Chapter Sixty-Five: The Appointment

  Thanks to "Evil Wolf Star", "Headache Doesn't Work", "Strange Lemon", "Hippopotamus Elephant" and "Fascinating Shadow - Ice Heart" for their rewards. Hey, "Headache Doesn't Work", the boss of Lao Shu's hall is finally here!

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  The original residents of Bailing City were few, and it was actually a fortress. In the past, only hundreds of soldiers and their families lived there. After Ma Hu entered Bailing City, he divided these soldiers into three categories: the old and weak were removed from military service to become civilians; the strong ones were retained for use; those who were neither strong nor weak were specially formed into a security team to maintain order. If there was a siege war, they could also be used, after all, they were trained soldiers, and it was better than hastily recruiting strong men.

  The Hango Department has nearly 4,000 people. Except for the separation of more than 1,000 Hu slaves to set up tents and graze outside the city, nearly 3,000 people are crowded in this small White Wolf City, which can be said to be overcrowded, and personnel diversion is a matter of time. The White Wolf City is not a single defensive castle, it is composed of three castles: White Wolf, Guangcheng, and Wencheng, forming a comprehensive defense system. In the Western Han Dynasty, in order to defend against the Xiongnu, these three cities were all county-level cities. However, by the Eastern Han Dynasty, the Xiongnu had either migrated westward or surrendered, and the defensive role of these three cities was greatly reduced, eventually withdrawing their county status and downgrading them to fortresses.

  By the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, due to the turbulence of the Wuhuan, the imperial court almost lost control of Liaoxi County. Except for Bailang City, which was still garrisoned by a small number of troops, Wencheng had become a yurt of the Wuhuan people. As for Guangcheng, only ruins were left, and it had long been abandoned.

  Ma Hu's personnel diversion, the first target is Wen Cheng, but at present his military strength is insufficient. Except for the 400 White Wolf Cavalry veterans, no matter how hard he recruits, he can only recruit 300 Han young men - there is no way, the population base determines the number of soldiers. These 300 people were combined with nearly 100 young soldiers left behind to form an infantry squad, currently led by Wu Zhui.

  Eight hundred cavalry infantry, divided into two cities, still have to leave a mobile force, it's really a bit difficult. So now he can't beat Wen Cheng, even if he wins, there are no soldiers to guard. However, when Tian Yu comes back, it will be fine. This time Tian Yu entered Liaodong, in addition to reporting for duty and transporting grain, he also had an important mission, requesting Gongsun Du to allow him to recruit soldiers in Liaodong. At this time, Liaodong, due to the Yellow Turban Rebellion in Qing and other states, there were tens of thousands of people who fled across the sea to avoid disaster, recruiting a few thousand soldiers was easy.

  Ma Huan estimated that the recruitment of soldiers would not be a big problem, after all, he was also a cavalry captain, and having only 800 soldiers was too few. Moreover, the military strength was too weak, which did not conform to Gongsun Du's original intention of recruiting him into Liaodong. However, it was hard to say how many soldiers could be recruited, and everything had to wait for Tian Yu's return to have a result.

  The White Wolf Castle is crowded, and the City Guard's residence cannot be left out of place. This is both a matter of identity and safety needs. The mansion where Ma Hong resides occupies one-fifth of the entire White Wolf Castle area, which is the old mansion left by the successive White Wolf City guards. Facilities such as inner houses, outer houses, servant quarters, guard quarters, etc. are all available, arranged in an orderly manner, without having to bring brains, just enter according to functional areas.

  Ma Xian ran into Nianshu as she was entering the inner courtyard.

  At this time, Nian Nu was no longer dressed in the short shirt and trousers of a grassland shepherdess, but in a curved skirt and deep clothes, with palace-style Han clothing, sleeves fluttering in the wind, setting off her emerald eyes and snowy skin, bright and beautiful as a flower, causing Ma Xun to stare blankly for a moment.

  Her face flushed with shame, she hastily gave Ma Xun a very awkward curtsy and tried to run away, but was pulled back by Ma Xun's outstretched hand.

