After time travel, share a space with your modern family.

Chapter 144 Testing each other

After Liu Shengpei followed Ma Shidao to his tent, he sat directly in the seat where Ma Shidao usually handled official business.

Ma Shidao stood solemnly to the side.

"Second Prince, did you come to the border with a special mission this time?" Ma Shidao asked in a fawning voice beside the Second Prince.

Liu Shengpei glanced at him, his eyes still carrying a hint of coldness.

"I'm sorry, Second Prince, it was my fault for being so talkative." Ma Shidao lightly patted his mouth.

But despite saying that, he still wanted to find out more information.

Ma Shidao wasn't sure who had given him the information he had received, and he still didn't know who his master was.

The line he took over was passed down to him by his predecessor, Lei Kong, the border guard.

General Lei told him that as long as he followed the instructions from above, he would enjoy endless riches and honors.

Then I told him how to receive the information.

Over the years, he has been carefully receiving and passing on messages, following the instructions from above.

His family and relatives all benefited to varying degrees and enjoyed a level of wealth and luxury that was beyond his reach.

However, he was never told who he was under orders from, only the orders he received through information.

Is the Second Prince's arrival at the border at this time directly related to the message he received from the carrier pigeon a couple of days ago?

So far, the Second Prince hasn't shown any information about the rendezvous. Does that mean he's overthinking things?

Ma Shidao still wanted to see how things went first.

"Your Highness, I have received news that the Western Rong people may attack our Beisheng on the second day of the eleventh month." Ma Shidao said, while observing Liu Shengpei's expression to see his reaction.

"Oh... such a situation exists? Where did you get this information? Is the information accurate?" Liu Shengpei asked seriously.

Judging from the Second Prince's reaction, Ma Shidao felt that he was probably unaware of the situation.

He nodded affirmatively, but did not reveal the source of the information.

"Have you reported this matter to General Qiao?" Liu Shengpei's words were flat, making it impossible to tell whether he was testing the waters or genuinely asking.

Ma Shidao thought for a moment and came up with a safe answer: "Not yet. I'll report to General Qiao after I've verified this."

Upon hearing this, Liu Shengpei was even less able to determine the truth of the news.

"You haven't even verified this information, Deputy General Ma, yet you dare to tell me this? Aren't you afraid of giving me false information and I'll chop off your head?" Liu Shengpei shouted sternly.

Ma Shidao feigned panic and immediately knelt down, saying, "Second Prince, spare my life! Second Prince, spare my life! This humble general hasn't had time to report this news to General Qiao yet."

Seeing how frightened he was, Liu Shengpei said with some disdain, "Get up! Your idea is correct and the safest."

"The information needs to be verified before reporting, otherwise you will be letting down your current position and the important task my father entrusted to you."

At this point, Ma Shidao was basically certain that the Second Prince was not the one who gave him the mission.

He was pondering who had been giving him orders all these years.

"Deputy General Ma, I heard that the army's food reserves are running low. Is that true?" Liu Shengpei asked seriously.

When Ma Shidao heard that the purpose of the inquiry was to gather information about the military camp, he felt somewhat uneasy, because he didn't know whether the Second Prince was testing him or genuinely wanted to understand the actual situation in the military camp.

"Your Highness, it is only proper for General Qiao to report important matters in the military camp to you personally. This humble general cannot overstep his bounds." Ma Shidao appeared to be completely subservient to General Qiao, as if he were truly a loyal deputy general.

Liu Shengpei was getting anxious because he couldn't get any news from Ma Shidao.

He knew from a young age that General Qiao was an upright man, and no one could win him over. Moreover, he had guarded the western border for twenty years, spending most of his time away from home and never concerning himself with court affairs.

As everyone knows, General Qiao does not support any of the princes' struggles. In recent years, he has rarely returned to the capital. When he does return, it is only because the emperor requires him to go back to report on his duties once every three years. Otherwise, he would rather stay here in the capital.

Since General Qiao's eldest son broke his leg at the border five years ago, he has never returned.

It is said that General Qiao felt he could not face the despair in his eldest son's eyes and was afraid of his wife's accusations, so he never went back.

"Please sit down, Vice General Ma. There is no need to be reserved in front of His Highness. You have guarded the border for more than 20 years and are a meritorious official of our Beisheng."

"Once I return, I will certainly report your achievements to my father and ask him to reward you." Liu Shengpei put on a smile and warmly invited Ma Shidao to sit down.

Ma Shidao knew, of course, that Liu Shengpei intended to get close to him, but he didn't understand what his intentions were. So he decided to see what Liu would say next and obediently sat down in the lower seat.

"Deputy General Ma, General Qiao should also return to the capital," Liu Shengpei suddenly said. "This place should be handed over to you to guard."

Ma Shidao, not knowing what the Second Prince was up to, feigned surprise and asked, "Is what the Second Prince says true?"

“As long as Vice General Ma makes great contributions in this war against the Western Rong, the position of general will undoubtedly be yours. I will also put in a good word for you,” Liu Shengpei said again.

"Does Your Highness, the Second Prince, need anything from me? Or perhaps Your Highness has a plan to deal with the Western Rong people?" Ma Shidao asked calmly.

Liu Shengpei whispered a few words in Ma Shidao's ear, and Ma Shidao nodded repeatedly in agreement.

"Does His Highness the Second Prince have any solutions to the problem of food shortages in the military camps?" Ma Shidao asked.

"Tomorrow I'll go to Xiyang County to find the magistrate there and ask him to find a way to collect grain and supplies to get through this crisis, otherwise we'll all die together." A ruthless look appeared on Liu Shengpei's face.

This means that if he doesn't help get through this difficult time, his term as county magistrate is over, and whether he lives or dies depends on whether he wants to do this.

Ma Shidao could also tell from Liu Shengpei's face that this prince was a ruthless character, and he wondered if he was now dealing with a tiger for its skin.

"Second Prince, if we fail to repel the Western Rong this time, and they eventually invade our Northern Sheng, we will all face certain death." Ma Shidao wanted to see if the Second Prince intended to protect him.

Liu Shengpei said bluntly, "If we can't hold the position, it will be General Qiao's responsibility alone. What does it have to do with us?"

Ma Shidao replied with a forced smile, "The Second Prince is right. This is General Qiao's responsibility; what does it have to do with us?"