"Avoid disaster? Go north with his family? Going to Beiyuan to avoid disaster, that's also … "
"Why didn't he look for you back then? No matter what, he could at least protect you … "
When Feng Zhen said this, it was obvious that a well-fed man did not know the hunger of a starving man.
Jiang Pengji said helplessly, "Nansheng was in chaos. After the Nanman disaster, the flames of war spread throughout Nansheng. Jiqing obviously couldn't go to Nansheng. To go to Zhongzhao, he would have to pass through the territories of several feudal lords and there would be countless bandits along the way. Whether he could reach Zhongzhao alive is still a problem. After thinking about it, Beiyuan is the only way out. Even if life is hard, he won't die under the knives and swords of the bandits. "
Ma Xiu's family was well-off. They had a lot of fertile land and could be considered a wealthy landlord.
Even if he didn't have any prospects for the rest of his life, he could still live comfortably. He belonged to a poor family and was considered well-off.
However, what was the use of having fertile land? When the world was in chaos, how many people would fish in troubled waters to burn, kill, and loot?
Small wealthy families like Ma Xiu, who had some property but could not protect themselves, were the favorite fat sheep of the bandits. The profits were high and the risks were low. They could live comfortably for a while with just one job. Ma Xiu had no choice but to pack his luggage and flee north. It was expected.
Feng Zhen heard the displeasure in Jiang Pengji's voice and chose to shut up with a strong desire to live.
Qiguan Rang discreetly glanced at Feng Zhen. How old was this wastrel already? Even now, he still had a big mouth.
No matter how well Ma Xiu was doing or why he chose to go north to avoid disaster instead of relying on the lord … He was still the lord's classmate and close friend when they were young. Not to mention how to respect and take care of him, he couldn't kick him when he was down or ridicule him.
Of course, Qiguan Rang also believed that his lord wouldn't care about Feng Zhen's slip of the tongue because of Ma Xiu.
However, it was better to avoid such incidents. The harmony between the ruler and the minister was the result of both parties working together. Feng Langzi should learn from this.
Jiang Pengji said, "Why didn't he look for me? Maybe he didn't want trouble. His personality has always been like this."
Ma Xiu, courtesy name Jiqing.
He studied at Langye Academy when he was young. He was one of Jiang Pengji's best classmates.
Compared to the others, Ma Xiu did not have a high presence among the five of them. Most of the time, he was just passively joining in on the fun. His personality was rather taciturn. As long as he felt that he could solve the problem by himself, he would definitely not trouble people he was familiar with.
Calculating the time, when Ma Xiu went north to seek refuge, Jiang Pengji had just taken over Xiangyang district. It was the most difficult period in the beginning.
Internally, they were poor. Their simple and crude team was like a grass-roots team. Externally, they had countless battles to fight, fighting this and that. In the early years, if she wasn't the one fighting others, others would take the initiative to pick a fight with her. She was still the one being looked down upon.
Under such circumstances, with Ma Xiu's neutral character, he naturally avoided it. He did not want to cause trouble for Jiang Pengji, nor did he want to take any risks.
From today's perspective, it was Ma Xiu's loss that he didn't choose to help Jiang Pengji. Otherwise, he would definitely be one of the important ministers. But who could say that Ma Xiu's choice was wrong based on the situation at that time? No one can.
It wasn't just Ma Xiu. Most people would have made the same choice if they were in that situation.
The only thing they didn't understand was —
Jiang Pengji had pacified Dongqing for so many years. Hadn't Ma Xiu heard the news?
The situation in Beiyuan was not chaotic. There were no wars everywhere, but the number of people who starved or froze to death was no less than in the chaos of war.
It wasn't until Jiang Pengji led her troops to Xue City and pointed her sword at Beiyuan that Ma Xiu fled … This was somewhat thought-provoking.
Qiguan Rang and Feng Zhen obviously thought of this, but the latter had just been unlucky, so Qiguan Rang could only speak.
"My lord, do you suspect that Ma Xiu might be a spy sent by Beiyuan?"
Jiang Pengji smiled and said, "Jiqing likes to seek advantages and avoid disadvantages. He is cautious and careful, but he is not stupid. What's the use of him being a pawn for Beiyuan? How long can Beiyuan resist me in this state? In the end, is Beiyuan more likely to win or me? He was very clear about these questions. Even if he is really a spy from Beiyuan, he came here to surrender to me and then stab Beiyuan in the back … "
Qiguan Rang shook his head in disagreement.
"It makes sense, but my lord must not believe it easily. Ma Xiu has sneaked into the refugees and fled here. The timing is somewhat coincidental."
Jiang Pengji smiled and said, "I know. I will understand these worries when I see him."
Smart people liked to complicate things, even Jiang Pengji was no exception.
When she really saw Ma Xiu, her previous conspiracy theories and speculations disappeared like smoke in thin air. She could only sigh.
"Jiqing?"
When Ma Xiu was brought to meet her, Jiang Pengji looked at his face for a long time, but she still could not find traces of the past on his old and tired face. She only felt a lump in her throat and could not speak for a long time. Ma Xiu was not the oldest among the five, but he looked no different from an old man in his seventies. There was not much black in his messy hair, it was all white.
Not only was his hair white, but the skin on his face was wrinkled and dry. There were also frostbite cracks left by years of cold.
He took two steps forward on the ground, slowly bent down and gave a deep bow.
It was obvious that he wanted to be as standard as possible, but his red and swollen hands and weak legs were trembling uncontrollably.
Jiang Pengji suddenly stood up and supported him. His arms were so thin that only skin and bones were left. She did not dare to use any strength.
"I haven't seen you for more than 10 years. How are you, Lanting?"
Ma Xiu smiled weakly. His voice was old and hoarse like an old man's.
His familiar tone made Jiang Pengji feel a sense of familiarity.
"Lanting … Maybe you are the only one who still calls me that." Jiang Pengji could not help but smile bitterly. The whole world knew that she had changed her name. She did not expect that Ma Xiu, who was hiding in Beiyuan to avoid trouble, did not hear the news and still called her by her old name.
Ma Xiu's old face showed a bit of awkwardness.
"… As a commoner, it is indeed disrespectful to call the emperor by his name …"
Jiang Pengji said, "No, I gave up that name because … some complicated reasons … It is not because of my identity."
Ma Xiu did not ask for details. He chose to remain silent like he did in the past.
Lu Zheng rushed over when he heard the news. When he saw the old man in the hall, he could not recognize him as Ma Xiu.
Ma Xiu was only seven or eight years older than Jiang Pengji, but they looked more like grandfather and grandson.
What had Ma Xiu experienced all these years?
"You are … Shaoyin?"
Ma Xiu carefully recognized Lu Zheng a few times, but the latter stood a little far away. His eyes were not good, so he could not see clearly. It took him a while to recognize him.
"… Yes …"
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