Chapter 54: Ma Haiyan's Fury

  On April 6th, when the dawn sunlight shone on this plateau city, Xining City woke up from its slumber. Slowly, the city gates opened, and people began to appear on the streets. Many were preparing to leave the city, as many residents of Xining have land or other livelihoods outside the city. With the arrival of spring, it was their busiest time.

  "Halt! Make way, make way! Urgent report! Military emergency!" Suddenly, a cavalry unit rushed towards Xining City from the west. The soldiers guarding the city gate initially thought it was an enemy attack and were preparing to intercept them when they heard the urgent military report. Instantly, they dared not intercept and instead drove away the crowd gathered at the city gate. The Qing Ma Army's orders were that delaying military information could result in beheading, a responsibility no one dared to take.

  The cavalry were the Qinghai soldiers who had rushed back from Yushu to report, a total of seven people, each with two war horses, after running for a day and two nights, finally arrived in Xining City this morning.

  With the assistance of the guards, they entered Xining City unimpeded. The layout of Xining City is relatively small, and the streets are not wide. At this time, there were many people on the street. This cavalry galloped wildly on the street, instantly causing a commotion. However, they were conveying military information, so those who were bumped or had their stalls knocked over did not dare to complain, nor did they dare to block the transmission of military information.

  When the cavalry arrived at the Commander's Mansion in Xining, the streets were already in a mess. Everywhere was damaged stalls and injured pedestrians. However, they could only admit that they were unlucky.

  "Report, urgent military situation!" As they arrived at the gate of the Admiral's mansion, these cavalrymen immediately dismounted.

  "Come with me, and report immediately to the Commander-in-Chief!" The guards did not dare to delay, and immediately led the soldier who had brought the news into the Commander's mansion.

  At this time, Ma Haiyan was having breakfast. Because of his age, he had some internal heat and blisters on the corners of his mouth. There were only him and his son Ma Lin at the dinner table. His wife had long since passed away, and although he had many concubines, they did not have the qualifications to sit at the dinner table.

  "Father, is there really no way to rescue my brother?" Ma Lin asked while drinking millet porridge and biting into a bun. The people sent by Ma Haiyan to Hezhou had returned, but the result was not as expected. Ma Anliang of the Hezhou Ma family army thought it was not worth going to war with the Chuanxi army for just one person, Ma Qi, and refused Ma Haiyan's request, which made Ma Haiyan very dissatisfied. With only the strength of the Qingma army, they were definitely no match for the Chuanxi army, and without the help of the Hezhou Ma family army and the Ningma army, he could only watch as the Chuanxi army detained Ma Qi. Because of this, Ma Haiyan's mood had been very bad for the past two days, and he was constantly getting angry.

  "This requires a long-term plan. However, Ma Qi shouldn't be in any life-threatening danger. The people of the Western Sichuan Army won't keep him locked up for his whole life, will they?" Ma Haiyan said with some depression, watching as his son was being held back by others, and as a father, he had no way to intervene, which made him feel extremely uncomfortable in his heart. If he knew that Ma Qi had already betrayed him and become the commander of the Western Sichuan Army, he would probably be even more furious and vomit blood!

  "Hmph! The Western Sichuan Army is really too much, one day I will wipe them all out!" Ma Lin said with a scowl. In fact, he was secretly delighted. Although his relationship with Ma Qi was not bad, when it came to the succession of the Qinghai Army, they were natural enemies. In Ma Lin's heart, he couldn't wait for Ma Qi to be locked up by the Western Sichuan Army for life, and best never return to Qinghai again.

  "It's good that you have this heart, but beware of being too impatient, your elder brother is a lesson to you!" Ma Haiyan sighed. Now only Ma Lin, this son, is left, and he must be taught well. After Ma Qi had an accident, he summoned Ma Lin back to his side again, on the one hand to ensure Ma Lin's safety, and on the other hand to teach him.

  "Yes, father, I will take it as a warning!" Ma Lin said with humility.

  "Admiral, sir! Lieutenant Commander Tama has an urgent military report!" A guard burst in and reported loudly.

  "Emergency military situation?"

  "Jade Tree?"

  Ma Haiyan and Ma Lin were both shocked, involuntarily standing up from their seats.

  "What about him?" Ma Haiyan asked.

  The guard immediately led in the cavalry of Yushu who came to report.