  "What? The grassland swallow has become too proud to even glance at the 'Han beast' on the ground?"

  The slave girl was both shy and urgent: "I dare not... Master... how can you speak like this... Ah, Master forgive me."

  Ma Huan smiled and let go of her hand, patting her soft fragrant shoulder: "In White Wolf City, you are one of the few people who can be on par with me, this 'Khunbukh'. It seems that many tribal leaders have come to your grandfather to propose marriage."

  Niang Nu bit her lip and lowered her head, occasionally stealing a glance, saying softly: "Niang Nu is already the master's property, whether to stay or leave depends on the master, not grandfather."

  "Hangbo Department has no slaves, I am the chief, and there is no exception. You are not my property, but just my maid." Ma Hong was saying this when she seemed to sense something, raised her head, and at the end of the small path, in front of the elegant room's black gate, a woman in white clothes like snow, gentle and slender, leaned against the door frame, smiling with her mouth slightly open.

  Separate from his wife.

  Ma Xun stroked Nianshu's dense and soft chestnut-colored hair, smiled and said: "Go." He turned around to welcome Liji.

  She gently bites her lip, stretches out two snow-white small arms, and ties up some scattered hair, her heart suddenly racing: "It seems like Master really likes touching my hair..."

  Arriving at the entrance, Li Ji knelt on a mat, her head bowed low, like a gentle wife, quietly removing Ma Yuan's boots and then bowing to invite him in.

  Ma Xun lowered his head and gazed at her slender, snow-white nape of the neck, as well as a few fine, downy hairs. His lower abdomen felt warm, and his fingers curled and stretched, almost wanting to reach in from the collar. After some thought, he restrained himself. Li Ji was leaning against his right side, meaning he could only use his right hand... Does an iron hand feel anything when touching people?

  "You're still getting used to living here, I suppose." Ma Xiang lifted her foot and stepped inside, surveying the room. This was a two-part elegant chamber, with the entrance to the inner room separated by a four-fold silk screen, on which were painted flowers and birds, and the walls were snow-white. In the house, there was a desk, on which lay writing brushes and ink, as well as a jade flute, all of which showed elegance. On the floor, four or five pieces of white rush matting had been joined together, convenient for kneeling or sitting.

  To be honest, Ma Hong was very uncomfortable with this kneeling position, even with a mat, his knees would still ache after a long time. What made him speechless was that Li Ji, this delicate and tender young woman, knelt upright and properly, as if she didn't feel any discomfort at all. It's really hard to understand, whether women's endurance is naturally stronger than men's, or if she has already gotten used to it?

  "It's okay." Ji Li smiled faintly, her eyes sparkling, her hands elegantly and naturally clasped together between her knees, her waist straight and her hips curved into a beautiful "S" shape.

  In Ma Yun's impression, her kneeling and sitting posture is always so elegant, and it is unknown whether it is due to acquired training or innate temperament.

  "Um, okay then. I've been very busy lately and it's likely to get even busier from now on, plus I have to go to Liaodong for a work report."

  "If you're going to Liaodong, please take me with you." Li Ji said with a pleading tone, the sound of which was so charming and alluring that if one hadn't seen her sincere expression, they would have thought she was coquettishly teasing her lover in bed.

  "This chick is really something special. Ma Xian suppressed his excitement and asked: 'Why?'"

  Li Ji hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice: "Because... I think White Wolf City is not safe..."

  Ma Xun could understand her worries. The large Liao Xi Prefecture had only five counties: Yang Le, Lin Yu, Fei Ru, Hai Yang, and Ling Zhi. Except for the prefectural seat of Yang Le, the other four counties were all south of the Great Wall, with only one Yang Le hanging alone in the northwest of Liao Xi. From Yang Le to the northernmost Lin Yu, 800 miles away from the border of Liao Xi, there was not a single decent county town. The few small towns and forts were mostly occupied by the Hu people, and Bai Lang City was the only city in central Liao Xi that still had Han troops stationed there, like a lone rock in the ocean.

