SFS Chapter 1133 Putting aside all reservations, investigate thoroughly.
Chapter 1133 Putting aside all reservations, investigate thoroughly.
“What I mean is, he might not be afraid of the powerful families, but of you, brother.” Zhou Yu’s voice was as cold as ice. “Back when Brother Bofu was alive, Zhongmou, though the second brother, always lived in his brother’s shadow. Now that you are renowned throughout the grasslands and are leading your iron cavalry south, ostensibly to investigate a case for Brother Bofu, he has a guilty conscience. In his heart, he must feel that it is aimed at him.”
He walked to the window, gazing at the fallen leaves swept away by the wind in the courtyard, his tone tinged with sarcasm: "Moreover, if Brother Bofu was truly innocent in his death, why did he make all sorts of excuses when I proposed a thorough investigation? Why did he suddenly lead his troops to Yizhou after news of your triumph over the grasslands arrived? This step by step seems like a carefully planned escape route."
Cheng Pu, who was listening nearby, was shocked and couldn't help but interject, "But...but he is, after all, the old lady's own son, it can't be that..."
“The human heart is the most unpredictable thing.” Ma Chao picked up the conversation, tapping his fingertips lightly on the table. “Bo Fu treated him well back then, but if power tempts him, what do brothers matter? He fled to Yizhou, which is isolated overseas. If we really wiped out these powerful families in Jiangdong, and then we had to use force against him again, the old lady would definitely beg and plead. At that time, how could we use force against him? He is at peace in Yizhou.”
Zhou Yu turned around, his eyes flashing even colder: "It's not just peaceful. Although Yizhou is remote, it's still a place of its own. He married the daughter of the former king there, won over the local people, and placed his old subordinates in positions of power. He clearly intends to start anew there. If Jiangdong really falls into chaos in the future, and he returns under the banner of 'pacifying the rebellion,' then the position of ruler of Jiangdong will probably be rightfully his."
These words struck like a thunderbolt. Cheng Pu and Huang Gai turned deathly pale, their lips trembling as they were unable to utter a word. A moment of silence fell over the hall, broken only by the crackling of the flickering candlelight, casting shifting shadows on everyone's faces—a stark reflection of the turbulent and unpredictable situation in Jiangdong.
Ma Chao suddenly stood up, his palm sweeping across the table, the teacups clinking rapidly. He looked intently at Cheng Pu and Huang Gai: "With him gone, we have fewer concerns, and we can investigate more thoroughly!"
He stepped forward, his voice as firm as a rock: "You two old generals, you should go back first and make sure to defend Moling at all costs. No matter how turbulent Jiangdong may be, that city must not be allowed to fall into chaos—defending Moling means defending the foundation of Bo Fu's empire."
Having said that, he called out to summon Sun Shangxiang, and then gave Zhou Yu a wink. A short while later, a maid led Sun Shangxiang in; she was dressed in plain clothes, and her brows furrowed with worry.
“Shangxiang,” Ma Chao turned to look at her, “you will go back to Moling with Generals Cheng and Huang.”
Sun Shangxiang suddenly looked up, her eyes slightly red: "Brother, can't I stay? I want to stay here and help you..."
“I’m not asking you to go back and avoid trouble.” Ma Chao pressed her shoulder, his voice softening. “There’s an extremely important matter that you absolutely must handle.”
Sun Shangxiang was taken aback upon hearing this, then straightened her back and said, "Brother, please give your orders. I will gladly die for you!"
"We've made progress in investigating Bo Fu's death. This time, we're here to set things right and hand over his legacy to Sun Shao in a dignified manner." Ma Chao's voice carried an undeniable force. "Go back and make sure to reassure your aunt. Tell her that we're not fighting like brothers; we just want to give Bo Fu justice and protect the Sun family's roots—as long as the old lady trusts us, the Sun family won't fall into chaos."
Sun Shangxiang's expression changed slightly, and she asked in a trembling voice, "Then...then what about my second brother..."
