CHAPTER 450: CHAPTER 450: BEFORE THE RAIN (PART 2)

Chief of Food?

A Chief of Food of the Standard Seventh Rank?!

The Commandery Princess Attendant has no official rank. Yet the Chief of Food is a legitimate court official, and a Standard Seventh Rank official in the Prince Mansion. Compared to a seventh-rank County Magistrate, it’s higher, not lower.

If entering government service through the Imperial Examination, a new Advanced Scholar would need at least five to seven years of training to achieve such a position. Not to mention the talent and hardships required on the path of studying.

By normal means, Ma Yaosong could never reach such an official position in this lifetime. Now, with just a word from the Commandery Princess, Ma Yaosong can fill this vacancy and become an official Prince Mansion Official. What a glorious and prestigious event!

County Magistrate Ma’s squinted eyes instantly widened, and he thanked the Commandery Princess brightly: "For the Commandery Princess to honor Yaosong and the Ma Family in such a way, I am infinitely grateful. Also, please rest assured, Commandery Princess, I will give my all, even with this old life of mine, to raise three thousand warhorses every year."

Jiang Shaohua smiled slightly: "The Ma Family’s loyalty is seen by this Commandery Princess. This position as Chief Steward is well-deserved for Ma. Over the past years, Ma has served efficiently, and from this Commandery Princess’s perspective, he has great potential. His future prospects certainly won’t end here. So, County Magistrate Ma, you mustn’t expend your life; you must aim to live to a hundred, witnessing the prosperity of the Ma Family, which might become a Da Liang Family noble family."

The County Magistrate, who prided himself on having a heart as calm and deep as still water, felt his blood boil and eyes light up.

Decades ago, he led the entire Ma Family beyond the border, at the cost of several lives, to establish horse farms and trade routes beyond the border. After years of management, the commercial Ma Family has become a prominent household in Nanyang County.

If there comes a day when the Ma Family can truly become a noble family of Da Liang, what is there to spare in this old life of his? On what grounds would the Ma Family not exert itself and serve the Commandery Princess to the death?

County Magistrate Ma rose and solemnly cupped his hands in salute: "Thanking the Commandery Princess for her propitious words, I also hope to witness that day. The Ma Family’s loyalty to the Commandery Princess is unwavering, and we shall do our utmost to serve her."

Jiang Shaohua was satisfied.

Ma Yaosong is young and passionate, while County Magistrate Ma is truly a seasoned trickster and old fox. Persuading Ma Yaosong is easy, but convincing County Magistrate Ma is by no means simple. She had to provide genuine benefits and a tangible promising future.

Only then could the Ma Family truly be employed by her.

"County Magistrate Ma, please rise." Jiang Shaohua smiled as she helped County Magistrate Ma up: "Then it’s settled. This year, the Ma Family awaits a double blessing."

County Magistrate Ma smiled broadly, his old eyes squinting into a line.

...

"What exactly did the Commandery Princess say to Grandfather today?"

That evening, after finishing his duties, Ma Yaosong went to County Magistrate Ma’s room, full of curiosity.

County Magistrate Ma smiled and glanced at his eldest grandson: "Do you want to know, or is Chen Sheren curious and sent you to ask?"

Having been tempered for a few years, Ma Yaosong’s skin had grown thicker than before. He responded with a smile: "The Ma Family and Chen Family are discussing marriage, and I and Chen Sheren will soon be an engaged couple, inseparable. If the future granddaughter-in-law wants to ask a question, wouldn’t Grandfather be willing to share?"

County Magistrate Ma couldn’t help but laugh and patted his eldest grandson on the shoulder: "You rascal, you even know how to provoke Grandfather with words. But when it comes to such significant matters, if the Commandery Princess hasn’t spoken, then don’t pry."

Then, he mentioned the promised position of Prince Mansion’s Chief Steward by the Commandery Princess.

