The female prisoner was fierce

The convoy drove further and further away, eventually disappearing into the distance at the edge of the snow-covered forest to the east of the city.

The county government office of Dongshuang County.

"Sir, are we really going to just give them the technology for making horseshoes like this? Wouldn't that be too easy on them?"

Xiao Xing, who had just come to report on her work, couldn't help but ask in a low voice after hearing about the details of this collaboration.

As Xiao Jianyang reviewed the official documents, he said calmly:

"Just a few pieces of horse tack. In exchange for their iron ore and warhorses, as well as news from the north, it's a sure-fire way to make a profit."

"If you want a horse to run, you have to feed it some grass."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xing nodded:

"oh."

Although it still hurt, Xiao Jianyang had already said so, so she could only obey.

……

Meanwhile.

Outside the West Gate.

In the distance, a cloud of snow suddenly rose from the official road!

Then, the sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, indicating that there were quite a few people.

The defenders on the city wall immediately became alert, raising their bows and arrows and shouting down at the defenders below:

"Who goes there! Halt! You're firing arrows again!"

The line below immediately stopped.

The leader spurred his horse forward a few steps, raised his head, and shouted loudly towards the city wall:

"Brothers on the city wall, please inform Lord Xiao that Bai Huatong has returned!"

The garrison was taken aback and quickly looked down.

Then I saw it.

The man who was shouting was surrounded by soldiers in armor, covered in dust and grime, with a group of two or three hundred men behind him.

Some were on horseback, some on foot, most of them dressed in border army uniforms, looking somewhat disheveled, yet each exuding an aura of iron-blooded ruthlessness.

"Just wait!"

The garrison shouted and immediately sent someone down from the city wall to report to the county government.

"Lord Xiao! A group of men has arrived outside the city. The leader is Bai Huatong, who claims to be an old acquaintance of yours. He has brought two or three hundred men to join us!"

At that moment, Xiao Jianyang had just finished annotating the last official document. Upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly understood.

Bai Huatong is finally back!!

Judging by the days, it should be about time.

"Let's go take a look."

He then got up and walked towards the city gate.

"Yes."

Xiao Xing followed behind.

……

At this moment, the city gate slowly opened and the drawbridge was lowered.

Upon seeing the city gates open, Bai Huatong, who was outside the city, immediately urged his horse forward.

Upon entering the city, seeing Xiao Jianyang who had just arrived, he immediately dismounted, strode quickly to Xiao Jianyang, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and knelt on one knee.

"Lord Xiao, I have successfully completed my mission and returned!"

When he said this, his tone was filled with emotion, excitement, but even more so with exhilaration.

His face was covered in dust, and his eyes were sunken, clearly indicating that he had suffered a lot along the way.

But his eyes were very bright, radiating a light of relief after surviving a disaster!

Xiao Jianyang immediately stepped forward, reached out his hands to help him up, and then said considerately:

"Brother Bai, you must be tired from your journey. It's good to see you back."

Upon hearing the name "Brother Bai," Bai Huatong felt even more deeply moved:

"Lord Xiao!!"

His eyes were a little red and swollen.

This shows that Xiao Jianyang not only trusts him, but also respects him.

At this critical juncture, when manpower is needed and the other party is a promising talent, Xiao Jianyang naturally wouldn't put on airs, so he continued:

"Brother Bai, there's no need for this. Please rise."

They forcibly helped him up with both hands.

Then, he casually glanced at the group behind Bai Huatong.

There were about 250 or 260 men, mostly young and strong, carrying weapons. Although their clothes were worn and their faces were tired, they stood upright and had steady eyes, clearly veterans of the border army who had seen bloodshed.

More than two hundred people stood together, exuding an incomparably solemn and imposing aura of military formation!

They're several levels better than the new recruits just enlisted in Dongshuang County!

At the very front of the line stood a "delicate-looking young man" dressed in a light blue short jacket and with his hair tied in a bun.

He wasn't very tall, with a long sword at his waist. His back was ramrod straight, and his eyes were sharp. He was calmly observing Xiao Jianyang and the surrounding city defenses.

but.

Judging from her figure and features, she is clearly a woman.

"This person must be Bai Huatong's younger sister, Bai Muyi!"

"It's quite pretty!"

Xiao Jianyang murmured.

Then, his gaze became slightly strange, and he sighed slightly.

