Xiaotong's sister married into this tribe, which is why he was sent here as a guide.
Moreover, his sister should have married well. In this tribe, there is obviously a strict hierarchy in the size of thatched huts. The hut where Xiaotong's brother-in-law lives is relatively large and much taller than the surrounding huts. It seems that he should be a middle-level leader of the tribe.
Sister Xiaotong was very hospitable. After tinkering with it for a long time, she finally made a full pot of very unpalatable vegetable leaf water. Lu Ming could only taste it while pinching his nose and giving her a thumbs up in praise.
When brother-in-law Xiaotong came back, Lu Ming was stunned.
This bronze-skinned middle-aged man was actually wearing the military uniform of a soldier from the White Sea Nation, but it had several holes in it and there were faint bloodstains, the kind that had been washed with water but were difficult to wash off.
They started to exchange pleasantries with gestures. Lu Ming didn't have anything good to offer. There were two lighters in total, and he had to give one away and keep one for himself.
After thinking about it, I took out the compass and gave it to brother-in-law Xiaotong. It was a useless thing, but it looked pretty and came with a transparent plastic cover.
Sure enough, brother-in-law Xiaotong liked it very much and fiddled with it for a long time.
They ate steamed buns made from the local flour, and chatted with each other while gesticulating.
Lu Ming found an excuse and pointed at the military uniform on Xiaotong's brother-in-law, meaning to ask where it came from.
Brother-in-law Xiaotong gestured, but Lu Ming didn't quite understand. However, Xiaotong looked happy and gestured to Lu Ming, as if to say that the person Lu Ming was looking for might have appeared in a tribe in a certain direction, and brother-in-law's clothes were traded from there.
Xiaotong's brother-in-law seemed to dote on Xiaotong's sister very much. Under the sister's persuasion, he agreed to accompany Lu Ming to the tribe in a few days. It seemed that the tribe was very far away and they needed to make sufficient preparations.
Looking at him gesturing at the sun in the sky, it seems that it will appear seven or eight times, which means a journey of seven or eight days. Moreover, the road seems to be difficult to walk on and find. It is easy to get lost and end up in a barren land of death and die of thirst. An experienced driver like Brother-in-law Xiaotong must lead the way.
…
A few days later, Xiaotong's brother-in-law, whom Lu Ming called Datong, called Lu Ming, Tuoba Lan and Xiaohei to set off.
Datong carried a large straw basket with dry food and some tools in it. In addition, Datong also prepared two bone throwing spears and inserted them into the straw basket.
Indeed, we have to pass through the smog area again, and we will be walking in it for five or six days.
Only at noon can you faintly see light in the sky. If you don’t have a mechanical watch, you can only judge the time by this.
There were also some wild beasts that Lu Ming couldn't name, which were very different from the ones on Earth. There was even a huge beast that looked a bit like a prehistoric saber-toothed tiger, but Lu Ming still had his throat cut by an extremely sharp dagger.
To Lu Ming, these threats were not really threats. Instead, if no one led the way, he might get trapped and unable to get out.
After Lu Ming killed the saber-toothed tiger, Da Tong already regarded this outsider as a god. From his gestures, it was obvious that he had never encountered such a terrifying creature. Otherwise, he would not dare to go to that big tribe to trade again.
Lu Ming also vaguely understood that Datong was similar to a diplomatic trade officer, who would go to the legendary big tribe every year to trade and exchange what they had.
Including intermarriage, taking the same number of girls with you and bringing the same number of girls back.
They don't have much scientific knowledge, but they know from ancient traditions that this kind of intermarriage is beneficial to both ethnic groups. Therefore, this kind of transaction has always been very trustworthy, and there will never be a situation where they bring girls and are forcibly detained or fail to bring back the same number of girls.
…
When we walked out of the smog area, the straw basket became even bulger, with more animal skins inside, including the skin of the saber-toothed tiger.
