Old Master Ma froze on the spot. He had no idea what "thing" it was. Furthermore, he was an old minister who had followed Emperor Ling from Luoyang. How could he suffer such humiliation?
However, upon thinking it was to deal with Old Master Zhou, he suppressed his temper and forced a smile as he said, "Governor, do not be hasty. There are many strange occurrences in Liangzhou City now. Perhaps you should listen first!"
Liu Dai fiddled with his teacup and remained silent. Old Master Ma, on the other hand, chattered on, "Now Liangzhou has actually agreed to something called 'silver notes,' amassing wealth on a large scale. The people are suffering immensely!"
Liu Dai placed his teacup down on the table with a thud and said after careful consideration, "I am not the Governor of Liangzhou, nor do I have jurisdiction over this place. For the Old Master to tell me this is quite interesting!"
Seeing Liu Dai's displeased expression, Old Master Ma hastily explained, "I was merely treating this as a joke. If the Governor does not wish to listen, then so be it. Please do have a meal."
"Very well," Liu Dai agreed. "As for that thing, I must take it with me today. I ask for the Old Master's cooperation."
"Naturally, naturally!" Old Master Ma agreed heartily. Although he didn't know what Liu Dai was referring to, his shrewd guess led him to consider several possibilities. After contemplating which of these he could hand over to Liu Dai, he agreed.
"Please, Governor, proceed to the dining hall to have a meal together!" Old Master Ma gestured, inviting him. "Today, we have prepared quite a feast. Of course, I should have invited the Governor to dine in the main hall, but today is a bit special, and I must ask you to proceed to the dining hall." m..oΓg
Liu Dai had come for that very thing, and where he ate was of no importance. He moved with his imposing entourage to the prepared banquet, where several acrobats were performing with great effort.
"The customs of Liangzhou are indeed different from those of the Central Plains. It seems the Old Master has also prepared diligently!" Liu Dai knelt on the floor, picked up his chopsticks, and took a tentative bite.
"Is the food not to the Governor's taste? I will send someone to prepare something else immediately!" Old Master Ma said urgently. "Guards, quickly prepare food! Ensure the Governor is well-entertained."
Liu Dai smiled slightly and said softly, "Not exactly. It's just that there are many strange and unusual things in Liangzhou City. I have heard some rumors, and I fear some unclean things might emerge, which would be inauspicious for my luck!"
Liu Dai's gaze was sharp. Old Master Ma's chopsticks paused abruptly. He lowered his head and smiled before speaking, "Speaking of strange occurrences, nothing compares to the banknote houses. Moreover, Governor, you are in the Emperor's favor. Even if there are demons and evil spirits, they cannot harm you."
Old Master Ma smiled and reached for more food, but Liu Dai grabbed his hand and said coldly, "Demons and evil spirits are not frightening. The most frightening thing is the human heart!"
Old Master Ma's body trembled, but he quickly regained his composure and said, "The Governor worries too much. Liangzhou is not only the Emperor's Liangzhou but also the Governor's Liangzhou. With someone in charge, what evil spirits would dare to act recklessly? Even if there were any, they would likely be permitted by someone."
"Good, good," Liu Dai stood up and looked at the sun. "I usually see countless stars, but I never imagined the sun could also be so flavorful. It seems Liangzhou is truly different."
"Indeed, indeed," Old Master Ma said. Part of him wanted to frame Old Master Zhou, and he was anxious. Furthermore, Liu Dai's men were indeed formidable, so he could only hasten to appease him. "However, even the sun sets eventually. We must rely on more than just its light."
"The Old Master speaks wisely. By observing more, how can one know if it is merely a weed or a mighty tree? Some things appear to be flourishing, but in reality, they are already rotten!" Liu Dai's words were pointed, making Old Master Ma's heart stir.
"Governor, do you mean someone is currently in such a situation?" Old Master Ma asked with a hint of flattery.
Business is business, and friendship is friendship. He could not tolerate anyone riding roughshod over him.
"The Old Master's skills have not dulled. Your guess is correct. This is also why I have come to seek you out. I heard the late Emperor once bestowed a long spear upon the Old Master, which is still revered today. I wish to borrow it!" Liu Dai said slowly, observing Old Master Ma's expression.
"Old Master, rest assured. If it is returned immediately after use, it will not be damaged in the slightest!" Liu Dai vowed with a pat on his chest.
To reiterate, Old Master Ma was overjoyed to see Ye Feng fall from his horse, but if he were to truly involve himself with that thing, he would not even consider it.
"As the Governor requests, I should have agreed without hesitation, but..." Old Master Ma sighed heavily. "How can I sleep with someone snoozing next to my bed? That item has long been out of my hands. I fear I will disappoint the Governor this time."
"Oh, who dares to tamper with the late Emperor's possessions?" Liu Dai sneered. "Perhaps the Old Master is unwilling to agree and is deceiving me. If you are unwilling, then say so. Old Master, as long as you speak the truth, I will leave now and not bother you!"
