Although the Qi State is also listed as one of the southern border states, its strength cannot be underestimated.

There are dozens of countries in the southern border area, but Qi is the leader among them, and there are only a handful of countries that can keep pace with it.

However, his relationship with neighboring Zhou State is not good. Although he still has business contacts over the years, Qi State has always been eyeing Zhou State.

Conflicts often arise over trivial matters, leading to small-scale wars between the two parties.

Although everything was generally peaceful, Zhou Guoke was wary of this neighbor all the time.

In terms of strength, Zhou State is far inferior to Qi State. Of course, it is unwilling to go to war and is willing to have good relations with Qi State. Various policies also express this attitude.

Why did Qi have to go against Zhou?

This has to be said about the special geographical location of Zhou State, which borders the Wei Dynasty.

As long as Qi State annexes it, it can border the Wei Dynasty. Zhou State's strength cannot play this role, but Qi State can.

The northern border of Qi State is a place called Quxiang City.

This pass alone, which is independent of the yellow sand, is enough to prove Qi's ambition.

Logically speaking, since both countries have set up this desert as a buffer zone, they should not regard it as their own territory.

But Qi State built a Xiangcheng city further north than the northernmost city, hanging alone outside the pass.

It can be said that it has become Guanwai City, and the original pass has become Guanzhong Pass.

So now, although the plaque above the door clearly states the word "Where to Go", everyone likes to call him Guan Waiguan.

Zhou Guo chose to turn a blind eye to this act which was tantamount to provocation and could only compromise.

Only about ten miles away from this pass, a swordsman wrapped in a thick yellow coat held a piece of dry food in his hand and ate it as he walked.

It can be seen that he is very anxious.

Because the sun tends to set nowadays, most people will sit down and rest first as long as they are not in a hurry.

It was Xu Ming's swordsman who took the last bite of dry food, patted his stomach, and looked behind him: "Is there anyone there?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of people appeared at the end of his sight.

They were walking in a hurry and seemed a little anxious.

However, he was in a state of utter disarray, and the vehicles responsible for loading the goods were also in tatters.

Every time we move forward it seems extremely difficult.

Judging from the number of people in this group, there seemed to be about twenty or thirty people.

These people also have disgraced faces, and their expressions are not much different from the expressions of their dead parents.

There is a high probability that it was a caravan, and that's right. From the looks of it, a lot of items were lost. It is estimated that this trip all the way to the Kingdom of Zhou was a loss-making business.

No one would feel better if this happened.

Xu Ming quickened his pace, these things had nothing to do with him.

But after taking only a few steps, he was stopped by a familiar voice.

"Hero, is that you?" Meng Qin in the team waved and shouted from far away.

Xu Ming was stunned for a moment, then slapped his head, thinking that he still didn't recognize the person, and left quickly.

Damn it, this caravan formation, this speed...

If it hadn't been for the sandstorm that caused him to lose his way and could only follow one road, and ended up going in the wrong direction several times, otherwise he wouldn't have been delayed until now.

Three days have passed since the sandstorm.

Xu Ming walked along the two roads twice and made mistakes both times.

This is the third time.

But since we bumped into each other, it means we were on the right track this time, but we were caught up like this...

Xu Ming wanted to cry but had no tears.

However, this little girl was really persistent, running all the way over with a smile on her face:

"Hero, I knew it was you!"

Xu Ming, who was walking in front, almost wanted to run away. Seeing the little girl getting closer and closer, he jumped up and ran away in the distance.

This little girl is in too much trouble. She might even run into a rare bandit if she walks with this group of people.

I've been unlucky all this way just because of a sandstorm, but I can't follow these people.

Meng Qin, who couldn't catch up, was a little disappointed: "Why did the hero run away?"

Xu Ming, who ran for a long distance in a row, looked at no one behind him and then breathed a sigh of relief.

It’s much cooler to be alone.

night.

