It was the third day of October in the eleventh year of Yuan Sui. Although Yanluo Plain in late autumn was not like the suburbs of Wanzhou, there were no large crops with heavy ears of grain. However, after an autumn wind, the vegetation all over the mountains and plains seemed to have been promised.
, it transformed from green to vast areas of red gold and orange overnight.
At this time every year, Hehan of the Muyun tribe would lead his young warriors to hold grand hunts in all directions on the grassland to hone their riding and archery skills. At the same time, the women of the tribe would ride on large horses one after another.
Chariots follow the warriors, preparing drinks and food for them at any time.
The main objects of hunting are hares and ground otters on the grassland. If you are lucky, you can catch some red foxes and lynxes. If you encounter a few lone wild yaks, people will immediately set up camp on the spot.
They stayed there for several days until they had eaten the whole cow and then left. People on the grassland regarded every prey as a gift from God Pangu to the world. Even if they could not take away all of it, they must not waste it.
Extremely rare, hunters may also encounter brown bears. This kind of grassland bear is taller and stronger than the same kind that haunts the mountains in the south. Every warrior of the Muyun tribe will personally hunt and kill such a huge bear, depending on the situation.
In order to prove their courage, after successfully hunting a bear, they will gather around it, cut out the bear's heart and bile with a knife, and eat the blood and bile, hoping to gain the strength and courage of the giant bear.
.
This year Xinhan led the crowd to hunt, and Tuya and Jiang Yan were also ordered to travel with the team. At this time, the black-eyed boy had already put on a wide robe and long sleeves, and even tied his hair into a bun like a Shuodi person.
The pair of eyes that were originally like ink seemed to have completely blended into it.
It has been more than half a year since he came to Yanluoyuan, and Jiang Yan has gradually become accustomed to life on the grassland. Compared with the bustling Mulu City before, although life here is difficult, it is more unrestrained.
After all, it was Beizi who was brought back by Tuya. Even though Ye Kingdom has already changed its master, for most of the Muyun tribe, this southerner is the princess's future husband. Therefore, they have always been silent about the taciturn man.
He kept a certain distance from Yan, neither getting too close to him nor daring to cause trouble to him. In this way, the young man was at ease, holding his Xiao Tianmo in his arms all day long.
They danced in the deserted wilderness until dark before stopping.
The young man's long knife was found among the trophies seized by Tuya at Tiechong Mountain and returned to him. The Shuodi people are inherently strong and good at martial arts, and even the women and children of the tribe may be found on the inside of their boots.
There was a dagger hidden, so even though Xiao Tianmo's length looked really scary, no one expressed dissatisfaction with it.
For more than half a year, Princess Di Ren would take the initiative to take Jiang Yan with her whenever she had free time, and ride on horseback on the grassland to wander aimlessly, watching the sun rise, the moon set, and the clouds rolling and relaxing. Perhaps it was because the girl carried half of the Nan spirit in her body.
She has human blood, so except for Grandma Wu Ren and Old General Yuan Ti, who brought her up under his account, compared to other servants and guards, she has an unusual closeness to this dark-eyed boy.
I felt as if staying by her side would bring me closer to my mother’s spirit in heaven and to the motherland I had never been to.
In the evening of this day, the sun was setting in the west, and the sky was filled with residual clouds. On the bonfire in front of the tent, several skinned ground otters sent by Hehan were roasting. Ground otters after autumn are extremely plump, with rich oil drippings.
It entered the fire and made a sizzling sound. Not far away, a two-stringed harp played a melodious and melodious music, while the hunters gathered around the main tent, drinking wine, eating meat, and laughing loudly.
Tuya glanced sideways at the black-eyed boy sitting next to her - the singing and dancing of the Muyun tribe did not seem to arouse any interest in him. At the moment, he was just sitting cross-legged by the bonfire in front of the tent, looking up
Watching the geese flying south in the sky in a daze.
"Eat it while it's hot, otherwise the meat will taste earthy when it's cold."
The Di girl used a sharp knife as long as her finger to cut the otter meat dripping with oil into pieces, put it on a plate and handed it to the other party.
Jiang Yan instinctively took the food that was handed to him, but did not put it in his mouth: "I'm not very hungry yet."
"I miss my family, do you want to go back to the south?"
Tuya suddenly felt that the young man's mood today seemed different from the past, so she also put down the knife in her hand, sat down beside him, and asked softly.
Jiang Yan shook his head and looked away from the sky:
"Go home... Now I don't even know where my home is. That small fishing village has been reduced to a pile of ashes many years ago. And my family in Mulu City, I don't know where they are now.
He Fang. At the moment, it seems that this grassland is the only place that feels most like home..."
As he said that, he pointed his finger at the Shuodi warriors who were obviously drunk a few feet away, "Sometimes I really envy people like them, they seem to never have any worries."
