Chapter 53 Zhang Yun and Cai Mao

  "Big brother, I don't want to be driven away, think of a way to help me!" Zhang Ping pleaded bitterly in the room.

  Sitting in the front row was a man, about twenty-four or five years old, also tall and strong, but extremely handsome, with a thin face, high nose, only his eyes always had a hint of cunning, making it difficult for people to trust him.

  This man was Zhang Yun, Liu Biao's nephew, who held the office of Commandant of the Northern Jing Province Naval Forces.

  He is Zhang Ping's cousin, although Zhang Yun looks down on this rough and foolish cousin from the bone, Zhang Ping has excellent water skills and is very obedient. Zhang Yun needs such a capable assistant.

  "I don't know what to say to you anymore, actually losing to a young whippersnapper like him."

  Zhang Yun spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of coldness that sent shivers down one's spine. He gazed at Zhang Ping with an icy stare, "Last time he dueled with Cai Jin, you didn't see it, don't tell me your martial arts are still inferior to his."

  Zhang Ping deeply lowered his head, extremely ashamed and said: "I just watched him compete with Cai Jin in a sword fight, so I was a bit too confident."

  "Underestimating! Everyone talks about underestimating, Cai Jin is an example of underestimating and failing, you are also underestimating, can't you be a bit more normal?"

  At this point, Zhang Yun's tone became severe, staring fiercely at Zhang Ping, and he wished he could kick him out with one foot.

  Zhang Ping lowered his head and remained silent, but in fact he couldn't figure it out in his heart. Liu Xuan's stick was still two feet away, how did it suddenly kill him right in front of his eyes? He could only think that he had underestimated the enemy.

  "Alright, let's not talk about the martial arts competition. What are you going to do about this matter? You have committed a serious offense by offending your superior, and the impeachment documents against you have already reached the hands of Magistrate Li. I'm afraid it will be very difficult for me to help you."

  This was what Zhang Yun deeply hated, he had used all his strength to get his cousin transferred to the Second Patrol Unit, just so that he could cover up his own business and avoid taxes, but he hadn't expected that Zhang Ping would be so foolish as to be caught by Liu Jing in one move.

  "At that time I was completely muddled and didn't consider the consequences at all, and he was just a sixteen-year-old kid..."

  "Shut up!"

  Zhang Yun shouted in anger, "A proud army will surely be defeated! If you continue to underestimate him, you'll die at his hands, you fool!"

  "Yes! I understand." Zhang Ping was so frightened that he became speechless and wiped away the sweat on his forehead.

  Zhang Yun finally swallowed his anger. The matter had come out, and he couldn't just ignore it. He was angry, but if Zhang Ping were to be transferred away, all his previous efforts would have been in vain.

  After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Yun said slowly: "You go first to apologize to Liu Xuan and explain that you have long admired his great name, wanting to try your hand with him, absolutely without any intention of offending him."

  "I understand, then... what should I do next?"

  "Don't worry about what's going on above, I'll naturally think of a way. Just take care of your own business."

  "Thank you, brother, I'm leaving now."

  Zhang Ping bowed and slowly bid farewell, while Zhang Yun was still deep in thought. Although the position of Touring Inspector Cao was not a big one, it had a wide range of connections. A small touring office could control the commerce of Fan City, and it could be said that it was a crucial wedge inserted into the key point.

  This position was originally controlled by the Kui family, and he had to make a lot of effort to get his cousin in, and also got rid of Cao Ma Tong, thinking that his cousin would definitely take over, but unexpectedly today suddenly killed out a Liu Xuan, without any signs at all.

  Although this Liu Xiong is nominally his cousin, he has never met him and had no dealings with him. However, Liu Xiong has only been in Xiangyang for over two months, so he wouldn't understand the importance of touring and inspecting Cao's affairs. This matter may have nothing to do with him, it should be someone who deliberately arranged this.

