My aunt is Queen Ma

Chapter 76 Old Fox

Upon receiving Liu Bowen's invitation, Ma Yu was filled with questions.

I haven't even visited you yet, so why are you visiting me first?

And what's the meaning of your visit to me?
Could it be that you are truly like those described in later storybooks, able to see eight hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future?
Then they realized I was a time traveler?
Shaking his head to dismiss the nonsensical thought, he figured she had probably sensed something and wanted to sound him out.

It must be said that Liu Bowen was indeed very intelligent.

But unfortunately...

However, Ma Yu did want to meet this legendary figure from the novel, so he told the servant that he would be waiting for the emperor at his home the next day.

After the servant left, he immediately went to the palace to find Empress Ma and told her about Liu Bowen's visit.

Normal social interactions do not require reporting to the palace.

However, Liu Bowen was indeed a special case, and Ma Yu felt it was better to inform him beforehand to avoid any unnecessary misunderstandings.

Empress Ma laughed and said, "Liu Bowen is very perceptive. He saw at a glance that this series of events is related to you, Yu'er."

"It would be good to meet him. You are the best at presenting facts and reasoning. If you can persuade him to be loyal and dedicated, it will be a great achievement."

Ma Yu shook his head and said, "Confucius said that only the most intelligent and the most foolish cannot be changed. Liu Bowen is just too clever; it's very difficult to persuade him."

Empress Ma sighed, "Let's give it a try. It's not a solution for him to keep going like this."

Ma Yu naturally understood what she meant. The Ming Dynasty had already gained control of the country, yet Liu Bowen still refused to submit, which would make things very difficult for them.

But as he just said, it is impossible to persuade only the exceptionally intelligent and the exceptionally foolish.

Liu Bowen was undoubtedly the former; it would be too difficult to persuade him.

However, we still have to meet him. It would be a great pity to travel through time and not get to know the Earl of Chengyi.

Then Ma Yu brought up another matter:
"Uncles three and five from Eighth Master's family have decided to move to the estate, and I want to take everyone there to see it."

"How about we let my cousin come along too?"

Empress Ma didn't think there was anything wrong with leaving the city; on the contrary, she quite agreed.

"It would be good to go out and see the world, and while we're at it, we can also visit the refugees."

"However, it's still quite chaotic outside, so we need to bring more people to protect us."

Ma Yu quickly said, "Uncle Chang is bored at home, so let's take him out for a walk to clear his head."

Empress Ma immediately fell silent, then smiled and said, "That's wonderful! With Bo Ren's reputation, no villain would dare to approach."

"In that case, let's just let Chang Yatou, Xu Yatou, and the third, fourth, and fifth brothers all go along and see what it's like."

Ma Yu laughed and said, "That would be great... Why don't you come along too? It'll be more lively with more people."

Empress Ma was also somewhat tempted, after all, she had rarely left the palace since the founding of the Ming Dynasty.

It's not that someone is watching her and preventing her from going out; it's that she simply can't leave.

Ma Yu naturally saw through her thoughts and then proceeded to plead and beg her again.

Empress Ma laughed and said, "Alright, alright, I promise you. You're such a clever little devil."

Ma Yu happily replied, "Okay, it's settled then. I'll go back and arrange a date with everyone, and then I'll come to invite you."

After finishing his business, he chatted with Empress Ma for a while before leaving the palace.

He didn't make any special preparations after returning home.

Liu Bowen was different from Song Lian.

Because of his preface to "Sending Off Ma Sheng of Dongyang", Ma Yu had an innate fondness for Song Lian.

In addition, he is a man of principle; he either does it or he doesn't, and he doesn't waver or compromise.

Therefore, you can prepare several sets of lines before meeting him, and there's bound to be one that comes in handy.

Liu Bowen was different; he was very flexible, and no one could find fault with him through words.

For people like this, no amount of prior preparation is useful; responding to situations as they arise is the best approach.

The next day, Ma Yu told Zhu Shuang about Empress Ma's trip to the estate and asked him to make some preparations in advance.

As for what preparations need to be made, he doesn't need to worry about that; Zhu Shuang knows better than him.

Then they went to the Ma family and asked, "Third Uncle and Fifth Uncle, are you really not going to reconsider?"

“Our family is isolated and vulnerable in Yingtian Prefecture, and we really need manpower.”

"Besides, everyone is at home, so it's lively with the whole family together."

Ma Laosan and Ma Laowu were both very moved, but they were clearly a little timid, constantly rubbing their clothes with their hands, but they didn't dare to speak.

Master Ma was somewhat disappointed and had completely given up on the idea, so he said:
“We appreciate your kindness, brother, but these two children are used to living in the countryside. They're like they've lost their souls here in Yingtian Prefecture.”

"Let them go to the estate; they need someone to look after it."

Ma Yu sighed and said disappointedly, "Very well, I'll arrange for people to prepare accommodations at the estate right away."

"Let's go over there together in a few days and see how it goes. If we don't get used to the life there, we'll come back."

