Cao Cao sent someone to persuade Ma Teng that night.

The one who was ordered to convince Ma Teng was Zhang Ji, aide under Cao Cao.

When he arrived at Ma Teng's residence, Zhang Ji greeted him and then asked, "I wonder General Ma, how long does it plan to stay when he comes to Yecheng this time?"

"It shouldn't be long," said Ma Teng: "When Mr. Zirong returns to Shouchun, I will go back with him."

"Are you not afraid that General Ma will be unhappy when he does this?" Zhang Ji asked.

"Why is Mr. Cao unhappy?" Zhang Ji asked in surprise.

"The general came to Yecheng, but refused to stay here. He wanted to go to Shouchun with the eldest son. Wouldn't he be despised by Cao Gong?" Zhang Ji smiled slightly and said to Ma Teng: "It is for this matter that I came to see the general."

Ma Teng was stunned: "What does Mr. Zhang mean?"

"I can't mean it very simple." Zhang Ji said: "The general has offended Cao Gong, but he is unaware of it. Wouldn't he know that a disaster will soon befall?"

"Did Mr. Cao ask you to come?" Ma Teng stood up suddenly.

"Of course not." Zhang Ji said with a smile: "General, don't be anxious. I'm just speculating, and it's not that there is no way to make Cao Gong think less."

"I'm confused when you say this." Ma Teng sat down again in confusion and asked Zhang Ji: "Your Duke Cao sent you over, but you said these inexplicable things, which is really hard to understand."

"The general has been in charge of Xiliang for many years. It is precisely because of the Ma family of Xiliang that the Qiang people can calm down." Zhang Ji said: "I have been with Cao Gong for some time and respect the general very much. Of course, I refuse to accept Cao Gong's detrimental to the general for some trivial matters, so that the general lost his life and Cao Gong lost his reputation."

"Just say whatever you want to say, just say it." Ma Teng said: "No need to beat around the bush."

"Actually, I have a way to ask the general to go to Shouchun with the eldest son, and let Cao Gong let go." Zhang Ji lowered his voice and said to Ma Teng.

"Please make a clear statement." Ma Teng gestured.

"The general can abandon the Xiliang army and hand it over to the commander of Prince Ling." Zhang Ji said, "but the general stayed in the court to serve. As today, it was very chaotic, and not all officials were on duty. The general only took the imperial appointment and went to Shouchun with the eldest son. In this way, Cao Gong would not feel that the general despised him, and the general could go to Shouchun again. Isn't it the best of both worlds?"

"I don't plan to serve in the court." Ma Teng said: "I grew up in Xiliang, so how could I leave the soldiers and leave them alone in the court?"

"It's wrong for the general to say this." Zhang Ji said with a smile: "The Ma family in Xiliang is still in the hands of Prince Ling. Isn't the general still the head of the Ma family? He just handed over the military power to Prince Ling, but the general holds real power in the court."

"Real power?" Ma Teng smiled and said, "Mr. Cao will give me real power?"

"The eldest son once served as the Weiwei." Zhang Ji said: "Now Cao Gong is determined to order the general to take over the position of Weiwei. I don't know if this position is considered to have real power in the general's opinion?"

Looking at Zhang Ji, Ma Teng frowned slightly.

The Han Dynasty established the Weiwei Mansion and was repeatedly renamed Dali Temple, which was specifically responsible for criminal laws and even torture officials.

This position does have certain real power.

After hesitating for a moment, Ma Teng asked Zhang Ji: "The Weiwei has a great responsibility. If I were not in the court, would it be inappropriate?"

"What's wrong?" Zhang Ji said: "Your Majesty is in Xudu now, but Cao Gong is in Yecheng, so there is no inappropriate situation. The general is really thinking too much."

Ma Teng was relieved only then.

He stood up and clasped his fists to Zhang Ji and said, "If it weren't for Mr. Zhang's guidance, I wouldn't know if I had ruined the big thing. I'd have recorded today's friendship."

"If the general can remember me well in the future," Zhang Ji stood up and returned to Ma Teng and said, "I have to go and report to Mr. Cao. If the general has no objection, Mr. Cao will submit a request to His Majesty and entrust the general to the Han Dynasty's Guard."

"I'll send Mr. Zhang!" Ma Teng sent Zhang Ji to the door.

In order to wait for Ma Teng's reply, Cao Cao had not yet fallen asleep until now.

While looking through a book in the study, Xu Chu walked in: "Duke Cao, Zhang is here."

After putting down the book, Cao Cao ordered: "Please come in."

Xu Chu retreated and brought Zhang Ji into the study.

After seeing Cao Cao's favor, Zhang Ji said, "I have completed the instructions from Cao Gong. Zhang Ji promised to stay in the court as the Weiwei."

"I feel relieved if he is willing to be an official in the court." Cao Cao smiled slightly and said to Zhang Ji: "Have he said he is willing to stay in Yecheng or to go to Shouchun."

"Ma Teng's meaning is to go to Shouchun." Zhang Ji replied: "Actually, I think Mr. Cao doesn't have to leave him in Yecheng. There seems to be no difference between the eldest son and the Yecheng."

Cao Cao nodded: "You are right, so let him go to Shouchun."

Zhang persuaded Ma Teng to accept the court's acceptance of his order. After sending him away, Ma Teng immediately sent him to invite Cao Shu.

When he arrived in Yecheng, Cao Shu had nothing to do.

He was talking to Ding Yao at the back of the Cao family. When he learned that Ma Teng was looking for him, Cao Shuo said to Ding Yao: "He is looking for me, it must be the person sent by his father to let him stay in Yecheng."

"Ma Teng has been guarding Xiliang for many years. What does your father want him to stay in Yecheng?" Ding Yao asked.

"It is precisely because he stayed in Yecheng that he has been using his own troops all year round. How could his father even put him back?" Cao Shu said: "In a short time, his father will send troops to conquer Jingzhou. Once the army sets off, the only thing behind us is Xiliang, which is the biggest trouble."

"No wonder." Ding Yao responded suddenly, and then asked Cao Shuo: "Have you told him to keep him in Yecheng before you brought Ma Teng back?"

"How could it be said?" Cao Shuo said: "He is going to Shouchun with me, and I agree."

"But your father wants to keep him..." Ding Yao asked, "Is it inappropriate for you to keep someone?"

"I promised Ma Teng, of course I would take him to Shouchun." Cao Shuo said: "I had discussed with my father before and gave Ma Teng an official position. Even if he was in Shouchun instead of staying in Yecheng, as long as he entered the court as an official, he would have no reason to return to Xiliang."

"Ma Teng is not here, I remember there is another Han Sui." Ding Yao asked, "How can you settle him?"

"Han Sui and Ma Teng are already as powerful as water and fire." Cao Shuo said: "Ma Teng's eldest son Ma Chao stayed in Xiliang to restrain him. The time I have won is enough for my father to solve the affairs in the south. As long as the south is stabilized, the Cao family will no longer have to worry about someone going deep into the hinterland and making trouble with us in the future."

He stood up and said to Ding Yao: "Mother, I'll go see Ma Teng first, so I can't let him wait in a hurry."

"Go." Ding Yao instructed: "No matter what, he is also your father-in-law. Although it involves interests, don't lose your etiquette."

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