Jian Shuo said bluntly: "I think the general has the will to rebel, and he is not loyal to the king!" As he spoke, he looked at Ma Chao with suspicion.

Ma Chao was a little weak-hearted, but he still said angrily: "I am now for Your Majesty and the Han family, expelling Han Sui to Hexi, fighting and toiling, and there are often worries about my life on the battlefield." In this case, is it not considered a loyal minister? What evidence does Jian Chang have to slander me for being disloyal? ”

Jian Shuo listened, but he had nothing to say. Because after all, Ma Chao has the position of the orthodox "Shenwei General", and he has never transgressed the etiquette system, let alone openly rebelled.

Thinking of Sanfu's 100,000 step rides, Ma Chao was even more angry, and said: "I want to ask Jian Chang Shi, Xiliang Chu'an, Sanfu is fine, why does Your Majesty take the trouble to send 100,000 foot riders into Sanfu?" What does that mean? Is it to cook rabbits and dead dogs? ”

Jian Shuo was also afraid that Ma Chao would rebel because of this incident, so he hurriedly said: "The general misunderstood, this is actually because the general is jealous of you, so he arranged the general Sanfu." His Majesty has stopped and reprimanded the general. However, the general connected with his prime minister's official Cao, and encouraged Huangfu Song, Dong Zhuo and others to show their support. It was difficult for the public to offend, and His Majesty had no choice but to agree to the general. ”

Ma Chao listened and became alert. Jian Shuo's words hide many mysteries.

Jia Xu behind the screen couldn't help but improve his attention.

Ma Chao said: "Jian Chang Waiter, is this true? ”

Jian Shuo looked serious and said, "How could I deceive the general?" This matter is indeed the work of the great general, and His Majesty really wants to protect the general. ”

Ma Chao seemed to hear something, and said, "What does Your Majesty think of me?" ”

Jian Shuo said: "I don't know." Anyway, when the general was discussed, except for Shangshu Lu Zhi, the general and his supporters all supported that the reward should not be too heavy, and only His Majesty overrode public opinion and gave the general and Ling Zun a heavy reward. Otherwise, the general is not a general at this time. According to the general's proposal, it may be just a captain. ”

Ma Chao said: "Then did the other lieutenants stop the general?" ”

Jian Shuo said: "I have also stopped it, but I am not as angry as Your Majesty." ”

Ma Chao initially understood the situation in the court and the attitude of various forces towards him. At this time, he intuitively felt the benefits of having an eyeliner in the court. At least you can distinguish between friend and foe, and you can prevent open guns and hidden arrows in advance.

Ma Chao said: "Didn't Jian Chang Shi doubt my loyalty to His Majesty and the Han family?" ”

"Honestly, yes. If the general can dispel my concerns and prove that the general has no second thoughts about His Majesty, I should be willing to be the general's internal response in the court, and I will convey any news in the court to the general as soon as possible. The general's opponents in the court, I also deal with them. Jian Shuo said explicitly.

However, Ma Chao just likes Jian Shuo's straightforward words, and those twists and turns, he finds it difficult to understand and very hypocritical.

Ma Chao said: "Of course I can prove my loyalty. Does Chang Shi know, who is the person who Han Sui stayed in Jincheng? ”

Jian Shuo said: "I have heard of this, it seems to be the previous Longxi Taishou and Jiuquan Taishou, Li Xiangru and Huang Yan." As Taishou, they don't learn from Fu Xie's Taishou and martyrdom, but they actually surrender to the enemy, which is really an unforgivable sin! ”

Ma Chao said: "The two of them have now surrendered to me. If I take off the heads of the two and send them back to the court, will I be loyal? ”

Jian Shuo didn't think about it and said: "The two traitors are a big trouble for the imperial court, and the general is loyal and courageous, and the sun and the moon can be seen." I don't have much more to say. In the future, he will definitely do his best for the general to keep an eye on the movements of Luoyang City. ”

Ma Chao was very happy, and now he was finally not afraid of Xiliang staying away from Luoyang, and the news was out of line. Then he discussed with Jian Shuo for a while, and explained that after Jian Shuo returned to Beijing, he used flying pigeons to pass the book; then explained that when Ma Dai took over Jincheng, he cut off the heads of Li Xiangru and Huang Yan; Then he selected more than 200 loyal and reliable soldiers from the army, sent them to follow Jian Shuo back to Beijing, and lay down in Luoyang City as secret agents, responsible for the intelligence spying and transmission between Jian Shuo and him.

After finishing all this, Jia Xu walked out from behind the screen.

Jia Xu said: "Young master, the situation in the court is not simple. ”

Ma Chao thought about the secret that Jian Shuo had just revealed, and said, "At least we know that the general is our enemy. Your Majesty is not. ”

Jia Xu said lightly: "I'm afraid that Your Majesty wants to protect the young master, and he also has the intention of using the young master." ”

Ma Chao immediately understood and said, "You mean, Your Majesty wants to use me to fight against the general?" ”

Jia Xu nodded and said, "I'm afraid that's the case." Otherwise, His Majesty would never tolerate the young master's secession of Xiliang. Although the young master has no act of rebellion, after all, his strength is too strong, and anyone who sees it knows that the young master may occupy Liangzhou and become a warlord. However, it is also because the young master has strength that His Majesty wants to use the young master to confront the general. ”

Ma Chao nodded, thinking that this would be fine. With Emperor Ling of Han here, it is still a little difficult for the general to harm himself.

However, Ma Chao still doesn't like the feeling of being taken advantage of, and has a deep sense of humiliation.

Han Sui said with some hesitation: "But the young master, killing Li Xiangru and Huang Yan who surrendered is not conducive to the stability of the surrendered troops?" ”

Ma Chao said: "Of course I know this. But if you don't kill them, it will be difficult to get the refuge of Jian Shuo. Keeping them would easily leave an excuse for the general to send troops to attack. The general was annoyed and angry when he saw that I let Han Sui go, and sent Huangfu Song to attack desperately. At present, the war with Han Sui has just come to an end, and Qiangzhong has not yet been pacified, and it is far from the time to meet the general completely. If we really want to start a war, at least we must wait for me to preliminarily pacify Qiangzhong, restore order in Liangzhou, and preliminarily control Liangzhou and Qiangzhong. ”

Jia Xu lowered his head and said, "This is a lack of consideration on the part of his subordinates. ”

Ma Chao thought of the information about Li Xiangru and Huang Yan in recent days, and said hatefully: "What's more, I received information that these two thieves are making waves in Jincheng and harming many households. Even if the court doesn't kill him, I will avenge the Liangzhou fathers. ”

Jia Xu silently bowed to Ma Chao and said, "Subordinate generations of Liangzhou fathers, thank you to the young master." ”

"It doesn't have to be. Let's talk about the battle in Qiangzhong. ”

Jia Xu said: "The young master once said that in order to stabilize Qiangzhong, it is necessary to divide the counties and counties, and his subordinates think that the young master's policy is very clever. However, the difficulty of this strategy is that it has to face too much resistance. The biggest resistance, and the only resistance, is the tribal leader of the Qiang. ”

Ma Chao sat down peacefully and said, "Go on." ”

"The Qiang are essentially no different from the Xiongnu and Xianbei, they are all nomadic tribes. The chief led the entire clan, and the power to collect taxes, levy troops, and distribute herds and pastures was almost entirely in the hands of the chief. ”