"Brother Xiao, let me introduce you."

Bai Huatong had excellent eyesight; he immediately stepped aside, pulled the "young man" close, and said:

"This is my younger sister, Bai Muyi."

"Mu Yi, quickly greet Lord Xiao."

Then, his eyes urged Bai Muyi on.

Curiosity immediately shone in her beautiful eyes. She stepped forward, clasped her hands in a standard military salute, and said in a clear voice:

"This humble general, Bai Muyi, greets Lord Xiao!"

"I have long admired Lord Xiao's reputation, and it is my great honor to meet you today."

She deliberately lowered her voice, but you could still hear a hint of a young woman's clear and melodious voice.

Xiao Jianyang nodded slightly:

"Miss Bai, there's no need for such formalities. You must be tired from your journey. Let's go into the city first."

Bai Muyi paused for a moment when she heard the words "Miss Bai".

But everyone had already revealed their identities during the introductions, so there was nothing to be embarrassed about; I just smiled in response.

Then, the atmosphere suddenly became a little awkward.

"Cough cough~~"

Xiao Jianyang quickly coughed lightly, looked at Bai Huatong, and asked:

"Brother Bai, how did your trip go?"

Bai Huatong understood, and immediately sighed and shook his head, saying:

"Sigh...it's not very good."

Then he turned around and pointed to the line behind him:

"Brother Xiao, these are all brothers who were scattered from Yanbei City, most of them my old subordinates."

"Youzhou City is currently under tight siege, and it's in complete chaos inside."

"After I found Mu Yi, I gathered the scattered brothers in the vicinity and rushed here by circling around the Northern Di cavalry."

"There were 267 men in total, all of them veterans who had been on the battlefield, not a single coward among them."

"Everyone has heard that Lord Xiao has dealt a heavy blow to the Northern Di here, and they are all willing to come and work for Lord Xiao."

As soon as he finished speaking, the more than two hundred veterans behind him clasped their hands in unison, their voices booming:

"We are willing to follow Lord Xiao! To fight against the Northern Barbarians!!!"

The sound was extremely loud, and when combined, it was like a storm, causing the snow at the city gate to fall down with a whooshing sound.

Xiao Jianyang looked at these veterans with a hint of satisfaction in his eyes.

What Xiao's army lacks most right now are veterans with real combat experience.

Although the new recruits had seen blood, it was only when things were going smoothly for them.

Without divine punishment and the divine crossbow, the ambush a few days ago would not have been successful.

But now, with these two hundred veterans serving as the backbone, the combat effectiveness of the entire army can be raised to a new level.

"good!"

Xiao Jianyang spoke in a calm and steady voice, addressing everyone loudly:

"Since you brothers are willing to come, I, Xiao Jianyang, would like to extend my warmest welcome."

"Once you enter Dongshuang County, you'll be part of Xiao Family Army. You'll be provided with food and lodging, and your military pay will be paid on time. If you have any family difficulties, we'll settle you in as well."

From this moment on, we are all one family!

As soon as he finished speaking, more than two hundred veterans shouted in unison:

"Thank you so much, Lord Xiao!!!"

Every veteran's face showed the joy of surviving a disaster. They had been fleeing all the way, with no fixed abode. They had heard that there was a team in Dongshuang County that could fight the Northern Barbarians and treated the people well, but they were initially skeptical.

Now that I've seen it with my own eyes, and passed through that canyon on the way, realizing it wasn't fake, the huge weight on my heart has finally been lifted. "Let's go, let's go into the city first."

Xiao Jianyang immediately stepped aside to make way, saying:

"I have already arranged accommodations and hot meals for you. Brothers, eat your fill and rest well for a couple of days."

After saying that, he turned around first and led the group into the city.

"Thank you very much, Lord Xiao!!"

Behind him, more than two hundred veterans thanked him in unison and then immediately followed.

Bai Huatong followed beside him with his sister Bai Muyi.

As they walked, Bai Huatong lowered his voice and asked curiously:

"Brother Xiao, I heard on the way that you won a great victory at Tiger Ridge, annihilating more than a thousand Northern Di, including Harbala and Baturu. I didn't believe it at first."

"But when I passed by just now, I could still smell the lingering stench of blood."

"The brothers were finally relieved. Everyone hated the Northern Barbarians. Lord Xiao really gave us Han people a good beating this time!"

! "

……

.........