Ma Shiying was in a complicated mood when she sat in the eight-car sedan chair back home.

Ma Shiying is both afraid and grateful to Shi Kefa, a competitor.

Fearing that Shi Kefa is young and promising, he is afraid that he will take away his position as chief minister sooner or later. Thanks to Shi Kefa for repelling the Qing army, otherwise Yangzhou City will not be preserved even if Nanjing is destroyed, the Ming Dynasty court will be destroyed. Where will he be the chief minister?

When he returned to the mansion, Ma Shiying ordered his servants to change his casual clothes, soak his feet in hot water, brew a pot of tea, and burn an incense stick, thinking about where to go next?

In Ma Shiying's heart, he had long believed that Yangzhou could not be preserved. He privately discussed with his confidants Ruan Dacheng, Wang Duo, Tang Shiji, Wei Guangdong and others that as long as Yangzhou city was broken, Zhu Yousong would mobilize him to go south to Changsha to take refuge and then plan for the future.

But what Ma Shiying never dreamed of was that Shi Kefa not only defended Yangzhou, but also severely damaged the Qing army and made amazing achievements. It was really unpredictable!

"Master, Mr. Ruan is asking for a meeting!"

Just when Ma Shiying was confused, the voice of the old butler Ma Fu rang out of the door.

Ma Shiying hurriedly opened her eyes, raised her hand and rubbed her cheeks: "I actually fell asleep. What time is the update now?"

"Reply to the master, the third update has just passed."

Ma Shiying stroked his beard and said, "Mr. Ruan asked for a meeting late at night. There must be something important. You pour the foot wash water for the master, and then bring Mr. Ruan to the study to see me."

Ruan Dacheng was four years older than Ma Shiying. The two of them passed the same exam in the 44th year of Wanli. They became officials together and had similar interests. They soon became close friends.

But later, the two had completely different careers. Ma Shiying went smoothly all the way, and successively served as the head of the Ministry of Revenue in Nanjing, the prefect of Henan, and the prefect of Datong. In the fifth year of Chongzhen, Ma Shiying was promoted to the right assistant censor, and later became the governor of Fengyang, gradually becoming a vassal with real power.

Ruan Dacheng, because of his two-way rat, first followed the Donglin Party and then joined Wei Zhongxian, angered the Donglin Party members. He was fiercely criticized by officials of the Donglin Party in the Middle East. He was so scared that he resigned from his post and returned home, and fled out of Beijing in a mess.

Later, Chongzhen ascended the throne and overthrew Wei Zhongxian, and Ruan Dacheng was even more unavailable for his career. After that, he lived in Nanjing for 16 years and wrote lyrics and composing music. He actually made great achievements in the literary and artistic circles. His poems were sung in the streets and alleys. Everyone in the south of the Yangtze River knew Ruan Dacheng's talent.

Last year, Ma Shiying made contributions to supporting Zhu Yousong and ascended to the high position of the chief minister. He vigorously promoted his old friend Ruan Dacheng. He moved three times a day and quickly promoted Ruan Dacheng to the high position of Right Minister of the Ministry of War, becoming Ma Shiying's right-hand man in controlling the government.

"Da Cheng, what's the point of finding me late at night?"

Ma Shiying personally picked up the teapot and poured tea for Ruan Dacheng. At the same time, he looked at the military officer behind him and recognized that it was Wei Guangdong, commander of Yingtianwei.

"Thank you, Mr.!"

Ruan Dacheng smiled and reached out to receive the tea bowl handed by Ma Shiying. His years of pampering made his fingers slender and fair, just like a young woman's jade hand.

Ruan Dacheng is fat, has a white face and is not a must-have, and he smiles like Maitreya Buddha. Although he is close to his sixties, he looks like a literati in his early forties.

"Commander Wei, report to Master Ma Ge." Ruan Dacheng took the tea bowl and took a sip and ordered Wei Guangdong.

News of the Yangzhou victory has spread in Nanjing. In addition to some Ma Shiying's best friends worrying that Shi Kefa takes away the status of the chief minister, it can be said that the whole world is celebrated, the whole nation is carnival, the city of Nanjing is brightly lit, the sound of the oars and candles of the Qinhuai River, and the debauchery is full of money.