In order to prevent the little girl from catching up, Xu Ming simply endured the cold and continued on his way.

It's not a long way, more than ten miles.

The cold night could only be endured for less than half an hour, and Xu Ming dragged his exhausted body to Guanwaiguan.

Xu Ming, who was standing at the gate, glanced at the plaque above, which had been eroded by the wind and sand, making it difficult to see clearly.

Although he didn't know where this place was, it seemed like he was in Qi State.

Entering this gate, the view on the street is a little dim.

It was very cold at night, and most of the doors were closed.

Fortunately, some places in this place are still open.

For example, a small pub,

The tavern is quite large, and before I even got close, I heard bursts of voices coming from inside, all filled with lofty words.

Business seems to be pretty good.

Xu Ming walked inside and found that there were quite a lot of people here. Except for a few empty tables, they were basically occupied by people walking in twos and threes.

It seems that most of the people here are wanderers, or they are muscular men, probably soldiers in the army.

Xu Ming who walked into it was not conspicuous. Everyone just glanced at it subconsciously and then looked away.

Xu Ming, who casually found an empty seat and sat down, suddenly heard that the people at the table next to him were chatting about the news of Zhou Guo's death.

This made Xu Ming lament that it took more than two months for the news about what happened in the northern part of Zhou Kingdom to reach here.

To be able to spread it here, it is estimated that only a great master like Zhou Guobian can do it.

However, these people were skeptical about the cause of the death of the sick man, and they always felt that this cave warrior would not die so easily.

What's more, Zhou Wei Guan's family, what the hell is that? I've never heard of it.

Can such a little-known place really have a martial arts master who can compete with the crazy Fang Luan?

Or should a few soldiers from the north be able to surround and suppress this madman until he dies?

The companions who heard this statement couldn't help but laugh and joked that the previous statement was more reliable.

Fang Luan doesn't have the brains to fight with a few people. As long as he wants to withdraw from the battlefield, he can do so at any time.

Killing hundreds of people at once is not a problem.

If you come here a few more times, the people in Zhouweiguan will be nothing.

Xu Ming, who was listening with great interest, was convinced that the Zhou Kingdom did not have the weapons of the Wei Dynasty that were specially used to deal with high-level warriors, nor did they have the ability to develop them.

This technology is almost unique to the Wei Dynasty, and even Beimang does not have it.

Nowadays, in addition to the dozens of countries in the south, there are also some small countries in the southwest and west. Although some of them have moved to the west, they are still included in the territory of the southern border countries.

Soon, all the food and drinks ordered by Xu Ming were served.

There is meat, soup and wine.

Although the currencies of different countries are different, and the money needs to be exchanged wherever you go, Xu Ming does not have this problem.

Just because the Wei Dynasty has almost become a universal currency.

Anyone who pays with the currency of the Wei Dynasty is often honored in these places.

This is something Xu Ming has experienced personally.

This is not a treatment that other countries can have.

In the final analysis, if a country is strong, it should be proud of it.

The farther he traveled and the more he saw, the more Xu Ming felt how lucky he was to be born in the Wei Dynasty.

Subtly, even Xu Ming knew that he recognized the country he was born in deep down in his heart.

When Xu Ming took out the Dawei currency and handed it to the boss, the latter's eyelids jumped and he looked left and right, looking carefully.

"Boss, it's a little cold outside. I'll give you an extra payment. Can you let me stay here for one night? It's right here. It won't take up other space of the boss."

The boss quickly excused himself and returned the extra money: "That's impossible. Our shop is not closed at night. Many of you here spend the night here."

Xu Ming suddenly realized, he took back the original money and did not embarrass the boss: "That's it, that's okay, I don't know the situation."

Seeing him take back the money, the boss was relieved and said, "If you need anything, please ask me. I'll be right behind. My mother-in-law will come out to look at the store later. They're all the same. If you need anything, just ask."

Xu Ming smiled and agreed.
Chapter completed!