Chapter 89

Chapter 723: Attending a Meeting Unarmed (1)

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Gao Shun showed great interest.

"If Ma Deng returns, the Central Army can regain its former glory."

Gao Shun welcomed Ma Deng's return.

If the power of Luo Shi grew, it would only benefit Lü Bu, not harm him.

"Ma Shi is a warlord who once dominated the Guanxi region. If such a person returns, I would welcome him with open arms."

"But what is the method? Did General Luo form a marital alliance with Ma Deng?"

"If that were the case, how could I have refuted Mr. Zhen Gong's words? I once studied under Master Ji Zhang, who served as the Grand Administrator of Nanyang, and learned the dual-sword technique from him. Although I didn't become a warrior, that technique proved very useful."

Gao Shun, not knowing who Master Ji Zhang was, asked:

"May I ask who Master Ji Zhang is?"

Zhen Gong answered on Luo Shi's behalf:

"General Gao, Master Ji Zhang is the courtesy name of Ma Rong. He is a descendant of General Fubo Ma Yuan and held the ranks of Yilang and Grand Administrator of Nanyang."

"Master, I've never heard this name before. How do you know so much about him?"

"Well, I am a scholar, and Master Ma Ji was a renowned Confucian scholar known as a Tongru. How could I not know about him?"

"Then what is the relationship between Master Ma Ji and Ma Deng? Are they of the same clan or relatives?"

Luo Shi answered this time:

"Ma Deng is a descendant of my teacher, but he is an Erzi. His father, Ma Ping, remarried to a Qiang woman, so Ma Deng is their son."

"An Erzi, you mean? It shouldn't be difficult to trace his lineage and recognize him. I don't look down on Erzi, but I don't know how they are treated within the family."

"Ma Deng's case is a bit different. If he can prove he is a descendant of General Fubo Ma Yuan and Master Ma Ji, he would be considered one of the most prestigious families in Guanxi."

Luo Shi spoke with a hint of regret but was also thinking of ways to use this to persuade Ma Deng.

"Ma Deng will surely want to prove he is a descendant of my teacher. If he can be recognized as a descendant of General Fubo Ma Yuan and Master Ma Ji, he would be among the most prestigious in Guanxi."

"General Luo, if your teacher is no longer in this world, how can you recognize his lineage?"

Luo Shi took something out from his robe in response to Gao Shun's question.

* * *

Luo Shi held it up for Gao Shun to examine.

"Is this a jade plaque or an iron plaque?"

Gao Shun, though not a fool, had a valid reason to ask. Anyone would have asked the same upon seeing what Luo Shi held.

"Hehehe! This black object is a jade plaque. It's called Kunyu. Have you heard of it?"

"Oh! You mean the precious jade from Kunlun Mountain? It's so rare that its value is determined by its scarcity. To make such a large and intricate jade plaque from Kunyu is truly remarkable."

"The name of this jade plaque is Kunyu Longma Pai."

"Kunyu Longma Pai? Now that you mention it, the carved horse does look like a powerful celestial horse. But what is it used for?"

Gao Shun recognized that the Kunyu Longma Pai was a valuable treasure, but he had no idea about its purpose or history. Zhen Gong was in the same boat, so they both waited for Luo Shi to explain.

"This Longma Pai is a treasure of the Ma family. The military achievements of General Fubo Ma Yuan in repelling foreign invaders and quelling rebellions are so great that they cannot be fully recounted even after four days and nights."

He then continued, placing his hands together above his left brow.

"Emperor Guangwu highly esteemed these achievements and formed a marital alliance with General Fubo Ma Yuan. He married his daughter to Emperor Ming. However, even that was not enough to fully commend his achievements, so he had two Kunyu Longma Pai made and bestowed them."

"The gift from Emperor Guangwu is indeed a treasure. But how did you come to possess one of the two jade plaques, General Luo?"

"Can anything last for a thousand years? Even a thousand-year-old city can fall, and many dynasties have not lasted for even a few hundred years. The same applies to families."

Luo Shi briefly mentioned the hardships of the Ma family.

The descendants of the Ma family, one of the most prestigious families in the Eastern Han, had a difficult life. Of course, these stories were passed down to him by Ma Rong.

"My teacher, instead of choosing the outstanding scholar Zheng Jiang, entrusted me to carry on the great tradition of his school. He also entrusted me with this Kunyu Longma Pai and asked me to look after his descendants."

This request was essentially asking him to protect the legitimacy of the Ma family.

It meant that even if Ma Deng was an Erzi, he could gain legitimacy if recognized by Luo Shi.

Gao Shun understood this much.

"Since you are the guardian of the Ma family, you can grant Ma Deng the legitimacy he desires?"

"Exactly. I plan to use this to persuade Ma Deng."

Luo Shi then turned his gaze to Zhen Gong.

"Mr. Zhen, Guo Xian's strategy is indeed remarkable."

