Chapter 57: Visiting Tao Qian at the Governor's Office

  Ma Chao is not the kind of person who would fall for this easily, but he didn't care and got confused. He only thought about how to continue the cooperation between the two sides, and as a result, he fell into someone else's trap due to his carelessness.

  Mou Tai Gong explained the entire plan to Ma Chao, who considered it for a moment before finally nodding in agreement. For the sake of cooperation, Ma Chao couldn't refuse this plan, so he nodded his head. However, what he thought was different from what he agreed to, but there was no other way around it. The priority now was for everyone to work together to deal with the Tao family father and son, so Ma Chao didn't think about it anymore.

  Ma Chao still felt very awkward about the method of Zou Jing, or more accurately, the method of Zou Xing.

  At this time, Zuo Taigong held a small box in his hand. After opening the box, he handed what was inside to Ma Chao: "Worthy nephew, take this jade pendant. You also know that it is an indispensable link!"

  Tai Gong handed the jade pendant to Ma Chao, but Ma Chao didn't want it. However, this thing was a necessary prop, and with it, things would be much more realistic, so he had no choice but to accept it.

  "Tomorrow, I'll set out to visit Tao Gongzu at the governor's mansion. This is the first step in our plan. You should prepare well for the next few days. If you're needed, you'll be notified. When that time comes, make sure to perform well and don't let anyone see through your disguise!"

  Diaochan urged Ma Chao, in this plan Ma Chao is a key figure, he wants to make some trouble, then forget about everything else, go find King Yanwang to play instead.

  Ma Chao nodded, thinking to himself that this old man had too little faith in him. He thought to himself, "In the whole world, who has seen more plays than me? Isn't it just acting on stage? If you haven't eaten pork, can you still not see a pig run? Alright, just wait and see."

  Tai Gong saw Ma Chao's confident face and felt more at ease. He thought again, the owner of the Zhan Lu sword must not be an ordinary person, he was indeed a bit too worried.

  On the third day of Ma Chao's stay in the prefecture, Prefect Tao Qian set out for the provincial governor's office. The Xu state governor's office was also located in Donghai Commandery, but it was in Tan county, Donghai, still some distance from Ju county.

  After arriving in Taoyuan County, Mei Taigong went directly to the residence of Governor Tao Qian. When Tao Qian heard that Mei Taigong had come to visit, he didn't understand why he had come, but he couldn't not see him, so he hurried to the door and invited Mei Taigong in.

  Tao Qian, also known as Gong Zu, is from Danyang, Yangzhou. He is 48 years old this year. He has two sons under his knees. The elder son Tao Shang is 28 years old and is not a capable person. The younger son Tao Ying is 24 years old and is slightly better than his older brother.

  Tao Qian looks like a kind and gentle person, but if you really think he's that way, then you're greatly mistaken. Tao Qian has a military background, having served in the army for nearly twenty years before reaching his current position. In his youth, he was absolutely a decisive and ruthless person, but unfortunately now that he's older, he thinks more about enjoying his later years, surrounded by children and grandchildren, and savoring the joys of family life.

  In his view, he has already reached the end of his career as a provincial governor. There are only about a dozen governors in the whole country, and in the Great Han Dynasty, they are also high-ranking officials with great power. It can be said that being a local emperor is not an exaggeration, Tao Qian is quite satisfied with the current situation.

  However, no one would refuse wealth, and he also had his eyes on the wealth of the Mi family. If he could form an alliance with the Mi family through marriage, his position as governor would become even more stable, and he would naturally receive many benefits from the Mi family.

  Tao Qian and Miao Taigong exchanged greetings before Tao Qian spoke up, "Old brother, what brings you to my place?"

  Taigong laughed and said, "Gongzu, we've known each other for so many years, you should understand that I wouldn't come to find you without something important!"

  As expected, this old guy is up to no good, Tao Qian thought. However, his face still wore a smile, "In that case, elder brother, please speak slowly."

  After hearing Tao Qian's words, Miao Taigong told him his own intentions.

  "He said, 'Ancestor, brother, I have wronged you, I have wronged your family!'"