There is endless desert and continuous earthen hills. The earthen hills are endless and towering into the clouds, but there is no grass growing. It is as if you have come to a deserted planet in a science fiction work.
But on the Datongling Road, after crossing a few mountains, the scenery in front suddenly changed, and it turned out to be an oasis.
From a distance, you can also see the densely packed small black buildings surrounding the oasis, which are the gathering points of the tribe. There is also greenery extending out. Although they are all low desert shrubs, after walking in the world of extinction for a few days, this place seems full of vitality.
Datong was overjoyed. He pointed in the direction of the oasis and even rolled over on the spot. Although he was middle-aged, he seemed very lively, which was in line with the traditions of the tribe.
But as they walked and got closer to the settlement, confusion appeared in Big Bronze's eyes.
Thick black smoke was billowing out of the settlement.
Several people hid in a nearby mound and looked at the situation in the oasis. Xiao Hei seemed to understand that there might be danger and did not make any sound.
"Let's wait until dark!" Lu Ming pointed at the sun that was gradually setting in the sky and gestured to Datong.
In fact, I can roughly understand what happened.
There were many soldiers dressed in White Sea rebel uniforms in the oasis, and the thatched houses emitting black smoke had been burned to ashes.
We also saw human heads hanging on a row of wooden stakes at the entrance of the tribe.
It can be guessed that it was the White Sea rebels who attacked the tribe.
But I'd better wait until night to find out.
…
The haze doesn't have much impact on the moonlight. Today is a moonlit night, and the moon is particularly round, probably like the 15th or 16th of the previous life.
But Lu Ming still took action. He sneaked over and met a five-man patrol team on the outskirts of the tribe. He knocked them all out and took the team leader hostage to a sand dune.
When he woke up, a dagger was placed on his neck. Lu Ming asked grimly, "Which unit of the White Sea Guards are you from?"
Following Chen Xingchang into the wilderness was the First Division of his most loyal Guards.
The team leader was stunned and subconsciously said, "I am the commander of the third company of the second battalion of the third regiment of the first division. My name is Liu Deshui."
Lu Ming nodded. This simple answer actually exposed the predicament of Chen Xingchang's remaining troops. The company commander even took a few soldiers on patrol, which showed that the casualties must be extremely serious.
"Why did you attack this tribe?" Lu Ming exerted a little force with the hand holding the dagger.
The pain in his neck made Liu Deshui so scared that he almost wet his pants. He begged for mercy, "It's none of my fault. I'm just an errand boy. The president thought this place was rich and wanted to move the presidential palace here, but the barbarians disagreed, so I took action."
"Chen Xingchang is here?" Lu Ming pondered.
Such an area has become the best location for the presidential palace. These people have really reached the end of their rope.
Over there, Liu Deshui's little chicken was pecking at rice.
"Where is Khan Ma Quanyou? Is he far from here?"
Liu Deshui said bitterly, "It's far away, but I don't know where it is exactly. There's no one here..." He was so scared that he quickly swallowed it back, "The kids here don't even know east, west, south or north!"
"Well, how many people from your Baihai Kingdom's Guards Division have safely entered this wilderness? What about Khan Ma Quanyou's cavalry? How many are left?" Lu Ming asked again.
"My little one..." His neck suddenly felt a sharp pain, as if the skin had been pierced and blood was oozing out. Liu Deshui was so frightened that he burst into tears, "I really can't explain it clearly, but according to what my superiors said, we, the White Navy, probably gathered more than 3,000 people in the end. I heard from my superiors that Ma Quanyou seemed to have more people, but most of the horses were lost... I really don't know..." He was almost crying.
Lu Ming nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "Take me to see Chen Xingchang later. Tell him that the Khan of Sanyuan has come here from the grassland after many hardships. Please ask Marshal Chen Xingchang to send someone to take us to see the Khan of Sanyuan."
Liu Deshui didn't understand and just nodded repeatedly.