  In a place like this, no one would feel safe. Let alone the refugees, even the local soldiers were worried that they might be bitten by the surrounding Huren tribes at any time.

  Ma Huan thought for a moment and said: "This journey to Liaodong is several hundred miles, and most of the places along the way are inhabited by barbarians. I'm afraid it's not much safer than in the city."

  "As long as you're here, I'm safe."

  Ma Xian winked and smiled, a girl spoke to you like that, if you still don't know the rules and take action, then you can go die!

  Ma Xun stretched out his hand and pulled Li Ji onto his knees, her black hair scattered like clouds, contrasting with her white undergarments, as white as snow, as black as ink, stunningly beautiful.

  Nian Nu held a black lacquered wooden tray in her hands, on which was a jug of clear wine and two wooden cups. Just as she reached the entrance, she seemed to hear a faint humming noise. Nian Nu stopped, peeked out, and almost spilled the tray.

  But all he saw was Li Ji leaning against the master's leg, her slender body half-turned, her pretty face slightly raised, and her ear touching the master's, their lips and tongues intertwined. And the master's hand had slipped out from under the snow-white collar of his robe, the thin silk fabric clearly outlining the five fingers that were...

  She covered her mouth with her hands, turned around and ran, in a flash she ran to the outer courtyard of the inner house, her cheeks were like fire, her eyes were full of shame, her chest was heaving, like a rolling pearl. After a while, she suddenly exclaimed: "Oh no! My wine is all spilled..."

  Nian Nu's body was light, but she ran so fast that there was a faint sound of footsteps. Ma Han didn't care and continued to take, but Li Ji suddenly woke up, gasping for breath from Ma Han's knees, rolling on the snow-white mat, just about to sit up, only to find Ma Han pressing down, hastily stretching out her jade-like palms to resist that strong chest: "Wait a minute..."

  Ma Xian stretched out his left hand and lifted up Li Ji's plump chin, smiling: "What are you waiting for? I rarely have free time."

  Li Ji gently closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembling slightly, her cheeks flushed pink, her face as tender and inviting as a freshly peeled hard-boiled egg, making one's fingers itch to take a bite.

  Ma Xun's left hand pressed on the fullness above, gently pinching and slowly releasing, his face slowly approaching...

  Li Ji's eyes snapped open, her dark pupils shining brightly and clearly. Her red lips parted slightly as she spoke: "If you get me now, all you'll get is an ordinary woman; but if you have patience and wait for me to inform my family, then when the time comes for a proper marriage, I can fulfill your heart's desire."

  Ma Xun stopped, his lips and tender face close to Ji's body, the hot air he spat out when speaking made her heart itch: "Do you know what my wish is?"

  Li Ji smiled slyly: "Of course I know, how can the shallow pool of Liao Xi hold my Jiaolong?"

  Ma Xun slowly stood up straight, gazing at Li Ji: "Who are your family members? Tell me, I'll help you contact them."

  Li Ji shook her head sorrowfully: "I've heard some bad news, it's not the right time yet." Seeing Ma Han silent, Li Ji raised her jade arm and gently stroked Ma Han's sharp profile, saying softly, "Do you still remember what I told you by the Rao Le River? Maybe someday I can help you."

  Ma Xuan smiled and grasped Li Ji's wrist, gently stroking it, saying lightly: "Although I don't know why you said that, everyone has their own secrets. As long as they don't harm the people close to them, that's fine. I'll wait for the day when you reveal your secret."

  She supported her slender body with one hand, biting her lip and nodding heavily: "I don't dare to say it, I'm afraid of leaking out... You currently don't have enough power to protect me, when I think your strength is sufficient, I will tell you in person."

  Ma Xian smiled and said: "Good, it's settled then, you must tell me 'in person'."

  Li Ji was stunned for a moment, suddenly came to her senses, Xi Fei's cheeks flew red, grabbed his palm, leaned close to his mouth, and gently nibbled on it. A slight stinging pain, with a thread of itchiness, flowed straight to the bottom of her heart.