  Tai Gong said with a very embarrassed look, while Tao Qian was stunned, "Brother, what are you talking about?"

  "Your ancestor came to my mansion looking for me some time ago."

  "Yes, I went there that time to propose a marriage on behalf of my brother. My brother has already agreed, could it be that you want to go back on your word?"

  Tao Qian thought of the possible meaning of Miao Taigong's words, and his face sank at that time. How could he say that he was also a provincial governor, but a merchant family dared to be so presumptuous towards him? Wasn't it time for him to show some strength?

  "Older brother, where has your conscience gone? How can I go back on my word?"

  "Hmm, not the best!"

  "It's just that Brother Gongzu didn't know, but that's my fault for slowly forgetting about it and never mentioning it to you." Lady Mei recounted the events in detail to Tao Qian.

  Maitreya said that he himself did not know about this matter at first, but heard it from his father before his death.

  His father had a best friend in his youth, named Ma Ping. Although Ma Ping was not very capable and was much younger than his father, these did not affect the friendship between the two. The two were of different surnames but were like close brothers. Ma Ping was a descendant of General Ma Yuan and took it as his duty to revive his family, which was his greatest wish in life.

  His second greatest wish was to form an alliance with the Mi family through marriage, but at that time his father had already married Lady Mi, and Ma Ping was not yet married, so it naturally could not be achieved. However, his father treated his younger brother kindly, giving him one of the two jade pendants passed down from their ancestors, telling him that if there was a daughter in the next generation of the Ma family, he should bring the jade pendant to Xuzhou and Lady Mi would marry her.

  If the next generation of the Ma family only has sons, then in the third generation, if the Ma family has a son and the Jiang family has a daughter, the descendants of the Ma family can come to Xuzhou with this jade pendant and the two families will be married. Conversely, if the Ma family has a daughter and the Jiang family has a son, it is also the same.

  The two of them made an agreement, but later on, Ma Ping disappeared without a trace. Although Mou's father also sent people to ask about him, there was no news for a long time. However, Mou's father never forgot the original agreement and told Mou Tai Gong about it before his death, instructing him that if any descendants of the Ma family came to Xuzhou with the token in the future, he must fulfill the promise made back then. As a result, the Ma family's descendants indeed arrived just a few days ago with the jade pendant.

  After Mei Taigong finished telling Tao Qian the whole story, he himself admired his own ability to make up nonsense, and even brought in his deceased father. Although it was not a good thing to do, he believed that his father's spirit in heaven would understand that he had no choice but to do so for the sake of the family, and would forgive him. Mei Taigong was indeed not such an unaccommodating person.

  Tao Qian's first reaction was disbelief. How could it be that after he went to propose marriage, a descendant of the Ma family suddenly appeared? This was too much of a coincidence. But if you say it's all fake, then Old Lady Mi's words were quite convincing, and she even added his ancestors to the story. Tao Qian felt that making up false stories wouldn't involve dragging his ancestors into it, which would be greatly disrespectful to his deceased father.

  Tao Qian was wrong. Lady Mi had already paid a heavy price for Ma Chao to become her son-in-law, and that was at the cost of her own life.

  Tao Qian thought again, and actually, whether this matter is true or false, he has already become passive, which is not wrong. The other party had previously agreed to the marriage, but that was only verbally said, and at the time, there were only two people present, himself and Mei Taigong. If the other party comes up with a denial, both sides will have different words, no one has evidence, no witnesses, then this matter may be over.

  The other party may not admit it, but now the Ma family has come out, and in terms of time, they had agreed to it in the previous generation, and there is physical evidence. Yes, I know this matter is probably fake, but what evidence can prove it? The father of the Zhu family passed away early, what can be investigated, the Ma family? What can be investigated. You say there's no such thing, but the Zhu family says there is, and there are people with physical evidence to prove it, who do you think others will believe, anyway, most won't believe Tao Qian.

  It's all because I was too careless that day, verbally agreeing to something unreliable. But once I got excited, I let my guard down, which led to today's trouble. Tao Qian can't even blame himself now, since he's been put on the defensive, he can only follow along with what others want him to do. He'll just wait for the other side to make a move, no matter what it is, and then respond accordingly.