"That's how prairie people are. This vast wilderness has created their cheerfulness and open-mindedness. But who doesn't have something in mind? We have all lost loved ones, and we have all experienced unbearable past events..."
The casual words made Tuya feel a little sympathetic - in the sixteen years since she was born and raised, she had witnessed with her own eyes the suffering and tears her mother had endured in the Muyun tribe. As the young man said, this
To her, the familiar yet unfamiliar grassland seemed to be the place closest to home in the world, but it still couldn't be called home.
However, Jiang Yan did not notice the change in his companion's mood, and just continued:
"Actually, there is one thing that I still can't figure out. Why on earth do Shuodi people want to start a war and plunder land that does not belong to them, even if they live such a free and happy life?"
Tuya was stunned for a moment by the question, and answered after a moment:
"Perhaps it's because the cruel nature has taught us that the law of the jungle is the only truth in this world. Only wolves on the grassland can have meat to eat, so they won't starve in the long winter night. But if it's cattle and sheep, they will only eat meat in the end.
Could face the fate of being eaten."
The black-eyed boy did not expect that such seemingly cold and heartless words would actually come from the mouth of the weak girl in front of him. He turned his head and looked at her with some surprise: "I have heard similar words said before. But
Many times, the reason why people kill is not to survive at all, but because of greed and hatred!"
"But what can be done? In fact, most grassland people think the same as you. They just want to live a stable and peaceful life with meat to eat, tents to live in, and they are already satisfied."
"Then why are they still willing to help your brother to commit abuse? Not only did they build that terrifying iron mountain, but they also killed the people of Yimube? Could it be that the fiasco that their ancestors and relatives experienced sixty years ago?
Has it been completely forgotten?"
The girl sighed and shook her head: "Because they believe that if they don't attack others first, they will be wiped out by others. The vast majority of people in the world cannot truly control their own destiny, and even what they hear
It is impossible to tell whether what they say is true or false. They have worked hard, traveled, and even lost their lives all their lives, but they are just paving the way for others. However, even so, if it were you, would you rather be a blind wolf or a waiting one?
Where is the sheep for slaughter?”
Facing the girl's rhetorical question, Jiang Yan thought about it for a long time before murmuring:
"I don't want to become a vicious wolf driven by profit, but I will never let myself become someone else's prey easily!"
Seeing his serious look, the girl next to him burst into laughter: "What do you mean, do you mean to be a lone wolf who takes care of himself?"
"A... lone wolf?"
The young man suddenly raised his head and cast his gaze into the distance, toward the setting sun that had gradually disappeared below the horizon. At this time, the twin moons had not yet risen. On the sky that was intertwined with orange-red and lavender, a light blue light was particularly eye-catching.
.
That was Sirius. Apart from Beiheng, it was the only star that his father, who went to sea all the time, taught him to identify. His father often used it to find the direction of his return home. At this time, the bright lone star suddenly reminded Jiang Yan.
Infinite melancholy in my heart:
"Wolves on the grassland must avenge themselves, but now I don't even have the chance to avenge my parents and General Baili. How can I be considered a qualified wolf? I can only be a rabbit that takes care of itself..."
Seeing her companion clenching his fists involuntarily, Tuya seemed to realize that her words had touched the other's sore spot. She quickly poured two bowls of wine, one for herself and another for the boy, and persuaded with a smile:
"Okay, okay. Life only lasts a few decades. As long as you live happily every day, it's enough. If you think about so many things, you can only ask for trouble. I never drink, so I will make an exception to accompany you today.
I'll stop when I'm drunk. I hope that no matter what sorrows and troubles we encounter in the future, we can be able to solve them easily, okay?"
The strong aroma of wine filled the cool late autumn air, mixed with the smell of withered grass. Jiang Yan also felt that he was a little too sentimental, so he picked up the wine bowl and took a big gulp, but was immediately choked and coughed:
"What kind of wine is this? How is it different from the milk wine I drank before?"
"This is a specialty of our Muyun tribe. It is called Salha, which means the spring of forgetfulness. This wine is brewed from the purest snow water on Lancang Mountain and highland barley. It is said that after drinking it, you can
People forget all the troubles and pains in the world. However, because the production is rare, it is only available for people to drink during various grand events and celebrations. You are lucky enough to taste it not long after you come to the grassland, which is considered a rare blessing in the world.
.”
Seeing Princess Di Ren being so generous, Jiang Yan's mood suddenly became much more cheerful. He raised his head and drank the wine in the bowl. He couldn't help but feel that his limbs and bones were all warmed up, and it seemed that all the sorrow and sorrow had really gone away.
All worries are left behind.
"Jiang Yan, do you know why our people spend so much effort hunting hares and otters every autumn?"
Tuya cut another large plate of steaming otter meat, handed it to her companions, and immediately changed the topic. The meat at this time was even more charred and crispy than before. After being seasoned with some spices, it was covered up.
