Half a month.
It's scorching hot during the day and freezing cold at night.
Only then did Liu Zheng understand the temperature difference between day and night. I wish I could be shirtless during the day, and I wish I could be wrapped in two layers of quilt at night. After walking for half a month, the camel team was able to walk out of the Gobi Desert and arrived at the real desert.
At a glance, there is gravel everywhere, and the scene is very spectacular.
People can't help but expand their hearts and admire this great river and mountains.
However, except for Liu Zheng, no one else may have this state of mind. I have been very nervous for the past half month. Attacked by wolves, attacked by crows, and unable to adapt to the climate, they suffered from vomiting and diarrhea and finally died of dehydration. Of the entire camel team of 300 people, only 200 people were left as soon as they arrived at the border of the desert.
A hundred people were lost!
This is one hell of a trip!
At this time, everyone's face turned numb.
"Rest for a while. After half an hour, continue moving forward!"
Reheman said loudly.
Everyone sat on the ground to rest silently.
"It still takes half a month to cross this desert! You must remember that if you encounter windy sand, you must not be reckless and never hide behind the sand dunes! It is best to lead the camel to the windward direction and hide behind the camel!"
When Herman was resting, he did not forget to spread knowledge to everyone.
These people didn't know whether they remembered it or not, so they could only nod blankly.
On the day of the wolf attack, many camels were lost, which made the camel team's situation worse. You know, camels are almost invincible in the desert, but their only natural enemies are wolves! When wolves hunt camels, they hunt in packs. A few wolves circle with the camels in front, and another one is waiting for an opportunity behind. The method of hunting is to take advantage of the camel when it is not prepared, grab the camel's anus with its wolf claws, and then hook the large intestine. When the camel feels pain, it runs forward and the intestines are pulled out. The scene is quite cruel.
Fortunately, the wolves retreated relatively early that day, otherwise, the camel team might have to return to Yinzhou and regroup.
The caravan that originally numbered one hundred camels now only had seventy left.
Looking at Reheman, he fell into deep thought.
Liu Zheng couldn't help it anymore, slowly walked over and sat next to Reheman.
After Qin Changfeng's brave pursuit of the Wolf King, Reheman's attitude towards several people also changed. He looked at Liu Zheng and laughed and said: "Mr. Liu, have a drink!"
As he said this, he handed over his wine bag.
Liu Zheng chuckled, took a sip, and said casually: "Master Reheman, if you go into the desert and fight with camels, you are afraid that the wolves will attack again and your entire army will be wiped out!"
Reheman was shocked and looked at him in horror.
This Mr. Liu actually knows what he is thinking? That's right! Unlike the Gobi Desert, camels are just a means of transportation. When we actually enter the desert, these camels are the life-saving things for everyone! In the desert, all the water people drink comes from camels. If there is wind and sand, only a camel can bear it.
If the wolves attack again at this time, the camels will be unable to resist. If the camels die, this group of people will really be finished!
Liu Zheng smiled and said: "Lord Reheman, can you tell me something?"
A look of hesitation flashed across Reheman's face, and he hesitated for a while before saying angrily: "It must have been done by the third prince, let's be honest with you! Recently, the King of Loulan has lost his life, the kingdom has no owner, and the current situation is in chaos! The Prince of Loulan was assassinated, and how many times have he been killed? Two princes are fighting for power, and this time, I am returning to Loulan with the seventh prince, Long Yan, as a hostage!"
Liu Zheng was stunned when he heard it, and then he became more and more amused.
I haven't fully understood the situation of the Long Yan Dynasty yet. Does this mean he is involved in the struggle for power in the Loulan Kingdom? Thinking about it carefully, Reheman's team was indeed full of elite soldiers and generals. Liu Zheng vaguely remembered that there was indeed a young man who was protected by these people.
Reheman also developed trust in Liu Zheng and began to talk about it.
It turns out that in the Loulan Kingdom, every time the kingship changes, it is a battle of blood and iron. There are many kings and princes, and there are many powers. This time the old king passed away, and the kingdom fell into chaos again in the struggle for power. After the prince was killed, originally according to the order of concubines, the seventh prince should take the throne. But the third prince who controls the military power now controls the Loulan capital. How can he give up power so easily and just wait to ascend the throne at another day?
The history of this ancient country has always been recorded.
In Liu Zheng's impression, it is located in the west of Lop Nur, that is, after passing through the Taklimakan Desert, it goes straight to Loulan. Loulan occupied a very important position on the ancient Silk Road. Different from the ancient Loulan country in the previous life, the Loulan in this life is much more powerful than the previous Loulan. It is recorded in the "Book of Han" that Loulan has a population of only 14,000. The "Book of Han" records Loulan as follows: "The ground is sandy and there are few fields, and the fields are sent to the valleys to divide the country. The country produces jade, and there are many reeds (reeds), branches Willows (tamarisk), Hutongjia euphratica, and white grass (breathes). The people follow the livestock and chase water and grass. There are donkeys, horses, and many camels. They can serve as soldiers, just like the crossbow Qiang."
In other words, the distance from Loulan in the previous life to Lop Nur and the Kongque River should belong to Bayinguolengzhou in the future.
But Loulan in this life is much stronger than in the previous life, with a wider territory and a larger population. Of course, no matter how small it is, it cannot be compared with the Longyan Dynasty. The population of the entire Loulan Dynasty is about half a million...it is not as large as the total population of Yinyang under Liu Zheng's rule.
