Li Pu, the prefect of Luyang, organized the welcoming banquet very well, with delicious food, fine wine, and beautiful women, which was in sharp contrast to the impoverished Luyang.
Thinking of the ragged people he saw on the road, Yan Cheng, who couldn't eat, looked at Ma Zikun at the top, and always felt that his smile didn't seem to reach his eyes.
Ding Shang was eating happily next to him. The food he had eaten along the way was not very good, but the food at the welcoming banquet was much better than the dry food and the food in the inn.
The protagonist of the welcoming banquet was Ma Zikun, and the two younger generations, Yan Cheng and Ding Shang, had nothing to do with it. Listening to the officials talking, Ding Shang didn't feel anything, but Yan Cheng found it more and more interesting.
Officials such as Li Pu and Zhang Kai toasted Ma Zikun, and their words and deeds all praised Ma Zikun's wisdom and bravery, praising him to the sky.
Ma Zikun seemed to be very pleased with their praise, his expression changed from coldness at first to hearty laughter later, and for a while the welcoming banquet was full of joy.
Ma Zikun drank a lot of wine. In the second half of the welcoming banquet, he was no longer sober and kept saying that he couldn't drink anymore. Li Pu was understanding and asked someone to send him back to his room to rest.
Ma Zikun repeatedly said that it was not necessary and that his guards could take him back, so Ji Chen helped him leave.
Ma Zikun left the stage, and Yan Cheng and others naturally followed suit.
Yan Cheng thought Ma Zikun was really drunk, but when he walked a long way and was surrounded by Ji Chen, Ma Zikun, who was staggering and leaning against Ji Chen, suddenly stood up straight and looked energetic. Who could believe that he was drunk?
Yan Cheng was stunned: "Uncle Ma, you?"
Ma Zikun was pleased: "My dear nephew, is your uncle really good at pretending to be you?"
It turns out he was just pretending.
It turns out that the workplace is full of routines.
Yan Cheng gave a thumbs up: "Uncle Ma is awesome."
After all, outside was not the place to talk. Back in Ma Zikun's courtyard, he sat at the top, lost in thought. Glancing at the young boy sitting quietly below, he suddenly asked, "My dear nephew, did you feel anything was wrong at the welcoming banquet just now?"
"Um?"
Although Yan Cheng was surprised that Ma Zikun would ask him such a question that was obviously not something a child should be concerned about, he did have some guesses and wanted to get confirmation.
"Master Li and the others don't seem to want to discuss the bandit issue with Uncle Ma anytime soon, or rather, they don't want to deal with the bandits."
Ma Zikun: "Exactly. Ever since I knew I was going to be the governor of Shanyin to deal with the bandit problem in Luyang, I have been secretly investigating the situation in Luyang. The officials here don't seem to be in a hurry to leave."
"This doesn't make sense. Normally, if an official is assigned to a barren place with no future, they would always try to find a way to transfer elsewhere. But not a single one in Luyang wants to leave."
"Luyang is poor, but this government office is magnificently renovated, and the welcoming banquet is also grand. Moreover, whenever I mention the bandit suppression at the banquet, they will talk about other things."
"There must be something wrong with Lu Yang."
"Master Ma, do you mean that the officials in Luyang are colluding with the bandits?" Yan Cheng asked tentatively. This was the first thing that came to his mind.
Collusion between officials and gangsters is not uncommon.
Ma Zikun: "That's what I think. We need to investigate the details in detail."
His nephew was indeed as smart as Brother Yan said, and he saw the truth of the matter so quickly.
The guard at the door entered the room and said, "Sir, there are several maids outside."
"Maid?" Ma Zikun was puzzled. "Could it be that Li Pu sent someone to take care of me when I'm 'drunk'? Let someone in!"
He wanted to see what Li Pu was up to.
As soon as two fair-skinned, beautiful maids in cool clothes entered the room, Yan Cheng's expression became a little subtle. Isn't this...
My eyes went dark. This movement, this temperature, this smell.
It’s Leng Yan.
"Children, don't look."
A cold voice sounded, and Yan Cheng could hear the unhappiness in it. He blinked quickly and asked, "Then why are you looking at it?"
The long, narrow eyelashes brushed against the palm of her hand, making it itch. Leng Yan replied, "I didn't look at it either. It hurts my eyes."
Yan Cheng: ...
If you think women are an eyesore, will you ever get married?
Ma Zikun had been an official for quite some time, so he had naturally experienced this kind of situation before. When he saw the appearance of the two women, he knew what it meant.
If it were an ordinary situation, he actually wouldn't mind accepting one or two people.
but……
Ma Zikun first looked at his nephew whose eyes were covered by the cold-faced man, then looked at the long-faced and phoenix-eyed young man who was staring straight ahead, and finally, with a stern face and a serious expression, he looked straight ahead, passing by the two maids in cool clothes.
Very good, no desire at all.
However, the two maids had no idea what he was thinking. One of them said with eyes as bright as autumn water: "Sir, let me massage your shoulders for you!"
"No, go down!"
Do you have any clue?
There are two children here, and he feels embarrassed to be disrespectful to the elders.
"grown ups……"
"Get down!"
Ma Zikun's face turned completely cold, Ji Chen drew his sword and scared the maid so much that she fell to the ground. The other maid finally understood and hurriedly left with her plastic sisters.
Even though the person had already left, Ma Zikun still felt a little embarrassed and his face was hot. As soon as Yan Cheng could see the light again, he was sent back to rest by him.
Ma Zikun calmed down after Yan Cheng left.
"Whatever these Luyang officials are up to, none of them seem reliable."
Ma Zikun sat quietly for a long time, and suddenly stood up to write a letter. Ji Chen was grinding ink for him beside him. He was writing a letter requesting the commander to dispatch additional soldiers to help him.
"Based on the current situation in Luyang, the Luyang Guards may not be reliable. Moreover, there are many bandits in Luyang. The Luyang Guards alone may not be able to wipe out the bandits in one go. More troops are needed."
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