"Governor, please stay!" Old Master Ma was anxious. He had not yet framed Old Master Zhou, and he had only heard half the story. How could he willingly watch Liu Dai leave!
"Does the Old Master have any other advice?" Liu Dai said coldly. He had volunteered to enter Liangzhou for that very thing. If he didn't get it, he was unsure how much he would be ridiculed. Therefore, his tone was no longer pleasant.
"Although I do not know what the Governor intends to use it for, have you heard of another item, the 'Imperial Edict Sash'? If you can obtain it, it would be a legitimate claim, and you could command the world!" Old Master Ma urged hastily, gesturing for Liu Dai to sit down again.
"If the Governor has this intention, perhaps you would listen to my detailed explanation." Old Master Ma smiled, doing his best to appear harmless. "Please, Governor, be seated!"
Liu Dai knelt on the cushion, smiling at Old Master Ma. After all, the Imperial Edict Sash was more convincing than a gifted spear.
"I hear that the Emperor is surrounded by his people. How can I obtain the Imperial Edict Sash? Are you trying to deceive me!" Liu Dai frowned and said coldly.
"Do you know what the consequences of deceiving me are?"
"I would not dare, I would not dare," Old Master Ma hastily revealed his entire plan. "If it were through normal means, it would be impossible to obtain the Emperor's Imperial Edict Sash, nor would I be able to see the Emperor. But if it were a forgery, wouldn't it be easy? What are you worried about!"
Old Master Ma drank his tea with confidence and spoke slowly, "Coincidentally, under that person's influence, a group of artisans has already been released. As long as they are paid enough, what can they not create? Then, with a single call, thousands will respond, starting today!"
"Excellent. I didn't expect the Old Master to have such a plan. Please, Old Master, take charge. After this is accomplished, I will certainly not mistreat you!" Liu Dai raised his teacup and drank it down. "Once I obtain the Imperial Edict Sash, I will make him utterly destroyed."
"In that case, I wish the Governor success in his grand endeavor in advance," Old Master Ma said with a smile, holding his teacup. Suddenly, he heard shouts from outside the mansion. The teacup in his hand dropped to the ground, shattering into pieces.
"If the Old Master had not already agreed to cooperate with me, I would have thought he had deployed thousands of troops to take my head!" Liu Dai joked.
"Governor, please wait. I have something important to attend to!" Old Master Ma stood up hastily, intending to leave. Liu Dai frowned. How could he let him go? He grabbed Old Master Ma and said with a smile, "What important matter could make the Old Master forget his hospitality? Perhaps you could tell me so I can hear it too."
"I!" Old Master Ma's face turned red. He couldn't possibly say that he had arranged for people to kill Liu Dai. As they were talking back and forth, a lame man entered slowly, carrying a plate of carp.
"Could this carp hide some secret? Will I die here today? I believe the Old Master would not do such a foolish thing!" Liu Dai hinted with his words. "Bring the carp over. I want to take a good look!"
"Put the carp down and get out!" Old Master Ma sternly reprimanded the lame man. "Hurry up and get out!"
The lame man was already nervous. Seeing the tray in Liu Dai's hand, he trembled. He repeated the steps in his mouth. Seeing Liu Dai pick up his chopsticks and reach for the carp, his face turned pale.
Liu Dai poked it fiercely with his chopsticks, then flipped it over. Finding no problem, he nodded and said softly to Old Master Ma with a smile, "What was the Governor so worried about? It's just a carp. There's no need to be nervous!"
Old Master Ma glanced at the sword that could cut iron, which he had given to the lame man, in the lame man's arms. He felt nervous and immediately berated, "Foolish thing, get out!"
The lame man had come on cue. He gently placed the fish plate on the table. Facing Liu Dai, his face was grim. He took out the dagger in his hand and stabbed down fiercely.
Liu Dai's expression changed drastically. Caught off guard, he had no time to react. Seeing Old Master Ma flip the table, he said coldly, "Foolish thing, what do you think you are doing!"
In the blink of an eye, the guards Liu Dai brought also reacted and swarmed forward. However, the dagger in the lame man's hand was extremely sharp. With a slight slash, the table was split in two. In the next moment, none of the guards dared to step forward.
"Well done!" Liu Dai said sternly. "Capture him alive for me! I want to see who dared to make a move!"
"Yes!" The guards, holding long spears, slowly approached the lame man. The lame man, seeing that the act had gone far enough, suddenly threw the dagger. The dagger flew directly towards Liu Dai. According to the lame man's calculation, it should have narrowly missed Liu Dai's body.
"Master!" The guards shouted. It was this shout that caused Liu Dai to lose his composure. He moved slightly, and the dagger grazed his face before flying away.
Liu Dai gently dipped his fingers in a trace of blood and brought it to his eyes, sneering, "Good boy, good skill. Attack!"
Seeing that something serious had happened, Old Master Ma froze on the spot, not uttering a word. The guards attacked together. The lame man's remaining leg was broken in an instant. Old Master Ma's body trembled, and he loudly said, "Quickly, go and fetch a doctor!"