442: Work hard to complete KPI (twenty-two) [asking for monthly votes]
"There are no tribes nearby."
Gu Chi didn't need to recall the defense map of Northern Xinjiang to remember the nearby terrain. This road was specially chosen by them - you must know that the resettlement of the Shiwu tribe was conditional. There must be abundant water sources and abundant resources for cattle nearby. Sheep and horses are eaten, and there is a certain natural barrier to ward off wild beasts or warn enemies - but this is not the case in the nearby area, which is quite barren and remote.
Not to mention prey, even water sources are not easy to find.
The possibility of the Shiwu tribe taking root here is small, and at the same time, it can also reduce the possibility of being discovered during their march.
Jiang Sheng guessed: "Could they be refugees?"
Food is a scarce resource, and there are too many monks and not enough food. Just like the common people in mainland China who lose their houses and land and become refugees, the bottom class of Shiwu will also be expelled and become refugees if they lose the pastures they rely on for a living. The former is easy to turn into bandits, and the same is true for the latter.
Gu Chi said: "Most likely."
Shen Tang: "Explore again and report again."
After the soldiers left, Shen Tang asked the two of them: "Can we bypass this valley and take a side road?"
Jiang Sheng: "It's not impossible, but once we take a detour, we will definitely pass through the pastoral territory of a large tribe. We can easily be discovered. Even if we are lucky and make no mistakes, it will take a day and a half longer than the road in the valley. .”
No matter from which point of view, it is best to march according to the established plan, unless there is an ambush in the valley. Due to the terrain, the opponent may have discovered their traces long ago.
Gu Chi asked: "Master, are you worried about those people in the valley?"
Shen Tang nodded, her young face seemed a little unbearable, she said: "If we borrow the road from the valley, we won't be able to keep these people hiding in the valley. Our target is the Shiwu tribe, and we are facing a group of homeless people. of refugees..."
Although three tribes were wiped out one after another and more than ten thousand lives were on his hands, Shen Tang did not feel that he could take away anyone's life without any principle. There was still a difference between refugees and enemies. Gu Chi understood the subtle tangle in her heart. .
He smiled and said: "Maybe they are not refugees but ambushed soldiers."
Shen Tang: "..."
Gu Wangchao, can you still have some principles?
Gu Chi is innocent. As a subordinate, can he be called unprincipled when he "makes the most of the wind" according to the master's wishes?
Shen Tang turned his face away: "... Let's find out first."
The old man acted cute towards her, which was eye-catching.
Not long after, the scout's reconnaissance falcon flew back, bringing back a sneaky spy, who was kidnapped by Wu Hua Da and brought to Shen Tang. Before he even got close, he said in a rather poor general elegance: "Don't tie me up, I'm a good citizen." ah……"
"Be honest, or I'll kill you."
Xu Quan kicked him unceremoniously on the back of his leg.
The man's knees bent and he fell to the ground heavily.
The banging sound was so muffled that my knees hurt slightly.
Gu Chi heard this person muttering secretly in his heart: "This girl is so beautiful, but her attacks are so vicious."
During this period, there were also comments on Xu Quan’s figure.
Gu Chi: "..."
Hehehe, it's a good thing he didn't say this, otherwise Xu Quan wouldn't have twisted this man's head with his bare hands, given his temper.
Xu Quan sneered: "You are sneaking around our army camp and poking your head. How can you be a good citizen?"
The man shrank his neck.
Di Liu rolled his eyes and looked around.
Shen Tang said: "Wangchao, I'm sorry to bother you."
Gu Chi cupped his hands and said, "Wei."
The man who was caught was puzzled. He watched Gu Chi step forward and then lost consciousness. However, he regained consciousness in the next moment. He only saw the back of Gu Chi turning around and returning to his original position. I think he has been traveling around for many years and has seen a lot. He has a wide range of knowledge and can vaguely guess something.
This young man with a look of kidney deficiency and an empty body must be a literary scholar...
He had just been interrogated for his speech.