However, because the Loulan Dynasty extended in all directions and occupied ancient roads, the slave trading market here was very prosperous. Therefore, Loulan has a population of up to one million residents and its military strength is still very strong.
But it cannot be denied that the location of Loulan is very important.
It is definitely a central battle in the Silk Journey. If Liu Zheng wants to truly open up the Silk Road, Loulan must win it! Only by taking down Loulan could he sell his things abroad.
He pondered for a moment and asked: "What does Lord Reheman think..."
Reheman was an upright man and said angrily: "The seventh prince must return to Loulan to inherit the throne before he can convince the public! I, Reheman, will protect you to the death!"
Liu Zheng sighed endlessly, thinking that the werewolf exorcist was still watching covetously from somewhere at this moment. So what can you do if you fight to the death?
We must find a way!
However, Liu Zheng looked around and saw this group of people who had no fighting spirit, and felt a sense of despair in his heart.
We are already halfway through the journey, could we return to Yinzhou to seek reinforcements? No one would be happy with that! It would be a good idea to let Qin Changfeng go back and ask for reinforcements, but without Qin Changfeng, what would happen to his own safety?
There is desert in front and wolves behind.
Liu Zheng was caught in a dilemma for a while.
…
Jiang Xuan, who is far away in Yinzhou, doesn't know what his young master is like now.
But he was already happy.
Even though he was so aloof and arrogant, he had to sigh at this time, it is great to have money!
Qing Yangshuo's short-selling and short-selling directly plunged the entire Kezhou into chaos. As soon as the price of food drops, the market collapses. What? The grain I brought back for five cents, will your Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce sell it for three cents?
Isn’t this a loss to grandma’s family?
The people went crazy. They had money in their hands and rushed into the market to rob it.
Those who had food in their hands became anxious when they saw it.
At first, they resisted and spent money to buy low-priced grain, but they found that the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce simply couldn't sell out all the grain! In the end, they had no money in their hands, and they were still selling it!
Moreover, the price is even lower!
Two cents!
The people are crazy again.
Where have you ever seen corn so cheap?
Buy buy buy!
At this time, even Kezhou Mansion began to lose its composure.
Mou Chengxiang roared all day long.
"What to do, tell me what to do!"
A few days ago, all the treasury silver was used to buy grain, and the high-priced corn from Hanzhong was purchased for six cents! I thought that when I came back, I could sell it for ten cents! Unexpectedly, before the food arrived, the price had already dropped to two cents!
This time over and over again, the losses are about to bottom out!
Transportation in ancient times was not that fast. One trip and one trip took more than ten days!
Mou Chengxiang also thought that he might as well buy all the grain worth two cents from the market, but his family had no money...
"Damn, damn!"
"Sir, what should I do? If I sell it at this time, I will definitely lose money!"
"Steady, steady for a few more days!"
However.
A few days later, Mou Chengxiang vomited blood.
A penny!
"Sell it, sell it to me quickly, sell it quickly!"
When Mou Chengxiang spoke, he was already very angry.
Jiang Xuan, who was in Kezhou, heard the news and stood up excitedly: "Collect it from me. We will charge as much as Kezhou Prefecture sells!"
"yes!"
Vast and vast.
Sell here, collect there.
Kezhou, who was in chaos at this time, had no idea that these two parties were actually together.
Mou Chengxiang didn't know that this was originally a trap set by Qing Yangshuo.
Kuyin's assets have shrunk sixfold!
and……
Not only the money in the treasury was gone, but also the food in the treasury was gone. You know, in ancient times, grain and grass were in the category of strategic reserves in every state, county, and every administrative unit. Without grain and grass, where would the prestige of the government be?
"Have you heard? Mr. Zhouhou, you sold all the grain in the storehouse!"
"What?"
"Yes, the county government has a huge deficit!"
"What should we do?"
People began to panic.
Qing Yangshuo, who was far away in Yinzhou, looked at the letters from Fei Ge and knew that it was time to close the net. He calmly said to Hu Xi'er next to him: "Take all the three coins."
"Okay daddy!"
In the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce, grain was sold for one penny per liter. After selling it for a few days, the three-penny purchase mode was started again!
This time, there is no doubt that the people are happy again.
Started selling all the low-priced grain purchased in the past few days back to the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce.
"what are you saying?"
Mou Chengxiang had collapsed on his seat, his eyes full of despair.
I just sold it, and they want to sell it again?
Isn't this bullying?
At this moment, he suddenly realized that this was a bureau in Yinzhou. He suddenly stood up and shouted: "This is a conspiracy, this is a conspiracy! Don't let them collect food and seal the city for me!" "
However, it was already too late.
Finally, the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce once again collected all the food in Kezhou at the low price of three cents.
After all this hard work, did the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce lose money? No, make a lot of money! Taking this opportunity, they swept away almost all the grain in Kezhou. Although it was sold at a low price for a penny, it was also purchased for a penny, even two or three cents. In fact, the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce made a profit!
The people of Kezhou have also made money! Who suffered the loss? It was only Kezhou Prefecture, and the loss was heartbreaking!
"Hurry up!"
Jiang Xuan looked overjoyed and drove the carriage transporting grain. In his heart, he admired Qingyang Shuo of Yinzhou again.
A large amount of food was hoarded in Zhangzhuang Village in Yinzhou. This is already the last batch. Jiang Xuan is running in front and Kezhou soldiers are chasing behind.
"Don't run away, Yinzhou Zhuzi!"
"Keep me Kezhou's food and grass!"
"Liar Chamber of Commerce!"
"Stay alive!"