Lu Ming tied his hands and feet, then went to the mound where Tuoba Lan, Xiao Hei and others were hiding, told Tuoba Lan the general situation, and asked her to wait before returning.
At this time, Liu Deshui had just calmed down and realized what Lu Ming had said to him. Lu Ming untied the rope and asked carefully, "So, it turns out that the Khan of the grassland has arrived. So, Miss, are you the Khan's personal guard?"
Lu Ming nodded: "You can say that."
Liu Deshui's face was immediately full of admiration: "No wonder you, lady chivalrous, are so powerful and so beautiful..." Seeing Lu Ming frowning at him, he was too scared to say anything, but as he led Lu Ming into the settlement, he still secretly glanced at Lu Ming from time to time with a fiery gaze.
Lu Ming was helpless, but he also knew that these guys were now as pretty as Diao Chan even if they were sows, not to mention that his women's clothing should have some unique charm.
When I say she is not tall, I mean that compared to those shells, she is actually about 1.7 meters tall, with a heroic face and muscular body. When I think of some female fitness coaches in her previous life, she is quite charming.
It's just that the voice is male, and he deliberately changed it to sound like a duck's voice.
The main thing is that I can't bear to look at myself in the mirror and feel like vomiting, so I don't deliberately make myself ugly to become Ruhua or something like that.
…
The largest thatched house complex in the center of the settlement should have been the residence of the clan leader in the past. Today, it has become the "President's Residence."
Lu Ming was met by Chen Xingchang in person.
The lanterns in the dark thatched hut were lit with local grass oil and must have been brought by the White Sea rebels.
In fact, Chen Xingchang is not very old, only in his thirties. He was once chosen by the Long family as an agent to end Qi Huaide's rule in the northern border. He has his own courage.
He is a very handsome and steady middle-aged man, but unfortunately he was born at the wrong time. If he had simply betrayed Qi Huaide, he could have competed for the hegemony of Northern Xinjiang, and his chances of winning would have been great. However, Qi Huaide had the full support of the Montenegrin Principality. Under the cross-era arms and tactical attacks of the Montenegrin Corps, he was defeated and had to flee into this wild land.
In fact, the so-called opening of a "presidential palace" here was just an excuse. He simply saw that this was a rare land of fish and rice in the desert. Simply suppressing these tribes and levying taxes was not enough, so he just forcibly made it his own territory.
"Miss Wang, are you and the Queen the only ones here?" Chen Xingchang was extremely polite. Even when he was facing a maid, he treated her as an old friend, which made people feel close to her.
Lu Ming thought to himself that this guy was indeed a character, and shook his head and said, "It's not just me and the Khan, but also a companion, a cow named Xiao Hei, and a local guide named Da Tong."
"Oh, buddy... awesome?" Chen Xingchang laughed in silence, obviously finding this heroic maid very interesting.
"Where is the Queen Khan? Why didn't she come? Do you have any concerns?" Chen Xingchang obviously had no problem holding a female guard back in terms of language.
Of course Lu Ming had a thousand ways to deal with it, but at this moment he could only fall into the trap and not appear too cunning. He said, "The Khan is nearby. I don't know what's going on here, so I was sent to take a look."
Chen Xingchang smiled and said, "Of course, then shall we go and welcome Tuoba Khan?"
"Okay!" Lu Ming nodded.
In fact, I gradually have a feeling that this place might be the edge of the wilderness.
The tribes of Big Copper and Small Copper are closer to the center of the wilderness, but should also be considered on the periphery.
I took the wrong road, but with Xiao Hei's guidance, I successfully reached the outskirts of the wilderness.
The remnants of the rebel army led by Chen Xingchang and Ma Quanyou did not pass through the death zone surrounded by smog for seven or eight days, but only arrived at the edge of the area.
Otherwise, they would have awe for this land and would not shout for war and killing without hesitation.
At first they were able to trade with the locals using military uniforms stripped from the bodies of fallen soldiers, but soon they started to resort to violence.