Thinking of this, he felt that Gu Chi's eyes on him were like two cold sharp arrows, and a chill could not stop running down his spine.
Gu Chi whispered to Shen Tang for a long time.
The guy who was caught was really not a big fish, he was just a pawn released by the group of refugees in the valley to get information.
His job is as a businessman specializing in smuggling and reselling. He heard that although this job is risky, the rewards are equally high.
In order to make a living for the whole family, he took desperate risks.
When I first started working in this business, I made a lot of mistakes and stumbles, and I only managed to save my life after a few bad lucks.
After that, he did a lot of business and established friendships with several tribes, big and small. In addition, he was worldly and understanding, and was willing to use money to maintain relationships. His business grew bigger and bigger, and he accumulated a huge net worth, making him a wealthy local. .
But if you often walk by the river, how can your shoes not get wet?
More than half a year ago, he took advantage of the civil turmoil in the Geng Kingdom to purchase a large amount of goods from illegal salt dealers and planned to smuggle it to Shiwu. When he came, he came with boxes of salt blocks, and when he left, he also left with boxes of gold and silver ore. , and then extreme joy gives rise to sorrow.
He was robbed by internal refugees in Shiwu.
I have been trapped in the valley for more than a month.
I was discriminated against and beaten every day.
The dirtiest and most tiring work is assigned to him.
Today, the valley sentry tower found traces of Shen Tang's group. They were not sure whether it was another group of refugees or the elites who came to exterminate them, so they sent out a few unlucky people, including the captured merchant. He originally weighed more than He is taller and heavier, and after suffering for so long, his whole body has lost weight several times, and his three-layered chin has turned into a pitiful double-layered one. His hair is unkempt and he is in a miserable state.
Shen Tang asked: "Are you smuggling and selling salt?"
The salt seller knew very well that he was just an ordinary person and was being targeted by literary scholars. Not to mention the little secrets of his identity and background, he probably even knew the color of his favorite trousers.
Once you lie, you may end up with your head on the ground.
He could only nod his head honestly: "I'm taking the road between Longwu County and Shiwuxi Territory... But I just sell salt honestly, and I definitely don't buy or sell armor or weapons. I, I don't dare."
Smuggling salt is a serious crime, but it is less serious than buying and selling armor.
"Why Shiwuxi Realm?"
The salt seller said: "The Western Region is remote, the roads are difficult to walk, and there are more dangers. A box of salt blocks can be doubled in value there."
You can earn a lot more by taking a trip.
Shen Tang asked again: "How much do you know about the situation in the valley?"
The salt seller didn't dare add fuel to the fire.
As speculated at the beginning, the more than a thousand people in the valley are Shiwu refugees, who have sworn enemies with all the major tribes. Coupled with the blockade of nearby tribes, their lives have become increasingly poor, and there are a few weak and hungry people every now and then. die.
There are at most more than a hundred young men who can form a fighting force.
"Among the thousands of refugees, there are only a few hundred young adults?"
Shen Tang questioned this ratio.
The salt seller sighed: "There's only so much we can eat."
There was no need to eat the rest, so we could only eat a little bit like the old, weak, women and children to maintain a state of starvation.
It is even worse for the salt dealer as the lowest prisoner.
I only eat a few mouthfuls of rancid, dry and hard food every day with no discernible color and a little turbid water. I can survive until now thanks to the fat accumulated on my body. In a month or two, I will either be skinny or skinny. He died at the age of forty-five.
Now caught...
There may only be a few sticks of incense left to live.
Who knows——
"You said that these people in the valley hate other Shiwu tribes very much?" The young man sitting at the top pondered for a while, his eyes were old but not like those of people of this age: "How much hate? Is it possible to hate them so much that they can wipe out their whole family? How willing are you to be driven to death?"
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
(*?▽?*)
June 22nd, sunny.
I have a tenth leader in this book of Shiitake Mushrooms.
Thank you dear, the original poster is not here, ?(′???`) express my heart, I love you.