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^ \ The Indictment agains t Ma Shiyin g Ma Shiying entered the study unsteadily. Yang went forward an d asked him, 'Brother, what does Minister Han want?' Ma said indignantly, 'You will never change the foul characteristics of a scholar. There are serious problems which you neglect; instead, you amuse yourself wining and dining in the company of prostitutes. Somebody is about to cut my head off , and you are still unaware of the matter. ' Seeing tha t M a was serious, he apprehende d tha t h e wa s not joking , s o he hurriedly asked what had happened . Still angry, Ma shouted, 'Be off with you! I do not have the time to talk rubbish with you!' Yang too was in a fit o f temper. He thought, 'Trul y you do not know who is good to you! I can still make a living without being servile to you!' He left despondently. In a pique he swore never to enter the Prime Minister's residence in Ducks Lane again. After Yang had gone, Ma first intended to visit Marquis Liu Kongzhao. Then he changed his mind, considering the Marquis to be reckless and hasty. Ruan, on the other hand, had a far more analytical and clever mind. He decided that it was safer t o discuss his problem with Ruan. A messenge r was sent to invite Ruan t o come over straight away . Hearing tha t M a needed t o see him o n some weight y business, Ruan lost no time in hurrying to Ducks Lane. When Ruan arrived, he did not wait for the doorkeeper to announce him, but went straight into the study. Ma felt greatly relieved when he saw Ruan. He told his friend abou t Military The Peach Blossom Fan Adviser Huan g Shu' s indictmen t agains t hi m i n fron t o f the Emperor . H e als o showed him a copy of the imperial gazette. Ruan was greatly shocked when he saw the indictment . Bu t he deliberatel y pretended that he was unruffled. Afte r readin g the document slowly, he let out a great laughter and exclaimed, 'Huan g Shu's office i s as tiny as a sesame seed or a pea, and he wildly imagines that "an ant's might could move Mount Tai". It is the world's biggest joke that he should hope to topple you!' Ma said dispiritedly, 'This matter is not simple. Old Ruan, I would like to hear your view. How do you look at the matter?' Ruan close d his eyes and considere d th e problem for a while. 'According t o my opinion, ther e are four points,' he reasoned. 'First, Inspector General Huan g Shu has just arrived i n Nanjing, s o how does he know all these things? There is more than meets the eye. I can trace the ringleaders behind the scene. Huang Shu is simply a sorry worm. He is used because he is rash and because of Zuo Liangyu's powerful support. He is only sent to the front lin e to be sacrificed. ' Ma nodded in agreement, 'Huang Shu is only a junior official. I do not believe he has the courage to "scratch a tiger's head" and accuse me often capital offences.' Continuing, Ruan argued, 'Secondly, as everybody knows, Nanjing Cit y and its environs are densely covered with the Prime Minister's troops and that of Marquis Liu. On the opposite side of the River is Earl Huang Degong with his troops, and he is your immediate subordinate. Zuo Liangyu has obviously changed his allegiance and i s now lookin g fo r a n excus e t o seiz e Nanjing. Thi s explain s Huan g Shu' s audacity i n entering Nanjing al l by himself an d utterin g thi s rubbish t o offen d you. For this reason, your lordship must exercise restraint and not harm even one hair of Huang Shu.' Ma was a little displeased when he heard those words. He said, 'All I need do is to petition His Majesty to send an expeditionary force against Zuo for disobeying imperial command s an d for harbouring a scheme to rebel. What i s the point of exercising restraint? Restraint will only induce him to be more insolent. Havin g gained an inch, he would demand a foot!' Ruan said, 'Your lordship is of...

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