Ma's elder brother, Ma Yukun, was a middle-level military attache in Chang'an's avant-garde.

Although he has been on leave for many years because of old troubles, he has always refused to give up his position, for fear that his children and grandchildren will not be able to fight and will not be able to support the lintel. Therefore, when he was not in serious health, he would still go back to the guard station to show his face, and he maintained a good relationship with his comrades, and no one was disgusted by his often lazy behavior to denounce him—after all, everyone could have such a day. And the original commander Du Boqin also turned a blind eye to him, and closed one eye, wishing that he would not participate in the affairs of the guard, and that he could occupy the position of a middle-level military attache for nothing, and not let outsiders have the opportunity to enter the guardhouse to stir up the situation.

But now that Du Boqin has fallen, will the new commander continue to connive at Ma Yukun? Will it bring new henchmen and steal his place? The interests are at stake, so he naturally has to worry more about it.

Originally, it was rumored that the two commanders who were the most likely to take over the position of Chang'an avant-garde commanders were both children of local generals, and their backgrounds, qualifications and merits were clear, and they had served in the Northwest Frontier Army for a long time, so it was not difficult to inquire about them. Chang'an avant-garde, but all the military attaches and civilians who have not been involved in the Du Boqin case have almost all inquired in private, and have made a plan in advance, no matter which commander comes to take charge of the Chang'an avant-garde, they have a way to deal with it.

Even if there are rumors in the outside world that the general will take over the Chang'an avant-garde on Thursday, the people of the Chang'an avant-garde have not been afraid. Compared to the two high-profile commanders, they knew General Thursday better and knew how to survive under him.

But who would have thought? On Thursday, the general received an order to enter Beijing, and the Tang family was about to go to Yan'an Wei to take up his post, and the original Yan'an Wei commander was about to be transferred to Shanxi. As for the commander of the Chang'an avant-garde, who is in the position? No one knows. There is no news within the Northwest Frontier Army at all!

All the preparations made by the Chang'an avant-garde during this period of time have all failed!

Uncle Ma Yukun and Uncle Ma are sighing all day long, and they don't know where to go to inquire about the news.

The third room of the Zhou family, where his eldest sister Zhou Ma is located, is still closed, and he is not happy to entertain relatives at all. According to Zhou Ma's family, Mrs. Tang used Mrs. Tuesday's servant to almost contact Mrs. Ma in the West Courtyard, which made Zhou Shigong wary and did not dare to continue to trust the manpower of the long house. Now the third room of the Zhou family has just recruited a new batch of male and female servants, and they are busy training. Most of the people borrowed from the Zhenguo Mansion have left, and most of the rest are doing rough work. There is a shortage of manpower to do delicate work in the inner courtyard, and Zhou Ma is worried about this, where is there any leisure to take care of the outside affairs? Zhou Shigong is only a temporary post in the border army, and his popularity is mediocre, and it is impossible to know any secret news since he began to take leave in Layue.

Uncle Ma had no choice but to ask his younger sister Ma for help. The little brother-in-law, Hai Xiya, was working under General Thursday, and Hai Xiya's cousin Xie Wenzai was a frequent visitor to the Zhenguo Mansion, and the Hai family was always better informed than others. Uncle Ma himself was unable to move, so he sent his two sons with his daughter-in-law and grandchildren, and took turns to go to the Hai family to say hello to Ma's family, hoping that Ma could help his mother's family a little bit for the sake of the juniors.

What can Ma help him? She herself was confused. For this kind of matter related to the affairs of the border army, unless it is related to her husband's work, she has rarely taken the initiative to inquire. Besides, her brother despised Haixi Cliff a lot in the past, and she knew in her heart that her husband was only willing to treat her brother politely for her sake, otherwise he wouldn't want to interact with the Ma family at all. This made her even more embarrassed to speak.