Ma Yaosong was somewhat surprised, but more so invigorated: "After Qiu Dianshan resigned, the court repeatedly attempted to send someone to fill the vacancy, but the Commandery Princess refused each time. I never expected that this position was reserved for me by the Commandery Princess. It seems, in the eyes of the Commandery Princess, I am a talent who can be of great use."

County Magistrate Ma: "..."

County Magistrate Ma didn’t know whether to be angry or amused, and he gave him another pat: "Saying this in front of Grandfather is fine, but you must be more discreet outside to avoid inciting envy."

Ma Yaosong laughed: "Please rest assured, Grandfather, I am never ostentatious in my actions. Learning this good news, I couldn’t hold back a few boastful words in front of Grandfather."

"I previously thought the Commandery Princess would send me to the workshop to work under Shen Gongzheng, just like Tang Youyin, who always follows Chief Historian Feng. I never imagined the Commandery Princess would honor me this way."

"Wait a minute!"

Ma Yaosong finally sensed something amiss, furrowing his brows: "Did the Commandery Princess assign Grandfather some difficult task?"

County Magistrate Ma’s eyebrows didn’t even move: "There is a task, and it requires some effort but is not extremely difficult. The Ma Family is already responsible for raising horses for the Commandery Princess and the Prince Mansion, so buying more horse slaves, buying more fodder, and raising more horses are all within our duties."

Ma Yaosong fell silent, and after a long time, he spoke softly: "Since the incident in Pingzhou, I’ve felt that the Commandery Princess is not quite the same as before."

"The true military strength of Nanyang County is unknown even to me, a Commandery Princess Attendant. Anyway, no Northern state can match Nanyang County. Yet the Commandery Princess is still unsatisfied and wants to expand the horse farm, surely intending to further expand the military force."

"Grandfather, I’m both excited and fearful."

Who wouldn’t be?

He’d lived for more than seventy years, and even he felt some trepidation now.

County Magistrate Ma looked deeply at Ma Yaosong: "There’s nothing to be afraid of. The sky won’t fall, and even if it does, the Commandery Princess will bear it. Our Ma Family placed all our wealth on the gamble with Nanyang Prince Mansion over thirty years ago. Now, there’s no retreat, and absolutely no backing down."

"We shall follow the Commandery Princess’s lead. The higher she ascends, the further we can soar."

"Conversely, it’s just fate’s unfavorable timing for us Ma Family, and there’s nothing to complain about."

"Think of the Chen Family; they boarded the Commandery Princess’s ship long ago. There’s also Chief Historian Feng and Shen Gongzheng; who among them hasn’t placed their entire fortune on the Commandery Princess? They’re not afraid, so why should we be? Seeking wealth through danger, our Ma Family places this bet."

Ma Yaosong, emotionally stirred, nodded vigorously.

...

The next day, Ma Yaosong attended his duties with dark circles under his eyes.

Jiang Shaohua pretended not to see and smiled as she instructed: "Today, this Commandery Princess wants to visit the horse farm. Ma, arrange that for me. Also, please find a Rouran horse slave, as this Commandery Princess wants to learn the Rouran language."

The Rouran Cavalry slaughtered Peng City, capturing tens of thousands of citizens as slaves. To Da Liang, this is an irreconcilable blood feud.

Does the Commandery Princess intend to personally lead troops against the Rouran by learning the Rouran language?

Ma Yaosong pondered for a moment, then replied: "I can speak Rouran; if the Commandery Princess wishes to learn, I can teach her."

Jiang Shaohua smiled and glanced over: "Not only learning to speak Rouran, but this Commandery Princess also wants to understand Rouran customs, habits, geography, and so on. Find a Rouran horse slave who is older, speaks Han, and is honest."

Only then did Ma Yaosong accept the command and withdraw.

That day, Jiang Shaohua rode to the horse farm and spent half a day observing. In the afternoon, Ma Yaosong led over a Rouran horse slave.