Chapter 24 2. Ma Yuan's debut

Ma Yuan said goodbye to Kai Xiao and set off.After being separated from Gongsun Shu for many years, I can't help feeling a lot of emotion when I think of him.The two played together many years ago when they were still wearing underpants.In those days of innocence, the two went up to the tree to dig out the bird's nest together, touched the fish together in the water, hunted in the mountains together, read books with classmates, and broke a burnt corn in half together , eating warmly. The same town and the same party, the same classmates play together.Ma Yuan and Gongsun Shu possessed several of the strongest relationships in life.Thinking of this, it seemed that a warm current poured into Ma Yuan's heart—what kind of surprise would Gongsun Shu give him?

Ma Yuan recalled all the way, daydreamed all the way, and soon arrived in Chengdu.However, after Ma Yuan entered Chengdu, it was as if he had been doused from head to toe by a cold rain from the sky, and his heart was completely chilled. Ma Yuan couldn't believe his eyes.Ma Yuan is still the old Ma Yuan, but Gongsun Shu is no longer the old Gongsun Shu.The former Ma Yuan was simple and honest, and he is still simple and honest now; the former Gongsun Shu was heroic and righteous, but today he has become a majestic rich man. Ma Yuan thought that even if the emperor Gongsun Shu couldn't let go of his arrogance, he should at least stand at the gate of the palace to greet his deceased with a smile when he went five miles away to meet him.However, what he saw was Gongsun Shu's ostentatious appearance, exaggerating his airs, and changing his face when he was so rich.

The ceremony for Gongsun Shu to meet Ma Yuan was as follows: First, Gongsun Shu sat high on the Golden Luan Hall, and His Royal Highness was lined up with soldiers, very imposing.Then, Ma Yuan was led to the front of the hall by the court ceremonial officer, and summoned according to the envoy's visit ceremony.After Gongsun Shu finished his official accent, he sent Ma Yuan out of the palace, and was led to stay in a hotel by a special person. What was even more shocking was still to come: Gongsun Shu sent people to make a set of special civilian clothes and hats overnight, and then sent them to the hotel and handed them over to Ma Yuan.

Gongsun Shu seemed to want to tell Ma Yuan, I am the emperor and you are a commoner, no matter how close our relationship was in the past, we still have to distinguish between grades. On the second day, Gongsun Shuxian put on an even more outrageous display.He took Ma Yuan with him, followed by hundreds of officials, and marched out of the city in a mighty manner.Gongsun Shu seemed to want to tell Ma Yuan in front of everyone in Chengdu that you were the one who directed me to fish when I was a child, but I posted it today, but you have become my follower... After putting on airs, showing off enough prestige, and being addicted to being an official, Gongsun Shu began to talk about business with Ma Yuan.He told Ma Yuan, since you are here, there is no need to go back, and I will make you Da Sima.

As soon as Gongsun Shu opened his mouth, the people who followed Ma Yuan were overjoyed.One person attains the Tao, and the chicken and dog ascend to heaven.Ma Yuan became the Chief Sima, and it was worthwhile for them to climb high mountains and far away.Therefore, they unanimously asked Ma Yuan to stay in Chengdu.However, Ma Yuan didn't even think about it, and yelled at everyone - it's impossible for me to stay! Then, Ma Yuan told his followers: "The world is in chaos, and the outcome is uncertain. Gongsun Shu didn't know how to emulate Zhou Gongsan, and dared to call himself emperor just after grabbing a piece of land. Can you keep the hero?"

Ma Yuan seems to want to tell Gongsun Shu that if you want to pretend to be a bull, you will be struck by lightning sooner or later. If you don't believe me, just wait and see. After Ma Yuan finished speaking, he returned to Tianshui County without looking back.After returning, he told Kai Xiao with disappointment that Gongsun Shu was just a frog in a well and could not see the vast world outside.He thought he was arrogant, but he was actually stupid.If you want to survive in this troubled world, it is unreliable to rely on him. Kai Xiao asked Ma Yuan, what do you think we should do to survive?

Ma Yuan said that there is someone who can help you. Kai Xiao asked, who? Ma Yuan said firmly, Liu Xiu. Kui Xiao was silent. After a long time, Kai Xiao said solemnly, I regard Liu Xiu as my natural enemy, but you regard him as your lifesaver.Is Liu Xiuzhen, as the legend says, a wise ruler destined to unify the world? Ma Yuan said, I will know if Liu Xiu is good or not. Kai Xiao felt very uncomfortable.He used to seek refuge with Liu Xuan before, thinking it was reliable, but it turned out to be unreliable, and he almost couldn't escape.Now that he wanted to join forces with Gongsun Shu, Ma Yuan said he was a frog in a well, and after a circle, there was no better way to survive except to join the Liu family's forces?

There is a way to live in front of you, which is to stand on your own and become a king.Of course, being king is very enjoyable, but Liu Xiu's eyes will not be able to hold the sand, and it will be very miserable if he hits the door.Whether to take refuge or to be self-reliant, which one to give up, Kai Xiao was really troubled. Kai Xiao was silent for a long time again, and said to Ma Yuan, well, you work harder and go to Luoyang to meet Liu Xiu.We'll make plans when you come back to report. In this way, Ma Yuan went to Luoyang.He met Liu Xiu smoothly.No airs, no prestige, the scene is not big, but very kind.Like Ma Yuan's friend for many years, Liu Xiu, dressed in plain clothes, stood under the corridor of Xuande Hall, stood up with a smile, and greeted Ma Yuan.