Zhou Yu chimed in, "Your second brother has a guilty conscience and has fled to Yizhou to establish his own faction. He has no intention of returning. This time, we are only targeting those powerful families that have wreaked havoc in Jiangdong."
Ma Chao looked at Cheng Pu and Huang Gai, the two veteran generals who stood solemnly with grave expressions. He bowed and said, "I entrust the defense of Moling to you two generals. There must be no mistakes. Once we have sorted things out here, we will personally come to join you."
Cheng Pu's lips moved, but he couldn't help but say, "King Liang, Jiangdong has finally achieved some peace. If war breaks out... could you only punish the ringleaders and not let the people suffer the pain of war again?"
Ma Chao laughed loudly, his laughter tinged with helplessness, but even more so with determination: "Only punish the ringleaders? Easier said than done. Zhang Zhao, Zhang Hong, and their gang of old foxes, how many powerful families are connected to them? Apart from the half of Wu Commandery that we still hold, the rest of Jiangdong has long been infiltrated by them like a sieve. Without a real crackdown, how can we cleanse them completely?"
He looked at the two veteran generals earnestly: "You only need to guard Moling and protect the foundation of the old lady and Sun Shao. The rest is up to me and Gongjin."
Huang Gai sighed, exchanged a glance with Cheng Pu, and finally clasped his hands in acceptance of the order: "Rest assured, King Liang, even if we two risk our old bones, we will ensure the safety of Moling!"
Cheng Pu frowned and said in a low voice, "If that's the case... wouldn't we have to fight Jiangdong again?"
Ma Chao burst into laughter, the sound shaking the dust that had accumulated on the beams. "Back then, Bo Fu and I were short of soldiers and generals, but we were able to conquer Jiangdong with just our passion. Now, it's just a matter of cleaning up our own ranks again. What's so difficult about that?" He patted Zhou Yu on the shoulder. "Besides, with Gong Jin's navy in charge and the two old generals Cheng and Huang keeping the morale of the army in check, even if it's a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, I dare to venture in!"
Zhou Yu's lips curled into a sharp smile: "Brother is right. These powerful families may seem strong, but they are actually weak inside. The private armies they keep are mostly rabble who are paid to fight for them. The only ones truly willing to fight to the death for them are a few generals bound by their families. Which of the soldiers below isn't a citizen of Jiangdong? Who doesn't remember the kindness of Bo Fu in quelling the bandits and allowing them to settle down and build their lives?"
“Gongjin’s words hit the nail on the head.” Ma Chao continued, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Many of Bo Fu’s old subordinates are brothers who crawled out of piles of corpses with him. Although they are now suppressed by people placed by aristocratic families, they may still have some lingering thoughts. They may still remember my face; they will never forget Bo Fu’s kindness. When we are on the front lines, as long as I give the order, there is a possibility that they might defect.”
He paused, his tone becoming increasingly certain: "In the end, it's only those powerful families who fear us. All they can rely on is the little military power they hold and the little land they own. If we really break off relations and kill a few of the leading generals, the rest of them will likely scatter like monkeys when the tree falls."
Cheng Pu's blood boiled with righteous indignation, and his white beard bristled: "The King of Liang is right! Back then, I fought alongside you and Bo Fu in the battles of Jiangdong, and we fought battles ten times more difficult than this. Are we afraid of these aristocratic families who only know how to use underhanded tricks? As long as this old minister has a breath left, I will hold Moling for the King of Liang and watch you kill to your heart's content!"
Huang Gai clenched his fists: "I'll go back and muster my troops right now, and screen all of Bo Fu's old subordinates. Anyone who is loyal will be quietly gathered around me. When that day comes, we'll coordinate from the inside and outside, and I guarantee those powerful families will be caught off guard!"
Sun Shangxiang, listening from the side, had her eyes light up. Her previous fear had largely dissipated, and she said loudly, "Brother, don't worry. I will definitely go back and persuade Mother to let her know that you are not trying to cause chaos in Jiangdong, but to protect the Sun family and the people of Jiangdong! When you make your move, I will be there in Moling to cheer you on!"
