Chapter 7: The Ma Family Has Plagiarism in Their Genes (Please Follow and Read)

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Several days later, Jiangxia.

Huang Zu took the letter and frowned. “I may look down on that bandit Gan Ning, but he is indeed a man of courage. When Sun Quan attacked last time, he rendered considerable assistance. Yet Kongming has personally written to me to ask for him. How could I refuse?”

Huang Zu was himself a member of the prominent Huang clan of Jingzhou, as was Zhuge Liang’s wife, Huang Yueying.

They were all relatives.

Moreover, Huang Zu knew that the members of the Huang clan had already grown dissatisfied with Liu Biao and had been won over entirely by Liu Bei.

Although Jingzhou still belonged to Liu Biao, everyone could see that he did not have long to live.

Very well. So long as Gan Ning was not going to join Sun Quan, Huang Zu would not stand in his way.

After a moment’s thought, Huang Zu said, “Bring Gan Ning here.”

Gan Ning had also received Zhuge Liang’s letter and was discussing the matter with Su Fei. Su Fei served under Huang Zu as well and was on friendly terms with Gan Ning.

“What do you think, Brother Su? Can Liu Xuande truly make something of himself? I, Gan Ning, have a heart full of ambition. If I entrust myself to the wrong man yet again, will that not be a waste of all my talents?”

Gan Ning had left Yizhou and first sought refuge with Liu Biao, but Liu Biao had thought little of him.

With no other choice, he had waited and waited. Then he suddenly heard that Sun Quan of Jiangdong was recruiting heroes, and his heart leaped at once. He had intended to join him.

He still possessed some confidence in his own abilities as a hero.

Unfortunately, when he reached Jiangxia, Huang Zu stopped him. Huang Zu refused to let him pass, leaving him no choice but to serve under Huang Zu in resentment. Worse still, Huang Zu looked down on him just as much as Liu Biao had.

He truly could not have had worse luck.

Su Fei did not know how to console him and could only say, “Liu Xuande’s reputation is resounding throughout the land. Surely he will know how to recognize a hero.”

“What good is recognizing a hero?” Gan Ning snapped. “Liu Bei has nothing more than a little territory at Xinye. How am I supposed to display my abilities there?”

Su Fei was about to say more when someone approached from outside and shouted, “Gan Ning! The governor summons you!”

Gan Ning saw how rudely the messenger addressed him, but he could only grit his teeth and reply, “Yes. I will come at once.”

A short while later, Gan Ning appeared before Huang Zu. Huang Zu was even less courteous. In a cold voice, he said, “Who would have thought that a bandit like you could induce Liu Xuande and Kongming to write to me personally and ask to borrow you? Gan Ning, I have underestimated you.”

Gan Ning’s face turned pale, but he could only say, “My lord, I have never had dealings with Liu Bei or Zhuge Liang. Before this, I did not even know who Zhuge Liang was.”

Huang Zu gave a cold snort. “Enough. That is none of my concern. Liu Xuande and Kongming have invited you to join them. Are you willing?”

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Gan Ning frowned for a moment, but in the end he gritted his teeth and said, “I shall do as you command, my lord.”

Enough. However poor things were there, they surely could not be worse than here with Huang Zu.

Huang Zu nodded. “In that case, go. Liu Xuande is a man of ability, and Kongming is a promising junior whom my Huang clan values highly. Once you arrive, serve them with all your heart and help them train their naval forces. Do not slacken.”

“Yes, my lord!”

Huang Zu waved his hand. “Take those unruly men of yours with you as well.”

Gan Ning’s face flushed red with anger. He nearly rushed forward and fought Huang Zu on the spot, but in the end he could only leave in frustration.

…

Xinye.

Inside the office of the Science Commandant at the government headquarters, Zhao Shaojie sat in a chair with one leg crossed over the other, angrily berating Ma Liang.

“Jichang, do you understand what intellectual property is? You have infringed upon my rights, do you know that? You Ma family people are just like that other Ma family of later generations—utterly disrespectful! I have not even made a profit yet, and you have already copied my designs. What am I supposed to do with you?”

Zhao Shaojie’s anger was not without reason. The day he had begun making tables, chairs, and stools, he had first sent two reclining chairs to Liu Bei and Lady Gan. The two had praised them lavishly, and before long the entire government headquarters had been refurnished with tables, chairs, and stools.

