Liu Xin said unconvinced: "How can I be unfounded? You should also know that many cities are declining due to the relocation of administrative centers."
Ma Yun said disapprovingly: "When most institutions have moved to Chang'an, there is no suspense about Xiangyang's decline. No matter how big a country is, it can only have one center, and that is the capital of a country. All financial, human, material and
All kinds of resources will be concentrated there, which is an unavoidable fact. Even if you leave the academy in Xiangyang, it will not be able to surpass the academy in Chang'an in the future. However, Xiangyang will not decline, because it has been built over the years.
Those roads extending in all directions are built around Xiangyang City, at least Xiangyang’s central position as a transportation hub in the Central and South areas will not change."
Liu Xin thought silently for a while, and suddenly realized: "What a word to wake up the dreamer. If I had known this, what would I have done with my brain? I would have sent Wang Yun to a small county to be a prefect, and it would have saved the future."
Xiangyang Academy moved to Chang'an, and I saw him wandering in front of me again."
Ma Yun said with a "chichi" smile: "You, you have taken over someone else's daughter, and you don't allow her to hang around in front of you. You are so overbearing! What's so difficult about this? Xiangyang Academy will continue to retain it, and the gentlemen and teachers who are better at books and teaching will be retained.
Those talented students have moved to Chang'an, leaving Wang Yun an empty shell. Are you still worried that he will teach a group of students who are against you?"
Liu Xin gave a thumbs up and praised repeatedly: "Listening to my wife's words is really better than studying for ten years. It seems that I will comfort you tonight."
Ma Yunjiao said angrily: "Who told you that you have never learned anything since you were a child, but now you know how to put it to use... um... um..."
Before she finished speaking, Liu Xin's red lips were tightly sealed, and a series of heart-warming moans and gasps could be heard in the room...
When Diao Chan came to Ma Yun's room, Ma Yun was lazily leaning on a bench. The blush on her face had not completely receded, and the faint hickeys on her neck were faintly visible. Unfortunately, Diao Chan was not from here, so she was not there yet.
Understand what these marks mean.
Seeing Diao Chan come in, Ma Yun greeted her warmly: "Sister, come and sit here."
Diao Chan hurriedly said a blessing: "How can I have a seat in front of Madam?"
Ma Yun said with a smile: "Sister said this and said that you are out of touch. You and I will soon be a family. When we choose an auspicious day, we will officially welcome you in. However, you can no longer meet with the master these days."
In ancient times, people had many taboos. Two newlyweds could not meet again before entering the bridal chamber. Because they were not officially married, they would be separated when they met. This would be a bad sign of "separation". Therefore,
They were simply not allowed to meet. Ma Yun had been here for so long and had a rough understanding of these rules. Although she didn't value these things very much, she had no choice but to follow the local customs. At this time, the wedding date of Liu Xin and Diao Chan was still undecided.
But the marriage was finalized, and they were considered a newlyweds, so naturally they were not allowed to meet casually.
Diao Chan not only knew these rules, but also believed in them. She kept saying, "Thank you madam for your concern. I will naturally abide by them and dare not violate them."
Ma Yun said with a smile: "You don't need to call me madam at home. You just call me sister. My sister has arranged a courtyard for you. I called you here today because I want to ask if you are there in this house."
The girl you like will serve the master in the future, but she can't do it if there are not many useful people around her."
Diao Chan came to Xiangyang alone that year. Her situation was similar to that of Zhu Qian. Unlike several other people, she had caring maids around her. In fact, Ma Yun could also directly designate a few maids for Diao Chan, but these maids
It may not be what Diao Chan wants, and it will make people think that she was placed next to Diao Chan. Ma Yun has always been generous, so she simply let Diao Chan choose in the house.
Many of the maids in the Prefectural Mufu Mansion originally came from wealthy families. Because their heads of households stood against Liu Xin and their homes were ransacked, these talents were used as official slaves. Most of these maids are young and beautiful, and they have their own sense of propriety in dealing with others.
It is not difficult to select a few useful people among them.
Diao Chan is talented and intelligent, so she naturally understands Ma Yun's good intentions. She tilted her head and thought for a while, then said: "My sister is not familiar with the maids in the house, and I don't know their temperaments. I can just control them as I please. However, Yan
My elder sister and my younger sister are very attached to each other, and I want her to live with my younger sister, and I hope my elder sister will make it happen."
Ma Yun knew that she was talking about Yan Rui, and was stunned for a moment, then said in deep thought: "My master has long said that Yan's mother and daughter are free persons and cannot be counted as servants in the house. You have to keep them here."
You need to ask the master before you are around. In this way, when I have a chance, I will talk to the master, are there any other people you like?"
Since Diao Chan was released from confinement, she has spent most of her time with Yan's mother and daughter, and their relationship is very close. She will soon be accepted as Liu Xin's concubine, and there will be very few opportunities to leave the back house in the future.
She really wanted to take Yan's mother and daughter to live with her so that they could take care of each other. When she heard that Ma Yun did not agree immediately, she couldn't help but feel a little disappointed and said: "My sister is really not familiar with the other maids.