  Who could it be? Zhang Yun immediately thought of the Kui family. After Ma Tong was killed, Kui Yue was unexpectedly silent, which was unreasonable. Zhang Yun almost confirmed that Liu Xuan being appointed as the touring supervisor Cao must have something to do with Kui Yue.

  If it's really Kuai Yue, then it's a bit troublesome. He can't defeat Kuai Yue alone and must rely on external forces. It would be best to borrow the power of the Cai family. Zhang Yun thought for a long time before standing up and ordering: "Prepare the horses immediately!"

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  There was one thing that Zhang Yun could never have anticipated, his cousin Zhang Ping had just left the mansion and then went to find Cai Zhong. Zhang Ping was Cai Zhong's brother-in-law, in his opinion, when he encountered trouble, asking his sister's husband for help was a matter of course.

  But Zhang Ping did not understand that this was no longer just his own private matter, and the incident had also implicated his cousin Zhang Yun. He was just a pawn of his cousin Zhang Yun.

  In the Cai Mansion, Cai Zhong led Zhang Ping hastily to the front of Cai Mao's study. Cai Zhong was very clear about the cause and effect of this matter, and he had not expected that today would be Liu Xuan's inauguration day. He immediately realized that the entanglement here might not be so simple.

  He couldn't make his own decisions and had to come find the head of the household, Cai Mao.

  He stopped at the gate of the small courtyard in front of the study, turned his head to Zhang Ping and said: "You wait for a moment first, I'll talk to my brother first, then call you."

  Zhang Ping, although foolish and reckless, also understands some human relationships. He has already asked his cousin for help with this matter, and now he comes to ask Cai Mao for help again. Will it make his cousin unhappy?

  "Brother-in-law, let's talk about this another day! Don't bother the master of the house."

  Cai looked at him in surprise, suddenly somewhat understanding, and smiled: "Don't worry! The master is just helping me, it has nothing to do with you. You coming to find me is a matter of course, no one will say anything about you, rest assured, I'll give you good news."

  Having said that, Cai Zhong didn't care whether Zhang Ping was willing or not and directly entered the small courtyard.

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  Cai Man had just returned from the government office and was sitting in his study reading a book when he heard his younger brother Cai Zhong's voice outside the door, "Big Brother, may I come in?"

  "Come in!"

  The door opened and Cai Zhong walked in from outside, knelt down and paid his respects, "Big brother, there's something I want to say, it's about Liu Xuan."

  Cai Man was originally half leaning on the screen, when he heard the name 'Liu Xuan', he suddenly sat up and smiled: "Has he finally appeared?"

  Liu Xuan had been missing for a month, and Cai Mao suddenly remembered it, feeling somewhat strange. He was expelled from the mansion and disappeared without a word, thinking that Liu Xuan had returned to his hometown in Shanyang.

  Cai Mao now knew that Liu Xuan did not want to marry his daughter, which made him slightly relieved, but the key was still Liu Bei's attitude. If Liu Bei insisted on Liu Xuan marrying, Liu Xuan would have to give in eventually.

  Liu Biao no longer mentions this matter now, but Cai Mao has been hanging in his heart and can't let go.

  "What is he doing now?"

  "I've just received news that Liu Xuan has taken up the post of Second-in-Command at Youzhou, and on the very first day, quite a few things have happened."

  Cai Zhong then told Cai Mao everything that had happened in the temple today, and finally said: "My brother-in-law is just outside the door. He has gone to ask Zhang Yun and then came to find me. I don't know whether I should intervene in this matter or not, so I've come to consult with my elder brother."

  Cai Mao's eyebrows furrowed, and he was actually unaware of this matter. The appointment of You Jian as the governor of Xiangyang was a local affair, and there was no need to report it to Liu Biao, so Cai Mao would not have known about it procedurally.

  But this matter involves the secret struggle between Zhang Yun and Kuai Yue, and Cai Mao unexpectedly doesn't know about it, which is a bit of a problem. Cai Mao asked in a calm tone: "Did you know that Zhang Yun and Kuai Yue were secretly struggling before?"