  Tao Qian said to Miao Taigong: "Old brother, if you have a good solution, just say it directly!" He had no choice but to compromise.

  "Yes, Gong Zu, I must give you an explanation for this matter. It's all my personal fault!"

  "Brother, speak your mind, it doesn't matter!" Tao Qian said with a poker face.

  "Alright, in my opinion, since both the Ma family's young master and the Tao merchant's son want to form an alliance with our family through marriage and both want to marry Zhen'er, then let's have a fair competition. What do you think, Gong Zu?"

  "Fair competition? How can we compete?" Tao Qian asked, knowing that Emperor Taizu was about to make his move.

  "What is meant by fair competition is that it is naturally fair for both parties. Best two out of three, three questions to decide the outcome!"

  "Three questions will decide victory or defeat, which three questions?"

  "The first two questions in the three questions are naturally Wen Ti and Wu Ti. I'm sure you've also heard that my sister Zhen'er once said that she must marry a man who is both literary and martially accomplished in this life, so the first two questions are naturally Wen Ti and Wu Ti!"

  "Who is the one who made up the question?" Tao Qian was very concerned about this.

  "It's a fair competition, so of course it should be fair. My idea is that Brother Gong Zu and my sister Zhen Er each come up with one topic, as for whether it's literature or martial arts, let Brother Gong Zu choose first!"

  Taoye thought to himself, "Let me choose first. Are you so confident about the Ma family's descendants?" He chose first and after a moment of contemplation said: "Old brother, I choose to go with martial arts! However, I request that either side can find anyone to replace the actual person participating in the martial arts competition!"

  Because Tao Qian is too familiar with his own son, he can't even recognize the words, how can you let him participate in the literary competition? It's just a joke, cheating may not work either. Moreover, do you know what kind of knowledge the descendants of the Ma family have? What if they are also capable? So it's not possible. However, he thought of a way to take down Wu Bi, so he added the second half of the sentence.

  Mò Tàigōng simply thought for a moment and nodded in agreement, because he had great confidence in Cuī ān. Since someone else could be found to substitute on stage, then Cuī ān could also go up.

  "Then let our Zhen'er take the literary test!" said Old Lady She with a smile.

  "It should be so, but I don't know who set the third question." Tao Qian asked out his most concerned question.

  "This is what Yigongzi meant," said Zitao Gong, "the third question only he can't get right!"

  Tao Qian listened, he's old? Could it be... "Old brother is saying..."

  "Nameless old man!" The two exclaimed in unison and smiled at each other.

  "That's great!" Tao Qian agreed after a moment's thought.

  If the topic of Wen Bi is brought up by Mou Zhen, then the descendants of Ma's family will surely win this round. And Wu Bi is proposed by himself, and his own people will also take down this round. The key lies in the third round, since it was proposed by an unknown old man, it couldn't be more appropriate. Because this old man absolutely won't help any side cheat, so it's absolutely fair, Mou Taigong probably recommended the unknown old man because he knew that too.

  To say that the idea of a fair competition was thought up by Zhen is not entirely accurate, though she did come up with the ideas for Wen Bi and Wu Bi. The final competition was actually thought up by Tai Gong. Although many variables were added, it was absolutely fair nonetheless.

  And he also told Ma Chao about this, and Ma Chao agreed. Because in his opinion, he might win without using the third game, and Zou Taigong saw Ma Chao so confident, more importantly, he thought that the owner of the Xuanlu sword who was also good at astrology would have no problem winning, so he dared to propose that the third game be asked by the old man.

  As for the old man, he was a mysterious figure. What his name was had already been forgotten by everyone, including himself. As for his exact age, it was absolutely over 100 years old, and no one knew exactly how many years or anything else.

  So everyone calls him the nameless old man, this old man is alone by himself, and it seems like he doesn't have any relatives or friends. Usually, people rarely see him, so in the eyes of Xuzhou people, this nameless old man is just a weirdo.

  Taoye went to ask him for a topic as the governor of one state, and there was no problem at all. It's not good that this old man can come over in person, he really doesn't like crowded places, but he is very interested in interesting things and interesting things.

  If it piqued his interest, he would definitely come.