Chapter 29: The Guide

  "Report to General, Tian Shui Ma is waiting for an audience in the side hall." Zhao Chengsheng feared we hadn't heard clearly and repeated the announcement.

  "Let me take a look." Father glanced at us several times, nodded and walked out of the schoolyard.

  Pang Rou's eyebrows slightly furrowed, and she quickly chased after her father.

  What's the fun? In the game, Ma Chao is often together with him, and he is often mistaken for Ma Chao's younger brother or something. Later, I found out that he was just one of the eight generals under Han Zhuo, all of whom were unknown names. I have always been disdainful of surrendering, killing on sight without mercy. However, at this moment, the enemy's military power is strong, and we want to defeat them with half the number of troops, so we must take it seriously.

  It was just a cup of tea's work, Zhao Cheng came in again and reported: "Young lady, young master, the general asks you to go see the guest."

  I pouted.

  Big sister Ma Wen directly refused: "Whoever wants to see them can go ahead! I just want to draw my sword as soon as I see them!"

  Zhao Cheng was somewhat embarrassed and stuck in place: "I... also want to chop off his dog head with one knife!"

  "Whatever, let's just see him one more time then." I threw aside my long spear and patted the sand off my pants. "Sister, after today, we probably won't have another chance to see him again."

  "Who are you going to see?" She lightly bit her lower lip, still with a face full of reluctance.

  I smiled and nodded: "Let's go, just listen to his last words."

  －

  As soon as I pulled my elder sister into the side hall, I immediately regretted my decision.

  Ma Wan's appearance is not worth mentioning, and it would be unpleasant to talk about it. At this moment, he was sitting in the side hall with his father, chatting "enthusiastically" about family matters. When he saw us coming in, he immediately smiled all over his face and shouted: "Yunluo, Chaoer, you've both grown so big! Let your uncle take a good look."

  I'm speechless, how can there still be such people in Xi Liang... I've never seen this ghost since birth, and today he actually comes to claim kinship!

  Elder sister obviously had an unhappy face, I hastily pulled her sleeve, slightly shook my head, rushed forward, and respectfully bowed to Ma Wan: "Chao'er has seen Uncle." Elder sister hesitated for a moment, also followed me in bowing.

  Ma Wan was obviously delighted, helped me up and smiled at my father: "Old brother, Super Eldest Brother is really sensible, he will definitely have a great future!"

  "Are you all kids, what do you know? Brother, this time you came to Wuwei specially, what's the matter?" He waved his hand and let me and my sister enter the side room. I held my breath and quietly leaned against the door.

  "It's not just idle talk among brothers, the situation in Jincheng has been very tense lately, brother," Ma Wan suddenly turned serious, making it hard to believe that such an ordinary and even disgusting person could change his face so quickly. He let out a sigh and said with concern, "Cheng Yin and Li Kan have been urging General Han to attack the Qiang people, trying to completely eliminate this major threat; while Hou Xuan and Cheng Yi are advocating for solving... brother, you want to completely occupy Liangzhou before making plans; and the remaining three are always hesitant, I'm stuck in the middle, it's difficult!" He let out another long sigh.

  The old man's eyebrows locked together in unison, and he looked down at the ground, saying: "I don't know what you mean, brother..."

  "What can I do? Can only try to persuade General Han to calm down, take a break and rest, don't make any rash moves, and waste our military strength." Ma Wan leaned his body towards Old Man and lowered his voice slightly, continuing: "General Han has always been thinking of the people of Guzang City!"

  The old man's mouth twitched, and he immediately said: "Thanks to your brother's advice, as long as General Han doesn't have the idea of attacking my Wuwei, I, as an elder brother, will never forget your kindness."

  "This, as a brother, will certainly try to persuade, it's just that for more than half a year, no one has been on the battlefield, and the brothers under him have not had a good day either..." Ma Wan finally spoke his true intention, and I couldn't help but sneer in my heart.

  "This western region is vast and sparsely populated, so there's nothing good left. I, as the older brother, had obtained some trinkets from the Qiang people a few months ago, which I'll send to you later." Dad was indeed straightforward, but I felt a bit puzzled: we've been keeping a low profile for four years, only occasionally following Han Xi to discuss matters in Longxi. In the past half year, we haven't even dispatched troops on our own. Where did Dad get that "trifle" from? Looks like he's going to dig into his own pockets again to feed this old wolf!

  "Then... thank you for your concern, brother." The goal has been achieved, but still want to hesitate a bit.

  "Brother, I'm afraid I have to trouble you again," Old Dad leaned in closer and said warmly to Ma Wan, "I also want to send some wild game from Wuwei to those few generals. Later on, would you be so kind as to dispatch a soldier to lead the way for my men? That way, they can say a few more good words about me in front of Wen Jie's father."

  "It's easy to say, easy to say." Ma Wan's mood was obviously very comfortable, and he agreed without even thinking about it.

  Ma Teng smiled and invited Ma Wan to eat and drink, then started talking nonsense. I pulled Big Sister and slipped out from the side door.

  Ma Xiu and Ma Tie were still practicing their marksmanship under the guidance of Ma Dai. Ma Dai was naturally talented, worked hard, but didn't know how to adapt, lacked flexibility and skill, no wonder he could only be a second-rate general. I should help him sometime, after all, he will always be my confidant, helping him is like adding another strength to myself.

  Pang De was practicing his spear alone in a corner of the martial arts arena, but his older brother Pang Tong was not there. I stopped about ten feet away from him and asked: "Where's Brother Tong?"

  "Big brother was called away by the general, seemingly to send something. Pang De has been even more respectful towards me since I took the title of Vanguard from him that day, perhaps he's moved. It seems old dad isn't stupid either, and knows how to borrow a wall to climb over. With this, we now understand the temporary deployment positions of Han Sui's eight battalions, as well as the most direct routes between each location. Ma Teng's visit this time has indeed brought great benefits not only to himself but also to our Ma family, truly a good person, worthy of being surnamed Ma!"

  Ma finished his wish, after drinking and eating enough, he brought his entourage back to their residence. Pang Ruo and Pang De brothers also followed with some people and horses carrying things. I stood at the city gate with my father, watching them disappear into the distance, when Ma Dai couldn't help but curse: "Bastard, how dare they come to ask for money from our Ma family!"

  "Hey!" Old Dad exclaimed, taking a sip, "Thanks to Rourou's kid teaching me how to deal with him. If it were the past, I would have chopped him up with one knife long ago!"

  Is this still Fang Rong's idea?

  But this rough old man, Dad, can endure so much without getting angry, has completely overturned the image of that boorish and despicable old man from Western Liang in my heart. At this moment, I seem to have really seen the dawn of victory, and my expectations for Dad have increased even more.

  I patted Ma Dai's shoulder, and Ma Dai was half a year younger than me, almost as tall as me: "The things we gave them today will be their burial objects!" I said with hatred.

  The autumn wind of August swept across the barren land of Xiliang, blowing down a few remaining green leaves and also dispersing a thread of sweltering air.

  The city of Wu is now in a state of mourning and desolation.

  Four years of hard waiting, it's all in this one battle!