Master Ma quickly expressed his gratitude.

At this moment, Ma Yu looked at the children again and said:

"Children cannot stop studying, but it is not good for them to leave their parents at a young age."

“In that case, I’ll hire a tutor to teach them to read at the estate.”

"When they get older, we'll bring them to the city to study."

"If they perform well, I will ask my aunt to let them go to Dabentang to study."

The two brothers, Lao San and Lao Wu, were so moved that they almost knelt down.

This is studying! I never dared to imagine this before.

Not to mention going to the main hall to be a tutor to the princes, that would be incredibly lucky.

Not to mention Master Ma, whose tears streamed uncontrollably down his face.

After Ma Yu left, he sternly addressed his children and grandchildren:
"See that? This is our head of the household. From now on, we must serve him well."

"If I ever find out who did such an ungrateful thing, I'll break their legs and throw them out of the house."

Ma Laosan and Ma Laowu quickly said they dared not, even if they had the desire, they didn't have the guts.

Before they came to Yingtian, they had imagined many scenarios.

When I finally got here, I realized that the scene I had imagined was far from the reality.

Wealthy families have so many rules; there are rules about appearance, eating, and behavior.

Many rules are not something you consciously follow, but rather something that influences you from your surroundings, making you subconsciously follow them.

They're used to being comfortable in the countryside; when it gets hot, they roll up their sleeves and trouser legs, and nobody says anything.

When it was time to eat, people from all around would bring their bowls and simple food, sit on the ground under the big tree, and eat and chat.

These actions are simply impossible to perform here.

Even without supervision, they themselves couldn't do it, always feeling that doing so would be out of place with the environment.

As for Ma Yu, we see each other every day and often have meals together.

They were very kind to them and loved the children very much.

However, they felt only awe towards this young family head and dared not get close to him at all.

There's no way around it; Ma Yu's word is law in this family.

He laughs when others laugh, and when he's unhappy, everyone else keeps a straight face.

In addition, he was always followed by several burly men with fierce faces.

He perfectly embodies the image of the head of the household.

Ma Laosan and Lao Wu really didn't dare to get close to him.

This environment was far too restrictive for them.

Just a few days will be enough; I've been longing to go to the countryside.

Ma Baye naturally wanted them to stay in the big city, but all his persuasion and scolding were useless, so he could only go to Ma Yu.

Ma Yu naturally had to make a gesture, so he tried to persuade them to stay several times, and even kept them for a few more days. Only when he saw that they still wanted to go to the estate did he relent.

As for hiring tutors for the children, it does have an element of courting, but it also reflects a genuine desire to cultivate more young talents.

What the future holds depends on them.

After trying to persuade them to stay one last time, Ma Yu went to the steward Yuan Lang and asked him to arrange accommodations at the estate.

These tasks were simply a matter of course for Yuan Lang, and he immediately went to handle them.

After dealing with the trivial matters, Ma Yu breathed a sigh of relief. Now all that was left was to wait for Liu Bowen to come to his door.
-
Liu Bowen was indeed a meticulous person; he arrived precisely at 10:00 AM.

In this day and age, it's truly remarkable that he can time things so precisely.

After exchanging pleasantries and greetings, Ma Yu ushered him into the main hall and seated him.

What followed was a round of flattery.

One said that Young Master Ma was a talented young man who would surely become a pillar of the nation.

One said that Liu Zhongcheng was exceptionally talented, a pillar of the state, and a role model for us younger generations.

In short, both sides were adept at exaggeration, and neither wanted to let their words fall flat.

Ma Yu was certain: "If you, Liu Bowen, don't get to the point first, I certainly won't take the initiative to speak."

Let's just keep at it and see who can hold their temper longer.

In the end, Liu Bowen couldn't hold back any longer and started to steer the conversation toward politics.

Ma Yu immediately perked up; every word this old fox uttered was significant, and he couldn't afford to be fooled.

If you can figure out what he means, then give him a few words in response.

If you sense there's a catch, just nod and say: "Yes, Your Excellency Liu's insight is brilliant; I admire you."

Or they would say: "Alas, I am a junior scholar with no further knowledge, what insights could I possibly have?"

Liu Bowen was quite helpless when he saw that the young man was not taking the bait.

Actually, he didn't have any bad intentions. He just wanted to get some information out of her to see how much Ma Yu had been involved in the recent changes in the gap between them.

Also, try to figure out what he's thinking before deciding how to start the conversation.

But after chatting for a long time, until their throats were dry and they had drunk two cups of tea, the young man didn't respond to a single move.

Knowing that the other party was more mature in mind than in appearance, and that he would hardly gain any advantage today, Liu Bowen stopped wasting his breath.

Finally, he got to the point: "Being an official in the imperial court is difficult. Don't be fooled by my glamorous appearance; in reality, I live in constant fear and walk on thin ice."

Ma Yu thought to himself, "You old fox, you've finally been subdued by my strategy of not taking the bait."