But there is a Hun girl named Lanier in the front yard. She is very well-behaved. I wonder if my sister is willing to give her to my little sister as a personal maid."
Ma Yun also knew that although these girls on the grassland were snatched away by Zhao Yun and others, these girls accepted their fate and were more obedient than the family members of the criminal officials. She couldn't help but smile and nodded.
At this time, on the grassland thousands of miles away, Chiwule, who almost became Lanier's father-in-law, was having secret conversations with several tribal leaders in the big tent. These tribal leaders were Chiwule's best friends, and some of them were listening.
It is said that Chiwule came back from the Central Plains and came to greet him. Some came to inquire about information, and a few were specially invited by him.
It was cold and freezing outside, and heavy snow covered the vast grassland with a layer of silver, but inside the felt tent it was as warm as spring, with several large fire pots burning brightly. The leaders sat in a circle with steaming hands in front of them.
Catch the mutton.
Yehan was the last one to arrive. His tribe was attached to Liu Bao. His camp was farthest away from here and he was the last to receive the news, so he was also the last to arrive.
Before he arrived, Chiwule had already told the other leaders what he saw and heard in Xiangyang and the conditions Liu Xin offered. After Yehan came in, Chiwule had to tell those things again.
.However, the tribal leaders who had already listened to his story still listened very carefully. When Chiwule talked about the conditions offered by Liu Xin, they listened especially carefully, for fear of missing any details.
After listening to Chi Ule's story, Yehan took a hard bite of the mutton leg meat that was still stained with bright red blood, and said in a deep voice: "The conditions offered by Liu Xin are indeed attractive. There is just one thing. If we encounter something like this year again,
Will the Han people stand by and watch such a white disaster?"
White disaster, commonly known as white-haired wind, is actually a snowstorm. It is a major disaster faced by nomadic people on the grassland. If there is a shortage of fodder, not only will a large number of livestock freeze to death, but even a large number of herdsmen will freeze to death and suffer frostbite.
Since this winter, there has been continuous heavy snowfall on the grasslands, making it very difficult for some tribes to survive.
Chiwule said without thinking: "Master Liu said that as long as we merge with the Han Dynasty, we will be no different from the Han people from now on. Master Liu will spare no effort to provide relief to the Han victims, so naturally he will not turn a blind eye to us."
Because heavy snow covered the entire grassland, it was very difficult for Yehan to walk along the way. His tribe's camp lacked shelter from the wind and snow, and the losses of cattle and sheep were very heavy. He had already sent people to ask Liu Bao for advice, hoping that
Without his support, most people in the tribe would not be able to survive this winter. However, after waiting for a long time, the people sent out never came back, so they did not get a reply from Liu Bao, but they received an invitation from Chi Ule.
News of his coming to meet.
"Well, as long as Liu Xin can provide our tribe with a batch of food so that we can survive this winter, I don't have any objections." Yehan changed the topic and said, "However, with this heavy snow in the sky, the Han people have nothing to do with it.
Can he transport the food here? But I don't believe it, he is not fooling us."
Hu Lu'an stretched out and said, "Hey, let's not talk about this for now. Chiwule, you have boasted about that milk tea so much that it is in the sky and the earth, why don't you take it out quickly and let us have a try."
There is a hillside to the north of his camp, which can block the strong wind. Apart from ruining the winter hunting, this white disaster has not had any impact on his tribe, so he naturally does not care much. Moreover, the conditions offered by Liu Xin are indeed tempting.
It has been the dream of generations of Huns to be able to trade with the Han people on an equal footing without being exploited by the Han people. Hulu'an has quite a business mind. He has just made up his mind that if he can negotiate this time
If it is done well, his tribe will no longer live in pursuit of water and grass, but will instead buy Niuguan horses and sell them to the Han Dynasty. They can still make a lot of profits. It is not easy for his camp to escape the white disaster. If next year
If he comes later, this place may belong to other tribes. If he takes it by force, he will offend the public. If his tribe stops migrating, then no one will be able to use this geomantic treasure land from him.
Was it taken away from the tribe?
Chiwule chuckled and said, "What's the rush? Let's eat some more mutton first. The milk tea will be ready in a while. I'm sure you won't be able to put it down."
While they were talking, a group of Hun girls in narrow-sleeved and long skirts filed in, each holding an earthen pot in their hands. Steam was still coming from the mouth of the pot, and an alluring aroma of milk suddenly filled the felt tent.
It is also mixed with a peculiar fragrance, which makes people salivate when smelling it.
Hu Lu'an sniffed hard, slapped his thigh, laughed loudly, and said: "It really smells good. I wonder how it tastes when you drink it?"
There was a noise in the felt tent, and everyone said in unison: "Quick, quick, quick, pour me a bowl to taste first."
Chiwule laughed and said: "My tea is very precious. Each of you has a small sip first. If you don't like drinking it, just tell me as soon as possible to avoid wasting good things."