Wei Guangdong stepped forward and reported: "Ma Ge Lao, the news that Lin Zhenjiang made great contributions in Yangzhou and established a slave has been rumored and is well known to everyone. But who knew that Lin Zhenjiang was proud of his contributions and was arrogant and set up an official position in the army, which was simply a crime of rebellion!"

Ma Shiying was surprised: "How do you say this?"

"This is a letter sent by Chen Luyao, a thousand households under Lin Zhenjiang, who sent people overnight. I asked me to pass it over to Mr. Ruan, and go to the sky to listen." Wei Guangdong took out the letter from his sleeve and handed it respectfully to Ma Shiying.

After reading it, Ma Shiying shook his head and angrily rebuked: "Absurd! Nothing to say that he is just a deputy garrison, he is Shi Kefa, and even my Ministry of War. Without His Majesty's sage, he dare not change the military system without his majesty's imperial edict. Lin Zhenjiang is really rampant!"

"What Ma Ge Lao said is very true. With his humble opinion, it is probably because Shi Kefa instructed Lin Zhenjiang to do this!"

Wei Guangdong looked indignant, "What kind of standard? Liansheng is so ugly. Please ask Mr. Ma to write a letter to impeach Shi Kefa. Lin Zhenjiang's misdeeds will serve as a warning to you."

Ma Shiying looked embarrassed and paced back and forth with his hands on his back: "Lin Zhenjiang drove an iron-armored car to defeat Jiannu and repel Duoduo. He did make a shocking achievement and save the Ming Dynasty in desperate situation. But if the official position is set up without authorization and the military system is changed, in serious cases, this is a serious crime of usurpation and rebellion! If the matter is spread, I don't need to speak, and I will have the inspector and the censorate who are impeached him..."

"But……"

Ma Shiying changed his tone and was full of concerns, "But if Lin Zhenjiang was forced to become anxious and he really rebels or surrendered to the Qing army, the Ming Dynasty would be in danger."

Ruan Dacheng turned the tea bowl with his slender fingers and said slowly: "Lin Zhenjiang killed nearly ten thousand Qing troops and Nurhaci's grandson. I think Dorgon would never accept his surrender. But he still jumped over the wall if he was anxious. If Lin Zhenjiang was really forced to force him to drive an armored car, it would be impossible to bomb Nanjing City..."

Ma Shiying frowned and said, "Dorgon is a hero of the age, and his mind cannot be measured by ordinary people. At that time, Cao Aman could tolerate Zhang Xiu, who killed his eldest son, not to mention that he was just a nephew of Dorgon! In order to obtain an iron armored cart, the Qing court could have accepted Lin Zhenjiang's surrender, so we must never force Lin Zhenjiang to a dead end."

Ruan Dacheng's eyes turned, and he thought to himself, and said with a smile: "Ma Ge Lao, what do you think of this? You and I will come to the palace together to meet the saint. I ask Your Descendant to hold Lin Zhenjiang accountable for his crime of usurpation, but you persuaded him from the side and asked Your Descendant to ask Lin Zhenjiang to hand over the armored cart to the court to compensate for the crime..."

"This plan is very wonderful!"

Ma Shiying was overjoyed and clapped his hands to interrupt Ruan Dacheng's words, "What a trick to kill two birds with one stone. This not only knocked Shi Kefa and Lin Zhenjiang, but also brought the iron-armored cart to the court, turning Lin Yu into a toothless tiger, and cutting off his threat of rebellion."

Ruan Dacheng echoed: "That's what the officials meant, otherwise this powerful iron-armored car would be controlled by Shi Kefa and Lin Zhenjiang. In the future, we can only watch him make achievements and step on us to take the lead."

Ma Shiying nodded: "What Da Cheng said is that we must snatch the armored car and leave it to our own people to control it!"

"I am willing to serve the work of the Ma Ge Lao!" Wei Guangdong knelt on one knee, speaking sincerely.

The three of them went to the palace overnight to pay homage to the Emperor of Ming. Zhu Yousong yawned and listened to the whole story. He was not very angry at Lin Zhenjiang's change of the military system, but he was just right at taking the iron armored carts back to the court.

"What the three dear friends said is extremely true!"

Zhu Yousong waved his sleeves and issued the imperial edict, "Lin Zhenjiang is really bold, but I will forgive his sins for his merits in killing the enemy and saving Yangzhou City. He took him over the iron armored cart and paid off his crimes without any mistakes!"
Chapter completed!