No matter how capable you are, I'll just reply with "um," "ah," "oh," "okay," and the like.

I don't believe you can analyze thousands of words of psychological fluctuations from these words.

However, seeing that Liu Bowen had finally started to get down to business, Ma Yu stopped being perfunctory and went along with him, saying:
"Lord Liu, what are you saying? You are a pillar of the court."

"Your strategies were crucial in the Battle of Poyang Lake, and you also made significant contributions to the subsequent governance of the court."

“If His Majesty were to bestow titles upon meritorious officials, you would surely be on the list. Why then do you feel so anxious and uncertain?”

Liu Bowen shook his head and said, "Young master, you flatter me. I am unworthy of such praise."

"My position as Censor-in-Chief is only superficially prestigious. The current situation in the court is complex, with various forces clashing."

"I only seek to protect myself and dare not have any other thoughts."

Ma Yu feigned ignorance and said, "Oh? Does Vice Minister Liu think that His Majesty, with his abilities and personality, is unable to suppress these forces?"

Liu Bowen sighed, “Your Majesty’s words carry the mandate of Heaven and the principles of governance, making decisions independently; naturally, you will be successful in everything you do.”

"But in such a major clash, an outsider could easily be swept away and wiped out by the aftermath if they're not careful."

Ma Yu exclaimed in surprise, "An outsider? Liu Zhongcheng, as the Imperial Censor of the Ming Dynasty and a founding hero, actually considers himself an outsider?"

Liu Bowen smiled wryly and said, "I only wish to remain an outsider, to retire gracefully after achieving my goals; I dare not have any other aspirations."

Ma Yu frowned slightly: "I can't agree with your idea... Never mind, everyone has their own ambitions, I won't try to persuade you."

"With the unification of the world imminent, your decision to retire at this crucial moment is not a bad choice."

"With your merits in establishing the nation, no matter what changes occur in the court in the future, it will not affect you."

Liu Bowen hesitated, seemingly struggling internally, before finally speaking:
"Young Master Ma, are you aware that Prime Minister Li has been targeting me all along?"

Ma Yu thought to herself, "This old man Liu is such a drama queen," but she still played along and said:
"I've heard about it, but I don't know the details."

Liu Bowen then explained the reason.

In fact, Li and Liu got along very well at the beginning.

Liu Bowen only came to Zhu Yuanzhang's attention after being recommended by Li Shanchang.

Regardless of time or place, this affection is immense.

Liu Bowen also cherished this favor and held Li Shanchang in high esteem.

The two enjoyed a very long honeymoon period.

However, the two have very different personalities.

Liu Bowen was a cautious and meticulous person, but he was very resolute in his actions.

They especially hated the wealthy and powerful who harmed the common people.

Li Shanchang was a narrow-minded person and didn't pay much attention to details in his work.

Over time, friction began to arise.

However, both sides were still able to maintain a semblance of civility at the time.

The two truly broke ties in the first year of the Hongwu reign.

When Zhu Yuanzhang went to Bianliang for an inspection, Li Bin, the chief secretary of the Secretariat, was arrested for accepting bribes and condoning his subordinates' crimes while the emperor was away.

Li Bin was Li Shanchang's confidant, so naturally he would protect him.

Originally, Li Shanchang thought that since he had done you a favor by recommending him and they had gotten along fairly well before, you should give him face, right?

Liu Bowen didn't give him any face at all and executed Li Bin as a warning to others.

From then on, Li Shanchang harbored a deep hatred for Liu Bowen, not just out of ordinary anger, but because he genuinely wanted to get rid of him.

He repeatedly mobilized his followers to impeach Zhu Yuanzhang for illegal acts, even accusing him of usurpation.

Ma Yu was naturally aware of this, but hearing the person involved give a completely different perspective.

For example, he gleaned another layer of meaning from Liu Bowen's words.

That is, although he didn't mention Zhu Yuanzhang at all, he implied in every way that Zhu Yuanzhang favored Li Shanchang.

He allowed Li Shanchang to slander him.

That's why he decided to retire.

However, he was also afraid that if he left the court, Li Shanchang and his gang would not let him go.

When I'm no longer in power, won't they be able to slander me however they want?
So he entered a state of wanting to resign, but hesitating and unwilling to leave.

As a result, others perceived him as someone who refused to serve the court but was greedy for power.

Ma Yu naturally wouldn't completely believe him; this old fox was different from ordinary people.

When ordinary people lie, they lie. Nine out of ten of their lies are true, with only the most crucial one being false.

It's difficult for outsiders to tell the difference.

Moreover, Ma Yu was a time traveler who knew some historical information, so he wouldn't be easily fooled by Liu Bowen.

After Liu Bowen finished speaking, he slapped his thigh and said:

"Oh dear, I thought that Liu Zhongcheng was unwilling to serve the Ming Dynasty because he couldn't forget the kindness of the Yuan Emperor."

"It turns out I was judging a gentleman by my own petty standards."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bowen's expression changed drastically.

(End of this chapter)