Many things in the world may seem complicated, but the truth is actually very simple.The folk song says that when you are three years old and you are old, you should first look at your feet when you look at people.However, in Ma Yuan's view, whether a king is open-minded and whether he can achieve great achievements does not depend on how majestic and outrageous your airs are, only one posture is enough. Ma Yuan's heart was deeply imprinted in Liu Xiu's calm and easy-going civilian posture in His Highness Xuande.Ma Yuan believed that such a great man, without talking, the world would belong to him.

Liu Xiu welcomed Ma Yuan to the palace. There were no soldiers in the palace, it was like a friend's home, friendly and easy-going.Ma Yuan sighed and said: "Your Majesty treats me like this, isn't it afraid that I'm an assassin?" Liu Xiu said: "You are not an assassin, but I know you must be a lobbyist." The two looked at each other and smiled.Ma Yuan sighed, "Gongsun Shu and I have been friends for many years. It was hard for me to go to Chengdu to see him once, but he put on airs and prestige for me. Compared with His Majesty, he is really far behind."

As Liu Xiu said, Ma Yuan is not an assassin, but a true lobbyist.Winning over Ma Yuan has an important role in stabilizing Kai Xiao that cannot be underestimated.Sure enough, after Ma Yuan returned to Tianshui County, Kai Xiao came to ask questions impatiently. Ma Yuan told Kai Xiao: According to my observation, Liu Xiu is really unusual.In terms of strategy, intelligence, courage, knowledge, mind, and measurement, no one in the world can compare. Kai Xiao looked at Ma Yuan with a gloomy face, and asked: According to what you said, if you compare Liu Xiu and Gao Zu Liu Bang, who is more powerful? Ma Yuan said that Liu Xiu was not as good as Gao Zu.Gaozu Liu Bang's personality can be upright or evil, and there is nothing wrong with it.However, Liu Xiu is different. He likes government affairs, is self-disciplined, and doesn't like drinking and messing around like Gao Zu. When Kai Xiao heard this, his face darkened.Ma Yuan seems to be praising Gaozu, but in fact he praises Liu Xiu in a different way.Liu Xiu, Liu Xiu, Kai Xiao seem to see that this terrible name is like a nightmare in the dark night, it has become a shadow that he will never get rid of. After all, Kai Xiao was very unwilling to vote for Liu Xiu just like this.After much deliberation, he decided that instead of voting for Liu Xiu, it would be better to be a gambler on his own.However, if he wants to be king, he cannot have the final say alone.He still lacks one thing, one very important thing. This thing is popularity. Liu Xiu's wish to become emperor was fulfilled after several joint requests from his subordinates.When Gongsun Shu proclaimed himself emperor, his subordinates also supported him.Even Wang Lang, who was far away, was backed by someone when he proclaimed himself emperor.Therefore, if Kai Xiao wants to become emperor and king, he must be encouraged by someone.If you want to be popular, you have to get those people to nod in agreement first. The ancient emperors were not afraid of ghosts and monsters, but intellectuals most.The emperor has administrative power, and intellectuals have the right to speak.The scariest thing about this group of people is not the right to speak in their hands, but the belief in their minds.Their beliefs have existed since ancient times, but they have always believed in orthodoxy. What is even more frightening is that it is not the emperor who has the final say on what is orthodox or not, but by them.Because they will rectify their names.Unorthodox, as long as they want to, they can rectify your name.If the name is upright, the words are smooth, and the words are smooth, and the words naturally become orthodox. After Kai Xiao occupied Tianshui County, he used the name of Lixian corporal and recruited seven out of ten intellectuals in Chang'an who read old antique books.Therefore, if he wants to become king, he must let this group of people rectify his name and encourage him.If you want to find someone to rectify your name, you need an authoritative person. Ma Yuan's name is very famous in Jianghu, and he can be regarded as one of the authorities.But when he was in Tianshui County, his heart flew to Luoyang City.Therefore, Kai Xiao had no choice but to call another academic authority for his opinion.This person is, as mentioned earlier, Ban Gu's father, Ban Biao. Don't think that all people who gnaw on old antique books are old antiques.On the contrary, this group of people are familiar with the scriptures and history, and they understand people's thoughts and where to go.Ban Biao is a smart man, as soon as Kai Xiao moved his butt, he knew what to vent. However, this guy was very stubborn and criticized Kai Xiao very rudely. Ban Biao told Kai Xiao: Don't be jealous and ready to move when you see someone proclaiming the emperor and king.This era is not the era of the Warring States period.During the Warring States period, all countries had certain political capital, so they could stand on their own.But people in this era think about Han, and the political capital of the world is uniquely enjoyed by the Liu family of the Han Dynasty.It is already expected that the Han Dynasty will surely prosper again.So, I advise you to think twice before acting. After Ban Biao finished speaking, he sighed, packed his luggage, and left. Ma Yuan and Ban Biao, one by one, exterminated Kui's prestige, which really made him angry.Corporal Lixian, this kind of business is really hard to do.Let this group of people eat and drink for free, without paying IOUs, and they all want to speak for Liu Xiu.Halo, I have been eating inside and outside for many years, and I have raised people who eat inside and outside. Self-reliance, or refuge?This is really a headache. Kai Xiao was struggling like a trapped animal in the forest.He was hesitating, disappointed in anticipation, eager to rise in despair... But one year after Ban Biao left Tianshui County, Kai Xiao finally made a choice. Direction is more important than hard work, but Kai Xiao chose a wrong direction.