It removes most of the earthy smell and adds some flavor that is different from beef and mutton.
"Why?"
The black-eyed boy gulped down the wine and ate the meat, licking up all the juice on his fingers.
"Although these little things are inconspicuous, they give birth to a large litter of cubs every year. Before winter, these cubs can grow to adulthood and dig countless new burrows all over the grassland. Once it snows in winter
, these holes will be completely covered, and if the horse accidentally falls into it, its legs will be broken and it will no longer be able to run."
The last ray of sunset made the Di girl's light brown skin shine, as if it were plated with gold. She was so drunk that her face turned red, but she picked up the wine bowl and took a big sip:
"In addition, hares and ground otters will eat a lot of grass roots and even grass seeds during the winter. If the foundation of the pasture is damaged, the next year's pasture harvest will be poor, affecting the quality of cattle and sheep.
food source, thereby endangering the prairie people."
"It sounds really annoying. Then I will help you tomorrow and hunt more otters and hares back."
The young man nodded vigorously. The Salhar he just drank made his head feel dizzy, but he suddenly secretly hoped that the relaxing time he had now would be more and longer in the future.
"It's easy for you to say. These little things can run away very fast. In many cases, even arrows can't easily hit them. Moreover, they are extremely alert and will send a warning to their companions at the slightest sign of trouble——"
Tuya opened her chatterbox and continued talking. Unexpectedly, several ground otters on the nearby slope seemed to think that the girl's description was not vivid enough. They suddenly stood upright and let out several sharp screams towards the sky.
Barking.
The eyes of the girl and the boy were immediately attracted by the cry. The warriors sitting around the campfire in the distance were also surprised that the prey dared to show up near the camp, and drunkenly picked up the bows and arrows at hand again. However,
At this moment, a burst of horse neighing came from the horse pen on one side of the camp, and the horses were actually frightened!
Jiang Yan was mostly awake from the wine, and he stretched out his hand to pick up the staggering princess beside him. The warriors in the same camp rushed towards the direction of the sound. However, by the time everyone arrived at the horse pen, the commotion had subsided.
Go down.
I saw several war horses in the fence, their throats seemed to have been bitten by some ferocious beast, and a large hole was torn open in the horse's belly, and their intestines flowed all over the ground. A tall old man with gray beard and hair led people to arrive first.
Shi Zheng squatted in front of the horse corpse and inspected it carefully. After a while, he loudly said to the crowd of onlookers:
"Nine times out of ten, it was a snow leopard from a nearby mountain that fled down. Fortunately, no one was injured and everyone dispersed. I will go to Hehan to report the situation and ask him to send more people to patrol the night and strengthen the alert."
"Who is this person?"
The black-eyed boy standing outside the horse circle asked in a low voice.
"His name is Muhe, and he is the leader of one of the largest clans in the Muyun tribe - the Bolewu family. He is quite prestigious among the clan. This hunting trip outside Eda was made by him -"
After Tuya explained, she suddenly stared at the horse corpse in front of her and frowned, then pulled the young man further away:
"A total of more than 20 horses died today...Snow leopards don't like to live in groups, so how could they kill so many horses in the blink of an eye and leave without anyone noticing? In addition, I asked carefully.
Horse people, all the horses that were disemboweled had only their livers eaten. Now on the Shuobei grassland, there is only one terrible animal that can do this..."
Hearing what his companion said, Jiang Yan couldn't help but trembled: "Are you trying to say that those who sneaked into the camp may be the galloping wolves we encountered on the Dead Wilderness before? The wolves have already come so close to people.
?”
The Di Ren girl nodded hesitantly, as if she wanted to say something else, but suddenly she felt someone appear behind her, and whispered in her ear in a low voice:
"Your Highness, please don't make such baseless speculations, lest they cause unnecessary panic!"
Jiang Yan turned around and saw that the old man named Mu He had come up to him at some point. Tuya immediately explained to him. After all, Chilang is not a trivial matter. If he lacks the necessary vigilance, perhaps the people in the camp will
Everyone will be in danger of their lives.
But the old man in front of him was not moved at all, he just shook his head:
"Princess is too worried. Even if there are wolves in Lancang Mountain, there is absolutely no way they will go down the mountain to look for food before winter. Moreover, the last time someone saw a large group of wolves in the wilderness was more than a hundred.
What happened years ago, how could it suddenly appear from nowhere? Let alone take the risk and easily break into the camp."
Seeing that she could not convince the other party for a while, Tuya quickly and quietly tugged on the sleeve of the black-eyed boy from behind. She knew that it was almost impossible to convince Yi Muhe of his position in the Muyun Department without real evidence.
An accident kept the entire camp sleepless all night and announced the end of the hunt in advance. Fortunately, those beasts hiding in the dark never appeared again. However, the young princess felt vaguely in her heart that this incident might not be an accident.
It won't end easily like this.
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