  "Reporting to the Commander, I am a soldier of the 6th battalion. The Western Sichuan Army launched a massive attack on Yushu, and Bu Fangqian's Green Horse Army has defected. General Gu Hongtao was caught off guard and the South Gate of Yushu was taken by the commander of the 12th battalion, Bai Meng. Commander Gu sent me to report to you, sir. When I left Yushu, both sides were engaged in fierce fighting!" The messenger cavalryman knelt down on the ground, his voice somewhat hoarse as he reported.

  "What? The garrison of Nangqian has rebelled?" Ma Haiyan heard this news, his body couldn't help but sway a bit, if not for Ma Lin's timely support, he would have probably fallen to the ground.

  "You go down first! Someone come and immediately inform Mr. Zhou and Gu Hongyun to see me, hurry up!" Ma Haiyan roared.

  "Yes!" The guard immediately took away the cavalry who came to report and sent someone to invite Zhou He and Gu Hongyun.

  Ma Lin, immediately sent someone to capture the family members of Kuang Qian's three battalion commanders. "How dare they betray me? I won't forgive them!" Ma Haiyan was like a furious lion, venting his anger. What made him even angrier than the attack by the Sichuan Army was that Kuang Qian's garrison had actually betrayed him, which shocked and enraged him.

  "Yes, father!" Ma Lin immediately went out to pass on the order. He knew well that the families of these generals who dared to betray the Qingma Army would definitely not have a good ending, and the Qingma Army had always been severe in punishing traitors.

  Soon, Zhou He and Gu Hongyun arrived at the Provincial Governor's Mansion. They had just gotten out of bed and hadn't even had time for breakfast before rushing over. Ma Haiyan was summoning them so urgently, something big must have happened.

  In Ma Haiyan's study, Zhou He and Gu Hongyun met with Ma Haiyan. At this moment, Ma Haiyan's face was flushed with anger, making Zhou He and Gu Hongyun feel tense, not knowing what had caused Ma Haiyan to be so furious.

  "Your Excellency, what's going on?" Zhou He asked.

  "Kangxi's army is launching a massive attack. The defending troops in Kangding have betrayed us and are now leading the Kangxi army to attack Yushu!" Ma Haiyan gritted his teeth and said.

  "What? How can this be?" Zhou He and Gu Hongyun both exclaimed. Whether it was the massive attack of the Western Sichuan Army or the betrayal of the defending army, neither was a trivial matter! No wonder Ma Haiyan was so furious.

  "Your Excellency, shall we dispatch troops to rescue Yushu immediately?" Gu Hongyun said. After all, the commander of the garrison in Yushu, Gu Hongtao, was his own younger brother.

  "No rush! With the strength of the Western Sichuan Army, Yushu may have already fallen. If we send troops now, it will be useless and we will only suffer a beating at the hands of the Western Sichuan Army!" Zhou He said.

  Gu Hongyun was somewhat dissatisfied, but he knew that Zhou He's words were true. From Yushu to Xining, it would take two days. It is likely that during this period, the Sichuan Army had already broken through Yushu.

  "Father, the three battalion commanders who were sent to capture Nang Qian have returned with a report. The families of the three battalion commanders are no longer in Xining City!" Ma Lin reported back, panting heavily.

  "Bastard! The Western Sichuan Army must have planned this in advance, they must have had the intention to attack us long ago, otherwise how could they be so well-prepared?" Ma Haiyan said angrily.

  "Come on, immediately report this matter to the Ma family in Hezhou. This time it's the Western Sichuan Army who has come to our doorstep, we can't afford to retreat! Ask them and the Ningma Army to send troops to assist us in counterattacking the Western Sichuan Army!" Ma Haiyan ordered.

  "Your Honor, we should also report this matter to the Governor of Shaanxi and Gansu, Yang Changjun, and let him memorialize the imperial court. Let the imperial court also take action against the Sichuan Army. In that case, we will be in the right!" Zhou He suggested.

  "Hmph! What's the use of that imperial court? Do they dare to go to war with the Sichuan Army?" Gu Hongyun said disdainfully.

  "Good, and report to the Governor of Shaanxi and Gansu at the same time. In any case, this time it's all because of the invasion by the Sichuan Army. The imperial court has hundreds of thousands of troops, with their restraint, we can also face fewer Sichuan armies!" Ma Haiyan agreed with Zhou He's proposal.

  PS: The second update is here!