  "I had some slight knowledge of it before."

  "Bang!" Cai Mao slammed his palm heavily on the table and scolded Cai Zhong, "Why didn't you report this matter to me earlier?"

  Cai was so frightened that he trembled all over, "This matter... has nothing to do with the Cai family, therefore..."

  "You scoundrel! Is this a trivial matter? Such an important thing and you're only telling me now, you...!" Cai Mao pointed at Cai Zhong, so angry he couldn't continue.

  "Big brother, little brother knows he was wrong."

  Cai Mao forced himself to calm down, and he found that if this matter was handled well, it could completely pull Zhang Yun over to his side. As Liu Biao's nephew, Zhang Yun held a high position in the army. If he joined forces with Cai Mao to deal with the Kuai family, wouldn't that be heaven helping him?

  The Cai family of Xiangyang and the Kuai family of Nangong, before Liu Biao came to Jingzhou, the two families were in the south and north, and the well water did not offend the river water. However, after Liu Biao occupied one side, both the Cai and Kuai families were heavily used at the same time, and the two sides competed for greater benefits, and the struggle between the two families began to intensify.

  Cai Mao sank into thought for a moment, and soon clarified his thoughts. The relationship between Xiangyang County Magistrate Wang Jue and Kuai Yue was not ordinary. Liu Jing's position should be the one that Kuai Yue asked Wang Jue to arrange in order to avenge Zhang Yun's killing of Ma Tong last month.

  Now that Liu Xuan is the supervisor, he naturally wants to kick Zhang Ping out, so he borrows the following offense to speak, and Wang Jue will definitely go with the flow, directly relieving Zhang Ping of his duties or transferring him away.

  "Have him brought in!" Cai Mao ordered.

  Cai Zhong went out and soon led Zhang Ping in. Zhang Ping knelt down and respectfully kowtowed, "Greetings, Military Advisor."

  "Don't be polite, we're all relatives. If you have difficulties, how can I just stand by and do nothing? I've already heard about this from Third Brother, so don't worry! I'll definitely do my best to help."

  Cai Man's tone was very kind, and Zhang Ping's eyes were almost in tears. He repeatedly kowtowed, "Thank you, Military Advisor."

  Cai Man smiled and asked: "About this matter, how did Zhang School Lieutenant entrust you? I mean after the incident today, you should have seen him, right?"

  "Th...th...this..." Zhang Ping was somewhat embarrassed, but under Cai Mao's stern gaze, he still revealed the truth.

  "My elder brother told me to go and apologize to Liu Xuan first, saying that it was not a case of disobedience, but rather admiration for his martial arts skills, and that I must make amends with him."

  Zhang Ping said so, Cai Mao suddenly understood Zhang Yun's intention. Zhang Yun still wanted to let his younger brother Zhang Ping stay in the You Jiao Temple, then this would inevitably lead to a struggle between Zhang Yun and Kuai Yue. Could he add fuel to the fire?

  This matter is actually the internal affairs of Xiangyang Prefecture, and Cai Mao cannot intervene. However, Cai Mao also has connections, and Wu Qing, the long history of Xiangyang, is the son-in-law of the Cai family, and can protect Zhang Ping's position through him.

  Thinking of this, Cai Mao smiled warmly: "Actually, this matter is not difficult to handle. After all, you were beaten by Liu Xuan, so although you were rude first, you lost later. Your brother is right, you should go and apologize, with a humble attitude, as long as you can stay, the position of supervisor will still be yours within a year."

  "Why is that?" Zhang Ping asked in puzzlement.

  Cai Man's eyes narrowed into a smile, "He is the master's nephew, he won't stay in a small position for too long."

  Zhang Ping suddenly realized, no wonder his cousin insisted that he stay behind, it turned out there was this reason.

  Just then, a servant reported from outside the door, "Master, Captain Zhang is requesting an audience at the gate!"

  Cai Man stroked his mustache and smiled slightly, just as he had expected, Zhang Yun indeed came.

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