The world is dark, and the smell of pine and moss, along with a hint of chill, floats in the wind. A pale mist rose from the black earth, and the riders trudged through the gravel and tangled trees, heading straight down the river valley toward the warm fires scattered like pearls.
There were many fires, too many for Liu Mo to count. Hundreds and thousands of bonfires formed a swaying strip of light, accompanied by the frozen white milk river, which looked like two rivers. This situation made the five fingers of his right hand open and close involuntarily.
The Xingluo people are also nomadic.
Yirnai is Xingluo's winter settlement and can also be called the second capital.
Spring in Xingluo usually starts in April, and the warm climate is particularly suitable for plant growth. When the time comes, King Xingluo will lead his tribe to leave Yirle and go to herding horses and sheep near another capital city in the Cole Grassland.
What Liu Mo encountered was a scout troop led by Ayina's cousin, Reheman.
As soon as Ayina returned to Star Luo, she ordered the painter to paint the portrait and hand it over to the Star Luo royal family and senior officials for viewing. The purpose is very simple, it is to prevent one's own people from defeating one's own people in wartime.
At the same time, Liu Mo also confirmed from Rehemana that Ayina was pregnant with his own flesh and blood.
Although the two have not held a wedding, King Xingluo has already identified Liu Mo as Xingluo's consort.
The night before, after riding all day, they arrived at the capital city of Star Luo, Yirle.
As we approached the camp, the sentry at the door approached.
Liu Mo glanced at them: eight people, men and women, all wearing furs and leather clothes, holding spears or guns tempered with fire.
To put it simply, the combat power is low, visible to the naked eye. Civilization lags behind Daxia by more than a hundred years!
Liu Mo passed by on his war horse, and the people of Xingluo greeted him one after another. Obviously, this was thanks to Ayina.
"They have all seen my portrait!" Liu Mo thought to himself.
When the people of Xingluo saw the Daxia cavalry behind Liu Mo, their expressions were very complicated.
There is relief, but also loss. What's gratifying is that Daxia has never forgotten them, but what's disappointing is that there are only three thousand in number!
There are stone tents full of carved patterns everywhere, grass-woven mansions as big as castles, and crumbling wooden towers. There are marble stepped towers and wooden temples with open roofs facing the sky.
Liu Mo also saw a man tempering the tip of a long wooden spear by the fire while throwing the spear to test his hand; two other young men wearing leather armor and bearded men hit each other with sticks, jumped over the bonfire and chased each other, shouting. Continuously. A dozen women sat in a circle, feathering their bows and arrows.
This is prepared for the enemies of the Zhou Dynasty! Liu Mo thought to himself that they already knew that the Zhou Dynasty army was approaching.
But it's not all war.
He also saw dancing girls, heard babies crying, and a little boy wrapped in furs ran past the horse, panting from the play. Sheep roamed freely, cattle foraged for green grass on the river banks, and the aroma of mutton wafted from the campfire.
When they rode to an open space surrounded by tall and green soldiers' pines, Reheman got off his horse and said something to Tang Die.
Afterwards, Tang Die came and told Liu Mo that the other party signaled the Daxia cavalry to camp again.
After ordering the army to stop, Liu Mo walked the rest of the way, passing more bonfires and more stone tents.
After about half a stick of incense, we arrived at our destination.
King Xingluo's tent was very eye-catching, twice as big as the largest tent Liu Mo had seen just now, and the sound of music came from the tent.
Like other tents, it is also made of cowhide, but there are two wolf totems placed at the entrance of the tent, showing strength and status.
Before he could enter, a woman walked out of King Xingluo's tent.
"Brother Liu!" Liu Mo naturally remembered this voice, it was Ayina.
Before he could respond, Ayina ran to him and hugged him hard. At the same time, his lips came up directly and gave Liu Mo a long and deep kiss.
I go! Liu Mo was surprised, delighted, and happy.
"Cough cough cough!" Sun Kan couldn't help but remind him, and Ayina left.
"Ah, I'm so sorry!" she said with a blush. "All distinguished guests from Daxia, please come in quickly!"
Liu Mo noticed that her body showed signs of pregnancy.
Reheman opened the tent door and gestured for Liu Mo and Sun Kan to enter.
The tent was swelteringly hot and filled with smoke. Baskets containing charcoal were placed at the four corners, emitting a dim red light, and the floor was covered with thick cowhide as a carpet.
When Liu Mo walked in, everyone in the tent stood up, led by a black-haired man in a red and black cloak who laughed heartily, "Welcome, welcome, you are Ayina's husband, right?"
"Husband?" Liu Mo was surprised.
"Ha, it seems that my daughter didn't make it clear to you." The man smiled, "In my star, as long as a man and a woman love each other and sincerely pray to the true God, they are husband and wife, and there is no need for a wedding!"
No wedding required? Ayina really didn't tell herself this.
At the same time, men and women fall in love... is Xingluo in free love?
Then Ayina, as Princess Xingluo, actually gave up her right to love and was willing to become a gift and send it to Daxia!!!
Subconsciously turning his head to look at Ayina, Liu Mo felt sour in his heart.
"Everyone, I am honored to introduce you to me, the son-in-law of Zhuolun, the husband of Ayina, the military god of Daxia, Lord Liu Moliu."
Damn it, this wave of flattery made Liu Mo blush.
This person is Ayina's father, King Xingluo, Liu Mo thought.
Only then did Liu Mo see him clearly. He was of medium build, slender, with a pointed face, a pair of shrewd eyes, and long black hair - but now most of it was gray.
There is no crown symbolizing power on his head, no rings on his fingers, no precious chain around his neck, in short, no decoration at all.
Whether it is respect for the father-in-law as a son-in-law, or respect for the king of a friendly country as a courtier of Daxia, one must kneel down and salute.
So he didn't think about it for too long, and immediately knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, this is Liu Mo!"
"Your Majesty?" Ayina stepped forward with a blushing face and pulled up Liu Mo, "Master Liu, in my star Luo, only the true gods will kneel!"
At this time, a fat man with a beard laughed loudly, "Ayina, it seems you have to teach your husband a lesson!"
(Please note that due to political reasons, the Xingluo royal family all learn the Bactrian language.)
Liu Mo grinned and was speechless for a while.
"Uncle, don't laugh at me!" Ayina said, "Master Liu, this is my uncle, Huo Ayi."
"Hello, uncle!" Liu Mo bowed to him.
Huo Ayi nodded slightly in return.
Zhuo Lun stood up and said, "Master Liu, I, Xing Luo, don't have as many red tapes as Da Xia, so you don't mind if I call you Mo'er!"
"Where, where!" Liu Mo said with a smile, "How about I call you father-in-law?"
"Haha, okay, okay, okay!" Zhuo Lun said with a smile, "Mo'er, you came at the wrong time. Now the Zhou Dynasty has invaded our star. Forgive me, as my father-in-law, for not being able to entertain you properly."
"There will be plenty of opportunities in the future," Liu Mo replied, "Can I detect the enemy's movements?"
Zhuo Lun frowned, "Let's discuss this matter tomorrow," he said, "Mo'er, I wonder how many soldiers and horses you have brought to Daxia this time?"
"To be fair to my father-in-law, three thousand elite cavalry!" Liu Mo answered truthfully.
"Three thousand!" Zhuo Lun frowned even deeper when he heard this.
"Liu Mo, are you just bringing this few people?" Ayina's uncle was a little annoyed. "The Zhou Dynasty has a hundred thousand troops! How are you going to repel the enemy with three thousand cavalry?"
Good guy, one hundred thousand! Liu Mo's heart trembled.
