ”

Zhang Lang looked at the list in his hand and said to Ma Xuan: "The Ma family is a family of great kindness, and I can't accept your donation." The Ma family's land can continue to be owned, and I have the power of a general to grant the Ma family only the basic agricultural tax. ”

Ma Xuan and Ma Jian hurriedly bowed, and Ma Xuan said gratefully: "Thank you for the grace of the general." But I really can't accept it! If the general opens this opening, I am afraid that there will be many people who will not be convinced. In addition, the law is the law, and there can be no exceptions for any reason! Please take back your order! ”

Zhang Lang was very emotional, he originally didn't believe in the real meaning of kind-hearted people in the world, but at this moment, when he saw the Ma family, he believed, 'The Ma family is the five constants, and the white eyebrows are the best,' This ordinary folk proverb probably also reflects the love of the local people for the Ma family.

Zhang Lang sighed, "Two of you, please get up." The two straightened up. Zhang Lang said: "Since the brothers of the Ma family are so righteous and public, I will accept your wishes." Ma Xuan and Ma Jian showed joy. Zhang Lang said half-jokingly: "But I can't make your life embarrassed because of your mountain residence." Well, let's do it, I'll pay 10 million for you to invest in the silk business that the Zhen family is currently preparing, what do you think? ”

Ma Xuan hurriedly said, "How can this be done?" ”

Zhang Lang said with a smile: "I have accepted the wishes of your Ma brothers, and this is my wishes, I hope Mr. Ma will not postpone it." ”

Ma Xuan heard Zhang Lang say this, hesitated for a moment, and thanked him: "Thank you for your kindness, General!" ”

Zhang Lang laughed, "I'm very happy to meet someone like Mr. Ma." In the future, if Mr. Ma has the opportunity to go to Luoyang or Chang'an, he can come to my general's mansion as a guest. ”

Ma Xuan hurriedly bowed: "The grass people worship the general!" ”

Zhang Lang waved his hand, "No need to be polite." You and I are friends, so it's better to be casual in private. "Yes."

Zhang Lang's eyes looked at Ma Jian who was sitting behind Ma Xuan and asked, "Your name is Ma Yan?" ”

Ma Jian hugged his fists and said: "Grass people Ma Tan, meet the general." ”

Zhang Lang said with a smile: "I heard rumors that your talent as the old man of the Ma family is not inferior to Ma Liang!" Ma Yan smiled, neither modestly denying nor affirming. Zhang Lang felt that this Ma Jian was still very talented. Zhang Lang thought of the plot in "Romance of the Three Kingdoms", this Ma Jian is a typical representative who can only talk on paper.

Ma Xuan hugged his fists and said: "General, my young brother is outstandingly talented, and he is better than Ji Chang, I hope to serve the general!" ”

Ma Jian hurriedly avoided the table and came to lie down, bowed down and said: "Ma Jian is willing to serve the army, and he will not give up." ”

Zhang Lang smiled: "During the Lantern Festival this year, Chang'an will open an additional round of scientific examinations so that students who have not caught up with the previous scientific examinations can take the exams. I can always go to the exam, and if I can go to high school, I will use it again. ”

Ma Tan is such a smart person, as soon as he heard Zhang Lang's words, he understood that Zhang Lang did not trust his talent, but he was not angry, but felt that the scientific examination was a great opportunity for him to become famous in the world and show his talent. Bai said: "The grass people will not disappoint the general!" ”

Zhang Lang saw that Ma Tan did not show any displeasure, and his perception of him rose a little higher in his heart.

Ma Jian returned to his seat and sat down. A few people chatted for a while, and Ma Xuan got up and bowed: "Don't dare to disturb the general's official business, the grass people say goodbye." Zhang Lang personally sent Ma Xuan and Ma Jian out of the General's Mansion and waved goodbye.

When he came back to the hall, Zhang Lang asked Zhuge Liang: "What does Kong Ming think of this Ma Yan?" Zhuge Liang hugged his fists and said: "Don't dare to hide the lord, before the lord came, his subordinates had talked to this horse young man many times, this person is full of wit, extraordinary knowledge, and is a rare talent!" Zhang Lang smiled and said nothing.

……

It was late at night, and the lights in Zhuge Liang's study were still on. Under the light of the stars and the moon, the figure of Na, who thought that she was dressed in a white tunic dress, walked along the corridor towards Zhuge Liang's study. There was no ornamentation on her head, but her hair was like a black waterfall; There is no powder on the face, the eyebrows are like Yuandai, the eyes are like stars, and the white face reveals a pure and flawless beauty. I don't want to be a mortal woman in the world, but I have a heavenly palace flying immortal state, so a heavenly immortal person, which can be called a peerless beauty.

The woman walked into the study.

Zhuge Liang asked, a fragrant wind like an orchid musk deer came to his face, raised his head, saw the woman, and said with a smile: "It's you!" Then he sighed and said, "You, you obviously live here, but you refuse to meet the general, it's too rude!" ”

The woman said lightly: "The fourth brother should know, I don't want the fourth brother to be embarrassed." ”

Zhuge Liang nodded and said with a wry smile: "I understand." But you're wrong, the lord is not the kind of person you imagined. The woman walked up to Zhuge Liang, sat down with her legs bent, glanced at Zhuge Liang's slightly furrowed brows, and asked, "Fourth brother has something to worry about?" ”

Zhuge Liang frowned and said: "The lord is ready to join forces with Cao Cao to fight against the Xianbei people, this matter is not easy to operate!" ”

The woman said with some surprise: "The lord actually has this decision? ”

Zhuge Liang nodded, and said with emotion: "The lord is a hero of the world, and what he is thinking about is not only the question of pacifying the world, but also the question of whether my Huaxia clan can have long-term peace and stability!" In the current situation, ordinary people are afraid that they will want to borrow the power of the Xianbei people, and only the lord and Cao Cao will want to unite against the Xianbei people! ”

The woman frowned and asked, "The same is true for Cao Cao?" ”

Zhuge Liang nodded.