During one visit, Ma Liang had carefully memorized the appearance of the furniture. Once he returned home, he ordered the Ma family workshops to begin reproducing it.

By the time Zhao Shaojie’s carpenters had finished the government’s order and were preparing to open a shop, furniture from the Ma family was already on sale throughout Xinye.

Zhao Shaojie was furious. The Ma family truly seemed to possess a hereditary talent for plagiarism!

Ma Liang sat across from him with a genial smile and said softly, “There is no need to be angry, Shaojie. How about ten beautiful maidservants and a thousand mu of farmland?”

Zhao Shaojie straightened, ready to accept.

“Forget the maidservants. I will give them to you after you marry the eldest daughter of the Liu family,” Ma Liang added suddenly.

Zhao Shaojie dropped back into his chair and cursed, “What use is land to me? Cao Cao is about to attack. This whole region will become a battlefield, and it may all end up under Cao Cao’s control. Am I supposed to send people to farm land belonging to Cao Cao?”

At that, Ma Liang’s expression stiffened.

Just then, Liu Bei entered with Zhuge Liang, Xu Shu, and the others. Liu Bei said, “Shaojie, do not blame Jichang. He has contributed greatly to this expansion of the army. Not only has he mobilized his family’s tenant farmers, he has also provided countless weapons, supplies, and provisions.”

“In just a few days, our army has grown by more than ten thousand men.”

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Ma Liang’s expression improved slightly. Zhao Shaojie curled his lips. “Could he really refuse to support us? Cao Cao is almost here. The whole of northern Jingzhou is about to be ravaged. Better that he give those resources to you than to Cao Cao.”

Everyone’s expression immediately grew solemn.

Noticing that the atmosphere had turned tense, Zhao Shaojie hurriedly tried to smooth things over. “Forget it. What can I say? I am a magnanimous man. Ma Jichang, I forgive you.”

“Still, I think you should mobilize everyone in your household and, preferably, send them all south to Jingnan. What is that saying again? Preserve the people and surrender the land, and both people and land survive. Preserve the land and lose the people, and both people and land are lost. Given the situation in northern Jingzhou, we may well lose both. Besides, Cao Cao has a particularly vicious habit: whenever the circumstances turn unfavorable, he immediately relocates the entire population.”

The stiff atmosphere changed at once.

Everyone’s eyes lit up.

Zhuge Liang looked at Zhao Shaojie in surprise and sighed. “Preserve the people and surrender the land, and both people and land survive. Those are truly words of golden wisdom. Shaojie, your strategic insight is extraordinary.”

Ma Liang and the others nodded repeatedly.

Only Liu Bei knew that this was wisdom inherited from later generations. Even so, he had never underestimated Zhao Shaojie. On the day he had left Zhuge Liang alone with Zhao Shaojie, Zhao Shaojie had not revealed that he came from a later age. From that alone, Liu Bei had realized that the young man was no reckless fool.

He had therefore simply lifted the restrictions placed upon Zhao Shaojie and now allowed him to act as he pleased.

“Jichang, Shaojie is right. The Ma family has estates and farmland in Jingnan. Can you mobilize the people of northern Jingzhou and move them south?” Liu Bei continued. “Kongming, you should also persuade the Huang, Xi, Yang, and other great families to do the same.”

Apart from the Cai and Kuai clans, all the other great families of Jingzhou had already cast their lot with Liu Bei.

That was the foundation upon which Zhuge Liang had intended to launch a surprise attack against Liu Biao. So long as the Cai and Kuai clans were dealt with, Liu Bei would be able to stabilize Jingzhou.

Unfortunately, Liu Bei had no intention of using that plan.

Ma Liang and Zhuge Liang both accepted the order.

Liu Bei already knew what would happen later. His face, normally incapable of revealing either joy or anger, now carried an awe-inspiring calm, as though everything lay within his expectations. This made Ma Liang and the others acknowledge him all the more deeply.

This was the bearing of a true lord.

“Everyone, go and attend to your duties. I must also travel to Xiangyang and pay a visit to Liu, the governor of Jingzhou.” Liu Bei gave a bitter laugh.

The moment Zhao Shaojie heard that he was going to Xiangyang, he immediately said, “I am coming too!”

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