Looking at the group of people before him, Ma Chao felt a surge of warmth in his heart. He raised his hand and bowed deeply, saying, "With your help, we will surely get justice for Bo Fu! We will also be able to protect Sun Shao's future and the stability of Jiangdong!"
The wind outside the window seemed to have softened, carrying in the distant sound of drums, striking everyone's heart like a battle horn, deep yet powerful.
The candlelight flickered inside the tent, illuminating Ma Chao's sharply defined profile. He picked up his wine bowl and clinked it heavily with Cheng Pu and Huang Gai, spilling some wine that left dark stains on the table.
"We'll set off tomorrow, no need to make a fuss." Ma Chao's voice was hoarse from drinking, his gaze sweeping over the white hair at the temples of the two old generals. "Uncle Cheng, Uncle Huang, those brothers who followed Bo Fu to conquer Jiangdong back then, if they're still able-bodied, light some for me."
Cheng Pu downed the strong liquor in his bowl in one gulp, then slammed the empty bowl onto the table: "Rest assured, Your Highness! As long as these old bones of mine can still move, those young men won't dare to slack off! Back when Bo Fu was around, we were able to build this foundation from scratch. Now that Your Highness is leading the way, are we afraid of those rats who only know how to hide behind the scenes and scheme?"
Huang Gai wiped the wine stains off his beard, his eyes shining brightly: "Any of Bo Fu's old subordinates, upon hearing that it's to protect the young master Sun Shao and those parasites Qing, will be roaring and charging forward!"
Ma Chao watched their excited expressions, a faint smile playing on his lips. Back in Jiangdong, although he was on good terms with Sun Ce, he was always bound by the principle of "loyalty to the emperor," which inevitably made him hesitant in his actions. Now, without those constraints, he felt completely at ease—the person he needed to protect was right in front of him, and the obstacles he needed to remove were clear as day; why bother with those empty formalities?
Cheng Pu looked at Ma Chao with emotion, "The King of Liang... has truly let go now." The young general who was brave but always concerned about the "distinction between ruler and subject" back then now exudes a ruthless and ambitious aura. It is a kind of ruthlessness that does not care about the means and only cares about the result, but it makes the hearts of these old generals who have crawled out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood with Sun Ce feel warm.
Huang Gai also sighed: "This is the kind of Liang King who seems capable of great things. If Bo Fu were here..."
Ma Chao didn't reply, but simply tilted his head back and drank the wine in his bowl dry. The candlelight flickered in his eyes, reflecting a mix of emotions that were hard to define—a sense of relief about the past, a certainty about the future, and above all, a resolute determination after breaking free from constraints.
A chilly wind swept in from outside the tent, causing the candlelight to flicker, but it didn't go out. Just like the fire in the hearts of those inside the tent, it only burned brighter and brighter.
The next morning, before the mist had fully dissipated, carriages and horses were already prepared at the ferry. Sun Shangxiang stood before Ma Chao, her eyes red-rimmed, tears streaming down her face like broken beads. Clutching the hem of her clothes, her voice choked with sobs, she said, "Brother, you...you must take care." From their first meeting, his handsome and upright figure had been etched into her heart. She had kept her girlish feelings hidden for so many years, and now, after finally being able to stand beside him for a moment, it was time to part again. A wave of reluctance overwhelmed her.
Looking at her reddened eyes, Ma Chao softened his tone: "Don't worry, I'll be in Moling soon." He turned to Zhou Yu, who said solemnly, "Please take good care of the old lady. She's a sensitive person, so we mustn't let her harbor any resentment or have her mind disturbed by this matter."
Zhou Yu's gaze darkened as he looked at Sun Shangxiang. "If things really get out of control, go to Lord Qiao." He paused, then explained, "Lord Qiao is highly respected in Jiangdong. Even Zhang Zhao and the others have to show him some respect. With him mediating, the old lady will surely be at peace." Qiao Xuan was the father of the two Qiao sisters and held immense prestige among the aristocratic families. Even if he disagreed with Zhang Zhao and the others politically, they would never dare to easily harm him. This was a backup plan they had long ago prepared.