Ma whispered to his granddaughter about his difficulties, and said, "Okay Tangtang, can you inquire for grandma?" You don't have to ask your grandfather, just ask your cousin. If you're too embarrassed to ask, let your brother go. It's really hard to open this mouth. I asked, your cousin will definitely tell your grandfather, and I don't know what your grandfather will think of your uncle when the time comes! ”

Haitang blinked, thought for a while, and said: "The position of the commander of the Chang'an avant-garde is now vacant, and I can probably guess where the successor came from, but I have no evidence." Isn't this position held by General Thursday now? Before the general enters Beijing on Thursday, uncle and grandfather shouldn't have to worry, right? In fact, there are many vacancies in the Chang'an avant-garde now, and instead of worrying that the new commander will no longer connive at him to occupy his position and not work, it is better to find a way to arrange new positions for his children and grandchildren while the general is still there next Thursday. By the time the new commander took office, the children and grandchildren of the uncle and grandfather were already in their positions, and as long as they did not make mistakes, no one could drive them away. ”

Ma Shi hurriedly asked, "Who is the new commander?" Who are you listening to? Miss Wenjun? ”

Haitang shook her head: "How could Sister Wenjun talk to me about such a thing?" I think of the letter that Grandpa Zhuang received from Lord Zhao, the commander of the Shanxi Metropolitan Division, mentioning that the military attaches in Shanxi and Shaanxi should be transferred to each other. Now that General Tang, Peng Tongzhi and Chen Qianhu have been transferred to Shanxi, which generals from Shanxi will be transferred to us? What position will you hold when you come? In the past, our people held real positions, and when people from Shanxi came, they couldn't just find a place to settle down, right? Isn't it just right that there is a vacancy in the position of the commander of the avant-garde in Chang'an? ”

Ma suddenly realized: "Not bad! I also heard the old man say that there is someone coming from the Shanxi Metropolitan Division, but I don't know who is coming and where he will be arranged. On Thursday, the general was leaving, and his position as the commander of the Tongzhi was vacant. In case it is a person from Shanxi, I don't know what kind of temper it will be. I'm really worried that the old man won't get along with that person! ”

Haitang comforted her and said, "Grandma, don't worry. Although his grandfather served in the Shaanxi Capital Division, he actually obeyed the orders of Tao Yuetao, the head of the household department, and planted new grain in the northwest. No matter who the commander of the future is, there is no need to offend Master Tao for no reason, right? Even if he wants to compete with others for power and profit, he can't get along with anyone who is only seven grades? As long as Grandpa is cautious, he should be fine. ”

Ma sighed: "I hope so." However, if the person who came was really the general of Shanxi, it would be useless to ask. Outsiders who have never dealt with it, God knows what kind of temper it is? Do you talk about human feelings? I still advise your uncle to hurry up and arrange a new mission for your children and grandchildren. No matter what the difference is, it's good to be able to take advantage of it. For now, seek stability, and talk about the future later. As long as Ma Luyuan and Ma Lusheng have a stable future, he can retire with confidence. His old disease is no longer easy to give birth to, and he may be paralyzed on the kang at some point, and he will no longer be able to move. Instead of worrying about his children and grandchildren, he should worry about himself first! ”

Although Haitang's guess sounded very reliable, Ma did not send a letter to his brother immediately, but only secretly wrote down the matter, and when he was alone with her husband Haixiya at night, he cheekily asked him to inquire. If Haixi Cliff didn't know, then she would find a way to go to the Zhenguo Mansion to find a few ladies to inquire. This is not only for her brother Ma Yukun, but also for her husband Haixi Ya. Even if the person who succeeds General Thursday in the future will not embarrass Haixi Cliff, she hopes that her husband can have a better life in the yamen.

Ma found a new messenger for himself, and Haitang saw that his grandmother was very motivated, so he let her go.

The next morning, she dressed up, told her grandfather and grandmother, went out with the grapes, and went to the city gate with Chen Qianhu's family next door.

Outside the East City Gate, she reluctantly said goodbye to Peng Yuqi, watched the latter get into the carriage, and left with the Chen family before returning to the city with Zhou Wenjun.

(End of chapter)