"Guo Xian knew not only about the Ma family but also about the relationship between General Luo and them. He truly lives up to the name of the Guo family from Yang."

"Your wisdom is also remarkable. You discerned Guo Xian's intentions from just a few words."

He then turned his gaze to Gao Shun.

"General Gao, listen."

"Please give your orders, General."

"Send someone to the enemy camp to request a meeting."

"Does Ma Deng intend to step into the Han officials' gate?"

Gao Shun asked, and Luo Shi smiled.

"A thirsty man must dig a well."

"Surely you don't mean to go to the enemy camp yourself, General? I oppose it. It's too dangerous."

Luo Shi shook his head.

"To catch a big fish that can feed the world, I used fifty oxen as bait. If I can bring the Ma family under my wing, what does it matter if I risk my old life?"

Luo Shi used the story of Lin Gong from the Zhuangzi to illustrate his point.

Gao Shun was not a scholar who had read the Zhuangzi, but he understood the meaning.

"Can anyone guarantee that the other party will act according to common sense?"

* * *

It was natural for Gao Shun to try to dissuade him. It was unthinkable for a commander to go to the enemy camp alone. It was something that should not happen.

While there is etiquette on the battlefield, it is not an unchanging truth. Historically, how many envoys have lost their lives while carrying out their lord's will?

Moreover, for a commander to meet the enemy leader alone and go to the enemy camp would not only put himself but also his entire army at risk.

Indeed, such incidents occurred during the Warring States period.

Chu Huaiwang was detained and met a tragic end when he went to meet Qin Xiaogong in Wu Pass.

Later generations took this as a lesson, making the nobles even more cautious about risking their lives.

In that sense, Lü Bu's meeting with Dong Zhuo was something that could only happen in the old tales of heroes.

Luo Shi also knew this well but was undeterred. He had a belief that could overcome even the fear of death...

"A person cannot choose their parents, but they can choose what to risk their life for. As a proud Han general, if I can contribute to the peace of the world, what is the value of my old life?"

Gao Shun instinctively knew he couldn't change Luo Shi's mind. So he came up with a plan.

"Very well. But before you go, I will go first."

"Hehe! It seems you intend to start and conclude the negotiations on my behalf. How could I not guess your intentions?"

Luo Shi immediately saw through Gao Shun's plan. But Gao Shun had prepared an excuse.

"How can I, who am not a persuader, conduct negotiations? I don't have that skill."

"But why do you want to go first?"

"I have never been a persuader, but how can I sit idly by when the General plans to go to the enemy camp? I know it's necessary to go first and assess the situation. Please send me."

Luo Shi did not want to send Gao Shun. It was too dangerous to risk the life of a young hero with a long road ahead.

So Luo Shi also came up with a plan for Gao Shun.

"This is not something we should decide among ourselves. Mr. Gong Dai, call the other generals here."

A short while later.

A few more people entered Luo Shi's small room.

Zhang Mu, Zhang Chao, Wei Zi, Zhan Wei, Tan Wei, Han Huo, and Shan Ben. There were seven of them.

Luo Shi spoke only after they had taken their seats and focused their attention on him.

"The reason I have gathered you all here is..."

He told them that he intended to go to the enemy camp alone to persuade Ma Deng and that Gao Shun had volunteered to conduct preliminary negotiations. Before anyone else could speak, Han Huo stepped forward and clasped his hands.

"I request, General Luo, to send me instead."

"Why do you want to go, General Han? Please explain your reasons here."

"The reason is simple. General Gao is a precious asset to General Lü. How can we send him to a dangerous place? If it's inevitable, I should be the one to go."

Gao Shun grunted.

"Hmm...! How can we weigh the value of a person's life? Moreover, General Han is also a general under General Lü. If anything happens to you, it would break his heart."

"There are no painless fingers, but some are less painful than others."

As the two men's opinions diverged, Shan Ben stepped in to mediate.

"Son-in-law, you cannot go."

"Master Shan, please distinguish between public and private matters. This is not a private setting. Why do you call me son-in-law?"

"I don't care about that! You cannot go, regardless."

"Why can't I go? Do you think I lack the qualifications?"

Shan Ben waved his hands vigorously.

"That's not what I mean. If anything happens to you, my daughter will become a young widow."

"Arrange for me to take a vow of celibacy. If anything happens, I can take the vow, can't I?"

"You are also the son-in-law of General Zhang. You must never forget that two prestigious families in Hena are counting on you."

"Shouldn't we put aside personal matters for the greater good?"

Shan Ben had to break his son-in-law Han Huo's stubbornness. Only then could his daughter live happily. So Shan Ben decided to take the risk himself.

He bowed to Luo Shi and requested:

"Commander, this humble servant, Shan Ben, requests to be sent in place of General Gao."

"Hmm? Master Shan..."

"I have lived long enough. Moreover, preliminary negotiations are a simple matter of assessing the enemy's situation and gathering clues about their intentions during the conversation. Why use a bull to kill a chicken?"