SFS Chapter 267: King Jie is arrogant and the generals are dissatisfied
Chapter 267: King Jie is arrogant and the generals are dissatisfied
Ma Chao looked solemn and ordered seriously: "The emperor's envoy has arrived, this is a big event. Quickly notify the civil and military officials of Xiliang to come and welcome him, and be sure to show respect for the angel." After receiving the order, his men immediately split up and rushed everywhere to convey Ma Chao's orders.
Soon, officials and generals from Xiliang arrived from all directions. The civil officials were dressed in neat official uniforms and looked respectful, while the military commanders were clad in armor, imposing and majestic. They all marched toward the outskirts of Wuwei City, their steps in unison and the atmosphere solemn. Once outside the city, they stood silently, their postures erect and respectful, their gazes fixed on the distance, silently awaiting the arrival of the angelic chariot.
In the distance, the angel carriage sat steadily at rest. Captain Li Tong watched the Xiliang troops emerge from Wuwei City, eager to urge them forward. He raised his hand slightly, about to give the order, but was stopped by Wang Jie. Puzzled, Li Tong asked, "Sir, we've come all this way, exhausted and arduous. Now that the Xiliang generals have come to greet us, why are we standing still?" Wang Jie raised his chin slightly and explained calmly, "We are envoys of the Emperor, representing him. His majesty cannot be underestimated. We must maintain our composure and not rush to pay our respects. Doing so would undermine his dignity." Fearing he might backfire, Li Tong continued, "Sir, the Xiliang army is at its peak right now. We must not underestimate them. If we anger them, something terrible could happen." Wang Jie dismissed the idea. He waved his hand gently, saying, "That's precisely why we're bringing them here. We want to use this opportunity to test their loyalty and reverence for the Emperor. If they're respectful, the Emperor's majesty will be demonstrated. If they're disrespectful, we can gain insight into their thoughts and provide guidance for his decisions."
After Wang Jie finished speaking, he calmly dispatched a servant to inform the people of Xiliang, explicitly requesting that Ma Teng and Ma Chao, father and son, come to meet the emperor's envoy. Everyone stood there, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the emperor's envoy. However, after waiting for a long time, only a single servant rode in from afar. The generals looked at each other in confusion. Seeing the puzzled expressions on their faces, Ma Chao quickly reassured them, "Please be patient, everyone. Let's see what the envoy has to say."
Soon, the messenger arrived and announced, "The Emperor's envoy has ordered Ma Teng and Ma Chao, father and son, to lead the civil and military officials to receive the envoy." Upon hearing this, the generals erupted in anger. Xu Huang, his face etched with rage, shouted, "How can this be! What do we do with the Emperor's envoy? We are already waiting outside the city gates, yet they are demanding that our old master and the generals go to see them? What an arrogant person!" Pan Feng and Wu Anguo were also furious, eager to attack the waiter. The waiter, trembling with fear, exclaimed, "General Ma, what does this mean? Don't be angry!" Seeing this, Ma Chao quickly waved his hand, calming them down, and said sternly, "Since the Emperor's envoy has arrived, we will proceed to greet him. Father, please sit here. I will lead the others to greet the angel." Ma Teng nodded slightly in agreement. Ma Chao then led his generals to the emperor's carriage to pay their respects. Along the way, everyone's expressions varied, some expressing dissatisfaction with the emperor's envoy's arrogance and others expressing unease about the meeting. But Ma Chao remained resolute, knowing full well that at this moment, the greater good must be prioritized, and he couldn't let a momentary impatience ruin the important matter.
Ma Chao and his generals bowed respectfully and said earnestly, "Angel, you have come a long way, and have endured so much hardship. I beg you to accompany us to the palace to rest for a while. After we have bathed, changed our clothes, and solemnly set up the incense table, we will then listen to the emperor's instructions."
Wang Jie, however, looked arrogant, his chin held high, and he said coldly, "General Ma, why didn't your father come to see you? Is this behavior worthy of a subject?"
Sun Ce, watching Wang Jie's arrogant and conceited look, was instantly enraged. His eyes widened in anger, and he rolled up his sleeves, ready to rush forward and teach this man a lesson. Captain Li Tong was so frightened that he quickly gripped his weapon tightly, his expression panicked. The envoys and guards were even more concerned, as if they were facing a formidable enemy. They all held their weapons tightly and stared at Sun Ce and the others with extreme vigilance. In an instant, the situation became tense and a tense atmosphere permeated, as if a spark could trigger a war. Ma Chao hurriedly reached out to stop Sun Ce, shaking his head slightly, signaling him not to act impulsively. Then, he turned to Wang Jie and said calmly, "Angel, please calm down. My father is old and has difficulty moving around, so I was unable to come in person. But our respect for the emperor has not diminished in the slightest. I hope that Your Excellency the Angel will be magnanimous and forgive us."
Wang Jie, however, remained unfazed, oblivious to the crowd's reactions. Maintaining his relaxed, composed demeanor, he spoke slowly, "General Ma, you're joking. Shou Chenggong is in his prime, a true hero. Could it be that he would feel unwell after just a few steps on horseback? If so, how could the court safely allow him to guard such a vital region as Xiliang?" Ma Chao's profound humility didn't faze Wang Jie in the slightest. He continued to speak with his superior, overbearing demeanor, his words radiating arrogance and self-importance. This expression immediately drew the glares of anger from all the civil and military officials of Xiliang.
Sun Ce, a fiery man, could no longer contain his rage, erupting in fury. His eyes widened, he threatened to assault Wang Jie and the others with force. Wu Anguo and Pan Feng also reacted quickly, their weapons firmly grasped. Since they were meeting the angels, none of them had their usual weapons, and their swords and accessories were quickly drawn. Captain Li Tong, seeing the situation unfolding, paled with fear. He hurriedly said, "Sir Wang, General Ma Chao's personal visit to greet you is a testament to your generosity. I hope you will refrain from damaging the peace and refrain from provoking unnecessary conflict." Wang Jie, however, dismissively replied, "What do you, warriors, know? Retreat immediately!" Captain Li Tong watched Wang Jie, who had been so cheerful and cheerful all along the way, now a completely different person, and felt a surge of irritation. However, under such circumstances, he did not dare to express his personal opinions excessively and could only retreat in embarrassment.
Wang Jie glanced at the men about to strike and shouted, "General Ma, what exactly are your men up to? Are they trying to start a quarrel?" Seeing this, Ma Chao hurriedly dismissed the officers. Zhou Yu, standing nearby, pulled the enraged Sun Ce aside and gently counseled, "Brother, don't be impulsive. Calm down and see how I decide this matter." Ma Chao addressed the officers sternly, "My Ma family has received stipends from the Han Dynasty for generations, and we have all been dukes and marquises for generations. Are you acting so impulsively to put our Ma family in an unjust position?" Seeing Ma Chao's anger, the officers, fearful and afraid to reply, put away their weapons and stood respectfully by.
Ma Chao turned, bowed respectfully, and said, "Since the angel has requested this, my father and I must obey. Please wait a moment, angel. I will inform my father and come to greet the angel." With this, Ma Chao whipped his horse and rode to Ma Teng's city. Ma Teng spotted Ma Chao approaching from a distance and asked, "Chao'er, why didn't the angel come?" Ma Chao replied, "The angel requested my father to go with him to greet him." Ma Teng, slightly annoyed, said in a deep voice, "My Ma family now dominates Xiliang, while the emperor is trapped in Chang'an. How dare you treat me with such disdain?"
At these words, Xun Yu's expression changed drastically. The Ma family in Xiliang now relied solely on Ma Teng for all matters, big and small. Ma Teng was a reserved and low-key man, having early on delegated all military operations to Ma Chao, demonstrating his lack of ambition. Wang Jie's move was undoubtedly intended to intimidate the Xiliang generals and demonstrate the emperor's magnanimity, but it was likely to backfire. Under such circumstances, if Ma Teng became enraged, the consequences would be disastrous.
Xun Yu hurriedly stepped out and, with a bow, said, "Lord Shoucheng, the angel has come on behalf of the Emperor, and surely has no hidden agenda. The Emperor is currently trapped in Chang'an, facing a difficult situation, and needs the full support of the various nobles. The angel's actions may simply be a matter of protocol, not a deliberate disdain for the Ma family. The Han Dynasty is currently in turmoil, with various factions constantly vying for power. If a rift develops between the Ma family and the court, it could be exploited by other forces. The Ma family has been a noble family for generations, renowned for their loyalty and patriotism. We must not let a momentary outburst of anger ruin the greater good. Furthermore, the Emperor has sent the angel here, surely with expectations for the Ma family. If we can seize this opportunity to reconcile with the court and work together for the revival of the Han Dynasty, wouldn't that be a great opportunity? Furthermore, with the Ma family's prestige and strength in Xiliang, if they can secure the court's support, they will surely solidify their foundation and achieve greater success. I hope Lord Shoucheng will reconsider."
Ma Teng was still angry and didn't respond. For a moment, Xun Yu didn't know how to persuade him.